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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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left hand is not mine to giue but it shall be giuen to them for whome it is prepared of my Father Many are called but fewe chosen For the elects sake those daies shall be shortned Feare not little flocke for it is your Fathers pleasure to giue you a kingdome I tell you in that night there shall be two in one bedde the one shall be receiued and the other shall be left All that the Father giueth mee shall come vnto me Witnessed also is this by the Euangelist Luke and Paul the one saith how of the Gentiles at Antioch so many as were ordained vnto eternall life beleeued and the other those whome he knewe before he did also predestinate Wee are vnto God the sweete sauour of Christ in them that are saued and in them which perish to the one wee are the fauour of death vnto death and to the other the sauour of life vnto life Blessed be God euen the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ which c. hath chosen vs in him before the foundation of the world c. who hath predestinate vs to be adopted through Ies●● Christ vnto himselfe c The examples also of the elected creatures man and Angels of the two brethren Abel and Kaine Isaac and Ismael Iacob and Esau of the two Eunuches of K. Pharao of the two kingdomes Iuda and Israel the two peoples Iewes and Gentiles the two Apostles Peter and Iudas the two Theeues vpon the Crosse the two men in the fieldes and the two women at the Mill make to the illustration of this truth All Churches consent with this doctrine The Errors and adversaries vnto this truth Erre therefore doe they which stand in opinion that Some are appointed to be saued but none to be damned In soule some persons but in soule and body together none shall be saued of this minde were the old heretikes viz. the false Apostles the Carpocratians the Valentinians the Cerdonites the Manichies and the Hieranites and of their opinion be the Familie of Loue 2. Proposition Predestination hath bin from euerlasting The profe from Gods word Predestination beganne before all times It will be said saith our Sauiour Christ Come ye blessed of my Father inherite ye the kingdome prepared for you from the foundations of the world God hath chosen vs in Iesus Christ before the Foundation of the world God hath saued vs c. according to his owne purpose and grace which was giuen to vs through Christ Iesus before the world was The publike confessions of the Churches namely in Heluetia Basil and France beare witnesse herevnto Aduersaries vnto this truth Those wrangling Sophisters then are deceiued who because God is not included within the compasse of any time but hath all things to come as present continually before his eies doe say that God he did not in the time long agoe past onely but still in the time present likewise doth predestinate 3. Proposition They which are predestinate vnto saluation cannot perish The proofe from Gods word All that the Father giueth mee shall come to mee and him that commeth to mee I cast not away saith Christ I giue vnto them eternall life and they shall neuer perish neither shall any pluck them out of my hand c. none is able to take them out of my Fathers hand The gates of hel shall not ouercome the Church Moreouer whome be predestinate them hee also glorified For the giftes and calling of God are without repentance They went o●t from vs but they were not of vs for if they had beene of vs they would haue continued with vs So the Churches of God as afore in this article The Errors and adversaries vnto this truth Wander then doe they from the truth which thinke That the very elect totally and finally may fall from grace and be damned That the regenerate may fall from the grace of God may destroy the temple of God and be broken off from the vine Christ Iesus which was one of Glouers errors That the number of those which be predestinate may both encrease and be diminished so thought the Pelagians 4. Proposition Not all men but certaine be predestinate to be saued The proofe from Gods word Wee denie that all and affirme that a certaine chosen and companie of men be predestinate and so doth Gods word Reioice that your names are written in heauen I knowe mine and am knowne of mine is the saying of Christ Iesus I suffer all things for the elects sake saith S. Paul The very same with vs doe the Churches affirme Adversaries vnto this truth Wee are therefore against them which teach how not certain but all euen the most vngodly and damnable yea the very Deuils shall be saued of which opinion were the Originists and are the Cptabaptists All men be elected vnto life euerlasting There is no hell nor future and eternall misterie at all but only either in mās opiniō as hold the Atheists or in the heart and conscience of man in this life as the Familists maintaine No certaine companie be foredestined vnto eternall condemnation None more then others be predestinate vnto saluation which was an error of Henry Bolsteck In like sort we condemne such as either curiously enquire who and how many shall be saued or damned or giue the sentence of reprobation vpon any men whosoeuer as doe the Papists vpon Caluine Beza and Verone when they call them Reprobates 5. Proposition Of the meere will and purpese of God some men in Christ Iesus are elected and not others vnto saluation The proofe from Gods word In the Scripture wee read of mans predestination the cause efficient to be the euerlasting purpose of God the cause formall God his infinite mercie and goodnes the cause materiall the blood of Christ the cause finall or ende why both God the Father hath loued and Christ for his elect hath suffered is the glorie of God and the saluation of man And this doe all the Churches militant and reformed with a sweete consent testifie and acknowledge Errors adversaries vnto this truth Hereby is discouered the impietie of those men which thinke that 1. Man doth make himselfe eligible for the kingdome of heauen by his owne good workes and merits So teach the Papists The kingdome of heauen say they is prepared for them that are worthie of it and deserue it by their well doing Licet electis gloria ex eterna Dei predestinatione dimanet non tamen provenit nisi ex eorum operibus c. Sine nobis non glorificamur 1. Although from Gods eternall predestination glory floweth to the elect yet for all that it springeth not but from their owne workes c. Without our selues wee are not glorified 2. God
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
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
into the world that he should condemne the world but that the world through him might be saued God will that all men shall be saued and come vnto the knowledge of the truth 2. The doctrine of the Gospell for the free remission of sinnes is to be preached not vnto a fewe but vniuersally and generally vnto all men Goe therefore and teach all nations baptizing them c Goe into all the world and preach the Gospell to euery creature He that shall beleeue and be baptized shall be saued but hee that will not beleeue shall be damned 3. The seales of the couenant be appointed to be giuen to all men and members of the visible Church or desirous to be ineorporated there into For All are to be baptized and all are to participate of the bread and cuppe at the Lords supper 4. As the disobedience of Adam brought condemnation vpon all men so the blood and obedience of Christ is able all-sufficient to wash away all sinnes and that of all men 5. No man euer truly repented but he was receiued againe into fauour so was Dauid after his adulterie Manasses after his Idolatrie Peter after his Apostacie the Thiefe vpon the Crosse the Niniuites The adversaries vnto this truth They are not to be heard then which say that The number of the Elect is but small and seeing wee are vncertaine whether wee be of that companie or no wee will proceede in our course as wee haue begunne God is an acceptor of persons and so vniust in chusing some and refusing others God hath predestinate all those personns to eternall death which are not in the state of true repentance which was one of Glouers errors It is the part therefore of all and euery man Not to refuse the mercies of God both generally and gratiously offered vnto all men by his word and Sacraments Not to despaire in respect either of the greatnes or multitude of his sinnes Nor yet to prouoke the Lord to execute his vengeance vpon them through prophanes of life or securitie 10. Proposition In our actions the word of God which is his reuealed will must be our direction The proofe from Gods word In our doings but cheiefly in the matter of Predestination wee are to follow not our own iudgement and what seemeth good in our owne opinions but the will of God and that will too not which is concealed from vs viz. of God his omnipotencie wherby he gouerneth at his pleasure the things by himselfe created whereof mention is made both in the Psalmes in the Prophet Isay and other places of his word but of his fauour and good pleasure towards man reuealed in the holy Scriptures by Iesus Christ whome wee are to heare Subscribed hereunto haue and doe Gods church euery where The adversaries vnto this truth This truth is gainesaid by the Phrygians Montanists and Messalians also by the Enthusiastes Anabaptists And Familie of Loue which leaue the written word of God and relie vpon their owne dreames visions and lying reuelations Hence proceedeth the contempt of Gods written word and of the Preachers and all religious exercises thereof For saith the Familie of Loue No difference is there betweene a ceremoniall either Letre Doctor Christian an vncircumcised Heathen 18. Article Of obtaining eternall saluation onely by the name of Christ. 1 They also are to be had accursed that presume to say that euery man shall be saued by the Lawe or sect which he professeth so that he be ●iligent to frame his life according to that Law and the light of nature For holy Scripture doth set out vnto vs 2 onely the name of Iesus Christ whereby men must be saued The propositions 1. The profession of euery religion cannot saue a man liue he neuer so virtuously 2. No man euer was is or shall be saued but onely by the Name or faith of Iesus Christ. 1. Proposition The profession of euery religion cannot saue a man liue hee neuer so virtuously The proofe from the word of God THis we cannot but acknowledge to be a truth if wee beleeue the Scriptures for they testifie that Iewes and Gentiles are all vnder sinn culpable before God and depriued of the glory of God All men that would be saued must be borne againe of the holy Ghost No man is iustified by the workes of the Lawe either ceremoniall or morall God hateth the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes and of Balaam The Reprobate whose names are not written in the booke of the life of the Lambe they doe worship the Beast Punishments eternall and intolerable are threatned both to the Beast and the false prophet and likewise to all such as will not goe out of Babylon and to all Idolaters The confessions of Gods people are to this ende and purpose Errors adversaries vnto this truth Then to be had accursed are they which affirme that This obseruation of the Iudaicall ceremonies is necessarie vnto saluation as did the false apostles the Ebionites and the Corinthians Such throughout the world as lead an vpright life and be morally righteous whatsoeuer their religion is shall be saued as many of the Philosophers were in the opinion of the Valentinian and Basilidian heretikes of Galeatus Martius and Erasmus Roterodam That men externally may professe any religion and notwithstanding be saued if their affections and hart be with the Familie of Loue That all those which liue vprightly and doe good deedes shall be of equall happines in the kingdome of heauen be they Turkes Christians Iewes or Moores A Turkish error That men may embrace and follow the sect and religion which they haue most minde vnto and so doing please God and shall be saued the Lampatians doctrine That no sect euer erred or were out of the way to heauen a fancie of the Rhetorians 1. Proposition No man euer was is or shal be saued but onely by the name or Faith of Iesus Christ. The proofe from Gods word This wee cannot but acknowledge to be true if also wee beleeue the scriptures which say that Among men there is giuen none other name vnder heauen whereby wee must be saued Through Iesus Christ his name all that beleeue in him shall receiue remission of sinnes In thee viz. Christ Iesus shall all the Gentiles be blessed And this is the Faith and confession of the reformed Churches The errors and Adversaries vnto this truth Many waies this truth very heretically is oppugned For Some teach that wee are saued not by Christ but as the Valentinians said by the labour of their hands and by their owne good workes as Simon Magus boasted by his faire Helene as Matthew Hamant held by other meanes and that all persons which worshipped Christ are abominable Idolaters as
are to be admitted into the ministery They are causes which indeede are none to debarre men from the ecclesiasticall function as if men haue bin twice married an error of the Russeis be married haue had certaine wiues haue not receiued the Sacrament of Confirmation haue bin baptized of Heretikes these may not be Priests say the Papists or if either they haue not bin trained vp in the Familie or be not Elders in the said Familie of Loue 24. Article Of speaking in the Congregation in such a tongue as the people vnderstand not It is a thing plainely repugnant to the word of God and the custome of the primitiue Church to haue publike prayer in the Church or to minister the Sacraments in a tongue not vnderstood of the people The proposition Publike praier and the Sacraments must be ministred in a tongue vnderstood of the common people The proofe from Gods word THis assertion needeth small proofe For who so is perswaded as all true Christians of vnderstanding are that what is done publikely in the Church by a strange language not vnderstood of the people profiteth not the Congregation edifieth not the weake instructeth not the ignorant inflameth not the zeale offendeth the hearers abuseth the people dipleaseth God bringeth religion into contempt easily will thinke that where the praiers be said or the Sacraments administred in a tongue not vnderstood of the vulgar sort neither is the word of God regarded nor the custome of the purer primitiue Church obserued This article no church doth doubt of and very many by their extant Confessions doe allow Aduersaries vnto this truth But their is nothing either so true or apparent which hath by all men at any time bin acknowledged So contrary to this truth In old time the Ossens made their praiers vnto God alwaies in a strange language which they learned of Elxeus their founder and the Marcosians at the ministration of Baptisme vsed certaine Hebrew words not to edifie but to terrifie and astonish the mindes of the weake and ignorant people In these daies the Turkes performe all their superstitions in the Arabian language thinking it not onely vnmeete but also an vnlawfull thing for the common sort of persons to vnderstand their Mahometane mysteries The Iacobite preists doe vse a tongue at their church ministrations and meetings which the vulgar people cannot comprehend The diuine Lyturgie among the Russians is compounded partly of the Greeke and partly of the Sclavonian language The Papists will haue all diuine Seruice Praiers and Sacraments and that throughout the world ministred onely in the Latine tongue which but fewe men of the common people doe vnderstand some of them holding that It is not necessary that wee vnderstand our praiers and that praiers not vnderstood of the people are acceptable to God and all of them maintaining that hee is accursed whosoeuer doth affirme how the Masse ought to be celebrate onely in a vulgar tongue 25. Article Of the Sacraments Sacraments ordained of Christ 1 be not onely badges or tokens of Christian mens profession but rather they be 2 certaine sure witnesses and effectuall signes of grace and Gods good will toward vs by which he doth worke inuisibly in vs 3 and not onely quicken but also strengthen and confirme our faith in him 4 There be two Sacraments ordained of Christ our Lord in the Gospell that is to say Baptisme and the Supper of the Lord. Those fiue commonly called Sacraments that is to say 5 Confirmation 6 Penance 7 Orders 8 Matrimony and 9 extreame vnction are not to be compted for Sacraments of the Gospell beeing such as haue growen partly of the corrupt following of the Apostles partly are states of life allowed in the Scriptures but yet haue not like nature of Sacraments with Baptisme and the Lords Supper for that they haue not any visible signe or ceremonie ordained of God 10 The Sacraments were not ordained of Christ to be gazed vpon or to be carried about but that wee should duely vse them 11 And in such onely as worthily receiue the same they haue a wholesome effect or operation but they that receiue them vnworthyly purchase to themselues damnation as Saint Paul saith The propositions 1. The Sacraments ordained of Christ be badges or tokens of our profession which be Christians 2. The Sacraments be certaine sure witnesses and effectuall signes of grace and God his good will toward vs. 3. By the Sacraments God doth quicken strengthen and confirme our faith in him 4. Christ hath ordained but two Sacraments in his holy Gospell 5. Confirmation is no Sacrament 6. Penance is no Sacrament 7. Orders is no Sacrament 8. Matrimonie is no Sacrament 9. Extreame vnction is no Sacrament 10. The Sacraments are not to be abused but rightly to be vsed of vs all 11. All which receiue the Sacrament receiue not therewithall the things signified by the Sacraments 1. Proposition The Sacraments ordained of Christ be badges or tokens of our profession which be Christians The proofe from Gods word THe Sacraments are badges or tokens both of Christians and of Christianitie Of Christians For by them are visibly discerned the faithfull from Pagans and Christians Iewes Turkes and all prophane Atheists Of Christianitie For as Circumcision in the old Lawe was a token how the corrupt and carnall affections of the minde should be subdued and that the Lord required not so much an outward of the Body as an inward circumcision of the heart so Baptisme telleth vs that being once dead vnto sinne wee are to liue vnto righteousnes that all wee which haue bin baptized vnto Iesus Christ haue bin baptized into his death c. and must walke in newnesse of life c. for wee haue put on Christ by Baptisme And as the Paschall Lambe was to the Iewes a token that the flight of sinne should alwaies be fresh in memorie and that it should be celebrated not with old Leauen neither in the Leauen of maliciousnes but with the vnleauened bread of synceritie and truth so the participation of one Loafe and of one Cuppe in the Lord his Supper doth commend vnto our consideration a sweete concord a brotherly vnanimitie and a constant continuance in the true worship of God without fauouring of Idolatrie in ay respect This doe the godly in al their Churches and throughout the word both teach and testifie The Adversaries vnto this truth Vngodly therefore and in a cursed state are they which equall other things with the Sacraments to discerne Christians from Pagans So the Iacobites imprint the signe of the Crosse on their Armes Foreheades c. to be knowen for Christians which contemne the Sacraments as of none account Soe doe the Anabaptists Ther be saith D. Sarania which hold how the Sacraments were to be administred onely at the first plāting of the Church by the