صور الصفحة
PDF
النشر الإلكتروني

thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: these things defile a man. Mat. xv. 19, and 20. Therefore the fruits of the Spirit follow, which are, love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, charity, righteousness, and truth, Gal. v. 22, and 23. Therefore unless we are born again, we cannot see the kingdom of God, John iii. 3. Yea, as Christ saith, except ye repent and become as children, (to wit in sin) ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven, Mark x. 14. There shall nothing enter into it that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie, Rev. xxi. 27. as Paul likewise clearly testifieth.

Since then the law of God requires this perfection of us, as it is written, cursed is every one who doth not keep the whole law. As James also saith, Whosoever offendeth in one point, he is guilty of all. James ii. 10. Again, whosoever doeth the law, shall live by it: but we do not keep the least commandment perfectly. As the wise man saith, When we imagine we have done, we only begin, (and in case we did do it, we only do our duty) wherefore we are by the law condemned in God's righteous judgment; for this we have a sure remedy and cure, namely, Christ who hath redeemed us (as Paul saith) from the curse of the law, Gal. iii. 13. and hath satisfied the righteousness of God for us, making reconciliation; and who hath broken down the wall which was between us, namely the law, contained in ordinances, and forgiven us our sins, and torn off the hand-writing, and nailed it to the cross: for this great love of Christ, we ought also to love him, and to be thankful to him, with good works, and verily to believe in him, for the gift of all these excellent benefits For he that cometh to God, must believe that he is a rewarder of them that seek him; for the just shall live by his faith. Heb. xi. 6. Therefore we conclude

that a man is justified by faith, without the deeds of the law; Heb. ii. 4. Rom. iii. 28. and although we suffer a little with Christ, we must not despair; for we see that Christ himself, when he was smitten for our sins, did not smite again, but suffered patiently; and if the ungodly live in great prosperity, as David and the prophets testify, we must not marvel, neither stumble, but comfort ourselves, being assured that their end is everlasting death. He lets them go as sheep to the slaughter, therefore it is not to be wondered at that the faithful meet with no more crosses, in comparison to the glorious joy which is prepared for them; and on the contrary, that the ungodly have no more prosperity than they have, in comparison to the dreadful damnation which attends them. Therefore if the trial of believers is not alike, so neither shall the resurrection of the dead be alike. And in this we have great comfort, that all believers will rise at the last day; of which Paul reasoning, saith, 1 Cor. xv. If the dead rise not, then is not Christ risen, then is our preaching vain, and we are found false witnesses of God. The manner of our resurrection we may read in the 37th chapter of Ezekiel, that we shall rise with flesh and bones. And Job also saith, Job xix. I know that my Redeemer liveth, and will hereafter raise me up out of the earth, and that I shall be covered with my skin, and in my own flesh see God; likewise the prophet Isaiah saith, that the earth and the sea shall give up the dead which have slept in them, for Christ is the resurrection, the first fruits of them that slept. But you must not be ignorant concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not even as others, which have no hope, 1 Thess. iv. 13, to 17. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so those also which sleep in Jesus, will God bring with him; for this we say as a true word of God, that we which are alive

and re

main unto the coming of the Lord, shall not prevent them which are asleep; for the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God, and the dead in Christ shall rise first; then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air. Where we must appear before the judgment-seat of Christ: where every one will receive according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad, 2 Cor. v. 10.

Then Christ will separate the sheep from the goats, and the sheep will be set on the right hand, who shall hear the delightful voice, Come ye blessed, inherit the kingdom of my Father prepared for you from the foundation of the world. There we shall stand with greater confidence against those who have distressed us: then we shall shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of our Father; there we shall come to an innumerable company of angels. There we shall reign from eternity to eternity. Amen.

Blessed are they whose names are written in the book of life.

THE CONFESSION OF FAITH,

COMPOSED IN THE COUNCIL OF NICE, IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD, 325.

WE

E believe in one God, the Father Almighty,. Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible: and in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, begotten of his Father, before all worlds; God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made : who for us men, and for our salvation, came down from, heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Ghost, of the Virgin Mary, and was made man, and was crucified

also for us under Pontius Pilate. He suffered and was buried, and the third day he rose again according to the scriptures, and ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of the Father. And he shall come again with glory to judge both the quick and the dead : whose kingdom shall have no end. Ghost, who spake by the prophets. Catholic and Apostolic church.

And in the Holy

And one holy I acknowledge one

baptism for the remission of sins, and I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

1.

THE CREED OF SAINT ATHANASIUS,

BISHOP OF ALEXANDRIA.

WRITTEN IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD, 333,

W

HOSOEVER will be saved, before all things it is necessary that he hold the Catholic faith. --2. Which faith except every one do keep whole and undefiled, without doubt he shall perish everlastingly.— 3. The Catholic Faith is this, we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity.-4. Neither confounding the Persons, nor dividing the Substance.-5. For there is one Person of the Father, another of the Son, and another of the Holy Ghost.-6. But the Godhead of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost is all one; the Glory equal, the Majesty co-eternal.7. Such as the Father is, such is the Son, and such is the Holy Ghost.-8. The Father uncreated, the Son uncreated, and the Holy Ghost uncreated.-9. The Father incomprehensible, the Son incomprehensible, and the Holy Ghost incomprehensible.-10. The Father eternal, the Son eternal, and the Holy Ghost eternal.-11. And yet they are not three Eternals, but one eternal.-12. As also there are not three Incomprehensibles, nor three Uncreated, but one Uncreated, and one

Incomprehensible.-13. So likewise the Father is Afmighty, the Son Almighty, and the Holy Ghost Almighty.-14. And yet they are not three Almighties, but one Almighty.-15. So the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Ghost is God.-16. And yet there are not three Gods, but one God.—17. So likewise the Father is Lord, 'the Son Lord, and the Holy Ghost Lord.-18. And yet there are not three Lords, but one Lord.-19. For like as we are compelled by the Christian truth, to acknowledge every Person by himself to be God and Lord.—20. So are we forbidden by the Catholic Faith, to say, there be three Gods, or three Lords.-21. The Father is made of none, neither created nor begotten.-22. The Son is of the Father alone, not made, nor created, but begotten.-23. The Holy Ghost is of the Father and of the Son, neither made, nor created, nor begotten, but proceeding.-24. So there is one Father, not three Fathers; one Son, not three Sons; one Holy Ghost, not three Holy Ghosts.— 25. And in this Trinity, there is not First or Last, not greater nor less.-26. But the whole three persons are co-eternal together, and co-equal.-27. So that in all Things, as it is aforesaid, the Unity in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity is to be worshipped.-28. He therefore that will be saved, must thus think of the Trinity. 29. Furthermore, it is necessary to everlasting salvation, that he also believe rightly the Incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ.-30. For the right Faith is, that we believe and confess, that our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is God and Man.-31. God of the Substance of the Father, begotten before the World; an Man of the Substance of his Mother, born in time. 32. Perfect God, and perfect Man, having a reasonable Soul, and a human Body.-33. Equal to the Fathe ording to his Godhead: and inferior to the Fa. ther as to his Manhood.-34. Who, although he be

« السابقةمتابعة »