Selected quad for the lemma: christian_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
christian_n	believe_v	church_n	scripture_n	3,778	5	6.4988	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A45138	The middle-way in one paper of election & redemption, with indifferency between the Arminian & Calvinist / by Jo. H.	Humfrey, John, 1621-1719.	1673 (1673)	Wing H3689; ESTC R20384	34,415	44

aequilibrio to be determined still of it self then the matter returns to the former issue I will therefore close up this point of Election with the observation of that very judicious person that wrote the Councel of Trent who having set down the debate of the Doctors about it and divided them into two opinions which comes in effect without reciting the whole to the tenents of absolute and conditional Election he gives us his judgment The first Opinion sayes he which is Augustines as it is mystical and hidden keeping the mind humble and relying on God without any confidence in it self knowing the deformity of Sin and excellency of Divine Grace So was the second plausible and popular cherishing Humane Presumption and making a great shew and it pleased more the Preaching Fryers than the Vnderstanding Divines The Defenders of this using Humane reasons prevailed against the others But coming to the Testimonies of Scripture they were manifestly evercom I descend not to the more minute Disputations De praedeterminatione physica between the Dominicans and Franciscans or De scentia media among the Jesuits which are of lower date I count in the World and ought not to make us trouble I leave also the Jansenist and Molinist to that Bone Haec praedestinatio Sanctorum nihil aliud est quam praescientia scilicet praeparatio beneficiorum Dei quibus certissime liberantur quicunque liberantur This Predestination of the Saints is nothing else but the Fore-knowledge and Preparation of those Benefits of God whereby they are most certainly saved that are saved Aug. De bono pers c. 14. There are two Opinions yet I shall mention which are singular I do not think them true yet am I pleased with any intent for composing the Scripture The one is that ascribed to Catarinus at Trent to Occam and others That there are indeed some few Persons who are Elected Absolutely of these God takes a special care that they never fail as we read of Peter But that the rest of Mankind are left to universal Grace and the liberty of their wills under a Conditional Election and Reprobation The other is an Opinion of a Learned Doctor of another Profession very Studious of the Holy Writings who is often telling me when I see him That Election is only to a Church-State and peculiar Priviledges But that we read of a Common Salvation Of Redemption I Do not remember any thing in St. Augustin that is peculiar about this Doctrine Only I take notice from several passages that he goes still the Narrow Way That the Elect only are redeemed That none but those who are brought into the Church by receiving all her Articles and being Baptized can be of that Number That no Heathen no Heretick no Separatist from the Church no Donatist no Infant though of Believing Parents that dies unbaptized can be saved I must confess here I am not of the mind with this Father And as I apprehend that Justine Martyr and some such Ancients who were Philosophers as well as Christians have spoken more nobly than thus So do I think that he goes not here the way of the Scriptures There is the universal Grace of God and special Grace of God I count held forth therein and both consistent with one another When Christ sayes He came to save the World that The Father so loved the World as to give his Son That he tasted Death for every Man and the like let not any think but the Grace of Redemption doth concern all the World And when we yet maintain special Grace with this let not any confine the same to this or that Sort or Sect of Religion but let him judge rather that the Elect are scattered throughout the Earth and it is God alone knows who are his There is the universal Grace of Origen that all at last shall be saved of Pelagius of Arminius There is also gratia universalis aqualis praecedanea of John Camero we are not bound to maintain either of these but there is Gratia universalis simpliciter which if we maintain not we must leave our Preaching and the Gospel The Followers of Truth and Mediocrity will be afraid to hold any other universal Grace but such as I suppose St. Ambrose holds in his Books De vocatione Gentium that will agree well with the special Grace also and Election of St. Augustine that is such only I count as may justly lay the blame of mans Sin and his Destruction altogether on himself when it gives the whole Glory of his Salvation unto God They that observe lying vanityes for sake their own mercy For my proceeding on this point it is not sutable to my purpose to be critical upon any words in the original Languages that Redemption is expressed by or to pretend to curiosity in the Laws and Customs of the Jews or other nations about Redemption at large which might be alluded to I will rather leave this Note in my way that as the curious oftentimes are least apt for plain things so must I say that whatsoever notion is offered upon this or any other head of Divinity by any who perhaps are of more exquisite learning and search in some things than others are if when they are sufficiently declared they are not apprehensible by common and ordinary people as well as themselves I do account them little worth in the Christina Religion They were plain men who at first Preached the Gospel and they were plain men for whose sake it was Preached and is Written When I see evidently that there must goe more skill to the finding such or such things out more learning subtil distinction and wit that I beleeve any of the Apostles if they were living ever had I cannot but think presently There is none of Christs disciples would have delivered this and it matters not my salvation whether it be so or not Neither do I entend a Common place upon this or other of the Heads which I treat on but an Exercitation onely in order to my particular design you must not expect any more There is one thing then I account here to be mainly of necessity or moment and that is the understanding our Redemption by Jesus Christ but so as that we may be solidly able to fix upon what that is which indeed accrewes to man from it or which we may avouch for the immediate and uncontrolable fruit or benefit to us by it I will not therefore make many words The Redemption of man by Christ I humbly conceive does lye chiefly in this The delivery of him from the Law as it was a Covenant of works that is requiring of him such conditions as he is not now in his faln estate ever able to perform and so must inevitably perish if he were not delivered from it When the fulness of time was come sayes the Apostle God sent his Son made under the Law c. The Law as given to the Jews was a representative of the Law of