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 Papists.

THey say not, that a man by his free will only is able to liue well, or to obtaine [error 75] eternall life: but yet by the power of free will, stirred, prepared and assisted

by the grace of God, he is able to doe it. The first stirring then and motion of the heart, they say, is of God. Then it is the part of free will to apprehend the grace offered, and to giue consent vnto it, and to worke together with it, Trid. Concil. sess. 6. cap. 5. can. 4.

* 1.1Eckius setteth downe foure steps or degrees to iustification. The begin∣ning of our calling is onely of God, by inspiring of grace into vs: this is the first degree. The second is in our owne power, to giue assent vnto grace once inspi∣red. Thirdly, to obtaine that, which by so assenting we doe desire, is onely of Gods gift, and this is the third degree, gratiae gratum facientis, of grace which maketh vs gracious, or acceptable. The fourth degree of perseuerance in the grace of saluation receiued, is partly in our power and free will, partly of the grace of God.

Our Rhemists thus define the matter: Man, they say, was neuer without free will: but hauing the grace of Christ he is truely made free, Iohn. 8. sect. 2. A∣gaine, though our election, calling, or first comming to God, lye not wholly or principally vpon our owne will or workes: yet our willing or working of any good to our saluation, is the secondary cause; Gods speciall motion, grace and assistance is the principall, Rom. 9. sect. 4.

So then this is their sentence, that neither our free will is so corrupt, that it had neede wholly to be assisted by the grace of God, but that it worketh some∣what of it selfe: nor yet so perfect, that it is able of it owne strength to ob∣taine saluation: But their plaine meaning is this, that Gods grace and mans free will do worke actiuely together, as the Rhemists note. The Gentiles, though they beleeued specially by Gods grace and preordination, yet they beleeue also by their owne free will, Act. 13. sect. 2.

Argum. 2. Timoth. 2.21. If any man purge himselfe from these, he shall be a vessell of honour, 1. Iohn. 3.3. Euery man that hath this hope, sanctifieth him∣selfe: Ergo, man hath free will to make himselfe a vessell of saluation, or damnation. And this teacheth vs, that man may sanctifie himselfe by his free will, working together with the grace of GOD, Rhemist. in vtrumque locum.

Ans. First, these places of scripture doe not proue, that there is any freedome or libertie in mans will to doe good by nature: but that our will being enlar∣ged by Gods spirit, consenteth vnto grace, not of it selfe, or by it owne power. This then is the difference betweene vs: We hold that our free will is wholly corrupt by nature, and can doe nothing, vnlesse it be holpen by grace: They say, that there is some strength left by nature in free will, and it worketh together with the grace of God.

Argum. 2. If there be no free will vnto good, what need exhortations, admo∣nitions, precepts, lawes, reward, punishment, seeing nothing is left in a mans owne power? Eckius.

Ans. Though all good things doe come of God, and we haue no power in our selues to doe that which good is, yet this hindereth not exhortations,

teaching, industrie and labour, no more then the doctrine of predestination doth: For as God giueth all grace, so he bestoweth them by meanes: faith is the gift of God, yet it commeth by hearing. The staffe of bread is the bles∣sing of God, yet for all that the husbandman must not leaue tilling of his ground. So our will is directed by the grace of God vnto goodnes: but wee must vse the meanes notwithstanding, whereby the grace of God worketh in vs.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Loc. 31.