Secondly, Not absolutely necessary. Some make the foundation tooSome dislike the beginning of the Atha∣nasian Creed, Whosoever will be saved, &c. Upon pain of damnation thou art bound to know the Articles of thy faith, to know God in Christ, and the holy Catholick Church by the Word of God written. The ten Commandments, to know what works thou shouldst do, and what to leave un∣done. Christs prayer, which is an abridgement, epitome or compendious collection of all the Psalms and prayers written in the holy Scripture. In which thou prayest for the remission of sinne, as well for thy self, as for all others, desirest the grace of the holy Ghost to preserve thee in vertue, and all others, givest thanks for the goodnesse of God towards thee and all others. He that knoweth lesse then this cannot be saved, and he that knows no more then this, if he follow his knowledge cannot be damned. B. Hooper on the Command. Fundamentalem Articulum habendum sen∣tio, qui ex voluntate Dei revelantis ad salutem & aeternam beatitudinem consequendam est adeò scitu & creditu necessarius ut ex illius ignorations, ac multo magis oppugnatione, aeternae vitae amittendae manifestum periculum incurratur. Davenant. de pace Ecclesiastica. About fundamental points there may sometimes arise such disputes as are no way fundamental. For instance, that God is one in Essence, and three in Persons, distinguished one from another: That the Sonne is begotten of the Father; That the holy Ghost is the Spirit of both Father and Sonne; That these three Persons are coeternal and coequal: All these are reckoned in the number of Fundamentals: But those School-niceties touch∣ing the manner of the Sons generation, and the procession of the holy Ghost, are not likewise fundamental and of equal necessity with the former. B. Daven. opin. of the fundam. points of Relig. narrow, some again too wide; some say that if a man nean well and go on according to the light he hath, though he know not Christ, he shall be saved; Others say, that all are bound to know distinstly the Articles of the Creed.Fundamental truths are all such points of Doctrine which are so plainlyCerta semper sunt in paucis, saith Tertullian. Certain and un∣doubted truths are not many, and they are such as may be deli∣vered in a few words. In absoluto ac facili stat aeter∣nit as. Hilary. delivered in Scripture, that whosoever doth not know or follow them shall be damned, but he that doth know and follow these (though erring in other things) shall be saved.All the principles of Religion are plain and easie, delivered clearly in1. Scripture, they are to be a rule to judge of other Doctrines.2. They are very few (say some) reduced to two heads, by Iohn Ba∣ptist, Mark 1. 15. and by Paul, 2 Tim. 1. 13.3. In all principles necessary to salvation, there hath been agreement among all the Churches of Christ, Ephes. 4. 5. though they may differ in superstructures. Quod ubique, quod semper, quod ab omnibus creditur Catholi∣cam est. Vincent. Lyrin.These Fundamentals (said a Reverend Divine now with God) are twelve; three concerning God, three concerning Man; three concern∣ing the Redeemer, three concerning the means of attaining good by this Redeemer.Concerning God.1. There is one God, which is an Infinite, Perfect, and Spirituall Essence.2. This one God is distinguished into three Persons or manners of sub∣sistenceThat the Do∣ctrine of the Trinity is a fundamental and necessary to salvation. Vide Voet. Thes. p. 471, &c. after an incomprehensible way, which we believe but cannot per∣fectly understand. The Father begetting, the Son begotten, and the holy Ghost proceeding.3. This one God, the Father, Sonne, and holy Ghost, is the Maker, Preserver and Governour of all things, by his Wisdom, Power, Justice, Providence.Concerning man.1. That he was made by God of a visible body, and an immortal and spiritual soul, both so perfect and good in their kindes, that he was perfect∣ly able to have attained eternal life for himself, which was provided as a reward of his obedience.2. That being thus made he yielded to the temptations of the Devil, 0