A15859:317
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.
Who may not here perceive the ⟨p. 292⟩scope of Brentiu• to have been, That whosoever doth perceive himself to be endued with true faith in Christ, he should not further make doubt of his eternal salvation▪ And that he may attain unto this, he removeth a double fear, which do weaken this certainty. The first fear is, lest the Lord cast us off, for that our faith is faint and infirm. This he taketh away by the promise in Es•i, That the Lord will not quench smoking Falxe. The other fear, lest our faith at last should fail, & that we should not persevere in faith. This fear he expelleth by many arguments. First, for that God is faithful, who will not suffer us to be tempted above our strength. 1. Cor. 10. Secondly, that Christ will not permit any of his sheep to be taken out of his hands, Joh. 10. Thirdly, that the prayer of Christ is effectual, wherein he maketh request for all that shall believe in him, and therefore even hath obtained to them all, That as He and the Father are always one; ⟨p. 293⟩so they should abide one in Christ Jesus for ever. And this is perseverance, Fourthly, he confirmeth us in this certainty of perseverance in the faith; first, by the example of the Apostle, Rom. 8. That nothing can separate the Elect from Christ; again by the promise in Isaiah, cap. 54. That Gods mercy shall never depart from the Elect. Finally, he concludeth, That we ought to be most certain of our perseverance, for that God the Father who gave us his Son, and did effect, that we by faith should receive him, will even altogether take care that we may perpetually retain him; or (rather) that we may be retained of him, to wit, in faith and in himself, and be also conserved. Wherefore, if no doubt is to be made of the believers and Saints, according to the determination of D. Brentius, touching their perseverance in Christ and in faith, and therefore of their eternal salvation, and (that) for the promises of God which he related