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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. Isa. 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

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their worm shall not die, neither yet the fire shall be extinguished. Isaiah lxvi. 24. The remembrance of which day, and of the judg. ment to be executed in the same, is not only to us a bridle, whereby our carnal lusts are refrained, Isaiah i. 4. but also such inestimable comfort, that neither may the threatening of worldly princes, neither yet the fear of temporal death and present danger, move us to renounce and forsake the blessed society which we the members have with our head and only Mediator Christ Jesus. Whom we confess and avow to be the Messiah promised, the only head of his Church, Col. i. 18. our just Law-giver, our only High Priest, Advocate, and Mediator. Heb. ix. 11; 15. and x. 21. In which honours and office if man or angel presume to intrude themselves, we utterly detest and abhor them, as blasphemous to our Sovereign and Supreme Governor, Christ Jesus.

VIII.-FROM THE CONFESSION OF BELGIA,

Art. 17. We believe that our most mighty and gracious God (when he saw that man had thus thrown himself into the damnation both of spiritual and corporal death, and was made altogether miserable and accursed) by his wonderful wisdom and goodness was induced both to seek him, when through fear he had fled from his presence, and also most lovingly to comfort him, giving unto him the promise of his own Son to be born of a woman, which should break the head of the Serpent, and restore him to felicity and happiness.

Art. 18. Moreover, we confess, that God did then at length fulfil his promise, made unto the Fathers, by the mouth of his holy Prophets, when, in his appointed time, he sent his only and eternal Son into the world; who took upon him the form of a servant, being made like unto men, and did truly take unto him the nature of man, with all infirmities belonging thereunto, (sin only excepted,) when he was conceived in the womb of the blessed Virgin Mary, by the power of the Holy Ghost, without any means of man. The which nature of man he put on him, not only in respect of the body, but also in respect of the soul; for he had also a true soul, to the intent he might be true and perfect man. that as well the soul, as the body of man, was subject to condemnation, it was necessary that Christ should take upon him as well the soul, as the body, that he might save them both together. Therefore, contrary to the heresies of the Anabaptists, (which deny that Christ did take upon him the flesh of man,) we confess that Christ

For seeing

was partaker of flesh and blood, as the rest his brethren were ; that he came from the loins of David, according to the flesh; I say, that he was made of the seed of David, according to the same flesh; and that he was the fruit of a Virgin's womb, born of a woman, the branch of David, a flower of the root of Jesse, coming of the tribe of Judah, and of the Jews themselves, according to the flesh; and to conclude, the true seed of Abraham and David, the which seed of Abraham he took upon him, being made in all things like unto his brethren, sin only excepted, as hath been said before; so that he is indeed our true Emmanuel, that is, God with us.

Art. 19. We believe also, that the person of the Son was, by this conception, inseparably united and coupled with the human nature; yet so, that there be not two Sons of God, nor two persons, but two natures joined together in one person :* both which natures do still retain their own properties. So that, as the Divine nature hath remained always uncreated, without beginning of days or term of life, filling both heaven and earth; so the human nature hath not lost his properties, but hath remained still a creature, having both beginning of days and a finite nature. For whatsoever doth agree unto a true body, that it still retaineth: and although Christ, by his resurrection, hath bestowed immortality upon it, yet notwithstanding, he hath neither taken away the truth of the human nature, nor altered it. For both our salvation, and also our resurrection, dependeth upon the truth of Christ's body. Yet these two natures are so united and coupled in one person, that they could not, no not in his death, be separated one from the other. Wherefore that which in his death he commended unto his Father, was indeed a human spirit, departing out of his body; but in the the mean season, the Divine nature did always remain joined to the human, even then when he lay in the grave; so that his Deity was no less in him at that time, than when as yet he was an infant, although for a small season it did not shew forth itself. Wherefore, we confess that he is true God, and true man; true God, that by his power he might overcome death; and true man, that in the infirmity of his flesh he might die for us.

Art. 20. We believe, that God, which is both perfectly merciful, and perfectly just, did send his Son to take upon him that nature, which through disobedience had offended, that, in the selfsame nature, he might satisfy for sin, and, by his bitter death and passion,

* That is, united hypostatically or personally.

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