Theological Theses · §123 · Louis Le Blanc de Beaulieu

Faith principles are not self-evident like science, yet we believe them immediately by the Spirit

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Faith's principles and the sciences' differ here: the sciences' principles are self-known and evident, and by their own light compel the intellect to assent. Faith's principles, though they have some moral evidence, are — strictly and properly — inevident, and do not by their own light win the assent faith requires.

Yet they agree in this: as we assent to natural principles immediately by the natural light of the intellect, so we believe faith's principles immediately by the Spirit's illumination and impulse. And as nothing stops natural principles from sometimes being proved a posteriori, so faith's principles can be proved — but only a posteriori, and only ad hominem.

Latin

V. In hoc quidem differunt principia fidei, et principia scientiarum, quod principia scientiarum per se nota sunt et evidentia, et sua luce cogunt intellectum ad assensum: principia vero fidei, quamvis moralem aliquam evidentiam habeant, tamen, logice et proprie loquendo, sunt inevidentia, neque sua luce assensum, qualem fides requirit, impetrant. Attamen in hoc conveniunt quod sicut principiis naturalibus assentimur immediate, per naturale lumen intellectus: ita quoque fidei principiis immediate credimus, per illuminationem et impulsum Spiritus sancti. Verum ut nihil obstat quominus aliquando principia naturalia probentur a posteriori: sic etiam fidei principia probari quidem possunt, sed a posteriori, et ad hominem tantum.

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About this text

Louis Le Blanc, a Reformed professor at Sedan, sets out theology in theses argued against Rome: Scripture, faith, grace, free choice, good works and the saints.

This volume holds the Theses on Theology I–XLIII and On Faith I–XXII, in eighteen sections.

Louis Le Blanc de Beaulieu (1614–1675) was minister and professor of theology at the Academy of Sedan, the Reformed school on France's eastern border. His Theses were disputed by students over many years and collected in a London folio (1675).

The Theological Theses range across the whole Reformed system — Scripture, God, predestination, grace, and justifying faith — in the crisp thesis-and-proof form of the seventeenth-century schools.

Date1675 AD (Sedan theses; London collection)

No modern English.

Reference

ESTC R17887; Wing L802. IA bub_gb_eOkHAW4G0-wC (+ EEBO 1675 for gap leaves).

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