unto he is called: and do it with the affection of love, and of his own accord, not of constraint, 1 Pet. v. 2. even for Christ's sake, Phil. ii. 30. and for the care they have of eternal salvation; according as the Apostles and other holy men have taught concerning this matter, and after their examples, by which they founded their Churches, and according to that also which ancient laws or decrees suggest for observation: the which thing our Ministers among themselves do indeed declare and practise. This laudable order of governing the Church, together with lawful discipline, (that is, with the severity of punishments appointed by God, which it hath annexed unto it,) ought diligently to be exercised: to wit, so that the wicked, and such as abide in manifest sins without repentance, having their hearts hardened, and such sinners as give not obedience to God, and to his word, and in the Church are authors of great offences, and do not repent, or become better, after due, faithful, and sufficient warning; that such, I say, may be publicly punished, and be removed from the holy fellowship, by Ecclesiastical punishment, which commonly is called a Ban, Excommunication, or Anathema,* yet not by the help of the civil power, but by virtue of the word and the commandment of Christ. And that this punishment may indifferently be used towards all, no regard or respect is to be had of persons, of what degree soever they be, whether Civil or Ecclesiastical; according to that sentence of the doctrine of Christ, who saith, "If thy brother trespass against thee, go and reprove him between him and thee alone: if he hear thee, thou hast won thy brother; if he hear thee not, take yet with thee one or two: if he hear not these, tell it unto the Church: and if he hear not the Church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man, and a publican." Matt. xviii. 15-17. And St. Paul, together with his fellow-ministers, did in express words give a commandment hereof, writing thus: "We command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh inordinately, and not after the instruc

We take this to be so meant, as that, notwithstanding, every Church hath her liberty left unto her, what way to exercise such discipline; as is before said in the first observation upon this same Confession, in the Eighth Section. As for particular cursing, to wit, of this or that man, if the word be taken for a perpetual and an unrepealable casting out from the Church of God, we leave it to God alone; and therefore we would not lightly admit it in our Churches. For the Church useth only such a cursing, as determineth nothing finally; following St. Paul, 1 Cor. xvi. 22.

tion which he received of us." 2 Thess. iii. 6. And in another place he saith, "Put from among yourselves that wicked man." 1 Cor. v. 13. And yet this is not to be concealed, that at all times there have been many in the Church, which seemed to be Christians, and yet were wicked hypocrites, close sinners, far from repentance; and that there be, and shall be such hereafter, even unto the end of the world: such as are neither chastened by this discipline of Christ, neither can easily be excommunicated, or altogether separated from the Church; but are to be reserved and committed to Christ alone, the chief Shepherd, and to His coming: as the Lord himself saith of these men, that the Angels in the last day shall first separate such from the righteous, and cast them into the fiery furnace, where shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth." Matt. xiii. 49, 50.

Herewithal it is also taught, that that mischievous and wicked Antichrist shall sit in the Temple of God, (to wit, in the Church,) of whom the Prophets, Christ our Lord, and the Apostles have foretold us, and warned us to take heed of him, that the simple sort among the faithful might avoid him, and not suffer themselves to be seduced by him. Dan. ix. 27. and xii. 11. Matt. xxiv. 15. Mark. xiii. 14. 2 Thess. ii. 4. 2 Pet. ii. 1. Now, in Antichrist we are to acknowledge a double overthwartness: to wit, dishonesty, and deceit. The first is an overthwartness of mind and opinion, or a bringing in of false doctrine, clean contrary to the meaning of Christ our Lord, and of the holy Scripture: whereof the Apostle speaketh after this sort; "The time will come, when they will not suffer any longer the holy doctrine, but having their ears itching, shall after their own lusts get them an heap of teachers, and shall turn their ears from the truth, and shall be given unto fables." 2 Tim. iv. 3. 2 Pet. iii. 3. The other evil or offence, that we are to consider in Antichrist, is a corrupt and naughty life, giving unto others a very ill example, and which is full of horrible sins, hurtful filthiness, and all kind of vices, which in the Antichristian church are openly practised, and that freely, without any kind of punishment: whereof the Apostle saith, "This know also, that in the last days shall come perilous times. For men shall be lovers of their ownselves, covetous, boasters, proud, speakers of curses, disobedient to parents, unthankful, profane, without natural affection, such as cannot be appeased, false accusers, intemperate, fierce, not lovers nor desirous of that which is good, traitorous, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasure more than of God, having a shew of godliness, but denying the power thereof: turn

away therefore from such." 2 Tim. iii. 1-5. Of which time also Christ forespake in these words:" And then many shall be offended at these examples, and shall betray one another, and hate one another and many false Prophets shall arise, and deceive many: and because iniquity shall increase many ways, the love of many shall be cold: but he that endureth to the end, he shall be saved." Matt. xxiv. 10-13. These words are to be understood of them, which do continue in the doctrine of Christ, enduring all adversities, wherewith they are assailed. And in another place Christ crieth out, "Woe to the world, because of offences:" Matt. xviii. 7. and, "Blessed is he that shall not be offended in me." Matt. xi. 6.

Art. 26.

V.FROM THE CONFESSION OF FRANCE.

Therefore we believe, that it is not lawful for any man to withdraw himself from the congregations, and to rest in himself; but rather that all men are to defend and to preserve the unity of the Church, submitting themselves to the common instruction, and to the yoke of Christ, wheresoever God doth appoint that true Ecclesiastical discipline, although the decrees of magistrates should gainsay it: from which order whosoever do separate themselves, they do resist the ordinance of God.

Art. 27. We believe, that very carefully and wisely the true Church (the name whereof too many do abuse) is to be discerned. Therefore we affirm, out of the word of God, that the Church is a company of the faithful, which agree together in following the word of God, and in embracing pure religion, wherein also they do daily profit, growing and confirming themselves mutually in the fear of God, as they which have need daily to go forward and to profit, and who, although they profit never so much, must notwithstanding of necessity daily fly to the remission of sins. Yet we do not deny but that many hypocrites and reprobates are mingled with the faithful; but their guileful dealing is not able to take away the name of the Church.

Art. 28. Therefore, seeing we believe this to be so, we withal boldly affirm, that, where the word of God is not received, and where there is no profession of that obedience which is due thereunto, nor any use of Sacraments, there (if we will speak properly) we cannot judge any Church to be. Therefore we condemn the Papistical assemblies, because that the pure truth of God is banished from them; among whom the Sacraments of faith are corrupted, counterfeited, and falsified, or altogether abolished; and, to conclude,

among whom all superstitions and idolatries are in full force. And therefore we think, that all they who join themselves to such actions, and communicate therewith, do separate themselves from the body of Christ. Yet notwithstanding, because that in Papacy there be some small tokens of a Church, and the substance especially of Baptism hath remained, (the efficacy whereof doth not depend upon him by whom it is ministered,) we confess, that they which are there baptized, need not to be baptized the second time; howbeit, by reason of the corruptions which are mingled therewith, no man can offer infants there to be baptized, but that he must defile himself.

VI. FROM THE CONFESSION OF ENGLAND.

Art. 4. We believe, that there is one Church of God, and that the same is not shut up (as, in times past, among the Jews) into some one corner or kingdom; but that it is Catholic, and universal, and dispersed throughout the whole world: so that there is now no nation, which may truly complain that they be shut forth, and may not be one of the Church and people of God. And that this Church is the Kingdom, the Body, and the Spouse of Christ: that Christ alone is the Prince of this Kingdom; that Christ alone is the Head of this Body; and that Christ alone is the Bridegroom of this Spouse.*

VII. FROM THE CONFESSION OF SCOTLAND.

Article 5. Of the Continuance, Increase, and Preservation of the Church.

We most constantly believe that God preserved, instructed, multiplied, honoured, decored, and from death called to life his Church in all ages, from Adam till the coming of Christ in the flesh. Ezek. xvi. 6-14. For Abraham he called from his father's country; him he instructed, his seed he multiplied; Gen. xii. 1—3. the same he marvellously preserved, and more marvellously delivered from the bondage and tyranny of Pharaoh : Exod. i. ii. &c. to them he gave his laws, constitutions, and ceremonies; Exod. xx. xxiii. &c. them he possessed in the land of Canaan; Joshua i. 3. and xxiii. 4. to them, after Judges, and after Saul, he gave David to be King; to whom he made

Another extract of some length, from the English Confession, here given by mistake in the Latin Harmony, is removed (as directed) in the present, as in both the older editions of the Translation, to a more appropriate place in the Eleventh Section. EDITOR.

promise, that of the fruit of his loins should One sit for ever upon his regal seat. 2 Sam. vii. 12. To this same people, from time to time, he sent Prophets, to reduce them to the right way of their God; from the which oftentimes they declined by idolatry. 2 Kings xvii. 13-17. And albeit that for the stubborn contempt of justice, he was compelled to give them into the hands of their enemies ; 2 Kings xxiv. 3, 4. as before was threatened by the mouth of Moses, Deut. xxviii. 36; 48. insomuch that the holy city was destroyed, the temple burned with fire, and the whole land left desolate the space of seventy years; Jer. xxxix. 8-14. yet of mercy did he reduce them again to Jerusalem, Ezra. i. 1-6. where the city and temple were reedified, Hag. i. 14. and they, against all temptations and assaults of Satan, did abide till the Messias came, according to the promise. Hag. ii. 7-9. Zech. iii. 8.

Article 16. Of the Church.

As we believe in one God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; so do we most constantly believe that from the beginning there hath been, and now is, and to the end of the world shall be, one Church : Matt. xxviii. 20. that is to say, a company and multitude of men, chosen of God, Ephes. i. 4. who rightly worship and embrace him by true faith in Christ Jesus; who is the only Head of the same Church; Col. i. 18. which also is the body and spouse of Christ Jesus. Ephes. v. 23-32. Which Church is Catholic, that is, universal; because it containeth the elect of all ages, of all realms, nations, and tongues, Apoc. vii. 9. be they of the Jews, or be they of the Gentiles, who have communion and society with God the Father, and with his Son Christ Jesus, through the sanctification of his Holy Spirit; and therefore it is called the Communion, not of profane persons, but of Saints; who, as citizens of the Heavenly Jerusalem, Ephes. ii. 19. have the fruition of the most inestimable benefits, to wit, of one God, one Lord Jesus, one faith, and one baptism: Ephes. iv. 4—6. out of the which Church, there is neither life nor eternal felicity. And therefore we utterly abhor the blasphemy of those that affirm, that men which live according to equity and justice, shall be saved, what religion soever they have professed. For as without Christ Jesus there is neither life nor salvation, John iii. 36. so shall there none be participant thereof, but such as the Father hath given unto his Son Christ Jesus, and those that in time come unto him, avow his doctrine, and believe in him: (we comprehend the children with the faithful parents. Acts ii. 39.) This