A Golden Chain

That the satisfaction of one may be imputed to all, as the sins of all were borne by one. And as for ancient doctors, merit was nothing else to them but a good work acceptable to God. Aug. epist. 105. to Sixtus. If it be grace, then is it not bestowed by reason of any merit, but upon free mercy. What merits of his own can he that is set at liberty brag of, who if he had his merits should have been condemned? So the word merit doth signify to do well, to be acceptable, to please, as the old interpreter hath, for [Greek or Hebrew] signifying to please God, used this Latin word promereri, To merit.

That the satisfaction of one may be imputed to all, as the sinnes of all were borne by one. And as for ancient doctours, merit was nothing els to them but a good worke acceptable to God. Aug. epist. 105. to Sixtus. If it be grace, then is it not bestowed by reason of any merit, but vpon free mercie. What merits of his owne can he that is set at libertie bragge of, who if he had his merits should haue beene condemned? So the word merite doth signifie to doe wel, to be acceptable, to please, as the old interpreter hath, for 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 signifying to please God, vsed this Latine word promereri, To merit.

Object. I. Works have attributed unto them reward. Answer. Reward is not so much attributed to the work, as to the worker, and to him not for himself, but for Christs merits apprehended by faith. Therefore not our merit, or personal merit, but Christs merit, and our reward are correlatives.

Obiect. I. Works haue attributed vnto them reward. Answer. Reward is not so much attributed to the work, as to the worker, and to him not for himselfe, but for Christs merits apprehended by faith. Therefore not our merit, or personall merit, but Christs merit, and our reward are correlatiues.