they that are unlearned and unftable wreft; as they do alfo the other Scriptures, to their own Destruction.

20 Deut. xxix. 29. Secret Things belong unto the Lord our GoD, but thofe Things that are revealed belong unto us, and to our Children for ever. 1 Pet. ii, 6. Wherefore it is contained in Scripture (I. xxviii. 16.) Behold, I lay in Zion a chief Corner-ftone, elect, precious: And he that believeth on Him fhall not be confounded. John iii. 16. GOD fo loved the World, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whofoever believeth in Him, fhould not perifh, but have everlasting Life. Mark xvi. 16. He that believeth, and is baptized, fhall be faved. Rev. xxii. 17. The Spirit and the Bride fay, Come And let him that heareth, fay, Come: And whofoever will, let him take the Water of Life freely. Matt. xi. 28. Come unto me all ye that labour, and are heaven laden, and I will give you Reft. I. lv. 1. Ho, every one that thirfteth, come ye to the Waters, and he that hath no Money, come ye, buy and eat, yea come, buy Wine and Milk, without Money and without Price. Ver. 2. Wherefore do ye fpend your Money for that which is not Bread, and your Labour for that which fatisfieth not? Hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is Good, and let your Soul delight itself in Fatnefs. Ver. 3. Incline your Ear unto me, hear, and your Soul fhall live, and I will make an everlasting Covenant with you, even the fure Mercies of David. Ver. 6. Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near. Ver. 7. Let the Wicked forfake his Way, and the unrighteous Man his Thoughts: And let him return unto the Lord, and he will have Mercy upon him, and to our GOD, for he will abundantly pardon.

21 Mic. vi. 8. He hath fhewed thee, O Man, what is Good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love Mercy, and to walk humbly with thy GOD.

ARTICLE XVIII.

Of obtaining eternal Salvation only by the Name of Chrift.

TH

HEY also are to be be had accurfed, that prefume to fay, that every Man fhall be faved by the Law or Sect which he profeffeth, fo that he be diligent to frame his Life according to that Law, and the Light of Nature. For holy Scripture doth fet out unto us only the Name of Jefus Chrift, whereby Men must be saved.

2

* Rom. iii. 9. Both Jews and Gentiles are all under Sin. Ver. 22, 23. There is no Difference, all have finned, and come fhort of the Glory of GOD. Ver. 20. By the Deeds of the Law fhall no Flesh be juftified. Rom. v. 18. Judgment is come upon all Men to Condemnation.

2 Acts iv. 12. Neither is there Salvation in any other, for there is none other Name under Heaven given among Men whereby we must be faved.

ARTICLE XIX.

DE the Church.

HE vifible Church of Chrift is a Congrega

TH

I

tion of faithful Men, in the which the 2 pure. Word of God is preached, and the Sacraments be duly miniftred according to Christ's Ordinance, in all thofe Things that of Neceffity are requifite

to the fame.

As the Church of Hierufalem, 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.

Eph. i. I. To the Saints and Faithful in Chrift Jefus, Col. i. 2. To the Saints and faithful Brethren in Chrift. 2 Rom. x. 17. Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.

3 Acts viii. 12. When they believed Philip preaching the Things concerning the Kingdom of God, and the Name of Jefus Chrift, they were baptized, both Men and Women. 1 Cor. xi. 26. As often as ye eat this Bread and drink this Cup, ye do fhew the Lord's Death till he come. Acts ii. 42. They continued ftedfaftly in the Apoftles Doctrine and Fellowship, and in breaking of Bread, and in Prayers.

ARTICLE XX.

Df the Authority of the Church.
DE

I

HE Church hath Power to decree Rites or

TH
TCeremonies, and Authority in Controver

3

fies of Faith: And yet it is not lawful for the Church to ordain any Thing that is contrary to God's Word written, neither may it fo expound one Place in 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 fame, fo befides the fame ought it not to enforce any Thing to be believed for Neceffity to Salvation.

I I

11 Cor. xiv. 40. Let all Things be done decently and in order. Tit. i. 5. For this Caufe I left thee in Crete, that thou shouldít fet in Order the Things that are wanting.

2 Acts xv. 5. But there rofe up certain of the Sect of the Pharifees which believed, faying, that it was needful to circumcife them, and to command them to keep the Law of Mofes. And the Apoftles and Elders came together for to confider of this Matter. Ver. 22. Then pleased it the Apoftles and Elders, with the whole Church,

to

to fend chofen Men of their own Company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas:-And they wrote (Ver. 23.) Letters by them after this Manner: The Apoftles, and Elders, and Brethren fend greeting unto the Brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch, and Syria, and Cilicia. Ver. 24. Forafmuch as we have heard that certain which went out from us have troubled you with Words, fubverting your Souls, faying, Ye must be circumcifed and keep the Law, to whom we gave no fuch Commandment. Ver. 25. It feemed good unto us, being affembled, with one Accord, to fend chofen Men unto you, with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, &c. Ver. 28. For it seemed good to the Holy Ghoft and to us, to lay upon you no greater Burden than thefe neceffary Things. Ver. 29. That ye abftain from Meats offered to Idols, and from Blood, and from Things ftrangled, and from Fornication; from which if ye keep yourfelves, ye fhall do well. Fare ye well.

31 Pet. iv. 11. If any Man fpeak, let him speak as the Oracles of GOD.

4 Gal. i. 8, 9. Though we, or an Angel from Heaven, preach any other Gospel unto you, than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accurfed. As we faid before, fo fay I now again, if any Man preach any other Gospel unto you, than that ye have received, let him be accurfed. Vid. Art. VI. Note 2.

ARTICLE XXI.

Df the Authority of General Councils.

I

2.

Eneral Councils may not be gathered to

gether without the Commandment and Will of Princes; and when they be gathered together, (forafmuch as they be an Affembly of Men, whereof all be not governed with the Spirit and Word of God) they may err, and sometime have erred, even in Things pertaining unto God. Wherefore Things ordained by them as neceffary to Salvation, have neither Strength nor Authority, un

lefs

lefs it may be declared that they are taken out of Holy Scriptures.

1 Rom. xiii. 1. Let every Soul be fubject to the higher Powers.

2 As all Men are fallible, a thousand met together cannot amount to One infallible; and therefore the Truth of these Propofitions is felf-evident. Vid. fupra, Art. VI. Note 2. and Art. XX. Note 3, 4.

ARTICLE XXII.

2

DE Purgatory.

THE Romish Doctrine concerning 'Purgatory, Pardons, 3 Worfhipping, and Adoration, as well of Images, as of Reliques, and the Invocation of 5 Saints, is a fond Thing, vainly invented, and grounded upon no Warranty of Scripture, but rather repugnant to the Word of GOD.

6

Luke xxiii. 42. He faid unto Jefus, Lord, remember me when thou comeft into thy Kingdom. Ver. 43. And Jefus faid unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To-day fhalt thou be with me in Paradise. Heb. x. 14. By one Offering he hath perfected for ever them that are fanctified. 1 John i. 7. The Blood of Jefus Chrift cleanfeth from all Sin. Rev. xiv. 13. Bleffed are the Dead which die in the Lord, from henceforth: Yea, faith the Spirit, that they may reft from their Labours; and their Works do follow them.

2 Dan. ix. 9. To the Lord our God belong Mercies and Forgiveneffes, though we have rebelled against Him. P. xlix. 7. None can by any Means redeem his Brother, nor give to God a Ranfom for him.

3 Exod. xx. 4, 5. Thou shalt not make to thyfelf any graven Image, nor the Likeness of any Thing that is in Heaven above, or in the Earth beneath, or in the Water

under