BEleife is manifold , according to the thing beleiued , be it true or false : for false beleife , it is compared to a man dreaming of Gold , but being awaked , he findeth a lye in his right hand . As for true beleife , it ouer-reacheth Fancie and Opinion , and is a perswasion setled vpon Trueth ; as when one beleiueth rightly on God , and the thinges of and from God : And so , Beleife or Fayth generally considered , is a true assent to that which is , be it a thing of Promise or Narration . For much haue they erred , that teach , how all Fayth respecteth a promise . a a Heb. 11. 3 Through Fayth we vnderstand that the world was ordained by the word of God , as Moses declareth in the first of Genesis ; which is a thing of Narration , not of Promise , seeing the world had his existence before man , & therefore could not be promised to man .

Touching Fayth apprehending a Promise , it is twofold , according to the nature of the Promise , and that is Eternall or Temporary ; as it apprehendeth thinges of eternall abyding nature , or things that be but momentaine . b b 2. Cor. 4. 18. This latter being of thinges visible , such as Moses describeth in the sixe dayes creation : The other , of things inuisible and spirituall , such as in the sacramentall Tree of life , was taught to Adam in Gen. 2.

WIth the auncient Church , Credo in spiritum sanctum , I beleeue vpon the Holy-ghost . And because affiance is to be setled vpon him , as vpon the Father , vpon the Sonne , therefore the Holy-ghost , God ; euen One with the Father and the Sonne , howsoeuer proceeding from the Father & the Sonne ; as the Sonne had his begetting of the Father ; but both of an vnutterable manner : for what can we resemble to the highest ?

The Easterne and Greeke Church , standeth seuered in this poynt from vs of the West : but therefore to be anathematized ( of which Anathema hereafter ) it seemeth vnto mee , to proceed from zeale beyond measure : seeing in the Primatiue Church , some were ignoraunt , Act. 19. 1. 2. If so there were an Holy-ghost : and yet were helde Disciples , and Beleiuers .

As in the externall worke to vs ward , the Father is sayd to Create , rather then to Redeeme or Sanctifie : and the Sonne rather to Redeeme , then to Create or Sanctifie : so the Holy-ghost to Sanctifie , rather then to Create or Redeeme . And for that it is the worke of the Father and Sonne by the Holy-ghost , to hallow the Creature , namely ( mankind elected ) therefore Moses introduceth Habel seuered from Kain in the holy worke of Oblation . Habel was begotten by the same Adam , and brought foorth by the same Heuah ; but did the worke of Fayth , which Kain did not . And why ? because he was not onely acted by this Holy spirit ( for so the wicked oft be ) but for that he had receiued the same Spirit , as an earnest penny of Adoption ( as all of * * Math. 20. compared with Chap , 21. 33. the kingdome of Grace in this life do , at what howre soeuer they obay their calling , ) which Spirit , as he is holy , so , he sanctified his thought , worde , and worke , whereby he is sayd to please God . And no maruaile , seeing the Father cannot but like the fruites of his owne Spirit : euen as vpon his Suruay of the sixe dayes worke , 1. Iohn . 2. 20. 27. he saw and approued all to be good , and very good .

The operation of this Spirit for mollifiyng the hard heart of man , is resembled by the Leuiticall Oyntment . His vertue of sweetning the soule , and of making our Prayers redolent and sauorie in the nosethrils of our heauenly Father , is typed out in the Legall Perfume ; the counterfayting and false application wherof is adiudged to death . So dangerous a thing is it , for any hypocritically to counterfaite holines , where the powre is lacking : or to misapply the things of the Spirit , to the prophanation thereof , Exod 31. &c.

Moses tearmeth him Ruach , Iohn . 3. 8. Winde ; not onely for filling all things , but also for his free brea●hing Graces when and where he will ; for the beginning and perfecting of our Regeneration or new-birth . The Father of Heauen , for his Sonnes sake , vou●hsafe to powre on our 〈◊〉 , plenteously of his Spirit , for the glory of his owne name . Amen .

IT is not sayd , I beleeue in Ecclesiam Sanctam , in or vpon the Church ( for that were to make her the Rocke of our saluation , and equall with God ) no more then it can be sayd afterwards , I beleeue in the remission of sinnes ▪ &c. Nor can Credo Ecclesiam catholicam , be truly turned , I beleeue the Catholique Church , ( for then euery Grammarian knoweth , it should be Ecclesiae catholicae : ) But as in the three last clauses , the verbe * * Esse , to be . Esse , is vnderstood ( as , Credo Remissionem peccatorum Esse : I beleeue Remission of sinnes to bee , Resurrection of the flesh to bee , Eternall life to bee ) so , the wordes are plainely to be resolued thus ; I beleeue that there is an Holy Catholique Church , a Comunion of Sainctes , Forgiuenesse of sinnes , &c. All which cleareth , that the penners of this Creede , were farre from teaching man to builde his Conscience vpon men ; no , not vpon the holy Catholique Church .

It will be obiected , that of Israel it is sayd in Exod 14. 31. Vajaami●û baib●uah v●emosheh gnabhaô , and they beleeued in Jehouah , and in Moses his seruant . I answere ; First , Learned men ( both on Christs & Antichrists side ) do turne it , Crediderunt Domino & Moseh , They beleeued the Lord and Moses ; not pressing the letter Beth which often importeth , in . Secondly , it may well be said , that they beleeued in Moses , respecting the Word of the Lord , which Moses brought immediately from the Lords mouth to their eares ; and yet be farre enough from setling Fayth vpon Moses , who afterwards was found in vnbeleife about the Rocke in Exod. 17. Euen as S. Peter soone after his holy confession , was found in like state touching Christ , the * * Math. 7. 24. 25. 1. Cor. 10. 4. Rocke of our Saluation .

It wil be againe obiected , that the Church being Conuened in the name of Christ , is to be beleeued so well as Moses . I answere , t is true : for Moses was not beleeued otherwise then hee brought the Lords warrant ; so neither is the Church . And because the Congregation or Church can , and sometimes will erre through ignoraunce , therefore the Lord by Moses in Leuit. 4. 13. &c. doth appoynt a peculiar Oblation for the whole Congregation of Israel so sinning . Let God then be true , and euery man a lyer .

The Church of Israel was Nationall , and in Exod. 19. called of the Lord an Holy Nation : he hauing called and culled them from out all people vnto himselfe ; and so were a figure of the Church which Christ at his first comming into the world , would gaine to himselfe , out of all * * Reuel. 7. 9. Nations , Tongues , and Kindreds , for woorshipping before his Throne . And herein was Japhet returned to Shems Tabernacle , as Noah foretold . And the Prodigall Gentile repaired so to his Elder brothers inheritaunce ( namely , that of the Jew ) as our Sauiour intimates in a Parable . The Jew ( respecting the generall ) standeth without , murmuring at the Gentiles acception . Heauenly Father , perswade him to come in , that so thy Two people , may become One , for furthering thy glory .

This Catholique Church then , is the whole body of people , wheresoeuer * * Catholique a greeke word : in English , Vniuersall : and therefore not to be tyed to Rome , or any one place , citie , or nation . Catholiquely . ( that is , vniuersally spread vpon the whole face of the earth ) gathered from ludahs tribe vnto Shiloh himselfe , as Jaak●b foretold in Genes. 49. 10. when he sayd , A Tribe shall not leaue Iudah , nor Lawgiuer from betweene his feete , till Shiloh come ; then the people shal be gathered vnto Him : that is , to Christ . And whereas some vrge from the Epithet Holy , that by holy Catholique Church , is meant onely that part of the Church which is inuisible , knowen onely vnto God , each member wherof is Holy indeed , I take it to be an errour . First , for that the auncient Writers , ( who best vnderstoode their owne terme , Catholique ) do vnderstande it of the visible Beleeuers wheresoeuer ; as may be seene , specially in their forme of prouoking Heretiques . Secondly , the tearme Holy giuen vnto it , doth no more proue , that therefore euery soule in the Catholique Church is indeede Holy , then the same tearme proueth all therefore in Israels people to be Holy indeed , when as they be called , an holy Nation : For who in the Scriptures shal not perceiue , that Israel ( howsoeuer Called to be Sainctes ) prooued still in fact and Fayth ( for the most part ) very prophane and Idolatrous ? And that is in deed a Sonne of perdition mounted in the Temple : a body of Tares ouergrowing the Wheat-field : Which not obserued of many , it hath been cause of much errour in disputation , about the visibilitie of the Church . Euen as it followeth not , because Jeroboam is a liuing man , therefore euery member in him is liuing , or hath life in it : for his hand , and some other parts , may be dead and senslesse .

Then will some further obiect , It followeth , that as the Nationall Church of Israel , and the Prouinciall Church of the Jewes , had one visible Hie-priest ouer the whole ; so , the Catholique Christian Church is to haue one visible Pastor ouer it . I answere , it followeth not : First , for that One may better rule ouer a Prouince or Nation , then ouer the whole world . Secondly , for that God commaunded that people to repaire three times a yeare to that One place , where that Hie-priest was to continue with the Arke of God : but no such commaundement to vs . Nay , God hath taken away that One place , because in euery place he will be worshipped . Our Melchi-esedek in repect of his Diuinitie , is euery where ; therefore to be sacrificed too euery where : and his Mandood is in the Heauens ; therefore Sur sum corda , thither lift we vp our heartes .

As Christ is the onely head of this Church , and this Church is the whole Corporation of Beleeuers , of all Nations , Kindreds , and Tongues , standing before his Throne : so , the life of this Church is his Spirit ; and the Spirit she receiueth * * Galat 3. 2. 5. 8. by the preaching of Fayth . Moses teacheth this euidently enough , in not only introducing the Lord himselfe preaching the doctrine of Fayth to Adam and Heuah in Paradise , and to other Patriarchs after ; but also , in his giuing to auncient Mother Zion , the whole Tribe of Leuj , for discharging Ministeriall duties for information of Fayth : besides that in desperate times , he stirred vp Prophets of what Tribe soeuer ( without all Priestly forme of Ordination ) for informing Priest and people . All which ( taking away Cerimoniall circumstaunces ) the Lorde doth to this catholique Church , for trayning her through the worldes Wildernesse , vnto the alotted Land of Promise , heauenly Canaan .

In the meane time , as the Church of Israel had her Captiuities , vnder the which was an exercise of her patience ; and for gayning of libertie , might vse no bodyly resistance : euen so , the Church of Christians hath her Captiuities , which exact at her hands much more patience . But as Jsrael deliuered by the Lords ministerie out of Aegipt , had an Amalek to warr withal , through all generations , to the putting of his remembrance from vnder heauen . Exod. 16. 8. &c. And being freed from Babylon , had enemies beyond the Riuer ; for resistaunce of whom , they held a Sword in the one hand , while they did the worke of the Lord with the other : So , the Christian Church vpon her deliueraunces , hath her enemies with whom she must skirmish , and against whom she must hold the swordes poynt , while her people may buyld vp themselues an holy Temple , Nehe. 4. 17. with 1. Cor. 6. 19. to the mightie God of Jaakob .

THe Church before , being considered in the Catholique , or generall , or whole , in these wordes ( Communion of * * Sainctes by calling , 1. Cor. 1. 2. though some amongst them were grosly Hereticall , many Schismaticall and not a few Prophaine ; euen as in the Church of the Jewes , some persecuted the Prophets , and Christ himselfe , thinking they did God good seruice . Math. 21. 33. Sainctes ) or Holy-ones , it is to be considered in the parts , that is , in her seuerall Societies and Corporations : euen as , from the Corporation of any whole Citie , we descend to the consideration of particular Corporations or Companies , included within the Cities vniuersall .

The Communion or Fellowship of Saincts by calling , is to be considered as established , or vnestablished . Vnestablished , as when some Beleeuers are gathered togeather in Citie or Familie ; but destitute of such spiritual functions , as tend to absolute order . And so , two or three gathered together in Christs name , haue him in the middest of them .

An Estabished Church , is a competent company of Beleeuers , * * I say not , Gathered : for then no one should be a member that were not at the same season present . gathering together in Christs name , hauing and enioying such Ecclesiastique functions , as be necessarily required for more orderly and sufficient administration of Word and Sacraments and Discipline : Vnto which end , the Apostle Paul is registred to haue gone too and fro , establishing the Churches .

The Ecclesiastique functions appertayning to such orderly established Churches , are of two sorts , Bishops and Deacons ; as for Deaconistes , they are rather to be serued , then to serue . Bishop , is a terme corruptly deriued from the Greeke word Episcopus , 2. Tim 3. which signifieth an Ouer-seer , namely , of soules . In him is required Aptnes to teach , which includeth Knowledge and Vtteraunce : as also , the spirit of Gouernment for his sufficient ruling of that Corporation . Else-where he is called a Pastor , in English a Shepheard or Feeder ; for that he is called to feed and guide that Flocke of Christes pasture . In other places , these Bishops or Pastors , are tearmed Elders , in respect of the many yeares they were ordinarily possessed with , before they attained such orderly place of ouersight . To haue one or moe of these in one particular Church , is not of Substaunce but of Circumstaunce : and therefore to be caryed , as edifying Circumstances require : But with this Prouiso : that where moe then one be , there one for order and comlynesse sake , be called before the rest , to ouersee ; vppon whom the burden of Doctrine and Gouernement may rest ; as it did in the Churches of * * Reuel . 2. & 3. Asia , written too by S. John , where one vnder the terms Angel ( or Embassadour ) is charged principally , with the Churches occasions .

As for the terme Doctor ( in English Teacher ) if it be considered apart from the Pastor , it can imploy no other then him that is speciall attendant vnto the Schoole of * * 1. Cor. 14. Prophecie : that is the Schoole of Christian learning , wherein people are trayned vp for supplying the Churches necessitie .

The terme Deacon is deriued from the Greekes , and is in English Minister or Seruitour : First , for the seruice he was to doe to the Church : Secondly , towardes the Ouer-seer , or Ouerseers . To the first , in cases of helping the poore . To the second , in assisting by his spirituall guiftes , as necessitie shall call for it . For the performance of all which duties , it is required that they be full of the Holy-ghost , Act. 63. & 1. Tim. 3. and of Wisedome , hauing the mysterie of Fayth in a pure Conscience ; such as can rule their owne Househouldes well . &c.

NOw followeth the Beleife , that euery true Christian hath : First , touching Remission of sinnes , a benefite in this life afforded to euery penitent beleiuer : Secondly , two benefites after this life ; the Resurrection of the flesh , and Eternall life .

Remission of Sinnes , bringeth necessarily with it ; First , that euery Christian is a Sinner : Secondly , the meanes whereby such forgiuenes of sinnes be had : Thirdly , the effect which such Remission hath in the heart of euery true beleiuer .