Let us then see how in Jesus Christ only we find• sufficient remedies against all the temptations of Satan & all dismaying of conscience. First Satan & our own conscience to show our unworthiness setteth before us y• nature of God perfectly righteous as chief enemy & revenger of all iniquity, Now sith that we find that we be covered with an infinite number of iniquities, it followeth that we can look for nothing, ⟨p. 19⟩but the reward of sin, that is to say, death aeternal. What can man allege now against this conclusion? Certainly, nothing, that is available, except it be that which I shall say hereafter. For first if he have recourse unto Gods mercy, forgetting his justice, he deceiveth him self. For this is a thing most sure, that2 God is in such wise merciful, that notwithstanding his justice must be entirely and fully confessed as we have declared here before in the. 26. article of the. 8 point. If then we will allege for a cloak to cover our sins y• merits of saints, first we do them great wrong, for as much as David himself crieth out and saith: enter anot Lord into judgement with thy servant, & in another bplace he confesseth y• his works can not attain unto God. And what said Paul of Abraham that holy person and father of the faithful? If Abraham c saith he had ben justified by works, he had wherein to rejoice, but not toward God: for what saith the scripture? Abraham believed ⟨image 42⟩God, and that was counted to him for righteousness. And what saith Saint Paul of him self, truly dsayeth he, I know not my self to be culpable, but yet am I not thereby justified. Howe can we then allege the merits of Saints for a satisfaction for our sins, for so much as themselves had no refuge but eto the only mercy of god, being pacified by Jesus Christ. *Moreover if it had been so that the saints had merited heaven by their holy life, (the which could not be sith they do testify themselves the contrary) had they not received already the payment and reward for their merits and good works, by what right or title then can we allege their merits any more? *For to say that they had so many merits y• there remained overplus for other, is that not as much as fal•efy that which they have left us in writing? And what more?
LEt vs then sée how in Iesus Christ onely wée find• sufficient remedies against all the temptations of Sathan & all dismaying of conscience. First Sathan & our owne conscience to shewe our vnworthines setteth before vs y• nature of God perfitly rightwyse as chiefe enemie & reuenger of all iniquity, Now syth that wée fynde that wée be couered with an infinite number of iniquities, it foloweth that we can looke for nothing, ⟨p. 19⟩but the rewarde of sinne, that is to saye, death aeternall. What can man alledge now against this conclusion? Certainly, nothing, that is auayleable, except it be that which I shal say hereafter. For first if hee haue recourse vnto Gods mercye, forgetting his iustice, hée deceyueth him selfe. For this is a thing most sure, that2 God is in such wyse mercifull, that notwithstanding his iustice must be entierly and fully confessed as wée haue declared here before in the. 26. article of the. 8 point. If then we wyl aledge for a cloke to couer our sinnes y• merites of saints, fyrst we doo them great wrong, for as much as Dauid himselfe cryeth out and sayth: enter anot Lorde into iudgement with thy seruant, & in another bplace he confesseth y• his workes can not attayne vnto God. And what sayd Paul of Abraham that holye person and father of the faithfull? If Abraham c saith he had ben iustified by workes, hée had wherein to reioyce, but not towarde God: for what sayth the scripture? Abraham beléeued ⟨image 42⟩God, and that was compted to hym for ryghteousnesse. And what sayth Saynt Paule of him selfe, truely dsayeth he, I knowe not my selfe to be culpable, but yet am I not therby iustified. Howe can we then alledge the merites of Saintes for a satisfaction for our sins, for somuch as themselues had no refuge but eto the only mercy of god, being pacified by Iesus Christ.
- aRoma. 5. b
- 2Augustine, the merits of Saints first reason.Augustine, the merites of Sayntes first reason.
- aPsalm. 143
- bPsalm. 16
- d2. Cor. 4. a
- ePhilip. 3
- *Second reason.
- *Third reason.Thirde reason.
