Of the distinction of fvndamental and not fvndamental points of faith devided into two bookes, in the first is shewed the Protestants opinion touching that distinction, and their uncertaintie therin : in the second is shewed and proued the Catholick doctrin touching the same / by C.R.

That sinful denial of anie point of faith sufficiently proposed, is damnable. THIRD CHAPTER.

1. THat al sinful opposition or de∣nial of anie point of faith suffi∣ciently proposed, or which would be so proposed, if it were not the oppo∣sers fault, is damnable, followeth out of that we haue proued, that al such opposition, is true heresie. For that al true heresie, is damnable, is euident out of holie Scripture, Fa∣thers, Reason, and Confession of Protestants. For the Apostle Galat.

5. v. 20. and 21. reckoneth sects or he∣resies, among those sinns, of which he saieth: who doe such things, shal not obteine the Kingdom of God. And ma∣keth no more distinction of heresie, then he doth of the other sinns. And Galat. 1. V. 8. saieth generally: If anie Euangelize, beside that, which ye haue receaued, be he accursed. And Tit. 3. v. 10. Auoid a man, that is an heretik, after the first and second admonition, knowing that he, who is such a one, is subuerted, and sinneth, being condemned by his owne iudgment. But what hindereth to obteine the Kingdom of God, what deserueth a Curese, and condemneth a man in his owne iudgment, is doubt∣les damnable. Our Sauiour also Ioan. 10. calleth heretiks Theeues and Rob∣bers. And Apocal. vltim. v. 19. it is saied. Ifanie shal diminish of the words of this Book of this prophesie, God shal take awaie his parte out of the Book of life. And if it be damnable to diminish a word of Gods Book, much more damnable is it, to diminish some point of his faith or doctrin. The same also

followeth out of thos places of Scrip∣ture, which we shal cite hereafter, which commaund vs to flie the com∣panie of heretiks.

2. Holie Fathers also teach the same. Tertullian de praescript. c. 2. Heresies are to destroie faith: and do bring euerlasting death. And c. 37. If they be heretiks, they can be no Christians. And surely it is damnable, to be no Christian. Saint Cyprian Epist. 73. Nether faith, nor Church, are common to vs with heretiks. And he addeth, that both by the testimonie of the Ghospel and Apostle, heretiks are called Anti-Christs. The like hesaieth Epist. 40. 55. 74. 75. and lib. de vnitate and Fir∣milian Epist. 75. Saint Augnstin l. 2. contra Crescon. c. 10. saieth to the Donatists. Ye haue no Christian Church. l. 3. de Baptis. c. 19. Al heretiks and Schismatiks, are false Christians. L. 21. de Ciuitate c. 25. An heretik, is worse then an Infidel. And in Enchiridioc. 5. Christ, in name only, is found with anie heretiks. Saint Gregorie Nazian. Orat. 21. Driue awaie heretiks, as the

staine and destruction of the Church, and the poison of truth. And Saint Athanase in his Creed, whosoeuer wil be saued, before al things, he must hold the Catholik faith: which vnles he keep whole and in∣uiolate, without doubt he shal perish euer∣lastingly. But heretiks hold not the Catholik faith whole and inuiolate. Therfore &c. S. Fulgentius de fide c. 38. & 39. Hold most firmely, and doubt not at al, that not only Pagans, but also al Iewes, Heretiks, and Schismatiks, who end this life out of the Catholik Church, shal goe into euerlasting fire prouided for the Deuil and his Angels. Finally Saint Chrysostom in Galat. 1. expresly saieth that the lesterror in matter or faith de∣stroieth faith. That he (S. Paul) might shew that anie litle thing wrongly min∣gled doth corrupt the whole, he said the Ghospel was ouerthrown. For as he who in the Kings coine doth clip but a litle of the stamp, maketh the whole of no value: so who destroieth the lest particle of sound faith, is wholy corrupted. Where then are they who condemn vs, becaus we contend with Heretiks, and say: there is no dif∣ference

betwixt vs and them, but that al our discord is for ambition to dominere. Let them heare what Paul saieth, that they had ouerthrown the Ghospel who had brought in neuer so litle noueltie. Which words are more cleare then to be eluded by Chillingworths Answer c. 6. p. 381. that Saint Chrysostom by Faith meaneth only Fundamental points of faith. For Saint Chrysost. expresly speaketh of litle things, and lest particles of faith, and neuer so litle nouelties. Besids his exposition is vo∣luntarie, not proued out of one word of Saint Chrysostom. And his reason, becaus by Faith is oftentimes meant onely Fundamental points, is Sophi∣stical. For it is a particularibus and dissimilibus. For Faith is neuer taken for anie part of it, but when that is some way declared by the speaker or writer. Becaus al words are to be meant according to their proprietie and latitude, vnles the contrarie be declared, els we could not be certaine how words were to be taken. Which were to destroie the end of speech and

writing. Far more testimonies of Fa∣thers might be brought to this purpos, but whom these suffice not, none wil suffice.

3. Reason also conuinceth, that al herefie is damnable. For it is a sin in a weightie matter, to wit, against faith. Moreouer heresie, is a sinful Not beleif, or Disbeleif of some di∣uine truth sufficiently proposed to come from God which is in effect not to beleue God in that truth: or to denie Gods veracitie, and to giue God the Lie; as Chillingworth speaketh, or as Doctor Potter saieth: An act of Infidelitie. And an act of infidelitie, or to giue God the Lie, and to denie Gods veracitie, is doubtles most dam∣nable. And, as the same Potter saieth sec. 7. p. 109. In this case, the difference is not great, betweene him that is wilfully blinde, and him, that knowingly gaine∣saieth the truth: but knowingly to gaine saie diuine truth, is most damnable, and a sin against the Holie Ghost. Nether is there anie ground in holie Scripture, Fathers, or Reason, to

denie al heresie to be damnable: But some Protestants denie it, merely, be∣caus they cannot denie, but that some of their Churches and Brethren cul∣pably hold some heresies, whom they are ashamed to confes, to be in state of damnation.

4. Protestants likewise sometimes confes that al heresie is damnable. Luther in Explicat. Symboli Tom. 7. fol. 124. No heretik is saued, vnles he returne to the Church, and in al things think, doe, and teach the same. And l. de votis Tom. 2. fol. 272. If anie denie Marie to be a Virgin, or doe not beleue anie other singular article of faith, he is damned. King Iames Resp. and Pe∣ron p. 384. Damneth al, who (saieth he) haue departed from the faith of the Catholik Church, and are become here∣tiks. Apologie of the Church of En∣gland. Heresie is a forsaking of saluation and departure from the bodie and Spirit of Christ. Idem: we pronounce al them damned, who haue a wiked opinion of anie point of Christian Religion. French Protestants in their cene. I excommu∣nicate

al Heretiks. Feild Append. p. 23. we doe not admit anie sectaries into the communion of the true Catholik Church. White in Preface to his way: In que∣stions of faith whosoeuer erreth, looseth no les then his soule therby. Hooker of iustific. §. 11. Heresie is heretically main∣teined by such, as obstinatly hold it, after holesome admonition. Of thes I make no doubt, but their condemnation, without an actual repentance, is ineuitable. Whi∣taker Praefat in controu. One heresie, is sufficient to damnation. And controu. 2. q. 4. c. 2. No heretiks can be saued. And ibid. q. 5. c. 2. we confes that here∣tiks are to be fled. Hooker l. 3. p. 129. Heresies which are not actually repented of, exclude quite and cleane from saluatiō. More of the like Confessions of Pro∣testants, maie be seene lib. 1. of the Author of Protestancie c. 1. to which I wil ad the Confessions of late English Writers.

5. Doctor Potter sect. 2. p. 55. Whosoeuer, ether wilfully opposes anie Catholik veritie mainteined by this Church (of Saints) or the Catholik

visible Church, as do heretiks, their con∣dition is damnable. Sec. 7. p. 74. It is true, that whatsoeuer is reuealed in Scrip∣ture, or propounded by the Church out of Scripture, is in some sorte fundamental, in regard of the diuine authoritie of God, and his word, by which it is recōmended, that is, such, as maie not be denied, or con∣tradicted without infidelitie. And p. 110. Where there is no such impediment (of incapacitie) and the reuealed wil or word of God is sufficiently propounded, there he that opposeth, is conuinced of error, and he who is thus conuinced, is an heretik, and heresie is a work of the flesh, which ex∣cludeth from heauen. Galat. 5. v. 20. p. 105. It seemes fundamental to the faith, and to saluation of euerie Christian mem∣ber, that he acknowledg, and beleue al such points of faith, wherof he maie be sufficiently conuinced, that they belong to the doctrin of Iesus Christ. For he that being sufficiently conuinced, doth oppose, is obstinat, an heretik, and finally such a one, as excludes himself out of heauen. And p. III. It is fundamental to a Chri∣stians faith, and necessarie for his salua∣tion,

that he beleue al reuealed truths of God, wherof he maie be conuinced that they are from God. Sec. 4. p. 99. Heresie is a greiuous crime, where it is true. And as Chillingworth saieth in Answer to the Preface p. 8. He giues them only, hope of pardon of errors, who are desirous, and according to the proportion of their opportunities and abilities, industrious to finde the truth: or at least truly repen∣tant, that they haue not beene so.

6. Chillingworth in Answer to the Preface p. 10. and 11. To denie, or disbeleue anie point of faith sufficiently proposed to his vnderstanding, as a truth reuealed by God, is to giue God the Lie. P. 18. If this proposal be so sufficient, as the partie, to whom it is made, should, and (but for his own fault) would haue been conuinced of the diuine veritie of the doc∣trin proposed, a fault I confes, it is, and without repentance, damnable, if, al cir∣cumstances considered, the proposal be suf∣ficient. P. 19. When God hath interposed his testimonie on one side, or other, so that ether they do see it, and wil not, or were it not for their owne voluntarie and auoi∣dable

fault, might and should see it, and doe not, let al such errors be as damnable as you please to make them. P. 21. If anie Papist or Protestant be betraied into, or kept in anie error, by anie sin of his wil, such error is, as the cause of it, damnable. P. 23. There is, (as matters now stand) as great necessitie of beleuing thos truths of Scripture, which are Not fundamental, as thos, that are. And p. 24. he citeth Doctor Potter saying. If anie be ne∣gligent in seeking truth, vnwilling to finde it, ether doth see it, and wil not: or might see it, and wil not, his case is dan∣gerous, and without repentance, desperat. And Chillingworth addeth: He secu∣reth none, that in matter of Religion, are sinfully, that is, willingly erroneous. And c. 3. p. 138. You infer out of Doctor Pot∣ters words, that al errors are alike dam∣nable, if the manner of propounding the contrarie truths, be not different: which (for ought I know) al Protestants, and al, that haue sense, must graunt. And ibid. p. 161. we are obliged vnder paine of dam∣nation, to beleue al, wherof we may be fufficiently assured, that Christ taught it his

Apostles, his Apostles, the Church. And p. 137. namely he saieth of a Not fun∣damental point: It maie, by accident, become fundamental, becaus it maie be so proposed, that the denial of it, wil draw after it, the denial of this fundamental truth: That al, which God saies, is true. And al that is so sufficiently propo∣sed, as matters of faith ought to be, are proposed in such sort. Ibid pag. 134. Among the conditions of saluation, which Christ requireth, one is, that we beleue what he has reuealed, when it is suf∣ficiently declared to haue beene reuealed by him. And 158. If the cause of the error be some voluntarie, and auoidable fault the error is in itself finful, and conse∣quētly in its owne nature dawnable. And c. 5. p. 280. Capital danger may arise from errors, though not fundamental. Seep. 278.

7. Lord Canterburie sec. 37. p. 320. It is true, that error in points not funda∣mental maie be damnable to some men, though they hold it not against their con∣science. As namely, when they hold an er∣ror in some dangerous points, which grate

vpon the foundation, and yet wil nether seek the meanes to know the truth, nor accept and beleue truth, when it is known especially being men able to iudge. And p. 342. I agree, that he which hopes for sal∣uatiō, must beleue the Catholik faith whole and entire in euerie point. And sec. 35. p. 289. saieth. A matter of faith, and so of saluation too. As if euerie matter of faith, were also matter of saluation. And both he p. 24. 31. 139. 140. 162. 165. Chillingworth p. 14. 277. 279. 281. 285. And Potter sec. 5. p. 19. sec. 7. p. 58. 78. speak of absolutly or simply fun∣damental, or necessarie points, which in∣sinuateth, that there are others truly fundamētal, or truly necessarie, besids thos which are absolutely such. The Author of the Preface to K. Iames before Iuels workes. In things neces∣sarie onely, necessitate Precepti, not onely witting and willing disobedience, but also wilful and affected ignorance doth condemn.

8. In which Confessions of the Protestants, I would haue the Reader to mark wel thes points. First, that al

errors, fundamental or Not funda∣mental, are alike damnable, if the contrarie truth be alike proposed. Secondly, that a Not fundamental point sufficiently proposed, is so fun∣damental to faith and saluation, as to contradict it, is infidelitie, and to giue God the Lie. Thirdly, that who be∣leueth not anie one diuine truth suffi∣ciently proposed, is an heretik, and excludes himself out of heauen. Fourthly, that who is negligent to seek truth, or vnwilling to finde it, is, without repentance, desperat. Fiftly, that who, were it not for their auoida∣ble faults, might, and should see truth, and do not, their error is dam∣nable, and that they secure none, who is sinfully erroneous. And if they would constantly stand to thes points, there would be litle cōtrouersie about fundamental, and not fundamental points. For this is to grant plainly, that no points of faith are so fundamental, as they are sufficient to sauing faith, Church, and saluation, if other points be sufficiently proposed and not bele∣ued,

or for the not beleuers fault, not so proposed: nor anie so not funda∣mental, as they are not necessarie to sauing faith, Church, and saluation to be beleued actually, if they be suf∣ficiently proposed, and necessarie to be virtually beleued, whether they be so proposed, or no. And al the que∣stion betwixt Catholiks and Protes∣tants is, whether anie points of faith be thus fundamental, and anie thus Not-fundamental, or no. But be∣caus Protestants can not denie, but that some Churches, which they mainteine, haue had the truth, against which they err, sufficiently proposed to them, or if it were not their auoid∣able fault, might and should see the truth, therfor when they are to de∣fend such Churches, they forget this doctrin. But now hauing proued, that to err sinfully, in anie matter of faith, is both heresie, and destroieth saluation, let vs also proue, that it destroieth true sauing faith.

Notes

• VVhitak. cont. 2. q 4. c 2. non om∣nes errores, circa fidem sunt latha∣les, sicut noc omnes mor∣bi.
• Heresie numbred by the Apostle Among dam nable sinns.
• Heretiks condemned by their own iudg∣ment.
• C. 9. n. 2.
• Heresie brings dam∣nation.
• Heretiks no Christians.
• Are Anti-Christs.
• False Chri∣stians.
• VVorse then infidels.
• Al that die heretiks, are damned.
• The lest mixture corrupteth faith.
• See here n. 5. 6.
• Note this. Sinful igno∣rance excu∣seth not frō heresie or sin. See also Chilling. c. 7. p. 404.
• No heretik saued.
• Caluin Act. 24. Detesta∣biles iubet haberi haere∣ticos, Spiri∣tus Dei. Bezadepun. haer. p. 21. non potest non esse gra∣uissimū hae∣reseos crimē. see p. 119. See Iuel. p. 43. 314.
• One heresie damneth.
• Condition of heretiks, damnable.
• whatsoeuer is reuealed, is funda∣mental.
• Infidelitie, to denie anie point suffi∣ciently pro∣posed.
• See Andrews cont. Apol. Bellar. c. 6. p. 132.
• Fundamen∣tal to faith and salua∣tion.
• Fundamētal to saluation to beleue al sufficiently proposed.
• To disbeleue what is suf∣ficiētly pro∣posed, is to giue God, the Lie.
• A damnable fault.
• To maie, and wil not see truth, is damnable. See Morton Impo. p. 372.
• Alike neces∣sitie to be∣leue not fū∣damentals, as funda∣mentals.
• Negligence in seeking truth, is damnable.
• None sin∣fully erro∣neous, is secure.
• Al error alike dam∣nable, if the preposal be alike.
• See also p. 41.
• A matter of faith, is a matter of saluation.
• Points to be noted.
• 1.
• 2.
• 3.
• 4.
• 5.
• Protestants some times grant al the question. Magna est veritas & praeualet.