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.

THE SIXTH SE∣CTION. OF THE RE∣PAIRING OR DELIVERANCE OF MAN FROM HIS FALL, BY IESVS CHRIST A∣LONE: AND OF HIS PERSON, NATVRES, OFFICE, and the workes of Redemption. (Book 6)

THE FORMER CONFESSION OF HELVETIA.

Of Iesus Christ, being true god and man, and the onely sauiour of the world. CHAP. II.

MOreouer we beleuee and teach, that the Sonne of God, our Lord Iesus Christ, was from all eternitie predestinated and fore∣ord••ined of the father to be the Sauiour of the world. And we beleeue that he was be∣gotten, not onely then, when he tooke flesh of the Virgine Mary, nor yet a litle before the foundations of the world were laide, but before all eterni¦ty, & that of the father, after an vnspeakeable manner. For I∣saiah * 1.1saith, Who can t••l his generation? And Micheah saith, Whose egresse hath bin from euerlasting. For Iohn saieth, In the * 1.2beginning was the worde, and the worde was with God, and God was the worde &c. Therefore the Sonne is coequall and consub∣stantiall with the father, as touching his diuinitie, true God,

not by name onelie, or by adoption, or by special fauour, but in substance & nature. Euen as the Apostle saith elsewh••re This is the true God, and life euerlasting. Paul also saieth, He hath * 1.3made his sonne the heire of al things, by whom also he made the world: The same is the brightnes of his glorie, & the ingraued f••••me of his * 1.4person, bearing vp al things by his migh••••e worde. Likewise in the * 1.5Gospell the Lorde himselfe saith, Father glorifie 〈◊〉〈◊〉 me with thy selfe, with the glorie which I had with the before the worlde was. * 1.6Also else where it is written in the Gospeli, The ••ewe•• tought how to kill Iesus, because he saide that God was his father, making himselfe equal with God. We therefore doe abhorre the blas∣phemous doctrine of Arrius, and all the Arrians vttered a∣gainst the Sonne of God. And especiallie the blaspemies of Michaell Seruetus the Spanyarde, and of his complices, which Sathan by them hath as it were drawen out of hell, & moste boldelie and impiouslie spread abroade throughout the worlde against the Sonne of God.

We teach also and beleeue, that the eternal sonne of the eternall God was made the sonne of man, of the seede of A∣braham * 1.7& Dauid, not by the meane of any man, as Hebion affirmed, but that he was moste purely conceiued by the ho∣lie Ghost, and was borne of Marie, who was alwaies a Vir∣gine, euen as the historie of the Gospel doeth declare. And Paul saith, He took in no sort the Angels, but the seed of Abraham. And Iohn the Apostle saith, He that beleeueth not that Iesus * 1.8Christ is come in the flesh, is not of god. The flesh of Christ there∣fore was neither flesh in shew onelie, nor yet flesh brought from heauen, as Valentine and Marcion dreamed. Mo••eo∣uer our Lord Iesus Christ had not a soule without sense and reason, as Apollinaris thought: nor flesh without a s••••le, as Eunomius did teach, but a soull with it reason, and flesh with it senses, by which senses he felt true griefes in the time of his passion, euen as he himselfe witnesseth when he said, * 1.9My soule is heauie euen to death. And▪ My soule is troubled, &c.

We acknowledge therfore that there be in one & the same Iesus Christ our Lord, two natures, the deuine, and the hu∣mane nature: & we say that these two are so conioyned or v∣nited, that they are not swallowed vp, confounded, or ming∣led together, but rather vnited or ioyned together in one person, the proprieties of ech nature being safe and remai∣ning

still: so that we do worship one Christ our Lord, and n•••• two, I say, one, true, god & man, as touching his diuine nature, of the same substance with the father, & as touching his hu∣mane nature of the same substance with vs, & Like vnto 〈◊〉〈◊〉 all things, sinne onelie excepted. As therfore we detest the here•••• of Nestorius, which maketh two Christes of one, and dissol∣ueth the vnion of the Person, so doe we cursse the madnes 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Eutiches, and of the Monophelites, or Monophysickes, who ouerthrow the proprietie of the humane nature. Therefore we doe not teach that the diuine nature in Christ did suffer, or that Christ according to his humane nature is yet in t•••• worlde, and euen in euerie place. For we doe neither thinke nor teach, that the bodie of Christ ceased to be a true bodie after his glorifying, or that it was deified, and so deified, that it put of it properties, as touching bodie and soule, and be∣came altogether a diuine nature, and began to be one sub∣stance alone: And therefore we doe not allow or receiue the vnwittie subtilties, and the intricate, obscure, and in constant disputations of Schuenkfeildius, and such other vaine iang∣lers about this matter. Neither are we Schuenkfeildians. Moreouer we beleeue, that our Lord Iesus Christ did truel•• * 1.10suffer and die for vs in the flesh, as Peter saith. We abhor the moste horrible madnes of the Iacobites and the Turkes, which abandone the passion of our Lord. Yet we denie not but that the Lorde of glorie (according to the saying of Paul,) * 1.11was crucified for vs. For we doe reuerentlie and religiouslie receiue and vse the communication of proprieties drawen from the scriptures, & vsed of all antiquitie in expounding and reconciling places of scripture, which at the first sight seeme to disagree one from another.

We beleeue and teach that the same Lorde Iesus Christ, in that true flesh, in which he was crucified and died, rose againe from the dead, and that he did not raise vp another flesh in steede of that which was buried, nor tooke a spirit in steede of flesh, but retained a true bodie: Therefore whilest that his disciples thought that they did see the spirit of their Lord Christ, he shewed them his handes and feete, which were marked with the prints of the nailes & wounds, * 1.12saying, Behold my handes and my feete, for I am he indeed: Handle me and see, for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as yee see me haue.

We beleeue that our Lorde Iesus Christ in the same his flesh did ascend aboue all the visible heauens into the verie highest heauen, that is to saie, the seate of God and of the blessed spirits, vnto the right hand of God the father, which ▪although it doe signifie an equall participation of glorie * 1.13and maiestie, yet it is also taken for a certaine place, of which the Lorde speaking in the gospell, saith, That he will go and prepare a place for his. Also the Apos••le Peter saith, The heauens must containe Christ, vntill the time of restoring of all thinges. And out of heauen the same Christ will returne vnto iudgement, euen then, when wickednes shall chief∣lie reigne in the world, and when Antichrist hauing corrup∣ted true religion shall fil all things with superstition and im∣pietie, and shall moste cruellie destroie the Church with fire and bloodshed. Now Christ shall returne to redeeme his, and to abolish Antichrist by his comming, and to iudge the quick and the dead. For the dead shall arise, and those * 1.14which shall be found aliue in that daie (which is vnknowne vn∣to all creatures) shalbe changed in the twinckling of an eye, and all the faithfull shall be taken vp to meete Christ in the ayre, that thenceforth they maie enter with him into heauen there to liue for euer. But the vnbeleeuers or vngodlie shall descend with the deuils into hell, there to burne for euer, and neuer * 1.15to be deliuered out of torments. We therefore condemne all those which denie the true resurrection of the flesh, and those which thinke amisse of the glorified bodies, as did Io∣annes Hierosolymitanus, against whome Ierome wrote. We also condemne those, which thought both the deuils and al the wicked shall at the length be saued, and haue an end of their torments. For the Lorde himselfe hath absolutelie set it downe, that, Their fire is neuer quenched, and their worme neuer * 1.16dieth. Moreouer we condemne the Iewish dreames, that be∣fore the daie of iudgement there shall be a golden world in the earth: and that the godly shal possesse the kingdomes of the world, their wicked enemies being troade vnder foote. For the Euangelicall truth. Mat. 24. and 25. and Luke 18. & the Apostolike doctrine in the 2. to the Thessalonians. 2. & in the 2. to Tim. 3. & 4. ar found to teach farre otherwise. * 1.17

Furthermore by his passion or death, & by al those things which he did and suffered for our sakes, from the time of

his comming in the flesh, our Lord reconciled his heavenl•• father vnto al the faithful, purged their sinne, spoiled death broke in sunder condemnation and hell, and by his resue∣ction from the dead he brought againe & restored life, ar•• immortalitie. For he is our righteousnes, life, and resue∣ction, and to be short, he is the fullnes and perfection, the saluation and moste aboundant sufficiencie of al the faith∣full. For the Apostle saith, So it pleaseth the Father that all f••••∣nes should dwell in him. And, In him ye are complet. Collos 1. and 2. For we teach and beleeue that this Iesus Christ our Lord is the onelie and eternall sauiour of * 1.18mankinde, yea and of the whole worlde, in whome are saued by faith all that euer were saued before the lawe, vnder the lawe, and i•• the time of the gospell, and so manie as shall yet be saued to the end of the world. For the Lord himselfe in the Gos∣pell * 1.19faith, He that entereth not in by the dore vnto the shepf••lde, but climeth vp an other waie, he is a theefe and a robber. I am the dore of the sheepe. And also in another place of the same gos∣pell * 1.20he saith, Abraham sawe my daies, and reioyced. And the A∣postle Peter saith, Neithere is there saluation in anie other, but i•• Christ: for among men there is giuen no other name vnder hea•••• wherby they might be sa••ed. We beleue therfore that thorough * 1.21the grace of our Lord Christ we shalbe saucd, euen as our fa∣thers were. For Paull faith, That all our fathers did eate the same spiritual meate, and dranke the same spiritual drinke, for they dranke of the spiritual rocke, that followed them, and that rocke 〈◊〉〈◊〉 * 1.22Christ. And therefore we reade that Iohn said, That Christ 〈◊〉〈◊〉 that lambe which was slaine from the beginning of the world. And * 1.23that Iohn Baptist witnesseth, That Christ is that lambe of God, that taketh awaie the sinnes of the world. Wherfore we do plainly and openly professe & preach, that Iesus Christ is the onlie redeemer & sauiour of the world, the king and high priest, the true and looked for Messias, that holie and blessed one (I saie) whom all the shadowes of the law, and the Prophe∣sies of the Prophetes did prefigure and promise, and that God did performe and send him vnto vs, so that now we are not to looke for any other. And now there remaineth no∣thing, but that we all should giue all glorie to him, beleeue in him, and rest in him onelie, contemning and reiecting al other aides of our life. For they are fallen from the grace

of God, and make Christ of no value vnto themselues, who∣soeuer they be that seeke saluation in anie other things be∣sides Christ alone.

And to speake manie thinges in few wordes, with a sin∣ceare heart we beleeue, and with libertie of speach we free∣lie professe, whatsoeuer thinges are defined out of the holy scriptures, and comprehended in the Creedes, and in the decrees of those foure first and moste excellent councells holden at Nice, Constantinople, Ephesus, and Chalcedon, together with blessed Athanasius his Creede, and all other Creedes like to these, touching the mysterie of the incar∣nation of our Lord Iesus Christ: and we condemne al things contrarie to the same. And thus doe we retaine the Chri∣stian, sounde, & Catholike faith, wholie and inuiolable, knowing that nothing is contained in the foresaid Creedes, which is not agreeable to the worde of God, and mak∣eth wholie for the sincere declaration of faith.

OVT OF THE FORMER CONFESSION OF HELVETIA.

* 1.24 The eternal Counsel of the restoring of man.

ANd though man by this fault was deputed to dam∣nation, and had incurred moste iuste wrath, yet God the father neuer ceased to haue a care ouer him, the which is manifest by the first promises, by the wholl law (which as it is holie, and good, teaching vs the will of God, righte∣ousnes, and trueth, so doth it worke anger, and stirre vp, not extinguish, sinnes in vs, not through it owne fault, but by ours) and by Christ, ordeined and exhibited for this purpose,

Iesus Christ and those benefittes which we reap by him.

* 1.25 THis Christ the true sonne of God, beeing true God and true man, was made our brother, when, accor∣ding to the time appointed, he had taken vpon him wholl man (that is, consisting of soule & bodie) and in one indiui∣sible person vnited two natures (yet were not these natures confounded) that he might restore vs beeing dead to life, and make vs fellow heires with him-selfe. He taking flesh of the moste pure virgine Marie, the holie Ghost working

together, flesh, I saie, beeing sacred by the vnion of the Godhead, and like vnto ours in all thinges, sinne onelie ac∣cepted (because it behooued our sacrifice to be vnspotted) gaue the same flesh to death, for the purgation of all since.

The same Christ as he is to vs a full and perfect hope a•••• trust of our immortalitie, so he placed his flesh, being rai∣sed vp from death into heauen, at the right hand of his al∣mightie father.

This conquerour, hauing triumphed ouer death, sinne, and all the infernall deuills, sitting as our captaine, head and chiefe high Priest, doth defend and plead our cause continuallie, til he do reforme vs to that Image after which we were created, and bring vs to the fruition of life euerla∣sting. we looke for him to come in the end of the world, a true and vpright iudge, and to giue sentence vpon all flesh (beeing first raised vp to that iudgement) and to aduaunce the godlie aboue the skie, and to condemne the wicked, both in soul and bodie, to eternall destruction.

Who, as he is the onelie Mediatour, intercessor, sacrifice, and also our high Priest, Lord, and King, so we doe acknow∣ledge, and with the wholl heart beleeue, that he alone i•• our attonement, redemption, sanctification, expiation, wis∣dome, protection, and deliuerance, simplie herein reiecting all mean of our life and saluation, beside this Christ alone. The latter parte of this article we placed also in the second section, which entreateth of the onelie mediator.

OVT OF THE CONFESSION OF BASILL.

Of Christ, being true God and true man.

WE beleeue and confesse constantlie, that Christ in the time hereunto appointed, according to the promise of God, was giuen to vs of the father, and that so the eternall word of God was made flesh, that is, that this sonne of God, being vnited to our nature in one person, was made our brother, that we through him might be made par∣takers of the inheritance of God.

We beleeue that this Iesus Christ was conceiued of the holie Ghost, borne of the pure and vndefiled Virgine Marie, suffered vnder Pontius Pilate, crucified, and dead for our sinnes: and so by the one oblation of him selfe, he did sa∣tisfie

God our heauenlie father for vs, and reconcile vs to him, and so by his death he did triumph, and ouercame the world, death, and hell. Moreouer, according to the flesh he was buried, descended into hell and the third daie he rose againe from the dead. These thinges being sufficientlie approoued, he in soul and bodie ascended into heauen, and sitteth there at the right hand, that is, in the glorie of God the father almightie: from thence he shall come to iudge the quick and the dead. Moreouer, he sent to his disciples, according to his promise, the holie Ghost, in whome we be∣leeue, euen as we do beleeue in the father, and in the sonne. We beleeue that the last iudgement shall be, wherein our flesh shall life againe, and euerie man, according as he hath * 1.26done in this life, shall receiue of Christ the Iudge: to weete eternall life, if he hath shewed forth the fruites of faith, which are the workes of righteousnes, by a true faith, and vnfeigned loue: and eternall fire, if he hath committed good or euill, without faith or loue.

OVT OF THE CONFESSION OF BOHEMIA.

CHAP. 4. Towardes the middle.

NEither hath anie man, of all thinges whatsoeuer, a∣nie thing at all whereby he maie deliuer, set free, or redeeme himselfe from his sinnes and condemnation, with∣out * 1.27Christ, by whome alone, they which trulie beleeue, are freed from sinne, from the tyrannie and prison of the deuill, from the wrath of God, and from death and euerlasting torments. And a litle after towardes the end of the said fourth Chap. Together with this point, and after it, considering that both the matter it selfe, and order of teaching so re∣quireth, the ministers of the Church teach vs after our fall to acknowledge the promise of God, the true word of grace, and the holie gospell, brought to vs from the priuy counsell of the holie Tri••i••ie, concerning our Lord Christ, and our wholl saluation purchased by him.

Of these promise, there be three principall, wherein all the rest are contained. The first was made in Paradise in these wordes, I will out enmitie betweene thee and the woman, * 1.28and betweene thy seed and her seede. He shal breake thine head, and thou shalt bruyse his heele. The second was made to Abra∣ham,

which afterwardes Iacob also and Moses did reneu••. The third to Dauid, which the Prophets recited & expoun∣ded. In these promises are described and painted forth those * 1.29moste excellent and principall workes of Christ our Lorde, which are the verse ground worke whereon our saluation * 1.30standeth, by which he is our Mediator and Sauiour: name∣lie his conception in the wombe of the Virgine Marie, and * 1.31his birth of her also, for he was made the seede of the wo∣man: also his afflictions, his rising againe from death, his sitting at the right hand of God, where he hath obtained the dignitie of a Priest and King: of which thing the wholl life of Dauid was a certaine type, for which cause the Lorde * 1.32calleth himselfe another Dauid, & a Shepheard. And this was the Gospell of those holy men before the law was giuen, and since. And Chapter the 6. a litle from the beginning. For this is verie certaine, that after the fall of Adam no man was able to set himselfe at libertie out of the bondage of sinne, death, and condemnation, or come to be trulie reconciled vnto God, but onelie by that one Mediator betweene God and man, Christ Iesus (through a liuelie faith in him) who alone, by his death, and blood shedding, tooke from vs that image of sinne and death, and put vpon vs by faith the image of * 1.33righteousnes and life. For he made vnto vs of God, wisedome, righteousnes, sanctification, and redemption.

But firstmen are taught, that these things are to be belee∣ued concerning Christ: namelie that he is eternal, & of the nature of his heauenlie father, the onelie begotten sonne, begotten from enerlasting, and so together with the Father * 1.34and the holie Ghost one, true, and indiuisible God, the eternall, not created worde, the brightnes and the Image or ingrauen forme of the person of his Father, by whome all thinges, as well those thinges which maie be seene, as those which can not be seene, and those thinges which are in heauen, and those which are in the earth, were made and created.

Moreouer that he is also a true and natural man, our bro∣ther in verie deed, who hath a soule and a bodie, that is, true and perfect humane nature, which, by the power of * 1.35the holie Ghost, he tooke, without all sinne, of Marie a pure Virgine: according as S. Iohn saith, The worde was made flesh.

And thus of these two natures, their properties not being changed nor confounded, yet by a wonderfull commu∣nication thereof, there is made one indiuisible person, one Christ, Immanuell, our King and priest, our redeemer, our Mediatour, and perfect reconciler, full of grace and trueth, so that of his fullnes we all doe take grace for grace: For the law was giuen by Moses, but grace and trueth, was giuen and exhibited, by Iesus Christ, being God and man in one person▪ This grace and trueth are our men taught to acknowledge, and by faith to beholde, in all those sauing and wonderful works or af∣fections of Christ, which, according to the meaning of the holie Scripture, are by a stead fast faith to be beleeued and professed: such as are his comming downe from heauen, his conception, birth, torments, death, buriall, refurrection, as∣cension vnto heauen, sitting at the right hand of God, and his comming againe from thence to iudge both the quicke & the dead. In these principal affections, as in a chest wherin treasure is kept, are al those holsome fruits of our true iustifi∣cation laide vp, and are taken out from thence for the elect and those which doe beleeue, that in Spirit and conscience they may be partakers thereof through faith: which all hereafter, at the daie of our ioyfull resurrection, shall be fullie and perfectlie bestowed vpon vs. And towardes the ende of that Sixth Chapter, these words are added. In this Chapter also particularlie and for necessarie causes, to shunne and auoide many pernicious and Antichristian deceites, it is taught concerning Christe his * 1.36presence, namelie that our Lorde Christ according to his bodely cōuersation is not amongest vs any longer in this worlde, neither wil be vnto the ende of the worlde, in such sort and manner as he was here conuer∣sant amongest vs in his mortalitie, and wherein he was be∣traied, and circumcised, nor yet in the forme of his glorified bodie, which he got at his resurrection, and in the which he appeared to his disciples, & the for••••eth day after his resur∣rection, departing from them, ascended manifestly into heauen. For after this manner of his presence & companie he is in the high place, & with his father in heauen, where al tongues professe him to be the Lord, and euerie faithful one of Christ must beleeue that he is there, & worship him there, according to the scriptures, as also that part of the Catho∣like

Christian faith doth expresselie witnes, which is this, He ascended into heauen, he sitteth as the right hand of God the father almightie: Also that other article: from thence shal he come (that * 1.37is from an higher place, out of heauen with his Angells) is iudge both the quick & the dead. So doth Paul also say, The Lord himselfe shall descend from heauen with a shoute, and with the voice * 1.38of an Archangell, and with the trumpet of God. And S. Peter saith, Whom heauen must cōtaine, vntil the time that al things be restored. * 1.39And the Euangelist Marke: But when the Lord had spoken with thē, he was taken vp againe into heauen, & sitteth at the right hand of God. And the Angels which were there present, whe he was * 1.40taken vp into heauen, said, This Iesus which is taken vp from you into heauen, shal so come againe, as you haue seene him go into heauē.

Furthermore this also doe our men teach, that the selfe same Christ, verie God and verie man, is also with vs herein this worlde, but after a diuerse manner from that kinde of presence which we named before, that is, after a certaine spi∣rituall manner, not obiect to our eies, but such a one as is hid from vs, which the flesh doth not perceiue, and yet it is verie necessarie for vs to our saluation, that we may be partakers of him, whereby he offereth and communicateth himselfe vnto vs, that he may dwell in vs, and we in him: and this truelie he doth by the holie Ghost, whome in his owne place (that is, in steede of his owne presence, whereby he was bo∣delie amongst vs) he promised that he would send vnto his Church, and that he would stil abide with it by the same spi∣rit in vertue, grace, and his holsome trueth, at al times, euen * 1.41vntill the ende of the worlde, when he said thus: It is good for you that I go hence, for except I go hences, the comforter will not come * 1.42vnto you: but if I goe away, I wil send him vnto you. And againe, I wil praie the father, and he shal giue you another comforter, (that is, another kinde of comforter then I am) that he may abide i•• you for euer, euen the spirit of trueth, whome the worlde cannot re∣ceiue, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him, for he dwellesh in you, & shalbe in you. I wil not leaue you comforth but I wil come to you, namelie by the selfe same spirit of trueth.

Now then euen as our Lord Christ by his latter kinde of presence being not visible, but spirituall, is present in the ministers of the Church, in the word, and in the sacraments; euen so also by the selfe same ministers, worde, and sacra∣ments

he is present with his Church, and by these meanes doe the elect receiue him through inwarde faith in their heart, and doe therefore ioyne themselues together with him, that he maie dwell in them, and they in him, after such a sorte, as is not apparent, but hidden from the world, euen by that faith spirituallie: that is to saie, in their soules and hearts, by the spirit of truth, of whome our Lord saith, He abideth with you, and shall be in you. And, I will come againe * 1.43vnto you.

This iudgement & declaration of our saith, is not new, or now first deuised, but verie ancient Now that this was com∣monhe taught and meant in the Church of olde, it is plaine and euident by the writinges of the auncient Fathers of the Church, and by that decree, wherein it is thus written, and they are the wordes of Saint Augustine: Our Lorde is a∣boue * 1.44vntill the end of the worlde, but the trueth of the Lorde is here also: for the bodie of the Lorde, wherein he rose againe, must of necessitie be in one place, but his truth is dispersed euerie where.

OVT OF THE FRENCH CONFESSION.

* 1.45 WE beleeue, that whatsoeuer is requisite to our sal∣uation, is offered and communicated vnto vs now at length in that one Iesus Christ, as he who beeing giuen to saue vs, is also made vnto vs wisdome, righteousnes, sanctifi∣cation, and redemption, in so much as whosoeuer doth swarue from him, doth renounce the mercie of the Father, that is, our onelie refuge.

* 1.46 We beleeue that Iesus Christ, being the wisdome, and eternall sonne of the father, tooke vpon him our nature▪ so that he is one person, God and man. Man, I saie, that might suffer both in soule and also in bodie, and made like vn∣to vs in all things, sinne onelie excepted, for that his flesh was in∣deede the seede of Abraham and Dauid, howbeit by the se∣cret and incomprehensible power of the holie Ghost, it was conceiued in doe time in the wombe of that blessed Virgin. And therefore we detest, as contrarie to that truth all those heresies wherewith the Churches were troubled in times past: and namelie we detest those deuillish imaginati∣ons of Seruetus, who gaue to our Lord Iesus Christ, an ima∣ginarie deity, whom he said to be the Idea & patterne of al

thinges, and the counterfeit or figuratiue sonne of God: to conclude he framed him a bodie compacted of three ele∣ments vncreated, and therfore he did mingle and ouerthrow both his natures.

We beleeue that in one and the same person, which is * 1.47Iesus Christ, those two natures are truelie and inseperablie so conioyned, that they be also vnited, either of those na∣tures neuertheles retaining it distinct proprietie, so, that euen as in this diuine coniunction the nature of the word re∣teining it proprieties, remained vncreate, infinite, and fil∣ling all places; so also the humane nature remained, and shall remaine for euer, finite, hauing it naturall forme, di∣mension, and also proprietie, as from the which the resurre∣ction and glorification, or taking vp to the right hand of the father, hath not taken awaie the trueth of the humane na∣ture. Therefore we do so consider Christ in his deitie, that we doe not spoile him of his humanitie.

* 1.48 We beleeue that God did declare his infinite loue and goodnes towards vs in this, that he hath sent his sonne, who should die, and rise againe, and fullfill all righteousnes, that * 1.49he might purchase eternall life for vs.

We beleeue that by that onelie sacrifice, which Iesus Christ offered on the crosse, we are reconciled to God, that we maie be taken for iust before him, because we can not be acceptable to him, nor enioy the fruite of our adoption, but so farre foorth, as he doth forgiue vs our sinnes. Therefore we affirme, that Iesus Christ is our entire and perfect wash∣ing, in whose death we obteine full satisfaction, whereby we are deliuered from all those sinnes whereof we are guil∣tie, and from the which we could not be acquitted by anie other remedy.

OVT OF THE ENGLISH CONFESSION.

* 1.50 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.

* 1.51 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.

* 1.52 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 * 1.53continuall 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.

* 1.54 OVT OF THE CONFESSION OF BELGIA.

WE beleeue that out moste mightie and gracious God when he saw that man had thus throwen himselfe into the damnation both of spirituall and corporal death, and was made altogether miserable and accursed) by his wounderfull wisdome and goodnes, was induced both to seek him, when through feare he had fled from his presence, and also most louingly to comfort him, giuing vnto him the promise of his owne sonne to be borne of a woman, which should breake the head of the serpent, and restore him to selicitie and happines.

* 1.55 Moreouer we confesse, that God did then at the length fullfill his promise made vnto the Fathers, by the mouth of his holie Prophetes, when in his appointed time he sent his onelie and eternall sonne into the world, who toke vpon him the forme of a seruant, beeing made like vnto men, and did truelie take vnto him the nature of man, with all infirmi∣ties belonging thereunto (sinne onelie excepted) when he was conceiued in the wombe of the blessed Virgine Mary, by the power of the holie ghost, without anie meanes of man. The which nature of man he put vpon him, not onely in re∣spect

of the bodie, but also in respect of the soule: for he had also a true soule, to the intent he might be true and perfect man. For seeing that as well the soule, as the bodie of man, was subiect to condemnation, it was necessarie that Christ should take vpon him aswell the soule, as the bodie, that he might saue them both together. Therefore contrarie to the heresy of the Anabaptists, which denie that Christ did take vpon him the flesh of man, we confes that Christ was parta∣ker of flesh & blood, as the rest of his bretheren were, that he came from the loines of Dauid, according to the flesh, I saie, that he was made of the seede of Dauid according to the same flesh, & that he is a fruit of the Virgins wombe, borne of a woman, the branch of Dauid, a flower of the roote of lesse, comming of the Tribe of Iuda, & of the Iewes them∣selues, according to the flesh: & to conclude, the true seed of Abraham & Dauid, the which seede of Abrahame he tooke vpon him, being made in all thinges like vnto his brethren, sinne onelie excepted, as hath beene saide before, so that he is indeede our true Emmanuell, that is, God with is.

* 1.56 We beleeue also that the person of the sonne was by this conception inseperablie vnited and coupled with the hu∣mane nature, yet so, that there be not two Sonnes of God, nor two persons, but two natures ioyned together in one person: both which natures doe still retaine their owne pro∣prieties. So that, as the diuine nature hath remained al∣waies vncreated, without beginning of daies, and terme of life, filling both heauen and earth: so the humane nature hath not lost his proprieties, but hath remained still a crea∣ture, hauing both beginning of daies & a finite nature. For whatsoeuer doth agree vnto a true bodie, that it still retai∣neth, and although Christ by his resurrection hath bestow∣ed immortalitie vpon it, yet notwithstanding he hath nei∣ther taken awaie the trueth of the humane nature, nor al∣tered it. For both our saluation, and also our resurrection de∣pendeth vpon the trueth of Christes bodie. Yet these two natures are so vnited and coupled in one person, that they could not, no not in his death, be seperated the one from the other. Wherefore that, which in his death he commen∣ded vnto his father, was in deed a humane spirit, departing out of his bodie: but in the meane season the diuine na∣ture

did alwaies remaine ioyned to the humane, euen then when he la••e in the graue: so that his deitie was no les••e in him at that time, then when as yet he was an infant, al∣though for a small season it did not shew forth itselfe. Wherefore we confesse that he is true God, and true man true god, that by his power he might ouercome death ••ane true man, that in the infirmitie of his flesh he might d•• for vs.

* 1.57 We beleeue that God, which is both perfectlie mercifull, and perfectlie iust, did send his sonne to take vpon him that nature, which through disobedience had offended, that in the selfe same nature he might satisfie for sinne, and by his bitter death and passion pare the punishment that was due vnto sinne. God therefore hath declared and manife∣sted his iustice in his own sonne being loaden with our ini∣quities: but hath most mercifullie powred forth and decla∣red his gracious goodnes vnto vs guilty wretches, and worchie of condemnation, whilest that in his incompre∣hensible loue towards vs, he deliuered vp his sonne vnto death for our sinnes, and raised him vp againe from death for our iustification, that by him we might obtaine immor∣talitie and life euerlasting.

We beleeue that Iesus Christ is that high priest, appo••••∣ed * 1.58to that office eternallie, by the oath of his Father, according to the order of Melchisede••h, which offered himselfe in our name before his Father with a ful satisfacti∣on for the pa••ifying of his wrath, laying himselfe vpon the al••ar of the crosse, and hath shed his blood for the clensing of our sinnes, as the Prophets had fore••olde. For it is writ∣ten, that the chastisment of our peace was laide vpon the sonne of God, and by his woundes we are healed. Also that he was carried as a sheepe vnto the slaughter, reputed amongst sinners and vniust, and condemned of Pontius Pila••e, as a male factour, though be∣fore he had pronounced him guiltles. Therefore he payed that which he had not taken, and being iust, suffred in soule and bodie for the vniust, in such sorte, that feeling the hor∣ror of those punishments that were due vnto our sinnes, be did sweate water and blood, and at length cried out, My God, ••y God, why hast thou sorsaken me? All which he suffered for the remission of our sinnes. Wherefore we doe not without iust

cause professe with Paul, that we know ••••thi••g but Iesus Chris••, and him crucified, and that we doe a••••ount all thinges as dung, in respect of the excellent knowledge of Iesus Christ our Lord, finding in his woundes and stripes all manner of comfort, that can be deserued. VVherefore there is no neede, that o•• her we should wish for any other meanes, or 〈◊〉〈◊〉 any of our owne b••aines, whereby we might be reconciled vnto God besides this one oblation once offred, by the which all the faithfull, which are sanctified, are consecrated, or perfected for euer. And this is the cause, why he was called of the Angell Iesus, that is to saie, a sauiour, because he should save his people from their sinnes.

* 1.59 Last of all we do beleeue out of the word of God, that our Lord Iesus Christ (when the time appo••••ted by God but ••n∣to all creatures vnknowen, shall come, and the number of the elect shal be accomplished) shall come againe from hea∣uen, and that after a corporall and visi••••e m••nner, as here∣tofore he hath ascended, being adorned with g••••••t glorie and maiestie, that he maie appeare as iudge of the quicke and the dead, the olde world being kindel••d with fire and flame, and puri••ied by it. Then * 1.60all creatures, and aswell men▪ as women, and children, as manie as haue bene from the beginning, and shall be to the end of the world, shall ap∣peare before this high Iudge, beeing s••mmoned thither by the voice of Archangeils, and the trumpet of God. For all that haue bene dead shall then rise out of the earth, the soul and spirit of euerie one being ioyned and coupled together againe to the same bodies, wherein before they liued. They moreouer, which shall be aliue at the last dare, shell not die the same death that other men haue done▪ but in a moment and in the twinkling of an eie they shall be changed from corruption, to an incorruptible nature. Then the bookes shall be opened, namelie the bookes of euerie mans consci∣ence, and the dead shal be iudged according to those things which they haue done in this world, either good or euill. Moreouer, then shall men render an account of euerie idle worde which they haue spoken, although the worlde doe now make but a spor••e and a iest at them. Finall e, all the hypocrisie of men, and the deepest secrets of their hearts shallbe made manifest vnto all, so that worthelie the onelie remembrance of this iudgement shall be terrible and feare∣full

to the wicked and reprobate. But of the godlie and elect it is greatlie to be wished for, and is vnto them ex∣ceeding comfort. For then shall their redemption be fullie perfited, and they shall reape moste sweete fruite and com∣moditie of all those labours and sorrowes, which they haue suffered in this world. Then, I saie, their innocencie shall be openlie acknowledged of all, and they likewise shall see that horrible punishment which the Lord will execute vpon those, that haue moste tyrannic allie afflicted them in this world with diuers kindes of torments and crosses. Further∣more the wicked being conuinced by the peculiar testimony of their owne conscience, shal indeed be made immortal, but with this condition, that they shall burne for euer in that e∣ternal fire, which is prepared for the deuil. On the contrarie side the elect and faithfull shal be crowned with the crowne of glorie and honour, whose names the sonne of God shall confesse before his Father and the Angels, and then shall all teares be wiped from their eyes. Then their cause, which now is condemned of heresie and impietie by the magistrates and Iudges of this worlde, shall be acknowledged to be the cause of the sonne of God: And the Lorde shall of his free mercie reward them with so great glorie, as no mans minde is able to conceiue. Therefore we doe with great longing expect that great da••e of the Lorde, wherein we shall moste fullie enioy all those thinges which God hath promised vn∣to vs, and through Iesus Christ our Lorde, be put into full possession of them for euer more.

OVT OF THE CONFESSION OF AVSPVRGF.

ALso they teach, that the word, that is, the sonne of God tooke vnto him mans nature in the wombe of the blessed Virgine Marie, so that the two natures, the de∣uine and the humane, inseperablie ioyned together in the v∣nitie of one person, are one Christ, true God and true man: who was borne of the Virgine Marie, did truelie suffer, was crucified, dead, and buried, that he might reconcile his fa∣ther vnto vs, and might be a sacrifice, not onely for the ori∣ginall sinne, but also for all actuall sinnes of men. The same also descended into hell, and did truelie rise againe the third daie. Afterward he ascended into heauen, that he

might sit at the right hand of the father, and raigne for euer, and haue dominion ouer all the creatures, sanctifie those that beleeue in him, by sending the holie spirit into their heartes, and giue euerlasting life to such as he had san∣ctified. The same Christ shall openlie come againe, to iudge them that are found aliue, and the dead raised vp againe, according to the Creed of the Apostles.

In the end of this Article after these words (by sending his holie spirit into their heartes) these wordes are found in some editions.

BY sending his spirit into their hearts, which may reigne, comfort, and quicken them, and defend them against the Deuill, and the power of sinne. The same Christ shall o∣penlie come againe, to iudge the quick and the dead, &c. according to the Creed of the Apostles.

Also they teach, that in the end of the world Christ shall appeare to iudgement, and shall raise vp all the dead, and shal giue vnto men (to weete, to the godlie and elect) eternal life, and euerlasting ioyes, but the vngodlie and the De∣uills shall he condemne vnto endles torments.

Also we condemne the Origenistes, who imagined, that the deuill and the damned creatures should one daie haue an end of their paines.

After the first periode of this Article, this is thus found else where.

THey condemne the Anabaptistes, that are of opini∣on, that the damned men and the deuill•• shall haue an end of their torments. They condemne others also, which now a daies do spread abroade Iewish opinions, that before the resurrection of the dead, the godlie shall get the soueragintie in the world, and the wicked be brought vnder in euerie place.

OVT OF THE CONFESSION OF SAXONIE.

Hitherto pertaineth a parte of the third article.

THe sonne of God, our Lord Iesus Christ, who is the Image of the eternall father, is appointed our Me∣diator, Reconciler, Redeemer, Iustifier, and sauiour. By the obedience and merit of him alone the wrath of God is pacified, as it is said, Rom. 3. Whome he set forth to be a recon∣ciliation through faith in his bloode. And, Heb. 10. It is impossible, that the bloode of Bulls should take away sinnes. But he offering a sa∣crifice for sinnes, sitteth for euer at the right hand of God, &c. And although we doe not see as yet, * 1.61in this our infirmitie, the causes of this wonderfull counsell, why mankinde was to be redeemed after this sort, but we shall learne them hereafter in all eternitie, yet these principles are now to be learned. In this sacrifice there are to be seene, iustice in the wrath of God against sinne, infinite mercie towards vs, and loue in his Sonne towards mankinde. The seueritie of his iustice was so great, that there could be no reconciliation, before the punishment was accomplished. His mercie was so great, that his Sonne was giuen for vs. There was so great loue in the Sonne towards vs, that he deriued vnto himselfe this true and exceeding great anger. O Sonne of God, kindle in our hearts, by thy holie spirit, a consideration of these great and secret things, that by the knowledge of this true wrath we may be sore afraide, and that againe by true comforte we may be lif••ed vp, that we may praise thee for euer.

OVT OF THE CONFESSION OF WIRTEMBERGE.

WE beleeue and confesse, that the Sonne of God, our Lord Iesus Christ, be gotten of his eternal Fa∣ther, is true and eternal God, consubstantial with his father, and that in the fullnes of time he was made man, to purge our sinnes, and * 1.62to procure the eternall saluation of man∣kinde: that Christ Iesus, being verie God, and verie man, is one person onelie, and not two, and that in this one per∣son there be two natures, not one onelie, as by testimonies of the holie scripture, the holie Fathers haue declared, in

the Councells held at Nice, Ephesus, and Chalcedon. Ther∣fore we detest euerie heresie which is repugnant to this do∣ctrine of the Sonne of God.

OVT OF THE CONFESSION OF SVEVELAND.

ALSO we beleeue that our Sauiour Iesus Christ, be∣ing true God, was also made true man, his natures not beeing confounded, but so vnited in one and the same person, that they shall neuer hereafter be dissolued. Neither do we differ any thing in those points, which the Church be∣ing taught out of the holie Gospells, doth beleeue, concer∣ning our Sauiour Iesus Christ, conceiued of the holie Ghost▪ borne of the Virgine Marie, and who at the length, after he had discharged the office of preaching the Gospell, died on the crosse, and was buried, and descended into hell, and the third daie he was called backe from the dead vnto life eter∣nall: the which life when he had by diuers arguments proo∣ued vnto witnesses, hereunto appointed, he was caried vp in∣to heauen to the right hand of his Father, from whence we looke that he should come to iudge the quick and the dead. In the meane time let vs acknowledge that he is neuer the∣lesse present with his Church, that he doth renew, and san∣ctifie it, and as his onelie beloued spouse, beutifie it with all sortes of ornaments of vertues: and in these things we doe nothing varie from the Fathers, nor from the common con∣sent of Christians: we thinke it sufficient, after this sorte to testifie our faith.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Isa. 53▪ Mich. 5. 2.
• * 1.2

  Ioh. 1. 1. Phil. 2. 6.
• * 1.3

  1. ••oh 5. 〈◊〉〈◊〉
• * 1.4

  〈…〉〈…〉 2.
• * 1.5

  Ioh 17. 5.
• * 1.6

  Iohn 5 18.
• * 1.7

  Mat. 1.
• * 1.8

  Heb. 2. 16.
• * 1.9

  Mat. 26. Ioh. 12.
• * 1.10

  1. Pet 4. 1.
• * 1.11

  1. Cor. 2. 8.
• * 1.12

  ••uc. 24. 39.
• * 1.13

  •• l••o••e the 〈…〉〈…〉 vpon this co••••ess. Ioh. 14. Acts. 3.
• * 1.14

  Act. 17.
• * 1.15

  1. Cor. 15. Mat. 25. 41. 2. Tim. 2.
• * 1.16

  Mar. 9.
• * 1.17

  Rom. 41. 5.
• * 1.18

  Looke the 1. obse••ua•• this confess.
• * 1.19

  Ioh. 10.
• * 1.20

  Ioh. 8. Act. 4.
• * 1.21

  1. Cor. 10.
• * 1.22

  Apoc. 15.
• * 1.23

  Iohn. 1.
• * 1.24

  Artic. 10.
• * 1.25

  Art. 11.
• * 1.26

  Rom. 2. 2. Cor. 5. Ioa. 5.
• * 1.27

  Ioh. 15.
• * 1.28

  Gen. 3.
• * 1.29

  2. Kig. 7. 23.
• * 1.30

  Ps. 131 89.
• * 1.31

  Isa. 9. 11.
• * 1.32

  Eph. 34.
• * 1.33

  1. Cor. 2.
• * 1.34

  Ioh. 1. Hob. 1. Coloss. 1.
• * 1.35

  Ioh. 1.
• * 1.36

  Looke the 1. obseruat. vpon this confess.
• * 1.37

  1. Thes. 4.
• * 1.38

  Act. 3.
• * 1.39

  Mar. 16.
• * 1.40

  Act. 1.
• * 1.41

  Math. 28. Iohn. 16.
• * 1.42

  Ioh. 14.
• * 1.43

  Ioh. 14.
• * 1.44

  In Io. Tract. 30.
• * 1.45

  Art. 13.
• * 1.46

  Artic. 14.
• * 1.47

  Artic. 15.
• * 1.48

  Art. 16.
• * 1.49

  Artic. 17.
• * 1.50

  Art. 2.
• * 1.51

  Artic. 18.
• * 1.52

  Art 19.
• * 1.53

  Art. 21.
• * 1.54

  Art. 17.
• * 1.55

  Art. 18.
• * 1.56

  Art. 19.
• * 1.57

  Art. 20.
• * 1.58

  Art. 21.
• * 1.59

  Art. 37.
• * 1.60

  Looke the 2. obserua••. vpon this confess.
• * 1.61

  Looke the 1. obseru. vpon this confession.
• * 1.62

  Looke the 1. obseruat vpon this confess.