24.2699
| 2699 See on Profit of
Believing, c. 1, p. 347. |
But it may well be asked, whether
this
patience likewise be the
gift of
God, or to be attributed to
strength of the human will, by which
patience, one who is separated
from the
Church doth, not for the error which separated him but for
the
truth of the Sacrament or Word which hath remained with him,
for
fear of pains
eternal suffer pains temporal. For we must take
heed lest haply, if we
affirm that
patience to be the
gift of
God,
they in whom it is should be thought to
belong also to the
kingdom
of
God; but if we deny it to be the
gift of
God, we should be
compelled to allow that without aid and
gift of
God there can be in
the will of man somewhat of good. Because it is not to be denied
that it is a good thing that a man believe he shall undergo
pain of
eternal punishment if he shall deny
Christ, and for that faith
endure and make light of any manner of punishment of man’s
inflicting.
E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
