The Pope confuted The holy and apostolic Church confuting the Pope. The first action.…The Pope confuted The holy and apostolique Church confuting the Pope. The first action.…

To procure those so many (I say) so marvellous unmeasurable benefits, so infinitely and incredibly surmounting all capacity and reach of our nature and hope, our merits and works be they never so holy yield not any furtherance or benefit at all.

To procure those so many (I say) so meru•ylous vnmeasurable benefits, so infinitly and incredibly surmounting all capacitie and reach of our nature and hope, our merites and woorkes bee they neuer so holy yeelde not any furtheraunce or benefite at al.

To bring this to pass is the only workmanship of Jesus Christ:¹ This is the only benefit of the son of God not due too any our deserts, but a free gift proceeding from his only mere liberality and mercy, and received of us by faith: not as any recompense of works, but poured forth oftentimes even into the bosom of the most unworthy, which seem too be farthest of from all hope: without any regard had of those, which do feed their ⟨image 68⟩own fancies most upon confidence and good opinion of their own well doing: even of his own free mercy & bounteous liberality. Who as is only holy, who only as hath power of life and death and of all authority in heaven and earth, so is he only & alone able to be••ow his graces upon whom he will being tied to none, nor holden bound to any law. Now therefore sith by his glorious Gospel as by the authentic seal of his everlasting will, he hath delivered unto us so manifest and determinate a demonstration of his unchangeable will, witnessing thereby, That whosoever believeth in him, shall of his gift enjoy everlasting life and the glory of his kingdom: what may godly ministers do in discharge of their function more dutifully: but by faithful proclaiming their commission to put in execution the charge committed unto them by their Lord and Master? What? and will the Pope of Rome with his council of Trident require us to renounce the Gospel of Christ, and to post over upon their pelting war ram the crown of glory, to the law of works which Christ hath already warranted too faith? yea, will they have us so saucy as to challenge them as a duty, which Christ assured to all of free gift? or do these holy fathers think it to be reasonable,