proceeds to dwell at considerable length upon the Apostle’s argument from the universality of sin, and the weakness of the law; and, as the result, he presents two deductions--first, that the Apostle entirely excludes from justification only those works which are performed by the aid of the Mosaic, and of the natural law, without the grace of the Gospel; secondly, that the Apostle’s argument, so far from taking away from justification the necessity of good works, proves that the true righteousness of works is absolutely necessary to justification, and that the Gospel is the only efficacious method by which any man can be brought to practise such righteousness.[394] The coincidence of Bull’s teaching with Thorndike’s, as to the grounds of faith, appears in the following passage:-- “God knows the secrets of my heart; so far am I from the itch of originality in theological doctrines, ... that whatever are sanctioned by the consent of Catholic Fathers and ancient Bishops, though my own small ability attain not to them, yet I will embrace them with all reverence. In truth I had already learned, by no few experiments, in writing my _Harmony_, while yet a young man, what now in my mature age I am most thoroughly persuaded of, that no one can contradict Catholic consent, however he may seem to be countenanced for a while by some passages of Scripture wrongly understood, and by the illusions of unreal arguments, without being found in the end to have contradicted both Scripture and sound reason. I daily deplore and sigh over the unbridled license of prophesying which obtained for some years in this our England, ... under the tyranny of what some considered a wretched necessity. In a word, my hearty desire is this, Let the ancient customs and doctrines remain in force.”[395] [Sidenote: ANGLICANS.--BULL.]