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.

OVT OF THE ENGLISH CONFESSION.

* 1.1 WE beleeue, that Iesus Christ the onely sonne of the eternall Father (as long before it was determined before all beginnings) when the fulnes of time was come, did take of that blessed and pure virgine, both flesh, and all the nature of man, that he might declare to the worlde the secret and hid wil of his father: which wil had bene laide vp from before al ages and generations: and that he might

finish in his humane bodie the Mysterie of our redempti∣on, and might fasten our sinnes to the crosse, and also that handwriting, which was made against vs.

We beleeue that for our sakes he died, and was buried, descended into hell, the third daie, by the power of his god∣head, returned to life and rose againe, and that the fourth daie after his resurrection, whiles his disciples beheld and looked vpon him, he ascended into heauen, to fullfill all things, and did place in Maiestie and glorie the selfe same bodie, wherewith he was borne, wherein he liued on earth, wherein he was iested at, wherein he had suffered most pain∣full torments, and cruell kinde of death, wherein he rose a∣gaine, and wherein he ascended to the right hand of the fa∣ther, aboue all rule, aboue all power, all force, all Dominion, and aboue euerie name, that is named, not onelie in this worlde, but also in the worlde to come: And that there he now sitteth, and shall sit, till all things be fully perfited. And although the Maiestie, and godhead of Christ be euerie where abound antlie dispersed, yet we beleeue, that his body, as Saint Augustine saith, must needes be still in one place: and that Christ hath giuen Maiestie vnto his bodie, but yet hath not taken awaie from it the nature of a bodie: and that we must not so affirme Christ to be God, that we denie him to be man: and, as the Martyr Vigilius saith, That Christ hath left vs, touching his humane nature, but hath not lefe vs, touching his diuine nature: and that the same Christ, though he be absent from vs, concerning his manhead, yet is euer present with vs, concerning his godhead.

From that place also we beleeue that Christ shall come againe to execute that generall iudgement, as well of them whome he shall finde aliue in the bodie, as of them that shal be alreadie dead.

* 1.2 And therfore that our onelie succour, and refuge is to flie to the mercie of our father by Iesus Christ, and assuredlie to perswade our mindes, that he is the Obteiner of forgiuenes for ••••r sinnes: And, that by his bloode, all our spots of sinne, be washed cleane: That he hath pacified, and set at one, all things by the bloode of his crosse: That he by the same one onely sacrifice, which he once offered vpon the Crosse, hath brought to effect, and ful∣filled al things, and that for that cause he said, when he gaue

vp the Ghost, It is finished, as though he would signifie, that the price, and r••nsome was now fully paide for the sinne of mankinde.

* 1.3 If there be any, that thinke this sacrifice not sufficient, let them goe in Gods name and seeke a better. We verelie, be∣cause we know this to be the Onely sacrifice, are well con∣tent with it alone, and looke for none other: and, forasmuch as it was to be offered but once, we commaunde it not to be renewed againe: and, because it was full, and perfit in all points, and partes, we doe not ordeine in place thereof any * 1.4continuall succession of offerings.

To conclude, we beleeue that this our selfesame flesh, wherein we line, although it die, and come to dust, yet at the last shall returne againe vnto life, by the meanes of Christes spirit, which dwelleth in vs: and that then verilie, what∣soeuer we suffer here in the meane while for his sake, Christ will wipe awaie all teares and heauines from our eyes: and that we through him shall enioie euerlasting life, and shall for euer be with him in glorie. So beit.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Art. 2.
• * 1.2

  Artic. 18.
• * 1.3

  Art 19.
• * 1.4

  Art. 21.