A Second Parallel, Part 1 · Comparison 4
Of falling away from Grace.
ARMINIANS.
HAGE Conference, pag. 355. The Doctrine of our Aduersaries, [who teach, that a man cannot fall away from grace totally, nor finally] is an q hinderance to godlinesse, and also to good manners.
Theses exhibited to the Synod of Dort concerning the fifth Article, All things being fore-laid, which are necessarie, and sufficient for perseuerance, it remaineth still in the power of man, to perseuere, or not perseuere.
Bertius in his booke of Apostasie of Saints, endeuoureth to proue that his blasphemous Assertion by diuers texts of Scripture, Authorities of Fathers, and Reasons; from whose Armory the Appealer furnisht himselfe; as will appeare by comparing their allegations together.
Bertius Iidit. Lugduni Batauorum apud Lodouicum Elzeuirium, in the yeare of our Lord 1615. pag. 169. You could not be ignorant, that the Confession of the Church of England, was cited by mee truly in the Acts at Hampton Court. pag. 107. The English Confession set out in the yeare of our Lord 1562. Article 16. After we hauehave receiued the holy Ghost we may r depart from grace.
Bertius in his Dedicatory Epistle. Doctor Bancroft at the Conference at Hampton Court, withstood Doctor Rainolds, who to that Article of the English Confession, concerning departing from grace, would hauehave those words added [but not totally, nor finally.]
APPEALER.
ANswer to Gag. pag. 157. That [faith once had may be lost] may be interpreted, and is, more wayes, than one: whether not lost at all; whether totally, and finally lost. Men are diuided in this tenent; Some suppose neither totally, nor finally; some totally, but not finally; some both totally, and finally, which is indeed the assertion of antiquitie. Ibid. The learnedst of the Church of England assent to antiquity in their tenent, which the Protestants of Germany maintain at this day, hauing assented therein to the Church of Rome. Appeale, pag. 36. In my iudgement, this is the doctrine of the Church of England, not deliuered according to priuate opinions in ordinary Tracts and Lectures, but deliuered publiquely, positiuely, and declaratiuely in Authentick records.
Appeale, pag. 28. They were the learnedst in the Church of England, that drew, composed, and agreed the Articles in 52. and▪ 62. that ratified them in 71. that cōfirmed them in 604. that iustified, and maintained them against the Puritans at Hampton Court: but all such doe assent to antiquity in this tenent. Ibid. p. 29. The Minor I make good particularly, & will proue it obsignatis tabulis. In the 16. Article we reade, and subscribe this; After wee hauehave receiued the holy Ghost, wee may r depart away from grace, and fall into sinne.
Appeale, pag. 30. This Article was s challenged as vnsound at the Conference at Hampton Court, by those that were Petitioners against the Doctrine and Disciplie established in the Church of England: and being so challenged before his Sacred Maiestie, was there defended and maintained, &c. namely by Doctor Ouerall, pag. 31.
q See this obiection answered in the first question of absolute Predestination.
r The Article hath not the word [Alway] that is the Appealers addition. The words are not, [After we hauehave receiued the holy Ghost, we may fall into sinne, and so fall away from grace; but we may depart from grace giuen, and fall into sinne:] that is, so farre depart from grace, that a man may fall into sinne, after grace receiued; which is confessed on all parts. The Article speaketh not of a totall falling away from grace, much lesse, finall; for the words immediatly following are [and by the grace of God, to wit, (before giuen) we may rise againe.] He that falleth finally, cannot rise againe: he that falleth totally from grace, cannot rise againe by the grace he had receiued, because he is supposed to hauehave lost all the grace he receiued; and the Article speakes not of new grace, but onelyonly of grace before receiued, and giuen. Besides, the words of the Apostle to the Hebrewes 6. 6. beare strongly that way; that a man, who was once partaker of the holy Ghost, if hee fall away, that is, totally cast away the Spirit of grace, cannot possibly be renewed againe by repentance. Whence we thus argue;
None who may after their fall rise againe by repentance, fall totally, or finally, Heb. 6. 6.
But all those, of whom the Article speakes, may after their fall, rise againe by repentance.
Therefore none of whom the Article speaks fall totally, or finally.
s The Appealer vttereth two manifest vntruths in this allegation out of the Conference at Hampton Court. The first is, That he faith the sense of the Article was there challenged as vnsound; for Doctor Rainolds [who in the name of the rest desired a fuller explication of the meaning of the Article, to preuent that mistaking, which is sithence fallen out in M. Montague, and others] began with this Preface [Though the meaning of the Article be sound, and good &c.] The second is, That he affirmeth, that this tenent, [a iustified man may fall away from grace, and become, ipso facto, in the state of damnation, &c. now styled Arminianisme by these Informers] was resolued, and auowed for true by Doctor Ouerall, and that honourable and learned Synod. For Doctor Ouerall, after he had affirmed, That a iustified man committing any grieuous sinne (as adultery, murther, or treason) became, ipso facto, subiect to Gods wrath, and was in the state of damnation (quoad praesentem statum) addeth, yet those that are called, and iustified according to the purpose of Gods election did neuer fall, either totally from all the graces of God, to be vtterly destitute of all the parts, and seeds thereof, or finally, from iustification; but were in time renewed by Gods Spirit vntounto a liuely faith, and repentance, and so iustified from those sinnes, and the wrath, curse, and guilt annexed thereunto, whereinto they were fallen, and wherein they lay so long, as they were without true repentance for the same.