A09453:171
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.
VI. Object. We are justified by the same thing whereby we are judged: but we are judged by our good works: therefore justified also. Ans. The proposition is false: for judgement is an act of God, declaring a man to be just that is already just: and justification is an other distinct act of God, whereby he maketh him to be just, that is by nature unjust. And therefore in equity the last ⟨p. 101⟩judgement is to proceed by works: because they are the fittest means to make trial of every mans cause, and serve fitly to declare whom God hath justified in this life.
VI. Obiect. Wee are iustified by the same thing whereby we are iudged: but we are iudged by our good workes: therefore iustified also. Ans. The proposition is false: for indgement is an act of God, declaring a man to be iust that is already iust: and iustification is an other distinct act of God, wherby he maketh him to be iust, that is by nature vniust. And therefore in equitie the last ⟨p. 101⟩iudgement is to proceed by workes: because they are the fittest meanes to make triall of euery mans cause, and serue fitly to declare whome God hath iustified in this life.
VII. Object. Wicked men are condemned for evil works: therefore righteous men are justified by good works. Ans. The reason holdeth not: for there is great difference between evil and good works. An evil work is perfectly evil, and so deserveth damnation▪ but there is no good work of any man that is perfectly good: and therefore cannot justify.
VII. Obiect. Wicked men are condemned for euill workes: therefore righteous men are iustified by good workes. Ans. The reason holdeth not: for there is great difference betweene euill and good workes. An euill worke is perfectly euill, and so deserueth damnation▪ but there is no good work of any man that is perfectly good: and therefore cannot iustifie.