7 There are two kinds of presuming, the one of Gods mercies, the other of our own1 merits: the one is in carnal Protestants, the other in bold & proud Papists. For the first, we know that Gods qualities be not separable: Moses saith, the Lord is ready to show mercy, so he saith he will punish the transgressor. David sung a song of two parts, not of mercy alone, or of judgement alone, but of mercy and judgement together. But I marvel how these wretches dare add sin to sin, when no one sin shall go unpunished, and how they dare presume of Gods mercy, under many sins, when God hath showed his justice to the dearest of his children for committing some one sin. The Angels that conceived but an opinion of pride, as some write, though they were almost as Gods, were for it cast down to hell. Man, with whom the Lord was conversant, with whom he talked and walked, to whom he gave the Lordship and sovereignty over all earthly creatures, and with whom he was familiar, for eating of the forbidden fruit was cast out of Eden. Moses and Aaron (the mirrors and miracles of the world) falling into Gods displeasure, were denied to enter into the promised Canaan. David, who was honoured with the title of being a man after Gods own heart, falling into sin, fell out of God his favour. But that which is above all, and ought to move any man, Christ himself (the glory and image ⟨p. 766⟩of his father) could not escape the most bitter cup which he drunk of, though he begged it three times at the hands of his Father, because he became sin for us. And yet sinful men,2 bold sinners and presumptuous sinners, persuade themselves, that they shall escape the hand of God. But to leave them, and come to the other, I marvel what they can challenge by works, seeing whatsoever they do, they are still debtors, and therefore no deservers. Let them therefore learn of their learned Doctors to know that they have no merits but Christs mercies: and let them say with the ancient Fathers: This is our merit, that we have no merit.
7 There are two kindes of presuming, the one of Gods mercies, the other of our owne1 merits: the one is in carnall Protestants, the other in bold & proud Papists. For the first, wee knowe that Gods qualities be not separable: Moses saith, the Lord is readie to shewe mercie, so hee saith hee will punish the transgressor. Dauid sung a song of two parts, not of mercie alone, or of iudgement alone, but of mercie and iudgement together. But I maruell how these wretches dare adde sinne to sinne, when no one sinne shall go vnpunished, and how they dare presume of Gods mercie, vnder many sinnes, when God hath shewed his iustice to the dearest of his children for committing some one sinne. The Angels that conceiued but an opinion of pride, as some write, though they were almost as Gods, were for it cast downe to hell. Man, with whom the Lord was conuersant, with whom he talked and walked, to whom hee gaue the Lordship and soueraigntie ouer all earthly creatures, and with whom hee was familiar, for eating of the forbidden fruite was cast out of Eden. Moses and Aaron (the mirrors and miracles of the world) falling into Gods displeasure, were denied to enter into the promised Canaan. Dauid, who was honoured with the title of being a man after Gods owne heart, falling into sinne, fell out of God his fauour. But that which is aboue all, and ought to moue any man, Christ himselfe (the glorie and image ⟨p. 766⟩of his father) could not escape the most bitter cup which he drunke of, though he begged it three times at the hands of his Father, because he became sinne for vs. And yet sinful men,2 bold sinners and presumptuous sinners, perswade themselues, that they shall escape the hand of God. But to leaue them, and come to the other, I marueile what they can challenge by workes, seeing whatsoeuer they doe, they are still debters, and therefore no deseruers. Let them therefore learne of their learned Doctors to know that they haue no merits but Christs mercies: and let them say with the ancient Fathers: This is our merite, that wee haue no merit.
- 1Two ways of presuming.Two wayes of presuming.
- 22. Cor. 5. 21.
