A09453:85
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 3 › Our reasons to the contrary.Doctrine 3 › Our reasons to the contrarie.
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.
Our reasons to the contrary.
Our reasons to the contrarie.
Reason. I. The first reason may be taken from the nature of faith on this manner. True faith is both an unfallible assurance and a particular assurance of the remission of sins and of life everlasting. And therefore by this faith, a man may be certainly and particularly assured of the remission of sins and life everlasting. That this reason may be of force, two things must be proved: first that true faith is a certain assurance of Gods mercy to that party in whom it is. Secondly that faith is a particular assurance thereof. For the first that faith is a certain assurance, Christ saith to Peter, Mat. 14. 31. O thou of little faith, ⟨p. 46⟩wherefore diddest thou doubt. Where he maketh an opposition between faith & doubting: thereby giving us directly to understand, that, To be certain, & To give assurance is of the nature of faith. Rom. 4. 20. 22. Paul saith of Abraham, that he did not doubt of the promise of God through unbelief: but was strengthened in faith, and gave glory to God, being fully assured, that he which had promised was able to do it: where I observe first, that doubting is made a fruit of unbelief; and therefore unfallible certainty and assurance, being contrary to doubting must needs proceed from true faith; considering that contrary effects come of contrary causes: and contrary causes produce contrary effects. Secondly I note that the strength of Abraham's faith, did stand in fullness of assurance: for the text saith, he was strengthened in the faith, being fully assured: & again Heb. 11. 1. true saving faith is said to be the ground and subsistence of things hoped for: & the evidence or demonstration of things that are not seen: but faith can be no ground or evidence of things, unless it be for nature