29. which sheweth vvhereunto onely the Primitive Church necessarily was tyed By the Apostles doctrine b Rom. 13.1 1 Pet. 2.13 14 which enjoyneth the Christians to yeeld obedience unto the ordinances of their lawfull Governers and Commanders whatsoever By the Apostles example and namely of the blessed Saint Paul c Acts. 16.37 Act. 22.25 c. Act. 25.11.12 who tooke benefit and made good use of the Romane and Emperiall Lawes Errors and adversaries unto this truth This truth neither is nor ever was oppugned by any Church Onely among our selves some thinke us necessarily eyed unto all the Iudicials of Moses as the Brownists For they say The Iawes Iudiciall of Moses belong as well unto Christians as they did unto the Iewes a Barrowes disco p. 127. Others that we are bound though not unto all yet unto some of the Iudicials as holdeth T. C. b 1. Reply sect 1 3. and Philip Stubs c Anatom of abuses 2. part Dâ—b 5. Proposition No Christian man whatsover is freed from the obedience of the law Morall The proofes from Gods Word THink not that I am come to destroy the Law or the Prophets I am not come to destroy them but to fulfil them For truly I say unto you saith our Saviour Christ til heaven and earth perish one jot or one tittle of the law shall not scape till all things be fulfilled whosoever therefore shall break one of these least Commandements and teach men so shall be called the least in the Kingdome of Heaven c a Matth. 5.17 18 19. If thou wilt enter into life keep the Commandements c. Thou shalt not kill Thou shalt not commit adultery Thou shalt not steale Thou shalt not beare false witnesse Honour thy father and thy mother b Mat. 19.17 18 19. Doe we make the Law of none effect through faith God forbid yea we establish the Law c Rom. 3.31 Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing but the keeping of the Commandements of God d 1 Cor. 7.19 The publike confessions of the Churches of God in France e Art 23. and Belgia f Art 25. agree with this Doctrine Errors and adversaries unto this truth Whereby are condemned as most wicked and unsound the Opinions Of the Manichies who found fault with the whole Law of God as wicked and proceding not from the true God but from the prince of darkenesse a Aug. conâ— Faust epist 11. and 74. Of Brownist Glover whose opinion was that Love now is come in the place of the ten Commandements b Bredweb detect p. 119. Of Iohannes Istebius and his followers the Antinomies who will not have Gods Law to be preached nor the conscience of sinners to be terrified and troubled with the Iudgements of God c Sim. Paulimeth par 2. de lege Deâ— p. 54. Of Banister among our selves who held how it is utterly evill for the elect so much as to thinke much lesse to speake or heare of the feare of God which the Law preacheth d Bani error 8. Article Of the three Creedes 1 The three Creeds Nicene Creede Athanasius Creede and that which is commonly called the Apostles Creede ought throughly to be received and beleeved For 2 they may be prooved by most certaine warrants of holy Scripture The Propositions 1. The Nicene Athanasian and Apostolicall Creeds ought to be received and beleeved 2. The three Creeds viz. The Nicene Athanasian and of the Apostles may be prooved by the holy Scripture 1. Proposition The Nicene Athanasian and Apostolicall Creeds ought to be received and beleeved THis proposition the Churches of God both anciently and in these last dayes a Confess Helv. 2 c. 11. Gal. ar 5. Belg ar 9. Saxo ar 1. doe acknowledge for true The errors and adversaries unto this truth Therefore much out of the way of godlinesse are they which tearme the Apostles Creede A forged patchery as Barrowe doth a Bar. dis p. 76. and Athanasius Sathanasius Creede so did Gregorius Paulus in Polonia b Genebr l. 4. p. 1158. and the new Arrians and Nestorians in Lituania c Surius chro p. 320. My selfe some 28. yeares agoe heard a great learned man whose name upon another occasion afore is expressed to whose acquaintance I was artificially brought which in private conference betweene him and my selfe tearmed worthy Zanchius a Foole and an Asse for his booke de tribus Elohim which refuteth the new Arrians against whose founders the Creeds of Athanasius and Nicene were devised Him attentively I heard but could never since abide for those words and indeed I never saw him since 2. Proposition The three Creeds viz. the Nicene Athanasian and of the Apostles may be prooved by the holy Scripture The proofe from Gods Word THan this assertion nothing is more true For the Creedes I meane these three Creedes speake first Of one and the same God whom we are to beleeve is for essence but one a Deut. 6.4 Mal. 2.10 1 Cor. 8.4 Eph 4.5 6. in persons three b Matth. 3.17 Gal. 4.6 1 John 5.7 viz. The Father the Creator c Psal 134.3 the Son the Redeemer d Esa 53.4 Rom. 5.18 Gal 3.13 Eph. 2.16 1 Iohn 2.2 the holy Ghost the Sanctifier e 1 Cor. 1.21 22. 1 Pet. 1.2 Next of the people of God which we must thinke and beleeve is The holy f Eph. 1.3 4. and 2.21 Col 2.22 and Catholike Church g Esa 54. 2. Psal 87.4 Acts 1.8 c. Eph. 2 14. Reu. 5.9 The Communion of Saints h Eph. 4.15 1 Cor. 10.16 Heb. â—0 25 1 Iohn 1.7 Pardoned of all their sinnes i Esa 44.22 Math. 18.23 c. Col. 2.13 And appointed to arise from death k Ioh. 5.28 1 Cor. 15. Phil 3.21 1 Iohn 6.39 and to enioy eternall life both in body and soule l Pet. 1.4 Reuel 21.4 The aduersaries vnto this truth Therfore we are enemies to all aduersaries of this doctrine or any whit of the same in them comprised whether they be Atheists Iewes Sadduces Ebionites Tretheites Antitrinitarians Apollinarians Arrians Manichies Nestorians Origenians Turkes Papists Familists Anabaptists or whosoeuer 9. Article Of Originall or Birth sinne 1 Originall sin standeth not in the following of Adam as the Pelagians doe mainely talk but 2 it is the fault and corruption of the nature of euery man that naturally is engendred of the off-spring of Adam whereby man is very farre gone from originall righteousnesse is inclined to euill so that the flesh lusteth against the Spirit and therefore in euery person borne into the world it deserueth Gods wrath and damnation 3 And this infection of nature doth remaine yea in them that are regenerated whereby the lust of the Flesh called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Which some doe expound the wisedome some the Sensuality some the affection some the desire of the flesh is not subiect to the Law of God
gaine-said which afore I deliuered The Propositions are and yet not many moe the method altered quotations added both for the satisfaction of some learned and iudicious friends of mine requesting it at mine hands and for the benefit both of the common and vnlearned and of the studious and learned Reader The whole worke expresseth aswell my detestation and renunciation of all aduersaries errors opposite crossing or contradicting the doctrine professed by vs and protected by our King or any Article or particle of truth of our Religion as my approbation of that truth which in our Church by wholesome Statutes and Ordinances is confirmed There is not an heretike or Schismatike to speake of of any speciall marke that from the Apostles time hitherto hath discouered himselfe his opinions vulgarly in writing or in print against our doctrine but this heresie fancy or phrensie may be here seene against one proposition or other The Sects and Sect-masters aduersaries vnto vs either in the matter or maine points of our doctrine or Discipline to one of our Articles or other wholly or in part which here be discouered to be taken heed of and auoided are many hundreds 38. This and whatsoeuer else here done either to the confirmation of the truth or detestation of heresies and errors I doe very meekely present unto your Grace as after God and our King best meriting the patronage thereof My selfe am much the whole Church of England much more bound vnto your Lordship yea not wee onely now liuing but our successors also and posteritie shall have cause in all ages while the world shal continue to magnifie Almightie God for the inestimable benefits which we have shall receiue from your selfe your late Predecessors D. Whitegift Grindall Parker Cranmer of famous honourable remembrance Bishops of our Church Archbishops of the See of Canterbury for this uniforme doctrine by some of your Lordships drawne and penned by all of you allowed defended and as agreeable to the Faith of the very Apostles of Christ and of the ancient Fathers correspondent to the Confessions of all reformed Churches in Christendome and contrariant in no point unto Gods holy and written Word commended unto us both by your Authoritie and Subscriptions Now the all-mercifull God and heavenly Father which so inspired them and your Lordship with wisedome from above and inabled you all to discerne truth from falshood and found religion from Atheisme idolatry and errors vouchsafe of his infinite goodnesse to encrease his grace more and more upon your Grace to his owne glory the Churches benefit and your owne everlasting comfort And the same God which both mercifully hath brought and miraculously against all hellish and divellish practices of his and our enemies continued the light of his truth among us give us all grace with one heart and consent not onely to embrace the same but also to walke and carry our selves as it beseemeth the Children of light in all peaceablenesse and holinesse of life for his Sonne our Lord and Saviour Christ his sake At Horninger neere S. Edm. Bury in Suff. the 11. of March Ann. 1607. Your Graces poore Chaplaine alwayes at Command THOMAS ROGERS Constitutions and Canons Ecclesiasticall Anno 1604. VVHosoever shall hereafter affirme that the Church of England by Law established under the Kings Majesty is not a true and an Apostolicall Church teaching and maintaining the Doctrine of the Apostles let him be excommunicated ipso facto and not restored but onely by the Archbishop after his repentance and publike revocation of this his wicked error Can. 3. VVhosoever shall hereafter affirme that any of the 39 Articles agreed upon by the Archbishops and Bishops of both Provinces and the whole Clergy in the Convocation holden at London in the yeare of our Lord God 1562. for the avoiding of diversities of opinions and for the establishing of consent touching true Religion are in any part superstitious or erroneous or such as he may not with a good conscience subscribe unto let him be excommunicated ipso facto and not restored but onely by the Archbishop after his repentance and publike revocation of such his wicked errors Can. 5. Whosoever shall hereafter separate themselves from the Communion of Saints as it is approved by the Apostles rules in the Church of England and combine themselves in a new Brother-hood accounting the Christians who are conformable to the Doctrine Government Rites and Ceremonies of the Church of England to be prophane and unmeete for them to joyne with in Christian profession let them be excommunicated ipso facto and not restored but by the Archbishop after their repentance and publike revocation of such their wicked errors Can. 9 The Titles of the thirty nine Articles with the Pages where to finde every of them in this Booke Articles 1 OF faith in the holy Trinity Page 1 Articles 2 Of the Word of God which was made very man Page 7 Articles 3 Of the going downe of Christ into Hell Page 15 Articles 4 Of the Resurrection of Christ Page 17 Articles 5 Of the Holy Ghost Page 21 Articles 6 Of the sufficiency of the Scriptures for salvation Page 26 Articles 7 Of the Old Testament Page 33 Articles 8 Of the three Creeds Page 39 Articles 9 Of Originall or birth sinne Page 41 Articles 10 Of Free-will Page 47 Articles 11 Of the Iustification of man Page 50 Articles 12 Of good workes Page 56 Articles 13 Of workes before Iustification Page 56 Articles 14 Of workes of Supererogation Page 59 Articles 15 Of Christ alone without sinne Page 62 Articles 16 Of sinne without Baptisme Page 65 Articles 17 Of Predestination and Election Page 69 Articles 18 Of obtaining salvation onely by the Name of Christ Page 82 Articles 19 Of the Church Page 86 Articles 20 of the Authoritie of the Church Page 98 Articles 21 Of the Authoritie of generall Councels Page 112 Articles 22 Of Purgatorie Page 118 Articles 23 Of Ministring in the Congregation 131 Articles 24 Of speaking in the Congregation in such a tongue as the people understand not Page 141 Articles 25 Of the Sacraments Page 142 Articles 26 Of the unworthinesse of the Ministers which hinder not the effects of the Sacraments Page 160 Articles 27 Of Baptisme Page 165 Articles 28 Of the Lords Supper Page 170 Articles 29 Of the wicked which doe not eate the Body and bloud of Christ in the use of the Lords Supper Page 178 Articles 30 Of both kindes Page 179 Articles 31 Of the oblation of Christ finished upon the Crosse Page 181 Articles 32 Of mrariage of Priests Page 185 Articles 33 Of Excommunicate persons how they are to be avoided Page 189 Articles 34 Of the traditions of the Church Page 193 Articles 35 Of Homilies Page 194 Articles 36 Of Consecration of Bishops and Ministers Page 196 Articles 37 Of the civill Magistrate Page 201 Articles 38 Of Christian mens goods which are not common Page 215 Articles 39 Of a Christian mans Oath Page 217 FINIS
said of Christ that he was the patterne of all things and but a figure of the Son of God and that the body of Christ was compact of three vncreated elements f Beza ep 81. Confess Gal. ar 14. and so confounded and overthrew both natures 4. Proposition Christ is the Sauiour of mankinde The proofe from Gods Word Christ to be the Sauiour of mankinde we finde it perspicuously in the holy Scripture which teacheth vs that Christ was crucified dead and buried a Math. 27.16 c. and that to reconcile his Father unto us b We were recoÌ„ciled to God by the death of his Son Rom. 5.10 God hath reconciled vs vnto himselfe by Iesus Christ 2 Cor. 5.18 by his crosse Eph 2.16 It pleased the Father c. by him to reconcile all things vnto himselfe Col 1.10 20. and to be a Sacrifice for all sinnes of men c He hath borne our infirmities and carryed our sorrowes Esa 53.4 He is the Lambe of God which taketh away the sin of the world Ioh. 1.20 Christ hath redeemed vs from the curse of the Law when he was made a curse for vs. Gal. 3.13 God hath made him sinne for vs which knew no sinne that we should be the righteousnesse of God in him 2 Cor. 5.2 He is the reconciliation for our sinne not for ours onely but also for the whole world 1 Ioh. 2.2 Hence I beleeue the forgiuenesse of sinne d Symb. Apost He suffered for our saluation e Symb. Ath. For us men and for our saluation he came downe from heaven f Symb. Nicen. say our Forefathers in their confessions as doe also our brethren throughout Christendome g Confes Helv. 1. c. 11. 2 ar 11. Basil ar 4 Bohem. ar 6. Gal. ar 2.16 7. Belg. ar 20. 21. August ar 3. Saxon ar 3. Wittem c. 2. Suevica Harmon Confess prae The errors and adversaries vnto this truth Wicked then are all opinions and assertions contrarying and crossing this truth as That the Father in his deity not the Son in his humanity did suffer which error the Patripassians did hold a D. August de Trin. l. 5. That Christ as well in his diuinity as in his humanity suffered for mankind an error of Apollinaris of old b Magdeburg Eccles hist con 4. c. 5. and of Islâ—bius and Andreas Musculus of late yeeres c Beza ep 60. That the whole and holy Trinitie was crucified as said Petrus Antiochenus That Christ really and indeed hung not on the crosse for his passion was in show onely said the Cerdonites d Iren. l. 1. c. 23 the Euticheans e Nâ—c l. 18. c. 53 and the Manicheans f August con Fa. l. 15. c. 10. and another man said the Theopaschits g Antonio tit 13. c. 5. sect 2. and the Basilides h Theod. Tâ—r. yea the very Divels and not Christ said the Manichies i August de Fide c. 32 33. suffered and hung on the crosse That the whole passion of Christ is to bee understood allegorically and not according to the letter as the Familie of Love doe thinke k H.N. Insit ar 4. sent 17. 29. That Christ on the crosse hath suffered for the redemption of mankinde and shall suffer againe for the saluation of the Divell as Iesus such heretikes there have bin l Witnes Tho. Aquin. con 1. â—â—â—r 3. but shall againe suffer as Iesus Christ which was one of Francis Kit his heresies for which he was burned for men out one mother Iane is the Sauiour of woman a most execrable assertion of Postellus the Iesuite m Iesuits Caâ— 1. booke c. 10. The fantasies of the Iacobites n Niceph. l. 18 c. â—2 and Turkes o Louâ—â— Tur. â—â—â—t tom 1. l. 1. â— The popish doctrine touching the Masse prayers vnto Saints pardons and purgatory which make the passion of Christ either of none effect or to put away but originall sinne onely p See art 22. â— 31. That albeit our Sauiour hath suffered for all men in generall yet both each man must suffer for himselfe in particular q Test Rhâ—m in Rom. 8.17 and the workes of one man may satisfie the iustice of God for another r Ibid. in Col. â—24 which are popish errors That Christ dyed not for the sins of all men and that some sinnes are so filthy and enormious as Christ his bloud upon true repentance of the delinquents part cannot wash them away which was Kains Å¿ Gen. 4. Fr. Spiras t Hist Fr. Spir. and other desperate persons error That whatsoeuer is written touching Christ his sufferings must in us and with us be fulfilled the false doctrine of H. N. v Prophecy of the Spir. cap. 19. sent 3. 3. Article Of the going downe of Christ into Hell As Christ dyed for vs and was buried so also it is to be beleeued that he went downe into Hell The Propositions Christ went downe into hell The proofe from Gods Word SVndry be the texts of Scripture for Christ his discension into Hell Mine heart was glad saith Dauid a Psal 16.10.11 Acts â— 26.27 a figure of Christ and my glory reioyced my flesh also shall rest in hope For why Thou shalt not leave my soule in hell O Lord my God I cryed unto thee and thou hast healed me Thou Lord hast brought my soule out of hell I will thanke thee O Lord my God with all my heart and will praise thy name for evermore b Psal 30.1 2. For great is thy mercy towards me and thou hast delivered my soule from the nethermost hell c Psal 86.12 13 In that he ascended what is it but that he had also descended first into the lowest part of the earth He that descended is even the same that ascended farre above all heavens that he might fill all things d Eph. 4.9.10 O Death where is thy sting O hell where is thy victory e 1 Cor. 1â— â—5 Also that Christ went downe into hell all sound Christians both in former dayes f He descended into hell Sym. Apost Athan. and now living g Confess Helv. 2 c. 11. Ba. ar 2. Aug. ar 3. Stievica ar 22. doe acknowledge howbeit in the interpretation of the article there is not that consent as were to be wished some holding that Christ descended into Hell 1. As God only and not man as they doe which say how Christ descended powerfully and effectually but not personally into hell and that the deity exhibited it selfe as it were present in the infernall parts to the terror of the devill and other damned spirits 2. As man onely and that as some think in body only as when death as it were prevailed over him lying in the grave as others deeme in Soule onely when he went unto the place of the reprobate to the increasing of their torments 3. As God and man in one person as they doe
we must not beleeue in the holy Ghost saith Bredwell writing against Glouer p. 102. among us at home Some affirme the holy Ghost to be but a meere creature as did Arius h Theod. l 5. c. 10. the Semiarians i Philast the Macedonian heretikes k Soz. l. 4. c 27. the Tropickes l Athan. Ochinus m Zanch. de El par l. 2. c. 5. Some haue assumed the style and title of the holy Ghost unto themselues as did Simon Magus n D. â—ren Montanus o Eus I. 5. c. 18. and Manes p Chry des S. Some have given the title of the holy Ghost vnto men and women so Hierax said that Melchisedech was the holy Ghost q Epiphan Simon Magus tearmed his Helene the holy Ghost r Epiphan The Helche said the holy Ghost was a woman and the naturall sister of Christ Å¿ Epiphan Many Papists and namely the Franciscanes t Alcar Fr l â— blush not to say that S Francis is the holy Ghost 2. Proposition The holy Ghost is of one substance maiesty and glory with the Father and the Sonne The proofe from Gods Word THE holy Ghost effâ—cted the incarnation of Christ a Mat 1.18 10. Luke 1.35 teacheth all things b Ioh. 14.26 leadeth into all truth c Ioh. 26.13 giueth vtterance to his seruants d Acts 2.4 and gifts unto his people e 1 Cor. 12.8 placeth Rulers in the Church and Ouerseers to feede the flocke of God f Acts 20.28 sealeth the Elect vnto the day of redemption g Eph. 4.30 aswell as the Father and the Son and these three viz. the Father the Word and the holy Ghost are one h 1 Iohn 5.7 Therefore is the holy Ghost of one substance maiesty and glory with the Father and the Sonne And this was the beliefe of the ancient Fathers I beleeue say they in the holy Ghost the Lord and giuer of life c. who with the Father and the Sonne together is worshipped and glorified who spake by the Prophets i Symb. Nicen. The Godhead of the Father of the Sonne and of the holy Ghost is all one the glory equall the maiesty coeternall Such as the Father is such is the Sonne and such is the holy Ghost c. And in this Trinitie none is afore or after other none is greater or lesse then another But the whole three persons be coeternall together and coequall k Symb. Ath. The very same doe all reformed Churches beleeue and confesse l Confes Helv 1. ar 6 2. c. 3. Basil ar 1. Bohem. c. 3 Gal ar 1. Belg. ar 1. Aug. ar 1 Wittemb c. 1 2. Sucrica ar 1. The Errors and adversaries unto this truth The premisses doe make Against the Tretheites which affirme the holy Ghost to be inferiour unto the Father a Zanch de 3. Eâ— par 2 l. 5. c. 1 Against the Arrians who said the holy Ghost was inferior to the Sonne b Aug. contr Mar. Aâ—rian Against the Macedonian heretikes who held the holy Ghost to be but a minister and servant of the Father and the Sonne c Ruffin l. 1. c. 25. yet of more excellent maiesty and dignity then the Angels d Niceph. l. 9. c. 17. Against many erroneous spirits which deliver the holy Ghost to be nothing else but The motion of God in his creatures as did the Samosatenians e Confess Aug. 5. ar 3. A bare power and efficacy of God working by a secret inspiration as the Turkes f Pol. of the Tur. Emp. 3. c. and certaine English Sadduces doe imagine * Hutâ—â— inson in his Image of God c. 24. p 112 â— The Inheritance allotted to the faithfull g H. N. in his Inâ—â—ruct praef seâ—â— 7. and the being or vertuous estate of Christ h Idem in his Spir. and praef sect 14. as dreameth H.N. The affection of charity or Love within vs an error of Petrus Lombardus i Sen l. 1. dist sect 5. 2. Gods love fauour and vertue whereby he worketh in his children so thought Ochinus k Zanch. de 3. E. par 1 l 4. c 1. and Servetus l Zanch ib. l. 1. c. 2. 2. Proposition The holy Ghost proceedeth from the Father and the Sonne The proofe from Gods Word THe proceeding of the holy Ghost from the Father and the Sonne we gather from the holy Scripture which teacheth how The Father sendeth the Comforter which is the holy Ghost in the name of the Sonne a John 14.16 and the Sonne sendeth the Comforter the Spirit of truth from the Father b John 15.26 he proceedeth of the Father c Ibid. and is sent of the Sonne d John 16.7 So with us say the ancient Fathers and Christians He proceedeth from the Father and the Sonne e Symb. Nicâ—n The holy Ghost is of the Father and of the Sonne neither made nor created but proceeding So there is one Father not three Fathers one Sonne not three Sonnes one holy Ghost not three holy Ghosts f Symb. Athan. which is the faith of the moderne Christians g Confes Hâ—â— 1. c. 3. Gal. c. 3 Belg. ar 8. 11. Wittemb c. 3. Sucrica ar 1. The adversaries unto this truth This discovereth all them to be impious and to erre from the way of truth which hold and affirme That the holy Ghost proceedeth neither from the Father nor the Sonne but is one and the same person that Christ is as the Arrians doe a Basi serm de sp S. That the holy Ghost proceedeth from the Father but not from the Sonne as at this day the Grecians b Russe Commonweale â— 23 the Russians c Guagnin de relig Moscov the Moscovites d Father de relig Moscov maintaine That there is a double proceeding of the holy Ghost one temporall the other eternall an errour of Peter Lombard e T. Sent l. 1. distinct 14. uncontrolled hitherto and therefore well liked of the Papists 6. Article Of the sufficiency of the holy Scripture for salvation Holy Scripture 1 containeth all things necessary for salvation so that whatsoever is not read therein nor may be proved thereby is not to be required of any man that it should be beleeved as an Article of the faith or be thought requisite and necessary to salvation 2 In the name of the holy Scripture we doe understand those Canonicall bookes of the Old and New Testament of whose authoritie was never any doubt in the Church Of the names and number of the Canonicall bookes Genesis Exodus Leviticus Numbers Deuteronomium Ioshua Iudges Ruth The 1. Booke of Samuel The 2. Booke of Samuel The 1. Booke of Kings The 2. Booke of Kings The 1. Booke of Chronicles The 2. Booke of Chronicles The 1. Booke of Esdras The 2. Booke of Esdras The Booke of Esther The Booke of Iob. The Psalmes The Proverbs Ecclesiastes or the
Imper and S. Augustine to write unto Maximinus Neither ought I to object against thee the Synode of Nice nor thou against me the Synode of Ariminum r D. Aug. contra Max. lib 3. and Nazianzene openly to pronounce that He never saw any good end of a Councell Å¿ Naz. ad Pro. cop epist 42. and The French Kings Embassadour to say unto the Chapter of Trent that scarcely any good at all or very little came by Councels unto the State of Christendome t Orat. Synod Legat. regis Fran. an 1562. and Cornelius Bishop of Bitonto to breake out into these words in the face of the Councell at Trent I would that with one consent we had not altogether declined from Religion unto superstition from faith unto infidelitie from Christ unto Antichrist from God unto Epicurus u B. Jewels dvf. par 1. fol. 39. The adversaries unto this truth This notwithstanding the Papists doe continue in an opinion that Councels cannot erre x Test Rhem. an Joh. 16.13 4. Proposition The things ordained by Generall Councels are so farre to be embraced and beleeved as they are consonant to Gods holy Word The proofe from Gods Word GEnerall Councels we simply condemne not yet doe we not ground our faith upon any Councell but onely upon the written Word of God Therefore in generall Councels whatsoever is agreeable unto the written Word of God we doe reverently embrace but whatsoever is contrary unto or besides the will of God revealed in the holy Scriptures we doe carefully avoid And so are wee commanded to doe even by God himselfe Whatsoever I command you take heed you doe it thou shalt put nothing thereto nor take ought there-from a Deut 12.33 Walk ye not in the ordinances of your fathers neither observe their manners c. I am the Lord your God walke in my Statutes and keepe my Iudgements and doe them b Ezek. 20 18 19. Though that we or an Angel from heaven preach unto you otherwise then that which wee have preached unto you let him be accursed As we said before so say I now againe If any man preach unto you otherwise then that yee have received let him be accursed c Gal. 1. â— 9. And so think the Churches reformed with us d Conf Helv. 2 c. 18. Bohe. c. 1 Gal. ar 5. Bâ—lg ar â— Witâ—â—mâ— c. 33. The aduersaries vnto this truth Contrary hereunto are the opinions of the Papists For of them Some doe think that the decrees of Councels doe binde all nations as Pope Hormisda decreed they should Some as Pope Gregory the great supposed that some Councels and namely the Councell of Nice of Constantinople Ephesus and Chalcedon a Greg. 1. l 1. epi. 24. l. 2. epist 49. some as Campian b Campian 12â— 4 thought that all Councels were of equall authority with the Word of God Others as the Guisian faction in France be resolved in matters of religion to follow the footesteps of their ancestors though Gods Word and a thousand Councels decree to the contrary c Calvin epist Bulling 1231. 22. Article Of Purgatorie The Romish doctrine concerning 1 Purgatory 2 Pardons worshâ—pping and adoration as well 3 of images as 4 of reliques and 5 also of Invocation of Saints is a fond thing vainely invented and grounded upon no warranty of Scripture but rather repugnant to the Word of God The Propositions The Romish doctrine concerning 1. Purgatory 2. Pardons 3. Worshipping and adoration of Images 4. Reliques 5. Invocation of Saints is a fond thing and not warranted by the holy Scripture nor consonant but contrary unto the same 1. Proposition The Romish doctrine concerning Purgatory is fond and not warranted by the holy Scripture nor consonant but contrary unto the same The proofe from Gods Word IT is granted as well by the Romish or false as by the true Church that none uncleane thing can enter into the Kingdome of God And because all men either have been or be still uncleane therefore they must be purged from sinne But in the manner of purging them who are unpure they do greatly differ For the true Church looking into the Word of God doth finde that we are sanctified or made cleane in divers respects diversly as by Baptisme a Christ loved the Church gave himselfe for it that he might sanctifie it and cleanse it by the washing of water through the Word Eph. 5.25.26 by the Word preached b Now yee are cleane thorow the word that I have spoken unto you John 15.3 by the blood of Christ c The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin 1 John 1.7 and by the Spirit of God d Ye are washed ye are sanctified ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God 1 Cor. 6. â—1 and that in this life and not in the other world For in the sacred Scripture there is mention but onely of two wayes one leading unto destruction the other bringing unto life e Mat. 7.13 14. of two sorts of men whereof some beleeve they are saved some beleeve not and they are damned f Matt. 16.16 Joh. 3.18 and of two States one blessed where Lazarus is the other cursed where Dives doth abide g Luke 16. A third way or sort or state cannot be found in the Word of God And therfore the Purgatory in another world both denied hath alwayes beene by the Greeke Churches h Alphons de haeres l. 8. de Indulgentiis Polydor. de Inventor l. 8. c. 1. Cons Helv. 2. c. 26. Gal. ar 24. Sax. ar 11. Aug. ar 11. Wittemb cap. 25. and neither is nor will be acknowledged by any of Gods reformed Churches in this world as their Confessions doe testifie The adversaries unto this truth Erronious therefore and not warrantable by Gods Word concerning Purgatory is the doctrine both of the old Heretikes the Montanists who thought there was a purging of soules after this life a Tertul. de cot militis De Anima in siâ—â— and of the new and renued Heretikes the Papists For They think it to be unsound doctrine and not sufferable in any booke for Christians to deliver that it is unpossible for godly and faithfull men or women to be punished after they be dead Therefore deleatur say they Blot out such doctrine b Puâ—ari pios post mortâ—m impossibile deleatur lâ—dex expurg p. 26. They teach by their Catechismes that to doubt whether there is a Purgatory or no is a breach of the first Commandement c Vaux catech chap 3. Thus doe they pray for the soules of the faithfull as they fancie boyling in the torments of Purgatory Avete omnes animae fideles quarum corpora hic abique conquiescunt in pulvere Dominus Iesus Christus qui vos nos redemit suo preciocissimo sanguine dignetur vos à poenis liberare c. that is