And that, which hath been said of the state of the Papacy, extendeth also to the doctrine. For that in as great arrogance of spirit, they magnify their works, making their nests among the stars, & claiming everlasting glory, as a reward of their deeds. For so the Rhemish 1notes say, that eternal joy is a merit; & least we should not know by those general terms, how basely they think of GODS mercy, how proudly of their own works, they expound themselves, and say, that it is as ⟨p. 23⟩a stipend answering in weight & time to the work. Than 2which, what could be said more grossly, or profane? that the works of man should answer to eternal joy equally in time and weight! as though you should say, that ten thousand pounds were equal in time and weight to his works that had laboured one hour. But I come far below in this comparison, for there is some proportion, between an hours work, and the greatest sum of money, for they be finite; but between the everlasting, endless, and infinite joy of heaven, and mans works, that is between finite, & infinite, there is no proportion. But how could it be, that any men should thus speak, if the spirit of Antichrist, had not thus puffed them up, to utter such blasphemte in the pride of their hearts? But what shall I say? when the same men in their notes on the 8. Rom. grant, that if we look to the time, the joy of heaven is a great deal more, & here forsooth flee they to the grace of GOD: but, they must consider, that grace serveth them not, that they may claim it by desert: for whatsoever good the servants of GOD do, it is by grace; 3yet is it said, when they have done all, that is commanded, they have done but their duty, and that which they owed to the Lord. So that seeing we do, but our duty, there is not owing to us so much as thanks, and doth then GOD owe us the reward of eternal joy? The man, that payeth no more then that he oweth, doth his creditor owe him anything for the payment of it; unless he count him indebted to him, as he in the poet said? 4for that the world is so nought, that a man thinketh ⟨p. 24⟩himself pleasured, that receiveth in debts. But seeing we can never pay all, for who can say my heart is clean, I 5have not sinned? And if we have not fulfilled the whole law, done all that it commandeth, w• have not paid our debt;
And that, which hath beene said of the state of the Papacie, extendeth also to the doctrine. For that in as great arrogancie of spirit, they magnifie their workes, making their nests amōg the starres, & claiming everlasting glory, as a reward of their deeds. For so the Remish 1notes say, that eternall ioy is a merit; & least we should not know by those generall tearmes, how basely they thinke of GODS mercy, how prowdly of their owne workes, they expound themselues, and say, that it is as ⟨p. 23⟩a stipend answering in weight & time to the worke. Thē 2which, what could be said more grossely, or prophane? that the workes of man shoulde answere to eternall ioie equally in time and weight! as though you should say, that tenne thousand poundes were equall in time and weight to his workes that had laboured one houre. But I come farre below in this comparison, for there is some proportion, betweene an houres worke, and the greatest summe of mony, for they be finite; but betweene the everlasting, endlesse, and infinite ioy of heaven, and mans workes, that is betweene finite, & infinite, there is no proportion. But how could it be, that any men should thus speake, if the spirit of Antichrist, had not thus puft them vp, to vtter such blasphemte in the pride of their hearts? But what shall I say? when the same men in their notes on the 8. Rom. grant, that if we looke to the time, the ioy of heaven is a great deale more, & here forsooth flee they to the grace of GOD: but, they must consider, that grace serveth them not, that they may claime it by desert: for whatsoever good the servants of GOD do, it is by grace; 3yet is it said, when they haue done all, that is commaunded, they haue done but their duty, and that which they owed to the Lord. So that seeing we do, but our duty, there is not owing to vs so much as thankes, and doth then GOD owe vs the reward of eternal ioie? The mā, that payeth no more then that he oweth, doth his creditour owe him anything for the payment of it; vnlesse he count him indebted to him, as he in the poet said? 4for that the world is so nought, that a man thinketh ⟨p. 24⟩him•elfe pleasured, that receiveth in debts. But seeing we can never pay all, for who can say my heart is cleane, I
- 1Upon the 1 C. […]. 3.Vpon the 1 C. 〈…〉. 3.
- 2Ibidem.
- 3Luk. 17. 10.
- 4Pla•.
- 5Prov. 20 9.
