An exposition of the Symbole of the Apostles, or rather of the articles of faith. In which the chiefe points of the euerlasting and free couenant betweene God and the faithfull is briefly and plainly handled. Gathered out of the catechising sermons of Gasper Oleuvian Treuir, and now translated out of the Latine tongue into the English for the benefite of Christ his Church. By Iohn Fielde.

THE FOVRTH PARTE OF the Creede.

I beleeue the holie Catholike Church, the communion of Saintes.

Testimonies out of the Prophetes and A∣postles.

GEnesis 9. God enlarge Iapheth, that he may dwell in the tabernacles of Sem. Esaie 54. Reioyce O barren which doest not bring forth, breake forth into praise, and reioyce which diddest not bring foorth, because moe are the Sonnes of the desolate, then of the married wife, saith the Lorde. Enlarge the place of thy tentes, and let them spread out the curtaines of thy habitations. And a little after, For he that made thee, is thy husband (whose name is the Lord of hostes) and thy redeemer is the holie one of Israel, who shalbe cal∣led the God of the whole world. Also to the Gala∣thians 4. verse 27. and Esaie 60. ver. 1.2, &c. Arise, be enlightened, because thy light commeth, and the glo∣rie of the Lord is risen vpon thee. For behold dark∣nes shal couer the earth, & thicke darknes the people: but the Lorde shall arise vpon thee, and the nations

shal walke to thy light, and Kinges to the brightnesse of thy rising. Ezech. 37. verses. 22 24. and Chapt. 10. And there shal be one sheepeheard, and one sheepfolde. Iohn 11. verse 52. And not that Iesus should die for that nation onely, but also that he shold gather together in one the chidren of GOD which were scattered, Apoc. 59.10. Thou hast redeemed vs vnto God, through thy bloud out of euerie tribe, and tongue, people, and nation.

What this part conteineth.

THE fourth part conteineth the effect of all that went before. For except we will that the Father haue sent his sonne in vaine, and that his sonne also hath suffered, and is risen a∣gaine in vaine; that the holie Ghost was promi∣sed and sent in vaine: we must needes beleeue that the effect of all these is, that the Father in Christ by the power of the holie Ghost doth builde vp a newe people vnto himselfe, whom before he had freely chosen, with whom he do∣eth enter into a free couenant, and to which he doth communicate him selfe and all his bene∣fites, Esaie 53. When he shal laie down his soule a sacrifice for transgression, he shal see the seede that shal prolong his daies, and the will of Ie∣houah shal prosper in his hand, &c. Eph. 2. ver. 6.

The meaning of these wordes, I beleeue the Catholike or vniuersal Church.

THe meaning is that the sonne of God, euen from the beginning, (Matt. 11. ver. 12.) ga∣thereth and buildeth vp a people vnto him∣selfe, from the whole bodie of mankinde, ele∣cted before all worldes, whom Christ raiseth vp beeing dead in sinnes, and reconcileth vnto him selfe by the ministerie of his worde, and renueth by faith to life euerlasting, Iohn 5. vers. 8. E∣phes. 2. ver. 1.2.3. and Chap. 5. vers. 26. which he adioyneth vnto himselfe as his spouse or wife, that all the true members of this people may haue true fellowship with Christe and mutuall amongest them selues, both in this and in the life euerlasting, 1. Iohn. 1. Amongest which peo∣ple I trust my selfe to be enrolled and neuer to be blotted out from them, Iohn. 10. & 17.

Why the Church is called Holy.

BEcause none can be vnited vnto God, vnlesse he be holie and pure, euen as God is holie & pure: therefore I doe vndoubtedly beleeue that God doth iustifie and also purge those whom he hath chosen to this inseparable vnion to holinesse and innocencie of life, that the glo∣rie of God may shine in them, Rom. 8. Ephes. 5. Nowe the Church is holy two maner of waies, by renouation, and by imputation. By reno∣uation in it selfe, that same holinesse is onely begun: Rom. 7. Of this same first manner of holinesse, it is saide, 2. Cor. 7. Working your san∣ctification, and 1. Thes. 4. ver. 7. But by imputation her holines is most perfect in Christ, as he saith,

I sanctifie my selfe for them. In this second manner of holinesse I beleeue that there is no sinne, no death in the Church, that is to say, that no fault or punishment is imputed to the true members of the Church. Because they that beleeue in Christ, are not sinners, are not guiltie of death, but are simply holie, and righteous, Lords ouer sinne and death in Christ, and liue for euer. Ro. 5. ver. 8.9. and Heb. 10. ver. 14. Colo. 2. ver. 10. Ro. 8.1. Thess. 5.10.

Why the Church is called Catholike.

THe Church is caled Catholike, or vniuersal, because that like as there is one head of the Church, to wit Christ: so the vniuersal members thereof scattered throughout the worlde, doe growe vp into one bodie, by the same spirite. E∣phes. 4.1. Cor. 10. and 12.

Communion of Saintes.

Testimonies out of the Prophetes and A∣postles.

LEviticus 26. and 2. Cor. 6. verse 17. Ye are the Temple of the liuing God, as God hath saide, I will dwell amongest them, and I will walke there, and I will be their God, and they shalbe my people. Wherefore (Esay 52.) Come out from among them and separate your selues saith the Lorde, and I will re∣ceiue you, I will be a father vnto you, and ye shalbe my sonnes and daughters, saith the almighty. Also Ioel 2. vers. 32. 1. Tim. 3. verse. 15.16. That thou maist know howe thou oughtest to behaue thy selfe in the house of God, which is the Church of the liuing God, the piller

and ground of trueth, 1. Cor 12. verses 13.14. For by one spirite, we are all baptised into one bodie, whether we be Iewes, or Grecians: whether we be bonde or free, and haue beene all made to drinke into one spirite, 1. Cor. 10.17. Because we that are many, are one loafe, and one bodie, who are partakers of one and the same bread, Also to the Heb. 3. verse 13, &c. 1. Iohn. 1. That which we haue seene and which we haue heard we de∣clare vnto you, that you also may haue fellowship with vs, & that our felowship also, may be with the Father, & with his sonne Iesus Christ: & these things write we vnto you, that your ioie may be full. Acts. 2.47. And the Lorde added to the Church from day to day, such as should be saued.

The meaning of these wordes.

THe communion of Saintes, signifieth both that same outward fellowship, wherby the people as members of the visible Church tho∣rough the ministerie of the doctrine both of the Prophets, and Apostles, and also of the sa∣cramentes, are called into one bodie, and also that same inwarde coniunction, whereby those whome the Lorde hath alwayes chosen in this visible congregation, that is to say, the true be∣leeuers, are knit and vnited together with the father, with Iesus Christ his sonne, and mutual∣lie one with another amongest themselues. Concerning that same outward vnion we must knowe that the truth of the propheticall, and Apostolical doctrine is an vndoubted token of the visible Church, 1. Tim. 3. Besides all that professe that same trueth, wheresoeuer they shal come in the world to any visible companie of

the Church, they haue right to communicate in hearing the worde, in prayers, and receiuing of the sacraments. Esai. 2.2.3. yea all the faithful haue commandement that wheresoeuer there is a visible assemblie of the Saints, that they ioyne themselues vnto it, and by no meanes separate them selues from that cōmunion. The Church also is bound to receiue them, and to the vtter∣most of her power, with a cheerefull minde to communicate those meanes which are commit∣ted vnto her, such as all bodily and spiritual helpes are to the common saluatiō. And as tou∣ching that same inward vnion or fellowship, it hath as it were these degrees. First all the electe haue the same right of the children of God, that is common to all: and so the same Father in heauen, Rom. 8.

Secondly, all the elect are endued with the same faith, whereby euen from the beginning, they were engraffed into the sonne of God, and yet are engraffed, which is a forcible, and an ef∣fectuall calling.

Thirdly, the same fauour of iustification in Christ is common to all vnder the olde & newe Testament.

Fourthly, glorification is also common to the whole bodie: so y^t the inhabitation of the Fa∣ther, the Sonne, and the holie Ghost, was alwaies the same vnder either testament: to which scope and end al the gifts of the holie Ghost tend, be∣stowed for y^e common building vp of the whole bodie, that at length the glorie of the king may fully shine in the whole bodie.

I beleeue the forgiuenesse of sinnes.

Testimonies out of the Prophetes and A∣postles.

IEremie 31. I will haue mercie vpon their iniquities, and I will not remember their sinnes any more: & Chapter 33. also Psal. 103. O my soule, blesse thou Ie∣houah, and forget not all his benefites; who forgiueth al thine iniquities; who healeth all thine infirmities. And a little after, He hath not dealt with vs according to our sinnes, neither hath he rewarded vs according to our iniquities. For as the heauens are high aboue the earth; so hath his mercie preuailed towardes those that feare him. As farre as the East is from the West, so farre hath he put our offenses from vs. And 1. Iohn. 1. The bloud of his Sonne Iesus Christ hath purged vs from all our sinne. The benefites which Christ commu∣nicateth vnto his Church, by the vertue of the holie Ghost, are set out a little more fully in these last ar∣ticles. Nowe his benefites are to be considered two manner of waies. First in respect of the possession which we haue in this life, and in which we stande. Moreouer in respect of the full enioying and perfection of them, which vndoubtedly we shal be partakers of, in the life to come. I vnderstand the possession of the benefits of Christ which we nowe haue in this life, thus: that euen like as there is no saluation without the Church, which is the bodie of Christ, so also all they, which are his true and liuely mēbers now haue & do vndoutedly possesse true happines; all which we comprehend in the Creed, vnder

the forgiuenesse of sinnes, as the Apostle proueth Rom. 4 out of the 32. Psalme, Blessed are they, whose iniqui∣ties are forgiuen, and whose sinnes are couered.

The meaning of this Article.

I Beleeue that whatsoeuer is sinne, and so cal∣led, whether it be originall, or by birth, as transgression in the loines of Adam, & the cor∣ruption that folowed of it, which I beare about in my flesh: or whether it be actuall sinne, as thoughtes, wordes, and wicked deedes, which spring from thence: I beleeue I say, that all that through faith, whereby I am engraffed and dwell in Christ, in the free and vndeser∣ued goodnesse of God, is freely forgiuen me, and so freely, that all memorie, aswell of the fault, as of the punishment, like as if I had ne∣uer sinned, or had no sinne, is taken away from before God: and therefore I trust that I am now already blessed.

Nowe for asmuch as nothing is more harde then to beleeue the forgiuenesse of sinnes, goe to, let vs see what are the causes of this certain∣tie concerning the forgiuenesse of sinnes. The chiefe and principall cause is, because the coue∣nant and oath of God, which conteineth this ar∣ticle in it, is confirmed by the death of the testa∣tor himselfe, which is Iehouah, that God will not be any longer mindefull of our sinnes: of the testator I say, euen of God himselfe, which had made that couenant. Nowe what can be

a greater confirmation of this couenant and te∣stament, then when that personall worde who is the true and euerlasting God vouchsafeth to confirme by his death which he took vpon him in the flesh the same thing that he promised. Now it is plaine out of the 31. Chapter of Iere∣my, that it is Iehouah himself that maketh that testament or couenant. And in the eight Chap∣ter of Hebrues verses 15.16. and againe in the 9. it is plainely taught, that it is the same Ieho∣uah, which by his death hath confirmed the same testament. Where there is a Testament (saith he) there must be the death of him that made the Testament. In which place, he also saith, that the same Christ which died, was the maker of that same Testament promised in Ie∣remie: Also Act. 20. Now what may be said or thought greater in heauen, or in earth, then that this article; I beleeue forgiuenesse of sinnes; should be confirmed by the death of God himselfe?

That sinne is forgiuen, not that it should not be, but that it should not be laide to our charge.

BVt whether may we say that our sinnes are so forgiuen, that no remnants therof remain in vs? No, in no case: for although sinnes be in vs, and shalbe euen vntill our death: yet not∣withstanding, we beleeue, that they shall not bee laide to our charge, but for the merite of Christ shal be forgiuen vs. And therefore

Saint Paul with the Prophet, pronounceth not them blessed, in whome there are no sinnes, but whose sinnes are couered. The whole matter tendeth to this, that we vndoubtedly beleeue that the Church which is the mysticall bodie of Christ, and euerie member of it, doth possesse in this life not an vncertaine and temporall; but a firme and an euerlasting forgiuenesse, not of one, or another sinne, but of all sinnes, with which they must struggle, which haue ioyned with it an incredible peace and quietnes of con∣science, and therefore happines it selfe. For this is the meaning of the Prophet, when he saith, that nowe God doth crowne vs with mercie & compassion. And Iohn 5. He that beleeueth in me, hath passed from death to life. But God forbid that we should take occasion hereof to sinne, because we beleeue that our sinne is for∣giuē vs. For as many as are truly engraffed into Christ through true faith, besides that benefite of forgiuenes with which the image of Sathan is couered: we begin to possesse therwithal ano∣ther, to wit the restoring of the image of God, which consisteth in the mortification of the old man, and quickening of the spirit. Rom. 6. Now both these benefites are freely giuen vs of the father for Christ, into whom whilest he doth engraft vs by his holy spirit, first he couereth our sinnes by the imputation of the perfect o∣bedience and satisfaction of Christ, then he doth further begin in vs by the same spirit that same newe obedience, which is an vndoubted

testimony of our engraffement into Christe, and therefore of the forgiuenes of sinnes, Rom. 8. in the beginning of the Chapiter. For the free couenant of God doth containe these two partes, as may be seene in the 31. Chapiter of Ieremy. And hereof it commeth to passe that it is euerlasting: because both he writeth his lawe in our heartes, that is, through his spirite he beginneth a newe obedience that we depart no more from God. Ieremy 32.40. and because that being vnperfect, he will remember our sinnes no more. Where these two are, there is sure friendshippe, a constant and euerlasting co∣uenant.

The resurrection of the flesh.

Testimonies out of the Prophets and Apo∣stles.

DAniel 12. verse 2. And many of them that sleepe in the dust of the earth shal awake, some to euer∣lasting life, and some to shame and perpetual con∣tempt. Iob 19. verse 25. I knowe that my Redeemer liueth, and he shal stand in the last day vpon the earth, and I shal be clothed againe with my skinne, and shall see God in my flesh. I shal see him my selfe & none other for me. Paul (1. Cor. 15.) as it were with the fin∣ger pointing at those same bodies which we carrie a∣bout, saith on this wife: that this corruptible, that this mortal, this I say and none other, must put on incor∣ruption, and immortalitie.

The meaning of this article.

THe articles that followe, conteine the con∣sūmation or perfecting of those same be∣nefites of Christ, to wit, that same blessed life, which we shal liue, both in bodie and soule in the kingdome of our heauenly Father, bee∣ing fully ioyned with our head Christe, beeing fully regenerate and transformed into his i∣mage and glorie, 1. Cor. 15. Philip. 3. For our soules, as soone as they shall passe out of this life, shal enter into the rest of their Lorde: for that whiche was spoken vnto the beleeuing theefe, is also spoken to all the faithfull. Nowe in the end of the worlde their bodies being ta∣ken againe, they shall enioy full happinesse. And certainly the verie same bodies, which ha∣uing put off al infirmitie, shal put on incorrup∣tion, incomprehensible power, & glorie, a taste whereof Christe gaue vnto his Apostles in the mount: Matth. 17. for he was transformed be∣fore them, and his face did shine as the sunne, and his garments were glistering as the light.

That the dead aswell righteous as vnrigh∣teous must needes rise againe.

THe resurrection of the dead hath most sure and certaine foundations. First of all the in∣finite power of God, whereby he could cre∣ate our bodies of nothing, and whereby he can

bring all thinges vnder subiection to himselfe, Gene. 1. Rom. 4. Philip. 3. Further his vnchange∣able will, wherein he hath declared his righte∣ousnes, vpon which foundation, the reason of the Apostle (2. Thess. 1.) leaneth. For it is a righteous thing, with God (saith he) to render affliction vnto them which afflict you, and to you who are afflicted, release together with vs, when the Lorde Iesus shall be reuealed from heauen with the Angels of his power. The righteousnes of God requireth, that not other bodies, but euen the verie bodies, of the wic∣ked be afflicted, and that the bodies of the godlie receiue that promised release: nowe whatsoeuer God can, and will that of necessitie is done.

That the same bodies, which we beare here, shal rise againe.

THese verie same bodies and none other con∣cerning the substance, shall rise againe. For God is the fountaine of life, who hath taken in∣to his couenant not halfe man, but whole man, and therefore shal quicken our bodies that are confederats vnto him. For the God of Abraham of Isaak, and of Iacob, who is also our God, is not the GOD of the liuing, but of the deade, like as Christ himselfe proueth the resurrecti∣on by the couenant. Therefore these verie same bodies in respect of the substance, shall rise a∣gaine. But if any man will aske concerning

the qualities, there is a great diuersitie, and so is that same voice of Christe to be vnderstoode, Matth. 22. that in the resurrection we shal bee as the Angels of God in heauen. And Christ saith, Matthewe 13. Then the righteous shall shine as the sunne. For this cause the bodies of the faithfull are called clarified bodies, of the clearenes of the heauenlie light where∣with they are enlightened: and they are called glorious bodies, of that same glory which ap∣peareth in that same clearenes, (as in the face of Moses) & spiritual bodies of the spirit of Christ by which they are quickened & bewtified, not to returne againe to nothing. Now the cause of this our glorious resurrection is set forth in the third fruite of the resurrection of Christe. In∣deede the bodies of the wicked shall also rise againe, as I shewed before when I sette foorth the foundations of the resurrection. And Paule expresseth this: Actes 24. But in a condition and qualitie diuerse from the god∣ly. For infirmitie, shame, corruption and misery shall not be taken from the bodies of the vngodly: but like as they rise in shame, so by the iudgement and power of God they shalbee confirmed in shame and corruption: so that they shalbe made immortall and incor∣ruptible in corruption and death it selfe, not to bee consumed with any tormentes, but as it were hot burning yron, they shall burne for euer, Daniel 12. Some shal rise to euerlasting

shame: and Math. 25. The reason is, because not onely the first death, but also the seconde, which is euerlasting, is the punishment of sinne cōmitted aswell in body as in soule against the infinite maiestie of God.

And life euerlasting.

Testimonies out of the Prophetes and Apostles.

ESay 64. verse 4. And since the beginning of the worlde they haue not heard nor vnderstoode with the eare, neither hath the eye seene another God beside thee, which doeth so to him that waiteth for him. The which place Paul citeth. 1. Cor. 1. which the eye hath not seene, which the eare hath not heard &c. And in 21. of the Apoc. And God shall wipe away all teares from their eyes, and there shall be no more death, nei∣ther sorrowe nor crying.

The meaning of this article.

THE meaning is: I beleeue that the same life which is in Iesus Christ, shall be reuea∣led also in mee: Coloss. 3. Your life is hid with Christ in God When Christ our life shall be made manifest, then shall you also be made manifest in glorie. The name of euerlasting life comprehendeth in it all that same happi∣nesse and gladnesse both of soule and body, which the soules enioye by and by after this

life through Iesus Christe, and which also the bodies ioyned to the soules shall enioye with them, when they shall be taken vp into the aire that they may bee alwayes with the Lorde. 1. Thess. 4. I confesse not onely this euerlasting life: but I trust that it is prepared & proper to me. Christ confirmeth this prorietie and fee∣ling begun thereof, which a ful fruition shall follow, saying, Verily, verily, I say vnto you, he that heareth my wordes and beleeueth on him that sent me, hath euerlasting life, and shal not come into iudgement, but he hath passed from death to life. Iohn. 5. vers. 24 The Apostle out of the Prophete Esay. 1. Cor. 1. doeth so sha∣dowe out the full fruition and the enioying thereof, as which can not be comprehended by any thought or vnderstanding in this life, whi∣che the eye hath not seene &c. There is a nota∣ble picture of it in the Apocalips, chapter 21. where amongest other thinges he saith, I haue not seene a temple in it: for the omnipotent Lorde is the temple thereof, that is the lambe. Neither doeth this citie neede sunne or moone to shine in it. For the glorie of God hath en∣lightened it, and the lambe is the light thereof. For God to whome in Christe wee shall then bee so fully ioyned and knit as the fountaine of all goodnes, that beyond him there is no∣thing to be desired, to the ende wee might bee truelie happie, as hee saith to the father of all nations, and so to all beleeuers Genesis 15. I am thy greate rewarde: and Psalme 16. Dauid

saith, Iehouah is my portion. This fountayne doeth plentifully powre out it selfe vppon vs after the resurrection of our fleshe, as the A∣postle teacheth that God shall bee all in all.

The scope or vse of this Article.

THe scope is that the faithfull may knowe, that their full and stayed felicitie is not in this earth, and that he that hath begune his worke in vs, wil also perfect it. Of which knowledge there is a threefolde vse. First the remembrance of our departure hence into e∣uerlasting life to that same chiefe & high good, will not suffer our heartes to bee fastened here to these earthly thinges as the Apostle sayth, 2 Corinthians 5. And therefore we are alwaies of good comforte, and wee knowe, that seeing wee are straungers in body, wee are hardely absent from the Lorde (for wee walke by faith and not sight) but we trust and rather de∣sire to depart out of the body and to goe to dwel with the Lord. And for this cause we en∣deuour that both dwelling & departing hence we may bee acceptable vnto him. So in the 8. to the Rom. wee our selues which haue the first fruites of the spirite, do grone with our selues waiting for the adoption, that is, the redempti∣on of our bodies. 1. Pet. 1. passe the time of your abiding here in feare, hee calleth it an abiding here, but not a dwelling.

The seconde vse is patience and constancie. For this same full felicitie is propounded to be beleeued, to this end that the faithfull, when they shall marke that same taste of happinesse, which they feele by the first fruites of the spi∣rit, and shall perceiue that they are farre of from the full fruition and enioying of it, in respecte of the manifold strife which they haue with sundrie tribulations, which God vseth as instrumentes to mortifie sinne and to conserue them to the head Christ, they shoulde not in the meane season be any whit at al discouraged, but turning the eyes of their mindes to that ful happines, they should waite with a peaceable minde for the day of the reuelation. For so saith Christ Luke 21. Ye shall be hated of al mē for my name sake, but an heare of your heade shall not perish; possesse your soules through patience. And 2. Tim. 2. If any man striue, he is not crowned, vnlesse he striue lawfully.

Nowe this same second vse ought specially to arme the ministers of the worde, with an in∣uincible fortitude against the vnthankefulnesse of the worlde, to which they doe good against the will thereof, against pinching pouertie, ba∣nishmentes, and to be short sundrie daungers: that if so be that the courage of their minde, be sometimes pressed downe vnder the burthen of calamities, they remember that that same great weight of the glory prepared be put in y^e other scale of the ballance: which without all doubt shall so ouerwey it, that it shal make that same first to be most light. For this cause wee are not

sluggish saith the Apostle 2. Cor. 4. but though our outwarde man perish, yet the inwarde man is dayly renewed. For our light affliction which is but for a moment, causeth vnto vs a far most excellent, and an eternall weight of glorie. Let that same promise also brought by the Angel, be alwayes in sight, which albeit it be commō to all the faithful, as all are prophetes: yet it specially is directed to ministers in Daniel cap. 12. And the wise shall shine as the brightnesse of the firmament, and they that turne many to righteousnes, shal shine as the starres for euer & euer. Therefore Christ also saith, Your reward is great in heauen. Matth. 5. Let them also be∣leeue this themselues which teach others to be∣leeue.

The thirde vse is y^e certaintie of perseuerance in faith: that is to say, that we beleeue that the Lord will neuer suffer that we shall vtterly fall from grace: because he will haue vs to beleeue euerlasting life. If I must beleeue euerlasting life, I trust not without cause also that I shalbe kept in the way: As Peter plainly teacheth, 1. E∣pist. 1.5. which are kept by the power of God through faith vnto saluation, which is prepa∣red to be showed in the last time. And 1. Cor. 1.9. God is faithfull by whom ye are called into the fellow shippe of his sonne Iesus Christ our Lorde: to him be honor and glorie world with out end. Amen.