Perfect God and perfect man Equall to the father as touching his Godheade and inferior to the father as touching his manhoode Who although hee bee God and man yet is he not twoo but one Christ For as the reasonable soule and fleshe is one man So God and man is one Christ a The holy ghost worketh in vs all the benefits we receiue from Christ And preserueth vs. Math. 10. 20. Luke 12. 12. 1. 35. 11. 13. Iohn 6. 63. 7. 39. 14. 16. 17. 26. 15. 26. 27. 16. 7. 13. 20. 22. 1. Cor. 2 10. 12. 6. 11 10. 12 3 to 14 3. 16. Luke 24. 49. Act 1. 4. 5. 2. 17. 5. 32 9. 31. Rom. 5. 5. 8. 9. 14. 15. 16. 15 16. Gal 4. 6. 2. Thes 2. 13. Ephe 1. 13 2 18. 4. 30. Tit. 3. 5. 6. Ioh 3. 5. 6. Mat 3. 11. 1. Pet 1. 2. 22. 2. Pet 1. 21. 1. Iohn 4. 13. Howe nothing happeneth to vs but as Christ our sauiour appointeth or suffereth See the proofe more a◠large in the first article of the creede b God the father God the sonne and God the holye Ghost are but one God Math. 28. 19. 3. 16. 17. Luke 3. 21. 22. Iohn 1. 14. 33. 14. 16. 17. 26. 15. 26. 16 7. 1 Iohn 5 7 2 Cor 13 13 Act 1 4 Rom 1 1 to 5 8 9 14 Ephe ◠17. Psal 33. 6. c The holy ghost was from the beginning with the father and a seuerall person in working Gen. 1. 2 26. Iob. 26 13. Ioel 2. 28. Esay 48. 16. and 61. 1. 2. Pet. 1 22. THe holy Catholike Church A I beleeue there is a holy Catholike Church The which Church I beleeue to 9 The holy Catholike Church be◠those people elected of God to be saued which haue bene in this world from the beginning and hereafter shall be to the ende of what countrey or nation so euer through the whole world of the which number I beleeue I am one B God knewe from the beginning all those that shall bee saued and hath a tender care ouer them C Iesus christ is the head of those people and they are his members all being vnited together by the power of his holy spirit and ioyned together in Christ as one body He which is not a member of this Church is from Christ and therefore shall not be saued D This Church is called Catholike or vniuersall because the members of the Catholike Church bee in euerie nation and countrey vniuersally through the whole worlde without distinction of people E And the same church is called holy because Christ is the head doth sanctify make holy the church his mēbers F This church is inuisible because men cannot visibly see the faith repentance and conscience of the beleuers nor know who they be which God hath chosen to eternall life Therefore is this church inuisible a matter of faith and faith is of things which is not seene G The members of this Catholike church here on earth are visible hauing among them many wicked persons and hypocrites The visible church of God The visible Church is a companie amongest men wheresoeuer they be which embrace and professe the true doctrine of Christ and vse the holy Sacraments according to Christe◠institution H This whole vniuersal church neuer erreth in the foundation of doctrine but many particular churches which are mēbers of this Catholike church do erre haue erred as did some churches which the Apostles taught Also the church of Rome and generall counsels haue erred and condemned the doings one of another and haue decreed direct contrarie one to the other I Some or many of the elect people of God may erre and fall frō the church for a time as king Dauid did but they shall not finally fall away for euer but shal rise againe by sorowful repentance and newnesse of life and so shall come againe to God and haue their sinnes forgiuen them a The Catholike church are only those people which shall be saued which euer haue bene or shall be Ephe. 1. 3. to 12 Rom. 8 29. 30. 9. 30. 32. Heb. 3 6. Ier 1. 5. 1. Pet. 2. 4. to 11 2. Tim. 1 9. 10. Tit 3. 5. 2 Thes 2. 13. Iohn 15 16. b God knoweth them all hath a tender care ouer them 2 Tim. 2 19. Rom. 8. 29. 30. 1. Pet. 1 5 5 7. Mat. 10 29. 30 31. Psal 37 25 55. 22. 104 27 28. 136. 25. 145 15 16. c Christ is the heade of them and they be his mēbers vnited to him by his holye spirite Ephe 5 25 26 30. 1 22 23. 27. 2 22. 4 12 13 16. 10 17. Rom. 8 9. 12 4 5. 1. Cor 12 12 13. 3 16 6 15 17 19. 2 Cor. 13 5 Col 1 18 Iohn 15 5. d This church is vniuersal through the whole worlde Iohn 10 16 Matth 8 11 and 28 19 Marke 16 15 Acts 2 21 and 13 39 10 4 34 35 Gal. 3 28 Col 3. 11 Rom 9 30 Iob 1 1. e This church is holy because christ doth sāctifie it Ephe. 1. 22 23 and 5. 25. 26. 1. Pet. 2 5. Rom. 8. 9 1. Cor. 1. 30. 1. Cor. 12. 12. 13. Colos 1. 18. 2. Thes 2 13. Hebr. 10. 14 Iude 1. verse f This church is inuisible because the faithfull are not knowē frō hipocrites 1. Kings 19. 14 18. Iob 1. 1. Hebr. 11 1. g The members of this Church here on earth are visible c. Matth. 18 20 and 28 19 20. Acts 2 24 and 4 32. Rom. 6 15 1 Cor. 16 19. Luke 8 21 Iohn 8 47 and 10 27 Gal 1 8 Ephe 1 1 Phil 1 1 1 Cor 1 2. h The visible churches here on earth though not all may erre haue erred Gal 2 11 c and 3. 1 3 Actes 10 14. 15 and 15. 19 20. and 21. 20. to 28. 1. Cor. 15. 12. 1. Iohn 2. 19. i The elect shall neuer fall away finally from God The communion of saints 1. Iohn 2. 19. 2. Sam. 11. THe communion of Saints A I beleeue that all the faythfull doe seuerally receaue the benefites of Christ to their saluation as members of his bodie vnited to him by his holye spirit And that they do pray one for another and are readie to helpe and comfort one another as members of one head B The faythfull are called Saints because they are vnited to Christ and haue Christ dwelling in them by his holy Spirite And are made holy by the sanctification of the same spirit a The faithfull euery of them receiue Christes benefits to their saluation and do comfort one another Ephes 5. 30. and 4. 3 to 18. 1. Cor. 6. 17. and 10. 17. 1. Iohn 1. 3. Iohn 10. 14. 15. 16. and 13 35. and 15. 5. Rom. 8.
for it is the holy ghost that encreaseth and strengtheneth our fayth and maketh the Sacraments to bring forth fruit in vs. We doe not denie but Christ himselfe Matth. 28. 20. with the power of his spirit is present at the administration of the holye Sacraments and the grace of God is there truely present to our fayth when we receyue them Neuerthelesse the inwarde grace of the spirite is seuered from the outward ministerie And the Sacraments doe not profite but being receyued by fayth All that are baptised haue not the spirite of Christ Simon Magus was baptised Acts 8. 13. 18 to 25. by Philip the Apostle but had not the grace of the holy ghost he confessed the truth yet was not regenerate by the holy ghost So Baptisme and the Lords supper may be receyued without the holy ghost Albeit God inwardly worketh by the holy ghost that which the Sacraments testifie Hee that despiseth the holy sacraments and willingly doth forbeare the Gen. 17 13 14. Luke 14 24. Mar. 8 38. vse of them as though he needed them not he is not to bee accounted any of Gods people And also thereby he refuseth the grace of Christ But he that receyueth Iohn 3 16. 17 20 c. them in fayth and repentance vnto him the holy Sacraments seale and confirme most assuredly the promise of 1. Iohn 2 3 Rom. 3 25. 5 9 2. cor 5 21. Gal 3 1â— heb 9 14. 10 10. Col 1 14. grace and forgiuenesse of sinnes and that he shall bee partaker of Christ and his benefites and dwell with him in heauen for euer Of Baptisme BAptisme is a holy signe and an assured Mark 16 16. Tit. 3 5. Gal 3 27. 1. Cor. 12 13. token to mee that my sinnes are forgiuen mee for Christ his sake and that I am receyued into the holy Church as a member of the same and vnited vnto Christ by the speciall working of the holy Ghost Baptisme hath the promise of forgiuenesse Matt. 28 19. Mark 16 16. Rom. 6 3. Tit. 3 5. 1. Pet 3 21. of sinnes and saluation annexed to it that euery one which beleeueth and is baptised shall be saued And in Baptisme wee are renued by the holye Ghost whereby our euill inclinations are chaunged into good that wee haue thereby an hatred of sinne In Baptisme the offence and punishment Gal. 3 27. Ephe. 5 26. Tit. 3 5. 1. Pet. 3 21. of our sinne is taken away Neuerthelesse the corruption or inclination to sinne remayneth in vs which maketh euery one of vs subiect to sinne and alwayes to neede the mercie of God and 1. Iohn 1 8 9 10 forgiuenesse of sinnes Baptisme is a ceremonie or outwarde What Baptism is and wherefore it was ordeyned signe instituted by Christ being washed with water in the name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the holy Ghost Whereby Christ testifyeth 1. Iohn 1 7. Ephe. 5. 26. to vs that wee are cleansed from our sinnes by his blood And Baptisme is also a solemne signe of our receyuing into the holy Church and the marke whereby Christians are knowne from Infidels Also it is the Sacrament Acts 2 38. of Christian profession for by my receyuing of Baptisme I do professe 2. Cor. 5 17. Rom. 6 3 4. to liue a Christian to beleeue trust for my saluation all things else which I shall neede onely in the name of the father the sonne and the holy ghost three persons and one true and euerlasting God And I doe thereby solemnly binde my selfe to Christ to keepe his commaundements to my power and to beleeue and trust in his merits death and passion for my saluation And so by Acts 22. 16. 15 9. Mar. 16 16. Tit. 3. 5. fayth in Christ I am sanctified by the spirite vnto eternall life The visible signe in Baptisme is water with which the person baptised is washed The spirituall and inuisible grace is 1. Cor. 6 1 1. Tit. 3. 5. forgiuenesse of sinnes and the renuing by the holy ghost After our Baptisme Christ with his grace by the working of the holy ghost doeth regenerate and frame the faithfull to newnesse of life by fayth and repentance so long as they liue here in this worlde whereby they hate sinne and the deuill and in the end ouercome them To be baptised in the name of the father the sonne and the holy ghost signifieth into the Religion profession and grace of the father the sonne and the holy ghost Baptisme is the solemne receyuing of vs into the holy Church and into Gods fauour therefore euery of vs are but once baptised in our whole life Although our baptisme doe require Baptisme of infants fayth and repentance yet the Baptisme of infants doth very well agree with the institution of Christ and the nature of the signe For the signes consist not in the outward ceremonies but principally Acts 2. 39. Gal. 3 7. 29. Gen. 17 7. 1. Cor. 12. 13. depende vppon the promise of saluation which belong also to the children of the faythfull and wee and our children by baptisme enter into the profession of God that we may be reckoned his people Also Baptisme hath the same office with vs as Circumcision had with the Iewes And God commanded the Iewes to circumcise their infants Infants Mat. 19 14. 15. mar 10. 14. 15. 16. Gal. 3. 29. are partakers of Christ and heyres by promise Therefore are not to be debarred from baptisme The children of Christians are accounted holy although they bee the 1. Cor 7 14. issue but of one faythfull parent Therefore the childe of a Christian may bee baptised The Prophet Ieremie and saint Iohn Baptist were sanctified in Iere. 1 5. Luke 1 15. their mothers wombes whereby plainly appeareth saluation is according to Gods election albeit the infant were Tit. 3. 5. 2 Thes 2. 13 neuer baptised God hath chosen vs before the foundation of the worlde So then saluation is not in him that willeth Ephe. 1. 4. Rom. 9 16 nor in him that runneth but in God that sheweth mercie Of the holy Communion THe holy Communion I receyue in remembraunce Luke 22. 19 20 1. Cor. 11 24. 25 26. Rom. 4 25. that Christ dyed for my sinnes and rose againe to giue mee and all the faythfull eternall life And in this holy Sacrament receyuing the same in true fayth and repentaunce I receyue by the 1. Cor. 13 2 3. working of the holy Ghost grace and vertue from heauen from the verie bodie and blood of our Sauiour Iesus Christ for out 1. Cor. 10 3 4 16 17. gal 2 20 Iohn 6 51 c. of the substance of his flesh he giueth life to my soule and the holy Ghost doeth thereby nourish my heart to beleeue faythfully in Christ his death and merits for my saluation and dwelleth in mee and vniteth mee vnto Christ And also maketh mee
effect of this prayer In the first petition the Lord commandeth vs to desire the true knowledge and worship of God In the second That God woulde gouerne vs with his spirite and so continually preserue and confirme vs in this knowledge In the thirde That euery of vs by the helpe of his holy spirite and gouernment may doe and fulfill our duetie in our vocation that we may doe nothing against his will In the fourth That God would giue vs corporall blessings whereby euery of vs may doe his duetie In the fift That he would giue vs spirituall blessings in forgiuing vs our sinnes In the sixt and last That wee may bee vpholden by his grace that thereby we may bee deliuered from all euill And that so wee may bee able to hallow prayse and glorifie his name through Christ our Lord and Sauiour Before hath bene declared three parts of Religion fayth the lawe and praier nowe followeth the last part which is Sacraments Of Sacraments THe Sacraments which Mat. 28. 19. 20. Mark 16 16. Luk. 22. 19. 20. are to be vsed of vs Christians are onely those which our sauiour Christ did institute and command vs to vse Which are only twoo Baptisme and the Lords Supper which we commonly call the holy Communion These two Sacraments Baptisme and the holy Communion are holy signes ordeyned Gen. 17. 11. Rom. 4. 11. Exod. 12. 14. to be assured tokens and testimonies to me and all the faythfull of the mercie of God and forgiuenesse of sinnes for the merits death and passion of Christ Iesus my sauiour And with those holy Sacraments I receyue such grace and vertue from Christ the which my tongue cannot expresse And the holy Ghost by them doeth moue my heart to beleeue A Sacrament is a testimonie of Gods A Sacrament what it is fauour towardes vs confirmed by an outward signe Or a visible signe of inuisible grace There are three thinges in a Sacrament The first is the visible signe as in Baptisme water and in the holy Communion bread and wine The seconde is the wordes of the Lords ordinance And the third is The thing signified by them The thing signified is Christ for he is the substance of all Sacraments and they doe promise nothing without him For by Christ is the mercie of God and saluation giuen vnto vs. Our Sauiour Christ for the strengthening of our fayth hath ordeyned the preaching of the Gospell And for the further encreasing and confirming of our fayth hath instituted and left to be vsed of vs for euer so long as wee are in this world the twoo Sacraments aforesayde Baptisme and the holy Communion to be testimonies of his grace and saluation These are called the Sacraments of the newe Testament because Christ did institute them and left them to be vsed of all Christians And none other are to be vsed of vs as Sacraments but those onely The vse of our Sacraments are to be Why the Sacraments were ordeyned signes and testimonies of the eternal couenant of remission of sinnes or promise of saluation which God hath made to the faythfull in Christ And also serue to confirme our fayth for that they set before our eyes the good will of our heauenly father and leade vs vnto Christ to seeke our saluation onely in and by him And further by receyuing them wee testifie our profession before men that wee are Christians not Infidels Acts 10 47. And by them wee binde our selues to God to followe godlinesse in fayth and Rom. 6 3 4. Ephe 4 3 to 7. charitie and yeelde vnto God obedience prayse and thankes for our redemprion And in giuing vs these visible signes God testifyeth his benefites towardes vs. The Sacramentes before Christ Gen. 17 4 7 10 21. 1 Cor. 10 1 2 3 4. testified that Christ shoulde come for without Christ none was nor neuer shall be saued And the Sacraments which Christ hath left vs testifie that Christ is Mat. 28 19 20 1 Cor. â—1 26. come and are to vs signes of the couenant of saluation as aforesaid Christ teacheth and instructeth vs with his worde then strengtheneth our fayth with sacraments and by his holy spirite he openeth our hearts to receyue the word and sacraments which otherwise would nothing moue our inwarde parts So without the worke of the holy Ghost the sacraments doe nothing at all profite vs. It is the spirite of God which is the authour of the encrease of our fayth The office of the sacraments The office of the SacrameÌ„ts is to set forth Christ vnto vs and in him the treasures of heauenly grace And to confirme our fayth in setting before our eyes the good will of our heauenly father And by the healthfull working of the holy Ghost the faythfull do receyue with the sacraments such grace and vertue from Christ our sauiour the which we are not able to expresse And so that Note most learned man master Caluin writeth in his booke of institutions If any man aske me saith M Caluin what maner of presence of Christ is in the Lords supper I wil not be ashamed to confesse that it is a higher secret then that it can be either comprehended with my wit or vttered with my wordes And to speake it more plainly I rather feele it then I can vnderstand it Therefore I do here embrace the truth of God wherein I may safely rest With the holy sacraments Christ with his spirit discendeth to the faithful that he may truely quicken their soules Gal. 2. 20. Ephe. 3. 17. 2. Cor. 13. 5. 1. Cor. 6. 15 17. 19. 12. 13. Rom 8 9. 12 5. 1. Cor. 10. 17. Ephe. 5. 30. and dwell in them and they in him and they vnited to him and made members of his bodie he being their head and also members one of another by the wonderfull working of the holy Ghost This secret vniting of Christ with the godly is by nature impossible to bee comprehended For our instruction herein beholde Note the Sùnne shining forth his beames on the earth how it is one thing in the firmament yet all the worlde and euery thing is nourished and comforted with the light and heate thereof Much more and more then may bee expressed with our tongues or coÌ„ceyued in our minds doth the extending beames of the spirite of Christ discende to the faythfull to quicken comfort and defend them with the grace vertue and power that commeth from the bodie of our sauiour Christ Iesus whereby they hate the deuill and sinne and ouercome them Albeit the faythfull receyue the benefites Iohn 3. 18. 1. Pet. 3. 21. Acts 8. 13. 18. 20. 21. Ioh. 1 33 Rom 2. 29. 1. Cor. 10. 4 5. aforesayde with the holy Sacraments yet there is no such secret power knit and fastned to the Sacraments that they may of themselues giue vs the graces of the holy ghost The Sacraments doe not profite vs vnlesse the holy ghost ioyne with them