A15061:172
An answer to a certain book, writtenAn answere to a certeine booke, written
An answer to a certain book, written by Master William Rainolds student of divinity in the English college at Rhemes, and entitled, A refutation of sundry reprehensions, cavils, etc. by William Whitaker ...An answere to a certeine booke, written by Maister William Rainolds student of diuinitie in the English colledge at Rhemes, and entituled, A refutation of sundrie reprehensions, cauils, etc. by William Whitaker ...
Printed at London : For Thomas Chard, 1585
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.
so when the Lord speaketh to his children in like manner, I will give unto you eternal life, if you can be content patiently to wait for the time of your full deliverance, and to suffer afflictions in this life, as it is necessary for you to do, who but a blind papist will argue hereof, that these afflictions endured in the mean time are causes of eternal life, which is the free gift and grace of God? and yet is this M. Rainolds invincible argument, or rather invincible folly and ignorance.
so when the Lord speaketh to his children in like manner, I wil giue vnto you eternall life, if you can be content patientlie to waite for the time of your ful deliuerance, and to suffer afflictions in this life, as it is necessarie for you to do, who but a blinde papist wil argue hereof, that these afflictions endured in the meane time are causes of eternal life, which is the free gift and grace of God? and yet is this M. Rainolds inuincible argument, or rather inuincible sollie and ignorance.
Now where he maketh a comparison between Christs sufferings & ours,1 and because Christs sufferings merit eternal life,2 reasoneth that ours therefore do the same, he deserveth that all the boys in the school should clap their hands against him, as not only disputing most absurdly, but dishonouring our saviour Christ intolerably. Will you match your selves with Christ, your works and your sufferings ⟨p. 109⟩with his? you make a very unequal & most unreasonable comparison. For is there in you that perfection of virtue and excellency of grace that was in Christ, whereby he fully satisfied the law of God, and therefore deserved worthily the Kingdom of heaven? All our righteousness is unperfect, all our obedience is full of infirmity, whatsoever we can do or suffer, is stained with some pollution of sin, and therefore of due can merit nothing at the hands of God, much less the Kingdom of heaven and life everlasting. Thus your sum was not rightly gathered, as you may see.