A. Ordinarily it is done so but here is a speciall cause Q. What comfort haue we of the person of the Iudge A. Our sauiour aduocate and mediatour shal onely be our iudge Q. What should the meditation of this Article worke in vs A. The contempt of all worldly pleasures ◠a delight in heauenly things Q. Who shall be saued in that day A. Al that are made here y e members of Christ Q Who maketh vs members of Christ A. Gods holy spirite onely working in our heartes The third part of our Beliefe Q. What thing is the holy Spirite A. He is God equall with the Father and the Sonne Q. From whence doth he proceed A. From the Father and the Sonne Q. What is his office in generall He putteth all things in execution which are decreed by Gods secrete councell Q. What thing doth he in the order of nature A. He keepeth al things in their natural estate Q. From whence then come all these alterations A. Frō y e same spirite working diuersly in nature Q. Is then the spirit but nature A. Not so for he is God ruling and keeping nature Q. What doth he in worldly kingdomes A. He doth raise and cast them downe at his pleasure Q. Why are these things attributed vnto him A. Because he is the power and hand of God Q. What doth he in the kingdome of Christ A. He gathereth all Gods elect to Christ Q. Why is he called holy A. Because he is the fountaine of holines and maketh vs holy Q. When and how doth he this A. When by his mightie power he separateth vs from our naturall corruption and dedicateth vs to godlines Q. What thing is this naturall corruption A. Blindnesse of mind hardnes of heart and contempt of God Q. How doth he dedicate vs to godlines A. He lighteneth our mindes mollifieth our hearts and strengtheneth vs. Q. What thing then is all flesh without the spirite of God A. Blind and dead in all heauenly things Q. What other names hath he in the scriptures A. He is called the spirite of faith regeneration strength and comfort Q. Why are these names giuen to y e holy Ghost A. Because he worketh all these things in vs. Q. How are these graces called A. Sanctification regeneration or new birth and spirite Q. How is our corrupted estate called A. The olde man old Adam flesh and bloud Q. What followeth vpon our sanctification A. A continuall battell betwixt the spirite the flesh Q. Who doth strengthen and keepe vs in this battell A. The same spirite who also giueth victory in the ende Q. what is this battell to vs A. A sure seale of y e presence of the holy spirite Q. what battell hath the old man in himselfe A. None at all against sinne and wickednes Q. In whom then is this battell A. Onely in the members of Christ and his Church through the presence of the spirite The fourth part of our beliefe Q. what is the Church which we confesse here A. The whole company of Gods elect called and sanctified Q. Doe we beleeue in this Church A. No but we beleeue onely in our God Q. what thing then beleeue we of this Church A. That it was is and shall be to the ende of the world Q. what nede we to beleue this A. For our great comfort the glorie of God Q. Declare that plainly A. The loue of the Father the death of Christ and the power of the Spirite shall euer worke in some Q. what thing followeth vpon this A. The glorie of God and confusion of Satan with our comfort Q. UUhy is this Church only knowen to vs by faith A. Because it conteineth onely Gods elect which are onely knowne to himselfe Q. VVhen and how may we know them A. When we see the fruites of election and holines in them Q. In what respect is the Church called holy A. In respect of our iustification and sanctification Q. How differ these two graces A. The first is perfect the second vnperfect Q VVhat is the cause of that diuersitie A. The first is in Christ the second is in vs. Q. Are not both these giftes ours A. Yes no doubt seeing Christ is ours Q. May we not come to a full perfection in this life A. No for the flesh doth rebell continually against the spirite Q. Why doth not the spirite sanctifie vs perfectly A. Least we should misknow our former captiuitie and redemption Q. What admonition haue we of our estate A. We should be humble repent be thankfull to our God Q. Why is the Church called vniuersall A. Because it is spread through the whole world Q. How many churches are there in the worlde A. One Church one Christ as one body and the head Q. Is it bound to any particular time place or persons A. No for then it should not be vniuersall Q. What is the communion of Saintes A. The mutuall participation of Christ and his graces among his members Q. What followeth vpon this communion A. A spirituall vniting and communion among all Christes members Q Whereupon is this communion grounded A. Upon their vnion with Christ their heat Q. Who maketh our vnion with Christ and among our selues A. The holy spirite by his mightie power Q. Is there any saluation without this communion A. None at all for Christ is the ground of saluation Q. May men be ioyned with Christ and not with his Saintes A. No nor yet with the Saintes if not with Christ Q. What then should be our principall care A. To hold fast our vnion w t Christ our head Q. What followeth vpon that A. Then of necessitie we are ioyned with all his Saintes and Church Q. Should we not seeke them and ioine with them externally also A. No doubt whensoeuer we may see them or heare of them in particular How the Church may be knowen Q. How may we know this company externally A. By the true profession of the worde and holy Sacraments Q. What if these tokens bee not founde among them A. Then they are not y e communion of saints Q. May we with safe conscience ioyne our selues with such A. No for they are not the holy Church of god where these tokens are not Q. Then we depart from the vniuersall Church A. No but we depart from the corruption of mē remaine in the holy vniuersall Church Q. But yet they will call themselues the Church A. We should looke to the true markes of the Church Q. May we leaue the particuler Church where the word is retained A. No albeit sundrie other vices abound there Q. But the multitude are wicked and prophane A. Yet there is a true Church where the word truely remaineth Q. VVhat then is the infallible token of Christes Church A. The word truely preached and professed Q. Should we discusse who are Saintes in deede and who not A. No for that doth appertaine to God onely and to them selues
A. The worde the Sacraments and discipline rightly vsed Q. What if no order of discipline bee among them A. Then we should remaine with the word and Sacramentes Q. But what if both the worde and Sacramentâ— be corrupted A. Then we should not ioyne our selues with that companie Q. But what if they retaine the name of the true Church A. So did Satan cloth him selfe with the Angell of light for the further blinding of the world Q. But what shall men do when they know not another Church A. Let them content them selues with true faith in Christ Q. But then they are diuyded from the Church A. Not from the true Church and bodie of Christ Q. How can that be proued A. Thus all that are vnited with Christ are ioyned with the Church Q. Which of these two vnions is first and cause of the other A. Our misticall and spirituall vnion with Iesus Christ For we are ioyned with all the Saints of God because we are ioyned first with God in Christ Q. What comfort then is our societie with the Church to vs A. A singular comfort chiefly when wee are persecuted by the bastard church and tyrants of the world Q. What is the comfort to vs A. This that they can not seperate vs from Christ and his members albeit they seperat vs from their wicked societie 9. The 9. part is Of the first cause and progresse of our saluation and end of all flesh Q. OUt of what fountaine doth this our stabilitie flowe A. Out of Gods eternall and constant election in Christ Q. By what way commeth this election to vs A. By his effectuall calling in due time Q. What worketh his effectuall calling in vs A. The obedience of faith Q. What thing doth faith worke A. Our perpetuall and inseperable vnion with Christ Q. What worketh this vnion with Christ A. A mutuall communion with him and his graces Q. What worketh this communion A. Remission of sinnes and imputation of Iustice Q. What worketh remission of sinnes and imputation of iustice A. Peace of conscience and continuall sanctification Q. What worketh sanctification A. The hatred of sinne and loue of godlines Q. What worketh the hatred of sinne A. A continuall battell against sinne Q. What worketh this battell A. A continuall desire to profit in godlines Q. What worketh this desire A. An earnest studie in the worde of God Q. What worketh this earnest studie A. A further knowledge of our owne weaknes and Gods goodnes Q. What worketh this knowledge in vs A. An earnest calling vpon God for helpe Q. What worketh this earnest calling A. Uictory against Satan and sinne Q. What worketh this victory A. A liuely experience of Gods fauour Q. What worketh this liuely experience A. Boldnes to fight and sure hope of further victory Q. What worketh this sure hope A. An vnspeakable ioy of heart in trouble Q. What worketh this ioy of heart A. Patience to the ende of the battell Q. What worketh patience in vs A. Stoutnesse of heart to the finall triumph Q. What worketh this stoutnesse of heart A. A plaine defiance against Satan and sin Q. What is this defiance A. The beginning of the eternall life in vs. Q. What is this beginning to vs A. A sure seale of our election and gloryfication The certaintie of adoption Q. May not this seale bee abolished through sinne A. No for these giftes are without repentance Q. But many fall shamefully from God A. The spirit of adoption raiseth all the chosen againe Q. But many are neuer raised againe A. These were neuer of the chosen of God Q. Yet both they and the Church beleeued otherwise A. They deceyued them selues but the Church iudgeth charitablly Q. Then Faieh is not certaine A. True faith is euer certain to the beleeuers Q. What certaintie hath euery one of his faith A. The testimonie of the spirite of adoption with the fruites Q. But many glory in this testimony in vaine A. Yet this testimony is most sure and certaine Q. Why then are so many deceiued by this way A. Because they glory in a faith without fruites Q. How may we eschewe this danger A. By the right tryall of our adoption The tryall of our adoption Q. Where should we begin our tryall A. At the fruites of faith and repentance Because they are best known to our selues and others Q. What if we beginne at election A. Then we shall wander in darknesse Q. But Gods election is most cleare and certaine A. It is cleare and certaine in it selfe but it is not alway certaine to vs in speciall Q. When is it certaine to euery one of vs A. When it may be felt and knowne by the fruites Q. But this exact tryall hath brought some to desperation A. Yet Gods elect are alwaies susteyned and finally comforted Q. Yet this tryall is troublesome to mennes conscience A. But at length it bringeth greater peace of conscience Q. When and how is that A. When after the feeling of Gods iudgements we taste of his mercy againe more aboundantly Q. Why are Gods elect so oft thus troubled in minde A. Because that they may the better feele and knowe the mercy of God Q. Why do worldly men esteeme so litle the mercy of God A. Because they taste not throughly of his iustice Q. What thing then is trouble with the comfort of the spirit A. A seale of Gods loue and a preparation to life eternall Q. What is prosperitie without the taste of the Spirit A. A token of Gods wrath and a way to perdition Q. But some are troubled in minde without any reliefe A. Such men begin their hel here with Cain Of the last and eternall estate of mankinde Q. What then shall be the finall end of all fleshe A. Eyther life or death eternall without any change Q. With whom and where shall the faithful be A. With GOD in heauen full of allioye and felicitie Q. With whome and where shall the wicked be A. With Satan in hell oppressed with infinite miseries Q. Are these two endes certaine and sure A. Yes no doubt seeing the meanes are certaine and sure Q. Which are these sure meanes A. Faith and infidelitie with their fruites Q. What maketh these meanes sure A. Gods most iust and constant will reuealed in his worde Q. When ordained he these meanes and endes A. Before all beginninges in his secrete counsell Q. To what end did he this A. That his mercy and iustice might shinâ— perfectly in mankinde Q. How was this brought to passe A. Through the creation of man in vprightnesse and his fall from that estate Q. What followed vpon this fall of man A. All men once were concluded vnder sinnâ— and most iust condemnation Q. What serued this for his mercie and iustice A. Hereby occasion was offered both of mercie and iustice Q. To whom was mercie promised and giuen A. Only to his chosen children in Christ which
if eyther the brethren or other woulde haue further confirmation of this doctrine let thē reade the Institution of M. Iohn Calum and other godly men who haue written aboundantly for the defence of this doctrine according to the scriptures of God I doubt not but good men and such as are perswaded of the trueth will take this mine excuse in the best part and giue thankes to God for my labour taken for their comfort But as for the godles band of Atheistes and Apostates whom God hath ordained to distruction I care not what they shall iudge of this my simple writing paines taken for the instruction of the ignorant I woulde maruell greatly of the successe of our doctrine which is now impugned and pursued by men to the sight of the world of great estimation and iudgement if the same had not come to passe to the Prophets and Apostles in their age whose doctrine and religion was most faisty impugned and cruelly persecuted by the Sonnes of perdition Of this we are forwarned by the Apostles that men after the witnessing of the truth shall depart to their vomit againe and become Traitoures and persecutors of Gods trueth which they professed afore with vs. When we see this fierie tryall and fearefull iudgement in the Church let vs examine our selues be time and call to God for constancie in the trueth and praise his iustice in the blinding of those that in so great a light willingly and maliciously delite in darkenesse and blaspheme the way of righteousenesse Of this sort are sundrie of our nation whose blasphemous writinges come dayly to our handes to the tryall of our faith and constancie to the farther blinding of the reprobate and their greater condemnation in the day of the Lord Iesus Christ To whome with the Father and the holy Spirit be all honor and praise eternally Amen The first part Of the Creation and first estate of Mankinde Question VVHo made man and woman A. The eternall God of his goodnes Q. Whereof made he them A. Of an earthly bodie and an heauenly spirite Q. To whose image made he them A. To his owne image Q What is the image of God A. Perfect vprightnes in bodie and soule Q. To what ende were they made A. To acknowledge and serue their maker Q. How should they haue serued him A. According to his holy will Q. How did they know his will A. By his works word and Sacramentes Q. What libertie had they to obey his will A. They had free will to obey and disobey Q. What profite had they by their obedience A. They were blessed and happie in bodye and soule Q. Was this felicitie giuen to them onely A. No but it was giuen to them and their posteritie Q. With what condition was it giuen A. With condition of their obedience to God Q Why was so small a commaundement giuen A. To shew Gods gentlenes and to try mans obedience Q. What auaileth to know this felicitie lost A. Hereby we know Gods goodnes and our ingratitude Q. But we can not come to this estate againe A. We come to a better estate in Christ Q. What should we learne of this discourse A. That the Church was first planted blessed and made happie through obedience to Gods word 2. Of the fall of Man from God and his second estate Q. VVHat brought them from that blessed estate A. Satan and their owne inconstancie Q. How were they brought to that inconstancy A. Through familiar conference with Sathan against the word Q. What thing did Sathan first secke of them A. Mistrust and contempt of Gods word Q. Wherefore did he begin at their faith A. Because he knewe it was their life Q. How coulde they consent to their owne perditions A. They were deceiued by the craft of Satā Q. What was the craft of Satan here A. He perswaded them that good was euill and euill was good Q. How could they be perswaded hauing the Image of God A. They had the image but not the gift of constancie Q. What things lost they through their fall A. The fauour and image of God with the vse of the creatures Q. What succeeded the losse of the fauour and image of God A. The wrath of God and originall sinne Q. What thing is originall sinne A. The corruption of our whole nature Q. How doth this sinne come to vs A. By naturall propagation from our first parents Q. What are the fruites of this sinne A. All other sinnes which we commit Q. What is the punishment of this sinne A. Death of bodie and soule with all other miseries Q. What other thing did followe vpon this sinne A. A curse vpon the creatures and our banishment from the vse of them Q. But the most wicked vse them obundantly A. That is with testimonie of an euill conscience Q. These paines were ouer great for the eating of the forbidden fruit A. Their sinne was not the eating of the fruit simplie Q. What thing then properly was their sinne A. Infidelitie pride open rebellion to God Q. How can that be proued A. They consented to Satans lies mistrusted Gods word and sought to be equal with God Q. Wherefore are we punished for their sinne A. We are punished for our owne sinne seeing we were all in them standing and falling with them Q. In what estate is all their posteritie A. Under the same bondage of sinne Q. What naturall freedome haue we A. We haue freedome to sinne and offends our God Q. Haue we not power to serue and please God A. None at all til we be called and sanctified Q Haue we lost our mindes and wils A. No but we haue lost a right mind and a right will Q. Naturall men may do many good deedes A. Yet they can not please God without faith Q. Why did God suffer this fall of man A. For the declaration of his mercy and iustice Q. Declare that A. By his mercie the chosen are deliuered and the rest punished by his iustice 3. Of mans restitution againe and his third estate Q. VVHo called our Parents to repentance A. God onely of his infinite mercie Q. What did they when he called them A. They hid and excused them selues Q. But it was foolishnes to flie from God A. Such is the foolishnes of all his posteritie Q. How were they conuerted to God A. By the almightie power of Gods spirite Q. How did the spirite worke their conuersion A. He printed the promise of mercie in their heartes Q. What was their promise of mercie A. Uictorie in the seede of the woman against the Serpent Q. Which is the seede of the woman A. Jesus Christ God and man Q. How was his posteritie conuerted to God A. By the same spirite and promise Q. May we vnderstand and receiue the promise by our selues A. No more then blind and dead men may see and walke Q. What more is required for our
this our confession promise othe subscription so that wee are not mooued for anye worldly respect but are perswaded onely in our consciences through the knowledge loue of Gods true religion imprinted in our hearts by the holy spirite as we shall answere to him in the day when the secrets of all hearts shall be disclosed And because we perceiue that the quietnes and stabilitie of our religion and Church both depend vpon the safetie and good behauiour of the Kings Maiestie as vpon a comfortable instrument of Gods mercie granted to this Countrey for the maintaining of his Church and ministration of iustice among vs. We protest and promise with our hartes vnder the same oth handwritte and paines that we shall defend his person and authoritie with our bodies and liues in the defence of Christes Gospell libertie of our Countrey administration of iustice and punishment of iniquitie against all enymies within this Realme or without as we desire our God to be a strong and mercifull defender to vs in the day of our death comming of our Lord Jesus Christ To whom with the father and the holy spirite be all honour and glory eternally Amen The names of all the subscribers contained in the principall copie written in parchment and kept in the handes of the Ministers The Kings M. charge to al the commissioners and Ministers within this Realme SEing that we our houshold haue subscribed giuen this publike confession of our faith to the good example of our subiects We command charge al Commissioners Ministers to craue the same confessiō of their Parishioners and to proceed against the refusers according to our lawes and order of the Church deliuering their names and lawfull processe to the Ministers of our house with all hast and diligence vnder the paine of xl pounds to be taken from their stipends that we with the aduice of our Councell may take order with such proud contemners of God and our lawes subscribed with our hand At Holirudhouse the xi daye of March 1580. The 14 yeare of our raigne I Thought good to adde for the better confirmation of this confession the iudgement of the ancient and Godlye Fathers concerning the authoritie of the holy scriptures vpon the which only they grounded their faith and religion and by the same onely confuted and condemned all contrarie doctrine and religion in their time as their writings do testifie to vs. And next I laye downe the open and shameles blasphemies of the late Papists spued out and written in contempt of the holy scriptures and praise of mens traditions aboue the word of God the which traditions they reuerence equally with the Scriptures as it shall appeare by their owne wordes The godly Fathers Irenaeus lib. 3. cap. 8. THe Apostles haue put in writing the things that were to be the foundation and piller of our faith Idem Cap. 11. The piller and groundworke of the Church is the Gospell and the spirite of life Origenes lib. 1. cap. 17. in Epist ad Roman Out of the scriptures onely our interpretations should be taken Idem in prim Hieremie Our iudgements and expositions haue no credite without the testimonie of the scriptures Idem Homil. 25. in Matth. For confirmation of all those wordes we speake in our teaching we should first alleadge the iudgement of the Scripture as a confirmation of that thing we declare vnto you Ciprianus de Baptismo Christi Out of the scriptures must come all rule of teaching Basilius epist 8. The scripture is a perfect rule and line and admitteth no addition Idem ibidem Let vs stand to the iudgement of the scripture inspired by God let the sentence of truth be giuen to them whose doctrine is agreeable to the heauenly oracles Cyrillus in Johan lib. 12. All things that our Lord did are not written but the Apostles wrote the things they iudged to bee sufficient for our maners and doctrine Basilius de vera Fide It is pride to reiect any thing the Apostles haue written or to adde any thing to their writings bring in things not written Theophilus epist 9. cap. vlt. They that offer any thing except the doctrine of the Apostles they bring in slanders heresies dissentions Ambrosius We iustly damne all newe things which Christ did not teach because Christ is the waye to the faithfull Idem primo officiorum Thinges that wée finde not in the scripture we may vse as wee please Hieronimus Psal 86. Take heed what they say that were and not that are now for whatsoeuer thing is spoken without the doctrine of the Apostles let it be put away and haue no authoritie Idem in Aggaeum The worde is Gods sworde wherewith all these things are cutte off which without the testimonie and authoritie of the Scriptures men of their owne head do inuent and faine as traditions of the Apostles Chrisostomus opere imperfecto Homil. 49. In no way can the true Church of Christ be knowne but by the scriptures onely Idem in sancto adorando Spiritu If anye thing be obtruded without the Gospell vnder the title of the spirite let vs not beleeue it Idem opere imperfecto Homil. 49. Wee should in no case giue credit to the Church except they speake and do the things that are consonant to the Scriptures Augustinus de vnitate Ecclesiae cap. 2. The Scripture doth shew Christ in the Church Idem in Iohan. tract 96. When the Lord hath not reuealed these thinges which of vs can say these or these things are and if any man will affirme this or that to be how doth he proue it Idem de Pastoribus cap. 14. I enquire at the voice of the Pastour to reade me it out of the Prophet reade it out of the Psalme recite it out of the law recite it out of the Gospel recite it out of the Apostle Ibidem lib. 2. cap. 85. contraliteras Petiliani Whether we are Schismatikes or ye neither I nor thou shall be iudge but let Christ be demaunded that he may shewe his owne Church Tertullianus de praescriptione contra haereticos The Heretickes deny that Christ and the Apostles reuealed all things to all but some thing openly some thing secretly Athanatius orat 2. contra haereticos Doth testifie that the Arrians glorted in reuelations and in the spirite without the word Augustinus de natura gratia 61. I am bound to giue consent onely to the canonicall Scriptures without any excuse Epiphanius lib. 1. Haeresi 38. Affirmeth that Caiani an Heretike saide that they receaued their errours by traditions without the Scriptures Irenaus lib. 3. cap. 2. The Heretikes when they are rebuked by the Scriptures they turne to the accusation of the Scriptures as if they were corrupt or had not authoritie and that they are spoken sundrie waies and that the truth cannot be found by them if we want the traditions 1. Leo Epist 83. ad Palest Ye are armed with the name of the Church and