THE CONFESSION of faith of certayn English people living in exile in the Low countreyes Together with a brief note of the special heads of those things wherin we differ froÌ„ the Church of EnglaÌ„d 2 Cor. 4 13. We beleev therefore have we spoken Harmony of Confess in the preface set before it in the Name of the French Belgick Churches The Prelates Priests alway cry out that we are Hereticks Schismaticks and Sectaryes Howbeit let them know that the crime of Heresy is not to be imputed to them whose faith doth wholly rely vpon most sure grounds of the Scripture That they are not Schismaticks who entierly cleave to the true Church of God such as the Prophets Apostles do describe vnto vs Nor they to be couÌ„ted Sectaryes who embrace the truth of God which is one and alwayes like it self Reprinted in the yeare 1607. To the reverend and learned men Students of holy Scripture in the Christian Vniversities of Leyden in Holland of Sanctandrewes in Scotland of Heidelberg Geneva and other the like famous schooles of learning in the Low countreys Scotland Germany France The English people exiled in the Low couÌ„treys wish grace and peace in Iesus Christ. THis true Confession of our fayth in our iudgment wholly agreable to the sacred Scripture we here exhibit vnto al to be discussed and vnto you reverend Sirs we dedicate it for two causes First for that we know you are able in respect of your singular knowledg in the Scriptures and hope you are willing in respect of your syncere piety to convince our errours by the light of Gods word if any where we erre out of the way Secondly that this testimony of Christian faith if you also fynd it to agree with the word of truth may by you be approved eyther in silence or by writing as you shal think best It may be we shal be thought very bold that being despised of all yet doubted not to sollicite you so many and so great learned men But this we did partly at the request of others to whom we would not deny it partly with desire to have the truth through your help more defended furder spread abroad partly constreyned by our exile other calamities almost infinite partly also moved with love of our native countrey and of these wherein now we live and others else where wishing that al may walk with a right foot to the truth of ehe Gâ—sspel praying daily vnto God that the great work of restoring religion the Church decayed which he hath happily begun in these latter tymes by our Gracious Soveraigne and the other Princes of these countreyes ages his servants he would fully accomplish to the glorie of his name â—ternal salvation in Christ of his elect in al places of the earth Touching the causes which moved vs to publish this Confession of faith to forsake the Church of Eugland as now it standeth we have truly as briefly as we could related them in the Preface to the Reader hereafter following therefore thought here to omit the repetition of them The Lord Iesus alway preserve you your Vniversityes to the prayse of his name the ornament of good learning thâ— propagation maintenance of his pure Religion From Amsterdam in the low countreyes The yeare of the last patience of the saints 1598. ⧠The preface to the Christian Reader IT may seem strange vnto thee Christian Reader that any of the Englysh nation should for the truth of the Gospell be forced to forsake their native country live in exile especially in these dayes when the Gospel seemeth to have free passage florish in that land And for this cause have our exile ben hardly thought of by many and evil spoken of by some who know not as it seemeth eyther the trew estate of the Church of England or causes of our forsaking and separation from the same but hearing this sect as they call it to be every where spoken against have without all further search accounted and divulged vs as heretickes or Schismatickes at the least Yea some and such as worst might have sought the increase of our afflictions even here also if they could which thing they have both secretly and openly attempted This hath Sathan added vnto all our former sorrowes envying that we should have rest in any part of the inhabited world and therfore ceaseth not to make warre with the remnant of the womans seed which keep the comcoÌ„maundements of God and the testimony of Iesus Christ. But the Lord that brought his former Israel out of Egypt when they walked about from nation to nation from one Kingdome to an other people suffered no man to do them wrong but reproved Kinges for their sakes the same Lord yet liveth to mainteyn the right of his afflicted servantes whoÌ„ he hath severed and dayly gathereth out of the world to be vnto himself a chosen generation a royal priesthood a peculiar people Israell of God He is our hope and strength and help in troubles ready to be found he will hyde vs vnder his winges and vnder his feathers we shall be sure vntill these miseries be overpast And though we could for our partes wel have borne this rebuke of Christ in silence aud left our cause to him who iudgeth iustly al the children of men yet for the manifestation clearing of the truth of God from reproches of men and for the bringing others together with our selves to the same knowledg and fellowship off the Gospel we have thought it needfull our duty to make knowen vnto the world our vnfeyned fayth in God and loyall obedience towards our Prince and all Governers set over vs in the Lord together with the reasons of our leaving the Ministery worship and Church of England Which are not as they pretend for some few faultes corcorruptions remayning such as we acknowledg may be found in the perfectest Church on earth Neyther count wee it lawfull for any member to forsake the fellowship off the Church for blemishes and imperfections which every one according to his calling should studiously seek to cure and to exspect and further it vntill eyther there follow redresse or the disease be growe incureable the candlestick be moved out of the place But we having through Gods mercy learned to discerne betwixr the true worship of God the AntichristiaÌ„ leitourgy the true ministery of Christ AntichristiaÌ„ prelacy the ordinaÌ„ces of Christs testament Popish canons have also learned to leave the evill choose the good to forsake Babell the land of our captivitie get vs vnto Sion the mount of the Lordes holynes and place where his honour dwelleth But first we desire thee good Reader to vnderstand and mynd that we have not in any dislyke of the Civill estate and politick government in that Common wealth which we much like and love separated our selves from
or never get out except with shipwrack of conscience vntil they be caryed forth vpon the Bere Neyther is there any care taken for their relief in this case but being cast into pryson there they are deteyned without any alloweance of meat or money for their mayntenance be their want and poverty never so great If they have any thing of their own there they are driven to spend it vp if they have nothing there they are left by the Prelates to feed on the ayre And that they may more readily be sterved or weakened in the truth they are coÌ„monly shut vp in close pryson their frends acquayntance being not suffred to come at them Nay even their wives children being kept and debarred from them by the tyranny of these bloody Prelats and their Instruments whose hard harts and vnnaturall cruelty if thou diddest vnderstand gentle Reader as many of vs haue felt and to this day yet feel it would make thy hart to bleed considering their vnmercyfull and barbarous dealing And how many soules haue perished in their prisons through miserable vsage how many have ben put to death and how many banished though we could to their eternall infamy relate to all the world yet wil we not blaze abroad their acts for we take no delight in laying opeÌ„ their shame but mourne for them in secret coÌ„mitting our cause to God that judgeth justly knowing that he that maketh inquisition for blood remembreth it and will not forget the complaint of the poore And thou Christian Reader vouch safe to remember vnto God in thy prayers such as yet remayne in bandes and pryson amongest them for the testimony of Iesus enduring a hard sight of afflictions and having the sentence of death in them selves are like if the Lord send not vnexspected deliverance there to end their dayes Concerning our selves who through the mercy of God have found a place of rest in this land for which benefyt we are alwayes and every where humbly thankfull we desyre Christian Reader thy charitable and Christian opinion of and holy prayers vnto God for vs whose kingdome we seek whose ordinances we desire to establish and obey protesting with good consciences that it is the truth of his Gospel only for which we strive against those cursed reliques of Antichristian apostasie vnto which we dare in no wise submit our selves no not for a moment For if it be not lawfull for Christians at this day to reteyn the ceremonyes of Moses Law together with the Gospel as the Passeover Circumcision the Priesthood Sacrifices c. which yet were once coÌ„manded by God himself how can we think it tollerable to observe the odious ceremonies of Antichrist or submit our selves to his lawes Priesthood Hierarchie traditions which the Lord never allowed which never entred into his heart yea which he hath so severely forbidden with fearfull judgments threatned vnto all that shal so do But because we have ben very grievously slaundred in our owne nation and the bruit thereoff hath followed vs vnto this land whereby we have ben hardly deemed of by many without cause we have ben forced at length to publysh this brief but true Confession of our fayth for the clearing of our selves from sclaunder and satisfying of many who desired to knowe the thinges we hold Wherein if in any thing we erre as who is so perfit that he erreth not we crave good Reader thy Christian brotherly censure and information promising alwayes through the grace of God to yeild vnto the truth when it shall be further shewed vs and leave our errors when by the light of his word they shal be reproved In lyke manner it shall be thy parâ— and duty to acknowledge and submytt vnto the truth by whomsoever it is professed looking alwayes rather to the preciousnes of the treasure it self then to the basenes of the vessels which conteyne it or the infirmities of those that witnes the same in whose mortall bodyes thow shalt see nothing but the markes and dying of our Lord Iesus Christ. But hold not thy fayth in respect of mens persons neyther be thow moved at the evyl reports which have ben raised of vs. Here hast thow the trew summe of our Christian saith try al thinges by the true light of Gods word and if thou shalt reap any profit by these our labours give God the glory and remember vs vnto him in thy prayers Farewell in Christ Iesus 1596. THE CONFESSION of Fayth of certaine English people living in the Low countreyes exiled VVE beleeve with the heart confesse with the mouth I. THat there is but one God one Christ one Spirit one Church onâ— truth one Faith one true Religion onâ— rule of godlines obedience for al Chriâ—â—tians in all places at all tymes to be observed II. God is a spirit whose being is 〈◊〉 himself and giveth beeing moving preservation to al other things being himself eternal most holy every way infinite in greatnes wisdome power goodnes justice truth c. In this Godhead there be three distinct persons coeternal coequal and coessential being every one of them one and the same God therfore not divided but distinguished one from another by their several and peculiar propertie The Father of whom are the other persons but he of none the Sonne begotten of the Father from everlasting the holy Ghost proceeding from the Father and the Sonne before all beginnings III. God hath decreed in himself from everlasting touching al things and the very least circumstances of every thing effectually to work and dispose them according to the counsel of his own will to the glory of his name And touching his chiefest creatures GOD hath in Christ before the foundation of the world according to the good pleasure of his will foreordeyned some men and Angels to eternall lyfe to be accomplished through Iesus Christ to the prayse of the glorie of his grace And hath also of old according to his just purpose foreappointed other both Angels and men to eternall condeÌ„nation to be accoÌ„plished through their own corruption and desert to the prayse of his justice IIII. In the beginning God made al things of nothing very good and created man after his own image and likenes in righteousnes and holynes of truth But streightwayes after by the subtilty of the serpent which Satan vsed as his instrument himself with his Angels having sinned before not kept their first estate but left their owne habitation first Eva then Adam being seduced did wittingly and willingly fall into disobedience and transgression of the coÌ„maundement of God For the which death came vpon all and reigneth over al yea even over infants also which have not synned after the like manner of the transgression of Adam that is actually Hence also it is that all since the fall of Adam are begotten in his own likenes after his image
Cathedrall and Parishionall Assemblies in this confusion are a strange Antichristian Ministerie and Offices and are not that Ministerie above named instituted in Christs Testament nor placed in or over his Church XXX These their Popish Offices Entrance Administration and Maintenance with their names titles privileges prerogatives also the power and rule they vsurp over and in these Ecclesiasticall assemblies over the whole Ministration and affaires therof yea one over another creating Priests citing suspeÌ„ding silencing deposing absolving excommunicating c Their confounding of Ecclesiasticall Civill jurisdiction causes and procedings in their persons Courts CoÌ„missions Visitations the Priests of lesse rule taking their Ministery from exercising it vnder them by their prescription limitation swearing Canonical obedience vnto theÌ„ administring by their devised imposed stinted popish Leitourgie c. Finally the dispensations which they vse for Plurality of benefices licences of Non residency Licences to mary and eat flesh both which with them are on certain dayes tymes forbidden c These we say are sufficient proofes of the former assertion the particulars therin being duly examined by compared to the rules of Christs Testament Not to speak here of their private Baptisme of the signe of the Crosse vsed in Baptisme of questions propounded to the infants of the Priests surplice prayer over the dead at buriall kneeling at the Lords supper and other the like popish corruptions almost infinite reteyned and allowed among them XXXI These Ecclesiastical Assemblies remayning thus in confusion bondage vnder this Antichristian Ministerie Courts Canons worship Ordinances c. without freedom and power to redresse any enormitie among them cannot be said in this confusion and subiection truly to have Christ their Prophet Priest and King neither can be in this estate whilest we judg them by the rules of Gods word estemed the true visible orderly gathered or coÌ„stituted Churches of Christ whereof the faithful may become or staÌ„d Members or have anie spirituall communion with them in their publick worship and Administration XXXII Therfore are al that will be saved bound by Gods commandement with speed to come forth of this Antichristian estate leaving the suppression of it vnto the Magistrate to whom it belongeth And all such also as have received or exercised any of these false Offices or any pretended function or Ministerie in or to this false and Antichristian constitution are willingly in Gods feare to give over aud leave those vnlawfull Offices and no longer to minister in this maner to these assemblies in this estate Neyther may any of what sort or conditioÌ„ soever give any part of their goods Lands Money or money worth to the maintenance of this false Ministerie and worship vpon any coÌ„mandement or vnder any colour whatsoever XXXIII And being come forth of this AntichristiaÌ„-estate vnto the freedom true profession of Christ besides the instructing and well guyding of their owne families they are willingly to ioyne together in Christian communion and orderly covenant and by free confession of the faith obedience of Christ to vnite themselves into peculiar visible Congregations wherin as meÌ„bers of one body wherof Christ is the only head they are to worship and serve God according to his word remeÌ„bring to keep holy the Lords day XXXIIII Then also such to whom God hath given gifts to interpret the Scriptures tryed in the exercise of Prophecy attending to studie and learning may and ought by the appointment of the Congregation to prophesie according to the proportion of faith and so to teach publickly the word of God for the edification exhortation and comfort of the Church Vntill such tyme as the people be meet for and God manifest men with able gifts and fitnes to such Office or Offices as Christ hath appointed to the publick Ministerie of his Church But no Sacraments to be administred vntil the Pastors or Teachers be chosen and ordeined into their Office XXXV And then wheresoever there shall be a people fit and men furnished with meet and necessary gifts they are not onely still to continue the exercise of Prophesy aforesayd but also vpon due tryal to proceed vnto choyce and ordination of Officers for the Ministery and service of the Church according to the rule of Gods word so hold on stil to walk forward in the wayes of Christ for their mutuall edification and comfort as it shall please God to give knowledg and grace therevnto And particularly that such as be of the seed or vnder the government of any of the Church be even in their infancie received to Baptisme and made partakers of the signe of Gods covenant made with the Faithful their seed throughout all generations And that al of the Church that are of yeares and able to examine themselves dâ— communicate also in the Lords supper both men and women and in both kindeâ— bread and wine In which clements as also in the water of baptisme even after they are consecrate there is neyther transubstantiation into nor consubstantiation with the body and blood of Iesus Christ whom the heavens must conteyn vntil the time that all things be restored But they are in the ordinance of God signes and seales of Gods everlasting covenant with vs representing offring to all the receivers but exhibiting only to the true beleevers the Lord Iesus Christ al his benefits vnto righteousnes sanctification and eternal lyfe through faith in his name to the glorie and prayse of God XXXVI Thus being rightly gathered established stil proceeding in Christian coÌ„munion and obedience of the Gospell of Christ none is to separate for faults and corruptioÌ„s which may so long as the Church consisteth of mortall men will fall out arise among them even in true constituted Churches but by due order to seeke redresâ—e thereof XXXVII Such as yet see not the truth may not withstanding heare the publik doctrine and prayers of the church and with a meeknes are to bee sought by al meanes Yet none who are growen in yeares may be received into their coÌ„munion as members but such as do make confession of their faith publickly desiring to be received as members and promising to walk in the obedience of Christ. Neyther any infants but such as are the seed of the faithfull by one of the parents or vnder their education and government And further not any from one congregation to be received members in another without bringing certificate of their former estate present purpose XXXVIII And although the particular Congregations be thus distinct and severall bodies every one as a compact and knit citie in it self yet are they al to walke by one and the same rule and by all meanes convenient to have the counsel and help one of another in all needfull affaires of the Church as members of one body in the common faith
the Law now in the tyme of the Gospel 4. That discreet faithfull able men though not yet in office of Ministerie may preach the Gospell and whole truth of God that men being first brought to knowledg converted to the Lord may then be ioyned together in holy comunion with Christ our head and one with another 5. That being thus ioyned every Church hath power in Christ to chuse and take vnto themselves meet and sufficient persons into the Offices and functions of Pastors Teachers Elders Deacons and Helpers as those which Christ hath appointed in his Testament for the feeding governing serving building vp of his Church And that no Antichristian Hierarchie or ministerie of Popes Arch-bishops Lord bishops Suffraganes Deanes Arch-deacons Chauncellors Parsons Vicars Priests Dumb-ministers or any such like may be set over the Spouse Church of Christ nor reteined therein 6. That the Ministers aforesaid being lawfully called by the Church where they are to administer ought to continew in their functions according to Gods ordinance and carefully to fâ—ed the flock of Christ coÌ„mitted vnto them being not inioyned or suffred to beare Civil offices withall neither burthened with the execution of Civil affaires as the celebration of mariage buâ—ying the dead c. which things belong aswel to those without as within the Church 7. That the due maintenance of the Officers aforesayd should be of the free and voluntarie contribution of the Church that according to Christs ordinance they which preach the Gospel may live of the Gospel and not by Popish Lordships and livings or Iewish Tithes Offerings And that therefore the Lands other like revenewes of the Prelats Clergie yet remayning being still also baits to allure the Iesuites Seminaries into the Land incitements vnto them to plot prosecute their woonted evil courses in hope to enioy them in tyme to come may and ought to be taken away converted to better vse as those of the Abbeyes Nunneries have been heretofore by the Princes power and authority to the honor of God great good of the ReaÌ„lme 8. That al particular Churches ought to be so constituted as having their own peculiar Officers the whole body of every Church may meet together in one place ioyntly perform their duties to God one towards another And that the censures of admonition and excommunicatioÌ„ should in due maner be executed for sinne convicted obstinatly stood in This power also to be in the body of the Church whereof the parties so offending persisting are members 9. That the Church is not to be governed by Popish Canons Courts Classes Customes or any humane inventions but by the Lawes rules which Christ hath appointed in his Testament That no Apocrypha writings but only the Caâ—nical scriptures are to be vsed in the Church And that the Lord is to be worshipped and called vpon in spirit truth according to that forme of praier given by the Lord Iesus Mat. 6. after the Leitourgie of his own Testament not by any other framed or imposed by men much lesse by one translated from the Popish 〈◊〉 as the Book of common praier c. 10. That the Sacraments being seales of Gods covenant ought to be administred onely to the faithful Baptisme to their seed or those vnder their government And that according to the simplicitie of the Gospel without any Popish or other abuses in either Sacrament 11. That the Church is not to be vrged to the observation of dayes tymes Iewish or Popish save only to sanctify the Lords day Neyther to be laden in thinges indifferent with rites ceremonies Whatsoever invented by men but that christian libertie may be reteâ—ned And what God hath left fâ—ee none to make bound 12. That al monuments of Idolatry in garments or any other things al Temples Altars Chappels other places dedicated heertofore by the Heathèns or Antichristians to their fa 〈…〉 worship ought by aucthoritie to be rased bolished not suffered to remayne for nourishing superstition much lesse imploied to the tr 〈…〉 worship of God 13. That Popish degrees in Theologie i 〈…〉 forcement to single life in Colledges abuse the study of prophane heathen Writers w 〈…〉 other like corruptions in Schooles Academi 〈…〉 should be removed redressed that so th 〈…〉 may be the welsprings 〈◊〉 series of true leaâ—ning godlines 14. Finally that all Churches peopâ—â— without exception are bound in Religion on 〈…〉 ly to receive submit vnto that constitution Ministerie Worship order which Christ Lord King hath appovnted vnto his Churcâ— not to any other devised by Man whatsoeveâ—â— Let him that readeth consider Act. 28 2 Rev 〈…〉 â—al 105. â— 14. Pet. 2 9. Psal. 46 1 Rev. 2. 5. * 2 Cor. 6. 1. â— 15. c Psa. 94. 20. 2 Thes. 2. 3. | Ps. 37. 2â— Ier. 51. 6. Rev. 18. 4. 14. 1. Neh. 6. 6. 7. â— Harmon of Confes. ‡ 1 Pet. 2. 5. Ier. 51. 26. * Act. 2. 38. 40. 41. and 8. 36. 37. 15 9. Ioh 10. 3. 4 5. Esa. 35. 8. 9. | Ioh. 15. 2. 5. Mat. 18. 15. 17 Lev. 13. 46. Num. 4. 13. †Iohn 15. 19. 17. 14. 16 Mat. 3. 12. Lev. 20. 24. â—6 1 Iohn 4. 5. 6. About forty ecclesiasticall popish offices are at this day in the Church of England never a one appointed by Christ in his Testament With what words and rites in what habit and gesture these things are to be done they are taught in their Rubrik Some of them in certaine English books set forth have reckned above 100. popish corruptioÌ„s yet reteyned in this Church * Rom. 12. 1. Cor. 12. Eph. 4. 11. 12 13. ‡ Ioh. 4. 24. Mat. 15. 9. †Deut. 6. 4. 5 Mat. 16. 6. â— Cor. 6. 14. 15. Psal. 106. 34. 35. 36. | Iudo vers 3. ‡ 2 Cor. 6. 17. Eph. 5. 11. * Rev. 18. 4. 14. 10 11. Mat. 6. 24. 2 Kin. 16. 10 11 12. Revâ—l 13. 12. 14. 15. 〈◊〉 51. 6. Miâ— 2. 10. Rev. 18. 4. 2 Cor. 6. 17. 〈…〉 40. Psal. 9. 12. Heb. 13. 3. Gal. 4. 4. 5. 6. 5. 1. 2. Heb. 8. 9. 10. chap. 2. Cor. 4. â— Iam. 2. ◠†Deut 6. 4. 1 Tim. 2. 5. Eph. 4. 4. 5. 6. 1 Cor. â— 6. 12. 4. 5. 6. 13. Ier. 6. 16. Ioh. 14. 6. | 1 Tim. 6. 3. 13. 14. Mat. 15. 9. 28. 20. Deut. 4. 2. 6. 12. 32 1 Cor 4. 17. 14. 33. 2 Tim. â— 15. 16. 17. Gal 8. 9. Revel 2â— 18 19. * Ioh. 4. 24. ‡ Exod. 3. 14. Rom. 11. 36. Act 17. 28. †1 Tim. 1. 17. Esa. 6. 3. 66 1. 2. | 1 Iohn 5 7. Mat. 28. 19. Pro. 8. 22. Heb. 1. 3. 9. 14. Phil. 2. 6. 1 Cor. 8. 6. Micah 5. 2 Psal. 2. 7. Gal. 4. 6. Iohn 1. 1. 2. 18. 10. 30. 38. 15. 26. * Esa. 46. 10.