Amongst the many reasons (Worshipful Sir) which have persuaded me that Popery cannot be the true Religion, this is not the least: ⟨image 3⟩the insufficiency of their doctrine of faith and repentance: which two things, though they be the chief and principal points in religion, and so necessary, that he, who doth not but know, and practise them aright, can never be saved: yet I dare avouch,1 that the faith and Repentance of the Romish church, as they are taught by many of the best approved Papists, are no better than such a faith, and such a repentance as an hypocrite, and a very reprobate may attain unto. Indeed, to insist upon repentance ⟨image 3⟩only (they make many fair flourishes, they call it penance, they make it a Sacrament,2 and say it is a board that saves a man after shipwreck, and write great volumes of it, and of confession, and of Cases of Conscience, (as you good Sir in your own reading know better then I) and yet alas, when all is done, it is but a shadow of repentance; and indeed how can they teach aright the doctrine of repentance: which err so foully in setting down the justice of God, and the vileness of sin: ⟨image 4⟩Which two points a man must know, else he will never repent: but Popery misconceiving the justice of God, teaching it not to be infinite, in as much as it needs not an infinite satisfaction, and misconceiving the nature of sin, teaching every sin not to be damnable, nor to offend Gods infinite justice, erring (I say) in these two, how is it possible they should conceive aright the nature of repentance? by which a man seeing his sins, their foulness, their punishment, and his own misery ⟨image 4⟩by them, confesseth them, bewails them, fearing Gods justice, flieth from it, and craves forgiveness of his mercy: and lastly purposeth, and endeavoureth to leave them all, and to lead a new life. The serious consideration hereof, hath often made me wonder, why many popish treatises, being in some sort exhortations to repentance, should be so accounted of as they are by some:
AMongst the many reasons (Worshipfull Sir) which haue perswaded me that Poperie cannot be the true Religion, this is not the least: ⟨image 3⟩the insufficiencie of their doctrine of faith and repē tance: which two things, though they be the chiefe and principall points in religion, and so necessarie, that he, who doth not but know, and practise them aright, can neuer bee saued: yet I dare auouch,1 that the faith and Repentance of the Romish church, as they are taught by many of the best approoued Papists, are no better thē such a faith, and such a repētance as an hypocrite, and a very reprobate may attaine vnto. Indeede, to insist vpon repentance ⟨image 3⟩only (they make many faire florishes, they call it penance, they make it a Sacrament,2 and say it is a boord that saues a man after shipwracke, and write great volumes of it, and of confession, and of Cases of Conscience, (as you good Syr in your owne reading knowe better then I) and yet alas, when all is done, it is but a shadowe of repentance; and indeede how can they teach aright the doctrine of repentance: which erre so fowly in setting downe the iustice of God, and the vilenesse of sinne: ⟨image 4⟩Which two points a man must know, else hee will neuer repent: but Poperie misconceiuing the iustice of God, teaching it not to bee infinite, in as much as it needes not an infinite satisfaction, and misconceiuing the nature of sinne, teaching euery sinne not to be damnable, nor to offend Gods infinite iustice, erring (I say) in these two, how is it possible they should conceiue aright the nature of repentance? by which a man seeing his sinnes, their foulenesse, their punishment, and his owne miserie ⟨image 4⟩by them, confesseth them, bewailes them, fearing Gods iustice, flieth from it, and craues forgiuenesse of his mercy: and lastly purposeth, and indeuoureth to leaue thē all, and to leade a new life. The serious consideration heereof, hath often made mee wonder, why many popish treatises, being in some sort exhortations to repētance, should be so accounted of as they are by some:
- 1Canitius in Cate•hismo. Costerus in Enchiridio.
- 2Corradus, Navarrus, Loper Sairus, Grasffius, Hallus, and many other.Corradus, Nauarrus, Loper Sairus, Grasffius, Hallus, and many other.
