oftheeftateofperfetlion. 599 -----------~--~--~~~---------------harh it perfection ofparrs: becaufe it harh all A and cuery part aHd faculty both iof body and foule that is required toa perfect man. C1nclu[. u. There be certaine workes of fupererogation:that is,fuch workes as are not ondy aofwerablo to the law, and thereupon deferue life euerlalling: but goe beyond the Jaw, and merit more then the law by it felfc can make any man to merit. But where may we finde thefc works? not in theperfonofaoy meere man,or angel,nor in al men and angels: butonelyin theperfonofChrill God&man; whofe workes are not onely anfwerablc to the perfection ofthe law, but goe farrc be– yond the fame. For firll, the obedience ofhis life confidered alone by it fclfe, was a~fwera- B bleeuen to the rigour of the law: and there– fore the fulfe:ing ofbis death & pafsioa,were more t~n the law could require at his hand: confidering it requireth no punilhmcnt of him that is a doer of all things contained therein. Secondly, thevery rigour ofthe law tequirerh obedience onely of them that are mecre men: but the obedience of Chrill was the obedience ofa perfon that was l.oth God and man. Thirdly, the law requires perfonall obedience, thatis, that euery man fulfill the lawe for himfelfe, and it fpeakesof no more. Chrift obryedthel•wfor bimfolfe,not becaufe he did by his obedienco merit his owne glorie: but becauf" he was to b.ea perfeU and pure highpriell,noronelyinnarure, buralfo in life; C and ashee wasacreature,hee was to beecon– formlble to ·the Lawe. Now the obedience wh:ch Chrill: performed,wa1nor for himfelfe alone, bur it feruerh alf<> for all the elect: and confidering it was the obedience of God (as P•slfignified whenhee fJid,.A£/.zo 28 fcede the Church ofGod, which he purchafedw:rh hu blood) it was fcfficicnr for many thoufand worlds: and by re,fonrhelaw requircrh no o– bedience ofhim thlt is God: this obedience therefore may truly be rearmed a workcoffu– pererogation. This one weacknowledge,aod bdidt this we dare acknowledge none. And thus far weeagre< withthe Church of Rome, in the doctrineof~heetlatc of perfeaicn-; and ferued.The fecond,is projit.blep-rf<£1ion,wht ti men doe notonely fuch rbi,gs asrhelawerc– quires, but ouer and befidcs, they makecer– tamc vowes, and performe cerrainc other clu~ ties which the lawenioynesnoc: forthe doing whereof,they !hallbe rewarded with agreat< r meafure ofglory,the the law ddignerh. This they make plaine by comparilon: Two foul. diersfightin the fidd vnder one and the f.n,e capcaine: the one ondy keepes his IC.nding, and rh<reby deferues his pay: the other ink,e– ping ofhis place, doth alfo winne the cn<rNes frandard, or doefome other notableex?lo:r: now this man befidcs his pay def,.rues forne greaterreward. And rhus(fay the)) it is w:rh all true Catholikes in the !late ofgrace: rhev that keq>e the law !ball hauclifeerern•ll, but they thatdoe more then the law, as work<S c t fupererogation,lhall be crowned with grearer glorie. Thisistheirdochine. Butweon the contrary teach 1 that albeit we are to fhiue ro a pcrfeaion as much as wee can , ytt no m ...n can fulfil[ the law of God in this life: much letfe dce workes of lupererogation: for the confirmation whereof, thefe reafon• mJy be vfed:I.In the moralllaw two things arc corn. manded. Fir1l,theloue ofGod and man. Se– condly, the manner of this loue: now the manner Gflouing God, is to bue Hm with all our heart andllrengt" .LIIf:!·tO >7· Theu fh•lt louethe Lordth] Godwllh,!/tbyhe•re •nd omhal thyJoule.~•4with a,hyPrength,.wdwirh•',by thought,&c. As Bern.rdfaid,Tbe me•(nmiflo. ~mg G1d~u to IoH~G~dwith~ut meafore, and tllat :s, tolouc him with thegreatefi perfection of loue thal can befall acreature. Hence it fol– lowes,that io louing God no man can pofsibly doe more then the law rcq•Jireth: and there– fore the performanceofal vowes whatfoeuet and all like duties, comes tborrofthe incenri~ onorfcopeofthelaw. further we dart not. The dijfm11ee. The Papitls hold(as the writings ofthe lear– ned among them teach) thata.man bceingin the!late ofgrace, may notonely ktepe all the commandemenrsofrhdaw, andrherebyde– fcrue his owne fa!nation; bur alfo goe beyond the Lawe, •nddoe workes offupererogation which the law requireth not: as tO performe the vow offingle life, and tke vow ofregular obedience,&c. And by this meanes(they fay) men deferue a greater degree of glorie then the Lawcan alfoord. Ofperfellion they make tw~ kindes: one they call nec~{f4rie perf<Cii••· wh:ch IS the fulfilling of the Lawe in euery comnundement, whereby creroalllife is deII. Reafon. The compalfe of the law is larfe, and comprehenderh in it more then the mind ofman can at the firtl conceiue: for cuc– ry commandemenr hath two parrs, the nega· uue,and theaffirmatiue- In the negariueisfor– bidden notonely the capitall finnc named, as murrher,theft,adultery,&c. but all fins of the D fame kinde, with all occafior.s and proaocari– ons thereto. And in the affirmatiue is com– manded not onely the contrary vertues,as the loueofGod, and the loucof our neighbours honour, life, challity,goods, good name, but the vfe ofallhelpes and meanes, whereby the faid vertues may be preferued, timhered and prattifed. Thus bath our Sauiour Chrill him– fdfe expounded thelaw,Matth. 5· Vpon this plaine ground I conclude, tharall duties per– taining to life and manners, come within the till of fomc moral commmdcmcnt. And that the Papills making their workesoffup<rcro• gation meanes to further the louc of<iod and man, mull needs bring them vndcr the com– palfe ofthclaw. Vndcr which ifthey bc,they cannot pofsibly goc beyond the tame, ~---L--------------------------------------~E~e!e~4L_______~R~~-n_____
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