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The Pamphlet. Articles concerning good life and pietie.
The Protestants are bound in conscience neuer to aske God forgiuenes of their sinnes.
WHosoeuer is assured by faith that his sins are forgiuen him, sinneth most grieuously in asking God pardon for them: but all true Protestants are assured by faith, that their sinnes are forgiuen them. Ergo.
All true Protestants sinne grieuously in asking pardon of God for them.
The Maior is euident: for who but an Infidel or a mad man, would demaund of God the creation of the world, which he is assured by faith that God hath alreadie created? or Christs in∣carnation, which alreadie is performed? or the institution of Sacraments, which alreadie is effected? In like manner, who but an Infidel or a mad man will demaund pardon of his sins, which he beleeueth alreadie by faith that God hath forgiuen? for it is a signe that he doubteth of that which he is bound by faith to beleeue, which doubting faith is infidelitie.
Moreouer, what soeuer we demaund, that wee hope to obtaine: but no man hopeth to obtaine that he alreadie possesseth, as no man will demaund of God his owne soule, or bodie, because al∣readie he possesseth them.
The Minor is vndoubted, because this is that liuely faith, whereby the Protestants are iustified: by this they apprehend Christ, by this they applie his merits and passion vnto them, and without this no man can attaine vnto saluation. Hereupon I will inferre, that no Protestant can with a safe conscience say the Lords Prayer, because he cannot pray as he ought without true faith, and call God his father; and if he haue true faith, he can∣not without note of infidelitie vtter this petition, Forgiue vs our sinnes: for that most assuredly he beleeueth and protesteth in the first ingresse of that prayer, that he is the Son of God, and consequently beleeueth by faith that his sins are forgiuen him.