Leviathan eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 732 pages of information about Leviathan.

Leviathan eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 732 pages of information about Leviathan.

From The Easinesse Of The Doctrine:  The third Argument is, from those places of Scripture, by which all the Faith required to Salvation is declared to be Easie.  For if an inward assent of the mind to all the Doctrines concerning Christian Faith now taught, (whereof the greatest part are disputed,) were necessary to Salvation, there would be nothing in the world so hard, as to be a Christian.  The Thief upon the Crosse though repenting, could not have been saved for saying, “Lord remember me when thou commest into thy Kingdome;” by which he testified no beleefe of any other Article, but this, That Jesus Was The King.  Nor could it bee said (as it is Mat. 11. 30.) that “Christs yoke is Easy, and his burthen Light:”  Nor that “Little Children beleeve in him,” as it is Matth. 18.6.  Nor could St. Paul have said (1 Cor. 1. 21.) “It pleased God by the Foolishnesse of preaching, to save them that beleeve:”  Nor could St. Paul himself have been saved, much lesse have been so great a Doctor of the Church so suddenly, that never perhaps thought of Transsubstantiation, nor Purgatory, nor many other Articles now obtruded.

From Formall And Cleer Texts The fourth Argument is taken from places expresse, and such as receive no controversie of Interpretation; as first, John 5. 39.  “Search the Scriptures, for in them yee thinke yee have eternall life; and they are they that testifie of mee.”  Our Saviour here speaketh of the Scriptures onely of the Old Testament; for the Jews at that time could not search the Scriptures of the New Testament, which were not written.  But the Old Testament hath nothing of Christ, but the Markes by which men might know him when hee came; as that he should descend from David, be born at Bethlehem, and of a Virgin; doe great Miracles, and the like.  Therefore to beleeve that this Jesus was He, was sufficient to eternall life:  but more than sufficient is not Necessary; and consequently no other Article is required.  Again, (John 11. 26.) “Whosoever liveth and beleeveth in mee, shall not die eternally,” Therefore to beleeve in Christ, is faith sufficient to eternall life; and consequently no more faith than that is Necessary, But to beleeve in Jesus, and to beleeve that Jesus is the Christ, is all one, as appeareth in the verses immediately following.  For when our Saviour (verse 26.) had said to Martha, “Beleevest thou this?” she answereth (verse 27.) “Yea Lord, I beleeve that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world;” Therefore this Article alone is faith sufficient to life eternall; and more than sufficient is not Necessary.  Thirdly, John 20. 31.  “These things are written that yee might beleeve, that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that beleeving yee might have life through his name.”  There, to beleeve that Jesus Is The Christ, is faith sufficient to the obtaining of life; and therefore no other Article is Necessary.  Fourthly, 1 John 4. 2.  “Every Spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh,

Copyrights
Project Gutenberg
Leviathan from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.