Touching the fourth conclusion, they hold it the safest and surest course to put their trust and confidence in the mercy of God alone for their salvation: yet they condescend, that men may also aput their confidence in the merit of their own works, and in the merits also of other men, so it be in sobriety. But this doctrine quite mars the conclusion: because by teaching that men are to put confidence in the creature, they overturn all confidence in the Creator. For in the very first commandment, we are taught to make choice of the true God for our God, which thing we do when we give to God our hearts: and we give our hearts to God, when we put our whole confidence in him for the salvation of our souls. Now then to put confidence in men, or in works, is to make them our Gods. The true and ancient form of making confession was on this manner: I believe in God the father, in Jesus Christ, and in the holy ghost, without mention making of any confidence in works or creatures: the ancient Church never knew any such confession or confidence. Cyprian saith, He believeth not in God, who putteth not affiance concerning his salvation in God alone. And indeed the Papists themselves when death comes,2 forsake the confidence of their merits, and fly to the mere mercy of God in Christ. And for a confirmation of this I allege the testimony of one Ulinbergius of Colen, who writeth thus. There was a book found in the vestry of a certain parish of Colen, written in the dutch tongue in the year of our Lord 1475. which the Priests used in visiting of the sick. And in it these questions ⟨p. 1006⟩be found. aDoest thou believe that thou canst not be saved but by the death of Christ? The sick person answered, Yea. Then it is said unto him, Go too then, while breath remains in thee, put thy confidence in this death alone: have affiance in nothing else: commit thy self wholly to this death: with it alone cover thy self: dive thy self in every part into this death: in every part pierce thy self with it: infold thy self in this death. And if the Lord will judge thee, say: Lord, I put the death of our Lord Jesus Christ between me and thy judgement, and by no other means I contend with thee. And if he shall say unto thee, that thou art a sinner, say: Lord, the death of my Lord Jesus Christ, I put between thee and my sins.
Touching the fourth conclusion, they holde it the safest and surest course to put their trust and confidence in the mercie of God alone for their saluation: yet they condescend, that men may also aput their confidence in the merit of their owne workes, and in the merits also of other men, so it be in sobrietie. But this doctrine quite marres the conclusion: because by teaching that men are to put confidence in the creature, they ouerturne al confidence in the Creatour. For in the very first commandement, wee are taught to make choice of the true God for our God, which thing we doe when wee giue to God our hearts: and we giue our hearts to God, when we put our whole confidence in him for the saluation of our soules. Now then to put confidence in men, or in workes, is to make them our Gods. The true and auncient forme of making confession was on this manner: I beleeue in God the father, in Iesus Christ, and in the holy ghost, without mention making of any confidence in workes or creatures: the auncient Church neuer knew any such confession or confidence. Cyprian saith, He beleeueth not in God, who putteth not affiance concerning his saluation in God alone. And indeede the Papists themselues when death comes,2 forsake the confidence of their merits, and flie to the meere mercie of God in Christ. And for a confirmation of this I alleadge the testimonie of one Vlinbergius of Colen, who writeth thus. There was a booke founde in the vestrie of a certaine parish of Colen, written in the dutch tongue in the yeare of our Lord 1475. which the Priests vsed in visiting of the sicke. And in it these questions ⟨p. 1006⟩be found. aDoest thou beleeue that thou canst not be saued but by the death of Christ? The sicke person answered, Yea. Then it is said vnto him, Go too then, while breath remaines in thee, put thy confidence in this death alone: haue affiance in nothing else: commit thy selfe wholly to this death: with it alone couer thy selfe: diue thy self in euery part into this death: in euery part pearse thy selfe with it: infold thy selfe in this death. And if the Lord will iudge thee, say: Lord, I put the death of our Lord Iesus Christ betweene me and thy iudgement, and by no other meanes I contend with thee. And if he shall say vnto thee, that thou art a sinner, say: Lord, the death of my Lord Iesus Christ, I put betweene thee and my sinnes.
- aBellar. l. 5. c. 7. de justifi.Bellar. l. 5. c. 7. de iustifi.
- 2De duplic•• Martyr, Lib. de causiss cur Evang. p. 436.De duplic•• Martyr, Lib. de causiss cur Euang. p. 436.
- aSupposed to be questions of Anselm.Supposed to be questions of An•elme.
