I. Scripture-light the most sure light ... delivered in three sermons on 2 Pet.…

Fourthly: If Christ did merit that the Blessings of the Covenant, should thus be bestowed upon Condition, then he did merit that we might merit at the hand of God, at least ex congruo; ¹for what is Merit? Bellarmin is sufficiently able to tell us what Merit is; and saith he, Promises are of two sorts; either Absolute, or Conditional: Absolute, as suppose a Prince doth promise an hundred pound freely to a poor man upon no Condition, if the Prince give it, the poor man doth not merit at all: But then there is another Promise that is Conditional; as if a man do promise to give another an hundred pound for some work, now says he, though the Condition be short in worth of the hundred pound; yet if he give it upon that Condition, here is truly merit; for (says he) he doth merit ex congruo, cui debetur, unto whom the reward is due out of Grace. But no Protestant, unless tainted with Popery, will say that Christ did merit for us, that we might merit at the hand of God.

Fourthly: If Christ did merit that the Blessings of the Covenant, should thus be bestowed upon Condition, then he did merit that we might merit at the hand of God, at least ex congruo; ¹for what is Merit? Bellarmin is sufficiently able to tel us what Merit is; and saith he, Promises are of two sorts; either Absolute, or Conditional: Absolute, as suppose a Prince doth promise an hundred pound freely to a poor man upon no Condition, if the Prince give it, the poor man doth not merit at al: But then there is another Promise that is Conditional; as if a man do promise to give another an hundred pound for some work, now saies he, though the Condition be short in worth of the hundred pound; yet if he give it upon that Condition, here is truly merit; for (saies he) he doth merit ex congruo, cui debetur, unto whom the reward is due out of Grace. But no Protestant, unless tainted with Popery, wil say that Christ did merit for us, that we might merit at the hand of God.

1. 1Si promissio non requirat ullam conditionem operis, tunc quidem nullum inde orietur meritum ut si Rex egenti alicui promittat in singulos annos certum nummorum numerum sine ulla conditione, debebuntur egenti illi pecuniae Regiae, sed absque ullo merito ejus; at si promissio contineat operis conditionem, orietur inde meritum etiamsi opus illud alioqui non sit per se equal mercedi; vere enim qui opus illud fecerit, convenire poterit promissorem ac dicere, see meruisse praemium ab illo promissum.