XXIV.

Of Man's fanctification and good works.

We believe that this true faith being wrought in man by the hearing of the word of God, and the operation of the Holy Ghoft, doth regenerate and make him a new man, caufing him to live a new life, and freeing him from the bondage of fin. Therefore it is fo far from being true, that this juftifying faith makes men remifs in a pious and holy life, that on the contrary without it they would never do any thing out of love to God, but only out of felf love or fear of damnation. Therefore it is impoffible that this holy faith can be unfruit ful in man, for we do not peak of a vain faith, but of fuch a faith which is called in fcripture a faith that worketh by love, which excites man to the practice of thofe works, which God has commanded in his word. Which works as they proceed from the good root of faith, are good and acceptable in the fight of God, for as much as they are all fanctified by his grace: Howbeit they are of no account towards our juftification. For it is by faith in Chrift that we are juftified, even before we do good works otherwife they could not be good works, any more than the fruit of a tree can be good, before the tree itself is good, Therefore we do good works but not to merit by them (for what can we merit) nay, we are beholden to God for the good works we do,

and not he to us: Since it is he that worketh in us both to will and to do of his good pleafure. Let us therefore attend to what is written, when ye fhall have done all those things which are commanded you, fay, we are unprofitable servants; we have done that which was our duty to do. In the meantime we do not deny, that God rewards good works, but it is through his grace that he crowns his gifts. Moreover though we do good works, we do not found our falvation upon them, for we can do no work but what is polluted by our flesh, and also punishable: and although we could perform fuch works, still the remembrance of one fin is fufficient to make God reject them. Thus then we fhould always be in doubt, toffed to and fro without any certainty, and our poor confciences be continually vexed if they relied not on the merits of the fufferings and death of our Saviour.

XXV.

Of the abolishing the ceremonial Law.

We believe that the ceremonies and figures of the law ceased at the coming of Christ, and that all the fhadows are accomplished: fo that the use of them must be abolished amongst Chriftians, yet the truth and fubftance of them remains with us in Jefus Christ, in whom thy have their completion. "In the mean time we still use the teftimonies taken out of the law and the prophets to confirm us in the

doctrine of the gofpel, and to regulate our life in all honefty, to the glory of God according to his will,

XXVI.

Of Chrift's Interceffion.

We believe that we have no access unto God,than alone through the only Mediator and Advocate Jefus Chrift, the righteous, who therefore became man, having united in one perfon the divine and human natures, that we men might have access to the divine Majefty, which accefs would otherwise be barred against us. But this Mediator whom the Father hath appointed between him and us, ought in no wife to affright us by his majefty or caufe us to feek another according to our fancy. For there is no creature either in heaven or on earth who loveth us more than Jefus Chrift; who though he was in the form of GOD, yet made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a man, and of a fervant for us, and was made like unto his brethren in all things. If then we should feek for another Mediator, who would be well affe&ted towards us, whom could we find who loved us more than he who laid down his life for us, even when we were his enemies? And if we feek for one who hath power and majefty, who is there, that has fo much of both as he, who fits at the right hand of his Father, and who hath all power in heaven and on earth? And who will fooner be heard than the own well beloved Son of God? Therefore it was

only through diffidence, that this practice of difhonouring instead of honouring the faints was introduced, doing that which they never have done nor required, but have on the contrary stedfaftly rejected it according to their bounden duty, as appears by their writing, Neither must we plead here our unworthiness; for the meaning is not that we fhould of fer our prayers to God on account of our own worthiness, but only on account of the excellency and worthiness of our Lord Jefus Chrift, was righteoufnefs is become ours by faith. Therefore the apostle to remove this foolish fear or rather mistrust from us, justly faith, that Jefus Chrift, whofe made like unto his brethren in all things, that he might be a merciful and faithful High Prieft, to make reconcilation for the fins of the people. For in that he himself hath fuffered, being tempted, he is able to firecour them that are tempted; and further to encourage us, he adds feeing then that we have a great High Priest, that is paffed into the heavens, Jefus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profeffion. For we have not an High Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without fin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. The fame apoftle faith, that we have boldness, to enter into the holiest, by the blood of Jefus ; let us draw near (faith he) with a true heart in full affurance of faith, &c. Likc

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wife, Chrift hath an uncheangeable priesthood, wherefore he is able alfo to fave them to the uttermoft that come unto God by him, feeing he ever liveth to make interceffion for them. What more can be required? Since Christ himself faith, I am the way, and the truth, and the life, no man cometh unto the Father but by me. To what purpose should we then feek another Advocate, fince it hath pleased God, to give us his own Son as an Advocate? Let us not forfake him to take another, or rather to feek after another, without ever being able to find him: For God well knew, when he gave him to us, that we were finners. Therefore according to the command of Chrift, we call upon the heavenly Father through Jefus Chrift our only Mediator, as we are taught in the Lord's prayer; being affured that whatever we ask of the Father in his name, will be granted us.

XXVII,

Of the Catholic Chriftian Church.

We believe and profefs, one catholic or univerfal church, which is an holy congregation, of true Christian believers, who all expecting their falvation in Jefus Chrift, being wafhed by his blood, fanctified and fealed by the Holy Ghoft. This church hath been from the beginning of the world, and will be to the end thereof; which is evident from this, that Chrift is an eternal King, which