Rhemes against Rome: or, The remoouing of the gagg of the new Gospell, and rightly placing it in the mouthes of the Romists, by the Rhemists in their English translation of the Scriptures. Which counter-gagg is heere fitted by the industrious hand of Richard Bernard ...

Confuted by their owne Bible.

BY their Bible we doe learne, and it is cleere,

First, that the vnalterable ground of our saluation is laid in Iesus Christ, God hauing chosen vs in him, before the consti∣tution of the world, Ephes. 1. 4. which he wil perfect: for, whom he hath predestinated, them also he hath called; and whom hee hath called, them also he hath iustified; and whom he hath iusti∣fied, them also he hath glorified, Rom. 8. 30.

Secondly, that Christ hath taken away all and euery cause of damnation, and euery thing that might hinder the saluation of such as beleeued in him; as to wit, sin. Hee is made sinne for vs, 2. Cor. 5. 21. the curse of the Law; he hath redeemed vs from the curse thereof, Gal. 3. 13. and from vnder it, Gal. 4. 5. the an∣ger and wrath of God: for we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, Rom. 5. 10, 11 2. Cor. 5. 19. So that there is no damnation to them that are in Christ, Rom. 8. 1.

Thirdly, that Christ is euery thing for vs vnto God, our Wis∣dome, Iustice, Sanctification, and Redemption, 1. Cor. 1. 30. yea, in Christ, we are made the Iustice of God, 2. Cor. 5. 21. So that God iustifieth vs with his owne Iustice, which cannot bee ex∣cepted against. Who therefore shall accuse the elect of God? or who is hee that shall condemne? Rom. 8. 33, 34. And if free from accusation, and condemnation, are they not sure of salua∣tion? What is it that letteth?

Fourthly, that no power (though they haue many temptati∣ons, and many combates) shall euer finally ouercome them. The gates of hell shall not preuaile against them, Matth. 16. 18. For in the vertue of God, they are kept by faith to saluation, 1. Pet. 1. 5. and are in all power strengthened, according to the might of his glory, in all patience & longanimitie with ioy, Col. 1. 11.

Christ promiseth not to cast forth his, Ioh. 6. 37, 40 and he hol∣deth vs, that none shall plucke vs out of his hands, Ioh 10. 28. Not Satan, for Christ hath ouercome him, Matth. 4. Heb. 2. 14. Not the world: for he hath ouercome it also, Ioh. 16. 33. Not false Teachers: for it is not possible that the elect should bee in∣duced into errour, Matth. 24. 24. meaning totally and finally. Not our sinnes: for the bloud of Christ hath cleansed vs from all sinne, 1. Ioh. 1. 7. and in him we haue redemption, the remission of our sinnes, Col. 1. 14. Ephes. 1. 7. See also Heb. 8. 12 & 9. 14. Not the terrour and curse of the Law: for hee hath fulfilled it for vs, and remoued the curse, Gal. 4. 5. & 3. 13. Not our once being vnder the power of darknesse: for God hath deliuered vs from our enemies, Luk. 1. 74. and from the power of darknesse, and translated vs into the kingdome of the Sonne of his loue, Col. 1. 13. Nor Gods once former displeasure against vs: for when we were impious, Rom. 5. when wee were sinners, Christ dyed for vs, verses 6. 8. and when we were enemies, we by Christs death were reconciled to God, verse 10. and haue receiued reconcili∣ation, verse 11. Not any thing that may fall out after reconciliation. For, if when we were Enemies, we were reconciled, much more being reconciled, shal we be saued in the life of him, Rom. 5. 10. No, not Gods iust deserued wrath for our often falls. For, if when we were sinners, Christ dyed for vs; much more therefore now being iustified by his bloud, shall wee be saued from wrath by him, Rom. 5. 8, 9. 1. Thes. 1. 10. Not the Law of sinne captiuing vs, so as we cannot doe that which wee would, but doe often that which wee would not. For Iesus Christ shall deliuer vs from the body of this death, Rom. 7. 24, 25. Not tribulation, distresse, fa∣mine, nakednesse, danger, persecution, nor the sword, though wee were killed for his sake all the day long. For to vs it is giuen for Christ, not onely that wee should beleeue in him, but also that we suffer for his name, Phil. 1. 28. And in all these things wee ouercome; because of him that hath loued vs, Rom. 8. 37. and because God is faithfull, who will not suffer his to bee tempted aboue that which they are able: but will also make with temp∣tation issue, that you may be able to sustaine, 1. Cor. 10. 13.

To conclude, there is nothing possible that can separate vs

from the charity of God in Christ Iesus our Lord. For I am sure, saith the Apostle, that neither Death, nor Life, nor Angels, nor Principalities, nor Powers, neither things present, nor things to come, neither might, nor height, nor depth, nor other creature shall be able to doe it, Rom. 8. 38, 39. For we know, that to them that loue God, all things co-operate vnto good, to such as accor∣ding to purpose are called to be Saints, Rom. 8. 28. And Christ Iesus is able to saue for euer them that goe by him to God, Heb. 7. 25. hee being entred into Heauen, now appearing to the countenance of God for vs, Heb. 9. 24. who is on Gods right hand making intercession for vs, Rom. 8. 34. So that it is vn∣doubtedly certaine, that those that bee Christs shall not perish, Ioh. 3. 15. nor come into iudgement, but passe from death to life, Ioh. 5. 24.

Fifthly, their Bible teacheth, not onely these things in the ge∣nerall; but also how euery true beleeuer may particularly be as∣sured that he hath his part in these things, and be certaine of his owne saluation; and that is by Christs Spirit, and by the grace of faith, wrought by the same Spirit.

First, by the Spirit. For the Spirit himselfe giueth testimonie to our spirit, that wee are the sonnes of God, Rom. 8. 16. This Spirit of God wee receiue, that wee may know the things that of God are giuen to vs, 1. Cor. 2. 12. Hence it is, that Iohn saith, In this we know that we abide in him, and he in vs, because hee of his Spirit hath giuen to vs, 1. Ioh. 4. 13. and 3. 24. What can be more certaine then knowledge, and that knowledge which is of Gods Spirit? whose testimony is most infallible: for it is the testimonie of God himselfe, and the Spirit of truth, Ioh. 14. 17. 1. Ioh. 5 6. It is also Gods pledge to vs, 2. Cor. 5. 5. and 1. 22. Ephes. 1. 14. and his Signet, with which we are signed vn∣to the Day of Redemption, Ephes. 1. 13. and 4. 30. Now Gods Spirit being truth, being Gods owne witnesse, being his owne pledge, in euery true beleeuers heart, and his owne signet and seale, is hee not certaine and sure of his saluation? Will any man question the truth of an earthly Kings word, his hand and seale so affirming any thing to be as hee saith? How much lesse the Word, hand and Seale of the King of

Heauen, bearing witnesse to euery true beleeuer, that hee is the child of God; yea, and making him to speake to God as to a Fa∣ther, & so to call him by the name of Father, Rom. 8. 15. Gal. 4. 6. then which, what greater assurance of saluation can there be?

Secondly, by faith; which maketh the party which hath it, to know that he hath it, 1. Cor. 13. 5. and that which it belee∣ueth, to be certaine to the beleeuer: so as he can say, We know that hee will raise vs vp, 2. Cor. 4. 14. We know that wee haue eternall life, 1. Ioh. 5. 13. and we know, that we haue a building of God, eternall in Heauen, 2. Cor. 5. 1. Therefore the Apostle saith, We are bold alwayes, verse 6. So as the Apostle Iames ex∣horteth not to wauer or to doubt, Iam. 1. 6. So S. Paul, 1. Tim. 2. 8. For saith is the substance of things to be hoped for, and the argument of things not appearing, Heb. 11. 1. Which could not be, vnlesse there were certainty in it; yea, so certaine, faith maketh things to be to beleeuers, that the Apostle saith, Wee walke by saith, and not by sight, hauing before spoken of con∣stant boldnesse, and also by and by after touching their assu∣rance of future happinesse, 2. Cor. 5. 6, 7, 8. Moreouer, this grace of faith giueth a particular assurance to him that hath it, and applyeth that to himselfe which hee beleeueth. Therefore beleeuing in Christ, and receiuing him, are made both one, Ioh. 1. 12. Now, he that receiueth a thing from another for him∣selfe, is to lay hold on it, and so to take it to himselfe. So belee∣uing, is a laying hold and applying Christ, and his benefits, and all promises of saluation made in Christ to a mans selfe in parti∣cular. Whereupon it is, that the Apostle speaking of faith, ex∣horteth to apprehend eternall life, 1. Tim. 6. 12. Also the more fully to expresse this particular assurance and application, in Ioh. 6. to eate and to drinke Christ, is made the same with be∣leeuing in him. To beleeue in Christ (saith Saint Austen) is to eate the bread of Life: He that beleeueth, eateth. Beleeue, and thou eatest. Now, can any thing be more assured, and more neerely applyed to a man, that it is his infallibly, then that which he hath eaten? And if to beleeue in Christ, be the eating of him, and the eating assureth him that eateth him, to liue for euer, Ioh. 6. 51, 58. then faith doth assure him that beleeueth in

Christ, that he hath Christ, and all the benefits of his death and Passion, for his eternall saluation, as he that hath eaten bread, hath the benefit of it, to the sustentation of corporall life. Of this liuely and certaine application of faith, the Fathers speake. Au∣stin saith, that saith sent vp, layeth hold on Christ. Chrysostome saith, Let vs beleeue, and we see Iesus present before vs. Ambrose saith, That by faith Christ is touched, and is seene. Tertullian saith, That by faith Christ is digested. Now, if Christ by faith be laid hold on, seene present, touched, and as food digested, it doth, according to the measure thereof, effectually apply him, and giueth particular assurance of Saluation, which is obtained by Christ; though we haue neither miracle, nor extraordinarie reuelation to tell vs, that we are saued. Furthermore, faith is that which receiueth the promise, Gal. 3. 14. It goeth out of a mans selfe to fetch all that it beleeueth, concerning saluation from God; most fully knowing that whatsoeuer God promiseth, he is able to performe it, Rom. 4. 21. Hence is it, that by faith which applyeth the promise, and beleeueth that God is true of his word, and able also to make it good, aboue all that we desire, or vnderstand, Ephes. 3. 20. we are ascertained of that which we beleeue; neither doth our faith stagger, but maketh vs most as∣sured, while it is fixed on God, on his Word, on his will made knowne by his Word and promise, on the truth of that also which he once hath spoken, & on his almightie power to make it good accordingly. But God hath promised to euery true be∣leeuer forgiuenesse of sinnes, Act. 10. 43. and euerlasting life, Ioh. 3. 15. Thus hauing spoken, his will and good pleasure is hereby knowne, this word will hee keepe, and his power will make it good: All which, true faith applyeth to him that hath it, as spoken to him (for in this, faith excelleth all other graces) and so maketh him certaine of forgiuenesse of sinnes, and of euerlasting life, which we in our Creed professe to beleeue, not onely that there is remission of sinnes, the resurrection of the body, and the life euerlasting: but euery true beleeuer by faith saith, that his sinnes are remitted, his body shall rise againe, as Iob was perswaded, and that hee shall haue life euerlasting: For to beleeue them to be, and not to apply them, is not a iustifying

faith, but such a faith as is in reprobates, euen the faith of deuils.

Lastly, this sauing faith bringeth forth such fruits, as wil pro∣claime to all, that faith is a grace of certainty. It maketh a belee∣uer, that he shall not be confounded, Rom. 10. 11 to haue affi∣ance, and accesse with confidence, Ephes. 3. 12. Now, where there is assiance, and confidence, there is much certainty in that grace which worketh these. It worketh also hope; now hope maketh vs glory, and confoundeth not, Rom. 5. 2, 5. and is the anchor of the soule sure and firme, Heb. 6. 19. yea hope is said to haue glory and confidence, Heb. 3. 6. If hope then bee so cer∣taine, sure and firme, as that we are thereby confident, yea glo∣rying, as if we had in possession that which we expect to haue, and neuer confoundeth, nor maketh vs ashamed, that is, faileth vs not of that which wee looke for, but wee finde surely what hope expecteth: then much more are wee made confident by faith it selfe, and particularly assured of that which God hath promised, euen remission of sinnes, and eternall saluation, see∣ing hope is the fruit of faith.

Notes

• In Ioan. tract. 25. & 26.
• Tract. 50. on Iohn. On Marke hom. 10. On Luk l. 6. c. 8. Li. de resur. Cor.