But many do maliciously corrupt this second member, by drawing from it the merit of works, and the confidence of meriting. 1For see how they frame their argument: If we be acceptable to God by faith, because we believe him to be a rewarder of them that seek him: faith then (say they) hath respect to the merit of works. But the only way to ref••e this error, 2is to consider of the means by which we seek God. For we must not be so foolish to think we seek God, when we err from the right way of seeking him. Now the scripture assigneth this to be the mean and way to seek God: §1first, that a man be humbled in himself, and touched to the quick by feeling himself guilty of eternal death before God, §2utterly despairing of any help in himself: secondly, that such a one have his refuge unto Christ, as to the only haven of his salvation: for it is certain we cannot find in any place of scripture that we must bring any merit of works unto God, to get our selves into favour with him. He therefore that shall well understand this definition of seeking God, shall wind himself out of this difficulty. For reward is not to be referred to the dignity or merit of works, but to faith. Thus do all the silly glosses of the Sophisters fall to the ground: By faith, say they, we please God, because by meriting (forsooth) we have a purpose to please him But the Apostle would carry us higher than so: to wit, that the conscience might have certain assurance in it self, that it shall not loose the labour in seeking God. ⟨p. 249⟩Which assurance far surmounteth our capacity, specially when every man descendeth into the consideration of himself. For we must not only hold this general proposition, 3that God is the rewarder of them that seek him: but every man must apply the profit & fruit of this doctrine to himself in particular: to wit, we must know that God respecteth us, that he hath such a tender care of our salvation, as he will never suffer us to perish: that he heareth our prayers, and will be our perpetual & exceeding great reward. Now seeing we can have none of all this without Christ, it must needs follow of necessity that our faith have always an eye unto him, and that in him alone it is to rest and content it self.4
But many doe malitiously corrupt this second member, by drawing from it the merit of workes, and the confidence of meriting. 1For see how they frame their argument: If wee be acceptable to God by faith, because we beleeue him to be a rewarder of them that seeke him: faith then (say they) hath respect to the merit of workes. But the onely way to ref••e this errour, 2is to consider of the meanes by which we seeke God. For we must not bee so foolish to thinke wee seeke God, when wee erre from the right way of seeking him. Now the scripture assigneth this to be the meane and way to seeke God: §1first, that a man be humbled in himselfe, and touched to the quicke by feeling himselfe guiltie of eternall death before God, §2vtterly despairing of any helpe in himselfe: secondly, that such a one haue his refuge vnto Christ, as to the onely hauen of his saluation: for it is certain we cannot find in any place of scripture that we must bring any merit of workes vnto God, to get our selues into fauour with him. He therefore that shall well vnderstand this definition of seeking God, shall winde himselfe out of this difficultie. For reward is not to be referred to the dignitie or merit of workes, but to faith. Thus doe all the silly gloses of the Sophisters fal to the ground: By faith, say they, we please God, because by meriting (forsooth) we haue a purpose to please him But the Apostle would carrie vs higher than so: to wit, that the conscience might haue certaine assurance in it selfe, that it shall not loose the labour in seeking God. ⟨p. 249⟩Which assurance farre surmounteth our capacitie, specially when euery man descendeth into the consideration of himselfe. For we must not onely hold this generall proposition, 3that God is the rewarder of them that seeke him: but euery mā must apply the profit & fruit of this doctrine to himself in particular: to wit, we must know that God respecteth vs, that he hath such a tender care of our saluation, as he will neuer suffer vs to perish: that he heareth our praiers, and will be our perpetuall & exceeding great reward. Now seeing we can haue none of al this without Christ, it must needs follow of necessitie that our faith haue alwaies an eie vnto him, and that in him alone it is to rest and content it selfe.4
- 1Merit of works
- 2The means how to seek God.The meanes how to seeke God.
- 3Knowledge profits not, unless there be application.Knowledge profits not, vnlesse there be application.
- 4Faith must content it self in Christ alone.Faith must content it selfe in Christ alone.
