no sect euer erred or were out of the way to heauen a fancy of the Rhetorians k D. Aug ep ad Quod vult 1. Proposition No man euer was is or shall be saued but onely by the name or Faith of Iesus Christ The proofes from Gods Word This we cannot but acknowledge to be true if also we beleeue the Scriptures which say that Among men there is giuen none other name vnder heauen whereby we must be saued a Acts. 4.12 Through Iesus Christ his name all that beleeue in him shall receiue remission of sinnes b Acts 10.43 In thee viz. Christ Iesus shall all the Gentiles be blessed c Gal. 3.8 And this is the Faith and confession of the reformed Churches d Conâ— s Helv. 2. ar 10 11. 2 cap. 11.13 Basil ar 4 Bohem c. 4.10 Gal. ar 13.16 17 Belg. ar 17.20 21.22 August an ar 3. Saxon. â—r 3. Wittemb c. 8. Suc vica â—r 9. sect 2. they revolted The errors and adversaries unto this truth Many wayes this truth very heretically is oppugned For Some teach that we are saved not by Christ but as the Valentinians said by the labour of their hands and by their own good works a Iren lib. 1. as Simon Magus boasted by his faire Helene b Iren. as Matthew H manâ— heâ—d by other meanes and that all persons which worshipped Christ are abominable Idolaters c Holinsh chro fol. 299. as Nâ—userus and Silvanus beleeved by Mahomet d â— za resp ad repetit Io. And. Cal. p. â— and therefore he revolted from Christianity unto Turcisme Others confesse that wee are saved by the name of Christ but either not by the right and true Christ for they said themselves and every of themselves were Christ and in old time did Saturnius e Epiphanâ— Manes f Euseb l. 7. c. 31. Desider Burdâ—gal and Eudo de Stella g Genebr chr l. 3. p 358. 709. and of late yeares as Basil David George h Hist David Georgii and in England first one Iohn Moore i Sâ—ow and afterward William Hacket k Conspit for pretend reforâ— the former was whipt for the same at Bethlehem in the second of Queene Elizabeth the other hanged and quartered in Cheap side Ann. 1591. Or by the true Christ but either distinguish betweene Iesus and Christ saying Iesus was one man and Christ another as did the Marcionites l Philaster Or say there be two Christs one revealed already in the dayes of Tiberius the Emperour who came for the salvation of the Gentiles another yet to come for the redemption of the Iewes so tho ght the same Marcionites m Tertul. l. 4. contr Marc. Nestorius held also there were two Christs whereof one was very God the other very man borne of a woman n Vincen. Liâ— adv haereses Or publish how 〈◊〉 â—e were saved by the true Christ till the 15. yeare of the foresaid Tiberius an heresie of Manes and his company o Epiphan Others besides as the Family of Love understand all things written of Christ allegorically and not according to the letter of Gods Word For they teach that whatsoever is written of Christ must in us and with us be fulfilled p H.N. proph of the Spi. c. 7. sect 3. Others have thought yea have spoken blasphemously of the constant and holy Martyrs who for the Name of Christ gave their lives in England in the raigne of Queene Mary some saying They were starke fooles as did Christopher Vitel a chiefe Elder in the Family of Love q Ans to the Fam. let l 3. a. others as West phalus and Morbachius that they were the Divels martyrs r Sturmius anâ—â— ap 4. par 3. p. 189. 19. Article Of the Church 1 The visible 2 Church of Christ 3 is a congregation 4 of faithfull men in the which 5 the pure Word of God is preached and the Sacraments be duly ministred according to Christs ordinance in all those things that of necessitie are requisite to the same As 6 the Church of Ierusalem Alexandria and Antioch hath erred so also 7 the Church of Rome hath erred not onely in their living and manner of ceremonies but also in matters of Faith The Propositions 1. There is a Church of Christ not onely invisible but also visible 2. There is but one Church 3. The visible Church is a Catholike Church 4. The Word of God was and for time is before the Church 5. The markes and tokens of the visible Church are the due and true administration of the Word and Sacraments 6. The visible Church may and from time to time hath erred both in doctrine and conversation 7. The Church of Rome most shamefully hath erred in life ceremonies and matters of faith 1. Proposition There is a Church of Christ both invisible and visible The proofe from Gods Word A True saying it is The Lord onely knoweth who are his For to man the Church of Christ is partly invisible and visible partly The visible are all the Elect who be or shall be either in heaven triumphing or on earth fighting against the flesh the world and the Divell These as members of the Church are said to be invisible not because the men be not seene but for that their faith and conscience to Godward is not perfectly knowne unto us The members of the visible Church are some of them for God and some against God all of them notwithstanding deemed parts of the Church and accounted faithfull so long as they make no manifest and open rebellion against the Gospel of Christ All this we gather from the holy Scripture where mention is made of the Church invisible and triumphing Rev. 2.26 28. and 3.5 12. and 7.14 15. invisible and militant in the Epistles of St. Paul a Gal. 4.29 Eph. 6.10 c. 2 Tim. 3.12 Peter b 1 Pet. 5.9.10 and book of St. Iohns Revelations c Rev. 1â— 7 11 17 17.14 also of the Church visible and mixed with good and bad by the Parable of the Sower d Matth. 13. of the Marriage e Matth. 22. and of the Vrgins f Matth 25. as also by the saying of our Saviour Christ g Have not I chosen you twelve and one of you is a divell John 10. and of S. Paul h For he knew who should betray him therefore said Ye are not cleane John 13.11 In a great house are not only vessels of gold and of silver but also of wood and of earth and some for honour and some unto dishonor 2 Tim. 2.20 Confess l. Helv. 1. ar 14. 2. c. 17. Bohem. c. 8. Gal. ar 27. Belg. ar 27. August ar 7. Saxon. ar 11. Wit ar 32. Suâ—vica ar 15. The Churches beare witnesse hereuntoi. Errors and adversaries unto this truth This truth hath many adversaries whereof S me â—en unâ—â— our Christ the Saviâ—ur of mankinde and so thinke his
and grosse contempt of the necessary and laudable orders of our Church By the latter they haue introduced a new and more then either Iewish or Popish superstition into the land to no small blemish of our Christian profession and scandall of the true seruants of God and therewith doctrine most erroneous dangerous and Antichristian The summe of the Sabbath doctrine broached by the Brethren 22. Their doctrine summarily may be reduced vnto these two heads whereof the one is that the Lords day euen as the old Sabbath was of the Iewes must necessarily be kept and solemnized of all and euery Christian vnder the paine of eternall condemnation both of body and soule The other that vnder the same penalty it must be kept from the highest to the lowest both of King and people in sort and manner as these Brethren among themselues haue deuised decreed and prescribed The former of these is like that of the false apostles which came from Iudea vnto Antioch and taught the Brethren that vnlesse they were circumcised after the manner of Moses they could not be saved Whom the Apostles Paul and Barnabas first and afterwards Peter Iames and the rest at Ierusalem both zealously did resist and in their Synod or Conuocation powerfully suppresse The latter as bad as that hath bin the mother of many hereticall assertions and horrible conclusions I haue read and many there be aliue which will iustifie it how it was preached in a Market towne in Oxfordshire that to doe any seruile worke or businesse on the Lords day is as great a sinne as to kill a man or to commit adultery It was preached in Somerset-shire that to throw a bowle on the Sabbath day is as great a sinne as to kill a man It was preached in Norfolke that to make a Feast or wedding dinner on the Lords day is as great a sin as for a Father to take a knife and cut his childs throate It was preached in Suffolke I can name the man and I was present when he was convented before his Ordinary for preaching the same that to ring more Bels then one upon the Lords day to call the people unto Church is as great a sinne as to commit murder When these things I read and heard mine heart was strucken with an horror and so is it still when I doe but think of them and calling into mind the Sabbath doctrine at London Printed for I. Porter and T. Man An. 95. which I had read before wherein very many things are to this effect I presently smelt both whose disciples all those preachers are and that the said doctrine had taken deep impression in mens hearts and was dispersed while our watchmen were otherwise busied if not asleepe over the whole Kingdome The Br. Doctrine of the Sa bath called in by authoritie and forbidden any more to be printed 23. It is a comfort unto my soule and will be till my dying houre that I have beene the man and the meanes that the Sabbatarian errors and impieties are brought into light and knowledge of the State whereby whatsoever else sure I am this good hath ensued namely that the said bookes of the Sabbath comprehending the above mentioned and many moe such fearefull and haereticall assertions hath been both called in and forbidden any more to be printed and made common Your Graces predecessor Archb. Whitgift by his letters and Officers at Synods and Visitations An. 99. did the one Ann. 1559. 1600. and Sir Iohn Popham L. chiefe Iustice of England at Bury S. Edmons in Suff. An. 1600. did the other And both these most reverend sage and honourable Personages by their censures have declared if men will take admonition that the Sabbath doctrine of the Brethren agreeth neither with the doctrine of our Church nor with the lawes and orders of this Kingdome disturbeth the peace both of the Common-weale and Church and tendeth unto Schisme in the one and Sedition in the other and therefore neither to be backt nor bolstred by any good Subiect whether he be Church or Common-weale man 24. Thus haue errors and noysome doctrines like byles Purity of doctrine all Qu. Elizabeths raigne maintained in England and Botches euer and anon risen vp to the ouerthrow of our Churches health and safety if it might be but yet such hath beene the Physicke of our discipline as what by launcing purging and other good means vsed the Body still hath heene vpholden and preserued from time to time And well may errors like grosse humors and tumors continue among vs as neuer Church was or will be quite without them while it is militant heere vpon earth yet are they not of the substance at all of our Religion or any part of our Churches Doctrine no more then ill humors which be in are of the Body or dregs in a Vessell of wine be any part either of the Vessell or Wine which remaineth as at the first most sound and vncorrupted and so continued euen vntill the dying day of that most illustrious and religious Princesse Queene Elizabeth The very Brethren themselves doe write that In regard of the common grounds of Religion and of the Ministery We are all one We are all of one Faith one Baptisme one Body one Spirit haue all one Father one Lord Ann. 1601. and be all of one Heart against al wickednes superstition idolatry heresie and we seeke with one Christian desire the aduancement of the pure Religion worship and Honor of God We are Ministers of the Word by one order we administer Prayers and Sacraments by one forme we Preach one Faith and substance of doctrine And we Praise God heartily that the true Faith by which we may be saued and the true doctrine of the Sacraments and the pure Worship of God is truely taught and that by publike authority and retained in the booke of Articles Hitherto the said Brethren And this was their verdict of our Churches doctrine in the last yeere saue one of Q. Elizabeths raigne then which nothing was euer more truely said or written And this Vnity and purity of doctrine she left with vs when she departed this world K. Iames. After Elizabeth raigned King Iames. VVHo found this our Church as all the world knoweth in respect of the grounds of true Religion at Vnitie Anno 1603. and that Vnitie in Veritie and that Veritie confirmed by publike and regall approbation These Ecclesiasticall Ministers therefore though a thousand for number who at his Majesties first comming into this Kingdome either complained unto his Highnesse of I know not what errors King James abused troubled with false informations and petitions of the Brethren and imperfections in our Church even in points of doctrine as if shee erred in matters of Faith or desired that an Vniformitie of doctrine might be prescribed as if the same had not already beene done to his hands or as weary belike of the old by Queene Elizabeth countenanced and continued
b Psal 124.8 134.3 by him were all things created which are in heauen and which are in earth things visible and inuisible whether Thrones or Dominions or Principalities or Powers as things were created by him and for him c Col. 1.16 by his Son he made the worlds d Heb. 1.8 and all these acknowledged by the Churches Primitiue e Creede Apâ—st Nicen. and reformed at this day f Confess Helv. 2. c. 6 7 Basil ar 1. of France ar â— Fland ar 12 And touching the preseruation of all things by him created My soule praise thou the Lord c. saith the Psalmist which covereth himselfe with light as with a garment spreadeth the heavens like a curtaine which layeth the beames of his chambers in the waters and maketh the clouds his Chariot and walketh vpon the wings of the winde which maketh the spirits his Messengers and flaming fire his Ministers g Psal 164.1 c. c. Are not two Sparrowes sold for a farthing and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father yea and al the hairs of your head are numbred saith our Sauiour Christ h Math. 10.29 30. God that made the world and all things that are therein he is Lord of heaven and earth he giveth life and breath and all things hath made of one bloud all mankind to dwell on all the face of the earth and hath assigned the times which were ordained before and the bounds of their habitation saith Saint Paul i Acts 17.24 25 26. The Sonne is the brightnesse of the glory and the ingraued forme of his person and beareth vp all things by his mighty Word k. The Churches of God in Heluetia l Heb. 1.13 Confe 20.7 Basil m Confess Basil ar 1 2. France n Confess Gal. ar 18. and Flanders o Confess Belg. ar 12 13. testifie the very same Errors and adversaries vnto these truths Hereby are condemned all Heretikes errors impugning either the creation of the world by God or his prouidence in the continuing and preservation of the same Of the former sort was First Aristotle and his followers which said the world was eternall and without beginning Next the Marcionites that held how God made not the world as being too base a thing for him to create a Tertul l. 1. coâ—â—t Marc. 3. Simon Magus Saturninus Menander Carpocrates Corinthus who ascribed the worlds creation by Angels b â—ren Epiph. Philasteâ— 4. The Manichies who gaue the creation of all things vnto two Gods or beginnings the one good whereof came good things the other euill whence proceedeth euill things c Epip Aug. cont Man c. 49 5. The same Manichies d D. August de fide contra Manich c. 40. and Priscillianists e Conc. Brac. cap. 11. which did affirme man to haue bin the workemanship not of God but of the Diuell 6. The Family of Love who deliuer that God by them made heaven and earth f Display of the Fam. of Loue. H. 8 b. 7. The Papists who giue out how sacrificing Priests are the Creators of Christ g Qui creauit me sine me iam creatur mediaÌ„te me Stella cleris Of the latter sort were The Stoike Philosophers and the Manichies who are the great patrones of Destiny Fate and Fortune h Socrat. hist Eccles l. 1.22 The Family of Loue which may not say God saue any thing for they affirme that all things be ruled by nature and not ordered by God i Display of the Fam. H. 7. b. The old Philosophers who thought that inferiour things were too base for God to be carefull of k Dii magna curant parua negligunt Cic de nat Deor. l. 2 And lastly the Epicures who thinke God is idle and gouerneth not the same Of which mind was Cyprian who held that God hauing created the world did commit the government thereof vnto certaine celestiall powers l In exposit Symb. 3. Proposition In the Vnity of the God-head there is a Trinity of persons The proofe from Gods Word THe Scripture saith In the beginning God the Father a The Father by the Sonne made the world Heb. 1. the Sonne b In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and that Word was God The same was in the beginning with God Ioh. 1.1 2. and the holy Ghost c In the beginning God created the heauen and the earth c. and the Spirit of God mooued upon the waters Gen. 1.1 2. created the heaven and the earth By 1 the Word of the 2 Lord were the heavens made and all the host of them by the d Psal 33.6 Breath of his mouth Loe the heauens were opened unto 1 him and Iohn saw 2 the Spirit of God descending like a Dove and lighting vpon him and loe a voyce from heaven saying This is my 3 beloved Sonne in whom I am well pleased e Mat. 3.16 17 Because ye are sonnes 1 God hath sent forth 2 the Spirit of his 3 Sonne into our hearts which cryeth Abba Father saith the Apostle f Gal. 4.6 and againe The grace of our Lord Iesus Christ and the loue of God and the Communion of the holy Ghost be with you all g 2 Cor. 13.13 And S. Iohn There are three which beare record in heauen 1 The Father 2 the Word and 3 the holy Ghost and these three are one h 1 Ioh. 5 3. This truth hath alwayes beene i Creed Apo. Nic. Athan. and seriously is k Confes Helv 1. ar 6. 2. c. 3 Aug. art 1. Gal. art 6. Bel. art 6. Bohe c. 3 Wittemb c. 1. Sucan art 1. confessed in the Church of Christ Errors and adversaries unto this truth Then cursed are all opinions of men contrary hereunto whereof Some denyed the Trinity affirming there is one God but not three persons in the Godhead so did the Montanists a Socrat. eccle hist l. 1. c. 23. and Marcellians b Theo. haer fab lib. 2. and so doe the Iewes c Lu. Caâ—ertus lib. diuiner visor ad Iudae and Turkes d Pol. of the Turk emp. c. 5. Some as the Gnostikes e Clem. Alex. strom l. 5. Marcionites f Clem. Alex. strom l. 5. Epiphan and Valentinians d affirme there be more Gods then one and yet not three persons nor of one and the same nature but of a diuerse and contrary dispositions Some thinke there be three Gods or spirits not distinguished onely but diuided also as did the Eunomeans h Philaster and Tretheites i Zanch de 3. El. par 1. l. 7. c. 1. Some feare not to say that in worshipping the Trinity Christians doe adore three Diuels g Cl. Alex. str lib. 4. worse then all the idols of the Papists and such Blasphemers were Heretikes Blandrat and Alciat k Caluin ep Some will have a Quaternity of
which affirme that Christ in body soule went some think as it were into Hell when upon the Crosse and elsewhere hee suffered the terrors and torments prophesied of Esay 53. v. 6.10 Psal 116. v. 2. and mentioned Matth. 26. v. 38. or 27. v. 46 Luk. 22. v. 42. some say even into hell the very place destined for the Reprobate which he entred into the very moment of his Resurrection at which time hee shewed and declared himselfe a most glorious Conquerour both of death and Hell the most powerfull enemies Errors and adversaries unto this truth But till wee know the native and undoubted sense of this article and mysterie of religion persist wee adversaries unto them which say That Christ descended not into hell at all calling this article an error and a fable as Carlile doth a Carlile against D Smith p. 18.77 That Christ being dead descended into the place of everlasting torments where in soule he endured for a time the very paines which the damned spirits without intermission doe abide Bannisters error b Treat of Bannisters error That Christ alive upon the crosse humbled himselfe usque ad inferni tremenda tormenta even unto the dreadfull torments of hell c Pagets Catech Latin endured for a time those torments quales reprobi in aeternum sensuri sunt which the reprobates shall everlastingly suffer in hell d Pisc in Luc. 12.10 even despaired of Gods mercy finding God at this time Non patrem sed Tyrannum not a Father but a Tyrant and overcame despaire by despaire death by death hell by hell and Satan by Satan e Ferus in Math. 27. suffered actually all the torments of hell for our redemption and descended into the heauiest torments that Hell could yeeld f Humes Rejoind p. 38. 138. 152. suffered the torments of hell The second death Abiection from God g Houshold Catech. and was made a curse that is had the bitter anguish of Gods wrath in his soule and body which is the fire that shall never bee quenched h Giffords Catech That Christ personally in soule went downe into Lake Lymbo to fetch from thence as Canisius i Canis Catech to lose from thence as Vaux he saith k Vaux Catech. the soules of our forefathers which afore his death as the Papists dreame were shut up in the close prison of Hell l Test Rhem. an Luc. 16.26 That Christ by his descension hath quite turned Hell into Paradise Costerus the Iesuites error m Coster instit l. 5. 4. Article Of the Resurrection of Christ Christ did truly arise againe from death and tooke againe his body with flesh bones and all things appertaining to the perfection of mans nature 2 wherewith he ascended into heaven 3 and there sitteth untill he returne to iudge all men at the last day The Propositions 1. Christ is risen from the dead 2. Christ is ascended into heaven 3. Christ shall come againe at the last day to iudge all men even the quicke and the dead 1. Proposition Christ is risen from the dead The proofe from Gods Word THE Resurrection of Christ may easily be prooved from the holy Scriptures in which it is euident first that Christ should a Thou wilt not suffer thine holy One to see corruption Psal 16.10 After he is killed he shall rise againe the third day Marc 9.31 and 10.34 Luke 9.32 and next that he did rise from death vnto life both by his appearing to Mary Magdalene b Iohn 20.14 to diuers women c Math. 28.9 to two d Luke 24.13.15 30 31. to tenne e Iohn 20.19 to all the Disciples to moe then fiue hundred brethren at once g 1 Cor. 15.6 to sundry persons by the space of forty dayes together h Acts 1.3 and by the testimony also of the Apostles Peter i Acts 1.22 and 2.32 1 Pet. 1.3 and Paul k Acts 17.2 3. Rom. 10.9 1 Cor. 15.4 5 c A truth both beleeved and acknowledged by Gods people from age to age l Symbol Apost Athan. Nicen. Confess Helvet 1. ar 11 and 2. c 11. Basil ar 4. Bohem. c. 6. Gal. 15.16 Belg. ar 20. August ar 3. Suâ—viâ— ar 2. Haâ—mon confess praef Errors and adversaries unto this truth Vtterly false then and vnchristian is the opinion of those men Which vtterly deny the resurrection of any flesh as did the Sadduces a The Sadduces say there is no resurrection Matth. 22.23 they deny there is any resurrection Luk. 20.27 they say there is no resurrection neither angel nor spirit Act. 23.8 the false apostles b How say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead 1 Cor. 15 12â— Simon Magus c Epiphan and the Manichies d August contra Faust l. 4. c. 16. Which would acknowledge no resurrection of Christ as would not nor will the Iewes e Mat. 28.13 15. Iud. Cater l divinor visor nor heretike Hamant f Holinsh chron fol. 1299. nor Dauid George one of which errors was that the flesh of Christ was dissolued into ashes and so rose no more g Hist Dauidis Georg. Which affirme as did Corinthus that Christ shall rise againe but yet is not risen h Philaster Which say how our Sauiour after his resurrection was so deified as he retained no more the parts and properties of his body and soule nor the vnion of both natures but is meerely God So thought the Schwenkfeldians Which take the Resurrection of Christ to be but an allegory and no true certaine history as doe the Family of Love i Display in allens confesse 2. Proposition Christ is ascended into heaven The proofe from Gods Word IN saying how Christ with his body is ascended into heaven and there sitteth and abideth we doe agree with the Prophets a Psal 47 5 68 18.110 1. Euangelists b Maty 23.44.25 65. Act. 1.9 Luk 24.51 and Apostles c Rom. 8 34. Eph. c. 8. with the ancient Fathers d Symb. Apo. Athan. Nicen. and Gods people our brethren throughout all Christendome e Confess Helv 1 ar 1 2. c 1. Basi ar 4. Bohe c 6. Gal. ar 15 Bel. ar 20. Aug ar 3. Saxon ar 3 Suevie ar 2. The Errors and adversaries unto this truth But we alltogether dissent From Hamant the English hereticke which denyed the ascension of Christ a Holinsh chro fol. 1299. Also from Ket the heretike and Apostata which likewise denyed our Sauiours ascension affirming that his humane nature is not in heauen but in Iudea gathering a Church and people Also from the Germane Vbiquitaries and Papists they saying that Christ as man is not onely in heaven but in earth too at this instant wheresoeuer the deity is b Ia. Smidelinus Vbiquitatis Apostolus Beza epist 61. these affirming the humane nature of Christ is wheresoever the Sacrament of the Altar is administred c Ergo
THE CATHOLIKE DOctrine beleeued and professed in the Church of England 1. Article Of Faith in the holy Trinitie There is but 1 one liuing and true God euerlasting without body parts or passions of infinite power wisedome and goodnesse 2 the Maker and preseruer of all things both visible and inuisible 3 And in vnitie of this God-head there be three persons of one substance power and eternitie the Father the Sonne and the holy Ghost The Propositions 1. There is but one God who is liuing true everlasting c 2. God is the Maker and preseruer of all things 3. In the vnitie of the God-head there is a Trinitie of persons 1. Proposition There is but one God who is liuing true euerlasting without bodie parts passions of infinite power wisedome and goodnesse The proofe from Gods Word THat there is but one God who is c. is a truth which may be gathered from the all-holy and sacred Scripture and is agreeable to the doctrine of the reformed Churches For both Gods Word giueth vs to know that God is one and no more a Thou shalt have none other Gods before me Exod. â—0 3. the Lord our God is Lord onely Deut. 6.4 Who is God beside the Lord Psal 18 31. Hath not one God made us Mal. 2.10 There is none other God but one 1 Cor. 8.4 liuing b Mine heart and my flesh rejoyce in the living God Psal 84 2 Yee are the Temple of the living God 2 Cor 6.16 For a long season Israel hath been without the true God 2 Chr. 15 3. The Lord is the Lord of truth he is the living God and an everlasting King Ier. 10.10 This is life eternall that they know thee to be the onely very God c. Ioh. 17 3. Ye turned to God from idols to serve the living true God 1 Thess 1.9 and true God c everlasting d O my God c. thy yeere endur from generation to generation c. thy yeeres shall not faile Psal 102.24 26 27. He is the living God and remaineth for ever Dan 6.16 without body parts or passions e O Lord my God thou art exceeding great thou art clothed with glory and honour which covereth himself with light as with a garment c Psal 104 1 c God is a Spirit Ioh. 4.24 The Lord is the Spirit 2 Cor. 3.17 He is not a man that he should repent 1 Sam. 15.29 I will not execute the fiercenesse of my wrath I will not return to destroy Israel for I am God and not man Hosh 11.9 of infinite power f The sound of the Cherubins wings was heard into the utter court as the voyce of the Almightie God when he speaketh Ezek. 10.5 I will be a Father unto you c. saith the Lord Almightie 2 Cor. 6.18 We give thee thanks Lord God Almightie Rev. 16.17 wisedome g Great is our Lord and great is his power his wisedome is infinite Psal 147.5 To God onely wise be honour and glory for ever and ever 1 Tim. 1.17 To God I say onely wise be praise through Iesus Christ for ever Amen Rom. 16.27 and goodnesse h Praise ye the Lord because he is good for his mercy endureth for ever Psal 106.1.107.1 108. 1 c. and Gods people in their publike confessions from Ausburgh i Art 1. Heluetia k Confes 2. ar 2. Bohemia l c 3. France m art 1 Flanders n art 2. and Wittembergh o c. 1. testifie the same Errors and adversaries vnto this truth Then impious and execrable are the opinions of Diagoras and Theodorus who flatly denyed there was any God a Deos 〈◊〉 dubitaâ—aâ— Protagoras nullos esse â—maâ—ue Dâ—agoras Theodotus Cyreniacus puâ—â—vâ—runt M. â— Ciâ— de Nat Deo l. 1. Of Protagoras b Protagoras Deos in dubium vâ—cauit Diager aâ— exclusit Lactan. de fal Rel. cap. 2 and the Machiuillian Atheists which are doubtfull whether there be a God Of such as fained unto themselves divers and sundry gods as did the Manichies c Aug. contra Manich. l. 2. c. 1 2. the Basilidians d Clemen Alex. 〈◊〉 l 5. the Valentinians e Valentinus triginta Deorum praedâ—cator saith Cyril Catech. 6. the Messalian heretikes f Epiph Exod. 32. the Gentiles and heathen people whereof some in place of God worshipped Beasts vnreasonable as the AEgyptians did a Calfe g an Oxe Cats Vulturs and Crocodils h Gand. M. â—rula de mirabi l 3. c. 56. The Syrians a Fish i Piscem Syrae venerantur Cic. de Senect Merula de mirabl l. 3. c. 48. and Pigeons k the Persians a Dragon l Histor of Bel. some as Gods have adored men vnder the names of Iupiter Mars Mercury and such like m Gods are come downe to vs in the likenesse of men and they called Barnabas Iupiter and Paul Mercurius c. Then Iupiters priest c. Acts 14.11 c Who knowes not that the City of the Ephesians is a worshipper of the great goddesse Diana Act. 19.35 and some even at this day for God doe worship Kine the Sunne and what they thinke good so the inhabitants of Baly in the East Indies n Voiage of the Holland ships Of the Anthropomorphites which ascribed the forme and lineaments of man vnto God o Theodoret l. 4. c. 10. thinking God to be like vnto man Of such as put their trust and confidence to be reposed in God alone either in men liuing as doe both the Persians in their Soldan p Tu es nostra fides inte credimus will the Persians say unto the Soldan P. Bâ—zarus rerum Persic l. 1 â— and the Papists in their Pope who with them is God q Panormit C. quanto Abbas their Lord and God r Extravag Ioan. 22. of infinite power Å¿ Extravag de transl epist Quanto or in Saints departed this life as doe the same Papists both in their S. Francis whom they tearme The glory of God prefigured by Esay when he said Holy Holy Holy t Alcar Francisc lib. 1. c. and in their Thomas Becket whom they say God hath set ouer the workes of his hands u Horae B. virginis Ma. secundum usum Sarum pa. 15. or in Beasts vnreasonable as doth the Mordwite Tartar x Russe Common-weale c. 19. or finally in riches and other senselesse creatures as doe the Atheists and irreligious worldlings 2. Proposition God is the Maker and preserver of all things The proofe from Gods Word THat the world and all things both visible and inuisible therein both where made and are preserued by the Almighty and only power of God are truthes grounded vpon the holy Scripture and agreeable to the confessions of Gods people For touching the creation of the world we reade that in the beginning God created the heauen and the earth a Gen. 11 c. c. He made heaven and earth