An harmony of the confessions of the faith of the Christian and Reformed Churches which purelie professe the holy doctrine of the Gospell in all the chiefe kingdomes, nations, and prouinces of Europe: the catologue and order whereof the pages following will declare. There are added in the ende verie shorte notes: in which both the obscure thinges are made plaine, & those thinges which maie in shew seeme to be contrarie each to other, are plainelie and verie modestlie reconciled, and if anie points doe as yet hang in doubt, they are sincerelie pointed at. All which things, in the name of the Churches of Fraunce and Belgia, are submitted to the free and discrete iudgement of all other Churches. Newlie translated out of Latine into English. Also in the end is added the confession of the Church of Scotland. Alowed by publique authoritie.

OF INTERPRETING THE HOLIE SCRIPTVRES, and of Fathers, Councels, and Traditions. CHAP. 2.

* 1.1 THe Apostle Peter hath said, that the holy scriptures are not of anie priuat interpretation, therefore we doe not a∣lowe all expositions: whereupon we doe not acknowledge that which they call the meaning of the Church of home, for the true and naturall interpretation of the scriptures, which forsooth the defenders of the Romane Church doe striue to force all men simplie to receiue: but we acknow∣ledge that interpretation of Scriptures for authenticall and proper, which being taken from the scriptures themselues (that is, from the phrase of that tongue in which they were written, they being also waied according to the circumstan∣ces, and expounded according to the proportion of places either like or vnlike, or of moe and plainer) accordeth with the rule of faith and charitie, and maketh notably for Gods

glorie and mans saluation. Wherefore we do not contemn•• the holie treatises of the Fathers, agreeing with the scri••∣tures, from whome notwithstanding we doe modestlie d•• sent, as they are deprehended to set downe thinges meere•• straunge, or altogether contrarie to the same. Neither do•• thinke that we doe them anie wrong in this matter, seein•• that they all with one consent will not haue their writing•• matched with the canonicall scriptures, but bid vs allow•• them so farre forth, as they either agree with them, or disa∣gree, and bid vs take those things that agree, and leaue those that disagree: and according to this order we do account•• the decrees or Canons of councells. Wherefore we suffer not o•••• selues in controuersies about Religion or matters of faith•• be pressed with the bare testimonies of fathers, or decrees o•• Councells, much lesse with receiued customes, or else with 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of men being of one iudgement, or with prescription of long ti••••▪ Therefore in controuersies of religion or matters of faith we cannot adm•••• anie other iudge then God himselfe, pro∣nouncing by the holie scriptures, what is true, what is fal•••• what is to be followed, or what to be auoided. So we do 〈◊〉〈◊〉 rest but in the iudgements of spiritual men, drawen from the word of God. Certainely Ieremie & the other Prophets 〈◊〉〈◊〉 vehemen••lie condemne the assemblies of Priests, gathere•• against the law of God: & diligentlie forewarned vs, that •• * 1.2should not heare the fathers or tread in their path, who w•••• king in their owne inuentions, swarued from the law of go•• We doe likewise reiect humane traditions, which althou•• they be set out with goodlie titles, as though they were d••∣uine and Apostolical, by the liuelie voice of the Apostles▪ deliuered to the Church, as it were by the hands of Aposto∣licall men, by meane of Bishops succeeding in their roome•• yet being compared with the scriptures, disagre from the•• and by that their disagreement bewraie them selues in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 wise to be Apostolicall. For as the Apostles did not disa∣gree among themselues in doctrine, so the Apostles sch••∣lers did not set forth thinges contrarie to the Apostle•• Nay it were blasphemous to auouch, that the Apostles 〈◊〉〈◊〉 * 1.3liuely voice deliuered thinges contrarie to their writing•• Paull affirmeth expresselie, that he taught the same thinge••▪ in all Churches. And againe. We, saith he, write no other thi••••

vnto you, then which ye read, or also acknowledge. Also in another place he witnesseth, that he and his disciples, to wit Apo∣stolicall men, walked in the same waie, and ioyntlie by the same * 1.4spirit did al thing••. The Iewes also in time past had their tra∣ditions of Elders, but these traditions were seuerelie con∣futed by the Lord, shewing that the keeping of them hin∣dereth Gods lawe, and that God is in vaine worshipped with * 1.5such.

Notes

• * 1.1

  2. Pet. 1.
• * 1.2

  Ezec. 20. 18.
• * 1.3

  1. Cor. 4. 2. Cor. 1.
• * 1.4

  2. Cor. 12.
• * 1.5

  Mat. 15. Mare. 7.