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 AVSPVRGE.

* 1.1 SEeing that in this life manie euill ones and hypocrites are mingled with the Church, and haue fellowshippe with it in the outward signes and pleadges, the Sacraments administred by such as are euill, maie lawfullie be vsed, ac∣cording

to the saying of Christ, The Scribes and Pharisies sit 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Moses chaire, &c. For the sacramentes, and the word of God are effectual, by reason of the institution and commaunde∣ment of Christ, though they be deliuered by wicked and euil men. They condemne the Donatists and such like, whoe saide it was not lawfull for the people to vse the minister▪ of euill men in the Church, and helde opinion, that the mi∣nisterie of euill men was quite without fruit and effect.

The beginnining of this 8. Article is else where thus set downe.

THough the Church, to speake properlie, be a con∣gregation of Saintes and true beleeuers, yet seeing that in this life manie hypocrites and euill men be mingled with it, it is a lawfull thing, to vse the sacramentes, mini∣stered by the hands of euill men, &c.

Touching the vse of the sacraments they teach, that they were instituted, not so much to be notes of profession a∣mongst men, as to be signes and pleadges of Gods good 〈◊〉〈◊〉 towardes vs, set before the eies, to sturre vp and confirme faith in them which vse them. Therefore we must vse sacra∣mentes so, as we must ioyne faith with them, which maie beleeue the promises that are offered and declared vnto 〈◊〉〈◊〉 by the Sacramentes. By this faith we receiue both the grace promised, which is represented by the sacraments, and also the holie Ghost. Therefore they condemne that Pharisai∣call opinion of the Papistes, which suppresseth the doctrine of faith, and doth not teach that faith, which beleeueth that grace is freelie giuen vs for Christes sake, is necessarie in the vse of the sacraments, but imagineth that men are iust▪ for the verie vse of the sacraments, euen by the worke done, and that without any good affection of him that vseth it.

This article we finde thus in another Edition.

COncerning the vse of the Sacramentes, they teach that they were ordained, not so much to be mar••es and badges of profession amongst men, as that they should

be signes or testimonies of the will of God towards vs, set forth vnto vs, to stirre vp and confirme faith in such as vse them. Whereupon they condemne those that teach, that the sacraments do iustifie by the work done, and doe not teach that faith to beleeue remission of sinnes is requisite in the vse of sacraments.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Art. 〈◊〉〈◊〉