to obey or disobey the Gospell of truth preached g Ibid. annot marg p. 408. The Catholike popish religion teacheth free-will 3. Proposition h Hills quart 13. reas Man may performe and doe good workes when he is prevented by the grace of Christ and renued by the holy Ghost The proofe from Gods Word IN a man prevented by the grace of Christ and regenerate by the holy Spirit both the understanding is enlightned so that he knoweth the secrets and will of God and the mind is altogether changed the body enabled to doe good works To this purpose the Scriptures are plentifull I will put my law in their inward parts and write it in their hearts a Jer. 31.33 No man knoweth the Father but the Son and he to whom the Sonne will reveale him b Matth. 11.27 Luke 10.22 Blessed art thou Simon the Sonne of Ionas for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee but my Father which is in heaven c Matth. 16.17 No man can say that Iesus is the Lord but by the holy Ghost To one is given by the Spirit the word of wisedome and to another the word of knowledge by the same spirit and to another faith by the same spirit and to another the gifts of healing by the same spirit and to another the operations of great works and to another prophecie and to another the discerning of spirits and to another diversities of tongues and to another the interpretation of tongues c e 1 Cor. 12.8 God purifieth mans heart f Acts 15.9 worketh in us both the will and the deed g Phil. 2.13 the spirit helpeth our infirmities for we know not what to pray as we ought c h Rom. 8.26 Such were some of you but ye are washed but ye are sanctified but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Iesus and by the Spirit of our God i 1 Cor. 6.11 Vnto you it is given for Christ that not onely yee should beleeve in him but also suffer for his sake k Phil. 1.2 And this doe the Churches of God beleeve and confesse l Confes Hol. 2. c. 9. Aug. ar 18 Bohem. c. 4. Saxon. ar 4. 11. Article Of the Justification of Man We are accounted righteous before God onely for 1 the merit of our Lord and Saviour Iesus Christ 2 by faith and 3 not for our owne works or deservings Wherefore that wee are justified by faith onely is most wholesome doctrine and very full of comfort c. The Propositions 1. Onely for the merit of our Lord and Saviour Christ are we accounted righteous before God 2. Onely by Faith are we accounted righteous before God 3. Not for our owne workes or deservings are we accounted righteous before God 14. Proposition Onely for the merit of our Lord and Saviour Christ we are accounted righteous before God The proofe from Gods Word BY Christ his bloud onely we are cleansed He is the Lambe of God which taketh away the sinne of the world a Joh. 1.29 We are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Iesus b Rom. 3.24 Wee are bought with a price c 1 Cor. 6.19 even with the precious bloud of Christ the Lambe undefiled and without spot d 1 Pet. 1.19 which cleanseth us from all sinne e 1 Joh. 1.7 By his onely righteousnesse we are justified By the obedience of One many be made righteous f Rom. 5.19 Christ is the end of the Law for righteousnesse unto every one that beleeveth g Ibid. 10.4 He of God is made unto us wisedome and righteousnesse and sanctification and redemption h 1 Cor. 1 30. and we are made the righteousnesse of God in him i 2 Cor. 5.21 And therefore from heaven we looke for the Saviour even the Lord Iesus Christ k Phil. 3.21 And this is the faith and confession of all Churches reformed l Confes 2. c. 15 Bohe. c. 6 Gal. ar 12. Belg. ar 22. August ar 4. Wittemb ar 5. Suevica c. 3. Errors and adversaries unto this truth This truth is neither beleeved nor acknowledged Of the Atheists who are neither perswaded of the life to come nor understand the mysteries of mans salvation through the merits of Christ Nor of the Pharises and their followers who think that by civill externall righteousnes we are justified before God m Matth. 5.20 Nor of Matthew Hamant who held that man is justified by Gods meree mercie without respect unto the merits of Christ n Holinsh Chro. f. 1299. Nor of Galeotus Martius which was of opinion that all nations and persons whosoever living according to the rules of nature should be saved and inherit everlasting happinesse p Jovius cleg doci vir p 57. Nor of the Turkes who thinke that so many as either goe on pilgrimage unto Mecha or doe kisse the sepulchre of Mahomet are justified before God and thereby doe obtaine remission of their sinnes d Lonic Tur. â—ist Com. 1. l. 2 par 2 c 14.15.18 Nor of the Family of Love who teach by the shedding of Christ his blood is meant the spreading of the Spirit in our hearts e Display in Allens confes Nor of the Papists whose doctrine is that 1. Though Christ hath suffered for all men in generall yet not onely each man must suffer for his owne part in particular f Tâ—â—t Rhem. â—n Rom. 8.17 but also that the works of one man may satisfie for another g Ibid. an Col. 1.24 2. They teach next that sinnes veniall are done away and purged by prayer Almes-deeds by the worthy receiving of the blessed Sacrament of the Altar by taking of holy water knocking upon the brest with holy meditation the Bishops blessing and such like h Vaux catech c. 4. by holy water and such ceremonies i Test Rhem. an Joh. 13.10 sacred ceremonies k Test Rhem. an marg p 258 as Confiteor tundo conspergor conteror oro Signor edo dono per haec venalia pono that is I am confest unto the Priest I knock mine heart and brest with fist With holy water I am besprent And with contrition all yrent I pray to God and heavenly host I crosse my forehead at every post I eate my Saviour in the bread I deale my dole when I am dead And doing so I know I may My veniall sinnes soone put away And sinnes mortall not by the merits of Christ onely but many wayes besides are clensed think the said Papists as by the merits of dead Saints namely of St. Mary the Virgin Threnosa compassio dulcissimae Dei Matris Per ducat nos adgandium summi Dei Patris The pittifull compassion of Gods best pleasing mother Bring us to the joyes of God the soveraigne Father l Horae B. Virg. S. Mar. secundum usum Sarum And of Thomas Becket Tu per Thomae sanguinem
quem pro te impedit Fac nos Christe scanders quo Thomas ascendit By the blood of Thomas which he for thee expended Make us Christ to climbe up where Thomas ascended By Agnus Deis whereof they say Peccatum frangit ut Christi fanguis angit It breaketh sinne and doth good As well as Christ his pretious blood m Cerem lib. 1. tit 7. By reading certaine parcels of Scripture according to their vulgars Per Evangelica dicta Deleantur nostra delicta n Breviar secundum Sarum Through the sayings and words evangelicall Our sinnes blot out and vices all 2. Proposition Onely by Faith are we accounted righteous before God The proofe from Gods Word ONely beleeve o Mar. 6.36 all that beleeve in Christ shall receive remission of sinnes p Acts 10 4â— from all things from which ye could not be justified by the Law of Moses by Christ every one that beleeveth is justified q Acts 13.19 The Gospell is the power of God unto salvation to every one that beleeveth r Rom. 1.16 To him that worketh not but beleeveth in him that justifieth the ungodly his faith is counted for righteousnesse Å¿ Bom. 4.5 Christ is the end of the law for righteousnesse to every one that beleeveth t Rom. 10.4 Know that a man is not justified by the workes of the law but by the faith of Iesus Christ c. g Gal. 2.16 God would justifie the Gentiles through faith c. They which be of faith are blessed with faithfull Abraham h Gal. 3.8 9. By grace are ye saved through faith and that not of your selves i Eph. 2.8 Yea doubtlesse I think all things but losse for the excellent knowledge sake of Christ Iesus my Lord for whom I have counted all things losse and doe judge them to be doung that I might winne Christ and might be found in him not having mine owne righteousnesse which is of the Law but that which is through the faith of Christ even the righteousnesse which is of God through faith k Phil 3.8.9 The Churches of Christ by their publike confessions give testimony unto this truth l Confess Helv. 2. ca 6. Basil ar 8. Bohe. c. 6 7. Ga. ar 10. Belg ar 22. Aug. ar 4 Saxon. ar 3.8 Witt. ar 4. Sâ—â—â— cap. 3. The errors and adversaries unto this truth Partakers of ths profit and sweetnesse of this doctrine are not they which be altogether ignorant of this mysterie Nor they who know the same but apply it not to their owne soules and consciences but altogether despise the same as did Pilate in condemning Christ m Nat. 27.24 Heroa in killing Iames n Acts 12.1 Agrippa in not defending Paul o Acts 26.26 the Iewes in persecuting the Apostles and doe the Divels p Jam. 2.19 and many ungodly persons Tyrants false Christians and Apostataes Nor they which teach not a sure confidence in Iesus Christ but an historicall knowledge of him as the Papists q Canis catec cap. 1. Vaux catâ— c. 1. Test Rhe. an Rom. 4.14 1 Tim. 3.15 Nor they which hold that all and every man is to remaine doubtfull whether he shall be saved or no as doe the same Papists r Concil Trid. ses 6. c. 9. Test Rhe. an Rom. 5.1 Nor they which teach that man is justified Either by works without faith as did the false apostles in Asia 2 Tim. 1. and doe the Turks and Anabaptists t Bale myst of iniquit p. 53. Or by faith and works as both the Pseudapostles at Ierusalem v Acts 1.5.1 the Ebionites x Eus l. 3. c. 24. and the Papists y Test Rhem. an Luk. 7. mar Luk. 10.20 28. Joh. 3.18 James 2.25 with the Russians z Russiâ— Common-wealâ— â— 23. Or neither by faith nor workes as they which continue both faith in Christ Iesus and good works too hoping yet to be saved as the carnally secure worldlings Neither shall they be partakers of the sweetnesse of this truth which say that for Christians to trust onely by Christ his passion or by Faith onely to be saved is a breath of the first commandement as Vaux n Catech c. 3. is the Doctrine of Divels as Friar Lawrence a Villavicentia o De forman S. concion l. 1. c. 11. and the doctrine of Simon Magus as doe the Rhemists p Test Rhem. an Acts 8.18 Nor they finally which maintaine how the truly righteous apprehend not Christ by Faith but have him his righteousnes essentially and inherent within them which is an error of the Catharists q Isidor etim l. 8. c de haeres Papists r Conc. Trid. sess 6. c. 16.7 Osiandrians Å¿ Calvin contra Osiand epist fol. 303. Theod. Beza epist 1. and Family of Love t Display in Allens confess 3. Proposition We are accounted righteous before God not for our owne works or deservings The proofe from Gods Word Besides what hath been said that works have no place nor portion in the matter of our justification it is evident in the holy Scripture where we finde that All men be sinners and destitute of the glory of God And therefore that no man can be justified by his owne works v Psal 14.2 3. Psalme 53.2 and 41.4 Rom. 3.12 Eternall life commeth unto us not by desert but partly of promise x Acts 2.30 Acts 3.25 Acts 13.32 2 Tim. 1.1 partly of gift y John 17.2 Rom. 6.23 1 John 5.11 Revel 2.10 The just shall live by faith and the Law is not of faith z Gal. 3.11 12. Moreover as the godly in old time were so Christians in these daies are and shall be justified But the godly were justified not for any good works or worthinesse of their owne so justified was Abraham a Rom. 5.1 2. Gal. 3.6 Heb. 11.17 the Iewes b Act. 2.44 c the Samaritans c Acts 8.15 Paul d 1 Tim. 1.14 16. Acts 22.16 Phil. 3.6 9. the Eunuch e Acts 8.36 the Iailor f Acts 16.31 c. and the Ephesians g Eph. 4 5. c. All Churches reformed with a sweet consent applaud and confesse this doctrine h Confess Helv. 1.4.16 Basil ar 8. Boh. c. 7. Gal. ar 22. Belg. ar 24 Aug. ar 6.26 The Errors and adversaries unto this truth Adversaries hereunto are The Pharises who thought men were justified by externall righteousnesse morall a Mat. 5.21 c. and ceremoniall b Matth. 15.2 The false apostles in Asia c 2 Tim. 1. and at Ierusalem d Gab. Biel. l. 2. dist 27. q. 1. The Pharisaicall Papists who against the Iustification by faith alone doe hold a justification by merits and that of Congruity dignity and condignity The said Papists teach besides that life eternall is due unto us of debt because we deserve it by our good works f Concil Trid. sess 6. Cant. 32
subversion of godlinesse and true Religion 1. Proposition Workes of Supererogation cannot be taught without arrogancie and impietie The proofe from Gods Word VVOrkes of Supererogation which are voluntary works besides over and above the commandements of God are often condemned in the holy Scriptures where we are commanded to walke not after the lawes of men but according to the Statutes of God a Josh 7.1 Ezek. 20.19 and to heare not what man speaketh but what Christ doth say b Mark 9.7 and hee teaching the duty of Christians setteth before them as their rule and direction the Law and Word of God c Matth 5.19 and more then that he doth neither urge nor require And against mans Injunctions They worship mee in vaine saith hee who for doctrine teach the commandements of men d Matth. 28.20 Teach them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you e Mark 7.7 My sheepe heare my voyce and know not the voyce of strangers f John 20.25 Which doctrine ordinances and workes whatsoever besides over and above that which God hath revealed and imposed is called of the Apostle sometimes ordinances of the world g Col. 2.20 voluntary religion h Ibid. 3. sometime the doctrine of Divels i 1 Tim. 4.1 and cursed k Gal. 1.8 And the same is condemned in all Churches reformed after the Word of God l Confess Helv. 2. c. 16. Aug. ar 20. Basil ar 10. Gal. ar 24. Belg. ar 12. Sax ar 3.17 The errors and adversaries unto this truth Therefore both arrogant and ungodly bee the Papists which teach and speake in the commendation of such works and namely Petrus à Soto a In his Asser catholic fidei the Rhemists b Annot. marg Lukâ— 1â— 35 1 Cor. 9.23 2 Cor. 8.14 yea and the Councell of Trent c Concil Trid. sess 6. c. 10. 2. Proposition Workes of Supererogation are the subversion of godlinesse and true Religion The proofe from Gods Word VVHere the works of Supererogation are caught and in regard the Law of God there is broken against the will of Christ a Matth. 5.19 that mens traditions may be obserued b Marke 7. The holy Scripture must be contemned as not sufficient enough to bring men vnto the knowledge of saluation which Saint Paul saith is able to instruct in righteousnesse that the man of God may bee absolute being made perfect vnto all good workes c 2 Tim. 3.16.17 God who is onely wise d 1 Tim. 1.17 is made vnwise in not prescribing so necessary workes Faith and other spirituall and most speciall vertues are brought into obliuion Perfection is imputed not vnto Faith in Iesus Christ but vnto workes and which is most detestable vnto the workes too not commanded but forbidden of God ordained by men The Law of God is thought to be throughly satisfied and moe duties performed then man needed to haue done The same thinke our brethren of these workes e Confess Helv 2 c. as in the former prop. The aduersaries vnto this truth Contrariwise the Papists of Supererogatory workes they doe merit say they remission of sinnes and that not for the doers of them onely but for others besides f Test Rhem. an 2. Cor. 8.14 They are tokens of the forgiuenesse of sinnes so well as Baptisme yea deliuer from the wrath of God so well as Christ g Confess Aug ar 20. Are greater and more holy then are the workes commanded in the Decalogue or Law Morall h Pet á Sâ—â—o assert Câ—th de Lege And so preferring their own workes and inuentions before God his Law Sacraments and the blood of Christ both ought this doctrine of workes Supererogatory to be counted the doctrine of Diuels and the maintainers thereof taken for the subuerters of godlinesse and true Religion 10. Article Of Christ alone without sinne Christ in the truth of our nature made like vnto vs in all things sin onely except 1 from which he was clearely voide both in his life and spirit Hee came to be the Lambe without spot who by sacrifice of himselfe once made should take away the sinnes of the world and sinne as S. Iohn saith was not in him But all we the rest although baptized and borne againe in Christ yet offend in many things and if we say we haue no sinne we deceiue our selues and the thuth is not in vs. The Propositions 1. Christ is truely and perfectly righteous 2. All men besides Christ though regenerate be sinners 1. Proposition Christ is tru ly and perfectly righteous The proofe from Gods Word THat Christ was pure from sinne it is abundantly to bee seene in the holy Scriptures For He was both conceiued a Matth. 1.20 and borne without sinne b Luke 1.36 He appeared to loose c Luke 1.36 but not to fulfill the workes of Satan He liued and was tempted yet without sinne d 1 Iohn 3.8 and did no sinne e Heb. 4.15 knew no sinne f 1 Pet. 2.22 2 Cor. 5.21 nor bad any sinne in him g 1 Iohn 3.5 He dyed a guiltlesse and iust man euen by the testimony of Paul h Rom. 5.6 c Peter i Acts. 3.4 Stephen k Matth. 17 24 Iohn 14 6. yea of his aduersaries and Iudge Pilate l Confess Helv ar 11. 3. c. 11 Bohe c. 4.1 Gal ar 14. As ours such are the confessions of the purer Churches m Belg. ar 17. The Errors and aduersaries vnto this truth Cursed therfore before God are the Iewes which said that Christ was a violator of the Sabbath a Matth. 12.10 Luke 13 14. Iohn 5.16 That hee taught being not lawfully authorized thereunto b Matth. 21.23 That he forbade tribute to be giuen vnto Caesar c Luke 3.2 That he was the destroyer of the Law d Matth 5 2â— That he ouerthrew all religion and mooued the Commons vnto rebellion e Luke 23 5. In this state with the Iewes are The Marcionites which said that he dissolued the Law the Prophets and all the workes of God f Iren. l. 1. c. 29 The Saturnians which blazed that his comming into the world was to ouerthrow the God of the Angels g Theodoret. Our new Heretikes viz Matthew Hamant in England which divulged that Christ was a sinnefull man and abominable Idol h Holinsh chro fol. 1299. and Leonardus Vairus among the Papists which hath written that Christ was Veneficus a common poisoner of men and women i Leon. Vairus de Fasc l. 1. c. 11. circa finem 2. Proposition All men besides Christ though regenerate be sinners The proofe from Gods Word ALL men either be regenerate or vnregeneate k Prooued p. 5. the vnregenerate be all sinners vnrighteous and in sinne whatsoeuer they doe l Prooued p. 54 The regenerate also be not without their sinnes both originall m Prooue p. 39.40 and
saluation but to be euer doubtfull thereof e Con. Trid. sess 6. cap. 1 2. con 15. Test Rhem. an Rom. 8.38 an 1 Cor. 2.12 an Phil. 2.12 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 f Test Rhem. an Apoc. 6.4 also that they which will be saued must be Franciscans g Conform F l. 4. fol. 10â— at leastwise become members of the Church of Rome h Ans to the exec of Iust c. 8. p. 192. Secondly the Anti-nomi 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 i Simon Pauli meth par 2. de ege Dei Thirdly the Puritanes who among other affiances giuen them from the Lord of their saluacions made their aduancinâ—â—te Presbyteriall Kingome by the putting downe of Bishops Chancellours c. a testimony that they shall haue part in that glory which shall be reuealed hereafter f Demon. of Dâ—s epist ded Fourthly the Schwenfeldians and all such as depending vpon immediate diuine reuelations condemne and contemne the ordinary calling of God by the ministery of his Word Lastly the Russians g Sartan de Relig Ruthen c. 2 Catabaptists h Zuingl contra Catabap fol. 107. and Family of Loue i Display H. 9. b D. 5. 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 be the effects of mans predestination but chiefly it bringeth to the elect a Know that a man is not iustified by the workes of the Law but by the faith of Iesus Christ Gal 2.16 They which be of faith are blessed with faithfull Abraham Eph. 2.8 iustification by faith in this life and in the life to come glorification b Moreone whom he predestinate them also he called and whom he called them also he iustified and whom he iustified them also he glorified Rom. 8.30 Come ye blessed of my Fathers inherit ye the Kingdome prepared for you Matth 25 34. alwaies a conformity to the image of the onely begotten Son of God both in suffering troubles here and in enioying immortall glory hereafter c If we be children we are also heireâ— euen the heires of God heires annexed with Christ if so be that we suffer with him that we may also be glorified with him Rom. 8.17 as we haue borne the image of the earthly so shall we bearâ— the image of the heauenly â—c or 15.49 as testifie all the Churches in their confessions The errors and adversaries unto this truth This is flatly against Papias a Tritcuhem de eccle scrip Iustinus b Wolf Musculus in epist â—d Phil. praef and all Millenaries Eus eccles hist l. 7. c 13. who deny the eternity of mans happinesse and dreame of I know not what blisse in this life to endure a thousand yeeres but no longer Also against the Manichies who said the soule onely shall be saued d Philastrius Also against those heretikes which deny the resurrection of the flesh as did the Carpocratians e Clem. strom lib. 4. Manichies f Aug. contra Faust l. 4 c. 16. and others g See afore ar 4. prop. 1. Likewise against the Hieracites who haue a phantasie that no children departing this life before they come vnto yeeres of discretion and knowledge shall be saued h Epiphan So the Papists doe teach i Positiones Ingolstad de Purgat that no infants dying vnbaptized doe goe to heauen but vnto another place adioyning vnto Hell called Limbus puerorum i Positiones Ingolstad de Purgat 8. Proposition The consideration of Predestination is to the godly wise most comfortable but to curious and carnall persons very dangerous The proofe from Gods Word This doctrine of Predestination is to the godly full sweet 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 glory which shall be shewed vnto vs k Rom. 8.18 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 he 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 l Ibid. 31.34 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 glory m Eph. 1.13 14 Grieue not the holy Spirit of God by whom ye are sealed vnto the day of redemption n Eph. 4.30 But to the wicked and reprobate the consideration hereof is very sowre vnsauory and most vncomfortable as that which they thinke though very vntruly and sinfully causeth them either to despaire of his mercy being without faith of not to feare his iustice beeing extremely wicked where as neither from the Word of God nor any confession of the Church can any 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 and aduersaries vnto 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 loosenesse of life so vnto Atheisme and therefore to bee published neither by mouth nor booke and so thought both the Pelagians k Prosper in Epist ad Aug. der elâ—quiâ—s Pela haeresis and the Predestinates a sort of heretikes so called in old time l Magd. eccle hist Cent. 5 c. 5. p. 620. and the Family of Loue in our daies who terme the doctrine of Predestination a licencious doctrine and say it filleth all the prisons almost in England m Display in an epist of the Families l. 7. b. 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 auoide both desperation and carnall securitie they are to haue alwayes in minde that 1. The promise of grace and fauour to mankindâ— are vniuersall as Come vnto mee all yee that are weary and laden and I will ease you n Mark 11.38 God sent not his Sonne into the world that he should condemne the world but that the world through him might bee saued o Ion. 3.17 God will that all men shall be saued and come vnto the knowledge of
Preacher Canticles or Song of Solomon 4. Prophets the greater 12. Prophets the lesse And the other bookes Hierome saith the Church doth reade for example of life and instruction of manners but yet doth it not apply to stablish any doctrine such are these following The 3. Booke of Esdras The 4. Booke of Esdras The Booke of Tobias The Booke of Iudith The rest of the Book of Hester The Booke of Wisdome Iesus the Sonne of Sirach Baruch the Prophet Song of the 3. Children The Story of Susanna Of Bel and the Dragon The Prayer of Manasses The 1. Booke of Maccabees The 2. Booke of Maccabees 4 All the Bookes of the new Testament as they are commonly received we doe receive and accompt them for Canonicall The Proposition 1. The sacred Scripture containeth all things necessary to be knowne and beleeved for the salvation of man 2. All the bookes in the volume of the Bible are not Canonicall but some and namely those here specified are 3 The third and fourth Bookes of Esdras the Booke of Tobias c. are Apocryphal 4. Of the New Testament all the Bookes are Canonicall 1. Proposition The sacred Scripture containeth all things necessary to be knowne and beleeved for the salvation of man The proofe from Gods Word THe holy Scriptures to be sufficient to instruct us in all things necessary to be knowne and beleeved for mans salvation the Word of God teacheth Ye shall put nothing unto the Word which I command you saith the Lord neither shall ye take ought there from Whatsoever I command you take heed you doe it thou shalt put nothing thereto nor take ought therefrom Thou shalt not turne away from it to the right hand not to the left that thou maiest prosper whithersoever thou goest c Jos 1.7 Every Word of God is pure c. Put nothing unto his words lest he reproove thee and thou be found a lyer d Prov. 30.5 6. These things are written that ye might beleeve c. and that in beleeving ye might have life through his Name e Joh. 20.31 The whole Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable to teach to improove to correct and to instruct in righteousnesse that the man of God may be absolute being made perfect unto all good workes f 2 Tim. 3.16 17. If any man shall adde unto these things God shall adde unto him the plagues that are written in this booke and if any man shall diminish of the words of this booke God shall take away his part out of the booke of life and out of the holy Citie and from those things which are written in this booke g Rev. 22.18 Hereunto Gods people both alwayes have and at this present doe subscribe h Confes Helv. 1 ar l 4. 20. 1. Basil ar 10. Boke c. 1 Gal. ar 2. 4 5. Bel. ar 7. Saxon. ar â— Wittemb c. 30. Suev ar 1. The Errors and adversaries â—â—â—o this truth Therefore adversaries be we to all adversaries to this truth especially To such as scorne and contemptuously reject the booke of God as both did the Circumcellians which defaced and burnt the holy Scriptures a Aug. contra Pâ—â—â—ll 1. c. 27. and Pope Leo the tenth who tearmed the holy Gospel a fable of Christ b Apol. Steph. fol 3. 58. and doe the prophane Atheists c Nâ—sh in Christ his teares p. 39. a. Also to such as debase the credit and estimation of the holy Scriptures as David George did d Hist Davidis Georg. and both doe the Papists who have an opinion that the Scriptures of God are not sufficient to instruct mankinde unto salvation e Lâ—â—â—a l. 1. c. 1. and the Anabaptists which deeme not the holy Bible to be the Word of God f Buâ—â—in cont Catabap l. 1. with the Family of Love in whose bookes nothing is more frequent then the tearming of Gods reverend ministers and preachers Scripture-learned Also to them which with Gods Word do equall their own doctrine Injunctions Precepts and Traditions as doe the Papists For of their doctrin say the Rhemists Whatsoever the lawfull Apostles Pastors or Priests of Gods Church preach in the unitie of the same Church meaning the new Church of Rome is to be taken for Gods own word g Test Rhem. anâ— 1 Thes 2 12. To the same purpose but more blasphemously Stapleton As the Iews were to beleeve Christ so are we simply and in every thing to beleeve the Church of Rome whether it teacheth truth or errors h Stapl. antid Evang in Luc. 10.16 p. 528. Whatsoever by the authoritie of the Church is commanded ought of all men to be esteemed as the very Gospel saith Abbat Trithemius i Tract de propriet Monach. c. 4. of Popish precepts and our English Rhemists k Test Rhem. an 1. Thes 4.8 He that despiseth the Churches or her lawfull Pastors precepts And of their Traditions He that refuseth Ecclesiasticall traditions deserveth to be throwne out of the Church among the heathen as well as he which refuseth the Gospel saith Didacus Stella l Stella in Luc. 10 fol. 20. and the Councell of Trent with like affection of godlinesse and reverence embrace we and worship the bookes of the Old and New Testament and Ecclesiasticall Traditions saith the Councell m Concil Trid. sess 4. The like opinion have the Moscovites of Traditions n Ruff. Com. c. 23. To them finally are we adversaries which above the Scriptures doe preferre their owne 1 inventions as did the Philosophers whereof one said of Moses That good man maketh a trim discourse but prooveth nothing and the Grecians to whom the Gospel is foolishnesse o 1 Cor. 1.23 2 and imaginations as did the Manichies p Epiphan David George q Hist Da. Geo. and doe the Turkes r Pol. of the Tur. em c. 3.23 and Family of Love Å¿ Display A. 6. 3 or Traditions as doe the Papists who more cruelly doe punish the violaters of their own Traditions and ordinances then they doe the breakers of Gods Commandements 4 or Statutes Edicts Iudgements Proclamations c. proceeding from the braine of man as Machiavell doth and his Schollers 2. Proposition All the Bookes in the volume of the Bible are not Canonicall but some are That some bookes and namely those above mentioned are Canonicall it hath bin granted by the best learned and most godly of long time And as all reformed Churches in the world are of the same judgement with us so in their publike Confessions some have so accounted and judged of them as we do a Confess Gal. ar 9. Belg. ar 4 Adversaries to this truth Therefore to speake first of the Canonicall bookes of the old Testament much have they offended which either rejected all or allowed but some of the bookes of the old Testament of the former sort were the Severians a Trit â—ur de eccles scrip Basilides b
ar 8. 2. c. in the iudgement of Gods people f Basil ar 2. Gal. ar 11. Saxon ar 11. Errors and aduersaries vnto this truth We stand therefore in this point Against the Papists who say that Originall sinne was not at all much lesse remained in the Virgin Mary a Concil Basil sest 6. Test Rhem. annot Rom. 5.14 Against Giselbertus whose doctrine is that Baptisme once receiued there is in the baptized no sinne at all either originall or actuall b Giselb lib. alte cat Synag eccles c. 8. Against the Family of Loue who affirme that the elect and regenerate sinne not c H.N. Document sent c. 2. sect â— c 13. sect 5 Against the Carpocratians whereof some boasted themselues to be euery way as innocent as our Sauiour Christ d Iren. l. c. 24. Against the Adamites both old e Epiphan and new f Aeneas Sylv. hist Bohe. c. 42. who said they were in so good a state as Adam was before his fall therefore without originall sinne Against the Begadores in Almaigne affirming they were impeceable and had attained vnto the very top and pitch of perfection in vertue and godlinesse g Carranza summa Concil 4. Proposition Concupiscence euen in the regenerate is sinne Concupiscence in whomsoeuer lusteth against the Spirit a Gal. 5.1 7. fighteth against both the soule b 1 Pet. 2.11 and the law of the mind c Rom. 7.23 and theâ—efore but that there is no condemnation to them which are in Christ Iesus d Rom. 8.1 it bringeth death damnation e Gal 5.17 21. Iam. 1.14.15 Mortifie therefore your members which are vpon earth saith S. Paul Coloss 3.5 vnto the Colossians fornication vncleannesse the inordinate affection euill concupiscence c. for the which things sake the wrath of God commeth on the children of disobedience And vnto all Christians S. Peter I beseech you as strangers abstaine from fleshly lust g 1 Pet. 3.11 To the same purpose is both the doctrine and Confessions of Gods people h Confess Helv 2. c. Saxon. ar 2 10. Errors and aduersaries vnto this truth Therefore we mislike their opinions as unsound which say that concupiscence either is no sinne at all or but a veniall fin the former was an assertion of the Pelagians Confess Aug ar 2. and is of the Papists that latter was one of Glouers errors Francis the Monke of Colen counted concupiscence no sin but said it was as naturall and so no more offensiue before God for man to lust then for the Sunne to keepe his course Petrus Lombardus saith that concupiscence afore Baptisme is both a punishment and a sinne but after Baptisme is no sin but onely a punishment Lomb l. 2. dift. 32. â— Catech Trid. praecep 9. The Church of Rome both teacheth that the power of lusting is not but the vse of wicked concupiscence is euill and numbred amongst most grieuous sinnes and decreeth how Concupiscence is noâ— sinne but proceedeth from sinne and inclineth vnto sinne d Concil Trid ses S. decreto de pec Orâ—g Glouer the Brownist said that the intemperate affections of the minde issuing from concupiscence are but veniall sins e Bred. detect â—9 1 9. 10. Article Of Free-will 1 The condition of man after the Fall of Adam is such that he cannot turne prepare himself by his owne naturall strength good workes 2 to faith calling vpon God wherefore we haue no power to doe good workes pleasant and acceptable to God 3 without the grace of God preuenting vs that we may haue a good will and working with vs when we haue that good will The Propositions 1. Man of his owne strength may doe outward and euill workes before he is regenerate 2. Man cannot doe any worke that good is and godly being not yet regenerate 3. Man may performe and doe good workes when he is preuented by the grace of Christ and renewed by the holy Ghost 1. Proposition Man of his owne strength may doe outward and euill workes before he is regenerate The proofe from Gods Word VVEE deny not that man not yet regenerate hath free will to doe the workes of nature for the preseruation of the body and bodily estate which thing had and have the bruit beasts and prophane Gentiles as it is also well obserued in our neighbour Church a Confes Helv. 2. cap. 9. Aug. ar 28. Saxon. 3.4 7. Besides man hath free will to performe the workes of Satan both in thinking willing and doing that which evill is For the imaginations of the thoughts of mans heart are onely evill continually b Gen. 6.5 evill even from his youth c Confes Helv. 2. c. 9. and 1. ar 9 Bohem. c. 4. A truth confessed by our brethren Aduersaries to this truth A false perswasion is it therefore that man hath no power to mooue either his body so much as vnto ourward things as Laur. Valla dreamed a Simon Pauli meth par 2. de lib. Ar. or his minde vnto sinne as the Manichies maintained affirming how man is not voluntarily brought but necessarily driuen to sinne b Aug. epist 28 2. Proposition Man cannot doe any worke that good is and godly being not as yet regenerate The proofe from Gods Word THE wisedome of the flesh is enmity against God for it is not subiect to the Law of God neither indeed can be They that are in the flesh cannot please God a Rom. 8.7 8. â— The naturall man perceiueth not the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishnesse vnto him neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned b 1 Cor. 2.14 No man can say that Iesus is the Lord but by the holy Ghost c 1 Cor. 12.3 We are not sufficient of our selves to thinke any thing as of our selues but our sufficiency is from God d 2 Cor. 3.5 Without me ye can doe nothing saith our Sauiour Christ e Iohn 15.5 Which is the confession of the godly reformed f Confes Helv 1. ar 9. 2. c. 9 Basil ar 2. Behem c. 4. Aug. â— ar 18. Belg. ar 14. The adversaries unto this truth Adversaries unto this truth are all such as hold that naturally there is free will in us and that unto the best things So thought the Pharises the Sadduces the Pelagians a August de pec mer. l. 3. and the Donatists b Idem contra Petil. cap 19. and the same affirme the Anabaptists c Zuing. contra Catabap and Papists For say the Papists Man by the forme and power of nature may love God above all things d Gab. Bâ—el 3. sent dist 37. Man hath free will to performe even spirituall and heavenly things e Concil Trid. sess 6. c. 1. Men beleeve not but of their own free will f Test Rhem an Mat 20.16 It is in a mans free will to beleeve or not to beleeve