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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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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
of these is like that of the false Apostles which came from Iudea vnto Antioch and taught the Brethren that vnlesse they were Circumcised after the manner of Moses they could not be saued Whome the Apostles Paul and Barnabas first and afterwards Peter Iames and the rest at Ierusalem both zealously did resist and in their first Synod or conuocation powerfully suppresse The latter as bad as that hath bin the mother of many hereticall assertions and horrible conclusions I haue read and many there be aliue which will iustifie it how it was preached in a Mercate towne in Oxfordshire that to doe any seruile worke or businesse on the Lords day is as great a sinne as to kill a man or to committe adultery It was preached in Sommersetshire that to throw a bowle on the Sabboth day is as great a sinne as to kill a man It was preached in Norfolke that to make a Feast or wedding dinner on the Lords day is as great a sinne as for a Father to take a knife and cutte his childes throate It was preached in Suffolke I can name the man and I was present when hee was conuented before his ordinary for preaching the same that to ring moe Bels then one vpon the Lords day to call the people vnto Church is as great a sinne as to commit murder When these things I read and heard mine heart was strucken with an horror and so is it still when I doe but thinke of them and calling into minde the Sabboth doctrine at London printed for I. Porter and T. Man an 95 which I had read afore wherein very many things are to this effect I presently smelt both whose disciples all those preachers are and that the said doctrine had taken deepe impression in mens hearts and was dispersed while our watchmen were otherwise busied if not asleepe ouer the whole kingdome 23. It is a comfort vnto my soule and will be till my dying houre that I haue beene the man and the meanes that these Sabbatarian errors and impieties are brought into light and knowledge of the State whereby whatsoeuer else sure I am this good hath ensued namely that the said bookes of the Sabbath comprehending the aboue mentioned and many moe such fearefull and haereticall assertions haue beene both called in and forbidden any more to be printed and made common Your Graces predecessor Archb. Whitegift by his letters and Officers at Synods and visitations an 99. did the one and Sir Iohn Popham L. chiefe Iustice of England at Burie S. Edmonds in Suff. an 1600. did the other And both these most reuerend sage and honorable Personages by their censures haue declared if men will take admonition that this Sabbath doctrine of the Brethren agreeth neither with the doctrine of our Church nor with the lawes and orders of this kingdome disturbeth the peace both of the Common-weale and Church and tendeth vnto Schisme in the one and Sedition in the other and therefore neither to be backt nor bolsterd by any good Subiect whether hee bee Church or Common-weale man 24. Thus haue errors and noisome doctrines like boiles and Botches euer and anone risen vp to the ouerthrowe of our Churches health and salfety if it might be but yet such hath beene the Phisicke of our discipline as what by launcing purging and other good meanes vsed the Bodie still hath beene vpholden and preserued from time to time And well may errors like grosse humors and tumors continue among vs as neuer Church was or will be quite without them while it is militant heere vpon earth yet are they not of the substance at all of our Religion or any part of our Churches doctrine no more then ill humors which bee in are of the Bodie or dregs in a Vessell of wine bee any part either of the Vessell or Wine which remaneth as at the first most sound and vncorrupted and so continued euen vntill the dying day of that most illustrious religious Princesse Queene Elizabeth The verie Brethren themselues doe write that In regard of the common grounds of Religion and of the Ministerie We are all one We are all of one Faith one Baptisme one Bodie one spirit haue all one Father one Lord and be all of one Heart against all wickednes superstition idolatrie haeresie and we seeke with one Christian desire the aduancement of the pure Religion worshippe and honor of God We are Ministers of the word by one order we administer prayers and Sacraments by one forme we preach one Faith and substance of doctrine And wee praise God heartily that the true Faith by which we may be saued and the true Doctrine of the Sacraments and the pure Worshipe of God is truly taught and that by publike authoritie and retained in the booke of Articles Hitherto the said Brethren And this was their verdict of our Churches doctrine in the last yeare saue one of Q. Elizabeths raigne then which nothing was euer more truely said or written And this Vnitie and puritie of doctrine shee left with vs when shee departed this world 25. Nowe After Elizabeth raigned Noble Iames. Who found this our Church as all the world knoweth in respect of the groundes of true Religion at Vnitie and that Vnitie in Veritie and that Veritie confirmed by publike and regall approbation These ecclesiasticall ministers therefore though a thousand for number who at his Maiesties first comming into this kingdome either cōplained vnto his Highnes of I know not what errors imperfections in our Church euē in points of doctrine as if shee erred in matters of Faith or desired that an Vniformity of doctrine might be prescribed as if the same had not alreadie bin done to his hands or as weary belike of the old by Queene Elizabeth countenaunced and continued desired his Maiestie to take them out a newe Lesson as did the the 71. Brethren of Suffolk are not to be liked Neither can we extoll the goodnes of our God sufficiently toward our King and vs all for inspiring his royall heart with holy wisedome to discerne these vnstaied and troublesome spirits and in abling his Highnes with power and graces from aboue to decree orders and directions for the generall benefit and peace of the whole Church neither suffered hee his eies to sleepe nor his eie-lids to slumber nor the temples of his head to take any rest till he had set them downe afore all other though neuer so important and waightie affaires of the Crowne and Kingdome 26. My selfe haue read and thousand thousands with an hundred thousand of his Subiects besides haue either read or heard of Proclamations after Proclamations to the number of sixe or seauen at the least of bookes and open speeches of his Maiestie vttered in the Parliament house and all of them made vulgar within a yeare and little more after his happie ingresse into this kingdome taking the administration of this most famous flourishing Empire vpon himself
the Manichies the Basilidians the Valentinians the Messalian heretikes the Gentiles and heathen people whereof some in place of God worshipped Beastes vnreasonable as the Aegyptians did a Calfe an Oxe Cats Vulturs and Crocodils The Syrians a Fish and Pigeons the Persians a Dragon some as Gods haue adored men vnder the names of Iupiter Mars Mercurie and such like and some euen at this day for God doe worship Kine the Sunne and what they thinke good so doe inhabitants of Baly in the East Indies Of the Anthropomorphites which ascribed the forme and lineamentes of man vnto God thinking God to be like vnto man Of such as put their trust and confidence to be reposed in God alone either in men liuing as doe both the Persians in their Soldan and the Papists in their Pope who with them is God their Lord and God of infinite power or in Saints departed this life as doe the same Papists both in their S. Francis whome they tearme The glorie of God prefigured by Esay when he said Holy Holy Holy c. and in their Thomas Becket whom they say God hath set ouer the workes of his hands or in Beastes vnreasonable as doth the Mordwite Tartar or finally in riches and other senslesse creatures as doe the Atheists and irreligious worldlings 2. Proposition God is the maker and preseruer of all things The proofe from Gods word THat the world and all things both visible and invisible therein both were made and are preserved by the almightie and onely power of God are truthes grounded vpon the holy Scripture and agreeable to the confessions of Gods people For touching the creation of the world we read that in the beginning God created the heauen and the earth c. He made heauen and earth by him were all things created which are in heauen and which are in earth things visible and invisible whether Thrones or Dominions or Principalities or Powers all things were created by him and for him by his Sonne he made the worldes and all these acknowledged by the Churches primitiue and reformed at this day And touching the preseruation of all things by him created My soule praise thou the Lord c. saith the Psalmist which couereth himselfe with light as with a garment spreadeth the heauens like a curtaine which laieth the beames of his chambers in the waters and maketh the cloudes his chariot and walketh vpon the wings of the winde which maketh the spirits his messengers and flaming fire his ministers c. Are not two sparrowes sold for a farthing and one of them shal not fal on the ground without your Father yea and al the haires of your head are numbred saith our S. Christ God that made the world and all things that are therein he is Lord of heauen and earth he giueth life and breath and all things and hath made of one blood all mankinde to dwel on all the face of the earth and hath assigned the times which were ordained before and the bonds of their habitation saith S. Paul The Sonne is the brightnes of the glorie and the ingraued forme of his person and beareth vp all things by his mightie word The Churches of God in Heluetia Basil France and Flanders testifie the verie same Errors and aduersaries vnto these truths Hereby are condemned all Heretikes and errors impugning either the creation of the world by God or his providence in the continuing and preseruation of the same Of the former sort was First Aristotle and his followers which said the world was eternal and without beginning Next the Marcionites that held how God made not the world as being too base a thing for him to create 3. Simon Magus Saturnius Meander Carpocrates Corinthus who ascribed the worldes creation vnto Angels 4. The Manichies who gaue the creation of all things vnto two Gods or Beginnings the one good whereof came good things the other euill whence proceeded euill things 5. The same Manichies and Priscillianists which did affirme man to haue bin the workemanship not of God but of the Deuill 6. The Familie of Loue who deliuer that God by them made heauen and earth 7. The Papists who giue out how sacrificing Priests are the Creators of Christ Of the latter sort were The Stoike Philosophers and the Manichies who are the great patrones of Destinie Fate and Fortune The Familie of Loue which may not say God saue any thing for they affirme that all things be ruled by nature and not ordered by God The old Philosophers who thought that inferior things were too base for God to be carefull of And lastly the Epicures who thinke God is idle and gouerneth not the same Of which minde was Cyprian who held that God hauing created the world did commit the gouerment thereof vnto certaine celestial powers 3. Proposition In the Vnitie of the Godhead there is a Trinitie of persons The proofe from Gods word THe Scripture saith In the beginning God the Father the Sonne and the holy Ghost created the heauen and the earth By 1 the word of the 2 Lord were the heauens made and all the host of them by the 3 Breath of his mouth Loe the heauens were opened vnto 1 him and Iohn sawe 2 the Spirit of God descending like a Doue and lighting vpon him and loe a voice from heauen saying This is 3 my beloued Sonne in whome I am well pleased Because yee are sonnes 1 God hath sent forth 2 the Spirit of his 3 Sonne into your heartes which crieth Abba Father saith the Apostle and againe The grace of 1 our Lord Iesus Christ and the loue 2 of God and the communion of the 3 holy Ghost be with you all And S. Iohn There are three which beare record in heauen 1 The Father 2 the word and 3 the holy Ghost and these three are one This truth hath alwaies bin and serously is confessed in the church of Christ. Errors adversaries vnto this truth Then cursed are all opinions of men contrarie herevnto whereof Some denied the Trinitie affirming there is one God but not three persons in the Godhead so did the Montanists and Marcellians and so doe the Iewes and Turkes Some as the Gnostikes Marcionites and Valentinians affirme there be moe Gods then one and yet not three persons nor of one and the same nature but of a diuers and contrarie disposition Some thinke there be three Gods or spirits not distinguished onely but diuided also as did the Ennomeans and Trethectes Some feare not to say that in worshiping the Trinitie Christians doe adore three Deuils worse then all the idols of the Papists such blasphemers were the Heretikes Blandrat and Alciat Some will
Iniunctions precepts and Traditions as doe the Papists For of their doctrine say the Rhemists whatsoeuer the lawfull Apostles Pastors or Preists of Gods church preach in the vnitie of the same Church meaning the newe church of Rome is to be taken for Gods owne word To the same purpose but more blasphemously Stapletō As the Iewes were to beleeue Christ so are wee simply in euery thing to beleeue the church of Rome whether it teacheth truth or errors Whatsoeuer by the authoritie of the Church is commanded ought of all men to be esteemed as the very Gospell saith Abbat Trithemius of Popish precepts and our English Rhemists He that despiseth the Churches or her lawfull Pastors precepts And of their Traditions He that refuseth ecclesiasticall traditions deserueth to be throwne out of the church among the Heathen as well as he which refuseth the Gospell saith Didacus Stella and the counsell of Trent with like affection of godlines and reuerence embrace wee and worship the bookes of the old and new Testament and ecclesiasticall Traditions saith the Counsell The like opinion haue the Moscovites of Traditions To them finally are we adversarie which aboue the Scriptures doe preferre their owne 1 inuentions as did the Philosophers whereof one said of Moses That good man maketh a trimme discourse but prooueth nothing and the Graecians to whome the Gospell is foolishnes 2 and imaginations as did the Manichies David George and doe the Turkes and Familie of Loue 3 or Traditions as doe the Papists who more cruelly doe punish the violators of their owne 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 Mac●hiauell 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 aboue mentioned are Canonicall it hath bin graunted by the best learned and most godly of long time And as all reformed churches in the world are of the same iudgement with vs so in their publike Confessions some haue so accounted and iudged of them as we doe Adversaries to this truth Therefore to speake first of the canonicall bookes of the old Testament much haue they offended which either reiected all or allowed but some of the bookes of the old testament of the former sort were the Seuerians Basilides Carpocrates and the Manichies are the Catabaptistes of the latter were sundrie whereof Some receiued no moe but onely the fiue bookes of Moses as the Sadduceis Some of all the bookes in the old testament reiect the workes of Moses and namely his foure last bookes as the Moscovites Some embraced the Law onely and the Prophets as the Samarites Some esteemed neither the Law nor the Prophets as the Appelleans Some had in contempt the booke of the Canticles as Sebastian Castello And some the booke of Iob as the Anabaptists 3. Proposition The third and fourth bookes of Esdras the booke of Tobias c. be Apocrypha That diuers and namely these bookes mentioned are Apocrypha we are neither the first that said nor they alone which affirme the same For so iudge of them did the auncient councel at Laodicea and doe the Churches reformed and name-in France and Belgia c. Aduersaries vnto this truth So that they are to be held and taken heede of as Seducers which vpon the Church would thrust either other mens workes and deuises not comprised in the Bible as would Some the new Prophets Barrobas and Barrolf of Basilides the heretike Some the manifestations of Marcion the heretike Some the mysteries of Manichie the heritike Others Esaias Ascensorium of Hierax the heretike Others the Gospel after the Egyptians after S. Andrew S. Iames the lesser S. Peter S. Bartholomew the 12. Apostles Barnabas Nicodemus Thaddeus The Canons of the Apostles others Others the Acts of S. Abdie S. Andreas S. Paul Peter Philip Thomas Others the Reuelation of S. Paul Peter Steven Thomas Others the bookes of the Anabaptists of H.N. with Popish Legendes and the like Or the bookes Apocrypha within the volume of the Bible as the Papists who therefore anathematize and curse so many as take them not for Canonicall 4. Proposition Of the newe Testament all bookes are Canonicall Although some of the auncient Fathers and Doctors accepted not all the bookes contained within the volume of the newe Testament for Canonicall yet in the end they were wholly taken and receiued by the common consent of the Church of Christ in this world for the very word of God as they are at this day almost in all places where the Gospel is preached and professed Howbeit we iudge them Canonicall not so much because learned and godly men in the Church so haue and doe receiue and allowe of them as for that the holy Spirit in our hearts doth testifie that they are from God They carrie a sacred and diuine authoritie with them and they doe also agree in all pointes with the other bookes of God in the old Testament Errors adversaries vnto this truth Therefore in admitting all and euery of these bookes acknowledging them to be Canonicall we demonstrate our selues to be against Such as reiected all the newe Testament as did the Iewes our Matthew Hamant Such as allowed part but not the whole new Testament and these were of diuers sorts whereof Some allowed of the Euangelists onely Matthew as the Cerdonites and Ebionites others onely Luk as the Marcionites others onely Iohn as the Valentinians Some accepted onely the Acts of the Apostles as the Tatians others of all other bookes reiected the said Actes as the Manichies and the Seuerites Some of S. Pauls epistles tooke the epistles vnto Timothie and Titus onely to be Canonical as Marcion the heretike Some as Apocryphal refused the epistle vnto Philemon others the epistle vnto the Hebrewes the epistle of S. Iames as Althemerus others the first and second epistles of Iohn with the epistle of Iude as Wigandus others the epistle vnto the Hebrewes of Iames the two last of Iohn and of Iude as Cardinall Caietane Some reiected the booke of S. Iohns reuelations or the Apocalypse as Heshusius we are also against them which allowed neither the whole newe Testament nor those bookes wholly which they embraced as the Marcionites who defaced all those places in the Gospell after Luke and in the epistles which concernd either the diuinitie or humanitie of our Sauiour Christ And lastly are wee against them which receiue the whole new Testament but deface and put out such textes as mislike them as the Turkes who scrape out whatsoeuer they finde touching the passion of Christ alleadging how it was added purposely by the Iewes in
veniall sinnes 10. Article Of Freewill 1 The condition of man after the fall of Adam is such that he cannot turne and prepare h●mselfe by his owne naturall strength and good workes 2 to faith and 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 many doe outward and euil 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 renued 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 WEe denie 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 haue the bruite beastes and prophane Gentiles as it is also well observed in our neighbour churches Besides man hath free will to performe the workes of Satan both in thinking willing and doing that which euill is For the imaginations of the thoughts of mans heart are onely euill continually euill euen from his youth A truth confessed by our brethren d. Errors adversaries vnto this truth A false perswasion is it therefore that man hath no power to moue either his body so much as vnto outward things as Laur. Valla dreamed or his minde vnto sinne as the Manichies maintained affirming how man is not voluntarily brought but necessarily driuen vnto sinne 2. Proposition Man cannot doe any worke that good is and godly beeing not as yet regenerate The profe from Gods word The wisedome of the flesh is enimitie against God for it is not subiect to the Law of God neither indeede can be They that are in the flesh cannot please God The naturnll man perceiueth not the things of the spirit of God for they are foolishnes vnto him neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned No man can saie that Iesus is the Lord but by the holy Ghost Wee are not sufficient of our selues to thinke any thing as of our selues but our sufficiencie is from God Without mee ye can doe nothing saith our Sauiour Christ Which is the confession of the godly reformed The adversaries vnto this truth Adversaries vnto this truth are all such as hold that naturally there is Free will in vs and that vnto the best things So thought the Pharisies the Sadduceis the Pelagians and the Donatists and the same affirme the Anabaptists and Papists For say the Papists Man by the force power of nature may loue God aboue all things Man hath free will to performe euen spirituall and heauenly things Men beleeue not but of their owne free will It is in a mans free will to beleeue or not to beleeue to obey or disobey the Gospell of truth preached The Catholike popish religion teacheth freewill 3. Proposition Man may performe and doe good workes when hee is preuented by the grace of Christ and renued by the holy Ghost The proofe from Gods word In a man preuented by the grace of Christ and regenerate by the holy Spirit both the vnderstanding is enlightened so that he knoweth the secrets and will of God and the minde and the minde is altogether changed and bodie enabled to doe good workes To this purpose the Sriptures are plentifull I will put my lawe in their inward parts and write it in their hearts No man knoweth the Father but the Son and he to whome the Sonne will reuiele him Blessed art thou Simon the sonne of Ionas for flesh and blood hath not revelled it vnto thee but my Father which is in heauen No man can say that Iesus is the Lord but by the holy Ghost To one is giuen 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 workes and to another prophecie and to another the discerning of spirits and to another diuersities of tongues and to an other the interpretation of tongues c. God he purifieth mans hearts worketh in vs both the will and the deed the spirit helpeth our infirmities for we know not what to pray as wee ought c Such were some of you but yee are washed but yee are sanctified but ye are iustified in the name of the Lord Iesus and by the spirit of our God Vnto you it is giuen for Christ that not onely yee should beleeue in him but also suffer for his sake And this doe the Churches of God beleeue and confesse 11. Article Of the iustification of man VVe are accounted righteous before God only for 1 the merit of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ 2 by faith and 3 not for our owne workes or deseruings VVherefore that we are iustified by Faith onely is a most wholesome doctrine and very full of comfort c. The propositions 1. Onely for the merit our Lord and Sauiour Christ are we accounted righteous before God 2. Onely by Faith are we accounted righteous before God 3. Not for our owne workes or deseruings are we accounted righteous before God 1. Proposition Onely for the merit of our Lord and Sauiour Christ we are accounted righteous before God The proofe from the word of God BY Christ his blood onely wee are cleansed Hee is the Lambe of God which taketh away the sinne of the world Wee are iustified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Iesus Wee are bought with a price euen with the pretious blood of Christ the lambe vndefiled and without spot which cleanseth vs from all sinne By his onely righteousnes wee are iustified By the obedience of one many be made righteous Christ is the ende of the Lawe for righteousnesse vnto euery one that beleeueth He of God is made vnto vs wisdome and righteousnesse and sanctification and redemption and wee are made the righteousnes of God in him And therefore from heauen we looke for the Sauiour euen the Lord Iesus Christ And this is the faith and Confession of all Churches reformed Errors Adversaries to this truth This truth is neither beleeued nor acknowledged Of the Atheists who are neither perswaded of the life to come nor vnderstand the mysteries of mans saluation through the merits of Christ. Nor of the Pharise is and their followers who thinke that by ciuill and externall righteousnes we are iustified before God Nor of Matthewe Hamant
who held that man is iustified by Gods meere mercie without respect vnto the merits of Christ. Nor of Galeotus Martius which was of opinion that all nations and persons whosoeuer liuing according to the rules of nature should be saued and inherit euerlasting happines Nor of the Turkes who think that so many as either goe on pilgrimage vnto Mecha or doe kisse the sepulchre of Mahomet are iustified before God and thereby doe obtaine remission of their sinnes Nor of the Familie of Loue who teach by the shedding of Christ his blood is meant the spreading of the Spirit in our heartes 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 but also that the workes of one man may satisfie for another 2. They teach next that sinnes veniall are done away and purged by prayer Almes-deedes by the worthy receiuing of the blessed Sacrament of the Altar by taking of holy water knocking vpon the breast with holy meditation the Bishops blessing and such like by holy water and such ceremonies sacred ceremonies as Confiteor tundo conspergor conteror oro Signor edo dono per haec venialia pono that is I am confest vnto the preist I knock mine heart and breast with fist With holy water I am besprent And with contrition all yrent I pray to God and heauenly host I crosse my forehead at euery post I eate my Sauiour in the bread I deale my d●ale 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 waies besides are clensed thinke the said Papists as By the mirits of dead Saints namely of S. Mary the virgine Threnosa compassio dulcissimae Dei Matris Per●ucat nos ad gaudiasummi Dei Patris The pittifull compassion of Gods best pleasing mother Bring vs to the ioyes of God the soueraigne father And of Thomas Becket Tu per Thomae sanguinem quem pro●e impendit Fac nos Christe soandere quo Thomas ascendit By the Blood of Thomas which he for the expended Make vs Christ to climbe vp where Thomas ascended By Agnos Deis whereof they say Peccatum frangit vt Christi sanguis angit It breaketh sinn and doeth good As well as Christ his pretious blood By reading certaine parcels of Scripture according to their vulgars Per Euangelica dicta Deleantur nostra delicta Through the sayings and wordes euangelicall Our sinnes blot out and vices all 2. Proposition Onely by Faith are we accounted righteous before God The proofe from Gods word Onely beleeue all that beleeue in Christ shall receiue remission of sinnes frō all things from which ye could not be iustified by the law of Moses by Christ euery one that beleeueth is iustified The Gospel is the power of God vnto saluation to euery one that beleeueth To him that worketh not but beleeueth in him that iustifieth the vngodly his faith is counted for righteousnesse Christ is the ende of the law for righteousnesse to euery one that beleueth Knowe that a man is not iustified by the workes of the law but by the faith of Iesus Christ c. God would iustifie the Gentiles through faith c. They which be of faith are blessed with faith full Abraham By grace are ye saued through faith and that not of your selues Yea doubtlesse I thinke all things ●ut losse for the excellent knowledge sake of Christ Iesus my Lord for whom I haue counted all things losse and doe iudge them to be doung that I might winne Christ and might be founde in him not hauing mine owne righteousnesse which is of the Lawe but that which is through the faith of Christ euen the righteousnesse which is of God through faith The Cburches of Christ by their publike confessions giue testimonie vnto this truth The Errors and adversaries vnto this truth Pertakers of the prophet and sweetens of this doctrine are not they which be altogether ignorant of this mysterie Nor they who knowe the same but applie it not to their owne soules and consciences but altogether despise the same as did Pilate in condemning Christ Herod in killing Iames Agrippa in not defending Paul the Iewes in persecuting the Apostles and doe the Deuills and many vngodly persons Tyrans false Christians and Apostataes Nor they which teach not a sure confidence in Iesus Christ but an historicall knowledge of him as the Papists Nor they which hold that all and euery man is to remaine doubtfull whether he shall be saued or no as doe the same Papists Nor they which teach that man is iustified Either by workes without faith as did the false Apostles in Asia and do the Turkes and Anabaptists Or by faith and workes as both the Pseudapostles at Hierusalem the Ebionites and the Papists with the Russians Or neither by faith nor workes as they which contemne both faith in Christ Iesus and good workes too hoping yet to be saued as they carnally secure worldlings Neither shall they be partakers of the sweetnes of this truth which say that for Christians to trust onely by Christ his passion or by Faith onely to be saued is a breach of the first commandement as Vaux is the doctrine of Deuills as Frier Lawrence a Villanicentia and the doctrine of Simon Magus as do the Rhemists Nor they finally which maintaine how the truly righteous apprehend not Christ by Faith but haue him and his rigteousnesse essentially and inherent within them which is an error of the Catharists Papists Osiandri●ns and Familie of Loue 3. Proposition Wee are accounted righteous before God not for our owne workes or deseruings The proofe from Gods word Besides what hath bin said that workes haue no place nor portion in the matter of our iustification it is euident in the holy scripture where wee finde that All men be sinners and destitue of the glorie of God And therefore that no man can be iustified by his owne workes Eternall life commeth vnto vs not by desert but partly of promise partly of gift The iust shall liue by faith and the Law is not of faith Moreouer as the godly in old time were so Christians in these daies are and shall be iustified But the godly were iustified not for any good workes or worthinesse of their owne so iustified was Abraham the Iewes the Samaritans Paul the Eunuch the Iailo● and the Ephesians All Churches reformed with a sweete consent applaude confesse this doctrine The Errors and adversaries vnto this truth Adversaries herevnto are The Pharisies who thought men were iustified by externall righteousnesse morall and ceremoniall The
3.5 h Rom. 5.6 c. i Act. 3 4. k M●tth 27.24 Ioh. ●9 4.6 l ●o●f●ss Helv. 1. ar 11. 2. c. 11. B●hem c. 4. 7 Gal. ar 14. Belg. ar 18. Matth. 12.10 Luke 13.14 Ioh. 5.16 b Matth. 21.23 c Luke 23.2 d Matth. 5.17 e Luke 23.5 f Jren. lib. i. c. 29. g Theodoret. h Holinsh. chro fol. 1299. i Leon. Vairus de Fas● lib. 2. c. 11. cir a finem a prooued pag. 53. b prooued pag. 54. c prooued pag. 39 40. d prooued pag. 50. e Eccles. 7.22 f Gal. 5.17 g 1. Tim. 1.15 h Iames 3.2 i 1. Ioh. 1.8 k Matth. 6.12 l Confess Aug. ar 20. Sax. ar 3. a Concil Trid. sess 5. decr de pec Orig. b Test. Rhem. an Col. 1.24 c Test. Rhem. an Mark 3.33 d Stapl. an●●d euang in Mat. 12.50 p. 118. e Sicut Adae Deo non parcuti omnis creatura rebellis extitit sic B. Francisco omnia praecepta Dei implenti creatura omnis famulata est omnia Deus subiecit sub p●dibus eius Alcar Fran. lib. 1. f Hier. in prol Dial. contra Pelag. g Cypr. l. 4. ep 2. h August l. 2. cont Petil. c. 14 i Concil Meli. cap. 8. k Display H. 6. b l Ans. to the Fam. libert L. 3 m Display H. 6. b. n Jren. l. 1. c. 9. o Epiphan p Iren. lib. 1. cap. 24. a Luk. 12.40 b 1. Ioh. 5.6 c Matth. 13.31 Mark 3.39 Luke 22.10 d Confess Bohe. c 4. e Confess Sax. ar 10. f Conf●ss Helv. 2. c. 8. h Concil Mil●vit i D. Hieron advers In●i● k Epiphan l Sp●c per●grin quaest d●c 1. c. 3. q. 5. Position Ingo stad de Purgat m Epiphan a Ioh. 5.14 b Ioh. 8.11 c Eph 4.21 22. d Coloss. 3 8. e Heb. 3.12 f 1. Tim. 1.19 2. Tim. 4.3 2. Tim. 2.22 g 1. Pet. 2.10 and 58. 2. Pet 3.17 h 2. Sam. 11 4. i 1. king 11.3 k Math. 26.70.72.74 l Reuel 2. m Luk. 22.55 n Act. 2.23 c. 3.13 4.10 c. o Matth. 26 56. p Confess Hel● 2. c. 7. Bohem. c. 5.8 Saxon. ar 10 11. VVittem ar 32. S●e●ic● ar 15. a Magd. eccles hist. c●n 12. c. 5. b Eus. l. 5. c. 43. c Magd. eccles hist. cent 4. c. 5. d VVilkinson against the F. of Loue ar 14. e Calv. contra Libert fol. 217. f Tapp p. 189. g Concil ●rid sess 6. can 29. h Vis ad apicē venire perfectionis Vita cum moribus attende B. Francisci a Matth. 11.28 i. Tim. 2.4 b Luke 15.7 c Luke 19.41 42. c. d Iam. 5.20 e 2. Pet. 3.9 f 1. Ioh. 1.9 g Reu. 2.5.16 h Luk. 15.20 i Matth. 18.26 c. k Gal. 6.1 l 2. Cor. 2.5 6 7. m Philem. v. 12. n Confess Helv. 2. c. 14. Bohem. c. 5. August ar 11. Saxon. ar 3. VVittem ar 12. a D. Hieron adv Marc. b Cypr. epist. 4. ad Antonian c Bulling contr Anab. l. 2. c. 13. d Calv. Institut e Giffords repl f Magd. eccles hist. cen 4. c. 5. g H. N. spirit land c. 33. § 3. c. 34. § 11. c. 37. § 8. and Proverbs c. 5. § 15. and Crying voice § 6. h Gen. 4. i Act. 1. k Hist. Fr. Spir. l Luther on Gal. 3. ● m Giffords repl to Barr. and Green p. 17. a Matth. 20.23 b Ibid. 22.14 c Ibid. 24.2 d Luk. 12.32 e Ibid. 17.34 f Ioh. 6.37 g Act. 13.48 h Rom. 8.29 i 2. Cor. 2.15 16 k Eph. 1.3 4 5. l Math. 25.34.41 Iude 6. m Gen. 4.4 n Rom. 9 7. c o Mal. 1.2 3. Rom. 9.13 p Gen. 40.20 q Luk. 23.39 40 43. r Matth. 24.40 41. a 1. Cor. 15.12 b Clem. strom lib. 4. c Iren. d Iren. e Aug. contra Faust. l. 4. c. 16. f Epiphan g H.N. Instr. ar 5. § 24. Prophecie of the spir c. 16. § 7. a Matth. 25.34 b Eph. 1.4 c 2. Tim. 1.9 d Confess 2. c. 10.11 e ar 1. f ar 10. a Ioh. 6.37 b Ioh. 10.28 29. c Matth. 16.18 d Rom. 8.30 e Rom. 11.29 f 1. Ioh. 3.19 a Bredvvels detect p. 85. a Luke 10.20 b Ioh. 10.14 c 2. Tim. 2.10 d Confess Helv. 2. cap. 10. Basil. ar 1. Gal. ar 12. Belg. ar 16. a VVolf Musculus in epist. ad Philip. praef b Bulling cont Catabap lib. 1. c Nash in Chr. his teares p. 58. d Ramseis and Allens confess e Calvin epist. ministr Basil. fol. 105. f Test. Rhem. an Rom. 11.23 a That the purpose of God might remaine according to election Rom. 9.11 Who doth predestinate vs c. according to the good pleasure of his will Eph. 1.5 Not according to our workes but according to his owne purpose and grace 2. Tim. 1.9 b I will shew mercie to whome I will shew mercie Exod. 33.19 Rom. 9.15 c Hee hath chosen vs in Christ c. and hath predestinate vs through Christ vnto himselfe Eph. 1.4 5. Ye were not redeemed with corruptible things c. but with the pretious blood of Christ as of a lambe vndefiled ●nd without spot which was ordained before the foundation of the world but was de●lared in the last times for your sakes 1. Tim. 1.18 19 20. d Who doth predestinate vs c. to the praise of the glorie of his grace Eph. 1.6 The Lord hath made all things for his owne sake yea euen the wicked for the day of euill Prou. 16.4 e Rom. 8.29 Those whome he knew before he did also predestinate to be made like to the image of his Sonne that he might be the first borne among many brethren Hath not the potter power of the ●lay to make of the same lumpe one vessell to hon●ur and another vnto dishonour Rom. 9.21 a Test. Rhem. an Mat. 20.23 b Stella in Luc. c. 10. fol. 35. c Clem. strom lib. 2.4 d Theoph. in Matth. 22. e Calvin epist. minist Helvet fol. 104. a Whome he predestinate them also hee called Rom. 8.30 God separated me from my mothers wombe and called me by his grace Gal. 1.15 He hath called you to his kingdome and glorie 1. Thess. 2.12 He hath saued vs and called vs with an holy calling 2. Timoth. 1.9 They that are on his side called chosen and faithfull Reu. 17.14 b Your obedience is come abroad among all Rom. 16.19 in Christ ●ho ye trusted after ye heard the word of truth Eph. 1.13 Iesus Christ is in you except ye 〈◊〉 reprobates 2. Cor. 13.5 c Ye receiued the spirit of adoption whereby we ●rie A●●a ●a●her The s●me Spirit bearing witnesse with our spirit that we are the children of God 〈◊〉 8.15 16. After this manner pray ye Our Father c. M●tth 6 9. And ●ecause ye are s●nnes God hath sent forth the spirit of his Sonne into your hearts which crieth Ab●● Father ●al 4.6 d He hath chosen vs in him c. that we should be holy ●nd without