268. They add, ibid. p. 108. Thes. 3. [This persuasion of perseverance hath not that degree of certainty, which always excludeth all fear of the contrary: but is sometime lively, sometime languid, sometime, as in greatest Temptations, none—The first debility ariseth from the fundamental dependence of this personal affiance, which seemeth to come below the certainty of dogmatical Faith. For the Articles of Faith do affect our assent as immediate and first principles. But the truth of special Faith is not thence deduced as a necessary consequent, but is only subjoined by way of assumption. Ergo the firmness of that conclusion which maketh this persuasion, cannot be greater, than that which is in the weaker of the premises. But that sumption resteth on experimental signs, weighed by mans private Conscience: which being sometime doubted of, whether they are true signs, and sometimes hid by temptations, that they cannot shine out to our comfort, what wonder if Believers persuasion of their eternal Salvation be not always vegete and valid. Besides that the very Principles of the Catholic-Faith, though by revealed light clear in themselves, yet being not known to us, by certainty of evidence, but only of Adhesion, *they beget not in us so firm an assent, as mathematical demonstrations, and common notions. But in beholding them, from the relicts of carnal diffidence, some vapours, as it were, sometime arise, by which the light of divine immutable verity, seemeth to us to be resringed, and to waver. How much greater and daily is the error of every Believer in the beholding of their own personal affiance.
268. They add, ibid. p. 108. Thes. 3. [This perswasion of perseverance hath not that degree of certainty, which always excludeth all fear of the contrary: but is sometime lively, sometime languid, sometime, as in greatest Temptations, none—The first debility ariseth from the fundamental dependance of this personal affiance, which seemeth to come below the certainty of dogmatical Faith. For the Articles of Faith do affect our assent as immediate and first principles. But the truth of special Faith is not thence deduced as a necessary consequent, but is only subjoyned by way of assumption. Ergo the firmness of that conclusion which maketh this perswasion, cannot be greater, than that which is in the weaker of the premises. But that sumption resteth on experimental signs, weighed by mans private Conscience: which being sometime doubted of, whether they are true signs, and sometimes hid by temptations, that they cannot shine out to our comfort, what wonder if Believers perswasion of their eternal Salvation be not always vegete and valide. Besides that the very Principles of the Catholick-Faith, though by revealed light clear in themselves, yet being not known to us, by certainty of evidence, but only of Adhesion, *they beget not in us so firm an assent, as mathematical demonstrations, and common notions. But in beholding them, from the relicts of carnal diffidence, some vapors, as it were, sometime arise, by which the light of divine immutable verity, seemeth to us to be resringed, and to waver. How much greater and daily is the errour of every Believer in the beholding of their own personal affiance.
- *Here I leave them with the School-men. Adhesion (as Durand: confesseth) supposeth, or is strongest, where there is evidence: and such we have, though not sensible ipsius rei, yet veritatis testim••ii.
