3 There is a pre-determined and certaine number of the Predestinate which can neither be augmented nor diminished 4 Qui non sunt Praedestinati ad Salutem necessario propter peccata sua damnabuntur 4 Those who are not Predestinated to Saluation shall be necessarily Damned for their sinnes 5 Vera viva iustificans Fides Spiritus Dei iustificantis non extinguitur non excidit non euanescit in Electis aut finaliter aut totaliter 5 A true liuing and iustifying Faith and the Spirit of God iustifying is not extinguished it falleth not away it vanisheth not away in the Elect either finally or totally 6 Homo vere Fidelis id est Fide iustificante praeditus certus est plerophoria Fider de Remissione peccatorum suorum salute sempiterna sua per Christum 6 A man truely Faithfull that is such â—one who is endued with a iustifying Faith is certaine with the full assurance of Faith of the Remission of his Sinnes and of his Euerlasting Saluation by Christ. 7 Gratia salutaris non tribuitur non communicatur non conceditur vniuersis hominibus qua seruari possint si velint 7 Sauing grace is not giuen is not Communicated is not granted to all men by which they may be saued if they will 8 Nemo potest venire ad Christum nisi datum ei fuerit nisi Pater eum traxerit omnes homines non trahuntur a Patre vt veniant ad Filium 8 No man can come vnto Christ vnlesse it shall be giuen vnto him and vnlesse the Father shall draw him and all men are not drawn by the Father that they may come to the Sonne 9 Non est poâ—itum in arbitrio aut poâ—estate vniuscâ—iusque hominis servari It is not in the Will or Power of euery one to be saued These Articles of Lambheth how euer some may chance to slight them as the Resolutions of some priuate mâ—n yet they were vnanimously composed and approued by both our Right Reuerend and Learned Archbishops Whitgift and Huâ—ton by the Bishops of London and Bangor and by sundry other of our most eminent Diuines and that not rashly or vnadvisedly but vpon serious debate and mature deliberation and being afterwards sent to the Vniuersitie of Cambridge for the allaying of some Arminian Controuersies there raysed by master Barret whose publique Recantation I haue heere inserted and abetted by one Peter Baro a Frenchman Lady Margarets Professor in that Vniuersitie they were there receiued with such an vnanimous approbation of the whole Vniuersitie that those Arminian Tenents were foorthwith abandoned and Baro forced to forsake his place since whose departure to this present the Diuinitie Professors of this our Famous Vniuersitie haue constantly adhered to these Conclusions as the vndoubted Doctrine of the Church of England What respect the Reformed Churches abroad haue giuen to these Articles or Assertions Let famous Thysius who hath twice published them Hardrouici 1613. and quoted the Fathers to them together with learned Bogerman President of the late famous Synod of Dort in his 107. and 108. Notes vpon the second part of Grotius Franâ—keâ—â— 1614. p. 183. 184. testifie who both recite and repute them as the receiued and vndoubted Doctrine of the Church of England What approbation they haue had with vs at home their vnanimous approbation by the Vniuersitie of Cambridge at first their insertion into the Articles of Ireland agreed vpon by the Archbishops and Bishops and the rest of the Clergie of Ireland in their Conuocation holâ—en at Dublin 1615. where all or most of them are recited verbatim as any man may see that will compare them The mentioning of them in the Conference at Hampton Court where his Maiestie of blessed memory was moued to insert them into the Bookâ— of Articles and vnderstanding not what these Assertions of Lambheth were was informed that by reason of some Controuersies arising in Cambridge about certaine points of Diuinitie my Lords Grace of Canterbury assembled some Diuines of especiall note to set downe their opinions which they drew into nine Assertions and so sent them vnto the Vniuersitie for the appeasing of those quarrels Their honourable recitall by the late Reuerend and learned Bishop of Chichester Doctor Carlton in his Examination of Master Mountagues Appeale Edition 2. cap. 2. pag. 8. 9. 10. By learned Doctor Benefield De Perâ—euerantia Sanctorum lib. 1. cap. 15. p. 162. to 167. By Maâ—â—er Francis Rouse in his Doctrine of King Iames p. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mr. Iohn Browne in his Appendix to the Life of Queene Elizabeth where they are likewise Printeâ— By Mr. Thomas Vicars in his Pusillies Grex Oxoâ—iae 1627 p. 31. By Abdias Asheton in Vita Gulielmi Whitakeri Cantabrigiae 1599. p. 43. who all repute and deeme them the Orthodox and vndoubted Doctrine of the Church of England All these recited Euidences I say doe abundantly confirme the truth the honour and Orthodox Authority of these Articles or Assertions which were neuer yet impeached by any Orthodox English Diuine as different from oâ—â— 39. Articles or varying from the receiued Doctrines of our Church And therfore especially since the Articles of Ireland thus approue them we may safely embrace them as the vndoubted and anciently receiued Doctrines of our English Church Articles of Religion agreed vpon by the Archbishops and Bishops and the rest of the Cleargie of Ireland in the Conuocation holden at Dublin in the yeere of our Lord God 1615. 11 GOd from all eternitie did by his vnchangeable counsell ordaine whatsoeuer in time should come to passe Yet so as thereby no violence is offred to the wills of the reasonable creatures and neither the libertie nor the contingencie of the second causes is taken away but established rather 12 By the same eternall counsell God hath predestinated some vnto life and reprobated some vnto death of both which there is a certaine number knowen only to God which can neither be increased nor diminished 13 Predestination to life is the euerlasting purpose of God whereby before the foundations of the world were layed he hath constantly decreed in his secret counsell to deliuer from curse and damnation those whom he hath chosen in Christ out of mankinde and to bring them by Christ vnto euerlasting saluation as vessels made to honor 14 The cause mouing God to predestinate vnto life is not the foreseeing of faith or perseuerance or good workes or of any thing which is in the person predestinated but onely the good pleasure of God himselfe For all things being ordained for the manifestation of his glory and his glory being to appeare both in the works of his Mercy and of his Iustice It seemed good to his heauenly wisedomee to choose out a certaine number towards whom he would extend his vndeserued mercy leauing the rest to be spectacles of his iustice 15 Such as are predestinated vnto life be called according vnto Gods purpose his spirit
it is onely named in the English From this Recantation and the carriage of it it is cleerely euident That the Vniuersitie of Cambridge in those dayes did vndoubtedly beleeue and mainetaine the now Arminian Heresies of the finall and totall Apostasie of the Saints Of vncertainety of Saluation of Election from faith and Reprobation from sinne foreseene Of a personall not a reall difference betweene temporary and true sauing Faith the Points which Barret recanted to be not onely false and erronious but likewise manifestly repugnant to the Religion and Doctrine established and setled in the Church of England and to the 17. Article For so are the expresse words of the Order and Articles recorded in the Vniuersitie Register If they were thus euidently repugnant to them then I doubt not but they are so now at leastwise in all Cambridge mens repute who will not at leastwise should not so farre dishonor their renowned Mother as to degenerate from her ancient Orthodoxe and Dogmaticall Resolutions These are the more ancient publike Monuments and Euidences of our Church by which the subsequent Conclusions now in Issue must bee iudged The seuerall figures inserted into them and likewise placed in the Margent haue reference to the 7. Anti-Arminian Positions following the figure of 1 noting out such passages as punctually confirme the first the figure of 2 such clauses as euidently backe and proue the second of these Assertions and so euery figure successiuely answers to its proper Position If then all these Records which doe either Really containe or at leastwise euidently declare the ancient established and receiued Doctrine of the Church of England giue punctuall Euidence for these Conclusions oppugning the contrary Arminian Theses in terminis or substance as they doe this question will be then resolued and our succeeding Anti-Arminian Conclusions acknowledged the vndoubted Doctrines of our Church without any more debate Hauing thus at large recited the seuerall Grand-chartersâ— and more eminent Records and euidences which our Church affords for triall of this weightie cause I come now to apply them to the points in issue which I shall distinctely lay downe in this ensuing Antithesis Anti-Arminianisme THe Anti-Arminian orthodox Assertions now incontrouersie which I shall proue to be the ancient and vndoubted Doctrine of the Church of England contracte themselues into these 7. dogmaticall conclusions 1 That God from all eternity hath by his immutable purpose and Decree praedestinated vnto life not all but onely a selected number of particular men which can be neither augmented nor diminished commonly called the elect inuisible true Church of Christ others hath he eternally reprobated vnto death 2 That the only moâ—uing and efficient cause of Election and Praedestination vnto life is the meere good pleasure and grace of God not the coÌ„sideration of any â—ore-seene faith perseuerance good worâ—s good will good endeauours or any other quality or condition whatsoeuer in the persons elected 3 That though sinne be the only cause of damnation yet the sole and primarie cause of Reprobation or Non-election that is why God doth passe by this man rather then another why hee reiected Esau when he elected Iacob is the meere freewill and pleasure of God not the confideration or fore-sight of any actuall sin infidelity or finall impenitency in the persons reiected 4 That there is not any such Free-will or vniuersall or sufficient grace communicated vnto all men whereby they may repent beleeue or be saued if they wil themselues 5 That Christ Iesus died sufficiently for all men his death being of sufficient merit to redeeme saue them but primarily effectually for the Elect alone for whome alone hee hath actually and effectually obtained remission of sinnes and life aeternall 6 That the Elect doe alwayes constantly obey neither can they finally or totally resist the powerfull and effectuall call and working of Gods Spirit in the very act of their Conuersion neither is it in their owne power to conuert or not conuert themselues at that very time and instant when they are conuerted 7 That the Elect and truely regenerate who alone are iâ—â—ued with true iustifying and sauing faith doe constantly perseuere vnto the end and though they sometimes fall into grieuous sinnes yet they neuer fall finally nor totally from the habits seeds and state of grace Arminianisme THe whole erronious doctrine of Arminianisme which hath alwayes beene oppugned by the Church of England from the beginning of reformation to this present may be reduced to these 7. generall Propositions 1 That there is no absolute nor irreuocable but only a conditionaâ— and mutable Decree of Praedestination vnto life death and that not of particular persons but generally of all beleeuers and vnbeleeuers so that the number of the Elect and Reprobate is not so certaine but that it may be diminished or augmented 2 That the consideration and foresight of faith perseuerance good works and the right vse of grace receiued are praerequited conditions and efficient causes of Election or Praedestination vnto life not Gods free-grace and mercy onely without respect to these as to a cause 3 That the originall and proper cause of Reprobation that is of its Decree not of its execution is the consideration and foresight of infidelitie sin finall impenitency in the persons reiected not the meere Free-will and pleasure of God 4 That there is â—an vniuersal or sufficient grace deriued vpon all mâ—n since the fall of Adam by vertue of which they may repent beleeue and be saued if they will themselues 5 That Christ Iesus died alike primarily and effectually for all men whatsoeuer without any intent to saue any particular persons more then others be they reprobates or elect with a purpose to saue all men alike vpon condition of beleeuing which is suspended on their owne actuall power not on Christs actuall application of it to them by his Spirit 6 Thâ—t it is in the power of men either finally or totally to resist the inward call and effectuall working of Gods Spirit in their hearts in the very acte of their coÌ„uersion so that they may either withstand oâ— imbrace their conuersion at their pleasure 7 That true iustifying faith is neither a fruit of election nor yet proper vnto the Elect alone it being oft-times found in reprobates and that the very Elect by falling into sinne both may and doe fall finally and totally from the habits seeds and state of Grace These are the fundamentall and maine points of difference that are now in question and dispute among vs whether of these haue best right and title to the Church of England which of them are her anciently receiued approued established professed and vndoubted Doctrine is the onely issue that we are now to trie For the full and finall resolution of which grand yet doubtlesse Quaere I shall lay downe these three Conclusions which euery man must subscribe to First That
by any Spiritual or Ecclesiastical power or authority hath heretofore beene or may lawfully be exercised or vsed for the visitation of the Ecclesiasticall State and persons and for reformation order and correction of the same and of all manner of Haeresies Errors Scismes and Ecclesiasticall Abuses Offences and Enormities much more haue they Iurisdiction of these things themselues else they could not collate or transferre such Iurisdiction vnto others Is it then because the worthy iudicious members of our present Parliament want learning iudgement or sufficiencie to discerne of Spirituall Truthes to vnderstand the sense and meaning of our Articles which themselues long since confirmed to distinguish Popish and Arminian Errors from receiued from vndoubted Orthodox conclusions or because they are so barbarously illiterate or irreligiously ignorant as not to know the obuious professed established and long continued Doctrines of our Church which euery catechized Country Peasant or Schoole-boy can repeate Alas what English Spanish Romish spirit can be so impudently absurd so prodigiously intoxicated as thus to idioâ—ize yea quite vnchristen the Piety and all-sufficiencie of our selected Senate the most iudicious and supreame Counsell of our King and State Can any man who knowes their most accomplished abilities their dexterity and insight in Religion so much as once conceiue such a grosse stupidity or more then damnable and vnchristian ignorance in this very flower of our Church and Pillars of our State as that the proper sence of our receiued Articles or the long-continued plaine and oft-resolued Doctrines of our Church are yet kept sealed from them What is this but to brand them all for ignorants or to stitch the Colliers or Papists blinde implicite faith vpon them to beleeue onely as our Church beleeues and yet to know no distinct particular Tenents which she doth beleeue What but to aduance our Ecclesiasticall Commissioners aboue our Parliament in admitting them to bee competent and able Iudges of Haeresie Scisme and of the sence and meaning of our Articles when as the Parliament which confirmed them are not such and to denie that priuiledge of iudging Doctrines trying spirits prouing all things distinguishing the voyce of Christ and of his Spirit from the voyce of Strangers Theeues and false seducing Spirits to the prime and choysest of Christs Flocke which is common to inseparable from the very meanest of his Lambes and Sheepe If then Parliaments haue alwayes anciently intermedled with matters of Religion by a constant iust and Legall right If there bee now no sufficient disability either in the Members Iurisdiction Skill or requisite Abilities of our present Parliament to censure or examine the Violations of our established Articles and Religion or to settle protect define declare and ratifie the proper sense and meaning of our Articles and the vndoubted Doctrines of our Church I see no cause why any Clergy men vnlesse they are guilty of Sophisticating or betraying the Truthes and Doctrines of our Church and therefore feare the doome of Parliaments from which there is no euasion should quarrell or except against your pious progresse in matters of Religion which most of all concerne vs nor yet repine at Laicks as they do for writing in their iust defence This stumbling-blocke of Parlimentary Iurisdiction in causes of Religion which stickes and takes with many being thus in briefe remoued and your present Honourable proceedings in the examination of the innouations and violations of the ancient Religion and the resolued Doctrines of our Church absolued from the vniust exceptions of ignorant obnoxious or ill-affected Spirits who only censure and dislike them It may be here demanded what Doctrines what Religion are now to be established Surely no other but those Ancient Orthodox and Dogmaticall Conclusions which the Church of England since her Reformation hath alwaies constantly embraced ratified and defended as her owne but those especially which Popery and Arminianisme haue of late inuaded Yea but how may Parliaments infallibly discerne what Tenents are our Churches genuine Doctrines when as both sides lay equall claime and title to our Church Arminians now appealing to Her aswell as their Opposers For resolution to this Quaere I shall first of all take two things as vndoubted Theories First that the Church of England hath some certaine positiue particular established receiued yea resolued Doctrines which shee may truely call her owne in which all necessary Truthes especially such wherein the very marrow efficacy life and power of grace and all true Christian comfort doe subsist are actually euidently and fully comprehended Else it will ineuitably follow that as yet shee hath no sound Religion in her and is as yet no true no Christian Church Secondly that all these seuerall Doctrines are not onely cognoscible in themselues but likewise publikly indiuidually and distinctly known in our Church else all our Articles Preaching writing and Disputes together with the bloud shedde of our famous Martyrs and all Apologies for our Religion from the beginning of reformation to this present are in vaine and wee haue yet no other but an indefinite confused Religion an ambiguous implicit Popish Faith which in truth is no Religion no Faith at all and so our danger is our condemnation shall be greater then euer Sodomes or Gomorrahs were who neuer had such meanes such light as we These two irrefragable Conclusions being thus praemised This Quaere may be thus resolued The onely infallible way to determine to finde out the ancient the vndoubted Doctrines of our Church is to compare them with the Rules of triall The originall Touch-stone by which all Theologicall Conclusions must bee examined is the Scriptures and these together with the Ancient Fathers and approued Councels wee dare to challenge as our owne if the naked truth of our Assertions were the thing in Issue But our present inquirie being of a different nature to discouer the true Ancient Doctrines of our Church and distinguish them from pestilent vpstart Errors wee must heere proceed by other Triers euen the Articles Homilies Common Prayer Booke the publike Euidences Records and Declarations with the concurrent Testimony of all the learned Writers of our Church the onely Grand-Iury-men to try the best Euidences the sole Witnesses to proue the most impartiall and able Iudges to determine the Doctrines of our Church That which all these doe ioyntly cleerely fully vote confirme approue and testifie a Parliament may safely declare and ratifie to bee that which they all or most disclaime a Parliament may iustly censure not to bee the vndoubted and resolued Doctrine of our Church If then all these giue vp their ioynt and seuerall suffrages for our Anti-Arminian Conclusions If they all passe Sentence against their opposite Arminian Errors as this present Treatise will vndenably prooue them to haue done you may confidently declare resolue re-establish the one as being exile yea damne the other as not being the Ancient receiued and vndoubted Doctrine of our English Church And why should you now
particular sinnes are freely forgiuen him neither doeth it follow hereupon that that Petition of the Lords prayer to wit forgiue vs our Trespasses is needlesse for in that Petition we aske not onely the guist but also the increase of Faith Sixtly these words escaped me in my Sermon viz. As for those that are not saued I doe most strongly beleeue and doe freely protest that I am so perswaded against Caluin Peter Martyr and the rest that sinne is the true proper and first cause of Reprobation But now being better instructed I say that the Reprobation of the wicked is from Euerlasting and that that saying of Augustine to Simplician is most true viz. If sinne were the cause of Reprobation then no man should be elected because God doeth foreknow all men to bee deâ—iled with it And that I may speake freely I am of the samâ— mind and doe beleeue concerning the Doctrine of Election and Reprobation as the Church of England beleeueth and teacheth in the booke of the Articles of Faith in the Article of Predestination Last of all I vttered these words rashly against Caluin a man that hath very well deserued of the Church of God to wit that he durst presume to lift vp himselfe aboue the High and Almighty God By which words I confesse that I haue done great iniurie to that most learned and right godly man and I doe most humbly beseech you all to pardon this my rashnesse as also in that I haue vttered many bitter words against Peter Martyr Theodore Beza Ierome Zanchius Francis Iunius and the rest of the same Religion being the Lights and Ornaments of our Church calling them by the odious names of Caluinists and other slanderous termes branding them with a most grieuous marke of reproach whom because our Church doth worthyly reuerence it was not meet that I should take away their good name from them or any way impaire their credit or dâ—hort others of our Cuntrey-men from reading their most learned workes I am therefore very sorry and grieued for this most grieuous offence which I haue publikely giuen to this most famous Vniuersity which is the Temple of true Religion and sacred receptacle of Piety And I doe promise that by Gods helpe I will neuer hereafter offend in the like sort and I doe earnestly beseech you Right worshipfull and all others to whom I haue giuen this offence either in the former Articles or in any part of my said Sermon that you would of your courtesie pardon mee vpon this my repeâ—tance That the authoritie and consequence of this precedent Recantation may bee more fully manifested I will briefely relate both the occasion and the carriage of it One Maister Barret of Kayes Colledge Preaching a Concio ad Clerum in Saint Maries Church in Cambridge on the 29. day of Aprill 1595. made bold to vent these then Pelagian and Popish but now both Popish and Arminian Tenents which are here recanted which gaue such generall offence vnto all the Auditors that on the 5. of May next following about nine of the clocke in the fore-noone hee was conuented for the publishing of these Erronious Tenents and his reuiling of Caluin Beza Peter Martyr Luther Iunius Zanchius and others before all the Heads of the Vniuersitie of Cambridge to wit Master Doctor Some Doctor Duport Doctor Goade Doctor Tindall Doctor Whitaker Doctor Barwell Doctor Iegon Doctor Preston Maister Chaderton and Maister Clayton Thomas Smith the publique Notary of the Vniuersitie being there present who appointed him to appeare againe before them at three of the clocke in the afternoone at which time Dr. Duport being then Vicechanceller read openly certaine Articles containing the positions which Maister Barret had broached in his foresaid Sermon alleaging these his assertions to bee Erronious false and opposite to the Religion receiued and established in the Kingdome of England by publique and lawfull Authoritie to which Articles he required Maister Barret to giue an answere who confessed that he had published in his Sermon the-Positions comprised in the said Articles but with all denied them to be contrary to the Doctrine of the Church of England Whereupon the Vicechancellor and the forenamed heads entring into a mature deliberation and diligently weighing and examining these Positions because it did manifestly appeare that the said Positions Were false erronious and likewise manifestly repugnant to the Religion receiued and established in the Church of England adiudged and declared that the said Barret had incurred the penaltie of the 45. Statute of that Vniuersity De Concionibus and by vertue and tenor of that Statute they decreed and adiudged the said Barret to make a publike Recantation in such words and forme as should bee prescribed vnto him by the Vice-chancellor and the said Heads or any three or two of them or ese vpon his refusall to recant in this manner to be perpetually expelled both from his Colledge and the Vniuersitie binding him likewise in an assumpsit of forty pounds to appeare personally vpon two dayes warning before the said Vice-chancellor or his Deputy at what time and place they should require Afterwards this Barret was re-summoned before the Vice-chancellor Doctor Goade Dr Tindall Dr. Barwell and Doctor Preston his assistants who deliuered him this praecedent Recantation in writing admonishing and peremptorily enioyning him on Saturday following being the 10. of May immediatly after the Clerum ended to goe vp in person into the Pulpit of Saint Maries where hee had published these errors and there openly in the face of the Vniuersity to read and make this Recantation which he did accordingly Not long after this Palinodium Master Barret to shew that these positions are but a bridge to Popery departs the Vniuersitie and gets beyond Sea where he as Bertius and some other Arminians since haue done turnes a professed Papist After this he returned into England where he liues a Laymans life being still an open dangerous violent and most pernicious and seducing Papist as some men of credit in these very termes haue informed me who both know and will auerre him to be such a one This is the true Relation and carriage of this Recantation which I haue taken verbatim out of a Transcript of the Vniuersitie Register of Cambridge vnder the Registers owne hand wherein all the passages of it are entred and recorded for the benefit of posteritie For the recantation it selfe of which Thysius and others make some mention it was fairely Printed and Published in Queene Elizabeths dayes some Copies of it being yet extant in the very selfesame words and forme as here you see it And that none may suspect it to be forged or corrupted I haue a transcript of it in Latine taken out of an Originall Coppy vnder Master Barets owne hand which agrees verbatim with this English one onely in this they differ that our 17. Article is at large recited in the Latine Coppy in the ende of the 6. Section wheras as
Recantation of Barret The Concurrent consent of all our Godly Learned Eminent and most admired Martyrs Writers and Diuinity Professors from the beginning of reformation to this present The Resolution and iudgement of both our famous Vniuersities Oxford and Cambridge yea the ancient and modern Churches of Ireland Scotland and England with all their orthodox and learned members giuing testimony too and iudgement for the one but disintitelling disauowing and sentencing the other which can finde no full no punctuall Euidence no competent indifferent orthodox compleat or absolute but only branded censured and recanting Witnesses which cut the very nerues and heart-strings of their cause to giue them any colorable title to any seeming right or interest in our Church Which then of these irreconcilable incompliable Assertions are the ancient receiued established and resolued Doctrines of our Church be yee the Iudges Certainely that which hath no full no pregnant Euidences no legall or vnattainted Witnesses to iustify or cleare its right or claime that which was altogether vnknowne and neuer heard off in our Church till now of late that which is yet in Quaere in further search and discouery and so not yet beleeued by its owne best studied Aduocates the case of rotten Pelagian Arminianisme can neuer be that which hath all these fore alleaged Charters and testimonies to strengthen and confirme its right the case and happy condition of Anti-Arminianisme must of necessity be the true the genuine and vndoubted Doctrine of our Church Let vs therefore now at last without any further scrutinie of debate exile this spurious and cursed Arminianisme which hath lately drawne the very curse and wrath of God with sundry fatall iudgements on vs out of our Church and state let vs once more adiudge sinke it to the very depths of Hell to which it was of old condemned as a most pernicious turbulent discomfortable desperate blasphemous and grace-oppugning Heresie and since England I meane Pelagius a Brittaine and a Monke of Bangor was the first that bred it let her be now the first to ruine it As for our Anti-Arminian Conclusions the ancient hereditarie and vnquestionable Doctrines of the Church of England and the chiefest treasure ioy and comfort of our soules without which all other comforts and contentments are vnpleasant let vs lodge them in our hearts in throne them in our soules settle them in our iudgements claspe them in our affections and so perpetuate and establish them in our Church that all the pollices and powers of Hell all the stratagems and powder-plots of Rome all the combinations and complotments of forraigne Enemies or domestique Traytors for such are all those Iesuited and Popish factors who goe about to innouate Religion or to withdraw vs from the doctrines now established in the Church of England as these Tenents are may neuer be able to vnsettle or draw them into question any more These Anti-Arminian Tenents they are the very ioy of our hearts the life of our soules the foundation of our eternall blisse the onely Euidences and Assurances that we haue to intitle vs to saluation if these once faulter or proue false our ioy our spirituall comfort the very grace and glory of God and our saluation are indangered if we come once to lose but these the whole ioy the treasure comfort crowne and happinesse of all true Christians yea the whole frame and structure of Gods grace and the mysteries of our saluation are vtterly subuerted and brought quite to ruine And shall we then forgoe these truthes which are farre more neare and deare vnto vs then our dearest soules when we haue thus long thus constantly thus abundantly professed them These these are the orthodox and sweete dogmaticall Resolutions which our Martyrs blood haue sealed our first Reformers of Religion setled our Ancestors embraced our Articâ—es confirmed our Vniuersities professed our Church beleeued our Ministers subscribed our Protestant Kings and Queenes defended our Preachers published our Laity receiued our Parliament particularly voted owned and protected our Writers propagated and professedly maintained against all Hereticall oppugners whatsoeuer which they would neuer haue done had they beene meere curious scoole-points nicities or needlesse speculations onely as some repute them and we our selues long since acknowledged yea readily entertained as our owne vndoubted and professed Doctrines and shall we then disclaime or doubt them now These are those blessed gracious and tutelary Doctrines which haue thus long guarded and secured both our Church and State These are the Bulwarks which haue a long time kept out Popery and Romish tyranny from that haue preserned peace and vnity in our Church which now is almost ouer-runne with Popery and Arminianisme with sundry Errors and Diuisions since these haue fallen to decay and lost their credit with vs. These were the truthes that secured vs from the Spanish Armado in 88â— from the barbarous vnnaturall and infernall Powder-treason in 1605. the very memory of which should make al Papists Priests Iesuits with their bloudy Anti-Christian Religion which now creepes in vpon vs for euer execrable to all English hearts These were the procurers of our ancient glory and renown of our prosperity and welfare our victories and triumphs both by Sea and Land these made vs honorable wealthy happy and victorious for 60. yeeres and vpward and we had yet no doubt continued such had we not of late reuolted from them and giuen harbor to those Popish those pestileÌ„t Arminian errors which haue wasted both our Church and state and plunged them into such a gulfe of sundry miseries as is like to swallow them vp at once vnles the power of heauen proue their rescue and shall we then begin to waiue them or forsake them now These are the immortall seed which did beget vs at first these the sincere milke that nourished vs these the strong meat that must corroborate vs these the celestiall cordialls which must comfort vs in all our deiections these the Ancre which must secure and hold vs vp from sinking in the middest of all our troubles these the Armor that must shield vs in all our spirituall combates yea these are the Doctrines which must beget and perfect grace within vs which must conuert and saue our soules In these were wee and ours borne in these haue we liued and if we euer hope for any grace or glory peace or safety any present or future happinesse oâ— prosperity for our selues or our posterities after vs in these let vs and oures liue and dye FINIS Leo Epistolarum Decretaâ—â—â—um Epist. 75. cap. 1. Nullus vltra sinâ—tur impetâ—re quâ— non tamhumanis quam diuinis sâ—nt statuta decretis ne vere digni sint Dei munus amittere qui de veritate â—ipsiâ—s ausi fuerint dubitare Gentle Reader I shall desire thee to correct these few materiall Errataes which by the improuidence of the Printer and Corrector haue escaped the Presse