A08483:326
An exposition of the Symbol of the Apostles, or rather of the articles of faith In which the chief points of the everlasting and free covenant between God and the faithful is briefly and plainly handled. Gathered out of the catechising sermons of Gasper Oleuvian Trevir, and now translated out of the Latin tongue into the English for the benefit of Christ his Church. By John Field.
London: printed by H. Middleton for Thomas Man, 1581
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Like as Christ was borne and died for us: so also he sitteth at the right hand of God for us. Now the first fruit is, that only Christians do rightly know God, call upon him, and praise him. For therefore the father placed Christ at his right hand, that he might be acknowledged, worshipped and praised, both of Angels and men, as their only God and Lord. And contrariwise God doeth abhor all other worships which are not directed unto Christ, in whom only he will be acknowledged, called upon, and praised. Peter inferreth, Acts 2. of the sending of the holy Ghost; out of the testimony of David concerning the sitting of the Messiah at the right hand of God: Therefore let all the house of Israel know for a surety that God hath made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus I say, whom ye have crucified: And Phil. 2.9.10.11. Wherefore God hath also highly exalted him, and given him a name above every name, that at the name of Jesus should every knee bow, both of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is the Lord unto the glory of God the father. And Psa. 97. ver. 7. Apo. 5. ver. 7.9.12.13. 1. Cor. 1. ver. 2. Act. 7. ver. 59. & cap. 9. ver. 14.
LIke as Christ was borne and died for vs: so also he sitteth at the right hande of God for vs. Nowe the first fruite is, that onely Christians doe rightly knowe God, call vppon him, and praise him. For therefore the father placed Christ at his right hande, that hee might be acknowledged, worshipped and praised, both of Angels and men, as their onely God and Lorde. And contrariwise God doeth abhorre all other worshippes which are not directed vnto Christ, in whome onely hee will bee acknowledged, called vppon, and praysed. Peter inferreth, Acts 2. of the sending of the holy Ghost; out of the testimony of Dauid concerning the sitting of the Messias at the right hand of God: Therefore let all the house of Israel knowe for a suretie that God hath made him both Lorde and Christ, this Iesus I say, whome ye haue crucified: And Phil. 2.9.10.11. Wherefore God hath also highlie exalted him, and giuen him a name aboue euerie name, that at the name of Iesus shoulde euery knee bow, both of thinges in heauen, and thinges in earth, and thinges vnder the earth, and that euery tongue should confesse that Iesus Christ is the Lorde vnto the glorie of God the father. And Psa. 97. ver. 7. Apo. 5. ver. 7.9.12.13. 1. Cor. 1. ver. 2. Act. 7. ver. 59. & cap. 9. ver. 14.
THE other fruits are known by their ends. For therefore Christ is exalted in his kingdom, that inwardly he may enrich his Church, and without he may defend it against enemies, yea and also may bridle those that are deadly and inward enemies: the second fruit therefore is, that the father for and by this Christ doeth assuredly give the holy ghost to them that ask it, doeth govern and quicken the faithful by the ministry of the Gospel, & both beautifieth the whole Church with diverse gifts: and also giveth to every member so much gifts as are sufficient for the glory of the head, for the edification of the whole body, and the salvation of that same member: but he leaveth none of them without necessary gifts, or letteth them to be empty, Acts 2.33. Christ exalted to the right hand of God, and having obtained of his father the promise of the holy Ghost, hath shed forth this which ye now see and hear. And to the Eph. 4.7. To every one of us grace is given according to the measure of the gift of Christ. And a little after, He therefore gave some to be Apostles, and some Prophets, and some Evangelists, and some pastors, and teachers for the repairing of the Saints, for the work of the ministry, and for the edification (I say) of the body of Christ, till we all meet together in the unity of faith, and that acknowledging of the Son of GOD unto a perfect man, and unto the measure of the age of the fullness of Christ. Also, ⟨p. 220⟩Let us altogether grow up in him which is the head, to wit, Christ, by whom all the body fitly knit and compact together by all the joints for the furniture thereof, according to the effectual power which is in the measure of every part, the whole receiveth increase of the body, unto the edifying of it self in love. Christ therefore reigneth unto us at the right hand of the father, that pouring out the holy Ghost upon us, he might be effectual by the ministry, and through the spirit might make us his men bers, and might advance his spiritual kingdom day by day in us, until he might fully join us unto himself being perfectly regenerate and washed again from sin and corruption, and so he might be God all in all. 1. Corinthians. 15.
THE other fruits are knowen by their ends. For therefore Christ is exalted in his kingdome, that inwardly hee maye enrich his Church, and without he may defend it against enimies, yea and also may bridle those that are deadly and inwarde enemies: the seconde fruite therefore is, that the father for and by this Christ doeth assuredly giue the holy ghost to them that aske it, doeth gouerne and quicken the faithful by the ministerie of ye Gospel, & both beautifieth the whole Church with diuerse gifts: and also giueth to euery mēber so much giftes as are sufficient for the glorie of ye head, for the edificacion of the whole body, and the saluation of that same member: but hee leaueth none of them without necessarie gifts, or letteth them to be emptie, Actes 2.33. Christ exalted to the right hand of God, and hauing obtained of his father the promise of the holy Ghost, hath shed forth this which ye nowe see and heare. And to the
THE third fruit is the defence of the Church against all our enemies, sin, the flesh, the world, tyrants, devils: all which our heavenly father calleth the enemies of Christ: and in very deed he showeth daily examples of his power in overthrowing them, Psal. 110. The Lord hath said to my Lord, sit at my right hand, until I make thine enemies a footstool unto thy feet. Jehovah shall send the sceptre of thy strength out of Zion: rule in the middest of thine enemies. Surely a wonderful consolation that we are his brethren, yea his members, to whom all power is given in heaven and in earth, without whose will ⟨p. 221⟩& power, neither the Turks nor antichrist can devise any thing against the Church, no nor conclude or move so much as a finger for the executing of their counsels: so that Christ reigneth in such sort in the middest of his enemies, that he will not be shut out, no not out of their most secrete counsels. Yea we are the brethren and members of that Christ, by whose most present divine power, all men are governed, and all creatures in heaven and in earth; so that we may say with full security of mind with the Apostle, Romans 8. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation? shall anguish? shall persecution? shall hunger? shall nakedness? shall danger? shall the sword? (as it is written, For thy sake are we killed all the day long, we are counted as sheep appointed to the slaughter) yea but in all these things, we are more then conquerors through him that hath loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. If when Christ reigned in humility the devils were constrained to ask him leave, how shall they now dare to attempt any thing against any member of Christ, after that Christ is ascended on high & hath led captivity captive, unless first they shall entreat the Lord Christ? But faithful is Christ our Lord, who shall not suffer us to be tempted, above that we shall be able to bear. 1. Corinthians 10. If ⟨p. 222⟩then when he governed his kingdom in humility and great abasement, the sea was still, when he said, Mar 4. be still;
What shall be now done, he reigning in high glory when he will declare his will, as were but by a beck, against the storms of persecutions? But we are the members of so great a Lord, and of Christ, and therefore he not only can, but also will that which is most healthful unto us. And do not we now much more deserve that Christ should upbraid no less unto us then unto the Apostles (a lack for sorrow) that same faintness of faith, because that in the tempests of adversities, in the meditation of so great things our faith doeth mount up no higher? See an example of defence Act. 18. ver. 8.9.
What shall be now done, he raigning in high glorie when he wil declare his wil, as were but by a becke, against ye stormes of persecutions? But wee are the members of so great a Lorde, and of Christ, and therefore he not only can, but also will yt which is most healthful vnto vs. And doe not we nowe much more deserue that Christ should vpbrayde no lesse vnto vs then vnto the Apostles (a lacke for sorrowe) that same faintnes of faith, because that in the tempestes of aduersities, in the meditation of so great thinges our faith doeth mount vp no higher? See an example of defence Act. 18. ver. 8.9.
Daniel 7.13. I did see in a vision by night & behold one like the son of man came in the clouds of heaven, and approached unto the ancient of days, and they brought him before him, and he gave him dominion & honour and a kingdom, that all people nations and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall never be taken away, and his kingdom shall never be destroyed. And in the Epistle of Jude, verses 14.15. And Enoch also the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, behold the Lord cometh with thousands of his ⟨p. 223⟩saints, to give judgement against all men, and to rebuke all the ungodly among them, of all their wicked deeds, which they have ungodly committed, and of all their cruel speakings, which wicked sinners have spoken against him, Matth. 25. And when the son of man cometh in his glory, and all the holy Angels with him, Then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory, and all nations shall be gathered before him, and he shall separate them one from an other, as a shepherd separateth the sheep from the goats. And he shall set his sheep on his right hand, and the goats on the left. Then shall the king say to them on his right hand, Come ye blessed of my father: take the inheritance of the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was an hungered, and ye gave me to eat, I thirsted, and you gave me to drink. &c. 2. Pet. 3. verse 9. The Lord is not slack (as some men count slackness) of that promise he hath promised, but is patient toward us, and would have no man to perish, but all to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in the which the heavens shall pass away with a noise, and the elements shall melt away with heat, and the earth with the works therein shall be burnt up. Seeing therefore that all these things must be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in holy conversation and godliness, looking for and hasting unto that day of the Lord, by the which the heavens being on fire shall be ⟨p. 224⟩dissolved and the elements shall melt with heat?
This article is added unto the former, for the greater confirmation of our faith. For because Christ sitting at the right hand of his father, doeth so exercise his kingly power of judging, partly by defending his that are in covenant with him, that yet in the mean while he keepeth them under the cross and wrongs of their enemies, to mortify sin: partly so bridling the ungodly, Acts 12. that in the mean season he leaveth many things unpunished, to the end his long sufferance may exclude all excuse: and therefore Christ our Lord will to the end that we be not troubled with any miseries or cruelty of enemies, that we should lift up our heads with true confidence of mind to look for his coming, that the greater our misery shall be, the more certain we may be, that the day of our triumph is at hand, and of the righteous destruction of all the wicked enemies of God.
THis article is added vnto the former, for the greater confirmation of our faith. For because Christ sitting at ye right hand of his father, doeth so exercise his kingly power of iudging, partly by defending his that are in couenant with him, that yet in the meane while hee keepeth them vnder the crosse and wronges of their enemies, to mortifie sinne: partly so bridling the vngodlie, Actes 12. that in the meane season he leaueth many thinges vnpunished, to the ende his long sufferaunce may exclude all excuse: and therefore Christ our Lorde will to the ende that wee bee not troubled with any miseries or crueltie of enemies, that we shoulde lift vp our heades with true confidence of minde to looke for his comming, that the greater our miserie shall bee, the more certaine wee may bee, that the daye of our triumph is at hande, and of the righteous destruction of all the wicked enemies of God.
A sure foundation may be taken from the righteousness of God, and the state of the righteous in this life, as Paul hath concluded in the 1. Thes. 1. For it is a righteous thing with God, to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; and to you which are troubled, release with us, when the Lord Jesus shall show himself from heaven with his mighty Angels in flaming fire, &c. Forasmuch therefore as that recompense is not in this life, which the righteousness of God requireth, and this notwithstanding this righteousness remaineth firm & unmoveable with God for ever, that the wicked may be punished, the Godly may receive that same promised release, there upon the Apostle inferreth, that that is a manifest token of the just judgement of God to follow of the coming of the Lord; Furthermore this foundation being laid, the destruction of the city of Jerusalem may be added: which Christ joined with the prophecy of the last judgement, not without a great & weighty cause, that is to say, the figure with the thing signified: that we might no more doubt of his wrath to come upon the ungodly in the day of judgement, then of the shame of the Jews foreshowed of Christ, which yet they bear before our eyes. Matth. 24. Luke 21.
A sure foundation may bee taken from the righteousnes of God, and the state of the righteous in this life, as Paul hath concluded in the 1. Thes. 1. For it is a righteous thinge with God, to recompence tribulation to them that trouble you; and to you which are troubled, release with vs, when the Lorde Iesus shall shewe himselfe from heauen with his mightie Angels in flaming fire, &c. Forasmuch therefore as that recompence is not in this life, which the righteousnes of God requireth, and this notwithstanding this righteousnes remayneth firme & vnmoueable with God for euer, that the wicked may be punished, the Godly may receiue that same promised release, there vpon the Apostle inferreth, that that is a manifest token of the iust iudgement of God to followe of the comming of the Lorde; Furthermore this foundation being laide, the destruction of the citie of Ierusalem maie bee added: which Christ ioyned with the prophecie of the last iudgement, not without a great & weightie cause, that is to say, the figure with the thing signified: that wee might no more doubt of his wrath to come vppon the vngodly in the day of iudgemēt, then of the shame of the Iewes foreshewed of Christ, which yet they beare before our eyes.
THE thirde fruit is the defense of ye Church against all our enemies, sinne, the flesh, the worlde, tyrantes, diuels: all which our heauenly father calleth the enemies of Christ: and in verie deede he sheweth dayly examples of his power in ouerthrowing them, Psal. 110. The Lorde hath said to my Lord, sit at my right hande, vntill I make thine enimies a footestoole vnto thy feete. Iehoua shall sende the scepter of thy strength out of Sion: rule in the middest of thine enimies. Surely a wonderful consolation that we are his brethrē, yea his members, to whome all power is giuen in heauen and in earth, without whose will ⟨p. 221⟩& power, neither the Turkes nor antichrist can deuise any thing against the Church, no nor conclude or moue so much as a finger for the executing of their counsailes: so that Christe raigneth in such sort in the middest of his enemies, that he will not be shut out, no not out of their most secrete counsailes. Yea we are the brethren and members of that Christ, by whose most present diuine power, all men are gouerned, and all creatures in heauen and in earth; so that wee may saye with full securitie of minde with the Apostle, Romanes 8. Who shall separate vs from the loue of Christ? shall tribulation? shall anguish? shall persecution? shall hunger? shal nakednes? shall danger? shall the sword? (as it is written, For thy sake are we killed all the day long, we are counted as sheepe appointed to the slaughter) yea but in al these thinges, we are more then conquerours through him that hath loued vs. For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor thinges present, nor thinges to come, nor hight, nor depth, nor any other creature shall be able to separat vs from the loue of God, which is in Christ Iesus our Lord. If when Christ raigned in humilitie the diuels were constrained to aske him leaue, howe shall they nowe dare to attempt anie thing against any member of Christ, after that Christ is ascended on high & hath led captiuitie captiue, vnlesse first they shall entreate the Lorde Christ? But faithfull is Christ our Lorde, who shall not suffer vs to bee tempted, aboue that wee shall bee able to beare. 1. Corinthians 10. If ⟨p. 222⟩then when he gouerned his kingdom in humilitie and great abasement, the sea was still, when he said, Mar 4. be still;
