A treatise of mans imaginations Showing his natural evil thoughtsA treatise of mans imaginations Shewing his naturall euill thoughts

This evil thought reigneth in our age and time as all the former do:¹ for come to an ignorant man that hath not been instructed in religion, reason with him touching his estate, and ask him whether he can keep the law of God or not; he will answer, he can; he loveth the lord his God with all his heart, and his neighbour as himself: Ask him how he looks to be saved; his answer is by his own righteousness, and for his own goodness. If due examination were made, this ⟨p. 133⟩would be found to be the thought of many that live in the Church among us; and there is none by nature free from this thought.

This euill thought raigneth in our age and time as all the former doe:¹ for come to an ignorant man that hath not beene instructed in religion, reason with him touching his estate, and aske him whether he can keepe the law of God or not; he will answer, he can; he loueth the lord his God with all his heart, and his neighbour as himselfe: Aske him how hee lookes to be saued; his answer is by his owne righteousnes, and for his owne goodnesse. If due examination were made, this ⟨p. 133⟩would be found to be the thought of many that liue in the Church among vs; and there is none by nature free from this thought.

1. 1Examination for this thought.

Hereby then we may see that the thoughts of every man, be he what he will, are plain papistry, for Popery is natural: One chief pillar and ground thereof is Justification, and salvation by works; which opinion every man brings with him from his mothers womb: And so it is in the point of merit, men naturally think they receive the good things which they have from God, for their own righteousness.