Amongst the many reasons (Worshipful Sir',) which have persuaded me that Popery cannot be the true religion, this is not the lest: the insufficiency of their doctrine of faith & repentance: which two things though they be the chief & principal points ⟨image 3⟩in Religion, and so necessary that he, who doth not, both know, and practise them aright, can never be saved yet I dare avouch, that the faith and 1repentance of the Romish Church, as they are taught by many of the best approved Papists, are no better then such a faith, and such a repentance as an hypocrite, and a very reprobate may attain unto: Indeed, to insist upon repentance only (they make many fair flourishes, they call it penance, they make it a sacrament, & say it is a board that saves a man after shipwreck, and write great volumes of it, and of confession, and of Cases of 2conscience, (as you good Sir in your own reading know better then I) & yet alas, when all is done, it is but a shadow of repentance; and indeed how can they teach aright the doctrine of repentance: which err so foully in setting down the justice of God, and the vileness of sin, which 2. ⟨image 3⟩points a man must know, else he will never repent: but Popery misconceiving the justice of God, teaching it not to be infinite in as much as it needs not an infinite satisfaction, & misconceiving the nature of sin, teaching every sin not to be damnable, […] to offend Gods Infinite justice, ••ring (I say) in these 2. how is it possible they should conceive aright the nature of repentance? by which a man seeing his sins, their foulness their punishment, and his own misery by them, confesseth them, bewails them, fearing Gods justice, flieth from it, and craves forgiveness of his mercy, and lastly purposeth, & endeavoureth to leave them all, and to lead a new life. The serious consideration hereof, hath often made me wonder, why many Popish treatises being in some sort exhortations to repentance should be so accounted of, as they are by some: for though I confess there ⟨image 4⟩are in some of them, good and wholesome meditations, and many motives to mortification, and good life, yet would I gladly learn of any man but this one thing, how those exhortations can be pithy, or powerful, sound or any way sufficient to move a man to repentance, when as, not those books, nor all Popery is able to teach a man sufficiently what true repentance is.
AMongst the many reasons (Worshipful Syr',) which haue perswaded mee that Poperie cannot bee the true religiō, this is not the lest: the insufficiency of their doctrin of faith & repētance: which two things though they be the chiefe & principal points ⟨image 3⟩in Religion, and so necessarie that he, who doth not, both knowe, and practise them aright, can neuer be saued yet I dare auouch, that the faith and 1repentance of the Romish Church, as they are taught by many of the best approued Papists, are no better then such a faith, and such a repentance as an hypocrite, and a very reprobate may attaine vnto: Indeed, to insist vpon repentance onely (they make many faire florishes, they call it penance, they make it a sacrament, & say it is a boord that saues a man after shipwrack, and write great volumnes of it, and of confession, and of Cases of 2conscience, (as you good Syr in your owne reading know better then I) & yet alas, when all is done, it is but a shadow of repentance; and indeede how can they teach aright the doctrine of repentance: which erre so fowly in setting downe the iustice of God, and the vilenes of sin, which 2. ⟨image 3⟩points a man must know, else he will neuer repent: but Poperie misconceiuing the iustice of God, teaching it not to bee infinite in as much as it needes not an infinite satisfaction, & misconceiuing the nature of sin, teaching euery sin not to bee damnable, 〈…〉 to offend Gods Infinite iustice, ••ring (I say) in these 2. how is it possible they should conceiue aright the nature of repentance? by which a man seeing his sins, their foulenesse their punishment, and his own misery by them, confesseth them, bewails them, fearing Gods iustice, flyeth frō it, and craues forgiuenesse of his mercie, and lastly purposeth, & indeuoureth to leaue them all, and to leade a newe life. The serious consideration hereof, hath often made me wonder, why many Popish treatises being in some sort exhortations to repentance should be so accounted of, as they are by some: for though I confesse there ⟨image 4⟩are in some of them, good and holesome meditations, and many motiues to mortification, and good life, yet would I gladly learne of any man but this one thing, how those exhortations can be pithie, or powerful, sound or any way sufficient to moue a man to repentance, when as, not those bookes, nor all Poperie is able to teach a man sufficiently what true repentance is.
- 1Canitius in Catechism. Costerus in Enchiridio.Canitius in Catechisme. Costerus in Enchiridio.
- 2Corradus. Navarrus. Loper Sairus. Hallus. Graffius, & many other.Corradus. Nauarrus. Loper Sairus. Hallus. Graffius, & many other.
