A09453:180
A Reformed Catholic
A reformed Catholic: or, A declaration showing how near we may come to the present Church of Rome in sundry points of religion: and wherein we must for ever depart from them with an advertisement to all favourers of the Roman religion, showing that the said religion is against the Catholic principles and grounds of the catechism.A reformed Catholike: or, A declaration shewing how neere we may come to the present Church of Rome in sundrie points of religion: and vvherein we must for euer depart from them with an advertisment to all fauourers of the Romane religion, shewing that the said religion is against the Catholike principles and grounds of the catechisme.
Cambridge: printed by John Legat, 1598Cambridge: printed by Iohn Legat, 1598
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Our reasons.
The first shall be taken from the properties and conditions that must be in a work meritorious, and they are four. I. A man ⟨p. 106⟩must do it of himself, and by himself: for if it be done by another, the merit doth not properly belong to the doer. II. A man must do it of his own freewill and pleasure, not of due debt; for when we do that which we are bound to do, we do no more but our duty. III. The work must be done to the profit of an other, who thereupon must be bound to repay the like. IV. The reward and the work must be in proportion equal, for if the reward be more then the work, it is not a reward of desert, but a gift of good will. Hence follows a notable conclusion: That Christs manhood considered a part from his godhead, cannot merit at Gods hand: though it be more excellent every way then all both men and angels. For being thus considered, it doth nothing of it self, but by grace received from the godhead; though it also be without measure. Secondly Christs manhood is a creature, and in that regard bound to do whatsoever it doth. Thirdly, Christ as man cannot give any thing to god, but that which he received from God: therefore cannot the manhood properly by it ⟨p. 107⟩self merit, but only as it is personally united unto the godhead of the Sonne. And if this be so, then much less can any mere man, or any angel merit: yea it is a madness to think, that either our actions or persons should be capable of any merit whereby we might attain to life eternal.
The first shall be taken from the properties and conditions that must be in a worke meritorious, and they are fowre. I. A man ⟨p. 106⟩must doe it of himselfe, and by himselfe: for if it be done by another, the merite doth not properly belong to the doer. II. A man must doe it of his owne freewill and pleasure, not of due debt; for when we doe that which we are bound to doe, we doe no more but our dutie. III. The worke must be done to the profit of an other, who thereupon must be bound to repay the like. IV. The reward and the worke must be in proportion equall, for if the reward be more then the worke, it is not a reward of desert, but a gift of good will. Hence followes a notable conclusion: That Christs manhoode considered a part from his godhead, cannot merit at Gods hand: though it be more excellent euery way then all both men and angels. For being thus considered, it doth nothing of it selfe, but by grace receiued from the godhead; though it also be without measure. Secondly Christs manhoode is a creature, and in that regarde bound to doe whatsoeuer it doth. Thirdly, Christ as man cannot giue any thing to god, but that which he receiued from God: therfore cannot the manhoode properly by it