{"number":2,"title":"I beleeue in God the father almightie maker of heauen and earth","part":null,"questions":[],"paragraphs":[],"clauses":[1,2,8],"items":[],"text":"## Testimonies out of the Prophets and Apostles of the nature of God, and of the creation of all thinges\n\nExodus, *34.* The Lord of Hoastes, The Lord of Hoastes, a mightie, mercifull and gratious God: long suffering, and much in goodnes and faith: who shewest mercie to thowsandes, pardoning iniquitie, and defection and sinnes: before whom the innocent is not innocent, who recompencest the iniquitie of the fathers vppon the children, and vppon the childrens children, and vppon the kinsfolkes. Gene. *1.* In the beginning God created heauen and earth. Nowe the earth was desolate and voyde: and darkenes was vppon the vtmost face of the depth, and the spirite of God mooued it selfe vppon the face of the waters. Io. *1.* In the beginning was the worde, and the word was with God: and that word was God. All thinges were made by it, and without it was nothing made that was made. And to the Colossians the first, and Psal *104.* Thou shalt sende foorth thy spirite, and they shalbe created, and thou shalt renue the face of the earth.\n\n## The description of God\n\nGOD is a spirituall substance, euerlasting, good, pure, aswell of an incomprehensible glorie as of an infinite wisedome and power, of an vnchangeable righteousnes, vnspeakable mercie and most constant trueth, to be short the onely & soueraigne happines, and the father is euerlasting, the sonne the euerlasting image of the father, and the holie ghost proceeding from both. The nature of God is shortly and diligently expressed in the description which is in Moses, Exod. 34. The Lord of of Hoastes, the Lord of Hoasts, a mightie, mercifull and gentle God, long suffering and of great mercie and true. &c.\n\n## The profite of this description of God\n\nThe vse of this description is, that the nature of God being knowne, we should embrace by true faith, as our onely and most soueraigne God, and should feare to offende him: to the end that through true faith and feare, or amendment of life, he might be glorified of vs. For first when we heare that God, who hath promised by an euerlasting couenant that he wilbe a God vnto vs, is an vnderstanding, wise, euerlasting, good, righteous and mercifull God &c; we conclude verie rightly vppon it, of the verie forme of that free couenant: that he is not onely such a one by nature, but also yᵗ he will shew himselfe to be such a one to vs beleeuers; and that by an euerlasting couenant, though all creatures should seeme to persuade vs to yᵉ contrarie. He that knoweth this nature of God, of whom he is receiued into couenant: he hath large matter of trusting in him, and of framing his life by faith, according to the will of God. Both of these, to wit howe the knowledge of God maketh to faith and repentance, and so to the establishing of the kingdome of God in vs, we will make plaine out of some of his attributes. So great and so constant is the truth of God, that one word of the diuine truth, passeth the truth of all Angels and men: because the truth of all creatures, dependeth vpon the truth of God, and hath the originall from that, and consisteth in that alone: so that the truth of god, is the cause and foundation of all truth both in Angels and men. When therefore we wauer or doubt of any matter, why do we not consult, whether there be not some word of the Lorde concerning that matter, whereof we doubt? which being found, we may giue our mindes to rest, knowing assuredly, yᵗ the least title of the truth is more firme, then the whole frame of heauen and earth. Ieremi 31. Matt. 5. vers. 18. therefore it is saide in the second booke of the Kinges, Cap. 10. vers. 10. Knowe you nowe, that there shall not fall anie thing of the word of the Lord to the ground. Also his infinite power ought to incourage vs, to trust in him: in him I say, that mightie God, who calleth those thinges which are not as if they were. Ro. 4. Like as also, that same Apostle further speaketh of the faith of Abraham: *He doubted not of the promise of God through vnbeleife, but was made strong in faith, giuing glorie to God: Being fully assured that he which had promised, he also was able to performe it.* And surely how greatly distrust displeaseth God, as which defraudeth him of his glory and how greatly the holiest men that are ought to beware of it, the Lord teacheth Num. 20. And the Lord of Hoastes said vnto Moyses and Aaron, *Forasmuch as ye haue not beleeued me, that you might sanctifie me before the sonnes of Israel, therefore you shall not lead this congregation into the lande which I haue giuen them.* And in the 32. of Deut. 50.51.52. Now he is not onely able to do that, which he wil, (as in verie deede he willeth that thing which he hath promised in his word:) but also in that which he willeth not, he abideth no resistance, which is as it were the other part of the omnipotencie of God. Isai. 43. *There is none that can take out of my hand: And if I do any thing, who shall let it?* The first is therfore, that in euerie thing we haue the wil of God knowne out of his word, which being once knowne, let vs not doubt, but yᵗ Gods truth is most cōstant, & altogether vnchangable. Moreouer let our mindes moūt vp to yᵉ almightie nature of God, who mightily performeth in deede whatsoeuer he wil, neither abideth any resistance Ioh. 10. *I giue euerlastnig life to my sheepe, neither shall they perish for euer: neither shal any mā take them out of my hand. My father who hath giuen thē vnto me, is greater then all, neither can any man snatch them out of the hand of my father. I and the father are one.* Here thou hast both the most constant truth of the word of Christ, and also his omnipotencie. And so thou must trust: that God offereth himselfe vnto vs in Christ, a true and almightie God, in an euerlasting couenant. And further, should not this selfesame nature of God, wherein he is true and almightie, pricke vs forward to amendement, and to lead a life through faith according to his will? For whilest we heare, that his truth is one and vnchangeable, let vs know for a suertie, that he will not for euer approue sinnes, which he hath witnessed to detect by his word. Psal. 5. Moreouer, that it is more possible that heauen & earth should be ouerthrown, then that those punishmentes should not fall out, which he hath threatened in his word, vnlesse we turne from our sinnes. Mat. 5. vers. 18. For the nature of God must be changed, if his truth were subiect to change. And the same reason is of his omnipotencie. For who would not wholy addict himselfe vnto him, and altogether depend vpon his becke, and frame all thinges to his will, in whose hand is life and death, who hath power to cast both body and soule into euerlasting fire? As Christ saith, *Feare not those which kill the body, but can do nothing against the soule: I say vnto you, whom you must feare, euen him that hath power to cast both body and soule into hell fire.* The infinite wisdome of God auaileth much for the establishing of our trust in him, as for example thus: that faith may ouercome whatsoeuer is obiected of the flesh and of sinne against the word and workes of God, and that it may at once breake all the broyles & assaultes of distrustes, & giue it selfe to rest: it must needes be that the minde ascend vp to that infinitenes of the wisdome & vnderstanding of God, & that it safely rest in that, as doing all thinges wisely and well, and be fully persuaded that God is the gouernor of the world, and not men: and that he doth so gouerne all thinges, that we neither can nor ought to wish them wiselier or better done, then they are or may be done of God. Paule teacheth vs to rest in that same infinite wisdome of God, in the 11. to the Romanes, *O the depth, sayth he, of the riches, aswell of the wisdome, as of the knowledge of God, how vnsearchable are his iudgementes, and his waies past finding out! Who hath knowne the minde of the Lord? or who hath beene of counsel with him? or who hath giuen vnto him first, and he shalbe recompensed againe? for of him, by him, and in him are all thinges, to him be glorie worldes without end Amen.* And Isai in the 40. chapter, vers. 13.14. and in the 104. Psal. vers. 24. *O Lord of hoastes how are thy workes multiplied? Thou hast done all thinges in wisdome.* And Psalm. 147. vers. 5. *Our Lord is great and mightie in strength, there is no number of his vnderstanding.* When therefore we heare our most wise, yea, our onely wise God, who hath promised that he will shew himselfe such a wise God towardes vs; who should not receiue his wordes with high reuerence, and haue a contented minde in all, and those most dayly workes of his prouidence as done most wisely, an so rest in his wisdome? The which diuine wisdome the Apostle wondring at, doth therewithall praise it. *To the only wise God, be glorie,* Romanes cap. 16. vers. 37. Therfore also the wisdome of God doth incourage vs to cōfidence: seeing he hath promised to shew himselfe such a one towardes vs. Also who knowing his wisdome doth not according to his word, as the briefe rule of wisdom, frame his his life? Psal. 119. Now after that we haue by faith layd holde vpon the omnipotencie and wisdome of God in all his workes, hauing vtterly denied our owne wisdome of the fleshe, Rom. 8. it followeth that he be acknowledged also to be good. Now his goodnes is considered, aswell in all effectes, as in forgiuing of sinnes. Concerning the first, whatsoeuer is done of God, it is good, and thou must acknowledg it as verie good. For how can any other thing but good proceede from him in whom there is nothing but good? Therefore Dauid grauely and shortly saith, *Iehoua is good to all, and his mercie is ouer all his workes.* Psal. 145. Thou hast a singular vse and practise of this doctrine in the 107. Psalme. Furthermore his goodnes & mercy, whereby amongest the rest of his workes he taketh away iniquitie & wickednes, ought so to reare vp our faith, that if the flesh feare, lest he should cast vs off, for our iniquitie and wickednes, faith ought fully to be resolued, that this is the nature of God, as Moses saith, to take iniquitie and sinnes, to witte from the beleeuers. Now the nature of God is vnchangeable, wherefore vndoubtedly he would take them from vs, so that we beleeue. This nature of God shineth in the face of Christ, when he saith, *Be of good cheere my sonne: Thy sinnes be forgiuen thee.* Who therefore would not trust in him? who also hauing heard of this so great goodnes, would go on willingly and wittingly to offend him? As the Apostle saith in the 2. to the Rom. vers. 4.5. *Doest thou despise the riches of his goodnes, long sufferance and gentlenes, not knowing that his goodnes doth prouoke thee to repentance? But thou after thy hardnes, and harte that cannot repent, heapest vnto thy selfe wrath against the day of wrath, and of the iust declaration of the righteous iudgement of God?* Who also hauing heard of his mercie, doth not feare to doe any man wrong, or vniustly to oppresse his neighbour? like as in verie deede by this his nature, yᵗ he is merciful, he turneth vs away from all hardnes of hearte, and inhumanitie. Exo. 22.26.27. *If thou take the garment of thy neighbour for a pledge* (saith he) *before the sun go downe, thou shalt restore it againe vnto him, because it is his onely couering, it is his garment to couer his skinne, in which he should sleepe. And when he shall crie vnto me to heare him, I will heare him: because I am mercifull.* Yea also the righteousnes of God, doth so shine in the face of his Christ, that also the most iust nature of God expressed in the lawe, may comfort vs in Christ, and confirme our hope, which otherwise in our selues may worthily terrifie vs. For seing that God is most righteous, and hath once called into iudgement the sinnes of all beleeuers, and hath punished them in his sonne, in the full rigour of his iustice; the most righteous nature of God will not beare, that the same debte once perfectly paide and clensed, should be twise or againe repaide vnto him. Againe, forasmuch as God is so righteous, that an innocent before him is not innocent, that is, he is such an exact examiner of sinnes, that euen the most righteous in mens iudgement, and such as are not guiltie of any thing in them selues, 1. Cor. 4. vers. 3. before him are not innocent: but doth visite the sinnes of the fathers vpon the childrens children to the third and fourth generation: yea and would rather that his righteousnes should be satisfied in his onely begotten sonne, then that he would let sinnes escape vnpunished: should not we earnestly repent, thinking vpon the saying of Christ, *If this be done in the greene wood, what shalbe donne in the dry?* The righteous nature of God also, doth so drawe vs backe from all wrong and violence, to the loue of our neighboure, as if we thinke that God hath the same nature, that cannot suffer vnpunished, that thy neighbour should be oppressed, no more then thou couldest suffer that any should treade thy childe vnder his feete, thou behoulding it, Psal. 103. *The Lord of Hoastes shewing mercies and iudgements to all those that are oppressed.* See the graue testimonies that are writen, concerning this matter, 1. Cor. 6.7.8.9.11. and the first Thes. 4.6.7.8. The euerlasting nature of God also doth confirme our faith. For seing yᵗ such a one hath promised in couenant to be our God, who is euerlasting, we rightly gather thereof, that not onely our soules shall liue in God, but also that our bodies shalbe raised vp to life: that the euerlasting God, may be indeede their God. And surely vpon this foundation leaneth that reason of Christ, whereby he prooueth against the Saduces out of the workes of the couenaunt, the resurrection of the dead. Matt. 22. vers. 32. Neither that onely, but also concerning this life, of that euerlasting nature of God, doth a faithful mā gather newe courage and strength, Isai. 40. vers. 27.29.31. And psal. 103. vers. 5. Also that same euerlasting nature of God ought to stir vs vp to repentance, 1. pet. vers. 22.23.24.25. So ought also the holines of God, which is ioyned with his eternitie. 1. Pet. 1. vers. 14.15.16.17.18. also, 1 Iohn. 3. vers. 3.\n\nI beleeue in God the father, is his only begotten sonne, and in the holy Ghost.\n\n## Certaine testimonies of the diuinitie of the sonne, according to those things that are attributed vnto him in the description of God, and order of the articles of faith\n\nIt followeth that we shewe, that God hath so manifested himselfe in his worde, that these three persons, the father, the sonne & the holy Ghost, be that one onely true God, in whom we professe to beleeue in the Creede, when we say: We beleeue in God the father, and in his onely begotten sonne, and in the holy Ghost. Nowe a person or 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, is a singular thing, vnderstanding, willing, that cannot be imparted, or communicated to another, not vpholden of another, nor part of an other. That God the father who hath made heauen & earth, is so manifest, that euen the vngodliest heretiques denying the diuinitie of the sonne and holy Ghost, dare not yet deny the diuinitie of the father. That the sonne is a thing by himselfe subsisting, vnderstanding, willing &c. and by nature God: although to the Citizens of the kingdome of Christ, it is plaine and at hand throughout the holy scripture: yet it is profitable that their memorie euer and anone be refreshed with some cleare and diuine testimonies. Nowe we will alledge first some testimonies according to the order of those things which are attributed vnto God, which we haue set downe in the description: then afterwards according to the course and order of the articles of the faith.\n\n[^1]The word or yᵉ Sonne is a spiritual substance. To yᵉ Rom. 1. vers. 3. & 4. Heb. 9. ver. 14. & 1. Pet. 3. vers. 18.19. Io. 14. Ye beleeue in God, beleeue also in mee, he is eternall and incomprehensible aswell in glory as in wisedome: Io, 17. vers. 5. Glorifie me thou father, with thy owne selfe, with the glory which I had with thee before the worlde was. And Prouerbs 8. Also Apocalip. 1. vers. 8. Hebr. 7. vers. 3. Good, pure, and vndefiled. Io. 10. vers. 11. Isay. 40. verses 9.10.11. Isay. 6. Holy, holy, holy, the mightie Lord of hoastes: all the earth is full of his glory. These things doth Iohn the Euangelist interprete of Christ. Cap. 12 vers. 41. saying, These things said Esaias, when he sawe his glory, and spake of him, to witte of Christ. And Io. 17. vers. 19. He is also of infinite power, for he createth & preserueth all things together with the father and the holy Ghost: Io. 1. In the beginning was that word, & that word was with God, and that word was God.[^2] Also, All things were made by it, and without it, was made nothing that was made. vers. 3. And to the Coloss. 1. By the beloued sonne, through whom we haue redemption were all things created,[^3] which are in heauen and which are in earth, thinges visible and inuisible: whether they be Thrones or Dominions, or Principalities, or Powers.[^4] All things were created by him and for him: And he is before all things, and in him all things consist. To the Heb. the first. He hath spoken vnto vs by his sonne by whō he hath made yᵉ worlds. Prouerb 8. Iehoua possesseth me,[^5] from the beginning of his way: I had yᵉ chiefty frō euerlasting, frō yᵉ beginning before yᵉ earth was. When there were no depths was I fashioned, before there were foūtaines running wᵗ water: before yᵉ mountaines were, and before the hills was I brought forth. He had not yet made the earth, & the streates, & the height of the dust of the world: when he prepared yᵉ heauens, I was there, &c. And Io. 5. ver. 17.18. My father worketh hitherto, & I work. Therefore the Iewes sought yᵉ more to kil him: not onely because he had broken yᵗ sabbaoth: but said also yᵗ God was his father, and made himselfe equall wᵗ God. To the Philippians the 3. vers. 21. He worketh miracles by his owne power: to witte, not as one calling vpon God, but as one commanding by his owne auctority. Thou hast examples Mat. 8. vers. 26. Luk. 5. and 7. For he commandeth the winde and the sea, and they obey him, and he rebuketh the fearefulnes of his disciples, Mark. 4. vers. 39.41. he giueth power also vnto others to worke miracles, but by calling vpon his name. Mark. 8. Acts. 3. vers. 6.16. and Cap. 4 vers 10. And he is of an immutable righteousnesse, Ierem. 23. And this is the name whereby they shall call him, Iehouah, our righteousnesse, Of an vnspeakeable mercie. Titus the 3. vers. 4. and the 6. and Chapter. 2. vers. 10. and 12. of a most constant truth. Mat. 24. vers. 35. The heauen and earth shall passe, but my wordes shall not perish. And the first of Iohn, Full of grace & truth. Io. 14. vers. 9 That same worde, is the onely begottē sonne of yᵉ father, and yᵉ co-eternal image of yᵉ father.[^6] Io. 1. We haue seene his glory, as yᵉ glory of yᵉ onely begottē of God. To the Hebr. 1. who being the brightnes of his glory, (the light from the light) and very ingraued forme of his person of his substance, and bearing vp all things by the worde of his power,[^7] &c. And he is the Lorde of all creatures, but chiefly of the faithfull or of the Church, Io. 1. He was in the worlde, and the world was made by him, but the worlde knew him not: he came amongest his owne, and his owne receiued him not. Before he came into the world he was a subsisting person, and Dauids Lord, from which Christ maintaineth his diuinitie in the 22. of Mathew, saying. What thinke you of Christ? whose sonne is he? they say vnto him, Dauides: he saith vnto them, how then doth Dauid in spirit call him Lord? saying: The Lord said vnto my Lord, sit at my right hand, till I make thine enemies, thy footestoole. If therefore Dauid call him, Lord, how is he his sonne? Also Luk. vers. 1. verses 16.17.43. and vers. 76.77. And thou childe (Iohn Baptist) shalt be called the Prophet of the most high. For thou shalt goe before the face of the Lorde to prepare his waies, & thou shalt giue the knowledge of saluation to his people. Malach. 4. vers. 5. Io. 1. This is he that commeth after me that was before me, &c. Io. 20. vers. 28. Thomas answereth, him my Lord and my God. Acts 16. vers. 31. and Chap. 18. vers. 10.[^8] So Christ was conceaued by the holy Ghost, that being before that substantiall worde, and by himselfe subsisting, he tooke our flesh: Philip. 2. who being in the forme of God, thought it no robbery to be equall with God: but he made himselfe of no reputation, taking vpon him the forme of a seruante. Hebr. 2. He tooke not the natures of Angels vpon him, but he tooke the seede of Abraham. Io. 6. I am that bread of life which came down frō heauen. Io. 16. I went out from yᵉ father, & came into yᵉ worlde, &c. and 1. Timot. 3. Great is the mysterie of godlines, God is manifest in the flesh.[^9] The Prophetes foretolde that *this man which is borne of the virgine,* should not be a man, in such sort, as should subsist of himselfe as Peter and Paule: but the true God, to witte, the second person, bearing and vpholding that humaine lumpe, into the vnitie of the person knitte vnto him. Isay 7. Beholde a virgine shalbe with childe: and shal bring forth a sonne & thou shalt call his name Immanuell, *God with vs.* And in the 9. A childe is borne vnto vs: A sonne is giuen vnto vs: and the principalitie was vpon his shoulders, and thou shalt call his name wonderfull, counseller, the mightie God, father of eternitie and prince of peace. Ierem. 23. I will reare vp to Dauid a righteous braunch, and he shall raigne king, and shall prosper. &c. And this is his name, whereby they shall call him Iehoua our righteousnesse. Miche. 5. And thou Bethlehem Euphrata, although thou be amongest the thousands of Iehudah, out of thee shall there come forth vnto me, which shalbe the gouernour of Israel: and his generations shalbe from olde, and from the daies of euerlastingnes. Coloss. 2. vers 9. In him dwelleth all fulnes of the Godhead bodily.[^10] He confessed before Pontius Pilate vnder whom he suffered, that his kingdome was euerlasting, and that therefore he came into the worlde, that he might giue testimony of the truth. Io. 18. vers. 36.37. and Acts 4. vers. 25.26.27.30. When the same iudge iudged him, there is fulfilled that prophecy in the 11. of Zachary, Mat. 27. And they tooke thirty peeces of siluer, the price of him that was valued, whom they of the children of Israel valued. And they gaue them for the potters fielde, as the Lord appointed vnto mee. That which the Lorde foretolde of the children of Israel prising him then, when the couenant was to be taken away, and the people to be forsaken, (which he signified by the breaking of the staffe, which was called the staffe of meekenes, or rather the staffe of ioye) But in Christ, God manifested in the flesh, this full disanullance being at hande, yea in all circumstances it was fulfilled by a wonderful prouidence.[^11] *Crucified.* Zach. 12. vers. 10. They shal looke vnto him whō they haue pearced. This Iehoua saith of himselfe; and Iohn saith that this was fulfilled in Christ. Cap. 19. vers. 37. And the 1. Cor. 2. vers. 8. If they had knowen, they had not crucified the Lorde of glory. Acts. 3 vers. 15. Ye haue slaine the prince of life. *Dead.*[^12] The Testament was to be confirmed by the death of the Testator. Now the Testator was God. Hebr. 9. vers. 16.17. And Cap. 8. vers. 8.9. Acts 20. God hath purchased the Church vnto himselfe hy his owne bloud.\n\n*Buried, descended into hell.* Oze. 13.14.15.[^13] God saith, I will redeeme them from the power of hell, I will redeeme them from death, I will be thy death, O death: O hell, I wilbe thy destruction. This was partly fulfilled by Christ, and shall partly bee fulfilled hereafter, as the Apostle teacheth. 1. Cor. 15. vers. 55.56.57. Therfore Christ is true God, he rose also by his owne power, *He rose from death the third day.* Rom. 1. vers. 4. Io. 2. vers. 19. Destroy you this Temple, and I will reare it vp againe in three daies. And Cap. 10. vers. 17. & 18. I lay downe my life, that I might take it againe. No man taketh it from mee, but I laye it downe of my selfe: I haue power to lay it downe, and power to take it againe.\n\nThat he is the true God that ascended into heauen,[^14] the Apostle plainly teacheth in the fourth to the Ephesians, verses 7.8 9. To euery one of vs is grace giuen according to the measure of the gifte of Christ: wherefore he saith, when he ascended vp on high,[^15] he led captiuitie captiue. Io. 3. vers. 13. No man ascendeth vp to heauen (that is to say by his owne power: for others ascend being drawene) but he that hath descended from heauen. And Io 6. vers. 36. and vers. 62. Also in the 16. Cap. vers. 28.\n\n[^16] *He sitteth at the right hand of God,* and is worshipped of Angels and men. Hebr. 1. To which of the Angels hath he euer saide, sitte at my right hande? In the same place, all the Angels of God shall worshippe him. And 1 Pet. 3. vers. 22. to the Ephesians 1. verses 20.22.23. to the Philippians 2. verses 9.10. wherefore God lifted him vp on high & hath giuen him a name, which is aboue euery name. That at the name of Iesus euery knee should bowe, both of things in heauen and things in earth, and things vnder the earth. And that euery tongue should confesse that Iesus Christ is the Lorde, to the glory of God the father. See the first to the Corinth.[^17] 1. vers. 2. Acts 9. vers, 14. He hath power to iudge both the quicke and the deade; and so he is priuie to all the thoughts, sayings and doings of men, and not onely that, but also he is most iust and mightie to execute sentence. 1. Cor. 4.5. Iudge nothing before the time, vntill the Lorde come, who will lighten thinges that are in darkenes, and make manifest the counsells of the heartes. Io. 5. He hath giuen all iudgement to the sonne, that all may honour the sonne, euen as they honour the father. Mat. 3. His fanne shalbe in his hande, and he shall purge his floore, and gather his wheate into his garner, but will burne vp the chaffe with vnquenchable fire. To discerne hypocrites from the faithfull is the onely worke of God: and to gather these into heauen, and to thrust downe the other into euerlasting fire is also the onely worke of God.\n\nThe holy ghost also, in whom we beleeue,[^18] Christ himselfe giueth, which is a notable testimonie of his euerlasting godhead. Ioh. 1. vers. 23. This is he that baptiseth with the holy ghost. Acte. 2. compare the 17. verse, I will powre out (saith God) of my spirite. &c, with the. 33. vers. He hath shed foorth this which you now behold and see. Iohn, 16. verse. 7. and cap. 20. vers. 22.\n\nHe hath chosen vnto himselfe a catholique or an vniuersall Church,[^19] from among all mankinde. Iohn. 13.16. I know whom I haue chosen, and in the 15. chapter. You haue not chosen me, but I haue chosen you, that ye goe and bring forth fruite, and that your fruite remaine. Also in the 10. Chap. vers. 16. and Chap. 11 vers. 52. He was present with this Church euen from the beginning, as the euerlasting king and priest thereof. Heb. 13. vers. 8. Christ yesterday, to day & for euer. Also the, 1.3. vers. 19.20. and the 1. Cor. 10. Thou art a priest for euer after the order of Melchisedeck. and Heb. 7. ver. 3. To this church from the beginning he reuealeth the father & himselfe. Mat. 11. No mā knoweth the father but the sonne, and to whom soeuer the sonne will reueale him. Also 1. Pet. 1. vers. 11. He quickeneth this Church from euerlasting death. Io. 5. vers. 25. He will haue his Church holy vnto him and separated from idolaters and from those which professe not faith and repentance: and therefore he directly opposeth the worshippe of himselfe in the Church against the worshippe of false Gods. 1. Cor. 10 14. My beloued, fly from idolatry, that I may speake more wisely, Iudge you what I say. The cuppe of thankesgiuing, whereby we giue thankes, is it not the communion of the bloode of Christ? And a little after: Vers. 19 20. What therfore do I say? that the Idol is any thing, or that which is sacrificed to Idols is any thing? yea this (I say) that that which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to diuels, & not to God: and I would not yᵗ you should haue felowship with diuels. Ye cānot drinke yᵉ cup of the Lord, & the cup of diuels; ye cānot be partakers of the Lords table, & of the table of diuels, Do we prouoke yᵉ Lord to anger? Are we strōger then he?\n\n[^20]He communicateth himselfe with the Sainctes, that is, with all the elect, and he dwelleth in them howsoeuer they are throwne out of the world. Iohn, 14 vers. 23. I and the father will come and make our abiding with him. And in the 15 chap. vers 1.4. Also 1. Cor. 12. ver. 12. For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of the body which is one, though they be many, yet are but one body: so is Christ. Ephe. 3. That Christ may dwell in your hartes through faith. Gala. 2. vers. 20. Now I liue no more, but Christ liueth in me. Also Iohn, 17. vers. 23. and 26. He entreth into league and fellowship with the Church by the ministerie of the word and sacramentes: & he is present with it euen from the beginning of the world, and remaineth present vnto the end. 1. Cor. 10. Let vs not tempte Christ, as some of them tempted, and were destroyed of Serpentes. Also 1. Pet. 1. vers. 11. Matt. 28. Loe I am with you alwaies to the ende of the world. He instituted baptisme the seale of the couenant, and would haue vs no lesse baptised in his name, then in the name of the father & of the holy ghost: making promise of saluation to them that beleeue and are baptised, Matt. 28. vers. 19. Mar. 16. vers. 16. Collo. 2. verse, 9, 10, 11. Acte. 8. vers. 16. and chap. 19 vers. 5. Now it is both blasphemie to be baptised in the name of any creature, and it is onely proper vnto God, to make promises of saluation, and to fulfill them. Wherefore also Christ is he, which baptiseth with the holy ghost, Mat. 3, verse, 11. Act. 2. vers. 18 32. He instituted the sacrament of thankesgiuing, for the diuine worship of himselfe, in the place of the Paschall, as he saith: Do this in remembrance of me: Wherefore also Paule calleth it the cuppe of thankesgiuing, whereby we giue thankes: And concerning the seale of the newe Testament, he speaketh thus: This is the newe Testament in my blood. Now it is the same Lord or Hoastes, that had promised a newe Testament, & who confirmeth the selfsame by his death. Ierem, 31. vers. 33. and Hebrewes, 9. vers. 17.\n\nThe forgiuenes of sinnes, which he not onely deserueth by his death, but also giueth by his owne power, is also a notable testimonie of the Godhead of Christ.[^21] For he iustifieth all his elect, from the beginning of the world. Act. 15. vers. 10.11. Whie tempte ye God, laying a yoake vpon the Disciples neckes, that neither our fathers nor we were able to beare? but by yᵉ grace of our Lord Iesus Christ we beleeue to be saued, euen as they doe. Iohn. 8. vers. 56. Psal. 110. The Lord hath sworne and will not repent him. Thou art a Priest for euer after the order of Melchisedeck. By, and for this Priest, were sinnes alwaies forgiuen to the beleeuers. Now yᵗ he doth forgiue sins by his owne power, he confirmeth by a miracle. Matt. 9. But that you may know that the sonne of man hath auctoritie in earth to forgiue sinnes (then he saith to the man sicke of the palsey) Arise, take vp thy bed, and go into thy house: And in Ioh. 13. he saith, Vnlesse I wash thee, thou shalt haue no part with me.\n\n[^22]The resurrectiō also of the flesh is a worke of Christ, as also the inward renuing to euerlasting life. Iohn. 5. vers. 2. and 28. As my father raiseth vp the dead and giueth them life, so also the sonne giueth life vnto whom he will. And the howre shall come, that all that are in their graues, shall heare his voyce, &c. Also Iohn, 6. vers. 39.40. and in the 11. chap. I am the resurrection and the life, he that beleeueth in me, though that hee were dead, hee shal liue, & whosoeuer liueth and beleeueth in me, he shall not die for euer. By Christ shalbe fulfilled that of Hoseas, Death is swallowed vp in victorie. O death, where is thy victorie? &c. 1. Cor. 15. vers. 55.57. and in the same Chapiter, verses 45.48.\n\nAnd Christ himselfe giueth euerlasting life.[^23] Ioh. 1. Life was in him. Ioh. 10. I giue eternall life vnto my sheepe, neither shall they perish for euer, neither shall any man take them out of my hande, I and the father are one. All these thinges which we haue rehearsed according to the order of the description of God, and the articles of the faith, seeing they are of that sorte, as can agree to none but onely to God, they plainly conuince Christ to be God by nature.\n\n## What daunger there is to be feared, if we beleeue not in the sonne, as in the true euerlasting God, of the same substance with the father\n\nThe truth it selfe sheweth a most present daunger. Ioh. 3. *He that beleeueth in the sonne, is not iudged or condemned, but he that beleeueth not, is iudged already, because he beleeueth not in the name of the onely begotten sonne of God.* And in the 8. Chapiter, *You are from hell, I am from aboue. You are of this worlde, I am not of this worlde: therefore I haue said vnto you, that you shall dye in your sinnes.* Moreouer it is said in the 1. Ioh. 2. vers. 23. *Whosoeuer denieth the sonne, hath not the father.* Also in the 2. Ioh. vers. 9.10.11. And in Ioh. 16 vers. 3. Therefore the holy Ghost hath forewarned vs by the Apostle Peter, that *we should take heede of these deceauers.* 2. Epist. Cap. 2. There were also false Prophets amongest the people, as also there shalbe false teachers among you, who shall bring in deadly heresies, *denying the Lorde who hath bought them, hasting vnto themselues a swift damnation, and many shall followe their condemnation.* Nowe the Lorde who hath bought vs, is Iesus Christ, very God and man, as the scripture witnesseth. Acts. 20. *God hath redeemed his Church through his blood.* Nowe therefore if so be that any do not beleeue, that he is the true God, that hath in mans nature shed forth his blood, he denyeth the Lord who hath bought him.\n\n## Testimonies prouing the Godheade of the holy Ghost, that he is a person and the true & euerlasting God, and not any motion or thought, or any other thing that is created\n\n[^24]That the holy Ghost is subsisting and God by nature, first of all it is shewed by the creation, Genes. 1. *And the spirit of God moued it selfe vpon the face of the waters.* In which words it is attributed to the holy Ghost, that he wrought together in the creation of all with the father and the sonne. The creation is most clearely attributed vnto him. Psal. 104. *Sende forth thy spirit, and they shalbe created, and thou shalt renue the face of the earth.* Therefore the scripture affirmeth that yᵉ holy Ghost is Iehouah, which is most plaine out of the 6. of Isay, and the 28. of Acts vers. 25. Isay, 6. *And he said* (Iehouah of whom before in the same Chapiter, *Seraphim had cried, Holy, Holy, Holy, Iehouah, Lord of hoasts) Goe and say vnto this people, in hearing heare you, and vnderstand not: and in seeing, see you and knowe not.* These same wordes which the Lorde spake. Paule, Acts. 28. saith that the holy Ghost spake, *Very well* (saith he) *spake the holy Ghost by Isaias the Prophet vnto our fathers, &c.* Therefore the holy Ghost is Iehouah. The same is also plaine by other places, Ierem. 31. *This is the couenant that I will make with the house of Israel. After these daies saith Iehouah, I will giue my lawe into their hearte &c.*\n\nNowe the Epistle to the Hebrews, Cap. 10. vers. 15. affirmeth that these same wordes of the lord proceeded from the holy ghost. The holy ghost also himselfe witnesseth vnto vs. For after he had foreshewed, This is my couenant that I will make with them, &c. The which also Ioel affirmeth, Cap. 2. whom Peter also citeth and expoundeth, that he may shewe them as plaine effectes of the holy Ghost which are altogether belonging to the power of the godhead: *I wil, saith Iehouah powre out of my spirit vpon all flesh, and your sonnes and daughters shall prophesie.*\n\nAnd these thinges which are alledged now, to shew that the holy Ghost is God the creator: by them also is shewed that he is an vnderstanding essence, euerlasting, good, righteous, mercifull, most free, of an infinite power and most constant truth: neuerthelesse let vs yet see also certaine testimonies seuerally concerning those thinges that are attributed vnto him: which as they onely agree vnto God, so they plainly proue the holy Ghost to be very God.\n\nThat the holy Ghost is an vnderstanding essence, euerlasting, and which giueth vnderstanding, it plainly appeareth out of the 61. of Esai: *The spirit of the Lord Iehouah is vpō me, for that Iehouah hath anointed me: to preach vnto the milde he hath sent me.* Luk. 4. Christ teacheth that he is he, *vpon whō is the spirit of Iehouah, for that he anointed him.* But to anoint inwardly, as Christ properly is anointed, and by his owne power to send to preach glad tidinges, and to giue power to preach glad tidinges aright, is a work of a person truely subsisting, vnderstanding, and of the euerlasting God. Also it appeareth by his effectes which are rekoned vp in the 5. to the Galathians, that he is also good, iust, pure, mercifull, most free, and in deede as God communicating his giftes vnto other. The fruites of the spirit is loue, ioy, peace, gentlenesse, benignitie, goodnesse, faith, softnesse of spirit, and temperance. And surely the same Apostle teacheth that the holy Ghost is the worker of these, and therefore God. 1. Cor. 12. *There are diuersitie of giftes, but the same spirite. And there are diuersitie of administrations, but God is the same that worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the spirit is giuen to euery man to profitte withall. For to one is giuen by the spirite, the worde of wisedome: and to another the worde of knowledge by the same spirite.* And a little after, *But all these thinges worketh one and the same spirite, distributing to euery man seuerally as he will.* Loe he had saide before: There are diuersitie of administrations, but God is the same that worketh all in all: afterwards shewing that the same holy spirit is God himselfe, he saith: All these things worketh one and the same spirit, distributing to euery man seuerally as he will. That he is true, and that as God looking into the heartes, and trying the thoughts, it is taught in the 5. of the Acts. *Peter said, Ananias, why hath Sathan filled thy heart, that thou shouldest lie vnto the holy Ghost?* and by and by he addeth, *Thou hast not lyed vnto men, but vnto God.* And that he proceedeth from the father and the sonne, not as a created motion or mouing, but as a person existing, vnderstanding, and of the same essence with the father & the sonne, Christ teacheth in Ioh. Cap. 14. vers. 26. *Now that same holy spirit the comforter, whom the father shall sende in my name, he shall teach you all things, and shall put all these things into your minde which I haue said vnto you.* But this belongeth onely to God 1. Cor. 2. vers. 10.11.12. He iustifieth and sanctifieth the Church aswell as the sonne: 1. Cor. 1.6. 1. Pet. 1. and renueth it to euerlasting life. Ioh. 3. & baptiseth into the same body. 1. Cor. 12. He dwelleth in the beleeuers, and raiseth them vp from the deade. Rom. 8. *If his spirit who hath raised vp Iesus from the dead dwell in you, he will also quicken your mortall bodies, by his spirit dwelling in you.* And verily he dwelleth in vs, as in his owne temple. Therefore the holy Ghost must necessarily be the true God. 1. Cor. 3. vers. 16. *Doe you not knowe that you are the temple of God, and that the sptrite of God doth dwell in you? &c.* Now in the 2. Cor. cap. 6. he saith, *Ye are the temple of the liuing God, as God hath saide, I will dwell in them, and walke there. &c.*\n\nOut of all which it is vnderstoode that the holy ghost is the true and euerlasting God.\n\n## What daunger there is, if we beleeue not in the holy ghost\n\nIf any beleeue not in the holy Ghost, he neither beleeueth in the father nor in the sonne, and so manifestly beleeueth not in God: forasmuch as the father and the sonne cannot be knowen and be beleeued of vs, vnlesse the holy ghost reueale it, who proceedeth from the father and the sonne, and is of the same essence with both. 1. Io. 4. ver. 14. So therefore we must determine: that if any man haue not the spirite of Christ, the same is not his. Rom. 8. But if any knowe not the holy Ghost, neither also hath he it. Iohn, 14. The worlde can not receaue the holy Ghost, because it seeth it not, neither knoweth it. Therefore he that knoweth not the holy ghost, he is not of Christ. But you knowe him (saith Christ) because he abideth with you, and shalbe in you.\n\n## That the father, the sonne, and the holy ghost are three distinct persons, and yet that they are one and the same substance\n\nTherefore those former being dispatched, to witt that the father, the sonne and the holy ghost, are thinges subsisting of themselues, vnderstāding, &c. it foloweth also that we teach that they are incōmunicable, or rather distinct, Gene. 1. *In the beginning God created the heauen and the earth, and the spirite of God moued it selfe vpon the face of the waters,* And God said, *Let there be a light, and the light was made.* Mat. 3. The trinitie of the persons is plainly described, to witt the sonne clad in mans nature and baptised, then yᵉ holighost in a bodily forme as it were a doue descending downe from heauen, & abiding vpon the sonne: Lastly yᵉ father pronoūcing with a cleare voyce out of heauen, *This is my beloued sonne in whō I am wel pleased.* Also, Mat. 28. ver. 19. Ioh. 8. vers. 16, 17, 18. Also cap. 14 *Now I will aske the father, and he will giue you another comforter, that hee maie remaine with you for euer.* And, 15.26. *But when that comforter shall come, whom I will send vnto you from the father, that spirite of truth who proceedeth from the father, he shall witnesse of me.* Also, cap. 16. vers. 7. Further that these three persons, are one diuine essence, these places witnes, Deut 6. *Heare Israel, Thy Lord thy God is one God.* And 32. *See, I; am one and there is no other God besides me.* Psal. 18. *Who is God besides the the Lord? And who is God besides our God?* 2. King. 5. *I know for a suertie* (saith Naaman Syrus) *that there is no other God in all the earth, but onely in Israel.* Isai. 42.43.45, and 48. Iohn, 10. *I and the father are one.* And the 14. *Beleeue me, that I am in the father, and the father in me.* Esai. 6. *Seraphin cried Holy, Holy, Holy, the Lord of Hoastes.* The voyce *Holy* thrise repeated, setteth foorth the Trinitie of persons: and the word Iehouah, the vnitie of the essence: Matt. 28. Going foorth, *Teach ye all nations, baptising them in the name of the father, and of the sonne, and of the holy ghost.* It is verie certaine that we are baptised into the faith and worship of one God: But that there is mention made of three, to witte of the father, of the sonne, and of the holy ghost: in the selfesame is noted the Trinitie of persons, in the vnitie of substance. 1. Cor. 7. vers. 11. 1. Iohn, 5. *There are three which beare witnesse in heauen, the father, the word, and the holy ghost, and these three are one.* Now whatsoeuer thinges haue beene spoken before of the Godhead of the sonne, and of the holy ghost, they doe also proue the same thing, to witte that these three persons are one euerlasting God. For neither the father, were an euerlasting father, vnlesse he had a sonne from euerlasting, and coessentiall, or of the same substance with him: neither were the Sonne the onely begotten sonne of the Father, vnlesse he were of the same substance with him: neither were the holy ghost the spirite of the father and sonne, proceeding from both, vnlesse it were coessentiall with the father and the sonne.\n\n## What fruite we receiue by this, that we know and beleeue the father of our Lord Iesus Christ, the sonne and the holy ghost, to be the onely true and eternall God: and that there is no other God\n\nFirst of all, forasmuch as this is the true felicitie, that we should know the true God, because God doth communicate himselfe vnto vs through the knowledge of himselfe: and forasmuch as our bodies and soules, were created and redeemed with a great price to this purpose, that they might be the temples of the liuing God in which he might be praysed: we know that this is truly and indeede fulfilled in vs, through the knowledg of the true God, of the father, the sonne, and the holy ghost, as Christ promiseth, Iohn 14.16. *I will aske the father, and he shall giue vnto you another comforter, that he may dwell with you for euer, to wit the spirite of truth, which the world cannot receiue, because it seeth him not, neither hath knowne him: But you knowe him, because he abydeth with you & shall be in you.* Also ver. 23. *The father and I will come & make our abiding with him.* 1. Ioh. 1. ver. 3. 1. Cor. 6. ver. 19.20. Secōdly it is profitable & necessarie that in our calling vpon God, we should thinke vpon what god we cal, to wit, vpō that same true God, with whom we haue stricken and entred into a couenant of faith, and who hath witnessed in an euerlasting league that he wilbe a God vnto vs, and which he hath sealed vnto vs by the seale of baptisme, that so we might separate our inuocation, from the inuocation of Ethnickes, Turkes, and such like: who call vpon those Gods that are no gods, but are deuised of the father of all liuing. For God cannot tollerate at any hand that there should be any felowship with his confederates, in the inuocation and worship of false gods: the which thing the holy ghost playnly pronounceth, 2. Cor. 6. vers. 14, 15. Now the same Apostle yet further setteth before our eyes, the greatnes of the daunger, vnlesse through true obedience of faith wee cleaue vnto the true God, whose confederates we are, and altogether abstaine from al idolatrous worship or inuocation, 1. Cor. 10. *That which the gentiles offer, they offer to diuels & not to God. Now I would not that ye should be partakers with diuels. Ye cannot drinke of the cup of the Lord, & of the cup of diuels: Ye cannot be partakers of the table of the Lord, and of the table of diuels.* For there followeth after yᵉ fellowship with the diuels table, fellowship also in euerlasting paines. Apoca. 14. ver. 9, 10, 11, 12. Luk. 11. ver. 49, 50, 51, 52.\n\n[^1]: 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉\n[^2]: Creator of heauen and earth.\n[^3]: vers. 16.\n[^4]: 17.\n[^5]: verses 22. &c.\n[^6]: His onely begotten sonne.\n[^7]: Our Lord.\n[^8]: Who was conceaued by the holy Ghost.\n[^9]: Borne of the virgine Mary.\n[^10]: He suffred vnder Pontius Pilate.\n[^11]: Crucified\n[^12]: Dead.\n[^13]: Buried descended into hell.\n[^14]: The third day he rose againe from the dead.\n[^15]: He ascended into heauen.\n[^16]: He sitteth at the right hand of God the father almightie.\n[^17]: From thence he shall come to iudge both the quicke and the dead.\n[^18]: I beleeue in the holy Ghost.\n[^19]: The holy Catholique Church.\n[^20]: The communion of Sainctes.\n[^21]: I beleeue the forgiuenes of sins.\n[^22]: The resurrection of the flesh.\n[^23]: And life euerlasting.\n[^24]: 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉"}