I. godly Persons, and such as feel in themselves the working of BOOK the Spirit of Christ, mortifying the Works of the Flesh, and their Earthly Members, and drawing up their Mind to high and heavenly Things, as well because it doth greatly establish and confirm their Faith of eternal Saivation, to be enjoyed through Christ, as because it doth fervently kindle their Love towards God: So for curious and carnal Persons, lacking the Spirit of Christ, to have continually before their Eyes the Sentence of God's Predestination, is a most dangerous downfal, whereby the Devil doth thrust them either into desperation, or into wretchlesness of most unclean living, no less perilous than desperation. * Furthermore, though the Decrees of Predestination be un- Left out. known to us, yet must we receive God's Promises in such wise as they be generally set forth to us in Holy Scripture; and in our doings, that Will of God is to be followed, which we have expressly declared unto us in the Word of God. XVIII. Everlasting Salvation to be obtained only in the They also are to be had accursed, that presume to say, That every Man shall be saved by the Law or Sect which he professeth, so that he be diligent to frame his Life according to that Law, and the Light of Nature: For Holy Scripture doth set out unto us only the Name of Jesus Christ, whereby Men must be saved. XIX. All Men are bound to keep the Precepts of the Moral Law. Although the Law given from God by Moses, as touching Ceremonies and Rites, do not bind Christian Men, nor the Civil Precepts thereof ought of necessity to be received in any Common-Wealth; yet notwithstanding no Christian Man whatsoever is free from the obedience of the Commandments which are called Moral. Wherefore they are not to be heard which teach, that the Holy Scriptures were given to none but to the Weak, and brag continually of the Spirit, by which they do pretend, that all whatsoever they preach is suggested to them, though manifestly contrary to the Holy Scripture. PART XX. Of the Church. The Visible Church of Christ, is a Congregation of faithful Men, in which the pure Word of God is preached, and the Sacraments be duly ministred, according to Christ's Ordinance, in all those things that of necessity are requisite to the same. As the Church of Jerusalem, Alexandria, and Antioch have erred, so also the Church of Rome hath erred, not only in their Livings, and manner of Ceremonies, but also in Matters of Faith. XXI. Of the Authority of the Church. The Church hath power to decree Rites and Ceremonies, and Authority in Controversies of Faith. It is not lawful for the Church, &c. It is not lawful for the Church to ordain any thing that is contrary to God's Word written, neither may it so expound one place of Scripture, that it be repugnant to another: Wherefore although the Church be a Witness and Keeper of Holy Writ, yet as it ought not to decree any thing against the same, so besides the same ought it not to enforce any thing to be believed for necessity of Salvation. XXII. Of the Authority of General Councils. General Councils may not be gathered together without the Commandment and Will of Princes. And when they are gathered together, forasmuch as they be an Assembly of Men, (whereof all be not governed with the Spirit and Word of God) they may err, and sometimes have erred, even in things pertaining unto God. Wherefore things ordained by them, as necessary to Salvation, have neither strength nor authority, unless it may be declared, that they be taken out of Holy Scripture. XXIII. Of Purgatory. The Doctrine of the School-men concerning Purgatory, Pardons, Worshipping, and Adoration, as well of Images as of Reliques, and also Invocation of Saints, is a fond thing vainly invented, and grounded upon no warranty of Scripture, but BOOK rather perniciously repugnant to the Word of God. XXIV. No Man to minister in the Church except he be called. It is not lawful for any Man to take upon him the Office of publick Preaching, or ministring the Sacraments in the Congregation, before he be lawfully called and sent to execute the same. And those we ought to judg lawfully called and sent, which be chosen and called to this Work by Men, who have publick Authority given unto them in the Congregation, to call and send Minister into the Lord's Vineyard. XXV. All things to be done in the Congregation in such a Tongue as is understood by the People. It is most fit, and most agreeable to the Word of God, that nothing be read or rehearsed in the Congregation, in a Tongue not known unto the People; which Paul hath forbidden to be done, unless some be present to interpret. XXVI. Of the Sacraments. Our Lord Jesus Christ gathered his People into a Society, by Sacraments very few in number, most easy to be kept, and of most excellent signification; that is to say, Baptism, and the Supper of the Lord. The Sacraments were not ordained of Christ to be gazed upon, or to be carried about, but that we should duly use them: And in such only as worthily receive the same, they have a wholesome effect or operation; not as some say, Ex opere operato, which terms, as they are strange and utterly unknown to the Holy Scripture, so do they yield a sense which savoureth of little Piety, but of much Superstition: but they that re I. It is a thing plainly repugnant to the Word of God, and the custom of the Primitive Church, to have the publick Prayers in Church, or to minister the Sacraments in a Tongue not understood by the People. Sacraments ordained of Christ, be not only Badges and Tokens of Christian Mens Profession, but rather they be certain sure Witnesses, and effectual signs of Grace, and God's good Will towards us, by the which he doth work invisibly in us, and doth not only quicken, but also strengthen and confirm our Faith in him. There are two Sacraments ordained of Christ our Lord in the Gospel, that is to say, Baptism, and the Supper of the Lord. Those five commonly called Sacraments, That is to say, Confirmation, Penance, Orders, Matrimony, and Extream Unction, are not to be counted for Sacraments of the Gospel, being such as have grown partly of the corrupt following of the Apostles, partly are states. of Life allowed in the Scriptures, but yet have not like nature of Sacraments, with Baptism and the Lord's Supper, for that they have not any visible Sign or Ceremony ordained of God. ceive them unworthily, receive to themselves damnation. The Sacraments ordained by the Word of God, be not only Badges or Tokens of Christian Mens Profession; but rather they be certain sure Witnesses, effectual signs of Grace, and God's good Will towards us, by the which he doth work invisibly in us; and doth not only quicken, but also strengthen and confirm our Faith in him. The Sacraments were not ordained of Christ to be gazed on, or to be carried about, but that we should duly use them. And in such only as worthily receive the same, they have a wholesome effect or operation; but they that receive them unworthily, purchase to themselves damnation, as St. Paul saith. XXVII. The Wickedness of the Ministers takes not away the Efficacy of Divine Institutions. Although in the Visible Church the Evil be ever mingled with the Good, and sometimes the Evil have chief Authority in the ministration of the Word and Sacraments; yet forasmuch as they do not the same in their own Name, but in Christ's, and do minister by his Commission and Authority, we may use their Ministry both in hearing the Word of God, and in receiving of the Sacraments: Neither is the effect of Christ's Ordinance taken away by their wickedness, nor the Grace of God's Gifts diminished from such as by Faith rightly do receive the Sacrament, ministred unto them, which be effectual because of Christ's Institution and Promise, although they be ministred by evil Men. Nevertheless it appertaineth to the Discipline of the Church, that inquiry be made after * them, and that they be accused by Ministers. those that have knowledg of their Offences; and finally, being *Evil found guilty, by just judgment be deposed. XXVIII. Of Baptism. Baptism is not only a sign of Profession, and mark of Difference, whereby Christian Men are discerned from others that I. be not Christned; but it is also a sign of Regeneration, or New BOOK Birth, whereby, as by an Instrument, they that receive Baptism rightly, are grafted into the Church; the Promises of forgiveness of sin, and of our Adoption to be the Sons of God by the Holy Ghost, are visibly signed and sealed; Faith is confirmed, and Grace encreased, by virtue of Prayer unto God. *The Custom of the Church for baptising young Children, is both to be commended, and by all means to be retained in the Church. XXIX. Of the Lord's Supper. * The Baptism of young Children is in any wise to be retained in the Church, as most agreeable to the Institution of Christ. The Supper of the Lord is not only a sign of the Love that Christians ought to have amongst themselves one to another; but rather it is a Sacrament of our Redemption by Christ's Death: Insomuch that to such as rightly, worthily, and with Faith receive the same, the Bread which we break is a partaking of the Body of Christ, and likewise the Cup of Blessing is a partaking of the Blood of Christ. Transubstantiation (or the change of the Substance of Bread and Wine) in the Supper of the Lord, cannot be proved by Holy Writ; *but it is repugnant to the plain words of Scripture, and hath given occasion to many Superstitions. Since the very Being of Humane Nature doth require, that the Body of one and the *-but it is repugnant to the plain words of Scripture, overthroweth the nature of a Sacrament, and hath given occasion to many Superstitions. The Body of Christ is given, taken, and eaten in the Supper, only after an Heavenly and Spiritual Manner. And the mean whereby ceived and eaten in the Supthe Body of Christ is reper, is Faith. same Man cannot be at one and the same time |