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A27015 The safe religion, or, Three disputations for the reformed catholike religion against popery proving that popery is against the Holy Scriptures, the unity of the catholike church, the consent of the antient doctors, the plainest reason, and common judgment of sense it self / by Richard Baxter. Baxter, Richard, 1615-1691. 1657 (1657) Wing B1381; ESTC R16189 289,769 704

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were not all freely given 3. Grace making us acceptable they will not have to be the grace of God by which he loves us and makes ●s acceptable to him according to that Wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved but to be grace by way of habit remaining in us by which we love God therefore they call charity a grace making us acceptable as if by reason of its force and merit men were saved of God 4. Moreover when they divide grace into sufficient and efficacious grace they say ●ufficient grace is given to all and every man even without the Church by which they have a power to will and they can if they will believe and by believing be saved 5. If any want sufficient grace to avoid sin they ●o not truely sin neither are they guilty of sin before God 6 That in the first act of conversion the will is not passive 7. That it is in the power of mans free will to resist o● yeild to efficacious grace § 12. Of Justification BUt now the doctrine of Justification they utterly overthrow 1. For first they confound justification which is an act of God without us as Redemption Reconciliation Adoption with Sanctification and Inherent Righteousness and so confound not onely the Gospel with the Law but quite take away Justification it self the chief benefit we have by Christ in this life 2. They teach men to lay the cause of justification and the merit of salvation in themselves 3. They will have remission of sin to be a blotting of them out by which not only the guilt but also the irregularity it self is abolished 4. As in warming the cold is expelled by the coming of the heat so in justification sin is abolished by the infusion of righteousness 5. Neither will they understand justification in the Scripture as a Law-term to be opposed to condemnation and Sanctification to pollution 6. The Scripture teaches sanctification to be an action of God they make the second justification as they call it not Gods action but their own 7. Whereas the Scripture ●eacheth that we are justified by the grace of God intimating the inward moving cause of justification which is the free favor of God in Christ the Papists understand grace or rather graces inherent in us which yet in the Question of justification wherein the holy Ghost opposes works to grace are not more opposed to works then their first justification is to the second 8. When the Scripture teacheth that we are justified by the righteousness of God and the blood of God i. e. of Christ who is God for by his obedience and blood we are justified and he is our righteousness I say by a righteousness which is not revealed in the Law and therefore not inherent but which is revealed in the Gospel without the Law They understand a righteousness infused by God and inherent in us 9. When the Scripture teaches that we are made the righteousness of God in Christ as he is made sin for us and so that the obedience of Christ is communicated to us for justification as the disobedience of Adam for condemnation namely by imputation But they say we are justified not by the imputation of the righteousness of Christ but partly by the infusion of habitual righteousness viz. in the first justification partly by our own performance of actual righteousness or good works in the second justification 10. For they contend for a double justification the first which consists in the infused habit of charity the other in meritorious works When as the Scripture teacheth that we are justified by faith without works i. e. not-by inherent righteousness but by the righteousness of Christ apprehended ●y faith and therefore that we are not justified by faith as it is a part of inherent righteousness for so with other graces it sanctifies us nor by any other faith then that which apprehends the righteousness of Christ or by any other grace because there is no other beside faith that apprehends Christs righteousness and therefore by faith alone 11. The Papists on the contrary teach faith to justifie as it is a part of inherent righteousness 12. And not so much to justifie as to dispose us for justification by obtaining remission and deserving justification 13. For say they faith and Repentance do justifie as dispositions and meritorious causes ex congruo 14. But that charity is properly the justifying grace 15. And the form of justifying faith 16. And yet that true justifying faith may be separated from charity 17. And therefore that a man having true faith may be damned 18. Neither do they acknowledge any special faith which apprehends the righteousness of Christ but they say that is sufficient which consists in a general consent without all affiance yea even without knowledge which they call implicite faith 19 For they say faith is better defined by ignorance then knowledge 20. Neither can they indure by any means that we say faith only justifies 21. When as the Scripture plainly excludes works as causes from the act of justification though it require them in the subject or person justified as necessary fruits of justifying faith by which believers are justified that is declared to be just but they assert that we are not justified before God by faith onely but also by works as the causes of justification 22. And in this matter they make James plainly to contradict Paul 23. And they invert the disputation of Paul as if the Question he disputes were whether faith justifies without works but whether works justifie without faith 24. That men are justified by the observation of Gods and the Churches commands 25. That men deserve remission of mortal sins by repentance Almes deeds forgiving injuries converting an offending Brother and other duties of piety and charity by which we do not deny but our belief of the pardon of sin is confirmed 26. And that venial sins are purged away by the repetition of the Lords prayer by striking the brest by sprinkling of Holy Water and the Bishops blessing c. 27. That a wicked man may deserve justifying grace ex congruo and that this merit of congruity is when the sinner doth his utmost 28. They deny justificaon be to proper to the Elect. 29. That no man in this life ought certainly to determine that he is of the number of the elect 30. That every one must doubt of the remission of their sins 31. No man can be certain of his justification without a special revelation 32. That no man in this world ought to seek an infallible certainty of his salvation or justification 33. That doubting of the pardon of sin is not an infirmity but a vertue 34. For any one certainly to believe that his sins are forgiven him through Christ is abominable presumption 35. That
faith which the Apostle calls the substance evidence and full assurance they will have to be doubtful and uncertain 36. Also hope which yet the Apostle commends as an Anchor sure and stedfast and that maketh not him that hopes ashamed § 13. Of Sanctification and good Works 1. THat concupiscence in the regenerate is no sin 2. That the regenerate or baptized may perfectly fulfill the Law 3. That the works of the righteous are simply and absolutely righteous 4. That sins are expiated by good works according to the proverb forsooth he that steals much and gives a little shall escape 5. That good Works do concur by way of efficiency to salvation or are necessary not onely for their presence but for their efficiency 6. And that good works are not onely such as are commanded by God but such as are voluntarily undertaken by men with a good intention 7. That the good works of the righteous not onely justifie but also by way of condignity deserve eternal life both for the Covenants sake and also the works themselves 8. And that that is merit of condignity by which a man indued with grace and the holy Spirit after he hath deserved the habit of love by former merit doth by his good works and their condignity deserve eternal life 9. To the merit of condignity there is required an equality of proportion in the merit to the reward 10. To the good works of the righteous eternal happiness is as well due as eternal sufferings to the sins of the wicked 11. That in every Christian work proceeding from grace the merit of Christs blood is applyed 12. That Christ by his death merited that our works might be satisfactory for sins and meritorious of eternal life or thus Christ merited that by our own merits we might attain salvation 13. That every act of charity or every good work proceeding from Charity doth absolutely deserve eternal life 14. That good works are meritorious of three things viz. of remitting the punishment of increase of grace and of eternal Life 15. That a righteous man may deserve for himself an increase of righteousness by way of condignity 16. Neither do they think they must trust to their own but to other mens merits also 17. That one believer may merit grace for another by way of congruity 1. That a justified and sanctified man may fall from the grace of God both totally and finally and perish for ever 2. That the grace of justification received is lost by every mortal sin 3. The grace of justification being lost by sin yet faith is not lost 4. That faith is lost by every act of unbeliefe 14. Of good works particularly of fasting 1. OF Fasting I have spoken already that the Papists place Fasting in the choice of meats 2. That their fasts are hypocritical 3. And superstitious 4. That fasting even as it is observed by them which indeed is the meer mockery of a true fast is a work satisfactory for sin and meritorious of eternal life they impiously and blasphemously teach 5. Their prayers they pour out not onely to God but to Angels and Saints 6. That we may lawfully and meritoriously beseech and pray the Saints both to intercede for us with God and to give assistance to us 7. They teach men to confess their sins to the Saints that are dead 8. That God reveals our prayers to the Saints which we put up to them and yet that we must go to them as Mediators betwixt God and us 9. They call upon God represented under some figure or shape 10. They mutter their prayers before images saying sometimes the Lords prayer before a picture of the Virgin Mary or of some other Saint and Ave Maries before a crucifix 11 They pray not onely in the name of Christ but also they believe they shall be heard for the prayers and intercession of the Saints 12. Neither do they pray for the living onely but also for the dead 13. That a general intention of worshipping God is sufficient when they pray though they neither understand nor mark what they say 14. They teach their Disciples to pray in an unknown tongue and so without faith without understanding without feeling like Parrots 15. They teach them to number their prayers upon certain Beads and to pay God as it were a task of numbred prayers 16. In which also they teach them mightily to tautologize and to hope they shall be heard for their much speaking 17. They not onely reckon the Salutation of the blessed Virgin and the Apostles Creed amongst their prayers but also teach them to say a hundred and fifty Ave Maries and after every ten Ave Maries one Pater Noster and after fifty one Creed 18. And that prayer even such as they are wont to bable before pictures in an unknown tongue either for the dead or to the dead without faith wit●out understanding without feeling is a satisfactory work for sin and meritorious of eternal Life 19. Also Almes-deeds to be meritorious and satisfactory § 15. Of Glorification 1. AS to the state of Believers after this life they teach that Heaven was shut till Christs passion 2. That the thief converted on the Cross was the first of all believers that entred into the heavenly Paradice 3. They make three receptacles of Souls after death besides heaven and the place of the damned viz. limbus patrum limbus infantum and Purgatory to which they also adde a certain kind of flourishing light sweet and pleasant Meadow in which they place certain souls who suffer nothing but remaine there for a while because they are not yet fit for the beatifical vision 4. That the souls of the faithful before Christs resurrection were in a subterraneous pit which they call limbus Patrum 5. That the fathers dead before Christs ascension were not happy 6. All little ones dying before Baptism they thrust into limbus infantum to be punished with eternal punishment of loss not of sence 7. The faithful which depart either with venial sins upon them or with the guilt of punishment the sin being before remitted they cast into Purgatory to be burnt there with corporeal fire till they be fully purged 8. That the suffrages of the Church such as the ●●crifice of the Mass and prayer penal and satisfactory works as Almes-Deeds Fasting Pilgrimages and the like do profit the dead in Purgatory and especially indulgences by which the satisfactory works of others are applyed to them 9. For the P●pe can communicate the prayers and good works of believers to them whence it follows as Albertus said the condition of the rich in this case is better then the poor because he hath wherewithal to get suffrages for him 10. That the Saints in Heaven do not onely pray for the living on earth in particular but also for the dead in Purgatory 11. That the Saints are our mediators and advocates with God understanding our prayers and necessities
necessary and the ancient Churches used and we must use before it will be well with us 9 10. Some of them by satisfying God mean no more then the answering of his will concerning so much of duty or suffering as he hath laid upon us But others worse 11. The everlasting punishment being remitted the temporal punishment of God by the Magistrate or by fatherly castigation may remain And part of it doth remain on us all For he chasteneth whom he loveth 15. As satisfying God signifieth but a sincere doing our duty we may be said to satisfie him But to make him reparation for the wrong we have done him or satisfie his Law by perfect obedience or his Vindictive Justice by our sufferings here is impossible 18. Chastisement is a true and proper species of punishment agreed on 20 28 c. As satisfying God is but pleasing him all our duties satisfie 22. Prayer and a holy life is a delight and great benefit but accidentally may be troublesome so far as we are carnal and therefore requireth some self-denyal 24. One man may do a duty that conduceth to anothers spiritual good but not by merit 26. The Right use of Absolution applyeth Christ●s blood declar●●●●ly And is too much laid by in most Churches 1. Gods love or favor is our Radicall Grace from which flow both Relative effects in pardon justification adoption and Physical in our Renovation all which are called also Grace 3. To deny either Relative or Inherent Grace is to deny that without which there is no salvation The necessity of Pardon at least many of them confess 4. No doubt but all have so much grace that they may believe and be saved if they will sincerely Because though velle credere be not credere as Doctor Twiss answers it yet credere est voluntatis as Austin answers it But the Papists especially the Dominicans ●ffirm not sufficient grace to believe to be given to those that hear not the Gospel but onely sufficient grace to ●● that which tendeth to this further grace 6. The will is first passive in receiving the Divine influx but active in the eliciting its o●●w●a 7. The will hath natural Power or faculty to resist or yield which will not be brought into act for yielding because it wanteth moral power that is it is dis-inclined But to resist it hath too much moral Power which is impotency yet such as grace can heal 1. Perverting the term they cause a strife about a word 2. Some of them make merit of congruity which they say precedeth Justication to be properly no merit And some of them deny that there is any proper merit of condignity at all But others are gross in this 3. The term Remission also they abuse meaning by it the change of our qualities or putting away sin it self though forgiveness they take in with it And so they make many verbal controversies 4. This is true of Sanctification which is the thing they mean by Justification But by this abuse of the terms they misinterpret Scripture And also they so much hide the very being of pardon by perverting the words that signifie it that its hard to find in some of them whether they confess any such thing as pardon 6. As to the Act they make it their own by merited grace but the habits and the grace assisting they say is of God and the act say most 7. This is their verbal error no doubt that which they mean by justification that is Sanctification consisteth in Inherent grace 8. This they say of justification taken for sanctification but not as taken for Pardon But they are led still to misinterpret Scriptures by misunderstanding the word 9 Still they mean sanctification when they speak of justification But they confess that Christs sufferings and obedience are the meritorious cause of our Pardon and Renovation both which they use to comprize in the word Justification 16. They may as well talk of a third and fourth justification for sanctification hath more degrees then two But doubtlesse there is such a thing as that which they mean by a second justification if they leave out merit for there is actual obedience and increase of grace The Scripture saith we are justified by believing in the Lord Jesus Christ that is By assenting to his Gospel and accepting him entirely as Christ that is by becoming true Christians or Christs Disciples For a believer and a Disciple in the Gospel usually signifie the same thing 11. It doth sanctifie as a part of inherent righteousness and it is the receptive condition of Pardon 12. I would they said no more but that it disposeth to it for then they would not say it deserveth it 14. Still they mean Sanctifying 15. An absurd speech but they adde that it s not the form of faith as faith but of faith and all other graces as saving or as a new Life And we agree that faith is principally in the will and the Velle is by the Schoolmen called the Diligere 16. It s unreasonable for them to call that justifying faith which wants that which they take to be the form of it 18. They say it must be explicite in some points which we call essential and that we must believe in Christ as satisfying justice and meriting for us pardon and sanctification 19. That 's but some of them 20. They manage this controversie in the dark not agreeing with us in the sence of the termes of the Question 21. Neither faith nor works are proper causes 28. So did the Ancients even Augustine himself and too many Protestants 29. This also was too common with the Ancients and is now with the said Protestants 30 Some of them yield a certainty of present Remission and justifi●●●ion and moral conjectural certainty of Salvation 34. To be certain of it is a great mercy but to believe that it is a thing written in Scripture that I am pardoned is not a duty for it is not there 35. About this they differ See Magro in sent that faith hath certaine evidence which Ariminensis and others confute ●aying it hath evidence of credibility but not of cer●ainty 1. The meer appetite is no sin but the corruption and rebellion of it is 2. I would we could see one of them do it once It s a shameful arguing for perfection by bare words when none of them will give us a proof of it by their own example 3. They that believe this know not themselves 5. Piscator and other of ours maintain this Though a meritorious efficiency we all deny 7. The Scotists and many more of them deny this but so do not Bellarmine and many others 8. Waldensis und others of them deny all merit but that 's not common see instances in my Confession 6. Some of them say they are punished also with the pain of senses See Concius Tractat. in the end of Jansenii Augustin 16. Bellarmine confesseth that in such cases of fact and particular judgement there●n the Pope may erre And so no Papists living can be certain but that they pray to the damned souls in hell whom the Pope mistakingly canonized 1 2. Yet we confess a Catholike visible continued Church 3. Some of our own say as much of late but they mean it of the visible Church onely 4. This is the heart of Popery 1. Hence Popery and Papists are denominated 17. Much of these by the French is ascribed to a General Council and denyed to the Pope so well are they agreed in their fundamentals 5. The French agree not to these 1. Of the visible Church we say the same 10. The Spaniards hindred the passing of that in the Council of Trent 5. 6. Have the Quakers learn't this distinction of perfection yet 25. In all causes materially they are but not in all formally for they are not the supreme in every sort of Government that is in Ministerial Directive but in their own sort that is coactive 2. What need you confess sin that can fulfill the Law so easily out of your own mouthes are you judged now that do not that which you think so easie 4. Others of them say the contrary 35. I would they had no company in this error 72 73. This may give us some light into the juglings of our times
believe not in him as well as in Christ but he flatly denyeth it and what he cannot get by Scripture and reason he would get by threatning and terrible words to affright the simple telling them that Protestants are not of the true Church or Religion nor in a safe way to salvation because they will not be the subjects of the Pope of Rome Well we shall briefly prove our way to be safe if not to the satisfaction of perverse ambitious or passionate and prejudiced men yet I doubt not to the satisfaction of all humble impartial diligent persons that are willing to know the truth and deny themselves that they may know it and do not stifle it by their lusts or imprison it in unrighteousness in their byassed resolutions And first we shall briefly open the termes By Religion here we mean the Doctrine de credendis agendis about matters to be believed and practised which we hold and profess as of Divine Revelation and injunction in order to Gods Glory and our salvation For though this be but the means towards those holy Affections and practices which are of neerer necessity to our salvation as being the necessary effects of the former yet is it not this later bu● the former that we are now inquiring after Not of Subjective but Objective Religion not of the fides quâ but the fides quae ●creditur not whether we be true to our Religion and so truly Religious but whether we be of the True Religion or hold that Doctrine which will save them that are true to it in Belief and Practice I shall not much stop the plain Reader therefore with any further and unnecessary inquiry into the Etymology of the word Religion which some derive 1 a Relegendo some 2 a Religando and some 3 a Relegando Relinquendo But as long as we understand what is meant by the word we shall not stick at the Etymology or propriety By the Reformed Religion we mean the Christian Catholike Religion as it is separated from Popery and so by this word we do distinguish our Churches from the Romane Sectaries For it is not every Reformation much less every thing so called that here we have respect to but the Reformation by which we cast off Popery it self which because it was in one Countrey done by a solemn Protestation of certain Princes and Cities against Popery hath been since called the Protestant Reformation and our Churches the Protestant Churches and our Religion the Protestant Religion Our Religion is called Catholike because it is ●he Religion of the Catholicke Church which is so ●alled a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because it is universal consisting not onely of Jews and their Proselites as heretofore nor of one Town like Rome and those that will be ●he subjects of the Bishop of that Town as the Papists dream but of all that Believe in the name of Christ through the whole world holding the Foundation or points of absolute necessity to salvation and not again denying them by any such contradicting Errors as will not consist with the practical belief of the said Fundamentals As that was called A Catholicke Epistle which was directed to the whole Church and not to any one person or people so is that the Catholike Church which containeth all Christians As Austin was wont to describe it against the Donatists who would have confined it to the adversaries of Caecilianus and followers of Donatus in Africke that the true Church was that which was spread over the world by the Gospel which was commanded to be preached to all Nations beginning at Jerusalem so do we By the Christian Religion I suppose we are agreed is meant the Religion of Believers in Christ or that whereof Christ is the Foundation and prescriber and faith in him the first act which must contain all the essential parts though it may possibly want many integrals or else it is not to be called the Christian Religion They that were called Christs Disciples were afterwards called Christians first at Antioch Act. 11.26 To be a Christian therefore and to be Christs Disciple is all one Note therefore that as the word Religion denoteth the sum of doctrines and way of salvation absolutely necessary so it is but One in all the worl● that 's true and saving and that is the Christian Religion So that if a Heathen Jew or Mahometane ask me what Religion I am of in opposition to theirs I will say I am a Christian and not onely that I am a Protestant But if a Christian aske me what Religion I am of I will say I am a Reformed Catholike Christian for such a question in the mouth of a Christian usually implieth that I am a Christian and intendeth the discovery of what sort or party of Christians I belong to But indeed Christianity is not many but one and therefore Christians as Christians are not of many Religions but of one No nor Christians at all that are truely such if by Religion you mean a systeme of doctrines in the main necessary or sufficient to salvation or conceited so to be For as there is no such Body of Doctrine but Christs so no man that is indeed a Christian can believe that there is seeing such a Belief contradicteth the essentia's of Christianity But among those that call themselves Christians there are some Hereticks that deny or plainly subvert some part of the essentials of Christian Religion And among those that are Christians some have such dangerous corruptions as do much hazard the salvation and tend to frustrate them of their benefits of the Christian Faith and these very corruptions they Entitle by the name of Part of their Religion as the Papists do In which sence I must say I am not of the same Religion with them though I hold the same Christian Doctrine as they because I hold not their mixture and add not those corruptio●s which they make a part of their Religion The name Protestant I reject not because it was taken up on a just occasion but I take it to be too extrinsecal and private to be the standing denomination of my Religion as being not taken from the nature of the thing but from an occasionall action of a few men in one Countrey though it intimateth that all of their judgement in all other Countries do virtually at least make the like Protestation in the maine I do therefore rather choose to say that I am a Reformed Catholike Christian and when I call my self a Protestant this is my meaning So that by the name Christian which expresseth all my Religion it self Positively considered I am differenced from Heathens Jews Mahometans and all Infidels and those by some called Hereticks who usurpe the name of Christians while they deny part of the very essentials of Christianity And by the name Catholike I adde nothing Positive to the former but onely intimate that I am of the Universal Church and negatively exclude my self from all divided
utmost him and his factious Clergy So also they are disagreed among themselves whether the Bishops in a General Council are Judges with the Pope or onely the Popes Counsellors Yea or what a General Council is Though they all agree that it is not necessary that it be out of all the Christian world much less the Bishops of all Churches but onely some of those that adhere to the Pope of Rome yet they agree not whether it must be freely elected by all the Bishops of the Romish faction or onely so many and of such Countries as the Pope shall choose and whether the major part of the Council must concur with the Pope or the Pope and the Minor part may not serve turn 5. So also they are exceedingly disagreed about the nature and extent or pretended infallibility of the Church of the Pope in judging Some say that the Church judgeth de mediis discursive sed de conclusione per doctrinam propheticam Divinam And so these men may affirm agreeably to this principle that the Popes Definitions are part of the holy Canonical Scripture as Melchior Canus affirmeth he heard a most excellent Divine confess and citeth Gratian and Innocent also as of the same mind And thus all the most wicked Popes are made Prophets and speak by inspiration of the Holy Ghost But others of them do deny this Though yet they know not how it is that the Pope is infallible without declaring themselves Enthusiasts Also though saith Bellarm. l. 4. de Pontif. c. 2. all yield that the Pope may personally erre through Ignorance yet they are disagreed among themselves whether he may be a Hereticke Some say he may not and others that its most pious and probable to think he may not Others reject that as false and say he may And one would think it should have been out of question by long experience before this time And Bellarmine confesseth that three General Councils did believe that the Pope might be a Hereticke ubi sup c. 11. some say that when the Pope is consulted and giveth his judgement in matters of faith he cannot err though in matters of fact he may and that he is Infallible in his Courts and Councils though not as a private Doctor Others say that he cannot err when he intendeth to binde the whole Church to receive his sentence or when he teacheth the whole Church Others say that the Pope may err even defining in Council but not in errors manifest to the Church but onely in new or not manifest points Others come yet neerer the matter and tell us merrily that the Pope cannot so err in judgement about matter of Faith because when he first erreth thus he ceaseth to be Pope but this is a hard conclusion in the eyes of their brethren The like disagreements there are among them about the Infallibility of a General Council some will make it the proper seat of Infallibility and say that the Pope cannot err if he be guided by the Council else he may Others say that a Generall Council may err if it be not confirmed by the Pope yea though the Popes Legates did consent or if they do not follow the Popes instructions But that they cannot erre if they follow them or be confirmed by him So Bellarmine Canus and the late champions And if the Pope and Council differ as they have shrewdly done when Councils have deposed Popes for heresie and wickedness some say that we may more safely follow the Council then the Pope But others say the clean contrary and place the Infallibility in the Pope onely and make it his work to reclaim the Council Though they are thus all in pieces among themselves even about these their fundamentals yet is it the custome of their deceitful Writers to make the simple people believe that they are all agreed and to tell them that they have the Consent of the Universal Church and of all the Christian world and they have Universal Tradition c. that by the noise of these big words they may do that which they cannot do by argument Thus Doctor Vane their late proselite and divers others do in their writings overlooking all their own disagreements and passing on as confidently in their boasts of the Universal Consent as if they were either such Novices as understand not their own Religion or such hardened seducers as are not willing that others should understand it Here are in this our Question contained three of the greatest controversies between us and the Papists 1. Whether it belong to the Pope or Romane Church to be the Judge of Faith and Scriptures to all the world 2. Whether the Pope or his Clergy be in●llible in judging of matters of Faith 3. Whether our Faith must be resolved into this infallible judgement of theirs Our intent in this present Dispute is to deal most with the second yet so as it is connexed with the other two and therefore shall take them in on the by but say less to them distinctly and the rather because there is so much said already by our Divines as all the Papists on earth will never be able solidly to answer To let pass all those beyond Sea that have effectually confounded them we have Brittans enough to hold them perpetual work as Jewell Reignolds Whitaker White Field Vsher Camero Baronius Davenant Chillingworth to whom they have lately lost their cause by shewing in a vain and frivolous Reply how little they have to say against him with many more who will either remain unanswered or the answers will be worse to the adversaries cause then silence it self which we have sufficient ground already to foretell As to the first of these controversies to dispatch it in short as we distinguish between Judicium Descretionis Directionis Decisionis a Judgement of Discretion of Direction and of Decision so we kn●w that it is onely the later that properly denominateth a Judge in the publike and ordinary sence Take our doctrine in these few Propositions 1. We say that every Christian hath a judgement of Discretion to know that the Christian Faith is true and Scripture is the word of God Or else he were no Christian or faith were not an act of judgement or Reason but a bruitish thing This therefore we confess the Pope either hath or ought to have 2. Every Pastor of the Church hath a judgement of direction that is it belongeth to him by office to be a Director of the people and to teach those the Christian Faith that yet receive it not and to confirm those in it that have received it And they ought to have abilities for the work of this office If therefore the Pope were a true Pastor Bishop or Preacher this power we should confess to be in him as in others 3. It belongeth to these Teachers also to be specially careful to preserve the sacred Scriptures from corruption and
to deliver them down to posterity in the purity as they receive them and to translate them into known tongues that the people may understand them Though others also have a part in this work yet the Pastors of the Church have by Office the chiefest part 4. It belongeth to them also to be witnesses and informers of the people how themselves did receive the Faith and Scripture from their Ancestors and to shew them how it came down to our hands by certaine Infallible Tradition from Age to Age. 5. The Church guides they are both Preservers of the Scripture Witnesses of the Tradition and Te●chers of the truth and have such a power of judging a● belongeth to all these three 6. In these acts of their office they ought to be Believed and that on a threefold account 1. Because of the evidence which they shew to prove the truth of their Assertions Though strictly this is rather to be called Learning and so Knowing then Believing and is common to Teachers with any others that shew the same proofs Yet it being supposed that ordinarily they have much more Knowledge in the things which they teach then other men have therefore we may well say that it more belongeth to them to convince and more efficacy is in their Teaching because of their proofs and better entertainment is due to their Teaching 2. Such a Belief also is due to them as all men should have in their own prosession wherein they have long studyed and laid out their time and labor and wherein they are commonly known to excell other men Every man that is less studyed in Law Physicke or any other Science or Art is bound in reason to give some credit to Lawyers Physicians and others that Study and Practice those Arts. This is but a humane Faith 3. Besides this credit before mentioned which Infidells themselves may give to the Ministers of the Gospel according to their capacities there is a further credit due to them from professed believers and that is as they are officers authorized by Christ and have a promise of his assistance to the end of the world which though it make them not infallible in all matters of Faith yet doth it assure them of a more than common help of Christ if they are his servants indeed 7. There is more of this kind of Belief due to many Pastors caeteris paribus than to one and to the whole Church than to any part 8. The credit of the Church or any Pastors in witnessing to the faith dependeth on their competency for such a Testimony which consisteth in their sufficency or Ability and their fidelity which they are rationally to manifest that it may gaine credit with others 9. In things which God hath left undetermined in Scriptures and committed to the Governors of the Church to determine of they have a Decisive Power 1. For the Time or Place or the like circumstances of Gods worship they are necessary in General viz. there must be some Time Place c. but not in specie such a Time such a Place is not necessary unless it be some that God hath already made choice of Here the Church guides must Authoritatively Determine whereupon the people are obliged to obey unless in some extraordinary cases where the Determination is so perverse and contrary to the General Rules which Scripture hath given for it that it would overthrow the substance of the duty it self 2. And in case of Church censures when any man is accused to deserve Excommunication the Church Governors have a Judicial Decisive Power as to those ends though not to make a man guilty that is Innocent yet to oblige the people to avoid Communion with the person whom they Excommunicate except in such palpable mal-administration and evident contradiction of the word of God which may nullifie their sentence for even here their Power is not unlimited 10. No man or company of men much less the Pope hath a proper Decisive Judicial Power in matter of Christian faith or whether the Scripture or any part of it be the word of God or not For the opening of this understand what we mean by a Decisive Judicial Power to wit such as a Judge hath in a controverted cause where the Plaintiff and Defendant must stand to his Judgement be it right or wrong so that though the sentence be not just yet must it be Decisive and obligatory so that he hath Power to Judge in utramque partem on either side and the judgement must be valid Such a Decisive power no creature hath in these cases that we have now in hand Where let it be still remembred that it is not the name but the Thing that we contend about If they will call that a Decisive Judicial Power which is so limited to one part or side that it shall not be valid or obligatory to the subject if it erre or go on the other side concerning which all men have a judgement of Discerning granted them by God so far as they are able to Discerne they have leave and authority then we easily grant that every Pastor of the Church is thus far the Judge of Faith and Scripture That is if any man doubt whether the Scripture be the Word of God and ask a Preacher or Bishop he hath Power to say Yea but not to say No But this is no Judicial Power but a Teaching and Witnessing act For the people are bound to disobey them if they erre and therefore bound to ●ry whether they erre or not and not to follow their judgement further then it is right and sound therefore they have no deciding Judicial Power which I prove thus Arg. 1. If the Pope or any other had such a Judicial Decisive Power then might they oblige us to Believe that there is no God that Christ is not the Redeemer that Scripture is not the word of God and so they might cast Faith and Scripture out of the Church But this is false and abominable therefore the Pope hath no such Power For the consequence it is manifest supposing that the Pope should give judgement against God Christ or Scripture then men must by this Doctrine be bound to obey it and forsake God Christ and Scripture for the Pope Whereunto add a second Argument from a further absurdity Then either such as renounce God Christ and Scripture may be saved or else God bindeth men by the Pope to renounce him and the faith to their own damnation But both these consequents are false and abominable Therefore I know they will here reply that we must not suppose that the Pope can err in his judgement and therefore being infallible he will certainly make no such false Decision To which I say 1. Why then should it be said that God hath given Authority to decide in utramque partem on either side Doth God give a man Authority to do that which he hath promised him and all others that he shal never do But he will
must lye upon the exposition of them The points absolutely necessary to salvation are plainly delivered 2. Obscurity shews the need of a Teacher but not of a Judge At least its plain that when any Teacher shall remove the obscurity those texts oblige us as well as the plainest 3. As I said If the Pope be Judge of all difficult controverted texts he is an unfaithful Judge that will not expound them to us and decide so many controversies as yet depend What good will it be to the Church to have such a Judge of difficult controverted texts of Scripture as in the consciousness of his ignorance dare not give us his judgement but hath left them undecided these fifteen hundred years This dumbe Oracle that hath eyes and sees not and a mouth but speaks not is not a fit foundation for the Churches Faith 5. Where God calleth men to Office and Power he accomplisheth or fitteth them in some measure for the performance of it but God hath not fitted all Popes no nor any to Jugde Decisively of all controverted difficultyes in Scripture and Religion Therefore he hath not made them Judges of them The Minor shall be further proved anon Many Popes have been ignorant and unlearned many Heretickes unfit to decide all such controversies and they have shewed their unfitnesse by their non performance or ill performance The great Objection of the Papists is this Obj. 1. What! Shall every one be the Judge of Scripture and take it in what sence he please shall every unlearned man or woman expound it according to their own fancies then we shall have variety of expositions Whether is it fitter for the Church or every simple fellow to be Judge Answ 1. Neither Hath God made subjects to be Judges of his Lawes by which they must live and by which they must be judged Neither they nor your Pope must be Judges of the Lawes in a proper sence but obeyers of it 2. We say not that the people should expound the Scriptures as Teachers of others unless in their own callings as to the children servants c. when they are able This we reserve to the Officers of the Church 3. Nor do we say that any people must expound Scripture according to their own fancies or mis-guided conceits but according to the true meaning of them 4. Nor should they in difficult cases which are past their understandings presume of their own wit to know the right meaning but have recourse to the Teachers that God hath set over them that so by their help they may learn the meaning of that word which they understood not 5. And if their Teachers be singular or give them just cause to suspect their skill or fidelity they have more reason to regard the Judgement of the Judicious then of the ignorant and of the whole Church then of any one or few so far as the credit or authority of men must support a learner while he is a learning 6. But what Is it indeed such a monstrous heretical conceit in the eyes of a Papist that every Christian should have a Judicium discretionis a Judgement of discerning to perceive and discern which is truth and which is falshood Good Lord whether will the heat of contention carry men Why if they must not have this discerning judgement 1. Then God doth bind them all to be fools and ignorant 2. And then Religion and the Christian Faith are the endowments of bruits that know not what they hold or do and not of Reasonable men 3. Or else they that will be Christians must have no Faith or Knowledge which is a contradiction Is not Faith an act of discretion Must not he that believeth the Resurrection and Everlasting Life believe them with his own understanding And doth he not in believing them Judge them to be True and Judge the contrary doctrine to be false 4. Why will you read or preach Scripture to the people if you would not have them receive it by a judgment of discerning would you not have their judgment discern the Truth of what God hath written or the Priest shal preach to them 5. Doubtless you will allow them a judgement of Discretion about the Popes Decrees and Canons and your own Determinations How can they believe you if they do not by judgement discern the things you say to be true And why will you not allow them the like towards God and his Word Will you say It is their duty to believe the Pope and their sin to believe God Or it s their duty to understand the Popes Laws and their sin to understand Gods Laws Why what do you say less when you yield them a judgement of discretion as to the Pope or Church and deny it in Respect to the Word of God If you say that they will misunderstand the Scripture I ans 1. So will the Pope and the best and wisest man on earth in some part because while we are here we know but in part 2. Their error is their sin But doth it follow that they may not see at all for fear of missing their way Must they put out their eyes and be led by the Pope for fear of erring Must they not know or labor to know for fear of mistaking Will any Master take this well of his servant to put out his eyes or do nothing for fear of doing his work amiss Or refuse to go his journey lest he miss the way Then we must not judge of the Popes Laws neither and consequently not judge them to be true for fear of erring in our judgement When you prove that the Church of Rome is the true Church would you not have the people judge of your proof for fear of erring This is even to make beasts of Christians 3. What are Teachers for but to guide them and help them to understand If you are afraid lest they should erre be the more diligent in instructing them But this is the difference between the work of a Popish Teacher and ours They make it their work to put out mens eyes that they may have the loading of them because they are troubled with an imperfection in their sight and therefore will erre if those imperfect eyes be left in their heads we make it our work by all means we can use to cure their eye sight that they may be able to see themselves in the mean time advising them while their eyes are under cure not wholly to trust to them but to use the helpe of others to shew them the way and to tell them of dangers The Protestant will set his Childe to School that he may learn to know that which through childishness he knows not But according to the Popish way we should forbid them all books or learning lest they misunderstand them and let them never know any thing lest they know amiss The next step is to send them to Bedlam The Apostle would have men have their senses exercised to discern Good
be credited as Christians before they believe that Christianity it self is of credit Q 3. Is there any man breathing that can bring sufficient Arguments to prove 1. That there is a Church of Christ 2. And that this Church is infallible 3. And that the Pope and Papists are this Church before their hearers have received or believed the word of God If they can why have they not faln closer to work in this necessary point when they know how much it would do to the determination of the whole If they pretend such Antecedent proof by miracles as the Apostles proved the Doctrine by I have shewed the vanity of this pretence against Knot before and we must still desire them if it be miracles that is their first witness to let us see or have certaine proofe of those Miracles We protest to all the world that we are heartily willing to see them and know of them if they be true but though we have lived in the midst of Papists all our lives yet could we never to this day see any such matter from them nor hear so much as of any probable proofs of any And would they have us in a matter of salvation to believe every pr●ting boaster that will tell us of Miracles and shew us no such thing nor any proof of them Quest 4. Whether those that do not go this most absurd way of proving their Church infallible to an infidel that yet believeth not Gods word and so by means antecedent to the belief of Scripture must not unavoidably confess that Gods word must be first believed before the Popes or Churches infallibility or authority and consequently our faith dependeth not in them nor is resolved into them or else they are inextricably insnared in the Popish circle and contradictingly do make two primo credenda the Church or Pope the first to be believed and yet the word of God is first to be believed And do not Holden Vane Knot and others of them see this who therefore shun the circle and use not the old shifts of Becanus and others to blind the eyes of those that see them in it Whether I wrong them H. Holden himself an Englishman and Doctor of Paris shall be judge who thus commendeth his own new devised Foundation or resolution of the faith in his Divini fid analys li. 1. c. 9 pag. 180. Ex quibus patet ha●● Christianae fidei analysim haud in●idore in labyrinthum vulgarem circulare perfugium quo solent Theologi passim involvi qui fidei Resolutionem juxta communem parum attente examinatam opini●●●● conferuunt as effingunt Quarenti namque und● noverint scripturam esse revelatum Dei verbum Respondent ex universae consentientis Ecclesiae assertione Quibus si iterum fiet interrogatis unde sciverint unanimeus hanc Ecclesiae Catholicae assertionem esse ab errore liberam seu infallibilem Respondent ex revelat● Dei verbo Adeo ut non audentes fidem Divinam in certitudine evidentia naturali fundare in circulum hunc inevitabiliter illabuntur in orbem turpissime saltantes fidem quam ipsa prima ratio format efficit rationis experem reddunt voluntque homines rationales mentis ac judicii partioipes in fidei assensu certiores esse quam vel ratio postulat vel approbat Hasitant quippe Theologi quidam asseverare agnoscere quod omnia argumenta etiam firmissima omnesque rationes item evidentissimae quibus universam fidei Divinae Catholicae traditionem solidam erroris immunem infallibilem esse demonstramus adeo veritatem hanc evincant ut nulla prorsue subsit aberrationis facultas Ideoque ●pinantu● Christianorum a●imos adhuc ita vacillantes fluctuantes derelictos esse ut privatum aliquem singularem instinctum pernecessarium autument quo omni fidei Christianae assensui certitudo infallibilitas divina at ajunt attribuatur Nos antem levibu● hisce voluntariis opinationibus fidei divinae Religionis Christianae certitudinem soliditatem inniti aut fundari nequaquam judicamus That is in English From hence its evident that this resolution of the Christian faith doth not fall into the common Labyrinth and circular shift in which Divines are commonly wont to be involved who do frame and fashion the resolution of faith according to the common and unheedfully examined opinion For when they are asked how they know then Scripture to be the revealed word of God they answer By the assertion of the universal consenting Church And if they be again asked how they know that this unanimous assertion of the Catholike Church is free from error or infallible They answer By the revealed word of God so that not daring to found divine faith in natural certaintainty and evidence they unavidably slide into this circle most filthily dancing in a ring or round the faith which the first reason formeth and effecteth they make void of Reason and would have reasonable men who have understanding and judgment to be more certain in the assent of faith then reason doth either require or allow For some Divines c. Here you see a Learned Papist confessing that the Papists are commonly entangled in this circle and filthily dance in a round and would make our faith an unreasonable thing Let Knot note this that would make Chillingworth a Socinian and an Infidel for making faith a reasanable act And let the common sort of Papists note this that deny faith to have any evidence And let it be considered according to this mans judgement on what foundation the generality of Papists do build their faith and what a faith it is that hath such a foundation Yea and let it be considered whether the wiser sort of Papists begin not to change the very foundation of their Faith And how neer they begin to draw to the Reformed Churches in the Resolution of their Faith For this same Doctor doth well disprove the infallibility of the Pope pag. 179. Saying Owne quidem Episcopi Apostolorum successores sunt Apostolos vere ade● confirmatos in gratia fuisse ut infallibiles omnino seu in doctrina Christiana tradenda ab omni erroris periculo immunes fuerint agnoscit universa Ecclesia Nunquid ergo omnes Episcopi ab errore liberi Omnibus quidem Apostolis revelata fuisse secreta Caelestia iissque ut nec decipi nec hallucinari possent divina extraordinaria via donatum esse certissime tenemus Nun● quid ergo vel summo Pontifici vel caeteris Episcopis haec sunt divinitus concessa privilegia That is All Bishops are the Apostles successors And that the Apostles were so confirmed in grace that they were altogether infallible or free from all danger of error in delivering the Christian doctrine this the universal Church acknowledgeth But are all Bishops therefore free from error We certainly hold that to all the Apostles the heavenly secrets were revealed and that by a Divine and
pain of excommunication 35. They teach that whole Christ is in either of the Elements and that the whole Nature of the Sacrament is to be found in one of them neither is any more profit reaped from communion in both kinds then in one 36. Nay that he gets more who communicates in one in obedience to the Church then he that communicates in both without that huge fruit of obedience 37. But this taking away of the Cup from the people may seem a small matter for it is done but once every year at which time the Sacrament is given to the people For in all the rest of the Masses which are continual and daily they deprive both the people and the Clergy that do not consecrate it of both kinds For in private Masses it is held forth to be seen by the people and Clergy and to be adored not to be received but onely by the Priest that makes it 38. They urge a mixture of Water with the Wine in the Cup as most necessary 39. And they assert that the Body of the Lord cannot be rightly taken but of those that fast 40. They have converted the Sacrament of the Eucharist by which God communicates Christ to us into a real Sacrifice in which they do offer up Christ to God 41. Also the Table into an Altar and the administrator of the Sacrament into a Priest after the order of Melchizedek 42. They say this new Sacrificing is required that Christs Body may begin to be an oblation 43. That Christ in the last Supper did offer his body and blood in both kinds of Bread and Wine to God the Father as an oblation 44. That Christ did once offer up himself for us upon the Cross in the Mass often by the hands of the Priests 45. That t is one and the same sacrifice which is done in the Mass and which is offered on the Cross onely they differ in the manner of oblation being without blood 46. Every Mass Priest offering Christ to God the Father prayes God to accept that Sacrifice and to command that it may be carried by the hands of an Angel unto the high Altar of God 47. And therefore they make the Priest Mediator between God and Christ 48. The Priest in offering that Sacrifice to God for thers is a Mediator between God and the men for whom he celebrates the Mass 49. That Christ when he said in the Supper Do this commanded the Apostles and their Successors that they should Sacrifice him and offer him up to God the Father 50. That by the same words Christ did appoint his Apostles to be Priests 51. That one never to be repeated offering of Christ by which he hath consecrated those that are sanctified for ever They do offer thousands almost infinite times 52. Neither do they do it onely at divers times and in divers places but in the same Temple they celebrate divers Masses at divers Altars 53. They also celebrate Masses ●●e they offer Christ himself to God for the honor of the Saints to obtain their intercession with God 54. That the sacrifice of the Mass which they confess is without Blood is truely propitiatory for the living and for the dead 55. That the same sacrifice is impetratory not only of Spiritual but Temporal blessings hence they are wont to celebrate Mass i. e. offer Christ to God ●or the obtaining of health for defence for a prosperous journey for victory in war and all other such Temporal benefits yea for Horses and Hoggs c. 56. By the Mass which being hired they are wont to celebrate for others They say they can apply to them the vertue of Christs death to take away their sins and to obtain all manner of benefits 57. By Masses are souls delivered out of Purgatory 58. To conclude They have most filthily polluted the Sacrament of the Eucharist with a multitude of foolish Ceremonies which were too long to rehearse And yet in the observation of them they place the worship of God and merit and urge them as most necessary and not to be omitted without mortal sin § 9. Of their Sacrament of Penance 1. THat Repentance Penance is a Sacrament properly so called 2. That Repentance in the New Testament is another thing from that which was in the old and al● that in the new Testame●● which is after Baptisme is another thing from that which ●s before For that Repentance which is in the Old Testament or before Baptism is not a Sacrament That saying of Luther is heresie A new Life is the best Penance 3. They say contrition is an Act of the Will done by the power of Freewill or a sorrow voluntarily assumed 4. That contrition does deserve forgiveness of sins 5. That its necessary to justification that sins all and every one as far as may be be confessed to the Priest as to a judge 6. That this confession is meritorious of remission of the fault the lessening of the punishment the opening of Paradise and of confidence of salvavation 7. Without Sacramental which they call Auricular Confession or the vow of it sins cannot be forgiven 8. That sin which was declared under the Seal of Confession is by no meanes to be disclosed though it were the Crime of Treason or Rebellion 9. By the doctrine of satisfaction they do sacrilegiously and blasphemously derogate from the satisfaction of Christ 10. They teach indeed the satisfaction of Christ to be full for all both in respect of the fault and also the punishment but by way of sufficiency not by way of efficiency but satisfaction by way of sufficiency onely deserves not the name of satisfaction 11. They say the fault being remitted there remains a debt of punishment to be paid for which satisfaction must be made 12. That satisfaction is required for the compensation of the wrong done to God and the satisfying of divine justice 13. That a justified man may truely and properly make satisfation not onely to the Church but even to God himself namely for the guilt of punishment which remains to be expiated after the fault is remitted 14. That it is unbecoming Divine Clemency to remit sin without our own satisfaction Three wayes we are said to satisfie the Lord. 15. First By patiently bearing the scourges and punishments laid on us by God 16 Secondly By voluntary undertaking laborious works 17. Thirdly By undergoing the punishment imposed by the discretion of the Priest 18. That all the afflictions of the faithful are to be accounted for true and proper punishments of sin 19. That the calamities which are laid upon the just after conversion are to be born in some sence to compensate their offence 20. That it is not sufficient that we repent except we also satisfie God by painful and satisfactory works 21. Amongst those painful works they reckon their Whippings of themselves and Pilgrimages unto the places of the Saints c. 22. Prayer
they reckon amongst penal works 23. Fasting also and Almes deeds they teach to be satisfactory works 24. That one man may satisfie for another but less suffering is required of him that satisfies for another 25. That the satisfactory and penal works of the Saints may be communicated and applyed to others 26. That the vertue of Christs blood is applyed to us by the Priests absolution 27. That by vertue of the Pr●●sts absolution eternal punishment is turned into temporal which also the Priest imposes according to his discretion 28. That the words of absolution are not onely a sign but also a cause of remission of sin or that they do effect justification for by the Priests absolution is sin driven away removed ex oper● operato as a cloud by the wind 29. That a man cannot be reconciled to God without a Sacramental absolution 30. That Sacerdotal absolution hath that force of justifying because many desiring reconciliation and believing in Christ are damned onely because they died before they could be absolved by a Priest or as they otherwise express their meaning do perish for that onely they could not have a reconciling Priest 31. To Papal absolution we refer the Jubilees and their sale of indulgences 32. Also in the year of Jubilee which they have reduced from the hundredth t● the fiftyeth and thence to the twenty fifth they promise full rem●ssion of all sins to those that visit the Temples of Peter and Paul and the Lateran Church 33. They assert that there is a treasure of overflowing satisfactions in the Church not onely of Christ but also of the Saints which the Pope by indulgences can apply both to the living and dead by which they are delivered from the guilt of punishment before God 34. That souls are freed from Purgatory by indulgences 35. They confess there is no need to adde the satisfaction of the Saints to the satisfaction of Christ which they cannot deny to be infinite and alwayes overflowing yet they to whom gain ●s godliness think meet to add them 36. Neither do they bestow indulgences for a few dayes or years but for many thousands of years from whence it is manifest they do but make a jest of the Article of the day of judgement which according to their own opinion will put an end to Purgatory and all temporal punishments 37. To conclude in all their Sacramental penance they make no mention of faith at all and of Christ scarce any 38. For Repentance Penance which they will have to be a plank after shipwrack they say consists on the penitents part in contrition auricular confession and satisfaction on the Priests part in Sacramental absolution as the act of a Judge whose words are I do absolve thee from all thy sins in the name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost 39. That that is a pious prayer which some are wont to use in Monasteries after absolution given for sin let the merit of the passion of our Lord Jesus Christ and the blessed Virgin Mary and of all Saints the Merit of Order and the burthen of Religion the humility of Confession the contrition of heart the good works which thou hast done and wilt do for the love of our Lord Jesus Christ bestead thee for remission of sin and increase of merit and grace and for the reward of Eternal Life Amen § 10. Of extream Vnction 1. THat the extream Unction is truely and properly a Sacrament of the New Testament and indeed an ordinary one 2. That this Sacrament doth confer grace making us acceptable ex opere operato doth restore health to the sick and blot out sins if any remaine 3. That by this Unction which they apply to the eyes to the ears to the mouth to the loynes and to the hands God doth grant to the sick whatsoever is wanting by that fault of the sences 4. That by this Sacrament a man may sometimes be saved who should otherwise plainly be damned 1. That Ordination is truely and properly a Sacrament of the new Law conferring to the Ordained Grace making him acceptable ex opere operato 2. There are seven or rather eight Sacraments of Order all which are truely or properly called Sacraments viz. The Order of Porters of Readers of Exorsists of Servitors of Sub-Deacons of Deacons and Presbyters and Bishops 3. In every one of is given to the Ordained the seven fold Grace of the Spirit yea Grace making them acceptable and that ex opere operato 4. That anointing is required in Ordination Of Marriage 1. That Matrimony though it were instituted in Paradise is truely and properly a Sacrament of the new Law 2. And therefore does confer grace upon the married making them acceptable ex opere operato 3. That the Church has power to constitute impediments that shall hinder marriage 4. That the Church has power to dispense with the degrees of Consanguinity forbidden of God and to make more degrees which shall not onely hinder marriage but break it 5. That marriage confirmed not consummated is also dissolved in respect of the Bond by the entrance of one of the parties into a vow without the consent of the other 6. That the solemn Vow of Chastity and holy Orders are an impediment both hindring marriage to be made and breaking it being made 7. Also difference of Religion does not onely hinder marriage to be made but also break it being made 8. That marriage contracted between Infidels when either is converted to the faith is broken viz. because that marriage was not a Sacrament 9. That the Church of Rome did rightly prohibit marriage of old to the seventh but afterwards to the fourth degree of Consanguinity according to the Canonical rule of reckoning but the fourth degree of Canonical reckoning is the seventh and eighth in the Civil Law 10. The Spiritual kindred which ariseth forsooth from Baptism and Confirmation may hinder marriage to be made and break it being made § 11. Of the Effects of Grace NOw follow the Effects of Grace or the degrees of Salvation such are vocation justification c. 1. Where first the Papists do egregiously erre in expounding the word grace for when the holy Spirit speaking of these effects of Divine grace saith we are justifie● by grace and saved by grace c. By grace they understand not the free favour of God in Christ but the gift of grace inherent in us as if the Scripture did not say we are called justified and saved by the same grace we are elected and redeemed by 2. And then when they divide the grace of God into eternal grace which they call the everlasting love of God and temporary such as the benefit of vocation and justification are again they divide this temporary grace into grace freely given and grace making acceptable both which they will have to be a quality inherent in us as if either all grace which they call temporary did inhere in us or that which doth inhere in us