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.

And after a few pages in the same Article.

Seeing that the minde is raised vp by this faith, it is cer∣taine that remission of sinnes, reconciliation, and impu∣ting of righteousnes is giuen for the ment of Christ alone, and that Christ is effectuall in vs, and doth by his holie spi∣rit quicken the beleeuers, and deliuer vs from eternall death, and withall make vs heires of eternall life. So saith Paul, Rom. 3. We conclude that man is iustified by faith, with∣out the workes of the lawe. Also, we are iustified freelie by his grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Iesus, whome God hath set forth to be a reconciliation through faith in his blood. And, Act. 10. To him giue all the Prophets wi••nes, that all that beleeue in him, shall receiue remission of sinnes.

Now the wordes are knowne and manif••st. Faith doth signifie not onelie the knowledge of the historie (for that is also in the Deuilles, of whome it is said, The deuilles do be∣leue, and tremble) but it doth signifie, to embrace al the Ar∣ticles of Faith, and among those this article, I do bele••e the remission of sinnes, neither do I beleue that it is onelie giuen to others, but to me also. This faith is also a confidence, resting in the Mediatour, according to that, Beeing instified by faith, we haue peace. So that Paull speaketh of faith, which

consenting to all the articles of the Creede, doth beholde and imbrace the promise: for it ioyneth together faith and the promise. Rom. 4. Therefore it is by faith, that the pre∣mise might be sure.

In expounding the word Iustified, it is vsuallie said, To is iustified, doth signifie, of vnrighteous to be made righte∣ous, which beeing rightlie vnderstood, doth agree also to our purpose. Of vnrighteous to be made righteous, that is, acquitted from the guilt, for the sonne of God his sake, that is, laying holde by faith vpon Christ himselfe, who 〈◊〉〈◊〉 our righteousnes (as Ieremie & Paul do saie) because that by his merit we haue remission, and God doth impute his righ∣teousnes to vs, and for him doth account vs iust, and by gi∣uing his holie spirit, doth quicken and regenerate vs, as it is saide, Ioh. 5. This is life in his Sonne: He that hath the Sonne, hath eternall life: he that hath not the Sonne of God, hath not life. And. Rom. 3. That he may be iust, and a iustifier. And although newnes is withall begunne, which shall be perfect in the life eternal, wherunto we are redeemed, yet neither for the new qualities, nor for any workes, is any man in this life made iust, that is, acceptable to God, and heire of eternall life, but onelie for the Mediatours sake, who suffered, rose againe, reigneth, and praieth for vs, shadowing and quickning vs. For although vertues are here begunne, yet be they still im∣perfect, & the reliques of sinne do sticke in vs. Therefore we must holde this comfort, that the person is accepted for the Sonne of God his sake, his righteousnes beeing imputed to vs, as it is said, Rom. 4. Abraham beleeued God, and it was im∣puted to him for righteousnes. Also, Blessed are they, whose inic••i∣ties be forgiuen, and whose sinnes be couered. Therefore this say∣ing must be vnderstood correlatiuelie, We are iustified by faith, that is, we are iustified by confidence in the Sonne of God, not for our quality, but because he is the reconciler, in whom the heart doth rest in confidence of the promised mercie for his sake. Which confidence he doth raise vp in vs by his ho∣lie Spirit, as Paull saith, Ye haue receiued the Spirit of the a••••p∣tion of the sonnes, by whom we crie, Abba, Father.

Here also we must speake of the exclusiue member. Paull doth often repeat the word Freely, by which it is moste cer∣taine, that the condition of our merites is excluded. There∣fore

it is saide in our Churches, We are iustified by Faith alone, which we so vnderstand, and declare, Freely, for the onelie Mediatours sake, not for our contrition, or other our me∣rites, we haue our sinnes forgiuen, vs and are reconciled to God. For, although contrition and many other vertues are together with Faith or with this confidence kindled in vs, yet these vertues are not the cause, or the merit of the Re∣mission of sinnes, neither doth the person please God in re∣garde of them, according to that saying, No man li••ing shall be iustified in thy sight▪ but the person hath remission, and doth certenlie please God, by reason of the Mediatour, who must be apprehended by faith, as it is saide, Eph. 3. B•• whome we haue boldnes, and entrance with confidence, by Faith in him. This wholl doctrine is more manifest in the true conuersion and dailie inuocation of the godlie. When we are in great feare by the knowledge of the wrath of God, this one comfort is f••rme and sure, to flie to the Sonne of God, who saith, Come vnto me, all ye that labour, and are loaden, and I will refresh you. Also, As I liue, I will not the death of a sinner, but that he returne and liue. Also, Grace aboundeth more then sinne. In these griefes if man be taught, to doubt of the remission of sinnes, sorrow will haue the vpper hand, and then follow moste greeuous murmurings against God, and desperation, and eternall death: but if man be taught, that doubting is to be ouer∣come by faith, then shall he vnderstand, that by the worde Faith, is not onelie signified the knowledge of the storie: he shall know that confidence doth relie vpon the onelie Medi∣atour, and he shall perceiue what is meant by these wordes, Freely, for the Mediatour sake, remission is receiued by faith alone, and so the person is made acceptable.

This wrastling hath at all times instructed some. For though Origen, & manie other ••rit••••s 〈◊〉〈◊〉 sententiaries haue brought forth an impu••e kinde of doctrine, yet in Augustine and certaine others we ••eede diuers sentences which shew, that they also receiued comfort out of th se true fountains. Who although they d••e 〈◊〉〈◊〉 speake vnproperlie, of thinges vnlike, because they were 〈…〉〈…〉 negligent in speaking, yet we maie 〈…〉〈…〉 what was their perpe∣tuall iudgement, if we will iudge 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Augustine ••••on the Psal. 31. saith. Who be happie•• not they ••n whome god shall not sinde

sinnes, for those he findeth in all men. For all men haue sinned, and are destitute of the glorie of God. Therefore if sinnes be found in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 men, it is euident, that none are happie, but those whose sinnes it forgiuen. This therefore the Apostle did thus commend: Abra••a•• beleeued God, and it was imputed to him for righteousnes. Here certainlie Augustine by faith doth vnderstand confidence, which receiueth remission of sinnes: and that which is said in Genesis, and in Paull, he doth altogether vnsterstand it, as we expound it. And in his booke, De spiritu & litera, he saith, By the law we feare God, and by faith we flie to his mercie. Bernard in his Sermon, De 〈◊〉〈◊〉 saith, First of all it is necessarie to beleeue, that thou canst not haue remission of sinnes, but by the mercie of God. But a•••••• thereunto, that thou maist also beleeue this, that through him thy sinnes be forgiuen thee. This is the witnes which the holie Ghost doth ••i••e in our heart, saying: T••y sinnes be forgiuen thee. For so doth the Apostle thinke, that a man is iustified freelie by faith. In this sentence the iudgement of our Churches is plainlie and properlie alledged, and like testimonies are to be sound in this author. Basill also, in his sermon of Humilitie doth most properly set forth our iudge∣ment, in these wordes: He that reioyceth, let him reioyce in the Lorde, saying, that Christ is maie vnto v•• of God, wisedome, and righteousnes, and sanctification, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 a•• it is written, He that reioyceth, let him reioyce in the Lorde. For this is per••••ct and sound reioycing in God, when as a man is not puffed vp by rea∣son of his owne righteousnes, but doth acknowledge that he doth stand in neede of the true righteousnes, and that he is iustified by faith a∣lone in Christ.

Seeing therefore that by this which hoth bin spoken it is manifest, what the worde Faith doth signifie, in this propo∣sition, We are iustified by Faith, herereupon we maie vnder∣stand, that the Monkes and others doe daungerouslie er••e, which doe commaund those that are turned to God, to doubt whether they doe please God. This common errour of doubting is euidentlie refuted by these wordes, Being iu∣stified by Faith, we haue peace with God. Also, Therefore is righte∣ousnes of faith, that the promise might be sure. For so long as mens hearts are tormented with doubting, they flie from God, they doe not rest in God, nor call vpon him: and the promise becommeth vnto them but a vaine sound, because

they giue not consent vnto it. To conclude, it is the eter∣nall and immutable commaundement of God, that we should beleeue in the Son of God, according to this saying, The spirit shall conuince the world of sinne, because they beleeue not in me. Also 1. Ioh. 5. He that beleeueth not God, ma••e••h him a l••er. Now it is a foolish cauill, when they saie, that we mus••e doubt, in respect of our vnworthines, and not in respect of mercie. For the promise was therefore giuen, therefore the Sonne of God was appointed our Mediatour, because we are vnworthie: and that for his sake, hauing suffered, being raised vp againe, and now ••••king intercession for vs, and dwelling in vs, and cloathing vs with his right••••••s••••s, the Father might vndoubtedlie be mercifull to this 〈◊〉〈◊〉 lumpe of ours, being vnworthie, and full of 〈…〉〈…〉 to that saying, There is now no condemnation 〈◊〉〈◊〉 them which talke in Christ Iesus. Al••o it is a••sude which they ••ore, that we muste doubt, by reason of our vnworthines. For we are not to doubt, whether our vnworthines doe displease God▪ but with true sighes let vs confesse that we are 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and let vs ley to the promise, whereunto God heth com∣maunded vs to assert. Neither is that saying Eccl•••• 9. ••••t∣lie applied to this doubting, Man know••th not 〈…〉〈…〉 worthie of loue, or of hatred. It is madnes to imagine that Sa∣lomon should haue anie such meaning, that neither the iust, nor the vniust ought to determine with them selues, whether they please or displease God, seing it is moste cer∣taine, that they, which perseuere in wicked deedes 〈◊〉〈◊〉 their conscience, doe displease God. But Salomon doth withdraw vs from externall shewes to the wo••de of God: as though he should saie: Doe not determine with thy selfe, that by reason of thy prosperity thou art in fauour with god, or by reason of thy aduersitie thou art out of fauour with him. Alexander doth not therefore please God, because he is a Conquerour, and enioyeth a large empire. Let not Iob in his calamitie, nor Dauid in his exile thinke that they be forsaken of God, because they be miserable; let them not iudge according to these euents or outwarde shewes, but by the word of God: and then euen in the middest of our mis••∣••ie we shall receiue this comfort, As I liue, I will not the death of a sinner, &c. God so loued the worlde, that he 〈◊〉〈◊〉 his onelie be∣gotten

Sonne, that euerie one that beleeueth in him should not pe∣rish, &c. To conclude, This errour of doubting, is altoge∣ther heathenish, and doth abolish the gospel, & in true con∣uersion taketh awaie comforte from them that feele the wrath of God. Men are rather to be taught, that this is vn∣doubtedlie the voice of the gospell, that we shoulde beleeue the Sonne of God, and be assured, that grace doth abounde much more then sinne: and therefore let vs withstand doub∣ting, by wrastling get the vper hand, and by faith ouercome it, that we maie haue accesse to God: inuocate him, and giue him thankes. These cheife pointes of worshippe are fearefullie hindred, when mens mindes are shaken with the wanes of doubting, as experience teacheth. Hereof it is euident, why it is necessarie, that the decree of the Tri∣dentine councell, which confirmeth the errour of doubting, should be reprooued. Also, by all that which hath bin saide, it maie be vnderstood, that we doe iustlie finde faulte with that Syne••doche, wherby some interpret Pauls words after this sort, We are iustified by Faith, that is, by a formed loue, as they speake. For they vnderstand the worde faith onelie of knowledge, and thinke that this is the meaning; We are iu∣stified by Faith, that is, we are prepared to righteousnes, that is, to other vertues, to wit, obedience & fulfilling of the law. So this is it onelie which they saie. Man is righteous for his owne vertues: then they will him to doubt, whether he be furnished with those habites, whereof they speake.

Now we haue declared before, that by Faith is signified a confidence resting in the Sonne of God the reconciler, for whome we are receiued, and doe please God, not for our vertues, or fullfilling the lawe. And seeing that in this same comfort, the confidence, whereby we doe rest in the Sonne of God, is indeede a motion, kindled by the holie Ghost, whereby the heart is quickned, and freed from e∣ternal death, this conuersion is called regeneration, Ioan. 3. Except a man be borne againe of water, and of the spirit. And now man is made in deed the dwelling place of God, who is effectuall in him: as it is saide Ioan. 14. If anie man loue me, he will keepe my worde, and my Father will loue him, and we will come vnto him, and will dwell with him. The eternall Father and the Sonne, by the holie Ghost, doe quicken our heartes, when

as by faith they are raised vp in this comforte, as Paull sai∣eth, Galat. 3. That ye might receiue the promise of the spirit through faith. Therfore we doe not speake of an idle faith: and the vn∣skilful are deceiued, whiles they thinke that remission of sinnes doth happen to such as are idle, without a certaine motion of the minde, without wrastling, and without a fee∣ling of comforte in true griefes, in that age which now is able to vnderstand the voice of doctrine, according to that saying, Faith commeth by hearing, and hearing by the word of God▪ and because that in repentance we propound comforte vn∣to the conscience, * 1.1we do not here adde questions of prede∣stination or of election, but we lead al readers to the worde of God, and exhort them to learne the will of God out of his worde, as the eternall Father by expresse voice commaun∣ded. Heare him. Let them not looke for other reuelations.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Looke the 6. obseruat. vpon the August. confess.