An antidote agaynst poperie: most necessarie for all in this back-slyding age. Wherein 1. The trueth is confirmed, by authoritie of scriptures, witnessing of antiquitie, and confession of the popish partie. 2. Popish scripturall arguments are answered, by the exposition both of father and of their own doctours / by William Guild.

CHAPTER VII. Of glorification: and whe∣ther our good workes doe merite the same.

The state of the Question.

THat good workes are necessarie to the obtayning of eternall lyfe, and that according to them in measure, but not for their con∣dignitie and merite, eternall lyfe is bestowed on the godlie, we con∣stantlie affirme. Therefore herein onlie standeth the question, not of their necessitie, or whether good workes haue a rewarde abyding them, (which Scripture affirmeth, PSALME 19.11. PROV. 11.18. and none can denye) but whence they haue the same; that is, whether from Iustice, for the condignitie of the worke meriting, (as the Pa∣pistes affirme) or from Mercie,* 1.1 ac∣cording to GOD'S free promise

graciouslie obliedging,* 1.2 as Iames 2.5. and as a just GOD in keeping his promise, and mercifullie per∣forming the same. As may bee seene to bee the onlie trueth, by these scriptures following.* 1.3

1. Authoritie of Scripture.

PSAL. 62.12. Also vnto [ 1] thee, O LORD, belongeth mercie, for thou rendrest to eve∣rie man according to his workes.

Remarke, then, that this retri∣bution floweth from GOD'S mer∣cie, and not man's merite, and is rendred according to his workes, and not for his workes. Where∣vpon Pope Gregorie moveth this question, saying. If that happinesse of the Sayncts bee Mercie, and not acquired by merits, where is that which is written,* 1.4 And thou wilt render to everie one according to

his workes. If then it bee rendred according to workes, how shall it bee esteemed mercie? But it is another thing, (sayeth hee, by way of answere) to render accor∣ding to workes, and another thing to render for the wo••kes them∣selues: for in that it is sayde, ac∣cording to their workes, the qualitie of the workes is vnderstood, that whose workes are seene to bee good, their retribution shall bee in glorie. For vnto that blessed lyfe, wherein men liue with God, and enjoye from God, no labour can bee equalled, and no workes can bee compared.

[ 2] ROM. 6.23. For the wages of sinne, is death; but the gift of GOD, is eternall lyfe, thorow JESƲS CHRIST our LORD. So EPHES. 2.8.9.

* 1.5Vpon which wordes, (sayeth Augustine) when hee might haue sayde, and rightlie sayd, The wages of righteousnesse, is eternall lyfe; yet

hee would rather say, The free gift of GOD, is lyfe eternall: that here∣by wee may vnderstand, that it is not for our merites, but according to His owne mercie, that GOD bringeth vs vnto eternall lyfe. So lykewyse sayeth Chrysostome,* 1.6 The LORD showing that they got it not as a debt, (sayeth hee) or a due retribution, and remunera∣tion, for their laboures; but that all came of meere grace freelie. And therefore the verie Rhemistes translate the word heere vsed, [GRACE] or that which cōmeth of meere favour onlie.

In lyke-manner sayeth Cardinall Cajetane, Hee sayeth not, The wages of righteousnesse, is lyfe eter∣nall; but the gift of GOD, is lyfe eternall: that wee may vnderstand, that it is not for our merits, but of the free gift of GOD, that in ende wee attayne vnto lyfe eternall. Therefore hee subjoyneth, (sayeth hee) In Christ Jesus our Lord. Loe heere the merite, loe heere

the righteousnesse, the wages where∣of, is eternall lyfe. But vnto vs it is a gift, for Christ Iesus sake. The verie same sayeth Cardinall Cusa∣nus on this place, as also their ma∣ster of Sentences, Lombard, saying, that the Apostle spake so, that wee may vnderstand (sayeth hee) that GOD bringeth vs to eternall lyfe, for His owne mercies sake, and not for our merits. Closse contra∣rie vnto which doctrine of the A∣postles, and these fornamed expo∣sitions is that which Maldonat af∣firmeth,* 1.7 saying, that as properlie and truelie wee merite reward, when by grace wee doe well, as we merite punishment when with∣out grace wee doe evill.

ROM. 8.18. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present tyme, are not worthie (or con∣digne as the Rhemistes translate) to bee compared with the glorie which shall bee revealed in vs.

Vpon which wordes (sayeth Haymo) if anie man could fulfill all the Precepts of the Olde and New Testament, and suffer all sort of torments (which hee rehear∣seth) manie ages of tyme, hee would no wyse be worthie of that glorie to come, which the elect shall receaue: For to that blessed lyfe (sayeth Gregorie) which wee liue with GOD,* 1.8 and haue from GOD, no labour can bee equall, nor no workes compared: chieflie seeing the Apostle sayeth, that the sufferings of this present time are not worthie of that glorie to come, to bee revealed in vs. For the suf∣fering is but small (sayeth Theo∣doret) but the gayne which is hoped for is great: And therefore hee called these thinges that are looked for, not a Reward, but Glo∣rie, and which is no wayes me∣rited de condigno (sayeth the Car∣dinall Cajetane)

Wherevpon also sayeth Bernard, cōcerning lyfe eternall, We know,

that the sufferings of this tyme, are not worthie to be compared with the future glorie;* 1.9 no, not, if one did sustayne them all: for the me∣rits of men are not such, that for them eternall lyfe should bee due of right; or GOD should doe anie injurie, if hee did not giue it.

[ 4] 2. TIM. 1.16.18. The LORD giue mercie vnto the house of Onesiphorus, for he refreshed me, & was not ashamed of my chaine. The LORD grant vnto him that hee may finde mercie of the Lord in that day: that is, in the day of Death, and Iudgement, (sayeth Carthusian.)

Where-vpon (sayeth Theophy∣lact,) Take heede, that heere hee sayeth not, The LORD giue vnto him anie other thing, but mercie. And againe, if Onesiphorus, (sayeth hee) who for the Name of CHRIST did cast himselfe in so many perils, was saved by Mercie; how much gather should wee expect so to bee

saved? Therefore also sayeth the Prophet,* 1.10 Sow to your selues in righteousnesse, and reape in mer∣cie. So lykewyse, Blessed are the mercifull,* 1.11 (sayeth our Saviour) for they shall receaue mercie. And in lyke-manner (sayeth the Apostle) Not by the workes of righteousnesse,* 1.12 which wee haue done, but according to His mercie Hee hath saved vs. If then our salvation bee from mercie, it fol∣loweth, therefore, that it is not from merits.

ROM. 8.17. And if wee be children, then wee are heyres. [ 5] Children by Adoption. ROM. 8.15. And heyres of that king∣dome which hee hath promised to them that loue Him. IAM. 2.5.

Vpon which wordes (sayeth the Iesuit Salmeron,) Remarke, that this speach is of Children by Adop∣tion, because amongst men this in∣ference

faylleth not; for, for this ende are such adopted, that they may succeede to his goods who adopteth them, (sayeth hee.) And in lyke-manner (sayeth the Iesuit Iustinian, (Verie fitly doeth hee vse the word of heirship, allu∣ding, to wit, to the right of adop∣tion. For, (sayeth Cajetane) for this ende anie one is adopted to bee a sonne, that consequentlie he may bee heyre. If therefore our adoption is from no merits, and that our inheriting is from adop∣tion, therefore it will follow by good consequence, that our inhe∣riting is from no merite.

[ 6] EPHES. 2.10. For wee are His workmanship, created in CHRIST JESƲS, vnto good workes, which GOD hath be∣fore ordayned, that wee should walke in them.

Remarke, then, as walking in a way to a place, maketh vs not to

haue right to that place; so walking in the way of good workes to hea∣ven, maketh vs not to haue right to heaven, as the meritorious cause of obtayning the same, but onlie CHRIST'S purchase, and his gracious promise.* 1.13 Therefore said Bernard of them, that they were the way to the Kingdome, but not the cause of our reygning in that Kingdome. So that it is a brutish thing, when we are at the ende of our journey, to count our steps to that Kingdome, so manie merites deserving the same; or that GOD thereby oweth to vs, to whom we more than owe our owne selues.

LVKE 17.10, So lykewyse [ 7] yee, when yee shall haue done all those thinges which are comman∣ded you, say, Wee are vnprofi∣table servants: wee haue done that which was our duetie to doe.

Which speach (as Vasques sho∣weth) is both a speach of humili∣tie and veritie,* 1.14 and as Maldona••

also, and Alfonsus à Castro, on this place declare. Whence it is, that Ierome inferreth, If hee bee vnprofi∣table who hath done all, what is to bee sayde of him, who could not fulfill all? Hence, therefore, wee reason thus. Whosoever meriteth at GOD'S hands, hee is a profitable servant: but none, even who doeth all that is commanded him, is a profitable servant: therefore none can me∣rite at GOD'S hands. The Major is vndenyable; the Minor is Christs owne wordes; which hee backeth with a reason, because all are debt-bound. Where-vpon sayeth Chrysostome, in doing all what∣soever wee can doe, wee but pay our debt when wee haue done the same. And therefore rightlie also sayeth Maldonat,* 1.15 What wee owe, is not so laudable when wee per∣forme the same, as it is vituperable if we performe not the same. And which wee see in the punishment of that servant with many strypes, who knew the will of his master,

and did it not. Therefore from these wordes doeth Marcus H••re∣mita draw this conclusion; The Kingdome of Heaven, then, (sayth hee) is not the hyre of workes, but the free grace of the LORD, prepared for his faythfull servants: De iis qui putant se operibus justifica∣ri. So LVKE 12, 32. where are three Arguments: 1. A Kingdome given: 2. This a gift of GODS good plea∣sure, not addebted: and 3. Given vnto vs, as an inheritance from a father. Therefore sayeth the Text, It is your Fathers pleasure to giue to you a Kingdome.

2. Witnessing of Antiquitie.

ETernall rest,* 1.16 (sayeth Basill) abydeth them who in this lyfe haue lawfullie striven: not for the merits of their workes, but out of the free favour of that most bountifull GOD,* 1.17 wherein they haue trusted. Lykewyse (sayeth Augustine) thy sinnes are thine, but merite is GOD'S; punishment

is due to thee; and when reward commeth, Hee shall crowne His gifts,* 1.18 not thy merites. Last of all, (sayeth Bernard) Thou canst not merite eternall lyfe, by no workes of thine, but Hee freelie lykewyse bestoweth that on thee: — nor should God doe anie wrong, if He gaue not the same vnto thee. Closse contrarie vnto the Rhemistes their wordes on HEB. 6.10.

3. Confession of partie.

WIth full consent doe the whole Fathers deliver (sayth Cassander) that the hope of par∣don,* 1.19 and of lyfe eternall, is ONLIE to bee placed in the mercie of GOD, and merite of CHRIST onelie: neyther are our workes what-so-ever they bee, of that worth,* 1.20 (sayeth Ferus, and with him à Castro) that they deserue duelie and condignlie anie such re∣ward. Therefore Bellarmine was forced to conclude all his dispute for merites, thus; that for the vn∣certayntie

of our owne righteous∣nesse, (sayeth hee) and the dan∣ger of vayne glorie, it is most safe to put our whole confidence in the onlie mercie and bountie of God. And hee is to bee accounted the sounder Divyne, the more fayth∣full Catholicke, and most agreeable to holie Scripture,* 1.21 (sayeth their Waldensis) who simplie denyeth all merite, and with the Apostle & holy Scriptures acknowledgeth, that simplie no man meriteth the Kingdome of Heaven, but that hee getteth it onlie of Gods miere fa∣vour and good will of the Giver.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Cōcil. Trid.
• * 1.2

  Sess. 6 c. 16 cā. 32
• * 1.3

  How grosse herein they are, see Vsh. pag. 496. and Ri∣vet. 2, pag. 500.
• * 1.4

  Greg. in psal poen. 7
• * 1.5

  Aug. de gra¦tia & lib. ar¦bit. c. 9
• * 1.6

  Chry∣sost. in Rom. 6
• * 1.7

  Mal∣don. in E∣zek. 18.20
• * 1.8

  Greg. in psal poenit 7.
• * 1.9

  Bern. Serm. 1. in anune B. Ma¦riae.
• * 1.10

  Hos. 10.12
• * 1.11

  Math 5.7.
• * 1.12

  Tit. 3 5 So 2. Tim. 1 9. Rom. 11.16.
• * 1.13

  Bern. de gra & lib arbit, ad fi∣nem.
• * 1.14

  Se•• also these place•• Iob. 35.7. Psal. ••6.2 Hier. ad Cto siph. contra Pelag Chry∣sost. in Rom. Hom. 7. See also Vsh. p. 503.
• * 1.15

  M••ld in Luk•• 17.
• * 1.16

  Basil. in 114. Psal.
• * 1.17

  Aug. in Psal. 70. cōc. ••.
• * 1.18

  Bern. Serm. 1. in anunc Ma∣riae.
• * 1.19

  Cas∣sand. cōsult art. 6.
• * 1.20

  Ferus in Ioh. 3. f. 69 Alfōs. à Ca∣stro. con∣tra heres. verbo meri∣tum.
• * 1.21

  Bel∣larm. lib. 5. de ju∣stifi∣cat. cap. 7 §. Sit ter∣tia. Apud Vegam, Opuscul. de Meritis, qu. 4. p. 782.