that is he is such an exact examiner of sinnes that euen the most righteous in mens iudgement and such as are not guiltie of any thing in them selues 1. Cor. 4. vers 3. before him are not innocent but doth visite the sinnes of the fathers vpon the childrens children to the third and fourth generation yea and would rather that his righteousnes should be satisfied in his onely begotten sonne then that he would let sinnes escape vnpunished should not we earnestly repent thinking vpon the saying of Christ If this be done in the greene wood what shal be donne in the dry The righteous nature of God also doth so drawe vs backâ— from all wrong and violence to the loue of our neighboure as if we thinke that God hath the same nature that cannot suffer vnpunished that thy neighbour should be oppressed no more then thou couldest suffer that any should treade thy childe vnder his feete thou behoulding it Psal 103. The Lord of Hoastes shewing mercies and iudgements to all those that are oppressed See the graue testimonies that are writen concerning this matter 1. Cor. 6.7.8.9.11 and the first Thes 4.6.7.8 The euerlasting nature of God also doth confirme our faith For seing that such a one hath promised in couenant to be our God who is euerlasting we rightly gather thereof that not onely our soules shall liue in God but also that our bodies shal be raised vp to life that the euerlasting God may be indeede their God And surely vpon this foundation leaneth that reason of Christ whereby he prooueth against the Saduces out of the workes of the couenaunt the resurrection of the dead Matt. 22. vers 32. Neither that onely but also concerning this life of that euerlasting nature of God doth a faithful maÌ„ gather newe courage and strength Isai 40. vers 27.29.31 And psal 103. vers 5. Also that same euerlasting nature of God ought to stir vs vp to repentance 1. pet vers 22.23.24.25 So ought also the holines of God which is ioyned with his eternitie 1. Pet. 1. vers 14.15.16.17.18 also 1 Iohn 3. vers 3. I beleeue in God the father is his only begotten sonne and in the holy Ghost Certaine testimonies of the diuinitie of the sonne according to those things that are attributed vnto him in the description of God and order of the articles of faith IT followeth that we shewe that God hath so manifested himselfe in his worde that these three persons the father the sonne the holy Ghost be that one onely true God in whom we professe to beleeue in the Creede when we say We beleeue in God the father and in his onely begotten sonne and in the holy Ghost Nowe a person or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is a singular thing vnderstanding willing that cannot be imparted or communicated to another not vpholden of another nor part of an other That God the father who hath made heauen earth is so manifest that euen the vngodliest heretiques denying the diuinitie of the sonne and holy Ghost dare not yet deny the diuinitie of the father That the sonne is a thing by himselfe subsisting vnderstanding willing c. and by nature God although to the Citizens of the kingdome of Christ it is plaine and at hand throughout the holy scripture yet it is prâ—â—â—ble that their memorie euer and anone 〈◊〉 refreshed with some cleare and diuine testimonies Nowe we will alledge first some testimonies according to the order of those things which are attributed vnto God which we haue set downe in the description then afterwards according to the course and order of the articles of the faith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The word or the Sonne is a spiritual substance To the Rom. 1. vers 3. 4. Heb. 9. ver 14. 1. Pet. 3. vers 18.19 Io. 14. Ye beleeue in God beleeue also in mee he is eternall and incomprehensible aswell in glory as in wisedome Io 17. vers 5. Glorifie me thou father with thy owne selfe with the glory which I had with thee before the worlde was And Prouerbs 8. Also Apocalip 1. vers 8. Hebr. 7. vers 3. Good pure and vndefiled Io. 10. vers 11. Isay 40. verses 9.10.11 Isay 6. Holy holy holy the mightie Lord of hoastes all the earth is full of his glory These things doth Iohn the Euangelist interprete of Christ Cap. 12 vers 41. saying These things said Esaias when he sawe his glory and spake of him to witte of Christ And Io. 17. vers 19. He is also of infinite power for he createth preserueth all things together with the father and the holy Ghost Io. 1. In the beginning was that word that word was with God and that word was God Creator of heauen and earth Also All things were made by it and without it was made nothing that was made vers 3. And to the Coloss 1. By the beloued sonne through whom we haue redemption were all things created vers 16. which are in heauen and which are in earth thinges visible and inuisible whether they be Thrones or Dominions or Principalities or Powers 17. All things were created by him and for him And he is before all things and in him all things consist To the Heb. the first He hath spoken vnto vs by his sonne by whoÌ„ he hath made the worlds Prouerb 8. Iehoua possesseth me verses 22. c. from the beginning of his way I had the chiefty froÌ„ euerlasting froÌ„ the beginning before the earth was When there were no depths was I fashioned before there were fouÌ„taines running with water before the mountaines were and before the hills was I brought forth He had not yet made the earth the streates the height of the dust of the world when he prepared the heauens I was there c. And Io. 5. ver 17.18 My father worketh hitherto I work Therefore the Iewes sought the more to kil him not onely because he had broken that sabbaoth but said also that God was his father and made himselfe equall with God To the Philippians the 3. vers 21. He worketh miracles by his owne power to witte not as one calling vpon God but as one commanding by his owne auctority Thou hast examples Mat. 8. vers 26. Luk. 5. and 7. For he commandeth the winde and the sea and they obey him and he rebuketh the fearefulnes of his disciples Mark 4. vers 39.41 he giueth power also vnto others to worke miracles but by calling vpon his name Mark 8. Acts. 3. vers 6.16 and Cap. 4 vers 10. And he is of an immutable righteousnesse Ierem. 23. And this is the name whereby they shall call him Iehouah our righteousnesse Of an vnspeakeable mercie Titus the 3. vers 4. and the 6. and Chapter 2. vers 10. and 12. of a most constant truth Mat. 24. vers 35. The heauen and earth shall passe but my wordes shall not perish And the first of Iohn Full of grace truth Io. 14.
is already set foorth to wit that Christ ascended into heauen not onely that he might there enioy euerlasting felicitie as the Angels doe and all blessed men but that hee might sit at the right hand of God which farre exceedeth the dignitie of Angels and of men as he witnesseth in the Epistle to the Heb. Ca. 1.13 For vnto which of the Angels saide he at any time sit at my right hand til I make thine enimies thy footstole Nowe seeing God is not a bodily substance therefore hath neither right or left hande at which Christ should stand or sitte it is manifest that these wordes and manner of speeches are taken from men and worldly thinges by which holie thinges answering in some sorte our infirmitie might be liuely set before our eyes explaned For in verie deede men to whome they graunt or giue either equal honor or that which is nexte vnto themselues they are wont to place them at their right hand that in this verie thing they may testifie that honour 1. King 2. Psal 45. What the sitting at the right hand of God the Father is THat same sitting at the right hand of God the Father is the exaltation of Christe in his kingdome and priesthoode to wit that nowe he administreth his kingly and priestly office not as before in infirmitie and miserie but in a manifest heauenlie maiestie glory Therefore then thou doest truely beleeue in Christ his sitting at the right hand of God the father almightie when thou beleeuest that he doth entreate for thee in heauen in high glory and that he doth gouerne his kingdome with a mighty power so that he doth heare thee doth more effectually endue and defend thee with the spirite of consolation and wisedome then if he were yet in the earth and shoulde speake with thee Act. 5.31 Him hath God lifted vp with his right hand to be a Prince and a Sauiour to giue repentance to Israel and forgiuenes of sinnes And Ephe. 1. He hath raised him vp from the dead and sette him at his right hand in the heauens farre aboue all principalitie and power and might and domination and euerie name that is named not onely in this world but in that which is to come and hath made all thinges subiect vnder his feete and hath appointed him head to the Church it selfe ouer all thinges which is his bodie euen the fulnesse of him which filleth all in all thinges Also to the Hebrues 8. verse 4. 1. Peter 3. verse 22. By these places it is plaine that the Scripture nameth the sitting at the right hand of God not that same administration of the kingdome and priesthoode which for the voluntarie abasing of Christ was weaker and more obscure but that same perfect gouernement honour and glorie of Christ which was free from all infirmities openly manifested and declared into which then the first entrance was when he arose againe from death ascended into heauen and there in an vnspeakable glorie declared himself to be Lord of al creatures in the sight of all holie Angels and men What fruite the faithfull receiue by that same sitting of Christ at the right hande of God or rather by that exaltation of Christe in his kingdome and priesthood FIrst concerning that same exaltation of Christ in the priesthood those that are in league with God doe reape from thence this consolation that they knowe that this couenant of grace by the intercession of this mediator kept and maintained euerlastingly as it appeareth Hebr. 8. verses 6. and 12. the which intercession is the shewing of him selfe before the face of the father that the efficacie and strength of that sacrifice once offered vp for all might continually be in force and this same perpetuall will of keeping it in this Mediator is agreeable with the will of the Father accepting that same sacrifice once offred vp for an euerlasting reconciliation and approuing this endeuor in the mediator of maintaining it according to the oathe Psalme 110. The Lorde hath sworne and it shall not repent him thou art a priestâ— for euer after the order of Melchizedek or that I may speake a little more largely First all the confederates doe reape this fruite in the exaltation of Christ in the priesthode that they know that the Mediator of this euerlasting couenant is entred into that same sanctuarie not made with handes the verie heauen it selfe and is exalted to the right hand of God that continuallie and without any interruption and that euery moment he may appeare an intercessour before the father for vs and so may maintein that same couenant once established for euer and may confirme it by his intercession in the heauenly throne of his Maiestie I. The testimonies of the euerlasting conseruation of this free couenant appeare in the eight to the Hebrues verse 6. But now our high priest hath obteined a more excellent ministerie in asmuch as he is the intercessor of a more notable couenant which is ratified by more excellent promises c. Also in the 7. to the Hebrues And that not without an oath for these are made priestes without an oath but this is made wtth an oath by him that saide vnto him the Lorde hath sworne and it shal not repent him thou art a priest for euer after the order of Melchisedech By so muche is Iesus made a suretie of a better Testament for among these many were made priestes by reason that death suffred them not to endure but this man because that he endureth for euer hath a perpetuall priesthod By which he is able also perfectly to saue those which come to God through him euermore liuing to make intercessioÌ„ for vs. II. Concerning the appearing of Christe in â—he sight of God for vs and the perpetuall verâ—ue of the sacrifice of Christ once offered vp it is written Hebru 9. verse 24. Christe entered in â—nto a sanctuarie not made with handes which â—s a patterne aunswering vnto the true sanctuâ—rie but into heauen it selfe that he may apâ—eare nowe in the sight of God for vs. And Heb. 10. ver 22. This man after he had offered one â—acrifice for sinnes sitteth without any interruption that 〈◊〉 for euer at the right hand of the Father III. As touching the will in the sonne of mainteining it and of the Fathers will in accepting of it the oath doth witnesse whereof God will not repent him and consequently neither will it repent the sonne of receiuing the office of being an euerlasting Sauiour Psal 110. Rom. 8. Who shal laie any thing to the charge of God his chosen It is God that iustifieth who shal condemne It is Christ which is dead yea rather which is risen againe who is also at the right hand of God who also maketh request for vs. Out of which wordes that same constant will in the sonne of keeping vs before the sight of the Father which Paul comprehendeth in intercession is vnderstoode and which answereth vnto the will of God
a most wise and mightie heade Christ and a defence against the enemies This kingdome when it was in this worlde beganne in humilitie as he saith repent amend for the kingdome of God is at hand The exaltation therefore in this kingdome is that same placing in highest degree of honour to the end the sonne may shew himself openly before the Angels blessed men in great light to be the king and heade of all the elect and by shedding his power euen vnto vs with a greater efficacie then when he was in his body in the earth he may restore and repare life and saluation by the worde and spirit in his electe and may defend thē against al enemies Eph. 1.21.22 The father hath placed Christ at his right hand in the heauens far aboue all power principality might and dominion euery name that is named not in this worlde onely but in that which is to come and he hath made all thinges subiect vnder his feet and hath appoynted him to be heade ouer all thinges to the Church which is his bodie and the fulnesse of him which fulfilleth al in al things Ioh. 16.7 I speak the truth vnto you it is expedient for you that I goe away for vnlesse I goe that comforter shall not come vnto you but if I depart I will sende him vnto you And this was because it was so appointed by God his decree that Christ being exalted in his kingdome should sende him What fruits we are partakers of by the exaltation of Christ in his kingdome LIke as Christ was borne and died for vs so also he sitteth at the right hande of God for vs. Nowe the first fruite is that onely Christians doe rightly knowe God call vppon him and praise him For therefore the father placed Christ at his right hande that hee might be acknowledged worshipped and praised both of Angels and men as their onely God and Lorde And contrariwise God doeth abhorre all other worshippes which are not directed vnto Christ in whome onely hee will bee acknowledged called vppon and praysed Peter inferreth Acts 2. of the sending of the holy Ghost out of the testimony of Dauid concerning the sitting of the Messias at the right hand of God Therefore let all the house of Israel knowe for a suretie that God hath made him both Lorde and Christ this Iesus I say whome ye haue crucified And Phil. 2.9.10.11 Wherefore God hath also highlie exalted him and giuen him a name aboue euerie name that at the name of Iesus shoulde euery knee bow both of thinges in heauen and thinges in earth and thinges vnder the earth and that euery tongue should confesse that Iesus Christ is the Lorde vnto the glorie of God the father And Psa 97. ver 7. Apo. 5. ver 7.9.12.13 1. Cor. 1. ver 2. Act. 7. ver 59. cap. 9. ver 14. The second and the third fruite THE other fruits are knowen by their ends For therefore Christ is exalted in his kingdome that inwardly hee maye enrich his Church and without he may defend it against enimies yea and also may bridle those that are deadly and inwarde enemies the seconde fruite therefore is that the father for and by this Christ doeth assuredly giue the holy ghost to them that aske it doeth gouerne and quicken the faithful by the ministerie of the Gospel both beautifieth the whole Church with diuerse gifts and also giueth to euery mēber so much giftes as are sufficient for the glorie of the head for the edificacion of the whole body and the saluation of that same member but hee leaueth none of them without necessarie gifts or letteth them to be emptie Actes 2.33 Christ exalted to the right hand of God and hauing obtained of his father the promise of the holy Ghost hath shed forth this which ye nowe see and heare And to the Eph. 4.7 To euery one of vs grace is giuen according to the measure of the gift of Christ. And a litle after He therefore gaue some to be Apostles and some Prophets and some Euangelists and some pastors and teachers for the repairing of the Saintes for the worke of the ministery and for the edification I say of the body of Christe till wee all meete together in the vnitie of faith and that acknoweledging of the Sonne of GOD vnto a perfect man and vnto the measure of the age of the fulnesse of Christ Also Let vs altogether growe vp in him which is the heade to wit Christ by whome all the bodie fitly knitte and compact together by all the ioynts for the furniture thereof according to the effectuall power which is in the measure of euerie part the whole receaueth increase of the bodie vnto the edifying of it selfe in loue Christ therefore raigneth vnto vs at the right hande of the father that powring out the holy Ghost vpon vs he might be effectual by the ministerie and through the spirite might make vs his mēbers and might aduaunce his spirituall kingdome day by day in vs vntill he might fully ioyne vs vnto himselfe being perfectly regenerate and washed againe from sinne and corruption and so he might be God all in all 1. Corinthians 15. The thirde fruite THE thirde fruit is the defense of the Church against all our enemies sinne the flesh the worlde tyrantes diuels all which our heauenly father calleth the enemies of Christ and in verie deede he sheweth dayly examples of his power in ouerthrowing them Psal 110. The Lorde hath said to my Lord sit at my right hande vntill I make thine enimies a footestoole vnto thy feete Iehoua shall sende the scepter of thy strength out of Sion rule in the middest of thine enimies Surely a wonderful consolation that we are his brethrē yea his members to whome all power is giuen in heauen and in earth without whose will power neither the Turkes nor antichrist can deuise any thing against the Church no nor conclude or moue so much as a finger for the executing of their counsailes so that Christe raigneth in such sort in the middest of his enemies that he will not be shut out no not out of their most secrete counsailes Yea we are the brethren and members of that Christ by whose most present diuine power all men are gouerned and all creatures in heauen and in earth so that wee may saye with full securitie of minde with the Apostle Romanes 8. Who shall separate vs from the loue of Christ shall tribulation shall anguish shall persecution shall hunger shal nakednes shall danger shall the sword as it is written For thy sake are we killed all the day long we are counted as sheepe appointed to the slaughter yea but in al these thinges we are more then conquerours through him that hath loued vs. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life nor angels nor principalities nor powers nor thinges present nor thinges to come nor hight nor depth nor any other creature shall be able to separat vs
from the loue of God which is in Christ Iesus our Lord. If when Christ raigned in humilitie the diuels were constrained to aske him leaue howe shall they nowe dare to attempt anie thing against any member of Christ after that Christ is ascended on high hath led captiuitie captiue vnlesse first they shall entreate the Lorde Christ But faithfull is Christ our Lorde who shall not suffer vs to bee tempted aboue that wee shall bee able to beare 1. Corinthians 10. If then when he gouerned his kingdom in humilitie and great abasement the sea was still when he said Mar 4. be still What shall be now done he raigning in high glorie when he wil declare his wil as were but by a becke against the stormes of persecutions But wee are the members of so great a Lorde and of Christ and therefore he not only can but also will that which is most healthful vnto vs. And doe not we nowe much more deserue that Christ should vpbrayde no lesse vnto vs then vnto the Apostles a lacke for sorrowe that same faintnes of faith because that in the tempestes of aduersities in the meditation of so great thinges our faith doeth mount vp no higher See an example of defence Act. 18. ver 8.9 From thence he shal come to iudge both the quicke and the deade Testimonies out of the Prophetes and Apostles DAniel 7.13 I did see in a vision by night behode one like the sonne of man came in the cloudes of heauen and approached vnto the auncient of dayes and they brought him before him and he gaue him dominion honour and a kingdome that all people nations and languages shoulde serue him his dominion is an euerlasting dominion which shall neuer be taken away and his kingdome shal neuer be destroyed And in the Epistle of Iude verses 14.15 And Enoch also the seauenth frō Adam prophecied of these saying beholde the Lorde commeth with thousandes of his sainctes to giue iudgement against all men and to rebuke all the vngodly among them of all their wicked deedes which they haue vngodly committed and of all their cruell speakings which wicked sinners haue spoken against him Matth. 25. And when the sonne of man commeth in his glorie and all the holy Angels with him Then shall he sit vppon the throne of his glorie and all nations shall bee gathered before him and hee shall separate them one from an other as a sheepehard separateth the sheepe from the goates And he shal set his sheepe on his right hand and the goates on the left Then shall the king say to them on his right hande Come ye blessed of my father take the inheritance of the kingdome prepared for you from the foundation of the world For I was an hungred and ye gaue me to eate I thirsted and you gaue me to drinke c. 2. Pet. 3. verse 9. The Lorde is not slacke as some men count slackenesse of that promise he hath promised but is patient toward vs and woulde haue no man to perish but all to come to repentance But the day of the Lord wil come as a theefe in the night in the which the heauens shall passe awaye with a noise and the elements shall melt away with heate and the earth with the workes therein shall be burnt vp Seeing therefore that all these thinges must be dissolued what maner of persons ought ye to be in holy couersation and godlinesse looking for and hasting vnto that day of the Lord by the which the heauens being on fire shall bee dissolued and the elementes shall melt with heat Why this article is added vnto the former THis article is added vnto the former for the greater confirmation of our faith For because Christ sitting at the right hand of his father doeth so exercise his kingly power of iudging partly by defending his that are in couenant with him that yet in the meane while hee keepeth them vnder the crosse and wronges of their enemies to mortifie sinne partly so bridling the vngodlie Actes 12. that in the meane season he leaueth many thinges vnpunished to the ende his long sufferaunce may exclude all excuse and therefore Christ our Lorde will to the ende that wee bee not troubled with any miseries or crueltie of enemies that we shoulde lift vp our heades with true confidence of minde to looke for his comming that the greater our miserie shall bee the more certaine wee may bee that the daye of our triumph is at hande and of the righteous destruction of all the wicked enemies of God That the generall and last iudgement must of necessitie be that we may bee armed against those scorners whome the holy Ghost hath foreshewed shoulde be by Peter the Apostle in these last times A sure foundation may bee taken from the righteousnes of God and the state of the righteous in this life as Paul hath concluded in the 1. Thes 1. For it is a righteous thinge with God to recompence tribulation to them that trouble you and to you which are troubled release with vs when the Lorde Iesus shall shewe himselfe from heauen with his mightie Angels in flaming fire c. Forasmuch therefore as that recompence is not in this life which the righteousnes of God requireth and this notwithstanding this righteousnes remayneth firme vnmoueable with God for euer that the wicked may be punished the Godly may receiue that same promised release there vpon the Apostle inferreth that that is a manifest token of the iust iudgement of God to followe of the comming of the Lorde Furthermore this foundation being laide the destruction of the citie of Ierusalem maie bee added which Christ ioyned with the prophecie of the last iudgement not without a great weightie cause that is to say the figure with the thing signified that wee might no more doubt of his wrath to come vppon the vngodly in the day of iudgemēt then of the shame of the Iewes foreshewed of Christ which yet they beare before our eyes Matth. 24. Luke 21. Of the meaning of this Article THE meaning of this article is I doe beleeue that Iesus Christe doeth not onely nowe exercise his kingly power of iudgeing by his vertue from heauen by diuerse examples aswell in defending the godly as repressing the wicked but also that he shall solemnly come from heauen from the right hande of the power of God in a corporall presence thorowly to iudge all men as well those that are departed out of this life frō the beginning that the worlde was created whose bodies shal rise againe as those whome that day shall finde remaining yet liuing in this worlde who shall soudenly be changed Nowe forasmuch as to iudge is to absolue the innocent to beautifie them and to condemne the wicked and to punish them I beleeue that he shall so iudge that hee shall fully deliuer the godly and beutifie them with eternall glorie contrariwise that he shall fully execut the condemnation vppon the
in them which are effectually called reconciled he preserueth increaseth that same studie of holding their reconciliation and bringeth to passe that they greatly esteeme so great grace of reconciliation and truly somuch they esteeme it that denying them selues and all vngodlines they wholly giue themselues through faith vnto him who with so greate a price hath redeemed them from so many euills After that Christ the King and Priest of his Church hath engendred in those whom he calleth the studie of reconciling themselues vnto God he offereth and giueth also vnto them that same reconciliation that in the forme of a couenant the summe whereof is conteined in the articles of the faith NOw as I haue saide alreadie that same studie of reconciling themselues to God in those that are called of Christ the King being wrought he offereth and giueth to them reconciliation it selfe and that in the forme of a free couenaunt 2. Cor. 5. vers 18.19.20.21 and chap. 6. vers 15.16.17.18 Now the reconciliation of man with God or rather this matter of saluation in sauing by his merite and power the elect is therefore called a couenaunt and also set foorth vnto vs in forme of a couenaunt from God because there is no apter forme or meeter way of doing it to make mutuall agreement betweene the parties and to the establishing of faith For euen like as men after great enimities are then at length pacified in their mindes when they haue bounde themselues by promises and by an oath each one to other to imbrace peace so also God that our consciences might be quiet hath not spared of his meere goodnes euen by an oath and couenaunt to binde himselfe vnto vs that are repentant and beleeue in him and to seale the same with the seale of holy baptisme that he might adopt vs freely to be his children that he might cleanse vs through his bloode from all sinne and being endowed with the holy ghost might renue vs to euerlasting life yea and that freely that wee againe being bound vnto the faith and worship of this true God the sonne and the holy Ghost we might set foorth and aduance this greate goodnes of his Moreouer euen like as there are wonte to be propounded in mens couenaunts certaine heades which they call articles by which peace is begunne and put in practise both sides being sworne so also that same diuine couenaunt wherein God doth reconcile vs vnto himselfe for euer is conteined in certaine heades or articles which are the foundations of this holy reconciliation and where in God will haue eternall peace betweene him selfe and all beleeuers to be ratified Now God had promised by Ieremie the Prophet that he woulde strike a newe couenaunt with vs not according to that couenant which he had made with our fathers when he brought them out of the land of Egypt because they had made that couenant voyde but that this should be the couenant that he would giue the lawe in the middest of vs and write the same in our heartes and that he would be our God and we should be his pepple and that we should knowe him because he is mercifull vnto our sinnes and will remember our iniquities no more Ieremy 31 Esai 53.54 Ozee 2. This couenant the Lord hath made with vs through faith in Christ and therfore we must knowe that the articles of our faith containe the summe as it were the heads of that couenant which standeth in faith between God and vs. That the couenant betwene God and vs is free and vndeserued and standeth only in faith through which after that he hath put out the remembrance of our sinnes he renueth the beleeuers to his owne image THat this couenant betweene God and vs is free and vndeserued and leaneth vpon no condition of our worthinesse or merites but standeth by faith alone hence it may easily appeare For in respect of God he properly maketh the couenant with vs and he sealeth in our heartes by his holy spirit that same promise of vndeserued reconciliation offred vnto vs in the Gospel Titus 3. ver 5.6.7 2. Tim 1. ver 9. Gal. 3. ver 6.28.29 In respect of vâ— this couenant is receiued only by faith whiles that freely and vndeseruedly the holy Ghost is giuen vnto vs who bringeth to passe that both we will and are able to beleeue the free promise of reconciliation through Christ Eph 1. Ioel. 2. Esay 59. If you respect the mediator verely our heauenly father hath receiued oâ— him the price of reconciliation and we haue satisfied in him notwithstanding because the mediator is freely giuen vnto vs and imputeth also freely this merite vnto vs euen by this reason also the couenant is free And so this whole couenant is meerely free and consisteth in faith alone the oblation of promise of grace in Christ and also the giuing of Christ himselfe in respect of God is free the receiuing on our part is also free because it is the worke of God in vs whereby he sealeth his promise in our heartes that being driuen we should worke that is to say that being made beleeuers by him we might beleeue Ephe. 2. ver 1.5.6.7.8.9.10 All these things are plainlie comprehended in that same promise of the new couenant which euen now I brought out of the 31. Chapiter of Ieremy Now the ende why God would haue this same couenant to be free by all meanes is that the glory of God might returne to him alone the which drift of his counsell he hath expressed in plaine wordes in the same Prophet Chap. 33. And it shal be to me a name of ioy a prayse and an honour before all the nations of the earth which shall heare all the good that I doe vnto them c. And to the Ephe. Chap. 1 ver 5.6 An other end is the peace of our consciences Rom. Chap. 4. For if they which are of the lawe are heires faith is become voyd and the promise is made of none effect c. Sith therefore God saith that this whole couenant is free and vndeserued and that it consisteth in the knowledge of him or rather by faith through which also after that he hath abolished the remembraunce of our sinnes he will renewe our heartes which he calleth to write his lawes in our heartes it is plaine and euident that in the articles of our faith such a faith and knowledge of God is set forth vnto vs which embraceth the free remission of sinnes in Christ and also thereof engendreth the instauration or renewing of man according to the image of God Therefore in the meditation of the articles of our faith we must especially turne our eyes to these two poyntes The Articles of faith or that which is commonly called the Apostles Creede I Beleeue in God the father almighty maker of heauen and earth and in Iesus Christ his only sonne our Lord which was conceaued by the holy Ghost borne of the virgin Mary suffred vnder Pontius Pilate crucified
dead and buried he descended into hell the third day he rose againe from the dead he ascended into heauen and sitteth at the right hand of God the father almighty from thence he shall come to iudge the quick and the dead I beleeue in the holy Ghost the holy Catholique Church the Communion of Saintes the forgiuenes of sinnes the resurrection of the body and the life euerlasting What faith is SEing therefore Christ the king himselfe in the articles of the Christian faith which containe the summe of the Gospell offreth that same kingdome of his vnto vs and through faith by the vertue of his spirit doth effectually confederate himselfe vnto vs to the end he may raigne in vs goe to let vs briefly shewe what faith is Faith is to assent vnto God his will being knowen in euery worde of his as to the onely true omnipotent God and so to giue glory to God and not to consider any thing either in our selues or in any other of his creatures that seemeth to be against him and in this worde to behold as the speciall marke the promise of the Gospel for that the father truely offreth himselfe vnto vs in Christ and through his holy spirit freely iustifieth vs that are engrafted in Christ and more and more sanctifieth vs and preserueth vs by the same power through which Christ was raised from the dead whereby he hath all things subiect to himselfe that the hope of euerlasting life being founded in this truth and power it may be most certaine This description of faith first comprehendeth the whole life of man whose singular actions and moments must needes leane and rest vpon faith For surely that which is said to the Hebrues Without faith it is impossible to please God is most true in all and singular matters that are to be taken in hand Rom. 14. ver 23. Then after that it setteth forth that peculiar grace of iustification offred in Christ and that restoring to euerlasting life as the foundation of all beleeuers Now this same description of faith is specially taken out of the fourth Chap. to the Romanes from the sixtenth verse and out of the first Chapiter of the Ephesians from the 17. verse to the ende of both the Chapiters That which is put in the description of the will of God knowen is therefore done because Sathan is oftentimes woont to faigne another meaning of the worde of God besides the will of God Least therefore that faith should stray from the will of God we must indeuer that as the Apostle commandeth in the 12. to the Romanes all prophesying or interpretation of the scripture be according to the analogie or rule of faith least the interpretation fight with the foundation or with any article of faith We will shewe it also more familiarly after this manner this is faith to acknowledge that this is the vnchangeable will of God and to rest in it that freely he will giue vs that promised saluation by the Prophets and that through Christ the same is giuen in deede as the Articles of our faith witnesse that is to acknowledge that these things which are contained in them are freely giuen vnto vs of God according to the testimony of all the Prophets which were from the beginning of the worlde yea and of Christ himselfe and to rest in this constant will of God and giue this glory to God that hath now already shewed his omnipotent power in performing these promises fulfilling in deede the most part of the Articles of our faith and also as yet doth still exercise the same in the applying of those benefites and will certainly shewe it in those that remaine yet to be fulfilled in the Articles neither to consider any thing either in vs or yet without vs in any creature that seemeth contrary to that same grace and diuine truth promised vnto vs and already offred in Christ and at length fully to be accomplished The partition or diuision of the Creede THere are foure principall parts of the Creede The first containeth what we beleeue of God the father who as he hath chosen vs of his meere mercy in Christ before the foundations of the worlde were laide Ephe. 1. so there is set forth in the first part of the Creede the first fountaine of the couenant or reconciliation and therewithall is also taught what we must beleeue of the creation of all things The second what we must beleeue of Iesus Christ the sonne of God in which part is comprehended the whole summe of the couenant of our reconciliatiō The third what of the holy Ghost who by engrafting vs through faith in Christ maketh vs confederates with God applying vnto vs the mercy of the father and the redemption of the sonne The fourth part is concerning the people or of the Church with whom God had stricken his couenant which part containeth the effectes of all the former and the fruite of our faith aswell which we enioye in this life as also which we shall enioy euerlastingly being fully knitte both body and soule with Iesus Christ our heade Rules which shall helpe both our vnderstanding and faith in euery article of faith THe rules which we ought alwayes to haue before our eies aswel in the expoūding as also in the meditating of the Creede are these First that a mans minde knowe in euery of the articles not only the history which knowledge alone is not to saluation forasmuch as the deuills haue that and doe tremble Iames. 2. but also that the heart it selfe embrace through true faith the promise of God and the performance of the promise in Christ and for Christ which lyeth hidde in euery of the articles Acts. 13. vers 32. and the 39. Resolue therefore all the articles into the promises or into the performance of them so thou shalt haue in the articles of faith all the kindes of that wonderfull vnion that we haue with the father with the sonne Iesus Christ and with the holy Ghost which throughout all the Gospell is promised and giuen to the beleeuer 1. Iohn 14. and the 15. The second rule In the applying of the promise looke vpon the counsell of God to witte that to the sonne of God a body soule was so fashioned and fitted that those thinges that were done in them were done in the name of all beleeuers so done in deede that the obedience which was offred vp to the father in his person by the counsell and gift of the father are as truely thine as if they had bene offred vp in thy soule body and that by the same efficacie wherethrough that euerlasting word quickened from death that whole masse and glorified it shall also quicken and glorifie thee For this is the counsell of God this is his vnchangeable will wherevpon we may safely leane now it is made manifest in the writings of the Prophets and Apostles to the Hebr Cap. 10. out of the 40. Psalme Wherefore entring into