XIV.

OF WORKS OF SUPEREROGATION.

Voluntary works besides, over and above God's commandments, which they call works of supererogation, cannot be taught without arrogancy and impiety; for by them, men do declare, that they do not only render unto God as much as they are bound to do, but that they do more for his sake, than of bounden duty is required; whereas Christ saith plainly, When ye have done all that are commanded to you, say, We are unprofitable servants.

Q. What are called works of supererogation? A. Voluntary works, besides, over and above God's commandments.

Q. Why cannot they be taught, without arrogancy and impiety?

A. Because by them, men do declare, that they not only render unto God as much as they are bound to do, but that they do more for his sake, than of bounden duty is required.

Q. But what doth Christ plainly say?

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ye have done all that are commanded we are unprofitable servants."

Scripture Proofs.

Luke xvii. 10. So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants.

Philippians iii. 3. For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the Spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.

1 Corinthians iv. 7. For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?

Matthew xxv. 9. But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you.

1 Corinthians i. 31. He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

The best Christians know they have nothing to spare: we owe to God all the service we can perform, and more, therefore there is due unto us no reward of justice; what is given us is of free mercy; we merit no reward, and have nothing to boast of; and he is the greatest saint upon earth, who is the most humble; to become exalted in an opinion. of our own worthiness is to "fall into the condemnation of the devil;" we owe to our blessed Saviour ten thousand times more than we can ever pay, and all He requires of us, is to accept a discharge and to settle our love upon Him, not as any part of payment, but because He knows we cannot otherwise be happy.

XV.

OF CHRIST ALONE WITHOUT SIN.

Christ in the truth of our nature was made like unto us in all things, sin only except, from which he was clearly void, both in his flesh and in his spirit. He came to be the lamb without spot, who, by sacrifice of himself once made, should take away the sins of the world, and sin (as St. John saith) was not in him. But all we the rest (although baptized and born again in Christ) yet offend in many things; and if we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

Q. In what manner was Christ made like unto us? A. In the truth of our nature; sin only excepted. Q. From what was he clearly void?

A. From sin, both in his flesh, and in his spirit. Q. For what purpose did he come?

A. To be the lamb without spot, who, by sacrifice of himself once made, should take away the

Q. What do you say of all us, the rest?

A. That although baptized, and born again in Christ, yet we offend in many things.

Q. If we say we have no sin, what do we do? A. We deceive ourselves; and the truth is not

in us.

Scripture Proofs.

Hebrews iv. 15. Was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

John i. 29. Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

1 John i. 8. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves. Hebrews vii. 26, 27.

1 John iii. 5. And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. 1 Peter ii. 22.

That Christ was free from sin of every kind appears from the whole course of his life, but that all men are liable to sin, there can be no doubt. Let no one, says Cyprian, flatter himself with the idea of being innocent, since nobody is innocent, and by extolling himself, a person would only aggravate his punishment. He is instructed and taught that he is guilty of sin every day, since he is commanded to pray every day, for the forgiveness of his sins.

XVI.

OF SIN AFTER BAPTISM.

Not every deadly sin, willingly committed after baptism, is sin against the Holy Ghost, and unpardonable. Wherefore the grant of repentance is not to be denied to such as fall into sin after baptism. After we have received the Holy Ghost, we may depart from grace given, and fall into sin, and by the grace of God we may rise again, and amend our lives. And therefore they are to be condemned, which say, they can no more sin as long as they live here, or deny the place of forgiveness to such as truly repent.

Q. What do you say of every deadly sin, willingly committed after baptism?

A. That it is not sin against the Holy Ghost, and unpardonable.

Q. What do you thence infer?

A. That the grant of repentance is not to be denied to such, as fall into sin after baptism.

Q. What do you further say 7?

A. After we have received the Holy Ghost, we may depart from grace given, and fall into sin;