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down expresly in the end of his Gospel； These things （saith He）
are written； that ye may know that Jesus is the Christ； the Sonne
of the living God。 Iohn 20。 vers。 31。
I say； that to a Christian。 Although I conceive this
assertion to be sufficiently proved by the following reasons； yet
I thought it worth my labour to make a more ample explication of
it； because I perceive that being somewhat new； it may possibly
be distastfull to many Divines。 First therefore when I say this
Article； That Jesus is the Christ； is necessary to salvation； I
say not that Faith onely is necessary； but I require justice
also； or that Obedience which is due to the Lawes of God； that is
to say； a Will to live righteously。 Secondly； I deny not but the
profession of many Articles； （provided that that profession be
commanded by the Church） is also necessary to salvation； but
seeing Faith is internall； Profession externall； I say that the
former onely is properly Faith； the latter a part of Obedience；
insomuch as that Article alone sufficeth for inward beleefe； but
is not sufficient for the outward profession of a Christian。
Lastly； even as if I had said that true and inward Repentance of
sinnes was onely necessary to salvation； yet were it not to be
held for a Paradox； because we suppose justice； Obedience； and a
mind reformed in all manner of vertues to be contained in it： so
when I say that the Faith of one Article is sufficient to
salvation； it may well be lesse wondred at； seeing that in it so
many other Articles are contained。 For these words； Jesus is the
Christ； do signifie that Jesus was that Person whom God had
promised by his Prophets should come into the world to establish
his Kingdom； that is to say； that Jesus is the Sonne of God； the
Creatour of Heaven and Earth； born of a Virgin； dying for the
sinnes of them who should beleeve in Him； that Hee was Christ；
that is to say a King； that He reviv'd （for else He were not like
to reign） to judge the world； and to reward every one according
to his works； for otherwise he cannot be a King； also that men
shall rise again； for otherwise they are not like to come to
judgement。 The whole Symbol of the Apostles is therefore
contained in this one Article； which notwithstanding I thought
reasonable to contract thus； because I found that many men for
this alone； without the rest； were admitted into the Kingdome of
God； both by Christ； and his Apostles； as the Thief on the
Crosse； the Eunuch baptized by Philip； the two thousand men
converted to the Church at once by Saint Peter。 But if any man be
displeased that I doe not judge all those eternally damned； who
doe not inwardly assent to every Article defined by the Church
（and yet doe not contradict； but if they be commanded； doe
submit） I know not what I shall say to them； for the most evident
Testimonies of Holy Writ which doe follow； doe withhold me from
altering my opinion。
VII。 Secondly； this is proved by the preaching of the
Apostles。 For they were the Proclamers of his Kingdome； neither
did Christ send them to preach ought but the Kingdome of God；
Luke 9。 vers。 2。 Act。 15。 vers。 6。 And what they did after Christ
his Ascension may be understood by the accusation which was
brought against them； They drew Jason （saith Saint Luke） and
certain Brethren unto the Rulers of the City； crying； These are
the men that have turned the world upside down； and are come
hither also； whom Jason hath received； and these all do contrary
to the decrees of Caesar； saying that there is another King； one
Jesus。 Acts 17。 vers。 6； 7。 It appears also what the subject of
the Apostles Sermons was； out of these words： Opening； and
alleadging out of the Scriptures （to wit； of the old Testament）
that Christ must needs have suffered； and risen again from the
dead； and that THIS JESUS IS THE CHRIST。 Acts 17。 vers。 2； 3。
VIII。 Thirdly； By the places in which the easinesse of those
things which are required by Christ to the attaining of
salvation； is declared。 For if an internall assent of the minde
were necessarily required to the truth of all and each
Proposition which this day is controverted about the Christian
Faith； or by divers Churches is diversly defined； there would be
nothing more difficult then the Christian Religion。 And how then
would that be true； My yoke is easie； and my burthen light？ Mat。
11。 vers。 30。 and that litle ones doe beleeve in Him？ Mat。 18。
vers。 6。 and that it pleased God by the foolishnesse of
Preaching； to save those that beleeve？ 1 Cor。 1。 vers。 21。 or how
was the thiefe hanging on the Crosse sufficiently instructed to
salvation； the confession of whose Faith was contained in these
words； Lord remember me when thou comest into thy Kingdome； or
how could Saint Paul himselfe； from an enemy； so soon become a
Doctor of Christians？
IX。 Fourthly； by this； that that Article is the foundation of
Faith； neither rests it on any other foundation。 If any man shall
say unto you； Loe here is Christ； or He is there； beleeve it not；
for there shall arise false Christs； and false Prophets； and
shall shew great signes； and wonders； &c。 Mat。 24。 vers。 23。
Whence it followes； that for the Faiths sake which we have in
this Article； we must not beleeve any signes； and wonders。
Although we； or an Angell from Heaven （saith the Apostle） should
preach to you any other Gospel； then what we have preacht； let
him be accursed。 Gal。 1。 8。 By reason of this Article therefore
we might not trust the very Apostles； and Angels themselves （and
therefore I conceive not the Church neither） if they should teach
the contrary。 Beloved； beleeve not every spirit； but try the
spirits whether they are of God； because many false Prophets are
gone out into the world； hereby know yee the spirit of God； every
spirit that confesseth Jesus Christ is come in the flesh； is of
God； &c。 1 John 4。 vers。 1； 2。 That Article therefore is the
measure of the Spirits whereby the authority of the Doctors； is
either received； or rejected。 It cannot be denied indeed； but
that all who at this day are Christians； did learn from the
Doctors； that it was Jesus who did all those things whereby he
might be acknowledged to be the Christ； yet it followes not that
the same Persons beleeved that Article for the Doctors； or the
Churches； but for Jesus his own sake。 For that Article was before
the Christian Church； although all the rest were after it； and
the Church was founded upon it； not it upon the Church。 Mat。 16。
vers。 18。 Besides； this Article； that Jesus is the Christ； is so
fundamentall； that all the rest are by Saint Paul said to be
built upon it； For other foundation can no man lay； then that
which is layd； which is Jesus Christ （that is to say； that Jesus
is the Christ）。 Now if any man build uPon this foundation； gold；
silver； precious stone； wood； hay； stubble； every mans work shall
be made manifest： If any mans work abide which he hath built
thereupon； he shall receive a reward； if any mans work shall be
burnt； he shall suffer losse； but he himselfe shall be saved。 1
Cor。 3。 vers。 11； 12； 13。 &c。 From whence it plainly appears；
that by foundation is understood this Article； THAT JESUS IS THE
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