A09453:39
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
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.
If a man by nature doth not know and perceive the things of God: and when he shall know them, can not by nature give assent unto them: then hath he no power to will them. But the first is evidently true. Ergo. For first the mind must approve & give assent, before the will can choose or will: and when the mind hath not power to conceive ⟨p. 22⟩nor give assent, there the will hath no power to will.
If a man by nature doth not knowe and perceiue the things of God: and when he shall know them, can not by nature giue assent vnto them: then hath he no power to will them. But the first is euidently true. Ergo. For first the minde must approoue & giue assent, before the will can choose or will: and when the mind hath not power to conceiue ⟨p. 22⟩nor giue assent, there the will hath no power to will.
Reason III. Thirdly the holy Ghost avoucheth, Eph. 2. •. Coloss. 2. 13. that all men by nature are dead in sins and trespasses: not as the Papists say, weak, sick, or half dead. Hence I gather, that man wanteth natural power not to will simply, but freely and frankly to will that which is truly good. A dead man in his grave cannot stir the least finger, because he wants the very power of life, sense, & motion: no more can he that is dead in sin, will the least good nay if he could either will or do any good, he could not be dead in sin. And as a dead man in the grave, cannot rise but by the power of God; no more can he that is dead in sin rise, but by the power of Gods grace alone, without any power of his own.
Reason III. Thirdly the holy Ghost auoucheth, Eph. 2. •. Colloss. 2. 13. that all men by nature are dead in sinnes and trespasses: not as the Papists say, weak, sick, or half dead. Hence I gather, that mā wāteth naturall power not to will simply, but freely and franckly to will that which is truly good. A dead mā in his graue cannot stirre the least finger, because he wāts the very power of life, sense, & motiō: no more can he that is dead in sin, will the least good nay if he could either will or do any good, he could not be dead in sinn. And as a dead mā in the graue, cānot rise but by the power of God; no more can he that is dead in sinne rise, but by the power of Gods grace alone, without any power of his owne.