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 Repentance. Artic. 16.

BY the mercie of God this parte of Doctrine speciallie is declared in our Churches with great perspicuitie, wher∣as the Sentētiaries haue wrapped it in most intricate Laby∣rinthes. First we doe openlie condemne the Catharans, and the Nouarians, who feigned that neither the elect could fal into sinnes against the•• conscience, neither that they who had fallen after their amendmēt were to be receiued again, & our confutations of these furies are extant, Neither dowe goe about to make brawlings about the worde Repentance: if any man like it better, let him vse the worde Conuersion, which worde the Prophets also haue often vsed. Moreouer we doe willing he reteine the worde Contrition, and we sale that the first part of repentance or Conuersion is Contriti∣on, which is, truely to tremble through the knowledge of the wrath of God against sinnes, and to be sorie that we haue offended God: and we saie, that there must needes be some such great feare and griefes in those that are conuerted, & that they doe not repent, which remaine secure and without greefe, as it is saide, 2. Cor. 7. Ye sorowed to repentance: And

Ezech. 20. Andye shal mislike your selues in your owns 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and acknowledge your selues to be worthie of punishment and instruction. And these true griefes are a feeling of the wrath of God▪ as is declared more at large in an other place. But here we re∣prooue our aduersaries, who feigne that Contrition doth deserue remission of sinnes, and that Contrition 〈◊〉〈◊〉 be sufficient. In either errour there be great my••••es. For re∣mission is giuen freelie for the mediatours sake, and what contrition can be sufficients Yea rather the more the sorrow encreaseth without assurance of mercie, so much the more mens heartes doe she from God, and no creature is able to susteine the greatnes of this sorow, whereof Esaie speaketh, Chap. 38. He brake all my bones, like a Lyon. But those idle dreames of the writers doe declare, that they leade a care∣lesse life, and that they are 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in the Gospell. Now these true sorowes doe arise, when the sinne of the contempt of the Sonne of God (as is declared in the Gospell▪) is re∣preoued. The spirit shall reprooue the worlde of sinne, because they beleeue not in me. Ioh. 16. And by the voice of the Morall law other sinnes are reprooued, as Paull saith, Rom. 3. By the law came the knowledge of sinne.

As touching priuate confession, to be made vnto the Pa∣stours, we affirme, that the ceremonie of * 1.1priuate absoluti∣on is to be retained in the Church, & we doe constantlie re∣taine it for manie weightie causes▪ yet with all we doe teach, that men must neither commaund, nor require the recitall of offenses in that priuate talke, because that recitall of of∣fences is neither commaunded of God, nor a thing possible, and it maketh godlie mindes to doubt, and it maketh faith faint.

And this we doe much more reprehend, that in the do∣ctrine of Repentance or conuersion, our aduersaries doe no where make mention of iustifying faith, (whereof we haue spoken before) by which alone Remission of sinnes is truelie receiued, the heart is lifted vp euen when it hath a feeling of the wrath of God, and we are freed from the sorowes of hell, as it is written. Rom. 5. Being iustified by faith▪ we haue peace. Without this faith sorowes are no better then the re∣pentance of Saul, Iudas, Orestes, and such like, as are men∣tioned in tragedies. Neither doe our aduersaries teach the

Gospell, but the law, and humane traditiones, either omit∣ting this faith, or else fighting against it. But seeing that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 true conuersion there must be these changes, a mortificati∣on, & a quickning, as it is said Rom. 6. & in diuers other pla∣ces, for doctrines sake we doe deuide conuersion or repen∣tance into three parts, into contrition, faith, and new obe∣dience: these thinges doth true conuersion comprehend, as the voice of God, & the true experience of the Church do declare. Yet do we not make contention either about the manner of speaking, or about the number of the partes, but we wish that all men may see those thinges which are neces∣sarie. And it is moste necessarie for the Church, that there should be a true, plaine, and most cleare doctrine, touching the wholl conuersion, which also is verie often repeated in those sermons, which are set downe in the scriptures, and that with great perspicuitie, & without anie intricate laby∣rinthes, as the Baptist and Christ saie, Math. 3. Repent, and beleeue the Gospell, Againe, Repent: Beholde the lambe of God, that taketh awaie the sinnes of the world. And Paule saieth. Ro. 3. All men are depriued of the glorie of god. Here he speaketh o•• contrition, afterward of remission: But we are iustified freelie by his grace, through redemption that is in Christ Iesus, by faith. Therefore it is necessarie, that in the doctrine of conuersi∣on or repentance there should mention be made of faith. Neither is it sufficient that our aduersaries saie, that they also doe speake of faith, and that faith doth goe before re∣pentance. For they speake of the doctrine of knowledge, I beleeue the forgiuenes of sinnes, to wit, that they be for∣giuen to others, euen as the deuills doe know the Creede: but the Gospell doth require this true faith, which is an as∣surance of the mercie of God, promised for the sonne of god his sake, and resting in the Sonne of God, which saith, I be∣leeue that remission of sinnes is giuen vnto me also, and that freelie, not for anie Contrition, not for anie my me∣rits, but for the Sonne of God, who by the infinite goodnes and wisedome of the godhead is appointed a Mediatour & redeemer. I know that the commaundement of God is im∣mutable, so that euerie one maie determine in these griefes, that he is assured lie receiued into fauour for Christ his sake. This is the proper voice of the gospel: this decree is brought

by the Sonne out of the bosome of the eternall father, and is sealed vp by his blood and resurrection. Not to assent to this wil and decree, is to contemne the Sonne of God: and con∣cerning this sinne, Iohn saith, cap. 3. He that beleeueth not the Some, the wrath of God abideth on him. But he that beleeueth that his sinnes be forgiuen for this Mediatours sake, he doth now certainelie receiue remission of his sinnes for Christ his sake, which is effectuall in him, and quickneth and san∣ctifieth him by his holy Spirit: and being now reconciled, he is vndoubtedly accounted iust, for the Mediatours sake, & is heir of eternal life. Either to omit, or to corrupt, or to dislike this necessarie comfort, touching conuersion, is as much as manifestlie to extinguish the Gospel. As touching this faith, absolution ought both to admonish vs, and also to confirme it, as Dauid was confirmed, when he heard this absoluti∣on, 2. Reg. 12. The Lorde hath taken awaie thy sinne. So know thou that the voice of the Gospell doth declare remission vnto thee also, the which remission is namelie propounded to thee in absolution. Doe not thou feigne, that the Gospell doth nothing at all pertaine to thee, but knowe that it was therfore published, that by this meanes men imbracing the Gospell might be saued▪ and that it is the eternall and im∣mutable commaundement of God, that thou shouldest be∣leeue it. He that doth not by this faith imbrace the Gospell, but is still doubting, he doth in vaine heare the absolution. Whē as by this comfort the hearts are quickned, & are now made the dwelling places of God. Then is it necessarie that they should now begin a new obedience, as is saide before. But to returne to wicked deedes, is * to shake of God, and a∣gaine to loose that righteousnes and life, as Iohn saith. 1▪ Iohn. 3. He that doth righteousnes, is righteous, he that committeth sinne, is of the deuill. But we haue before rehearsed the summe of the doctrine of new obedience.

Notes

• * 1.1

  looke the 1. obseruat. vpon this confess.