Paragraph 14.1

1. Workes of Supererogation cannot be taught without arrogancie, and impietie.

2. Workes of Supererogation, are that subuersion of godlines, and true religion.

The proofe from Gods word.

Workes of Supererogation (which are voluntary workes, besides, ouer, and aboue the commandements of God) are often condemned in the holy Scripture, where wee are commanded to walke, not after the lawes of men, but according to the Statutes of God;^a and to heare, not what man speaketh, but what Christ doth say:^b & he, teaching the dutie of christians, setteth before them, as their rule, and direction, the lawe, and word of God,^c and more then that hee doth neither vrge, nor require.

And against mans Iniunctions.

They worship mee in vaine (saith hee) who for doctrine teach the commandements of men.^d

Teach them to obserue all things whatsoeuer I haue commanded you.^e

My sheepe here my voice, and know not the voice of strangers.^f

Which doctrine, ordinances, & workes whatsoeuer (besides, ouer, and aboue that which God hath reuealed, and imposed, is called of the Apostle, somtimes ordinances of the world,^g voluntarie religion^h* sometime the doctrine of Deuillsⁱ and cursed:^j And the same is condemned in all Churches reformed after the word of God.^†

The Errors, and adversaries vnto this truth.

Therefore both arrogant, and vngodly be the Papists, which teach, and speak in the commendation of such workes, and namely Petrus a Soto,^‡ the Rhemistes;⁴ yea and the Coūcell of Trent.⁵

The proofe from Gods word.

Where the workes of Supererogation are taught, and in regard, the Law of God there is broken, against the will of Christ,^k that mens traditions may be obserued.^l

The holy Scripture must be contemned, not as sufficient enough to bring men vnto the knowledge of saluation, which S. Paul saith is able to instruct in righteousnesse, that the man of God may be absolute, being made perfect vnto all good workes.^m

God, who is onely wise,ⁿ is made vnwise, in not prescribing so necessarie workes.

Faith, and other spirituall, & most special virtues are brought into oblivion.

Perfection is imputed not vnto Faith in Iesus Christ, but vnto workes: and which is most detestable, vnto the workes too, not commanded but forbidden of God, ordained by men.

The Lawe of God is thought to be throughly satisfied; and moe duties performed then man needed to haue done. The same thinke our brethren of these workes.⁶

The adversaries vnto this truth.

Contrariwise the Papists of supererogatorie workes: they doe merit (say they) remission of sinnes, and that not for the doers of them onely, but for others besides.⁷

They are tokens of the forgiuenes of sinnes, so well as Baptisme; yea deliuer fom the wrath of God, so well as Christ.⁸

Are greater, and more holy, then are the workes commanded in the Decalogue, or Law morall.⁹

And so preferring their owne works, and inuentions before God his Law, Sacraments, and the blood of Christ, both ought this doctrine of workes supererogatorie to be counted the doctrine of Deuills, and the maintainers thereof taken for the subuerters of godlines, and true religion.