A08483:380
An exposition of the Symbol of the ApostlesAn exposition of the Symbole of the Apostles
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.An exposition of the Symbole of the Apostles, or rather of the articles of faith In which the chiefe points of the euerlasting and free couenant betweene God and the faithfull is briefly and plainly handled. Gathered out of the catechising sermons of Gasper Oleuvian Treuir, and now translated out of the Latine tongue into the English for the benefite of Christ his Church. By Iohn Fielde.
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.
The meaning of this Article.
I Believe that whatsoever is sin, and so called, whether it be original, or by birth, as transgression in the loins of Adam, & the corruption that followed of it, which I bear about in my flesh: or whether it be actual sin, as thoughts, words, and wicked deeds, which spring from thence: I believe I say, that all that through faith, whereby I am engrafted and dwell in Christ, in the free and undeserved goodness of God, is freely forgiven me, and so freely, that all memory, aswell of the fault, as of the punishment, like as if I had never sinned, or had no sin, is taken away from before God: and therefore I trust that I am now already blessed.
I Beleeue that whatsoeuer is sinne, and so called, whether it be originall, or by birth, as transgression in the loines of Adam, & the corruption that folowed of it, which I beare about in my flesh: or whether it be actuall sinne, as thoughtes, wordes, and wicked deedes, which spring from thence: I beleeue I say, that all that through faith, whereby I am engraffed and dwell in Christ, in the free and vndeserued goodnesse of God, is freely forgiuen me, and so freely, that all memorie, aswell of the fault, as of the punishment, like as if I had neuer sinned, or had no sinne, is taken away from before God: and therefore I trust that I am now already blessed.
Now forasmuch as nothing is more hard then to believe the forgiveness of sins, go to, let us see what are the causes of this certainty concerning the forgiveness of sins. The chief and principal cause is, because the covenant and oath of God, which containeth this article in it, is confirmed by the death of the testator himself, which is Jehovah, that God will not be any longer mindful of our sins: of the testator I say, even of God himself, which had made that covenant. Now what can be