The Church of Englands Antithesis to Arminianism, Part 7
A short Catechisme set foorth by King Edward the 6. his Authority, for all Schoolemasters to teach, Printed at London in Latine per Reginaldum Woolfium 1553. and the same yeere in English, Cum Priuilegio, by Iohn Day, out of which I hauehave transcribed it verbatim, from Folio 37. to 41.
Scholer. AFter that the Lord 11God had made the Heauen and Earth, hee determined to hauehave for himselfe a most beautifull Kingdome, and holy Commonwealth. The Apostles and Ancient Fathers that wrote in Greeke, called it Ecclesia, in English a Congregation or Assembly; into the which he hath admitted an infinite number of men, that should be subiect to one King, as their Soueraigne and onelyonly Head: him wee call Christ, which is as much as to say Anointed, &c. To the furnishing of this Common-weale belong all they, as many as doe truely feare, honour, and call vponupon God, dayly applying their mindes to holy and godly liuing, and all those that putting all their hope and trust in him doe 77assuredly looke for the blisse of euerlasting life. But as many as are in this Faith stedfast,11 were fore-chosen, Praedestinat, and appointed to euerlasting life before the world was made. Witnesse heereof, they hauehave within their hearts the spirit of Christ, the Author, earnest,77 and vnfailable pledge of their faith. Which faith onelyonly is able to perceiue the mysteries of God: onelyonly brings peace vntounto the heart: onelyonly taketh hold on the righteousnesse that is in Christ Iesus.
Master. Doth then the Spirit alone, and faith, (sleepe we neuer so securely, or stand wee neuer so rechlesse or slothfull) so worke all things for vsus, as without any helpe of our owne to carry vsus idle up heauen?
Schol: I vse Master (as you hauehave taught me) to make a difference between the cause and the effect. The22 first principall and most proper cause of our Iustification and Saluation, is the goodnesse and louelove of God, whereby he chose vsus for his 11before he made the world. After that, God granteth vsus to66 bee called by the Preaching of the Gospell of Iesus Christ, when the spirit of the Lord is powred into vsus: by whose garding and gouernance wee bee led to settle our trust in God, and hope for the performance of his promise. With this choyce is ioyned as companion, the mortifying of the olde man, that is of our affection and last. From the same spirit also commeth our Sanctification, the louelove of God, and of our neighbour, iustice, and vprightnesse of life. Finally, to say all in summe,44 Whateuer is in vsus, or may be done of vsus, honest, pure, true, and good, that altogether springeth out of this most pleasant Rocke, from this most plentifull Fountaine, the 22goodnesse, louelove, choise, and 11vnchangeable purpose of God, he is the cause, the rest are the fruits, and effects. Yet are also the goodnesse, choise, and spirit of God, and Christ himselfe, causes, conioyned and coupled each with other: which may bee reckoned among the principall causes of saluation. As oft therefore as we vse to say, that wee are made righteous and saued by saith onelyonly; it is meant thereby, that faith, or rather trust alone, doth lay hand vponupon, vnderstand, and perceiue our righteous making to bee 22giuen vsus of God freely; that is to say, by no deserts of our own, but by the free grace of the Almighty Father. Moreouer Faith doth ingender in vsus louelove of our neighbour, and such workes as God is pleased withall. For if it bee a liuely and true faith, quickned by the holy Ghost, shee is the mother of all good saying and doing. By this short tale it is euident, whence and by what meanes wee attaine to bee righteous. For22 not by the worthinesse of our deseruings, were wee either heretofore chosen, or long agoe saued, but by the onelyonly mercy of God, and pure grace of Christ our Lord: whereby we were66 in him made to doe these good workes, that God had appointed for vsus to walke in. And although good workes cannot deserue to make vsus righteous before God, yet doe they so cleane vntounto Faith, that neither Faith can be found without them, nor good Workes bee any where found without Faith. And Fol. 68.77 Immortality and blessed life God hath prouided for his chosen 11before the foundations of the World were laid.
This Catechisme was published by King Edward the 6. his Authority, in the yeere 1553. being the next yeere after the composure and publishing of the Articles of our Church, which were first of all concluded vponupon, in the yeare 1552. being onelyonly reui…ed, not framed or new composed in the yeare 1562. From whence I collect, that this Catechisme is fully agreable to the true sence and meaning of our Articles, and may well bee taken, as a Comment or Explanation on our 16. and 17. Articles: so that whatsoeuer is affirmed in this Catechisme, is likewise affirmed by those Articles. And if so, then it is more then euident, that our Articles doe point-blanke oppugne the Arminian mutabilitie of Predestination: Election from Faith, or Workes, or any thing else foreseene in vsus, Free-will, and vniuersall or sufficient grace, the totall and finall resisting of the worke of grace, and Apostasie from the state of grace; together with the truth of grace in reprobates, or castawayes: all which are euidently refuted and condemned by this Catechisme as the figured passages will demonstrate.