| 释义 |
ˈmerit-ˌmonger contemptuous.
One who trades in merits; one who seeks to merit salvation or eternal reward by good works. (Very common in 16–17th c.)
1552Latimer Serm. (1562) 92 b, These merites mongers [marg. Merite mongers] haue so many good workes, that they be able to sell them for money 1626Prynne Perpet. Regen. Man's Est. 258 Such a one which is justified, meerely by his owne righteousnesse, as your Popish merit mongers seeke to be. 1696Lorimer Goodwin's Disc. vii. 85 Augustin, the great Defender of the Freeness of God's Grace..against all Merit-Mongers. 1846Hare Mission Comf. (1850) 243 When merit-mongers teach, they add one thirst to another, and spin one law out of another.
Hence merit-mongering vbl. n.; merit-mongery, a dealing in merits; merit-monging ppl. a.
1611W. Sclater Key (1629) 28 Let all..merit-monging-Preachers, iudge how well they carie themselues in their ministerie, that by magnifying the power of nature, crosse the verie end of their ministerie. 1845H. Rogers Ess. (1874) I. iii. 139 Luther..asserted against that whole system of spiritual barter and merit-mongering..his counter principle of the perfect gratuitousness of salvation. 1856Spurgeon Serm. New Park Street Pulpit II. 95 Even among Protestants meritmongery is not gone by. |