THE English Creede CONSENTING WITH the true auncient Catholique and Apostolique Church in al points and articles of Religion which euerie Christian is to know and beleeue that would be saued THE SECOND PART in most loyal manner to the glorie of God credit of our Church and displaieng of al haeresies and errors both olde and newe contrarie to the faith subscribed vnto by Thomas Rogers Allowed by auctoritie 3. ESDR 4. Magna est veritas praeualet AT LONDON Printed by Robert Walde-graue for Andrew Maunsel at the Brasen Serpent in Pauls Church-yard 1587. TAM GENERE QVAM VIRTVTE PRAECELLENTI D. CHRISTOPHERO HATTONO EQVITI AVRATO REGNI ANGLIAE SVMMO CANCELLARIO ALIIS QVE MVLTIS NOMINIBVS HONORATISSIMO VIRO SVO OPTIMO MAECENATI AC PATRONO THOM AS ROGERIVS POSTERIOREM HANC SYMBOLO ANGLICANO SVBSCRIPTIONIS SVAE PARTEM HONORIS GRATIQVE ANIMI TESTIFICATIONIS ERGO DEVOTE CONSECRAVIT 20. ARTICLE Of the auctoritie of the Church THe Church hath power 1 to decree rites or ceremonies and auctoritie 3 in controuersies of faith And yet it is not laufull for the Church 2 to ordaine anie thing that is contrarie to Gods worde 4 neither maie it so expounde one place of Scripture 5 that it be repugnant to another Wherefore although 6 the Churche be à witnesse and à keeper of holie writ yet as it ought not to decree anie thing against the same so besides the same 7 ought it not to enforce anie thing to be beleeued for necessitie of saluation The Propositions 1 The Church hath power to decree rites or ceremonies 2 The Church maie not appoint what rites or ceremonies it will 3 The Church hath auctortie to iudge in controuersies of faith 4 The Church hath power to interprete and expound the worde of God 5 The Analogie of faith must bee expected in the exposition of the Scripture 6 The Church is the witnesse and keeper of Gods word 7 The Church may not enforce any thing to be beleued as is necessarie vnto saluation that is either contrarie or besides the word of God 1 The Churches auctoritie to decree rites or ceremonies Is warranted in the worde of God By th' example of the Apostles who did ordaine rites or ceremonies as among other thinges that in the Church Men should not be couered 1. Corinth 11. 4. c. VVomen Should be couered 1. Corinth 11. 5. Should keep silence 1. Corinth 14. 34. A known tongue should be vsed 1. Cor. 14. 1. c. By the general perpetual commaundement of God himselfe whoe at al times wil haue euery thing in the Church to be done As being the auctor not of confusion but of peace 1. Cor. 14. ver 26. 33. 40. Honestlie By order Vnto aedification Is graunted in the publique Confessions of the Churches protestant as Confession of Heluet. 1. Artic. 13. Heluet. 2. cap. 22. 23. 24. Basil art 10. Bohem. cap. 15. 17. France artic 32. Fland. artic 32 Ausburg artic 4. 5. 7. 15. Sax. artic 20. Sucuia cap. 8. 14. VVittem cap. 27. 35. This power being giuen by the supreme auctoritie vnto the Churche theie doe greatly offend VVho by an extreme detestation conceaued against ceremonies do condemne Generallie al rites or ceremonies as do some fantastical spirites Particularlie some commendable ceremonies so is the celebration of the Sabbat disliked of certaine Familists VVhiche thinke the Church is tied precisely to obserue the ceremonies Of the Iewes so Did the False Apostles Cerdonits Cerinthians Nazarens Doe the Iewes Turkes Armenians Of the Romish synagogue in which error be The hot Papists The halfe Papistes the Fam of Loue. VVhich holde that either any one man or any certaine callinge hath power to decree appoint rites or ceremonies though of themselues good vnto the whole Church of God 2. As it is à cleere truth that the church maie ordaine ceremonies So true it is also that the Church hath no power to appoint what rites or ceremonies it will but they must make To the Nourishing and increase of loue and friendship among men Such Reteining of the faithful in the holie feare of God Such In the primatiue Church were the rites principalie about Baptisme Excommunication The L. Supper In these dais in the reformed Churches are the ceremonies touching For the Church to meete in The times The places In the Church The praiers The seruice The persons Not to the vpholding of vice or superstitious vanities among the people as theie do If of themselues theie be meetlie wiked and vngodlie as are Popish Masses Images in the Church If being in their owne nature indifferent yet being supersticiouslie vsed are vngodlie as are the difference of daies and meates and apparel c. when it is thought that such rites Do deserue remission of sinnes Are th'acceptable seruice of God Be of necessitie vnder the paine of Gods eternal cursse to be obserued of al and euerie man This is consonantor agreeable To the worde of God Eze 20 v. 18. 19 Matth. 15. 13. Mat. 7. 7 c. Luke 11. 46. Gal. 51. Col. 2. 8. c. Tit. 1. 14. To the sound CoÌ„fessions of Christ his church CoÌ„fes of Heluet. 2. c. 15. France art 33. Flan. art 32. Ausb art 7. 15 Sax. art 20. VVitteÌ„ art 35. Sueuia c. 14. But as light is vnto darkenes coÌ„traeie to al such As are of opinion that the Church hath absolute auctoritie to ordaine what lawes rites or ceremonies it thinketh good As wil make and that as theie saie by thâ—auctoritie giuen vnto the church of à ceremonie à matter of substance and of à thing of substance à ceremonie as theie do which turne the 2 commandemeÌ„ts of the Decaloge into à ceremonial lawe As both obscure the glorie of God by their Masses inuocatioÌ„ of creatures c. and frustrate the merits of our Sauior by their meritorious pardons fasting pilgrimages c. deface the holie Sacraments of Christ by the vain ceremonies of Antichrist hinder the preaching of Gods word by ouer mâ—nie tedious traditions and keep the people of God in daÌ„nable ignorance by preferring the ordinances of meÌ„ before th'institution of God and leaue that vndone which God hath commanded to be done to performe that which the Church hath coÌ„manded such are the Papists 3 Auctoritie is giuen to the Church and to euerie member of iudgement in the same to iudge in controuersies of faith and so in their places To embrace the truth To auoid and improue Antichristianitie errors And this is not the priuate opinion of our Church but The straight coÌ„mandemeÌ„t of God himselfe To teachers â— Tim. 4. 7. 1 Tim. 6. 20 Tit. 1. 9. Tit. 3. 10. To heaters Hier. 23 16. Matth 7. 15 Ioh. 10. 3 c Phil. 3 2. Heb. 13 9. 2. Pet. 3 17. 2 Iohn ver 10. To the whole Church Matt. 24. 23 1. Cor. 14. v. 20. 23. 24. 1. Thes. 5 21 Iam. 5 19. Iudes epist. Reuel 18 4. 1. Cor. 10. 15 The iudgement of our godlie brethren
knoweth nothing c. 1. Tim. 6. v. 3. c. Thus thinke vve of the Scriptures and of the Churche So vvith vs do other Churches Confes of Heluet 2. cap. 1. Bohem cap. 1. Fran. art 5. Flan. art 7. VVit tem art 30 31. 32. Sax. art 11. Yet al of vs doe grant that the Churche As à faithful witnes maie yea of necescitie must testifie to the world vvhat hath bine the doctrine of God his people from time to time But be it far from vs that we should euer somuch as thinke which the Papistes vvil not sticke to write and say that The Church is to iudge the Scripture and not the Scripture the Church The Scripture is not of the escence of the Church for vvithout it à Church maiâ— be thought and veriâ— vvel So said Cusanus à Cardinal It had gonne better vvith the Church had there bine no scripture at al. The scripture because as they say It is vnperfect cannot Be the iudge It is obscure maie not Be the iudge It is ambiguous ought not Be the iudge He is an haereticke that cleaueth to the Scriptures as did Horstatus Such as bare witnesce vnto the truth By the shedding of their bloud in the daies of Q Marie are not martyrs but murtherets of them selues In this time By the sword are tyrans By life and doctrine be heretikes As á trustie register is to keepe and make knowen what the vvord of god which it hath receiued is This carefullie hath bine performed Before the worde vvas vvritten by the Patriarches After the vvord vvas commited to writing Before Christe his incarnation by the Iewes In christe his life time Luk. 4. 16. c Act. 13. 27. Act. 15 21. In the primitiue church 2. Cor 3. 15. 2. cor 8. 18. Colos. 3. 16. From Th'apostles time by the godlie Christians in th'uniuersal world This carefulnes in keepinge the vvord of God de clareth That the mother Churche of Rome is not the onely keeper of the holy write How cursedly theie offende vvhich so greatly esteeme The Ethiks of Aristotle as the S. scripture The Ods of Pindar as the Psalmes of Dauid The writings of men as the wordâ— of God 7 Of the people of God nothing must be obtruded vpon the Church to be beleeued as necessarie vnto saluatioÌ„ which is either contrarie or besides the worde of God So saith the scripture Deut. 4. 2. Prou. 30. 6 Eâ—â—k 20. vers 18. 19. 1. Cor. 3. 11. Gal. 1. 8. Gal 3. 15. Ephe. 4. 14 Col. 1. 23. Heb. 13. 9. 2. Iohn v. 9. 10. Reu. 22. 18 So vvitnes the Churches reformed Confes. Heluet. 2. art 2. Heluet. 1. artic 4. Basil. art 10. Bohem. c. 1 France art 5. Fland. ar 7 Saxon. art 1. VVittem cap. 30. 33 Sueuia art 1. VVhat soeuer is grounded thereon though not by expres tearmes to be red therin we doe reuerendlie embrace This maketh vs not to denie In doctrine The Consubstantialitie of our S. Christ with the Father and the holie Ghost as the Arians did A trinitie of persons in the Godhead vvith the Sabellians The iustification of faith onelie with the Papists The baptisme of Infantes with Anabaptists In ceremonies anie thing that tendeth vnto Comlines Order Edification But from the hart vve abhor vvhatsoeuer agreeth not with the cannon of the Scripture nor is grounded thereon Hence detest we Al the old haereuks The phatisies The Escees The Sadduces The SimoniaÌ„s The Menandeans The Ebeonits The Cerinthians The Gnostikes The Valentinians The Martians c. with The newe prophets of Basilides The manifestatioÌ„s of Marcian The misteries of the Manichies The Idolaea of the Scithians The Symbonia of Th'archoÌ„tikes The Cabala of the Iewes The Alcaran of the Turkes The Decretals of the Popes Al were haeâ—etiks vvith their curssed opinioÌ„s The Anabaptists of them namelie The Daui-geoâ— gainâ— The Libertines The Viteleis The Nicholaitans of Harrie Nicholas Papistes wherof Some commaunded that all the lawes of the Pope shoulde bee taken as confirmed by the mouth of God himselfe so did Pope Agatho the first Some write as Busgrad that if the pope beleue there is no life to com as som Popes haue done wee must beleue it as an article of our faith and if the Pope carrie innumerable soules to hel with him yet he maie not be iudged so thought Pope Boniface the 8. Some haue published à newe Gospel called Euangeliâ—m aeternum spiritus S. which some saie doth so far excel the gospel of Christ as the caâ—nel surpasceth the shel the Sun the Moone and the light darknes 21. ARTICLE Of the auctoritie of generall Councels GEneral Councels 1 maie not be gathered together with-out the commaundement and wil of Princes And when theie be gathered together 2 for as much as theie be an assemblie of men whereof al be not gouerned with the Spirit word of God theie maie erre and some-times haue erred 3 euen in things pertaining vnto God Wherefore 4 thinges ordained by them as necessarie vnto saluation haue neither strength nor auctoritie vnlesse it maie be declared that theie be taken out of holie Scripture The Propositions 1 General Councels must be gathered together by the commaundement and wil of Princes 2 General Councels maie erre 3 General Councels haue erred euen in great matters of Religion 4 The things ordained by general Councels are so far to be embraced and beleeued as theie are consonant to Gods holie word 1 Great is the povver and auctoitiâ— of Kinges and Princes by the word of God For as the defence of Religion is committed vnto theÌ„ so must they see that al men do their duties That theis thinges maie the better be performed they are as iust occasion is offered not as men vnder the power of others to summon but as supreme gouernors within their territories and dominions to commaund al sortes of men to meete together and that either to th'inplanting of the truth where it is not or to the supprescing of sin errors idolatrie and superstition where or in whom soeuer it doth arise or is rooted Such Councels were holden In the time of the Mosaical gouernment by the commaundement of the most godlie Kinges Asa. 2. Chro. 15 9. c. Ezekiah 2. Chr. 29. 4 c. Iosiah 1. Chro. 34. 29. c. Since the Gospel hath bine receaued into Kingdomes and common-weales by Christian Princes and Emperors who gathered Councels General so called was the Councel of Nice by Constantinus Magnus Constantinople by Theodosius the elder Ephesus by Theodosius the yonger Calcedon by Marcian National and prouincial such for al were held at By the wil of Charles the Great Francoâ—urt Rhems Turon Cabilon Arelot Moguntia Auernia by Theodorit Matiscon by Gnutranus By â—hil debert Aurelia Paris And neuer yet hath there bine à councel either general or national either publique or priuate I onlie except the Councels held by the holie Apostles in à troblesome state time of the church when as yet ther were no
christian Princes couÌ„tenauncing the truth either begunne or ended to the glorie of God But it hath bine I say not onelie called but confirmed also by some godlie Emp. King or Queene This in effect is granted by the confes Heluet. 2. cap. 30. Heluet. 1. art 26. Bohem. cap 16. Fland. art 36. Sax. art 23. VVittem cap. 35. Sueuia in the Perorat As al other godly and true propositions besides So hath this bine oppugned that diuers lie For some thinke That Emperors and Princes be the Pope his Summoners and not of themselues absolute commanders of Councels There ought no Councel to be kept without the determinate consent of the Bishop of Rome Harding No Councel euer yet had firme auctoritie which was not coÌ„firmed by the Bishop of Rome Duâ—aeus The Popes of Rome vvhome theie cal the successors of Peter and not christian Princes haue auctoritie and power of making laws of calling Councels c. The Rhemists vpon the 16 of Mathevv That vvere the Pope à good man as he is Antichrist he might or he being wiked other good Bishops though subiects vnto the ciuil Magistrate maie cal Councels together at their discretion vvhich derogateth not à little from th'auctoritie of à christian King or Prince 2 General Councels consisting Of men who maie erre nothing more easilie Of manie men and they differing in VVhereby distractions of opinions ofteÌ„ do arise Yeates Riches Learning IudgemeÌ„t Calling Auctoritie Of manie men whereof the wiked are for number commonly the maior part and the better in outwarde countenance of the world Of men not al nor alwaies Gouerned with the Of god Spirit word Gathered together in the name of Christ. None of souÌ„d iudgement in Religion do dout but they may erre If Paphnutius had bin absent at Nice the Councel had erred If Hierome had bine avvay at Calcedon the Councel had erred At aâ—ie time if some be beleeued be the Pope not present either perse or per Legatum no Councel but must erre Therefore Councels may erre That vvhich one Councel doth establish another vvil disanul Theie vvil not vve must thinke reuoke that vvhich is vvel decreed Therefore Councels may erre Therefore erre do the Papistes vvhich say The holie Spirit alvvaies is the director of Councels That Councels cannot erre 3 Councels both general and particular haue erred and that in matters of faith Confes. VVittemb cap. 33. For In the scripture we finde that It was ordained if any man did confesse that Iesus was the Christe hee shoulde bee excommunicat Iohn 9. 22 Iohn 12. 42. which could not be but by à Councel A Councel was gathered to suppres Christ and his doctrine Iohn 12. 47. A Councel consulted how they might take Iesus by subtlety kill him Mat. 26. v. 3. 4. A Councel sought for witnesse against Iesus to put him to death Mar. 14. v. 53. 55. A Councel bound Iesus and led him awaie and deliuered him to Pilate Mar. 15. 1. A Councel iudged our S. Christ A deceauer Mat. 27. 63. A blasphemer Luk. 22. 71. A Councel corrupted the soldiers and willed them to tell à lie Matth. 28. ver 12. 13. A Councel with-stood Peter and Iohn and commuanded them that in no wise they should speake or teach in the Name of Iesus Act. 4. vers 5. 6. 18. A Councel Caused Th'apostles to be beaten Act. 5. 40. Commaunded that Th'apostles should not prech in the Name of Iesus Act. 5. 40. In auncieÌ„t writings of credit we maie read how contrary to Gods word By Councels Aâ—â—ianisme hath bine confirmed By Councels the books of foolish men haue bin made of equal auctoritie with the word of God By Councels Hath bin established Adoration of images Inuocation of creatures c. By Councels th'auctoritie of Princes hath bine depresced and the Pope and Clergie aduaunced aboue all Princes The truth heereof moued Hilary to call the Synode of Mediolane the Synagogue of the malignant Saint Augustine vnto Maximinus to write Neither ought I to obiecte against thee the Synode of Nice nor thou against mee the Synod of Ariminum Nazianzen openlie to pronounce that he neuer sawe anie good end of à Councell The Frenche King his Embassador to saâ—e in the chapter of Trent that scarsely anie good at all or verie little came by Councels to the state of christendome Cornelius Bishop of Bitonto to break out into theis words in the face of the Church at Tridâ—t I would that with one consent they had not altogether declined from religion vnto superstition from faith vnto infidelitie from Christ vnto Antichrist from God vnto Epicuâ—us This notwithstanding the Papists do continue in an erroneous opinion that Councels cannot erre ¶ The Antithesis in this and the other part of the subscription wil easilie make apparant what by this proposition is set-downe 4 General Councels we simplie condemne not yet do wee not ground our faith vppon anie Councel but onelie vppon the word of god Therfore in general Councels VVhat-soeuer is agreeable to the written vvord of god we do reuerendlie embrace VVhat-soeuer is contrarie vnto or besides the vvil of God reueiled in his vvorde vve do carefullie auoide And So are vvee commaunded to do euen by God himselfe Deut. 12. 32 Iohn 1. 7. Ezek. 20. v. 18. 19. Gal. 1. 8. Thus think the godlie churches reformed Confes. of Heluet. 2. c. 18. Bohem. cap. 1. Fraunce art 5. Flan. art 7. VVittem c. 33. Contrarie heere vnto th' opinion of the Papists concerning couÌ„cels is that Theie do binde al nations So did Pope Hormisda decree Some couÌ„cels and namelie the Councel of Nice Constantinople Ephesus Chalcedon So thought Pope Gregorie the great Al Councels so did Campion suppose were of aequal auctoritie with the worde of God 22. ARTICLE ⧠Of Purgatorie THe Romish doctrine concerning 1. 2 Purgatorie 3 Pardons worshipping and adoration 4 aswell of images 5 as of reliques 6 and also inuocation of Saincts is a fonde thing vainelie inuented and grounded vpon no warrantie of Scripture but rather repugnant to the word of God The Propositions The Romishe doctrine touching 1 Purgatorie 2 Purgatorie 3 Pardons 4 Worshipping and adoration of Images 5 Worshipping and adoration of Reliques 6 Inuocation of Saincts Is a thing Not warranted by the Scripture Contrarie to the worde of God 1 It is graunted aswel of the Romish or false as of the true Church that none vncleane thing can enter into the kingdome of God And because al meÌ„ either haue bine or stil remaine vnclean therefore theie are or must bee purged from sinn But in the manner of purging them who are vnpure thei do greatlie differ For the true church looking into the vvorde of God doeth finde that vvee are sanctified or made cleane in diuers respects diuerslie By Baptism Ephes. 5. v. 25. 26. By the word preached Iohn 15. 3. By the bloud of Christ â— Ioh 1. 7. Tit. 2. 14. Heb. 1. 3. By the spirite of God 1. Cor. 6. 11. And that in this life and
vpon the word of god is to speake soule errors vntruths For in al the holie Scripture there is no mention It is an error to saie there is anie other ointmeÌ„t giuen to the strengthning of the church militant besides the holie Ghost 1. Iohn 2 27 Of the matter that it must be Chrisme that made of Oliue oile and Baulme and consecrated of à Bishop Of the forme that either the Bishop must signe him that is to bee confirmeâ— vvith the signe of the Crosse or that anie Godfather c should be thâ— at c. Of the minister that 〈◊〉 must be à Bishop thaâ—â— to confirme Of th' effects that therebie Sinnes are pardoned 〈◊〉 â—emised The grace Baptisme iâ— made perfeâ—â— c. It is an error to thinke that anie 〈…〉 can giue heauenly graces to any 〈…〉 It is an error t'ascribe saluatioÌ„ to 〈…〉 and not onelie to Christ. It sauoreth of Donatisme to measures dignitie of the Sacraments by the 〈…〉 thinesse of the Ministers It is an error that men cannot be 〈…〉 fect Christians vvithout Popish Câ—â—mation It is an error that by Confirmation holie Ghost is giuen to the ful â— The Sacrament of Repentance which is baptisme Luk. 3 3. we allow but that Popish poenance is à Sacrament we altogither denie As of CoÌ„firmation so of PoenaÌ„â—e th' aduersaries do publish foure things to be noted and none of theÌ„ trulie grounded vpon the word of God First the matter which of the Papists some do saie is Th'actioÌ„s of the poenitent person that is to saie Th'absolution by the Priest Sufficient contrition of hart Perfect CoÌ„fession Of al sinnes and that in particular Of al circumstances as of place time c Satisfactions in works vvhich maketh à ful amends for al offences Secondlie the forme which In the Priest is the words of absolutioÌ„ which the priest vttereth ouer the sinner In the persoÌ„ poenitent is His kneeling down at the priests feet His making the sign of the crosse vpoÌ„ his breast His saieng benedicite to his ghost lie father The priest beareth the person of God is the lavvful iudge ouer the poenitent and may Absolue from the gilt of sinne Inflict à punishment according to th' offence Thirdly the Minister who Ordinarilie is the Curat of euerie parish Extraordinarilie and in the time of extreeme necessitie or by licence anie Priest Yet some sinnes are so grecuous that non may absolue them but The Pope oâ— his Legat as Burning of Churches Violent striking of à Priest CouÌ„ter feâ—ting the pops Buls The bishop or his poenitentiarie as Incest Breaking of vowes Robbers of churchs Haeretikes Adulterers c. Fourthlie th'affect Hereby they say à poenitent sinner is FroÌ„ al sin as when he was newly baptized Purged Absolued Made cleane Enriched vvith spiritual gifts and graces The consideratioÌ„ here of hath moued the churches reformed to condemne this Antichristan Sacrament of paenance as hauing no vvarrant froÌ„ the word of God Confes of Heluet. 2. c. 14. 19. Behem cap. 4. Ausburg art 3. 11. 12. Saxon. ar 16. 17. VVittem art 13. 14. 15. Sueaue cap. 20. The blasphemies are outragious and th' error manie monstrous comprised in this doc trine of popish poenance For VVhereas they saie the Sacrament of poenance was instituted by christ himself it is most false For as they teach it neither the matter noâ— the form noâ— the Priest noâ— th' effect thereof can bee drawne from the vvord of God They say Poenance is a Sacrament yet can they shevv no element it hath to make it à Scacrament Popish Contrition is against the truth For none is sufficientlie contrite for his sinnes To confes al sinnes and that one after another with al circuÌ„stances vnto à priest as it is vnpossible so is it erroneous and neuer enioined by God nor practised by anie of God his Saints that vve can find in the holie Scripture That anie man can satisfie for his sinnes it is blasphemous against the merits of Christ yet do the Papists teach it and besides that one man maie satisfie for another An vntruth is it that any priest Bishop or Pope hath povver to forgiue sinnes or can enioine anic punishment that can make an amends to God for the least offence If Poenance purge men and make them cleane from al sin then is there à time when meÌ„ in this life be perfect which tendeth greatlie to th' error of the Catharans Donatists and Pelagians That Baptisme is à token that original sinne onelie and not actual sins besides vvhich th'elect seruants of God shal commit are pardoned it is against the vvord of God The doctrine that they vvhich vvillinglie depart out of this vvorlde vvith-out shrife are damned vvhich thing the Papists do hold is à damnable doctrine and to be eschevveda â— The church of England and of other places reformed do acknoledge an order of making miâ—â—â—ers in the Church of God where al things are to be done by order But that order is à Sacrament none but disordered Papists wil grant and yet they obserue none order in speaking of the â—ame For among them Some do make 7. orders whereof some be Inferior as th' order of Porters whose office is To keepe the doore T' expel the wiked To let-in the faithful 2 Exorcists or Coniurers which haue power t' expel diuels 3 Lectors or Readers who are to read lessons and scripture in the Church 4 Acolytes or Candle-bearers hauing auctoritie To beare cruets to th' altar with wine and water To beare candles and tapers Superior as th' order of 5 Subdeacons who are To read Th'epistle To prepare necessaries for ministration T' assist the Priest in ministration 6 Deacons their dutie is To read the Gospel T' assist the Priest in ministration 7 Priests to whom auctoritie is giuen to minister Sacraments that is to saie Baptisme Poenance The SacrameÌ„t of Th' alter and to sacrifice for the quicke and the dead Annealing of the sicke Matrimonie Theis 7 Orders say some of the Papists Are 7. Sacraments as Lombardus so there be 13. Sacraments Make but one Sacrament VVere not onelie instituted but entered-into by Christ himselfe Some numbring the seuen Sacraments do quite ouerpasse in silence the Sacrament of Order and in place thereof mention the Sacrament of Priest-hood Alwhich things are both besides and also coÌ„trarie to the word of god For in the Scripture VVhere can it bee showen that either Orders as some caÌ„ make either one or 7. Sacraments or Priest-hood as others thinke is à Sacrament what element hath it what forme what promise what institution from Christ VVhere can anie of those hideous titles of Porter Exorcists c. be found ascribed to any minister of the new Testament or the maner of creating or their offices established Some papists do write that al th' inferior Orders are not grounded vpoÌ„ scripture but come by traditioÌ„ Clypeus Milit. Ec. l. 1. c. 9 Lomb. saith plainlie that fiue of the 7. Orders neither
can bee read in the worde of God nor yet were heard of in the primitiue Church lib. 4. dist 24. VVhere maie it bee found that th' office of a Deacon is to read the Gospel VVhere is the minister of the word Sacraments of the nevv Testament called priest in the popish sense VVhere is it appointed to the ministers of the nevv TestameÌ„t onlie to minister the SacrameÌ„ts or to minister mo than two baptisme and the L. Supper Or if there bee mo than two as there be not by what Scripture maie they not minister al of them but must onlie minister Sacraments that is certaine Sacraments By what one place haue priests auctoritie to offer sacrifice and that for the quicke dead also VVhere with-out extreme sacriledge can theie shew that our S. Christ was a Porter an Exorcist c. and not alwaies à King à Prophet and a Priest 8 Marriage is à state of life holie and honorable among al men Heb 1â— 4 â—o forbid the same sâ—uoureth of an eâ—â—onâ—ous spirite and is the doctrin of diuels 1. Tim. 4 1. c. Howbeit to saie that Marriage is à Sacrament instituted and that by christ as the papists doe we cannot be induced that for sundrie reasons of importaunce For Marriage oâ— the wedded state VVas neuer commanded to bee taken for à Sacrament As á Sacrament should Baptism the L Supper haue Hath none outwarde element Hath no prescribed forme Hath no promise of saluation or damnation Maie bee entered into or not at our discretioÌ„ but it is not at our chois to be pertakers or not to participate of the Sacraments iâ— wee maie come by them Marriage was ordained by God himselfe in paradise but the Sacraments of the nevv Tes. were instituted by christ in the time of the Gospel It vvas no Sacrament to the Fathers before and in the time of the Lavve and therefore no Sacrament vâ—to vs. Herevnto in effecte subscribe the Churches of god elsewhere Conf. Heluet. 2. c. 19. 29. Heluet. 1 art 20 37 Basil. art 5. Bohem c. 9 France art 24. 35. Flan. art 33. Ausburg art 2. 5. 6. Saxon. art 12. 18. VVittemb c. 21. 26. Sueau cap. 12. 15. As of vs opposing our selues against the manifolde aduersaâ—ies of this trueth whereof Some haue too highlie conceiued of the wedded state as The Papistes sometime when theie wil haue it to be a Sacrament Certaine Vigilantian Bishopps that woulde take none into the Cleargie except they would be Married first Some haue too baselie and wikedly thought of Marriage And therefore some doe holde that it is not meete That anie man or woman should marrie such were The Gnostikes The Marâ—ionites The Tatians The Montanists The Manichies The Hieracites Th'aposto likes That anie shoulde twice marrie the husbande or wise being dead as The Catharans Origen Tertulian That some should marrie at al. namelie Such are the papists Such as haue taken Orders Spiritual kinsfolks Kinsfolks with in manie degrees That man who is lawfullie diuorced from an adulteresse 9 The Papists furthermore take Annoiling of the sick which theie cal Eâ—treme vnction for à Sacrament VVhereof as theie vvrite The matter is onelie hallowed by a Bishop vvherevvith the sicke is annoiled vpon th' eies eares mouth nose hands and feete The forme is the vvordes which the priest speaketh when he doth anoinâ— the sicke in the foresaid places as By this holie oile God forgiue thee thy sinnes which thou hast committed by thine eies nose eares and mouth by thine hands and by thy feete All the teach thee Angels Archangels Patriarchâ— Prophets Apostles Euangelists Martyrs Confessors Virgins VVidovves and Infants The Minister Is the Priest as some Papists do think vvho is To heare Confession To giue Absolution To minister the Sacrament of Th' altar To annoile If anie Christian as Papists in chiefest place do permit Th' effect is to purge and put-awaie Venial sinnes committed by mispending of our senses Sinnes forgotteâ— In this Antichristian doctrine manie errors do concur For to omit in silence how nothing which the Papists deliuer concerning extreme vnction can bee found in the hohe Scriptures as neither the matter nor the maner nor the Minister nor anie institution at al from Christ nor anie commaundement that either al which are sicke or in al ages to the worlds end some sicke persons should be annoiled In respect of the matter the Papists make of à grosse element à spiritual ointment whereas there is none ointment spiritual but the holie Ghost In respect of the forme The onelie propitiator and Mediator betweene God and man Christ Iesus is blasphâ—med and the merit and power of his death ascribed to greasie oile Christ is not acknoledged for the onelie Sauiour of mankind and physition of our soules but other physitions be receiued besides him In respect of the Minister It appeareth that man hath power to forgiue sinnes which belongeth vnto God alone Other men yea women besides the ordinarie Ministers of the vvord maie be ministers of the Sacraments In respect of th' effect we maie gather that Al sinnes be not mortal Christ hath not cleansed such as be his from al their sinnes by his precious blood 10 In the worde of God the right vse of the SacrameÌ„ts and th' ends of their institution are euidentlie set downe For concerning Baptisme Christ he saith Teach al nations baptizing them c. Mat. 28 29. He that shal beleeue and be baptized shal be saued Maâ— 16 16. The Lord his Supper saith Our Sauiour Maâ— 26 v. 26 27. Of the bread Take eate c. Of the cup Drinke yee al of it S. Paul 1. Cor. 10 16. The cup of blessing which we blesse is it not the coÌ„munion of the blood of Christ The bread vvhich vvee breake is it not the coÌ„munion of the bodie of Christ This truth doe the Churches reformed by publike CoÌ„fession subscribe vnto Confes. Hel. 2. c. 20. 21. Helue 1. art 22. Bohem. câ—â— 12. 13. France ar 35. 38 Flan. art 34. 35. Ausb art 2. 9. Sax. art 13. 14. 15 VVitt. c. 10. 19. Sueau cap. 13. 18. Therfore greatlie do theie sinne VVho wil not vse the Sacraments at al but contemne them as The Libertines Th'euchites The Schuenkfildians VVho abuse the Sacrament Of Baptisme as they do VVhich thinke that No children as Th'anabaptists No married folks as the Marcionits None that are sicke as Chrys. VVhich hold that things without life euen Dead bels as the Papists Dead bodies of meÌ„ as the Calaphrygians Are to be baptized The liuing are to be baptized for the dead as the Marcionites Of the Lords Supper par tlie By thrusting it into the mouthes of dead men as did some condemned long ago by à Councel at Carthage Such are the Papists By strawing the Sacrament vpon graues and tombes By vsing it magicallie as a salue against bodilie sicknesse adueâ—sitie c. By carieng it about pompouslie supersticiouslie to be adored of the beholders like an Idol