A09453:169
A Reformed Catholic
A reformed Catholic: or, A declaration showing how near we may come to the present Church of Rome in sundry points of religion: and wherein we must for ever depart from them with an advertisement to all favourers of the Roman religion, showing that the said religion is against the Catholic principles and grounds of the catechism.A reformed Catholike: or, A declaration shewing how neere we may come to the present Church of Rome in sundrie points of religion: and vvherein we must for euer depart from them with an advertisment to all fauourers of the Romane religion, shewing that the said religion is against the Catholike principles and grounds of the catechisme.
Cambridge: printed by John Legat, 1598Cambridge: printed by Iohn Legat, 1598
Doctrine 4 › Objections of Papists.Doctrine 4 › Obiections of Papists.
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.
IV. Object. Sundry persons in Scripture are commended for perfection: as Noah, and Abraham, Zechariah, and Elizabeth: and Christ biddeth us all be perfect; and where there is any perfection of works, there also works may justify. Answ. There be two kinds of perfection: perfection in parts, and perfection in degrees. Perfection in part is, when being regenerate, and having the seeds of all necessary virtues, we endeavour accordingly to obey God, not in some few, but in all and every part of the law: as Josiah turned unto God according to all the law of Moses. Perfection in degrees is, when a man keepeth every commandment of God, and that according to the rigour thereof, in the very highest degree. Now then whereas we are commanded to be perfected, and have examples of the same perfection in Scripture: both commandments and examples must be understood of perfection in parts, and not of perfection in degrees, which ⟨p. 100⟩cannot be attained unto in this life; though we for our parts, must daily strive to come as near unto it, as possibly we can.
IV. Obiect. Sundrie persons in Scripture are commended for perfection: as Noe, and Abraham, Zacharie, and Elizabeth: and Christ biddeth vs all be perfect; and where there is any perfection of workes, there also workes may iustifie. Ansvv. There be two kinds of perfection: perfection in parts, and perfection in degrees. Perfection in part is, when beeing regenerate, and hauing the seedes of all necessarie vertues, we endeauour accordingly to obey God, not in some few, but in al and euery part of the law: as Iosias turned vnto God according to all the law of Moses. Perfection in degrees is, when a man keepeth euery commandement of God, and that according to the rigour thereof, in the very highest degree. Nowe then wheras we are commanded to be perfected, and haue examples of the same perfection in Scripture: both commandements and examples must be vnderstood of perfection in parts, and not of perfection in degrees, which ⟨p. 100⟩cannot be attained vnto in this life; though we for our partes, must daily striue to come as neare vnto it, as possibly we can.