he called our Lord A. Because he beareth rule ouer vs and is heade to man and Aungel Q. Wherefore was he conceyued by the holie Ghost A. That he might be without sinne and so sanctifie vs. Q. What if he had beene a sinner A. Then he could not haue deliuered vs. Q. Was he onely made free from sinne A. No but he was also replenished with the holy spirit without measure Q. Why was the fulnes of the spirit giuen to him A. That he should bestow of y ◠same vpō vs Q. Why was he made man like vnto vs A that he might dy for vs in our own nature Q. What thing followeth vpon his incarnation A. That life and righteousnesse is placed in our flesh Q. May not this life be lost as it was in Adam A. No fo◠our flesh is ioyned personally with the fountaine of life Q. Then all men are sure of this life A. Not so but onely they who are ioyned with him spiritually Q. What auayleth then our carnall vnion with Christ A. Nothing without our spirituall vnion with him Q. What serueth his mothers Uirginitie A. It is a seale of his miraculous conceptiō Q. Was he holy through her virginitie A. No seing our whole nature is corrupted Q. Wherefore is she named in our beliefe A. That we may know his tribe familie Q. What can that helpe our faith A. Hereby we knowe him to be the Sauiour promised Q. Of what tribe and house was he promised A. Of the tribe of Iuda and house of Dauid Q. How did he redeeme vs A. He suffred death for vs willingly according to Gods decree Q. Why suffred he vnder the forme of iudgement A. To assure vs the better that we are free from Gods Judgement Q. But the iudge Pilate did pronounce him innocent A. That made greatly for our comfort Q. What comfort haue we by it A. That he dyed not for his owne sinnes but for ours Q. But the Iudge meant no such thing A. We looke not what he meaned but what God meaned by his wicked iudgement Q. Wherefore did he suffer vpon the crosse A. To assure vs that he tooke our curse vppon himselfe Q. What assurance haue we of this A. Because that kind of death was accursed of God Q. Was he also cursed of God A. No but he susteyned our curse Q. Was he guiltie before God A. No but he susteined the person of guiltie men Q. What comfort haue we of this A. He remoued our curse and gaue to vs his blessing Q. In what part did he suffer A. Both in body and soule Q. Wherefore that A. Because we were lost both in body and soule Q. What suffred he in his soule A. The feareful wrath angry face of God Q. What paine was that A. The dolours of death and paine of hell Q. How know we that A. By his praying sweating and strong crying with teares Q. How did he sustaine these paines A. Through faith patience and prayer to his Father Q. How do the damned sustaine these paines in hell A. With dispaired continuall blasphemy Q When did Christ discend to hell A. When he susteined these feareful paines vpon the Crosse Q. Why did God punish an innocent man so greeuously A. Because hee tooke vpon him selfe the burden of one sinnes Q. Was God content with his satisfaction A. No doubt for he of his mercy did appoynt it Q. Was his death also needfull for our redemption A. Otherwise the decree and the figures in the law had not beene fulfilled Q. If he dyed for vs why dye we A. Our death is not nowe a punishment for our sinnes Q. What other thing can it be A. It is made through his death a ready passage to a better life Q. What should we learne by all these feareful paines A. To know the terrible wrath of God for sinne and how deare we are bought Q. What comfort haue we by these sufferings of Christ our Redeemer A. This that the faithfull members of Christ shall neuer suffer them Q. But we were oppressed with the curse of the Lawe A. It is true but Christ tooke it vpon him selfe and gaue vs the blessing Q. What profit get we in speciall by his death A. It is a sufficient and euerlasting sacrifice for our sinnes Q. What doth this sacrifice worke perpetually A. It remoueth all euill things and restoreth all good things Q. Is there any priest sacrifice for sinne now A. None at al for Christ hath satisfyed once for all Q. But yet in our nature there are many spots A. Christes blood therefore doth perpetually wash them away Q. The memory and tokens of our sinnes may affray vs A. All punishments due for them were taken away by the suffering of Christ Q. But yet we finde sinne working in vs. A. The death of Christ doth kill the tyrannie o◠it Q. Alwayes it remayneth in vs to the ende A. Yet through faith it is not imputed to the members of Christ Q. Wherefore was he buried A. To assure vs the better of his death Q. what doth his buriaell teach vs A. Continuall mortification of sinne Q. why did he rise before vs A. To assure vs of his victory ouer death for vs. Q. what fruit get we by his victory A. Hereby we are brought in a sure hope of life eternall It worketh newnesse of life in vs here And it shall raise vp our bodies againe in the latter day Q. why did he assend into heauen before vs A. To take possession of our inheritance in our name Q. But he said I shall be with you to the end A. He spake that of his spirituall presence Q. what doth he there now for vs A. He maketh continual intercession for vs Q. what kinde of intercession is it A. It is the continuall initigation of his Fathers wrath for vs through the vertue of his death Quest Is he our onely intercessour and mediatour A. No doubt seeing he onely died for vs. Q. What meaneth his sitting at the right hand A. The power he hath in heauen and earth Q what comfort haue we by his power and authoritie A. That we are in safety vnder his protection Q. For what cause will he come againe A. To put a finall ende to our redemption Q. What shall be that finall end A. Eternall ioie or miserie to euerie man Q. Is not that done in euerie mans death A. No for the bodies remain yet vnrewarded Q. Shall there not be a middle state of men A. No but al shal be brought to these twoends Q. Wherefore shall that be seeing some are better and some are worse A. All shall be iudged euill which are not the members of Christ Q. But how can the quick be iudged before they die A. Their suddaine change shall be in steede of death vnto them Q. But all flesh should go to the dust againe
A. The worde the Sacraments and discipline rightly vsed Q. What if no order of discipline bee among them A. Then we should remaine with the word and Sacramentes Q. But what if both the worde and Sacramentâ— be corrupted A. Then we should not ioyne our selues with that companie Q. But what if they retaine the name of the true Church A. So did Satan cloth him selfe with the Angell of light for the further blinding of the world Q. But what shall men do when they know not another Church A. Let them content them selues with true faith in Christ Q. But then they are diuyded from the Church A. Not from the true Church and bodie of Christ Q. How can that be proued A. Thus all that are vnited with Christ are ioyned with the Church Q. Which of these two vnions is first and cause of the other A. Our misticall and spirituall vnion with Iesus Christ For we are ioyned with all the Saints of God because we are ioyned first with God in Christ Q. What comfort then is our societie with the Church to vs A. A singular comfort chiefly when wee are persecuted by the bastard church and tyrants of the world Q. What is the comfort to vs A. This that they can not seperate vs from Christ and his members albeit they seperat vs from their wicked societie 9. The 9. part is Of the first cause and progresse of our saluation and end of all flesh Q. OUt of what fountaine doth this our stabilitie flowe A. Out of Gods eternall and constant election in Christ Q. By what way commeth this election to vs A. By his effectuall calling in due time Q. What worketh his effectuall calling in vs A. The obedience of faith Q. What thing doth faith worke A. Our perpetuall and inseperable vnion with Christ Q. What worketh this vnion with Christ A. A mutuall communion with him and his graces Q. What worketh this communion A. Remission of sinnes and imputation of Iustice Q. What worketh remission of sinnes and imputation of iustice A. Peace of conscience and continuall sanctification Q. What worketh sanctification A. The hatred of sinne and loue of godlines Q. What worketh the hatred of sinne A. A continuall battell against sinne Q. What worketh this battell A. A continuall desire to profit in godlines Q. What worketh this desire A. An earnest studie in the worde of God Q. What worketh this earnest studie A. A further knowledge of our owne weaknes and Gods goodnes Q. What worketh this knowledge in vs A. An earnest calling vpon God for helpe Q. What worketh this earnest calling A. Uictory against Satan and sinne Q. What worketh this victory A. A liuely experience of Gods fauour Q. What worketh this liuely experience A. Boldnes to fight and sure hope of further victory Q. What worketh this sure hope A. An vnspeakable ioy of heart in trouble Q. What worketh this ioy of heart A. Patience to the ende of the battell Q. What worketh patience in vs A. Stoutnesse of heart to the finall triumph Q. What worketh this stoutnesse of heart A. A plaine defiance against Satan and sin Q. What is this defiance A. The beginning of the eternall life in vs. Q. What is this beginning to vs A. A sure seale of our election and gloryfication The certaintie of adoption Q. May not this seale bee abolished through sinne A. No for these giftes are without repentance Q. But many fall shamefully from God A. The spirit of adoption raiseth all the chosen againe Q. But many are neuer raised againe A. These were neuer of the chosen of God Q. Yet both they and the Church beleeued otherwise A. They deceyued them selues but the Church iudgeth charitablly Q. Then Faieh is not certaine A. True faith is euer certain to the beleeuers Q. What certaintie hath euery one of his faith A. The testimonie of the spirite of adoption with the fruites Q. But many glory in this testimony in vaine A. Yet this testimony is most sure and certaine Q. Why then are so many deceiued by this way A. Because they glory in a faith without fruites Q. How may we eschewe this danger A. By the right tryall of our adoption The tryall of our adoption Q. Where should we begin our tryall A. At the fruites of faith and repentance Because they are best known to our selues and others Q. What if we beginne at election A. Then we shall wander in darknesse Q. But Gods election is most cleare and certaine A. It is cleare and certaine in it selfe but it is not alway certaine to vs in speciall Q. When is it certaine to euery one of vs A. When it may be felt and knowne by the fruites Q. But this exact tryall hath brought some to desperation A. Yet Gods elect are alwaies susteyned and finally comforted Q. Yet this tryall is troublesome to mennes conscience A. But at length it bringeth greater peace of conscience Q. When and how is that A. When after the feeling of Gods iudgements we taste of his mercy againe more aboundantly Q. Why are Gods elect so oft thus troubled in minde A. Because that they may the better feele and knowe the mercy of God Q. Why do worldly men esteeme so litle the mercy of God A. Because they taste not throughly of his iustice Q. What thing then is trouble with the comfort of the spirit A. A seale of Gods loue and a preparation to life eternall Q. What is prosperitie without the taste of the Spirit A. A token of Gods wrath and a way to perdition Q. But some are troubled in minde without any reliefe A. Such men begin their hel here with Cain Of the last and eternall estate of mankinde Q. What then shall be the finall end of all fleshe A. Eyther life or death eternall without any change Q. With whom and where shall the faithful be A. With GOD in heauen full of allioye and felicitie Q. With whome and where shall the wicked be A. With Satan in hell oppressed with infinite miseries Q. Are these two endes certaine and sure A. Yes no doubt seeing the meanes are certaine and sure Q. Which are these sure meanes A. Faith and infidelitie with their fruites Q. What maketh these meanes sure A. Gods most iust and constant will reuealed in his worde Q. When ordained he these meanes and endes A. Before all beginninges in his secrete counsell Q. To what end did he this A. That his mercy and iustice might shinâ— perfectly in mankinde Q. How was this brought to passe A. Through the creation of man in vprightnesse and his fall from that estate Q. What followed vpon this fall of man A. All men once were concluded vnder sinnâ— and most iust condemnation Q. What serued this for his mercie and iustice A. Hereby occasion was offered both of mercie and iustice Q. To whom was mercie promised and giuen A. Only to his chosen children in Christ which
this our confession promise othe subscription so that wee are not mooued for anye worldly respect but are perswaded onely in our consciences through the knowledge loue of Gods true religion imprinted in our hearts by the holy spirite as we shall answere to him in the day when the secrets of all hearts shall be disclosed And because we perceiue that the quietnes and stabilitie of our religion and Church both depend vpon the safetie and good behauiour of the Kings Maiestie as vpon a comfortable instrument of Gods mercie granted to this Countrey for the maintaining of his Church and ministration of iustice among vs. We protest and promise with our hartes vnder the same oth handwritte and paines that we shall defend his person and authoritie with our bodies and liues in the defence of Christes Gospell libertie of our Countrey administration of iustice and punishment of iniquitie against all enymies within this Realme or without as we desire our God to be a strong and mercifull defender to vs in the day of our death comming of our Lord Jesus Christ To whom with the father and the holy spirite be all honour and glory eternally Amen The names of all the subscribers contained in the principall copie written in parchment and kept in the handes of the Ministers The Kings M. charge to al the commissioners and Ministers within this Realme SEing that we our houshold haue subscribed giuen this publike confession of our faith to the good example of our subiects We command charge al Commissioners Ministers to craue the same confessiō of their Parishioners and to proceed against the refusers according to our lawes and order of the Church deliuering their names and lawfull processe to the Ministers of our house with all hast and diligence vnder the paine of xl pounds to be taken from their stipends that we with the aduice of our Councell may take order with such proud contemners of God and our lawes subscribed with our hand At Holirudhouse the xi daye of March 1580. The 14 yeare of our raigne I Thought good to adde for the better confirmation of this confession the iudgement of the ancient and Godlye Fathers concerning the authoritie of the holy scriptures vpon the which only they grounded their faith and religion and by the same onely confuted and condemned all contrarie doctrine and religion in their time as their writings do testifie to vs. And next I laye downe the open and shameles blasphemies of the late Papists spued out and written in contempt of the holy scriptures and praise of mens traditions aboue the word of God the which traditions they reuerence equally with the Scriptures as it shall appeare by their owne wordes The godly Fathers Irenaeus lib. 3. cap. 8. THe Apostles haue put in writing the things that were to be the foundation and piller of our faith Idem Cap. 11. The piller and groundworke of the Church is the Gospell and the spirite of life Origenes lib. 1. cap. 17. in Epist ad Roman Out of the scriptures onely our interpretations should be taken Idem in prim Hieremie Our iudgements and expositions haue no credite without the testimonie of the scriptures Idem Homil. 25. in Matth. For confirmation of all those wordes we speake in our teaching we should first alleadge the iudgement of the Scripture as a confirmation of that thing we declare vnto you Ciprianus de Baptismo Christi Out of the scriptures must come all rule of teaching Basilius epist 8. The scripture is a perfect rule and line and admitteth no addition Idem ibidem Let vs stand to the iudgement of the scripture inspired by God let the sentence of truth be giuen to them whose doctrine is agreeable to the heauenly oracles Cyrillus in Johan lib. 12. All things that our Lord did are not written but the Apostles wrote the things they iudged to bee sufficient for our maners and doctrine Basilius de vera Fide It is pride to reiect any thing the Apostles haue written or to adde any thing to their writings bring in things not written Theophilus epist 9. cap. vlt. They that offer any thing except the doctrine of the Apostles they bring in slanders heresies dissentions Ambrosius We iustly damne all newe things which Christ did not teach because Christ is the waye to the faithfull Idem primo officiorum Thinges that wée finde not in the scripture we may vse as wee please Hieronimus Psal 86. Take heed what they say that were and not that are now for whatsoeuer thing is spoken without the doctrine of the Apostles let it be put away and haue no authoritie Idem in Aggaeum The worde is Gods sworde wherewith all these things are cutte off which without the testimonie and authoritie of the Scriptures men of their owne head do inuent and faine as traditions of the Apostles Chrisostomus opere imperfecto Homil. 49. In no way can the true Church of Christ be knowne but by the scriptures onely Idem in sancto adorando Spiritu If anye thing be obtruded without the Gospell vnder the title of the spirite let vs not beleeue it Idem opere imperfecto Homil. 49. Wee should in no case giue credit to the Church except they speake and do the things that are consonant to the Scriptures Augustinus de vnitate Ecclesiae cap. 2. The Scripture doth shew Christ in the Church Idem in Iohan. tract 96. When the Lord hath not reuealed these thinges which of vs can say these or these things are and if any man will affirme this or that to be how doth he proue it Idem de Pastoribus cap. 14. I enquire at the voice of the Pastour to reade me it out of the Prophet reade it out of the Psalme recite it out of the law recite it out of the Gospel recite it out of the Apostle Ibidem lib. 2. cap. 85. contraliteras Petiliani Whether we are Schismatikes or ye neither I nor thou shall be iudge but let Christ be demaunded that he may shewe his owne Church Tertullianus de praescriptione contra haereticos The Heretickes deny that Christ and the Apostles reuealed all things to all but some thing openly some thing secretly Athanatius orat 2. contra haereticos Doth testifie that the Arrians glorted in reuelations and in the spirite without the word Augustinus de natura gratia 61. I am bound to giue consent onely to the canonicall Scriptures without any excuse Epiphanius lib. 1. Haeresi 38. Affirmeth that Caiani an Heretike saide that they receaued their errours by traditions without the Scriptures Irenaus lib. 3. cap. 2. The Heretikes when they are rebuked by the Scriptures they turne to the accusation of the Scriptures as if they were corrupt or had not authoritie and that they are spoken sundrie waies and that the truth cannot be found by them if we want the traditions 1. Leo Epist 83. ad Palest Ye are armed with the name of the Church and