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 WIRTEMBERGE.

The Conclusion, which is placed in the latter end of the 35. Chap.

WE haue rehearsed those things, which seeme good both to be approued, and also to be refuted, or a∣mended in the Ecclesiasticall doctrine, and in the wholl ad∣ministration of the Church. And if anie thing be spoken ei∣ther more brieflie, or more obscurelie, then so great a mat∣ter would require, our Preachers do promise that they will expouud them more largelie, and more cleerlie. That which remaineth, we beseech all the godly through Iesus Christ the sonne of God, our onelie Sauiour, that (which thing we hope they wil do of their owne accord) euerie one according to his office and calling, would take vnto himselfe a true and earnest endeauour to reforme the Church. It can not be de∣nied, but that hitherto for these manie yeares not onelie the discipline of the Church hath decaied, and the manners thereof haue beene corrupted with great and horrible vices, and they haue verie much degenerated from the honestie of our Elders, but that also the doctrine of the Church hath beene depraued in suffering and bearing with corruptions: which if hereafter they be either dissembled, or confirmed, euerie man that is but meanlie wise maie consider, how great euills are like to follow in the Church of God. Those execrations and cursings are well knowne, whereunto the

law of god doth addict the transgressours of his word. And Iosias the King of Iuda, was endued with an heroicall minde, when he repaired the Church, and although the wrath of god was by his godlie repentance and obedience mitigated (after that the Booke of the law was found out, and well knowne) that those punishments, which the Church of god at that time had deserued, through the neglect of his word and their impietie, might be differred till another time yet notwithstanding such was the seueritie of god against the contemners of his word, and the impenitent, that the King although he were verie godlie, could not altogether take it a∣waie from them, and appease it. Now we thinke that in these times the wrath of god is no lesse, yea much more grieuously kindled, and set on fire against the assemblie of his Church, (by reason of so manie hainous wicked deeds and offences, which euen in that people which glorieth in the name of god, are more euident, then that they can be denied, and more cleere, then that they maie be excused) then in times past, when as yet the Sonne of god was not made knowne to the world by his gospell: And the iudgement of god shall be so much the more seuere, by how much his benefits are the greater, which he seemeth to haue bestowed, both in the former, and also at these present times vpon vnthankful men.

But both many other things haue need of amendment in the Church and ministerie thereof, and especiallie the do∣ctrine of repentance, Iustification, and the vse of the Sacra∣ments, and single life of the Ministers of the Church, do re∣quire a godlie amendment. If these things by the mercie of God, and by the diligence and care of all good men shall be restored, according to the writings of the Prophets and the Apostles, and according to the true Catholique consent of the auncient and purer Church, we shall not onelie giue vn∣to god the father of our Lord Iesus Christ a most acceptable worship, but also the wholl Christian world shal be stirred vp, to declare their thankfulnes and obedience in all duetifull manner that they maie. We truelie do not know of anie er∣rour in our Preachers, either in doctrine, or in the other ad∣ministration of the Church: yet we do not doubt, but that they are indued with so great modestie and godlines, that if

they be admonished by the testimony of the heauenly do∣ctrine & by the true consent of the Catholique Church, they wil in no case be wanting to the edifying of the church And as much as lieth in vs, and in our gouernment, we will do our indeuour, that the mercy of godhelping vs, none of those dueties may be pretermitted of vs, whereby we hope that the true quietnes of the Church, and saluation in Iesus Christ the sonne of god, may be preserued.