The practical divinity of the papists discovered to be destructive of Christianity and mens…

Sect. 1. Holiness of life, is needless by the Popish Doctrine, though the Lord hath made this every way necessary both as a duty, which he indispensably requires: and as a means, without which he ordinarily will save no man, it is declared necessary both ways at once, Heb. 12. 14. The Papists indeed boast much of it, and seem sometimes to lay great stress on it, as if they would have it to be a character of the true Church; concluding theirs is the only true Church; because there is no Holiness to be found in the World, but amongst them only. Thus they pretend it to be of greatest consequence, but this is but to serve another turn, the design is not for Holiness of life, for their Doctors count that more than needs. And really they are extreme good Husbands here, and make a little Holiness go a great way: for it is enough to denominate the Universal Church holy; if there be but one holy person in it, so Costerus. ^(a)How many soever of its Members be dead, and impious; so long, as there is any one man, that retains Holiness, the Church must be called holy. And then to make this one man holy, one act of virtue is enough; and that a very slender one too, for saith Bannes. ^(b)Any one act of Charity how weak soever it be, is enough to fulfil all the commandments of God. Now he is doubtless a holy man, who fulfils all those Commandments. Further, this one act he need but do once, and that not all his life, he may defer it, till he dye, if he have no mind to trouble ⟨p. 154⟩himself with it in any part of his life before, as we have already showed. Yea, and he may be excused from it, when he is a dying too, as well as whilst he lives, if he can but get a Priest to absolve him: and ^(c)