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.

What workes are reputed good before God.

WE confesse and acknowledge, that God hath giuen to man his holie law, in which not onlie are forbid∣den * 1.1all such workes as displease and offend his godlie maie∣stie, but also are commaunded, all such as please him, and as he hath promised to reward. And these workes be of two sortes. The one are done to the honour of God, the other t•• the profit of our neighbours: and both haue the reuealed will of God, for their assurance. To haue one God, to wor∣ship and honoure him, to call vpon him in all our troubles, to reuerence his holie name, to heare his word, to beleue the same, to communicate with his holie Sacraments, are the workes of the first table. To honour father, mother, Princes, Rulers, and superior powers, to loue them, to support them, * 1.2yea to obey their charges (not repugning to the commaun∣dement of God) to saue the liues of innocentes, to repre••▪ tyranny, to defend the oppressed, to keep our bodies clean•• and holie, to ••ue in sobernes and temperance, to deale i••∣stlie with all men, both in word and deede: and finally to re∣pres all appetite of our neighbours hurt, are the good works * 1.3of the second table, which are most pleasing and acceptable to God, as those workes that are commaunded by himselfe The contrarie whereof, is sinne most odious, which alwaies displeaseth him and prouol••eth him to anger. As not to ca•• vpon him alone, when we haue need, not to heare his wor•••• with reuerence, to contemne and despise it, to haue, or•••• worship Idolls, to mainteine and defend idolatrie, lightlie 〈◊〉〈◊〉 esteeme the r••u••r••nt name of God, to prophane, abuse, o•• contemne the Sacraments of Christ Iesus, to disobey or re∣sist * 1.4any that God h••th placed in authoritie, (whilest the•• passe not ouer the ••o indes of their office) to murther, or••o consent thereto, to be are hatred, or to suffer innocent bloo•• to be shed, if we may withstand it: and finallie, the trans∣gression of any other commaundement in the first or second table, we confesse or affirme to be sinne, by the which Gods hate and displeasure is kindled against the proude vnthank∣full world. So that good workes we affirme to be those one∣lie, that are done in faith, and at Gods commaundement▪ who 〈◊〉〈◊〉 his law hath expressed what the things be that please

him. And euill workes we affirme not onelie those, that ex∣presselie are done against Gods commaundement, but those also that in matters of religion, and in worshipping of God haue no other assurance, but the inuention and o∣pinion * 1.5of man: which God from the beginning hath euer re∣iected, as by the Prophet Esaie, and by our Master Christ Iesus, we are taught in these wordes: In vaine doe they worship me, teaching the doctrines and precepts of men.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Ex••d. 20. Deut. 5.
• * 1.2

  Ephes. 6.
• * 1.3

  Ezech. 22. ••e••. 22 Esa. 50. ••. Thess 4. ••uc. 2.
• * 1.4

  Rom 11. Ezech. 22.
• * 1.5

  Esa. 26. Mat. 15.