A09453:192
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
Doctrine 5 › Objections of Papists.Doctrine 5 › Obiections of Papists.
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.
Object. II. Christ by his death merited that our works should merit life everlasting. Answ. That is false: all we find in Scripture is, that Christ by his merit procured pardon of sin, imputation of righteousness, and life everlasting: and it is no where said in the word of God, that Christ did merit, that our works should merit: it is a dotage of their own devising. He died not for our good works to make them able to satisfy Gods anger: but for our sins, that they might be pardoned. Thus much saith the Scripture, & no more. And in that Christ did sufficiently merit life eternal for us, by his own death: it is a sufficient proof that he never intended to give us power of meriting the same: unless we suppose that at some time he gives more then is needful. Again, Christ in the ⟨p. 112⟩office of mediation as he is a King, Priest, and Prophet, admitteth no deputy or fellow. For he is a most perfect Mediator, doing all things by himself, without the help of any. And the ministers that dispense the word are not his deputies, but reasonable and voluntary instruments, which he useth. But if men by works can merit increase of grace and happiness for themselves, then hath Christ partners in the work of redemption: men doing that by him, which he doth of himself, in procuring their salvation. Nay, if this might stand, that Christ did merit, that our works should merit, then Christ should merit that our stained righteousness being for this cause not capable of merit, should nevertheless merit. I call it stained; because we are partly flesh and partly spirit: and therefore in our selves deserving the curse of the law, though we be regenerate. Again, for one good work we do, we have many evil, the offence whereof defaceth the merit of our best deeds, and makes them too light in the balance of the law.
Obiect. II. Christ by his death merited that our works should merit life euerlasting. Answ. That is false: all we finde in Scripture is, that Christ by his merit procured pardon of sinne, imputation of righteousnes, and life euerlasting: and it is no where saide in the word of God, that Christ did merit, that our workes should merit: it is a dotage of their owne deuising. He died not for our good workes to make them able to satisfie Gods anger: but for our sinnes, that they might be pardoned. Thus much saith the Scripture, & no more. And in that Christ did sufficiently merit life eternall for vs, by his owne death: it is a sufficient proofe that he neuer intended to giue vs power of meriting the same: vnles we suppose that at some time he giues more then is needefull. Againe, Christ in the