so forsaking God transgressing his law which then he might have kept if he had been willing he lost that integritie wisdome he was created in that absolute yet gentle pow'r he had over these inferiour creatures yea that immortalitie both of bodie soule by which the bodie should never have been forsaken by the soule nor this deprived of Gods grace which is her onelie Life XLV I Beleeve that as we were all in Adam he did then represent us so he lost for us all what he lost for himself Therefore all his children none excepted but Christ are curs'd dead in him being all guiltie of the sins he committed in eating of the fruit prohibited by God subject to his punishment I say sins in plurall for pride incredulitie murther intemperance theft did all concurre with his disobedience XLVI I Beleeve that those sins having infected the first mans person his person corrupted his nature this spreads her killing infection into all the persons which naturally descend from Adam by him that is by naturall generation so that all such persons are shapen in iniquitie conceiv'd in sinne thus defil'd and curs'd both in soule bodie XLVII I call this sin Originall beleeving it a naturall strong aversion from good propension to ill an inbred lust desire concupiscence by which we will act or not act in opposition to Gods Laws the rules of reason and so is the corrupt fountain of all our Actuall transgressions of the Lords Laws in thoughts affections words actions yea of our omissions of all holie duties XLVIII I Beleeve that this sin hath so corrupt our whole nature that of our selves or without the speciall grace of God we can not think desire love fear work or speak any thing which be pleasant to him XLIX This sin being the cause of all our miseries the breeder of our feares cares paines the murderer of our soules and bodies as I know all men die bodily for it so I judge them all damn'd considering them all in Adam guiltie of his dis-obedience for the wages of sin is dead both corporall and spirituall all sins being of such killing nature so mortall in themselves that the lest deserves many deaths L. Yet I Beleeve to the glorie of my Gods Mercie Confesse that both Originall Actuall sins are not imputed to all men but by his most free gift pardoned to manie who by this grace of Remission of sin are delivered from that spirituall perpetuall death by which the rest of mankind is swallow'd LI. Those blessed men who obtain this gratuit pardon I call Elect those wretched persons who misse it Reprobat the first being taken out of the generall sinfull lump of naturall corruption in Adam by Gods eternall Election and the second left in the same by his eternall Reprobation LII Considering with feare and pitie the miserable state of these and seeking earnestly the Cause of their Reprobation I finde it in Gods will I Beleeve then to the glorie of my Gods Justice Confesse that he decreed eternally to Reprobat reject disallow or passe by some of mankind which should voluntarily fall into sin so damne them to declare his Justice LIII Thus I think not that their Infidelitie or sin foreseen be the cause of their Reprobation for thus we should all be Reprobat but I beleeve say again that God was mov'd to decree it by his free just Will being resolv'd of the same lump to make some vessels to honor others unto dishonor so as a great Lord to furnish his great house with vessels of all sorts LIV. Yet I say not that God made some men to be damn'd although he did reprobat them for none is damn'd as he is man created in great puritie but as he is deform'd marr'd by his voluntarie folie guilt neither is dammation the proper end of his Reprobation or an effect of it but is a meane to manifest the glorie of the Lords Justice and his hate towards sin in the severe everlasting punishments he inflicts on sinners LV These punishments being the fit wages of sin this sin most voluntarie in the Reprobat consid'red in themselves who daily wilfully sin in Adam whose fall was free they have no just ground to complaine of God as if he were the cause or author of their sin which I Beleeve he 's not but rather hates forbids it For though they cannot forbeare sin but much delight in it commit it with greedines yet LVI I Beleeve that sin is not prompted to them nor forc't on them by God but by the suggestions of the Devill corruptions of their nature God is not oblig'd to strengthen them against those tentations depravation but may justly denie to them or withdraw his graces from them give them up to their hearts lusts Satans pow'r neither likewise was he oblig'd to hinder Adams fall but might did most justly permit decree it not as a sin but as a meane to manifest his mercie justice mercie to few justice to manie LVII If my blind reason shall dictat that thus the Lord is hard injust partiall I le reprove it by this my firme Beleefe that God owing nothing to man no not the coursest bread he eates must not cannot be accus'd of severitie injustice or partialitie for no man can pleade against God nor the thing form'd say to him who form'd it why hast thou made me thus We were all in Gods pow'r as the clay in the Potters hands fit to be made vessels to such uses services as our Lord maker thought best for the revelation of his wisdome power mercie justice LVIII If then God lov'd Jacob hated Esau before they were borne and had done either good or ill it is enough for me to know 't was his will to doe so and who can resist or alter it being almightie and immutable And who dares censure it being most just yea the rule of justice I dare not will not cannot find fault with the just and hie God who hath mercie on whom he will and hardens whom he will LIX Although this word Harden seemes hard yet I Beleeve that there is no unrighteousnes with God for he hardens but those who have hardned themselves by their wilfull abuse of good motions predications admonitions corrections he hardens them not by infusing anie malice into their hearts but onely by a just deniall or subtraction of the graces he owes them not so by suffring them to follow their lewd inclinations Satans wicked tentations And this they doe so wilfully eagerly constantly that as their Reprobation is sure immutable in respect of Gods will which can admit no change so they make their damnation most certain by their infidelitie and wickednes LX These Reprobat infidell wicked persons being as lims
creatures to his praise fearing to displease him and seeking to please and serve him in that way he prescribes adoring him alone having no faith no hope but in his wisdome pow'r goodnes for what concernes the soule seeking health ease honors riches but from him by lawfull meanes enduring patiently his corrections being thankfull for his blessings in all things submitting his will unto his doth I Beleeve fulfill the Commandements of the first Table which concerne God and his service CXXXIV And who in and for God loveth his Neighbour as himselfe doing what he can lawfully to instruct him in the right full knowledge of the Lord to divert him from sin exhort him to vertue help him to leade a holie sweet life wishing praying for him what is necessarie for his present future happines and freely heartily and fully pardoning him all faults doth likewise fulfill the commandements of the second Table concerning his Neighbour CXXXV But because this love towards God man cannot be so pure perfect in the state of our corruption but that we sin daily 'gainst both so transgresse the law of God and by our transgression loose the blessing of everlasting life promis'd unto its observers doe daily incurre the curse threatned unto its transgressors I Beleeve confesse that though the Law be just perfect in it self yet by reason of our weaknes since the fall of Adam it is not sufficient to Salvation CXXXVI Sith then my workes are imperfect I Beleeve my faith must supplie their want And since the Law cannot save me but rather condemnes me I borrow the helpe of my faith beleeving God for my righteousnes or justification And because it is not enough to beleeve in God without Christ this is my Heartie Faith in him Verball confession of him besides those points I have alreadie toucht concerning him CXXXVII That God Father Son holie Ghost having in mercie Elected some men it pleas'd that onelie wise gracious Spirit to give them Christ as the effectuall meane of their Election sole cause of their Salvation 'T was then decreed that the second Person of the incomprehensible Trinitie should assume mans nature thus to be made to Gods Elect wisdome righteousnes sanctification redemption CXXXVIII And least our Nature should be corrupt sinfull in Christ if as man he had descended from Adam by naturall generation it was likewise decreed that a pure and perfect bodie should be formed by the power of God of the purified substance of a faithfull Virgin without the helpe or seed of man CXXXIX And as this was eternally decreed so I Beleeve it was perform'd in the appointed time for the blessed Virgin Marie beleeving Gods message consenting to be made a Mother without anie carnall knowledge of man did by the power of the holie Ghost conceive that wondrous Child who by an eternall Generation is the Son of God without Mother and by temporall conception the Son of Man without Father CXL Mans nature in Christ â—ubsisting not in it selfe but in the Person of the Woâ—d I Beleeve that in one instant Christs whole humanitie bodie soule was form'd created assum'd or taken up by the second Person of the Divinitie in such a strait perpetuall union that it did never subsist without the Word who assum'd the nature not the person of man so that in Christ there is but one divine eternall indivisible person in to by which our whole nature soule bodie hath its subsistence abiding or standing yet addes nothing unto the Deitie for God being perfect simple eternall he can receive no addition composition alteration passion CXLI The Union being Personall of two natures in one Person I Beleeve that as the Person of Christ can not be divided so his Natures are not can not be confounded but still retaine their essentiall proprieties the divine being eternall infinit omnipotent omniscient and the human temporall finit once passible having a beginning of time limits for knowledge power place For though Christs human pow'r knowledge wisdome were great excellent yet CXLII I beleeve they were finit so that all things were not possible known unto him as man although as God he knew could doe all things which are not contradictorie I say therefore that although Christs Person to whom the proprieties of both natures are common knew all things in the wombe yet it was not by his human nature by which he being born increased in wisdome learning new things by dailie experience And thus I Beleeve he was born CXLIII Although his bodie was by the power of God form'd in an instant to the requisit growth for the reception of the soule yet he was in the Virgins wombe grew in it to greater strength till the dayes were accomplisht that she should be deliv'red CXLIV And then the blessed Maid brought forth in Beth-lehem in a stable the Maker of heaven earth who then appeared to the world in the shape of a poore Servant in the forme of a weak Infant whom beholding with the strong eyes of faith I most humbly adore for CXLV I Beleeve that that Infant is God and Man Man to doe endure for me that is in my steed for my good what I could not yet ought both to doe suffer and God to give infinit price efficacie or force unto the actions passions of the Humanitie apply them to me CXLVI I Rely then wholly on the merits of Christs obedience to Gods Law of his suffrings for my sins Beleeving he exactly observ'd the Law for me fully satisfi'd his offended justice and so by his paines righteousnes both originall actuall redeemed me from sin death hell and purchast me grace life Heaven CXLVII Christ then is all my hope my onelie Mediator of redemption intercession through whom I live on earth in grace shall in heaven in glorie To procure me both these also to shew me examples of humilitie meeknes patience all vertues my Saviour was borne amongst beasts subject to my passions infirmities yet without sin or disorder circumcis'd the eighth day carried into Egipt Persecuted through all his Life which having led most holily humbly painefully patiently miraculously chiefely the three last yeares in which by his mightie wonders divine instructions he manifested his Deitie he ended it by an ignominious and cruell death drinking at last the full bitter cup of Gods indignation against sin and sinners treading alone the Wine-presse of Gods wrath shedding all that precious bloud which is our bath onelie purgation CXLVIII I Beleeve then that as he did represent us he was in his human nature expos'd unto the wrath of God which his innocent Soule so lively apprehended that she was heavie unto death then enduring for his Elect by the helpe of the Deitie supporting the Humanitie th' eternall paines due to their
sins so making to God satisfaction in that nature yea in both parts of that nature which had offended him CXLIX For unto this fearefull apprehension spirituall sense of Gods indignation which I Beleeve he had often were added most grievous torments his pure bodie endur'd from his birth-day to the last moment of his life so that he was both in soule bodie in his life death wounded for our iniquities bruis'd for our transgressions curs'd for our sake and kill'd to give us life as those being the end of his Incarnation CL And thus was the Lambe of God slaine for the sins of all the faithfull from the foundation of the world unto its destruction After manie indignities blows paines he was nail'd to a crosse and hang'd betwixt two theeves as the greatest malefactor and so indeed was he as he did then represent thousands of sinners for whose ransome he truly and willingly dy'd offring to God his paines death his passions actions for redemption salvation of his Elect whom he did sâ—nctifie through the offering of his Bodie once for all so that they neede no other oblation for sin then that which Christ offred cannot be renew'd because he dyes no more nor other satisfaction then that he made for them all other being both impossible needles CLI Christ our life being dead I Beleeve that his Bodie was buried to testifie the realitie of his death how our sins were then buried with him which without his humble passion had cast us downe into hell-fire But as Christ dy'd without the lest offence to God or man so the grave could not hold him long but the third day of his Buriall CLII. I Beleeve that Christs glorious soule was reunited to his Bodie by the power of his Divinitie which never forsook them but kept them still one in heaven the other in earth in that wonderfull and incomprehensible personall union And this reunion being made of the two parts of his humanitie Christ rose out of his grave as well to assure me of my spirituall corporall resurrection from sin death as to receive the reward of his obedience unto the Law of God unto death for me for CLIII I Beleeve that Christ having well perform'd his office in the state of his humiliation in planting teaching governing redeeming his Church for which hee did humble himselfe and become obedient to the death of the crosse it pleased the Father to exalt him manifesting his Deitie through which the whole Humanitie was made most free from naturall infirmities and invested with such agilitie impassibilitie glorie felicitie that it surmounts the excellence of the verie Angels having the full measure of perfection both in soule and bodie of which they are capable without destruction I confesse then they are as glorious as may be yet CLIV. I Beleeve that glorie is finit and much inferior to the essentiall and incommunicable perfection of the most glorious Trinitie Albeit therefore Christs person be as glorious as the Fathers and holie Ghosts yet his Humanitie being not capable of that infinit perfection it can not have that omniscience omnipotence Ubiquitie Majestie and felicitie which are proper to the Divinitie The knowledge then power glorie and joy of Christs soule is finit although most rare excellent and his glorious immortall and agile bodie is likewise must be finit solid visible palpable having his just measure in length bredth depth being contain'd in that place which he is pleas'd to fill for the present CLV Heaven being the proper seat of all blessed soules after death I Beleeve and confesse that Christ Jesus to give me assurance of my future glorification ascension thither first in the soule immediatly after my death then in Soule and Bodie at the Resurrection did fourtie dayes after his rising from the dead ascend triumphantly and visibly into the heaven of heavens that highest Orbe which the great King of Kings hath made as a fit place for the full manifestation of the riches of his glorie the greatnes of his pow'r the excellence of his wisdome and the exces of his bountie CLVI And Jesus being Ascended thither by the Almightie pow'r of his Divinitie I Beleeve he is there sitting at the right hand of God that is having in his Humanitie glorie wisdome pow'r strength next to Gods governing heaven earth and hell but chiefely ruling and teaching his Church by his omnipresent spirit and all-filling Divinitie by which he is with her till the end of the world interceding for her and shewing his Father the wounds he suffred for her sake and so by his merits praires sanctifying and blessing her by his pow'r protecting her from the devill and his members CLVII For whose generall overthrow finall subjection and to manifest Gods mercie and justice towards men I Beleeve that the Lord Jesus whom the heavens containe till the end of the world as he is man although as God he be everie where shall then appeare in Majestie and great glorie that by his Almightie pow'r which at first made things of nothing and Adams bodie of the dust all the dead shall then rise and the living be chang'd all appeare before the glorious throne of Christ there to be judg'd according to their works yea manie for their Works for certainly CLVIII The reprobat shall then perceive that their infidelitie and wickednes are the causes of their everlasting damnation in hell where they shall feele such desperat perpetuall griefes of the mind torments of the flesh as shall make them hate curse God and see although too late how miserable that reasonable Creature is who willingly rebells from God persists in its rebellion CLIX. But those blessed persons who by Gods grace beleev'd in him lov'd fear'd serv'd him shall then be Judg'd according to their Workes yet not Sav'd for or by those workes but by the meere mercie of God in and by Christ their gracious Judge who in his just anger having sentenc'd and sent the wicked into Hell with the approbation and praise of the Elect. CLX Shall I Beleeve in his tender love towards these invite and convey them with him into Heaven there to enjoy an incomprehensible everlasting gratuit and full Felicitie in the vision of Christ and fruition of God who being the beginning end of all things the first last I end this my Beleefe and Confession in him Beseeching that eternall Spirit by whose most speciall assistance I have both began and finisht and unto whom therefore I yeeld most heartie thankes to make me immutable in this Beleefe bold in this confession carefull in the aversion of all sins and diligent in the practice of all Christian vertues and religious duties Doe so I pray thee gracious God Yet if my Beleefe is not right O Lord rectifie it teach me the true faith And if it be not full