The Summe of Christianitie reduced vnto eight propositions briefly and plainly confirmed out of the holy worde of God. Iohn 1. 17. The lawe was giuen by Moses but grace and trueth came by Iesus Christ. Eight Propositions conteining the summe of this Treatise 1. All men haue sinned and haue fasted of the glorie of god Rom. 3. 23. 2. There is no name vnder Heauen giuen vnto men whereby we must be saued but onely by the name of Jesus Act. 4. 12. 3. Saluation by Christ apperteineth onely vnto them that beleeue in him 4. Fayth commeth by bearing and hearing by the worde of god Rom. 10. 17. 5. Let him depart from iniquitie whosoeuer nameth the name of Christ 2. Tim. 19. Who so is in Christ Jesus is a new creature 2. Cor. 5. 17. 6. Thy worde is the lanterne vnto my feete and the light vnto my pathe Psa. 119. 105. The commandement is a lanterne and the lawe a light and reprehensions for instruction are the way of life Pro. 6. 23. 7. The lawe is spirituall but wee are carnall euen solde to bee subiect vnto sinne Rom. 7. 14 The fleshe lusteth against the spirite and the spirit against the flesh and these are contrarie the one to the other so that we can not doe the things that we would Gal. 5. 17. 8. What other helpes there are vnto godlinesse and well doing commended vnto vs in the worde of God ▪ The summe of Christianitie reduced vnto eight propositions briefly and plainly confirmed out of the holy worde of God. The first proposition All men haue sinned and haue failed of the glorie of God. Rom. 3. 23. THere is none that is righteous no not one If we say we haue no sin we deceiue our selues the truth is not in vs If we say wee haue not sinned we make God a lier and his worde is not in vs For proofe whereof there are two witnesses against vs First the testimony of our owne consciences w euen by the light of nature accuseth vs both of leauing vndon many good things we ought to haue done and of committing many euill things in deede worde and thought Secondly the Lorde God himselfe who is greater than our consciences whose wrath from heauen is manifest against al the vngodlinesse and vnrighteousnesse of men as well in that generall curse which is come vppon all creatures as by particular iudgements executed against sinne from the beginning of the world But especially he hath most manifestly penned our inditement in his worde where first we are charged with the sinne and fall of Adam as guiltie thereof vnto condemnation Secondly that wee are borne in sinne and conceiued in iniquitie and therefore by nature the children of Gods wrath being such as whose natural disposition is enimitie against God and whose cursed spirit lusteth after enuie Thirdly that this corruption of our nature hath bene most plentifull in bringing foorth all maner fruites of disobedience causing vs to transgresse all-the commandementes of God as shal most plainly appeare if we examine our selues and our liues by the seuerall precepts of his lawe which teacheth vs both what dueties we owe vnto his Maiestie for his worshippe and also what vnto our brethren for their profite so that wee may conclude with the Apostle that all mouthes are stopped and that all men are come vnder the condemnation of god We must so meditate vpon these things as we may also be affected and touched with them Which we shall the rather performe if vnto the vnfeigned confession that wee are sinners we shal in the presence of Gods maiestie consider first the filthinesse and vncleannesse of our sinnes by comparing them with that holinesse righteousnesse and innocencie which is described vnto vs in the Lawe Then the greatnesse of our offences as committed against the most glorious excellencie of the Maiestie of god Further the multitude of our transgressions which are mo in number than the heares of our head and as a mightie water ouerflowing vs vnto destruction Also the punishmēt deserued by our sinnes and set downe in the worde of god First the curse of God entring and remaining vpon all his creatures subduing them vnder vanitie for our sakes Secondly all the aduersities and afflictions of this life with the diseases of our bodies and griefes of our mindes Also death it selfe which is the dissolution of the soule and the bodie Last of all the curse of God pronounced in his lawe vnto euerlasting damnation both of bodie and soule with Satan and his Angels in hell fire the flame whereof being kindled from the breath of the wrath of the Lord shall neuer be quenched The miserie of him that is in such a case must needs be exceeding great offereth him iust occasiō with feare and trembling to inquire what maye be his remedie against so lamentable estate The second Proposition There is no name vnder heauen giuen vnto men whereby we must be saued but onely by the name of Iesus Act. 4. 12. THe holye Angels of God can not saue vs yea they are iustly our enimies for sinne and the armed souldiers of the Lord to our destruction The saintes haue neede themselues of a Sauiour and therefore can stand vs in no stead As for our selues if we coulde which is vnpossible doe all the good thinges commanded vs in the lawe it were sufficient if we were not condemned for them it were no reason that by them we should be discharged of that other bonde of our guiltinesse which is against vs in committing of euill If wee say we will giue all that we haue vnto the Lorde it is nothing vnto him If vnto the poore it is no sacrifice for sinne If we should suffer all torments of bodie and soule during this life wee cannot so satisfie the iustice of God for the least of our sinnes which deserueth infinite punishment There is no helpe in outwarde and feigned holinesse bee it neuer so glorious in the eyes of men seeing it is abhomination in the sight of the Lord how much lesse shal it auaile vs to rest for saluation vpō any of the foolish superstitions wicked idolatries inuented by man Standing therefore before Gods iudgement seate condemned for our sinnes we finde no peace with his Maiestie but onely in Jesus Christ of whome he said from heauen this is my welbeloued sonne in whome I am well pleased And who witnesseth of himselfe saying So God loued the worlde that he gaue his onely begotten Sonne to the ende that all that beleeue in him should not perish but haue euerlasting life who also calleth vs vnto himselfe saying Come vnto me al ye that trauell and be heauy laden and I will refresh you The name Jesus signifieth a Sauiour and is expounded by the Angel Gabriel For he shall saue his people from their sinnes Christ in Greeke
and Messiah in Hebrue signifieth anointed giuing vs to vnderstand that this is he whom the father hath chosen sealed and anointed with his spirit to be our Prophet Priest King and is made vnto vs from God wisedome righteousnesse sanctification redemptiō that no flesh might glory before his Maiestie but that whosoeuer glorieth might glorie in the lord Christ the eternall wisdome of his Father from the beginning was the onely Pastor and teacher of his Church reuealing by his spirit vnto the holy Fathers and Prophets the doctrine of saluation But in the fulnesse of time taking vpon him our nature he came into the world our wisdome from God in his owne person out of the bosome of his father declaring vnto vs all the councels of God concerning our redemptiō and that in greater measure and clearenes of vnderstanding then euer before from the beginning Further as he is the chiefe pastour and shephearde of the flocke so is it he in whom all the promises of God are yea and Amen Who is also al and in all of whom we haue receiued commaundement from heauen that we shoulde heare him He is therefore both the teacher and the thing that is taught He is made our righteousnesse first in that he hath fully satisfied the iustice of GOD borne the stripes of our correction and the chastisement of our peace taking vpon him the curse of the lawe due vnto vs for our sinnes and by bearing and ouercomming the same hath deliuered vs from the power of sinne Satan hell and the wrath of GOD and made an euerlasting attonement vppon the altar of his Crosse offering vp himselfe an oblation and sacrifice of moste sweete sauour vnto the lord Secondly in that he hath accomplished all the righteousnesse of the law that we in his obedience hauing the same imputed vnto vs might be iustified before God and obtaine the blessing of the lawe which is eternall life He is made our holines or sanctification because in him is found the lawe of the spirite of life which deliuereth vs from the law of sinne and of death For it is he onely that hath condemned sinne in the fleshe that is to say hath perfectly purged cleared our nature of sinne in his owne person by ioyning it vnseparably vnto his deietie that wee beyng clothed with his most pure and vnspotted humanitie might in all respectes appeare acceptable and well pleasing in the sighte of the Lorde He is made our redemption not nowe to offer vp anie newe sacrifice for sinne which hee hath already done once for al But that hauing all power geuen to him both ouer thinges in heauen and thinges in earth he mighte rule and gouerne his Churche by his worde and by his spirit guyding and defending the same in the Pilgrimage and warfarre of this life vntill the day of our adoption shall appeare euen the deliuerance of our bodies what time he shall returne our redeemer from heanen and shall change our vile bodies that they may be made like vnto his glorious bodie according vnto that power whereby he is able to subdue all thinges vnto himselfe In the meane time sitting at the right hand of GOD our aduocate and intercessour with the father not only to make intercession for vs but also to presente vnto the Lorde our selues our soules and bodies and all that wee haue and do our prayers and obedience an holie and acceptable Sacrifice vnto his Maiestie The thirde proposition Saluation by Christ appertaineth only vnto them that beleeue in him HE that beleeueth in the sonne is not condemned but hath eternall life and he that beleueth not the sonne is alredy condemned neither shall he see life but the wrath of GOD remayneth vppon him because hee hath not beleeued in the name the onely begottē sonne of god Faith therfore is the only meanes wherby we possesse Jesus Christ and in him althe mercies of God vnto our saluation For by faith Christ dwelleth in our harts that beyng rooted and grounded in the loue of God wee might bee able to comprehend with all Saintes what is that breadth length and depth and height and to knowe that loue of Christ which passeth all knowledge and to bee filled with all that fulnes of god Faith is that testimonie of our consciences wherby we are assured from the witnesse of the Spirite of God that all our sinnes are pardoned and forgeuen vnto vs in the merite of the Sacrifice and death of Christ and that we stande iustified as righteous before God in the perfection of his obedience and through him are nowe the adopted childrē of his father and heires of his euerlasting kingdome in that we are made mēbers of his bodie euen bone of his bone and flesh of his flesh to become with him one spirit and spiritual temple vnto God. The fourth proposition of the causes of faith in the worde preached and sacraments ministred Faith commeth by hearing and hearing by the worde of God. Rom. 10. 17. THis faith is not borne with vs neither groweth it out of our corrupt nature nor is bought with earthly treasure nor attained vnto by the labour and industrie of man but is the free and gracious gifte of GOD vnto his children whom he loued frō before al beginnings wrought in their heartes by his spirite through the preaching of the Gospel Which spirit is therefore called the spirit of adoption because it beareth witnes vnto our spirits that we are the children of God and heires of his kingdome teaching vs with boldenes confidence to crie Abba father and the Gospel preached is called the arme of the Lorde and the mightie power of God vnto saluation The grounde and foundation of our faith is the worde of God especially that part thereof which contayneth his moste louing promises made vnto vs in Jesus Christe This woorde was geuen vnto man from heauen firste by the Lord himselfe speaking vnto the Fathers in his owne person then by the ministery of his holy angels after by his seruauntes the Prophetes Last of all by his owne Sonne in whome are all the treasures of wisedome and knowledge hidde This worlde remaineth vnto vs in the recordes of the olde and newe Testament which bookes were written by the holie men of GOD his Prophetes and Apostles inspired by the holy Ghost is profitable to teach to confute to reprooue to instructe in all righteousnesse that the man of God may be perfect and perfectly instructed vnto euerie good woorke contayning all thinges necessarie for vs to knowe vnto eternall life from whiche we may not take any thing neither put anie thing vnto it This worde is plaine and easie to bee vnderstood of them that desire to doe the will of God and seeke after wisedome in humilitie
woorde They which through want of knowledge or weakenes of the minde are not sufficient vnto the well gouerning and brideiing of them selues must as the Lord hath commanded be instructed and strengthened by others that either by mercifull admonition and exhortation they may bee recouered from sinne or else may be saued by terrors and threats of the iudgements of God beeing thereby as it were by violence taken out of the fire of destruction Unto this appertayneth that notable exhortation of the Apostle Let vs obserue and marke one another not vnto enuy or occasion of sin but to stirre vp our selues mutually and euen to whet one an other vnto the duties of charitie and to all good workes The other kinde of discipline is publike consisting of three partes First of the preaching of the lawe which is as a two edged sworde in the hande of Gods ministers to offer vp his people an holie and blameles sacrifice vnto his maiestie not onely opening our eyes that we may see and knowe what is that good perfect and acceptable will of the Lorde but also through the working of the holy Ghost conuerting our soules and fashioning them after the image similitude of him that made thē Secondly admonitions exhortations and counsels ministred by such persons as the Lord hath appointed for the ouersight of their brethren Thirdly of conuenting of the offendours before the Churche in open congregation to bee iudicially admonished or according vnto the qualitie and degree of their offence forbidden the Supper of the Lord or cut of from the Churche vntill by remorse of sinne with smart and shame of punishment laide vpon them for the same they shal with certaine testimonies of true and vnfeigned repentance humbly desire to be restored vnto their former estate amongest the people of God. The weakenes of conscience must often times be holpen by ciuil punishment publikely or priuately to be executed by magistrates parentes maisters and others whom the Lorde God hath authorized and armed with the swoorde of iustice and rodde of correction not for the profite onely of suche as offende but also for the example terrour of others that at least by awe of punishment they may feare to doe euill For as indulgence and impunitie nourisheth increaseth wickednesse as Salomon saith and wicked men so godly seuerity of punishment chaseth away sin and lessoneth the number of offendours In punishing it must be remembred that it be not dumme and silent but ioyned with doctrin admonition exhortation that the force thereof may work the more in the hart of the offenders It may not be the reuenge of our priuate griefe but of the dishonour of the name of God of the breach of his holy commaundementes It must be ioyned with calling vpon the name of the Lord that as it is his good ordinance so it may be both giuen and receiued according to his wil and blessed by his spirit to the reforming of those that haue done amisse and forwarnings of others Finally all meanes are to be vsed that the conscience of the offender may be touched with the horror of his sinne and feare of Gods iustice that we may cleere our selues of all corruption by directing the punishment not against the person but against the sinne beeing greeued that we are compelled to flye to that extreme remedy and yet to doe it with á godly courage and zeale as caryed with most iust hatred and indignation against sinne Unto the abating of the rage of our corrupt and degenerate nature the Lord yeeldeth vs no small helpe by afflictions and aduersities which therefore are called chastisementes and corrections because we are thereby reformed as the Prophet saith before I was corrected I went astray but now I haue kept thy commaundements In so much as he professeth that it was good for him that hee had beene afflicted and acknowledgeth that of very trueth the Lorde had chastened him meaning thereby that as the Lord hath couenaunted with his people all good things so is it also a parte of his couenaunt to punish and correct his children as he knoweth to be expedient for them the reason whereof is rendred by the Apostle For if wee iudged our selues we should not be punished but when we are punished we are nurtured of the Lorde that we might not be condemned with the world The ende of all is that the workes of Satan in the corruption of our nature with the fruites of the same might vtterly be abolished and ▪ that the image of God not blemished onely but euen cancelled and defaced by the fall of Adam might be renued and repaired in vs The first happeneth vnto vs in the dissolution of this earthly tabernacle from which time we sinne no more as appeareth by that vehement and lamentable exclamation of Saint Paule Miserable man that I am would God I were deliuered from this bodie of death The second though begon increased in this life shal not be fully accomplished vntill our Sauiour Christ returne from heauen be made glorious in his Saints For albeit we are now the childrē of God it hath not yet appeared what we shall bee but our life is hid with Christ in God and we knowe that whē Christ which is our life shal be made manifest we also shal be made manifest with him in glorie Then shall we be clothed with that glorious tabernacle not made with handes eternall in heauen then shall mortalitie be deuoured of immortalitie then shall Christ who alreadie is crowned with glorie and honor returne our redemer from heauen and chaunge our vile bodies that they maye be made like vnto his glorious bodie according vnto that power whereby he is able to subdue all thinges vnto him selfe Then shall it be accomplished which is written death is swallowed vp in victorie O death where is thy sting O graue where is thy victorie For the strēgth of death is sinne and the strength of sinne is the lawe But thankes be vnto God who hath giuen vs victorie by Jesus Christ our lord Therefore let vs be strong and immoueable in the trueth abounding alwayes in the worke of the Lord seeing we know that our labour is not in vaine in the Lorde But the day of our redemption shall once appeare wherin the trumpets shal blow and the deade shall rise those that are found aliue shall be changed and wee all which beleeue shall meete the Lorde in the ayre and so reigne with him in glorie for euer which time shoulde long since haue come vpon the worlde sauing that the Lord is pacient to vswarde and will not that anie of vs should perishe and not of vs onely which now liue but of those also which shal be raised vp in posteritie after vs whom he hath likewise appointed vnto saluation and will in his good time call by the ministerie of his Gospell least we without
with calling vppon the name of the Lorde And that the worde might be made yet more profitable vnto vs it hath pleased the Lord vnto that libertie wee haue of reading hearing read studying and meditation of his holy scriptures knowing the weakenes of our capacitie dulnes of vnderstanding hardnesse and vntowardenesse of our corruption in great wisedome and mercie to ordeine that the same woorde might be applied vnto vs by the holy ministrie of preaching wherevnto he sanctifieth and annointeth by the giftes of his spirit such as he hath chosen and doeth sende foorth into the labour of his haruest Of which S. Paule speaketh when he saith that Christ ascending vp into heauen and leading captiuitie captiue gaue giftes vnto men and filled al things that there might be in his church some Apostles some Prophets some Euangelistes some Pastors and teachers to the knitting together of the Saintes to the woorke of the ministerie and building vp of the bodie of Christ vntill wee all come vnto the vnitie of faith and of the knowledge of the sonne of God vnto a perfit man euen vnto the perfect grouth of the stature of Christ that we might not be tossed and carried with anie blast of doctrine either by the declining frailtie of our owne corruption or by the exercised subtiltie of our aduersarie This ministerie is called the ministerie and ambassage of peace reconciliation which the Lord hath put in the mouthes of all his ministers that being Legates and Ambassadours insteade of Christ as if God himselfe intreated vs by them it might be saide vnto vs in the name of Christ be yee reconciled vnto God. These are the salt of the earth and the light of the world For the same God which in the beginning commaunded light to shyne out of darknes is he that shineth in the heartes of his seruauntes that they might giue foorth the light of the knowledge of the glorie of God in the face of Jesus Christ. Who him selfe saieth that as Moses lift vp the serpent in the deserte so must the Sonne of man be lift vp that all that beleeue in him should not perish but haue euerlasting life And S. Paule saith that the Gospel preached is a most liuelye painting out of Christe before our eyes and a visible crucifying of him in our sight And though it be counted of the worlde foolishnesse and esteemed as ouer weake a meanes to so great a woorke yet is it the mightie power of GOD vnto saluation and the highe wisedome of the Lorde by the foolishnes whereof those shal be saued that beleeue It is the Gospel of Christ and the same preached wherewith it pleaseth the Father to beget vs againe vnto himselfe that we might be the first fruites of his creatures being borne a newe not of mortal seede but of immortall by the woorde of God which woorde abideth for euer and the same is it saith S. Peter which is preached This is that moste excellent forme of Doctrine wherevnto the Lorde hath committed vs to be taught that being obedient thervnto we might be deliuered not onely from the guiltines of sinne but also from the seruitude and bondage of the same As the Spirit of God first beginneth to work faith in our hearts by the woord of the Gospell preached so doeth he continue nourish confirme encrease faith in vs by the self same meanes Wherfore S. Peter exhorteth vs that as newe borne babes wee shoulde long after that sincere milke of the woord that by it wee may growe vp and comming vnto Christ which is the liuely stone our selues also as liuing stones may be builte vp a spirituall house vnto God and made an holy priesthoode to offer vp spirituall sacrifices acceptable vnto God through Jesus christ And when wee are passed the age of our infancie in Christ the same word preached is our sound fast meate wherwith the Lord still feedeth vs in his familie vntill that hauing finished the course of this life and ended the daies of our pilgrimage and warrefare in this worlde hee take vs home into his owne kingdome Unto the worde of the Gospell preached for the more strengthening confirming of our faith in the assurāce of our saluatiō by Christ it hath pleased God in like wisedom and goodnesse towards vs knowing our weakenes and pittying our infirmitie to adde the vse of two holy Sacramentes Baptisme and the Supper of the Lord The Sacramēt of Baptisme is an holy signe seale annexed by God himself vnto the promises of the Gospel to witnesse and pledge vnto vs the forgiuenes and washing away of our sinnes in the sacrifice of the death of Christ and our iustification before the Maiestie of God in the perfection of his obedience also our ingrafting into that bodie wherof Christ is the head from whom streameth the fountaines of life and grace into all his members Further that being baptized into his death wee shall by the power thereof die vnto sinne and by the power of his rising againe be our selues raised vp in a newe creature to walke before him in true holinesse and righteousnesse all the dayes of our life and that we shall be raised vp in the last day out of the dust of earth and meete the Lorde in the aire and dwell with him for euer In the meane time that as we are by one Sacrament of Baptisme coupled vnto one heade so we should consent together in vnitie of spirite preseruing the same by the bond of peace endeuouring those things which first appertaine vnto the glorie of God and then not seeking euery one his owne in priuate but as members of one body mutually the edifying and profite one of another The Supper of the Lorde being a seale of the same promises further witnesseth and sealeth vnto our consciences that Christ is that breade of life which came downe from Heauen and fountaine of saluation of which who so tasteth shall liue for euer And that as truely as our bodies by natural meanes are made partakers of the creatures of bread wine vnto the nourishment of this present life so our soules by the hande and mouth of faith through the power of the spirite of God are made partakers of the body and blood of Christ that he dwelling in our hearts by fayth wee might become bone of his bone and flesh of his flesh vnto the assured hope of euerlasting saluation Also in this Sacrament is not onely confirmed vnto vs the misticall vnion betwene Christ and his Church but also taught vs what vnitie and loue ought to be amongst vs which being all partakers of one bread and one wine are first coupled vnto one head Jesus Christ as members of his bodie and then mutually made members one of another Unto the worthie receiuing of this holy Sacrament it