V.-FROM THE CONFESSION OF FRANCE.

Art. 13. We believe, that whatsoever is requisite to our salvation, is offered and communicated unto us now at length, in that one Jesus Christ, as in him who, being given to save us, is also "made unto us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption," 1 Cor. i. 30. insomuch that whosoever doth swerve from him, doth renounce the mercy of the Father, that is, our only refuge.

Art. 14. We believe, that Jesus Christ, being the wisdom and eternal Son of the Father, took upon him our nature; so that he is one person, God and man: man, I say, that might suffer both in soul and also in body, and "made like unto us in all things, sin only excepted; " Heb. iv. 15. for that his flesh was indeed the seed of Abraham and David, howbeit, by the secret and incomprehensible power of the Holy Ghost, it was conceived in due time in the womb of that blessed Virgin. And therefore we detest, as contrary to that truth, all those heresies wherewith the churches were troubled in times past and specially, we detest those devilish imaginations of Servetus, who gave to our Lord Jesus Christ an imaginary Deity, whom he said to be the idea and pattern of all things, and the counterfeit or figurative Son of God; to conclude, he framed him a body compacted of three elements uncreated, and therefore he did mingle and overthrow both his natures.

Art. 15. We believe, that in one and the same person, which is Jesus Christ, those two natures are truly and inseparably so conjoined, that they be also united; either of those natures, nevertheless, retaining its distinct propriety: so that, even as in this divine conjunction, the nature of the Word, retaining its proprieties, remained uncreate, infinite, and filling all places; so also, the human nature remained, and shall remain for ever, finite, having its natural form, dimension, and also propriety; as from the which, the resurrection and glorification, or taking up to the right hand of the Father, hath not taken away the truth of the human nature. Therefore, we do so consider Christ in his Deity, that we do not spoil him of his humanity.

Art. 16. We believe, that God did declare his infinite love and goodness towards us in this, that he hath sent his Son, who should die, and rise again, and fulfil all righteousness, that he might purchase eternal life for us.

Art. 17. We believe, that by that only sacrifice, which Jesus

Christ offered on the cross, we are reconciled to God, that we may be taken for just before him; because we cannot be acceptable to him, nor enjoy the fruit of our adoption, but so far forth as he doth forgive us our sins. Therefore we affirm, that Jesus Christ is our entire and perfect washing; in whose death we obtain full satisfaction; whereby we are delivered from all those sins, whereof we are guilty, and from the which we could not be acquitted by any other remedy.

VI. FROM THE CONFESSION OF ENGLAND.

Art. 2. We believe, that Jesus Christ, the only Son of the eternal Father, (as long before it was determined, before all beginnings,) when the fulness of time was come, did take of that blessed and pure Virgin, both flesh, and all the nature of man; that he might declare to the world the secret and hid will of his Father; (which will had been laid up from before all ages and generations ;) and that he might finish in his human body the mystery of our redemption, and might fasten our sins to the cross, and also that hand-writing which was made against us.

We believe, that for our sakes he died, and was buried; descended into hell; the third day, by the power of his Godhead, returned to life, and rose again; and that the fourth day after his resurrection, whilst his disciples beheld and looked upon him, he ascended into heaven to fulfil all things, and did place in majesty and glory the self-same body, wherewith he was born, wherein he lived on earth, wherein he was jested at, wherein he had suffered most painful torments, and a cruel kind of death, wherein he rose again, and wherein he ascended to the right hand of the Father, above all rule, above all power, all force, all dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in the world to come: and that there he now sitteth, and shall sit till all things be fully perfected. And although the majesty and Godhead of Christ be everywhere abundantly dispersed, yet we believe that his body, as St. Augustine saith, 'must needs be still in one place:' and that Christ hath given majesty unto his own body, but yet hath not taken away from it the nature of a body: and that we must not so affirm Christ to be God, that we deny him to be man: and, as the martyr Vigilius saith, that Christ hath left us, touching his human nature, but hath not left us, touching his Divine nature :' and that the same Christ, though he be absent from us, con

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cerning his manhood, yet is ever present with us, concerning his Godhead.

From that place also we believe that Christ shall come again to execute that general judgment, as well of them whom he shall find alive in the body as of them that shall be ready dead.

Art. 18. And therefore, that our only succour and refuge is to fly to the mercy of our Father by Jesus Christ, and assuredly to persuade our minds, that he is the obtainer of forgiveness for our sins; and that, by his blood, all our spots of sin be washed clean that he hath pacified, and set at one, all things by the blood of his cross: that he, by the same one only sacrifice, which he once offered upon the cross, hath brought to effect, and fulfilled all things: and that for that cause he said, when he gave up the Ghost, It is finished; as though he would signify, that the price and ransom was now fully paid for the sin of mankind.

Art. 19. If there be any, that think this sacrifice not sufficient, let them go, in God's name, and seek a better. We verily, because we know this to be the only sacrifice, are well content with it alone, and look for none other: and, forasmuch as it was to be offered but once, we command it not to be renewed again; and, because it was full, and perfect in all points and parts, we do not ordain, in place thereof, any continual succession of offerings.

Art. 21. To conclude, we believe that this our selfsame flesh, wherein we live, although it die, and come to dust, yet, at the last, shall return again unto life, by the means of Christ's Spirit, which dwelleth in us: and that then, verily, whatsoever we suffer here in the meanwhile for his sake, Christ will wipe away all tears and heaviness from our eyes; and that we through him shall enjoy everlasting life, and shall for ever be with him in glory: so be it.

VII.-FROM THE CONFESSION OF SCOTLAND.

Article 4. Of the Revelation of the Promise.

For this we constantly believe, that God, after the fearful and horrible defection of man from his obedience, did seek Adam again, call upon him, rebuke his sin, convict him of the same, and, in the end, made unto him a most joyful promise; to wit, that the seed of the woman should break down the serpent's head, Gen. iii. 9, 15. that is, he should destroy the works of the devil: which promise, as it was repeated, and made more clear from time to time, Gen. xii. 3. and xv. 5, 6. Iɛa. vii. 14. so was it embraced with joy, and

most constantly received of all the faithful from Adam to Noah, from Noah to Abraham, from Abraham to David, and so forth to the incarnation of Christ Jesus; all (we mean the faithful fathers under the law) did see the joyful day of Christ Jesus, and did rejoice. John viii. 56.

Article 6. Of the Incarnation of Christ Jesus.

When the fulness of time came, Gal. iv. 4. God sent his Son, his eternal wisdom, the substance of his own glory, into this world, who took the nature of manhood, of the substance of a woman, to wit, of a virgin, and that by operation of the Holy Ghost: Luke i. 31-33. and so was born, the just seed of David, the Angel of the great council of God, the very Messiah promised; whom we acknowledge and confess Emmanuel, very God and very Man, two perfect natures united and joined in one person.

By which our confession, we condemn the damnable and pestilent heresies of Arius, Marcion, Eutiches, Nestorius, and such others, as either did deny the eternity of his Godhead, or the verity of his human nature, or confounded them, or yet divided them.

Article 7. Why it behoved the Mediator to be very God and very Man.

We acknowledge and confess, that this most wondrous conjunction betwixt the Godhead and the manhood in Christ Jesus, did proceed from the eternal and immutable decree of God, whence also our salvation springeth and dependeth.

Article 9. Of Christ's Death, Passion, and Burial.

That our Lord Jesus offered himself a voluntary sacrifice unto his Father for us, Heb. x. 12. that he suffered contradiction of sinners, Heb. xii. 3. that he was wounded and plagued for our transgressions, Isa. liii. 5. that he, being the clean innocent Lamb of God, was condemned in the presence of an earthly judge, that we should be absolved before the tribunal-seat of our God; that he suffered not only the cruel death of the cross, (which was accursed by the sentence of God, Deut. xxi. 23.; Gal. iii. 13.) but also that he suffered for a season the wrath of his Father, which sinners had deserved. But yet we avow that he remained the only well-beloved and blessed Son of the Father, even in the midst of his anguish and torment, which he suffered in body and soul, to make the full satisfaction for the sins of the people. After the which we confess and avow, that

there remaineth no other sacrifice for sin; Heb. x. 26. which if any affirm, we nothing doubt to avow, that they are blasphemous against Christ's death, and the everlasting purgation and satisfaction purchased to us by the same.

Article 10. Of his Resurrection.

We undoubtedly believe that, insomuch as it was impossible that the dolours of death should retain in bondage the Author of life, Acts iii. 24; Rom. vi. 9. that our Lord Jesus, crucified, dead, and buried, who descended into hell, did rise again for our justification, Rom. iv. 25. and, destroying of him who was the author of death, brought life again to us that were subject to death, and to the bondage of the same. Heb. ii. 14, 15. We know that his resurrection was confirmed by the testimony of his very enemies, Mat. xxviii. 4. by the resurrection of the dead, whose sepulchres did open, and they did arise, and appeared to many, within the city of Jerusalem. Mat. xxvii. 52, 53. It was also confirmed by the testimony of his angels, Mat. xxviii. 5, 6. and by the senses and judgments of his apostles and others, who had conversation, and did eat and drink with him after his resurrection. John xx. 27., and xxi. 7; 13.

Article 11. Of his Ascension.

We nothing doubt but the self-same body, which was born of the virgin, was crucified, dead, and buried; that it did rise again, and ascend into the heavens, Acts i. 9, for the accomplishment of all things; where, in our names, and for our comfort, he hath received all power in heaven and earth; Matth. xxviii. 18, where he sitteth at the right hand of the Father, crowned in his kingdom, Advocate, and only Mediator for us. 1 John ii. 1; 1 Tim. ii. 5. Which glory, honour, and prerogative he alone amongst the brethren shall possess, till that all his enemies be made his footstool. Psal. cx. 1. As that we undoubtedly believe there shall be a final judgment, to the execution whereof we certainly believe that the same our Lord Jesus shall visibly return, even as he was seen to ascend. Acts i. 11. And then we firmly believe, that the time of refreshing and restitution of all things shall come: Acts iii. 19. insomuch that those that from the beginning have suffered violence, injury, and wrong, for righteousness' sake, shall inherit that blessed immortality, promised from the beginning: but contrariwise, the stubborn, inobedient, cruel oppressors, filthy persons, idolaters, and all sorts of unfaithful, Rev. xxi. 27. shall be cast into the dungeon of utter darkness, where