A09362:185
A case of conscience the greatest that [sic] ever was, how a man may…A case of conscience the greatest taht [sic] euer was, how a man may…
A case of conscience the greatest that [sic] ever was, how a man may know, whether he be the son of God or no. Resolved by the word of God. Whereunto is added a brief discourse, taken out of Hier. Zanchius.A case of conscience the greatest taht [sic] euer was, how a man may know, whether he be the son of God or no. Resolued by the vvord of God. Whereunto is added a briefe discourse, taken out of Hier. Zanchius.
Edinburgh: printed by Robert Walde-grave, 1592Edinburgh: printed by Robert VValde-graue, 1592
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Answer. We grant, that they which believe by such a faith, which is in hypocrisy▪ and only lasteth for a time▪ that they ⟨p. 39⟩are deceived, whilst they think, that they do truly believe, and yet do not indeed:1 for they are like them, which dream that they are Kings, when as they are very beggars: but we say, that they which believe by a true faith, do know, whether they truly believe or no: and they are not deceived, when they say, and think that they truly believe. For, they are like unto them, which handling a precious stone, by reason that they are endued with sense, know and say, that they handle it. And if no man might certainly know, whether he believed truly or not, why doeth the Apostle say, Try your selves, 2whether you be in the faith? And if it be so, no man can ever certainly know, whether he be justified, considering that they only, which truly believe, can be justified. And if a man, giving credit to another mans words, doth certainly know, that he believeth him, how much more doeth he know it, which being endued with true faith by the holy Ghost, believeth the Gospel? In a word, godly Writers have proved against School-men, that they, which are endued with true faith in Christ, cannot be ignorant of it. But (say they) no man is certain of his perseverance in faith: And therefore, out of this universal proposition, ⟨p. 40⟩He which believeth, namely, with a true and constant faith, is elected to life: no man can conclude that he is elected, by reason, that albeit he may know, that he is endued with true faith, yet he cannot tell, whether it shall be perpetual. This collection is absurd: & the learned have fully proved, that true faith is perpetual. And therefore, they which certainly know, that they believe in a true faith, are also certain, that the same their true faith, shall never perish in this world: partly, for the promise of God,3 I vvill put my fear into their hearts, that they may never depart from me: and partly for the prayer of Christ, I have prayed for thee, Peter,