The faith, doctrine, and religion, professed, & protected in the realme of England, and dominions of the same expressed in 39 articles, concordablie agreed vpon by the reuerend bishops, and clergie of this kingdome, at two seuerall meetings, or conuocations of theirs, in the yeares of our Lord, 1562, and 1604: the said articles analised into propositions, and the propositions prooued to be agreeable both to the written word of God, and to the extant confessions of all the neighbour churches, Christianlie reformed: the aduersaries also of note, and name, which from the apostles daies, and primitiue Church hetherto, haue crossed, or contradicted the said articles in generall, or any particle, or proposition arising from anie of them in particular, heereby are discouered, laid open, and so confuted. Perused, and by the lawfull authoritie of the Church of England, allowed to be publique.

2. Proposition. The very regenerate may depart from grace giuen and fall into sinne, and yet rise againe vnto newnes of life.

The proofe from the word of God.

That the Regenerate may fall into sinne, and yet rise againe, it is a doctrine grounded vpon the Scriptures. For in them wee euidently may see, that fall they may, partly by the admoniti∣ons of our Sauiour vnto the man healed of the Palsie a 1.1, and vn∣to the adultresse b 1.2; of S. Paul, vnto the Ephesians c 1.3, Colossians, d 1.4, Hebrewes e 1.5, and Timothie f 1.6, and of S. Peter vnto all the god∣ly g 1.7, and partly by the examples of Dauid h 1.8, Salomon i 1.9, Peter k 1.10, who egregiously, and very offensiuely did fall, and that they

doe fall, it is most euident by the fift petitiō of the Lords prai∣er were nothing els to prooue the same, but see afore 9. art. Prop. 3. art. 12. prop. 2. art. 15. propo. 2.

Next, that being fallen they may rise againe, and be saued, it is apparent both by the exhortations of the Angell vnto the Churches of Ephesus, Pergamus, and Thyatira l 1.11, and by the examples of Peter, who denied m 1.12, and yet afterward confes∣sed his master Christ n 1.13; and of all the disciples, who fled o 1.14, and yet returned.

This both granted is, and published for truth by the Chur∣ches p 1.15.

The adversaries vnto this truth.

Vnto this truth subscribe will not

Either by the Catharans a 1.16, Nouatians b 1.17, Iouinians c 1.18, which thinke Gods people be regenerate into a pure, and Angelicall state, so that neither they be, nor can be defiled with any con∣tagion of sinne.

Either the Libertines, whose opinions were that.

Whosoeuer hath Gods spirit in him, cannot sinne.

Dauid sinned not after he had receiued the holy Ghost d 1.19.

Regeneration is the restoring of the estate wherein Adam was placed afore his fall e 1.20.

Or the Papists who are of minde that

The workes of men iustified are perfect in this life f 1.21. No man which is fallen into sinne, can rise againe, and be saued without their Sacrament of Penance g 1.22.

S. Francis attained vnto the perfection of holines, and could not sinne at all h 1.23.

Notes

• a 1.1

  Ioh. 5.14.
• b 1.2

  Ioh. 8.11.
• c 1.3

  Eph 4.21, 22.
• d 1.4

  Coloss. 3 8.
• e 1.5

  Heb. 3.12.
• f 1.6

  1. Tim. 1.19. 2. Tim. 4.3. 2. Tim. 2.22.
• g 1.7

  1. Pet. 2.10. and 58. 2. Pet 3.17.
• h 1.8

  2. Sam. 11 4.
• i 1.9

  1. king. 11.3.
• k 1.10

  Math. 26.70.72.74.
• l 1.11

  Reuel. 2.
• m 1.12

  Luk. 22.55.
• n 1.13

  Act. 2.23. &c. & 3.13. & 4.10. &c.
• o 1.14

  Matth. 26 56.
• p 1.15

  Confess. Hel••. 2. c. 7. Bohem. c. 5.8. Saxon. ar. 10, 11. VVittem. ar. 32. S••e••ic••, ar. 15.
• a 1.16

  Magd. eccles. hist. c••n. 12. c. 5.
• b 1.17

  Eus. l. 5. c. 43.
• c 1.18

  Magd. eccles. hist. cent. 4. c. 5.
• d 1.19

  VVilkinson against the F. of Loue, ar. 14.
• e 1.20

  Calv. contra Libert. fol. 217.
• f 1.21

  Tapp p. 189.
• g 1.22

  Concil. ••rid. sess. 6. can. 29.
• h 1.23

  Vis ad apicē venire perfecti∣onis? Vita cum moribus atten∣de B. Francisci.