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 SAXONY.

* 1.1 BAptisme is an entire action, to wit, a dipping, and the pronouncing of these wordes, I baptize thee in the name of the Father, and of the Sonne, and of the holie Ghost. We doe often expound the summe of the doctrine of the Gos∣pell comprehended in these wordes. I baptise thee, that is, I doe witnes, that by this dippin thy sinnes be washed awaie, and that thou art now receiued of the true God, who is the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ, who hath redeemed thee by his Sonne Iesus Christ, and doth sanctifie thee by his holie Spirit. I baptise thee into the name, that is, inuocating of this true god, whome thou shalt acknowledge, and inuo∣cate and distinguish from all other feigned gods, and shalt assure thy selfe, that those benefits are giuen to thee, which he promised in the gospell: that thou art a member of the Church of God, which is redeemed by the Sonne, and sancti∣fied by the holie Ghost. Let them remember this meaning of this couenant, who by reason of their age are capable of doctrine, and being confirmed by this testimonie, let them beleeue that their sinnes be forgiuen them, and that they are in deede members of the Church of God, and let them in a true faith inuocate the true God: as Abraham conside∣dering of circumcision, did beholde the promise of the seed to come, vnderstand that he was a member of the Church of God, and that the cursse was taken awaie from him also,

by that seede, of whome it was said in the promise, Gen. 12. In thy seed shall all nations be blessed. So also doth Peter teach 1. Pet. 3. That Baptisme is a stipulation or promise that a good conscience maketh vnto God, by the resurection of Iesus Christ, which is at the right hand of God He doth namelie call it a stipulation, whereby God doth make a couenant with thee, and recei∣ueth thee unto fauour, the woundes of thy conscience being healed, and thou in like sorte doest make a couenant with God, to inuocate this true God, and to beleeue that thou art saued by the Sonne of God, who is raised vp from death, and now doth raigne. So this Sonne of God, sitting at the right hand of the eternall Father, is effectuall in thee, as al∣so Paull saith to the Gal. You that are baptized, haue put on Christ. And * 1.2that the holie Ghost is giuen in Baptisme, Paull affirmeth it in his Epistle to Titus, saying: By the wash¦ing of the new birth, and the renuing of the holie Ghost. And in Iohn it is said, Except a man be borne againe of water and of the spirit, he can not enter into the kingdome of heauen. Therefore we teach * 1.3that Baptisme is necessarie: and we do once onelie baptize euerie one, as euerie one was but once onelie Cir∣cumcised: but we do often make mention of the most profi∣table doctrine, touching the signification thereof, and the mutuall couenant.

We do also baptise infants, because it is most certeine that the promise of grace doth perteine also of infants, * 1.4and to those onely, which are ingrafted into the Church: because that of these it is said, Suffer little ones to come vnto me, because that to such apperteineth the kingdom of heauen. And Origen wri∣teth vpon the sixth to the Romanes, That the Church recei∣ued the custome of baptizing infants from the Apostles. Neither do we thinke that this custome is onelie an idle ceremonie, but that the infants are then in deede receiued and sancti∣fied of God, because that then they are grafted into the Church, and the promise perteineth to such. And of this matter there be manie thinges written and published in our Churches, whereby the Anabaptistes are refuted.

Also out of the 19. Art.

Of Confirmation.

IT is well knowne, that the manner of consecrating oile was magicall and execrable: and therefore these an∣nointings,

wherein there is vse of oile, are not to be tolle∣rated, and in old time they vsed these ceremonies otherwise then now they be vsed. In the ceremonie of confirmation there was a triall of doctrine, wherin euery one did rehearse the forme of doctrine, and did openlie professe that they did mislike the madnes of the Heathen, and of Heretikes, and that they would be and remaine members of the true Church, and neuer forsake that true opinion which they did then professe. This custome was profitable to instruct men, and to keep them in the true knowledge of god. And in out Churches the like thinges be done in Catechizing the younger sorte, * 1.5and in priuate confession, wherein the Pastoures do examine the doctrine of the people. But as touching the ceremonie of confirmation, which the Bishoppes doe now reteine, what else is it, but a vaine shadowe?

Notes

• * 1.1

  Art. 1••.
• * 1.2

  Looke the 1. obseru. vp on this con∣fess.
• * 1.3

  Looke the 2. obseru.
• * 1.4

  Looke the 3. obseru.
• * 1.5

  Looke the ••. obseruat. vpon the confess. of Bohem. Sect. 8.