Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB

Whom he hath chofen, &c.] God by his decree and counsel, fecret to us, before the foundation of the world, hath chofen in Chrift out of mankind, a certain number unto eternal life and glory, fee Rom. ix. 11, 12, 13.-24, 25. Eph. i. 4, 5, 6.

Are made conformable to the image of his Son, That he might be the first born of many brethren. Rom. viii. 29. Again, Chofen according to the fore-knowledge of God the Father, through fanctification of the Spirit unto obedience; faith Peter, 1 Pet. i. 2. Heb. xii. 24. Again, Created in Chrift Jefus unto good works, which God before ordained that we (Gentiles as well as Jews) should walk in them. Eph. ii. 10. And that none of them fhall perish, but through God's mercy attain to everlafting felicity. John. 28. Rom. viii. 30, 31. 1 Cor. xv. 49. 2 Tim. i.

9.

That this doctrine is full of fweet and unspeakable comfort to the godly minded.] But note, The compilersof thefe articles were wife, as well as pious and holy men, for we may observe, that tho' the grace of election is afferted in this article, nevertheless feverity of reprobation is entirely left untouched upon. And as

a father faid, "The doctrine of Predeftination is a bottomless "abyfs, and it is to little purpose for any man, especially young "minifters, to puzzle themselves, and others, about fuch deep and "dangerous myfteries." But they advife and exhort,

That we should receive God's promifes of falvation and eternal life, as they be generally fet forth to us in the holy fcriptures, which is freely offered to all men, that will come and receive it by faith in Chrift. See John iii. 15, 16.—vi. 37. Matt. vii. 7 -xi. 28. Acts. xvi. 31. And it is the duty as well as the interest of every one, fo to receive God's promifes for themfelves, and leave the iffue of it to God; who would have all men come to the knowledge of the truth as it is in Jefus, repent and be faved. See Ezek. xxviii. 23, 32.-xxxiii. 11. 1 Tim. ii. 4.-iv. 10 And no one did ever truly repent of their fins (were they ever so heinous) and turn to the Lord, but they were freely forgiven, See 2 Chron. xxx. 12. John vi. 37. Luke xviii. 41.

And though this is most comfortable to the elect,] who are called, chofen, and justified freely by God's grace, made fons of God, and heirs of the kingdom of heaven. See Gal. iv. 4. I Theff. ii. 18. 1 Pet. i. 3, 4. Yet this is a dreadful downfall to others, who attend not to God's word and promifes, whereby the Devil thrufts them either into defperation, or wicked, careless, and most unclean living, &c. See Bp. Beveridge's Notes on this article.

ART

ART XVIII. Of obtaining eternal Salvation only by the Name of Chrift.

HEY alfo are to be had accursed, that pre

Tjume to fay, that every man shall be saved

by the Law or Sect which he profeffeth, so that he be diligent to frame his life according ro that Law, and the Light of Nature. For holy Scripture doth set out unto us only the Name of Jesus Chrift, whereby men must be faved.

They are alfo to be had accursed that presume to say, &c.] That every man is safe, if he be careful to conduct his life according to the religion that he profeffeth. If this was true, which it is not, then all the heathen and idolatrous nations in the world would be faved; for there is no nation but what profefs fome fort of religion, and worship fome God, or many gods; as they did in old times, fo they do now, Jews, Turks, Mahometans, Indians, &c. And these all expect to be eternally faved, as well as the chriftians. But we have no fuch warrant from God's word, but quite the reverse. All err that worship not the true God; for there is but one true God. They worship the Beast, the Devil, and the False Prophet, &c. Rev. xiii. 8.—xx. 10. See their end. And the Beast, and the False Prophet, the Kings of the earth, &c. and all them that worship his Image, were caft alive into the lake burning with fire and brimflone. Rev. xix. 20. This was fhewn unto St. John, of what certainly should be in the end.

The holy fcripture teacheth that there is falvation in no other way, or name, but in the name of Jefus Chrift only. Chrift himself hath declared it, faying, I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life; life itfelf; and no man (let him profess what he will) cometh unto the Father but by me. John xiv. 6. And the Apostles alfo have confirmed this exprefly, faying, There is falvation in no other but Chrift, For there is none other name under heaven, given amongst men, whereby we must be saved, and our fins pardoned. See Acts iv. 12.-x. 43. compare 1 John v. 11, 12. All the fathers are very exprefs in this particular article. See alfo Bp. Beveridge, Archdeacon Welchman, Sherlock on Judgment, and article X.

TH

ART. XIX. Of the Church.

HE visible Church of Chrift is a Congre gation of faithful men, in the which the pure word of God is preached, and the Sacraments be duly ministered according to Chrift Ordinance, in all those things that of neceffity are requifite to the fame.

As the Church of Jerufalem, Alexandria, and Antioch, have erred, fo alfo the Church of Rome hath erred, not only in their living and manner of Ceremonies, but also in matters of Faith.

The vifible Church of Chrift is, &c.] That God has, and ever had a Church in all ages of the World, is manifest from the Holy Scripture. The Jewish Religion was established by Mofes, 1500 years before Chrift, as the books which the Jews had then in poffeffion of the law and the prophets, was written by men infpired by the Holy Ghoft, 1 Pet. 1. which all speak of a Church. And that there is an invifible Church, as well as a vifible, is alfo plain: the Church of Chrift being partly vifible, and partly invifible. The invifible are all the elect, either now in Heaven, or on Earth, fighting their way through the enemy's country, though they be not feen or perfectly known by us. But Chrift knoweth perfectly who are his. John xiii. 18.—x. 14.We being many are one body in Christ, and

members one of another. Rom. xii. 4. 5. I Cor. x. 17. Eph. v. 25, 26.

Are a Congregation of faithful men, &c.] Of all nations and languages, rich and poor, young and old, male and female: These all help to make up Chrift's visible Church, and it has been fo from the beginning of the world, is now, and will continue, till all and every member of Chrift is brought safe home to Glory. Gal. iii. 28. Acts xiii. 39. Rom. x. 4. Luke xiii. 28. Acts ii. 39.-X. 35. Rev. xiii. 8. Matt. xxviii. ro.

Where

68

[ocr errors]

Where the pure word of God is preached, &c.] These are the moft fure tokens of a true Church. For as one faith, "It is religion that maketh a Church, and not the Church that "makes Religion; but the Church is to be tried by her Religion. and the visible Church (for the invifible one is not "here fpoken of) which confift folely of the Elect). But thefe "do maintain the Religion established by Chrift and his "Apostles, and alfo profefs their belief in the Father, the "Son, and the Holy Ghoft, by baptizing their members in "his name, and celebrating that holy Supper, as Christ' ap"pointed. And though fome error may, and do happen amongst them, yet this does not fubvert the foundation of "the Church of Chrift, which is founded upon a Rock and "fure." See Matt. xvi. 18. Eph. ii. 20, 21. 1 Tim. iii. 16. I Pet. i. 21.

66

But the Church of Rome, Jerufalem, Antioch, &c.] have greatly erred, both in doctrine and practice. The errors of the Church of Rome are innumerable; profane, idolatrous, devilish. The Pope was first called Antichrift at Rheims, by the conncil there, under Hugh Capet. And Rome has been called Babylon, by St. Auguftine, and Hierome: and St. Barnard says,

[ocr errors]

"That

they were hatefull both to Heaven and Earth." From Pope Martin I. to Pope John XXIII. growing from error to error, and from abomination to abomination, And though it is said that Rome, after St. Paul had established the gospel there, kept the Faith free from errors for feveral ages; yet it became at length, and now is, a most loathsom fink of errors, and iniquity.-And if we look into the heads of the Antichriftian fynogogues, we fhall find them juft the fame, blind, funk in idolatry and unbelief, acting every kind of wickedness. The very fynagogue of Satan, as spoken of, Rev. iii. 9.

ART. XX. Of the Authority of the Church.

TH

HE Church hath power to decree Rites, or Ceremonies, and Authority in Controverfies of Faith: And yet it is not lawful for the Church to ordain any thing that is contrary to

God's

[ocr errors]

God's Word written, neither may it fo expound one place of Scripture, that it be repugnant to another. Wherefore although the Church be a witness and a keeper of holy Writ, yet as it ought not to decree any thing against the same, fo befides the fame ought it not to enforce any thing to be believed for neceffity of falvation.

The Church hath power to decree Rites, &c.] By the Church, is here meant they who are vested with Ecclefiaftical Authority, whose business it is to take care that all things be done decently, and in order, according to the word of God, I Cor. xiv. 2. 34, 40. And that the true Faith be preserved, and all errors guarded against, as Paul writeth to Timothy. O Timothy, keep that which is committed unto thee.-A Bishop must hold fast the faithful word according to found doctrine; that he may be able to exbort, and to reprove, with long fuffering, &c. 1 Tim. iv. 6, 7, 8.—vi. 12, 20. To guard against all falfe prophets, and evil workers. Phil. iii. 2, For many false prophets or teachers do creep in, and spread themselves where-ever the true gospel is preached; and deceive many. Matt. xxiv. 23. 2 Pet. iii. Heb. xiii. 9.

17.

"To in

The Church bath authority to judge in Controverfies of Faith, and to interpret and expound the word of God, &c.] "terpret and expound the word of God aright, is a peculiar " bleffing, given only to the Church, that is, to those faith"ful minifters whom God has chofen to the work, and not to

6.6 every member." Matt. xiii. 11. 1 Cor. xii. 7.-xiv. 30. I John ii. 20, 21."

A&s x. 43.

It is not lawful for the Church to ordain any thing contrary to God's word.] Thefe are to be avoided, Rom. xvi. 7. Matt. xvii. 5. Search the fcriptures. John v. 39. Thy word is truth, John xvii. 17. Ye shall put nothing unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish aught from it. Deut. iv. ii. xii. 32. Rev. xxi. 18. Irenæus and Ignatius, fpeaking of the Church, fay, "Avoid those corrupt "Trees, which bring forth deadly fruit: and St. Cyprian, We "muft by no means depart from the precepts of the Gospel. "We are not to follow the cuftoms or commands of men, but "the

E

« ZurückWeiter »