Now this true humiliation of a sinner can not be wrought in any mans hart by the religion of the Church of Rome. True & sound humiliation is wrought by two means: first by making a man to see the greatness of his sin and wickedness: secondly, by making him to acknowledge, that he is destitute, & quite bereft of all goodness. For if a man either see not the greatness of his sin, or have confidence of any thing in himself, he cannot be humbled: but neither of these 2. things are performed in the Church of Rome. As touching the first, the Romish religion is so far from amplifying & enlarging the greatness of mens sins▪ that it doth extenuate them, ⟨p. 201⟩and lessen them out of measure, for it maketh some sins to be venial fwhen as the least sin that can be against Gods law, deserveth damnation, git teacheth that lesser sins are done away by an humble accusation of a mans self, by saying the Lords prayer, by knocking upon the breast, and by such like: that greater sins may be done away by alms deeds, and such like satisfactions. But how can any sin be great, that may be done away with such easy and slight means. Furthermore it teacheth, that evil thoughts & desires, and motions of the heart without consent are no sins: and this opinion cutteth off all true humiliation: for hPaul never repented, before he understood the meaning of the last commandment, & perceived thereby, that the desires and lusts of his hart, to which he did not yield his consent, were sins damnable before God, and knowing this, he then saw himself to be most miserable, & renown cing his own righteousness, he sought for righteousness in Christ. Lastly iit teacheth, that original sin is done away in Baptism, and that is the least sin of all other. What is this but to extenuate mans corruption, for when the root of corruption is taken ⟨p. 202⟩away, and it is made so little a sin, actual sins cannot be taken for such heinous matters.
Now this true humiliation of a sinner cā not be wrought in any mans hart by the religion of the Church of Rome. True & soūd humiliation is wrought by two meanes: first by making a man to see the greatnes of his sinne and wickednesse: secondly, by making him to acknowledge, that he is destitute, & quite bereft of all goodnes. For if a man either see not the greatnes of his sin, or haue confidēce of any thing in himself, he cānot be humbled: but neither of these 2. things are performed in the Church of Rome. As touching the first, the Romish rel•gion is so farre frō amplifying & enlarging the greatnes of mens sins▪ that it doth extenuate thē, ⟨p. 201⟩and lessen them out of measure, for it maketh some sinnes to be veniall fwhen as the least sinne that can bee against Gods lawe, deserueth damnation, git teacheth that lesser sinnes are doone away by an humble accusation of a mans self, by saying the Lords praier, by knocking vpon the breast, and by such like: that greater sinnes may be doone away by almes deeds, and such like satisfactions. But how can any sinne be great, that may bee doone awaie with such easie and sleighr meanes. Furthermore it teacheth, that euill thoughts & desires, and motions of the heart without consent are no sinnes: and this opinion cutteth off all true humiliation: for hPaule neuer repented, before he vnderstood the meaning of the last commandement, & perceiued thereby, that the desires and lusts of his hart, to which he did not yeeld his consent, were sinnes damnable before God, and knowing this, he then saw himself to be most miserable, & renoū cing his owne righteousnes, he sought for righteousnes in Christ. Lastly iit teacheth, that originall sinne is done away in Baptisme, and that is the least sinne of all other. What is this but to extenuate mās corruption, for when the root of corruptiō is takē ⟨p. 202⟩away, and it is made so little a sinne, actuall sinnes cannot bee taken for such heinous matters.
- fGal. 3. 13
- gCanis. Ope• Cat. pag. 491.
- hRom. 7. 9. 10.
- iConc. Colon. pag. 46. 54.
