such as are truly borne of God should commit sinnes of such qualitie that is deuilish and persist in them therefore he addeth saying All that are borne of God sinne not because the seed abideth in him neither can he sinne because he is borne of God This also is the doctrine not onelie of the Godly Fathers nor onely of Luther and Bucer but also of all Protestants For such things as were defended in the disputation at Ratisbone were defended in the name of all the Protestants And there in many pages this doctrine is pressed and defended That such haue not true faith as doe commit sinnes wasting the conscience And contrariwise they that are truly faithfull do nor entertaine these sinnes much lesse persist in them for that the nature of true faith cannot endâ—â—e such sinnes page 241. Sinne say they against the conscience or as Augustine speaketh wasting the conscience true faith cannot tolerate to be with it neither doth hee euer continue in such a sinne who liueth by a true and iustifying faith But pag. 242. they doe first demonstrate that the faith of them who doe adhâ—ie to such sins against the conscience is no true fayth but a vaine opinion Then of such as are endued with a true faith thus they say yet touching faith whereby a iust man liueth the case is otherwise for they that haue that faith are the sonnes of God and them the Holy Spirit leadeth to holy and rightfull thinges as that the things contrary wittingly and in vnderstanding they doe not much lesse perseuer in them although they doe some-time and sinne of the imbecillity of the flesh and not of fayth but not sinnes wasting the conscience or such as exclude presently from the Kingdome of God In this place they verifie foure things of such as are true Saints and the true sonnes of God of whome is this our Question One is That they are guided by the Holy Spirit to doe those things which are holy and rightfull The next that they are so led by the Holy Spirit to such things as are holy as that witting and with vnderstanding they doe not the contrary The third That if the Saints doe not admit such sinnes as wast the conscience much lesse therefore doe they perseuer therein The fourth That yet oftentimes through infirmity of the flesh they doe admit somethings which are not of faith and so doe sinne And they speake of actuall sinnes the selfe-same thing they doe signifie by the word of acting sinne Therefore although the Saints doe often sinne euen actually and with some consent by frailty of the flesh as be fell Dauid and Peter who did sinne of infirmity as we haue before proued euen by Luthers testimony yet vpon them neuer fall the â—eigning sinnes which properly are called by the Protestants sinnes against the conscience and wasting the conscience And this doctrine they comfirme by the Scriptures and chiefly by this Syllogisme taken from Saint Iohn Hee that truely beleeueth that the Lord Iesus is the Christ is borne of God 1. Ioh. 5. But he that is borne of God sinneth not neither can sinne 1. Ioh. 3. Therefore he that truely beleiueth he cannot sin that is the sinne wasting the conscience much lesse porsist in it These things are in that place word for word Neither did I euer teach otherwise And indeed when I did interpret the Epistle of Saint Iohn both in the Argument of the Epistles and in explication of the second Chapter I confirmed at large the same doctrine Let my Praelections bee read specially vpon these wordes of the second Chapter Hee that saith hee knoweth God and keepeth not his commandements is a lier Wherefore it appeareth what indignity to such men as professe Christ this voice did bring which my aduersaries bruited abroad fasely against mee perswading many as also left in writing scilicèt That I should teach That the Saints although they doe sinne against conscience and liue wickedly and perseuer in their sinnes yet that they do not loose faith whereas I did alwaies teach the contrarie according to the Scriptures That such as commit such things and perseuere therein not to be Saints neither at any time to haue had a true faith but to be the sonnes of the Diuell For these sinnes cannot befall the Saints who though somtime they doe sinne and that with some consent yet not plenarie yet notwithstanding neuer of set malice nor of contempt of Gods Law and therefore doe they not sinne properly against the Conscience as is aboundantly explained before QVEST. IIII. Whether the Saints doe perseuere in Sinne FOR hence it easily appeareth what I thinke and what is to be holden concerning the fourth Question which is controuerted betweene vs scilicet Whether any of the Saints being iustified and regenerate doe perseuere in their sinnes to the end and perish in them For a certaine Diuine doth affirme and endeuoreth to defend this And I deny and doe contend That this doctrine is repugnant to Holy Writ and ouerturneth the whole course of the Gospell For how can this be a concordance hee that beleeueth in me hath euerlasting life how can it be euerlasting if he fall into aeternall destruction how likewise shall that chaine of the Apostle continue inuiolable Rom. 8. Those whom hee hath Predesâ—inate hee hath called scilicèt of purpose and whom he hath called them also he hath iustified if that the iustified can outragiouslie continue in sinne vnto the last breath of their life and runne headlong into aeternall destruction Againe if sinnes reigning cannot befall the Saints as is before manife-fested how can they perseuere therein Therefore the Protestants in their Disputation at Ratisbone did more truely put downe in writing as we haue seene in the places before related That the Saints and they who are endued with a true faith and liue thereby although they fall of frailetie yet doe they not commit sinnes wasting the conscience much lesse doe they perseuere therein Better also writ Luther in Gal. 5. fol. 422. If they do not repent but going on in obstinacie doe perfect the desires of the flesh it is an infallible signe that fraud is in their heart that is that they are not truly sanctified but Hypocrites Besides hee that obeyeth the flesh and goeth on in securitie to perfect the lusts thereof let him know that he doth not belong to Christ and howsoeuer hee adorne himselfe in the highest degree with the name of a Christian yet doth he deceiue himselfe For they that are Christs haue crucified the flesh with the vices and lusts thereof Luther in these words teacheth That it is impossible that such as are truely Christs and Saints should perseuere in their sinnes and proceed in practising the lusts thereof for that iâ— any be found that do continue they doe giue open testimonie that they are Hypocrites and in no case pertaine vnto Christ QVEST. V. Whether the Saints do persist vnto the end in faith once giuen THIS is the state
God 14 Sinne in respect of God doth not fall out by change but by the diuine counsell because by the diuine and that voluntarie permission neither yet is Sinne the effect of diuine Praedestination or of God because the malice of Sinne or of the sinner is not of God Therefore none can be said to haue been Praedestinate of God to Sinne as it is Sinne. 15 Permission and that voluntarie whereby God permitteth sinne is a worke of God and therefore good but sinne permitted as it is sinne is not a worke of God but partly of Satan partly of Man Roge quis audial dâ—minum dâ—centem Non vos me elegistis sâ—d ego vos audeat dicere credere bomines vt â—ligantur cum potius eligantur vs câ—â—dant Aug de praed Sanctorum â— 17. 16 All men are Praedestinate some to life some to death aeternall 17 Without Christ none can either bee praedestinate to life aeternall or effectually called or truely iustified or eternally glorified 18 Whosoeuer are praedestinate to life euerlasting as to the end are also Praedestinate to the due meanes by which it is receiued Faith therfore the workes of faith and perseuerance in faith or the beginning progresse and consummation of Saluation all are effects of Praedestination 19 God whereas hee could yet would hee not vouchsafe all men confusedly the grace of Praedestination aeternall 20 God doth be-blind harden and destroy some therefore them to make blind harden destroy hee decreed eternally 21 The finall and principall end both of the reprobation of some and election of other some is Gods glorie which both in the reiection of the wicked and election of the godly doth shine plentifully 22 To bee created and suffered to fall into sinne and into death are effects of Praedestination common to the Elect and Reprobate but to be enriched with grace faith workes perseuerance of faith and finally life eternall are effects proper to the Predestination of the Elect but to bee forsaken in their sinnes perpetually to bee blinded hardned and finally damned are effects of Reprobation proper to the wicked 23 This argumentation a posteriori that is from the effect God created men then did voluntarily permit them to fall into sinne and by sinne to run headlong into death finally of them some he deliuereth and saueth from thence by Christ mercifully others in their sinnes hee forsaketh most iustly blindeth damneth but both he doth to for his glory Therefore God from aeternity hath decreed to doe all these things is not a sophistication but a demonstration And this is the praedestination of the Godly and vngodly None is praedestinate to aeternal life conditionally if he do belieue if he obserue the Law but whosoeuer are praedestinate therevnto are absolutely and simply praedestinate so that euen they therefore do beleeue and keepe the Law because as to life so also they are praedestinate to beleeue and obserue the Law 25 The Elect only attaine true iustifying faith but the Reprobate although they seeme to beleeue for a time yet their faith is not true but temporary and therefore hypocriticall 26 Whatsoeuer good the Saintes haueor do they therefore haue and do it because for the enioying and acting thereof they were from aeternity freely praedestinate Therefore the beginning of Saluation that is faith and the proceeding that is good workes and the end that is finall perseuerance and plenary possession of Life eternall are free effects of diuine praedestination or of God praedestinating Wherfore neither Faith nor good workes can be the cause of predestination seeing the Apostle saith not Hee hâ—th ' chosen vs because we would bee holy but that we should be holy Neither therefore did I obtaine mercy for that I would be faithfull but that I might be fathfull 27 It is no impiety to say The Reprobate therefore not to beleeue not to repent not to obserue the Law because they were praedestinate not to beleeue not to repent not to keepe the Law seeing the Lord thus speaketh Therefore ye do not beleeue because yee are not of my flock Againe Therfore ye do not heare because ye are not of God 28 Nay it is not impiety to say the Reprobate do therefore the works which are euil in the Reprobate because they were praedestinate to do them seing the holy Spirit doth teach this in the Scriptures Acts. 2. 4. 29 Neither Praedestination nor God can be said to be the cause of the sinnes which wicked men do commit or that God did praedestinate the wicked to sinne both for that the warfare whereby wicked men do sinne is not of God but of Satan as also for that God hath praedestinate none to sinnes as they be sinnes but onely as they be either actions in themselues and therfore not euill or punishments of sinne 30 Rather therefore the wicked in doing these things do sinne to the doing whereof they are praedestinate of God because the workes of God otherwise in themselues good they doe infect with the naughtinesse of their fleshly mind 31 Therefore the proper efficient cause of sinne is that home-bred infidelity and mallice in men 32 In euery sinne there be two thinges The worke which is done or at leastwise the action either internall or externall and the naughtinesse of the sinner by which it is effected that the work or action is made sinne The worke of God for he worketh all in all but the euil in no wise In that therfore the wicked doe that worke they haue it of God and of Gods praedestination but in that by doing they sinne through their owne naughtines neither is that of God nor haue they it of Gods praedestination 33 The effects of the grace of God in the Elect first Redemption from sinne and death by the blood of Christ the second effectuall calling by the holy spirit to the participation of this Redemption The third and therefore an actuall separation from the filthines of other men of the world The fourth a reall incision into Christ and therefore the fift iustification by faith the sixt Regeneration the seauenth true sanctification to do the acceptable will of God the eight Remission of daily sinnes the ninth the presence Sophistae dicunt Deum nòn praedestinasse in praeâ—erito sed semper in praesâ—nâ—i Zanchius of the holy Spirit the tenth the gift of eternall life 34 Although God praedestinating be not vnder time yet men praedestinated are vnder time Wherefore seeing the holy Spirit perpetually in the Scriptures saith that God hath praedestinated vs and that before the world was made and not to praedestinate we do duly conclude That Praedestination was determined from all aeternity 35 Praedestination is aeternal wherfore we which were elected from aeternity haue been deare and acceptable to God 36 Praedestination is vnchangeable therfore the saluation of the Elect is most certaine and they can neuer perish 37 Some certaine men are praedestinate to life and not all therefore is the number of the
often able to resist they wold neuer do that they would not but would alwaies doe that they would Thirdly after the sinne committed or after the violence of the sea that is of concupiscence be abated they doe lament the fact and mourne and pray forgiuenesse and offer the sacrifice of repentance that hee may pardon it verily by all those things which befall to the Saints both before in and after the temptation and sinne committed it abundantly appeareth how the Saints in sinning both will and nill sinne and doe the euil they would not and doe not the good they would And therefore it cannot be said of them that they do sin as the wicked do with a fui will That which I haue illustrated by the comparison of the Mariners is declared by the example of Peter and Iudas Before the sinne it was not in Peters heart to deny Christ but rather on the contrary hee so loued Christ and detested both the offences and enemies of Christ as that indeed hee was rather ready to die then to deny Christ and therefore hee said though all shall deuie thee yet I will neuer denie thee Such also is the purpose of the Godly before they sin scilicet when as they are not their owne men and are not violently carried with violent temptations as it were out of themselues crossely into absurdities But the mind of Iudas was not such as of Peter but rather of a long time with a quiet mind hee had practised officiously theft by defrauding Christ and his Apostles of their mony as Ioh. 12 doth testifie that he was a theefe and therefore of long and with a setled mind he had deliberated with himselfe how he might with gaine and without tumult betray Christ into his enemies hands Such like are the minds of the wicked they alwaies meditate euill according to the prouerbe euen in their cold bloud But in the heat of temptation Peter though through the excessiue force of the feare of death which he did perceiue as imminent vpon him for the free confession of Christ is not recorded to haue resisted or encountred with the temptation yet out of the quality of these three de nialls of his it may easily be collected That at the beginning hee did some-what in minde with-stand for that hee did not directly in the entrance denie but dissemble by his cold answering the Damsell saying And thou also wast with Iesus of Galileâ— I know not what thou saiest For after that the tempest encreased the next turne hee denied with an oath directly renouncing Christ and saying I know not the man But at the third turne when the blast of temptation was most vehement hee did not onely dissemble neither only deny with an oath but also euen deuoting himselfe to execrations he accursed and as Marke saith anathematized himself But Iudas from that time of his first temptation touching the betraying of Christ was alwaies of the same minde neither did sodainely fall into temptation as Peter but with long deliberation he did seeke opportunities of betraying him into their hands So doe all wicked men they doe not fall into temptation vpon the sodaine but they hunt and seeke for them But the Godly are quite contrary And after the offence committed Peter presently was so penitent for his fact that hee wept bitterly for his sinne So do also the Godly But Iudas although hee came to the Priests and restoring the mony said I haue sinned in betraying innocent blood yet do we not read that hee lamented and truely sorrowed for his offence committed Wherefore in that he hanged himselfe hee did not so from sorrow for sinne but for that he saw that his life should bee with perpetuall infamie for the betraying his maister specially for so small a summe of money So the wicked do sometime greeue for their sinne but not properly for the sinne it selfe but either for shame or for punishment temporall or eternall whereinto they see they are fallen wherefore the wicked do not declare by such repentances that they hate the euil which they haue committed but onely the punishment whervnto they are liable but contrariwise the Saints do indeed detest the sinnes committed and hate them Who in these two Apostles cannot see what difference there is betweene the sinnes of the wicked and the godly between the willes of one and other in their sinnes And that which I speak of all the Saints that it may be more clearely apparant in the example of Peter I wil cite a place out of Bernard â—lâ—b de libero arbitrio Col. 1592 in which place with exceding elegancie and pietie he doth explaine this selfe-same Question which I doe entreat of concerning that will where with the Saints doe sinne by the very example of Peter produced Sed vidâ—aimus c. But let us see saith he touching such who in word compulsorily do deny the faith through feare of paine and death least happily according to this assertioÌ„ either it fall out to be no fault that they do deny in word onely 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 euil euil ought to be imputed For this is not of like quality with originall sinne wherein not onely hee who consenteth not but also euen he that is ignorant is another way hanckled not being as yet renewed by baptisine For example let Peter the Apostle come into the rank for he seemed to deny the truth against his wil for either he must haue dyed or denied fearing to dye he denyed he nilled to denye but more to dye therefore against his will but yet he denyed to auoid death but if with tongue and not with will the man was inforced to speak that he nilled yet not to will otherwise then hee willed the tongue was mooued against the will but was the will also altered for what willed he verily to bee 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 doe vnderstand two willes in the Apostle one whereby hee would not dye altogether vnculpable another euen much commendable wherein hee tooke delight that hee was a Christian Whereâ—â— then shall hee be culpable in this respect for that he would rather lie then die This Will vtterly deserued reprehension that he willed rather to saue the life of the body then of Sap. 1. the soule The moutâ— verily that speaketh â— lye killeth the Sâ—â—â—e therefore he both sinned nor without consent of his owne will both weake and wofull and yet most free But hee sinned not in contempt or hatred of Christ but in too much loue of himselfe neither did that sodaine feare enforce his
against their ful conscience Thirdly yee see that to bee impious which my Aduersarie did publish in the Schooles That such men are Regenerate and sanctified who may sinne against conscience and euen perseuere in the same sins with madnes Againe pag. 39. Of them saith he when it is said that they cannot sinne it is onely to bee vnderstood of Perseuerance and a studie to sin Thus Bucer Therefore the Saints do not sin neither purposely nor with perseuerance And then presently They sinne saith hee but they doe not lie in their sinnes neither doth sin reigne in them but finally they are erected and heare and follow their shepheaâ—d Rom. 8. Sect. 4. vpon this In that we pray c. pag. 343. The Saints indeed do liue and are led with the spirit of Christ as Paul taught a little before but while our most gracious Father doth humble vs with aduersitie and doth make vs see our Nothingnes of our selues There this spirit whereby wee cry Abba Father which doth contestate the good will of God towards vs in all things and withall doth make vs euen glory in our afflictions as it were is oppressed the flesh which is weake to all honest things preuaileth the terrour of Gods iudgment doth wholly possesse vs. From hence wee feele nothing but detestarion of Gods iudgements but a deploring of our owne lot and accusation of God to burst forth and to be tossed too and fro in our mindes Herevpon are those most grieuous complaints of Iob Ieremie and the Psalmist God now is accused of excessiue and vniust seueritie we curse his holy and iust workes wee doe execrate our whole life and such things as were seruiceable to produce or preserue life So Iob and Ieremie did curse the very night and day wherein they were conceiued and borne But because in that though most grieuous praecipitation and intolerable exagitation of mind the Saints doe still liue in the Spirit of God for the same doth neuer forsake them therefore hath it vncessantly its operation in them and alwayes the motion thereof And that is nothing else but to crye Abba father that is to pray for Gods helpe In his Booke of the true reformation of Churches fol. 135. out of those words Ioh. 6. Whither shall weâ— goe thou hast the wordes of eternall life he inferreth saying whereby he doth clearely expresse that such as do truly beleeue and by beleeuing do soundly know the Lord Iesus Christ to be the Sauiour of meÌ„ to haue the words of eternal life cannot depart from him Wherevppon the Lord so often heere of vseth repetition That such haue eternall life who beleeue in him Againe vpon the three last verses of the 80. Psalme This likewise redounded out of the same spirit saith he Wee wil not decline from thâ—e for that they are sealed with such a spirit of the sonnes of God insomuch as that they can neuer fall away from it And whereas to all these and other most manifest places of Bucer in a manner infinite touching perseuerance some do obiect three places ex Refor Coloniensi as though there were a repugnancie therein they doe nothing effect thereby For we haue giuen demonstration in our answers to our accusers arguments That they are so far from being contradictory as that they implie mutuall confirmation First there it is taught that true faith cannot consist with sinne against the Conscience and this we concluded out of Bucer but we added withall both according to the Scriptures Bucers doctrine That the Saints doe not sinne against plenary conscience nay therefore the Saints not to commit these sins because they are endued with true faith which cannot endure these sinnes to be with it Agame there it is laid downe that many haue and do fall from grace and faith The examples which are alleadged are partly of the reprobate partly of the Elect as of Dauid We likewise according to Bucers doctrine doe teach thatt both the Elect and Reprobate when they sinne by consent may be said to fall from grace and faith but not altogether after the same manner For the Reprobate for that they doe sinne against conscience plenarily they do vtterly and fully fall from grace and doe entirely loose that temporary faith totally which they had But the Elect for that they doe not sinne with a full will and full consent therefore neither fully nor vtterly they fall away from grace neither vtterly loose their faith but partly that is they are so said to fal from the grace of their heauenly father as sonnes from the grace of their parents when as they by their euil manners or offences do prouoke them to anger yet so as that they neither cease to be parents nor they to be children And so they are said to loose faith as fire is said to bee extinguished when either by wet fuel cast vppon it it is suffocated or for want of wood the heat is remitted but yet so as the whole fire is not put out Therefore by these places nothing is concluded against such and such others produced by me for Perseuerance O Ecolampadius in Ep. Ioh. trimam demegor 8. vpon these words If they had heene of vs tâ—ey would haue continued with vs From hence saith hee some do collect That such as are once truly illuminated cannot fall totally from faith and vtterly slie out of the Church for although Peter denyed Christ yet went he not vtterly away We know that a reuelation was made vnto him of the father not from flesh and blood and that he sinned we are not ignorant neither yet did his faith vtterly faile as neither of Dauid the adulterer from whence by repentance both of them returned But if some goe out so as that they doe not returne we do at no hand belieue that they were truely illuminated For such as reuert haue yet safe the seeds of faith neither are they altogether desperate neither do any of such so go out as do the Antichrists who not being truly illnminated did go out so that either they should oppugne the knowne truth or their brethren for the truthes sake for we do not read that any such haue returned for they sinned with an vnpardonable sinne that is against the Holy Ghost which is neither remitted in this nor in the life to come Let euery one consider what faith he hath hitherto had and pray God continually to encrease my faith help mine vnbeleefe least either he be drawne away with such a number of Antichrists or be vnprepared when the Lord Iesus commeth and calleth Soe bee it Amen This testimony of OEcolampadius can neither my aduersary nor any other reiect as discordant with the Augustane confession or coudemne it as haereticall doctrine but he must withal reiect and condemne D. Hedion as one who did approue doctrine both haeretical and repugnant to the Augustane Confession and proposed it to be read and receiued of the people of a Argentme for Strausburg he translated these
to loue for euer And so Gods loue is not only euerlasting but perpetuall 19 This loue of God is the fountaine of our saluation because from thence it commeth to passe that he hath praedestinate vs to life aeternall in Christ that he sent his sonne into the world that he hath called vs effectually by the preaching of the Gospel that hee forgiueth our daily sinnes that finally hee will bestow vppon vs fully life aeternall 20 The loue of God to-vs-ward is called by the Prophet Zeale for that it is as the loue of the husband towards his wife that is most feruent therefore intermixed with carefulnes and dolour with carefulnes least any aduersity should happen to the thing beloued and dolour if it happen 21 Zeale also wherewith God also is zealous that is feruently loueth his owne glory is the cause efficient of our saluation For he could not indure that ouer and besides the Reprobate the Elect likewise should be held perpetually as Captiues in the handes of Sathan for that this did crosse Gods glory Therefore the zeale of the Lord to wit wherby he hath and doth loue both vs and his owne glory so ardently hath effected this that is was the cause of our saluation by Christ both obtained and preserued 22 Saluation and life aeternall can fall to none but to such as are elect to saluation and life aeternall Mat. 10. 25. Rom. 8. Therefore none can be ascertained of his saluation vnlesse hee be made certaine of his aeternall and immutable election to life aeternall 23 Euery one is bounden certainly to beleeue that he was elected vnto saluation and life eternall in Christ by God before the world was made which is at large demonstrated in cap 7. of this Treatise 24 Now that euery one may perswade himselfe hereof there bee certaine rules deliuered partly a priori as they terme it or from the causes partly a posteriori deduced or from the effects And this is also handled in the 7. cap. of his Tractate 25 Chriâ—t according to the purpose both of his fathers and his owne will neither praied nor suffered but for the Elect onely which is prooued fully by many places of Scripture 26 None can bee endued with true faith in Christ vnlesse he bee elect in Christ to aeternall saluation as is by many places of Scripture confirmed cap. 7. Whosoeuer therfore doth feele himselfe enritched with true faith in Christ let him conclude that he is in Christ ordained to life eternall 27 Whosoeuer is endued with a true and liuely faith may perceiue and doth perceiue that he truly beleeueth in Christ therfore a beleeuer may be made certaine of his Election to life aeternall 28 The doctrine of Praedestination As to the Elect nothing is more soueraigne so to the Reprobate by their owne default nothing is more pernicious For although they take offence at it yet for the others sake it is to be preached 29 Out of the rich treasures of Christ so much each one hath and possesseth how much he receiueth and draweth out by faith Whosoeuer therefore can truly beleeue that he hath been elected in Christ from aeternity vnto life euerlasting hee is elected The Summe of the fourth Chapter of the Tractate touching Christ our Aduocate contained in foure propositions CHrist is the Aduocate of the Elect onely that of all which Io 17. Ro. 8. 1. Io. 2. Ang Tract 41. in Ioh. haue beene from the beginning of the world and shal be to the end 2 Christ also is the propitiation onely for the sinnes of the Elect of Euseb Hist Ecelts l. 4. c. 15. the whole world therefore is hee their aduocate only So the Church of Smyrna to al the parishes of Paul saith Christ did suffer for the saluation of all the World which are to be saued but the Elect only are saued So Ambrosâ— To. 2. de fide ad Gratianum lib. 4. c. 1. If thou doest not beleeue he descended not for thee hee suffered not for thee Therefore he suffered onely for tâ—e beleeuers 3 The world is sometime taken for the whole World and all men as well Elect as Reprobate somtime Gen. 18. 22. Gal. 3. Psa 44. Ioh. 12. Ro. 5. 2. Cor. 5. Col. 1. Habâ—t erge populus Dei plenituâ—inem suum Amâ—r ibid. for the more principall part to wit the Elect some-time for the worse part of the World that is the Reprobate The Author also of the Booke de vocatione Gentium lib. 1. c. 3. doth declare by examples of many Scriptures often-times for a part of the Earth the whole Earth for a part of the World the whole World for a part of men all men to bee nominated and this as well touching the wicked as the godly Therefore when he saith that Christ is the propitiation for the sinnes of the whole World we are not enforced by the name of the whole World to vnderstand vniuersally all men 4 There is a difference between the worke of our redemption and the force or fruit of our redemption for the first is once done the other is eternall extending it selfe as well to them which were from the beginning of the World euen before the worke of our redemption was accomplished as to them who after the worke of our redemption effected shal be to the end of World 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is properly the effecacy of redemption propitiation nothing therefore doth let but that Christ hath beene and is perpetually the Attonement for the sinnes euen of them which were elected euen from the beginning of the world The Summary of the Questions whether Remission of sinnes once obtained can againe be made frustrate comprised in fourteen Conclusions THE whole course of the Gospell is contriued in this summe that it might perswade vs which beleeue in Christ that our saluatioÌ„ is firme constant that is in Christ If therefore any shall say that Remision Ioh. â— 5. Mâ— 7. 16 Ro. 11. of sinnes once obtained by consequent fals can bee made frustrate in the Saints hee doth ouerturne the whol scope the Gospell nunquam in nemine â—b nullum â—eccaâ—um fit irrita remissio Zanch. Read Esai 38. 44. Mich. 7. 2 Onely by an absolute relapse from pietie to impietie the remission of sinnes past once obtained can be done away but this relapse the true Saints and Elect are not incident vnto Therfore in them forgiuenes of sinnes cannot be frustrate 3 In the Reprobate true Remission of sinne â—neuer tooke place therefore it can neuer in them bee frustrate Wherefore in none 4 For the bloud of Christ by Pro omnibus sufficientèr pro electis tâ—â—tumefficacitèr Zâ—nch ex Scolasticis Pro â—mnibus illis electis ex Augustino Iohn 17 1. Ioh. 2. Ro. 8. Aliqua luce mentes illuminat nùnquam iamèn paenetrat illorum corda Zanch. Iohn 1. which alone remission is ateâ—iâ—ued is not according to the purpose of GOD and indeed shed out for the Reprobate
our owne curiosity or questioned of others why the Lord doth so long deferre his comming let vs answere as Peter instructeth that he doth therefore deferre for that hee looketh that all should repent and that he is not delighted with the perdition of men If Question be propounded whether the Lord will sooner or later come let vs follow the doctrine of CHRIST and returne our answere We cannot tell for this is the safer tract For if thou shalt say the Lord will not come quickly hee will yet deferre this is the property of the euill seruant Luke 12. Matthew 24. and it begetteth either security to â—arnall or despaite to godly men who desire the comming of Christ if thou say he will come quickly this indeed is the part of the good seruant to thinke that the Lord will come quickly and daily to expect him And this cogitation will quicken thee to study for composing thy selfe and for to meet the Lord but it is a rash affirmation of that thou knowest not But if thou doest answer thou canst not tell and therefore because thou knowest not that we must watch and pray thou shalt doe the office both of a good and humble seruant and so shalt passe the more safe way For this is the third accorning to Christs Gospell Watch yee therefore for yee knâ—â— not c. Augustine also saith in the Epistle to Hesychius and putteth downe three orders or seruants One saith Let vs watch and pray for that the Lord will come quickly another saith Let vs watch and pray for that the Lord will come indeed slowly but our life is but short the third saith Let vs watch and pray for wee know not when the Lord will come But notwithstanding wee know not when the generall end of the World shal be yet let vs remember that the end of our little world is neare euery one of vs for wee cannot long liue Let vs continually watch and pray Neither imitate that euill seruant who saith My Lord will delay his comming The Lord grant that all these things may leaue a deepe impression in the depth of our hearts Amen ⸪ HIEROME Whether I eat or drinke or whatsoeuer I doe I doe alwaies suppose that I heare the voyce of the trumpet sounding Ariseyee dead and come vnto iudgement AVGVSTINE The last day is vnknowne vnto us that we might attend vpon euery day APOC. 22. 12. Behold I come quickly and my reward is with me to giue to euery one as his deeds shal be THE CONFESSION of HIEROME ZANCHIVS touching the perseuerance of the Saints in faith NOW intending my explanation and confirmation of my sentence touching the perseueraance of the Saints in Faith in the entrance that all ambiguitie may bee remoued which secretly resteth in words of different signification these three words which are incident to this question Faith Grace Saint are principally to bee vnfolded and what thereby must be vnderstood In the next place lest any man should suppose that there is of such matter controuersie amongst vs where indeed there is none such things are to be remooued out of the way which seeme and are not controuerted amongst vs. Then finally wherein this controuersie consisteth and what my opinion is thereof shall bee declared and the testimonies of Scriptures Fathers and learned men of our Age whereby I do defend this my iudgement shall be alleadged CHAP. I. Of Faith FAITH so much as 1 Faith for the doctrine of faith and for the aâ—â—ica cie of the Spirit by which we beleeue the doctrine for the vnderstanding of this controuersie is worthy explication is taken abusiuely and by a Metonymie for that Doctrine which wee embrace by Faith and make profession of but most vsually in proper signification for the gift whereby we vnderstand that Doctrine and entertaine it For Doctrine as 1. Tim. 1. that thou sight a good fight reâ—â—â—iuing faith and a good conscience the disputation is not here intended of this signification of faith for it is acknowledged of all men that they are said to fall from the faith who cast off the Doctrine once receiued â—r else from whom by the iust iudgement of God the Doctrine is taken away But Faith in the other signification is diuided into true and iustifying 2 Faith without hypocrisie and hypocritical faith and not-true and notiustifying faith which is sincere and without dissimulation that which is hypocriticall 1. Tim. 1. This hypocriticall or dissembled Faith is double one which not only Hypocriticall faith is double they who dissemble doe know to bee in hypocrisie but commonly others also doe perceiue not to bee sound by their perseuerance in notorious sinnes such is the faith of them of whom Tit. 1. They confess that they know God but by 〈◊〉 deeds they deny him Of this kind was the faith of those who followed Christ for the bread Iohn 6. and such was the faith of Iudas specially after he begunne to intend treason against Christ The other is so semblable to ture faith as not onely they who haue it doe not acknowledge it to bee hypocriticall but others also by the greene flourishing blossome of an honest life fructifying from thence doe altogether adiudg it to be sincere and true Onely God the fearcher of the heart who cannot bee deceiued and who perceiueth what is in man doth see it to be hypocriticall Such like was the faith of many Disciples who after the space of many monethes they reputed themselues sincere beleeuers in Christ yet so soone as others heard that word touching the manducation of Christs flesh they fell away from Christ Ioh. 6. And the reason was for that they imagined that Christ had spoken of the flesh of Christ to bee eaten with the mouth and carnall manducation such was the faith of them of whom Ioh. 2. Many beleeued in him seeing the signes which he did but Iesus did not commit himselfe vnto them for that hee knew them all and vnderstood what was in man To these two sorts is graunted To hypocriticall faith is added power of miracles sometime from God a certaine force of the holy Spirit whereby some of those impious men besides that vehement perswasion which they haue of Christ and his power being eueâ— sometime moued therewith they prophetie and doe worke miracles such likewise were they of whome Mat. â— Lord Lord haue wee not in thy name cast out Diuels This power some doe call the faith of miracles But for that it seemeth to me to be rather a singular efficacie and force of faith both true and hypocriticall sometime and to some granted in working miracles rather then any speciall faith therefore I doe constitute onely two kinds of faith and of hypocrites Faith of hypocrites both temporarie and dead Both which Faith is dead temporarie Dead for that as concerning the first it neuer moueth men to the hatred of sinne and loue of righteousnesse neither to leade an honest and Christian
belieuer that is which doth kindle in the heart of a faithful man new heauenly motions new and caelestiall cogitations new heauenly desires finally new and celestial affections conformable to the law of God often expelling terrene cogitations Which thing is signified in the Scriptures by the name of purification of the heart and of mortification of the flesh and viâ—ification of the spirit and crucifing and buriall of the old man and renewing and resuscitating of the new man withall in the other parts that it be powerful and working through loue towards God and our neighbours This property in euery place the holy Spirit enforceth in the Scriptures but more specially in the epistles of Iames and Iohn it teacheth purposely this property to bee so essentiall to â—aith that vnlesse this be present it can in no case be called true and iustifying faith Of this first property there is no contention amongest The other essentiall property of true faith is That it bee peâ—oetuall and that it neuer vtterly faile in the Elect. This property I am able to demonstrate by many testimonies of Scriptures and Fathers and our owne Doctors but those which I shall consquently annex let them suffice for my present confession The faith of Abraham was not onely a liuing faith but also perpetuall as Iames besides others doth manifest For although it was tossed with many tentations yet did it not at any time totally quaile This qualitie of the faith of Abraham doth demonstrate both Moses in the story of him as also the Apostle Romans 4. Now whosoeuer are iustified are iustified by no other faith then that whereby euen Abraham the Father of all faithfull was iustified as the Scriptures euery where doe teach Herevpon hee is called the Father of the faithfull because whoseuer are the sonne of the promise and doe beleeue that faith may be imputed vnto them for righteousnesse they both doe beleiue in the same Sauiour Christ and God as Abraham did and by the very same that is like faith as he did and it is requisite that they should so beleiue There-vpon the Lord Iesus denied the Iewes to be the sonnes of Abraham who boasted themselues to be Abrahams sonnes and for what cause because they did not the works of Abraham that is for that they neither beleiued in him nor with the same faith that hee did Iames also doth conuince such as haue a dead fayth without workes not to be iustified as Abraham was iustified and why so for that they were nâ—â— endued with the same that is like faith as Abraham faith I say â—â—â—king by loue As Iames therefore doth euict that not to bee true and iustifiing faith which is dead for that it is not like to Abrahams faith in this quality which is that it haue life it is likewife euicted that such a faith as is not perpetuall but temporary is not a true and iustifying faith and why because it is not like to the faith of Abraham in that other essentiall property which is that it bee perpetuall And that perpetuity is as an essentiall property to iustifying faith and faith leading to life â—ternall as life is from hence is made manifest for that as they cannot bee saued not hauing faith so neither can they who haue not the same perpetuall For temporizers are neither gratefull to God nor in state of saluation and whosoeuer shall perseuer vnto the end he onely shall attaine saluation Therefore it cannot be a true iustifying and sauing faith except it bee both liuing and permanent And I pray you how can it be or be called a liuing faith and which bringeth eternall life vnlesse the same bee alwaies liuing but at last dead or vtterly vanishing In the Parable of the seed is explaned the nature of true and false faith To faith not true are ascribed two properties one that it is not liuely that is that although it receiue the seed of the word with ioy and doe produce an apparant flourish euen of an honest life yet doth it bring forth no true fruit and that for this reason because the seede falleth into the ground which is either rocky and therefore therein it cannot take roote or thorny and therefore the seed cast thereinto and now conuerted into the bud is suffocated before it can bring forth any fruitâ— at all Another property which is there ascribed to faith not true nor iustifying is this That it is not perpetuall but temporary Therefore the qualities of true faith must needs be contrary that is that it be liuing and perpetuall And these like-wise are in the same place explaned viz. in that part of the ground which retained the seed sowne and therevpon brought forth much fruit perpetuity therein is intimated for 〈◊〉 that ground retayned the seede sowne therein neither was it suffocated of thornes nor withâ—red with the heat of the Sunne and life in that it brought forth much fruit Whereas consequently in the interpretation of this Parable the Lord spake of the true beleeuers some to bring forth 30 â—ould some 60. some an hundreth he signified in all the Elect true beleeuers faith to be both liuing perpetuall but yet in some more strong liuely in others more infirm languid For althogh true faith be not in all the Elect of equal strength and life yet is it necesssarie that in all the Elect it be liuing and perpetuall else it cannot be called true and iustifying faith And in good sooth I do not see how it can be no consequent if faith not true be temporarie then true faith is not temporarie And if it be not temporarie then is it perpetual for so much as that which is perpetuall is contrarie to temporarie Now will I insert testimonies out of the Fathers Aug. ad Iul. Com. as as he is quoted in Decret saith Charitie which can faile was neuer true so Amâ— in 2. Corintbians 6. therefore neither is â—aith true if it can faile The same Aug To â— in Iâ—â— Enang Tract 106. Câ— 513. To beleeue truely is vnmoueably 〈◊〉 stably strongly that nowthou canst not returne to thine owne and relinquish Christ Thus he Therefore it is not true faith vnlesse it be vnshakeable firme stable strong so that it neuer fall away from Christ And what is this but faith to be perpetuall Luther in Postâ—ll maiorâ—b in Sexagesimam in Euang. Luc. 8 de seminâ— The fourth sort of hearers who permanently doe retaine the word of God and bring forth fruit he calleth true Christians and all the rest that are temporarie he termeth not sincere and not true Therefore temporarie faith is neither true not sincere faith Brâ—n in like manner vpon the same Gospel speaking of teÌ„poriâ—ers saith That such doe not truely beleeue Therfore temporary faith is not true Bucer in Luc. 1. pag. 141. Piety which knoweth an end is not true Pietie Therefore neither faith which hath an end is true faith Idâ—â— in Mat. sect 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉
side saith Onely the Elect doe truly beleeue in Christ the reprobate beleeue but it is for a time and therefore not truely and their faith because it is temporarie neither to be true faith nor to iustifie or make the sonnes of God Idem in Iohn 2. sect 3 vpon these words but Iesus did not commit him-selfe vnto them first teacheth that those who in that place are said to haue beleeued in Christ were temporizers then of temporizers Those saith he were such which beleeue in the name of Christ yet he did not commit himselfe vnto them for he knew what was in man for hee knew them to haue nothing lesse then a true and sound faith in it felfe Thus he Therfore temporary faith is not true and soundfaith Idem in lib dereconcilia Eccles incontrouers de iustif in the significatitions of this word credere to beleeue first hee concludeth that it is wrought in vs by inspiration of the Holy Spirit that wee doe beleeue Then that this inspiration doth happen diuerse waies first sometime in such manner as that wee beleeue some part of the word of God but not all againe sometime such as that wee doe beleeue all but not alwaies but for a certaine time And hee teacheth neither of these to be the inspiration of a true faith fol. 138 128. 139. But the other inspirations of true faith which he there reciteth and explaineth hee conioyneth them all with perpetuitie and therefore teacheth That it is no true faith vnlesse it bee perpetuall And fol. 139. expressely hee saith That Faith not true which the Lord calleth temporary is called by Paul â—aigned and by Iames dead faith and that this is not of the same ranke with a liuely and true faith which doth in veritie apprehend the life of GOD in Christ By which words Bucer teacheth that faith which is temporarie to bee hypocriticall and dead that is neither liuing nor true faith Therefore true Faith must bee perpetuall Idem in Eph. c. 1. vpon these words yee are sealed by the holy Spirit of promise he calleth temporarie faith a picture of faith againe dissembled credulitie and saith it is called of Iames dead faith and therefore not to bee true faith As likewise a dead man is not a true man for that by this addition sciliâ—â—â— of dead it destroyeth the nature of faith as also when wee say a dead man by this addition of dead is extinct the nature of man But saith hee Paul speaketh not of the image of faith but of true faith when he speaketh of a sauing faith and which proceedeth from the Holy Spirit For although that image of faith doth sometime strongly grow on so that it doth paâ— forth fruit yet the Sun arising at last those fruits are extinguished as doth appeare in them who seeke carnall libertie by the Gospell and doe neuer make consideration of the Crosse which is there taught this faith is hypocriticall credulitie Iames calleth it dead faith which condition being added destroyeth the nature of faith as when wee say a dead man by that addition the nature of man is done away These things Bucer Therefore if faith be not perpetuall it cannot be true and liuing faith Idem in ep ad Eph. â— 4. Tract dâ— Eccles in the entrance fol. 111. â—ee putteth downe a three-fold faith first iustifying and therefore true and perpetuall faith then faith vtterly dead thirdly the meane betweene both this temporary faith And hee doth demonstrate these two last not to be a true saith neither men thereby to be iustified Although saith hee there be some to be found who place a certain 〈◊〉 faith between that which iustifieth which worketh by Loue and is expressely called a liuing faith and that which is vtterly dead that is not working any good And indeed there is a certaine temporarie faith noted by Christ which although it doth not endure and profit so farre to fructifie yet it putteth forth into bud This faith is an assent vnto the Gospell which iâ— therefore inspired euen into reprobate men that they in some sort should glorifie God in their words and deedes and should commend him to the prayers of the Saints and withall be stripped naked of all excuse of ignorance Such was the faith of Cain for hee also offered sacrifice of Saul Aâ—hab Iudas the Tâ—aitor and of all others who are so far illuminated of God that in some sort and for some time they embrace and tast of the sacred word of God with ioy and are made partakers of the heauenly gifts and the holy Spirit and yet by relapse they fall into impietie and therein perish in obstinacie Notwithstanding whatsoeuer life or worke is seene in their faith yet these men remaine endued with a temporarie gift and a lame faith so long as they want a iustifying faith without Christ therefore are they in death and vnder Gods wrath and al those motions of faith in them of what qualitie soeuer and benefits in apparance are indeed the good works of the good God as whereby also hee is beneficiall vnto mankinde by euill men to the amplifying of 〈◊〉 glorie in his infinite bountifulnesseâ— but to those men they are euil works and sinnes who doe them yet of an impious minde because they proceede wickedly reiecting the blood of Iesus Christ and iustification by him offered Yet hence is the difference betweene them who through this faith though but vanishing and not regenerating doe confesse the Lord Christ in word and doe not apparantly deny him in deede and them who howsoeuer they say that they beleeue in word yet in deede doe trample vnder foote the Lord Christ and hold his bloud as prophane for that the one sort are tolerated 〈◊〉 the externe fellowship of the Saints vntill they doe plainely discouer their impietie but not the other for that they make themselues manifest in their impietie Yet neither sort are true members at any time of the bodie of Christ for that they liue not in Christ In these wordes of Bucer amongst other things it is manifest first That if saith be temporary it is not true and iustifying therefore true and iustifying faith is perpetuall secondly That Saul and Iudas had neuer true and iustifying faith for that their faith was but temporarie Therfore that is false which one taught and committed to writing That Saul Iudas were iustified as wel as Dauid and Peter thirdly That neither temporizers nor notoriouslie wicked euer were true members of the Church and therfore the Elect onely and such as are endued with true faith are the true members of the Church Musculus in Ioh. cap. 8. pag. 62. vpon these words if ye abide in 〈…〉 then are yee verily my Disciples saith he He ioyneth soliditie and stabilitie with veritie That which is true is solid that which is false is vaine and fained and so cannot be stable specially if it come liable to examination That which is gold remaineth gold that which seemeth and is not
haue confirmed the same both by the testimonies of Augustine and Bucer also you may out of your most prudent iudgement easily conclude this to be so infallible that the Elect truely sanctified doe perseuere in faith and in grace and therefore in Christ as that if they doe not perseuere they may not at any hand be accompted either truely Elected or endued with true faith or euer to haue been true Saints Yet because this controuersie of the perseuerance of Saints containeth besides the â—â—â—st and principall many other heads which to the perfect knowledge hereof are of like necessitie to bee knowne therefore I doe â—ntreat my most clement Lords that they would not withall disdaine to reade with attention and examine with diligence those things also which doe hereafter ensue CHAP. II. What things are controuerted and what are not in this Article of Perseuerance NOW such things are to be remoued out of the way as are not incident to this present Question touching the perseuerance of the Saints and that for two reasons one for that my Lords may more clearely conceiue the state of the controuersie and so better perceiue euen the arguments whereby I doe confirme my determination and more easily see whether they conclude 〈◊〉 another is that when they shall see wherein the controuersie betweene vs standeth and where not they may withall vnderstand what honestie and learning my aduersaries haue who obiecting against me such things and impugning and condemning as I either neuer auouched or called in ' question they make manifest that they either know nor what they say or whereof they speake or that they are carried by a spirit that is good And first verily here is no controuersie of the faith of those hypocriticall Saints who doe so dissemble faith and pietie as with all they are in no case ignorant of their owne dissimulation as was that Doctorall Hypocrite who pretended faith in Christ and that hee embraced his doctrine and therefore demanded of him as his Master saying What shall I doe that I may inherit eternall life Luk. 10. And of like qualitie were those who being sent by the Pharisees said vnto Christ Master wee know that thou are true and to athest the way of God truely and carest for no man neither respectest any mans person But one and other did so dissemble their faith in Christ and reuerence as that likewise they knew their owne dissimulation thereof So there be many in the Christian state who although with others they do professe Christ yet certainely doe they know that they doe not truely beleeue in Christ and all their profession of pietie to bee but meere simulation which thing euen their owne impious life and firme resolution to continue in wickednes doth confirme vnto them Of the faith of all these or rather shadow of faith this present Question of perseuerance of the Saints in faith is in no respect to be vnderstood Neither yet is it to be vnderstood of the temporary faith of that other sort of hypocrites that is of thâ—â— who seeme to themselues so â—â— beleeue from the heart and truely in Christ and by a certaine 〈◊〉 sanctitie of life doe both â—â—guiâ—â— themselues and others 〈◊〉 much â—â— at no hand they doe acknowledge their hypocriticall faith though God himselfe doth well 〈◊〉 that it is not altogether in 〈◊〉 and truth For there bee many in whose hearts fraud hypocrisie iâ—pietie doth so lie hid that even themselues cannot find it out 〈◊〉 knowledge it but God onely Iâ—â— 17. The hart of man is wicked and â—â—searchable and who shall know â—â— Of this kinde were they of whom Ioh. 2. Many seeing the signes which hee did beleeued in him but Iesus did not commit himselfe vnto them for that he knew them all and had no neede that any should testifie of man for hee knew what was in man as though â—â—e should haue said They were ignorant of their incredulitie â—â—rking in them and of fraud and hypocrisie lying secretly in their hearts but yet Christ knew their qualities whether they did truely beleeue or not â—or he alone knew what was in man Such like are all they who are called of the Lord 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 temporizers for their faith is not sincere therefore not true though both to themselues and others they appeare to be endued with true and sincere faith But that their faith is not found nor iustifying I will ratifye heereafter both by the manifest testimonies of holy Scripture and of Luther and Bucer Wherfore seeing neither their faith is true nor sincere neither their sanctity and piety themselues cannot bee true Saints or truely religious And our Question is of the true faith of true Saints Neither yet is the controuersie touching the true Saints as we spâ—kâ— of late whether the Elect euen after they be iustified and 〈◊〉 and sanctified endued with true faith and the holy Spirit can sâ—â—â—â— and doe often fall into sinne For thiâ— iâ— without al question for that no mâ—â— is ignorant what the Apostle writeâ—â— of himselfe and all the regeneraâ—â— 1. Ioh 1. If we shall say that â—â—â—â—â—â— no sinne we deceiue our selues and â—â—â— truth is not â—â— vs S. Hier. 2. To 〈◊〉 beth this error to Iouinâ—â— and doth refute him most learnedly by many Texts of scripture lib. 2. aduâ—rsâ—◠〈◊〉 But St. Augustine 〈◊〉 6. de haresibâ—â— ad Quod-vnit 〈◊〉 here 's 88. doth attribute this hâ—â—â—â— sie to Pelagâ—â—â— the Monke But yet Irenâ—us long before Augustire and Hieroâ—â— doth reckon this haerâ—sâ—â— amongst the errors of Valenâ—iâ—us 〈◊〉 his fellowes lib. 1. For whereas of othermen some they called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 earthly some 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 naturall themselues they termed spirituall vpon whom â—o sinne nor impiety could befall Neither in very deed is this 〈◊〉 controuersie whether the Elect and Saints doe sinne onely while they feele the flames of Concupiscence which to be incident to all the Saints while they remaine in â—his mortall flesh none doth doubt of or whether euen sometime they fall by some consent into diuers sinnes and those most greeuous being committed as well against the first as second Table For we all do know that Dauid and Peter did commit most notorious crimes the one against the second the other against the first table and that by consent and voluntarily but yet as heereafter I wil declare not by plenary consent This is the error of câ—rtaine Anabâ—ptists and Libertines who affirme That although they do likewise feele the affections of the flesh yet they neuer so consent therevnto as that they truely and properly do sinne Neither also is this the controuersie whether the Saints sinning in this manner that is with consent do displeâ—se God and prouoke hiâ— wrath against them For all godly men do grant that God is offended with all mens sinnes as well Godly as vngodly and that God displeasure is prouoked against 〈◊〉 sinners whether godly or vngodly as well the
Tables of the heart that he might intimate therby that they were his glory both liuing and perpetuall Because out of this inscription of the Law in their hearts two thinges were consequent And I will be their God and they shall bee my people another And they shall all know mee Therefore as that inscription of the Law is perpetually permanent so it likewise signifieth That God will perpetually be our God and wee shall continually abide his people and that wee shall perpetually acknowledge God for he is acknowledged by faith retaining the word of God Therefore in whose hearts the Law of God is ingrauen the Prophet did signifie that they cannot fall from grace and vtrerly make shipwrack of Faith Adde withall that with these things is conioined the perpetuall forgiuenesse of sinnes whereby it commeth to passe that through dayly offences the regenerate doe not desist both to know the Lord and to be his people and to retaine the Law firmely fixed in their hearts for he presently addeth as the cause of the former things saying because I will bee mercifull to their iniquities Therfore by this Prophecie hee doth excellently confirme the perseuerance of the Saints Neither is here any matter of exception That the Couenant is firme and aeternall on Gods behalfe for that there is no let in him why wee doe not abide in the Couenant or that the Law doth not remain written in our hearts for euer but that the fault lieth in vs that it abideth not firme for that the Law is not fixed permanently in vs for by the saine reason also the Couenant contracted with the Israelites on Gods part was euerlasting but by the peoples default it was made frustrate They saith he did make it frustrate But if the same may be said of the second what new thing then doth God promise by Ieremie Therfore vnlesse we will oppugne so cléare a word of God it must be granted That the Elect with whom this new Couenant is made after that the Law of the Lord and faith of the Gospell be once by the Holy Spirit written in their hearts can neuer fall from this Couenant neither the Law and faith bee vtterly abolished out of their hearts For the sinnes wherinto they fall by infirmity God as he saith here doth neuer impute vnto them Ier. 32. I wil put my feare into their heart that they shall not depart from Augustine enforceth this place often against â—he Pelagians Hier. ib. Sic liberum donat arbitrium vt tameÌ„ iâ—se Timor qui tribuitur gratia permanâ—at Lorgitoris 2. Thes 3. 3. me This testimonie also in my former booke I haue fully explained cap. 4. de Perseuerantia The total sum is this God doth promise that hee will bring to passe That his people sâ—iliceâ— the Elect shal not fall away from him but that they shall abide in his Couenant for euer And will hee effect this Hee saith I will giâ—e or put my feare in their heart that is I will bring to passe that my feare shal perpetually abide in their harts And by this continuall feare they shall bee retained also perpetually that they fall not away Ioh. 3. Except a man bee borne of water and the Holy Ghost hee cannot enter into the Kingdome of God Now it cannot be but that the Elect must enter into the Kingdome of heauen and bee saued for they cannot perish Ioh. 10. Rom. 8. Therefore the Elect of necessitie not without Regeneration must depart hence vnto life euerlasting And Regeneration is once onely wrought and in signification therof the Baptisme of water is also once dispensed But if any hold opinion That Regeneration must againe the second and third time be repeated and infused then necessarily Baptisme it selfe must be repeated and often receiued specially if in the speech of Ioh. 3. cap. we will vnderstand by the name of water Baptisme by water For in that place the spirit and water are so conioined as that the one is inseparable from the other Therefore Regeneration once effected by the holy Spirit by the same is also conserued vnto the end Your selues also Confess Argent in your Confession An. dom 1539. doe confirme this Argument For thus you put downe in the seuenth Article This Regeneration ioyntly with all the merits of Christ the holy Spirit inspireth in the hearts of the faithfull doth confirme them therein vnto the end Ioh. 4. Euery one that drinketh of this water shall thirst againe but hee that drinketh of the water that I shall giue vnto him shall not thirst for euer but the water that I shall giue shall be made in him a fountaine of water flowing vpwards vnto life euerlasting By the name of water to be vnderstood the Holy Spirit all both old new Interpreters doe acknowledge according to the interpretation Ioh. 7 vpon the voice of Christ Hee that beleeueth in mee out of his belly shall flow riuers of water of life This heâ— spâ—ke of the Spirit which they should receiue that beleeued in him Thus the Apostle Now to drinke of this water is by faith in Christ to bee made partakers of the Holy Spirit but to become or bee made a fountaine of liuing water to spring in any is for the Holy Spirit vncessantly like a fountaine perpetually flowing to bee inhabitant to worke in a man And Christ verily doth promise this euer flowing fountaine to such as with a liuely faith doe beleeue in him Therefore whosoeuer doe beleeue in Christ by a liuely faith those also haue attained this fountaine of the Holy Spirit perpetually running that is the gift of Perseuerance Bucer likewise doth thus interpret this place pag. 644. It is certaine saith he that this water is the holy Spirit Therefore now if hee that drinketh of this holy Spirit can neuer thirst againe it is a cleare case that hee to whom once this Holy Spirit is granted to whom once it is giuen to beleeue can neuer fall away from the grace of God For as hee can neuer thirst who hath a fountaine in his belly continually flowing and thereof driâ—â—ing so he cannot but bee replenished with whom is present the Holy Spirit of the Lord and the Spirit of his children This is the fountaine which doth flow vp vnto life that is which doth afford life aeternall It supplieth the knowledge of God and continuall fruition and for aeternitie of his goodnesse From hence is Pauls gloriation That nothing high or loâ—e â—â—â— separate vs from the loue of GOD. Rom. 8. These things Bucer So also Brentius did interpret this place of the gift of Perscuerance This saith hee is the comparison of two waters out of which Christ doth manifestly signifie vnto the women That his promise is not of terrestriall but of celestiall water which bringeth to man saluation not transitory and mutable but spiâ—tuall and immortall These things Brentius Therfore whosoeuer doth once drinke of this water celestiall hath attained saluation not mutable but
deficieÌ„t Ambroseâ— Rom. 8. Nam quos praesciuit Those saith hee who seeme to beleeue and do not persist in the faith begun are deemed as elect of God for that whom God hath chosen they do continue with him And a little after vppon these wordes Quos ante praedestinaâ—â—t saith he he speaketh the same as before because whom God hath foreknowne as sit for himselfe those beleiuing persist for that it cannot be otherwise Trimasius Episcopus Vticensis who was famous the very same time in Africa with Augustine in 1. Cor. vpon these wordes That your faith be not in the wisdome of men but in the power of God c. saith hee humane wisdome is pleasant for a short time for that it is temporary as man himselfe is but the power diuine is eternall as God himselfe is Therfore that faith is permanent and bestowed vpon man by the power of God Prosâ—er Episcopus Rhegiâ—ns Augustines disciple Of the life Contemplatiue lib. 3. cap. 13. Charity saith he as me thinketh is a right wil alienated vtterly from all terrene and thinges present conioyned and vnited inseperably to God These thinges he He saith that Charity is a right will for that Charity by the Holy Ghost shed abroad in our hearts maketh a right will and conioyneth it inseperably to God And the Fathers are wont to ascribe that to Charity which is proper to faith working by loue Therfore Prosper doth teach that faith which work eth by loue doth conioyn the faithfull to God inseperably Gregor 1. To 2 lâ—b in Ezâ—ch cap. 1 hom 3. col 87. vpon these words They returned not when they went c. This saith hee is spoken of the reprobate for that they returned in heart into AEgipt the truth speaketh by it selfe No man putting his hand to the plough and looking bâ—â—â—kward is fit for the Kingdome of God Indeed to put the hand to the plough is as it were by the plough-share of compunction to open the soile of the heart for to bring forth fruit But he looketh back behind the plough who after the beginning of a good work doth returne to the euils which he had forsaken Which for that in no wise it befalleth the Elect of God it is therefore rightly said by the Prophet vers 17. They returned not when they went Likewise Homil. 5. They returned not when they walked because the Elect euery of them do so goe on to good thinges as that they do not retire from committing of euill thinges for he that continueth out to the end shal be saued Againe in the same homily expounding those wordes This was a ruuning Vision c. he teachâ—h That the holy Spirit according to the vertue of saith hope and loue doth neuer depart from the heartes of the Elect but according to Prophesie and differences of tongues and such like somtime to depart sometime to returne After this concluding saith he therefore in those vertues without which we cannot come to life the holy Spirit in the hearts of his Elect is permanent but in those by which the power of sanctity is manifested sometime it is mercifully present sometime mercifully absent Thus Gregorie In which wordes we may not regard whether aptly he did interprete the Prophet or otherwise but onely what his determination was touching the perseuerance of the Saints To. â— Moralium lib. 2. cap. 28 29. he proposeth a Question touching the holy Spirit How in Iohn 14. that can be a concordance The Spirit shall abide with you and bee in you with that Iob. 1. Vpon whom ye shall see the Spirit descending and abiding vpon him he it is which baptizeth with the holy Ghost If also it abide in the disciples How can it be therefore a peculiar signe wherby Christ is acknowledged to be him who baptizeth in the spirit Answering thâ— Question and reconciling these places he putteth difference betweene those gifts of the holy Spirit without the which we cannot come to life eternal those without which we may attain it Afterward his coÌ„clusioÌ„ is in these words therfor in those gifts without which we cannot come to life whether in Preachers or in all the Elect the holy Spirit is alwaies permanent But in such giftes whereby by manifestation thereof not our life is saued but the life of others sought for in no wise it is alwayes permanent in the Preachers for that alwaies indeed it beareth rule in their heart for to liue well and yet doth not alwayes shew forth by them powerful signes but sometime hee withdraweth himselfe from manifestation of signes that with so much more humility his vertues may be accompted by how much being had they cannot be holden But the Mediator betweene God and Man the Man Iesus Christ hath it in all thinges and alwayes and continually present for that from him the same Spirit is by substance produced Therfore fitly whereas it abideth in the holy Preachers it is said singularly to remain in the Mediator for that in them it abideth by grace for some thing but in him by substance it abideth for all thinges Bedâ— Praesbyter hath plainely taught the same things vpon Iohns Gospell 1. chap. expounding that place Vpon whom yee shall see the Spirit c. For hee moueth the very same Question which also Gregorie did before him and doth giue altogether the same solution The Holy Spirit in the Elect partly to abide for aeternitie partly to depart for to returne to abide aeternally in respect of such vertues without which we cannot be saued to parted for a time in respect of other gifts Bernard de natura dignitate amoris diuini â— 5. v. 6. speaking of the nature of true Charitie which is that it neuer faileth hee citeth that of the Apostle 1. Cor 13. Charitie doth neâ—er fall away and hee saith that sometime indeed the effect of affection and of working doth stagger and wander so long as with this life Charitic cannot see but in part and by a glasse and in a mysterie but yet the entire and solid affection is alwaies permanent in her force Chap. 6. thus hee writeth Disposition is one thing Affection Affectus Affectio another Disposition is that which possesseth the minde with a certaine general power and vertue firme and stable which it hath obtained by grace Affections are they which in varietie the variable euents of things and times doe produce For the infirmitie of the flesh through the corruption of the first originall doth often offend often fall often doth grieuously hurt and receiueth hurt the Minde in wardly lamenting and rather suffering then doing that which is done amisse outwardly yet not loosing Charitie but out of Charitie mourning and crying to God Owretched man that I am who shall deliuer me from the bodie of this death Whervpon the Apostle saith I serue saith he the Law of God in my minde but my flesh the Law of Sinne and againe Not I doe worke that but Sinne dwelling within mee Therefore
Popish shauelings Monkes and Hypocrites in Christianisme For wee are in Baptisme espoused to Christ vpon this condition That wee should acknowledge him the only and alone Sauiour and purger of our sinnes But if any not content with this onely and alone Redeemer doth thinke that euen himselfe by his owne iustice can expiate sinnes and pacifie God hee doth uiolate his faith giuen to Christ and fall away from Christ. So Paul doth accuse the Galathians of defection from Christ Whosoeuer of you saith he are instified by the Law are fallen from grace Lastly he doth not abide in Christ who while hee doth acknowledge the name of Christ doth leade a lewd life walketh according to the flesh and is a seruant to sinne For it cannot bee that Christ should abide in him who sinneth against his conscience and doth giue ouer himselfe as captiue to the lusts of the flesh for if Christ abide not in him how can he abide in Christ Iohn saith He that saith I know him and doth not keep his commandements is a lier and the truth is not in him againe If any shall say I loue God and hateth his brother he is a lier and Paul If any do not prouide for his and chiefly his hâ—ushould he hath denied the faith and is worse then an infidell It is therefore manifest that such as leade a godlesse life though they bragge of the name of Christ yet they doe not abide in Christ What then shall become of such as doe not continue in Christ Verily the selfe-same thing as is woont to befall the branches not abiding in the Vine for they being cut off from the Vine are cast out and being withered they are gathered into bundels and throwne into the fire to burne neither are they fit for any other vse but to feed the fire These things Brentius Heere I doe finde three rankes of men Apostats Hypocrites and licentious liuers or notoriouslie wicked The fourth which is of the Saints that is of such as which neither in perfidie doe reuolt from the faith of Christ to Iudaisme or Turcisme neither doe repose their confidence either to tall or in part in their owne merits but fully and entirely in sole Christ alone neither yet either lead a wicked life or giue ouer themselues captiues to sinne but rather studie for sanctitie of life and resist sinne And although while they walke aright they doe slip and offend sometime yet neuer doe they either loue sinne or commit sinne with a full consent of will or perseuere in sinne Therefore hee either holdeth opinion that men truly holy and truely beleeuing in Christ doe alwaies remaine in Christ and therefore neuer to fall vtterly from faith and from Christ or if he thinke that euen the very Saints can fall from Christ then did hee not recompt all sorts of such men as doe not abide in Christ or finally if hee will haue euen this same kinde that is of the Saints to be comprised in any of the three former hee hath done great iniurie to the Saints that he hath not distinguished them and seuered them by some markes from those most vile sorts of men But it is most probable that such a man would either make no difference be tweene the Saints and those three conditions of men Apostles Hypocrites and notoriously wicked or in that his distribution not to comprehend all the kindes of such as doe not continue in Christ Therfore it followeth according to that partition of D. Brentius that this fourth ranke of men that is of the Saints seeing it differeth from these three in qualitie of faith and life that they in like sort differ herein That wheras they do not abide in Christ theso doe neuer fall from Christ The same Brentius in Ioh. 6. homil 56. Vpon these words No man â—an come to mee except my Father draw him Iesus Christ faith he is the book of the life celestial into which whosoeuer is enrolled by faith there is no doubt but that hee is written in the very heart of God and appertaineth to the Congregation of the heauenly Citizens But thou saist I doe feare least either my faith bee not sincere or that at last it willanguish What Doest thou thinke that God will either breake a bruised Reede or quench the smoking Flaxe The Mother doth not reiect her infant either as yet tender in age or weake by sicknes but rather with so much a greater care doth cherish it by how much more extreame the sicknes hath been And should God the Father be harder then a Mother in Mankinde against him though weake in faith to whom hee hath promised in his Sonne Christ all clemencie Thou knowest not the tenour of that saying whereunto it tendeth Lord I beleeus help mine vnbeliefe Therefore it is not to bee feared lest God cast thee off for thy feeble faith but rather diligence to be giuen by the continuall exercise of the word prayer and obedience that Faith by the efficacy of the Spirit principally may more and more be augmented But what is this that thou art careful of thy perseuerance in faith Do thou thy office in perseuerance the rest God wil care for Dost thou not know that he is faithfull who wil not suffâ—r vs to be tempted aboue our strength but will giue an euasion together with the temptation that we may beare it My sheep saith Christ doâ— heare my voice and I know them and they follow me and I giue vnto them â—ternall life they shall neuer perish neither shal any man take them out of my hards Thou now verily art made a sheep of Christ who knowest Christ by faith why therefore doest thou fear least any should take thee out of the hand of Christ Thou canst not doubt of the will of Christ testified through out the Gospell But happily thou doubtest of his power but hee addeth in the next words The Father which gaue theÌ„ me is greater then all and no man can take them out of my fathers hands What thinkest thou Christs petition to be frustrate and fruitlesse I pray not onely for them saith hee but for them also that shall beleeue in mee through their preâ—ching that they all may be one as thou father in mee and I in theâ— But likewise Paul saith I am perswaded that neither death nor life neither Angels nor Principaliâ—ies nor Powers nor things present nor things to come nor heigth nor depth nor any other creature can seperate vs from the loue of God wherewith God embraceth vs in Christ Iesus our Lord. Heare also that of the Prophet The mountaines shall bee shalen and the hils tremble but my mercie shall not depant from thee and the couenant of my peace shall not bee moued saith thy mercifull Lord. Wherefore it is to bee compted infallibly certaine that God who hath giuen to thee his Sonne and by whom thou hast receiued faith will also prouide that thou shalt also retaine this his Sonne euen in the middest of death or
as hee was enâ—â—ined by his Reuerend Masters to exhibit a summe of them The whole Treatise of the Book of Life is distinguished into these Positions A BOOKE is not ascribed to God but onely Metaphorically and it is nothing else but an eternall certaine and firme Decree and Praescience in God for all such things which either he or wee are intending to doe 2 Three Bookes by Metaphor are attributed to God One is wherein all men and their names were written yea euen before they were borne And this is nothing else but the Praescience wherby God from all aeternitie did foresee all men whom he did purpose to create their names and actions whereof in Psal 139. and appertaineth to Gods prouidence so that it may be called the Booke of Gods prouidence The next is that wherein are written all men which are born and Aug. de â—iu del 20. c. 14 their actions that euery one according to their actions may likewise be iudged whereof Apoc. 20. And this belongeth to the generall iudgment of God so that it may rightly be termed the Booke of the general iudgement And this is nothing else but the knowledge or remeÌ„brance which God hath of all such things as each one hath or doth doe that according to the things hee hath done euery one may be iudged The third Booke is that wherein all that truely belong to life eternall were written from all aeternitie that is were fore knowne and praedestinate And this is nothing else but that aeternall and certaine Praescience of God and Praedestination of al them whom God hath decreed aeternally Aug. ib. c. 15. Non Deum isle liber coinmemoraâ—sed Praedestinationâ—m significat by Christ to preserue to life euerlasting whervpon as in the Scriptures it is called the Booke of Life so also it may be termed the Booke of Praedestination 3 Although by the name of the Booke of Life the Holy Scripture and Law of God be vnderstood vs Eeeles 24 for that it giueth precepts appertaining to life sometime also that good and temporarie opinion which the Church holdeth of Hypocrites while they abide in the faith of Christ as though they likewise did belong to life aeternall is called vsually the Booke of Life yet properly the Booke of Life is that certaine and eternall Praedestination wherein all who shall be saued Exod. 32. Dan. 12. Ezech 13. Luc. 10. Phil. 4. Apoc. 3. 11. â—0 14. 21. by Christ are written neuer againe to bee razed out And of this Booke speaketh Esaias in this fourth Chapter 4 Such as were once written in this Booke of Life they can neuer bee blotted out Or such as are Praedestinate to life aeternall can neuer from thence be reiected into death aeternall 5 Some to wit Hypocrites are Deleantur secundum spem eorâ—m secundum autem aquit at em tuâ—m quid dico non scribantur Aug. iâ— â—n Psal said to bee razed out of the Booke of Life when their Hypocrisie being discouered they appeare both to the Church and to themselues what manner men they are and that they are not truely prae-ordained to life euerlasting Axiomes which wâ—re propounded touching the Booke of life to bee disputed vpon in the Schooles THE Booke of life that Diuine purpo wherein all aâ—e written to aeternall life to be possessed for Christs sake whom from euerlasting God hath adopted to himselfe for his sonnes 2 Whosoeuer are written in this Booke are called effectually iustified sanctified and of necessitie to be glorified 3 Such as are once enrolled in this Booke can neuer bee againe blotted out 4 Whosoeuer beeing called to the Gospell beleeueth in Christ ought to beleeue that himselfe is written in the Booke of Life together with al other the Saints from all aeternitie 5 And therefore hee ought relying vpon this confidence in sanctitie of this present life goe out industruously to that glorious life to come in a right course by the way of good workes 6 For whosoeuer of vs are recorded in the Booke of life wee are no lesse designed to follow sanctity and doe good workes then to attaine life it selfe The Treatise of Grace standeth vpon these branches THE fiue degrees of our saluation are gathered out of the wordes of the Prophet Esai 4. First The grace of God eternall in Christ whereby alone hee was mooued to praedestinate and saue vs. Secondly Praedestination it selfe or our conscription to life eternall Thirdly Our effectuall Vocation to Christ and Holinesse Fourthly Iustification or remission of sinnes and our washing from filthinesse after which followeth sanctification and reformation Fiftly the continuall guidance of God after which followeth euerlasting peace life glorification 2 So it is called grace for it is Aug. â—p ad Sextum praesqâ—ter de natura gratia c. 4. freely giuen And this Etymologie doth belong to Gods graces That they are freely giuen 3 Grace is diuided into Grace which is not onely freely giuen but also maketh acceptable to God and into that Grace which indeed is freely giuen but doth not make acceptable to God for which cause that is called of the Schoolemen Grace making gratefull but this Grace freely giuen 4 Grace making gratefull is properly the euerlasting fauour of God and free beneuolence wherwith he hath loued vs in Christ and whereby he was onely moued to elect vs vnto aeternall life redeeme call iustifie glorifie 5 This Grace making vs acceptable or the free loue and fauour of God to vs ward is in God himselfe in vs onely the knowledge sense thereof 6 There is indeed a double loue of God one generall whereby hee loueth all his creatures euen the very wicked to wit in that he willeth and doth well to all of which Sapient 11. Another speciall wherwith he loueth the Elect only to aeternall saluation of which Rom. 9. Iacob I haue loued and euery where in scripture Yet properly the Grace of God is taken for the free loue of God toward the Elect. 7 This Grace was giuen vs before all aeternitie by which he loued vs from all beginnings but made manifest in time partly when hee promised but then specially when hee did actually exhibit Christ 2. Tim. 2. 8 This Grace that maketh vs acceptable is the fountaine cause of all other graces and benefits of God 9 The Graces likewise of Faith Regeneration Hope and Loue are reâ—â—ed Graces making acceptable but improperly and secondarily For they are effects of that primarie and aeternall Grace 10 But the Grace of prophecying of speaking with tongues and others whereof 1. Cor. 12. are euen the effects of that first and aeternall grace and they tend to the saluation of the Church in generall but not the saluation alwaies of them doe they appertaine to whom they are giuen 11 These Graces for that they doe not alwaies make for the saluation of them to whom they are giuen therefore also are they giuen to many Reprobates 12 And although they doe not make for the