The Gospel of Barnabas · Chapter 199
Mercy, Tears, and Human Merit
'God is so rich in mercy that, albeit the water of a thousand seas, if so many were to be found, could not quench a spark of the flames of hell, yet a single tear of one who mourneth at having offended God quencheth the whole of hell, by the great mercy wherewith God succoureth him. God, therefore, to confound Satan and to display his own bounty, willeth to call merit in the presence of his mercy every good work of his faithful servant, and willeth him so to speak of his neighbour.'
'But of himself a man must beware of saying: "I have merit"; for he would be condemned.'
'God is so rich in mercy that, although the water of a thousand seas—if so many existed—could not extinguish a single spark from the flames of hell, one tear from a person who mourns having offended God extinguishes the whole of hell through the great mercy with which God helps him. Therefore, to confound Satan and display his own generosity, God chooses to call every good work of his faithful servant "merit" in the presence of his mercy, and he desires that a person speak in this way about his neighbor.'
'But when speaking about himself, a person must take care never to say, "I have merit," for by doing so he would be condemned.'
'God is so rich in mercy that, albeit the water of a thousand seas, if so many were to be found, could not quench a spark of the flames of hell, yet a single tear of one who mourneth at having offended God quencheth the whole of hell, by the great mercy wherewith God succoureth him. God, therefore, to confound Satan and to display his own bounty, willeth to call merit in the presence of his mercy every good work of his faithful servant, and willeth him so to speak of his neighbour.'
'But of himself a man must beware of saying: "I have merit"; for he would be condemned.'