Oh, but Bellarmine says [j), the prophet speaks this in the person of the wicked. I hope he will not put the prophet into that number ; for he saith, ' we,' and * our ;' and ' our righteousness,' not our ill deeds; and 'all our righteousness.' Nay, of himself in particular, Isaiah saith as much in Isa. vi. 5. And besides, the wicked do not use to pray, as the whole chapter is to that end. And Daniel also includes himself in his confession, Dan. ix. 20. And to prove this by reason : we know that weak and corrupt principles must needs produce imperfect eftects. Now the principles of all our motions are evilly afiected ; our understandings, memories, affections, all are corrupt and weak. Corruptions make combats in all parts of the soul and body : in whatsoever therefore we do, there is flesh and spirit ; and their own authors agree hereunto : as Ferus [k), and Catharen, a car- dinal of their own, says there is donata justitia, and inharens [I). When the question is what we must lean to, it must be only on Christ and his righteousness, wherewith from him we are endowed. And a pope of theirs, Adrian the Fourth (?«), saith that all our righteousness is as the reed of Egypt, which will not only fail us if we rest on it, but will pierce our sides. St Cyprian saith also, that he is either superhus or stultus, that says or thinks he is perfect [n). And good reason, for that which shines in the eyes of man, in God's esteem is base. ' In thy sight shall no flesh be justified,* Rom. iii. 20, Now there are divers degrees of judgments. In God's judg- ment none shall be justified ; nor in judgment of law, for in many things we oflend all : and for the judgment of the world, what is it if it clear us ? Can that acquit us, if God and the law condemns us ? and for the judgment of our own consciences, if they be cleared they will condemn us. Yea, the papists are not satisfied in their own consciences for this point. For if there may be a perfect fulfilling of the law in this life, by a man's own inhe- rent righteousness, why do they teach the doctrine of doubting as necessary
PHILIPPIANS CHAP. Ill, VEU. 8. 85
to salvation ? But however they may brabble* in schools to maintain this their assertion, yet when death comes, they must fly those shifts, and lay hold only on God's love (o).
Some will say, What are the graces of God's Spirit ? Are the sacrifices, the sweet odours, and ornaments of the spouse, ai^e these dung ?
I answer, Things admit of one esteem simply considered, and of another comj)aratively. Stars in the day are not seen, yet in the night are great lights. So works in regard of Christ's works are not visible, are nothing, but in themselves are good.
Secondly, I say there are two courts : one of justification, another ofsanctifi- cation. In the court of justification merits are nothing woi'th, insufficient; but in the court of sanctification, as they are ensigns of a sanctified course, so they are jewels and ornaments.
Ohj. But the ignorant papist objects against us, saying that we dis- courage men from good works, because we do so basely esteem of them.
Ans. I answer, A sick man cannot eat meat, but it breeds humours that strengthens the disease. Shall he therefore forbear all manner of meats ? No. For meat strengthens nature, and makes it able to overcome the power of the disease. So by reason of our corruption we have within us, we halt in every good work we put our hand to. Shall we not therefore work at all ? Yes. For notwithstanding our weakness, though we merit not any good, yet God, he overlooks the illness of our works, and accepts and rewards the good that is in them, giving us comfort and assurance of our justification, by the sanctified fruits, which, though imperfect, yet are true. To conclude : seeing we cannot have Christ, putting any confidence in outward things, let us labour to get an esteem of the weakness and impcr- fections that are in them, as also in our persons and actions, that we may hunger after Christ. To this end, daily renew we our repentance and exa- mination of our hearts ; and when we do any good, examine what weak- ness, want of zeal, want of afiection or attention hath possessed us in our performances (of praying, hearing, reading the word, and the like), and want of watchfulness in our courses ; and then shall we be of St Paul's mind, all will be naught. And take heed of spiritual pride and conceit of any good in us ; for it hinders spiritual comfort from us. Let us meditate of the greatness of God's love to us, and the infinite reward ; and it will make us ashamed of our weak requittance of God's love to us. Consider the multitude of our sins before the time we were called ; and consider of our proneness to spiritual pride ; let us by all means abase ourselves. For those that God loves, he will have them vile in their own esteem : for it is his method, first, to beat down, then to raise up. And therefore John, he comes thundering, ' Hypocrites, generation of vipers !' Mat. iii. 7. Then comes Christ, ' Blessed are the poor, those that hunger and thirst after righteousness,' Mat. v. 6 ; as if only they were blessed that feel their wants. We must disdain any other titles to any good, but only in God's mercy, and accordingly give the glory of all to him. Thus did the church mili- tant, ' Not unto us, not unto us. Lord, but to thy name,' Ps. cxv. 1 ; and thus do the church triumphant, Rev. vii. 12, ' Honour, glory, and power be to the Lamb.' Those that do not thus are no members of the church.