Selected quad for the lemma: scripture_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
scripture_n	apostle_n	church_n	creed_n	2,605	5	10.2206	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A57847	The Tridentine-gospel, or, papal creed made at Trent, and promulgated at Rome, by Pope Pius IV : exhibited and demonstrated to be new, heterodox, and antichristian : in a sermon / by William Ramsay ... ; hereto is added, Pope Pius his Bull in Latine and English, necessary to be seen by all that would know the present faith of Rome, especially in these our nations where they conceal it.	Ramsay, William, B.D.; Catholic Church. Pope (1559-1565 : Pius IV). Professio fidei Tridentina. English & Latin.	1672 (1672)	Wing R221; ESTC R14528	21,776	35

Supremacy which was not from the beginning but laid by man is to be raised by man The holy Spirit buildeth the faithful on the first foundation by hope in the grace and merits of Jesus Christ The Pope builds his credulous children on his own foundation by hope in the grace and merits of his Pardons and Indulgences The charity of Jesus Christ which is to love one another as he loved us is the furniture and perfection of the first building but slavery and bondage to Papal jurisdiction is the top and consummation of the Roman Edifice Recitâsse confutâsse est The bare rehearsal of such a Creed is a full conviction of its heterodox absurdity Yet that its novelty may more appear we will set before it three illustrious Opposites of Evangelical Light to wit Primitive Creeds Primitive Councils and Primary Texts of Scripture As for Primitive Creeds The whole Christian World ever held yea the present Church of Rome in word though not in effect holdeth that the Apostles Creed was by them in the H. Ghost designed as a sum of all Christian belief necessary to salvation wherefore the primitive Church never presumed to add but only to declare it in more open exp●essions of the same thing as appetrs in the Creeds of Athanasius of Nice o● Constantinople But this Creed of Trent is a palpable piece of Creation for it's totally new both in matter and in form And to deny its novel● were as gross an absurdity in point of understanding as to deny the rising of the Sun were an absurdity in sense yea greater as its difference from the Primitive Creed is as manifest as the identity of the rising and setting Sun is certain For its Articles are of an impertinent and opposit● import to the Primitive more in number greater in bulk stranger to sense harder to Reason burdensom to Conscience contemptible to Religion The Primitive Creeds may justly glory in the foundation of Christ to wit his written Word in which they a●e found contained The Creed of Trent hath nothing to glory in greater than the Romish Schools Papal Decrees Canons Customs Constitutions and Senses of Men. The Primitive Creeds have the Testimony of the whole World Christian and Antichristian The Creed of Trent besides repugnance with Christian Principles is reprobated by the most learned and sober part of Christendom to wit Protestant Churches and Nations The Primitive Creeds sound nothing but Gods honour and worship through Jesus Christ This of Trent sounds nothing but Lucre through a form of godliness denying the power thereof with popular Superstition vendible Devotion and tyrannical exaction of Faith and Obedience The Primitive Councils are four of Nice of Constantinople of Ephesus and of Chalcedon In these the whole Christian World on which as yet the dew of the doctrine of Christ and his Apostles stood fresh and fair unanimously made a Catholick united and most solemn attestation of the Faith of Christ Which the Council of Nice first did Ann. 325. not by defining new Articles or creating new matter or producing new form of Faith but by declaring and defending the Old contained in the Apostles Creed Which as a just measure of Faith instituted by the Holy Ghost that great Council presumed not to transgress The same was observed by the Council of Constantinople Ann. 381. which repeated confirmed and ratified the Symbol of Nice defending the Article of the Holy Ghost by a clear expression of his p●oceeding from the Son The Council of Ephesus Ann. 431. presumed no addition of Articles but confirming the Apostolical number defended that of Christs divine and unique personality against Nestorius The Council of Chalcedon 451. confi●med the method of the former Councils defending and declaring the two distinct Natures of Christ against Eutiches Thus these four Catholick Councils had no other product of Faith than is formally contained in the four Catholick Gospels In fine The work of the Holy Spirit in the Primitive Councils was nothing more or less than to establish that Faith which he inspired the four Evangelists to write in the Gospel and the Apostles to preach in their Creed But in these last days non Sanctus Spiritus sed sanctissimus Pater not the Holy Spirit but the most Holy Father for so he loveth to be entituled who superlatively exalts himself above whatsoever is God in Heaven or is called God on Earth hath wrought a new work est mirabile in oculis nostris a New Gospel of Apostolical and Ecclesiastical that is Roman Traditions Customs and Constitutions grounded on the Cathedral word of a Pope not as the old Creed a sum of the work of the Scriptures written by the instinct and confirmed by the wonderful works of the Holy Spirit but a sum of the work on Earth to wit of the Canon law of Rome written by the instinct and confirmed by the most mighty Bulls of the most Holy Fathers the Bishops of Rome Which sum his said Most Holy Paternity defines to be the true Catholick Faith without which no man can be saved which Definition whosoever infringeth he shall not only incur his Holiness displeasure but the indignation also imperet ei Deus God rebuke him of Almighty God And the rebuke will quickly follow if you please to consider four Primary Texts of Scripture Joh. 20.31 These things of which the Apostolical Symbol is a Sum are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God and that believing you may have life by his name Why then were not these other things of which this Papal Symbol is a Sum written if as his Holiness defines there is no life no salvation without them Acts 15.28 It is approved of the Holy Ghost and us say the Apostles at Jerusalem not to impose on you a greater burthen than these necessary things Hath the Holy Ghost in length of years disapproved in Trent what he approved in Jerusalem to double the burden of belief and obedience It 's far more just and reasonable to judge that he who glorieth in the Vicairship of Christ and Succession to Peter is heir and possessor of that spirit of Roboam 1 King 12.20 Speaking hard things to the people of Christ making his least finger grosser than the back and shoulders of Jesus making his sweet yoke uneasie and scourging with Scorpions the flock of Christ for which the good Pastor was scourged with whips The Apostle Jude in his Catholick Epistle v. 3. thinks it necessary to exhort us to contend for the Faith once delivered to the Saints But Pope Pius commands us to fight for the Faith now of late inspired into the holy Fathers of the Council of Trent initio Bullae But let us obey the holy Apostle who like a Messenger of God exhorts us with a salutation of Mercy Peace and Charity But let us avoid the Papal Spirit as of a contrary Satanical mission for more Impious indeed than Pius by name he usurps a threat of the

Indignation of God and as if that were not enough to fill his blasphemous throat he adds a double one of St. Peter and Paul implying his own as the root of his bitterness In fine Our Text casts an imperative reiterated Curse upon whomsoever in Heaven or Earth Apostle or Angel that preacheth any thing as Gospel besides what was already preached even at the first preaching of which the Creed is a Catholick Sum. How monstrous then is the Papal presumption To retort this Curse upon the Spirit of God to wit upon all that in obedience to that Spirit admits not the Gospel he preacheth which is not only besides what was first preacht but evidently new ●nd repugnant A Symbol of Papal definitions elevated by Papal Decree above the prerogative of the written Law and Gospel of Christ amplified without limit numero pondere mensurâ in number weight and measure Not we therefore whom God hath commanded to bless them that curse us But God the Father of all Mercies as well as the Avenger of the Impious will decide yea hath decided in his holy Word this day declared in your ears the Cause of his holy Gospel Let us not fear the terrour of Man but submit to the power of Christ Jesus subscribing to his holy written Testament on Earth that our Names may be written in the Book of Life in Heaven Let us fight a good fight of constant Faith in the true Catholick and Apostolick Church of Christ militant on Earth which Name is no way due to the Romish Synagogue For she denies the Catholick doctrine of the Gospel and the Apostolical legacie of the Creed seeking to establish a Gospel and Creed of her own on Papal authority and Romish tradition whence her name is Papal or Roman and not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Church consisting of Members called and chosen by the calling of Christ and the Word of his Spirit but rather 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a City or Synagogue convened and driven together by political stratagems and powerful coaction But as the Scriptures are certainly the Catholick Testament of Christ and the Creed an Apostolical Legacy of Faith So whatsoever Church maintains these as at this day Our Church of England is truly Catholick and Apostolical Now rejoyce thou Spouse of Christ Prosper and flourish gloriously thou House of God thou Church of England The Heavens reap perpetual harvest of Joy and Glory in the Saints that ascend to the Tabernacles of Immortality from the Tents of thy Militia The Angels ever protect and guard thee that the gates of Hell cannot prevail against thee The Queens also of the Earth that is thy Sisters the other Reformed Churches of Christ admire praise and honour thee but to speak thy happiness in a word God loveth thee for Thou art that Philadelphia that beloved Sister of Christ to which the Spirit speaks Rev. 3.9 I will make them of the Synagogue of Satan to come and worship before thy feet and to know that I have loved thee Because thou hast kept the word of my patience I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation which shall come upon all the world to try them that dwell upon the Earth Behold I come quickly hold that fast which thou hast that no man take thy Crown That is You Pastors and People of the Church of England hold fast the form of sound words which you have in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus 2 Tim. 1.13 Hold fast the Primitive Gospel of the Kingdom which consisteth in Faith unfeigned in Jesus Christ and in such Love one to another as Christ loved us withal That no man take thy Crown Not only Men by humane Traditions and politick inventions will rob thy temporal Crown usurping Supremacy but even thy right to the Crown of eternity will as soon leave thee as thou shalt leave thy first Faith and Charity To conclude Take a short Corollary or Recapitulation of all that hath been said First it hath on one side been manifestly evidenced from the Word of God that the Gospel of the Kingdom that is the Repentance to which Christ promised his Kingdom is to believe and love to believe in the Saviour Jesus and to keep his Commandments Secondly on the other side it hath been manifestly evidenced from the solemn profession of Faith in the present Church of Rome canonized by Pope Pius Quartus that she imposeth as necessary to salvation a far heavier burden than that Gospel of Christ to wit the Creed or Gospel of Trent Thirdly it is evident in our Text that it is not in the power of Apostle or Angel much less of a Pope to impose another Gospel than that of Christ And then in fine Fourthly it must needs be evident that whosoever is so much a Christian as to believe the Scriptures and so much a reasonable Man as to distinguish between one Gospel and another must needs acknowledge the Church of Rome to preach another Gospel than that of Christ and consequently if he loves and hopes eternal life will desert that Church which leaves the paths of the Gospel of life and seek to be Member of such a Christian body as adheres to its head Jesus Christ by a sincere adhesion to his saving Gospel Such is the Evangelical Apostolical and Catholick Church of England in which God maintain and increase the Faith and Love which is in his Son Christ Jesus through his Holy Spirit Amen BULLA Sanctissimi Domini nostri DOMINI PII Divina Providentia PAPAE Quarti Super formâ Juramenti Professionis Fidei PIUS Episcopus Servus Servorum Dei ad perpetuam Rei Memoriam INjunctim nobis Apostolicae servitutis officium requirit ut ea quae Dominus omnipotens ad providam Ecclesiae suae directionem Sanctis Patribus in nomine suo congregatis divinitus inspirare dignatus est ad ejus laudem gloriam incunctantur exequi properemus Cum itaque juxta Concilii Tridentini dispositionem omnes quos deinceps Cathedralibus superioribus Ecclestis praefici vel quibus de illarum dignitatibus canonicatibus aliis quibuscunque beneficiis Ecclesiasticis curam animarum habentibus provideri continget publicam orthodoxae fidei professionem facere séque in Romanae Ecclesiae obedientiâ permansuros spondere jurare teneantur Nos volentes etiam per quoscunque quibus de Monasteriis Conventibus Donibus aliis quibuseunque locis Regularibus quorumcunque Ordinum etiam Militiarum quocunque nomine vel titulo providebitur idem serva●● ad hoc ut unius ejusdem fidei professio uniformiter ab omnibus exhibeatur unicáque certa illius forma cunctis innotescat nostrae sollicitudinis partes in hoc alicui minimè desiderari formam ipsam praesentibus annotatam publica●i ubique gentium per eos ad quos ex decretis ipsius Concilii alios praedictos spectat recipi observari ac sub●enis per

whatsoever to infringe the page of this our Will and Commandment or with daring rashness to contradict it But if any one be so presumptuous as to attempt that let him know that he shall incur the indignation of Almighty God and of the B. Peter and Paul his Apostles * 14 Given at Rome at S. Peters Ann. Chr. 1564. the Ides of Nov. in the fifth Year of our Pontificate Fed. Cardinalis Caesius Cae. Glorierius The Letters above-written were read and published at Rome in the Apostolical Chancel Ann. 1564. on Saturday the 9. of Decemb. in the fifth year of the Pontificate of the Most Holy Father and Lord in Christ our Lord Pope Pius the fourth A. Lomelinus Custos The little Stars inserted in this Romish Symbol are to lead the Reader to the following Notes which discover the Sophistry of Mysterious Iniquity hid therein Notes upon this BULL THis Profession of Faith is truly that form of Godliness of which the Apostle speaks 2 Tim. 3.5 which the Papal Church professeth yet really denieth the power thereof as these following Stars make clearly appear For first * 1 Here is a solemn celebrity of a form of Profession of the Orthodox Faith of Jesus Christ Yet weigh the matter contained and it proves nothing else in fine but a vow of unlimited obedience to the Pope and of a Faith totally captivated to his Councils Canons and Decrees as most specially appears in the 12. 13. and 14. Articles of the New Creeed * 2 Here is a form of the most Christian Humility imaginable where the Bishop of Bishops terms himself the Servant of the Servants of God but consider a Satanical pride or a greater if possible wherewith he exalts himself above all that is called God glorying in the title of the Most Holy Lord which he prints above in Capital Letters and maintains in trampling on the heads of Kings and Emperours by usurpt supremacy * 3 Here is an extern form of Divine Doctrine which is pretended to be inspired by God into the Holy Fathers congregated in his name But the real truth is that these Fathers were Schoolmen more famous for knowledge in the Canon-law of Rome than for holy life in the law of God inspired with the Spirit of Aquinas and Scotus and other School-Evangelists more than with the Spirit of their Master Christ as appears in their long New Creed drawn from their Schools and not from the Gospel Congregated not in the name of the Lord for then his Law would have been their Rule but in the name of the Pope whose Kingdom they have sought for as most faithful Vassals * 4 Here is an illustrious form of Catholick and Apostolical Belief to wit a solemn Profession of the Primitive Creed of the Apostles illustrated by the Council of Nice and of Constantinople as a just sum of the Faith of Christ But this same Faith is mysteriously subverted by a New Creed of Traditions immediately added exceeding the former in number of Articles in weight of difficulty and in measure unlimited of School-Assertions * 5 Under the form of these words Apostolical Ecclesiastical Catholick Holy Church Mother c. lies always hid the adulterate matter of the Romish Synagogue * 6 Here is a form of receiving the Scripture but in truth they receive it only in such tenour and sense as the Fathers admit that is the School-men approved by the Pope For although this Article craftily seems to mean the ancient Fathers of the Primitive Church yet truly they are admitted no more than the Pope and his School-men are pleased to approve and what is really here meant by the Mother-Church you may see plainly in Art 12. * 7 This seems a short Article in form but in matter it is greater than a just Creed for the things declared and defined by the Council of Trent concerning Original sin and Justification are many and weighty * 8 This and the following Articles of this New Creed are very fallacious by a diminutive form of expression which craftily hideth a matter of greater Moment As here the souls in Purgatory are only said to be holpen by the Suffrages of the Faithful Yet certain it is that the Pope lays claim to a greater power in that infernal Territory and boasteth to possess the Keys thereof and to open and shut at pleasure especially to such as are liberal in Alms. * 9 Here is also a diminution of words For indeed the Roman tenet is That the Saints are to be adored and worshiped for this cause chiefly to wit because Salvation and other divine benefits are obtained by their Merits and Grace as the Catechism of the Council of Trent plainly expresseth Part. 3. Num. XXIV Whence is manifest that the Roman Church makes the Saints fellow-Saviours with Christ for Christ is not a Saviour any other way than by procuring us salvation and other benefits by his merits and grace * 10 Here is also a diminutive expression For the Pope usurpeth Indulgences not only as conducing to salvation but truly as fully sufficient to save all those that receive them for to such he promiseth infallible forgiveness of all sin and pain due to sin especially if the Indulgence include a condition of giving Alms. * 11 This Twelfth Article is both diminutive in expression and captious in consequence For first it means that all the Churches and Nations of the World are subject to the Laws and Canons of Rome A thing which neither Scripture nor Reason nor any Christian Principle can sustain Secondly It would infer That the Pope as Vicar of Christ is Lord and Master of the Nations of the World and can dispose of Empires Crowns and Diadems when and how he shall at any time define * 12 By this appears that the Council of Trent is the only measure and rule of Faith in the Church of Rome Whereas on the contrary S. Paul instructeth the Churches of Galatia Gal. 1.8 to measure their Faith by that Gospel only which from the beginning they had received and was by himself preached unto them And indeed this long New Creed of Rome is not derived in the least from Canonical Scripture but in whole and in part from the Canons of Trent * 13 Without which no man can be saved This evidently sheweth That this Profession of Faith is not made as a means of uniformity only as are the Articles of the Church of England but as a New Creed Gospel or Rule of Essential belief and as such is here imposed by the Pope upon his Subjects to be professed vowed sworn and maintained under pain of eternal damnation * 14 By this direful Curse of the Pope so confidently cast on those that reject his New Creed and Trent-Gospel appears how contrary the Papal Spirit is to the Spirit that spake in Paul Gal. 1.8 where a Curse is declared to fall on those who shall preach a Gospel other than that which was already preached by Paul The Curse therefore except we manifestly deny the Holy Ghost in his great Apostle must fall on the Pope and and Papal Preachers except they can find a Priviledge greater than given to Apostles or Angels to preach and establish New Gospels at pleasure Wherefore no man so much a Christian as to believe the Scriptures can in Conscience make scruple to reject this Papal Symbol as Anathematized with its Author Otherwise as captive to accursed Doctors let such an one certainly expect to be led in darkness deprived of the Truth and Light of Christ In fine It appears That as the sum of the Primitive Creed and Gospel is to believe in God so the sum of the Romish Creed and Gospel is to believe in Man the Pope And as the Rule of the Primitive Faith is the Word of God the holy Scriptures so the Rule of the Romish Faith is the word of Man Papal definitions And as the end of the Primitive Faith is the Charity of God to keep his Commandments so the end of the Romish Faith is Slavery to Man to ma●●tain his Supremacy Thus alass Rome hath left the Fountain of livi● waters God for the broken Cisterns of the digging of man wh●●hold no water Jer. 2.12 FINIS A Discourse concerning the Idolatry practised in the Church of Ro●● and the hazard of Salvation in the communion of it In Answer● some Papers of a Revolted Protestant wherein a particular acco●● is given of the Fanaticism and Divisions of that Church By EDWARD STILLINGFLEET D.D. Sold at the Phoenix in St. Pauls Church-yard and at the White Har● in Westminster Hall 1672.

Truth to embrace Fables This Pride and Itch were the diseases of the Romish people These heap of Masters were Romish Doctors Canonists and School-men The Truth is the Gospel and the Fables are Romances that is Romish Tenets and Tridentine Articles And although this Apostasie which the Apostle here and 2 Thess 2.3 speaks of was not compleated in the first Centuries of the Christian Church to a notorious degree nor perhaps is yet fully accomplished yet the Apostle there v. 7. witnesseth that even then the mystery of iniquity was a working But in these last days Certes The work is brought to so notorious a Fabrick that he must needs renounce the Principles of Reason and quit all belief in the Scriptures that will not acknowledge the Roman Forgery of a new Gospel which with a monstrous Art was contrived into one frame and body in the Council of Trent out of the chief Romantick pieces that from the beginning Iniquity had wrought on We have a whole world of Testimony but their own solemn confession is the best evidence For Pope Pius the Fourth ad perpetuam rei memoriam to their own eternal confusion by an authentick Bull canonized a certain form of profession of the present Faith of Rome commanding the same to be professed avowed and sworn solemnly by all Ecclesiastick and Religious Professors and by all Proselytes and promoted persons of the Church of Rome as the true Catholick Faith without which no man can be saved Which is the proper and distinctive title and character of a Gospel I commend the Bull it self to your reading I will now First shew the occasion of their creating this New Creed 2. I le give a sum of that Creed 3. I le demonstrate its novelty and contrariety to the Gospel The occasion of this strange production was this The Points of Romish Doctrine dissenting from the Gospel and Testament of Christ were amplified to such a quantity by Bulls Decrees Canons and Schoolmen and imposed so heavily upon the People from Chair and Pulpit that the aggrievance of such doctrine became palpable and notorious to the world especially such learned men as had knowledge of Holy Writ Wherefore many most learned and zealous Christians notwithstanding the Popes terrour and tyranny in the Spirit of Christ Protested against it But the Pope seeing on one side that his Empire could not subsist if his Schoolmens inventions were once annull'd and on the other side knowing that no authority of God either from Scripture or Creed gave warrant or surety to his Doctrine being now invaded most zealously by many Christian Doctors Princes and Nations he herded together that great Synagogue of Schoolmen at Trent all his adjured Vassals all sworn Followers of their respective Leaders and Princes of School-doctrine Alexander H●les Thomas Aquinas John Dunscot and William Occham which are the four Evangelists of School-Gospel in the Church of Rome In this eximious Synagogue of Schoolmen the Mystery of Iniquity first presumed the title of a Gospel that is of the true Catholick Faith without which no man can be saved There Truth long deserted and forsaken began to be solemnly disavowed and forsworn And Fables of Romantick Faith which had long passed for true began to be avowed as the Gospel of Truth There to the Gospel of Jesus Christ is arrogated another Gospel of Rome to the Apostolical Symbol the Roman Creed The Apostolical one consists in 12 short Articles because the Authors thereof summarily delivered what is necessary to believe But that of Rome consists in 14 long Articles because seven Devils that is a sum of Iniquity as Gregory the Great interprets being cast out of Rome when Christianity first took place they entred again with double number and force when Popery made the last things of Rome worse than the first The sum of these 14 Articles follows The First puts generally and indefinitely all the Traditions Customs and Constitutions of the Church of Rome for the foundation and ground of Faith The Second gives the second place to the Scriptures after the pre-eminent authority of Romish Constitutions restraining the Spirit of God speaking in the Hagiographers to the narrow sense and interpretation of Schoolmen The Third loads the Law of Christ with seven Sacraments whereof one to wit Pennance includes within it self a larger Law Creed and Gospel than Christ and all his Apostles ever preached The Fourth is very zealous and puts all the Rites Customs and Ceremonies used by the Church of Rome in her solemn administration of Sacraments among the necessary tenets of Christian Faith The Fifth involves an infinity of Creeds to wit all and several the disputes and points which the Council of Trent was pleased to declare and define concerning the spatious matter of Justification and Original Sin The Sixth makes a full profession of the Sacrifice of the Mass and Transubstantiation The Seventh professeth the Sacrament of the Lords Supper to be perfected under the sign of Bread alone The Eighth holds Purgatory as a Territory subject to the Pope The Ninth holds the Adoration and Worship of Saints and their Reliques The Tenth holds Image-Worship The Eleventh holds Pardons Graces of the Pope and Indulgences as most necessary instruments of Salvation The Twelfth professeth the present Church of Rome to be the Only Holy Catholick and Apostolick Church Mother and Mistress of all other Churches and voweth unlimited Obedience to the Pope as Head thereof The Thirteenth universally and undoubtedly receives and professeth all the Decrees and Declarations of Roman Canons and Councils but above all to wit even the four Primitive Councils whatsoever is delivered defined or declared in the holy and sacred Synod of Trent and rejecteth all things contrary to wit even the Scripture it self The Fourteenth recollecteth all the foresaid Articles and solemnly promiseth voweth and sweareth to maintain and teach them not as Articles of Peace of Obedience of Conformity or Legal Doctrine but as the true Catholick Faith without which no man can be saved Which is the character and essential property of the Gospel of Jesus Christ even in that strict sense we before explicated usurpt by this Scholastick Synagogue of Trent to mysterize and gild Iniquity This is the sum of that Gospel which the present Church of Rome maintains and so from the beginning of my Discourse hitherto I have laid open both Gospels first that of Jesus Christ which consists in believing in Jesus Christ and in keeping his Commandments then That of Christs pretended Vicair the Pope which consists totally in believing the Popes Definitions and in obeying his Precepts He that acknowledgeth not the contradiction and repugnancy of these two Gospels must needs forfeit the esteem of a reasonable man as well as of a right principled Christian Behold their difference from bottom to top The foundation of the one is Jesus Christ which was laid from the beginning and another foundation can no man lay 1 Cor. 3.11 The foundation of the other is Papal

God yet would there still remain a question what part of that written Word is that Gospel which Christ and his Apostles preached as the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Vnum necessarium the Only way of happiness Therefore I shall make choice of another way of proof short easie and clear and that resolveth the Question so home as to demonstrate what is the true Gospel in the strictest sense to wit what is the only way to Happiness preached by Christ and his Apostles Note well therefore I intreat your diligence that by this Word Gospel in the Text is precisely meant that necessary way which Christ and his Apostles taught to salvation For so much Gospel must needs be sufficient and no more Gospel can be imposed as necessary either by Paul Pope or Angel To shew this way of Salvation this Primitive and everlasting Gospel we need presuppose or demand no more of the Romists at present than to grant that the Word of Christ and of his Apostles recorded in Scripture is truly to be taken and embraced as the proper Word of God This being granted our method and design will no way engage us to dispute whether there be any traditional Word of God on Earth or no. For In the first place it must needs be evident that the necessary way to salvation which Christ preached was no other than that way of repentance of which it is said Mat. 4.17 Jesus began to preach and to say Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand This Repentance with the good tydings of the Kingdom of Heaven promised to it is the Primitive Gospel in the true proper and precise use of that word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Gospel And lest you may suspect me of ignorance or novelty in the application of that word I will shew you that this is the phrase of the Spirit of God in the written Gospel it self And first in the chapter already cited Mat. 4.23 this Repentance is termed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Evangelium regni the Gospel of the Kingdom for it is there said Jesus went about all Galilee teaching in their synagognes and preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom that is Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand as in the 17. verse The Evangelist Mark is very plain 1.14 After that John was put in prison Jesus came into Galilee preaching the Gospel of the kingdom of God what was that Gospel it follows and saying The time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is at hand repent You see the Gospel of Christ is concluded in that repentance to which he promised the kingdom The same was the Gospel of his Apostles for of them when first sent out to preach the Gospel it is said Mark 6.12 And they went out and preached that men should repent And this repentance is again formally termed the Gospel Luke 9.6 And they departed and went thorough the towns preaching the Gospel Even so that Gospel which Christ immediately before his ascension commanded his Apostles to preach Mark 16.15 Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to every Creature is nothing else than what is explained Luke 24.47 That repentance and remission of sins be preached in his name among all Nations Therefore let this Proposition both in substance of import and in propriety of expression stand clear and irrefragable to wit The Gospel which Christ and his Apostles preached is that repentance which Christ himself preached and the Apostles in his name It remains then to shew in what that repentance consisted for that and only that is the necessary way to salvation the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Primitive Gospel the Touch-stone of adulterate Gospels and their anathemiz'd Preachers Men or Angels according to our Text. Peace and comfort to all them that love and believe in Jesus Christ For he hath left the Repentance which he himself preached and commanded his Apostles to preach to all Nations so plainly opened in the Testament of his holy Gospel that it is impossible for any man to read the Gospel or any notable part thereof or to hear it read but he must clearly discover and understand what repentance it is to which the Kingdom is promised For what Sermon of Christ is there what Discourse what Parable what Sentence or Answer yea what Page or almost Verse is there in the whole New Testament which doth not sufficiently proclaim that Whosoever believeth in Jesus Christ and observeth his Commandments is heir of his Kingdom This therefore according to the legal Proclamation of Christ is true Christian repentance the Gospel of the Kingdom the necessary and only way of Salvation which Christ and his Apostles preached to wit to believe Jesus to be the Christ the Son of God and to keep his Commandments Thus the parts of Repentance are two Faith and Charity Belief and Love These consummate the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the perfect cure and reparation of man Wherefore Christ whensoever he solemnly acted the Physitian of the whole Man of Body and Soul you 'l find that to believe in his God-head and sin no more was the beginning and end of the whole cure Dost thou believe was the Therapeutick part Sin no more was the prophylactick Yea the first was the design and inference of all his works the other of all his words For all his wonderful deeds were to perswade men Faith that he was the Son of God and all his admirable Sermons were to perswade men Charity that is to keep the Commandments But here we are to observe how these two parts of Evangelical Repentance mutually include or infer one another To believe Jesus to be the Son of God is the sum of Faith and this if real and solid certainly begetteth charity which is the fulfilling of the Commandments And therefore Gal. 5.6 it is said Faith in Christ worketh by love And 1 Tim. 1.5 Charity the end of the Commandment is put the off-spring of Faith unfeigned Thus true Faith infers Charity as the Sun ushers in light Wherefore Gregory the Great said well Quantum credimus tantum diligimus As much as we believe so much we love On the other side Charity necessarily includes or presupposeth Faith For the first Commandment and consequently the first object of Charity is to believe in God that is to have no other Gods beside the true God which is Jesus with the Father and Holy Ghost And 1 Job 3.23 We have confidence towards God because we keep his commandments And this is his commandment that we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ And the Apostle James bids us shew our faith by our works for faith without works is dead that is is false adulterate and feigned for such men say they have faith and so boast to live but the unity of their works declares the fiction of their hearts Hereby we know that we know him if we keep his commandments 1 Job 2.3 What then must he that hath