A collection of essays and tracts in theology - The Preterist Archive

12 FUNDAMENTALS IN RELIGION.
4. Persons also may err fundamentally two ways;
either by expressly denying something
that is fundamental,
or by joining something to the foundation,
that does really destroy
it. In the former manner,
they stumbled at the foundation, who denied the
resurrection, of whom St. Paul speaks ;* and in the
latter, those teachers of the Galatians, whom the
same Apostle does so sharply rebuke in his Epistle.
5. When we say that fundamental articles are
such as are necessary to be known and believed, in
order to obtain salvation, we would not be so understood,
as if we thought that none, who is ignorant of
any one of these articles, or mistakes concerning it,
can possibly
arrive at salvation ;
for as in crimes and
evil actions, so likewise in ignorance and mistakes,
there is a twofold remedy ;
the one on our part,
which is repentance, either general or particular ;
the
other on God's part, mercy or forgiveness ;
whereof, as we may hope
by means
for pardon of the greatest
also of
crimes, so it cannot be denied, but we may
the most grievous
errors.
6. This whole matter may
be considered in a
double respect;
either as it relates to the ordinary
course in which things generally proceed, and which
God has made known in his word ;
or to those
extraordinary ways in which God may, and it can
hardly be doubted but he oftentimes does act. But
here we only speak of the ordinary way, and leave
the other to the wisdom and good pleasure
of God.
* 1 Cor. xv.