Collection of Discourses, Part 11 · Subpart 1 – Subpart 3
OF THE DOCTRINE OF THE CHVRCH.
1 THe doctrine of the church, or Chriſtian religion, is a doctrine of Gods law and the Goſpell of Chriſt, perfect and incorrupt, as it is deliuered in the bookes of the Prophets & Apoſtles, by which alone God leadeth men to eternall life.
2. The whole doctrine of Chriſtianitie is conteined in theſe two partes, the lawe, and the Goſpell.
3. The foundation of Chriſtian religion is the Decalogue or ten commaundements, and the articles of our faith rightly vnderſtoode.
4. Which is all one, if we ſay the foundation is the doctrine of Gods nature and will.
5. Paule alſo meaneth the ſame 1. Cor. 3. Whē that the foundation is Chriſt.
6. The church muſt needes knowe difference between the doctrine delivered vntounto it by God, and that which is deliuered to it by religion of other nations▪
7 The firſt difference is, that the goſpell of Chriſt is only knowne in the church; other ſectes are altogither ignorant thereof. All heretiques mainetaine errors either touching the ſon of Chriſt, or concerning his office.
8 The ſecond, that the church retaineth the whole doctrine of Gods law, other ſectes are ignorant of the firſt table of the lawe, and in the ſecond obſerue only ſome parte, touching externall diſcipline.
9 The third, that the church learneth the knowledge and worſhip of God, out of his whole word, and out of that alone, neither taking ought from it, nor adding to it: as for other religions, they doe not only caſt away the greater parte of Gods truth, but alſo vntounto the final portiō of law, which they retaine, adde idolatrie, granting and approving manie thinges repugnante to the ſecond table of the decalogue.
10 Even the treweſt philoſophie muſt be diſcerned from the doctrine of the church: for trew philoſophie comprizeth onelyonly that parte of this doctrine which the ſecond table commaundeth▪ as for the whole & entire louelove of our neighbor, of that it teacheth vsus nothing, & framing to it ſelfe an idol inſteede of the true God, erreth much frō the trew worſhip of the trew God.
2 OF HOLIE SCIPTVRE.
1. The ſumme of holy ſcripture is conteined in the decalogue and creede.
2. Which is alſo manifeſt, becauſe it is all conteined in the lawe and the Goſpell.
3. For what ſoeuer is there in conteined, eyther it concerneth the nature, or will, or workes of God, or the ſinne of deuills and men?
4. The wil of God cōſiſteth in precepts, threats, and promiſes.
5. The workes of God are eyther his benefites, as the creation, preſeruation, and gouerninge of al things, the collecting & vphoulding his church by the mediation of his ſonne: o… his iudgments, as the punniſhments of offenders.
6. Of all theſe we are taught, either in the law, or in the Goſpell, or in both.
7. The ſame is plaine by the diviſion of the whole ſcripture into the new & olde Teſtament or couenant.
8. For this word couenant doth ſignifie that in ſcripture we are taught that GOD promiſeth or performeth vntounto menne either before or ſince the manifeſtation of Chriſt in the fleſh, and what he requireth againe of them, and for what cauſe.
9. Which alſo the ſcripture intendeth, profeſſing to teach Chriſt.
10. For whatſoeuer is therin deliuered, eyther it pertayneth to the trew knowledge of Chriſts perſon, or his office.
11. The differences betweene the doctrine delivered in ſcripture and the religions of other ſectes, are theſe. Firſt in the doctrine of the trew church is taught the whole Goſpell of Chriſt, but other religions either knowe it not at all, or to their owne errours ioyne ſome part thereof, whoſe vſe they neyther know nor conceaue.
12. Secondly: in the doctrine of the Prophets & Apoſtles is delivered the whole lawe of God, & that rightely vnderſtoode: other religions cutt of the cheife points therof, namely the trew knowledge and worſhip of God, or the firſt table of the commaundements, and the internall and ſpirituall obedience of the ſecond table, retaininge onelie a parte therof, namelie the precepts of Diſciplines, or externall and civill duties towardes men.
13. But though even they alſo doe boaſt and glorie of the trew God and his worſhip, yet doe they erre from him for 3 cauſes. Firſt becauſe naturall teſtimonies are not ſufficient to the knowledge of the trew God. Secondly, becauſe vntounto thē men ioyne many errors of their owne. Thir…ly becauſe for want of the light of Gods worde, they vnderſtād not even thoſe thinges which in word they truely profeſſe, but corrupt them with an evill interpretation.
14. Either they commaund onelyonly ſo much touching aff…ections and inclinations diſagreeing with the ſecōd table as may ſerue to bridle them, which is but a parte of this doctrine, or they doe accuſe and condemne all, or els they doe not ſo much accuſe and condemne them as doth the doctrine of the church.
15. Other ſectes admit & approue ſome things againſt the externall obedience of the ſecond table, God by his iuſt iudgment giuing them over into a reprobate ſenſe.
16 We pronoūce the doctrine of holy ſcripture to be true, not for the authority of the church, but becauſe we know it was delivered vntounto vsus by God.
17▪ That it is from God, we know by teſtimonie of the holy Ghoſt in the hearts of the godly: by our deliuerance from ſinne and death, whereof this only religion doth aſſure vsus: by the puritie & integritie of the lawe, which is founde onelyonly in the church: by the prophecies and the fulfilling therof: by miracles proper only to the church: by the antiquitie of this & late vpſtarte newneſſe of others: by the conſent and agreement of everie parte in this doctrine, and the diſagreement in others: by the hatred of Satan and all the wicked againſt this doctrine: by the miraculouſe preſeruation & defence therof againſt the Diuell and the worlde: by the punniſhmentes inflicted vponupon the enemies therof: by the conſtancie of martyrs and confeſſors who had ſure comforte euen in death by their holy life, by whom it was deliuered and ſpread abroade.
18. No opinion of God or his will and worſhip muſt be receaued, which is not ſet downe in ſcripture: & we muſt ſo fa… giuegive credit to other doctors of the church, as they confirme their doctrine out of the prophets and apoſtles▪
19. This is not only proued by teſtimonie of holie ſcripture, whereby we are commaunded in caſes of religion to depende on it alone; but alſo by the nature & definition of faith and the worſhip of God, both which muſt needes be grounded on Gods worde: alſo by the perfectiō of this propheticall & apoſtolicall doctrine; and by the diverſe callings of Prophets, apoſtles, & other doctors & teachers of the church.
3. OF THE CERTAINETIE AND AVTHORITIE OF HOLIE SCRIPTVRE.
1. It is certaine that onelyonly this doctrine of religion, which is cōteined in the bookes of the prophets & apoſtles, is deliuered by God himſelfe, & doth not only nor principally relye vponupon the authoritie of the church, but moſt eſpecially vponupon the teſtimonie of God & the ſcripture it ſelfe.
2. The firſt and principall argument wherby this authoritie of holy ſcripture is eſtabliſhed amōgſt vsus, is the witneſſe of Gods holy ſpirit in the hearts of the faithfull.
3. This witnes as it is peculiar to the godly, ſo it only cauſeth vsus in true faith to embrace the doctrine of the prophets & apoſtles: all the reſt may be vnderſtood even of them which are not regenerate, and do indeed conuince or forceablie perſwade vsus of the truth of this doctrine, but except we hauehave alſo this witneſſe of the ſpirite, they can neuer moue our mindes to embrace and giuegive credit to them.
4. The ſeconde argument is, becauſe this doctrine only ſheweth men the cauſes of evill, & deliuerrance from ſinne & death, agreeing with the perfect iuſtice and goodnes of God, and alſo ſatisfying our conſciences.
5 The third, becauſe only the doctrine of the prophets and Apoſtles retaineth Gods law entire & pure; but all other Religions frame vntounto thēſelues Gods, and their worſhip, without any authoritie from God, and approue many things contrary to the law naturally knowne vntounto vsus.
6 The fourth, becauſe hiſtory and experience doth witneſſe, that the evēt hath anſwered thoſe predictions which hauehave beene heere and there ſet downe in ſcripture.
7 The fift, is, the miracles added to this doctrine.
8 The ſixt, antiquity, becauſe this religion vva… the firſt, and hath continued the ſame, from the beginning of the world vntill this day.
9 The ſeventh, the conſent and agreement of all parts of this doctrine betweene themſelues, which is not in other religions.
10 The eighth, is the hatred of Satan and all the wicked againſt this doctrine.
11 The ninth, is Gods preſervation and defence of this doctrine againſt all his enemies.
12 The tenth, the puniſhment of ſuch enemies as perſecute or corrupt this doctrine.
13 The eleventh, the conſtancy of Martyrs and confeſſors. Tertullian. The bloud of Martyrs is the ſeed of the church. The Martyrs of the church differ from others… in multitude, 2 in alacrity & cheerefulneſſe in vndergoing dangers & death it ſelfe, 3 the defenders of wicked doctrine ſuffer when they are convicted of errors, but the godlie are by tyrannicall force carried awaie to puniſhment.
14 The twelfth, their holineſſe of life by whom it was delivered and ſpread abroad, farre exceeding the vertues of heathen men, and ſuch as followed other religions.
15 Seeing therefore this only doctrine of religion is true and Divine, no opinion can binde our conſciences to beliefe or obedience, which is not eſtabliſhed by teſtimonies of holy ſcripture rightly vnderſtood: but no opinion diſagreeing therewithall is to be ſo much as receiued.