CHAP. 1. A true Historicall Narration , Concerning our Nationall Confession of Fayth , registrated in Parliament : and concerning that other little Confession , called Generall ; which was also called The King's Confession , and the Negatiue Confession , contayning the Oath .

MASTER IOHN KNOX of happie memorie , with others his Fellow-labourers , in the Reformation of Religion in SCOTLAND , did present in name of the Nationall reformed Kirke of this Realme , vnto the Parliament ; a Confession of Fayth , distinguished into 25 Articles : which was read in face of Parliament , and ratified by the three Estates , in the yeare of GOD 1560 , as a Doctrine grounded vpon the infallible Word of GOD. And agayne , the same Confession and fore-sayde Act made in ratification thereof , were ratified , approved , and authorized , in the first Parliament of KING IAMES the sixt of blessed memorie , holden at EDINBVRGH , in December , Anno 1567 , as it is extant in the publicke Printed Acts of the sayde Parliament ; and Acts were made in that and others succeeding Parliaments , for mayntayning of the sayde Confession , and agaynst the gayn-sayers , and disobedient , as you may reade in the Acts of those Parliaments , Act. 4. 5. 6. 9. 35. 45. 46. 47. 99. 106. &c.

Yet still with that modestie and ingenuitie which the Estates , and all professing IESUS CHRIST , and His holie EVANGELL in this Realme , did declare , in their Epistle written to their owne natiue Countrey-men , and to other Kingdomes and Nations professing with them the same IESUS CHRIST , and prefixed as a Preface to the Latine Edition of the sayde Confession , as it is extant in the Booke called Corpus & Syntagma confessionum , &c. where their words are these ; Si quis in hac nostra Confessione articulum vel sententiam repugnantem sancto DEI Verbo notaverit , nosque illius scripto admonuerit , promittimus DEI gratia , ex DEI ore , id est , ex sacris Scripturas , nos illi satisfacturos , aut correcturos , si quis quid erroris inesse probaverit . DEVM enim in conscientiis nostris testem advocamus , nos ex animo omnes sectas , Haereses , omnesque falsae doctrinae doctores detestari , &c: that is ; If in this our Confession anie man shall note anie Article or Sentence repugnant to GOD'S holie Word , and shall by wryting admonish vs thereof , wee promise , by the grace of GOD , to giue him satisfaction , out of GOD'S mouth , that is , out of the holie Scriptures , or to amend it , if anie shall proue anie errour to bee therein : for we in our consciences call GOD witnesse , that wee doe from our heart detest all Sects , Heresies , and all teachers of false Doctrine , &c.

Now , it beeing ordayned by publicke Lawes aboue cited , that all Recusants , or suspected of Papistrie within this Realme , should giue confession of their fayth according to the forme approved in Parliament , and should assent and subscrybe to the Articles of the true and Christian Religion , established by the King's Lawes ; it was found , that manie masked Papistes did promise , sweare , subscrybe , and , for a tyme , vse the holie Sacraments in the Kirke , deceatfullie , agaynst their owne conscience ; mynding heereby , first vnder the externall cloake of Religion , to corrupt and subvert secretlie GOD'S true Religion within the Kirke , and afterwardes , when tyme might serue , to become open enemies , and Persecuters of the same , vnder vaine hope of the Pop's dispensation . Therefore , a certayne Reverend Learned Brother , ( whose name shall hereafter appeare ) in his zeale to remeade that evill , for discovering and barring out such dissembling and equivocating Seducers , and Persecuters , did drawe vp a forme of consenting to the sayde Nationall Confession , by way of a Generall Confession of the trueth thereof , in all poynts , and a generall rejection of all contrarie Religion , and Doctrine ; with a speciall rehearsall and refusall of sundrie Popish Erroures , and Superstitions , particularlie expressed ; and an acknowledging of this true Reformed Kirke , with an Oath , to continue in the obedience of the Doctrine and Discipline thereof : and , according to their calling , and power , to defende the fame , all the dayes of their lyfe : and to keepe duetie to the King's Majestie ; with solemne Protestation of the sincere meaning of them that doe make this Confession , Promise , Oath , and Subscription . And for making easier way to this Generall Confession , the King's Majestie was moved to subscrybe the same , and his House-holde , to giue example to others : and a Mandate was drawne from his Majestie , commanding and charging all Commissioners and Ministers , to craue the same Confession of their Parochiners , vnder the payne of fourtie pounds , to bee taken from their Stipend . Subscryved with his Majesties hand , at Holy-roode-house , the second day of March , in the yeare of GOD 1580 ; reckoning the yeare to ende at the 25 day of March , but beginning the yeare at Ianuarie , it was 1581 , and of the King's reygne the 14 yeare .

There were there-after , in the same yeare 1581 , holden two Generall or Nationall Assemblies of the Kirke of SCOTLAND , one at GLASGOW , in the Moneth of Aprill , another at EDINBVRGH , in October : In both which there is mention made of this Generall Confession .

In GLASGOW ASSEMBLIE , in the 9 Session , after the ende of the Booke of Policie , are these wordes , Anent the Confession latelie set foorth by the Kings Majesties Proclamation , and Subscrybed by his Highnesse , the Kirke in one voyce acknowledgeth the sayde Confession , to bee a true , Christian , and faythfull Confession , to bee agreed vnto by such as truelie professe Christ , and his true Religion ; and the tenor thereof to bee followed out , as the same is layde out in the sayde Proclamation . Thus farre are the words of that Act of GLASGOW ASSEMBLIE .

Followeth the Act of EDINBVRGH ASSEMBLIE , Session 5. For as much as the King's Majestie , with the advyse of his Counsell , hath set out , and proclaymed , a Godlie and Christian Confession of Fayth , to bee embraced by all his true Subjects , and by the same expresslie given commandement to the Ministerie , to proceede agaynst whatsoever persons that will not acknowledge and subscrybe the same : wherein great negligence hath beene seene , farre by the duetie and office of true Pastors : Herefore the Kirke , and the Assemblie present , hath enjoyned and concluded , That all Ministers and Pastors within their bounds , with all expedient and possible diligence , execute the tenor of his Majesties Proclamation , betwixt this and the next Synodall Assemblie of everie Province , and present before the Synodall Assemblies , to the Moderators thereof , their duetifull diligence in this behalfe , to bee reported to the next Generall Assemblie of the Church ; vnder the payne of deprivation of the saydes Ministers from the Function of the Ministerie , that are found negligent heerein . Thus farre are the words of that Act of that Nationall Assemblie holden at EDINBVRGH , where the penner of the sayde Generall Confession , was Moderator for the tyme . Heerevpon followed there after some moe Subscriptions .

This Confession , because it was set out in the King's Name , was called commonlie , the King's Confession : and because it insisteth most in rejecting of Erroures , it is also called the Negatiue Confession .

CHAP. II. Concerning the Authoritie of the sayd little or short Confession , called Generall , and Negatiue .

THE Authoritie of any such Wryting , is eyther Divine or Humane ; for in so farre as anie Wryting or Preaching of man hath in it GOD'S vndoubted Trueth , revealed in His holie SCRIPTVRES , it may bee sayde , or that Trueth there-in propounded , may bee sayde to haue Authoritie Divine : because that Trueth doeth obliedge vs , altho no humane authoritie were added there-vnto . This sort of Authoritie , doeth absolutelie appertayne onlie to the Canonicke SCRIPTVRES of the OLD and NEW TESTAMENTS . No other Wryting , or Preaching , hath it Absolutelie , but onlie Conditionallie , and with restriction : to wit , if it hath , and in so farre onlie as it hath the same true Doctrine which is contayned in the holie SCRIPTVRES . And , there-fore , all such Wrytinges , or Sermons , are subject to examination , by the SCRIPTVRES . Neyther are wee obliedged to acknowledge them , or anie part of them , as Divine Trueth , but in so farre as they propound evidentlie the same Doctrine which is delivered in the holie SCRIPTVRES . And if anie thing in Them bee founde repugnant to holie SCRIPTVRE , wee ought to reject it , to correct and amende it , as our Progenitoures worthilie professed in their Epistle praefixed to their NATIONALL CONFESSION . Neyther can anie humane Ordinance , Act , Oath , Promise , or Subscription , make that to bee the Word of GOD , or the true meaning there-of , which before that Ordinance , Act , Oath , Promise , or Subscription , was not the Word of GOD , nor the true meaning there-of .

Humane Authoritie , is eyther Private or Publicke . I call Private Authoritie of anie Wryting , or Sermon , that which it hath from the credit , and estimation where-in the Author , or consenter , is had , in respect of his Learning , Pietie , Gravitie , Iudgement , Diligence , Experience , &c. such is the Authoritie of the Wrytinges , and Sermons , of fandric Learned men , both Ancient and M●derne . And in this sort that short CONFESSION hath respectful Authoritie , in respect of the Learning & Pietie of the Penner there-of , which was Master IOHN CRAIG of happie memorie , Preacher to the King's Majestie at that tyme ; and in respect that manie well-affected Christians did approue it by their Subscriptions . But by this Authoritie wee are no more tyed vnto this CONFESSION , than wee are to anie part approven by manie good Christians , of the Wrytinges of Ambrose , or Augustine , or Luther , or Calvine , or Beza , or anie other Reverende Divine . Neyther doeth the particular Obligation of those Subscrybers extende beyond their owne persons , and lyfe-tymes , expressed in that CONFESSION : the example onelie appertayning to others , and imitable by others , so farre onelie as the Word of GOD , and the Rules there-in delivered , concerning our Fayth , and Christian libertie , and practise , doe direct .

Publicke Humane Authoritie , is eyther Civill or Ecclesiasticall . And both these sortes in thinges lawfull , that is , not repugnant to Divine Authoritie , are so backed , and fortified , by Divine Authoritie , as the contempt of them redoundeth highlie agaynst Divine Authoritie . And thus these Authorities are in such sorte Humane , as they are also , in some consideration , DIVINE .

Let vs consider , what such Authoritie this SHORT CONFESSION once had , and what it now hath .

Supreame Authoritie Civill in SCOTLAND , is eyther Royall or Legall : For altho the publicke Lawes be the King 's Royall Lawes , yet because the King may giue Mandates , or Dispensations , or Commissions , which depende onelie vpon his Royall pleasure , and are not of the nature of fixed Lawes ; how-so-ever hee ought to bee obeyed also in them : There-fore , this distinction will not bee vnfitting for our purpose . This CONFESSION had never Authoritie Legall : for it was never ratified by Act of Parliament , as was our NATIONALL CONFESSION , which is registrated in the Actes of Parliament . But all the Civill Authoritie that this SHORT GENERALL CONFESSION had at anie tyme , was onelie Royall , by the King's Mandate , where-of wee shall speake more a little after , GOD willing .

Ecclesiasticke Authoritie , by two Nationall Synodes , was given to this Confession ; and that twofolde : the one immediate , the other mediate .

The Authoritie Synodicall immediate , was that Approbation where-by those Synodes declared this Confession , to bee a true , Christian , Faythfull , and Godlie Confession ; and , that such as truelie professe CHRIST , and His true Religion , ought to agree therevnto . This Approbation , beeing in matter of Fayth , & of contrarie Errour , which in Religion is not mutable by anie humane Authoritie , neither dependeth theron ; & the agreement to the sayde Confession , beeing declared by those Synodes , to bee incumbent vpon such as truelie professe CHRIST , and His true Religion , which is a common description , showing equall obligation vpon all Christians : this Approbation , I say , in these considerations , tending to manifest a Divyne Authoritie of the Confession , or Doctrine there-of , doeth in respect of the matters so approven , equallie obliedge all Christians ; neyther doeth it absolutelie obliedge anie , because such humane wrytings haue not absolute Divyne Authoritie : yet it hath by that Synodicall Approbation , a respectfull Authoritie , so farre as wee are obliedged respectfullie to reverence the Iudgement of a Nationall Synode of the KIRKE of SCOTLAND , in matters substantiall . But this respect giveth no power to the Synode , to make true that which is not in it selfe true , by authoritie of Holie Scripture ; neyther to make that repugnant to GOD'S Word , which before in it selfe was not repugnant there-vnto . I speake now of matters substantiall , aequallie incumbent vpon all Christians . Neyther are wee by this Authoritie obliedged to hearken in matters of this nature to those two Synodes , more than wee are obliedged to hearken to the former or latter Nationall Synodes of the same KIRKE , or to anie Nationall Synode of anie forraygne Reformed Kirke , or to anie of the Ancient Councels of Orthodoxe Fathers . All such Obligation is Conditionall , and with Restriction , as hath beene before declared . Neyther did those Synodes intende to exeeme this SHORT CONFESSION from lawfull examination , by the Word of GOD , and by the Articles of the Nationall Confession of SCOTLAND , registrated in PARLIAMENT .

The Ecclesiasticall Authoritie mediate , which those Synodes did giue to this SHORT NEGATIVE CONFESSION , was their Ordinance where-by they appoynted and enjoyned all Ministers , within their jurisdiction at that tyme , to giue obedience to his Majesties Commandement anent the sayde CONFESSION , within such a tyme , vnder payne of Deprivation . Nothing is spoken in this their Statute , but in relation to the King's Mandate , and for that tyme . There is no mention of Perpetuitie , or tyme to come , or of anie other immediate injunction , for craving this CONFESSION of the people , except that onlie which did immediatelie flow from his Majestie : so there was never anie Constitution Ecclesiasticall immediate , for exacting or requyring of Subscription to this CONFESSION , but onelie Mediate by intervention of the King's Mandate : which standing , the matter and vigour of that Synodicall Constitution remayneth : and the Mandate expyring , or beeing taken away , that Synodicall Constitution doeth lykewyse expyre , and ceaseth to bee of force . Causa sublata , tollitur constitutio ex causa illa orta . 1. qu. 7. quod pro remedio , in glossa . Cessante .

But that Mandate is now long agoe expyred , and vtterlie taken away : there-fore , what-so-ver Publicke Authoritie , eyther Civill or Ecclesiasticall , did at anie tyme appertayne to this SHORT GENERALL NEGATIVE CONFESSION , for particular obligation of the Ministers of SCOTLAND , to exact of their Parochiners , Subscription to the same , or for obliedging the Parochiners to subscrybe there-vnto , is nowe long agoe expyred , and taken away .

That Royall Mandate , was no perpetuall Law , but a temporarie Mandate , given out in his Majesties minor age ; hee beeing in the fyfteenth yeare of his age then current . There-after hee disallowed the same , in his rype age , as is evident by his Majesties owne Speach , in the Conference which his Majestie had with the Bisshops , and others of the Clergie of ENGLAND , AT HAMPTON COVRT , Anno 1603 , in the second dayes Conference : Where it beeing moved by a certayne Doctor , That this PROPOSITION , [ The intension of the Minister , is not of the essence of the Sacrament ] might bee added vnto the Booke of Articles , the rather because that some in ENGLAND had preached it , to bee essentiall ; his Majestie vtterlie dislyked that motion ; thinking it vnfit to thrust into the Booke everie Position Negatiue ; which would both make the Booke swell into a volume as big as the BIBLE , and also confound the Reader : Bringing for example , the course of one Master CRAIG , ( I am vsing the wordes published in the Printed Summe of that Conference ) in the lyke case in SCOTLAND , who with his , I renounce and abhorre , his detestations , and abrenounciations , hee did so amaze the simple people , that they , not able to conceaue all those thinges , vtterlie gaue over all , falling backe to Poperie , or remayning still in their former ignorance : Yea , if I , sayd his Majestie , should haue beene bound to his forme , the Confession of my Fayth , must haue beene in my Table-booke , not in myne head . Out of these his Majesties wordes , concerning this Negatiue Confession , yee may easilie gather his mynde , concerning that Mandate drawne some-tyme from his Royall hand , for exacting Subscription to the sayde Confession : to wit , that hee did vtterlie disallow , and annull it : Ad intentionem Mandantis recurrendum est . Extra , de rescriptis , cap. 8. ad aures , in glossa . More-over ; Although his Majestie had not in his lyfe-tyme made voyde that Mandate , as hee did ; yet now it were expyred , with His Royall Breath : Morte Mandatoris expirat Mandatum . Extra , de officio & potestate judicis delegati , cap. 19. relatum est in glossa .

Hence it is most manifest , that this Negatiue Confession hath not , at this present tyme , anie publick Authoritie at all : neyther are the Ministers now obliedged to require , nor the Parochiners to giue Subscription thereto .

CHAP. III. Whether it bee convenient for the CHVRCH , at this tyme , that this Negatiue Confession be authorized , and Subscription there-to requyred .

SAVING better judgement , it seemeth not to bee convenient . And that for the Reasons expressed in the CONFERENCE at HAMPTON COVRT . And because of some ambiguities , and no small Difficulties there-in .

It is wyselie sayde in our Nationall Confession , in the 18 Article , ( noted 19 in the Printed Parliament ) that , when Controversie happeneth , for the right vnderstanding of anie place , or sentence of Scripture , or for the reformation of anie abuse within the Kirke of GOD , wee ought not so much to looke what men before vs haue sayd , or done , as vnto that which the holie Ghost vniformlie speaketh , within the bodie of the Scriptures , and vnto that which CHRIST IESUS Himselfe did , and commanded to bee done .

And it is also to bee considered , that where-as wee ought to bee busie , in instructing the simple people , in the positiue groundes of the Trueth , it seemeth verie inexpedient , to bee explayning to them , vnknowne poyntes of Heresie ; which were set downe for masked Papistes .

More-over ; By the Interpretations which some of our BRETHREN doe giue vs , in their Printed Bookes , they condemne Episcopacie , and the fyue PEARTH Articles , as Abominable , and Antichristian ; and doe affirme , Sitting at the Communion , to be the onlie lawfull gesture . These Doctrines how can wee receaue , without condemning the Doctrine and Practise of sound Antiquitie , and of manie Famous Reformed Kirks , in Britane , France , Germanie , and else-where ? And were it not a pittifull case , that anie of vs beeing in those Countreys , might not communicate with those Reformed Kirkes ?

And howe doeth this Oath and Covenant , about these thinges , agree with the xx Article of our Nationall Confession , ( noted 21 in the Printed Parliament , Anno 1567 ) where power is denyed to Generall Councels , to make anie perpetuall Lawe , which GOD before had not made ?

CHAP. IV. Concerning the keeping or breaking of an Oath ; With AN EXHORTATION to CHARITIE and PEACE .

IN so farre as the matter of an OATH is lawfull or vnlawfull , pleasing or displeasing to GOD , it may , and ought , to bee kept , or broken . When Herod beheaded IOHN THE BAPTIST , for keeping of his Oath , hee added sinne to sinne . But DAVID did well , in sparing Nabal , and his Familie , whome hee had sworne to destroye : and hee blessed GOD , for the good counsell of Abigaill , where-by hee was diverted from performing that Oath .

Let vs not judge hardlie , or vncharitablie , one of another , nor breake the Bond of Peace , and Christian Brotherhood , for the diversitie of Opinions amongst vs , in these oeconomicall and rituall Controversies . But whereto we haue alreadie attayned , let vs walke by the same rule , let Phil. 3. 16. vs mynd the same thing ; with all lowlinesse & meeknesse , with long-suffering ; forbearing one another in loue ; endevouring to keepe the vnitie of the Spirit , in the bond of Peace . Ephes. 4. 2. 3.

Now , the ALL-MIGHTIE GOD of Trueth and Peace , illuminate our eyes , and vnite vs all in the knowledge of His Trueth , in the vnitie of Fayth , in the Bond of Loue and Peace , in CHRIST IESUS , our LORD : To Whom bee Glorie for ever :

AMEN .