The Doctrine of King James, Doctrine 7
THE DOCTRINE OF King IAMES, concerning the Certaintie of Saluation, and against the Apostacy, or falling away of the Saints▪
ABout the same time one Be…tius a Scholler of the lateDeclar. against Vorstiue. Arminius (who was the first in our Age that infected Leyden with herisie▪) was so impudent, as to send a letter vntounto the Arch-bishop of Canterbury, with a booke intit…led de Apostasia Sanctorum. And not thinking it sufficient to auow the sending of such a booke (the Title whereof onelyonly were enough to make it worthy the fire) hee was moreouer so shamelesse▪ as to maintaine in his letter to the Arch▪ bishop, that the Doctrine contained in his booke, was agreeable with the Doctrine of the Church of England. Let the Church of Christ then iudge, whether it was not high time for VsUs to bestirre Our selues, when at this Gangrene had not only taken hold amongst Our neerest Neighbours, so … Non solùm paries proximus iam ardebat, not onelyonly the next house was on fire, but did also beg in to creege into the bowels of Our owne Kingdome.
It is true, that it was Our hard hap not to heare▪ of this Arminius before hee was dead, and that all the Reformed Churches of Germanie had with open mouth complained of him. But as soone as Wee vnderstood of that distraction in your State, which after his death hoc left behinde him, Wee did not faile (taking the opportunitie when your last extraordinary Ambassadors were here with VsUs) to vse some such speaches vntounto them concerning this matter, as We thought fittest for the good of your State, and which Wee doubt not but they hauehave faithfully reported vntounto you. For what need Wee make any question of the A…gancy of these Hereticks, or rather▪ Atheisticall Sectaries … you, when one of them at this present remaining in your Towne of Leyden, hath not onelyonly presumed to publish of late, a blasphemous booke of the Apostasie of the Saints, but hath besides beene so impudent as to send the other day a copie thereof as a g…odly present to our Arch-bishop of Canterbury, together with a letter wherein hee is not ashamed (as also in his booke) to lye so grossely, as to … that his Heresies contained in the said booke, are agreeable with the Religion, and profession of the Church of England. For these respects therefore hauehave wee cause enough very hartily to request you, to roote out with speed, those Heresies and Schismes, which are beginning to bud forth amongst you, which if you suffer to hauehave the Reynes any longer, you cannot expect any other issue thereof, then the curse of God, infamy throughout all the Reformed Churches, and a perpetuall rent and distraction in the whole Body of your State.
His Maiestie doth exhort you, seeing you hauehave heretofore…id. taken Armes for the libertie of your Consciences, and hauehave so much indured in a violent and bloudie warre, the space of fortie yeeres for the profession of the Gospell, that now hauing gotten the vpper hand of your miseries, you would not suffer the followers of Arminius to make your actions an example for them to proclaime to the world, that wicked Doctrine of the Apostasie of the Saints.
It is all worthy of deepe consideration; and among, (if not aboue) the rest. 1. The opinion that this great and wise King had of this Doctrine of The Apostasie of the Saints. Hee saith of a booke so intituled; The Title …re enough to make it worthy the fire. And he call… him Hereticke and … that published this booke. The booke also Hee termeth, A … of the Apostasie of the Saint…. And by his Ambassadour He calls it, That wicked Doctrine of the Apostasie of the Saints. 2. What agreement this booke and Doctrine had with the Doctrine of the Church of England. Here of the King saith, Hee was shamelesse to maintaine in his letter to the Arch bishop, that the Doctrine contained in his booke was agreeable with the Doctrine of the Church of England. And againe, A letter wherein he is not ashamed (as also in his booke) to lye so grossely, as to auow that his Heresies contained in the said booke, are agreeable with the Religion and profession of our Church of England. 3. The dangers that arise from this kinde of Doctrine. Arminius left behinde him a distraction in the State, And, you cannot expect any other issue thereof, then the curse of God, infamy throughout all Reformed Churches, and a perpetuall rent and distraction in the whole Body of your State. 4. The councell that was both taken and giuen hereupon. It was high time to bestirre our selues, when as this Gangreene, had not onelyonly taken hold on our neerest Neighbours, but did also begin to creepe into the bowels of Our owne Kingdome. And, For these respects therefore hauehave Wee cause enough, very hartily to request you, to root out with speed these Heresies, and Schismes, which are beginning to bud forth amongst you.
I may adde hereunto the Doctrine of the Articles of the Church of Ireland, which fitly may here be inserted, as both looking to King Iames, vnderunder whose Authority and protection it came forth, and was maintained, and looking to the Doctrine of the Church of England, since it were an intollerable and impudent iniury, to the wisdome and religious knowledge of those times, to say that betweene them there was not a harmonie.
All Gods elect, are in their time inseparably vnited vntountoArticle of Ireland: Num. 33. Christ, by the effectuall and vitall influence of the Holy Ghost, deriued from Him, as from the Head, vntounto eueryevery true member of his Mysticall Body.
A true, liuely, iustifying Faith, and the sanctifyingNum. 38. Spirit of God, is not extinguished, nor vanisheth away in the Regenerate, either finally, or totally.