A treatise of faith divided into two parts. The first showing the nature, the…A treatise of faith diuided into two parts. The first shewing the nature, the…

In the first acceptation, the first verity or divine infallibility is that into which our faith is lastly resolved. For this is the first step in the progress of true belief the lowest foundation whereon any Religion can be built. But in the second acceptation (as we always take those terms, when we resolve our own persuasions) that is, for a resolution of all doubts or demands concerning the subject whereof we treat: A Roman Catholics faith, must according to his Principles, finally be resolved into the Churches or Popes infallibility. For this is the immediate ⟨p. 131⟩ground, or first cause of any particular determinate point of Christian Faith: and the immediate is always that, into which our persuasions concerning the effect, is finally resolved, seeing it can satisfy all demands, doubts, or questions concerning it. It will not help them, to colour over the matter, and say, God revealing divine truth is the formal object of faith: For seeing God worketh mediately, and revealeth no truth unto us but by external means: and divine authority in it self is hidden and unknown: therefore the thing whereinto our faith is resolved, must be something externally known, which we may read or hear. And our Adversaries must lead us to secret revelation, which in words they pretend so much to defy, or yield us an external foundation and formal object of faith: And rejecting the Scriptures, whatsoever they gloss in words, they neither can, nor do name us any other indeed, but the Roman Pope and Church. Nor will it boot them ought to say, that Gods Word in the Churches mouth is the rule of faith, whereinto it is finally resolved, seeing the Church defines nothing but by Gods written or unwritten. For this is more then the party which believes it can know, nor hath he any other motive to believe it, besides the Churches definition or assertion. Suppose then we should conceive so well of a temporal Judge, as to presume he did never speak but according to the true meaning either of statute or customary law: yet if we could not know either the one or the other, or their right interpretation, but only by his determinations; the law were little beholden to him (unless for a flout) that should say, he were resolved jointly by the Judge and it.

In the first acceptation, the first veritie or d•uine infallibilitie is that into which our faith is lastly resolued. For this is the first step in the progresse of true beliefe the lowest foundation whereon any Religion can be built. But in the second acceptation (as wee alwayes take those tearmes, when we resolue our owne perswasions) that is, for a resolution of all doubts or demands concerning the subiect whereof we treate: A Romane Catholiques faith, must according to his Principles, finally bee resolued into the Churches or Popes infllibilitie. For this is the immediate