A Golden Chain

¹The second property of conscience is an unfallible certainty of the pardon of sin and life everlasting. That this point may be cleared, I will handle the question between us and Papists touching the certainty of salvation. And that I may proceed in order we must distinguish the kinds of certainty. First of all, Certainty is either Unfallible or Conjectural. Unfallible, wherein a man is never disappointed. Conjectural, which is not so evident, because it is grounded only upon likelihoods. The second all Papists grant, but the first they deny in the matter of salvation. Again certainty is either of faith, or experimental, which Papists call moral. Certainty of faith is, whereby any thing is certainly believed: and it is either general or special. General certainty, is to believe assuredly that the word of God is truth it self, and this both we and Papists allow. Special certainty is by faith to apply the promise of salvation to our selves, and to believe without doubt, that remission of sins by Christ and life everlasting belongs unto us. This kind of certainty we hold and maintain, and Papists with one consent deny it; acknowledging no assurance but by hope. Moral certainty is that which proceeds from sanctification and good works, as signs and tokens of true faith. This we both allow, yet with some difference. For they esteem all certainty that comes by works to be uncertain and often to deceive: but we do otherwise, if the works be done in uprightness of heart.

¹The second propertie of conscience is an vnfallible certentie of the pardon of sinne and life euerlasting. That this point may be cleared, I will handle the question betweene vs and Papists touching the certentie of saluation. And that I may proceede in order we must distinguish the kinds of certentie. First of all, Certentie is either Vnfallible or Coniecturall. Vnfallible, wherein a man is neuer disappointed. Coniecturall, which is not so euident, because it is grounded onely vpon likelihoods. The second all Papists graunt, but the first they denie in the matter of saluation. Againe certentie is either of faith, or experimentall, which Papists call morall. Certentie of faith is, whereby any thing is certenly beleeued: and it is either generall or speciall. Generall certentie, is to beleeue assuredly that the word of God is truth it selfe, and this both we and Papists allow. Speciall certentie is by faith to applie the promise of saluation to our selues, and to beleeue without doubt, that remission of sinnes by Christ and life euerlasting belongs vnto vs. This kinde of certentie we hold and maintaine, and Papists with one consent denie it; acknowledging no assurance but by hope. Morall certentie is that which proceedes from sanctification and good workes, as signes and tokens of true faith. This we both allow, yet with some difference. For they esteeme all certentie that comes by works to be vncerten and often to deceiue: but we doe otherwise, if the works be done in vprightnes of heart.