A15061:175
An answer to a certain book, writtenAn answere to a certeine booke, written
An answer to a certain book, written by Master William Rainolds student of divinity in the English college at Rhemes, and entitled, A refutation of sundry reprehensions, cavils, etc. by William Whitaker ...An answere to a certeine booke, written by Maister William Rainolds student of diuinitie in the English colledge at Rhemes, and entituled, A refutation of sundrie reprehensions, cauils, etc. by William Whitaker ...
Printed at London : For Thomas Chard, 1585
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.
Fourthly you say, I understand not the state of the question,1 whereof I write: and then you make a long discourse of grace, and works, of mercy and justice, to prove that in the regenerate there is not any contrariety between these, but that they may stand well together. A man would think your self were not altogether ignorant of the matter whereof you speak, taking upon you to reform the judgement of an other: yet have you herein bewrayed more want of skill, then I would have thought had been in you, unless perhaps you dissemble your knowledge, which I do not easily believe. For although grace is not contrary to works, because the cause cannot be contrary ⟨p. 112⟩to the thing, whereof it is the cause, yet who seeth not that grace may have an other effect besides good works, where of it self, alone is the cause, and must not in that respect be joined with good works, but discerned, and distinguished from them? By grace in this controversy I understand, not those graces of Gods spirit, which are infused into us, when we are regenerate, as our adversaries do, making grace and works all one, but the love and mercy of God, as the scriptures have taught us to take the same: as when the faithful servants of God are said to have found grace in the eyes of the Lord: and when the Apostle writeth,2 that grace was given unto us in Jesus Christ before all worlds. And so likewise in this question must it be taken, when we are said to be elected, called, justified, & saved by grace, that is, by the love of God, where with he embraced us freely, unless you will say we had grace and good works inherent in us before we were create•, yea before the world it self was framed. From this grace proceed both good works and our salvation, yet so as salvation is to be imputed, not to our works, but only to grace, and ⟨p. 113⟩although these two are not contrary the one to the other, yet in the matter of salvation there is not the least cooperation between good works & grace, but works are wholly excluded from all society or fellowship in that business.3