A09453:91
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.
Reason IIII. Whatsoever God commandeth in the Gospel, that a man must and can perform: but God in the Gospel commandeth us to believe the pardon of our own sins: and life everlasting: and therefore we must believe thus much, and may be assured thereof. This proposition is plain by the distinction of the commandments, of the law, and of the Gospel. The commandments of the law show us what we must do, but minister no power to perform the thing to be done: but the doctrine & commandments of the Gospel do otherwise; and therefore they are called spirit and life; god with the commandment giving grace1 that the thing prescribed may be don. Now this is a commandment of the gospel, to believe remission of sins: for it was the substance of Christs ministry, repent and believe the Gospel. And that is not generally to believe that Christ is a Saviour, and that the promises made in him are true (for so the devils believe with trembling:) but it is particularly to believe that Christ is my Saviour, and that the promises of salvation in Christ ⟨p. 53⟩belong in special to me, as Saint John saith: This is his commandment, that we believe in the name of Jesus Christ: now to believe in Christ is to put confidence in him; which none can do, unless he be first assured of his love and favour. And therefore in as much, as we are enjoined to put our confidence in Christ, we are also enjoined to believe our reconciliation with him, which standeth in the remission of our sins, and our acceptation to life everlasting.
Reason IIII. Whatsoeuer God commandeth in the Gospell, that a man must and can performe: but God in the Gospel commandeth vs to beleeue the pardon of our owne sinnes: and life euerlasting: and therefore we must beleeue thus much, and may be assured thereof. This proposition is plaine by the distinction of the commandements, of the lawe, and of the Gospel. The commā dements of the lawe shewe vs what we must doe, but minister no power to performe the thing to be done: but the doctrine & commandements of the Gospel doe otherwise; and therefore they are called spirit and life; god with the commandement giuing grace1 that the thing prescribed may be don. Now this is a commandement of the gospel, to beleeue remission of sinnes: for it was the substance of Christs ministerie, repent and beleeue the Gospel. And that is not generally to beleeue that Christ is a Sauiour, and that the promises made in him are true (for so the deuills beleeue with trembling:) but it is particularly to beleeue that Christ is my Sauiour, and that the promises of saluation in Christ