A15859:214
Speculum Christianum
Speculum Christianum or, A Christian survey for the conscience Containing, three tractates of that eminent, grave, and learned divine, master Hierome Zanchius. 1. Of the end of the world. 2. Of the perseverance of the saints. 3. A summary abridgement of his protections. Englished for the good of Gods church, and for a warning to wicked and impenitent men. By H.N.Speculum Christianum or, A Christian suruey for the conscience Containing, three tractates of that eminent, graue, and learned diuine, maister Hierome Zanchius. 1. Of the end of the world. 2. Of the perseuerance of the saints. 3. A summarie abridgement of his protections. Englished for the good of Gods church, and for a warning to wicked and impenitent men. By H.N.
London: printed by George Eld, 1614
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
And that which I speak of all the Saints that it may be more clearly apparent in the example of Peter, I will cite a place out of Bernard, •l•b. de libero arbitrio. Col. 1592 in which place with exceeding elegance and piety he doth explain this selfsame Question which I do entreat of, concerning that will where with the Saints do sin, by the very example of Peter produced. Sed vid•aimus, &c. But let us see (saith he) touching such who in word compulsorily do deny the faith, through fear of pain and death, least happily according to this assertion, either it fall out to be no fault that they do deny in word only, or that the will could be coacted to offend; as that a man should will that which it appeareth he nilled, and so free-will should be extinct: which because it was impossible (for that he could not will and nill the same thing in one instant) the Question ariseth, How to them that in no case will no evil, evil ought to be imputed? For this ⟨p. 203⟩is not of like quality with original sin, wherein not only he who consenteth not but also even he that is ignorant is another way hanckled not being as yet renewed by baptism. For example: let Peter the Apostle come into the rank, for he seemed to deny the truth against his will for either he must have dyed or denied: fearing to dye he denied, he nilled to deny, but more to dye; therefore against his will, but yet he denied to avoid death: but if with tongue and not with will, the man was enforced to speak that he nilled, yet not to will otherwise then he willed; the tongue was moved against the will, but was the will also altered? for what willed he? verily to be (as he was) the disciple of Christ. What spake he? I know not the man. Why so? he was willing to scape death. But what offence was that? we: do understand two wills in the Apostle; one, whereby he would not dye, altogether unculpable; another, even much commendable, ⟨p. 204⟩wherein he took delight that he was a Christian. Where•• then shall he be culpable? in this respect, for that he would rather lie, then die. This Will utterly deserved reprehension, that he willed rather to save the life of the body then of1