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 SEVENTH SECTION. OF THE LAVV AND THE GOSPELL. (Book 7)

THE LATTER CONFESSION OF HELVEITA.

Of the lawe of God. CHAP. 12.

WE teach, that the will of God is set downe vnto vs in the lawe of God, to wit, what he would haue vs to doe, or not to doe, what is good and iust, or what is euill and vniust▪ we therefore confes that the lawe is good and holie, and that this lawe is by the finger of God either written in the heartes of men, and so is called the lawe of nature, or ingrauen in the two ta∣bles * 1.1of stone, and more largelie expounded in the bookes of Moses. For plainnes sake, we deuide it vnto the morall lawe, which is contained in the commaundementes or the two tables expounded in the books of Moses, and into the cere∣moniall, which doth appoint ceremonies and the worship•• of God, and into the iudicial law, which is occupied about politicall and domesticall affaires.

VVe beleeue that the * 1.2wholl will of God and all neces∣sarie precepts for euerie part of this life is fullie deliuered in this lawe. For otherwise the Lord would not haue forbidden▪ That anie thing should be either added or taken away from this law. Neither would he haue commaun••••d vs to goe straight for∣ward

in this, and Not to decline out of the waie either to the right handor to the left.

We teach that this lawe was not giuen to men that we should be iustified by keeping it, but that by the knowledge thereof we might rather acknowledge our infirmitie, sinne, and condemnation, and so dispairing of our owne strength might turne vnto Christ by faith. For the Apostle saith plainlie, The law worketh wrath, and, by the law commeth * 1.3knowledge of sinne. And, If there had bene a law giuen, which could haue iustified and giuen vs life, surely righteousnes should haue bene by the law. But the spirit (to wit of the law) hath concluded all vn∣der sinne, that the promise by the faith of Iesus Christ should be gi∣uen to them which beleue. Therfore the law was our schoolemaster to Christ, that we might be iustified by faith. For neither could there euer, neither at this daie can * 1.4anie flesh satisfie the law of God, & fullfill it, by reason of the weaknes in our flesh, which remaineth and sticketh fast in vs, euen to our last breath. For the Apostle saith againe, That which the law could not per∣forme, in as much as it was weake, through the flesh, that did God performe, sending his own sonne in similitude of flesh, subiect to sinne. Therfore Christ is the perfiter of the law, and our fullfilling of it, who as he tooke awaie the cursse of the law, when as he * 1.5was made a cursle for vs, so doth he cōmunicate vnto vs by faith his full filling thereof, & his righteousnes & obedience is imputed vnto vs. The law of God therefore is * 1.6thus farre abrogated, as that it doeth not henceforth condemne vs, neither work wrath in vs. For we are vnder grace, and not vnder the law. Moreouer Christ did fulfill all the figures of the law. Wherefore the shadow ceased, when the bodie came: so that in Christ we haue now all trueth and fullnes. Yet we do not therefore disdaine or re••ect the law. We remember the wordes of the Lord, saying, I came not to destroie the law and the Prophets, but to fullfill them. We knowe that * 1.7in the law are de∣scribed vnto vs the kindes of vertues & vices. We know that the scripture of the lawe * 1.8, if it be expounded by the Gos∣pell, is very profitable to the Church, and that therefore the reading of it is not to be banished out of the Church. For al∣though the countenance of Moses was couered with a vaile, yet the Apostle affirmeth, that the vaile is taken awaie and a∣bolished by Christ. We condemne al thinges which the olde or

new heretikes haue taught against the lawe of God.

Of the gospell of Iesus Christ, and also of Promises: of the spirit and of the letter. CHAP. 13.

THE gospell indeede is opposed to the lawe: for the lawe worketh wrath, and doeth denounce a cursse▪ but the gospell doth preach grace and a blessing. Iohn * 1.9saith also, The lawe was giuen by Moses, but grace and trueth came by Iesus Christ. Yet notwithstanding it is moste certaine, that they which were before the lawe, and vnder the lawe, were not altogether destitute of the gospell: For they had notable Euangelicall promises, such as these are: The seede of the woman shall bruise the Serpents head. In thy seede * 1.10shall all the nations of the earth be blessed. The scepter shall not be taken from Iuda, vntil Silo come. The Lord shall raise vp a Prophet from amongest his owne brethren, &c. And we doe acknowledge that the fathers had two kinde of promises reuealed vnto them, euen as we haue. For some of them were of present & transitorie thinges, such as were the promises of the lande of Canaan, and of victories, and such as are now a dayes, concerning our dailie bread. Othersome there were then, & also are now, of heauenlie & euerlasting things, as of Gods fauour, remission of sinnes, & life euerlasting, through faith in Iesus Christ. Now the fathers had not onelie outwarde or earthly, but spiritual & heauenly promises in Christ. For the Apostle Peter saith, that the Prophets which prophesied of the grace that should come to vs, haue searched and inquired of this sal∣uation. Whereupon the Apostle Paul also saith, that the gos∣pell of God was promised before by the Prophets of God in the holie scriptures. Hereby then it appeereth euidentlie, that the fa∣thers were not altogether destitute of all the Gospell.

And although after this manner our fathers had the gospell in the writinges of the Prophets, by which they at∣tained saluation in Christ through faith, yet the gospell is properlie called that glad and happie tidings, wherein first by Iohn Baptist, then by Christ the Lorde himselfe, and af∣terward by the Apostles & their successours, is preached to

vs in the world, that God hath now performed that, which he promised from the beginning of the world, & hath sent, yea and giuen vnto vs, his onelie sonne, and in him reconci∣liation with the father, remission of sinnes, all fulnes, and euerlasting life. The historie therefore set downe by the foure Euagelists, declaring how these thinges were done or fulfilled of Christ, and what he taught and did, and that they which beleeued in him had al fulnes, this, I saie, is truelie called the Gospell. The preaching also and scrip∣ture of the Apostles, in which they expound vnto vs how the sonne was giuen vs of the father, and in him all things per∣taining to life and saluation, is truelie called the doctrine of the Gospell, so as euen at this daie it looseth not that worthie name, if it be sincere.

The same preaching of the Gospel is by the Apostle tear∣med * 1.11the spirit, and the ministerie of the spirit, because it is li∣ning, and workeing thorough faith in the eares, yea in the hearts of the faithfull thorough the illumination of the ho∣lie spirit. For the letter, which is opposed vnto the spirit, doth in deede signifie euerie outward thing, but more speciallie the doctrine of the law, which without the spirit & faith work∣eth wrath, & stirreth vp sin in the mindes of thē, that do not truly beleeue. For which cause it is called by the Apostle, the ministery of death: for hitherto pertaineth that saying of the A¦postle, The letter killeth, but the spirit giueth life. The false Apo∣stles preached the Gospel, corrupted by mingling of the law therewith, as though Christ could not saue without the law. Such also were the Hebionites said to be, which came of Hebion the heretike: and the Nazarites, which before time were called Myneans. Al which we doe condemne, sincerely preaching the worde, and teaching, that the beleeuers are iustified by the spirit onelie, and not by the law. But of this matter there shall follow a more large discourse in the title of iustification.

And although the doctrine of the Gospel compared with the Pharisees doctrine of the law might seeme (when it was first preached by Christ) to be a new doctrine, the which thing also Ieremie prophesied of the new Testament, yet in deed it not onelie was, & as yet is (though the Papists call it new, in regarde of Popish doctrine, which hath of long time

* 1.12 bin receiued) an ancient doctrine, but also the most ancient in the world. For God from all eternitie fore ordeined to saue the world by Christ: and this his predestination and eternal counsel hath he opened to the world by the Gospell. Where∣by it appeareth that the Euangelicall doctrine and religion was the moste auncient of all that euer were, are, or euer shalbe: Wherefore we saie that all they erre foullie, and speake things vnworthy the eternall counsell of God, who tearme the Euangelicall doctrine and religion, a new start vp faith scarce thirtie yeares olde: to whome that saying of Isaiah doth verie well agree, Woe vnto them that speake good 〈◊〉〈◊〉 euill, and euill of good, which put darkenes for light, and light•••• darkenes, that put bitter for sweete, and sweete for sowre.

OVT OF THE FORMER CONFESSION OF HELVETIA.

Therefore in the wholl Euangelicall doctrine, this ought first and chiefely to be vrged, that we are saued by the onelie mercie and grace of God, and by Christ his merittes▪ whereof that men may know how much they stand in neede, their sinnes must be verie clearelie laid open vn∣to them, by the law, and by Christ his death.

OVT OF THE CONFESSION OF BOHEMIA.

Of the word of God, or the holie Gospell, CHAP. 10.

* 1.13 ANd seeing that the administration of thee new test•• ment, & also the word and the sacraments are lawful∣ly committed to the Ministers of the Church, and their lippe•• * 1.14ought to preserue knowledge, that the law maie be sought at their mouth, therefore in this Chapter it is further taught, what the word of God, and the holie gospell is. Now the Prea∣ching of the word of God and of the Gospell, is the true ministerie of grace, instituted and commaunded of Christe our Lord, wherein the full and perfect will of God, touching eternall reconciliation, necessarie to saluation, and made manifest in the holie scripture, is declared and preached vnto all people. This doctrine did Christ giue in charge vnto his disciples in the wordes of this

sentence, Goye into all the world, and preach the Gospell to eue∣rie * 1.15creature. This doctrine doth Peter professe before Cor∣nelius, when he saith. He commaunded vs to preach vnto the * 1.16people, and to testifie that this is he, that is ordeined of God to be the Iudge of the quick and the dead. To him also giue all the Pro∣phets wines, that through his name, all that beleeue in him, shall receiue remission of sinnes.

This ministery is more honorable, greater, and more ne∣cessarie to saluation, then are the sacraments: the which is prooued by that sentence of the moste excellent Apostle * 1.17Saint Paul, For Christ sent me not to Baptize (that is, not chief∣lie to do this) but to preach the Gospell. For onelie through the pure Gospell, and the preaching thereof, is faith sow∣ed inwardlie in the heart by the holie Ghost, and from thence also must we conceiue and seeke the true meaning of God and Christ, touching all thinges necessarie to salua∣tion, and also touching the sacramentes them-selues. A∣mongst those, who by reason of their age are able to vse their vnderstanding, it is of necessitie, that the preaching of the Gospell go before the receiuing of the sacramentes. Wherof we maie see an euident proofe in those three thow∣sand which were conuerted by Peter: also in Cornelius, & * 1.18in the Chamberlaine we maie see, that, according to the ex∣ample of Phillippe, the question is thus to be made, Doest thou beleeue with all thy heart? Then it maie be that thou who hast true faith grafted in thy heart maiest receiue profit, by the participation of the sacraments. For without the hea∣ring of the word of God, which is the sauing power of God, no * 1.19man shall wittinglie attaine vnto faith and saluation, accor∣ding * 1.20to that saying of Paull. Therfore faith commeth by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. And againe, How shall they be∣leeue in him, of whome they haue not heard? Therefore herein our preachers endeuour them selues moste earnestlie, that in our Ecclesiastical meetings they maie propound vnto the people the sincere word of God, without all mixture or in∣uentious of men. For which cause also they do, by an aun∣cient custome, recite in the mother and vulgare tongue, which maie be vnderstood of all, not onelie those Chapters which are appointed to be read out of the gospell at certaine times, but also all other partes of holie scripture, and do ex∣hort

the people with an earnest desire to heare the word o•• God, and to frequent those Ecclesiasticall meetings, that by the diligent teaching of the Gospell, and by often repea∣ting it in their sermons, they maie first teach the people re∣pentance and faith, and then the vse and administration of the sacraments, and by this meanes prepare them to the right receiuing of the sacraments: & afterwardes also, bo•••• whilest the sacraments be administred, and after they be administred, they doe conuenientlie instruct them in all those thinges which the Lord commaunded, and chieflie in those things which doe appertaine to the leading of an ho∣nest life, and such a one, as beseemeth a Christian professi∣on; * 1.21as Christ saith, Teach them to keepe all things which I 〈◊〉〈◊〉 commaunded you.

In this place also it is taught verie diligentlie, and as the matter requireth, touching the difference, which is to be ob∣serued betwixt the worde, or doctrine, and worke of the lawe, and betwixt the worde and force of the holie Gospell. The worde or ministerie of the lawe and of the olde Testament, is the worde of death, feare, and of the letter, also the worde of wrath and the worde of malediction: but the worde of the new Testament, that is, of the holie Gospell, is the mi∣nisterie of faith, and the spirit of cleerenes, or glorie through our Lord Iesus Christ, the worde of grace, of the new coue∣nant, the worde of comfort, and the messenger of peace. Of * 1.22them both the Apostle writeth thus, The letter killeth, but the spirit quickneth. And Christ saith, The wordes which I speake, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 spirit and life. Also there is mention made of the vse of the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 law, in the fourth Chapter of this confession (beginning with these wordes. This doctrine of the true knowledge of sinne, &c.) 〈◊〉〈◊〉 is to be seene before in the fourth Section, whereunto all that Chapter apperteineth.

OVT OF THE FRENCH CONFESSION.

WE beleeue that all the figures of the law are takes awaie by the comming of Chist, howbeit we are assured that the truth and substance of them doth abide i•• him, in whome they are all fulfilled. Yet we must vse the doctrine of the law, and the Prophets, both to frame our life aright, and also that we may so much the more be con∣firmed

in the promises of the Gospell.

OVT OF THE CONFESSION OF BELGIA.

WE beleeue that all the ceremonies, figures, and shadows of the law, haue ceased at the comming of Christ, so that now euen the vse of them ought to be taken away & abolished among Christians. Yet in the mean time, the truth & substance of them doth remaine to vs in Christ, in whome they are all fulfilled. And therfore we doe still vse the testimonies of the law & the Prophets, to confirme our selues in the doctrine of the gospell, and to lead an honest life, vnto Gods glorie, according to his will.

THE CONFESSION OF AVSPVRGE doth by the way mention the doctrine of the Gospell, & of the end thereof, in the 4. and 5. Articles, which we haue placed in the ninth Secti∣on, wherein iustification, and remission of sinnes by faith in Christ, is handled.

OVT OF THE CONFESSION OF SAXONY.

ANd that the benefittes of this Mediatour might be knowen vnto mankinde, and applied vnto vs, there was a promise giuen straight in the beginning after the fal of our first parents, and afterwardes often times repeated, and by voice of the Prophets declared; but moste cleerely was it recited by the verie Sonne, and afterwardes by the Apostles: And there was a ministery instituted to teach, and to spread abroade that promise, also there was a Church made, and often renued by the same very voice, touching the Sonne of God our attonement. By this mynisterie the Sonne of God alwaies was, is, and shall be effectuall in the beleeuers, as it is saide, Rom. 1. The Gospell is the power of God vnto salua∣tion to euerie one that beleeueth. And he doth renue this mini∣sterie, when he saith, As my Father sent me, so doe I send you also. Go, & preach repentance & remission of sinnes in my name. He wil that sin should be reprooued in all mankind, as he saith, The spirit shall reprooue the world of sinne, because they beleeue not in ••ee. And Rom. 1. The wrath of God is reueiled from heauen a∣gainst all vngodlines and vnrighteousnes of men. God will haue his wrath to be acknowledged against all sinne, and chief∣lie against the contempt of the Sonne, as he saith in the

Psalme, Kisse the Sonne, lest he be angrie, and so ye perish from the waie, &c. He wil haue vs truelie to be put in great feare, by the knowledge of our darkenes, of our horrible wickednes, and our stubbernes. And truelie God himselfe doth amaz•• our heartes with the sense of his anger, as Ezechiah sait••, Like a Lyon he brake all my bones. And to this iudgement 〈◊〉〈◊〉 doth not onelie vse the voice of the ministerie of the law•• and of the Gospell, but also all calamities be as it were the voice of the lawe, admonishing vs of the wrath of God, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 calling vs to repentance. Now when the minde is terrified by this voice that reprooueth sinnes, then let it heare th•• peculiar promise of the gospel, touching the Sonne of God, and let him be assured that his sinnes are freelie remitted f•••• the Sonne of God hissake, our Lord Iesus Christ, who is our attonement, and that of mercie, not for any 〈◊〉〈◊〉 or loue of ours.

OVT OF THE CONFESSION OF WIRTEMBERGE

Of the lawe. CHAP. 6.

WE acknowledge that the l••w of God (whereof the 10. commaundementes are an abrigedment) doth commaund the best, the most iust, and moste perfect workes, and that man is not onelie bounde to obeie the morall pre∣cepts of the lawe, but also if he should doe the workes of the 10. commaundements, in such perfection and integritie as the lawe requireth, that he should indeed be counted iust before God for his workes, and should obtaine eternall sal∣uation by his merites. But whereas some men doe thinke, that man can come to that state in this life, as to be able by his works not onelie to fullfil the 10. commaundements, but also to doe more and greater workes, then are commaun∣ded in the lawe, which they call works of supererogation, it is contrarie to the doctrine of the Prophetes and Apostles, and it is repugnant to the iudgement of the true Catholike Church. For the lawe was not giuen to this end, to signifie, that man might perfectlie fullfill the commaundements thereof in this life, but to shew to man his imperfection, & to testifie of the vnrighteousnes of man, and of the wrath of God against all men, & to stirre them vp to seke remission of their sinnes, righteousnes, and saluation by faith in the on∣ly

Sonne of God, our Lorde Iesus Christ. Rom. 3. By the lawe commeth the knowledge of sinne. And, Rom. 7. The law is spirituall, but I am carnall, solde vnder sinne. And, Rom. 8. The wisedome of the flesh is enmitie against God. For it is not subiect to the lawe of God, neither indeede can be. And, Galat. 3. Curssed is euerie man, that continueth not in all thinges which are written in the booke of * 1.23the lawe, to doe them. Augustine saith, This first commaunde∣ment of iustice, wherein we are commaunded to loue the Lorde, with all our heart, with all our soule, and with all our minde, whereupon followeth that other commaundement, of louing our neighboure, we shall fullfill in that life, where we shall see him face to face. But ther∣fore it is euen now also commaunded vnto vs, that we might be admo∣nished, what it behoueth vs to require by faith, whether to send our hope before hand, and by forgetting those thinges which are behinde, what fore thinges we should stretch our selues vnto. And hereby, so far as I can iudge, he hath profited much in this life, in that righ∣teousnes which is to be perfited, who by profiting doth knowe, how far he is from the perfection sf righteousnes. And againe. Charitie is a vertue, whereby that is loued which is to be beloued. This is in some * 1.24greater, in others lesser, and in some none at all. But the moste ab∣solute loue, which now cannot be increased, so long as a man liueth here, is not to be founde in anie man. For so long as it may be increa∣sed, that which is lesse then it ought to be, commeth of our corrupti∣on: by reason of which corruption there is not a iust man in the earth, that doth good and sinneth not: by reason of which corruption no flesh liuing shall be iustified in the sight of God: for which corruptions sake, If we saie that we haue no sinne, we deceiue our selues, and the trueth is not in vs: for the which also, though we profit neuer so much, yet it is necessary for vs to saie, Forgiue vs our debtes, although all our wordes, deedes, and thoughtes are alreadie forgiuen vs in baptisme. And againe, All the commaundements of God are counted * 1.25as done, when as whatsoeuer is not done, is notwithstanding pardo∣ned. And Ierome saith, This is onelie perfection vnto men, if they know that they are vnperfect. This is the true wisedome of man, to know that he is imperfect, and (that I maie so speake) the perfection of all iust men in the flesh, is imperfect.

Of the Gospell of Christ. CHAP. 8.

ALthough manie preceptes of the law of God be con∣teined in the writings of the Euangelistes and Apo∣stles, and Christ himselfe doth teach, that we must not rend•••• euill for euill, nor looke vpon a woman wantonlie, and such like: yet we must not think that the Gospel of Christ is a new law: whereby, as the fathers in times past were saued vnder the olde testament by the olde law, so now men vnder the new testament should be saued▪ by a new law. For except a man take the name of the law generallie for doctrine, as the Pro∣phets now and then do vse the name of the law, certainlie the Gospell of Christ, is not properlie a law, as Paull doth commonlie vse the name of the law, but it is a good and ioy∣full message, touching the sonne of God, our Lord Iesus Christ, that he onelie is the purger of our sinnes, the ap∣peaser of the wrath of God, and our redeemer and sauiour.

Neither are the commaundements of the law, which are conteined in the Apostles writings, any new law, but they are an interpretation of the olde law, according to the iudge∣ment of the holie Ghost, which also were to be seene be∣fore, and that not obscurelie, in the writinges of the Pro∣phets. But they are repeated in the preaching of the gos∣pell of Christ, that the seueritie of the law of God, and the corruption of our nature beeing declared, we might be stir∣red vp to seeke and embrace Christ reuealed in his Gospell, and that we maie know after what rule we are to frame our life through faith in Christ. Wherefore if we will speake properlie of the law of God, and Gospell of Christ, as of Christ we are not to make a new lawgiuer, seeing that he neither hath made a new law, nor instituted a new politi••e kingdome in this earth, so must we not make a new law of the Gospell, which by more harde and seuere commaunde∣ments doth bring eternall saluation to the doers thereof. But we thinke it to be most certaine, that the naturall, or morall law of the olde and new Testament is one and the same, and that neither the men which liued vnder the olde Testament, nor those which liue vnder the new Testament,

doe obteine eternal saluation, for the merit of the workes of the law, but onelie for the merit of our Lord Iesus Christ, through faith. Christ out of Isaiah doth recite his office, for the which he was sent into the earth: The spirit of the Lorde, * 1.26saith he, is vpon me, because he hath annointed me: he hath sent me to preach the Gospell to the poore, &c. Here Christ teacheth that his proper office is, not to make a new lawe, which should terrifie and kill miserable sinners, but to preach the Gospell, which might comfort and quicken sinners. Gal. 4. When the fulnes of time was come, God sent his Sonne made of a woman, and made vnder the law, that he might redeeme them which were vnder the law, and that we by adoption might receiue the right of sonnes. And Acts. 15, it is saide, Why tempt ye God, to laie an yoke vpon the Disciples neckes, which neither our fathers, nor wee, were able to beare? but we beleeue through the grace of our Lord Ie∣sus Christ to be saued, euen as they, &c. And Augustine saith, * 1.27That people which receiued the old Testament, was helde vnder certaine shadowes and figures of thinges before the comming of the Lorde, according to the wonderfull and moste orderlie diuision of times. Yet therein was so great preaching and foretelling of the new Testament, that in the Euangelicall and Apostolike discipline (though it be pain∣full and diuine) no commaundements or promises can be found, which are wanting euen in those olde bookes.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Exod. 20. Deut. 5.
• * 1.2

  Looke the 1. obseruat. vpon this Confess. Deu. 4. & 12.
• * 1.3

  Ro. 3. 4. Gal. 3.
• * 1.4

  looke▪ 2. obseru vpon the this conf. Rom. 8.
• * 1.5

  Gal 3.
• * 1.6

  Looke the 3. obseru. vpon this confession.
• * 1.7

  Looke the 4. obseruat.
• * 1.8

  Looke the 5. obseru▪
• * 1.9

  Ioh. 1.
• * 1.10

  Gen. 3. Gen. 22. Gen. ••0. Deut. 8. Act. 3.
• * 1.11

  2. Cor. 3.
• * 1.12

  ••. Tim. 1.
• * 1.13

  1. Cor. 4. 2. Cor. 3.
• * 1.14

  Malac. 2.
• * 1.15

  Marc. 16.
• * 1.16

  Act. 10.
• * 1.17

  1. Cor. ••.
• * 1.18

  Act. 2. Act. 8.
• * 1.19

  Rom. 1.
• * 1.20

  Ro. ••0.
• * 1.21

  Math. 28.
• * 1.22

  2. Cor. 3▪ Ioh. 6.
• * 1.23

  De Spirit•••• & litera. cap. 36.
• * 1.24

  August. Ieron••m. e••. 29.
• * 1.25

  Lib. 1. Re∣tract. cap. 19.
• * 1.26

  Luc. 4.
• * 1.27

  Contra Ad••∣mantū Ma∣nichaei disci∣pulū. Cap. 3.