6. It is the very Character of the Church: and serves to distinguish 1us from all other professions of men in the world: as first, from mere naturalists, that believe no more concerning God & religion then they can see by the light of nature as it is now corrupted: and so it distinguisheth us from the Philosophers: and therefore much more from the common sort of Gentiles, that entertained opinions monstrous, and against the very light of Nature: secondly, from the Turks, who though they receive some truths from the light of Scripture, yet rejecting most of these fundamental truths, & entertaining a multitude of blasphemies of their own against the Christian faith, are worthily condemned as men without the pale of the Church: thirdly, from the Jews, because they deny all the Articles concerning Christ: fourthly, from all sorts of Heretics, that have erred from this ⟨p. 10⟩faith, in some of the Articles concerning Christ, such as are the Arians and Papists at this day: fifthly, from such as have but a wandering opinion concerning God in any of these Articles, so as they only know them by conjecture or hearsay, and have not entertained them with distinct assurance into their hearts: and such are multitudes of people of all sorts even in the Visible Church. 2To conclude, every word almost of the Creed doth pierce the sides of some or other heretical or blasphemous men. As we believe one God, against the Gentiles; the Father, Son, and holy Ghost, against the Antitrinitans; Creator of Heaven and Earth, against Carpocrates, Cerinthus and the Ebionites; we believe that Christ is the Lord, against Valentinus, who acknowledged him to be a Saviour, not a Lord; and that he is our Lord, against those in Origens time, that said he was the Lord of God; and that he is the only begotten Son, against the Arians; conceived by the holy Ghost, against Apollinaris, Valentinus, and Eutiches; that he was dead, against Basilides; & rose again, against Cerinthus; and sitteth at the right hand of God, against Praxeus; and we believe one Catholic Church, against the Donatists and Novatian; and the Communion of Saints, against Sectaries; and the Resurrection, against the Sadducees and Cerinthians, and the like.3
6. It is the very Charecter of the Church: and serues to distinguish 1vs from all other professions of men in the world: as first, from meere naturalists, that beleeue no more cōcerning God & religion then they can see by the light of nature as it is now corrupted: and so it distinguisheth vs from the Philosophers: and therfore much more from the common sort of Gentiles, that entertained opinions monstrous, and against the very light of Nature: secondly, from the Turkes, who though they receiue some truthes from the light of Scripture, yet reiecting most of these fundamental truthes, & entertaining a multitude of blasphemies of their owne against the Christian faith, are worthily condemned as men without the pale of the Church: thirdly, from the Iewes, because they denie all the Articles concerning Christ: fourthly, from all sorts of Heretickes, that haue erred from this ⟨p. 10⟩faith, in some of the Articles concerning Christ, such as are the Arrians and Papists at this day: fifthly, from such as haue but a wandering opinion concerning God in any of these Articles, so as they onely know them by coniecture or hearesay, and haue not entertained them with distinct assurance into their hearts: and such are multitudes of people of all sorts euen in the Visible Church. 2To conclude, euery word almost of the Creed doth pierce the sides of some or other hereticall or blasphemous men. As we beleeue one God, against the Gentiles; the Father, Sonne, and holy Ghost, against the Antitrinitans; Creator of Heauen and Earth, against Carpocrates, Cerinthus and the Ebionits; we beleeue that Christ is the Lord, against Ʋalentinus, who acknowledged him to bee a Sauiour, not a Lord; and that he is our Lord, against those in Origens time, that said hee was the Lord of God; and that hee is the onely begotten Son, against the Arrians; conceiued by the holy Ghost, against Apollinaris, Valentinus, and Eutiches; that he was dead, against Basilides; & rose againe, against Cerinthus; and sitteth at the right hand of God, against Praxeus; and we beleeue one Catholique Church, against the Donatists and Nouatian; and the Communion of Saints, against Sectaries; and the Resurrection, against the Sadduces and Cerinthians, and the like.3
- 16. It distinguisheth us from all misbelievers.6. It distinguisheth vs from all misbeleeuers.
- 2Alsted. Catech.
- 37. It is full of comfortable uses.7. It is full of comfortable vses.
