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 FRENCH CONFESSION.

SEeing that we are not made partakers of Christ, but * 1.1by the Gospell, we beleeue that that good order, which by the authority of the gospel is confirmed, ought to be kept sacred and inuiolable: and that therefore Pastours are ne∣cessarilie required in the Church, vpon whose shoulders the burden of teaching the worde, and administring of the Sa∣craments, doth lie, whome also we ought to honour and re∣uerentlie to heare, if so be that they being lawfullie called, doe discharge their duetie: not as though God did stand in∣need of such staies & inferior helps, but therfore rather, be∣cause that so it seemeth good to him to gouerne vs as it were by vsing this bridle. Therefore we detest all those fanaticall spirites, who, as much as in them lieth, desire that both

this sacred ministerie or preaching of the word and the ad∣ministration of the Sacramentes, were vtterlie abolished.

* 1.2 We beleeue that this true Church ought to be gouerned by that regiment or discipline, which our Lord Iesus Christ hath established, to wit so, that there be in it Pastours, El∣ders, and Deacons, that the puritie of Doctrine maie be re∣tained, vices repre••sed, the poore, and others that be in miserie, according to their necessitie, maie be prouided for and that there maie be holie meetinges, for the edifying both of small and great.

* 1.3 We beleeue that all true Pastours, in what place soeuer they be placed, haue the same, and equall authoritie among themselues giuen vnto them, vnder Iesus Christ the onelie heade, and the chiefe and alone vniuersall Bishop, and that therefore it is not lawfull for anie Church, to challenge vnto it selfe Dominion or soueraigntie ouer anie other Church.

* 1.4 We beleeue that it is not lawfull for anie man, vpon his owne authoritie, to take vpon him the gouernment of the Church, but that euerie one ought to be admitted thereunto by a lawfull election, so neere as maie be, and so long as the Lorde giueth leaue. And this exception we doe expresselie adde, because that sometime (as it fell out also in our daies, the state of the Church being disturbed) it was necessarie, that some should be raised vp of the Lorde extraordina∣rily, which should repaire the ruines of the decaied Church. Neuertheles howsoeuer it be, we beleeue, that this rule is▪ I∣wa••es to be followed, that all Pastours and Elders should haue a testimonie of their calling.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Art. 25.
• * 1.2

  Art. 29.
• * 1.3

  Art. 30.
• * 1.4

  Art. 31.