by William Perkins
in ePub, .mobi & .pdf
In this book, Perkins sought to give a "declaration showing how near we may come to the present Church of Rome in sundry points of religion, and wherein we must forever depart from them, with and advertisement to all favorers of the Roman religion, showing that the said religion is against the catholic principles..."
"I write not this despising or hating their person for their religion [Roman Catholics], but wishing unfeignedly their conversion in the world, and their salvation in the world to come." - William Perkins
At the height of Perkin's ministry his works outsold even those of Beza and Calvin and his writings did more than any to influence the Westminster Assembly and its Confession. In defence of the justified separation from Rome Perkins considers the under noted doctrines to show: first, how far we may join with Rome in the matter of religion; and secondly, how far and why we must dissent and depart from them:
There is nothing wrong with being a student of the Church Fathers—or Aristotle even—but the problem occurs when the Bible is put down because the left hand is filled with the Fathers and the right hand is filled with Aristotle. The right place of the Scriptures is set aside. The church, as a ground and pillar of the truth, is to hold up the Word of God for all to see. The Scriptures are our light—and our guide in reformed catholicity. (Gentle Reformation)
All those who will be saved, must depart and separate themselves from the faith and religion of this present Church of Rome. And whereas they are charged with schism that seperate on this manner; the truth is, they are not scismatikes that do so, because they have the commandment of God for their warrant: and that party is the schismatic in whom the cause of this separation lies: and that is in the Church of Rome, namely the cup of abomination in the whore's hand, which is, their heretical and schismatical religion.
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Table of Contents
Separation from Rome Commanded in Scripture
Free-will
Original sin
Certainty of Salvation
Justification of a sinner
Merits
Satisfactions for sin
Traditions
Vows
Images
Real-presence
The Sacrifice of the Mass
Fasting
The State of Perfection
Worshipping of Saints Departed
Intercession of Saints
Implicit Faith
Purgatory
Supremacy
The Efficacy of the Sacraments
Faith
Repentance
An Advertisement to all Favorers of the Roman Religion