Richard Baxter's Catholic theology plain, pure, peaceable, for pacification of the dogmatical word-warriors who,…Richard Baxter's Catholick theologie plain, pure, peaceable, for pacification of the dogmatical word-warriours who,…

258. Therefore it is a small number of Christians comparatively that ever were certain of their Salvation. For 1. No one that is uncertain of his sincerity is certain of his Salvation. 2. No one that holdeth this Doctrine [That the Saints that are justified may fall away, and that we cannot be sure of perseverance,] can be sure of his own Salvation. It's hard to conceive how he can be certain, who holdeth that no man can be certain: Now those that hold this Doctrine are, almost all the Papists, the Arminians, the Lutherans, and as far as I can learn by their Writings, all the ancient Writers for a thousand years after Christ. And the Semipelagians and Pelagians no man will put in as an exception, except Jovinian alone; against whom Jerome writing his second Book chargeth him as holding that a man truly baptized by the Spirit, could not sin: No doubt he meant, [to damnation or mortally]: But it's doubtful what his Opinion was. Augustine's report of him is of no great moment, who as Erasmus noteth (in his Argum. in Hier. adv. Jovin.) neither had seen Jovinians Book or Hieorm's but spake by report.

And Austin, Prosper and Fulgentius thought that all the Elect persevered as Elect, being chosen to perseverance; but that more were truly sanctified, justified, and in a state of Salvation had they so died than were elect: That all these fell away and perished. That no man could be certain whether or no he were elect, and should persevere. So that they denied all certainty of Salvation by ordinary means. And that none of all the Greek or Latin Fathers, then, or long after, went further from the Pelagians than Augustine did, I think I need not persuade any, that hath read them.

And Austin, Prosper and Fulgentius thought that all the Elect persevered as Elect, being chosen to perseverance; but that more were truly sanctified, justified, and in a state of Salvation had they so died than were elect: That all these fell away and perished. That no man could be certain whether or no he were elect, and should persevere. So that they denied all certainty of Salvation by ordinary means. And that none of all the Greek or Latin Fathers, then, or long after, went further from the Pelagians than Augustine did, I think I need not perswade any, that hath read them.