A TREATISE OF IVSTIFICATION BY GEORGE DOVVNAME DOCTOR OF DIVINITY and Bishop of Dery IEREMIAH 23. 5 6. I will raise unto David a righteous branch and this is his name wherby he shall be called Iehovah our righteousnesse 2 CORINTH 5. 21. Him that knew no sinne God made sinne for us that we might become the righteousnesse of God in him LONDON Printed by Felix Kyngston for Nicolas Bourne and are to be sold at his shop at the South Entrance of the Royall Exchange 1633. REVERENDISSIMO IN CHRISTO PATRI AC DOMINO D. GEORGIO ABBATO ARCHIEPISCOPO Cantuariensi dignissimo totius Angliae Primati ac Metropolitae amplissimo GEORGIVS DOVNAMVS EPISCOPVS DERENSIS HOC QVICQVID EST VOLVMINIS DE JVSTIFICATIONE Peccatoris ceu grati Animi 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 summaeque observantiae amoris 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 dicat consecratque A Preface concerning the Apostasie of the now Church of Rome THis ensuing Treatise as it cleareth the Doctrine of the Gospell in that high point concerning our title to the Kingdome of Heaven so it helpeth to discover the Apostasie of the now Church of Rome from the faith For though the Papists doe vaunt that their Church meaning especially the See of Rome is so farre from falling away from the faith that it cannot fall into errours in matters of faith yet they cannot deny but that in the latter times and namely in the time of Antichrist there should be a great defection from the faith and as it were a Catholike Apostasie whereof Antichrist was to bee the head Of this Apostasie the holy Ghost hath prophesied in divers places of the Scriptures as 1 Tim. 4. 1. 2 Thess. 2. 3. Mat. 24. 24. Apoc. 13. 12 14 15 16. And hath also set downe the notes and markes whereby they may bee knowne who make this Apostasie from the faith As 1. to forbid marriage 2 To command abstinence from meates both of them for religion and conscience sake 3 Idolatry for that is by spirituall fornication to fall from God Psal. 73. 27. Hos. 1. 2. 9. 1. which by the Septuagint is thus expressed Hos. 4. 12. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 4. Ostentation of miracles the proper badge of the Antichristian Apostasie in these latter times 2 Thess. 2. 9. Mar. 24. 24. Apoc. 13. 14. All which notes I have proved in my Latine Treatise of Antichrist properly to agree to the now Church of Rome the forbidding of marriage and commanding abstinence from meates part 1. lib. 3. cap. 2. 3. Idolatry ibid. cap. 3. § 5. Miracles lib. 6. cap. 1. § 5. whereby it is evident that the new Church of Rome hath made this Apostasie Now let us consider in what respects the Church of Rome is revolted from the faith By faith in this question we understand not the habit or grace of faith but the Doctrine of faith Non id quo creditur not that by which we beleeve sed illud quod creditur buâ—… that which we doe beleeve In which sense the word faith is often used both in the Scriptures and also in the monuments of Ecclesiasticall writers Now the Doctrine of faith is either generall or speciall The generall are the whole canonicall Scriptures or the written Word of God in generall which is objectum fidei adaequatum the even object the rule and foundation of faith so that whatsoever doctrine is contained in the Scriptures either expressely or by necessary consequence is to bee received as a doctrine of faith and whatsoever is not so contained in the Scriptures is not dogma fidei From the holy Scriptures which God hath propounded to be the only rule of faith they are revolted unto the doctrines devices of men by changing the rule of faith which they have done divers wayes For first whereas the rule the foundation and chiefe principle of faith whereinto it is last resolved is the authority of God speaking in the holy Scriptures they have set up another rule which is the authority of the Romane Church and therein of the Pope which they make the superiour rule from which the authority of the Scriptures themselves dependeth and into which their faith is last resolved For the Pope is as they say virtually the Church and what they say in this kinde to magnifie the authority of the Church is specially to bee under stood of the Pope who onely for sooth hath an infallible judgement and not subject to errour for if you will beleeve them a generall or oecumenicall Councell without the Pope may erre but the Pope alone without a Councell cannot erre yea the authority of the Pope and Councell together is no greater than the authority of the Pope alone from whom all Councels have their authority for ab arbiâ—… pontificis tota conciliorum authoritas pendet quae tantam habent quantam Papa indulget and thus Bellarmine denieth this assertion aliquid majus est concilium cum pontifice quam pontifex solus If therefore the authoritie of the Church be greater than that of the Scriptures as they teach and if the authority of the Pope be absolutely above the Church universall as they also teach then much more is the authoritie of the Pope above the Scriptures Now whosoever taketh upon him authority above the Scriptures which are the undoubted Word of God hee is undoubtedly Antichrist whose judgement to make as the Papists plainely doe the chiefe principle of faith into which their faith is last resolved is no better thâ—…n to revoli from Christ to Antichrist Secondly they change the rule of faith by making their traditions that is such doctrines and observations as are taught and observed in the Church of Rome having no ground nor warrant in the holy Scriptures to bee the Word of God the word unwritten and a rule of faith which also they doe not onâ—…ly match with the holy Scriptures but even in many respects preferre before them and acknowledge them to bee the more entire and perfect rule of faith Thirdly they have changed the rule of faith by making those bookes canonicall which all antiquity almost yea and all succeeding ages untill the Councell of Trent following therein the judgement of Hierome did hold Apochryphall or at the most but Eeclesiasticall which might bee read in the Church for morall instruction but not as rules of faith Fourthly they change the rule of faith when in stead of the originall Text of the old and new Testaments which were penned by the Prophets and Apostles themselves they make a corrupt and that sometimes a barbarous translation of I know not whom to be the authentike text and the rule of faith preferring the vulgar Latine translation before the originall text which the penmen of the holy Ghost did write Fifthly they change the rule of faith when in stead oâ—… the true sense and mâ—…aning of the holy Scriptures expounded by the Scriptures according to the analogâ—…e of faith they obtrude the
or reason nor manifested by discourse and yet we doe know and are undoubtedly perswaded of the necessary and infallible truth thereof moved theâ—…unto by the divine authority of the propounder which is the Spirit of truth that is called faith which is as you heard out of Basil 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an undoubted assent or full perswasion or assurance eui falsum subesse non potest the subject whereof cannot be false Where fourthly you see indeed that faith is distinguished against Science and evident intelligence but as a speciall under the same generall which is notitia knowledge And therefore the mysteries of saith which surpasse our reason though we doe not understand them by that knowledge which is of propositions either manifâ—…st in themselves or manifested by discourse yet wee know them to be undoubtedly true because of the authority of the propounder knowing whom we doe beleeve And therefore fifthly very absurd was he who said that faith may better be defined by ignorance than by knowledge § XV. Thus have wee seene the salshood of the popish doctrine concerning implicite faith now let us shew the wickednesse of it which consisteth in this that it is an horrible couzenage of the people to their perdition Here therefore two things are to bee shewed first that it is an egregious imposture and couzenage Secondly that it is extremely pernicious to the people Their cozenage stands in this that when they say that the faith required iu a lay man as sufficient to his justification is to beleeve or rather to professe himselfe to beleeve whatsoever the Catholike Church beleeveth though in particular he know not what the Church beleeveth their meaning is that the church of Rome and therein the Pope is not onely the whole materiâ—…ll object but also the formall object of their faith I say the whole materiall object For they teach that whatsoever is to bee beleeved is reduced to this one article of the Creed I beleeve the holy Catholike Church and that this faith is a more 〈◊〉 faith than if a man should say I beleeve the whole Scriptures For hee that beleeveth the Catholike Church beleevâ—…th whatsoever the Catholike Church propoundeth to be beleeved Now their Church propoundeth to be beleeved not onely tho whole written word both Apocryphall and Canonicall but the unwritten also which are the traditions of the Church They make the Church also the formall object of saith not onely which wee beleeve but also for which wâ—… beleeve whatsoever is to bee beleeved and so make the Church to be the rule and the principium or principle of their faith These are the grounds of their imposture But their cozenage especially consisteth in this that whatsoever excellencie they ascribe to the Catholike Church that they attribute wholly and onely to the Church of Rome and therein to the Pope For thâ—…s they expound that Article in their new Creed I beleeve the holy Catholike Apostolicall Church of Rome the Mother and Mistris of all other Churches out of which there is no salvation So excluding from salvation all those that have beene are or shall bee who live not in communion with and subjection to the Church and Pope of Rome This is the principall Nâ—…t whereby the greatest number of silly soules are cony â—…ch'd § XVI No doubt the Apostle by Catholike understood the Vniversall and not any particular Church fuch as the Church of Rome which was not then extant when the Creed was made as themselves doe â—…each And thereâ—…ore the Apostles themselves when they made the Creed were not of that Church And by holy Vniversall Church being an object of faith and therefore not seene they understand the universall company of the Elect which is the body of Christ containing not onely the Militant Church but also the Triumphant and not onely the Church after the ascâ—…ion of Christ but also before from the beginning of the world And not onely those who were or are under the Pope but also â—…hose who never acknowledged any subjection to the See of Rome such as were the Churches under the other foure Patriarâ—…es of Constantinople Alexandria Antioch and Ierusalem and such as are the greatest part of Christâ—… at this day But if by Vniversall must be meant particular and if by Catholike must be understood Romane then by their doctrine from the company of them that are and shall be saved are excluded first the Church Triumphant secondly the Church which was from the beginning untill the Church of Rome was planâ—…d thirdly the foure 〈◊〉 Churches and others which acknowledged no subjection to the See of Rome in which were many Holy Martyrâ—… and the most of the godly and learned Fathers In all which time the Bishop of Rome was at the most but a Patriarch as others were untill 〈◊〉 that barbarous Tyraâ—…t in the yeare of our Lord 607. made him Vniversall Bishop and Head of the Vniversall Church the proper titâ—… of Antichrist fourthly all those Churches which since that time and at this day acknowledgâ—…â—…o subjection to the Pope as their Head which is the greater and better part of Christendome Now what a 〈◊〉 is this to perswade men that there is no salvation for those who doe not acknowledge the Pope to be their head that is who are not limmes and members of Antichristâ—… especially when the Scriptures teach that Antichrist prevailâ—… in them onely â—… that perish § XVII But although this be a grand imposture as a right reverend learned man hath shewed to teach men to beleeve that the Church of Rome alone is the Catholike Church out of which noâ—…e can be saved yet this is but halfe of their cozenage For 〈◊〉 article of the Church they expound as if it were not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I beleeve that there is a Church as when it is said 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. I beleeve the commâ—…ion of Saints there mission of â—…nnes c. but as if it were said eredo Ecolâ—…sia oâ—… rather in Ecclesiam I beleeve the Church or in the Church as that which cannot 〈◊〉 and consequently beleeve whatsoâ—…er the Church teacheth or propoundeth to be beleeved making thâ—… Church 〈◊〉 formall object of their faith and principall rule or principle into which their faith is last resolved for which they give credit to the Scriptures themselves which receive their credit and authority from the Church Now by this Church they meane not the universall company of Catholikes for they are compared to Iobs Asses but the Prelates of the Church of Rome and among them the Pope who virtually is the Church in whom alone the prerogative of not erring resideth For a generall or Oecumenicall counsell which is the whole Church representative they say without the Pope may erre but the Pope himselfe alone without a councell cannot erre And therefore the authority of a generall councell and of the Pope together is no more
with which many come to baptisme and to shew that faith which justifieth is commanded by the will to note the difference of forced faith such as is in Devils and was in those men who beleeved in Christ compelled by the miracles but Christ did not concredit himselfe to them for such a faith doth not justifie For as science is begotten by virtue of demonstrative reason so faith is not demonstrated but is undertaken by the virtue or power of the will captivating the understanding unto the obedience of Christ who doth infuse it wherefore Augustine tract 26. in Ioan. other things saith hee a man may doe against his will but none can beleeve but he that is willing § VI. Thus have I proved against Bellarmine that to beleeve is an act of the will as well as of the understanding and that the seat of faith is neither the understanding alone nor the will alone but the mind which comprehendeth both Howbeit I cannot altogether subscribe to the judgement of the Schoole-men and other learned men whether Protestants or Papists who teach that the understanding is commanded by the will to assent unto divine truthes and that it doth credere ex imperio voluntatis For I doe not conceive how the will which is intellectus extensus and followeth the judgement of the practike understanding in so much that it willeth nothing but what the understanding approveth and judgeth to be willed how it I say should command the understanding Neither doth their reason satisfie which is this that the understanding of man in matters pertaining to Science is determined to one thing by the evidence of the thing or necessity of reason not by the Will but the understanding of man in matters belonging to faith which sometimes surpasse the capacity of humane reason cannot be determined to any particular either by the evidence of the thing or by necessity of reason both which are wanting in the objects of faith which are things hoped for and things not seene And therefore say they there can no assent bee given unlesse the understanding be commanded by the will to assent But I answere as the ground of knowing things by Science is the evidence of the thing or necessity of reason so the ground of beleeving things is the authority of God speaking in his word which is infallible and in certainty surpasseth the grounds of Science and by it the understanding is determined to such particulars as it conceiveth to be revealed of God As therefore in things of science which the understanding doth judge to bee evident and of necessary truth the will doth readily embrace them following therin the judgment of the understanding and so the mind which containeth both faculties doth willingly and yet necessarily assent therto moved therunto by the evidence of necessary truth so in matters of faith which the understanding though it comprehends them not yet doth judge infallibly true moved thereto by the authority of God revealing those truthes the Will as I conceive being captivated by the understanding and submitting it selfe to the judgement thereof the mind doth willingly and yet necessarily assent to such truthes revealed by God moved thereunto by the infallible authority of God speaking in his Word Which in certainty of truth doth farre surmount all grounds of science and doth captivate the understanding and it the Will Why therefore the assent to divine truthes which are grounded upon a most certaine and inâ—…allible soundation which perswadeth the understanding should more proceed from the Will than the assent to humane sciences I cannot conceive or why the Will should command the understanding in them more than in matters of science CAP. VI. Of the object of justifying faith § I. SO much of the subject now wee come to the object of justifying â—…aith where the question ought not to be made coneeming the object of faith at large but of that object which is proper to faith as it justifieth For we doe freely confesâ—…e that the object of faith is all and every truth revealed unto us by God and that the word of God is objectum fidei adaquatum the even object of â—…aith that is we are bound to beleeve whatsoever is contained in the word but what is not contained in the word of God we are not to beleeve it as a matter of â—…aith And that therefore by the â—…ame faith by which we are justified we beleeve whatsoever is contained in the written word of God whether expressely or by necessary consequence So that Bellarmine might have saved a great deale of labour idlely spent in proving that which we confesse that by faith we beleeve the creation and all other truths revealed in the word yea we professe him to have no true justifying faith who denieth credit to any thing which hee findeth revealed by God Howbeit the Papiâ—… extend this object not onely to the Canoâ—…icall Scriptures but also to those which we according to all almost antiquitieâ—… call Apocryphall and not onely to the written word but also to their unwritten verities as they call the traditions of the Church of Rome that is such doctrines and ordinances as that Church doth teach and observe having no ground nor warrant in the Scriptures The which notwithstanding whiles they doe not onely match but also preferre them before the written word doe evidently prove the Pope who by their doctrine is above the Church and the Church above the Scriptures to bee Antichrist But this is another controversie whereinto I may not now make an excuâ—…sion Onely I desire the Reader to take notice of this marke among others of the Catholike Apostaâ—…ie of the Romane Church which hath not onely departed from the ancient doctrine and rule of faith which is the Scriptures but also have set up a new rule the last resolution of their faith being into the infallible judgement and irrefragable authority of the Bishop of Rome and to this purpose let him consider these two testimonies of Saint Bâ—…sil it is a manifest falling away from the faith and conviction of pride either to reject any of those things that are written or to bring in any of those things that are not written The other 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 All that is without the Scripture inspired of God being not of faith is sinne § II. But howsoever by that faith which justifieth wee beleeve all and every truth revealed by God yet the proper and formall Object of justifying faith quatâ—…nus justificat and by beleeving whereof it doth justifie is not every truth but that onely which 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is called the Truth that is Christ with all his merits Ioh. 14. 6. or the Doctrine of Salvation by Christ or the Promises of the Gospell concerning justification and salvation by Christ which often times in the Scripture is called the Truth as Ioh. 1. 17. 5. 33. 8. 31 32. and as some thinke Ioh. 8. 44. and by Christâ—… owne