Selected quad for the lemma: act_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
act_n	believe_v	faith_n	habit_n	3,078	5	10.3510	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A93387	Of the al-svfficient external proposer of matters of faith. Devided into tvvo bookes In the first. Is proved, that the true church of God, is the al-sufficient external proposer of matters of faith. In the second. Is shewed the manifold uncertanities of Protestants concerning the scripture: and how scripture is, or is not, an entire rule of faith. By C. R. doctor of diuinitie.	Smith, Richard, 1566-1655.	1653 (1653)	Wing S4156; ESTC R228293	181,733	514

Chillingworth c. 2. § 3. p. 53. scriptures being the sole Iudge of Controuersies that is the sole Rule for man to Iudge them by For wee mean nothing els § 11. p. 57. To speak properly as Not properly a Iudge men shold speak when they write of Controuersies in religion the scripture is not a Iudge of Controuersies but a Rule onely and the onely Rule for Christians to iudge them by Ibid. § 10. We denie not but a Iudge and a law might wel stand together but we denie that No iudge apointed by God there is anie such Iudge of Gods apointment § 12. Which conclusion that though the Scripture may be a Rule it cannot be a Iudge I haue already granted § 23. There is not anie publikly authorized Iudge to determin Controuersies in religion nor anie necessitie there should be anie The same he hath § 85. And § 104. speaking Scripture cannot be a Iudge truly and properly The scripture is not a Iudge nor cannot be hut onely a sufficient Rule for those to Iudge by who beleue it to be the word of God § 155. This assertion That scripture alone is Iudge of al Controuersies in faith if it be taken properly is nether a fundamental nor an vnfundamental point of faith nor no point of faith at al but a plain falshood It is not a Iudge of Controuersies but a Rule to iudge them by Potter sec 2. p. 32. The Scripture is Iudge or rather Rule of Controuersies Whitaker Contro 1. q. 1. c. 2. The Scripture is the same in the Church which the law is in the common wealth Moulins de Iudice Contro c. 13. If our aduersaries think not that the title of Iudge ought to be giuen to the Scripture at least they shold not deny it title of Rule and this is that which we require namely that our faith be ruled by onely Gods word But nether wold this content them vnles Gods word be expounded as they would haue it which were to make themselues the rule of iudging EIGHTH CHAPTER VVhether Scripture be to beleued to be Gods vvord vvith diuine and infallible assurance FIRST SECTION Protestants sometimes affirme LAude Relat. sec 16. p. 72. suppose it aggreed vpon that there must be a diuine faith cui subesse non potest Scripture must be known with diuine faith falsum vnder which can rest no possible error That the books of scripture are the written word of God Ibid. p. 66. This is agreed on by me that scripture must be known to be scripture by a sufficient infallible diuine pro of See him p. 64. and p. 75. After a man once beleue his faith growes stronger then ether his reason or his knowledg p. 86. Beleif is firmer then anie knowledg can be becaus it rests vpon diuine authoritie which cannot deceaue See ibid. p. 105. and p. 114. 115. Likewise sec 33. p. 227. Moral certaintie is not Moral certaintie not sufficient strong enough in points of faith See him sec 19. p. 125. sec 16. cit p. 74. Reason without grace cannot see the way to heauen nor beleue this book Reason not sufficient in which God hath written the way Potter sec 5. p. 2. Faith is saied to be diuine and supernatural First in regard of the Author or efficient cause of the habit and act of diuine infused faith which is the special grace of God Secondly in regard of the obiect as things beleued which are aboue the reach of mere nature or reason Thirdly in regard of the formal reason or principal ground on which faith chiefly relyeth and into which it is finally resolued which is diuine Reuelation or authoritie of God If it faile in anie of these it is no diuine or supernatural faith P. 7. The assent of diuine faith is absolutly diuine which Faith is absolutly diuine requires an obiect and motiue so infallibly true as that it nether hath nor can possibly admit anie mixture of error or falshood p. 10. supernatural faith must be absolutly vndoubted and certain Sec. 6. p. 59. The assent of faith is more certain if it be possible then that of sense or science or demonstration becaus it rests on diuine authoritie which cannot possibly deceaue Sec. 5. cit p. 40. diuine faith must haue a diuine foundation that can not deceaue Caluin 1. Instit c. 7. § 5. Lightned by his vertue we beleue not by our own or other mens iudgment that the scripture is from God but aboue humane iudgment we resolue most assuredly euen as if we saw God there that it came from Gods own mouth by the ministerie of men See him ibid. § 4. and c. 6. § 2. And both he 3. Instit c. 2. § 6. 7. 16. in Cathechismo c. de fide Beza in Confes c. 4. sec 5. Luther in psalm 14. to 3. define faith to be Faith most certain and infallible A most certain assurance and Fulk in Rom. 8. Nota 9. to be an Infallible assurance White in his Way p. 2. Faith must be infallible or certain that is free from error and such as cannot deceau● vs. P. 10. Our faith must be withful assurance and perswasion SECOND SECTION Sometimes they denie CHillingworth c. 1. § 8. p. 36. Of this hypothesis That al the articles of our faith were reuealed by God we cannot ordinarily haue anie rational and acquired certaintie more then moral But moral certaintie C. 2. § 3. p. 53 The controuersie wherin the scripture it self is the subiect of the question cannot be determined but by natural reason Ibid. § 32. p. 65. Natural reason built on principles common to Reason last resolution of Protest faith al men is the last resolution into which the Churches authoritie is but the first inducement Item § 24. p. 62. I know no other natural and rational means to be assured herof of the incorruption of Scripture then I haue of anie other books incorrupted For though I haue a greater degree of rational and humane Humane assurance assurance of that then this in regard of diuers considerations which make it more credible That the Scripture hath been preserued from anie material alteration yet my assurance of both is of the same Moral assurance kinde and condition both moral assurances and nether physical or mathematical Scripture no materia obiect of faith Ibid. § 32. p. 65. The Scripture is none of the material obiects of our faith but onely the means of conueying them vnto vs. § 35. p. 66. Of this controuersie which books be Canonical wemake the Church the Iudge but not the present Church but the consent and testimonie of the ancient and primitiue Church which though it be but a highly probable inducement and no demonstratiue enforcement yet me thinks you should not denie but it may be a sufficient Probabilitie a sufficient ground of Protest faith ground of faith Ibid. § 152. p. 112. The priuiledg of not being in possibilitie of erring

How shal they preach vnles they be sent And then inferreth Therefore faith is of hearing Wherefore he maketh hearing of lawful preaching the word of God as necessarie a cause ordinarily speaking of beleuing as mission is a necessarie cause of lawful preaching And lawful preaching is not out of the true Church And truly said Stapleton contr 4. q. 3. art 2. The compleat formal Compleat formal cause of faith L. 2. de Sa●ram c 25. omnium dogmatum firmitas pendetab authoritate praesentis Ecclesiae Epiphan in Ancorato Hieron cont Lucifer Cyril Catech 17. cause of our faith ordinarily speaking is God reuealing by the Church and Bellarmin l 3. de Verbo Dei c. 10. The secondarie foundation of faith is the testimonie of the Church But the formal cause and secondarie foundation is doubtles necessarie to faith in ordinarie course which is al the necessitie we speak of And this must those fathers mean who did read in the Greed I beleue in the holie Church for to beleue in one is to make his authoritie a formal cause of beleef and also waldensis who tom 1. l. 2. c. 21. saieth that the testimonie Io. de Ragusio de com sub vtraque spec●e Ecclesiam non errare simpl●●●ter primum in doctrina fides of the Catholik Church is the obiect of Christian faith to wit the formal external obiect for the material obiect is al reuealed truth And falsly saieth Whitaker l. 1. de Scrip. p. 175. Faith is not of hearing the voice or authoritie of the Church but of Gods word For the Apostle saieth plainely that faith is of hearing and hearing of lawful preaching of Gods word Wherfore he must no more exclude lawful preaching from a cause of faith then we exclude the word of God For the word of God is that which faith beleueth and lawful preaching is the external formal cause wherefore we beleue it And Whitaker himself loco cit is forced to confess that the voice of the Church is an instrumental cause of faith And if an instrumental cause surely a necessarie cause in ordinarie course and faith is of its instrumental cause and consequently of the voice of the Church Ibid. p. 11● he saieth hearing is the mother of faith Item p. 121. The Church by the preaching of the Gospel begetteth vs to Christ And p. 118. The Church is the mother of beleuers and how mother of beleuers if not necessarie Is not a mother necessarie And p. 69. I most willingly grant that the external iudgment of the Church is a help and means to engender nourish and confirme faith instituted of God and necessarie for vs. And if necessarie for vs we can haue no faith without it controu 2. q. 5. c. 19. By preaching of the Gospel we come to faith and neuer without The Church is the schoole of the faithful and maketh faithful by preaching of the word as by a necessarie and ordinarie meanes If anie obiect that then deaf men could not haue faith I answer First that deaf men can nether read Scripture becaus without hearing they cannot know what letters signifie Secondly that deaf men haue not anie ordinarie meanes of faith For as S. Austin saieth l. 3. contra Iulianum c. 4. The defect of deafnes hindereth faith it self witnes the Apostle faith is of hea●ing Porter sec p 104. Some are inui●●●bly disab●ed from faith Wherfore if God wil haue such to beleue actually he prouideth them of some extraordinarie meane And this proof I confirme out of the Confession of Bohemia and diuers Protestants who as we shal see hereafter out of this place doe proue that preaching and ministerie b C. 14. of the word are necessarie to engender faith 2. Secondly I proue that the true Church is a necessarie proposer of al points of faith out of her forsaied proprietie that she is the pillar and ground of truth 1. Tim. 3. For the pillar and ground of truth is necessarie to vphold truth The true Church is the pillar and ground of Truth Therfore she is necessarie to vphold truth The Maior seemeth euident by it self For how can the pillar and ground of a thing be not necessarie to vphold that whereof it is the pillar and ground The Minor is the Apostles words And Caluin vpon this place saieth the Church in respect of men doth sustein truth And Whitaker controu 2. q. 5. c. 19. The Church doth sustein preach and propose truth to others l. 1. de scrip p. 112. The Church doth sustein diuine truth that it fal not wholy among men But what susteineth a thing is necessarie to it 3. Thirdly I proue The same out of her office to be witnes to Gods truth For witnesses are necessarie for to beleue that which they are appointed to testifie The Church or the Pastors of the Church are appointed by God to be witnesses of his truth Therfore they are necessarie The Minor is proued before And the Maior is euident For vnles witnesses were necessarie to assure vs of the truth wherof they are witnesses there were no need to a point them For what need is there to appoint such as are needles and such witnesses are needles without whome wecābe assured of the truth 4. Fourthly I proue the necessities of the Churches proposing matters of faith out of the ends for which Protestants as we saw c. 8. n. 2. confess the Church was instituted by God to wit to be Mother Mistres and guide of Christians in matters of faith For doubtles what is such is necessarie But now let vs proue the same by the holie Fathers TWELFT CHAPTER That the true Church of God is a necessarie proposer of al points of faith proued by holie Fathers 1. S. Cyprian l. de vnitate It is the Church by whose trauail we are borne with whose milk we are nourished with whose spirit we are animated But such a one is a necessarie proposer of faith S. Ireney l. 3. c. 4. What if dispute had been of some smal matter should we not haue recurred to the most ancient Churches and receaued from them what is certain of this present question Which made Whitaker cont 1. q. 3. c 9. to grant that the authoritie of the Church is a firme compendious Demonstration of Canonical scripture But Ireney saieth more that it is a necessarie demonstration Tertull. praescrip c. 21. What the Apostles preached what Christ reuealed to them here I wil prescribe that it ought not to be proued otherwise then by the same Churches which the Apostles erected For Which words Whitaker l. citato granteth that Tertullian made this prescription that the doctrin of the Apostles was not to be proued anie other way then by the Churches which they founded And if by no other way then the Churches testimonie is necessarie 2. S. Augustin contra Epist Fundam c. 5. I must needs beleue this book of the Acts if I beleue the Gospel seing the Catholik authoritie doth commend to me