A Golden Chain

And for the second point, the Church of Rome doth too too much extol the power of man, and his natural strength. ^kIt saith, that all actions of men unregenerate are not sins, and that original sin needeth no repentance, ^lthat a man hath some freewill to do spiritual things, that ^ma man by mere naturals may love God above all things, fear God, believe in Christ, if we respect the very act of the work, ⁿthat the Gentiles might gather out of philosophy knowledge sufficient for salvation, ^othat a man without the help of the holy Ghost, may perform things acceptable to God,^p that the mind of man understandeth of it self many things which be spiritual and heavenly, ^qthat a man regenerate may fulfil the whole law of God: that a man may prepare himself to receive grace, and after preparation merit grace at Gods hand: that he may do works of supererogation, &c. By this it appeareth that the church of Rome ascribeth too much to man, ^rwhich in himself is only and altogether evil, dead in sin, chained up in miserable bondage under Satan the prince of darkness: and therefore it is evident, that all the preaching that is used in that church, will not humble a sinner, and make him deny himself, and therefore their preaching may peradventure benumb a corrupt conscience and make it secure, but it cannot pacify the troubled conscience, nor disquiet it by the threatening of the law, that by the promises of the gospel it may be quieted.

And for the second point, the Church of Rome doth too too much extoll the power of man, and his naturall strength.