72 I C H A P.a. f1n Expo,/ìtianvpon the f coed V& Ras. The niceties of inquiry vfuall amongff Schoolmen, I willingly pretermit; Such as that is; whether confeffion of the doctrine of Faith be properly an aft of Faith,or not rather of fortitude? And how anaa of Faith, whitherFhy- fice or moraliter ? Therein who lulls to bufie himfelfe,may z.a.z e.q.3, art fee what c Thomas his Commenters fay. I take for gran- so. ted, that its a worke and office of Faith, to confeflè the knowne Truth in times ofextreme perfecutions. Teflimo_ nies are frequent: See Romanes 10.10. 2 Corinthians 4 r ÿ. vlatth.te. How fare wee Eland bound to the office and perfor- mance thereof, is matter of profitable inquirie. And in there times,though peaceable, yet feeming to portend our trial{, frmething neceffary. Thus is the Refolution for the general{. That being a precept affirmatiue, though it bindefemper,yet it bindes not adfemper: nor is abfolute- ly neceflary to Saluation,to be acc.tuall performed faue one- lypro loco & tempore. Suppofe when omiflion of the du- ty drawes with it neglea of honour due to God; orofedi_ fication and furtherance in Faith to Brethren : See d Tho- mas and his Followers ? Or thus, the precept touching confeflion may two waies be conceiued. Negatiuely,bin- ding not to denie. Affirmatiuely, binding to confeffe. Not to deny the Faith at any time, we are bound in all times vpon paine of damnation. Whither this denyall be by words, or deedes, or fignes, they are allcoincident. r. Chrifi thunders,fpeakes not to fuch. Bee that C denies mee before men, or is aJhamed of mee and my ggofpell, him will Ideny before my Father which is in heauen. 2. The teares were f bitter wherewith Peter wafht away this fin. 3. Church Centimes were in all times feuere againfi fuch ; admitting none therein faulty, to Reconcilement,but after longfome and heauy penance. 4. No maruell, it being fimplicita & exfemafssm, and drawing after it fo dange- rous confequents. Now when, or inwhat cafe, wee are bound to a6luall and open Confeffion of Faith vpon paine of dam- nation (I fuppofe Rill the times of violent perfecuti- on z*. z rt.q 3 4rt. z. Schola(l.in di(finit. z3. .
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