As for the merit of man in his good works, neither are those who deny it fully agreed among themselves, nor is there any man almost of them all that, since they began to write, hath not somewhat changed and varied from himself.  And far the more part are thus far agreed with us:  Like as we grant them that no good work is worth aught toward heaven without faith; and that no good work of man is rewardable in heaven of its own nature, but through the mere goodness of God, who is pleased to put so high a price upon so poor a thing; and that this price God setteth through Christ’s passion, and also because they are his own works with us (for no man worketh good works toward God unless God work with him); and as we grant them also that no man may be proud of his works for his own imperfect working, because in all that he may do he can do God no good, but is an unprofitable servant, and doth but his bare duty—­as we, I say, grant them these things, so this one thing or twain do they grant us in turn:  That men are bound to work good works if they have time and power, and that whosoever worketh in true faith most, shall be most rewarded.  But then they add to this that all his reward shall be given him for his faith alone and nothing for his works at all, because his faith is the thing, they say, that forceth him to work well.  I will not strive with them for this matter now.  But yet I trust to the great goodness of God, that if the question hang on that narrow point, since Christ saith in the scripture in so many places that men shall in heaven be rewarded for their works, he shall never suffer our souls—­who are but mean-witted men and can understand his words only as he himself hath set them and as old holy saints have construed them before and as all Christian people this thousand year have believed—­to be damned for lack of perceiving such a sharp subtle thing.  Especially since some men who have right good wits, and are beside that right well learned, too, can in no wise perceive for what cause or why these folk who take away the reward from good works and give that reward all whole to faith alone, give the reward to faith rather than to charity.  For this grant they themselves, that faith serveth of nothing unless she be accompanied by her sister charity.  And then saith the scripture, too, “Of these three virtues, faith, hope, and charity, of all these three, the greatest is charity.”  And therefore it seemeth as worthy to have the thanks as faith.  Howbeit, as I said, I will not strive for it, nor indeed as our matter standeth I shall not greatly need to do so.  For if they say that he who suffereth tribulation and martyrdom for the faith shall have high reward, not for his work but for his well-working faith, yet since they grant that have it he shall, the cause of high comfort in the third kind of tribulation standeth.  And that is, you know, the effect of all my purpose.

Vincent:  Verily, good uncle, this is truly driven and tried unto the uttermost, it seemeth to me.  And therefore I pray you proceed at your leisure.