An harmony of the confessions of the faith of the Christian and Reformed Churches which purelie professe the holy doctrine of the Gospell in all the chiefe kingdomes, nations, and prouinces of Europe: the catologue and order whereof the pages following will declare. There are added in the ende verie shorte notes: in which both the obscure thinges are made plaine, & those thinges which maie in shew seeme to be contrarie each to other, are plainelie and verie modestlie reconciled, and if anie points doe as yet hang in doubt, they are sincerelie pointed at. All which things, in the name of the Churches of Fraunce and Belgia, are submitted to the free and discrete iudgement of all other Churches. Newlie translated out of Latine into English. Also in the end is added the confession of the Church of Scotland. Alowed by publique authoritie.

OVT OF THE CONFESSION OF BELGIA.

* 1.1 W•• beleeue and confesse, that there is one Catho∣like or Vniuersall Church, which is the true con∣gregation or companie of all faithfull Christians, which doe looke for their whol saluation from Christ alone, in as much as they be washed in his bloode, and sanctified and sealed by his spirit. Furthermore, as this Church hath beene from the beginning of the worlde, so it shall continue vnto the ende thereof. The which appeareth by this, that Christ is our eter∣nall King, who can neuer be without subiects. This Church God doth defend against all the fury and force of the world, although for a small time it may seeme to be verie little, and as it were vtterlie extinguished to the sight of man: euen as in the perilous time of A••hab, God is saide to haue reser∣ued to himselfe seauen thousand men, which bowed not their k••••e to Baall. To conclude, this holie Church is not situated o•• limi∣ted in any set or certaine place, nor yet bound and tied to a∣ny certaine and peculiar persons, but spread ouer the face of the wholl earth, though in minde and will, by one and the same spirit, through the power of faith, it be wholly ioyned and vnited together.

* 1.2 We beleeue, that seeing this holie company and congre∣gation consisteth of those that are to be saued, and out of it there is no saluation, therefore no man, of how great digni∣tie and preheminence so euer, ought to separate and sunder himselfe from it, that beeing contented with his owne solita∣rie estate, he should liue apart by himselfe. But on the con∣trarie side, that all and euerie one are bound to associate themselues to this companie, carefullie to preserue the vni∣tie of the Church, to submit himselfe both to the doctrine & discipline of the same, finallie to put his necke willinglie vn∣der

the yoke of Christ, as common members of the same bo∣die, to seeke the edification of their brethren, according to the measure of gifts, which God hath bestowed vppon euery one. Moreouer, to the end that these things may the better be obserued, it is the part and duety of euery faithful man to separat himselfe according to gods word, frō all those which are without the church, & to couple himselfe vnto this cōpa¦ny of the faithful, whersoeuer god hath placed it, yea though contrarie edicts of Princes and Magistrates do forbid them, vpon paine of corporall death, presently to ensue vpon all those, which doe the same. Whosoeuer therefore doe either depart from the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Church, o•• refuse to ioyne themselues vnto it, doe openlie resist the commaundement of God.

* 1.3 We beleeue, that with great diligence and wisedome it ought to be searched and examined by the worde of God, what the true Church is, seeing that all the Sectes, that at this daie haue sprung vp in the worlde, doe vsurpe and false∣lie pretend the name and title of the Church. Yet here we doe not speak•• of the companie of hypocrites, which toge∣ther with the good are mingled in the Church, though properly they ••••e not pertaine to the Church, wherin they are oneli••e present with their bodies; but onely of the man∣ner, how to distinguish the bodie & congregation of the true Church from all other Sects, which doe falslie boast that they be the members of the Church. Wherefore the true Church may be dis••erned from the false by these notes, First, if the pure preaching of the Gospell doe florish in it. if 〈◊〉〈◊〉 haue 〈…〉〈…〉 administration of the sacraments, ac∣cording t•• Christ his institution: if it doe vse the right Ec∣clesiasticall 〈◊〉〈◊〉 for the restraining of vice: Finallie, to knit vp 〈…〉〈…〉 word, if it do square all thinges to the rule of Gods word▪ refusing whatsoeuer is contrarie to it, acknowledgeing Christ to be the onely head of the same. By these notes, I saie, it is certaine that the true Church maie be discerned. From the which it is not lawfull for any man to be seuered. Now who be the true members of this true Church, it maie be gathered by these markes and to∣kens which be common to al Christians: such is faith, by the vertue whereof, hauing once apprehended Christ the one∣lie Sauiour, they doe flie sinne, and follow righteousnes lo∣uing

the true God, and their neighbours, without turning either to the right hand, or to the left: and doe crucifie their flesh with the effectes thereof, not as if no infirmity at all re∣mained still within them, but because they doe sight al their life long against the flesh by the power of the spirit, hauing of ten recourse vnto the bloode, death, passion, & obedience of our Lord Christ, as vnto a most safe refuge, in whome alone they are assured to finde redemption for their sins, through faith in him. But on the other side, the false Church doth al∣waies attribute more vnto her selfe, to her owne decrees and traditions, then to the worde of God, and will not suffer her selfe to be subiect to the yoke of Christ, neither doth admini∣ster the Sacraments, so as Christ hath prescribed, but at her owne wil and pleasure, doth one while adde vnto them, ano∣ther while detract from them. Furthermore, she doth alwaies leane more to men, then to Christ: and whosoeuer do goe a∣bout to leade a holie life, according to the prescript rule of gods word, whosoeuer doth rebuke and reprooue her faults, as her couetousnes, and Idolatry, those shee doth persecute with a deadlie hatred. By these markes therefore it is easie to discerne and distinguish both these Churches the one from the other.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Art. 2••.
• * 1.2

  Art. 28.
• * 1.3

  Art. 29.