Green on Article XIV: Of Works of Supererogation

The term ‘ Supererogation ’ is derived from the Latin super-erogare. Erogare strictly signifies “ to vote money out of the treasury,” but is also used in the more general sense “ to spend.” Super erogare therefore means “ to spend more than is required.” The verb is used in the Vulgate, S. Luke x. 35, “ quodcumque supererogaveris,” i.e., whatso¬ ever thou shalt have spent over and above.

The distinction had been drawn by the later Schoolmen, and divines of the Roman Church, between the commandments of God, which all men are obliged to keep, and Counsels of Per¬ section, which are assumed to be over and above God’s command¬ ments, and to which it is given to some to attain.- Some passages of Scripture were held to favour this distinction ; see especially S. Matt. xix. ii, 12, 21 ; i Cor. vii. I, 7, 25. Thus vows of poverty, or of chastity, being not necessary for all Christians, came to be looked upon as meritorious in themselves, and it was imagined that those who took such vows were doing more for God than was required of them.

In the decrees of the Council of Trent nothing is laid down concerning 4 consilia evangelica ’ or ‘ consilia perfectionis ,’ but we may judge of current teaching from the writings of Bellarmine. See his f De Monachis * : —

Cap. VII. — “Consilium perfectionis vocamus opus bonum, a Christo nobis non imperatum, sed demonstratum, non mandatum sed com- mendatum.”

Cap. VIII. — “ Sententia est catholicorum omnium, multa esse vere et proprie consilia evangelica, sed praecipue tria, continentiam, obedien- tiam et paupertatem, quae nec sint praecepta nec indifferentia, sed Deo grata, et ab ilia commendata.”

Cap. XII. — “Videmus in omnibus bene institutis rebuspublicis prae- ter praemia et poenas … esse etiam praemia quaedam decreta heroicis operibus ; … ita ergo non abhorret a ratione, imo potius conforme est rationi, ut praeter vitam aeternam, promissam observatoribus legis divinae, sint etiam certa praemia et singulares honores pro iis, qui non solum Dei legem servant, sed etiam virtutes heroicas ostendunt. ”

(2.) The Doctrine of Works of Supererogation is arrogant and IMPIOUS.

Works of Supererogation cannot be taught without arrogance 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.

What God requires of us is nothing short of this : — to love Him with all the heart, with all the soul, with all the strength, and with all the mind (S. Luke x. 27); that we

IOO

should be perfect, even as He is perfect (S. Matt. v. 48). It is obviously impossible to do more than fulfil this require¬ ment of God ; on the contrary, we all fall far short of it ; we all need to pray continually, as our Lord has taught us, “ Forgive us our trespasses ” (S. Matt. vi. 12; S. Luke xi. 4), and, if there is any truth in us, we shall all acknowledge our own unworthiness (see S. Luke xvii. 10, the passage referred to in the Article). It is not, of course, denied that vows of poverty, chastity, &c., have their place in the Christian Religion ; but the mistake lies (so the Article shows us) in considering such works to be over and above God’s commandments. To those who feel themselves called to such state of life the so-called i Counsels of Perfection ’ become God’s commandments .

To suppose that there is a certain fixed measure of obedience beyond which it is not necessary to go, that we render unto God as much as we are bound to do, is impiety, since the Perfection of God Himself is our standard. Again, to imagine that we do more than of bounden duty is required is arrogance, because we ourselves, body, soul, and spirit, are entirely God’s, so that we owe ourselves and all that we have to His service. Where all is thus owing it is im¬ possible that part can be over-pay.

Concerning the subject treated in this Article we may compare : —

Wurtemburg Confession, Art. ‘ He Lege ’ :

“ Sed quod nonnulli sentiunt hominem posse in hac vita eo pervenire, ut non tantum impleat suis operibus Hecalogum, verum etiam possit plura et majora opera facere, quam in Decalogo prae- cepta sunt, quae vocant opera supererogationis, alienum est a pro- phetica et Apostolica doctrina, et pugnat cum sententia verae Catholicae Ecclesiae.”

Westminster Confession, XYI. 4. :

“They who in their obedience attain to the greatest height which is possible in this life, are so far from being able to super- erogate, and to do more than God requires, as that they fall short of much which in duty they are bound to do.”