and Messiah in Hebrue signifieth anointed giuing vs to vnderstand that this is he whom the father hath chosen sealed and anointed with his spirit to be our Prophet Priest King and is made vnto vs from God wisedome righteousnesse sanctification redemptiō that no flesh might glory before his Maiestie but that whosoeuer glorieth might glorie in the lord Christ the eternall wisdome of his Father from the beginning was the onely Pastor and teacher of his Church reuealing by his spirit vnto the holy Fathers and Prophets the doctrine of saluation But in the fulnesse of time taking vpon him our nature he came into the world our wisdome from God in his owne person out of the bosome of his father declaring vnto vs all the councels of God concerning our redemptiō and that in greater measure and clearenes of vnderstanding then euer before from the beginning Further as he is the chiefe pastour and shephearde of the flocke so is it he in whom all the promises of God are yea and Amen Who is also al and in all of whom we haue receiued commaundement from heauen that we shoulde heare him He is therefore both the teacher and the thing that is taught He is made our righteousnesse first in that he hath fully satisfied the iustice of GOD borne the stripes of our correction and the chastisement of our peace taking vpon him the curse of the lawe due vnto vs for our sinnes and by bearing and ouercomming the same hath deliuered vs from the power of sinne Satan hell and the wrath of GOD and made an euerlasting attonement vppon the altar of his Crosse offering vp himselfe an oblation and sacrifice of moste sweete sauour vnto the lord Secondly in that he hath accomplished all the righteousnesse of the law that we in his obedience hauing the same imputed vnto vs might be iustified before God and obtaine the blessing of the lawe which is eternall life He is made our holines or sanctification because in him is found the lawe of the spirite of life which deliuereth vs from the law of sinne and of death For it is he onely that hath condemned sinne in the fleshe that is to say hath perfectly purged cleared our nature of sinne in his owne person by ioyning it vnseparably vnto his deietie that wee beyng clothed with his most pure and vnspotted humanitie might in all respectes appeare acceptable and well pleasing in the sighte of the Lorde He is made our redemption not nowe to offer vp anie newe sacrifice for sinne which hee hath already done once for al But that hauing all power geuen to him both ouer thinges in heauen and thinges in earth he mighte rule and gouerne his Churche by his worde and by his spirit guyding and defending the same in the Pilgrimage and warfarre of this life vntill the day of our adoption shall appeare euen the deliuerance of our bodies what time he shall returne our redeemer from heanen and shall change our vile bodies that they may be made like vnto his glorious bodie according vnto that power whereby he is able to subdue all thinges vnto himselfe In the meane time sitting at the right hand of GOD our aduocate and intercessour with the father not only to make intercession for vs but also to presente vnto the Lorde our selues our soules and bodies and all that wee haue and do our prayers and obedience an holie and acceptable Sacrifice vnto his Maiestie The thirde proposition Saluation by Christ appertaineth only vnto them that beleeue in him HE that beleeueth in the sonne is not condemned but hath eternall life and he that beleueth not the sonne is alredy condemned neither shall he see life but the wrath of GOD remayneth vppon him because hee hath not beleeued in the name the onely begottē sonne of god Faith therfore is the only meanes wherby we possesse Jesus Christ and in him althe mercies of God vnto our saluation For by faith Christ dwelleth in our harts that beyng rooted and grounded in the loue of God wee might bee able to comprehend with all Saintes what is that breadth length and depth and height and to knowe that loue of Christ which passeth all knowledge and to bee filled with all that fulnes of god Faith is that testimonie of our consciences wherby we are assured from the witnesse of the Spirite of God that all our sinnes are pardoned and forgeuen vnto vs in the merite of the Sacrifice and death of Christ and that we stande iustified as righteous before God in the perfection of his obedience and through him are nowe the adopted childrē of his father and heires of his euerlasting kingdome in that we are made mēbers of his bodie euen bone of his bone and flesh of his flesh to become with him one spirit and spiritual temple vnto God. The fourth proposition of the causes of faith in the worde preached and sacraments ministred Faith commeth by hearing and hearing by the worde of God. Rom. 10. 17. THis faith is not borne with vs neither groweth it out of our corrupt nature nor is bought with earthly treasure nor attained vnto by the labour and industrie of man but is the free and gracious gifte of GOD vnto his children whom he loued frō before al beginnings wrought in their heartes by his spirite through the preaching of the Gospel Which spirit is therefore called the spirit of adoption because it beareth witnes vnto our spirits that we are the children of God and heires of his kingdome teaching vs with boldenes confidence to crie Abba father and the Gospel preached is called the arme of the Lorde and the mightie power of God vnto saluation The grounde and foundation of our faith is the worde of God especially that part thereof which contayneth his moste louing promises made vnto vs in Jesus Christe This woorde was geuen vnto man from heauen firste by the Lord himselfe speaking vnto the Fathers in his owne person then by the ministery of his holy angels after by his seruauntes the Prophetes Last of all by his owne Sonne in whome are all the treasures of wisedome and knowledge hidde This worlde remaineth vnto vs in the recordes of the olde and newe Testament which bookes were written by the holie men of GOD his Prophetes and Apostles inspired by the holy Ghost is profitable to teach to confute to reprooue to instructe in all righteousnesse that the man of God may be perfect and perfectly instructed vnto euerie good woorke contayning all thinges necessarie for vs to knowe vnto eternall life from whiche we may not take any thing neither put anie thing vnto it This worde is plaine and easie to bee vnderstood of them that desire to doe the will of God and seeke after wisedome in humilitie
is required that wee should examine our selues first howe wee haue profited vnder the word in the knowledge of the misteries of our redemption Secondly what comfort we haue receiued by applying the same vnto our owne consciences Thirdly what griefe wee haue conceiued in heart for our sinnes past and what hatred and detestation of all that is contrarie vnto the will of God what purpose wee haue the rest of our life to cease from sinne and to follow after righteousnesse that the Gospel maye bee glorified in vs which doe professe it Last of all whether as wee assure our selues of peace with God in Jesus christ so we be at peace with our brethren reconciling our selues vnto those whom we haue offended and forgiuing vnto others the offences they haue cōmitted against vs euen as freely as we would the Lord should forgiue vs. The fifth proposition of the effectes of fayth Let him depart from iniquitie whosoeuer nameth the name of Christ. 2. Tim. 2. 19. Who so is in Christ Iesus is a newe creature 2. Cor. 5. 17. ALbeit the whole worke of our saluation stand sound and perfect vnto vs in all respectes without our selues in Jesus Christ so that we may boldly say with Saint Paule being then iustified by fayth we haue peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ and doe glorie in hope of the glorie of God Yet is not Christ the minister of sinne nor the Gospel a doctrine that giueth libertie vnto euil but contrariwise the death of Christ is of power in those that beleeue in him to cause them to die vnto sinne and to be mortified in the olde Adam of this fleshe with the lustes and concupiscences of the same And the Gospel teacheth vs that the true members of Christ must and do walke not after the fleshe but after the spirit offring vp themselues their soules and bodies and all that they haue an holy and acceptable sacrifice of spiritual worship vnto God inquiring to knowe and labouring to performe that good perfect and acceptable will of God reuealed in his worde Also the same spirit which is called the spirit of adoption because it teacheth vs to crie Abba father and beareth witnesse vnto our spirites that we are the children of God and heires of his kingdom being the seale wherewith hee hath sealed vs and the gage whereby he hath pledged vnto vs all his promises of mercie in Christ is also the spirit of mortification whereby is mortified in vs the workes of the flesh our olde Adam being crucified with Christ in his Crosse and the spirit of sanctification and of our new birth quickening in vs a newe creature and fashioning vs againe after image of God to walke before him in righteousnes and true holinesse all the dayes of our life Also this doctrine is both taught and sealed vnto vs yea the trueth and effect thereof exhibited and perfourmed in the vse of the holy Sacraments which both of them teache vs to die vnto sinne and liue vnto righteousnesse assure vs that as the Gospel was preached vnto the fathers with this effect that they might be cōdemned according vnto mē that is in the flesh but liue according vnto God that is in the spirit so the same shal be accōplished in al the true mēbers of Christ the one by the power of his death the other by the power of his resurrection which thing ought not a little to comfort and incourage vs in that great and daungerous conflict with the flesh the worlde and the diuell when we knowe that our victorie stādeth not in our owne strength which is none but in the inuincible power of him which came to destroy the works of Satan and in whose crosse our olde man is so mortified as the bodie of sinne is weakned in vs which do beleeue Unto whom also he hath giuen that spirit to dwell in vs whereby he hath promised to quicken our mortal bodies which now in part are subdued vnder sinne The sixth proposition of the rule of righteousnes Thy worde is a lanterne vnto my feete and a light vnto my pathes Psal. 119. 105. The commaundement is a lanterne and the lawe a light ▪ and reprehensions for instruction are the way of life Prou. 6. 23. THe rule of holines and obedience is not our owne will nor lustes and affections of our corrupt and cursed nature which euermore rebelleth against God nor the examples and manners of men or customes and fashions of the worlde but onely that most good perfect and accepable will of God commended and commaunded vnto vs in his lawe which must in all thinges be the light vnto our feete and the lanterne vnto our pathes to directe vs to walke with him and before his maiestie so as we may please him with reuerence and carefulnesse which is the seconde vse of the lawe of God. This lawe of GOD requireth at our handes that we honour loue feare and obey him in al thinges and aboue all that wee trust in him flee vnto him in all our needes calling vpon him onely and acknowledging him to be the creatour and gouernour of all things That wee woorshippe him not with our owne inuentions or blinde deuotions nor with the doctrines of men or after the example of others but onely with that worship which he himselfe hath prescribed vnto vs in his worde without adding therevnto or taking from it That we haue and vse in most highe reuerence his holie name woorde and workes whatsoeuer else he is knowen vnto vs by that we know him to be the searcher of all hartes the rewarder of all sinceritie and truth and the reuenger of all hypocrisie blasphemie false and vaine swearing with all other prophaninges and abusinges of his most blessed name and religion That we sanctifie the Lordes Sabboth not doing therein our owne wil nor walking our owne wayes nor speaking our own wordes but ceasing from the honest labours of our lawful callings much more from vayne and hurtfull pastimes Stage playes Dicing carding c. that with all libertie and quietnesse both of mind bodie we may with our families attend vpō those publique exercises of religion which the Lord hath in wisedome and mercie appointed for his owne worshippe and for our edifying Assembling our selues together to heare his holy woorde learne and lay vp the same in our hearts for the ordering of our liues celebrate his holy sacraments and with one heart and one voice call vpon his name rendring vnto his maiestie most humble and hartie thankes for al mercies hitherto bestowed vppon vs and crauing new benefites and blessinges at his handes necessarie for vs and his whole Churche both for this present life and also for the life to come The seconde table of the lawe requireth that wee should loue our neighbours as our selues The fifth commaundement containeth
The Summe of Christianitie reduced vnto eight propositions briefly and plainly confirmed out of the holy worde of God. Iohn 1. 17. The lawe was giuen by Moses but grace and trueth came by Iesus Christ. Eight Propositions conteining the summe of this Treatise 1. All men haue sinned and haue fasted of the glorie of god Rom. 3. 23. 2. There is no name vnder Heauen giuen vnto men whereby we must be saued but onely by the name of Jesus Act. 4. 12. 3. Saluation by Christ apperteineth onely vnto them that beleeue in him 4. Fayth commeth by bearing and hearing by the worde of god Rom. 10. 17. 5. Let him depart from iniquitie whosoeuer nameth the name of Christ 2. Tim. 19. Who so is in Christ Jesus is a new creature 2. Cor. 5. 17. 6. Thy worde is the lanterne vnto my feete and the light vnto my pathe Psa. 119. 105. The commandement is a lanterne and the lawe a light and reprehensions for instruction are the way of life Pro. 6. 23. 7. The lawe is spirituall but wee are carnall euen solde to bee subiect vnto sinne Rom. 7. 14 The fleshe lusteth against the spirite and the spirit against the flesh and these are contrarie the one to the other so that we can not doe the things that we would Gal. 5. 17. 8. What other helpes there are vnto godlinesse and well doing commended vnto vs in the worde of God ▪ The summe of Christianitie reduced vnto eight propositions briefly and plainly confirmed out of the holy worde of God. The first proposition All men haue sinned and haue failed of the glorie of God. Rom. 3. 23. THere is none that is righteous no not one If we say we haue no sin we deceiue our selues the truth is not in vs If we say wee haue not sinned we make God a lier and his worde is not in vs For proofe whereof there are two witnesses against vs First the testimony of our owne consciences w euen by the light of nature accuseth vs both of leauing vndon many good things we ought to haue done and of committing many euill things in deede worde and thought Secondly the Lorde God himselfe who is greater than our consciences whose wrath from heauen is manifest against al the vngodlinesse and vnrighteousnesse of men as well in that generall curse which is come vppon all creatures as by particular iudgements executed against sinne from the beginning of the world But especially he hath most manifestly penned our inditement in his worde where first we are charged with the sinne and fall of Adam as guiltie thereof vnto condemnation Secondly that wee are borne in sinne and conceiued in iniquitie and therefore by nature the children of Gods wrath being such as whose natural disposition is enimitie against God and whose cursed spirit lusteth after enuie Thirdly that this corruption of our nature hath bene most plentifull in bringing foorth all maner fruites of disobedience causing vs to transgresse all-the commandementes of God as shal most plainly appeare if we examine our selues and our liues by the seuerall precepts of his lawe which teacheth vs both what dueties we owe vnto his Maiestie for his worshippe and also what vnto our brethren for their profite so that wee may conclude with the Apostle that all mouthes are stopped and that all men are come vnder the condemnation of god We must so meditate vpon these things as we may also be affected and touched with them Which we shall the rather performe if vnto the vnfeigned confession that wee are sinners we shal in the presence of Gods maiestie consider first the filthinesse and vncleannesse of our sinnes by comparing them with that holinesse righteousnesse and innocencie which is described vnto vs in the Lawe Then the greatnesse of our offences as committed against the most glorious excellencie of the Maiestie of god Further the multitude of our transgressions which are mo in number than the heares of our head and as a mightie water ouerflowing vs vnto destruction Also the punishmēt deserued by our sinnes and set downe in the worde of god First the curse of God entring and remaining vpon all his creatures subduing them vnder vanitie for our sakes Secondly all the aduersities and afflictions of this life with the diseases of our bodies and griefes of our mindes Also death it selfe which is the dissolution of the soule and the bodie Last of all the curse of God pronounced in his lawe vnto euerlasting damnation both of bodie and soule with Satan and his Angels in hell fire the flame whereof being kindled from the breath of the wrath of the Lord shall neuer be quenched The miserie of him that is in such a case must needs be exceeding great offereth him iust occasiō with feare and trembling to inquire what maye be his remedie against so lamentable estate The second Proposition There is no name vnder heauen giuen vnto men whereby we must be saued but onely by the name of Iesus Act. 4. 12. THe holye Angels of God can not saue vs yea they are iustly our enimies for sinne and the armed souldiers of the Lord to our destruction The saintes haue neede themselues of a Sauiour and therefore can stand vs in no stead As for our selues if we coulde which is vnpossible doe all the good thinges commanded vs in the lawe it were sufficient if we were not condemned for them it were no reason that by them we should be discharged of that other bonde of our guiltinesse which is against vs in committing of euill If wee say we will giue all that we haue vnto the Lorde it is nothing vnto him If vnto the poore it is no sacrifice for sinne If we should suffer all torments of bodie and soule during this life wee cannot so satisfie the iustice of God for the least of our sinnes which deserueth infinite punishment There is no helpe in outwarde and feigned holinesse bee it neuer so glorious in the eyes of men seeing it is abhomination in the sight of the Lord how much lesse shal it auaile vs to rest for saluation vpō any of the foolish superstitions wicked idolatries inuented by man Standing therefore before Gods iudgement seate condemned for our sinnes we finde no peace with his Maiestie but onely in Jesus Christ of whome he said from heauen this is my welbeloued sonne in whome I am well pleased And who witnesseth of himselfe saying So God loued the worlde that he gaue his onely begotten Sonne to the ende that all that beleeue in him should not perish but haue euerlasting life who also calleth vs vnto himselfe saying Come vnto me al ye that trauell and be heauy laden and I will refresh you The name Jesus signifieth a Sauiour and is expounded by the Angel Gabriel For he shall saue his people from their sinnes Christ in Greeke