Selected quad for the lemma: end_n
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A86226
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Herberts beleefe and confession of faith made in CLX articles. For th'instruction of his wife & children.
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Herbert, William, fl. 1634-1662.
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1646
(1646)
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Wing H1537; Thomason E1207_1; ESTC R208783
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30,491
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60
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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
or feele th' effects of Gods bountie LXXV I Beleeve that my flesh my verie flesh shall by the pow'r of Christ be then reunited unto my Soule never to be separated but to enjoy both together the fruits of Christs merits a perpetuall fulnes of joy which surpasses all conception expression of man my whole person being made so glorious that neither spirit nor flesh shall want any thing requisit to their full perfection LXXVI This glorious Resurrection being proper to the Elect is a free gift of God to the secret members of Christs bodie which is known by the name of Church I Beleeve then that God hath here a Church or assemblie of men call'd by his Spirit Word unto the State of Grace that this Assemblie is Christs spirituall mysticall Bodie LXXVII I Call it Spirituall for as Adam is the Head of the companie of carnall men who live after the flesh as being his Children engendred in his corruption so those who live after the Spirit are the blessed bodie of Christ who is their Head by Adopotion Redemption Sanctification or Renovation LXXVIII I call it likewise Mysticall or hid because Gods Election our Regeneration are not things subject to the eye so the Church is invisible her members being not seen as they are Elect though they be visible as men professing the true Religion by their holines manifesting their faith an effect of their Election I say their Holines 'cause LXXIX I Beleeve that Gods Church is Holie all faire and without spot yet not properly in her selfe for being compounded of men of whom the best is a Sinner this Holines of the bodie is as his Righteousnes Imputative God imputing unto the Church the holines of Christ which covers her impurities as Gods gifts are without repentance so LXXX I Beleeve this holines so inherent unto the Church that she cannot erre finally in those points of faith manners which work her damnation for though she admits some errors commits grievous sins yet she 's recall'd reformed by her Lover Lord so that her fall is not finall nor her sicknes to death LXXXI Her members then by which I understand onely th' Elect either never loosing or certainly recovering their donative integritie in faith all good workes Christ having promised her a subsistence or being till the end of the World I call her Infallible LXXXII And in this respect of continuation from the Worlds beginning unto its end because she 's not ty'd to places persons but is or may be spred through all nations consists of all sorts or degrees of persons I Beleeve her Catholique or Universall although sometimes she be contain'd in a litle compasse confin'd to a kingdome or Towne there being sometimes but few outward professors of the truth among them but few whose faith life be right for though many be call'd yet few are chos'n those manie who are thus call'd not chosen are often but a small number compard unto the rest who never heare Gods voyce know not his iudgements LXXXIII Which being true so considering the Church as Visible Invisible a Politique mysticall Bodie I allow her two Heads Beleeving her as a Civill Bodie subiect to Kings States under whom she subsists and so oblig'd to all their Lawes if iust that she sins against Christ her Invisible Head to denie them her Obedience LXXXIIII The Church which is likewise a Spirituall bodie the Assemblie of those faithfull persons who live walke after the Spirit must be subject unto Christ in all things for all his Lawes are iust there is no authoritie which on anie pretext may exempt her from her due Obedience to Christ her Husband Head Sunne LXXXV Considering Christ as a Husband the Church as a VVife I Beleeve her subject to him oblig'd to obey all his Lawes acknowledge him for her onelie Husband Lord adhere to him depend on him forsake all false lovers and seeke to please him in all things LXXXVI Considering Christ as a Head the Church as a Bodie I Beleeve there must be an union of the members with the head mongst themselves so that they all receive life from the head live among themselves in a holie union which is call'd Communion of Saints having Being Life Affections Actions Food Faith Hope common for certainly LXXXVII I Conceive Beleeve that all the members of Christs Church make but one mysticall Bodie Quickned by him Aiming as one man unto his glorie the preservation good of the Bodie Agreeing in the performance of the Heads commandements Breaking one bread feeding on his flesh the merits of his life death the graces of his Spirit Yeelding faith to his Word beleeving his promises Expecting his mercifull Rewards LXXXVIII This one Bodie of Christ having manie Members most fitly joyned together to grow up into him he hath for the edification of his Bodie for the collection perfection of all his Saints for the worke of the Ministerie given Apostles Prophets Evangelists Pastors Teachers so sent manie labourers into his field Vineyard I then Beleeve that the Ministers of the Church must have from God their Commission either Extraordinarie or Ordinarie LXXXIX The Apostles Prophets Evanglists being Extraordinarie Ministers had I Beleeve an Extraordinarie Vocation seal'd by Gods spirit both inwardly outwardly inwardly by a great knowledge of his mysteries strong motifs to advance his glorie outwardly by a good life by the gifts of tongues miracles prophesies XC The Leviticall Law being abolisht the Gospel Preacht writ beleev'd by manie nations those holie men did die those gifts ceas'd then succeeded succeede Ministers call'd ordinarily examin'd by the Church concerning faith knowledge good life then elected confirmed for the right administration of the Sacraments predication of Gods Word to give their flockes what they owe them full instructions in faith good manners dissvasions from all sins exhortations to pietie all Christian vertues meanes of reconciliation with God men visits comforts in their miseries captivitie diseases death XCI These Ministers being Shepheards to feede the Church must discharge their dutie both in publick in privat both by examples counsels leading their flocks to greene pastures still waters taking care of a weake sheepe which cannot well follow the rest of that too which goes astray XCII These Ministers being likewise as dogs must watch over the flock least grievous wolves enter the fold yea least some of the Church arise speaking perverse things teaching false doctrines breaking the Communion of Saints For though the members of the Church cannot say one to another I have no need of you sith even the feeble members are necessarie that in love policie those members are adorn'd which are lesse comelie Yet XCIII I Beleeve