H. Zanchius his confession of Christian religion Which novve at length being 70. yeares of age, he caused to bee published in the name of himselfe & his family. Englished in sense agreeable, and in words as answerable to his ovvne latine copie, as in so graue a mans worke is requisite: for the profite of all the vnlearneder sort, of English christians, that desire to know his iudgement in matters of faith.

CHAP. XII. Of the true dispensation of the Redemption, the saluation, & life which is laid vp in Christ alone: and therefore of the necessarie vniting, and participation vvith Christ.

I. Saluation and eternall lise is laid in Christ, that from him it may bee com∣municated to be.

WE beleeue, that euen as the sinne of Adam, and death which followed the same, remained not in Adam alone: but from him, as from the head of all mankinde, it did and doth flow into all men, which by a common generation haue bin and are borne of him: so likewise that the righte∣ousnesse of Christ, and the eternall life due vn∣to him, is not holden in Christ alone, but is deriued into all those, who by the regenerati∣on of the holie spirite are made one with him, and as true members are ioyned vnto him as head of the whole church: and that to this

ende and purpose Christ came in the flesh, and that all our saluation and life consisteth in him, as in our head: that it may indeed be bestow∣ed and communicated vppon all the elect of God which are vnited vnto him.

II. The grace of redemption, and saluation is offred vnto all men: but indeed is not commu∣nicated, but to the elect, who are made one vvith Christ.

For we beleeue, that although the grace of redemption, saluation and eternall life which God bestoweth, be earnestly propounded and offered vnto all men by the preaching of the gospell (for, that very manie are not made par∣takers of the same, it is through their owne fault:) yet is it not indeed communicated, but vnto those, who (beeing from the beginning chosen and predestinate vnto it in Christ, as in the head of all the elect, that they should bee his members and so made partakers of salua∣tion) were afterwards in their time called by the gospell, indued with faith and so grafted into Christ and made one with him.

III. To the true participation of eternall life, howe necessarie this true vnion or communi∣on is with Christ.

For euen as the braunch can draw no liue∣lie sapp from the vine, nor the bough from the tree, nor the members anie motion, sence, or

life from the head, vnlesse, they be ioyned to the vine & tree, and these to the head: euen so cannot men receiue anie saluation or life from Christ, (in whome onelie it consisteth) vnlesse they be grafted into him, & coupled in a true and reall vnion, and being coupled doe abide in him.

IV. That we cannot be vnited vnto Christ, vnlesse he first vnite himselfe to vs.

Sith therefore the whole participation of true righteousnes, saluation, and life, hangeth and dependeth vppon this most necessary cō∣munion with Christ, and vnto the same is re∣ferred, both the preaching of the gospell, and administration of both the Sacraments, yea & the whole Ecclesiasticall ministrie: Therefore what our faith cōcerning the same is, we pur∣pose to declare & witnes to the whole church, as brieflie and plainelie as may be, in certaine assertiōs or positions, which after follow. And first we beleeue that, as we therefore loue Christ, as Iohn saith, because he first loued vs. & we come vnto him by our spirite, because he came first vnto vs, by his: and therefore wee imbrace him by faith, because he first, by vertue of his spirite imbracing vs, stirreth vs vp to faith: so we also can by no meanes cleaue and bee vni∣ted vnto him, vnlesse he first doe ioyne and v∣nite himselfe vnto vs. For the one is the cause of the other the first of the latter. Wherefore

we must pray vnto him, that he will come vnto vs, and make his abode with vs.

V. How many fold is the vnion of Christ with vs, and of vs with Christ, and how they are ordered in themselues.

We acknowledge furthermore this coniun∣ction of Christ with vs, and likewise of vs with Christ to bee threefold: one, which was once made in our nature: another, which is dailie made in the persons of the elect, which yet goe astraie from the Lord: and the last, which shall be likewise with the Lord in our persons when they shall be present with him: namelie when God shall be all in vs all. And the first is re∣ferred to the second, & the second to the third euē as nature is ordained to grace, and grace to glory. For the first is also made by assuming of our nature into the vnitie of the person 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Of the word. The second is made by assu∣ming of our persons into grace, and into one misticall bodie with him, and as Peter spea∣keth, into participation of his diuine nature. The third shall likewise bee made by assuming of vs all into euerlasting glorie with Christ. Nei∣ther doe wee doubt, but Christ purposed to foreshew vnto vs the second by the first, and the third by the second: that by that which was alreadie made, we might bee confirmed in the hope of that which was to be made.

VI. As the first vnion was made that satisfaction might bee made for our sinnes: so the se∣cond is made, that vve might bee partakers of that sa∣tisfaction.

Wee beleeue therefore (that letting passe those things which pertaine not to this mat∣ter in hand, wee may come neerer) that the Sonne of God, by the euerlasting will of the Father, and therefore of himselfe also and of the holy ghost, like as he tooke vpon himselfe into vnity of his person, our flesh, that is, mans nature, conceiued by vertue of the holy ghost in the wombe of the virgine, that he might in himselfe purge vs of our sinnes, and in that flesh he most perfectlie fulfilled the lawe of God for vs, beeing made obedient vnto his Father euen vnto death, and at the length the same flesh being offred vp in sacrifice for our sinnes, he obtained in himselfe eternall salua∣tion for vs: so also, that he might make vs par∣takers of this saluation, by sacrifice of his flesh assumed for vs, he was willing & accustomed to take vnto him and to knitt and ioyne all his elect vnto him, in another kinde of vnion: namelie in such a coupling, as in it wee may bee vnited with him, though not into one person, yet into one misticall bodie, whereof he is the head, and euerie one of vs members, and may be made partakers of his diuine na∣ture.

VII. As the first is made by vertue of the holie ghost, so is the second.

As we certainelie knowe that as the Sonne of God, our Lord Iesus Christ, in the first vni∣on coupled vnto himselfe our flesh and blood, by vertue of his spirite: (for he was conceiued man of the holie ghost, and therefore without sinne: for which cause also he is called, the man from heauen:) so also in the secōd vnion he doth communicate his flesh and his blood and his whole selfe vnto vs, and in the same commu∣nion doth knitt, ioyne and incorporate vs into him, by the power of the same his spirite: that alwaies the bonde, where with Christ is cou∣pled with vs, and we with Christ, might bee the same spirite of Christ: which, as it did bringe to passe in the wombe of the virgine, that the sonne of god should be made flesh of our flesh, and bone of our bones: so also by working in our hearts, and incorporating vs into Christ it bringes to passe, that wee likewise, by partici∣pation of the bodie & blood of Christ, should be bone of his bone, and flesh of his flesh: espe∣ciallie seeing hee stirreth vp that faith in vs, whereby wee acknowledge and embrace him for true God and man, and therefore a per∣fect Sauiour.

VIII. The vnion of vs with Christ, is spirituall, yet so as it is true and reall.

So we beleeue, that this other vnion also, is

almost no lesse (then the former) so spirituall (if we may so speake) that yet it is true & reall: Because that by the spirite of Christ, wee, all∣though remaining on the earth, yet are truely and reallie coupled with the bodie, blood, and soule of Christ, raigning in heauen: so as this misticall bodie, consisting of Christ as the head and of the faithfull members, sometime is sim∣plie named Christ. So great is the coniunction of Christ with the faithfull, and of them with Christ: that surelie it may seeme not to be said amisse, that as the first vnion was made of two natures in one person: so this is made of many persons, as it were into one nature: according to those sayings, That ye should be made partakers of the diuine nature: And: Wee are members of his bodie, of his bones, and of his flesh.

IX. A confirmation of the former opinion, hovve straight this vnion is.

For like as the soule in a man, because it is one and the same, and no lesse whole in the head, and in each member, then it is in all the bodie together, it causeth, that all the mem∣bers do vnite and ioyne themselues into one bodye, vnder one head: euen so, by vertue of Christs spirit, because it is one and the same in Christ and in euery of the faithfull, it causeth, that all of vs knitte spiritually together both in soules and bodies into one, we are all one and the selfe same body with Christ our head: a body (I say) misticall and spirituall, because

it is ioyned and compact, by a secret band of the same spirite.

X. This vnion, because it is made by vertue of the holie spirit, cannot be hindred by a∣nie distance of place.

Whereupon it followeth that this true and reall vnion (though spirituall) of our bodies & soules, with the bodie and soule of christ, can be letted by no distance of place, though ne∣uer so great: because that spirite is so mightie in operatiō, as it reacheth from earth to hea∣uen, and beyond, and ioyneth in one no lesse strictly, the members of christ being on earth, with their head in heauen sitting at the right hand of the Father, then the soule of a man ioyneth together the hands and leggs and o∣ther members into one bodie with the head: yea though that man were so great, that his head did reach vnto the ninth spheare, and his feete stand fast in the center of the earth. So great is the vertue of the soule: thē how great is that of the holie spirit, the true and almigh∣tie God.

XI. The spirit, by whome this vnion is made, is gi∣uen of Christ, to the preaching of the gos∣pell and administration of the Sacraments.

Furthermore wee beleeue, that his spirite, whereby christ both coupleth himselfe vnto vs, and vs vnto him, & ioyneth his flesh with

ours, and ours with his: is communicated of the same christ, vnto vs, by his meere grace, when and where and how he please, yet ordi∣narily at the preaching of the gospell and ad∣ministration of the Sacramēts. Of which thing was a visible testimonie, which we read, how that they in the primitiue church, which im∣braced the gospell by faith, and were bapti∣sed in the name of christ or vpon whomsoeuer the hands were laid, besids the inuisible grace receiued also diuerse sensible giftes of the spi∣rite.

XII. This vnion, is the especiall ende of the gospell, and Sacraments.

Whereuppon we do easily gather, which is the principall end, both of preaching the gos∣pell, and administring the Sacraments: name∣lye this communion with christ the Sonne of God incarnate, who suffered and died for vs, but now raigneth in heauē, and imparteth sal∣uation and life to his chosen: which commu∣nion was begonne here, but was to be perfe∣cted in heauen: so that we, by this true & reall copulatiō of our selues with his flesh & blood, and his whole person, may also be made par∣takers of eternall saluation, which was pur∣chased by him, and stil remaineth and abideth in him.

XIII. That this vnion is not imaginarie, nor made by participation of gifts onely, but by communication of sub∣stance.

But we call this present incorporation of vs with christ, true, and reall, and substantiall: that we may meet with that errour, wherein some thinke that wee forge a certaine imagi∣narie and a false vnion: or that wee meane no other true vnion, but that which is made by participation of spirituall giftes, and grace of christ, without communication of the sub∣stance of his flesh and blood.

XIIII. This vnion is made by no other meanes, but by the holie spirite, and by faith.

But againe, lest some might hereby falslie gather, that wee conceiue of such an vnion, which is made with the flesh of christ beeing really here vppon earth, by some physical or naturall touching, either grosse or subtile, as al sensible thinges are coupled with the sences, some in grosser; and some in a subtiller man∣ner: or which is made with the same flesh re∣maining in heauen, by certaine intelligible formes in the minde (as the philosophers speake) as all things which are vnderstood are vnited with the vnderstanding faculty, which apprehendeth the same by certaine formes or images: Therefore we al adioyne the meanes whereby this vnion & incorporation is made

namely by the spirite of christ, communicated vnto vs, really abiding in vs, coupling vs vnto christ, and working in vs, that by a liuely faith we may embrace christ.

XV. A confirmation of both these propositions, name∣lye, that this vnion is essentiall, but is made onely by the spirit, and our faith.

For both these things, namely that this co∣pulation is essential, & made by the only spirit of God, and by our faith, the holy scriptures, do plentifully and plainely declare. The Apo∣stle writing vnto the church at Ephesus, be∣cause all enmitie being taken away by christ, & the particion wal broken downe, The lewes and Gentilles, two sortes of people much dif∣ferent, were reconciled to God and between themselues, and were altogether ingrafted & renued in christ by the same holy spirit: there∣fore hee doubted not to saye, They vvere both built, (not into one people, as it seemed hee should haue said) but, the better to expresse how straight this vnion is, into one new man, in Christ. Wherefore sith all of vs doe liue with one & the selfe same spirite, renued as it were in one and the same minde, and are ioyned together vnto one and the selfe same head christ: wee are fittlie all of vs together called one new man. And in the same epistle descri∣bing this neere and essentiall incorporation, he compareth christ to the heade, and all vs to the

members, coupled & knit with the head by sinnues, ioyntes, and ligamentes: which take their life and motion from the heade. And nothing is more often vsed in the holye Scriptures then this similitude, that hereby wee might more easily and clearely vnderstand, what, and how great, this coniunction of all vs is with christ, through his spirite, which dwelleth in al peo∣ple that are regenerate. For this cause the same Apostle, compareth Christ to the foundati∣on, and all the faithfull to stones (but yet liuing stones, euen as the foundation, that they may receiue increase from him) built vppon the foun∣dation: In vvhome all the building coupled together, groweth vnto an holy temple in the Lord, by the holie spirite: which thing also christ did, before the Apostle, more then once, making himselfe the foundation, and the church the building, sure∣ly grounded vpon that foundation, and faste∣ned by an inseparable knot. To the same pur∣pose, christ calleth himselfe a vine, and vs the braunches, which drawing life and sapp from the vine, do liue, and bring forth good fruits. The same is also shewed by the similitude of the tree and the oliue, whereinto the faithful, as braunches cut from the wilde oliue, are in∣grafted, that they may bringe forth good o∣liues: and are ingrafted by the holy spirit, and by faith. Whereuppon, to the Philippians, it is called the communion of the spirite: And Christ is said to dvvell in our heartes by faith. Nor is it ob∣scure, that the Apostle calleth this incorpora∣tion

of the church with christ, and of christ with the church, and all the faithfull, a mariage, after the custome of the Prophets: whereby two shalbe made one flesh. And two, said God, shalbe one flesh: And the Apostle, This (saith he) is a great misterie: but J speake concerning Christ and concer∣ning the church. But that same is still very plaine and readie; which Iohn writeth of this vnion, and of the spirite by which the same is made and knowne: By this (sayth he) we knowe that vve dwell in him, and he in vs, because hee hath giuen vs of his spirite. Therefore he dwelleth in vs, & we in him, by the same holy spirite, which is both in him and in vs. To this also beelongeth that same, He vvhich hath not the spirite of Christ, the same is not his. But the Apostle knoweth that all are christes, which are true and liuely mem∣bers of christ.

XVI. It is concluded, that this coniunction is essenti∣all, and made by the onely spirit of Christ and our faith.

Being perswaded therefore by these and o∣ther the like testimonies of holy scriptures, we doubt not, but christ and his Apostles ment to signifie vnto vs, that the communion, which all we the faithfull, aswell smale as great haue with christ, and with his flesh and bloode, is true and reall: and yet is made by no other meanes, then by vertue and knitting of the ho∣ly spirit. And therefore though it be secret, ful of misteries and spirituall, because it is made

by the spirite and by faith: Yet we ought not to doubt, but that through the same spirit, it is as true & essential, as is that same betweene the husband and the wife beeing ioyned into one flesh: betweene the foundation, and the stones thereon builded: betweene the tree & the boughes: betweene the vine & the braun∣ches: lastlye betweene the members and the head, coupled together with ligaments and si∣nues, liuing and working with the same soule: that no coniunction with christ himselfe, can be made greater then this, while wee liue in this mortall flesh.

XVII. A confirmation of this opinion by another si∣militude, and by very philosophie.

Surely if there were in all men but one and the selfe same soule, it must follow, that innu∣merable many persons, were onely one man: Euen as, of one and the same essence being in the three diuine persons, the holy writers doe conclude, that therefore there is one onely God. Yea and the same would appeare much more plainly to be true, if those many men had but one onely head, to which they should bee ioyned, and of which they should haue their motion. VVhat maruaile then, that the holie ghost bee one and the same in all the godlie, which being also in Christ, doth so really cou∣ple vs with him, that we are one body with him and amongst our selues: yea al of vs one new man in the same head Christ? for in those two

respects, namely one, of the spirit, by whome; the other of the head, to whome wee are ioy∣ned, Paule saide all the faithfull vvere one nevve man.

XVIII. By the vnion vvith Christ, the participation of the benefits of his death and resurrection is conueied vnto vs.

Now of this communion with christ, there followeth and dependeth the participation of his benefites, and of saluation gotten, and re∣maining for vs in his flesh and blood: For as the branches can draw no nourishment from the vine, nor the members from the head, nor the liuely stones from the foundation, vnlesse they be really ioyned with their foundation, with their head, with the tree, with the vine, & abide in them: so neither can we from Christ our head, our foundation, our tree, our vine, vnlesse wee bee truely grafted into him by the holy ghost, and do abide in him, beeing made flesh of his flesh, and bone of his bone. Wher∣fore they doe vs very great iniurie that say we therefore denie the true participation of his flesh and blood, and that we affirme a partici∣pation only of his gifts and benefits, because wee will not admit, which wee cannot admit, that the true bodie of Christ doth passe reallie through our mouth into our bodies. As though it were not a true and an essentiall communi∣on, which is made by the holy ghost and by faith: sith nothing can knitt more strictlie, di∣uerse

substances and natures into one, then the holy ghost: As we see in the incarnation of the sonne of God: and in the creation of man being compounded of the soule and the bodie. Surelye if that communion, which is made by the onely spirit and by faith, with the flesh and bloode of Christ, were not able to saue, vnlesse he should also passe through the mouth into our bodies: Christ had prouided but slenderly for his church. Therefore in re∣ceiuing of the gospell, and in the profession of Baptisme, he would haue the same communi∣on to be made: as Iohn witnesseth of the first, and the Apostle Paule of the second. This therfore is our confession of the true commu∣nion with Christ in generall, and therefore of the dispensation of saluation and life which is in Christ.

XIX. Errors.

Wherefore we disallow their error, which teach that remission of sinnes, and saluation is communicated to men, by the vvorke wrought, as they call it, without faith, and without the true vniting with Christ. Yea & we condemne their blasphemie, who labour to proue, it may be done by works not commaunded of god, but deuised by men, and full of superstition & idolatry: and theirs also, which setting nought by the ministerie of the worde, doe teach that saluation is communicated aswell without, as with the hearing of the word and receiuing of

the Sacraments: and much more those, which affirme that al infants in their mothers wōbes, aswell of faithfull parents as of infidells, are made partakers of the benefite of Christ.

Notes

• Mar. 16.15 & 16
• Ioh. 15.1.2.3.4.5.6.7
• Of the com¦munitie with Christ. 1. Ioh. 4.10
• Ioh. 14.23
• 2. Pet. 1.4 Eph. 5.30
• Eph. 2.14.15 16
• Eph. 4.1••
• Eph. 2.21.22 23
• Mat. 16.18
• Ioh. 15.1
• Rom. 11.17
• Phil. 2.1 Eph. 3.17 Eph. 5.32
• 1. Ioh. 4.13
• Eph. 2.14
• 1. Ioh. 1.3 1. Co. 12.13
• Opus ope∣ratum.