into thy house And in Ioh. 13. he saith Vnlesse I wash thee thou shalt haue no part with me The resurrection of the flesh The resurrectiō also of the flesh is a worke of Christ as also the inward renuing to euerlasting life Iohn 5. vers 2. and 28. As my father raiseth vp the dead and giueth them life so also the sonne giueth life vnto whom he will And the howre shall come that all that are in their graues shall heare his voyce c. Also Iohn 6. vers 39.40 and in the 11. chap. I am the resurrection and the life he that beleeueth in me though that hee were dead hee shal liue whosoeuer liueth and beleeueth in me he shall not die for euer By Christ shal be fulfilled that of Hoseas Death is swallowed vp in victorie O death where is thy victorie c. 1. Cor. 15. vers 55.57 and in the same Chapiter verses 45.48 And Christ himselfe giueth euerlasting life And life euerlasting Ioh. 1. Life was in him Ioh. 10. I giue eternall life vnto my sheepe neither shall they perish for euer neither shall any man take them out of my hande I and the father are one All these thinges which we haue rehearsed according to the order of the description of God and the articles of the faith seeing they are of that sorte as can agree to none but onely to God they plainly conuince Christ to be God by nature What daunger there is to be feared if we beleeue not in the sonne as in the true euerlasting God of the same substance with the father THe truth it selfe sheweth a most present daunger Ioh. 3. He that beleeueth in the sonne is not iudged or condemned but he that beleeueth not is iudged already because he beleeueth not in the name of the onely begotten sonne of God And in the 8. Chapiter You are from hell I am from aboue You are of this worlde I am not of this worlde therefore I haue said vnto you that you shall dye in your sinnes Moreouer it is said in the 1. Ioh. 2. vers 23. Whosoeuer denieth the sonne hath not the father Also in the 2. Ioh. vers 9.10.11 And in Ioh. 16 vers 3. Therefore the holy Ghost hath forewarned vs by the Apostle Peter that we should take heede of these deceauers 2. Epist Cap. 2. There were also false Prophets amongest the people as also there shal be false teachers among you who shall bring in deadly heresies denying the Lorde who hath bought them hasting vnto themselues a swift damnation and many shall followe their condemnation Nowe the Lorde who hath bought vs is Iesus Christ very God and man as the scripture witnesseth Acts. 20. God hath redeemed his Church through his blood Nowe therefore if so be that any do not beleeue that he is the true God that hath in mans nature shed forth his blood he denyeth the Lord who hath bought him Testimonies prouing the Godheade of the holy Ghost that he is a person and the true euerlasting God and not any motion or thought or any other thing that is created 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 THat the holy Ghost is subsisting and God by nature first of all it is shewed by the creation Genes 1. And the spirit of God moued it selfe vpon the face of the waters In which words it is attributed to the holy Ghost that he wrought together in the creation of all with the father and the sonne The creation is most clearely attributed vnto him Psal 104. Sende forth thy spirit and they shal be created and thou shalt renue the face of the earth Therefore the scripture affirmeth that the holy Ghost is Iehouah which is most plaine out of the 6. of Isay and the 28. of Acts vers 25. Isay 6. And he said Iehouah of whom before in the same Chapiter Seraphim had cried Holy Holy Holy Iehouah Lord of hoasts Goe and say vnto this people in hearing heare you and vnderstand not and in seeing see you and knowe not These same wordes which the Lorde spake Paule Acts. 28. saith that the holy Ghost spake Very well saith he spake the holy Ghost by Isaias the Prophet vnto our fathers c. Therefore the holy Ghost is Iehouah The same is also plaine by other places Ierem. 31. This is the couenant that I will make with the house of Israel After these daies saith Iehouah I will giue my lawe into their hearte c. Nowe the Epistle to the Hebrews Cap. 10. vers 15. affirmeth that these same wordes of the lord proceeded from the holy ghost The holy ghost also himselfe witnesseth vnto vs. For after he had foreshewed This is my couenant that I will make with them c. The which also Ioel affirmeth Cap. 2. whom Peter also citeth and expoundeth that he may shewe them as plaine effectes of the holy Ghost which are altogether belonging to the power of the godhead I wil saith Iehouah powre out of my spirit vpon all flesh and your sonnes and daughters shall prophesie And these thinges which are alledged now to shew that the holy Ghost is God the creator by them also is shewed that he is an vnderstanding essence euerlasting good righteous mercifull most free of an infinite power and most constant truth neuerthelesse let vs yet see also certaine testimonies seuerally concerning those thinges that are attributed vnto him which as they onely agree vnto God so they plainly proue the holy Ghost to be very God That the holy Ghost is an vnderstanding essence euerlasting and which giueth vnderstanding it plainly appeareth out of the 61. of Esai The spirit of the Lord Iehouah is vpō me for that Iehouah hath anointed me to preach vnto the milde he hath sent me Luk. 4. Christ teacheth that he is he vpon whō is the spirit of Iehouah for that he anointed him But to anoint inwardly as Christ properly is anointed and by his owne power to send to preach glad tidinges and to giue power to preach glad tidinges aright is a work of a person truely subsisting vnderstanding and of the euerlasting God Also it appeareth by his effectes which are rekoned vp in the 5. to the Galathians that he is also good iust pure mercifull most free and in deede as God communicating his giftes vnto other The fruites of the spirit is loue ioy peace gentlenesse benignitie goodnesse faith softnesse of spirit and temperance And surely the same Apostle teacheth that the holy Ghost is the worker of these and therefore God 1. Cor. 12. There are diuersitie of giftes but the same spirite And there are diuersitie of administrations but God is the same that worketh all in all But the manifestation of the spirit is giuen to euery man to profitte withall For to one is giuen by the spirite the worde of wisedome and to another the worde of knowledge by the same spirite And a little after But all these thinges worketh one and the same spirite distributing to euery
dead and buried he descended into hell the third day he rose againe from the dead he ascended into heauen and sitteth at the right hand of God the father almighty from thence he shall come to iudge the quick and the dead I beleeue in the holy Ghost the holy Catholique Church the Communion of Saintes the forgiuenes of sinnes the resurrection of the body and the life euerlasting What faith is SEing therefore Christ the king himselfe in the articles of the Christian faith which containe the summe of the Gospell offreth that same kingdome of his vnto vs and through faith by the vertue of his spirit doth effectually confederate himselfe vnto vs to the end he may raigne in vs goe to let vs briefly shewe what faith is Faith is to assent vnto God his will being knowen in euery worde of his as to the onely true omnipotent God and so to giue glory to God and not to consider any thing either in our selues or in any other of his creatures that seemeth to be against him and in this worde to behold as the speciall marke the promise of the Gospel for that the father truely offreth himselfe vnto vs in Christ and through his holy spirit freely iustifieth vs that are engrafted in Christ and more and more sanctifieth vs and preserueth vs by the same power through which Christ was raised from the dead whereby he hath all things subiect to himselfe that the hope of euerlasting life being founded in this truth and power it may be most certaine This description of faith first comprehendeth the whole life of man whose singular actions and moments must needes leane and rest vpon faith For surely that which is said to the Hebrues Without faith it is impossible to please God is most true in all and singular matters that are to be taken in hand Rom. 14. ver 23. Then after that it setteth forth that peculiar grace of iustification offred in Christ and that restoring to euerlasting life as the foundation of all beleeuers Now this same description of faith is specially taken out of the fourth Chap. to the Romanes from the sixtenth verse and out of the first Chapiter of the Ephesians from the 17. verse to the ende of both the Chapiters That which is put in the description of the will of God knowen is therefore done because Sathan is oftentimes woont to faigne another meaning of the worde of God besides the will of God Least therefore that faith should stray from the will of God we must indeuer that as the Apostle commandeth in the 12. to the Romanes all prophesying or interpretation of the scripture be according to the analogie or rule of faith least the interpretation fight with the foundation or with any article of faith We will shewe it also more familiarly after this manner this is faith to acknowledge that this is the vnchangeable will of God and to rest in it that freely he will giue vs that promised saluation by the Prophets and that through Christ the same is giuen in deede as the Articles of our faith witnesse that is to acknowledge that these things which are contained in them are freely giuen vnto vs of God according to the testimony of all the Prophets which were from the beginning of the worlde yea and of Christ himselfe and to rest in this constant will of God and giue this glory to God that hath now already shewed his omnipotent power in performing these promises fulfilling in deede the most part of the Articles of our faith and also as yet doth still exercise the same in the applying of those benefites and will certainly shewe it in those that remaine yet to be fulfilled in the Articles neither to consider any thing either in vs or yet without vs in any creature that seemeth contrary to that same grace and diuine truth promised vnto vs and already offred in Christ and at length fully to be accomplished The partition or diuision of the Creede THere are foure principall parts of the Creede The first containeth what we beleeue of God the father who as he hath chosen vs of his meere mercy in Christ before the foundations of the worlde were laide Ephe. 1. so there is set forth in the first part of the Creede the first fountaine of the couenant or reconciliation and therewithall is also taught what we must beleeue of the creation of all things The second what we must beleeue of Iesus Christ the sonne of God in which part is comprehended the whole summe of the couenant of our reconciliatiō The third what of the holy Ghost who by engrafting vs through faith in Christ maketh vs confederates with God applying vnto vs the mercy of the father and the redemption of the sonne The fourth part is concerning the people or of the Church with whom God had stricken his couenant which part containeth the effectes of all the former and the fruite of our faith aswell which we enioye in this life as also which we shall enioy euerlastingly being fully knitte both body and soule with Iesus Christ our heade Rules which shall helpe both our vnderstanding and faith in euery article of faith THe rules which we ought alwayes to haue before our eies aswel in the expoūding as also in the meditating of the Creede are these First that a mans minde knowe in euery of the articles not only the history which knowledge alone is not to saluation forasmuch as the deuills haue that and doe tremble Iames. 2. but also that the heart it selfe embrace through true faith the promise of God and the performance of the promise in Christ and for Christ which lyeth hidde in euery of the articles Acts. 13. vers 32. and the 39. Resolue therefore all the articles into the promises or into the performance of them so thou shalt haue in the articles of faith all the kindes of that wonderfull vnion that we haue with the father with the sonne Iesus Christ and with the holy Ghost which throughout all the Gospell is promised and giuen to the beleeuer 1. Iohn 14. and the 15. The second rule In the applying of the promise looke vpon the counsell of God to witte that to the sonne of God a body soule was so fashioned and fitted that those thinges that were done in them were done in the name of all beleeuers so done in deede that the obedience which was offred vp to the father in his person by the counsell and gift of the father are as truely thine as if they had bene offred vp in thy soule body and that by the same efficacie wherethrough that euerlasting word quickened from death that whole masse and glorified it shall also quicken and glorifie thee For this is the counsell of God this is his vnchangeable will wherevpon we may safely leane now it is made manifest in the writings of the Prophets and Apostles to the Hebr Cap. 10. out of the 40. Psalme Wherefore entring into
religiō depēdeth not vpō any man or mans authority but vpō the vndoubted scriptures If they can shew better warrant for that they holde let vs heare their euidence but if their stoare be so beggerly that the richest of them and he that comes so appointed to challendge all in the name of al the rest writing which is with greater aduice than any sodain speaking can be be faine to limpe sinke in his entry what shal we thinke wil be done ere the battell be fought Surely if we came with carnall weapons it is like he would ouermatch vs hauing mans wisedome the world and the diuell on his side But thankes be to God we come appointed with spirituall weapons we come in the name of the Lord armed with the mightie word of God against all counterfait catholiques and heretiques And if God blesse her Maiesties gouernment so that the Gospell may proceede in a ful ministerie that the youth may be catechised seasoned with such sound instructions as this booke yeeldeth those that are ancient may be confirmed and the froward by an holy discipline ordered our youth our aged our common people of al sorts shal be able to vāquish put to flight all such emptie vaine boasters And this is the thing that I sought for in trāslating this excellent sound worke Which I hope your honor will accept according to that humble dutie and seruice wherewith I haue euermore helde my selfe specially bounde to your good Lordship as my singular patrone as a principall member in the church of God The Lorde Iesus establish your honors heart giue you a setled persuasion in that euerlasting trueth that euermore you may feele the cōfort assurance of that blessed kingdome which he so freely hath purchased for you Amen Your good Lordships faithfull seruant euer to commaund IOHN FIELDE To the most mighty and noble Prince and Lord Friderike Countie Palatine by the Rhene Duke of either Bauaria Elector of the sacred Romane Empire his most gratious Prince and Lorde Gasper Oleuian Treuir wisheth from his heart grace and peace from our Lorde Iesus Christ. THere are two special cause◠most noble Prince Elector and my verie good Lorde which haue moued me to the publishing of this little booke One that I might profite the studious youth by this easie plaine doctrine to wit to the end that by the taste thereof they may be stirred vp and prouoked to the ministerie of the worde of God For verily they chiefly serue the Church of Christ who allured by the sweetnes of the heauenly doctrine because they haue tasted how good the Lorde is and being stirred vp with a care of promoting his glory offer vp to the faithful people yea rather to Christ himselfe their diligence yea and in a sorte themselues also And truely it is a great matter euē frō the tender yeres to haue deeply tasted Christ in his heauēly doctrine for frō thence doth necessarily flow as Peter calleth it that same desire of the syncere milke of his worde 1. Pet. 2.2 and that same feruent desire of communicating of it vnto others Many good and learned men here know that this was the best and principal cause of the publishing hereof vnto whō I cōmunicated some yeares past those things which now I set forth and also declared the purpose of the publishing therof But hitherto I haue deferred the same because I feared least this simplicitie of teaching and writing not so filed and laboured should not satisfie many wherwith I endeuoured not so much to feede their eares as their mindes An other cause was that it might be a testimonie of doctrine against that same tempest which in many places is stirred vp against this Church Against this I would set this bulwarke of sande if peraduenture God who is mightie in the weake would vouchsafe to appease the same in the mindes of certaine more moderate than the rest also asswage it a litle in others For I haue thought of that same greate power of God whereby he hath set vnto the sea her boūds which whē it woulde seeme with his hugenes to ouerwhelme the whole earth by the commaundement of God all his force is broken against the softe sand I haue trusted therefore that through this simple and plaine declaration of the groundes of our religion which hitherto we haue vsed that the Lord would bring some good thinge to passe for the appeasing of certaine mens mindes vnto whom peraduenture our innocencie hithervnto hath beene lesse knowne Many keepe a great stirre as though horrible doctrine sounded in the congregation of this Church and such rumors are scattered abrode farre and wide Some may say that euen a sea of sclaunderous reproches is vomited out against vs wherewith we might be drowned But whie rage you ô good sirs for let it be free for me by your highnes leaue euen to compell them consider all the articles of our Christian faith will you finde in any one any such matter of raging Be not all thinges exacted to the rule of God his word and are they not directed to edification in true and sound godlines If you your selues doe not feele that same consolation in your consciences of this doctrine I will freely graunt that iustlie you rise vp against vs But take heed I beseech you that you rise not vp against your owne conscience against God himselfe who in the conscience hath erected his high seate For certeinly nothing hath bin done of vs in corners We haue manie yea innumerable witnesses of the exposition of this christan doctrine yea your highnes it selfe who shal reade the selfesame thinges here which publiquely you heaue now hard these fiften yeres past in which it hath pleased the Lord that I should deliuer here vnto his Church these principall grounds of the christian faith You haue now most noble prince Elector the causes of the publishing hereof which as I know to be true so I doubted not to lay them open to your highnes Now as touching that which may priuately concerne your highnes this shorte treatise lately drawne out of those catechising sermons of the former yeares shal be at the least wise some signification of a thankefull minde for a speciall benifite for that your highnes hath giuen enterteinment to that same heauenly doctrine the vndoubted word of the prophets and Apostles reueiled vnto men and also hath procured to many of the children of God being gathered together vnder the winges of your highnes with more than a fatherly clemencie the pure doctrine of saluation administred altogether with an heroical and principall spirite and altogether through the grace of God with a chearfull minde Now if againe in this your highnes age which the Lord vouchsafe to renue as the age of the Egle your highnes by the reading of the doctrine of God his prouidence of the power of Christ his resurrection of the euerlasting righteousnes now brought into light and of
the world he said Sacrifice oblatiō thou wouldest not but a body hast thou framed vnto mee c Thē I said Loe I am present in the beginning of the booke it is writtē of me that I should do thy will O God And a little after Through which will we are sanctified through the oblation of the body of Iesus Christ once made Vpō this counsell of God also leaneth the reason of the Apostle in the 10. to the Romains whilest he saith the righteousnesse which is of faith so he saith Say not in thy heart who shall ascend into heauen For this is to fetche Christ out of heauen or who shall goe downe into the deepe this is to bring Christ from the deade But what saith he The word is neare thee in thy mouth and in thy heart This is that worde of faith which we preache to witte if thou shalt confesse the Lord Iesus with thy mouth and shalt beleeue in thy heart that God hath raised him vp from the deade thou shalt be safe For we beleeue with the heart to righteousnesse but we confesse with the mouth to saluation See the 1. Corinth 1. vers 30. Luk. 1. vers 10. to the Hebr. 2. vers 14.15 to the Romans 5. vers 12.15.16 17.18 Also 1 Cor. 15. vers 20.21.23 1. Thess 4. vers 14. and Chapiter 5. vers 3. I beleeue in God the father almightie maker of heauen and earth Testimonies out of the Prophets and Apostles of the nature of God and of the creation of all thinges EXodus 34. The Lord of Hoastes The Lord of Hoastes a mightie mercifull and gratious God long suffering and much in goodnes and saith who shewest mercie to thowsandes pardoning iniquitie and defection and sinnes before whom the innocent is not innocent who recompencest the iniquitie of the fathers vppon the children and vppon the childrens children and vppon the kinsfolkes Gene. 1. In the beginning God created heauen and earth Nowe the earth was desolate and voyde and darkenes was vppon the vtmost face of the depth and the spirite of God mooued it selfe vppon the face of the waters Io. 1. In the beginning was the worde and the word was with God and that word was God All thinges were made by it and without it was nothing made that was made And to the Colossians the first and Psal 104. Thou shalt sende foorth thy spirite and they shal be created and thou shalt renue the face of the earth The description of God GOD is a spirituall substance euerlasting good pure aswell of an incomprehensible glorie as of an infinite wisedome and power of an vnchangeable righteousnes vnspeakable mercie and most constant trueth to be short the onely soueraigne happines and the father is euerlasting the sonne the euerlasting image of the father and the holie ghost proceeding from both The nature of God is shortly and diligently expressed in the description which is in Moses Exod. 34. The Lord of of Hoastes the Lord of Hoasts a mightie mercifull and gentle God long suffering and of great mercie and true c. The profite of this description of God THe vse of this description is that the nature of God being knowne we should embrace by true faith as our onely and most soueraigne God and should feare to offende him to the end that through true faith and feare or amendment of life he might be glorified of vs. For first when we heare that God who hath promised by an euerlasting couenant that he wil be a God vnto vs is an vnderstanding wise euerlasting good righteous and mercifull God we conclude verie rightly vppon it of the verie forme of that free couenant that he is not onely such a one by nature but also that he will shew himselfe to be such a one to vs beleeuers and that by an euerlasting couenant though all creatures should seeme to persuade vs to the contrarie He that knoweth this nature of God of whom he is receiued into couenant he hath large matter of trusting in him and of framing his life by faith according to the will of God Both of these to wit howe the knowledge of God maketh to faith and repentance and so to the establishing of the kingdome of God in vs we will make plaine out of some of his attributes So great and so constant is the truth of God that one word of the diuine truth passeth the truth of all Angels and men because the truth of all creatures dependeth vpon the truth of God and hath the originall from that and consisteth in that alone so that the truth of god is the cause and foundation of all truth both in Angels and men When therefore we wauer or doubt of any matter why do we not consult whether there be not some word of the Lorde concerning that matter whereof we doubt which being found we may giue our mindes to rest knowing assuredly that the least title of the truth is more firme then the whole frame of heauen and earth Ieremi 31. Matt. 5. vers 18. therefore it is saide in the second booke of the Kinges Cap. 10. vers 10. Knowe you nowe that there shall not fall anie thing of the word of the Lord to the ground Also his infinite power ought to incourage vs to trust in him in him I say that mightie God who calleth those thinges which are not as if they were Ro. 4. Like as also that same Apostle further speaketh of the faith of Abraham He doubted not of the promise of God through vnbeleife but was made strong in faith giuing glorie to God Being fully assured that he which had promised he also was able to performe it And surely how greatly distrust displeaseth God as which defraudeth him of his glory and how greatly the holiest men that are ought to beware of it the Lord teacheth Num. 20. And the Lord of Hoastes said vnto Moyses and Aaron Forasmuch as ye haue not beleeued me that you might sanctifie me before the sonnes of Israel therefore you shall not lead this congregation into the lande which I haue giuen them And in the 32. of Deut. 50.51.52 Now he is not onely able to do that which he wil as in verie deede he willeth that thing which he hath promised in his word but also in that which he willeth not he abideth no resistance which is as it were the other part of the omnipotencie of God Isai 43. There is none that can take out of my hand And if I do any thing who shall let it The first is therfore that in euerie thing we haue the wil of God knowne out of his word which being once knowne let vs not doubt but that Gods truth is most cōstant altogether vnchangable Moreouer let our mindes moūt vp to the almightie nature of God who mightily performeth in deede whatsoeuer he wil neither abideth any resistance Ioh. 10. I giue euerlastnig life to my sheepe neither shall they perish for euer neither shal any mā take them
right it is and I will giue it him Of the time of the comming of the Messiah note both these diligently that hee must be borne when the scepter shoulde be taken away from Iehudah as hath beene shewed and yet notwithstanding whilest the Temple and Priesthood should yet stande as Daniel saith in the 9. Chapter After 62. weekes Christ shall be cut off and there shall be none to helpe him and the people of that Capitaine to come shall scatter that citie and that sanctuarie Of the place of his birth touching the flesh also of his comming forth from the dayes of eternitie in respect of his diuine nature MIchee 5. And thou Bethlehem Euphratah art little to be among the thousands of Iudah yet out of thee shall hee come foorth vnto me that shall be ruler in Israel Whose goings foorth haue beene from the beginning and from euerlasting With what a wonderfull prouidence of God was this prophesie fulfilled Whilest Ioseph and Marie by the edict of Augustus are called into Bethlehem where shee brought foorth Christ See Luk. 2. in the beginning of the chapter and with what a wonderfull prouidence the wise men were lead vnto the place being holpen of Herod and of the Scribes See the seconde of Matthew Of the holinesse of his conception IEremie 23. Beholde the dayes come saith the Lord of hoastes And I will raise vp a braunch to my seruaunt Dauid and this is his name whereby they shall call him The Lorde of hoastes our righteousnesse The prophesie is fulfilled Luke 1. verses 31.22.33.35 Daniel in the 9. Chapter foretolde that the holinesse of holinesses must be annointed whereby in verie deede he sheweth plainely and cleerely that his conception must be holy and must be the seconde Temple yet standing What that the Prophet Isaiah and Haggeus foreshewed that it shoulde come to passe that the glorie of the seconde Temple should be much greater then the glorie of the first it shoulde be euerlasting was it not truely fulfilled in this most pure conception of the Sonne of God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in which by the power of the holy Ghost that same euerlasting worde hath personally vnited the humaine nature and hath begon to dwell in it as in his owne Temple As also Christ himselfe nameth his body a Temple Ioh. 2. So both the prophesies are fulfilled not as in a temple of stone or a figure whose glorie was much lesse then the glorie of Salomons Temple neither did that Temple continewe euerlastingly but after the Messiah was exalted to wit that same true Temple was taken away into the fathers glorie neuer after to be builded againe The prophesie of Isaias is playne in the 60. Chapiter vers 13. The glory of Lybanon shall come vnto thee the firre tree the elme and the boxe tree together to bewtifie the place of my sanctuary For I will glorifie the place of my feete And in the same place I will make thee an eternall glorie c. The Prophesie of Haggai in the second Chapiter is more notable So saith the Lorde there Speake nowe vnto Zerubbabel the sonne of Shealtiel Prince of Iudah and to Iehosua the sonne of Iehozadak the high Priest and to the residue of the people saying who is lefte among you that sawe this house in her fiâ—st glorie and howe do you see it nowe Is it not in your eyes in comparison of it as nothing Yet now saith the Lorde of hoastes strengthen thy selfe Zerubbabel c. And a litle after Thus saith the Lord God of hoastes yet a little while and I will moue the heauen and earth and the the sea and the drie land and I will moue all nations and the desire of all nations shall come and I will fill this house with glory saith the Lord of hoastes Siluer is mine and golde is mine saith the Lorde of hoastes The glory of this last house shal be greater then the first saith the Lorde of hoastes Of the virgines bringing forth a childe ISay Chapter 7. The Lorde shall giue you a signe Beholde a virgine shall be with childe and shall bring forth a sonne thou shalt call his name Immanuell Thou hast the fulfilling of it in the 1. of Mathew verses 22.23 To which adde the Prophesie of Isay Chap. 9. A litle childe is borne vnto vs. A sonne is giuen vnto vs and the gouernement was vpon his shoulder and he shal cal his name wonderful Counsailour the mightie God father of euerlastingnes Prince of peace Fulfilled in the 2. of Luke ver 11.14 The meaning of the wordes which was conceaued by the holy Ghost borne of the virgine Marie THe meaning is that the euerlasting Sonne of God of the same substance with the Father without any putting off of his diuine nature without any conuersion or commixtioÌ„ was made that which he first was not to wit man which the Scripture enterpreteth He tooke the seede of Abraham that is our flesh of the virgine Marie and his verie humane soule and that by the power of the holy Ghoste that he might be like vnto his brethren in al things sinne onely excepted Ioh. 1. And to the Hebr. 2. and the fourth 1. Tim. 3. Rom. 1. The consolation which a faithful man conceaueth by this pure conception WE conceaue hereof this consolatioÌ„ first that we haue an vndoubted and true mediator with God in al thinges that we haue to do with him as who hath not onely the communioÌ„ of one but of both natures to wit diuine and humane Againe that he is such a Mediator whose bodie and soule in the verie conception were sanctified first that he might be a pure and holie sacrifice through which all our corruption might be cleansed that it might not be laide vnto our charge Heb. 7. verses 26.27 Rom. 7. verse 20. and the 8. verse 1. Moreouer to the end that the efficacie of his fulnes might by litle and little sanctifie this defiled lumpe of ours vntil he deliuer vs fully from that same natural corruption and by the same holie spirite whereby that substantial worde hath sanctified both soule and bodie euen from the wombe might also reforme our soules and bodies in the time appointed of God according to his owne image Io. 1. verse 16. the 1. Cor. 15. verse 45.47.48 The drifte and purpose of this article and how necessarie the true vnderstanding therof is THis same article concerning the person of Chirst which consisteth of two natures the humane the diuine knitte together by a personal vnion euerlastingly yet the proprieties of either being kept euerlastingly containeth the foundation and piller of the kingly Priesthood of Christ and consequently of his euerlasting priesthood betwixt God and men For it is mans happines to be ioyned with God the fountaine of al goodnes 1. Ioh. 1. Contrariwise it is the greatest vnhappinesse to be separated from God But man had separated himselfe by sinne from God and had entred into couenant with the deuill Euen
sinnes in him And what hath he done by raising him vp He hath iustified all in him for when he had deliuered him that is the beleeuers so that their sins shal be no more laide to their charge but righteousnes shall be imputed vnto them For these wordes raised vp for our iustification are to be vnderstoode of imputation as by this it is easie to bee seene because that in the last verse sauing one he hath saide that righteousnes is imputed of him who hath raised him vp and in this laste verse he nameth it our iustification in him who is raised vppe Loe that which before he had called imputation of righteousnes this hee nameth now our iustification What for that the same Apostle in the 1. Timoth. 3. saith And without controuersie great is the mysterie of godlinesse God manifested in the flesh iustified in spirite seene of Angels preached vnto the Gentiles beleued on in the world receyued vp into glorie doth he not manifestly shewe that that same true God who was manifested in the fleshe wherein also he suffered by the spirite which he opposeth against the fleshe that is by the power of his owne diuinitie whereby he raised vp the fleshe from the deade was iustified and that not from his owne sinnes but from ours which he had taken vppon him After which raising vp and iustification of him their folowed the testimonie of Angels the publike preaching of the remission of sins through him vnto the gentiles the beleefe which was giuen vnto him and to be short the receiuing of him vp into glorie all which testimonies verely coulde not haue followed vnlesse he had beene iustified from our sinnes by rising againe thorowe the power of his diuinitie For neither coulde the Angels giue witnes of him as of the Sauiour if he had remained oppressed in our condemnation neither remission of sinnes haue ben preched in his name if frō thē in our name he had not beene fully iustified neither faith haue bene giuen to him if oppressed of sinne death he could not haue giuē the holy gost which is the author of faith neither could he haue ben receiued vp into glory vnlesse that same flesh vpon which all our sinnes had beene cast Esay 53. had beene iustified from them when it was raised vp from death to which by the counsaile of death it was condemned This is that same power of the resurrection of Christ whereby the righteousnes which is not of the lawe but the righteousnes which is of God is brought forth through faith concerning which Paul Phil. 3. in an vndoubted and full persuasion of faith glorieth after this manner as touching the righteousnes which is in the lawe I was blamelesse but the things which were vantage vnto mee those things I accounted losse in respect of Christ yea doubtles I thinke all things losse for the excellent knowledge sake of Christe Iesus my Lorde for whom I depriue my selfe of al these things accoumpt them for doung that I may gaine Christ and may be founde in in him not hauing my righteousnes which is of the lawe but that which is of Christ through faith the righteousnes which is of GOD through faith that I may knowe him the force and power of his resurrection Therefore also Paul Rom. 8. not onely opposeth death as the price and redemption against condemnation but also of the resurrection as the absolution and as it were a higher degree For so he saith Who is it that shall condemne It is Christ which is deade or rather which is risen againe Why also doth Peter recken the resurrection of Iesus Christ to be the couenaunt of a good cōscience vnlesse it be because then the conscience is clere and restored into libertie when that same light of iustification in the resurrection of Iesus Christ shall shine vnto it Therefore then at length the couenaunt of Baptisme is ratified in beleeuers when faith shall haue obtayned this victorie in our heartes see the 1. Pet. 3 And hitherto maketh that same course and order of propounding the Gospell which the Apostles kept in the Actes to witte why they so greatly vexed that hee whome they had crucified was raised vp againe from the deade and why they set out in him being raised vp frō the deade iustification or rather forgiuenes of sins to wit because as our sins are condēned in the death of Christ so our absolutiō is in his resurrection Therfore whē Paul Act. 13. shewed forth the death of Christ and proued his resurrectiō by many reasons at the length he concludeth Brethren be it therefore knowen vnto you that through this man is preached vnto you forgiuenesse of sinnes and from all thinges from which you coulde not be iustified by the lawe of Moses by him euerie one that beleeueth is iustified And those same wordes that went before doe shewe that Paul doth gather that same conclusion concerning iustification not onely of the death but also of the resurrection of Christ which wordes are in this sort Wee also preach vnto you the same promise which was made vnto the fathers which God hath fulfilled vnto their children that is to say to you hauing raised vp Iesus And surely that same course or maner of propounding of the Gospel was agreeable to the commaundement For why by the commandement of Christ was the full gospell sent at length after the resurrection to the gentiles and to euerie creature as Christe saith in Luke For so it behooued that Christ shoulde suffer and rise againe from the dead the thirde day and remission of sinnes be preached in his name to all nations to wit because then at the length these things might be fullie published in his name after he had borne our sinnes in his body vppon the tree and had risen againe being iustified from them For then was the Gospell full all manner of wayes 1. Cor. 15.1.2.17 and the grace of iustification most full and abounding ouer euerie fault in all and ouer all that do beleeue The summe therefore of the first fruit of the resurrection of Christ is that our sinnes can no more bee laide to our charge then to Christe himselfe and that in Christ we are accounted as righteous and innocent as Christ was when he rose from the dead Forasmuch as by his death going before hee had taken away our sinnes through obedience nowe hereof it followeth seeing he arose iustified who before as a sinner was condemned accurssed of God in our person that hee was iustified in our name from our sinnes Neither is there any cause that any man shoulde meruell that Christ by rising from the deade was iustified from our sinnes and we in Christ before we were borne forasmuch as the Apostle saith 2. Tim. 1. that that same grace was giuen vnto vs before all worldes but manifested in the son and yet also manifested in the Gospell see also Ephes 1. Of the seconde fruite of the resurrection of Christ THe seconde fruite is
viuification or quickening because as Christ is iustified from our sinnes by rising againe and therewithall is quickened so he that beleeueth in Christ is both iustified and quickened as the Apostle teacheth Ephes 2. vntill the 11. verse Therefore Paul Rom. 5. calleth the same iustification of life and opposeth it to the fault of condemnation and maketh an antithesis or matching of contraries betwene sinne that raigneth to death and the righteousnes of Christ which whosoeuer receiue they raigne in life verses 17.18.21 And in deede so as not onely Christ worketh in vs not onely that same newe life but also Christ is that life himselfe as him selfe saith I am the way the trueth and the life Iohn 14.6 And Gala. 2.20 Nowe I liue no more But Christ liueth in me Viuification therefore is the seconde fruit of the resurrection of Christ to wit for that Christ himselfe alwayes liuing is become our life through faith and because by the vertue which we drawe from our heade Christe through the spirite of faith we arise in this life into newnes of life that by liuing purely and holily wee might wholy consecrate our selues to the will of God This thing the Apostle teacheth Col. 3. If yee be risen with Christ seeke those thinges that are aboue where Christ is sitting at the right hande of God Care for heauenly thinges and not for earthly For this cause also the selfe same Apostle saith Rom. 6. that We are planted into the similitude of the death of Christ that being partakers of his resurrection we might walke in newnes of life In which wordes he not onely setteth out the resurrection of Christ as an example for vs to followe but also especially teacheth that this thing especially wrought in vs that by the vertue of the resurrection of Christ wee might rise agayne into a newe life Of the third fruit of the resurrection of Christ The thirde fruit which is ioyned with the second is the assurance of our perseuerance in faith and of full victorie against sinne and death For euen like as Christ dyeth no more but liueth the life which neuer can faile for in that he is dead he is once dead to sinne but in that he liueth he liueth to God death shal haue no further dominion ouer him Rom. 6. so they that are engraffed into Christ through faith do drawe out of him a spirituall life from which they can neuer fal and which no not in the verie separation of the body and of soule can bee extinguished as Christ saith If any man keepe my word he shall neuer see death Iohn 8.51 Therefore seeing the faithfull liue this life of Christ in an entrance or beginning the force and nature whereof shed into their minds from Christ is such as it can neuer altogether die they are also assured of the full consummation and perfecting of it The selfe same thing also Peter teacheth 1. Epist 1. Blessed be God and the father of our Lord Iesus Christ who of his great mercie hath begotten vs into a liuely hope through the resurrection of Iesus Christ from the dead And verse 4. 6. he laieth the cause foundation of a liuely hope in the mercie of the father resurrectiō of Christ because as Christ after that hee arose in our name by the mercie of the father he alwaies liueth so hope also hath a permanent and indurable life in him partly regeneration being begone and partly it loketh for it in that same full consummation and finishing In the first to the Ephesians verses 19.20.23 there is a notable place most fit and agreeable vnto this doctrine to wit that God doeth shewe foorth that selfe same power in vs whiles he giueth vs faith which hee wrought and declared in his sonne when he raised him vp from the dead and that same substantiall word it selfe to be that which filleth all in all thinges The same also 1. Pet. 1. verse 3.5 2 Cor. 4.14.16 And from hence floweth that same certaintie concerning full victorie against sinne against the assaultes of sathan and death For like as that euerlasting worde in flesh which it tooke and which in it owne power it raised from the deade Iohn 10. ouercame our sinne imputed vnto him death so also that same euerlasting worde shall not cease dwelling by grace in the faithfull but vtterly to abolish in those also the remnauntes of sinne and death already ouercame by his vertue and power 1. Corinthians 15. vers 54.57.58 1. Iohn 5.4.5 For by no other vertue and power but by the verie same whereby that euerlasting worde in that receiued lumpe ouercame our sin and death we know also according to the promise the same worde also working in vs that wee shall vanquishe and ouercome Io. 4. Because he is mightier that is in vs then he that is in the worlde This certayntie of our perseueraunce in true faith and of a full victorie through faith bringeth to passe that we take all thinges from his hande whether they be thinges prosperous or full of aduersitie being fully persuaded that all those thinges doe hasten the fruition of that same victorie which now is gotten for vs by Christ 1. Cor. 15. Thankes be to God who hath giuen vs victorie through our Lord Jesus Christ The same is in the 2. Cor. 4.15 Concerning the last fruite of the resurrection of Christ SEing that not only our soules but also our bodies are mēbers of our head Christ through the bonde of the spirit of faith 1. Cor. 6. ver 5. 15. Rom. 8.11 therefore in the resurrection of our heade Christ our bodies haue a certaine pledge and seale that they are not onely raysed vp from sinnes in this life as was shewed in the second fruit but also the selfe same bodies which are yet mortall haue both nowe the right of euerlasting life and through that same quickening spirit of Christ are repaired to the fruition of him and to true immortalitie in the end of the world and that in the selfe same state and condition with the glorious body of Christe Phil. 3. Who shall transforme our vile body that it may be fashioned like vnto his glorious body according to that effectuall working whereby hee is made able to subdue all things vnto himselfe 1. Cor. 15.49 As we haue borne the image of the earthly Adam so shall we heare the image of the heauenly The last fruit therefore of the resurrection of Christ is tha◠immortalitie is adiudged vnto vs from God himselfe made in the raysing vp of the Messiah and offered vnto vs by the Gospell and sealed by the spirite of Christe 2. Tim. 1.10 Who hath abolished death and hath brought life and immortalitie vnto light thorough the Gospell To the Ephesians chap. 1. In which Christ also you haue hoped hauing heard the worde of trueth euen the gospell of your saluation in which also after that ye beleeued ye were sealed with the holy spirite of promise whiche is the
contemners of so great long suffering patience and so shal drowne sathan as Pharaoh with all his armie in euerlasting destructiō but he shal bring in his confiderats fully deliuered from al tyrannie of the wicked into that same true heauenly inheritance as into the lande of promise to which Paul would haue vs to loke whē he saith as often as ye shall eat of this bread drinke of this cup ye shal shew forth the Lords death vntil his comming againe Why the comming of Christ is not so feareful vnto the faithful FIrst the cause doth cōfort the faithful for which he shal come to iudge Now the chiefe end of the cōming againe of Christ to iudgement is the glorifying of the Church that is to say that sinne and death being fully ouercome and the enemies of the kingdome being adiudged by the iust iudgemēt of Christ to euerlasting paine and so all offences and impediments remoued which did let the glory of the sons of God God might appeare without any let fully perfectly glorious in his saints Eph. 5.1 Cor. 15. Christ setteth this same cause or rather ende scope before our eyes whilest he calleth that day the day of redemption Secondly the very person of the iudge doth take frō vs al feare For euen for this cause the father hath deliuered al iudgmēt to the son as he is the sonne of man that he might make our consciences quiet take from vs all terror of condemnation Ioh. 5.22.27 Both because that now we beleeue that he shall be iudge and also because we shal behold him with our eyes in whose body our sinnes are cleansed and all the curse taken away Heb. 9.28 Tit. 2.13.14 Last of al the commandement promise of Christ doth free deliuer vs frō al feare The cōmandement is plaine in Luk. 21. Whē ye shal see these thinges come to passe be of good comfort lift vp your heades Math. 24. It shall come to passe that yee shall heare of wars and rumors of warre but see that yee he not troubled for these things must be The promise is plaine in third of Ioh. He that beleeueth in the son is not iudged or cōdēned And cap. 5.24 1. Thes 4.14.17 cap. 5 ver 9.10 Ioh. 17. ver 22.24 yea let that promise be cōsidered which is in 1. Cor. 6. doe yee not knowe that the sainctes shall iudge the worlde And a little after bee yee ignorant that it shall come to passe that wee shall iudge the Angels And surely seeing all the Articles of the faithe are deliuered for our consolation it must needes be that this article also of iudgement is deliuered not to shake but to confirme and establishe our faith Howe we ought to make our selues readie to iudgement WE must prepare our selues to the iudgement of Christ by faith and a good conscience that is to say by a faith which leaneth vppon a fast and sure foundation and by the fruites of faith which doe beare witnesse of it and with which it is exercised Nowe the foundation of faith is not our merite neither in whole nor in part but of Christ alone who deliuereth vs from the wrath to come 1. Thess 1. For no man can lay any other foundation then that which is laide alreadie to wit Iesus Christ 1. Cor. 3. The which also is manifestly vnderstood by the wordes of the iudge himselfe For first he saith Come ye blessed of my heauenly father Nowe wee are not blessed by or in our selues but by Christ by whome we are both deliuered from the cursse and also adopted to be sonnes of the meere good will and free purpose of God Galat. 3. Ephesi 1.2 The iudge further addeth Possesse for an inheritance the kingdome prepared for you from the beginning of the worlde If an inheritance then no merite If prepared from the beginning of the worlde then not gotten by vs which yet were not And these things concerning the foundation wherevppon our faith leaneth Nowe after that I am assured through faith that I am one of the sheepe of Christ which he hath redeemed not with golde and siluer but with his owne blood I must endeuour that I may haue those same markes where with by his spirite hee is wont to marke his sheepe to wit fruits worthie repentance which are that I feede Christ being hungrie and giue drinke vnto him being thirstie in his mēbers that I receiue Christ by hospitalitie in strangers c. But the faithfull rest not vppon these workes of thankefulnesse like as also they shall say in the iudgement Lord when saw we thee hungrie and thirstie and gaue meate drinke vnto thee But they shall onely reste vppon Christ who is made vnto them of God wisedome righteousnes sanctification and redemption 1. Cor. 1. To these fruites and exercises of faith belong sobrietie calling vpon the name of God and watchfulnesse For it is a precious deceit of sathan whilest he persuadeth men that that same iudgement is yet farre off or that there is no neede euerie houre or moment to looke for it when as notwithstanding the comaundement of Christe and the doctrine of the Apostles require speciall watchfulnesse Luke 21. Matth. 24. verse 44.45 1. Thessa 4. vers 15.17 and chapter 5. verse 1.2 1. Pet. 3. Besides these the looking for iudgement doeth admonish the faithful that aboue all thinges they take heede vnto themselues least they defile their bodies or their soules with the idolatrie of Antichrist or with the like that they vnderprop their mindes with patience concerning which matter there are extant graue admonitions Mat. 24. ver 24.25 Apo. 14. ver 7.7.11.12 chap. 18. ver 4. To conclude wee must keepe a good conscience in al things euen vntil the Lord shal come who shall make manifest the secretes of darkenes shal lay open the coūsels of the hart 1. Cor. 4.5 So Paul saith Act. 24. In this therefore I exercise my selfe that alwayes I may haue a conscience without offence before God and men THE THIRDE part of the Creede I beleeue in the holy Ghost Testimonies out of the Prophets and Apostles Ioel 2.28 And it shall come to passe afterward I will power out my spirit vpon all flesh your sonnes your daughters shal prophecie your olde men shall dreame dreames and your yong men shal see visions yea and vppon the seruants and maidens in those days I will powre out my spirit and I will shewe wonders in the heauen in the earth blood fire pillers of smoke the sonne it selfe shal be turned into darkenes the moone into blood before the great terrible day of the Lord come And further it shal come to passe that whosoeuer shall cal vpon the name of Iehovah shall be saued for in Mount Syon and Ierusalem shall be deliuerance as the Lorde hath saide and in the remnant whome the Lorde shall call Actes 2.16.17 But this is that which was spoken by the Prophet
Ioel And it shall be in the last day saith God I will powre out of my spirite vppon all fleshe and your sonnes and your daughters shall prophecie c. Esay 59.20 21. And the redeemer shall come to Syon and vnto them that turne from iniquitie in Iacob saith Iehouah and I will make this my couenant with them my spirit that is vpon thee my words which I haue put in thy mouth shall not depart out of thy mouth nor out of the mouth of thy seed nor out of the mouth of the seed of thy seed saith the Lord frō hence forth euen for euer Ioh. 14. verses 16.17.18.19 c. I will pray the father and he shall giue you an other comforter that hee may abide with you for euer euen the spirite of trueth whome the worlde can not receiue because it seeth him not neither knoweth him but yee knowe him for he dwelleth with you and shall be in you I will not leaue you fatherles but I will come to you yet a little while and the worlde shall see me no more but ye shall see mee because I liue ye shall liue also At that day shall yee know that I am in my father and you in me and I in you Manie moe testimonies were aledged when wee entreated of the trinitie The meaning of this article I Beleeue that the holy Ghost is verie true euerlasting God and of the same substance together with the father and the son and yet notwithstanding a person distinct from both as proceeding from them both And therefore forasmuch as he is verie God I place my confidence and trust in him as in the father and in the sonne and I trust in him that he will worke al that in me being emptie of all good that hee himself hath promised in his word for which cause he is sent of the father the sonne Now his effectes they are many and diuerse For first of all he is giuen that he may witnes the loue of the father in our hearts Gal. 4. that he may lighten the eyes of our minde with the knowledge of Christ that through faith he may so engraft me into Christ as a brāch into the vine may make me a partaker of Christ al his benefits Ioh. 15. This coniunction with Christ his benefits which the holy ghost doeth worke in vs the scripture doth expresse with great force when he saith that the holy ghost doeth sprinkle vs with the blood of Christ 1. Pet 1. doth make vs members of Christ 1. Cor. 6. doth feede vs with Christ Ioh. 6. doth make vs drinke of Christ 1. Cor. 10. the 12. and doth build vs vpon Christ Eph. 2. In which the office and end of the holy ghost giuen vnto vs is shewed that through faith it may most neerely knit vs vnto Christ and may work the like things both in the mēbers head seing it is the same spirit that is to say the very same life glory Rom. 8. I beleeue that the holy ghost as the true very God wil worke these thinges in me which he hath promised vnto me that beleue euē as these his peculiar epithetons names do declare that he is the water flowing vnto euerlasting life Iohn 4.7 A water which shal cleanse me Ezek. 36. 1. Corinthians 6. An annoynting which shal remaine in vs 1. Iohn 2. the seale and earnest of inheritance in all which it is promised vnto vs that he is giuen vnto vs to comforte vs in all aduersities to helpe vs in our infirmities to make intercession for vs with sighes and grones that can not be expressed forasmuch as we knowe not to pray as we ought and so that he be our true comforte or aduocate who suffereth not vs to be destitute of his counsaile and helpe but handleth our cause himselfe to the ende he may be in vs and remaine with vs for euer Iohn 16. To him I trust to him I wholy deliuer my selfe to be gouerned comforted and quickened in the father and in Iesus Christe his sonne who through the holie Ghost make their abiding with vs. The applying of this doctrine to the couenant of grace THat same euerlasting couenant that God hath stricken with Abraham the Sonne of God in mans nature taken of the seede of Abrahā hath confirmed by satisfying the righteousnes of God perfectly in manner as I haue confessed in the former articles of faith Nowe it resteth that the holie Ghost engraffe vs into Christ through faith the true seed of Abraham and so powre out that blessing promised to Abraham and his seede vpon vs and by the earnest of an euerlasting inheritance Paule saith in the third to the Galathians that in the Gentiles the blessing of Abraham is extant in Christ Iesus that we might receaue the promise of the spirit through faith And a little after Now to Abraham and to his seede were the promises made he saith not to the seedes as speaking of many but and to thy seede as of one which is Christ Also And if yee be Christs then are yee Abrahams seede heires by promise And Rom. 9.8.2 Cor. 1.21.22 How the holy Ghost is giuen and howe we know whether we haue it or no. THe holy Ghost is giuen by the ministery of the Gospel as by an ordinary meane Gal. 3. This onely would I learne of you receiued ye the spirit by the works of the lawe or by the hearing of faith preached Also Ephesi 1. verse 13. and 1. Cor. 12. verse 13. Now thou shalt knowe by the working of the holy Ghost that thou art a partaker of the holy Ghost For euen like as thou seest not the winde but dost feele his operation so the holy Ghost is knowen by his working as Christ teacheth Iohn 3. These are the principall and chiefe workes of the holy ghost in vs faith inuocation grones 1. Cor. 12. No man can say Lord Iesus but by the holy Ghost and the 2. Cor. 4. because we haue the same spirit of faith according to that which is written I beleeue and therfore I speake so we also beleeue and for that cause we also speake Ro. 8. Because we are sonnes therefore God hath giuen the spirit of the sonne into our heartes by which we crie Abba Father And in the same place The spirit maketh intercession for vs with grones that cannot be vttered Besides these the being displeased with our selues and the hatred of sinne or rather the battell against sinne is a sure and vndoubted token that we haue the holie Ghost that we are ingraffed into Christ For the flesh fighteth not against it selfe Rom. 8. There is no condemnation to them which are in Christ Iesus which walke not after flesh but after the spirite THE FOVRTH PARTE OF the Creede I beleeue the holie Catholike Church the communion of Saintes Testimonies out of the Prophetes and Apostles GEnesis 9. God enlarge Iapheth that he may dwell in the