Andrew Willet on the difference between Papists and Protestants concerning the object of faith: The Papists. Bellarmine affirmeth, that it is not the property of faith, specially to apply to every believer the promises of God in Christ, for this he boldly calleth presumption, but generally to believe whatsoever is contained in the Word of God to be true (Bellarm. lib. 1. de justificat. cap. 4). The chapter also of Trent, thus decreeth, that justifying faith is not that assured belief, and confidence of the heart, whereby we are persuaded, that our sins are forgiven us in Christ (sess. can. 6, 13). Our Rhemists also thus deliver their sentence, that faith which justifieth, is a general, or universal believing of the articles of Christs death, and resurrection, not any fond special faith, fiducia, or confidence of each mans own salvation (Rhemist. annot. Rom. 4. sect. 9). . . . The Protestants. A justifying faith is not only a general belief of the articles of faith, that Christ was dead, born, rose again for them that believe: but it is an assured and steadfast confidence, whereby every man particularly doth apply to himself the general promises of God, for the hope of remission of his sins in Christ, that Christ died, rose again, and did all the rest even for him. (Synopsis Papismi, 1634 ed., pp. 974, 976)
Posted on: Sat, 03 Jan 2015 13:57:21 +0000
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