Vindication of Romans 5, Section 3 – Section 4
2. For the Church.
TO this objection, That his Doctrine is against the 9th. Article in the Church of England. He saith, I have already answered it in some additional Papers, which are already published. I would I might have had the opportunity to have seen them, supposing they may contain some kind of Apologie, which might have saved me the labour of an Additional in this latter part. But for what I here see he must give me leave for to speak, as that he may see, That (in judgement, though not in Charity) we are Two. His zeal for the Church of England, seems to be such and so much, that he is protesting before hand, against all that shall but seem to suspect it. But he is indigning him in especial that shall take upon him to tax him for it, in the least degree. I hope this will not overprovoke his patience, only to intreat him; First to reconcile his own understanding to his subscription; and then, his own words, to the words of the Article.
(First) A faithfull subscription of a dutifull Son of the Church, is to submit his understanding, and consent simply unto her suffrage. And to underwrite (with hand and heart) her Articles and Canons, accepted in their plain literal sense; And not to bring to them, nor yet reserve from them, any other understanding or intention of his own. Laws (we say) are to be interpreted and accepted, according to the mind of the Law-givers; and a promissary Oath ought to be performed, according to the intention of him to whom the promise is made. Now for him to say, I have oftentimes subscribed that Article, and, I am ready a thousand times to subscribe that Article, and yet to say again: I doe not understand the words of that Article, as most men doe, but I understand them, as they can be true, and as they can very fairly signifie, and as they agree with the word of God, and right reason, What kind of subscription call you this? with such a liberty or reservation a man might have (without all scruple) taken the Protestation, the Covenant, the Engagement, or an Oath of Abjuration. But whom means he by those most men? certainly not the Adversaries of the Church, who refuse to subscribe them: But the Sons of the Church, his brethren, who have subscribed them as well as he. The Adversaries, though they consent (for the most part) to the Doctrine, yet they refuse to subscribe the Article, meerly because it is our Churches. But as it is the Churches, so, we that are Sons and Brethren, doe (with one understanding) simply subscribe it, nor doe we make our own conditions, by way of exception; but we take them all in an undoubted concession. For we also understand the words of the Article, as they can be true, and as they can fairly signifie, and that is even in their literal and grammatical sense. And likewise as they agree with the Word of God and right reason, for so we suppose them in the sense aforesaid. And although we confesse, with him, that the Church used an incomparable wisdom and temper in composing her Articles, both with respect to New-reformists and Non-conformists too, notwithstanding we believe her Prudence and Piety was such, that she intended not so to secure the outward Peace of the Church against either, as that the Truth of it (in either part) might be prejudiced thereby, much less that she contrived any thing in such a charitable latitude, as to give license to any, for passing the rectitude, and arctitude of Verity, or that any one should presume upon his private and dissentaneous opinion, notwithstanding her publique and unanimous Judgement. It was discovered by some of themselves, that when the Councel of Trent compleated her Canons of Original Sin, and many particulars of them appearing so consonant to the Scriptures, and to Orthodox Antiquity; yet they studied to compile the whole with such Artifice, as that notwithstanding they might leave to their own Scholasticks a liberty of disputing and opining what they pleased: But I trust the like shall never be said of the Church of England, either as touching this, or any other of her Articles; and for my part, I conceive it to be a truer part of a Son of the Church, rather to restrain his sense, to her words, than to strain or enlarge her words, to his own sense.
(Secondly,) As concerning this Article of Original birth, or Sin, or Birth-Sin, in as much as he says, if I had cause to dissent from it, I would certainly doe it in those just measures which my duty on the one side, and the interest of truth on the other would require of me. Hereupon I am very willing to beleeve him on his own word, as liking exceeding well of his ingenious Confession: I have no cause to disagree, and not much misliking his resolution, I will not suffer my self to be supposed to be of a differing judgement from my dear Mother, which is the best Church of the world. Wherefore I shall doe no more (which is the least that can be done in an appearing difference) but set down the words of the Article, and then his own words in the Antithesis, And so leave it to himself (according to his own promised temper and measure) to reconcile them. Neither wil I so much as once imagine, that he hath less zeal for our Church than my self, that so I may spare him the labour of a fruitlesse vow; in being all his life confuting me. Let him but shew how his own sayings are conformable, or not repugnant to what the Article saith (which to me and many others seem so contrary) and we two have done, nay are (as we were) in Faith and love of Christians, one. But if he goe otherwise to work, I must take the confidence to tell him; he may be all his life confuting, and not confute.
Article.
— Original Sin standeth not in the following of Adam, as the Pelagians do vainly talk.
Antithesis.
All actual Sins doe not proceed from this Sin of Adam, pag. 47. — liberty and not Adams Sin is the cause of all our actual, pag. 49. — From the first Adam nothing descended to us — but an evil example, page. 80. not direct Sins to us in their natural abode, — but principles of Sin to us in their emanation, pag. 81. who by imitation of his Transgression on the stock of their own natural choice, did sin against God.
Article.
But it is the fault and corruption of the nature of every man that naturally is ingendred of the off-spring of Adam.
Antithesis.
The guilt of this Sin being imputed, the same is conveyed to all their Posterity by ordinary generation — this heap of errors pag. 29, 30. — Naturally it cannot be, pag. 32. — not that we bring it upon our shoulders into the world with us, pag. 78.— if God hath given us a Nature by derivation which is wholly corrupted, &c. pag. 96.— that Adams Sin is ours Metonymically and imprope…rly, pag. 127.
Article.
— Whereby man is very far gon from Original righteousness; and is of his own nature inclined to evil, so that the Flesh lusteth always, contrary to the Spirit.
Antithesis.
The evil did so descend upon us, that we were left in powers and capacities to serve and glorifie God, pag. 16. — That by this Sin our first Parents fell from their Original righteousness, &c. this heap of errors, &c. pag. 29, 30. I can by no means approve that by this we are disabled and made opposite to all good, and wholly inclined to all evil, pag. 39. — his nature was not spoiled by that Sin, he was not wholly inclined to all evil, pag. 40, 46, 47.
Article.
And therefore in every person born into this world it deserveth Gods wrath, and Damnation.
Antithesis.
Original Sin doth — in its own Nature bring guilt upon the Sinner, whereby he is bound over to the wrath of God, &c. — this heap of Errors, pag. 30. It cannot be just for God to damn us, for being in a state of calamity, to which state we entred no way but by his constitution and decree pag. 38. — if it be intollerable to damn Children for the Sin of Adam, then it is intollerable to say it is damnable, pag. 59. — Is it against Gods goodness that Infants should be damn'd for Original Sin? &c. pag. 67. — It is against Gods Justice to damn us for the fault of another, pag. 63. Children born in Christ, and not in Adam, &c. pag. 74. — born beloved, and quitted from wrath, &c. pag. 75. — born in the accounts of the Divine favour, pag. 77. — if God decrees us to be born Sinners, &c. if God does damn any for that, &c. pag. 94. — if God does cast Infants into Hell for the Sin of others, &c. pag. 96. — It is impossible that the greatest part of mankind should be left in the eternal bonds of Hell, by Adam, pag. 125. — The Judgement which for Adams Sin came into the condemnation of the world, was nothing but temporal death. pag. 126.
Article.
And this infection of Nature doth remain, yea in them that are regenerated, whereby the lust of the flesh, &c.
Antithesis.
The corruption of nature remains in the regenerate, &c. this heap of errors, pag. 29, 30. — I can by no means approve that our natural corruption in the regenerate still remains, and is still properly a Sin. pag. 39. — That our natural corruption in the regenerate still remains, and is still a Sin, and properly a Sin, I have (I confesse) heartily opposed it, &c. pag. 49. 52.
Article.
And although there is no condemnation for them that believe, and are baptized; yet the Apostle doth confesse, that concupiscence and lust, hath of it self the nature of Sin.
Antithesis:
This will follow, that Adam's Sinne hath done some mischief that the grace of Christ can never cure, though it be pardoned and mortified, yet still remains, and is still a Sin, is perfect Non-sense, pag. 51. — we are rescued from Adam before we were born, else Adam's Sin prevailed really in some periods, and by some effects for which God in Christ had provided no remedy, pag. 74. — It is a Sin Metonymically, and just so in Baptism it is taken away, pag. 103.
Qui Ecclesiae renititur, et restitit; in Ecclesiàse esse confidit?
Cyprian de simp. Praelat.
SIR,
BE pleased to know that all the errors which have been about Original Sin, have risen chiefly through want of a perfect Definition, or compleat Description of it, some (and they not the least Hereticks) have contended against all definition; others have been so various in defining, and so incompleat in describing, that they have administred but matter unto more contention. I am perswaded that out of this place in the 5 to the Romans; a perfect Definition, or very compleat Description might be made, and that such as might comprehend both the name and nature, and subject and derivation, and cause and effects, and remedy; My short time, and shorter abilities will not now suffer me to venture upon it. I have done my Task; and (I hope in some part) answered my Title, and your expectation, such as I cou…d, or could so suddenly make it. I send it humbly to your hands, and through them (if you think meet) to the world. All that I will now say of this Author is this, That he hath erred learnedly, far unlike the many senselesse and scurrilous Hereticks and Schismaticks of this our exulcerated age. And I hope his own learning will let him see his Error. Otherwise, he must think others are not so unlearned, as for him to impose upon them. Rather than so, I could most heartily wish one more learned in the Truth than my self may yet more particularly undertake him. To you, Sir, I need say nothing, you are known. And for my self I need say as little to you; you know,
Sir, Your Minister Friend, and Servant, JOHN GAULE.
FINIS.
End of the text · John Gaule, Vindication of Romans 5 (1657)