Precious faith considered in its nature, working, and growth

He therefore, who would have Assurance, must give Grace and Christ their due. One would think that the Papists, who hold, That they may by perfect Obedience reach the apex of the Law, and go beyond it in works of Supererogation, and climb Heaven it self by their own Merits, might arrive at Assurance much rather than Protestants, who instead of exceeding the Law confess themselves much short of it; and instead of meriting Heaven acknowledge all their Righteousnesses to be but a filthy rag: But it is far otherwise, the Papists generally do not so much as doctrinally hold it, save here and there a man among them; such as Antonius Marinarius, who in the Council of Trent asserted it; concluding his Speech thus; Si Coelum ruat, si Terra evanescat, si orbis illabatur praeceps, ego in Deum erectus ero; Much-like the Prophet Habakkuk, who in an universal languishment of nature would yet rejoice in the Lord the God of his Salvation: much less do they practically arrive at it. Bellarmine himself after his fair life, died not like a Bolton or a Rivet, not knowing whether he had a true Virtue in him or no, but seeming afraid of the Judgment-Seat; ⟨p. 427⟩unto some who begged his Prayers when in Heaven he made this Answer, The way thither is not so easy, I should esteem it a great Blessing from God, if I might obtain Purgatory for many years. Into such labyrinths do their Principles lead them: The Reason whereof is; They espouse Hagar the Covenant of Works, and that gendereth to bondage and servile fear: They corrupt the great Fountain of Peace and Joy; I mean free Justification by Christ and Grace; and their Comforts cannot run pure. They would compound those two incompatibles of Grace and Merit, and patch together Christs Righteousness and their own; which in the Apostle is to fall from Grace and make Christ of none effect, Gal. 5.4. And what Peace can follow? Whilst they look at the Law, Conscience will be still murmuring, Non recte sacrificasti, non recte orasti, as Luther hath it; This and that was omitted or not well done; The Levite and the Priest pass by their Wounds, the good Samaritan will not come, but alone, and without a co-partner, to make a Cure. If therefore thou wouldst have Assurance, thou must build on the right Foundation, and lie at the true Fountain of Comfort: Thy Love and thy Obedience are but Evidences, Christ and Grace are the only Foundation:

He therefore, who would have Assurance, must give Grace and Christ their due. One would think that the Papists, who hold, That they may by perfect Obedience reach the apex of the Law, and go beyond it in works of Supererogaton, and climb Heaven it self by their own Merits, might arrive at Assurance much rather than Protestants, who instead of exceeding the Law confess themselves much short of it; and instead of meriting Heaven acknowledg all their Righteousnesses to be but a filthy rag: But it is far otherwise, the Papists generally do not so much as doctrinally hold it, save here and there a man among them; such as Antonius Marinarius, who in the Council of Trent asserted it; concluding his Speech thus; Si Coelum ruat, si Terra evanescat, si orbis illabatur praeceps, ego in Deum erectus ero; Much-like the Prophet Habakkuk, who in an universal languishment of nature would yet rejoice in the Lord the God of his Salvation: much less do they practically arrive at it. Bellarmine himself after his fair life, died not like a Bolton or a Rivet, not knowing whether he had a true Virtue in him or no, but seeming afraid of the Judgment-Seat;