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

And since increase of Virtue is by the exercise of it, where the increase is not necessary, the exercise is needless. Further, no Act of Virtue in any degree is requisite, but only in the article of necessity; for then only affirmative precepts oblige, at all other times, they bind no more than mere Counsels, nor than neither, unless it can be known when this Article occurs; and how shall it be known? the Scriptures have not declared it, they say, nor Councils neither, why they have a rule in the case. ^(m)Things not determined, are left to the Arbitrement of an honest man; & so it is left to every mans will, who can suppose himself honest; if he never find time for any act of virtue, he will not be obliged to any: or if he will be so cautious to consult their Divines in the case, some of them declare, that such a virtuous Act is rarely needful, nor can they certainly tell when: others conclude there is no necessity of it all. Now he may follow which please him best, even those (if he list) which discharge him from all obligations to the acts in question; and this he may do safely, not only by their doctrine of probability, but by the determination of their Oracle. The Council of ⟨p. 177⟩Trent will secure him, though he never perform one act of Virtue all his life, nor repent thereof at his death, by a fine device, which is neither Repentance nor a Virtue, of which before.

And since encrease of Vertue is by the exercise of it, where the increase is not necessary, the exercise is needless. Further, no Act of Vertue in any degree is requisite, but only in the article of necessity; for then only affirmative precepts oblige, at all other times, they bind no more than mere Counsels, nor than neither, unless it can be known when this Article occurs; and how shall it be known? the Scriptures have not declared it, they say, nor Councels neither, why they have a rule in the case. ^(m)Things not determined, are left to the Arbitrement of an honest man; & so it is left to every mans will, who can suppose himself honest; if he never find time for any act of vertue, he will not be obliged to any: or if he will be so cautious to consult their Divines in the case, some of them declare, that such a vertuous Act is rarely needful, nor can they certainly tell when: others conclude there is no necessity of it all. Now he may follow which please him best, even those (if he list) which discharge him from all obligations to the acts in question; and this he may do safely, not only by their doctrine of probability, but by the determination of their Oracle. The Council of