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A86226
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Herberts beleefe and confession of faith made in CLX articles. For th'instruction of his wife & children.
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Herbert, William, fl. 1634-1662.
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1646
(1646)
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Wing H1537; Thomason E1207_1; ESTC R208783
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30,491
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60
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the Church must not admit may expell all those who erre obstinatly in points foundamentall shaking the foundation of necessarie saving truths or who live so lewdly that they might infect the faithfull with their vicious customes be a scandall to the Church by their wicked conversation for the Elect being children of light the Church compar'd to the Moone it becomes them to walke by light XCIV Conceiving Christ a Sunne I call the Church a Moone I beleeve then that she must borrow all her light from him Although therefore the Church hath pow'r in things indifferent as concerning the time place of Gods worship fasts feasts postures other things which in themselves are neither good nor bad but left to each mans discretion yet she must not presume to alter or infringe the lawes of Christ adde to them or detract from them or to impose upon his children members that is upon her self aniething repugnant to the revealed will of her Husband Head but in all her decrees concerning faith discipline good manners anie great controversie the Church whether particular provinciall nationall or universall must in all her consultations decisions receive her light onely from Christ her Sunne XCV This Sunne shining in the holie Scripture as in his glorious firmament I cast my eyes on him there to behold admire his beautie As then I Beleeve that there is a God Beleeve or Trust in that God so I Beleeve to him giving assent unto his Word being fully perswaded of its infallible truth in all things namely XCVI In the declration of Gods nature power wisdom mercie justice will in the manifestation of his Son in the flesh in the gift of his holie Spirit in the Creation Rule of the World description of mans State both in Adam Christ doctrines of faith workes confutation of falshood errors condemnation correction of sinfull affections all vicious actions narration of things past prophesies of future consolations in miseries threatnings of destruction damnation for sin promises of preservation Salvation through Christ whom with the armes of faith love I do embrace XCVII All these excellent things being containd in the Scripture I Beleeve it the chiefe booke of all made by divine inspiration or speciall assistance of God for the studie use of the faithfull who may yea must either reade it or heare it read indeavour to understand beleeve it XCVIII For though it be obscure in respect of its prophesies some deepe mysteries yet in respect of necessarie truths concerning faith works it is most cleare to them who with an humble heart fervent prayers frequent reading serious meditation religious intention seeke the meaning of it making that holie book the sure onlie foundation of their whole faith principles of their religion rule of wisdom justice all vertues so preferring it to all writings books traditions Canons or Constitutions of Church or State that it be the touch stone to trie the truth goodnes of others XCIX By the name of Scripture I Understand onely those Bookes which are call'd Canonique as such receiv'd beleev'd by the Protestant or reformed true Church who knowes them to be the right Word of God by the effectuall persuasion of the holie Ghost by their owne excellence above the light of our nature by their great pow'r to inlighten move comfort terrifie the divers hearts of men by the Satisfaction they give faithfull readers both in faith manners by the accomplishment of what is prophesi'd in them by the conformitie of their writers when they handle the same matters by the consent of the Jewish Christian Churches so being assur'd that they are such doth shew commend command them to all Christians in the name of her Lord Head C. I say she commands them in the name of her Lord for though the Church shew me these Books yet their authoritie is not from the Church but from God whose written Word will they are so sufficient full that they are able to make the man of God wise unto salvation through faith in Christ Jesus perfect in all good workes CI. The Scripture containing Gods Covenant of favor blessings both corporall spirituall temporall and eternall to his faithfull obedient people I Beleeve he was pleas'd to confirme seale his gracious promises least anie man whom they concerne should mistrust or forget them The confirmation was by an Oath God swearing by himselfe to blesse in Christ the seed of Abraham all nations of the earth The Seales were are Sacraments which represented to the Fathers doe still assure us of Salvation through Christ for though their matter did differ from ours yet their signification was the same even Christ the Lambe slaine from the worlds beginning to its consummation CII These Sacraments being holie signes of Christ must have from him institution promise of grace matter forme with the analogie or correspondence betweene the element or signe the thing signifi'd in some proprietie I Beleeve then that Christ ordain'd the Sacraments our holie Church hath now appointing their matter forme by which matter he represents the inward effects of his grace promis'd to those who shall receive the signe in faith love purâ—â—â— CIII Christ being the substance or inward matter of the Sacraments is likewise th' inward Minister giving or doing to the faithful soules what the signes doe to the bodies for unto such the signes are not naked but with the signes they receive Christ with all his benefits the merits of his life death wheras the Reprobat infidell or wicked persons being not of Gods election so wanting the good disposition which is requir'd in all worthie Communicants or partakers of Christs merits receive the signes to their condemnation missing the grace which is not ty'd unto the signes nor shut in them For though the signes be common to all the visible members of the Church yet the grace signify'd is proper to the sole Elect to whom onelie the Sacraments are most true Seales assurance meanes of Gods love towards them in their Election Vocation Justification Sanctification Glorification CIV. Considering them in this respect of Seales assurance meanes not as Causes of Salvation I esteeme them greatly yet never adore them albeit the neglect of them be dangerous yea damnable because ordain'd commanded by Christ yet I beleeve that God being not ty'd to the meanes second causes manie men may be are sav'd without the Sacraments or signes for Christ being th' inward matter Minister of them may supplie the want of outward matter Ministers CV Whom I Beleeve to be onely the Stewards of Gods mysteries those men who are lawfully call'd for the dispensation of their Lords Word Sacraments yet I dive not into their intentions nor consider their worthines for the
creatures to his praise fearing to displease him and seeking to please and serve him in that way he prescribes adoring him alone having no faith no hope but in his wisdome pow'r goodnes for what concernes the soule seeking health ease honors riches but from him by lawfull meanes enduring patiently his corrections being thankfull for his blessings in all things submitting his will unto his doth I Beleeve fulfill the Commandements of the first Table which concerne God and his service CXXXIV And who in and for God loveth his Neighbour as himselfe doing what he can lawfully to instruct him in the right full knowledge of the Lord to divert him from sin exhort him to vertue help him to leade a holie sweet life wishing praying for him what is necessarie for his present future happines and freely heartily and fully pardoning him all faults doth likewise fulfill the commandements of the second Table concerning his Neighbour CXXXV But because this love towards God man cannot be so pure perfect in the state of our corruption but that we sin daily 'gainst both so transgresse the law of God and by our transgression loose the blessing of everlasting life promis'd unto its observers doe daily incurre the curse threatned unto its transgressors I Beleeve confesse that though the Law be just perfect in it self yet by reason of our weaknes since the fall of Adam it is not sufficient to Salvation CXXXVI Sith then my workes are imperfect I Beleeve my faith must supplie their want And since the Law cannot save me but rather condemnes me I borrow the helpe of my faith beleeving God for my righteousnes or justification And because it is not enough to beleeve in God without Christ this is my Heartie Faith in him Verball confession of him besides those points I have alreadie toucht concerning him CXXXVII That God Father Son holie Ghost having in mercie Elected some men it pleas'd that onelie wise gracious Spirit to give them Christ as the effectuall meane of their Election sole cause of their Salvation 'T was then decreed that the second Person of the incomprehensible Trinitie should assume mans nature thus to be made to Gods Elect wisdome righteousnes sanctification redemption CXXXVIII And least our Nature should be corrupt sinfull in Christ if as man he had descended from Adam by naturall generation it was likewise decreed that a pure and perfect bodie should be formed by the power of God of the purified substance of a faithfull Virgin without the helpe or seed of man CXXXIX And as this was eternally decreed so I Beleeve it was perform'd in the appointed time for the blessed Virgin Marie beleeving Gods message consenting to be made a Mother without anie carnall knowledge of man did by the power of the holie Ghost conceive that wondrous Child who by an eternall Generation is the Son of God without Mother and by temporall conception the Son of Man without Father CXL Mans nature in Christ â—ubsisting not in it selfe but in the Person of the Woâ—d I Beleeve that in one instant Christs whole humanitie bodie soule was form'd created assum'd or taken up by the second Person of the Divinitie in such a strait perpetuall union that it did never subsist without the Word who assum'd the nature not the person of man so that in Christ there is but one divine eternall indivisible person in to by which our whole nature soule bodie hath its subsistence abiding or standing yet addes nothing unto the Deitie for God being perfect simple eternall he can receive no addition composition alteration passion CXLI The Union being Personall of two natures in one Person I Beleeve that as the Person of Christ can not be divided so his Natures are not can not be confounded but still retaine their essentiall proprieties the divine being eternall infinit omnipotent omniscient and the human temporall finit once passible having a beginning of time limits for knowledge power place For though Christs human pow'r knowledge wisdome were great excellent yet CXLII I beleeve they were finit so that all things were not possible known unto him as man although as God he knew could doe all things which are not contradictorie I say therefore that although Christs Person to whom the proprieties of both natures are common knew all things in the wombe yet it was not by his human nature by which he being born increased in wisdome learning new things by dailie experience And thus I Beleeve he was born CXLIII Although his bodie was by the power of God form'd in an instant to the requisit growth for the reception of the soule yet he was in the Virgins wombe grew in it to greater strength till the dayes were accomplisht that she should be deliv'red CXLIV And then the blessed Maid brought forth in Beth-lehem in a stable the Maker of heaven earth who then appeared to the world in the shape of a poore Servant in the forme of a weak Infant whom beholding with the strong eyes of faith I most humbly adore for CXLV I Beleeve that that Infant is God and Man Man to doe endure for me that is in my steed for my good what I could not yet ought both to doe suffer and God to give infinit price efficacie or force unto the actions passions of the Humanitie apply them to me CXLVI I Rely then wholly on the merits of Christs obedience to Gods Law of his suffrings for my sins Beleeving he exactly observ'd the Law for me fully satisfi'd his offended justice and so by his paines righteousnes both originall actuall redeemed me from sin death hell and purchast me grace life Heaven CXLVII Christ then is all my hope my onelie Mediator of redemption intercession through whom I live on earth in grace shall in heaven in glorie To procure me both these also to shew me examples of humilitie meeknes patience all vertues my Saviour was borne amongst beasts subject to my passions infirmities yet without sin or disorder circumcis'd the eighth day carried into Egipt Persecuted through all his Life which having led most holily humbly painefully patiently miraculously chiefely the three last yeares in which by his mightie wonders divine instructions he manifested his Deitie he ended it by an ignominious and cruell death drinking at last the full bitter cup of Gods indignation against sin and sinners treading alone the Wine-presse of Gods wrath shedding all that precious bloud which is our bath onelie purgation CXLVIII I Beleeve then that as he did represent us he was in his human nature expos'd unto the wrath of God which his innocent Soule so lively apprehended that she was heavie unto death then enduring for his Elect by the helpe of the Deitie supporting the Humanitie th' eternall paines due to their