A09453:93
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.
The popish doctors take exception to these reasons on this manner. First they say, it cannot be proved that a man is as certain of his salvation by faith, as he is of the articles of ⟨p. 54⟩the creed. I answ. First they prove thus much that we ought to be as certain of the one as of the other. For look, what commandment we have to believe the articles of our faith; the like we have enjoining us to believe the pardon of our own sins, as I have proved. Secondly these arguments prove it to be the nature of essential property of faith, as certainly to assure man of his salvation, as it doth assure him of the articles which he believeth. And howsoever commonly men do not believe their salvation as unfallible, as they do their articles of faith: yet some special men do; having Gods word applied by the spirit as a sure ground of their faith, whereby they believe their own salvation, as they have it for a ground of the articles of their faith. Thus certainly was Abraham assured of his own salvation: as also the Prophets and Apostles, & the martyrs of God in all ages; whereupon without doubting they have bin content to lay down their lives for the name of Christ; in whom they were assured to receive eternal happiness. And there is no question, but there be many now, that ⟨p. 55⟩by long and often experience of Gods mercy, and by the inward certificate of the ho• Ghost, have attained to a full assurance of their salvation.
The popish doctors take exception to these reasons on this manner. First they say, it cannot be proued that a man is as certen of his saluation by faith, as he is of the articles of ⟨p. 54⟩the creed. I answ. First they proue thus much that we ought to be as certē of the one as of the other. For looke, what commandement we haue to beleeue the articles of our faith; the like we haue inioyning vs to beleeue the pardon of our owne sinns, as I haue proued. Secondly these arguments prooue it to be the nature of essentiall propertie of faith, as certenlie to assure man of his saluation, as it doth assure him of the articles which he beleeueth. And howesoeuer commonly men doe not beleeue their saluation as vnfallible, as they doe their articles of faith: yet some speciall men doe; hauing Gods word applyed by the spirit as a sure ground of their faith, whereby they beleeue their owne saluation, as they haue it for a ground of the articles of their faith. Thus certenly was Abraham assured of his owne saluation: as also the Prophets and Apostles, & the martyrs of God in all ages; wherevpon without doubting they haue bin content to lay downe their liues for the name of Christ; in whome they were assured to receiue eternall happines. And there is no question, but there be many nowe, that