The third part of the Defence of the Reformed Catholike against Doct. Bishops Second part of the Reformation of a Catholike, as the same was first guilefully published vnder that name, conteining only a large and most malicious preface to the reader, and an answer to M. Perkins his aduertisement to Romane Catholicks, &c. Whereunto is added an aduertisement for the time concerning the said Doct. Bishops reproofe, lately published against a little piece of the answer to his epistle to the King, with an answer to some few exceptions taken against the same, by M. T. Higgons latley become a proselyte of the Church of Rome. By R. Abbot Doctor of Diuinitie.

R. ABBOT.

There is a notable picture of the regenerate man in the holy woman Rebecca when a 1.1 the children stroue within her, and the Lord said vnto her, Two nations are in thy wombe, and two maner of people shall be diuided out of thy bowels, and the one people shall be mightier than the other, and the elder shall serue the yonger. For so are there in the faithfull the old and the new man, the flesh and the spirit, somewhat whereby they are the children of God, and somewhat wherby they are still the children of this world. The originall leprosie still cleaueth vnto vs, but it is begun to be clensed and the strength of it is abated already. Sinne still possesseth and dwelleth in our members, but we do not say, as M. Bishop falsly pretendeth, that it hath the commanding of them. b 1.2 We are now like vnto God, saith S. Austin, by hauing the first fruits of the spirit, and we are still vnlike vnto him by the rem∣nants of our old state. So far therefore as we are like him, so far are we by the spirit of regeneration the sonnes of God: and so

far as we are vnlike him, so far are we the children of the flesh and of the world. On the one side therefore we cannot sinne, but on the other side if we say that we haue no sinne, we deceiue our selues and there is no truth in vs. Now then semblably wee answer M. Bishop, that according to that we are renued, and by the spirit of God are become the sonnes of God, the name of God is sanctified in vs, his kingdome is begun in vs, and we doe his will in earth with ready will as it is done in heauen. But by the remainder of the corruption of flesh and of the old man, there is a let that Gods name is not perfectly sanctified in vs, his kingdome taketh not full place in vs, neither doe we his will in such measure as we ought to doe. Yet we pray that the old man, the body of sinne may more and more be destroied, that the worke of Gods kingdome may more and more be fulfilled in vs; that we may more and more keep his commandements and do his will, not only with ready will, but without all let and hinderance fully and perfectly as they in heauen doe. Herein we pray that we may increase from day to day, and we beleeue that God heareth vs and granteth our request and will goe forward with his good worke till he bring vs in heauen to the perfection of it: so far are the Protestants from being out of hope of the obtaining of these three first petitions as M. Bishop fondly dreameth.

Notes

• a 1.1

  Gen. 25 22.23.
• b 1.2

  Aug. de pee∣cat. mer. & re∣miss. l. 2. c. 7. Nunc ei similes esse tam coepi∣mus per primi∣tias spiritus, & adhuc dissimiles sumus per reli∣quias vetusta∣tis, proinde in quantū similes, in tantum rege∣nerante spiritu filij dei: in quā∣tum autem dis∣similes, in tan∣tum si. ij carnis & seculi. Illinc ergò peccare non possumus; hinc verò si dixeri∣mus quia pecca∣tum non habe∣mus, nosi, so•• decipimus &c.