Synopsis papismi, that is, A generall viewe of papistry wherein the whole mysterie of iniquitie, and summe of antichristian doctrine is set downe, which is maintained this day by the Synagogue of Rome, against the Church of Christ, together with an antithesis of the true Christian faith, and an antidotum or counterpoyson out of the Scriptures, against the whore of Babylons filthy cuppe of abominations: deuided into three bookes or centuries, that is, so many hundreds of popish heresies and errors. Collected by Andrew Willet Bachelor of Diuinity.

The Protestants.

THat men are iust before God, for all their daily transgressions of frailetie, and manifolde infirmities by the righteousnes of Christ, made theirs by a liuely faith; we deny not: but that there is no perfect inherent iustice in them∣selues, neither that they can perfectly keepe the law, because of those sinnes, thus we proue it out of the word of God.

Argu. They which doe but in the least point break the law, are subiect to the curse thereof: for it is written, Cursed is he that continueth not in all things writ∣ten in the law to doe them, Galath. 3.10. And what is to be vnderstoode by all things our Sauiour declareth, Math. 5. where he sheweth how murder may be committed in the affection, and in the tongue, and adulterie likewise in the eye: Ergo, the smaller offences are also transgressions of the law: from the which see∣ing the most righteous men vpon earth are not free, they cannot perfectly keep the law, nor by their own iustice escape the curse thereof.

Augustine: Custodit vias Dei, qui non sic exorbitat, vt eas relinquat,* 1.1 sed in eis currendo proficit, et si aliquādo vt infirmus titubat, proficit tamen minuēdo peccata.

He is saide to keepe the waies of God, which doth not so turne aside out of them, that he altogether leaue them: but doth dayly profite and goe forward in keeping of them: and although he sometime stumble, yet he profiteth by di∣minishing of his sinnes. As he therefore that stumbleth, and is turned sometime out of the way, doth not perfectly keepe the way: no more doth the righteous man perfectly keepe the law of God, which he transgresseth by his daily sinnes. In isto ergo conflictu induimur ea iustitia, qua ex fide viuitur: In this conflict therefore let vs put on the righteousnes of faith: he giueth counsell that men should leaue their own righteousnes, and rather labour to liue by faith, and be counted righteous in Christ.

Notes

• * 1.1

  De perfect. iustit. cont. Celest.