An end of doctrinal controversies which have lately troubled the churches

§. 18. This Covenant did constitute Christianity many years (supposed eight) before any part of the New Testament was written, as now extant, and near seventy years before it was all written.

§. 18. This Covenant did constitute Christianity many years (suppos•d eight) before any part of the New Testament was written, as now extant, and near seventy years before it was all written.

§. 19. As Man hath an Intellect, a Will, and an Executive power, and the Gospel is to work on all, so the Creed is the Summary of our Belief, the Lords Prayer, of our Desire; and the Christian Decalogue and Institutions, of our practice, as expounding what Baptism generally expresseth.

§. 20. Though to the Jews that were bred up under the use of the Old Testament, and that expected ⟨p. 144⟩the Messiah, the Apostles staid not long instructing them, before they baptized them, when they professed Repentance and Faith in Christ; yet it cannot be conceived, but that with the ignorant Gentile Christians, all Teachers took pains to make them understand, first what they were to profess and promise; for ignorant doing they know not what, pleaseth not God. And therefore that the Faith contained in the three Baptismal Articles, was certainly explained in more words and accordingly professed; which must be in substance that called the Apostles Creed, which the Churches preservation and use, with the Custom of long instructing Catechumens, giveth us notice of, as well as the reason of the thing.

§. 20. Though to the Iews that were bred up under the use of the Old Testament, and that expected ⟨p. 144⟩