A09453:440
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.
In the second conclusion, touching salvation by Christ alone, there is a manifest deceit: because they craftily include and couch their own works under the name of Christ. For (say they) works done by men regenerate, are not their own, but Christs in them; and as they are the works of Christ; they save, & no otherwise. But we for our parts look to be saved only by such works as Christ himself did in his own person: and not by any work at all done by him in us. For all works done, are in the matter of justification & salvation, opposed to the grace of Christ: Rom. 11. 6. Election is of grace not of works: if it be of works, it is no more of grace. Again whereas they teach that we are •aved by the works of Christ, which he worketh in us, and maketh us to work; it is flat against the word. For Paul saith, We are not saved by such works as God hath ordained ⟨p. 309⟩that men regenerate should walk in. Eph. 2. 10. And he saith further, that he counted ALL THINGS even after his conversion loss unto him, that he might be found in Christ, not having his own righteousness which is of the law. Phil. 3. 8. Again Heb. 1. 3. Christ washed away our sins by himself: which last words exclude the merit of all works done by Christ within man. Thus indeed the Papists overturn all, that which in word they seem to hold touching their justification and salvation. We confess with them that good works in us are the works of Christ: yet are they not Christs alone, but ours also, in that they proceed from Christ by the mind and will of man: as water from the fountain by the channel. And look as the channel defiled, defiles the water, that is without defilement in the fountain: even so the mind and will of man defiled by the remnants of sin, defile the works, which as they come from Christ, are undefiled. Hence it is that the works of grace which we do by Christ, or, Christ in us, are defective: and must be severed from Christ ⟨p. 310⟩in the act of justification, or, salvation.