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A10958 The faith, doctrine, and religion, professed, & protected in the realme of England, and dominions of the same expressed in 39 articles, concordablie agreed vpon by the reuerend bishops, and clergie of this kingdome, at two seuerall meetings, or conuocations of theirs, in the yeares of our Lord, 1562, and 1604: the said articles analised into propositions, and the propositions prooued to be agreeable both to the written word of God, and to the extant confessions of all the neighbour churches, Christianlie reformed: the aduersaries also of note, and name, which from the apostles daies, and primitiue Church hetherto, haue crossed, or contradicted the said articles in generall, or any particle, or proposition arising from anie of them in particular, heereby are discouered, laid open, and so confuted. Perused, and by the lawfull authoritie of the Church of England, allowed to be publique. Rogers, Thomas, d. 1616.; Rogers, Thomas, d. 1616. English creede. 1607 (1607) STC 21228; ESTC S116041 208,079 284

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yet these faithfull Brethren either through forgetfulnes or frailtie or which I rather thinke forced thereunto by the power of truth doe plainly confesse that those verie decrees of our Bishops and Articles of the conuocation house euen that little litle part of the Gospel which the said Bishops and Martyrs brough to light and hath enlightned the whole realme containeth the very fundamentall points of Christianity Whereof I still gather that had their newly reuealed tearmed learned Discourses and doctrines touching Discipline their Presbyteries howsoeuer with goodly glorious titles to rauish poore heartes with the desire thereof brandished and set out neuer bin diuulged or preached we may be saued but without knowing and beleeuing the Articles or doctrine of our Church which yet is not ours but Gods there is no saluation ordinarily to be looked for of any man so true and of such necessitie is this so impertinent and vnneedefull the other 18. Octogesimus octauus mirabilis annus it was prophecied to be a wonderfull yeare long afore it came and will neuer be forgotten now it is past Among the things for which the yeare 88. is famous one and not of least regard is that afore it expired these bookes of the brethren by a Proclamation from Q. Elizabeth were denounced Schismaticall and seditious and the doctrine in them contained erroneous tending to perswade and bring in a monstrous and apparent dangerous Innouation within her dominions and countries and to make a change euen a dangerous change of the forme of doctrine then in vse And therefore the said bookes were commanded to be brought in and deliuered into the hands of authoritie and speciall charge giuen that no moe of that nature should come abroad or be printed Wherby so much as in that blessed Queene whose name with eternall honour shall be recorded these newe fancies of the brethren were hissed and exploded out of this Christian kingdome and the articles or publike doctrine of our Church confirmed countenanced and by the royall prerogatiue of that peerelesse Prince more strongly ratified and commended to her awefull and good subiects then afore 19 The zeale of learned and godly men herevpon was inflamed and their courage so encreased as whereas afore this time but one or two or a very few the first whereof was your L. imediate Predecessor whose memorie be alwaies honourable among the Saints did encounter the Brethren and oppugned their fancies now an Armie of most valourous and resolute Champions and Challengers rose vp which then and diuers yeares ensuing among whome as your Grace was the first in time which gaue the onset so are you to be reckoned with the first and best for zeale wisedome and learning did conflict with these Brethren defended the Prelacie stood for the Prince and State put the newe Doctors to the foile profligated the Elders set vpon the Presbyterie and so battered the new Discipline as hitherto they could neuer nor hereafter shall euer fortifie and repaire the decaies thereof 20. Notwithstanding what the brethrē wanted in strength and learning they had in wilynes and though they lost much one way in the generall maine point of their discipline yet recouered they not a litle aduantage another way by an odde and a newe deuise of theirs in a speciall article of their classicall instructions For while these Worthies of our Church were employing their engins forces partly in defending the present gouernment Ecclesiasticall partly in assaulting the Presbytery and newe Discipline euen at that verie instant the Brethren knowing themselues too weake either to ouerthrowe our holds and that which we hold or to maintaine their owne they abandoned quite the Bulwarkes which they had raised and gaue out were impregnable suffering vs to beate them downe without any or very small resistance and yet not carelesse of their affaires left not the warres for all that but from an odd corner and after a newe fashion which wee little thought of such was their cunning set vpon vs a fresh againe by dispersing in printed bookes which for tenne yeares space before they had bin in hammering among themselues to make them complete their Sabbath speculations Presbyterian that is more then either Kingly or Popely directions for the obseruation of the Lords day This Stratageme of theirs was not obserued then neither I feare me is regarded as it should be yet and yet did since hath and doubtlesse in time to come if it be not timely seene vnto with vnsound opinions and paradoxes will so poison many as the whole Church and Common-weale will find the danger and inconuenience of them so plausible are they to men either popularlie religious or preposterouslie and iniudiciouslie zealous 21. In this their fallie as I said before they set not vpon the Bishops and their calling their Chancelars c. as Popish and Antichristian they let them alone seeing and knowing they are too well backt for them to subuert but which are of great all and almost of the same antiquitie with Bishops diuers of thē and I had almost said as necessarie they ruinate and at one blowe beate downe all Times and daies by iust authoritie destined to religious and holy vses besides the Lords day saying plainely and in peremptorie words that the Church hath none authoritie ordinarily or from yeare to yeare perpetually to sanctifie any other day to those vses but only the Lordes daie They builde not Presbyteries expressedly though vnder hand if it be well marked they doe erect them in their exercises of the Sabbath but they set vp a newe Idoll their Saint Sabbath earst in the daies of Popish blindnes S. Sunday in the middes and mindes of Gods people By the former they haue opened not a gap but a wide gate vnto all licentiousnes libertie and prophanes on the Holie daies which is readily and greedily apprehended of all sorts of people euerie where especially of their fauorites to the hie dishonor of God decay of deuotion hinderance of Christian knowledge and wisedome in all sorts especially in the vulgar multitude and poore seruants aduantage of the common enimies and grosse contempt of the necessarie and laudable orders of our Church By the latter they haue introduced a newe and more then either Iewish or Popish superstition into the land to no small blemish of our Christian profession and scandall of the true seruants of God and therewith doctrine most erroneous dangerous and Antichristian 22. Their doctrine summarilie may be reduced vnto these two heads whereof the one is that the Lords day euen as the old Sabbath was of the Iewes must necessarily be kept and solemnized of all and euerie Christian vnder the paine of eternall condemnation both of bodie and soule The other that vnder the same penaltie it must bee kept from the highest to the lowest both of King and people in sort and manner as these Brethren among themselues haue deuised decreed and prescribed The former
Ministers are to be ordained they are to be chosen and called 1. Proposition None publikely may preach but such as thereunto are authorized The proofe from Gods word THis truth in the holy Scripture is euident For there we finde how ● The godly men were both called by God and commanded to preach before they would or durst so doe So was Samuel Ieremie Iohn Baptist Christ Iesus himselfe who also to preach did send the twelue Apostles and the seuentie Disciples 2 The wicked and false Prophets for preaching afore their time are blamed 3 A commandement is giuen vs to pray the Lord of the haruest that hee would send forth labourers into his harvest 4 Lastly wee doe read that God hath ordained in the Church some to be Apostles some Prophets some teachers some to be workers of miracles and Christ beeing ascended into heauen gaue some to be Apostles some Prophets some Euangelists and some Pastors and teachers And all this is acknowledged by the reformed Churches Errors Adversaries to this truth And so are wee against them Which to their power doe seeke the abolishment of publike preaching in the reformed Churches as doe first the Papists who phrase the Preachers to be vncircūcised Philistins sacrilegious ministers Hieroboams priests inordinate and vnordered Apostataes and next the Barrowists who say how the said Preachers are sent of God in his anger to deceiue the people with lies Who publish how the word is not taught by the Sermons of ministers but onely by the Reuelation of the Spirit so did Muncer the Anabaptist and so doth H. N. and his Familie of Loue Who runne afore they be sent as doe many both Anabaptists and Puritanes as Penrie Greenewood Barrow c. or which hold how they which are able to teach and instruct the people may and must so doe and that not priuately onely but publikely too though they be not ordinarily sent and authorized thereunto which was the doctrine of R.H. Who teach that Lay-men may teach to get faith and that euery particular member of the Church hath power yea and ought to examine the manner of administring the Sacraments c. and to call the people to repentance so teacheth Barrow 2. Proposition They must not be silent who by office are bound to preach The proofe from Gods word As publikely to preach before men are sent is a grieuous fault so not to preach being sent is a great sinne Hereunto beare witnesse 1. Our S. Christ whose words are these Surely I must also preach the Kingdome of God For therefore am I sent 2. Peter and Iohn who being charged to speake no more in the Name of Iesus said Wee cannot but speake that which wee haue heard and seene 3. S. Paul For hee writeth Necessitie is laid vpon mee and woe is mee if I preach not the Gospell 4. The apostles of Christ. For though they were beaten for so doing yet ceased they not to teach and preach Iesus Christ 5. All the Churches of God which be purged from superstion and errors Errors adversaries vnto this truth Then as in glasse they may see their faults Who maintaine how there ought to be no publike preaching at all as doe the Anabaptists Which depraue the office of Preaching as doe the Libertines saying that preaching is none ordinarie meanes to come vnto the knowledge of the word and especially the Familie of Loue who tearme the publike preachers in derision Scripture learned Licentious scripture learned good-thinking-wise Ceremoniall and letter Doctors Teaching masters and further say It is a great presumption that any man out of the learnednesse of the letter taketh vpon him to be a Teacher or Preacher Againe It becometh not any man to busie himselfe about preaching of the word so and more too the Familie Which take vpon them the office of publike preaching without performance of their duty either through ignorance that they cannot worldly emploiments that they may not negligence that they will not or feare of troubles that they dare not preach the word of God Yet thinke wee not which our Sabbatatians let not to publish that Euery minister necessarily and vnder paine of damnation is to preach at least once euery Sunday and Vnlesse a minister preach euery Sunday he doth not hallow the Sabboth day in the least measure of that which the Lord requireth of vs. 3. Proposition The Sacraments may not be administred in the Congregation but by a lawfull minister The proofe from Gods word In the holy Scripture wee read that the publike ministers of the word are to be the Administers of the Sacraments For both our S. Christ commanded his disciples as to preach so to Baptize and celebrate the supper of the Lord and the Apostles and other ministers in the purest times whom the godly Ministers and Preachers in these daies doe succeede not onely did preach but also Baptize and Minister the Lords Supper And hereunto doe the Churches of God subscribe In saying that none may administer the Sacraments in the Congregation afore hee be lawfully called and sent thereunto wee thinke not as some doe that the very beeing of the Sacraments dependeth vpon this point viz. whether the Baptizer or giuer of the Bread and wine be a minister or no. Neither is it the meaning of this article that priuately in houses either lawfull ministers vpon iust occasion may not or others not of the ministerie vpon any occasion in the peace of the Church may administer the Sacraments The Errors and adversaries vnto this truth Hereby wee declare our selues not to fauour the opinion that publikely Some may minister the Sacraments which are not meerely and full ministers of the word and Sacraments and so thinke both the Anabaptists among whome their king when it was after Supper tooke bread and reaching it among the Communicants did say Take eate shew forth the Lords death their Queene also reaching the Cuppe said Drinke yee and shew forth the Lords death and the Presbyterians at Geneua where the Elder a Laie man ministereth the Cup ordinarily at the Communion Some ministers and namely the Puritane Doctors may not minister the Sacraments For say the disciplinarians the office of Doctors is onely to teach true doctrine but in our Church of England the Doctor encroacheth vpon the office of the Pastor For both indifferently doth teach exhort and minister the Sacraments None though a lawfull Minister may administer the Sacraments which either is no preacher or when hee ministreth them doth not preach which be the errors of the Disciplinarians or Puritanes Publiquely and priuately too the Sacrament of Baptisme may be administred by any man yea by women if necessitie doe vrge So hold the Papist For saith Iauell in the time of
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
beheld in euery man whether he would vse his grace well and beleeue the Gospell or no and as hee saw a man affected so he did predestinate chuse or refuse him 3. Besides his will there was some other cause in God why hee choose one and cast off another man but this cause is hiddē from vs. 4. Men by nature be elected and saued an error of the Basilideans and Valentinians 5. It is in man his power to be elected the error of Theophylact and of Bolseck 6. God is partiall and vniust for chusing some and refusing others calling many and electing but fewe 6. Proposition They who are elected vnto saluation if they come vnto yeares of discretion are called both outwardly by the word and inwardly by the Spirit of God The proofe from Gods word Though true it be the Lord knoweth all and euery of his elect yet hath he reuealed vnto vs certaine notes and tokens whereby wee may see and certainely knowe whether we bee of that number or not For such as be ordained vnto euerlasting life if they liue long in this world they one time or other be called vnto the knowledge of saluation by the preaching of Gods word they obey that calling through the operation of the holy Ghost working within them they feele in their soules the same spirit bearing witnesse vnto their spirits how they are the children of God and finally they walke religiously in all good workes These things are most euident and cleere in the holy Scripture where is set downe both the calling of the predestinate and their obedience to the word beeing called and their adoption by the spirit to be the children of God and last of all their holinesse of life and virtuous conuersation All Churches reformed consent herevnto Errors adversaries vnto this truth Sundry adversaries hath this truth and First the Papists who teach that none are to thinke or perswade themselues that they are of the number of the Predestinate vnto saluation but to be euer doubtfull thereof The said Papists deliuer that so many persons as are not marked with the signe of the crosse vpon their forehead are damned and reprobate also that they which will be saued must be Franciscans at leastwise become members of the Church of Rome Secondly the Antonomies which thinke the outward calling by the word though they haue not the inward calling by the Spirit and be destitute of good workes a sufficient argument of their election vnto life Thirdly the Puritanes who among other assurances giuen them from the Lord of their saluations make their aduancing of the Presbyteriall kingdome by the putting downe of Bishops Chancellours c. a testimonie that they shall haue part in that glorie which shall be reuealed hereafter Fourthly the Schwenfeldians and all such as depending vpon immediate and diuine reuelations condemne contemne the ordinarie calling of God by the ministerie of his word Lastly the Russians Catabaptists and Familie of Loue who beleeue that themselues onely and none besides shall be saued 7. Proposition The Predestinate are both iustified by faith sanctified by the Spirit and shall be glorified in the life to come The proofe from Gods word Diuers bee the effects of mans Predestination but chiefly it bringeth to the Elect iustification by Faith in this life and in the life to come glorification alwaies a conformitie to the image of the onely begotten Sonne of God both in suffering troubles here and in enioying immortall glory hereafter as testifie all the Churches in their confessions The Errors and adversaries vnto this truth This is flatly against Papias Iustinus and all Millinaries who denie the eternitie of mans happines and dreame of I knowe not what blisse in this life to endure a thousand yeares but no longer Also against the Manichies who said the soule onely shall be saued Also against those heretikes which denie the resurrection of the flesh as did the Carpocratians Manichies and others Likewise against the Hieranites who haue a phantasie that no children departing this life before they come vnto yeares of discretion and knowledge shall be saued So the Papists doe teach that no infants dying vnbaptized doe goe to heauen but vnto another place adioyning vnto Hell called Limbus puerorum 8. Proposition The consideration of Predestination is to the godly wise most comfortable out to curious and carnall persons very dangerous The proofe from Gods word This doctrine of Predestination is to the godly full sweete pleasant and comfortable because it greatly confirmeth their faith in Christ and encreaseth their loue toward God I account the afflictions of this present time are not worthy of the glorie which shall be shewed vnto vs If God be on our side who can be against vs who spared not his owne Sonne but gaue him for vs all to death how shall hee not with him giue vs all things also who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods chosen It is God that iustifieth who shall condemne c Yee were sealed with the holy Spirit of promise which is the earnest of our inheritance vntill the redemption of the possession purchased vnto the praise of his glorie Greiue not the holy spirit of God by whom yee are sealed vnto the day of redemption But to the wicked and reprobate the consideration hereof is very sower vnsauorie and most vncomfortable as that which they thinke though very vntruly and sinfully causeth them either to despaire of his mercie being without faith or not to feare his iustice being extreamely wicked whereas neither from the word of God nor any Confessiō of the Church can man gather that he is a vessell of wrath prepared to damnation but contrariwise by many and great arguments may perswade himselfe that God would not his destruction as in the next proposition immediately ensuing plainely may appeare Errors Adversaries to this truth Therefore they are to be taken as much out of the way which say that this doctrine leadeth either vnto desperation which is without all comfort or vnto loosenes of life and so vnto Atheisme and therefore to be published neither by mouth nor booke and so thought both the Pelagians the Predestinates a sort of heretikes so called in old time and the Familie of Loue in our daies who tearme the doctrine of Predestination a licentious doctrine say it filleth all the prisons almost in England 9. Proposition The generall promises of God set forth in the holy Scripture are to be embraced of vs. The proofe from Gods word That men the better may auoid both desperation and carnall securitie they are to haue alwaies in minde that 1. The promises of grace and fauour to mankinde are vniuersall as Come vnto mee all yee that are wearie and laden and I will case you God sent not his Sonne
mysticall and propheticall as Brocardus Morelius and others Some are of minde that the Gospell or Euangelicall word cannot be committed to letters and wrighting saith Lindanus Some doe thinke as afore also hath bin shewen how that is the olde and onely true sense of the Scriptures which is made and giuen by the Church and Pope of Rome Some doe maintaine that as the Church in time doth alter so the interpretation of the Scripture also therwithal doth vary wherby that which in the Apostles time was a truth in these daies shall be a falsehood In which error was Cardinall Cusanus 6. Proposition The Church is the witnesse and keeper of Gods written word The proofe from Gods word Though the Church hath authority to heare and determine in controversies of faith yet hath the Church power neither to iudge the word of God nor to iudge otherwise then Gods word doth iudge For it is saide to the Church and people of God I beseech you brethren marke them diligently which cause diuisions and offenses contrarie to the Doctrine which you haue learned and auoid them Here him To him giue all the Prophets witnesse Search the Scriptures whosoeuer trangresseth and abideth not in the the doctrine of Christ hath not God yee are c. built vpon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets And of the holy Scriptures Thy word is the the truth They haue Moses and the Prophets let them heare them saith our S. Christ. Wee haue also a sure word of the Prophets saith Saint Peter And S. Paul The whole Scripture is profitable to teach c. If any man teach otherwise and consenteth not to the wholsome wordes of our L. Iesus Christ he is puft vp and knoweth nothing c And so with vs doe other Churches conceiue both of the Scriptures and Church yet all of vs do grant that the Church as a faithfull witnesse may yea of necessitie must testifie to the world what hath bin the doctrine of God his people from time to time and as a trustie Recorder is to keepe make knowne what the word of God which it hath receiued is which truly hath bin perfomed afore the word was written by the Patriarchs and after the same was committed to writing before Christ his incarnation by the Iewes in Christ his life time in the primitiue Church From the Apostles time by the godly Christians thoroughout the world Errors adversaries vnto this truth Be it farre therefore from vs to thinke which the Papists do not stick to write and say namely that The Church is to iudge the Scriptures and not the Scriptures the Church The Scripture is not of the essence of the Church Because without it a Church may be though not very well So said Card. Cusan The Scripture because in their opinion it is vnperfect cannot obscure may not ambiguous ought not be the iudge So Lindan Latomus Petrus a Soto Pighius Coster c. He is an heretike that cleaueth to the Scriptures So said Iacobus Hocstratus Againe the carefull keeping of the holy Scriptures by Gods people from age to age and time to time declareth first how the mother Church of Rome is not the onely keeper of the holy writ and next that cursedly they doe offend which either as greatly esteeme the Ethickes of Aristostle as the commandements of god the Odes of Pindar as the Psalmes of Dauid the workes and bookes of men as the writings of God which the Councell of Trent doth or before and aboue the scripture prefer vnwritten Traditions Hence Petrus a Soto Tradition saith hee is both more auncient and more effectuall the● the holy Scripture and Lindan The scriptures would be of no validitie neither had continued till this day but for traditions 7. Proposition The Church may not enforce any thing to be beleeued as necessary vnto saluation that is either contrarie or besides the word of God The proofe from the word of God Yee shall put nothing vnto the word which I command you neither shall yee take ought there from Put nothing vnto his words least hee reprooue thee and thou be found a liar Though it be but a mans couenant when it is confirmed yet no man doth abrogate it or addeth any thing thereto If any man shall adde vnto these things God shall ad vnto him the plauges that are written in this booke And if any man shal diminish of the words of the booke of this prophecy 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 And so witnesse with vs the Churches reformed Whatsoeuer also is grounded vpon Gods written word though not by our common and vulgar tearmes to be redde therein wee doe reuerendly embrace which maketh vs for doctrine to embrace the Consubstantiality of our Sauiour with the Father and the holy Ghost which the Arrians would not a Trinitie of persons in the Godhead which the Sabellians would neuer doe the iustification by faith Onely which the Papists will not the baptisme of Infants and young children which the Anabaptists dare not and for discipline not to refuse of Church officers the names Archbishops Patriarches Primates Metropolitanes Suffragans Parsons Vicars c. of ecclesiasticall censures the tearmes Suspension Excommunication of Ceremonies none at all which tend either vnto order comelines or edification But from the heart wee abhor in matters both of doctrine and disciple whatsoeuer either agreeth not with the canon of the Scripture or is not grounded thereupon The Errors and adversaries vnto this truth Hence detest wee both all the old heretikes and their fancies with the newe prophets of Basilides the Manifestation of Marciō the mysteries of the Manichies the Iobolia of the Sathiās the Symbonia of the Archōtikes the Cabala of the Iewes the Alcaron of the Turkes and also all newe heretikes and Schismatikes with all their cursed opinions as first the Anabaptists and namely the Libertines the Dauigeorgians and Familie of Loue and all the codeified Elders thereof as Henry Nicholas Eliad Fidelitas Christopher Vitell Theophilus the Exile and the rest Next the Papists whereof Some haue commanded that all the Popes decrees should be taken as confirmed by the mouth of God himselfe so did Pope Agatho the first Some write as Busgradus that if the Pope beleeue there is no life to come as some Popes haue done wee must beleeue it as an article of our faith Some say if the Pope carrie innumerable soules with him vnto hell yet he may not be iudged so did Pope Boniface the 8. Some as Bellarmine conclude that it is a point of faith to hold that the Bishop of Rome hath succeeded Peter in the vniuersall regiment of the Church Others as the Iesuites perswade their Catholikes
otherside too highly as if the dignitie of their calling were cause good enough that what they doe or say ex opere operato take happy effects These things from the Scriptures are manifest which teach vs that wicked ministers euen the Scribes and Pharisies sitting in Moses chaire and preaching Christ though through enuie strife and contention are to be heard and may administer the Sacraments as did the ordinarie Priests among the Iewes whereof very many both afore and after that our Sauiour came into the world were most wicked men and the best which be are the ministers of God and Gods labourers Also the purer Churches beare witnesse hereunto Neither is hee whosoeuer that planteth any thing neither hee that watereth but God that giueth the encrease saith S Paul And a signe of a good Spirit is it to regard not so much who speaketh or ministreth as what is vttered and offered from God Errors Adversaries to this truth The due consideration of the praemises will both settle vs the more firmely in the truth and make vs the more carefully to abhorre all adversaries thereof as in old time were the donatists and the Petilians who taught that the Sacraments are holy when they be administred by holy men but not els also the Apostolikes or Henricans who had a fancie that he was no Bishop which was a wicked man Among the Fathers also Cyprian and Origen were not ●ound in this point For Cyprian published that no minister could rightly baptize who was not himselfe endued with the holy Ghost hee further deliuered that whosoeuer doe communicate with a wicked minister doe sinne Origen held that in vaine did any minister either binde or lose who was himselfe bound with the chaines of ●inne and wickednes Such adversaries in our time be the Anabaptists the Family of Loue the disciplinarians vsually tearmed Puritants the Sabbatarians the Brownists and the Papists For The Anabaptists will not haue the people to vse the ministerie of euill ministers and thinke the seruice of wicked Ministers vnprofitable and not effectuall affirming that no man who is himselfe faultie can preach the truth to others The Familie of Loue doe say that no man can minister the vpright seruice or ceremonies of Christ but the regenerate also that wicked men cannot teach the truth The disciplinarian Puritans doe bring all ministers which cannot preach and their seruices into detestation For their doctrine is that Where there is no Preacher there ought to be no minister of the Sacraments None must minister the Sacraments which doe not preach The Sacrament is not a Sacrament if it be not ioyned to the word of God preached It is sacriledge to seperate the ministration of the word preached from the Sacraments Of these mens opinions be the Sabbatarians among vs. For their doctrine is to the common people that vnlesse they leaue their vnpreaching ministers euery Sabboth day and goe to some place where the word is preached they doe prophane the Sabboth and subiect themselues vnto the curse of God So the Brownists No man is to communicate say they where there is a blinde or dumme ministerie The Papist doe crosse this truth but after another sort For Pope Hildebrand decreed and commanded that no man should heare Masse from the mouth of a preist which hath a wife The Rhemists doe publish how The Sermons of heretikes and so tearme they all Protestant ministers must not be heard though they preach the truth Their praiers and Sacraments are not acceptable to God but are the howling of wolues 2. Proposition Euill ministers are to be searched out convicted and deposed but orderly and by the discipline of the Church The wicked and euill ministers must not alwaies be endured in the Church of God For they are the euill and vnprofitable seruants the Eies which doe offend the vnsauorie salt which are carefully to be seene vnto and if admonitions will not serue deposed yet orderly and by the discipline of the Churh For that God which appointed a gouernement for the ciuill state hath also giuen authoritie vnto his Church to punish offenders according to the qualitie of their transgressions And so may we read in the word of God Tell the Church saith our Sauiour Let such a one by the power of our Lord Iesus Christ be deliuered vnto Sathan for the destruction of the flesh that the spirit may be saued in the day of the Lord Iesus saith S. Paul So the neighbour Churches Adversaries vnto this truth Then deceiued and out of the way are the Brownists and Barrowists which are of minde that Priuate persons in themselues haue authoritie to depose vnmeete ministers and to punish malefactors Euery particular member of a Church in himselfe hath power to examine the manner of administring the Sacraments c. to call men vnto repentance c to reproue the faults of the church and to forsake that church which will not reforme her faults vpon any priuate admonition For want of the due execution of discipline against persons offending and malefactors both women may leaue their husbands as some haue done and husbands their wiues and goe where it is in force See more in Art 33. Prop. 1. 27. Article Of Baptisme 1 Baptisme is not only a signe of profession and marke of difference whereby christian men are discerned from other that be not Christened but 2 it is also a signe of regeneration or newe-birth whereby as by an instrument they that receiue Baptisme rightly are graffed into the Church the promises of the forgiuenes of sinne and of our adoption to be the Sonnes of God by the holy Ghost are visiblie signed and sealed Faith is confirmed and grace encreased by vertue of prayer vnto God 3 The Baptisme of young children is in any wise to be retained in the Church as most agreeable with the institution of Christ. The Propositions 1. Baptisme is a signe of Profession and marke of differēce whereby Christians are discerned from other men that be no Christians 2. Baptisme is a signe or seale of the regeneration or newe birth of Christians 3. Infants and young children by the word of God are to be baptized 1. Proposition Baptisme is a signe of Profession and marke of difference whereby Christians are discerned from other men that be no Christians The proofe from Gods word HOw the Sacraments are tokens and therefore that Baptisme is a signe of the true Church which be Christians it is apparent from Gods word in the 5. proposit of the 19. article afore going and the same doe the Churches of God acknowledge Errors adversaries vnto this truth This declareth vs to be sound Christians and. Not Nazarens who were with the Iewes circumcised and baptized with Christians and so as Hierome writeth of them were neither Iewes nor Christians Mot
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
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 genera●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 condemnatiō 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
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 cōmitted 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 Per●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 sequētem 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
necessitie the minister of Baptisme is euery man both male and female A woman be shee yong or old sacred or wicked Euery male that hath his wits and is neither dumbe nor so drunken that he can vtter the the words as wel Pagā Infidel heretik the bad as the good the schismatik as the Catholike may baptize And yet vsually in the ciuill warres both in France and in Netherland the Papists did rebaptize such children as of the Protestant not lai-mē but ministers had afore bin baptized This priuate Baptisme by priuate persons was also taught long since both by the Marcionites and Pepuzians 4. Proposition There is a lawfull ministerie in the Church The proofe from Gods word God for the gathering or erecting to himselfe a Church out of mankinde and for the well gouerning of the same from time to time hath vsed yea and also doth and to the end of the world will vse the ministery of men lawfully called thereunto by men A truth most euident in the holy Scripture Iesus said vnto his Apostles Goe and teach all Nations baptizing them c. and loe I am with you alway vnto the ende of the world Christ gaue some to be Apostles and some Prophets and some Euangelists and some Pastors and Teachers for the gathering together of the saints for the worke of the ministerie and for the edification of the body of Christ till we all meet together in the vnitie of faith and knowledge of the Sonne of God vnto a perfect man A truth also approued by the Churches Adversaries vnto this truth Oppugners of this truth are First the Anabaptisticall Swermers who both tearme all Ecclesiasticall men The Diuells ministers and also as very wicked doe vtterly condemne the outward ministerie of the word Sacraments And next the Brownists who divulge that in these daies No ministers haue the calling sending or authoritie pertaining to a minister and that It will hardly be founde in all the world that any minister is or shall be lawfully called such also be the Barrowists which say there is no ministerie of the Gospell in all Europe 5. Proposition They are lawfull Ministers which be ordained by Men lawfully appointed for the calling and sending forth of Ministers The proofe from Gods word S. Paul in the beginning of his epistle vnto the Galathians giueth vs to obserue the diuers sendeth-forth of men into the holy ministery whereof Some are sent immediately frō God himselfe So sent was by God the Father both Iesus Christ and Iohn Baptist by God the Sonne in his state mortall the twelue Apostles in his state immortall and glorious S. Paul This calling is speciall and extraordinarie and the men so called were adorned with the gift of miracles cōmonly as were Iesus Christ and his Apostles but not alwaies for Iohn Baptist wrought none And they were also enioyned for the most part as the Apostles to preach throughout the world howbeit our Sauiour was limited Some againe were sent of men as they be who are sent of men not authorized thereunto by the word of God and that to the disturbance of the peace of the Church such in the Apostles time were the false Apostles in our daies be the Anabaptists Familie Elders and law despising Brownists And some lastly are by men sent so in the primitiue Church by the Apostles were Pastors and Elders ordained who by the same authoritie ordained other Pastors and teachers Whence it is that the Church as it hath bin so it shall till the end of the world be prouided for They who are thus called haue power neither to worke miracles as the Apostles had nor to preach and minister the Sacraments where they will as the Apostles might but they are tied euery man to his charge which they must faithfully attend vpon except vrgent occasion doe enforce the contrary The calling of these men is tearmed a generall calling and it is the ordinarie and in these daies the lawfull calling allowed by the word of God So testifie with vs the true Churches else where in the world Adversaries vnto this truth This truth hath many waies bin resisted For there ●e which thinke how in these daies there is no calling but the extraordinarie or immediate calling from God not by men as the Anabaptists Familists and Brownists of whome afore The Papists albeit they allow the assertion yet take they all ministers to be wolues Hirelings Laie men and Intruders who are not sacrificing Priests annointed by some Antichristian Bishop of the Romish synagogue Either all or the most part of the ministers of England saith Howlet be meere Lay men and no Priests and consequently haue noe authoritie in these things It is euidēt c. because they are not ordained by such a Bishop and Preist as the Catholike Church hath put in authoritie 6. Proposition Before Ministers are to be ordained they are to be chosen and called The proofe from Gods word Though it be in the power of them which haue authority in the Church to appoint Ministers for Gods people yet may they admit neither whome they will nor as they will themselues But they are both deliberately to chuse and orderly to call such as they haue chosen This made the Apostles and Elders in the primitiue Church straightly to charge that suddenly hands should be laid on no man To make a speciall choise of twaine whereof one was to be elected into the place of Iudas By election to ordaine Elders in euery church and by praier and fasting to commend them to the Lord and by laying on of hands to consecrate them To describe who who were to be chosen and called For they are to be Men not Boies nor women Men of good behauiour not incontinent not giuen to wine not strikers not couetous not proud not froward nor irefull nor giuers of offense finally men of speciall gifts apt to teach able to exhort wise to diuide the word of God aright bold to reprooue willing to take paines watchfull to ouersee patient to suffer and constant to endure all manner of afflictions And this doe the Churches Protestant by their Confessions approoue The Errors and adversaries vnto this truth In error they remaine who are of opinion that The due election and calling of Ministers according to the word of God is of no such necessitie to the making of Ministers an erroneous fancie of the Anabaptists and Familie of Loue. That women may be Deacons Elders and Bishops the former the Acephalians the latter the Pepuzians did maintaine A speciall care is not to be had both of the life and the learning of men or that wicked men of euill life ignorant men without learning Asses of no giftes loiterers which doe no good or fauourers of superstition and idolatry which do great hurt
places assuredly neither had the ceremonies of the old lawe bin as they are now abolished neither would the apostles euer haue giuen such presidents of altering them vpon speciall reasons as they haue done For the said Apostles changed the times and places of their assembling together the people of God meeting and the Apostles preaching sometimes on the weeke sometime on the Sabboth daies sometimes publikely in the Temple in the synagogues and in the Schooles sometimes priuately in house after house and in chambers sometimes in the day time sometimes in the night Neither kept they the same course in the ministration of the Sacraments For as occasion was offered they both baptized in publike assemblies and in priuate houses before many and when none of the faithfull but the minister onely and the party to be baptized were present and ministred likewise the Supper of the Lord in the day time and at midnight in the open Churches and in priuate houses So nothing therefore be done against the word of God traditions and ceremonies according to the diuersitie of countries and mens manners may be changed and diuers Of this iudgement with vs be all reformed Churches The Errors and adversaries vnto this truth They are greatly deceiued therefore which thinke that The Iewish ceremonies prescribed by God himselfe for a time vnto the Iewes are to be obserued of vs Christians Such were the old Heretikes the false Apostles the Cerdonites the Cerinthians and the Nazarites and are the Familists The traditions and namely the tradition and ceremonie of the seuenth day for the Sabboth the manner of sanctifying thereof must necessarily be one and the same alwaies and in al places Hence the demi-Iewes our English Sabbatarians affirme first touching the sanctification of the seuenth day howe It is not lawfull for vs to vse the seuenth day to any other end but to the holy and sanctified end for which God in the beginning created it So soone as the 7. day was so soone was it sanctified that wee might know that as it came in with the first man so must it not goe out but with the last The Sabboth or seuenth day of Rest which hath that cōmendation of antiquitie ought to stand still in force All the Iudaicall daies and Feasts being taken away onely the Sabboth remaineth And next concerning the forme and manner of keeping the day they deliuer that Wee are bound vnto the same Rest with the Iewes on the Sabboth day As the first seuenth day was sanctified so must the last be Wee be restrained vpon the Sabboth from work both hand and foote as the Iewes were Euery ecclesiasticall minister in his charge necessarily must preach and make a sermon euery Sabboth day euery man or woman vnder paine of vtter condemnation must heere a Sermon every Sabboth day Euery pastor in his charge must execute the discipline and Presbyteriall gouernment in his parish euery Sabboth day Last of all deceiued by be the Romane Catholikes which are of opinion how the ceremonies of their Church are vniuersally and vnder the paine of the great curse necessarily to be vsed in all places and countries 2. Proposition No priuate man of a selfe will and purposely may in publike violate the traditions and ceremonies of the Church which by common authoritie be allowed and are not repugnant to the word of God The proofe from Gods word Great is the priuiledge great also the libertie and freedome of Gods Church and people For they are deliuered From the curse of the Lawe From the Law of sinne and of death From all Iewish rites and ceremonies And from all humane ordinances and traditions whatsoeuer when they are imposed vpon the consciēces of men to be obserued vnder paine of eternall condemnation Notwithstanding the Church and euery member thereof in his place is bound to the obseruation of al Traditions and Ceremonies which are allowed by lawfull authoritie and are not repugnant to the word of God For hee that violateth them contemneth not man but God who hath giuen power to his Church to establish whatsoeuer things shall make vnto comenesse Order and Edification This of our godly brethren in their published writings is approoued The adversaries vnto this truth Notwithstanding say the Anabaptistes The people of God are free from all lawes and owe obedience to no man are not to be bound with the bands of any iurisdiction of this world say the Brownistes are freed frō the obseruation of all rights and eccles ceremonies say certaine ministers of the praecise faction both in Scotland and England Againe there be of the Clergie who rather then they will vse or obserue any rights ceremonies or orders though lawfully ratified which please them not will disquiet the whole Church forsake their charges leaue their vocations raise stirs and cause diuisions in the Church as did many when it was in Germanie about the Rheme Frankeland and Sneauland whereby most lamentable effects did ensue and doe the refractorie ministers in the Church of England at this day the more is the pittie The principall author of all these tragicall suries about ceremonial matters was Flacius Illyricus whose preachings were that rather thē ministers should yeeld vnto the seruitude of ceremonies they should abādō their calling giue ouer the ministery to the end that Princes magistrates euē for fear of vprores and popular tumults might bee forced at the length to set their ministers free from the obseruation of all ceremonies more then they were willing to vse themselues 3. Proposition Ceremonies and traditions ordained by the authoritie of man if they be repugnant to Gods word are not to be kept and obserued of any man The proofe from Gods word Of ceremonies and traditions repugnant to the worde of God there bee two sorts whereof some are of things meerly impious wicked such was the Israelites calfe and Nebuchadnezars idoll and bee the Papisticall Images Reliques Agnus-deis and Crosses to which they doe giue diuine adoration These and such like be all flatly forbidden Others are of things by God in his word neither commaunded nor forbidden as of eating or not eating Flesh of wearing or not wearing some Apparrell of keeping or not keeping some daies holy by abstinence from bodily labour c the which are not to be obserued of any Christian when for sound Doctrine it is deliuered that such workes either doe merit remission of sinnes or bee the acceptable seruice of God or doe more please then the obseruation of the lawes praescribed by God himselfe or be necessarilie to be done insomuch as they are damned who doe them not We must therfore haue alwaies in minde that we are bought with a price and therefore may
time of Edward the sixt and therefore wee iudge them to be read in Churches by the ministers diligently and distinctly that they may bee vnderstood of the people Of the names of the Homilies 1. Of the right vse of the Church 2. against perill of Idolatrie 3. Of the repairing and keeping cleane of Churches 4. Of good workes first of Fasting 5. Against Gluttonie and drunkenes 6. Against excesse of apparell 7. Of prayer 8. Of the place and time of prayer 9. That common prayers and Sacraments ought to bee ministred in a known tongue 10. Of the reuerend estimation of Gods word 11. Of Almes doing 12. Of the Natiuitie of Christ. 13. Of the Passion of Christ. 14. Of the Resurrection of Christ. 15. Of the worthy receiuing of the Sacrament of the Bodie and Blood of Christ. 16. Of the gifts of the holy Ghost 17. For the Rogation daies 18. Of the state of Matrimonie 19. Of Repentance 20. Against Idlenesse 21. Against Rebellion Touching this Article the greatest matter is not whether these Homilies meant and mentioned doe containe doctrine both godly wholesome and necessarie but whether Homilies or any Apocrypha wrightings at all may be read in the open Church and before the congregation which I thinke they may and prooue thus Great is the excellencie great also the vtility of Gods word preached Therefore saith S. Paul None can beleeue without a preacher and Woe is mee if I preach not the Gospell Howbeit the manner of preaching is not alwaies one the same For the Apostles were to teach as well by the penne as by the liuely voice Paul did preach the Gospell by writing wee owe in a manner more to the bonds of Paul for his bookes than to his libertie for preaching Calvins writings will edifie all men continually in the time to come Protestants bookes are witnesses of sound doctrine and sincere Christianitie For my part I cannot but magnifie the goodnes of God for all good meanes to bring vs vnto Faith and so vnto saluation but especially for the written labours of holy and learned men whose doings in all ages not onely haue bin approoued but also vsed and read many of them in the most sacred assemblies So In the primitiue church was publikely read the Epistle of the Laodicians in the Church of the Colossians the Epistle of Clemens vnto the Corinthians Hermes his pastor and the Homilies of the Fathers In the reformed Churches in Flanders and France read are M. Calvins sermons vpon Iob and in the Italian French Dutch and Scottish churches the said Calvin his Catechisme is both read and expounded publikely and that before the whole Congregation The Errors and adversaries vnto this truth Deceiued then and out of the way of truth are they which of Preaching by the mouth conceiue either too basely or too highly too basely as doe the anabaptists and Familie of Loue they affirming there ought to be no preaching at all and that Preachers are not sent of God neither doe preach Gods word but the dead letter of the Scripture these with the said Anabaptists tearming them letter Doctors preaching the letter and imagination of their owne knowledge but not the word of the liuing God Too highly as doe the Puritanes of all sorts For say they Except God worke miraculously and extraordinarily which is not to be looked for of vs the bare Reading yea not of the Scriptures without Preaching cannot deliuer so much as one poore soule from destruction Reading of whatsoeuer in the Church without preaching is not feeding but as ill as playing vpon a stage and worse too Without Preaching of the word viz. by the liuely voice of a minister and without the booke the Sabboth cannot be hallowed either of a minister or people in the least measure which the Lord requireth of vs Next erre doe they which set their wits and learning either against all bookes in generall except the sacred Bible or against the publike reading of any learned mens writings be they neuer so diuine and godly in the open and sacred assemblies Of the former sort are the Anabaptists who as Sleidan recordeth did burne the bookes writings and monuments of learned men reseruing and preseruing onely the holy Scriptures from the fire Of the latter be the Brownists Disciplinatians and Sabbatarians The Brownists doe say that No Apocrypha must be brought into the Christian assemblies so the disciplinarians Ministers ought not to read openly in the congregation any writings but onely the Canonicall scriptures they complaine that humane writings are brought into the church they crie out Remooue Homilies and they supplicate vnto K. Iames that the Canonicall scriptures onely may be read in the Church And so but much more bitterly and erroneously the Sabbatarians we damne our selues say they if wee goe not from those ministers and Churches where the Scriptures and Homilies onely be read and seeke not vnto the prophets when and so often as wee haue them not at home 36. Article Of consecration of Bishops and ministers The booke of Consecration 1 of Archbishops and Bishops and ordering of priests and Deacons set forth in the time of Edward the sixt and confirmed at the same time by authoritie of Parliament doth containe all th●ngs necessary to such consecration and ordering neither hath it any thing that of it selfe is superstitious or vngodly And therefore 2 whosoeuer are consecrated or ordered according to the rites of that booke since the second yeare of the aforesaid K. Edward vnto this time or hereafter shall be consecrated or ordered according to the same rites we decree all such to be rightly and orderly and lawfully consecrated ordered The Propositions 1. It is agreeable to the word of God and practise of the primitiue church that there should be Archbishops Bishops and such like differences and inequalities of ecclesiasticall ministers 2. Whosoeuer be or shall be consecrated or ordered according to the rites of the booke of Consecration of Archbishops Bishops and ordering of Priests and Deacons they be rightly orderly and lawfully consecrated and ordered 1. Proposition It is agreable to the word of God and practise of the 〈◊〉 church that there should be Archbishops Bishops and such like differences and inequalities of ecclesiasticall ministers The proofe from Gods word ALbeit the tearmes and titles of Archbishops wee finde not yet the superioritie which they enioy and authoritie which Bishops and Archbishops doe exercise in ordering and consecrating of Bishops and ecclesiasticall ministers is grounded vpon the word of God For we finde that In the Apostles daies howe themselues both were in dignitie aboue the euangelists and the 70. disciples and for authoritie both in and ouer the Church as twelue Patriarches saith Beza and also established an ecclesiasticall Hierarchie Hence came it that Bishop was of Ierusalem Iames
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 obediēce vnto the ordināces 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 ●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