are called the vessels of mercie Q How doth he shew mercie to them A. He giueth them the meanes whereby they come assuredly to life eternall Q. Vpon whom doth he shew iustice A. Upon all the rest of Adams posteritie which are called the children of wrath Q. When doth he this A. WheÌ„ he suffereth them patiently to walke according to their owne corrupt nature Q. What followeth vpon that walking A. Eternall perdition infallably according to Gods eternall decree Q. Doth God compell them to walke that way A. No but they willingly do embrace it against his word Q. How can men willingly embrace the way to perdition A. Because they are blinded and corrupted by Satan and their own lusts Q. May they embrace the way of life A. No they refuse it necessarily and yet freely without any compulsion Q. From whence commeth this necessitie A. From the bondage of sinne wherein they were cast by the fall of Adam Q. Is all Adams posteritie equally in the same bondage A. Yes no doubt but yet the chosen are redeemed through Christ and the others iustly left in their naturall estate Q. What thing then shall be seene perpetually in these vessels of wrath A. The glorie of Gods eternall and fearefull iustice Q. What shall be seene in the vessels of mercie A. The perpetuall praise of his mercie and goodnes through Jesus Christ our Lord. To whom with the father and the holy spirite be all honor and glorie eternally So be it A short and generall confession of the true Christian faith and religion according to Gods word acts of our Parliaments subscribed by the kings M. his houshold with sundrie others to the glorie of God and good example of all men At Edinburgh the xx of lanuarie 1180. and the 14. yeare of his raigne ⸫ VVe al and euerie one of vs vnder written protest that after long and due examination of our owne consciences in matters of true and false religion are nowe throughly reâ—â—lued in the truth by the word spirite of god And therfore we beleue with our hearts confesse with our mouthes subscribe with our hands and constantly affirme before God and the whole worlde that this is onely the true Christian faith and religion pleasing God bringing saluation to man which is nowe by the mercie of God reueiled to the world by the preaching of the blessed Gospell and is receiued beleued and defended by many and sundrie notable Churches Realmes but chiefely by the Church of Scotland the Kings M. and three Estates of this Realme as Gods eternall truth and only ground of our saluation as more particulerly is expressed in the coÌ„fession of our faith established and publikely confirmed by sundrie Acts of Parliaments now of a long time hath bin openly professed by the Kings M. and whole bodie of this Realme both in Citie and Countrey To the which confession and forme of religion we willingly agree in our consciences in all points as vnto Gods vndoubted truth and veritie grounded onely vpon his written word And therefore we abhorre and detest all contrarie religion and doctrine but chiefely all kind of Papistrie in generall and particuler euen as they are now damned and confuted by the word of GOD and Church of Scotland vsurped authoritie of the Romaine Antychriste ouer the Scriptures of GOD ouer the Church the ciuill magistrates and consciences of men all his tyrannous lawes made vpon indifferent things against our Christian libertie his erronious doctrine against the sufficiencie of the written worde the perfection of the lawe the office of Christ and his blessed Gospell his corrupted doctrine concerning originall sinne our naturall inhabilitie and rebellion to Gods lawe his blasphemie against our iustification by faith onely our imperfect sanctification and obedience to the lawe the nature number and vse of the holy Sacraments We detest his fiue bastarde sacraments with all his Rites Ceremonies and false doctrine added to the ministration of the true Sacramentes without the word of God his cruell iudgement against infants departing without the Sacrament his absolute necessitie of Baptisme his blasphemous opinion of transubstantiation or reall presence of Christes bodie in the Sacrament and receauing of the same by the wicked or bodies of men his dispensations with solemned othes periuries and degrees of mariage forbidden in the word his crueltie against the innocent deuorced We abhorre his diuelish Masse his blasphemous Priesthood his prophane sacrifice for the sinnes of the dead and the quicke his canonyzation of men women saints calling vpon angels or saintes departed worshipping of imagerie reliques crosses dedicating of Churches alters dayes vowes to creatures his purgatory praier for the dead praying or speaking in a strange language his processions and blasphemous letany his multitude of aduocates or mediators with his manifold orders and auricular confession his desperate and vncertaine repentance his generall and doubting faith his satisfactions of men for their sinnes his iustification by workes his Opus operatum workes of supererogation merits pardons peregrinations and stations We detest his prophane holy water Baptising of bels coniuring of spirites crossing fayning anointing coniuring his hallowing of Gods good creatures with the supestitious opinion ioyned therewith his worldlye Monarchie and wicked Hierarchie his three solemned vowes with al his shauelings of suÌ„drie sortes his erronious and bloudie decrees made at Trent with al the subscribers and approuers of that cruell and bloudie band coniured against the Church of God And finallye wee detest all his vaine allegories rites signes and traditions brought in the Church without or against the word of God and doctrine of this reformed Church To the which we ioine our selues willingly in doctrine faith religion discipline and vse of the holy Sacraments as liuely members of y e same with Christ our head promising swearing by the great name of y e Lord that we shal continue in the obedience of the doctrine discipline of this Church shall defend y e same according to our vocation and power all the daies of our liues vnder the paines conteined in the law and danger both of body and soule in the day of Gods fearefull iudgement And seeing that many are stirred vp by Satan and the Romaine Antichrist to promise sweare subscribe and for a time vse the holye Sacramentes in the Church deceitfully against their owne conscience minding hereby first vnder the eternall cloake of religion to corrupt and subuert secretly Gods true religion within the church afterward when time may serue to become open enemies and persecutours of the same vnder vaine hope of the Popes dispensation deuised against the word of God to his greater confusion and their double condemnation in the day of the Lord Jesus We therefore willing to take awaye all suspition of hipocrisie and of such double dealing with God and his church protest and call the searcher of all heartes for witnes that our mindes and hartes do fully agrée with
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
therwith do fight against the Church Cyprianus de simplicitate Prelatorum The diuell hath found a new deceit that vnder the title of Christian people he may deceiue them that are not warie and heedfull Augustinus de sermone Domini in monte The sheepe should not cast away her skin because wolues and todes sometimes hide them selues vnder it Papists acknowledge here your owne words against the Scriptures agreable to the olde heretikes your fathers THis was the doctrine of the Fathers and Faith of the Church for the space of 500. yeares after the assension of Christ The which doctrine faith did piece by piece decaye as the Romaine Antichrist did growe to his high estimation where through the true handling of the Scriptures was altogither neglected and his traditions placed in their roome so the Pope with his creatures were placed aboue the Scriptures to make Scriptures lawfull or vnlawfull to be the onely Iudge of all interpretations their sentence to be without all errour and so all men bound to it without any contradictions as the histories of the Church do plainly declare but chiefely the bloud of the Saintes of God shed for the defence of this doctrine of the Fathers against their errours Wherfore I desire the diligent Reader to marke these blasphemies following which the slaues of that pestilent seate haue spued out against the scriptures of God the Fathers iudgement and the confession of the primitine Church The second Head concerning the blasphemies of the Papists against the worde of God Cusanus Cardinal Epist 2. ad Bohemos THe scriptures must follow the church and not the church the scriptures Idem Ibidem I say the precepts of Christ are of no strength except the church admitte them for such Hosius Cardinalis de expresso verbo Dei It is vaine labour that is spent vpoÌ„ the scriptures we will rather waite for Gods sentence out of heauen Idem Ibidem What the Church doth teach that is the expresse word of god what is taught against the mind and consent of it is the expresse word of the Deuill Idem Ibidem If a man haue the interpretation of the Church of Rome albeit he seeth not how it agreeth or disagreeth with the text this man hath the very expresse word of God Eckius multis in locis The scripture is the blacke Gospell and diuinitie of Inck. Herwaeus de potestate Papae The Pope is the whole Church in power Uerractus The determination of the church is called the Gospell Piggius de caelesti Hierarchia The Church hath power to giue to some Scriptures a canonicall authoritie which they neither haue of them selues nor yet of their authours Idem Ibidem The scriptures are like a nose of waxe which may be turned in what shape and forme thou please to forme and drawe it Idem Ibidem The Apostles wrote some thinges not that these writings should be superiours to our faith but rather that our faith should be superiour to them NOw let all men iudge what spirite mooued these godlesse writers to blaspheme the Scriptures of God so shamefully But some will say they were priuate men and not the Pope nor his Councell I answere They were gladly heard authorised and well rewarded by the Pope and his corrupted Synagogue And Io. Hus Hiero. de Praga with sundrie others of our brethren cruelly were persecuted with fire and sword for speaking against their blasphemies It is true the late Councell of Trent would appeare to iudge more reuerently of the Scriptures when they hid their venom vnder some faire and generall termes But which of them was offended when they heard the Bishop of Poytiers in his exhortation call the Scriptures a voyde dumbe law c And likewise who accused the prophane Priest of Laterane which in all their presence called the Scriptures dead Luk. c Andradius writing in the defence of that prophane Councell doth plainlye testifie that they in their mindes did throughly agree with these blasphemies but yet durst not speake so plainly against the Scriptures least they should haue prouoked the common people against them And therefore to bleare the eies of the people for a time they ioyne the Scriptures and their vnwritten traditions togither in their Decrees But in the meane time they arme and send out certaine vile slaues and godlesse runnegates to speake and write against the written worde who doe call it a dead Letter obscure vncertaine insufficient the occasion of all heresies written without the commandement of Christ and vnprofitable to the people laboring hereby to bring the consciences of men from the worde of life to their diuellish traditions Let all men therefore that loue the trueth of God flee farre from this deceitfull and diuellish companie which God in his wrath hath raised vp to blind this vnthankeful age and to trie our faith and patience vnto the time of our full victory through Iesus Christ our Lorde To whom with the Father and the holy Spirit be all honour praise and Maiesty for euer and euer So be it FINIS Mat. â— Eccle Gen. Ephe Psal â—17 â— â— 15. 2. 2. Cor. â— Gen. 3 15. 1. 2. 3. Heb. 1â— â— Gen. 3. Gen. 3. Gen. â— 5. 8. Heb. 11. Gen. 3. 1 2 17. Rom. ◠〈…〉 7. 31 Heb. â—â— â— Ephes 46. 〈…〉 Cor. 1. 8. Matt. 28. 〈…〉 〈…〉 b. 5. 〈…〉 h. 15. 26. 〈…〉 b. 2. 4. â—et 3. 15. 〈…〉 17. 3. Cor. 6. 18. Ephes 2. 3 Heb. 11 h. 8. 44. h. 1. 21 Iohn 3. 34. Iam. 4. 12. Pet. 2. 5. Iob. 10. 19. Heb. 1. 1. Rom. 8. 2â— Mat. 1. 2â— Iohn 3. 10. Iohn 1. 1â— Mat. 1. â—en 49. 10. â—â—hn 10. 18. Iohn 18. 38. Rom. 4. 25. Galat. 3. 13. Mat. 27. 46. Act. 2. 24. Heb. 5. 7. â—ct 2. 23. 1. Pet 1. 18 19 Coloss 2. 14 Heb. 10. 14 Rom. 6. 3. 4. Rom. 4. 7. 8 1. Cor. 15. 16 17. â—ohn 14. 2. Mat. 28. 20. â—om 8. 34. 1. Thes 4 15. 26. Ephes 〈…〉 7. 15. â— 2. 2. Tim. l. 5. 17. Ioh. 10 Esai 44. â—â— 25. 1. Cor. 〈…〉 â—or 15. 42. 〈…〉 20. Tit. 2. â—â— â—hes 1. 13 〈…〉 18. 22. â— 1. 18 〈…〉 3. 17. 〈…〉 5. 30. Rom. 1. â— Rom. 8. Rom. 8. Hebr. 12 Act. 20. â— Exod. 23 Mat. 21 Ps 19. 7 â—it 26. 3. â— c. Deut. 4. 3. 8. 1. Cor. â— Ier. 4. Act. 4. 1â— â—â—s 4. 3. 〈…〉 10. 37 8. 3. Rom. 7. Galat. 3 Mat. 1. Cor. 3. 6. Rom. 10. â— c. â—â—m 7. 15. Thes 6. 16. â—â—â—l 50. 1â— l. 22. 9. 61. 11. Iohn 4. â— Iames. 1. Rom. 8 1. Cor. 1. Mat. 7. 7 16. 2. Psal 12 Heb. 1â— 64. 6. 〈…〉 32. 1. Pet Iame 〈…〉 2. 19. Ps 50. 1â— Ephes 6 2. 328. Ioh. 17 〈…〉 2. 13. 〈…〉 19. c 11. 29. 1. Cor 1. Cor. 11 2. Cor. 13 â— 5. â— 6. 3. 4. â— 7. 14. Heb. 10. Mat. 26 â—â— 21. â— 11. 29. 1. Cor. â—1 Mat. 18 1. Cor. 2. Cor. Math. 18. â— Cor. 5. Rom. 12. 8 â— 18. 18. im 2. 2. 2. Tim. â—or 11. 14 Rom. 8. Ephe. 1. 4. Rom. â— 3 Rom. 4. â— 8. c. Rom. 5. â— â—om 12. 9. Rom. â— Rom. ◠〈…〉 es 2. 16. 〈…〉 8. 2. Cor. 1â— â— 25. 34. â—25 41. 1. â— 18. â—11 32. Rom. â— Rom.