same doe all reformed Churches beleeue and confesse The Errors and adversaries vnto this truth The premises doe make Against the Tretheites which affirme the holy Ghost to be inferior vnto the Father Against the Arrians who said the holy Ghost was inferior to the Sonne Against the Macedonian heretikes who held the holy Ghost to be but a minister and seruant of the Father and the Sonne yet of more excellent maiestie and dignitie then the Angels Against many erroneous spirits which deliuer the holy Ghost to be nothing els but The motion of God in his creatures as did the Samosatenians A bare power and efficacie of God working by a secret inspiration as the Turkes and certaine English Sadduces doe imagine The Inheritance allotted to the faithfull and the beeing or vertuous estate of Christ as dreameth H.N. The affection of charitie or Loue within vs an error of Petrus Lombardus Gods loue fauour and vertue whereby he worketh in his children so thought Ochinus and Seruetus 3. Proposition The holy Ghost proceedeth from the Father and the Sonne The proofe from Gods word The proceeding of the holy Ghost from the Father and the Sonne we gather from the holy scripture which teacheth how The Father sendeth the comforter which is the holy Ghost in the name of the Sonne and the sonne sendeth the comforter the spirit of truth from the Father he proceedeth of the Father and is sent of the Sonne So with vs say the auncient Fathers and Christians He proceedeth from the Father and the Sonne The holy Ghost is of the Father and of the Sonne neither made nor created but proceeding So there is one Father not three Fathers one sonne not three sonnes one holy Ghost not three holy Ghostes which is the faith of the moderne christians Errors and aduersaries vnto this truth This discouereth all them to be impious and to erre from the way of truth which hold and affirme That the holy Ghost proceedeth neither from the Father nor the Sonne but is one and the same person that Christ is as the Arrians doe That the holy Ghost proceedeth from the Father but not from the sonne as at this day the Graecians the Russians the Moscouites maintaine That there is a double proceeding of the holy Ghost one temporall the other eternall an error of Peter Lombard vncontrolled hitherto and therefore well liked of the Papists 6. Article Of the sufficiencie of the holy Scripture for saluation Holy Scripture 1 containeth all things necessarie for saluation so that whatsoeuer is not read therein nor may be prooued thereby is not to be required of any man that it should be beleeued as an article of the Faith or be thought requisite necessary to saluation 2 In the name of the holy Scripture we doe vnderstand those Canonicall bookes of the old and newe testament of whose authoritie was neuer any doubt in the Church Of the names and number of the Canonicall bookes Genesis Exodus Leviticus Numbers Deuteronomium Iosue Iudges Ruth The 1. Booke of Samuel The 2. Booke of Samuel The 1. Booke of Kings The 2. Booke of Kings The 1. Booke of Chronicles The 2. Booke of Chronicles The 1. Booke of Esdras The 2. Booke of Esdras The Booke of Esther The Booke of Iob. The Psalmes The Proverbs Eccles. or the Preacher Canticles or song of Salomon 4. Prophets the greater 12Prophets the lesse 3 And the other bookes as Hierome saith the Church doth read for example of life and instruction of manners but yet doth it not applie them to stablish any doctrine Such are these following The 3. Booke of Esdras The 4. Booke of Esdras The Booke of Tobias The Booke of Iudith The rest of the Booke of Hester The Booke of wisedome Iesus the sonne of Sirach Baruch the Prophet Song of the 3. children The story of Susanna Of Bel and the Dragon The praier of Manasses The 1. Booke of Macchabes The 2. Booke of Macchabes 4 All the bookes of the newe Testament as they are commonly receiued we doe receiue and accompt them for Canonicall The propositions 1. The sacred Scripture conteineth all things necessarie to be knowen and beleeued for the saluation of man 2. All the bookes in the volume of the Bible are not Canonicall but some and namely those here specified are 3. The 3. 4. bookes of Esdras the booke of Tobias c. are apocryphal 4. Of the newe Testament all the bookes are Canonicall 1. Proposition The sacred Scripture containeth all things necessary to be knowne and beleeued for the saluation of man The proofe from Gods word THe holy Scriptures to be sufficient to instruct vs in all things necessary to be knowen and beleeued for mans saluation the word of God teacheth Ye shall put nothing vnto the word which I command you saith the Lord neither shall yee take ought therefrom Whatsoeuer I command you take heed you doe it thou shalt put nothing thereto nor take ought therfrom Thou shalt not turne away from it to the right hand nor to the left that thou maist prosper whither soeuer thou goest Euery word of God is pure c. Put nothing vnto his words least he reprooue thee and thou be found a liar These things are written that ye might beleeue c. and that in beleeuing yee might haue life through his Name The whole Scripture is giuen by inspiration of God and is profitable to teach to improoue to correct and to instruct in righteousnesse that the man of God may be absolute beeing made perfect vnto all good workes If any man shall adde vnto these things God shall adde vnto him the plagues that are written in this booke and if any man shall diminish of the wordes of this booke God shall take away his part out of the booke of life and out of the holy cittie and from those things which are written in this booke Hereunto Gods people both alwaies haue and at this present doe subscribe The Errors and adversaries vnto this truth Therefore adversaries be wee to all adversaries to this truth especially To such as scorne and contemptuously reiect the booke of God as both did the Circumcellians which defaced and burnt the holy Scriptures and Pope Leo the tenth who tearmed the holy Gospel A fable of Christ and doe the prophane Atheists Also to such as debase the credite and estimation of the holy Scriptures as Dauid George did and both doe the papists who haue an opinion that the scriptures of God are not sufficient to instruct mankinde vnto saluation and the Anabaptists which deeme not the holy Bible to be the word of God with the Familie of Loue in whose bookes nothing is more frequent then the tearming of Gods reverend ministers and preachers Scripture learned Also to them which with Gods word doe equall their owne doctrines
but in Lymbo And lastly from those Germane diuines which thinke that our Sauiour carried with him into heauen the faithfull people in soule and bodie raised at his resurrection 3. Proposition Christ shall come againe at the last day to iudge all men euen the quicke and the dead The proofe from Gods word God annointed Iesus of Nazareth with the holie Ghost and with power c. Hence God raised vp the third day c. And he commanded vs to preach vnto the people to testifie that it is hee that is ordained of God a Iudge of quicke and dead saith S. Peter God shall iudge the world by Iesus Christ Iesus Christ shall iudge the quicke and dead at his appearing and in his kingdome c. Henceforth is laid vp for me the crowne of righteousnesse which the Lotd the righteous iudge shall giue mee at that day and not to mee onely but vnto all them also that loue his appearing saith S. Paul The Iudge standeth before the doore saith S. Iames And this Gods church and people doe firmely beleeue and faithfully confesse Errors and adversaries vnto this truth On the other side both they abroad and we at home abhorre them for their opinions which said that There shall be no generaâ—l iudgement at all as did the Manichies and doe the atheists That the deuills and the most vngodly some of them and namely so manie as in hell do call vpon God for mercie and forgiuenesse say the Turkes yea of al them say the Originists and Catabaptists shall be saued That the wicked shall not be iudged at all but shall die as the bruite beasts and neither rise againe in body nor come vnto iudgement An error of the Familie of Loue That Christ shall not be the future Iudge so thought both Dauid George Coppinger and Arthington For that George rumord himselfe to be the iudge of the whole world and Coppinger and Arthington published how one William Hacket was come to iudge the world and themselues to be his angels for the separating the sheepe from Goates That besides Christ the Pope is iudge of the quick dead An error of the Papists That afore the iudgement there shall be a golden world the godly and none besides enioying the same peaceably and gloriously as the Iewes imagine That the Beleife touching the general Iudgement of Christ ouer the liuing and dead is a doctrine mysticall or a mysterie no historie as H.N. teacheth That the righteous are alreadie in godly glorie and shall from henceforth liue euerlastingly with Christ and raigne vpon the Earth as the Familie of Loue holdeth 5. Article Of the holy Ghost The holy Ghost proceeding from the Father and the Sonne 2 is of one substance maiesty and glorie with the Father and the Sonne 1 very and eternall God The Propositions 1. The holy Ghost is very and eternall God 2. The holy Ghost is of one substance maiestie and glorie with the Father and the Sonne 3. The holy Ghost proceedeth from the Father and the Sonne 1. Proposition The holy Ghost is very and eternall God The proofe from Gods word THe holy Ghost to be verie and eternall God the Scripture teach vs. For he is the Creator of all things In the beginning God created the heauen and the earth c. And the spirit of God mooued vpon the waters O Lord how manifold are thy workes c. If thou hide thy face they are troubled if thou take away their breath they die and returne to their dust if thou send forth thy spirit they are created Ergo the holy Ghost is God Christians are to be baptized in the name of the holy Ghost aswell as of the Father and the Sonne Therefore is he verie God Ananias lied vnto God and Sapphira tempted God when both he lied vnto the holy Ghost and shee tempted the spirit of the Lord. As God he chooseth assigneth and sendeth forth men for the ministerie of the Gospel as God he decreeth orders for his Church and people and as God he is to be invocate and praied vnto as well as the Father and the Sonne Vpon this and the like words I beleeue in the holy Ghost I beleeue in the holy Ghost the Lord and giuer of life the Catholike Faith is this that wee worship one God in Trinitie and Trinitie in Vnitie c. The Father is God the Sonne is God and the holy God And yet they are not three Gods but one God c. say the auncient Fathers which also is the Faith and confession of all Gods people at this day The Errors and adversaries vnto this truth This maketh to the condemnatioÌ„ of the Pneumatomacheis whereof Some impugne the deitie of the holy Ghost as did in old time Samosatenus and Photinus of late yeares Seruetus Ochinus abroad and Francis Ket Hamant and certaine Brownists among vs at home Some affirme the holy Ghost to be but a meere creature as did Arius the Semiarians the Macedonian heretikes the Tropickes Ochinus Some haue assumed the stile and title of the holy Ghost vnto themselues as did Simon Magus Montanus and Manes Some haue giuen the title of the holy Ghost vnto men and women so Hierax said that Melchisedech was the holy Ghost Simon Magus tearmed his Helene the holy Ghost The Helchesaites saide the holy Ghost was a woman and the naturall sister of Christ Many Papists and namely the Franciscanes blush not to say that S. Francis is the holy Ghost 2. Proposition The holy Gost is of one substance maiestie and glory with the Father and the Sonne The proofe from Gods word The holy Ghost effected the incarnation of Christ teacheth all things leadeth into all truth giueth vtterance to his seruants gifts vnto his people placeth rulers in the Church and ouerseers to feede the flocke of God sealeth the Elect vnto the day of redemption aswel as the Father and the sonne and these three viz. the Father the word and the holy Ghost are one Therefore is the holy Ghost of one substance maiestie and glory with the Father and the sonne And this was the beleefe of the auncient Fathers I beleeue say they in the holy Ghost the Lord and giuer of life c. who with the Father and the sonne together is worshipped and glorified who spake by the Prophets The Godhead of the Father of the Sonne and of the holy Ghost is all one the glory equal the maiesty coeternal Such as the Father is such is the Son such is the holy Ghost c And in this Trinitie none is afore or after other none is greater or lesse then another But the whole three persons be coeternall together and coequal The very
Iniunctions precepts and Traditions as doe the Papists For of their doctrine say the Rhemists whatsoeuer the lawfull Apostles Pastors or Preists of Gods church preach in the vnitie of the same Church meaning the newe church of Rome is to be taken for Gods owne word To the same purpose but more blasphemously StapletoÌ„ As the Iewes were to beleeue Christ so are wee simply in euery thing to beleeue the church of Rome whether it teacheth truth or errors Whatsoeuer by the authoritie of the Church is commanded ought of all men to be esteemed as the very Gospell saith Abbat Trithemius of Popish precepts and our English Rhemists He that despiseth the Churches or her lawfull Pastors precepts And of their Traditions He that refuseth ecclesiasticall traditions deserueth to be throwne out of the church among the Heathen as well as he which refuseth the Gospell saith Didacus Stella and the counsell of Trent with like affection of godlines and reuerence embrace wee and worship the bookes of the old and new Testament and ecclesiasticall Traditions saith the Counsell The like opinion haue the Moscovites of Traditions To them finally are we adversarie which aboue the Scriptures doe preferre their owne 1 inuentions as did the Philosophers whereof one said of Moses That good man maketh a trimme discourse but prooueth nothing and the Graecians to whome the Gospell is foolishnes 2 and imaginations as did the Manichies David George and doe the Turkes and Familie of Loue 3 or Traditions as doe the Papists who more cruelly doe punish the violators of their owne Traditions and ordinances then they doe the breakers of Gods commandements 4 or Statutes Edicts Iudgements Proclamations c. proceeding from the braine of man as Macâ—hiauell doth and his schollers 2. Proposition All the bookes in the volume of the Bible are not Canonicall but some are That some bookes and namely those aboue mentioned are Canonicall it hath bin graunted by the best learned and most godly of long time And as all reformed churches in the world are of the same iudgement with vs so in their publike Confessions some haue so accounted and iudged of them as we doe Adversaries to this truth Therefore to speake first of the canonicall bookes of the old Testament much haue they offended which either reiected all or allowed but some of the bookes of the old testament of the former sort were the Seuerians Basilides Carpocrates and the Manichies are the Catabaptistes of the latter were sundrie whereof Some receiued no moe but onely the fiue bookes of Moses as the Sadduceis Some of all the bookes in the old testament reiect the workes of Moses and namely his foure last bookes as the Moscovites Some embraced the Law onely and the Prophets as the Samarites Some esteemed neither the Law nor the Prophets as the Appelleans Some had in contempt the booke of the Canticles as Sebastian Castello And some the booke of Iob as the Anabaptists 3. Proposition The third and fourth bookes of Esdras the booke of Tobias c. be Apocrypha That diuers and namely these bookes mentioned are Apocrypha we are neither the first that said nor they alone which affirme the same For so iudge of them did the auncient councel at Laodicea and doe the Churches reformed and name-in France and Belgia c. Aduersaries vnto this truth So that they are to be held and taken heede of as Seducers which vpon the Church would thrust either other mens workes and deuises not comprised in the Bible as would Some the new Prophets Barrobas and Barrolf of Basilides the heretike Some the manifestations of Marcion the heretike Some the mysteries of Manichie the heritike Others Esaias Ascensorium of Hierax the heretike Others the Gospel after the Egyptians after S. Andrew S. Iames the lesser S. Peter S. Bartholomew the 12. Apostles Barnabas Nicodemus Thaddeus The Canons of the Apostles others Others the Acts of S. Abdie S. Andreas S. Paul Peter Philip Thomas Others the Reuelation of S. Paul Peter Steven Thomas Others the bookes of the Anabaptists of H.N. with Popish Legendes and the like Or the bookes Apocrypha within the volume of the Bible as the Papists who therefore anathematize and curse so many as take them not for Canonicall 4. Proposition Of the newe Testament all bookes are Canonicall Although some of the auncient Fathers and Doctors accepted not all the bookes contained within the volume of the newe Testament for Canonicall yet in the end they were wholly taken and receiued by the common consent of the Church of Christ in this world for the very word of God as they are at this day almost in all places where the Gospel is preached and professed Howbeit we iudge them Canonicall not so much because learned and godly men in the Church so haue and doe receiue and allowe of them as for that the holy Spirit in our hearts doth testifie that they are from God They carrie a sacred and diuine authoritie with them and they doe also agree in all pointes with the other bookes of God in the old Testament Errors adversaries vnto this truth Therefore in admitting all and euery of these bookes acknowledging them to be Canonicall we demonstrate our selues to be against Such as reiected all the newe Testament as did the Iewes our Matthew Hamant Such as allowed part but not the whole new Testament and these were of diuers sorts whereof Some allowed of the Euangelists onely Matthew as the Cerdonites and Ebionites others onely Luk as the Marcionites others onely Iohn as the Valentinians Some accepted onely the Acts of the Apostles as the Tatians others of all other bookes reiected the said Actes as the Manichies and the Seuerites Some of S. Pauls epistles tooke the epistles vnto Timothie and Titus onely to be Canonical as Marcion the heretike Some as Apocryphal refused the epistle vnto Philemon others the epistle vnto the Hebrewes the epistle of S. Iames as Althemerus others the first and second epistles of Iohn with the epistle of Iude as Wigandus others the epistle vnto the Hebrewes of Iames the two last of Iohn and of Iude as Cardinall Caietane Some reiected the booke of S. Iohns reuelations or the Apocalypse as Heshusius we are also against them which allowed neither the whole newe Testament nor those bookes wholly which they embraced as the Marcionites who defaced all those places in the Gospell after Luke and in the epistles which concernd either the diuinitie or humanitie of our Sauiour Christ And lastly are wee against them which receiue the whole new Testament but deface and put out such textes as mislike them as the Turkes who scrape out whatsoeuer they finde touching the passion of Christ alleadging how it was added purposely by the Iewes in
derision of Christians 7. Article Of the old Testament 1 The old Testament is not contrary to the new For both in the old and newe Testament euerlasting life is offered to mankinde by Christ who is the onely mediatour betweene God and man being both God and man 2 VVherefore they are not tr be heard which faine that the old Fathers did looke onely for transitory promises Although the law giuen from God by Moses as touching 3 Ceremonies and rites doe not binde Christian men 4 nor the ciuill precepts thereof ought of necessitie to be receiued in any Common wealth yet notwithstanding 5 no Christian man whatsoeuer is free from the obedience of the Commandements which are called morall The Propositions 1. The old Testament is not contrary to the newe 2. The old Fathers looked for eternall happinesse through Christ as well as for temporall blessings 3. Christians are not bound at all to the obseruation of the Iudaical ceremonies 4. The Iudiciall lawes of the Iewes are not necessarily to be receiued or established in any common wealth 5. No Christian man whatsoeuer is freed from the obedience of the lawe Moral 1. Proposition The old Testament is not contrary to the new The proofe from Gods word THat the old Testament is not contrary to the newe it may be prooued by many inuincible arguments yet it is most apparent in that our Sauiour Christ very God and very man as aboue art 2. hath bin declared is offered vnto mankind for his eternall saluation by them both For We learne that there is one and no Christs moe in the new and we learne the same in the old That Christ is the Sonne of God in the newe we learne the same in the old That Christ is very man in the new we learne that he should be so from the old That Christ was borne at Berhelem in the newe we learne that he should be so from the old That Christ was borne of a virgine in the new we learne that he should be so from the old That Christ was honoured of wise men in the new we learne that he should be so from the old That he road vpon an Asse vnto Ierusalem from the newe we learne that he should so doe from the old That he was betraied in the new we learne that he should be so from the old That hee suffered not for his owne but for our transgressions in the newe we learne that he should so doe from the old In the newe that he rose againe from the graue from the old that he should so do And in the newe that he ascended into heauen and in the old that he should so doe The adversaries vnto this truth Wee are then adversaries to all them which reiect as of no reckoning the old Testamēt as did both old heretikes as Basilides Carpocrates and the Manichies and the newe Libertines who say the old Testament is abrogated 2. Proposition The old Fathers looked for eternall happines through Christ as well as for temporall blessings The proofe from Gods word The old Fathers to haue looked not onely for transitorie promises but also for eternall happines through Christ the holy Scripture doth manifest S. Paul saith Brethren I would not haue you ignorant that all our Fathers were vnder the cloude and all passed through the sa and did all eate the same spirituall meat and did all drinke the same spirituall drinke for they dranke of the spirituall Rocke that followed them and the Rocke was Christ. By faith Noe was made heire of the righteousnesse which is by faith By faith Moses when he was come to age refused to be called the sonne of Pharaohs daughter and chose rather to suffer adversitie with the people of God then to enioy the pleasures of sinne for a season esteeming the rebukes of Christ greater riches then the treasures of Egypt for he had respect vnto the recompense of the reward c. All these through faith obtained good report and receiued not the promise God providing a better thing for vs that they without vs should not bee made perfite Abraham reioyced to see my day Abraham aboue hope beleeued vnder hope that hee should be the father of many nations Of which saluation the Prophets haue inquired and searched This truth was neuer doubted of in the church of God and is publikely acknowledged by some confessions The adversaries vnto this truth They are not then to be heard which thinke the Fathers faithfull people before Christ his time hoped onely for temporall not for spirituall if for spirituall yet not for etetnall happines as did many of the Iewish Atheists and Sadducis and doe the Familie of Loue which make the promises of happines by temporall blessings to be accomplished in this transitorie life Hence H. N. very strangely allegorizeth of the land of promise when he calleth it The good land of the vpright and concordable life and saith that The louely being or nature of the Loue is the life peace and ioy mentioned Rom. 14.6 and the land of promise wherein hony and milke floweth spoken of Exod. 3. a. 13. a. Deut. 8. b. This and more a great deale to this effect hath H. N. 3. Proposition Christians are not bounde at all to the obseruation of the Iudaicall ceremonies The proofe from the word of God That neither the whole law ceremoniall of the Iewes nor any part thereof is necessarily to be obserued of vs christians the holy Scripture teacheth vs by Peters vision the Apostles decree and by the doctrine of S. Paul As all beleeue so some Churches publikely acknowlege the same Errors Adversaries to this truth In a wrong opinion therefore be they who are of minde either that the lawe Ceremoniall whollie is to continue be in vse or that part thereof is yet in force and must be The former of these was the opinion of the false prophets the Cerinthians the Ebionites and is of the Iewes Armenians and Familie of Loue the latter is an error of our home Sabbatarians For say they The Sabboth was none of the Ceremonies which were iustly abrogated at the comming of Christ When all Iewish things haue bin abrogated onely be their very words the Sabboth hath continued still in the Church in his propet force that it might appeare that it was of a nature farre differing from them Whereas all other things were so changed that they were cleane taken away as the Preisthood the Sacrafices and Sacraments this day meaning the Sabboth day was so changed that it yet remaineth which sheweth that though all the other were ceremoniall and therefore had an ende This Sabboth was moral and therefore abideth still The Commandement of sanctifying euery Seuenth day as in the
Mosaicall decalogue is naturall morall and perpetuall is their doctrine 4. Proposition The Iudiciall lawes of the Iewes are not necessarily to be receiued or established in any Common wealth The profe from Gods word The truth hereof appeareth by the Apostles decree which sheweth wherevnto onely the primitiue church necessarily was tied By the Apostles doctrine which enioyneth Christians to yeeld obedieÌ„ce vnto the ordinaÌ„ces of their lawfull gouerners and commanders whosoeuer By the Apostles example and namely of the blessed S. Paul who tooke benefit and made good vse of the Romane and Emperiall lawes Adversaries vnto this truth This truth neither is nor euer was oppugned by any Church Only among our selues some thinke vs necessarily tied vnto all the Iudicials of Moses as the Brownists For they say The lawes Iudiciall of Moses belong as well vnto Christians as they did vnto the Iewes Others that wee are bound though not vnto all yet vnto some of the Iudicialls as holdeth T.C. and Philip Stubs 5. Proposition No Christian man whosoeuer is freed from the obedience of the law Morall The proofe from Gods word Thinke not that I am come to destroy the Lawe or the Prophets I am not come to destroy them but to fulfill them For truly I say vnto you saith our Sauiour Christ till heauen and earth perish one iot or one title of the law shall not scape till all things be fulfilled whosoeuer therefore shall breake one of these least commandements and teach men so shall be called the least in the kingdome of heauen c If thou wilt enter into life keepe the commandements c. Thou shalt nor kill thou shalt not commit adulterie thou shalt not steale thou shalt not beare false witnesse Honour thy father and thy mother Doe wee make the lawe of none effect through faith God forbid yea we establish the Lawe Circumcision is nothing and vncircumcision is nothing but the keeping of the Commandements of God The publike confessions of the Churches of God in France and Belgia agree with this Doctrine The Errors and adversaries vnto this truth Whereby are condemned as most wicked and vnsond the opinions Of the Manichies who found fault with the whole Lawe of God as wicked and prooceeding not from the true God but from the Prince of darkenes Of Brownist Glouer whose opinion was that Loue now is come in the place of the tenne commandements Of Iohannes Islebius and his followers the Antinonies who will not haue Gods lawe to be preached nor the consciences of sinners to be terrified and troubled with the iudgements of God Of Banister among our selues who held how it is vtterly euill for the Elect so much as to thinke much lesse to speake or heare of the feare of God which the Law preacheth 8. Article Of the three Creedes 1 The three Creedes Nicene creede Athanasius creede and that which is commonly called the Apostles creede ought thoroughly to be receiued and beleeued For 2 they may be prooued by most certaine warrants of holy Scripture The propositions 1. The Nicen Athanasian and Apostolicall Creedes ought to be receiued and beleeued 2. The three creedes viz. the Ni. Athan. and of the Apostles may be prooved by the holy Scripture 1. Proposition The Nicen Athanasian and Apostolicall Creedes ought to be receiued and beleeued THis Proposition the Churches of God both aunciently and in these daies doe acknowledge for true The adversaries vnto this truth Therefore much out of the way of Godlinesse are they which tearme the Apostles Creede A forged patcherie as Barrowe doth and Athanasius Sathanasius creede so did Gregorius Paulus in Polouia and in the newe Arrians and Nestorians in Lituania My selfe some â—8 yeares agoe heard a great learned man whose name vpon an other occasion afore is expressed to whose acquaintance I was artificially brought which in private conference betweene him and my selfe tearmed worthy Zanchius a Foole an Asse from his booke de tribus Elohim which refuteth the newe Arrians against whose sounders the Creedes of Athanasius and Nicene were deuised Him attentiuely I heard but could neuer since abide for those wordes in deede I neuer sawe him since 2. Proposition The three Creedes viz. the Ni. Athan. and of the Apostles may be prooued by the holy Scripture The proofe from Gods word Than this assertion nothing is more true For the Creedes I meane these three Creedes speake first Of one and the same God whom wee are to beleeue is for essence but one in persons three viz. the Father the Creator the Sonne the Redeemer the holy Ghost the sanctifier Next of the people of God which we must thinke and beleeue is The holy and Catholike Church The communion of Saints Pardoned of all their sinnes And appointed to arise from death and to enioy eternall life both in body and soule Aduersaries vnto this truth Therefore wee are enemies to all adversaries of this doctrine or any whit of the same in them comprised whether they be Atheists Iewes Sadduces Ebionites Tretheites Antitrinitarains Apollinarians Arrians Manichies Nestorians Origenians Turkes Papists Familists Anabaptists or whosoeuer 9. Article Of Originall or Birth sinne 1 Originall sinne standeth not in the follwing of Adam as the Pelagians doe vainely talke but 2 it is the fault corruption of the nature of euery man that naturally is engendred of the offspring of Adam whereby man is very far gone from originall righteousnesse and is inclined to evill so that the flesh lusteth against the spirit and therefore in euery person borne into the world it deserueth Gods wrath and damnation 3 And this infection of nature doth remaine yea in them that are regenerated whereby the lust of the flesh called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 VVhich some doe expound the wisedome some the Sensuallitie some the affection some the desire of the flesh is not subiect to the law of God And although there is no condemnation for them that beleeue and are baptised yet the apostle doth confesse that 4 Concupiscence and Lust hath of it selfe the nature of sinne The propositions 1. There is Originall sinne 2. Originall sinne is the fault and corruption of the nature of euery man c. 3. Originall sinne remaineth in God his deere children 4. Concupiscence euen in the regenerate is sinne 1. Proposition There is Originall sinne The proofe from Gods word In the holy Scripture we finde of Originall sinne the cause the subiect and the effects the cause thereof is Adams fall partly by the subtill suggestions of the deuill partly through his owne freewill and the propagation of Adam his corrupted nature vnto his seede and posteritie Except a man be borne againe he cannot see the kingdom of God saith our Sauiour Christ As by one man sinne entred into the world and death by sinne and so death
went ouer all men forasmuch as all men haue sinned saith S. Paul d. As new borne babes desire the sincere milke of the word that yee may grow thereby saith S. Peter And S. Iames Of his owne will begate he vs with the word of truth that we should be as the first fruits of his creatures And the fore-mentioned Apostle Paul againe You that were dead in trespasses and sinnes c. and were by nature the children of wrath as wel as others But God which is rich in mercy through his great loue wherewith he loued vs euen when we were dead by sinnes hath quickned vs together in Christ c. The subiect thereof is the olde man with all his powers minde will and heart For in the minde there is darkenes and ignorance of God and his will and in the will and heart of man there is concupiscence and rebellious affections against the law of God And the effects of this Birth or Originall sinne are first actuall sinnes and they both inward as vngodly affections and outward as wicked lookes prophane speech and diuelish actions next an euill conscience which bringeth the wrath of God death and eternall damnation All churches of God beleeue this and some in their publike confessions testifie so much The Errors and adversaries vnto this truth Thus armed with authoritie and forces from the word of God and assisted with the neighbour churches we offer battell 1. To the Iewes Carpocratians and Familie of Loue who flatly denie there is any originall sinne 2. To the Papists which say that Originall sinne is of all the least sinne and lesse then any veniall sinne Originall sinne is onely the debt of punishment for the sinne of Adam and not his fault Originall sinne is not properly sinne all this hath Ruardus Tapperus Such as are infected onely with Originall sinne are free from all sensible punishment 3. To Florinus and Blastus who make God the author of sinne 4. To the Sabbatarians among vs who teach that The life of God in Adam before his fall could not continue without a Sabbath The Sabboth was ordained before the fall of Adam and that not onely to preserue him from falling but also that being holy and righteous still he might haue bin preserued in the fauour of God which D. B. deliuereth in his Sabboth doctrine 5. We are also adversaries to the like curiously affected who enquire Whether it was Gods will that Adam should fall Whether God enforced our first parents to fall Why God stayed not Adam from falling c. 2. Proposition Originall sinne is the fault and corruption of the nature of euery man c. The proofe from Gods word Originall sinne is not the Imitation of Adam his disobedience For the Scripture speaketh of no such thing neither doth Gods people so thinke and some Churches by their extant Confessions with vs denie the same as the Church in France and the Lowe countries but it is partly the Imputation of Adam his disobedience vnto vs and partly the fault and corruption of mans nature as the Churches also acknowledge The adversaries vnto this truth Aduersaries vnto this truth are The Pelagians and Familie of Loue who say that Originall sinne commeth not by propagation but by Imitation Such as ascribe Originall sinne in no sort vnto man but either vnto God as did the Hermogenians or vnto the deuil as did the Valentinians The Manichies who preached that this sinne is another and a contrary substance within vs and proceeded no◠from our corrupted nature The Appollinarians who held originall sinne to be from nature The Papists who affirme that some persons and namely the virgine Mary is free from this Originall sinne sinne 3. Proposition Originall sinne remaineth in God his deere children The proofe from Gods word I allow not that which I doe for what I wouid that doe I not but what I hate that doe I saith S. Paul The flesh lusteth against the spirit and the spirit against the flesh so that yee cannot doe the same things that yee would Euery man is tempted when he is drawen away by his own concupiscence and is entised Dearely belooued I beseech you as strangers absteine from fleshly lusts which fight against the soule Nothing is more true in the iudgement of Gods people The Errors and adversaries vnto this truth We stand therefore in this point Against the Papists who say that Originall sinne was not at all much lesse remained in the Virgine Mary Against Giselbertus whose doctrine is that Baptisme once receiued there is in the baptized no sinne at al either originall or actuall Against the Familie of Loue who affirme that the elect and regenerate sinne not Against the Carpocratians whereof some boasted themselues to be euery way as innocent as our Sauiour Christ. Against the Adamites both old and newe who said they were in so good a state as Adam was before his fall therefore without originall sinne Against the Begadores in Almaigne affirming they were impeccable and had attained vnto the very top and pitch of perfection in vertue and godlines 4. Proposition Concupiscence euen in the regenerate is sinne Concupiscence in whomsoeuer lusteth against the Spirit fighteth against both the soule and the lawe of the minde and therefore but that there is no condemnation to them which are in Christ Iesus it bringeth death and damnation Mortifie therefore your members which are vpon earth saith S. Paul vnto the Colossians fornication vncleanes the inordinate affection euill concupiscence c. for the which things sake the wrath of God commeth on the children of disobedience And vnto all Christians S. Peter I beseech you as strangers abstaine from fleshly lusts To the same purpose is both the doctrine and Confessions of Gods people Errors adversaries vnto this truth Therefore wee mislike their opinions as vnsound which say that cōcupiscēce either is no sinne at all or but a veniall sin the former was an assertion of the Pelagians and is of the Papists that latter was one of Glouers errors Francis the Monke of Colen counted concupiscence no sin but said it was as naturall and so no more offensiue before God for man to lust then for the Sunne to keepe his course Petrus Lombardus saith that Concupiscence afore Baptisme is both a punishment and a sinne but after Baptisme is no sinne but onely a punishment The Church of Rome both teacheth that the power of lusting is not but the vse of wicked concupiscence is euill and numbred amongst most greiuous sinnes and decreeth how Concupiscence is not sinne but proceedeth from sinne and inclineth vnto sinne Glouer the Brownist said that the intemperate affections of the mind issuing from Concupiscence are but
false Apostles in Asia and at Ierusalem The Pharisaicall Papists who against the iustification by faith alone doe hould a iustification by merits and that of Congtuitie dignitie condignitie The said Papists teach besides that life eternall is due vnto vs of debt because wee deserue it by our good workes They teach finally that by good workes our sinnes are purged 12. Article Of good workes Albeit that good workes which are the fruits of faith and follow after iustification cannot put away our sinnes endure the seueritie of Gods iudgement 1 yet are they pleasing and acceptable to God in Christ 2 and doe spring out necessarily of a true liuely Faith insomuch that by them a liuely Faith 3 may be as euidently knowne as a tree discerned by the fruite The propositions 1. Good workes doe please God 2. No worke is good except it spring from Faith 3. Good workes are the outward signes of the inward Beleefe 1. Proposition Good workes doe please God The proofe from Gods word THough God accepteth not man for his workes but for his deere sonnes sake yet that good workes after man his iustification doe please God it is a cleere truth euery where to be read in the holy Scripture For God hath commanded them to be done and requireth righteousnesse not onely outward of the body but also inward of the mind and hath appointed for the vertuous and godly rewardes both in this life and in the world to come and to the wicked punishments spirituall corporall and of bodie and soule eternall in the pit of hell And this is beleeued and acknowledged by the Churches The Errors and adversaries vnto this truth This truth is oppugned by adversaries of diuers kindes For Some hold that seeing man is iustified by Faith he may liue as he listeth as the Libertines Some thinke that to attend vpon vertue and to practise good workes is a yoake too heavie and intollerable as the Simonians Some vtterly cast of all grace vertue and godlines as did the Basilidians the Aetians the Circumcellians and doe the Macchiuilians and Atheists Some permit though not all manner yet some sinnes so allowed was both whordome and vncleane pollutions by the Carpocratians and Valentinians and is of the Iesuits and Papists and periurie in the time of persecution by the Basilidians Helchesaites Priscillianists Henricians and Familie of Loue and violaters of promise yea and oaths made vnto heretikes as they call them Some as the Turkish preists called Seiti and Chagi take it to be no sinne but a worke meritorious by lies swearing yea forswearing to damnifie Christians what they can Much like vnto these are the aequiâ—ocating Iesuits in deluding and deceiuing Protestant Princes their officers by their doubtfull speeches euen when they are sworne to answer plainely and truly by their lawfull magistrates Some suppose that God is pleased with lip seruice onely outward righteousnesse as the hypocriticall Pharisies or Pharifaicall hypocrites 2. Proposition No worke is good excepâ— it spring from faith The proofe from Gods word All which man doth is not pleasing vnto God but that onely which proceedeth from a true faith in Iesus Christ so saith God in his word They that are in the flesh cannot please God In Iesus Christ neither Circumcision auaileth any thing neither vncircumcision but faith which worketh by loue Vnto the pure are all things pure but vnto them that are defiled and vnbeleeuing is nothing pure Without faith it iâ— vnpossible to please God And although the workes of the Beleeuing doe please God yet are they not so perfect that they can satisfie the lawe of God Therefore eueÌ„ of the regenerate iustified saith our Sauiour Christ pray forgiue vs our debts say wee are vnprofitable seruants and S. Paul Wee know that the lawe is spirituall but I am carnall c Wee which haue the first fruits of the spirit euen wee doe sigh in our selues c. and haue infirmities Ye cannot doe the same thing that ye would Which is the faith and confession of the Churches Errors adversaries vnto this truth Therefore wee mislike and condemne the opinions of the Valentinians and Papists The Valentinians say that please God doe Spirituall men which are themselues onely not by Faith but onely by their knowledge of diuine mysteries and Naturall men do please him by their bodily labour and vpright dealing The said Valentinians fained three sorts or degrees of men the first spirituall who through bare knowledge the next Natural who by labour and true dealing shall be saued the third they call Materiall meÌ„ vtterly vncapable of diuine knowledge and religious speculations who must perish both in soule and body The Papists teach that They onely are not good workes which God commandeth but they also which be either voluntarily done of our selues or enioyned vs by preists They are good workes and acceptable before God which are done without faith Workes of themselues without respect vnto Christ please God Men perfectly may keepe the Lawes of God in which error also be the Anabaptists and Familie of Loue 3. Proposition Good workes are the outward signes of the inward Beleefe The proofe from Gods word Many are the reasons why good workes are to be done in part cited afore pag. 49. yet not the least cause is that men may be knowne what they are For the Scripture saith and sheweth that thereby are knowne the good trees from the bad the wheate from the chaffe the tâ—ue disciples from the false the sonnes of God from the children of Satan the regenerate from the vnbeleeuers Hereunto the Saints and Churches doe subscribe Errors adversaries vnto this truth The faithfull shewe their workes yet neither to haue them seene of men as did the hypocriticall Pharisies nor therby to merit heauen as doe the Pharisaicall Papists whose doctrine is that Good workes are meritorious Good workes as Contrition Confession and satisfaction done in penance not onely do merit but are besides a Sacrament for to attaine reconciliation with God and forgiuenes of sinnes Life eternall is due vnto good workes by the iustice of God 13. Article Of workes before Iustification VVorkes done before the grace of Christ and the inspiration of his Spirit 1 are not pleasant to God forasmuch as they spring not of Faith in Iesus Christ 2 neither doe they make men meete to receiue grace or as the schoole authors say deserue grace of congruitie yea rather 3 for that they are not done as God hath willed and commanded them to be done we doubt not but they haue the nature of sinne The Propositions 1. Workes done before iustification please not God 2. Workes done before iustification deserue not grace of
from Gods word THat Christ was pure from sinne it is abundantly to be seene in the holy Scriptures For Hee was both conceiued and borne without sinne Hee appeared to loose but not to fulfiâ—l the workes of Satan He liued and was tempted yet without sinne and did no sinne knewe no sinne nor had any sinne in him He died a guiltlesse and iust man euen by the testimonie of Paul Peter Stephen yea of his advsrsarie and iudge Pilate As ours such is the confessions of the purer Churches m. Errors Adversaries to this truth Cursed therefore before God are the Iewes which said that Christ was a violator of the Sabboth That hee taught being not lawfully authorized therevnto That he forbad tribute to be giuen vnto Caesar That hee was the destroyer of the law That he ouerthrew all religion and moued the commons vnto rebellion In this state with the Iewes are The Marcionites which said that he dissolued the Law the Prophets and all the workes of God The Saturnians which blazed that his comming into the world was to ouerthrow the God of the Angels Our newe Heretikes viz. Matthew Hamant in England which divulged that Christ was a sinfull man and an abominable Idol and Leonardus Vairus among the Papists which hath written that Christ was Veneficus or a common poisoner of men and women 2. Proposition All men besides Christ though regenerate be sinners The proofe from Gods word All meÌ„ either be regenerate or vnregenerate the vnregenerate be all sinners vnrighteous sin in whatsoeuer they do The regenerate also be not without their sinnes both originall and actuall Besides there is no man iust in the earth that doth good and sinneth not saith the preacher yee cannot doe the same things that ye would Christ Iesus came into the world to saue sinners of whome I am cheife saith S. Paul In many things we sinne all is S. Iames saying and S. Iohn If we say we haue no sinne we deceiue our selues the truth is not in vs Pray therefore Forgiue vs our debts A truth beleeued and confessed by all Churches expressedly by some The Errors and adversaries vnto this truth Many adversaries hath this truth had and hath as the Papists the Manichies the Catharans the Donatists the Pelagians Familie of Loue Marcionites Adamites and Carpocratians For The Papists say that the blessed virgin was pure from all sinne both Originall and actuall For these are their owne wordes Our Lady neuer sinned Our Lady sinned not so much as venially in all her life she exactly fulfilled the whole Law that is was without sinne Also of S. Francis they write that for virtue and Godlines he was like vnto Christ and hath fulfilled euery iot of the Law The Manichies and Catharans thought they could not sinne so much as in thought The Donatists dreamed how they were so perfect as they could iustifie other men Some were of opinion as the Pelagians and Familie of Loue how they were so free from sinne as they needed not to say Forgiue vs our trespasses Which Familie also teacheth how there be men liuing as good and as holy as euer Christ was An error of Christopher Vitels a cheife Elder in the said Familie and that Hee which is a Familist is either as perfect as Christ or els a very Deuill Some deemed themselues as pure as Paul Peter or any men as the Marcionites yea as Adam and Euah before their fal as the Adamites yea as Iesus Christ himselfe as the Carpocratians 16. Article Of sinne after Baptisme 1 Not euery deadly sinne willingly commited after Baptisme is sinne against the holy Ghost and vnpardonable VVherefore the grant of repentance is not to be denied to such as fall into sinne after Baptisme 2 After we haue receiued the holy Ghost we may depart from grace giuen and into sinne and by the grace of God wee may rise againe and amend our liues And therefore they are to be condemned which say they can no more sinne as long as they liue heere 3 or denie place of forgiuenes to such as truly repent The propositions 1. Euery sinne committed after Baptisme is not the sinne aganst the holy Ghost 2. The very regenerate may depart from grace giuen and fall into sinne and yet rise againe vnto newnesse of life 3. No men vtterly are to be cast off as reprobates which vnfainedly repent 1. Proposition Euery sinne committed after Baptisme is not the sinne against the holy Ghost The proofe from Gods word THough euery sinne in it selfe considered deserueth damnation yet is there a sinne which shall be punished with many and a sinne which shall be punished with few stripes a sinne vnto death and a sinn not vnto death a sinne against the Father and the Sonne which shall be forgiuen and a sinne against the holy Ghost which neuer shall be forgiuen So in their extant confessions witnesse the Churches in Bohem Saxonie and Heluetia Errors adversaries vnto this truth Diuerslly hath this doctrine bin oppugned For Some haue thought all sinnes to be like and equall as the Stoikes Pelagians and Iouinians Some haue taught as Manes the heretike how none of the godly fathers and others from the beginning of the world till the 15. yeare of Tiberius the Emperour though earnestly they did repent were saued but were all punished alike with vtter confusion Some giue out that such persons be vtterly out of Gods fauour and condemned which depart out of this world either afore they are baptized as the Papists doe or afore they come vnto yeares of discretion as Hieranites did 2. Proposition The very regenerate may depart from grace giuen and fall into sinne and yet rise againe vnto newnes of life The proofe from the word of God That the Regenerate may fall into sinne and yet rise againe it is a doctrine grounded vpon the Scriptures For in them wee euidently may see that fall they may partly by the admonitions of our Sauiour vnto the man healed of the Palsie and vnto the adultresse of S. Paul vnto the Ephesians Colossians Hebrewes and Timothie and of S. Peter vnto all the godly and partly by the examples of Dauid Salomon Peter who egregiously and very offensiuely did fall and that they doe fall it is most euident by the fift petitioÌ„ of the Lords praier were nothing els to prooue the same but see afore 9. art Prop. 3. art 12. prop. 2. art 15. propo 2. Next that being fallen they may rise againe and be saued it is apparent both by the exhortations of the Angell vnto the Churches of Ephesus Pergamus and Thyatira and by the examples of Peter who denied and
left hand is not mine to giue but it shall be giuen to them for whome it is prepared of my Father Many are called but fewe chosen For the elects sake those daies shall be shortned Feare not little flocke for it is your Fathers pleasure to giue you a kingdome I tell you in that night there shall be two in one bedde the one shall be receiued and the other shall be left All that the Father giueth mee shall come vnto me Witnessed also is this by the Euangelist Luke and Paul the one saith how of the Gentiles at Antioch so many as were ordained vnto eternall life beleeued and the other those whome he knewe before he did also predestinate Wee are vnto God the sweete sauour of Christ in them that are saued and in them which perish to the one wee are the fauour of death vnto death and to the other the sauour of life vnto life Blessed be God euen the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ which c. hath chosen vs in him before the foundation of the world c. who hath predestinate vs to be adopted through Iesâ—â— Christ vnto himselfe c The examples also of the elected creatures man and Angels of the two brethren Abel and Kaine Isaac and Ismael Iacob and Esau of the two Eunuches of K. Pharao of the two kingdomes Iuda and Israel the two peoples Iewes and Gentiles the two Apostles Peter and Iudas the two Theeues vpon the Crosse the two men in the fieldes and the two women at the Mill make to the illustration of this truth All Churches consent with this doctrine The Errors and adversaries vnto this truth Erre therefore doe they which stand in opinion that Some are appointed to be saued but none to be damned In soule some persons but in soule and body together none shall be saued of this minde were the old heretikes viz. the false Apostles the Carpocratians the Valentinians the Cerdonites the Manichies and the Hieranites and of their opinion be the Familie of Loue 2. Proposition Predestination hath bin from euerlasting The profe from Gods word Predestination beganne before all times It will be said saith our Sauiour Christ Come ye blessed of my Father inherite ye the kingdome prepared for you from the foundations of the world God hath chosen vs in Iesus Christ before the Foundation of the world God hath saued vs c. according to his owne purpose and grace which was giuen to vs through Christ Iesus before the world was The publike confessions of the Churches namely in Heluetia Basil and France beare witnesse herevnto Aduersaries vnto this truth Those wrangling Sophisters then are deceiued who because God is not included within the compasse of any time but hath all things to come as present continually before his eies doe say that God he did not in the time long agoe past onely but still in the time present likewise doth predestinate 3. Proposition They which are predestinate vnto saluation cannot perish The proofe from Gods word All that the Father giueth mee shall come to mee and him that commeth to mee I cast not away saith Christ I giue vnto them eternall life and they shall neuer perish neither shall any pluck them out of my hand c. none is able to take them out of my Fathers hand The gates of hel shall not ouercome the Church Moreouer whome be predestinate them hee also glorified For the giftes and calling of God are without repentance They went oâ—t from vs but they were not of vs for if they had beene of vs they would haue continued with vs So the Churches of God as afore in this article The Errors and adversaries vnto this truth Wander then doe they from the truth which thinke That the very elect totally and finally may fall from grace and be damned That the regenerate may fall from the grace of God may destroy the temple of God and be broken off from the vine Christ Iesus which was one of Glouers errors That the number of those which be predestinate may both encrease and be diminished so thought the Pelagians 4. Proposition Not all men but certaine be predestinate to be saued The proofe from Gods word Wee denie that all and affirme that a certaine chosen and companie of men be predestinate and so doth Gods word Reioice that your names are written in heauen I knowe mine and am knowne of mine is the saying of Christ Iesus I suffer all things for the elects sake saith S. Paul The very same with vs doe the Churches affirme Adversaries vnto this truth Wee are therefore against them which teach how not certain but all euen the most vngodly and damnable yea the very Deuils shall be saued of which opinion were the Originists and are the Cptabaptists All men be elected vnto life euerlasting There is no hell nor future and eternall misterie at all but only either in maÌ„s opinioÌ„ as hold the Atheists or in the heart and conscience of man in this life as the Familists maintaine No certaine companie be foredestined vnto eternall condemnation None more then others be predestinate vnto saluation which was an error of Henry Bolsteck In like sort we condemne such as either curiously enquire who and how many shall be saued or damned or giue the sentence of reprobation vpon any men whosoeuer as doe the Papists vpon Caluine Beza and Verone when they call them Reprobates 5. Proposition Of the meere will and purpese of God some men in Christ Iesus are elected and not others vnto saluation The proofe from Gods word In the Scripture wee read of mans predestination the cause efficient to be the euerlasting purpose of God the cause formall God his infinite mercie and goodnes the cause materiall the blood of Christ the cause finall or ende why both God the Father hath loued and Christ for his elect hath suffered is the glorie of God and the saluation of man And this doe all the Churches militant and reformed with a sweete consent testifie and acknowledge Errors adversaries vnto this truth Hereby is discouered the impietie of those men which thinke that 1. Man doth make himselfe eligible for the kingdome of heauen by his owne good workes and merits So teach the Papists The kingdome of heauen say they is prepared for them that are worthie of it and deserue it by their well doing Licet electis gloria ex eterna Dei predestinatione dimanet non tamen provenit nisi ex eorum operibus c. Sine nobis non glorificamur 1. Although from Gods eternall predestination glory floweth to the elect yet for all that it springeth not but from their owne workes c. Without our selues wee are not glorified 2. God
into the world that he should condemne the world but that the world through him might be saued God will that all men shall be saued and come vnto the knowledge of the truth 2. The doctrine of the Gospell for the free remission of sinnes is to be preached not vnto a fewe but vniuersally and generally vnto all men Goe therefore and teach all nations baptizing them c Goe into all the world and preach the Gospell to euery creature He that shall beleeue and be baptized shall be saued but hee that will not beleeue shall be damned 3. The seales of the couenant be appointed to be giuen to all men and members of the visible Church or desirous to be ineorporated there into For All are to be baptized and all are to participate of the bread and cuppe at the Lords supper 4. As the disobedience of Adam brought condemnation vpon all men so the blood and obedience of Christ is able all-sufficient to wash away all sinnes and that of all men 5. No man euer truly repented but he was receiued againe into fauour so was Dauid after his adulterie Manasses after his Idolatrie Peter after his Apostacie the Thiefe vpon the Crosse the Niniuites The adversaries vnto this truth They are not to be heard then which say that The number of the Elect is but small and seeing wee are vncertaine whether wee be of that companie or no wee will proceede in our course as wee haue begunne God is an acceptor of persons and so vniust in chusing some and refusing others God hath predestinate all those personns to eternall death which are not in the state of true repentance which was one of Glouers errors It is the part therefore of all and euery man Not to refuse the mercies of God both generally and gratiously offered vnto all men by his word and Sacraments Not to despaire in respect either of the greatnes or multitude of his sinnes Nor yet to prouoke the Lord to execute his vengeance vpon them through prophanes of life or securitie 10. Proposition In our actions the word of God which is his reuealed will must be our direction The proofe from Gods word In our doings but cheiefly in the matter of Predestination wee are to follow not our own iudgement and what seemeth good in our owne opinions but the will of God and that will too not which is concealed from vs viz. of God his omnipotencie wherby he gouerneth at his pleasure the things by himselfe created whereof mention is made both in the Psalmes in the Prophet Isay and other places of his word but of his fauour and good pleasure towards man reuealed in the holy Scriptures by Iesus Christ whome wee are to heare Subscribed hereunto haue and doe Gods church euery where The adversaries vnto this truth This truth is gainesaid by the Phrygians Montanists and Messalians also by the Enthusiastes Anabaptists And Familie of Loue which leaue the written word of God and relie vpon their owne dreames visions and lying reuelations Hence proceedeth the contempt of Gods written word and of the Preachers and all religious exercises thereof For saith the Familie of Loue No difference is there betweene a ceremoniall either Letre Doctor Christian an vncircumcised Heathen 18. Article Of obtaining eternall saluation onely by the name of Christ. 1 They also are to be had accursed that presume to say that euery man shall be saued by the Lawe or sect which he professeth so that he be â—iligent to frame his life according to that Law and the light of nature For holy Scripture doth set out vnto vs 2 onely the name of Iesus Christ whereby men must be saued The propositions 1. The profession of euery religion cannot saue a man liue he neuer so virtuously 2. No man euer was is or shall be saued but onely by the Name or faith of Iesus Christ. 1. Proposition The profession of euery religion cannot saue a man liue hee neuer so virtuously The proofe from the word of God THis we cannot but acknowledge to be a truth if wee beleeue the Scriptures for they testifie that Iewes and Gentiles are all vnder sinn culpable before God and depriued of the glory of God All men that would be saued must be borne againe of the holy Ghost No man is iustified by the workes of the Lawe either ceremoniall or morall God hateth the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes and of Balaam The Reprobate whose names are not written in the booke of the life of the Lambe they doe worship the Beast Punishments eternall and intolerable are threatned both to the Beast and the false prophet and likewise to all such as will not goe out of Babylon and to all Idolaters The confessions of Gods people are to this ende and purpose Errors adversaries vnto this truth Then to be had accursed are they which affirme that This obseruation of the Iudaicall ceremonies is necessarie vnto saluation as did the false apostles the Ebionites and the Corinthians Such throughout the world as lead an vpright life and be morally righteous whatsoeuer their religion is shall be saued as many of the Philosophers were in the opinion of the Valentinian and Basilidian heretikes of Galeatus Martius and Erasmus Roterodam That men externally may professe any religion and notwithstanding be saued if their affections and hart be with the Familie of Loue That all those which liue vprightly and doe good deedes shall be of equall happines in the kingdome of heauen be they Turkes Christians Iewes or Moores A Turkish error That men may embrace and follow the sect and religion which they haue most minde vnto and so doing please God and shall be saued the Lampatians doctrine That no sect euer erred or were out of the way to heauen a fancie of the Rhetorians 1. Proposition No man euer was is or shal be saued but onely by the name or Faith of Iesus Christ. The proofe from Gods word This wee cannot but acknowledge to be true if also wee beleeue the scriptures which say that Among men there is giuen none other name vnder heauen whereby wee must be saued Through Iesus Christ his name all that beleeue in him shall receiue remission of sinnes In thee viz. Christ Iesus shall all the Gentiles be blessed And this is the Faith and confession of the reformed Churches The errors and Adversaries vnto this truth Many waies this truth very heretically is oppugned For Some teach that wee are saued not by Christ but as the Valentinians said by the labour of their hands and by their owne good workes as Simon Magus boasted by his faire Helene as Matthew Hamant held by other meanes and that all persons which worshipped Christ are abominable Idolaters as
Neuserus and Siluanus beleeued by Mahomet and therefore he reuolted from Christianitie vnto Turcisme Others confesse that wee are saued by the name of Christ but either not by the right and true Christ for they said themselues and euery of themselues were Christ as in old time did Saturninus Manes Desider Burdegal and Eudo de Stella and of late yeares at Basil Dauid George and in England first one Iohn Moore and afterward William Hacket the former was whipt for the same at Bethlehem in the second of Queene Elizabeth the other hanged and quartered in Cheapside An. 1591. Or by the true Christ but either distinguish betweene Iesus and Christ saying Iesus was one man and Christ another as did the Marcionites Or say there be two Christs one reuealed alreadie in the daies of Tiberius the Emperour who came for the saluation of the Gentiles another yet to come for the redemption of the Iewes so thought the same Marcionites Nestorius held also there were two Christs whereof one was very God the other very man borne of a woman Or publish how none were saued by the true Christ til the 15. yeare of the foresaid Tiberius an heresie of Manes and his companie Others besides as the Familie of Loue vnderstand all things written of Christ allegorically and not according to the letter of Gods word For they teach that whatsoeuer is written of Christ must in vs and with us be fulfilled Others haue thought yea haue spoken blasphemously of the constant and holy Martyrs who for the name of Christ gaue their liues in England in the raigne of Queene Mary some saying They were stark fooles as did Christophet Vitel a chiefe Elder in the Familie of Loue others as Westphalus and Marbachius that they were the Diuels martyrs 19. Article Of the Church 1 The visible Church of Christ 2 is a congregation 3 of faithfull men in the which 5 the pure word of God is preached and the Sacraments be duly ministred according to Christs ordinance in all those things that of necessitie are requisite to the same As 6 the Church of Ierusalem Alexandria and Antioch hath erred so also 7 the Church of Rome hath erred not onely in their liuing and manner of ceremonies but also in matters of Faith The Propositions 1. There is a Church of Christ not onely inuisible but also visible 2. There is but one Church 3. The visible Church is a Catholike church 4. The word of God was and for time is before the Church 5. The markes and tokens of the visible Church are the due and true administration of the word and Sacraments 6. The visible Church may and from time to time hath erred both in doctrine and conuersation 7. The Church of Rome most shamefully hath erred in life ceremonies and matters of faith 1. Proposition There is a Church of Christ both inuisible and visible The proofe from Gods word A true saying is it the Lord and he onely knoweth who are his For to man the Church of Christ is partly inuisible and visible partly The inuisible are all the Elect who be or shall be either in heauen triumphing or on earth fighting against the flesh the world and the Deuill These as members of the Church are said to be inuisible not because the men be not seene but for that their faith and conscience to Godward is not perfectly knowne vnto vs. The members of the visible Church are some of them for God and some against God all of them notwithstanding deemed parts of the Church and accōnted faithfull so long as they make no manifest and open rebellion against the Gospell of Christ. And all this wee gather from the holy Scripture where mention is made of the Church inuisible and triumphing Rev. 2.26.28 3.5.12 7 14.55 inuisible and militant in the epistles of S. Paul Peter and booke of S. Iohns reuelations also of the Church visible and mixed with good and bad by the parable of the sower of the Marriage and of the Virgins as also by the saying of our Sauiour Christ and of S. Paul The Churches beare witnes hereunto The Errors and adversaries vnto this truth This truth hath many adversaries whereof Some renounce our Christ the Sauiour of mankind and so thinke his people are not the Church as the Iewes Turkes and heretikes haue done Some acknowledge no triumphing state of the godly in heauen but dreame of an euer glorious condition in this world as the Familie of Loue Some thinke the church Catholike to be visible as the Papists Some imagine the Church militant is not visible at all as the Libertines Some giue out that the visible church is deuoid of sinne and sinners as did the Donatists and doe the Anabaptists Familie of Loue Brownists and Barroistes 2. Proposition There is but one Church The proofe from Gods word When wee doe say that the Church is visible inuisible and that there is a Westerne East Greeke Latine English Church wee meane not that there be diuers Churches of Christ but that one and the same Church is diuersly taken and vnderstood and also hath many particular Churches as the Sea many riuers and armes branching from it For the visible Church is not many congregations but one companie of the faithfull Wee being many are one Body in Christ and euery one one anothers members Wee that are many are one Bread and one Body For as the body is one and hath many members and all the members of the body which is one though they be many yet are but one body euen so is Christ. For by one spirit are we all baptized into one body c. Now ye are the body of Christ and members for your part For as wee haue many members in one body and all members haue not the same office so wee beeing many are one body in Christ and euery one one anothers members There is neither Iewe nor Grecian there is neither bond nor free there is neither male nor female for yee are all one in Christ Iesus All Gods people agree with vs in this point The Errors and adversaries vnto this truth The adversaries vnto the 18. article be also for a great part adversaries vnto this truth Furthermore although it be acknowledged by many and they too baptized for Christians that there is but one Church yet the same persons doe erre which condemne so many as no members of Christs church which ioyne not with them in their singular and priuate opinions arrogating the stile and title vnto themselues onely and denying all other men to be either the Church or members of the body of Christ. Such are The Russeis who boast how themselues with the Grecians are the onely Church of God themselues onely are the men who shall be saued all Christians beside
the pure preaching of Gods word and the administration of the Sacraments among Protestants to be the markes of Christ his visible Church and affirme the tokens hereof to be antiquitie Vnitie Vniuersality Succession c. as doth Stapleton Bristow Bozius Hill and Alabaster 2. Of the Brownists who make discipline and that too of their owne deuising such an essentiall argument of the visible Church as they thinke where that is not the magistrates there be Tyrants the ministers false prophets No Church of God is Antichristianitie doth raigne 3. Of the same Brownists and Barrowists who neither allow frequenting of sermons and ministring of the Sacraments nor haue any Sacraments administred among themselus 4. Of the Familie of Loue which haue in vtter contempt and derision both the Preachers and the Sacraments scornefully tearming the Preachers Scripture learned men Ceremoniall and Letre Doctors and the water at Baptisme Elementish water Neither doe wee approoue them who for these visible and externall put downe inuisible and spirituall tokens of the visible Church as Faith in Christ Iesus and Loue towards the Saintes which thing I. K. doth 6. Proposition The visible Church may and from time to time hath erred both in doctrine and conuersation The proofe from Gods word Had not this bin most true it had neuer bin auouched both by our Sauiour Christ and S. Paul Our Sauiour saith vnto his disciples concerning doctrine Take heede c. Beleeue it not Beware of the leauen of the Pharisies and of the leauen of Herod euen of the doctrine of the Pharisies and Sadduces Many shall be deceiued yea the very elect if it were possible Shall he finde faith on earth And concerning conuersation and manners hee prophecied that iniquitie shall be encreased and the loue of many shall be cold S. Paul writeth touching doctrine that Wee knowe in part Antichrist sitteth in the temple of God c. whose comming is by the working of Satan with all power and signes lying wonders and in all deceiueablenes among them that perish beuause they receiued not the loue of the truth that they might be saued and therefore God shall send them strong delusion that they should beleeue lies Beware of dogs beware of euill workes beware of concision And touching conuersation Restore c. least thou also be tempted I doe not the good thing which I would but the euill which I would not that doe I If I doe that I would not it is no more I that doe it but the sinne that dwelleth in mee There is a fight euen in the best men and members of Besides that Churches visible and glorious haue erred it appeareth euidently by the superstitioÌ„ heresies yea and Atheisme nowe raigning at Hierusalem Alexandria and Antioch This with vs the Churches in their confessions do acknowledge Errors adversaries vnto this truth The premises will not be graunted for true neither by the Papists which maintaine that in faith doctrine the church meaning thereby the visible Church whose Rector is the Pope of Rome neuer erreth neuer hath erred and neuer can erre Nor yet by these which say the Church cannot erre for manners such were the Donatists and are the Anabaptists with the Familie of Loue 7. Proposition The church of Rome most shamefully hath erred in life ceremonies and matters of faith The proofe Iustly is the church of Rome condemned of vs and all churches reformed because shee hath erred and still very badly euery way doth offend 1. In life For. At Rome the harlot hath a better life Then shee that is a Romanes wife O Roma à Roma quantum mutata vetusta es Nunc caput es scelerum quae caput orbis eras If yee spell Roma backeward saith I. Bale yee shall finde it to be Amor Loue in this prodigious kind For it is a preposterous Amor Loue out of kinde Hence the Pasquil poets Roma quid est Quod te docuit praeposterus ordo Quid docuit Iungas versa elementa scies Roma Amor est Amor est qualis Praeposterus Vnde hoc Roma mares Noli dicere plura scio Againe Roma vale vidi satis est vidisse Reuertar Cùm Leno aut meretrix Scurra cynadus ero 2. In ceremonies which are for number infinite Gerson writeth how diuers men haue runne into desperation others haue killed themselues finding that they were not able to keepe and performe the ceremonies of the Romish church For vse a so they are vaine and impious as their leading vp and downe of an Asse on Palme Sunday their battering of hel ther buriall of the Crosse c. yea and damnable because Romish ceremonies are held both necessarily to be obserued as well as the lawes of God and also to merit heauen For sinnes veniall say the Rhemists be taken away by sacred ceremonies 3. In doctrine For proofe hereof see the popish errors in euery article almost if not proposition of this booke Againe looke wee vnto the heads of the Antichristian synagogue and wee shall finde that of them Some haue bin Coniurers Sorcerers and Inchanters as were Pope Martin 2. Siluester the 2. and third Benedict 8. Iohn 19.20.21 Sergius 4. Gregorie 6. and 7. and such were all the Popes euen 18. for number from Siluester the second vntill Gregorie the seuenth Some Heretikes For Siricius Calixtus Leo 9 and Paschalis condemned the marriage of Preists Liberius was an Arrian Marcellinus an Idolater Honorius a Monothelite Iohn the 22 held many errors whereof W. Occam wrote a booke one wherof was that the soules of the wicked should not be punished till the day of iudgement Pope Iohn the 23. denied the soules immortalitie And some worldly prophane and deuilish Atheists For Sixtus 4. builded a Male stewes Paul 3. receiued a monethly pension for 45000. whoores at Rome Leo the 10. made a Fable of the Gospell of Christ Hence it proceeded that Rome hath bin called Babylon both by S. Augustine and Hierome and by Pope Pius S. was said Magis gentilizare quam Christianizare rather to gentilize or to be a citie of Heathens rather then of Christians S. Bernard said how the Romanes in his time were hatefull vnto heauen and earth yea and hurtfull vnto both wicked against God rash against holy things and seditious among themselues Genebrard himselfe an Antichristian Romanist writeth that 50. Popes successiuely within the space of 150. yeares departed from the virtue of their Elders and shewed themselues Abâ—urers of Christianitie and Apostataes rather then catholike Bishops The Pope was proclaimed Antichrist at Rhemes by the Councell there vnder Hugh Capet Errors Adversaries to this truth What the Papists are then it appeareth whose doctrine as hath bin shewen is
that the church of Rome neither hath nor can erre Erraverunt aliae ecclesiae saith Di. Stella other churches as of Antioch Alexandria Constantinople c. haue erred sed nunquam ecclesia Romana but the church of Rome neuer yet erred Id constanter negamus saith Costerus the Iesuit we constantly deny that christ his Vicars Peters successors the Bishops of Rome haue either taught heresies or can propound errors God preserueth the truth of christian religion in the Apostolike sea of Rome and It is not possible that the church meaning the church of Rome can erre or hath erred at any time in any point say the Rhemists 20. Article Of the authoritie of the Church 1 The Church hath power to decree rites or ceremonies 2 and authoritie in controuersies of faith And yet it is not lawfull for the Church 3 to ordaine any thing that is contrarie to Gods word 4 neither may it so expound one place of Scripture 5 that it be repugnant to another VVherefore although 6 the Church be a witnesse and a keeper of holy writ yet as it ought not to decree any thing against the same so 7 besides the same ought it not to enforce any thing to be beleeued for necessitie of saluation The propositions 1. The church hath power to decree rites or ceremonies 2. The church may not ordaine what rites or ceremonies shee will 3. The church hath authoritie to iudge and determine in controuersies of faith 4. The church hath power to interpret and expound the word of God 5. The Analogie of faith must be respected in the exposition of the Scripture 6. The church is the witnesse and keeper of Gods written word 7. The church may not enforce any thing to be beleeued as necessarie vnto saluation that is either contrarie or besides the word of God 1. Proposition The church hath power to decree rites or ceremonies The proofe from the word of God THe churches authoritie to decree rites or ceremonies is warranted in the word of God first by the example of the Apostles who did ordaine rites and ceremonies among other things that In the church men should not be couered Women should keepe silence and be couered A knowen tongue vnderstood of the common auditorie should be vsed with other things Next by the generall and binding commandement of God himselfe who at all times will haue euery thing in the church to be done vnto edifying honestie and by order as beeing not the author of confusion but of peace All churches protestant confesse the same Errors adversaries vnto this truth This power being giuen by the Supreame authoritie vnto the Church they doe greatly offend which doe condemne either generally all or particularly some rites and ceremonies orderly and lawfully established of the former sort are 1. The Familie of Loue who say of themselues how they are a free people in bondage vnto no creature nor to any created thing they haue no seuerall distenting or variable religions either ceremonies 2. The Brownists who teach that euery Christian is to ioyn himselfe vnto that people among whome the Lords worship is free and not bound or withholden with any iurisdiction of this world 3. The Puritanes whereof some would haue all matters of ceremonies to be left in christian libertie vnto euery man Others would haue both temples to be left without seruice Sermons and Sacraments and Princes to be scared with the feare of vproares and sedition and all because they would be freed from the obedience vnto ceremonies not impious of themseluees imposed by the Church the Father of these men was Illyricus of whome Melancton writeth Of the latter kinde be 1. The Familie of Loue againe who vtterly dislike our Churches or Temples also our Liturgies formes of seruing our God and finally our designed times of meeting together for the worshippe of God Our Churches there blasphemously tearme Common houses and so we tearme Brothell houses or the stewes Our Lyturgies and manner of seruing of God they call Foolishnes of taken on seruices false and seducing Gods seruices of no man to be ordained nor to be obeied or vsed when they are established with these ioyne the Barrowists who doe write that to haue Leiturgies and formes of common praier is to haue another Gospell and another Testament Our Sabboths they contemne yea they condemne for they say There ought to be no Sabboth day Our Sabbatarians goe not so farre yet come they neere unto these Familists when they divulge that The Church hath no authoritie ordinarily and perpetually to sanctifie any day but the seuenth day which the Lord himselfe had sanctified The church cannot take away this libertie of working sixe daies in the weeke These assertions are against all holy daies lawfully established Barrow yet goeth further then doe these men for he saith how the obseruing of times as it is in our church is an error fundamentall They also be alike culpable who approouing some rites and ceremonies do yet tie the church or people of God to the obseruation of the ceremonies either Mosaicall as many haue donne and doe or of the Romish Church as doe the Papists and the halfe papists the Familie of Loue Finally they are out of the way which thinke that either one man as the Pope or any certaine calling of men as the clergie hath power to decree and appoint rites or ceremonies though of themselues good vnto the whole church of God dipersed ouer the vniuersall world 2. Proposition The Church may not ordaine what rites and ceremonies shee will The proofe from Gods word As it is a cleere truth that the church may ordaine ceremonies so true is it also that the church hath no power to appoint what rites or ceremonies shee will For shee must decree none which be Either for their owe nature impious like the ordinances manners and Idols of our forefathers teachers of vanitie and of lies Or for vse superstitious like the brazen Serpent which king Ezekiah brake in peices Or for their weight ouer heauie and greiuous to be borne like the Iewish constitutions Or for their worthines in the eies of the ordainers either of equall price or of more account then the very ordinances of God so as for the performance of them the lawes of God must be left vndone such were many of the Pharisaicall tires and traditions Or against the libertie of christians and to the entangling of them againe with the yoake of seruile bondage Or last of all any way contrary to the commandements word and will of God But the rites ceremonies and constitutions of the church they must make altogether and tend both to the nourishing and encrease of loue friedship and quietnes among christians and also to the retaining of Gods people in the holy seruice worship
and by thy feete all the Angels Archangells Patriarches Prophets Apostles EuaÌ„gelists Martyrs Confessours Virgins Widdowes Infants heale thee The Minister therof vsually is a priest but may be any other Christian. The effect of annoiling is to purge and put away veniall sinnes committed by mispending of our senses as also sinnes forgotten In this antichristian doctrine many errors be contained For In respect of the matter the Papists make of greasie matter a spiritual ointment whereas there is none ointment spirituall but the holy Ghost In respect of the forme the onely propitiator and mediatour betweene God and man Christ Iesus is blasphemed and the merit and power of his death ascribed vnto greasie oile Besides Christ is not acknowledged for the onely Sauiour of mankinde and Physitian of our soules but other Physitians be called vpon besides him In respect of the minister they hold how any maÌ„ hath power to forgiue sinns which belongeth vnto God alone also that other men yea women and not the minsters of the word onely may be minsters of the Sacraments In respect of the effect they teach vs which is vtterly vntrue that neither all sinnes be mortall nor that Christ hath cleansed such as be his from all their sinnes by his pretious blood 10. Proposition The Sacraments are not to be abused but rightly to be vsed of vs all The proofe from Gods word In the word of God the right vse of the Sacraments and the ends of their institution are euidently set downe For Concerning Baptisme Christ hee saith Teach all nations baptizing them c Hee that shall beleeue and be baptized shall be saued Touching the Lord his Supper saith our Sauiour of the Bread take eate c. and of the Cup Drinke yee all of it and S. Paul The cup of blessing which wee blesse is not the communion of the blood of Christ The bread which wee breake is not the communion of the body of Christ This truth doe the Chruches reformed by their Confessions subscribe vnto The errors adversaries vnto this truth Then greatly doe they sinne who either doe not vse the Sacraments either at all as doe the Schwenfeldias or minister them but vnto whome they list so is Baptisme of the Seruetians and Anabaptists ministred onely vnto elder persons denied vnto Infants and so is the same Sacrament of the Marcionites ministred vnto single persons but denied vnto married folkes or doe abuse them So abused is baptisme by them who baptise things without reason yea some times without life or sense so haue the Papists baptized both Bells and Babels as the greater Bell of S. Iohn de Lateran at Rome by Pope Iohn the 14. who named it Iohn after his owne name and the great Bell of Christ church in Oxford which D. Trâ—sham the Vice chancellor named Mary Babells as the Duke of Aluar cheife Standare which hee vsed in the Lowe countries was baptized by Pius Quintus An. 156â— and called Margaret by the said Pope and so the Cataphrygians baptized the dead bodies of men Againe Baptisme was Baptized by the Marcionites when they baptized the liuing for the dead also by the Noâ—uatian and Papists when they rebaptized infants afore baptized as they tearmed them by Heretikes And so abused was the Lords Supper by certaine Heretikes condemned in a Councell at Carthage whose manner was to thurst the Sacrament into the mouthes of dead men and is by the Papists whose gift is to vse it magically as a salue against bodily siâ—knes and aduersitie also to carrie the same about pompously and superstitiously in the open streetes to be adored of the beholders 11. Proposition All which receiue the Sacraments receiue not therewithall the things signified by the Sacraments The proofe from Gods word Wee read in the holy Scripture that Some persons doe receiue the Sacraments and the things signified by the Sacraments which are the remission of sinnes and other spirituall graces from God and so receiued was the Sacrament of Baptisme of Cornelius and the Lords Supper of the good disciples and the godly Corinthians Some againe receiue the sacraments but not the things by them signified so receiued was Baptisme of Sunon Magus and the Lords Supper of Iudas and so receiue the Atheists Libertines and impenitent persons And some receiue not the Sacraments at all and yet are partakers of the things by the Sacraments signified such a communicant was the Theife vpon the Crosse This maketh vs to conceiue well both of those men and womeÌ„ which would and yet cannot communicate in the publike and Christian assemblies and of the children of Christian parents which depart this world vnbaptized Furthermore it is apparent how Saluation is promised to such as are baptized yet not simply in respect of their baptisme but if they doe beleeue Againe S. Paul faith whosoeuer shall eate the bread or drinke the cuppe of the Lord Vnworthily shall be guiltie of the body and blood of Christ And this the purer Churches euery where doe acknowledge The adversaries vnto this truth The Papists therefore be in a wrong opinion which deliuer that The Sacraments are not only Seales but also causes of grace and The Sacraments doe giue grace euen because they be deliuered and receaued ex opere operato 26. Article Of the vnworthinesse of the Ministers which hinder not the effect of the Sacraments Although in the visible Church the euill be euer mingled with the good and sometime the euill haue chiefe authoritie in the ministration of the word and Sacraments yet forasmuch as they doe not the same in their owne name but in Christs and doe minister by his commission and authoritie 1 wee may vse their ministerie both in hearing the of God and in the receiuing the Sacraments Neither is the effect of Christs ordinance taken away by their wickednes nor the grace of Gods gifts diminished from such as by faith and rightly doe receiue the Sacraments mâ—nistred vnto them which are effectuall because of Christs institution and promise although they be ministred by euill men Neuerthelesse it appertaineth to the discipline of the Church that 2 enquirie be made of euill ministers and that they be accused by those that haue knowledge of their offenses and finally being found guiltie by iust iudgement be deposed The propositions 1. The effect of the word and Sacraments is not hindred by the badnes of ministers 2. Euill Ministers are to be searched out convicted and deposed but orderly and by the discipline of the Church 1. Proposition The effect of the word and Sacraments is not hindered by the badnes of Ministers The proofe from Gods word OF the ministers ecclesiasticall the Church is to conceiue neither to sinisterly as though their vnworthines could make the word and Sacraments the lesse effectuall to such as worthily doe heare and receiue them nor on the
haue a Quaternitie of persons not a Trinitie to be worshipped so did Anastasius the Emperour command the Apollinarians did hold Some doe graunt and acknowledge the names of three in the God-head but denie their persons such were the Noëtians Praxeneans and Hermogenians This did say how the same God was called by diuers names in the holy Scripture and therefore that the Father became flesh and suffered because one and the same God is called the Father the Sonne and the holy Ghost For which cause they were tearmed Patripassians In this number was Sernetus Againe some doe grant the names and persons of three and yet depriue not onely the Sonne and holy Ghost of their diuinitie but the whole Trinitie also of their properties For they say there be three in heauen viz. the Father the Word and holy Ghost howbeit say they the Father onely is very God the word is the breath of the Father and the holy Ghost is the spirit created by God of nothing through the word spoiling so both the Sonne and holy Ghost of their deitie and the whole Trinitie of their properties Such were the Arrian and Macedonian heretikes hence by-named Pneumatomachons because they waged battel with the holy Ghost And some doe bring in other names of deitie besides of the Father Sonne and holy Ghost as did the Priscilianists 2. Article Of the word of God which was made very man The Sonne which is 1 the word of the Father begotten from euer-lasting of the Father the verie and eternall God of one substance with the Father 2 tooke mans nature in the wombe of the blessed virgine of her substance so that 3 two whole and perfect natures that is to say the God-head and man-hood were ioyned in one person neuer to be diuided where-of is one Christ very God and verie man ◠who suffered was crucified dead and buried to reconcile his Father to vs and to be a Sacrifice not onely for originall guilt but also for all actuall sinnes of men The propositions 1. Christ is very God 2. Christ is very man 3. Christ is God and man and that in one person 4. Christ is the Sauiour of mankinde 1. Proposition Christ is very God The proofe from Gods word IN the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and that Word was God This is written of Christ. Therefore Christ is God Christ was begotten of the Father from euerlasting Therefore verie God This is life eternall that they knowe thee to be verie God and whome thou hast sent Iesus Christ They shal call his name Emanuel which is by interpretation God with vs Christ he is the brightnes of the glorie and the engraued image of the Father his person and beareth vp all things by his mightie hand Therefore verie God And this both hath bin of the auncient Christians and is the Faith of the reformed Churches The Errors and adversaries vnto this truth Miserably therefore doe they erre which either denie or impugne the deitie of our Sauiour as did certaine old heretikes viz. The Arrians whereof some were called the Douleians because in scorne they tearmed the onely begotten of God the Fathers seruant The Cerinthians The Ebionites among whome some said that Christ Iesus was a meere man others acknowledged him to be God but not from euerlasting The Eunomians The Samosatenians who thought that Christ was not the Sonne of God before his incarnation The Nestorians whose opinion was that Christ became God by merit but was not God by nature The Macedonians which vtterly denied the Sonne to be of one substance with the Father The Agnoites who held that the diuine nature of Christ was ignorant of some things Againe some late heretikes euen to the death neuer would acknowledge Christ Iesus to be the true and verie God as namely Certaine Catabaptists Blandrat Matthew Hamant burnt at Norwitch an 1579. one of whose heresies was that Christ was a meere and sinnefull man Francis Ket burnt also at Norwitch an 1588. who most obstinatelie maintained that Christ was not God til after his resurrection Dauid George sometime of Basil who affirmed himselfe to be greater for power then euer Christ was In oppugning the deitie of our Sauiour with these heretikes ioyne the Iewes and Turkes which say that Christ was a good man such as Moses and Mahomet were but not God Hence Amurath the great Turke in his letters vnto the Emp. Rodolph the second an 1593. tearmed our Sauiour in derision The crucified God vnto whome may be added the Familie of Loue 2. Proposition Christ is very man The proofe from Gods word HOlding the humanitie of Christ wee ioyne with the blessed Prophets and Euangelists who either prophecied of his future incarnation and conception in the wombe of a virgine or plainely auouched and writ both that the virgine Marie was his mother and that as verie man he grewe and increased in strength endured hunger and thirst wept and slept and suffered death Hence the auncient Fathers and Christians I beleeue in God the Father almightie c. and in Iesus Christ c. which was conceiued by the holy Ghost borne of the virgine Mary suffered vnder Pontius Pilate was crucified dead and buried The right faith is that we beleeue and confesse that our Lord Iesus Christ the Sonne of God is God and man God of the substance of the Father begotten before the world and man of the substance of his mother borne in the world Perfect God and perfect man of a reasonable soule and humane flesh subsisting Equal to the Father as touching his Godhead and inferiour to the Father touching his manhood I beleeue in one God the Father almightie c. and in one Lord Iesus Christ c. who for vs men and for our saluation came downe from heauen and was incarnate by the holy Ghost of the virgine Marie and was made man c The verie same testifie Gods people in Heluetia Basil Bohemia the Lowe countries France Ausburgh Wittemberg Suevia with many moe besides The Errors and adversaries vnto this truth Therefore most wicked were the opinions of those men which held viz. that 1. Christ really and indeed had neither bodie nor soule but was man in appearance onely as the Manichies the Eutychians the Marcionites and the Saturnians 2. Christ had a bodie without a soule as thought the Eunomians the Arrians the Apollinarians with the Theopaschites 3. Christ tooke not flesh of the virgine Marie so did the Valentinians thinke and so thinke the Anabaptists and the Familie of Loue who make an allegorie of the Incarnation of Christ 4. Christ tooke flesh onely of the virgine but no soule as the Arrians 5. Christ tooke flesh not
of the virgine onely but by the seede of man too so said Ebion and Carpocrates 6. The flesh of Christ was spirituall and his soule carnal so dreamed the Valentinians 7. The carnal bodie of Christ was consubstantial with the Father as published the Apollinarians 8. The humane nature of Christ before his passion was deuoide of humane affections so thought the Seuerites 3. Proposition Christ is God and man and that in one person The proofe from Gods word THat the Diuine and humane natures of Christ are vnited in one person it accordeth with the holy Scripture For The worde was made flesh and dwelt among vs and wee sawe the glorie thereof as the glorie of the onely begotten of the Father full of grace and truth saith the Euangelist Iohn And Matthew Iesus when he was baptized c. loe a voice came from heauen saying This is my beloued Sonne in whome I am well pleased He that descended is euen the same that ascended farre aboue all heauens that he might fill all things saith S. Paul Againe Christ Iesus being in the forme of God thought it no robberie to be equall with God he made himselfe of no reputation and tooke on him the forme of a seruant and was made like vnto men and was found in shape as a man c. wherefore God hath also highly exalted him c. that euery tongue should confesse that Iesus Christ is the Lord vnto the glorie of God the Father And the same Apostle There is one God and one mediator betweene God and man euen the man Christ Iesus who gaue himselfe a ransome for all men Vpon these and the like grounds I beleeue in God the Father almightie c. and in Iesus Christ his onely Sonne our Lord which was conceiued by the holy Ghost borne of the virgine Mary The right faith is that wee beleeue and confesse that our Lord Iesus Christ the Sonne of God is God and man c. who although he be God and man yet he is not two but one Christ. One not by the conuersion of the Godhead into flesh but by taking of the manhood vnto God One altogether not by confusion of substance but by vnitie of person I beleeue in one Lord Iesus Christ the onely begotten sonne of God begotten of the Father before all worldes God of God light of light very God of very God begotten not made beeing of one substance with the Father by whome all things were made Who for vs men c. came downe from heauen and was incarnate c. He suffered and was buried c. and he shall come againe c say the ancient and first Christians The very same is the beleefe and confession of all the reforformed Churches at this present and alwaies hath bin Errors and adversaries vnto this truth Detestable therefore is the error Of the Acephalians who denied the properties of the two natures in Christ Of the Seuerites of Eutiches and Dioscorus who affirmed the diuinitie and humanitie of Christ to be of one and the same nature Of the Monothelites who denied that two wils viz. a diuine and humane were in Christ Of Theodorus Mesechius who said that the word was one thing and Christ another Of Nestorius who denied the two natures of Christ to be otherwise vnited than one freind is ioyned to another which onely is in good will and affection Of Seruetus who said of Christ that he was the patterne of all things and but a figure of the Sonne of God and that the body of Christ was compact of three vncreated elements and so confounded and ouerthrewe both natures 4. Proposition Christ is the Sauiour of mankinde The proofe from Gods word Christ to be the Sauiour of mankinde we finde it perspicuously in the holy Scripture which teacheth vs that Christ was crucified dead and buried and that to reconcile his Father vnto vs and to be a Sacrifice for all sinnes of men Hence I beleeue the forgiuenes of sinne He suffered for our saluation For vs men and for our saluation he came downe from heauen say our forefathers in their confessions as doe also our brethren through-out Christendome Errors and aduersaries vnto this truth Wicked then are all opinions and assertions contrarying crossing this truth as That the Father in his deitie not the Sonne in his humanity did suffer which error the Patripassians did hold That Christ aswell in his diuinitie as in his humanitie suffered for mankind an error of Apollinaris of old and of Islebius and Andreas Musculus of late yeares That the whole and holy Trinitie was crucified as said Petrus Antiochenus That Christ really and indeed hung not on the crosse for his passion was in showe onely said the Cerdonites the Euticheans and the Manicheans and another man said the Theopaschits and Basilides yea the very Deuils and not Christ said the Manichies suffered and hung on the crosse That the whole passion of Christ is to be vnderstood allegorically and not according to the letter as the Familie of Loue doe thinke That Christ on the Crosse hath suffered 1 for the redemption of mankinde and shall suffer againe for the saluation of the Deuills such heretikes there haue bin 2 as Iesus but shal againe suffer as Iesus Christ which was one of Francis Ket his heresies for which he was burned 3 for men but one mother Iane is the Sauiour of women a most execrable assertion of Postellus the Iesuite The fantasies of the Iacobites and Turkes The popish doctrine touching the Masse praiers vnto Saintes Pardons and Purgatorie which make the passion of Christ either of none effect or to put away but originall sinne onely That albeit our Sauiour hath suffered for all men in generall yet both each man must suffer for himselfe in particular and the workes of one man may satisfie the iustice of God for another which are popish errors That Christ died not for the sinns of all men and that some sinnes are so filthie and enormous as Christ his blood vpon true repentance of the delinquents part cannot wash them away which was Kains Fr. Spiras and other desperate persons error That whatsoeuer is written touching Christ his sufferings must in vs and with vs be fulfilled the false doctrine of H.N. 3. Article Of the going downe of Christ into Hell As Christ died for vs and was buried so also it is to be beleeued that he went downe into Hell The Proposition Christ went downe into Hell The proofe from Gods word SVndrie be the texts of Scripture for Christ his descension into Hell Mine heart was glad saith Dauid a figure of Christ my glorie reioyced my flesh also shall rest in hope For why Thou shalt not leaue my soule in hell O Lord my
God I cried vnto thee and thou hast healed mee Thou Lord hast brought my soule out of Hell I will thanke thee ô Lord my God with all my heart will praise thy name for euermore For great is thy mercie towards mee thou hast deliuered my soule frō the nethermost hell In that he ascended what is it but that he had also descended first into the lowest parts of the earth He that descended is euen the same that ascended farre aboue all heauens that he might fill all things O death where is thy sting O hell where is this victorie Also that Christ went downe into Hell all sound Christians both in former daies and now liuing doe acknowledge howbeit in the interpretation of the article there is not that consent as were to be wished some holding that Christ descended into Hel. 1. As God onely and not man as they doe which say how Christ descended powerfully and effectually but not personally into hell and that the deitie exhibited it selfe as it were present in the infernall parts to the terror of the deuill and other damned spirits 2. As the man onely and that as some thinke in body onely as when death as it were preuailed ouer him lying in the graue as others deeme in Soule onely when he went vnto the place of the reprobate to the increasing of their torments 3. As God and man in one person as they do which affirme that Christ in bodie and soule went some thinke as it were into Hell when vpon the Crosse and els where he suffered the terrors and torments prophecied of Esay 53. v. 6.10 Psal. 116. v. 2. and mentioned Matth. 26. v. 38. or 27. v. 46. Luk. 22. v. 42. some say euen into Hell the verie place destinied for the Reprobate which he entred into the very moment of his Resurrection at which time hee shewed and declared himselfe a most glorious conqueror both of death and Hell the most powerfull enemies Errors adversaries vnto this truth But till wee know the natiue and vndoubted sense of this article and mysterie of religion persist wee adversaries vnto thē which say That Christ descended not into hell at all calling this article an error and a fable as Carlile doth That Christ beeing dead descended into the place of euerlasting torments where in soule he indured for a time the very paines which the damned spirits without intermission doe abide Bannisters error That Christ aliue vpon the crosse humbled himselfe Vsque ad inferni tremenda tormenta euen vnto the dreadfull torments of hell endured for a time those torments quales reprobi in aeternū sensuri sunt which the reprobates shall euerlastingly suffer in hell euen despaired of Gods mercie finding God at this time Non Patrem sed Tyrennum no a Father but a Tyran and ouercame Despaire by despaire death by death hell by hell and Satan by Satan suffered actually All the torments of hell for our redemption and descended into the heauiest torments that Hell could yeeld suffered the torments of hell The second death Abiection from God and was made a cursse that is had the bitter anguish of Gods wrath in his soule and body which is the fire that shall neuer be quenched That Christ personally in Soule went downe into Lake Lymbo to fetch from thence as Canisius to loose from thēce as Vaux he saith the soules of our forefathers which afore his death as the Papists dreame were shut vp in the close prison of Hell That Christ by his descension hath quite turned Hell into Paradise Costerus the Iesuits error 4. Article Of the Resurrection of Christ. Christ did truly 1 arise againe from death and tooke againe his bodie with flesh bones and all things appertaining to the perfection of mans nature 2 wherewith he ascended into heauen and there sitteth 3 vntill he returne to iudge all men at the last day The propositions 1. Christ is risen from the dead 2. Christ is ascended into heauen 3. Christ shall come again at the last day to iudge all men euen the quick and the dead 1. Proposition Christ is risen from the dead The profe from Gods word THe resurrection of Christ may easily be prooued from the holy Scriptures in which it is euident first that Christ should and next that hee did rise from death vnto life both by his appearing to Marie Magdalene to diuers women to two to tenne to all the disciples f to moe then 500. brethren at once to sundry persons by the space of 40 daies together and by the testimonie also of the Apostles Peter Paul A truth both beleeued and acknowledged by Gods people from age to age Errors and adversaries vnto this truth Vtterly false then and vnchristian is the opinion of those men Which vtterly denie the resurrection of any flesh as did the Sadduces the false Apostles Simon Magus and the Manichies Which would acknowledge no resurrection of Christ as would not nor will the Iewes nor heretike Hamant nor Dauid Georg one of whose errors was that the flesh of Christ was dissolued into ashes and so rose no more which affirme as did Cerinthus that Christ shall rise againe but yet is not risen Which say how our Sauiour after his resurrection was so deified as he reteined no more the parts and properties of his bodie and soule nor the vnion of both natures but is meerely God So thought the Schwenkfeldians Which take the Resurrection of Christ to be but an allegorie and no true and certaine historie as doe the Familie of Loue 2. Proposition Christ is ascended into heauen The proofe from Gods word In saying how Christ with his bodie is ascended into heauen and there sitteth and abideth we doe agree with the Prophets Euangelists and Apostles with the ancien fathers and Gods people our brethren throughout all Christendome Errors and adversaries vnto this truth But we altogether dissent From Hamant the English heretike which denied the ascension of Christ Also from Ket the heretike and Apostata which likewise denied our Sauiours asscension affirming that his humane nature is not in heauen but in Iudaea gathering a Church and people Also from the Germane Vbiquitaries and Papists they saying that Christ as man is not onely in heauen but in earth too at this instant wheresoeuer the deitie is these affirming the humane nature of Christ is wheresoeuer the Sacrament of the Altar is administred Also from the Montanists Cataphrygians and Carpocratians who held how Christ not in body but in soule ascended into heauen From the papists who say that Christ ascending into heauen carried with him the soules which he loosed from captiuitie and bondage of the deuill euen the soules of the righteous afore that time were not in heauen
veniall sinnes 10. Article Of Freewill 1 The condition of man after the fall of Adam is such that he cannot turne and prepare hâ—mselfe by his owne naturall strength and good workes 2 to faith and calling vpon God wherefore we haue no power to doe good workes pleasant and acceptable to God 3 without the grace of God preuenting vs that we may haue a good will and working with vs when we haue that good will The Propositions 1. Man of his owne strength many doe outward and euil workes before he is regenerate 2. Man cannot doe any worke that good is and godly being not yet regenerate 3. Man may performe and doe good workes when he is preuented by the grace of Christ and renued by the holy Ghost 1. Proposition Man of his owne strength may doe outward and euill workes before he is regenerate The proofe from Gods word WEe denie not that man not yet regenerate hath free will to doe the workes of nature for the preseruation of the body and bodily estate which thing had and haue the bruite beastes and prophane Gentiles as it is also well observed in our neighbour churches Besides man hath free will to performe the workes of Satan both in thinking willing and doing that which euill is For the imaginations of the thoughts of mans heart are onely euill continually euill euen from his youth A truth confessed by our brethren d. Errors adversaries vnto this truth A false perswasion is it therefore that man hath no power to moue either his body so much as vnto outward things as Laur. Valla dreamed or his minde vnto sinne as the Manichies maintained affirming how man is not voluntarily brought but necessarily driuen vnto sinne 2. Proposition Man cannot doe any worke that good is and godly beeing not as yet regenerate The profe from Gods word The wisedome of the flesh is enimitie against God for it is not subiect to the Law of God neither indeede can be They that are in the flesh cannot please God The naturnll man perceiueth not the things of the spirit of God for they are foolishnes vnto him neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned No man can saie that Iesus is the Lord but by the holy Ghost Wee are not sufficient of our selues to thinke any thing as of our selues but our sufficiencie is from God Without mee ye can doe nothing saith our Sauiour Christ Which is the confession of the godly reformed The adversaries vnto this truth Adversaries vnto this truth are all such as hold that naturally there is Free will in vs and that vnto the best things So thought the Pharisies the Sadduceis the Pelagians and the Donatists and the same affirme the Anabaptists and Papists For say the Papists Man by the force power of nature may loue God aboue all things Man hath free will to performe euen spirituall and heauenly things Men beleeue not but of their owne free will It is in a mans free will to beleeue or not to beleeue to obey or disobey the Gospell of truth preached The Catholike popish religion teacheth freewill 3. Proposition Man may performe and doe good workes when hee is preuented by the grace of Christ and renued by the holy Ghost The proofe from Gods word In a man preuented by the grace of Christ and regenerate by the holy Spirit both the vnderstanding is enlightened so that he knoweth the secrets and will of God and the minde and the minde is altogether changed and bodie enabled to doe good workes To this purpose the Sriptures are plentifull I will put my lawe in their inward parts and write it in their hearts No man knoweth the Father but the Son and he to whome the Sonne will reuiele him Blessed art thou Simon the sonne of Ionas for flesh and blood hath not revelled it vnto thee but my Father which is in heauen No man can say that Iesus is the Lord but by the holy Ghost To one is giuen by the spirit the word of wisedome and to another the word of knowledge by the same spirit and to another faith by the same spirit and to another the gifts of healing by the same spirit and to another the operations of great workes and to another prophecie and to another the discerning of spirits and to another diuersities of tongues and to an other the interpretation of tongues c. God he purifieth mans hearts worketh in vs both the will and the deed the spirit helpeth our infirmities for we know not what to pray as wee ought c Such were some of you but yee are washed but yee are sanctified but ye are iustified in the name of the Lord Iesus and by the spirit of our God Vnto you it is giuen for Christ that not onely yee should beleeue in him but also suffer for his sake And this doe the Churches of God beleeue and confesse 11. Article Of the iustification of man VVe are accounted righteous before God only for 1 the merit of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ 2 by faith and 3 not for our owne workes or deseruings VVherefore that we are iustified by Faith onely is a most wholesome doctrine and very full of comfort c. The propositions 1. Onely for the merit our Lord and Sauiour Christ are we accounted righteous before God 2. Onely by Faith are we accounted righteous before God 3. Not for our owne workes or deseruings are we accounted righteous before God 1. Proposition Onely for the merit of our Lord and Sauiour Christ we are accounted righteous before God The proofe from the word of God BY Christ his blood onely wee are cleansed Hee is the Lambe of God which taketh away the sinne of the world Wee are iustified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Iesus Wee are bought with a price euen with the pretious blood of Christ the lambe vndefiled and without spot which cleanseth vs from all sinne By his onely righteousnes wee are iustified By the obedience of one many be made righteous Christ is the ende of the Lawe for righteousnesse vnto euery one that beleeueth He of God is made vnto vs wisdome and righteousnesse and sanctification and redemption and wee are made the righteousnes of God in him And therefore from heauen we looke for the Sauiour euen the Lord Iesus Christ And this is the faith and Confession of all Churches reformed Errors Adversaries to this truth This truth is neither beleeued nor acknowledged Of the Atheists who are neither perswaded of the life to come nor vnderstand the mysteries of mans saluation through the merits of Christ. Nor of the Pharise is and their followers who thinke that by ciuill and externall righteousnes we are iustified before God Nor of Matthewe Hamant
congruitie 3. Workes done before iustification haue the nature of sinne 1. Proposition Workes done before Iustification please not God The profe from Gods word BEfore men doe please God nothing that they doe can please him But men please not God being not renued and iustified by the Spirit For before men be regenerate they are not grapes but thornes nor figs but thistles not good but euill trees not liuely but dead bowes not engraffed but wild oliues not friends but enemies not the sonnes of God but the children of wrath which bring forth no good fruit As the Churches also acknowledge Errors Aduersaries vnto this truth Hereby the vanitie of them is perceiued which thinke before mans iustification his deedes doe please God such are the Papists and were the Basilideans The Papists teach that Workes done without faith doe please God Good works not in respect of Christ onely but in theÌ„selues considered please God The Basilidians placed the doers of ciuill and philosophical righteousnes performed without faith in Christ in the very heauens 2. Proposition Workes done before Iustification deserue not grace of congruitie The vnregenerate not yet iustified haue nothing in them to moue God to be gratious vnto them and being as they are old not newe creatures enemies not fauourers of Godlines The children of wrath not of God sinners not vertuously bent Infidels and not beleeuers of congruitie deserue no grace at Gods hands which is the faith too and confession of other Churches Errors and Adversaries vnto this truth This ouerthroweth the Popish assertions concerning merits of congruitie and that by good workes man is iustified before God and made heire of eternall life As euill workes deserue hell fire so eternall happines is deserued by good workes 3. Proposition Workes done before iustification haue the nature of sinne The proofe from the word of God Whatsoeuer men doe not yet iustified before God it is sinne For of such persons the best workes which they euen their Fasting praying almes-deedes sacrificing vnto God prophecying and working of miracles euen in the name of Christ yea all their actions whatsoeuer are abhominable before God And this is agreable to the Confessions of our brethren The adversaries vnto this truth Erred therefore hath the Councell of Trent in pronouncing them accursed which hold that all workes of men whatsoeuer done before his iustification are sinne 14. Article Of workes of Supererogation Voluntary workes 1 besides ouer and aboue Gods commandements which they call workes of Supererogation cannot be taught without arrogancie and impietie 2 For by them men doe declare that they doe not only render vnto God asmuch as they are bound to doe but that they doe more for his sake then of bounden dutie is required whereas Christ saith plainely when yee haue done all that are commanded to you say wee be vnprofitable seruants The propositions 1. Workes of Supererogation cannot be taught without arrogancie and impietie 2. Workes of Supererogation are that subâ—ersion of godlines and true religion 1. Proposition 〈…〉 arrogancie and impietie The proofe from Gods word WOrkes of Supererogation which are voluntary workes besides ouer and aboue the commandements of God are often condemned in the holy Scripture where wee are commanded to walke not after the lawes of men but according to the Statutes of God and to heare not what man speaketh but what Christ doth say he teaching the dutie of christians setteth before them as their rule and direction the lawe and word of God and more then that hee doth neither vrge nor require And against mans Iniunctions They worship mee in vaine saith hee who for doctrine teach the commandements of men Teach them to obserue all things whatsoeuer I haue commanded you My sheepe here my voice and know not the voice of strangers Which doctrine ordinances workes whatsoeuer besides ouer and aboue that which God hath reuealed and imposed is called of the Apostle somtimes ordinances of the world voluntarie religion sometime the doctrine of Deuills and cursed And the same is condemned in all Churches reformed after the word of God The Errors and adversaries vnto this truth Therefore both arrogant and vngodly be the Papists which teach and speak in the commendation of such workes and namely Petrus a Soto the Rhemistes yea and the CouÌ„cell of Trent 2. Proposition Workes of supererogation are the subversion of godlinesse and true religion The proofe from Gods word Where the workes of Supererogation are taught and in regard the Law of God there is broken against the will of Christ that mens traditions may be obserued The holy Scripture must be contemned not as sufficient enough to bring men vnto the knowledge of saluation which S. Paul saith is able to instruct in righteousnesse that the man of God may be absolute being made perfect vnto all good workes God who is onely wise is made vnwise in not prescribing so necessarie workes Faith and other spirituall most special virtues are brought into oblivion Perfection is imputed not vnto Faith in Iesus Christ but vnto workes and which is most detestable vnto the workes too not commanded but forbidden of God ordained by men The Lawe of God is thought to be throughly satisfied and moe duties performed then man needed to haue done The same thinke our brethren of these workes The adversaries vnto this truth Contrariwise the Papists of supererogatorie workes they doe merit say they remission of sinnes and that not for the doers of them onely but for others besides They are tokens of the forgiuenes of sinnes so well as Baptisme yea deliuer fom the wrath of God so well as Christ Are greater and more holy then are the workes commanded in the Decalogue or Law morall And so preferring their owne works and inuentions before God his Law Sacraments and the blood of Christ both ought this doctrine of workes supererogatorie to be counted the doctrine of Deuills and the maintainers thereof taken for the subuerters of godlines and true religion 15. Article Of Christ alone without sinne Christ in the truth of our nature was made like vnto vs in all things sinne onely except 1 from which he was clearely voide both in his life and spirit He came to be the Lambe without spot who by sacrifice of himselfe once made should take away the sinnes of the world and sinne as S. Iohn saith was not in him But 2 all wee the rest although baptized and borne againe in Christ yet offend in many things and if wee say we haue noe sinne wee deceiue our selues and the truth is not in vs. The propositions 1. Christ is truly and perfectly righteous 2. All men besides Christ though regenerate be sinners 1. Proposition Christ is truly and perfectly righteous The proofe
that the king of Spain and their Catholike faith are so linked together as it is become a point of necessitie in the Catholike faith to put all Europe into the handes of the said King otherwise the Catholike religion will be vtterly extingvished and perish Others of them haue published a new Gospell called Euangelium aeternum Spiritus sancti which they say doth so farre excell the Gospell of Christ as the Cernell surpasseth the shell the Sunne the Moone light darkenes The author whereof was one Cyrellus a Carmelite And lastly the Puritanes and all the speculations of Brown Barrow Greene Penrie Marprelate T.C.E.G.R.H. A.C. I.B. with the newe Sabbatarians and their fancies 21. Article Of the authoritie of generall Councells Generall Councells 1 may not be gathered together without the commandement and will of Princes And 2 when they be gathered together forasmunch as they be an assemblie of men whereof all be not gouerned with the Spirit and word of God they may erre and 3 sometimes haue erred euen in things pertaining vnto God wherfore 4 things ordained by them as necessarie vnto saluation haue neither strength nor authority vnlesse it may be declared that they be taken out of holy Scriptures The propositions 1. Generall Councells may not be gathered together but by the commandement and will of Princes 2. Generall Councells may erre 3. Generall Councells haue erred euen in things pertaining vnto God 4. The things ordained by generall Councells are so farre to be embraced and beleeued as they are consonant to Gods holy word 1. Proposition Generall Councells may not be gathered together but by the commandement and will of Princes The proofe from Gods word GReat is the power and authoritie of Kings and Princes by the word of God For as the defense of Religion is committed vnto them so must they see that all men doe their duties That these things the better may be performed they are as iust occasion is offered not as men vnder the power of others to Simon but as Supreame gouernours within their own terretories and dominions to command all sorts of men to meete together and that either to the implanting of the truth where it is not or to the suppressing of sinne errors idolatrie and superstition where or in whomsoeuer it doth arise or is rooted Such Councells were holden both in the time of the Moisaicall gouernement by the commandement of the most godly Kings Dauid Salomon Asa Ezekiah and Iosiah and since the Gospell hath bin receiued into kingdomes and Commonweales by Christian Princes kings and Emperours who gathered Councells both Generall as the Nicene was by Constantine the great the Councell of Constantinople by Theodosius the elder the Counsell of Ephesus by Theodosius the younger the councell of Calcedon by Marcian Nationall and Prouinciall so the Counsell at Frankford Rhemes Taron Arelot and Moguntia by the will and commandement of Charles the great at Matison by Gunthranus at Paris and Orleance by the direction and appointment of Childebert were kept and holden And neuer yet hath there bin a councell either Generall or nationall or whatsoeuer I only except the councells held by the Apostles and Apostolicall men in a troublesome state and time of the Church there beeing then no Christian Princes Emperours to countenance the truth either begun or ended to the glorie of God but it hath bin I say not called onely but confirmed also by some godly Emperour King or Queene This in effect is granted by all reformed Churches The Errors and adversaries vnto this truth This assertion hath bin oppugned and that diuersly both by the Papists and Puritanes For the Papists they say Emperours and kings be the Pope his Summoners but of themselues are no absolute and powerfull commanders and callers of Councels There ought no councel to be kept without the determinate consent of the Bishop of Rome No councell euer yet had firme and lawful authority which was not confirmed by the Bishop of Rome The Popes of Rome and not Christian Princes haue the authoritie and power of making lawes ecclesiasticall and of calling Councells And the Puritanes do thinke that priuate persons without the leaue or priuitie of Princes may summon assemblies about Church causes at their pleasures and consult about the publike affaires of the Church Of this minde was Beza and be the disciplinarians both of South and North Brittaine Others aduersaries to both Puritanes and Papists are of minde that were the Pope a good man as he is nothing lesse he might and hee being wicked other good Bishops though subiect vnto Kings and Emperours may summon Counsells at their discretions An error of Seluererus The Muscouites haue a fancie that since the seuenth generall Counsell that was neither Prince nor Pope nor any other men els haue power to call a generall counsell 2. Proposition Generall coucells may erre The proofe from Gods word Generall Councells consisting first of men who may erre nothing more easily for all the imaginations of mans heart are onely euill continually euen from his youth but God onely is true and all men are yea and euery man is a Liar Next of men differing in yeares riches learning iudgement calling and authoritie whereby distractions of opinions often doe arise Thirdly of many mē wherof the wicked be for nūber commonly the maior part and the better in outward countenance of the world Lastly of men not al nor alwaies either gouerned with Gods holy Spirit and word or gathered together in the Name of Christ none of sounde iudgement in Religion do doubt but they may erre If Paphmitius had bin absent at Nice that Councell had erred If Hierome had bine away at Calcedon that Councell had erred At any time if some be beleeued be the Pope of Rome not present at such meetings either per se or per Legatum by himselfe or his Legate no Councell but must erre Therefore Councells may erre That which one Counsell doth establish another will disanull They will not wee must thinke reuoke that which is well decreed Therefore councells may erre The adversaries vnto this truth Therefore erre doe the papists which say that the holy Spirit is the director of all Councells and That councells cannot erre 3. Proposition Generall Councells haue erred euen in things pertaining vnto God The proofe from Gods word Councells both generall and particular haue erred and that in matters of Faith For in the holy Scriptures wee finde that it was ordained If any man did confesse that Iesus was the Christ hee should be excommunicate which could not be but by a Councell A councell was gathered to suppresse Christ and his doctrine A councell consulted how they might take Iesus by subtilty and kill him A councell sought for false witnesse to put him to death By a counsell
Iesus was bound led away and deliuered vnto Pilate A councell iudged our S. Christ to be both a deceiuer and a blaphemer A councell corrupted the Souldiers and willed them to tell a Lie A counsell withstood Peter and Iohn and commanded them that in no wise they should speake or teach in the name of Iesus A councell both caused the Apostles to be beaten and commanded them also that they should not preach in the name of Iesus In auncient writings of credit wee may read how contrarie to Gods word by Councells Arrianisme hath bin confirmed as by the Councell at Ariminum By councells the traditions and bookes of foolish men haue bin made of equall authoririe with the word of God as by the counsell of Trent By councells hath bin established both the adoration of images as by the second councell of Nice and the Inuocation of creatures as by the Tridentine councell By councells the authority of princes hath bin empaired the Pope and Clergie advanced aboue all earthly Princes as by the Councell of Lateran The consideration of the premises and the like mooued S. Hilarie to call the Synode of Mediolane The Synagogue of the malignant and S Augustine to write vnto Maximinus Neither ought I to obiect against thee the Synode of Nice nor thou against mee the Synod of Ariminum and Nazianzene openly to pronounce that Hee neuer sawe any good end of a Councell and The French king his Embassadour to say vnto the chapter of Trent that scarsely any good at all or very little came by Councells vnto the state of Christendome and Cornelius Bishop of Bitonto to breake out into these words in the face of the Councell at Trent I would that with one consent wee had not altogether declined from religion vnto superstition from faith vnto infidelitie from Christ vnto Antichrist from God vnto Epicures Aduersaries vnto this truth This notwithstanding the Papists doe continue in an opinion that councells cannot erre 4. Proposition The things ordained hy generall Councells are so farre to be embraced and beleeued as they are consonant to Gods holy word The proofe from Gods word Generall councells we simply condemne not yet doe wee not ground our faith vpon any councell but onely vpon the written word of God Therefore in generall Councells whatsoeuer is agreeable vnto the written word of God we doe reuerendly embrace but whatsoeuer is contrarie vnto or besides the will of God reuealed in the holy scriptures wee doe carefully auoid And so are wee commaunded to doe euen by God himselfe Whatsoeuer I command you take heed you doe it thou shalt put nothing thereto nor take ought therefrom Walke ye not in the ordinances of your fathers neither obserue their manners c. I am the Lord your God walke in my statutes and keepe my iudgements and doe them Though that wee or an Angell from heauen preach vnto you otherwise then that which wee haue preached vnto you let him be accursed As wee said before so say I now againe If any man preach vnto you otherwise then that yee haue receiued let him be accursed And so thinke the Churches reformed with vs The adversaries vnto this truth Contrarie hereunto are the opinions of the Papists For of them Some doe thinke that the decrees of Councells doe binde all nations as Pope Hormisda decreed they should Some as Pope Gregory the great supposed that some coūsells and namely the councell of Nice of Constanstinople Ephesus and Chalcedon some as Campian thought that all councells were of equall authoritie with the word of God Others as the Guisiā faction in Frāce be resolued in matters of religion to follow the footesteps of their ancestors though Gods word and a thousand councells decree to the contrary 22. Article Of Purgatorie The Romish doctrine concerning 1 Purgatorie 2 Pardons worshipping and adoration as well 3 of images as 4 of Reliques and 5 also Inuocation of Saints is a fond thing vainely inuented and grounded vpon no warrantie of Scripture but rather repugnant to the word of God The Propositions The Romish doctrine concerning 1. Purgatorie 2. Pardons 3. Worshipping and adoration of Images 4. Reliques 5. Inuocation of Saintes is a fond thing and not warranted by the holy Scripture nor consonant but contrarie vnto the same 1. Proposition The Romish doctrine concerning Purgatorie is fond and not warranted by the holy Scripture nor consonant but contrary vnto the same The proofe from Gods word IT is granted as well by the Romish or false as by the true Church that none vncleane thing can enter into the kingdome of God And because all men either haue bin or be still vncleane therefore they must be purged from sinne But in the manner of purging them who are vnpure they doe greatly differ For the true church looking into the word of God doth finde that wee are sanctified or made cleane in diuers respects diuersly as by Baptisme by the word preached by the blood of Christ and by the spirit of God and that in this life and not in the other world For in the sacred scripture there is mention but onely of two waies one leading vnto destruction the other bringing vnto life of two sorts of men whereof some beleeue and they are saued some beleeue not and they are damned and of two States one blessed where Lazarus is the other cursed where Diues doth abide A third way or sort or state cannot be founde in the word of God And therefore the Purgatorie in another world both denied hath alwaies bin by the Greeke Churches and neither is nor will be acknowledged by any of Gods reformed Churches in this world as their Confessions do testifie Adversaries vnto this truth Erroneous therefore and not warrantable by Gods word concerning Purgatorie is the doctrine both of the old Heretikes the Montanists who thought there was a purging of soules after this life and of the newe and renued Heretikes the Papists For They thinke it to be vnsound doctrine and not sufferable in any booke for Christians to diliuer that it is vnpossible for godly and faithfull men or women to be punished after they be dead Therefore deleatur say they Blot out such doctrine They teach by their Catechismes that to doubt whether there is a Purgatorie or no is a breach of the first commandement Thus doe they pray for the soules of the faithfull as they fancie boyling in the torments of purgatorie Auete omnes animae fideles quarum corpora hîc vbique conquiescunt in puluere Dominus Iesus Christus qui vos nos redemit suo pretiosissimo sanguine dignetur vos à poenis liberare c. that is All haile all faithfull soules whose bodies doe here and euery where rest in the dust The Lord Iesus Christ who hath redeemed both you and vs with
his most pretious blood vouchsafe to deliuer you from paines c They haue ratified the doctrine of purging soules after this life in the Councell of Trent It is further to be noted how the same Papists sliding back from the truth of God haue fallen into many noisome and diuers opinions in the matter of Purgatorie agreeing among themselues Neither about the place where purgatorie should be some placing the same in the bottome of the sea some neere vnto the mount Hecla in Ireland some vpon the mount Etna in Sicil others in the Centre of the earth others in Hell whereof they make fower roomes the first of the damned the second of Infants dying vnbaptized the third Purgatorie the fourth Limbus patrum whereinto Christ descended and others in a mind tossed and troubled betwixt hope and feare Neither about the Tormentors there who are thought of some to be holy Angells of others to be very deuills Neither about the torments For some dreame how they are tormented there with fire onely as Sir Thomas More some with water and fire as Roffensis and some neither with fire nor water but with troublesome affections of Hope and Feare as Lorichius Neither about the causes of Purgatorie torments because that some doe thinke that onely veniall sinnes others that veniall and mortall sinnes too for which in this life men haue donn no penance are there purged Nor about the time which they that be tormented shal abide in Purgatorie For some haue giuen out how the poore soules there be continually in torments till the day of Iudgement as Dionis Carthusianus others as Durandus doe thinke they haue rest sometimes as vpon Sundaies and holy daies others are of minde that in time they shall be set free at libertie because their punishment is but temporarie and others that at any time they may be deliuered if either their friends will buy out their paines or the preists will pray or say any Masse for them or the Pope will but say the word Nor finally about the state of soules in purgatorie For Our English Papists at Rhemes doe thinke the soules in purgatorie to be in a more happie and blessed condition then any men that liue in this world and yet say the same Rhemists that purgatorie fire passeth all the paines of this life Thomas Aquinas holdeth how the paines of hel fire and of purgatorie are all one and in nothing differ but that the one is but temporall and the other not so And others put in choise either to tarrie in Purgatorie one day or to endure the miseries of this world an 100. yeares haue chosen to suffer the troubles of this life an hundred yeares together rather then to abide the paines of purgatorie but on short winters day Therefore in this contrarietie of opinions some of them the Papists themselues cannot denie must be wee say all of them are fond and contrary to the word of God Besides they nourish most cursed and damnable errors as That all the soules of the faithfull separated from their bodies are not at rest That all sinnes in their owne nature be not mortall or deadly and that some deserue not euerlasting torments They are purged in purgatory That one sinful man may saue and satisfie the wrath of God for another and that easily by praying saying or doing some thing for them That if friends in this word will doe nothing for the poore soule in purgatorie paines yet may the said soules come at length vnto happines by abyding their deserued torments vntill the last howre or day of iudgement in Purgatorie Finally that the Pope is God in that he can at his pleasure discharge guiltie soules both from the guilt of sinne and from the punishments due for the same 2. Proposition The Romish doctrine concerning pardons is fond and not warranted by the holy Scripture nor consonant but contrary vnto the same The proofe from Gods word Such hath bin the exceeding mercie and loue of God towards mankind that as hee hath purged vs from all guiltines of sinne by the blood so hath hee pardoned vs from the euerlasting punishment due for sinne by the paines of Iesus Christ. For There is saluation in none other For among men there is giuen none other name vnder heauen whereby they must be saued Through his name all that beleeue shall receiue remission of sinnes Hee hath purchased the Church by his owne blood With his stripes wee are healed Hee that beleeueth in him shall neither be condemned nor ashamed Therefore Come vnto mee all yee that are wearie and laden and I will ease you c. and yee shall finde rest for your soules saith our Sauiour Christ If thou shalt confesse with thy mouth the Lord Iesus and shalt beleeue with thine heart that God raised him from the dead thou shalt be saued saith S. Paul Errors Adversaries to this truth This beeing the doctrine euen of God himselfe wee may euidently perceiue how not onely vain but besides not onely besides but against the word of God the Romish doctrine concerning pardons is For that doth teach vs. 1. To seeke saluation not at God alone but at the hands of sinfull men For would wee haue a pardon for the sinnes of 40. daies A Bishop may giue it For the sinnes of 100. daies A Cardinall may grant For all our sinnes committed or to be coÌ„mitted From the pope wee may haue it Hence be his pardons if you respect time for 40.50.100.1000.10000.50000 c. yeares if offenses Homicide Parcide Perâ—urie Sodomitrie Treason and what not c. 2. That wee may be our owne Sauiours So did that of Purgatorie 3. How the pretious blood of Christ was shed in vaine For corruptible gold and siluer with our owne deedes workes may and will saue vs if we will 4. That repentance is not of necessity vnto the saluation of man For without the same a popish pardon may saue But without either a Pardon from the Pope or such like or Absolution of a Priest there is no saluation by the doctrine of the Church of Rome A further manifestation of the vanitie and impieties of the Romish pardons from a booke of the Papists intituled Horae beatissimae virginis Mariae secundum vsum Sarum Quicunque in statu gratiae existens dixerit deuotè septem orationes sequentes cum septem Pater noster totidem Aue Maria ante imaginem pietatis merebitur 56 millia annorum Indulgentiarum Iohannes Papa 12. concessit omnibus dicentibus orationem sequeÌ„tem transeundo per caemiterium tot annos indulgentiarum quet fuerunt ibi corpora iuhumata à constitutione ipsius caemiterij Oratio pro defunctis Auete omnes animae fideles quarum corpora hic vbique requiescunt in puluere Dominus Iesus Christus qui vos nos redemit suo
Apostles and Euangelists but doe not appeare vnto vs in these daies It was also one of Matthew Hamants heresies that the Sacraments are not necessarie in the Church of God Which thinke the Sacraments are but onely ciuill and ceremoniall badges of an outward Church such generally be all Atheists and hypocrites particulary the Mesâ—alians and Familie of Loue who thinke that for obedience sake to magistrates the sacrameÌ„ts are to be receiued but are to none effect to the perfect ones in the Familie 2. Proposition The Sacraments be certaine sure wittnesses and effectuall signes of grace and God his Goodwill toward vs. The proofe from the word of God Infinitely doth God declare his vnspeakable and incomprehensible good will to man ward yet in these daies by none outward things more notably and effectually than by the Sacraments For. Of Baptisme saith Christ Hee that beleeueth and is baptized shall be saued and Peter Amend your liues and be baptized euery one c. for the remission of sins and Paul Husbands loue your wiues euen as Christ loued the Church and gaue himselfe for it that hee might sanctifie it and cleanse it by the washing of water through the word c And of the Lords supper saith our Sauiour Christ touching the Bread this is my body which is giuen and broken for you and of the Cup this is my blood of the new Testament that is shed for many for the remission of sinnes This truth doe the purer Churches of these daies euery where acknowledge The adversaries vnto this truth Contrary hereunto the Papists erroneously doe hold that The Sacraments of the newe Law doe conferre grace ex opere operato The Sacraments of the old and new Testament in this doe differ for that the Sacraments of the old Testament did onely shadow forth saluation but the Sacraments of the newe doe conferre and worke saluation and doe iustifie not onely signifie God his good will toward vs by reason of the worke done which is the outward Sacraments 3. Proposition By the Sacraments God doth quicken strengthen and confirme our faith in him The proofe from Gods word Be baptized euery one of you in the Name of Iesus Christ for the remission of your sinnes and ye shall receiue the gift of the holy Ghost saith S. Peter Christ he gaue himselfe for the Church that he might sanctifie it and cleanse it by the washing of water through the word The cup of blessing which we blesse is it not the communion of the blood of Christ The bread which we breake is it not the communion of the body of Christ saith Saint Paul The same is affirmed by the reformed Churches Howbeit this Faith is not necessarily tied vnto the visible signes and Sacraments For Without the Sacraments many haue liued and died who pleased God and are no doubt saued either in respect of their owne faith as wee are to thinke of all the godly both men who were borne and died afore the institution of Circumcision in the wildernesse and in the time of grace yet by some extremity could not receiue the seale of the couenant and women who afore and vnder the lawe for many yeares were partakers of no Sacrament and neuer of one Sacrament or that they be heires of the promise Some haue faith afore they receiue any of the Sacraments So had Abraham the Iewes vnto whom Peter preached the Samaritanes the Eunuch Cornelius the Centurion haue the godly of discretion wheresouer not yet baptized Some neither afore nor at the instant nor yet afterward though daily they receiue the Sacraments will haue faith such are like vnto Iudas Ananias and Sapphira Simon Magus the old Israelites and the wicked Corinthians In some the Sacraments doe effectually worke in processe of time by the helpe of Gods word read or preached which engendreth faith such is the estate principally of Infants elected vnto life and saluation an encreasing in yeares The adversaries vnto this truth Therefore doe they erre which teach or hold that They neuer goe to heauen which die without the seales of the couenant so thinke the Papists of Infants which die vnbaptized They are damned though they receiue the Sacraments that will not receiue them after the receiued and approued manner of the Church of Rome There is no way of saluation but by faith herby excluding infinite soules from the kingdome of heaueÌ„ which depart from this world before they doe beleeue None beleeue but such as are baptized say the Papists as heare the word of God preached say the Puritanes The Sacraments giue grace ex opere operato and bring faith ex opere operato The Sacrament of Baptisme is cause of the saluation of Infants 4. Proposition Christ hath ordained but two Sacraments in his Gospell The proofe from Gods word A Sacrament according to the etymologie of the word as the Schoolemen doe write is a signe of an holy thing which beeing true then haue their bin and still are by so many aboue either two or seuen Sacraments as there be haue bin aboue two or seuen things which are signes of sacred and holy things But according to the nature thereof a Sacrament is a couenant of God his fauour to man-ward confirmed by some outward signe or seale instituted by himselfe which also hath bin sometimes speciall either to some men that extraordinarily by things naturall sometimes as the tree of life was to Adam and the Rainebowe to Noah and sometimes by things supernaturall as the smoaking furnace was to Abraham the Fleece of wooll to Gedeon and the Diall to Ezekiah or to some Nation as the Sacrifices Circumcision and the Paschall Lambe was to the Iewes And sometimes generall to the whole Church militant and ordinarie as in the time of the Gospell And then a Sacrament is defined to be a ceremonie ordained immediately by Christ himselfe who by some earthly and outward element doth promise euerlasting fauour and felicitie to such as with true faith and repentance doe receiue the same And such Sacraments in the newe Testament we finde only to be Baptisme and the Lords supper This is the iudgement also of the Churches Protestant The Errors and adversaries vnto this truth In a contrary opinion are diuers and namely The Iewes and Turkes for they denie all the Sacraments of the Church as wee doe hold them The Euchytes who say that prayer onely and not the Sacraments are to be vsed The Schwenkfeldians who contemne not only the word preached but the Sacraments also as superfluous depending wholly vpon reuelations The Bannisterians who thinke there will be a time and that in this world when wee shall neede no Saraments The Papists who publish That wee leaue out no lesse then sixe of
Manichians which baptize not any Not false christians or Marcionites which did baptise the liuing for the dead Which Marcionites also denied Baptisme vnto all married persons baptized none but persons single virgins widdowes and women diuorced from their husbands Not Originists who maintaine a Baptisme by fire as also that after the resurrectiō of our bodies wee shall haue neede of Baptisme Not of Matthewe Hamants opinion that Norfolke Heretike which stood in it to the death that Baptisme is not necessarie in the Church Not Anabaptists which number Baptisme among things indifferent and so to be vsed or refused at our discretion Not Familists which say there is no true Baptisme but onely among themselues Nor Papists who both baptise Bels Babels as afore hath bin showen art 25. prop. 10 and also make the vowe and profession of the monachall or life of a Monch as good a token of Christians as Baptisme 2. Proposition Baptisme is a signe or seale of the regeneration or newe birth of Christians The proofe from Gods word Baptisme of S. Paul is called the washing of the newe Birth of others the Sacrament of the newe birth to signifie how they which rightly as all doe not receiue they the same are ingrafted into the body of Christ as by a seale be assured frō God that their sinnes be pardoned and forgiuen and themselues adopted for the children of God confirmed in the faith and doe increase in grace by virtue of praier vnto God And this is the constant doctrine of all Churches protestant and reformed The Errors and adversaries vnto this truth But no part of the true Church thinketh as did manie old haeretickes viz. that The baptized of the orthodoxall ministers are to be rebaptized as said the Nouatians Originall sinne is not pardoned in Infants as said the Pelagians because they haue no such sinne in them at all Onely sinnes past and not sinnes future or not yet committed are by Baptisme clensed as the Messalians held Being once Baptized we can no more be tēpted as thought the Iouians which was the error also of the Pelagians The Baptsme of water is now ceased and the Baptisme of voluntary blood by whipping is come in place thereof without which none can be saued as the Flagelliferians published Wee also condemne the opinion Of the Russeis that there is such a necessitie of Baptisme as that all that die without the same are damned Also of the Bannisterians which say that the water at Baptisme is not holy in respect that it is applied to an holy vse that the ordinarie and common washings among the Turkes and Iewes is the same to them that Baptisme is to vs Likewise of the Familie of Loue which conceiue basely of this Sacrament calling it in derision Elementish water and of no better validitie or virtue then common water Also of the Anabaptists who ascribe no more vnto Baptisme then vnto any other thing ciuilly discerning one man from another and say that the Sacraments of the newe Testament are no instruments to raise or confirme faith And lastly of the Papists who maintaine that Baptisme serueth to the putting away of originall sinne onely Baptisme bringeth grace euen ex opere operato 3. Proposition Infants and young children by the word of God are to be baptized The proofe from Gods word Although by expresse tearms wee be not cōmanded to baptize young children yet wee beleeue they are to be baptised and that for these among other reasons 1. The grace of God is vniuersall and pertaineth vnto all Therefore the signe or Seale of grace is vniuersall and belongeth vnto all so well young as old 2. Baptisme is vnto vs as Circumcision was vnto the Iewes But the Infants of the Iewes were circumcised Therefore the children of Christians are to be baptized 3. Children belong vnto the kingdome of heauen and are in the couenant therefore the signe of the couenant is not to be denied them 4. Christ gaue in commandement that all should be baptized Therefore young children are not to be exempted 5. Christ hath shed his blood aswell for the washing away the sinnes of children as of the elder sort Therefore it is very necessarie that they should be partakers of the Sacrament thereof All Christian churches allowe of the Baptisme of infants Adversaries vnto this truth The premises declare that They slander vs which say That all Protestants denie the Baptisme of children to be necessarie and this is Runnagate Hills report They erre which oppugne this truth as doe many persons but not after one and the same sort For. Some vtterly denie that Infants or young children are to be baptized so did the Pelagians the Heracleons and the Henricians and so doe the Anabaptists whereof said some how baptisme is the inuention of Pope Nicholas and therefore naught others that Baptisme is of the deuill So thought Melchior Hoffeman so also doe the Swermerians a set among the said Anabaptists the Seruetians and the Familie of Loue which doth hold that none should be baptized vntill hee be thirtie yeares old Others refuse to baptise not all but some Infants So denied is Baptisme by the Barrowists vnto the seede of whores and witches by the Brownists vnto the children of open sinners by the the Disciplinarians vnto their children which subiect not themselues as Dud. Fenner saith vnto the discipline of the Church or obey not the Presbyteriall decrees Others allow the Baptisme of Infants yet thinke those Infants not lawfully baptized which are baptized either by the newe ministers of the Church of England as the Brownists doe thinke or by Protestant ministers as the Papists are of minde witnesse their rebaptizing of Infants in France and in Netherland or by vnpreaching ministers as the disciplinarian Puritanes doe hold And others are of opinion that none are to be baptized which beleeue not first Hence the Anabaptists Infants beleeue not therefore be not to be baptized Hence the Lutherans Infants doe beleeue Therefore to be baptized 28. Article Of the Supper of the Lord. The Supper of the Lord is not only 1 a signe of the loue that Christians ought to haue among themselues one to another but rather 2 it is a Sacrament of our redemption by Christs death Insomuch that to such as worthily with Faith receiue the same the Bread which we breake is a partaking of the Body of Christ and likewise the Cuppe of blessing is a partaking of the Blood of Christ. 3 transubstantion or the change of the substance of Bread and wine in the Supper of the Lord canot be proued by holy writ but is repugnant to the plaine words of Scripture ouerthroweth the nature of a Sacrament and hath giuen occasion to many superstitions 4 The Body of Christ