In moft pirts of this miferable Nation,
Whofc Church doth c h a n g e , . t h ' Powers have
'
(tranflation.
CHAP. VI.
The Jty\
theSjmboleofherFdilth
) fVith Scriptare-li^ht doth jing^
T h e A r g , )An4 brings [ome of the Anticnts forth
7'9 witnef every thing.
Muft give to him the highclt Adoration
rhemtnefs of Antiqmty, .
Athanaf. There is but one God ; In Trinity three Pet^nSymb.^^^^ in Unity one God.
• . ,
k
V
We belicvc,hold and faithfully maintJin,.that
God the Father begat bis Wifdom by which all
X^ei^ap was made, his only Son, one
'^^^^F^^^^^^^^^
"""^ nah moft equal; and that the Spirit s both of the
chap. 24.
of the Son,conrubftantial and cocter'
nal vvith them both ; and that this 1$ » tjmity
in lefpca of the pcrfons, and but one God in the
infeparabfe^lvi^icy^^^^^^
<^
In the beginning God created Man,
In a condition fo .ompleat, as then
!^
Nomifevywas mixed theiewithal;
(<3en!z.^7 From which he by tranrgrcaion took a fall,
ff£3 '7. And hereupon he mifery atchievcd
Qnhimanu'soff-rpring; yetitishelieved
( ss )
,
By me, that both this death and mifcry
Extcndcth not to all etcriiky.-• ^
• The ^itKcft of JfJti^f^tjl "
^ y the death of the body, we readc, that fottie Aug com
bave died not for their own, but for jhc fin of o-Mverfi
thcrs :—-But in the death of ihe foul none dieth ^• '*'••^^•
fbrthc finof a n o t h e r . - ^ ^ ^ i ^ ' f ' l " ^ ^ : '
For oi in Adam all die^' bbth jdflf and "utajuft ; fo Ambrof,
tn Chrififhall ftlly both believers atld|uti!)elicvcr^
^^o*
n / f , though unto pdniflirne'nt. 'l^"^^^^^^^^
There's oneloi'djjerus Chrift I do believe, ^^ke ao.i
By whom aU thiDgi-thcii beings do receive,
^^^^^^ '
The only (natural) Son of the njptVHi^h,
j^.
Yet born of ^fi^/in..virgjm
" "
iTim-a,!
And fo confidcred Ts as Vavi^s Son
^^^[^ ^
And Off-fpiing
to Jit upon h'if, Throne:
^ 2.9:
Yet as he is the Son of God, he's Lord,
And Root of Z)/«W4, arid th' Eternal Word.
This is he whom the Father freely Tent
^n his great Lovc, 'in'to the World, ' who went
' ; i
Asfrcely, and to death for all he'gay'c
; "
Himfelf^ that all toUfc reCoUtfepighrhay^ < \ i n k . r j
The witnefs of Antiquity.
., ' '
•
The World being (ill at peace, Chrift (accord- Aug
ing to the precedent Prophecy) was born in ^^^^'-j/^^ns
Ichem Jtidah, being openly Man of the Virgin his
'_ '
Mother, and fecrctly God of God his Father — & /iA.i?.
Chrift Jefus, the fubftancc of Ifrael, and the fon r ^ ^ n . &
of David;
God's Son of God, taking on our ''^ "•'•^
Man without vvafting Godhead, ordained Faith
to be a pafs for man to Godjby his mean that was
both God and Man.
iTim.x.4 Cod's will is not that any man {hould petifti;
Marki6. Whtrefore.that dying tnankind nc naight^hctiOi,
'r• His Son, the Lord of all,hath S;/5° Order
,
TT,';pTheGofp,cl Oiould be preached in each^Bordcf ,
i ; to eViy Creature, and to every Nauori, , ^,
7. To wit, that God holds forth Non-imputation
mij^p Of
J J fo that men fhall not die, becaufe .
P^-' h Chrift dv'd not for them; but becaufe his Lawf,
r
'
M d W o d,v^^^^ calls for Faith in his rich Death,
(Heb.,. Mendore]ed, .and fo the^nfclves bequeath
*o>^8,'9; To Infidelity. Hence It IS clear,
^
That to all men at fometimc doth appear
V •: So much of Grace, as i f they nghtly mind i t ,
h holdi forth Lite to them that they find I t .
ThctcJlofAnttqmty.
Ambr. in God would have all men to be f»vcd, bUt if
they come to him, he fo would i t , not as thai he
vvouldfavc them againft their w i l l .
. ,
Chrift in mercy was born for a l l ; but the un~
AmbrJ.3 f-jj^j^fulnefs of Hercticks is the caufc that he that
(faf t
was born to all, is not born for all.
^
liLtorn.
In icCpca Of thegrcatnefs Of the pnce, the
\ 7-Artie. Blood of Chiiftis the Redemption of the whale
^fal/b^
World.
.
•
• V.
ARTICLE,
Aft « Conccrnins; ihbfe whom Ghrift appoints for fuch
!t
As are the Paftors of the Gofpel-Church,
^Aftsii.. I do believe that they muft firft be added
:t9yto, • y ^ j ^ theChurch,as weve thofc who were gladded
With Peters words; and growing in their (iations
In gracious gifts and good qualifications,
And throughly tryed, by their exercifing
Their giftS;, the holy Scripture fo advifing ;
Such men the Church^m^ay chufe Sc them ordain^ i Cor- i;
(To minitter as Paftors in Chrift's Name)
'i^^^i.
By laying on of hands with holy piaycrs,
f^''^'
Afiignmg them to their refpe^tivc cares^
'
To gather Churches ; or to feed and guide them. Rom.iV
Kut as for fueh who for a While abide thetn
^n hupiane Schools, only to be inflru6Ved
humiane Aits, and fo to be inducSled
^ , (Without Repentance, and Baptifm fucceeding,
' ^ i t ' ^ growth in Grace) unto a Pariflifeedi n r
Or rather^ to feed on their large Revenue,
;
Than to gain fouls to Truth, there to continue;
^
Such I do fay no Teachers ought to be,
But ftiould be taught the Chriftian J . B. C,
v Theteft of Anticfmty.
?
Epifebtm ajledging the Epilile of Alexander Vt^ Eufcb.
fif Jernfalem^i^im^ Demetrhu^ faith; Thou faiii EccLhiji.
jf ^t woi never fe^n that the lay and fectiUrpofle fkouU ^* ^f W ^'^'f*te of the Faith in the prefence of the Bifiops.
J marvel wha t moved thee to affirm a Lie fo evi^j,, d^ntjinafmuch that as often as there is found any
;li^^f man that is fufficient and apt to give good coun^
fel, and to inftiu6l the people, the Bifhops have
accuftomed to defirc him to do i t a s the Biiliop
JC
^fon did Enelpim, &c. ——And there is no
f
doubt but that the other BiOiops may do the like
in their Dioceffes, when they find any one which
IS a man fit to profit the peopleYe drive them from God's Word, and will let Eccias
no man come thereto,till he have been two years ^'^'J^-^f
Maftcr of Arts. Firrt you nurfc them up in Sophi- y^/.j^'.
'^ry, and in Ifene fpindantum, and there corrupt
0'
t^ieir judgments;
then they begin not at the
Scripture, but each one chufcch himfelf a Dot
,.j i <^br fcveially, cfnv
VI.
ARTICLE,
Rom 51 "^^"ching the way of man's Juftification
a Cor. 5. Before the Lord, in order to Salvation;
15.
I fay, it is by Faith in Chrift our Lord,
Rom:4. That is, with heart believing that fweet word,
y^^i^i^jj ^gyys to man in Chrift there i« remiffion
Rom.-. Of fms for all through faith & through contritionj
2j;26i* For which great caufe Chrift worthily bcfpeaketh
Their chief ajfeliions^ and their fouls fo brcaketh
Wholly to yeeld to Chrifts moft juft Conimaands
And to deny all Self, which Chrift withftands /
And eke ivith godly fonow do commit
Themfelves to Chiift's Grace to depend on i t .
Such like believing men are j u f t i f i ' d ;
(tty'd,
Theii- Faith will Righteoufnefs be found when
Au^.M
Thetejlof Anticjuity.
verb Dom The Medicine of the Soul is the only propiti
Auc'/I?'
^^"^
"-^^^ ^^'^^ believe inChrlfl'^
font', re- How virtuous foevet the antient righteous p^j.*
lag.c.zu Ions have been,they were not faved but by Faith^
Ic is rnanifdi that fucK" as have Faith in Chn{i
^ " ^ • ' • ^ l l u l l not be faved unlcfs they have' the Life
faith.
V J I . ARTICLE,
^
There, is but only one moft holy Spirit,
Eph.4-4- Which God doth give fuch richly to inherit
As do obey his Voice, that they thereby
May have the Grace themfelves to mortify,
Aft,5' 3^- And be enabled in the Tmth to ftand *
Immovably ('thout which no mortal hand
Can do the work of God) and that we may
Honour the Father and the Son each day^
I Cor. 6. Who is the Author' and the Confummator
11
Ot all our Faith. And John (that R»velator)
Ga
22 2I'. ^^^^ ^^V' '^^^^ Father,Son and holy Spirit
Are One and To the Name of God they merit.
I'hf
}
VYhich follow this great gifts reception
r
^^^b^^^vth in ev'ry grace, and fins rejeaion.
0^'^^
^^^'^"^ '^'^ ^^y* ^^^^^
received
l^^^tioi^'
n 5 ^"^^ ^''•^^
^P^"^*^^ ^"^""^^^ bereaved,
lot<^f
dcftitute ; fo as they fuch deny
jifi^V/'^''' ^ ^ " ^ c t l i f c , that would live peaceably.
:
• \
^ S f f P
tefl of Antiquity.
!
liif L !iV
"^^^^ ^Pif»t feeing the Fathers an<l the Sons,'is Aug. de^ j
, /^^^U^ properly in Scripture called the Holy Spirit; I t is p ^ ; ^ ^ ' |
• i ^ W ^ ' !?'"^«^ Pother nor Son, but perfonally d i f t i n a ' * " '
"om both ; and this Trinity is one God.
!>^oii^^i V
the fign and token, whereby ye
l / U ^ Jvnow thofc that arc of God from the evil and ^ ^ S .
'
/j'J; livli^^ .^^cked. Thofe are the wicked which do kill and c.u,.
JjfoH^
^cad into captivity, the which all thofe that arc
of God have net done nor do.
f' plyp«
O Lord God,thefe are the chief eft and firft that Bernard
^^^^[^cutcd thee, whom men fee to love the h i g h . { ; —
> r |;/' '^^^ leats and rooms in thy ehurch,and which bear •
\¥-yCl'^''l' V^? greatcft rule. They have taken the Ark of
ciii^Ki(i^^
they have occupied and ufed the Gaftlc;
'vfi^
and have afterward frankly and by power fet all
f
_
the City on fire : Their converfation is mifera'lySP'^li \^ ' '^^^ Tubvcrfion of thy People is p i t i f u l . —
/
il) jpliJ^
Now holy Orders are given for occafion of moft:
\
! .M
hlthy gain, and they think gain to be piety and
\
godlinefs. .
>
\i
VIIT.
ARTICLS.
^ - ^ ^ ^ " t Eleaion t h i w s that I've faid,
g
That God from aye, before the World was made, Joh..Mff.
JM
Hath chofen unto Life fuch as believe,
tpJi i 4. „ ,
X to*) v " ^
^^"^"'^ through grace he'l them receive, ^jhefn
\
j/'*
^'^'^ ^ am confident God's purpofe here
i . 15.
j
jfit J , Stands not upon what Faith did forc-appcar,
Koav^.ii
|
i/i^^^,
12
Or
1
I
( (To )
Ff3j.4 5. Or VVoiks done by the creature, but alone
God's Mercy, Kindnefs and Compafljon.
Thus 'tis of God' who calleth : Yet behold
"Let no man think that now he may be boH
To live in fin: for as our God is pure.
So can he no ungodly man endure.
Then this Decree to every Godly man
Hath its extent, as David witnefs can.
The tefl of Antiquity,
According to his mercy he faved us. Th,.
IS
hjxih.in goodnefs which doth floutiQi in Ghriftians doth
arife out of - the root of Divine Picty or Loye .
for God by his Mercy hath faved us in Chrili. *
Jtrom
The Apoftlc faith not, he hath chofen us when
^p6l.^a'd\^Q, roere holy,,but that we fhouU he holy, ,f , f- .
?n& ^ '
g^^^^ not onely before Works, hm
^'"Smt. bgf^jg p . j t h , where all good Works do be^in
I X . AKTiCLE,
•
JiKk4.
Concerning Reprobation this T fay,
zThciti No men (as men) of old wetc caft away,
?o,ii3i2. jgm as they have God'sGrace in wantonncf^
Rom-i- Abus'd, and lived in ungodlincfs;
Pj'Oiii. To thofe indeed God fendeth rtvongdelufions
That they might damned be. Sith vain confufionj
They rather chofe than Truth in faithful love •
And hence it is God $ Wrath 'gainft men doth
Yea againft ev'iy foul that doeth'evil,
(move.
So as to die the feivant of the Devil.
'
Th^ tef of Antiqmty.
Anib./.2, The Damned cannot complain juftly, becaufp
^^^^^''^^''J-itistheir wickedn
doth caft them down
& " a! ^' io^^ P^i"- -—He vyas worthy to !ofc an unpro^
' fitable Faith, which did not exercife Charity,
^ug,
God is good, and he is juft. He may fave 3,
man \yithouc good vvorks of his,- becaufe he is
good-
good ; but he cannot condemn any man without
niis evil defertj, becaufc he is juit.
X.
ARTICLE,
Concerning Infants, I believe they fliall
Suffer no death, but that that's temporal
And this their father Adam brought upon them:
But thTccond/f</<«w fhal take it quite from them.»Cor.i 5;
And further than that death that's temporal
No one Oiall die for Adams finful fall.
Chiil-i hath avouched Infants'thout exceinion ^jr..
To appertain to Heav'n : Then rejeaion '
j^.
Of Infants into Hell, is fuch a preaching
As doth want Charity, and crofs the teaching
And nature of ,our God. Yet thus they teach
Who do the Church her Baptifme impeach>
Contending that to Infants it pertains.
To fome of whom yet they allow no gains
By means of Ghiift his Death j fou this they fayj
He only dy'd for fome. And now we may
Demand how they did, know he dy'd for thofc
Whom they baptize, and did the rert difpofe
•To hellilli torments? See the cruelty
O^' thofc who.fprinklc Babes in infancy !
The teji of Antiquity.
^
By the death of the body, we read of fome that^^ ^^^^
have dyed not for their ^wn but for others fins; adverf
But in the death of the foul none diah for another.
God cannot condemn any man without his c- Aug.
y i l deferts;, becaiife he is juft.
XI.
ARTICLE.
The only way byGod and Chrift ordained,
Mar.28.
Whereby the fons of men Should be conftrained ip,io. *
To fit down in Chrifts Church, is GoTpel-preach- ^^ia«'k i^.
^'^^bercin a recorlciled God is ftretching (ing,
^'P' I hnd of Love extenfivcly to a l l ;
,^
And then to dip or baptizv: fuch as iluU
Re- ACv^ "
(^2)
i 8 . l i . Repent from fin, and faith in Chrift profcfs,
Through Gods forbearance and great tcnderncfs.
n\.^a2 1 fay, fuch only as are catcchifed,
> M- Are in the Scripture bid to be bapti2::d
Into the Name of Father^ Son, and Spirit,
, [atth.3. But as for thofe vvho would by Legal merit,
ft 9.
Or Parent int'reft, bring a flellily feed
b h 5 n Into the Gofpel-Church, all fuch indeed
f
I do deny> with that Scripturelefs thing,
i
Moft truly called Infaiit Sprinkling,
(Word,
I
Which cuftoin hath, or would make void God'j
'
And bind the Church ftill with a L e p ! cord
1
Unto a rtefhly line ; And thi New-birth
Would, as a ufelefs thing, fall to the Earth.
This is' one reafon why we feparatc
From all uich perfons, that participate
We mjy not with thcfe darkjome i»ayes of theirs.
But ratiier by reproofs break through ihz^c fnares,
- .•
The teji of Antiqmty.
lerom /« The Lord commanded his Apoftlcs that they
Wat.iS. iliould firft infiruA and teach -all Nation<?, and
1
afterward ihould baptize thofc that were i n .
•
ftru<5lcd
in the mytterics of Faith. For i t can,
not be that the body tliould receive theSacrai
mcnt of Baptifm, unlels the foul hath received
before the true Faith.
Council 'The dipping into the Water,is the gomg down
le/ Worm^ i^iQ H e l l : the coming up out of the Water i$
the Rcfurreaion.
I S W e muft kno.v that at the firft. Believers were
^rebif Ec- bapt:z.:d fimply in Flouds and Fountains,
clef, f 26
. XII.
ARTICLE.
fueb. 6.
I il^^^ do believe that the baptized
*
,2. " ' Relievingfoul?;, ought thus to be advifed,
lfts8./2 Xo fcek nnro the Lord for his donation
>^7'
(The: Si'-aits o'tifc^j for their m-jrafication Thit>
(
^3)
That by that Grace,their Life & their Pxofeffion ^^^^^ ^
May not unto each other fecm opprcfiion.
f^i^'
1 he way to ask this G i f t in Scripture ftands, ,3:
'
Known to betrayer, with laying on of hards,
As one firft point which in Chrifis dcUrm'.i ftiown.
Whereby his Saints are from all others icnown.
The teft of Antiquity.
Laying on of hands hath ever been the cuftom T
of the Church.
^ T ^ ^ r'
J-aying*on of hands, what is it but prayer over Aug de
a man ?
:ihtpt.i.
The firft degree of Chriftianity> is, to be rc- |'^'/^- i
pentant of our former life j -—Next to be taught f^A f
that true-innocency and foul-health is to be ho- Heb.6, ,
pcd-for of God. Then forthwith that we be pur- i»
ged by holy Baptifm. Then^ that we receive the
•
holy Ghoft by iaying-on of hands*
X I I I . Article.
Concerning Perfevcrence, this I fay,
And do believe, that in Chrift's bleffed way
Men ought, without a tolfing to and f i o ,
Aa.2.42.
Continue ftedfaft ; and thefe things muft do,
Meet in a Church-Soci'ety together,
I n the Apoftles Doftrine, to conhder
And call to mind in Pray'r, with breaking Bread,
\
Their Saviour, t i l l he come to raife the dead.
The tefl of Antiquity.
_ I pray you, O ye Biftiops, which do think you^ Hillary
lelves to be fo. What Suffrages have the> Apoftles
ufed for to preach the Gofpel ? with what power ^ "^^"^^
were they aided ? D i d they aflemble the Church
oy the Kings E d i a ? They nouriftied and kc pt
themfelves by their hand-labour—and aflemblcd
the Church— againft the Edids of Kings.
When wife and good People do meet together,
Teriufl. thcr, wc muft not call that a FaUionai 5<ff?.,-.:
sjint
dcclareth the Order of the Primitive^
1
Church ; That the Faithful affetnblcd themfelves
i
often times-—for to preach the W b r d , and c e k .
brate the Lords Supper. — W e affcmble to pray
i
for the Emperour,c^c.— and for Peacc-to make
;
commemoration of Divine Scriptures, and do
feed and nourifh the Faith with voice and holy
i
words-— We plant and graft moft ftrongly our
Faith- And do labour much to imprint in our
hearts the difcipline of the Commandments.
'
X I V . Article.
>h.h T.
I fay moreover, though I thus contend
U 4
For th'old Church roaj.i^^i men muft cither mend
lia. I . n , As well in point of L i f e , as their Profeffion,
V'^^'^^'^ Shunnin- with all their mightftn&:tranfgrefttonj
And in religious things be ftiU devout,
(out.
Eire ftorn HeaVns joys the Lord wil thruft them
He that v>ants Holi»efs fees not f^^^;^^^^
Let him that readeth meditate that word.
TheteflofAntiqmty.
AuE de
Let not finners therefore and wicked tnen fec.vbei.cure themfelves by their continuance in the
/.ii.c.25pi.,,„^. . _ nor renounce Chrift their Juftice, m
committing any or all of the flelhly works, fpoken of, Oal.$. for he faith expredy, theyihallnot
inherit the Kingdom of god which do fuch deeds.
—He that abideth in Chriftjd'c. hath taken
Profpmthe meat of L i f e - — but he that difcordeth from
Lde jenti Chrift doth not eat the nzSn of Chritt—although
he do take every day the Sacrament of fo great
a thing.
X V . Article.
once I faid) The Churches Paftors, ought •
From monsft wel graced Chriftians to be fought,
Cbiefiy
Chiefly fuch as have learned felf-deniaf,
Aa.T4.23
(In.which few worldly Priefts will bide the ti-yal) E'zek.34.
And fuch as by the C^hurch are thus eleAcd,
" And eke ordained (as God's Word directed)
zCox.nt
Knowing ' to feed the Flock with meat in feafon, MAnd to bear rule with Godlinefs and Reafon,
With love and 'care feeking fuch Sheep as ftray j
Such I do own as T'e^ichers of God's way.
But fuch as feed themfelves with others fat,
And keep the Flock from fuch like food as that
Which only can their foul relieve : And who
To feck for great Revenues rather go,
Than toenquire into the ftate of \mi\s :
I fay fuch Teachers do tranfgrels the Rolls
Ofholy Writ^ And therefore I deny the:!'?
And by this Tcft.imony do detry them.
• Thetejiof
Antiqmtj.
t h e Church was governed in times paft by tEe
common counfel and advice of the Presbyters
And thity Eftfcopum & Prexbyteriftm mnm ejfe',
A Bifliop and an Elder are all one.
FrtftimV/t Tent this MelTage to Adrian the 4th;
JVe fhm Hp our Cities dgainfi your Cardinals^ becatifc
rpe fee that they frey upon thi People* They do not
rattfie Peace^ bm rake together Pence : They do not
repdir the Worldy hm impair their fVealth,
Let none be ordained to the Minifiry, tmlefs CoiuCar-^
h-e firtt be examitied of the Bifhop, and approved ^^^^^J
by the People.
- T h e Paftors lljoutd feek the Salvation of mens Con. cafouh, not earthly commodity.
'^''-^ ^'
All Clergymen that are ftrong to labour, let Con.Or
thcni leara fome Handicraft as well as Letters, f
X V I . Article,
Such Minifters of Chrift as have obtained
T Cor. 9. Free gifts from God, freely they are ordained
To feive the Church : and yet the Scripture wills
r^\%
Some fruit for him which that ground righily tills
Wherefore fuch as are taught, as freely fhould*
Communicate to them who forth do hold
The Word of Life, upon their Work-account
That to the Givers good it may amount.
'
But as for Tythes (thofe forced confecrations)
I fay, they arc no Gofpcl-Ordinations.
The tejl of Antiquity.
. „ '
I f thou dcfpifeft not a Beggar, how much more
Pfafig" oughteft thou to regard the Ox that trcadeth out
the corn in the floor. And \nPfal. x^6. He faith
.
—Thou fcarce payeft the thoufand part, yet I fi„^
^
no fdult; do fo flill: for I fo thirjl after your rt>elL
doin/, that I refufenot your very crums.
«
,
0 Lord Jefusjthou haft multiplied the people,
uernant.
^^^^ y^^^ cncreafcd their joy-They have
removed the Offices
into ftiameful gain, »nd
the health of fouls is not fearchcd for-—they
ftiLVc and contend moft impudently daily by ptocefsforBifhopricks,Archbifliopricks, & c . there
lemaincth nothing but the Man of Sin to be revealed, the Son of Perdition.
X V I !• nArticle.
The Scripture faith that Hcrcfies muft be,
Tit X 10
the way appointed us to free
IT.
'Our fouls therefrom ; for fuch as do cre^ them
1 ThcfT. yhe Church hath power wholly to rcjed them ^
, After the firft or fecond Admonitioi;.
'
i ^ . " ^ ' ^ • Moreover, by Apoftolick CommilTion
She hath a power alfo to withdraw
From fuch Difciples as tranfgrefs the Law
Of
Of Chrift, in point of Worftiip, or of L i f e ;
Peace to preferve, and tcrminttc her ftrifc.
; oS'')'jjfl
The tefl of Antiquity.
IM'^JI'
The Antient Canons make two kinds of Ex-p^crcr
communications; one greater, the other Icfs : cieg.j.
the greater not to be inflicted but upon ihe ac- th.y),
count of mortal or deadly fin*
'
Sins arc not loofcd nor retained «t the plea- ^j^g
furc of men, but according to the will of God> ^ ^ t j .
> > )
2nd prayers of the Church '
S-.i^v
^
X V I U . Article,
•
Touching the point of falling off from Grace, joh. 15.
I do believe men fo may lofe their place
i,i,5>4.$
iccl'" 111 Uchrijl the Vine ( yea fuch as he doth lay
. . / ' L i 1$ in him) and, left they (liould fall away,
J'Kli
Kxhortcth them to make their biding-place
Y.^^f J I n him; yea,fuch «iay fall away trom Grace
jolmi^.o
;#
As once had Charity in pure heart,
,16 And conference good; yea, that unfaincd part
Of Faith
Faith:: yet,w*nting
yet, wanting conftant Watchfulncfs,
Watcl""
'^
'(b^f
May turn aiidc, fo fouly to tranfgrefs
'I'lgjii^njl As to be withered branches, and in fire
Burn and confume. But yet fuch as dcfitc
klMti^
(With conftancy) and do the fame indeed,
•
1
VwV
Add Grace to Grace, fo certainly ftiall Cpecd,
\l to
As they Oiall never f a l l ; yea, no deceit
"
Of falfeChfifts can them pofl^ibly defeat.
The tefi of Antiquity.
I t is to be believed that fome ^ f the children ^^^^^
of perdition, receiving not the gift of Perleye- corep. (fy
rcnce to the end, do begin to live in Faith ttiat^r^. f.13.,
worketh by Charity, and for a time do live falchfiiUy and juftly, ai^d after do f a l l .
I n time of temptation they fall away-— Some Bernard .
! therefore teyolt from Faith, becaufc Verity a- c}, 41.
i
'
^
K 2
voucheth
(
)
vouchfcth I f ; . and by.;confcqnence from Salvati
on,becaufe our Saviour rcbukcth i t ; from whence
we conclude from Charity alfo, without which
Salvation cannot be obtained. ,
X I X . tArticle.
?.CQr.9.7 Such a« arc Poor in Cbiiii bisr Gongreoation
Ought to be cared for by the Donation ^. r - *
jCor.s. Or bounty of the Church (not by confiiaini)si(? '
i?ji2.
Which •cavc flaould.ho.ld proportion with:thc want
And for the more fufficient management' ;
Of this affair, the Church ought to appoint
2'J3)4J5- ^ ^ j ^ g faithful men therefore to be deputed,
5c Tim. 2. W i t h laying on of hands : Thus conHituted, /
They muli now undertake this factad Function
il;*c£.3.3 -j-j^e Church to keep in pacs. & iwect co^:jux5hm.
Here be it noted, fmce men did decline
From this appointment (holy and divine)
' •
And did by force compel, both rich and pooi-j,
To pay a iVmted portion to the Poor,
(Which is but fmall) allotted for their living .
'
I t hath dcftroy'd the Ordinance of giving
'
Py free-Colleelion ; And now Charity
»
With mens Eftates holdeth no parity.
But their large fums are. laid out to maintain
Gay clorhing,Pearls,&; all things which are vain.
W h a t will thefc men do when God vifeth up '
To caiife all inen to taft his Judgment-Cup f
I
The tefl of Antiquity . '.
^
, |! p«»c. ?. - Sacred Orders we call Deac@ns m^. Presbyters \icc.Cvcg for thefe two the Primitive Church is found only
^.'• .'^''1',to have had.
>
' • "
r J^tant,
That which mcndo by compulfion is not . a faFij piiap-crifice ; forafmuch as i f i t be not done volun-.
tarily and vyith the heart, it'3 mp{i execrable and
=:ccurfGd\,
le thou haft liches, labour by WsII-domg toAug.e;*;^
ftorc them up in Heaven.
I'ab'il^Tsi
Chriftians nauft not be compelled to give their
fubftance.
X X , Article.
I do believe through,Chrift the Dead flial rife, ifa i ^ ipi
Becaufe he lives, vvho once did not defpifc
'
To di«for them. Yea from the graves of i;arth Aa.z4.i $
Each individual-body {]|all come forth,
'
Both juft U unjuft; though when they were fown> '^f 2^"' ^''
Wcaknefs, and all Infirmity was
ftiown;
43^45491
Yet in the Rcfurrcaion they ftiall be
'
Made ftrong and firm to all cternitie,
Each pious man, body and fpirit joyned.
To their dcfircd place fhall be aflignedthe tefi of Antiqmty.MEvery part of the bodies, perifhing either in
death, or after it in the grave, or whcrcfoever j ^W^f.
fhall be reftored,renewed ; and of a natural and
corruptible body,it ftiall become immortal, fpirimal, and incorruptible : Be it all made into
poudet 01 duft, or by chance or cruelty diffolved
into air or water, yet can i t not be kept hid from
theomnipotency of-the Creator, who will not
,
have one hair of the head to petilli. Thuslhall
A
the fpiritual fleQi become fubjed- tothefpiric
y e t f t i a l l i t beflefii ftill.
X X I . Article. '
After the dead are come forth of the graves, zTim.4.i
Whether of Earth, or Seas fierce raging waves,
'
A Jadgtnent that's eternal f l u U be given
^ ^'•^.7.^7;
AtChrirts appearing,coming down from Heav'n,
Which Judgment & which everlafting Sentence, jcor.?.
Can never be revoked by repentance.
10.
Then good and bad, each muft rewarded be,
hi Chrif} the nature of their work fiiall fee.
;
( 7^ )
T^he teji of Antiquity.
Aug
I n all thefc Chapt(^r$ Aumfiine affcrtcth anrl
uZz^^cl r ^ ^ ' ^
refurrcaioa of che Bodies of all men
^2,15,14, ^''^^
graves of earth,or hovvfoevcr confutncdrs,i5,i7, ^f^d he proves the Bodies of the Saints fhall be
t8,2o,ai. fpiritual and glorious in the Refurrcaion, and
yet that they ceafc not to be bodies of real flefh
Aug de
proves that a body of flcfli, and livino-*
biv.Dei,' ^aycadurc in the fircun^onfumcd, and yet tori
lul.c.i! menccd. There are (faith he ) a kjnd of mrrus
that live in the fervent Springs of hot Baths^ whofc
heat is fptch as none can eniure it at certain times
and yet thofe fVorms dofo love to live in it, that they
cannot live without. Whence he obferveSj fecin«>
bodies of flefh mxy live in frCy and be nottrifhed by it
"'tis edfte to believe thdt a body offitfh may live in the
fire, and,be tormented by it; becaufe to nourish is not;
proper ta the fervent heat of fire^ but to torment is
•proper thereunto.
.
X X I r. Article.
. . . . I do believe the fame Chrift which did flicyy
', 8
Himfelf alive by tokens plain and tri|e;
Skc24. Who.was beheld tfcending into Heavsn,
lAfis
Qll"^^^ ^ f ^ ^
^o^^
felca Eleven ;
nV^'
fafiie» the very fanie fliall cocne again,
^
* In the fame manner wherein he was ta'ne
Up fro n the Earth. And when he (hall appear
The Saints their fruits of Faith fhall richly wear!
For Chrift the King of kings and Lord of lords'
Shall reign according to the holy words
*
Of theCe great Prophets in the Margent quoted :
cv'^'o
'^^^^'^y kingdom under Heaven's allotted
\u- '\^. ^^^^^ ^^"^ Chrift ; yea, and unto his Saints,
Ccr. ,5, Whofe heads a place to reft ( fometimes ) now
•2,2j.
wants.
Yea
( 71)
Yea, God hath faid, they then flialJ rule the Na- D^w.y.a,
tions,
Kev.L
Though here crft while they meet with Tribu-^^'^7.
lations.
The tefl of Antiquity,
Jo^«'$ rnention of a thoufand years,
Rev.zi.Udovlc.
and Chrift's words, IwiU not drin^ henceforth ff^'^^^^ <^°'
the fruit of the F'ine^ until the day that J drin^it^^^"^'^" ^
yiew with you in my Father's Kingdom^ with many civft-Dei
Prophecies touching Chrift's Kingdom in feru-l.2o,c.'j.
falem, made fome think that Chrift would return
into the World, raife the Saints in their Bodie.?,
and live a thoufand years here on Earth in all
joy, peace and profpcrity
The firft Author of
this Opinion was P^fias Biftiopof yrr«/i?/^w,who
lived in the Apoftles times. He was fcconded by
IrenAHi^ Apalhnarimy Tertullian, f^iHorinuSy Pick,-'
taviences znd La^antius—
And many Martyrs
^
and righteous perfons held this opinion.
I
X X I I I . Article,
^
The holy Scriptures arc the Rule of Saints,
^j i ^ , ^
I n Faith and Life, fufiicient for their wants,
i5,i^,'«7.*
Through Jefus Chrifl: Yea they are profitable Joh.20.3j
To all good works, God's fervants to enable.
The tcfl of Antiquity.
The error of our forefathers ought not to be,
followed, but the Authority of Scripture and the TomTin
Gommandmqnts of God, which he teacheth us, Jer. c. 9,
Truly, through ignorance of the Law, they re- "
ccivc Chrift for Antichrift.
I dare not ufe to receive that which I read not. l^mh. de
Think not that it is in any other wridng, if it irirarmt.0= not in the Scripture : Let us feek to be re-^'^^ •
lolvedintheGofpel; I f we find it not there, p / i a V .
where ftull we find it.>
^
xxiy.
( 72 )
'^XIV.
Article.
Wat.y.ia I n Gofpei-timcs I dp believe men ought
i '
' I n things Religious to be fore d to nought
aintt their Confciences,by Perfecutlons,
30538,39 Or Penal taws ' g a i n l t C o f p e l - M i t u t i o n s :
f
But all fliould have like liberty, aS thQfe
I
Who in like cafes do defirc to chofe
(Povv'rg
:
What they think neai'ft the Truth. Biit i f the
W i l take what's thcirs,& not give uS what^s ours^
\
Wd fay they aa not a^^ the Lord direaed,
1
When he bad 'dota others what s expcBed
Eymf^omthem.
And tells us Tares With Wheat
Mufi ^Jow together t i l l the Havveft great.
^
The teft of Antiquity,
miccnt. Ambition doth aid i t felf by the Name of any?;
Ausent. The Church doth fear and compel the people-.^
She that was made holy by Pcrfecutors tertour,
nowperfccuteih, c^^r.
CI Tnfl
J^fl^ t^'^
together until harvefl.'^Horn.
Which thing he fpake to forbid the flieddin
Horn. 4?. wnicn uung
it.a«>.
-v,'V , j .
&
r.1 I ^ Cr^*. ;f thf Hpreticks ihould hf» r»iii
7«Mat i3.Bioiid
for i f the Hereticks Ihould be put tQ
death, War Oiould be without Tiucc, &c.
,
„
This is then our defirc unto your Reverence,
e p ^ l - — i f i t may be, that you would confer with 6ur
• Bi/hop peaceably, to the end that Error naight be
taken away--and not Men taken away.
laRant.
But wc, to the contrary,do not defire any, will
Firmian. „;///j,^
worOiip ot adore pur God-r—,foj
JJ?!'";*""wetrurt in hisMajefty that he hath great power
m li to avenge hiliifelf on them that contemn him.
XXK
Article.
This I believe concerning Magiftrates
In every Nation {hould be Potentates,
1 pet.z. For puniflimentof all that do traufgrcfs;
14. "* By flcQiIy lewdncfs or didioneftncfs J
A Jr
«^ndi th«r> III order thereto. Civil Lav?f,
Who'i-c jurt &c vvholfotnc50ught 'decide the caufe
#'1^
Mongft Men (as fuch) *thout having v^in refpe6^ Tlr.j.i,
llnlfj'
Ofpctfons; or to this or t'other Se6l.
Due Punifhuent, and likevvifc due Kc.vard,
t Pcc.i.
Each one (hould have, 'rhout partial regard.
Atid We believe Child's Gofpel doth cnjoyn
Ad.j.2f.
Our felveSjf and all men, freely 10 ifefign:
Our felvcs, ii Subjt&iSf unto Mag^iftra'tes'
I n thdr appointments. Only what relates
Unto God s Worfhip, wherein this We fay.
That there fuch Rulers have no power to lay
Their Edi£t$on men's Confcienccs by force.
But i f they do, yet (lull we take't no worfe.
Than humbly tell them we muft needs obey
What God commandeth, rather fhan what they
Herein appoint uS : and fhall never boW
' " y f i To Men in thefe concerns; Nor fliall we AovV
'
Oiu feives rebclllmt, though thsy go to wrong uS,
,.-'1 But bear with patience what's impos'd upon us.
The tejl of Antiquity.
Let every fiful he fubjeU to the higher Powers. L^^j^^p;
He that cnjoyneth this to every foul, whom harh f.g„/he exempted froni fubjciftion to Earthly Powers ? rafchal *
— I may not demand or ask thefe things but of _
him of whom I know I ftiall obtain them— I am ^J^]'^^^
^is Servant-*.- and am killed for his Doarine—
And do ofter the beft and greatcft Saciifice
which he hath commanded.
Trajan tHe Empetov did f i n d to Pliny t6 m^fkc
enquiry of the manner of the Chtiftians L i f e ,
and jcfterwards to peifecu'te them them: Tliny Phn./;/'.'
Wric again, That after he had throughly enquired
vvith moft cruel torments, iJntil fuch time as her
delivered them into the Haiigmins hand to fsre'
t.. ehem-
( 74)
them executed, yet he never did find any othct
thing, but that they accuftomcd to aflemble at
certain times to fing praifes unto Chrifi as unto
God.
Thus have I of my Faith confeflTion made.
To which the teft of th' Antients I did add^
Not that I think there's any fuch like plea
(Drawn from Antiquity) which more doth
Than doth the Holy Texty which I have brought
I n proof of every point; nor is there ought
So truly Antient as their divine fayings.
But fith fome tell us talcs, to your difmayinoj
As though there's nothing in Antiquity
^*
Which ftandeth with that Antienc Verity
Which now I hold; I for this caufc have brought
Thcfe fritnefes^toihcYfy that whilft thou thought
Antiquity was on thy fide, thou doft,
I n very deed, of empty nothings boaft:
For fith I can from thine own Allegations
Out of t/)e Fathers, bring fuch clear quotations
For what I hold, then doubtlefs I might fhew
Yet many moc, and them both full and true.
For what 1 hold; and had I th* skill which thou
Haft in the Antients writings, might them Ihow.
And herein I could wifti that men of parts
(frho love the Truth) might fo improve ihcir Arts.
Cdthederal,
: As touching this thy tedious Confeflion,
To fpeak to ev!ry point would be oppreflion
Unto my patience ; Then wait my pleafure
For I to anfvver it muft take foine leifuie. *
But I remtmbsr thou didft me deted
As one inconftant. But that's thy dcfc6t. -
•A
( 7 f •)
Jaylc.
Sith to thy charge I laid Inconfiancy,
I'le make't appear: For when the Papacy
Polfeifion took of the Commanding Pow*f,
Thou then turned Papft as 'twas in an hour.
When Pror^y?^»f/got head, thou didtt the fame J
When Nmtr'KOL.y
thou promptly bore his
CathederaL
, (^J^n^^Why,muft we not fubjea unto the PowVs ?
Wcare not their Commanders, they arc ouis : '
So that i f they command, we muft obey,
ThQ Pa, Pret. Pref. or a compounded way;
ThtMMoohComon>Pray>'hokotc^^^^
I f fo the King command,l'le obferve c u h c r . > . u
Jayle.
.
God's Worlhip never ftood on fuch a pm^
To turn with Man's breajh
God's Faithful Ones.i;^ thu cafcM
^^'^'"^V^
The things that m i g t u y K , n g s c ^ o f t ^ o ^
And yetvas Kings, they ever them obeyed,
And foi their peace and good devoutly prayed. ^
This point, with other,, hath been controverted,
What I hold, and what thou holdft, is aflerted.
We wiU therefore appeal to him tor .tryai,
W ho doth nofalftiood own, nor give denial
To any Truth- And now for a Concluhon,
I do conjure thee pray agamlt DcluUon.
That i5 my pray'r; but'^ine not pray with thee
T i l l in the Truth we Oull united be ;
Which we may be, if we our felyes deny,
And learn of God in due humility
Which when thou doft in Truth, ni in my aand,
Not here, but in the Jayh I ftiaU thee f^^d
i 76 )
Catbederal,
mhn I is the Jayl and TrMth fo near united ?
This dreadful dodrinc will make men affrighted
And few will find the Truth ; for i f ' t befo, '
There's few to feck the Truth to J ^ ; / w i l l OQ, *
Now fare thee wel,kecp that place as thy treafure
And jl'le H.eep tbiSj and here enjoy vsxy fUafnte. *
Adieu Cathederal! go take thy fiU
Of Organ-Mufick; Andjfith 'tis God's will
I ' l c bac^ to that unpleafant Cell of mine, ((hine
Where fomc Truth's kn'OWn,w"' elfe would nevet
l u its bright fplendor: Alfo there our God
potb fbcw himfelf a Father by his l^od,
CHAP.
VII.
CTheJayl doth foberly reflet
'T\
A
)
/^))(?« r/'i? Conference,
Xnc mZ'<^Aj
feveralthings to that efeB
jj^ having fome reference,
M
Y Mufe thou'ft now return'd into the fayl.
And canft not with the /^'w/^^ryetprevaii
To bow her car to Truth, that it might win
/Her to the Antient Truth^ 2nd from "Barnes Sin,
Now fith in this place of difconfolation
None^an deprive thy heart of meditatioij,
Let us r e f l e t upon what fights w'have fccn
I n yonder Mtnfjer, who as iome £jrcat Q^ieen,
Doth feem to fit in joy, in pomp and pleafure
With wealth U mirth,& other fuch like treafiJre.
But yet in this Reflexion, let us give
*'
Pjcfedency to Chrift-s Church, which doth live
This day in Jay Is, in holes and dens of'Thieves^
y v h o l e iif"^^, though f^ch, yet ihere i j nou^'hj
ichatgueye^
\
A finful Genctttion more, than that
Her being here's not wholly extirpate.
Lordj I have viewed thy mott holy Houfc,
Thy Church, as i t at firft credled was,
And with the beauty thereof I was moved
There to fit down, as th'place I chiefly loved.
I n which Church I have fcen my Saviour fwect,
Kifeup andwafh hispoor Difciplcs feet.
Tliere have I feen fuch as do miniftcr,
Deny themfalves of all things finifter.
There were thy Servants clid like other men;
Their Inftruments of Mufick were not T i n .
There haye I feen thy Servants generally
Perform their Duty all in Charity.
There have I fcen thy Spirit giving Graces,
Whereby each one were fitted for their placcJ,
I here have I feen thofc Graces excrcifcd,
And none for doing fo have been dcfpifcd,
Nor perfecuted ; But each one required
To feck vvith chdiceft gifts Tp beinfpirc/d.
There did I fee a holy Difcipline,
The exercife whereof made 2io» ihine.
And many other precious things I faw,
la point of obfervation of God's Law.
And having h::ard the Mincer laid great claim
Unto thy Churches Intereft and Name ;
And yet, by her moft carncft procuration,
Some men fiie did furprize by captivation,
And lock't them up within my gates, bscaufe
They would not ceafe to keep thy Antient Laws.
At this I marvelled, and therefore went
To fee whaf her pretence and pra£licc meant:
I^or I fufpeeted deeply by thefe doings.
Her feet wt^e Hray'd from Zions Antient goings;
Becaufe from thofe men I could nothing gather,
Th.n flievY'd them guilty of what ftie would father
)
On them, to Wit, thAt t h f j weri Ptftce'd'tjlurhtrs^
Wheras in truth *twas caufe they vverc f^icecnrbers
Which caufd them to be fhut vyitbin my barrs
Under pretence of Law, tuta'd into fnares.
'
Ndjv when I came into the Minflcr^ walkin«*
I veiwed certain men which there were talkin^^
Oailants of ^///orrj. they a^pcirtd to be,
°*
And fecm'd to live ih mirth and melodic.
On my righc-hand there Ypidc I a Convmiou^
From whence proceeded .very hot contention
Foi: Money-matters; Then I went to th-i2«,V^^"
Where I f*w iT^any rtisn black attir*!*?! ;f
r
Thefc took a little room o n c i f t c t other, '
And hereupon ! did a little hover
To fQC the period x\\ii Convemicl(ft • v .
OrPxivatc Meeting; ftaying there a littlc>
I faw their black all covered with White,
And fome fo dreft t ^ r / d i d ms fomewhatfriohtj
For they had things upon thetn of thefhape
Of black Sheep-skitif, w'*' hung dovvn as the cape
Of Cloaks, fave that they reached to their hamr
Where hung a black, taily like unto t Rams.
'
Some others had longflireds of black upon thjcmy
Like Hanging-flecvesjWhich hung down al al'on"
Withcov'red Caps,fuch as I never faw (them^
'Mongft men that feared God, & kcpt'his Law!
And fomc had red clothes girt about their[honlders
Which ftirermed very ttrangc to fome beholders.
And chiefly for, h'icixi'iz xhz Proteflams
So frequently againti the Pf/jr defcants
W i t h merry fongs, • becaufc of fuch like drcflincs
As: xWPafjjis ufe when they go to Mafs-blcifmos*
Yet thus array'd,thcmfelvs did now addrcfs theni
Into the Oittre^^ pray'd the Lord to blefs them.
And by and by 1 heard fome Pipes refoanding,
Untoihc Singers Voices quite confounding.
(
)
A t v?hich indeed I flood as 'twere amazed.
And on thcfe roaring Inflrumcnts I gazed ;
As alfp on the Quire of Sioging-Boyes,
Until my head was 'ttonifti'd with the noifc :
For little clfc in truth could I retain,
And fo I thought to tarry there 'twas vain.
Lord, this I f p c a k t o thee as not but knowing
"ow they behave themfelvs-^m whilft thus[hsmng
Thfi'ir firangc deportments, ,1 do oft propofc
t ' n t o my fcif fuch Qycftions as thofe.
(mcoi
What i f oiir Lord iliould come and view thefe
And hear their Mufick,and demand of thcm^i
f^ho ^troas commanded them thm to be drefi^ ' r'j* r'
•And ufe thofe Ptpes^ when they came to he hlefi ?
What Anfwet could they make ? This I mutt fay,
(Were my cafe theirs} I'd blufib and run away*
I f that be true (which fome inen do conjc<ftufe)
That John yet livts^and (hould come to their LeBure;
Could John fuppofe this Church 1*0* of his fomdlngf
Or would he clofe with th'Pipes mellodiow founding f
Or hear a part it h' Song which thefe mc/f fing ? :
'jjjf,
Or would he not, as one amax,edy
fltng
r;; r{
\ (h^^j
"f their Qyire ? Doubtlefs all wife men thinkjjlDf? The laft moft likely, except thofe that wink
H >.\^fP>
A t that clear Light w^*^ John hath fet before him,
^n Chrifts behalf, how men ought to adore him.
Imagine Teter fhould among them ftand
I n s Fiftiers coat, and there but take in hand
A Text to open ; would not fuch a fight
Put thcfe brave Gallants to a ghaftly fright ?
But were this Generation truly lighted.
They would fee much more caufe to be affjightcd
A t thofe vvho love to walk in Garments long,
As did the Pharifees, which us'd to wrong
The
( 8o )
The People of God's W o r d , and took the Ifecy
Of KnovYkdg quite aWay> left men ftiould weigti
And pondei their Devices and Traditions,'
And to difcetn their pccant Superfinions.
Admit a pious Chriftianftiould come
I n Shepherds ruftit-gaib into their Room,
And having of the Fathers free Donation
K W i v ' d a proper gift of Exhortation ;
Would not iMzQj^eriftersf^mith^^^^
thefice
cKnnld he his Gift but offer to difpcnfc ?
And
t by
hisSatan
C^^^^^^^
y-^V
' T H' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' '
A trick
heretofore
devifed.
Lord fee to what a pafs poor mans invention:^
Math brought us, ftth tffey ferve but for prcvcnii.
T^tK from exereifing of out Talents,
(onj
J n l c f s T b l array'd like thefe brave Gallants.
T ord at this door of man's Imaginations
Hath crept in many great Prevarications,
Under the fpecious name of Decency,
And honouring of thy Name more reverently.
But thefe pretences thofe i l l fruits have born,
Mens waycs have got th' applaufc, and thmc the
I t is fo at this day, O Lord behold i t ;
(fcorn.
For men are grown too lofty to be told i t .
Though they the bitter fruits thereof do feel.
And muft feel mote and more, until they reel
Into the ditch : For this, Lord,thou haft faid
Shall be the end of fuch as void have made
V Thy holy Word, that they their own Traditibn
' May hereobfevve, though unto their perdition;
Unlefs it pieaCe thee by thy Gofpel-fentencc
To call them timely unto true Repentance.
F I N I S ,