The Catholic scripturist, or, The plea of the Roman Catholics. Shewing the scriptures to hold the Roman faith in above forty of the chief controversies now under debate. No. 12

Abstract

Point XXXV. It is Laudable to do Good Works for Reward.

1. As charity towards our neighbour is a most commendable virtue, so charity towards ourselves cannot but be most commendable. Wherefore, seeing these good work do profit us so very much, as we have seen in the last Point and last Number, I cannot possibly understand that paradox of our adversaries, saying, they do ill, who do well out of a desire to gain heaven. True it is, a man may do well out of a more commendable motive, that is, to honour and please God. But because something is better than doing good for hope of reward, the doing good, out of that hope, doth not cease to be good. You say that faith alone is so good, that it doth justify a man: and yet Scripture tells you, that "of these three, faith, hope, and charity, the greater ( and better) of these is charity." (1 Cor. xiii. 13.) Faith is very good and commendable. Whence appears that nothing ceases to be good, because another act is better.

2. The Scriptures cited in the last Point, evidently exhort us in our sufferings, " to be glad and rejoice, because our reward is great in heaven, and to do our good work in secret, not to lose our reward, but to heap up to ourselves treasure in heaven, and to sell all to purchase treasure there, and in doing good works not to fail, for in due time we shall reap not failing." May we not sow in hope of harvest? did not St. Paul seek the first abounding on this account, to those who had sent to his use...[Excerpt]