Press but with this difference or dissonance Dictio Praeconis tenues cito transit in auras Scriptorum at remanent dogmata saepe diu A Preachers wordst ' empty Air turn again But Writers works oftimes doo long remain Al Men are apt to er but the modest ready to acknowledg and amend it if detected or displaied as I vow in presence of our great God freely to doo if any shal fairly shew it nor ever wil be found a Beast perversly to persevere therin I wil serv no Person Sect or Faction for fear favor or flattery but only deliver my privat personal Judgment how weak or worthless soever sincerely according to verity or verisimility This such as know my constant resolut disposition wil easily beleev but others may take it on trust til they shal hav time to try the contrary Al the Theses are too redious but ther prolixity consists more in multitud of matter then words for I could hav made the Work twise so voluminous with half the toil but doo study brevity to spare the Readers Purs and Pains The Speculations are somwhat sublime but stile facil and familiar fit for vulgar understandings Let every one take or leav and take al in good part Farewel Rustica Ruricolae Fabrique Fabrilia tractent Tangere nec Medicos dogmata sacra decet Let Clowns the Plow and Smiths their Forge attend Nor should Phisitians to things sacred bend Articuli Fidei Anglicae 39 Articles of our Faith THE Articles of Religion concluded in Convocation and confirmed by Act of Parliament under Queen Elizabeth Anno 1562. but ratified or reestablished under King James by the same duple authority Anno 1604. which are here presented to satisfy or gratify al lest men like Lynces should seem sharp sighted to look into the Confessions of other Reformed Churches abroad and Lamiae or blind Beetles at home in being ignorant of our own Principles and Doctrins the general Catalog of which follows in order 1 Of Faith in the holy Trinity 2 Of the Word which was made Man 3 Of Christs descent into Hel. 4 Of his Resurrection 5 Of the holy Ghost 6 Of the Scriptures sufficience to salvation 7 Of the old Testament 8 Of the three Creeds 9 Of original birth-sin 10 Of free wil. 11 Of mans justification 12 Of good works 13 Of works before justification 14 Of super trrogation 15 Of Christ alone without sin 16 Of sin after Baptism 17 Of Predestination and Election 18 Of obtaining salvation only by Christ 19 Of the Church 20 Of the Churches authority 21 Of general Councils 22 Of Purgatory 23 Of ministring in the Congregation 24 Of speaking ther in an unknown toung 25 Of the Sacraments 26 Of the Ministers unworthines which hinders not their effects 27 Of Baptism 28 Of the Lords supper 29 Of the wicked who doo not eat Christs Body and Blood 30 Of both kinds 31 Of Christs Oblation finished on the Cross 32 Of Priests marriage 33 Of Excommunicat Persons how they are to be shunned 34 Of the Churches Traditions 35 Of â—omilies 36 Of Consecrating Bishops c. 37 Of the Civil Magistrat 38 Of Christians goods which are not common 39 Of a Christian mans Oath The Particulars insu Article 1. THere is but one only tru living God everlasting without body parts or passions of infinit power wisdom and goodness maker and preserver of al things both visible and invisible in unity of which Godhead ther be three Persons of one substance power and eternity the Father Son and holy-Ghost Article 2. The Son who is the Word of the Father begot of him from everlasting the very eternal God of one substance with the Father took mans Nature in the womb of the blessed virgin of hir substance so that two whol perfect Natures the Godhead and Manhood were joined in one Person never to be severed wherof one Christ consists perfect God and very Man who suffered was crucified dead and buried to reconcile his Father to us and be a sacrifice not only for Original guilt but also for al actual sins of men Article 3. As Christ died for us and was buried so 't is to be beleeved that he went down into Hel. Article 4. Christ truly rose from death and took again his body with flesh bones and al things pertaining to the perfection of Mans Nature wherwith he ascended into Heaven and ther sits til he shal return to judg al men at last day Article 5. The holy Ghost proceding from the Father and the Son is one substance majesty and glory with the Father and Son very eternal God Article 6. Holy Scripture contains al things necessary for Salvation so that whatever is not read therin nor may be proved therby is not required of any man to be beleeved as an Article of Faith or be thought needful to salvation By the name of holy Scripture we understand thos Canonical Books of the Old and New Testament whos authority the Church never doubted of and the other Books as saint Jerom saith the Church reads for exemple of life and instruction of maners but doth not apply them to stablish any Doctrin All the Books of the new Testament as commonly received we receiv and reput them Canonical See their names and number in the holy Bible Article 7. The old Testament is not contrary to the New for in both everlasting life is offred to mankind by Christ who is the only Mediator between God and Man being both God and Man Therfore they are not to be heard which fain that the old Fathers looked only for transitory promises though the Law given of God by Moses touching Ceremonies or Rites doo not bind Christians nor the civil precepts of necessity to be received in any Christian Commonwealth yet no Christian man whatever is free from obedience of the Commandements caled moral Article 8. The three Creeds Nicen Athanasius and that commonly caled the Apostles ought throughly to be received and beleeved for thes may be proved by most certain warrants of Scripture Article 9. Original sin stands not in imitating Adam as the Pelagians vainly talk but is the fault and corruption of every mans Nature that is ingendred of Adams ofspring wherby man is far gon from original Righteousnes and inclined to evil so that the flesh lusteth against the spirit and therfore in every person born into the world it deservs Gods wrath and damnationthis infection of Nature remains yea in the Regenerat wherby the lust of the flesh caled in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which som expound the wisdom som the sensuality som the affection som the desire of the flesh is not subject to the Law of God and though ther is no condemnation to them that beleev and are baptized yet the Apostle confesseth that Concupiscence hath of it self the nature of Sin Article 10. The condition of man after Adam's fal is such as he cannot turn or prepare himself by his natural strength and good works to Faith for
the last universal Judgment for that is committed to the Son but in particular over the Churches Enimies in the fourth Monarchy and Papacy which Daniel saw til the Beast was â—lain and his Body given to the burning flame and the power of the other Beasts cam to an end for a term was set how long eâ—h should last and the Saints shal be given into the fourth Beasts hand so long as the Whore rides the Bâ—ast til a time times and dividing of time but at end of these three times and half the judgment shal sit and his power totaly abolished yet the World not destroyed but al kingdom dominion and greatnes under Heaven given to the Saints of the most High whos kingdom is everlasting and al dominions shal serv him Saint Paul's words The Lord shal destroy him 2 Thes 2. 8. with the brightnes of his coming are expounded in the Apocalyps but it seems the two judgments ch 19. and 20. are Rev. 19. 11. c. different and not reduced to one self time sith one thousand yeers intervene for the two great Guests the Beast and fals Prophets are lodged in a Lake of fire and brimstone but their Host the Devil associated to them a thousand yeers after at end of the World when the last judgment is immediatly held Weigh al wel and God giv thee wisdom unto Salvation The Author intimats that Christ shal com to destroy the Churches Enimies A. 1655. finito and bind the Devil in chains a thousand yeers at end wherof he shal judg the World yet protests he wil not presume to penetrat too far into thes secret sublime mysteries which he borows from Master Mede He exhorts us out of the Apocalyps to address our Rev. 3. 20. 21. ears and hearts to the Son of God Who stands at dore and knocks saying If any wil hear my voice and open dore I will sup Rev. 1. 3 6 8. with him and he with me to him that overcoms wil I grant to sit Rev. 22. 7 14. with me on my Throne as I overcam and sat down with my Father on his Throne Blessed is he that keeps the sayings of this Books Prophecy nay blessed are they that doo his Commandments that they may hav right to the Tree of life and enter the Gates into the City To him which is was and is to com the Almighty be glory and dominion for ever Amen The sum of al his Explications is 1. The last act of Reformation Summary and releas of Protestants in Silesia Rev. 11. 7. 2. The three yeers and half when the Witnesses bodies ly in the street Ibid. v. 8 9. 3. The continuance of war in thos Kingdoms til the Martyrs innocent blood be avenged 4. The sudden fal of a strong Pillar or Protector of the Papacy 5. The exaltation of an Evangelical Head or Protestant Patron 6. A Reformation in Germany 7. The destruction of Rome City 8. The end of the Turcs Empire Rev. 11. 14. Rev. 16. 12. 9. The Jews Conversion Ibid. 10. The Papists sedulity to gather their utmost forces Rev. 16. 13. Rev. 19. 16. 11. The total ruin of al the Papacy Rev. 16. 18. 21. Rev. 19. v. 20. 21. 12. The fulfilling of Gods mystery Rev. 10. 7. Wherby the Devil is shut up in the bottomless Pit the Son of God takes possession of the Kingdoms the Church fares in peace and tranquillity al which he writes to comfort his afflicted Countrimen and draws al Chronical lines to one Center of A. 1655. as the common gulf which is a conjectural crotchet no certitudinal conclusion wheron Men may rely One yeer and half wil bewray the verity or vanity therof to Gods glory and Mens satisfaction who must stil wait and watch but not sift or serch into his secret hidden Counsils The future contingents which he proposeth to be shortly expected A. 1655. are thes 1. Romes final ruin 2. The Papacies total confusion 3. The Jews conversion 4. The Turcs Empires abolition 5. The Churches restauration 6. Christs readvention al which materials he hath from Mr. Mede Neither of them handle the Lambs mystical mariage with Rev. 19 7. his spiritual Spous which Dr. Preston compares to civil carnal Nuptials in â—iv respects 1. As Parents consents is requisit in the contract so God the Father hath freely given his Son to us and us to him 2. Both Parties must mutualy consent to be wedded so Christ the Husband as the Man stil is Suitor tho the Woman most needs it for hir perfection first invites us to this match and the holy Ghost prepares our hearts to intertain it 3. Both make a Covenant Christ on everlasting one to bestow himself and al that is his salvation remission of sins grace glory on us if we giv our selfs intirely to serv him Thes are but the Espousals 4. Ther folows a solen union or celebration of Mariage betwen both which is doon in Baptism when as we promiss in Weâ—lock to take ech other renouncing al other so here we vow by word of mouth or sureties to forsake the World Flesh and Devil with al their Works cleaving soly to Christ both in prosperity and persecution and keep our Souls chast to him not prostituting them to unclean lusts or service of any Creatures 5. The Nuptial consequents correspond in both which is an inseparable union of hearts and communion of goods my Beloved is mine and I his what Christ hath is made ours and our his our debts becom his as al his riches righteousnes honors and privileges ours by imputation O what a blessed condiâ—on is it to say with the Spous in the Cantiâ—les I am my Beloveds and his desire Câ—nt 7. 10. is toward Me He feedeth me among the Lilies O let his pretious Blood make my scarlet sins so whit as Wool or as the Snow in Salmon In this peece are mo tedious repetitions then in al the work els which is doon purposly to make it more obvious or perspicuous unto every common capacity Quae placuere semel decies repetita placebunt Sunt patefacta sacro mysteria magna Joanni Quae Deus in seclis efficienda dâ—cet To holy John great mysteries were told Which to be doon in Times God doth unfold Medus vir celebris nulli bonitate secundus Artibus Ingenio Judicioque praeit Quaeque revelavit mysteria magna Joanni Christus in illius sunt patefacta libro Mede was a rare Man for goodnes next to none In Learning Wit and Judgment cheif alone And what high hid things Christ to John declared Are in his Apocalyptic Book explaned Mira brevi obvenient Germanus praedicat Author Si modo venturis est adhibenda fides Mira canit quae anno simul efficienda propinquo Vix credenda tamen dum patefacta forent Strange things saith a German shortly shal befal If faith to futures may be giv'n at al. Wonders he tels which next yeer doon must be Yet scars to be beleevd til
Aio Negas Nego a property of self-secking turn-coat Parasits becoms no tru Scholar nor ever harbored in my candid Dov like habitation the worth of Mutâ—â—m aâ—â—ilium your work wil shine the better and brighter by this foil or at least spread farther Opposita juxta se posita magis melius elucescunt and my Book haply wil be more esteemed becaus it brings such dainty exotic fruits and excellent flowers from your ful furnishd Eden When Sir Francis Bacon Viscount St. Alban intended to divulge his Instauratio Magna to new model al liberal literature he sent a MS. copy to crav Sir Thomas Budleis accurat judgment on it who after perusal highly commended as indeed it deserved both stile stuf and structure but told him the world would never want new Devisers and old Readers like Carriers horses could not leav their beaten Road being more addicted to antiquity then novity the application is obvious and superfluous Of later ages many Mr. withers and others men hav translated Davids Psalms into English meters seeking a priviledg to print them with our Bibles instead of thos allowed by Queen Elizabeth but could never obtein so base a Monopoly savoring more of filthy lucre then Scholastic ingenuity King James compiled a Translation but neither he nor his Son caused it to be inserted in the Bible sith new things seldom excel the old I wish you would revise or examin my excerptions not exceptions as Aliens and not your own to see what faults you can find in the Positions so wel as misprisions that fitting retractations may be made by your self or me or both in future Editions or new Additions for al men are too partial and obnoxious to errors To recapitulat the points that I dissent in are 1. That mans Summary Soul is an immortal substance first inspired by God into Adam and ever after produced successivly one from another though most Divines differ from us both by virtu of the general benediction to Increas and Multiply in their kinds but not life or breath only which as an accidental quality or effect of the Soul vanisheth ceaseth and perisheth with the Body That after separation from the Body by Death it subsists in Heaven or Hel for ever whereas al Essential parts els extinguish with their Bodies 2. That Church government belongs to the Clergy or Ecclesiastic Hierarchy being a Body distinct but subordinat from the Civil State 3. That the real kingdom of Heaven Gods high Throne wher Christ sits at his Fathers right hand in glory shal be the Elect Saints eternal Mansion wher they shal enjoy the beatific Vision or blessed presence of the sacro sanct Trinity face to face eviternaly 4. That Christ shal reign or remain in this Kingdom of Glory for ever resigning the Kingdom of Grace or Government of the Church to his Father that God may be al in al but not in any new finit World on Earth sith after the general Judgment al shal be infinity Your other Tenets touchig Gods Kingdom in Israel by contract or Covenant that Hel Hâ—lfire Torments Tormentors Satan Devil Accuser Dâ—sticier and such like are meant Metaphoricaly which al Divines take realy for the Vally of Hinnon caled Gehenna Bâ—imstome Lake of Sodom and Gomorrha the Churches Enimies or temporal Foes but no real Fiends which fel by pride that Christ never dispossessed any Men of Devils but only hâ—aled their bodily diseases or violent maladâ—es that ther is no Demonology Sorcery Witchery or Witches yet such justly deserv death for their fals opinion and wiâ—ked intention to doo mischief if they could which is hard Justice that suprem Soveraigns in al Stats whether legal Successors by long lineal Ancestry or late Conquerors and Intruders by power or policy are to sway al matters of Religion by their decrees dictats or directions both in defining the Canon of Scripture and al Articles of Faith wherto People must simply submit or implicitly obey whatever the civil Magistrat shal impose or innovat in Doctrin or Dâ—sciplin which is contrary to what they are taught that in such cases of Conscience they must rather obey God then Men. This the stubborn English wil scars subscribe whos contumacy was such against our last King that they rooted out him and his posterity upon pretext of Tyranny wherwith the mutinous male-contented multitud usualy brand or blast al their Roial Rulers Indeed Men ought with the noble Bereans to sift or serch whether thes things be so or no els al Common-wealths shal be stil Subject to put on new Masques or Visors of Religion at their Princes pleasures as Camaeleons change colors wheras Catholic constancy even with loss of life was ever esteemed the best blessed seed to sow Christian soil either under Pagans or Papists as our Marian Massacres make manifest but versatil wits like Weather-cocks can turn every way or with every wind to serv turns as Proteus is fained to vary Nunc violentus Aper nunc quem tetigisse timeres Anguis erit Now a fierce Bore fearful to see Next Snake horrid to touch hee 'l be Al the premised Positions with som other suspected Novities I touch not nor trench upon but commend them to the Readers free judgment If you wil deign to accept thes bold addresses or advertisments from an old Dotard who intends them fairly sans scandal or scurrility in good part you shal shew a laâ—dable disposition and liberal education according to the tru intention as they are tendered for the public behoof or benefit of the literary Republic if not I hav discharged my duty Docte tuum Nomen colo magnopereque recordo Si modo veridicus vis humilisque fore Noli Animam violare tuam nec tollere nostram Quam simul Authorum comprebat omne genus Nec tunicam spoliato tuam renuendo Ministros Jure suo Gregibus posse praeesse suis Nec Christo Sanct is Terrestria pradia finge Qui modo celsa Dei Coelica regna tenent Nec Tropice reputa Reprobos descendere ad Orcum Nec Coelum Electis detrahe post obitum Parce mihi mea si Theoremata redderâ— certo Justis vindiciis sospita ab omne malo Audeo non verbis contendere viribus impar Artibus Ingenio Literulisque bonis Unius haud oculus licet integer omnâ—â— cernit Multa scienda sapis tu resipisce tamen Learnd Sir your Name I lov and weigh greatly If you 'l embrace truth and humility Doo not your own Soul wrong nor ours take away Which Authors of al sorts maintaind alway Nor doo your Coat desile right to deny That Pastors hav power their Flocks to rectify To Christ and Saints fain not Earthly mansions Who now posless Gods Heav'nly habitations Nor deem the Damnd go t' Hel Tropicaly Nor Heaven after Death to th' Elect deny Spare m' if I to guard thes Theses contend And by just means from al il to defend I dare not striv in words being short in