Answer to Book by Romish Priests, Doctrine 25
Further they hold (ſaith he) XXV. That every one ought infallibly to aſſure himſelf of his Salvation; and to believe that he is of the number of the Predeſtinate.
Anſwer.
NO man in his wits, much leſs any Church, ever uttered ſuch fooliſh words as theſe; which are inconſiſtent with the former Aſſertion, That God hath reſolved to damn ſome men. How can they who ſay this, oblige every man to believe he ſhall be Saved? The moſt that any one hath ſaid is, that (not every one, but) every true believer; every one that is juſtified, ought to be ſo aſſured. So Bellarmine himſelf repreſents their Doctrine, which hath as many friends and favourers in the Roman Church, as it hath in ours. Where no more than this is commonly taught, That being aſſured of the truth of the Divine promiſes (which cannot deceive us) we are ſo far aſſured of attaining them, as we are certain, that we faithfully perform our duty; which is the condition upon which the attaining of them depends.
But this is a very ſtrange Man; for becauſe every Man ought not to be aſſured of his Salvation, he will allow no Man to be aſſured; no, not St. Paul. Expreſly againſt the Doctrine of his own Church, which looks upon him as a man particularly elected by God, not only to the Apoſtleſhip, but to Salvation. Nor doth he contradict this, in 1 Cor. XIX. 27.1 Cor. XIX. 27. but rather tells us how he ſecured his Salvation, by keeping under his Body. By which means, we alſo may be ſecured; for if we continue in his Goodneſs, as the next Scripture ſpeaks, XI. Rom. 20,XI. Rom. 20, 21. 21. we ought not to doubt he will continue it unto us to the end. And we teach no other aſſurance of Salvation, but by conſtant Fidelity unto Chriſt; which as long as we maintain, we ought to be certain of the other. The only fear is, leſt we ſhould not be ſtedfaſt; and therefore we are well admoniſhed in the next Scripture,2 Philip. 12. II. Philip. 12. to work out our Salvation with fear and trembling. But ſo doing, we ſhall undoubtedly be ſaved.
No Church in the World more beats down vain ſecurity, than this of ours; nor doth any more incourage it, than the Church of Rome; where men are ſecured of their Salvation, if they can be ſo vain as to believe it, by confeſſing to a Prieſt, and receiving his Abſolution at the laſt Gaſp.
The other Scriptures which he hath ſhovelled together, are of no different import from theſe, and therefore need not be examined. Nor his Fathers neither, which they have now made a ſhift to ſcrape together, tho they had none in the firſt Edition of this Book. For they that read Bellarmine, could not but know what a great number of Teſtimonies are brought out of the Fathers, to confirm their Opinion, who hold men may be ſo certain they are in a ſtate of Grace, that they may be aſſured of their Salvation. Particularly out of St. Auſtin, in a great number of places; more eſpecially in XXII. Tract. upon St. John, where he argues thus. Our Saviour hath told me, He that hears my words, and believes on him that ſent me, hath eternal life, and ſhall not come into condemnation. Now, I have heard the words of my Lord; I have believed; when I was an Infidel, I was made a faithful man; and therefore, as he tells me, I have paſſed from Death unto Life, and ſhall not come into Condemnation; not by my preſumption, but by his own promiſe. Which words are ſo convincing, that Bellarmine *L. III. de Juſtif. C. X.himſelf acknowledges, every one may conclude from this promiſe of Chriſt, he is paſſed from Death unto Life, &c. The only queſtion is, with what certainty this can be gathered, which St. Auſtin, ſaith he, doth not explain. But it is plain to every underſtanding, that there is the ſame certainty of the Concluſion, that there is of the Premiſes. A man may be as certain of his Salvation, as he is, that he ſincerely believes Chriſt's words, and is obedient to them. Nor doth the place, which this man quotes out of St. Auſtin, contradict this, but rather confirm it; if the following words be added, which this man fraudulently conceals. They are theſe *In Pſalm XLI., There is no ſtability, nor hope in my ſelf. My ſoul is troubled within me: Wilt thou not be troubled? do not remain in thy ſelf; but ſay, To thee, O Lord, have I lift up my Soul. Hear this more plainly. Do not hope from thy ſelf, but from God. For if thy hope be from thy ſelf, thy Soul will be troubled; becauſe it hath not yet found, whence it may be ſecure of thy ſelf. Which ſhows St. Auſtin thought men might attain to ſecurity, but not in or from themſelves; but in God alone, before whom every one ought to humble himſelf, that he may exalt him. It is to no purpoſe to examine the reſt.