Theological Theses · §1168

Scripture shows ordinary believers, not only especial saints, may be certain they are in grace

Assurance is not a rare privilege of a few saints; Scripture gives it to all living believers.

Romans 8’s witness of the Spirit, self-examination in 2 Corinthians 13, and 1 John 5’s knowing eternal life show ordinary certainty is possible.

Latin

VIII. Neque vero putandum est id in sanctis illis viris fuisse peculiare, caeteros vero fideles, qui nullo singulari privilegio gaudent, non posse similiter apud se certo statuere an sint in Dei gratia, & beneficiorum nobis per Christum partorum revera participes. Nam multis modis ex Scriptura colligitur omnes qui Christo per veram vivamque fidem insiti sunt, absque ulla temeritate, certo ea de re posse concipere fiduciam & persuasionem. Primo enim Apostolus Rom. 8. docet fideles omnes accipere spiritum adoptionis, per quem Deum ut patrem agnoscunt & invocant, & spiritum Dei spiritui eorum testimonium perhibere quod sunt filii Dei, & Christi cohaeredes. Non enim accepistis, inquit, spiritum servitutis iterum in timore; sed Spiritum adoptionis filiorum, in quo clamamus Abba Pater. Ipse enim spiritus testimonium reddit spiritui nostro quod sumus filii Dei. Si autem filii, & haeredes; haeredes quidem Dei, cohaeredes autem Christi. Annon autem jure merito certi esse possumus de eo quod spiritus Dei nobis testatur suis in nobis motibus & effectis? Deinde Apostolus 2 Cor. 13. jubet Corinthios seipsos probare, an sint in fide; & explorare an Christus sit in ipsis. Quod frustra praeciperetur, nisi fidelis posset de seipso certo judicare. Denique Apostolus 1 Joan. 5. Haec scribo vobis, inquit, ut sciatis vos vitam aeternam habere, qui creditis in nomen Filii Dei. Unde manifestum est fideles posse certo scire se vitam aeternam habere, sibi esse remissa peccata, & nos per gratiam ejus renovatos in justitiam & sanctitatem veram, quae Deo grata atque accepta sit.

About this text

Louis Le Blanc de Beaulieu - Sedan Theological Theses, newly rendered from the 1675 London Latin. Covers De Theologia through Angelorum & Hominum Sanctorum Cultu Romana I-LXXVII and Pars Secunda (Reformata) I-XL. Not the collected folio.

English follows locked Pitt Latin through Imaginum CLOSED + Sanctorum Cultu Romana CLOSED + Pars Secunda Reformata I-XL. 1675 PDF ~384-390 (book ~370-376); Vision OCR + pdftotext + tess. No modern English. This slice densifies Sanctorum Pars Secunda I-XL. Next: Pars Secunda XLI–fin (~CI). Claim stays claimed (book densify not done).

Catalogue & scope

ESTC R17887; Wing L802. IA bub_gb_eOkHAW4G0-wC (+ EEBO 1675 for gap leaves). Densify through Sanctorum Cultu Romana I-LXXVII + Pars Secunda Reformata I-XL (Pars Secunda not closed; not whole folio).

Witnesses

This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. Open Latin on each section (or the Latin source witness link) for the source text. This is not a complete critical edition.