The true gain more in worth then all the goods in the worldThe true gaine more in worth then all the goods in the world

Again,¹ No man may think that God is bound as it were by a bargain, to repay that which he hath promised. For as God is free to promise, so is he free in respect of repaying, especially considering that as well merits as rewards are his grace. For God crowns nothing else in us but his grace: because ^bif he would deal with us in extremity, none living should be justified in his sight. And hereupon the Apostle, who laboured more then all, saith: I think that the afflictions of this time are not worthy the glory that shall be revealed. Therefore this covenant or bargain is nothing else but a voluntary promise. ³Anselm after him saith: If a man should serve God a thousand years, and that most zealously, ^che should not worthily deserve to be ⟨p. 29⟩in the kingdom of heaven so much as half a day. ⁵S. Bernard saith, Touching eternal life, we know that the sufferings of this time are not worthy of the glory to come; no not if one man should suffer all. For the merits of men are not such, that eternal life may be due for them, or that God should do some injury if he gave it not. For to let pass, that all merits are the gifts of God, and so man is rather debtor to God for them, then God to man, what are all merits to so great a glory? Lastly, who is better then the Prophet, to whom the Lord giveth so worthy a testimony, saying: I have found a man according to mine own heart: for all that he had need to say to God, Enter not into judgement with thy servant. Again in the process of time, when the merit of condignitie had taken place, it was not generally received: for it was rejected of sundry schoolmen and others, as of Gregory of Arimine, of Durand, of Waldensis, of Burgensis and Scotus. Wherefore to conclude, it now appears to be an infallible certainty, that he which desires to be saved by Christ, must endure the loss of all his ⟨p. 30⟩works and virtues whatsoever, in the cause of his own justification.