A discourse of conscience wherein is set down the nature, properties, and differences thereofA discourse of conscience wherein is set downe the nature, properties, and differences thereof

In that we are bound in conscience on this manner to believe the promises of the Gospel with an application of the benefits ⟨p. 35⟩thereof to our selves, sundry necessary and profitable points of instruction may be learned. The first, that the popish Doctors abolish a great part of the Gospel, when they teach that men are bound to believe the Gospel only by a Catholic saith, which they make to be nothing else but a gift of God, or illumination of the mind, whereby assent is given to the word of God that it is true; and more specially that Jesus is Christ, that is, an all-sufficient Saviour of mankind. All which the damned spirits believe: whereas the Gospel for the comfort and salvation of mens souls hath a further reach, namely to enjoin men to believe that the promise of salvation is not only true in it self, but also true in the very person of the believer, as appears evidently by the Sacraments which are as it were a visible Gospel, in which Christ with all his benefits is offered and applied to the particular persons of men: to this end, no doubt, that they might believe the accomplishment of the promise in themselves.

In that we are bound in conscience on this manner to beleeue the promises of the Gospell with an application of the benefites ⟨p. 35⟩thereof to our selues, sundrie necessarie and profitable points of instruction may be learned. The first, that the popish Doctours abolish a great part of the Gospel, when they teach that men are bound to beleeue the Gospel onely by a Catholicke saith, which they make to be nothing else but a gift of God, or illumination of the minde, whereby assent is giuen to the word of God that it is true; and more specially that Iesus is Christ, that is, an all-sufficient Sauiour of mankinde. All which the damned spirits beleeue: whereas the Gospel for the comfort and saluation of mens soules hath a further reach, namely to inioyne men to beleeue that the promise of saluation is not onely true in it selfe, but also true in the very person of the beleeuer, as appeares euidently by the Sacraments which are as it were a visible Gospel, in which Christ with all his benefits is offered and applied to the particular persons of men: to this ende, no doubt, that they might beleeue the accomplishment of the promise in themselues.