Article to be sound and Orthodox warranting no totall nor finall Apostasie from the state of Grace as Papists or Arminians would from thence collect but onely a lapse into some criminall or scandalous act of sinne which may and doth sometimes befall the very best and deerest of Gods Saints Since then these seuerall Orthodox members and learned Writers of our Church haue anciently and lately made this authentique Exposition of this Article which none but Papists or Arminians haue hitherto oppugned and since the Articles of Lambheth Artic. 5. together with the Articles of Ireland Artic. 38. which doubtlesse would neuer vary from the genuine and natiue meaning of this Article haue wel explaned and ratified it with these two termes yet neither finally nor totally I hope all English Protestants will subscribe to this Construction onely and reiect all others as spurious and vnsound ARTIC 17. PRedestination to life is the euerlasting purpose of God whereby before the foundations of the World were layd hee hath constantly decreed by his counsell secret to vs to deliuer from curse and damnation those whom hee hath chosen in Christ out of mankinde and to bring them by Christ to euerlasting saluation as vessells made to honour Wherefore they which be endued with so excellent a benefit of God be called according to Gods purpose by his Spirit working in due season they through grace obey the calling they bee iustified freely they bee made the Sonnes of God by adoption they bee made like the Image of his onely begotten Sonne Iesus Christ they walke religiously in good workes and at length by Gods mercy they attaine to euerlasting felicitie As the godly consideration of Predestination and our Election in Christ is full of sweet pleasant and vnspeakable comfort to godly persons and such as feele in themselues the working of the Spirit of Christ mortifying the workes of the flesh and their earthly members and drawing vp their minde to high and heauenly things aswell because it doth greatly establish and confirme their Faith of eternall Saluation to be enioyed through Christ as because it doth feruently kindle their Loue towards God So for curious and carnall persons lacking the Spirit of Christ to haue continually before their eyes the sentence of Gods Predestination is a most dangerous downefall whereby the Deuill doth thrust them either into desperation or into rechlesnesse of most vncleane liuing no lesse perillous then desperation c. From this Article solid and learned Doctor Whitakers in his Cygnea Cantio pag. 16. 17. Master Thomas Rogers in his authorized Analisis on the 17. Article commonly solde and bound vp together with the Articles Reuerend Bishop Carlton in his examination of Master Mountagues Appeale cap. 10. Edit 2. Pag. 99. Master Yates in his Ibis ad Caesarem Part. 1. cap. 1. 2. 3. part 2. cap. 1. Sect. 5. pag. 35. c. Master Henry Burton in his Answere to an Appeale pag. 28. 36. 37. 42. 44. 49. Master Francis Rouse in his Doctrine of King Iames. pag. 43. to 48. Master Wotton in his Dangerous Plot Discouered cap. 19. 20. pag. 126. 127. Together with Doctor Thysius in his Comment or Collation on the Articles of Lambheth Hardrouici 1613. c. who haue copiously analised and explained this 17. Article haue raised these Orthodoxe Anti-Arminian Conclusions which are directly grounded on and warranted by this Article as they there affirme 1 That there is a Predestination of certaine men vnto aeternall life and a praeterition or Reprobation of others vnto death 2 That this Praedestination both to life and death are from aeternity 3 That they are altogether immutable and vnchangeable 4 That not all men but certaine onely are Praedestinated to be saued 5 That these who are Praedestinated vnto Saluation can neuer perish nor yet fall finally or totally from the state of grace 6 That in Christ Iesus some are Elected to Saluation and not others not of any foresâ—ene â—aith or Works or Will or Merit in themselues but out of the meere good will and pleasure of God himselfe 7 That they who are Elected to Saluation are in their due time called according to Gods purpose both outwardly by the Word and inwardly by the Spirit which call they all obey and not resist 8 That the Predestinate are both freely iustified by Faith and sanctified by the holy Ghost heere and shall likewise be glorified in the life to come 9 That the consideration of Praedestination and its Doctrine is to the godly wise most comfortable anâ— ioyfull and dangerous to none but curious and carnall persons All which Conclusions are Diametrally repugnant to the now Arminian Tenents ARTIC 18. THey also are to bee had accursed that presume to say that euery man shall bee saued by the Lawe or Sect which he professeth so that hee bee diligent to frame his life according to that law and the light of nature For holy Scripture doth set out vnto vs onely the Name of Iesus Christ whereby men must be saued ARTIC 29. THe wicked and such as be voide of a liuely faith although they doe caâ—nally and visibly presse with their teeth as St. Augustine saith the Sacrament of the body and bloud of Christ yet in no wise are they partakers of Christ but rather to their condemnation doe eate and drinke the signe or Sacrament of so great a thing ARTIC 31. THe Offering of Christ once made is that perfect redemptionâ— proputation and satisfaction for all the sinnes of the whole World both originall and actuall and there is none other satisfaction for sinne but that alone The nine Assertions or Articles of Lambheth composed and agreed vpon at Lambheth-House on the 20. day of Nouember in the yeere of our Lord 1595. by Iohn Archbishop of Canterbury Richard Bishop of London Richard elect Bishop of Bangor Doctor Tyndall Deane of Elie Doctor Whitaker professor of Diuinitie in Cambridge and sundry other Reuerend and learned Diuines there present with the concurrent approbation of the right Reuerend and learned Prelate Mathew Archbishop of â—orkâ— for the determining of certaine Arminian points of Controuersie that then arose in the Vniuersitie of Cambridge 1 DEus ab Aeterno Praedestinauit quosdam ad vitam quosdam Reprobauit ad Mortem 1 GOD from Eternitie hath Praedestinated certaine men vnto Life certaine men he hath Reprobated vnto Death 2 Causa mouens aut efficiens Praedestinationis ad Vitam non est praeuisio Fidei aut perseuerantiae aut bonorum operum aut ullius rei quae insit in personis Praedestinatis sed sola voluntas beneplaciti Dei 2 The moouing or efficient cause of Predestination vnto Life is not the foresight of Faith or of perseuerance or of good-workes or of any thing that is in the persons Predestinated but onely the good will and pleasure of God 3 Praedestinatorum praefinitus certus est numerus qui nec augeri nec minui possit
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
of Cambridge section 6. where our 17. Article is likewise quoted for to warrant it Our learned godly Martyrs in the Regiment of King Henry the VIII haue suffraged to this Tenent witnesse Master VVilliam Tyndalls Parable of the Wicked Mammon page 80. Col. 2. Answere to Master Moores fourth Booke cap. 10. page 329. Master Iohn Frith A Mirrour to know thy selfe page 84. and learned Doctor Barnes That Freewill of her owne strenth can doe nothing else but sin page 270. 271. 274. 276. to 283. where this point is largely handled Our learned Diuinitie Professors in King Edwards dayes are full and copious in this point witnesse Peter Martyr in his Comment in Epist. ad Romanos cap. 9. Tiguri 1559. page 697. 718. and Locorum communiuns Classis 3. cap. 1. sect 15. 28. to 32. 36. being Lectures read in the Uniuersitie of Oxford by King Edwards appointment and earnestly desired by diuers of the Vniuersitie for the presse as himselfe records in his Epistle Dedicatorie together with Master Martin Bucer in his Commentarie on the selfesame Chapter ver 11 to 24. Whence eminent Doctor VVhitakers in his Cygnea Cantio pa. 15. informes vs That Peter Martyr and Martin Bucer of honourable memorie did professe this Doctrine of absolute and irrespâ—ctiue Reprobation in both our famous Vniuersities and that our Church which was most abundantly watered with the fountaines of these two eminent Diuines in the dayes of King Edward the VI â—â—d alwayes hold it since the restitution of the Ghospell to her This then was the receiued Doctrine of our Church in King Edwards dayes as our 17. Article which was then composed together with our Homelies forequoted will euince there being no approued Writer of our Church now extant that did oppugne it in that age and should we begin to doubt it now If any obiect that Master Iohn Bradford in his Summe of the Doctrine of Praedestination and Reprobation affirmes that our owne wilfulnesse sinne and contemning of Christ are the cause of Reprobation therefore this doctrine was not then so generally receiued I answere First that Master Bradfords explanation of himselfe in the subsequent liâ—es will take off this obiection For he informes vs that he speakes only of the second cause of Reprobation that is of the execution not of the Decree of Reprobation which is onely sinne not of the first cause of it the thing we haue now in quaestion which we cannot comprehend it being the vnsearchable will of God which we should not search into further then God doth giue vs leaue in his VVord Secondly that Master Bradford speakes this onely to silence Reprobates and damned men aduising them to looke first vpon their owne sinnes which bring damnation and Gods hatred on them not vpon Gods secret Decree of Reprobation which as it doth not impose a necessitie of sining vpon men so it neuer brings daâ—â—ation on them but for sinne M. Bradford then speaking only of the actuall execution of Reprobation not of the Decree it selfe of the secondary cause of it not of the first which is onely the vnsearcheable will of God makes wholy for our present Tenent not against it The selfe-same answere may be giuen to that of Bishop Hooper in his Epistle to the Christian Reader praefixed before his Declaration of the Commandements where he writes thus The cause of reiection or damnation is sinne in man which will neither receiue the promise of the Gospell c. Where reiection is put for the execution of Reprobation or actuall damnation as this disiunctiue or explanatorie coniunction or the cause of reiection or damnation and this marginall note The cause of damnation in man annexed to it due infalliblie demonstrate of which euery man doth readily acknowledge sinne to be the onely cause not for the Decree of Reprobation which hath no other primarie moouing or impulsiue cause but Gods meere will and pleasure these writers then make wholy for vs not against vs if rightly vnderstood This was the constant Tenent and resolution of our eminent Diuines in Queene Elizabeths dayes witnesse Iohn Veron his Fruitfull Treatise of Praedestination and the Apologie for the same where it is largely proued all obiections and cauils against it being there fully answered witnesse Master Iohn Fox his Martiriologe page 1506. line 50. Master Thomas Palfryman Treatise of heauenly Philosophy cap. 7. Master Iames Price his Fanne of the Faithfull cap. 1. 3. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. Master Iohn North-brooke his Poore mans Garden cap. 1. Master Arthur Gurney his Fruitfull Dialogue betweene Reason and Religion fol. 38. to 42. Master Anwicke his Meditations of Gods Monarchie and the Deuils Kingdome cap. 6. 7. Learned Doctor Fulke and Master Cartwright Answere to the Rhemish Testament Notes on Rom. 9. sect 2. 3. 5. Master Edward Deering on the Hebrewes Lecture 9. Reuerend and godly Bishop Babington Sermon at Pauls Crosse 1590. part 1. and learned Matthew Hutton Arch-Bishop of Yorke De Electione Reprobatione Commentatio together with Arch-Bishop Whitguift and all those learned Praelates Doctors and Diuines who composed the Assertions of Lambheth and Barrets Recantation Iudicious and solid Doctor VVhitakers in his Cygnea Cantio page 3. to 18. Master VVilliam Perkins his Treatise of the Order of causes of Election and Reprobation cap. 7. 50. 51. Tom. 1. page 16. 95. 114. his Exposition on the Creedâ— p. 277. to 299. and Treatise of Predestination Tom. 2. page 608. to 641. his Exposition on the Epistle of Iude ver 4. Tom. 3. page 516. 517. and Master Iohn Hills Life euerlasting lib. 5. p. 599. to 612. where this our praesent Assertion is punctually maintained Of learned King Iames himselfe Meditation on the Lords Prayer and Conference at Hamptâ—n Court page 30. 43. Of Doctor Robert Abbot late Bishop of Salisbury and Diuinity Professor in Oxford Oratio quarta De Veritate gratiae Christi October 1615. sect 6. Of Doctor Iohn VVhites Way to the Church Digression 41. sect 44. 45. 49. and Defence of the way cap. 25. sect 10. to the end where this point is learnedly handled Of Doctor Francis VVhite now Bishop of Norwitch in his Orthodox cap. 8. paragraph 1. 2. Of Doctor Crackenthorpe in his Sermon of Praedestination Of Doctor VVillet in his Commentary on Romans 8. Controuersie 16. cap. 9. Controuersie 7. 9. 10. 11. and Synosis Papismi page 881. 882. 913. 920. Of Doctor Field Of the Church-Booke 1. cap. 4. Of Doctor Ames Coronis ad Collationem Hagiensem Articulus 1. and 2. Of Doctor Benefield De Perseuerantia Sanctorum lib. 2. cap. 18. 20. Of Doctor Prideaux De Absolut Decreto Lectura 1. Of Master Thomas VVilson Exposition on Romans cap. 9. v. 11. 12. to 27. and cap. 11. ver 7. Of Master Thomas Rogers Analysis on the 17. Article Proposition 4. and 5. Of master Samuel Crooke in his Guide â—ect 4. and 9 Of Master Elnathan Parre Groâ—â—ds of Diuiniâ—â— page 211. to 309. Of Master Paule â—ayne Commentarie
on Ephesians 1. page 20. 118. Of Master Thomas Dâ—axe in hiâ— Worlds Resurrection page 3. 78. Of Master Downame in his Summe of Diuinitie Booke 〈◊〉 cap. 1. page 283. to 311. Of Master Christopher Sybthorpâ— his Friendly Admonition to the praetended Catholikes of Ireland cap. 7. 8. where this point is excellently handled Of Doctor Griffith VVillams his delights of the Saints page 7. 8. 9. 92. 93. Of Master Humfrey Sydenham in his Iacob and Esau or Election and Reprobationâ— preached at Pauls Crosse and of our eminent Dort Diuines Synod of Dort Article 1. and 2. in the dayes of our late King Iames. Of Doctor William Sclater his Exposition vpon the first Epistle to the Thessalonians cap. 5. ver 9. 10. page 447. 448. on Epistle 2. cap. 1. ver 11. page 68. 69. cap. 2. ver 13. page 183. Of Master Henry Scudder in his Christians daily Walke cap. 15. sect 3. page 432. to 438. Of Doctor Iohn Bastwicke Elenchus Religionis Papisticae cap. 9. page 194. to 198. Of Reuerend Bishop Carlton Examination of Master Mountagues Appeale cap. 2. 3. Of Master Henry Burton his Plea to an Appeale page 46. to 65. and his Truth triumphing ouer Trent cap. 17. Of Bishop Dauenate Expositio in Epist. Pauli ad Coloss. page 171. Of Master Francis Rouse his Doctrine of King Iames. p. 1. to 20 Of Doctor Ward in his Concio ad Clerum page 37. 38. Of Master Iohn Yates Ihis ad Caesarem cap. 1. 2. 7. In the Raigne of our now Soueraigne King Charles All these I say doe fully suffragate to this our third Anti-Arminian Conclusion not one authorized or approued writer of our Church that euer I could meete with so much as once oppugning or contradicting any of them therefore wee may embrace it as the vndoubted truth and doctrine of our Church Hee that desires to see more of this point let him reflect vpon all the Bookes and Authors fore-quoted in the first and second praecedent Positions which will plentifully instruct and satisfie him in it For the fourth of the recited Anti-Arminian dogmaticall Propositions against Vniuersall and sufficient grace or in plaine tearines against naturall Free-will it selfe for this praeâ—ented grace in truth and substance is no other since grace is proper and peculiar vnto some and nature onely alike indifferent common vnto all men as this vniuersall grace is It is directly iustified and backed by our 9. 10. 13. 17. Articles by the expresse words of the 7. 8. and 9. Articles of Lambheth by the 15. 25. 26. and 32. Articles of Ireland by our Common Prayer Booke passages here recited p. 18. 19. 20. Position 2. which are full and punctuall to this purpose by our fore-registred Homelies and Cathechismes figures 4 By the Synod of Dort Article 3. 4. Adde wee to these Master William Tyndal Prologue on Numbers page 16. Prologue on the Romans p. 41. Parable of the wicked Mammon page 65. 70. 74. 90. The Obedience of a Christian man page 162. An Answere to Master Moores third Booke page 306. Answere to his fourth Booke cap. 2. page 321. cap. 10. page 328. 329. 337. A Pathway into the holy Scriptures page 380. 381. 382. 384. Exposition on the first Epistle of Iohn cap. 2. page 401. cap. 4. page 416. 417. Master Iohn Prith A Mirror to know thy selfe page 83. 84. 45. Doctor Barnes That Free-will of her owne strength can doe nothing but sinne page 266. to 280. Master Iohn Harrison Yet a cause at the Romish Fox fol. 61. 62. 63. In King Henry the VIII his Raigne Stephen Garret The summe of the Scripture cap. 7. Printed 1547. Peter Martyr Loci Communes Classis 3. cap. 1. sect 29. 38. to 48. Commentarius in Romanos 5. p. 323. 328. 329. 330. in cap. 9. page 720. to 730. in cap. 11. page 797. 965. 966. Martin Bâ—â—er Commentarie vpon Iohn 5. ver 44. On Rom. 5. the latter end of the Chapter and on Rom. 9. Master Hugh Latimer Bishop of Worcester Sermon 3. on the Lords Prayer fol. 134. b. Master Iohn Bradford Treatise of Election and Free-will Bishop Hooper a Martyr Epistle to the Reader before his Declaration of the tenne Commandements which place makes wholy for vs if rightly vnderstood Master Beacon his sicke mans salue page 290. Master Richard Caundish his Image of Nature and Grace cap. 1. 5. 8. 10. where this point is largely handled Master Nowels Catechisme on the Creed part 1. Master Iohn Veron his Fruitfull Treatise of Praedestination fol. 66. to 85. 110. 111. 112. his Apologie for the same fol. 25. to the end Master Thomas Palfryman Treatise of heauenly Philosophie cap. 7. 8. Master Iames Price his Fanne of the Faithfull Epistle to the Reader and cap. 1. 3. Master Edward Deering on the Hebrewes Lecture 10. 14. Master Robert Hutton his Summe of Diuinitie of Free-will Master Iohn North-brooke his Poore mans Garden cap. 1. 4. 5. 6. Doctor Sparkes against Albines cap. 17. page 165. and his Comfortable Treatise for a troubled Conscience the 4. first leaues Bartimeus Andreas Sermon 2. on the Canticles page 64. to 70. Master Iohn Daniel his Excellent comfort to all Christians cap. 2. 3. 4. 5. 7. Master Iohn Anwicke his Meditations vpon Gods Monarchie and the Deuils Kingdome cap. 6. 7. 10. 11. Master Arthur Gurney his fruitfull Dialogue betweene Reason and Religion fol. 13. to 45. Learned Doctor William Whitakers Aduersus Vniuersalis Gratia assertores praelectio habitae Februarij 27. Anno Domini 1594. câ—ram honoratissimis Comitibus Essexio Salopiensi Rutlandiensi illustrissimis Baronibus DD. Montioy Burrowes Compton Sheafield Riche ornatissimis Equitibus Guil. Bowes Carolus Candish Robertus Sydney Georgio Sauil multos generosos on 2. Tim. 2. 4. Hardouicâ— per Thysium 1613. Reuetend Bishop Babingtons Sermon at Pauls Crosse 1591. on Iohn 6. 37. part 1. Doctor Fulke and Master Cartwright Answere to the Rhemish Testament Notes on 1. Tim. 2. sect 3. on Rom. 7. sect 7. 8. on Rom. 9. sect 3. 7. and sundrie other places Doctor Fulkes Defence of the English Translations against Martin cap. 10. Mathew Hutton Arch-Bishop of Yorke De Electione Reprobatione Commentatio Doctor Some Tractatus de Tribus Quaestionibus Quaest. 1. 2. Master Greenham his 14. Sermon page 355. Godly Instructions cap. 50. sect 16. page 757. Master William Burton his Dauids Euidence Sermon 4. on Psal. 4. 12. London 1596. page 83. to 88. Master Iohn Smith his Doctrine of generall prayer for all men Master William Perkins Of the Order of causes of saluation and damnation cap. 54. Tom. 1. page 107. 112. An Exposition on the Creed page 293. to 299. Of Gods Free grace and mans Free-will page 728. to 743. Babylon the praesent Church of Rome point 1. page 558. to 561. Commentarie on Galathians 3. Tom. 2. page 249. 250. cap. 5. page 327. 338. A Treatise of Praedestination page 621. to 642. Exposition of Christs Sermon on the Mount Tom. 3.
will giue according to his purpose and promise that which we require Qu. Doe the Children of God feele the motions aforesaid alwayes alike Ans. No truely for God sometime to prooue his seemeth to leaue them in such sort that the flesh ouermatcheth the Spirit whereof ariseth trouble of conscience for the time yet the spirit of adoption is neuer taken from them that haue once receiued it else might they perish But as in many diseases of the body the powers of the bodily life are letted So in some assaults the motions of spirituall life are not perceiued because they lie hidden in our manifold infirmities as the fire couered with ashes Yet as after sickenesse commeth health and after cloudes the Sunne shiâ—eth cleare so the powers of spirituall life will more or lesse be felt and percieued in the children of God Qu. What if I neuer feele these motions in my selfe shall I despaire and thinke my selfe a castaway An. God forbid for God calleth his at what time he seeth good and the instruments whereby he vsually calleth haue not the like effect at all times yet is it not good to neglect the meanes whereby God hath determined to worke the Saluation of his For as waxe is not melted without heate nor clay hardened but by meanes thereof so God vseth meanes both to draw those vnto himselfe whom he hath appointed vnto Saluation and also to bewray the wickednesse of them whom hee iustly condemneth Qu. By what meanes vseth God to draw men to himselfe that they may be saued Ans. By the preaching of his word and the ministring of his Sacraments thereunto annexed c. These Questions and Answers concerning Predestination which are full and punctuall to our purpose were alwayes Printed at the ende of the olde Testament and bound vp and sold Cum Priuilegio with this Authorized Translation of the Bible till the yeare 1614. since which no Bibles of this sort were printed Wee may therefore vse it as a pregnant testimony and punctuall declaration of the Doctrine of our Church in the particular points of Controuersie hereafter mentioned The Synod of Dort held in the yeares of our Lord 1618. 1619. at Dort in the Netherlands I meane not to recite the seuerall Articles and Conclusions of this late famous Synod conuented by the pious care and prouidence of our late Soueraigne King Iames at which the eminentest Protestant Diuines of most Reformed Churches were assembled and among the rest siue selected English Diuines to wit Dr. Carlton late Bishop of Chichester Dr. Dauenat now Bishop of Salisbury Dr. Belcanquell Deane of Rochester Dr. Samuel Ward publike Diuinity Professor in the Vniversity of Cambridge and Doctor Thomas Goade who not onely as Priuate men but as representatiue persons of the Church of England subscribed the seuerall Articles and Conclusions there resolued witnesse Theologorum magnae Britanniae Sententia in the Acts of the Synod at large The little English Synod of Dort and Dr. Ward his Suffragium Britannorum to which I shall referre you with a bare quotation they being obuious to mens hands and tedious to transcribe A COPPYE OF A RECANTATION OF certaine Errors raked out of the dunghill of Poperie and Pelagianisme publiquely made by Master Barret of Kayes Colledge in Cambridge the tenth day of May in this present yeere of our Lord 1595. in the Vniuersitie Church called Saint Maries in Cambridge which Errors he together with Maister Haâ—rsnet of Penbrooke Hall did rashly hold and maintaine Translated â—ut of Latine into English Anno. 37. Elizabeth PReaching in Latine not long since in the Vniuersitie Church Right Worshipfull many things slipped from me both falsely and rashly spoken whereby I vnderstand the mindes of many haue beene grieued to the end therfore that I may satisfie the Church and the Truth which I haue publiquely hurt I doe make this publique Confession both repeating and reuoking my Errors First I said that no man in this transitorie World is so strongly vnderpropped at least by the certainetie of Faith that is vnlesse as I afterwards expounded it by Reuelation that hee ought to bee assured of his owne Saluation But now I protest before God and acknowledge in my Conscience that they which are iustified by Faith haue peace towards God that is haue reconciliation with God and doe stand in that Grace by Faith therefore that they ought to bee certaine and assured of their owne Saluation euen by the certaintie of Faith it selfe Secondly I affirmed that the Faith of Peter could not faile but that other mens Faith may for as I then said our Lord prayed not for the Faith of euery particular man But now being of a better and more sound Iudgement according to that which Christ teacheth in plaine words Iohn 17. 20. I pray not for these alone that is the Apostles but for them also which shall beleeue in me through their word I acknowledge that Christ did pray for the Faith of euery particular Beleeuer and that by the vertue of that Prayer of Christ euery true Beleeuer is so staied vp that his Faith cannot faile Thirdly touching perseuerance vnto the end I said that that certainetie concerning the time to come is proude forasmuch as it is in his owne nature contingent of what kind the perseuerance of euery man is neither did I affirme it to bee proud onely but to bee most wicked But now I freely protest that the true and iustifying Faith whereby the Faithfull are most neerely vnited vnto Christ is so firme as also for the time to come so certaine that it can neuer bee rooted vp out of the mindes of the Faithfull by any tentations of the Flesh the World or the Diuell himselfe So that hee which once hath this Faith shall euer haue it for by the benefit of that iustifying Faith Christ dwelleth in vs and wee in Christ therefore it cannot but be both increased Christ growing in vs daily as also preseuere vnto the end because God doeth giue constancy Fourthly I affirmed that there was no distinction in Faith but in the persons beleeuing In which I confesse that I did Erre Now I freely acknowledge that temporary Faith which as Bernard witnesseth is therefore fained because it is temporary is distinguished and differeth from that sauing Faith whereby sinners apprehending Christ are iustified before God for euer not in measure and degrees but in the very thing it selfe Moreouer I adde that Iames doth make mention of a dead Faith and Paul of a Faith that worketh by loue Fiftly I added that forgiuenesse of sinnes is an Article of Faith but not particular neither belonging to this man nor to that man that is as I expounded it that no true Faithfull man either can or ought certainely to beleeue that his sinnes are forgiuen But now I am of another minde and doe freely confesse that euery true Faithfull man is bound by this Article of Faith to wit I beleeue the forgiuenesse of sinnes certainely to beleeue that his owne
their accomplishment The wheeles in a clocke the spheeres in heauen the water and the mill haue contrary motions yet they concur and sweetly accord in the same effect without any contrariety The strings of an Instrument voyces in a Quire haue different sounds yet they make vp one pleasant and harmonious consort the stones in a building the roomes in an house the members of a haeterogenious body are discrepant and various in themselues yet they all accord meete in one intiretie So the secret and reuealed will of God if wee sunder or disioine them may seeme to iarre and contradict themselues but if wee consider the one as subordinate to the other and so linke them both together we shall find them sweetly clasping and kissing each the other without the least dissent the one of them effecting and fulfilling the designes and purposes of the other without any clash or iarre which answers those Arminian cauâ—ls to the full which say we set Gods wills at variance by our doctrines And thus much for our fist Conclusion The sixt of our praecedent Anti-Arminian Tenents ' touching the totall and finall resistance of Gods grace in the Elect in the very Act of their Conuersion is fully ratified and confirmed by our 10. and 17. Articles by the 8. Article of Lambheth by the 13. 14. 15. 16. 32. and 33. Articles of Ireland by the Booke of Common prayer Position 1. and 2. by the Homelies the Chatechisme of Edward the 6. with the Questions and Answers of Praedestination Figures 6 and the Synod of Dort Article 3. 4. The particular and punctuall witnesses of this truth now follow to wit Master William Tindall Prologue on the Romans page 48. Col. 2. 8. 0. Col. 2. Preface to the obedience of a Christian man page 99. An Answer to Master Moores Dialogue page 259. 260. 266. A path-way into the holy Scriptures page 382. Prologue to the Exposition of the first Epistle of Saint Iohn page 389. An Exposition on the 6. of Iohn page 460. Master Iohn Frith A Declaration of Baptisme page 90. Doctor Barnes That Freewill of her owne strength can doe nothing but sinne page 283. 274. 276. Master Robert Legat in his Chatechisme betweene Man and Wife what the holy Catholicke Church is and betweene truth and the vnlearned man Wesel 1545. in the dayes of King Henry the 8. Learned Peter Martyr Commentary in Romans cap. 5. page 327. 328. cap. 9. p. 690. 694. 728. 729. 732. 733. Master Martyn Bucer Commentary on Math. 23. 37. on Iohn 6. 37. 44. on Romans 8. 30. and on cap. 4. 5. 6. Master Iohn Bradford his Doctrine of Praedestination Master Thomas Beacon his Sicke mans salue page 426. in King Edwards Raigne Master Iohn Veron his Treatise of Praedestination and Apologie for the same Master Thomas Palfryman Treatise of heauenly Philosophie cap. 7. 8. Master Iames Price his Fanne of the Faithfull cap. 12. Master Edward Deering on the Heb. Lect. 9. 10. 14. Master Anthony Anderson Sermon of sure comfort p. 23. to 27. Master Thomas Sparkes Comfortable Treatise for a troubled conscience the 4. first leaues Bartimeus Andreas Sermon 2. on the Canticles p. 64. to 70. Master Iohn Daniel his excellent comfort to all Christians cap. 4. 5. 7. Master Iohn Anwicke Meditations on Gods Monarchie and the Deuils Kingdome cap. 6. 7. 10. 11. Master William Burton Sermon of the Churches loue Master Arthur Gurney his fruitfull Dialogue betweene Reason and Religion page 45. Bishop Babington Exposition on the Lords prayer Petition 6. page 194. 195. Sermon at Pauls Crosse on Iohn 6. 37. part 1. and 2. Mathew Hutton Arch-Bishop of Yorke De Electione Reprobatione Commentatio p. 22. 23. 24. 36. Doctor Fulke and Master Cartwright Notes on Rom. 8. sect 8. Master William Perkins of Gods grace and mans freewill Tom. 1. page 720. c. Commentary on Galathians 1. Tom. 2. p. 178. 179. and on cap. 6. page 374. Master Iohn Hell his Life euerlasting Booke 3. Quaest. 9. p. 273. to 277. in Queene Elizabeths Annals Doctor Reinolds Apologia Thesium sect 13. 14. 15. Doctor Willet Comment on Romans 8. Controuersie 18. and on cap. 9. ver 19. 20. Reuerend Doctor Robert Abbot Bishop of Salisbury De veritate Gratiae Christi Oratio 2. Iulij 8. 1615. sect 2. Learned Doctor Thomas Morton Bishop of Couentry and Litchfield his Protestants Appeale Londini 1610. lib. 2. cap. 10. sect 4. 5. 10. 11. where he proues this to be the Doctrine not onely of Protestants but of the Learnedest Papists Doctor Field of the Church Appendix to the 3. booke cap. 10. of Freewill Doctor Iohn White Way to the Church Digression 41. 42. Defence of the Way cap. 25. sect 21. 22. Master Thomas Rogers Analysis on the 17. Article Proposition 6. 7. Master Heiron The Backward parts of Iehouah Sermon 2. p. 173. Doctor Ames Coronis ad Collationem Hagiensem Artic. 3. where this point is well discussed and excellently proued Doctor Priâ—eaux De Conuersionis modo Lectura 4. Master Paul Bayne Commentary on Ephesians 1. 19. p. 352. to 371. where this point is pithily proued Master Elton on Rom. 8. v. 30. Master Thomas Wilson Exposition on Rom. 8. ve 30. on Rom. 9. ver 19. 20. Doctor Crakenthorpe Sermon Predestination Doctor Boyes Postil on Saint Stephens day page 304. on the Epistle on Simon and Iudes day page 767. Sir Christopher Sybthorpe his Friendly admonition to the praetended Catholickes of Ireland cap. 8. Master Samuel Crooke his Guide sect 18. Master Iohn Downame Summe of Diuinity lib. 2. cap. 1. Incomparable and learned Doctor Visher Arch-bishop of Ardmagh Answer to the Iesuites challenge Of Freewill page 464. c. Master Humphsrey Sydenhaâ— in his Iacob and Esau with all our eminent Dort Deuines in the raigne of famous King Iames. Reuerend Bishop Carlton Examination of Master Mountagues Appeale cap. 3. 9. 14. Learned Doctor Dauenate Bishop of Salisbury Expositio in Epist. Pauli ad Colossenses c. 1. ver 12. p. 78. ver 28. p. 182. Doctor Sclater Exposition on the 1. Epistle of the Thessalonians cap. 4. v. 9. p. 300. 301â— cap. 5. v. 9. 10. p. 437. to 454. on Epistle 2. c. 1. ver 13. p. 180. 187. 188. v. 14. p. 199. Doctor Ward Suffragium Brittanorum Artic. 3. 4. and Conciâ— ad Clerum 1625. where this point is solidly proued Doctor Goade and Doctor Featly in their Pelagius Rediuiuus and Doctor Featly his second Parallel of Freewill p. 14. to 21. where this position is featly handled Master Rouse his Doctrine of King Iames. p. 25. to 48. Master Wotton his Dangerous Plot discouered cap. 7. 8. Master Williams Pemble his Vindiciae Gratiae p. 140. to 157. where this controuersie is neatly discided Master Yates his Ibis ad Caesarem part 2. cap. 7. p. 157. to 168. M. Henry Burton his Plea to an Appeale p. 63. to 77. Truth triumphing ouer Trent c. 17. M. Weemse his Portraiture of the image of God in
And he changeth the times and seasons hee remoueth Kings and setteth vp Kings c. cap. 4. 34. 35. And I blessed the most High and praysed him that liueth for euer whose dominion is an euerlasting dominion and his Kingdome is from generation to generation And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing and he doth according to his will in the armie of Heauen and among the Inhabitants of the earth and none can stay his hand or say vnto him what dost thou cap. 5. 23. The God in whose hand thy breath is and whose are all thy wayes hast thou not glorified Acts 5. 38. 39. But if this counsell be of God yee cannot ouerthrow it least happily yee be found euen to fight against God cap 6. 10. And they were not able to resist the wisedome and the spirit by which he spake cap. 11. 17. For as much then as God gaue them the like gift as he did vnto vs who beleeued on the Lord Iesus Christ who was I that I could withstand God Ioh. 5. 21. For as the father raiseth vp the dead quickneth them euen so the Sonne quickneth whom he will Iohn 6. 37. 44. All that the Father giueth me shall come vnto me No man can come vnto me except my Father who hath sent me draw him Rom. 8. 28. 30. To them that are called according to his purpose Moreouer whom he did praedestinate them he also called whom he called them he iustified whom he iustified them he glorified cap. 9. 19. 20. 21. Thou wilt say then vnto me why doth he yet complaine for who hath resisted his will Nay but O Man who art thou that disputest against God shall the thing formed say to him that formed it why hast thou made me thus hath not the Potter power ouer the clay of the same lumpe to make one Vessell to honour and an other to dishonour c. cap. 11. 7. 36. The election hath obtained it and the rest were blinded For of him and for him and to him are all things 2. Tim. 1. 9. who hath saued vs and called vs with an holy calling according to his owne purpose and grace which was giuen vs in Christ Iesus before the world began 2. Cor. 10. 4. 5. For the weapons of our warfare are mighty through God to the pulling downe of strong holds casting downe Imaginations and euery high thing that exalteth it selfe against the knowledge of God and bringeth into captiuity euery thought to the obedience of Christ. 1. Cor. 10. 22. Doe we prouoke the Lord to iealousie are we stronger then he Phil. 3. 21. Who shall change our vile body that it may be fashioned like vnto his glorious body according to the working whereby he is able euen to subdue all things to himselfe He that shall vnfainedly meditate on all these seuerall texts of Scripture together with Ephe. 1. 19. 20. That you may know what is the exceeding greatnesse of his power to vsward who beleeue according to the working of his mighty power which he wrought in Christ when he raised him from the dead and set him at his owne right hand in the heauenly places cap. 2. 1. 5. 6. And you hath hee quickned who were dead in trespasses and sinnes and hath raised vs vp together and made vs to sit together in heauenly places with Christ. Iohn 5. 25. Verily verily I say vnto you that the houre is comming and now is that the dead shall heare the voyce of the Sonne of God and they that heare it shall liue Rom. 4. 17. God who quickneth the dead and calleth those things that be not as though they were Phil. 2. 13. It is God that worketh in you both the will and the deed of his good pleasure can neuer once conceit that any of the Elect can either finally or totally resist the inward regenerating and renewing grace of Gods spirit in the worke and Act of their conuersion in which they are meerely passiue The conuersion of a soule to God is a new creation it is wrought not by bare alluring obiects or reasons praesented to the vnderstanding as Arminians dreame but by the Almighty power of God by the selfe same power that raised Christ Iesus from the dead by the effectuall and mighty power of the holy Ghost and by the soueraigne power and authority of Christ himselfe and can any elected persons heart be found so stupendiously obdurate as to withstand the whole shocke and power of the Trinity when they come with a resolution to conuert and change it not to force it Certainely that God who made the hearts and wils of men at first can change them at his pleasuro that blessed Sauiour of ours who hath power ouer all flesh to rule and order them at his will who when he was here on earth had so much soueraignty and Diuinity in him as to raise the dead to heale the sicke the blind and lame to allay the raging stormes the waues and windes at pleasure to command the very Deuils yea legions of Deuils with authority and power and to eiect and dispossesse them by his meere command he that can controll the very world it selfe and all the creatures both in Heauen Earth or Hell can easily conuert and turne the hearts of all his children in a moment as he hath done alwayes hitherto there being not one of the Elect that did euer yet withstand his inward call without any difficulty or resistance If any obiect that of Acts 7. 51. Yee stifnecked and of vncircumcised hearts and eares you haue alwayes resisted the holy Ghost with that of Mat. 23. 37. How often would I haue gathered thy children as the Hen gathereth her chicken vnder her winges and ye would not which â—eeme for to oppugne this Conclusion To the first of these I answer First that this text speaks onely of the reprobate and stiffenecked Iewes of vncircumcised hearts and eares who cannot but resist the externall profers of Gods grace not of the elect and chosen of God among the Iewes three thousand of which were conuerted at one Sermon Secondly the spirit which these Iewes did here resist was the spirit of prophesie not of regeneration it was the word of the holy Ghost vttered by those prophets which they slew and stoned ver 52. which sounded onely in their eares not the renuing and regenerating operation of Gods spirit which wrought effectually in their hearts Thirdly this was onely an externall resistance of the holy Ghost in others not an intrinsecall opposition of him or of his operations in themselues therefore it s nothing to the point in quaestion To the second I answer First that Christ here speaks only of a gathering of them by the externall ministry of his Prophets and messengers which they stoned as the former part of the verse O Hierusalem Hierusalem thou that killest the Prophets and stonest them that are