A Golden Chain

Object. 12. Ancient fathers the lights of Gods Church, have always condemned this unfallible and special certainty of faith, which the Protestants hold and maintain. Ans. Though we build not the doctrine of our religion upon the judgements of men, yet we refuse not in this and other points to be tried by the fathers, whose writings well understood, make more for us, then for the Popish religion. And their testimonies commonly alleged to confute the certainty of special faith, are much abused. I. Many of them serve to prove that a man cannot judge and discern of every particular motion and grace of his heart, of the increase of these graces, and the contrary disease: of special vices and wants, many whereof are hidden from the understanding. Theodoret in his comment. 1. Cor. 4. I will not (saith he) free my self from sin, but wait the sentence of God: for it often falls out that men sin of ignorance, and think that to be equal and just which the God of all sees to be otherwise. August. de verbis dei• serm. 23. Peradventure thou finds nothing in thy conscience: but he finds something that seeth better. And upon Psal. 41. I know that the justice of my God shall abide, but whether mine shall or no, I know not: for the saying of the Apostle terrifieth me, He which thinks he stands, let him take heed least he fall. Here he speaks of his inward righteousness, and that, as it is considered in it self without the assistance of God. For he adds afterward, Therefore because there is no stability in me for my self, hereupon my soul is troubled for my self. Chrysostom. homil. 87. on John. I am grieved, least peradventure supposing my self to love, do not love as before: when I seemed constant and courageous unto my self, I was found but a dastard. These and a thousand like testimonies prove nothing. For though a man cannot fully discern his heart, either in respect of every one of his own sins, or in respect of every grace; yet this hinders not but that he may have an unfallible certainty of his salvation, and also a sufficient gift to discern his own faith and repentance. II. Other places must be understood of proud presumption, and of a kind of security, in which men dream of ease and liberty without trouble or temptation. August. de corrept. & grat. cap. 13.

Obiect. 12. Ancient fathers the lights of Gods Church, haue alwaies condemned this vnfallible and speciall certentie of faith, which the Protestants hold and maintaine. Ans. Though wee builde not the doctrine of our religion vpon the iudgements of men, yet we refuse not in this and other points to bee tried by the fathers, whose writings well vnderstood, make more for vs, then for the Popish religion. And their testimonies commonly alleadged to confute the certentie of speciall faith, are much abused. I. Many of them serue to prooue that a man cannot iudge and discerne of euery particular motion and grace of his heart, of the increase of these graces, and the contrarie disease: of speciall vices and wants, many whereof are hidden from the vnderstanding. Theodoret in his comment.