-
14. Of the False Church’s Succession
Of the Evil Success of the Roman Church, Consisting Only in the Succession of the Persons, and Not of the Doctrine Here is to be considered the great error of the Romanists, when they without regarding the true succession of the doctrine build on, and parade the succession of the persons, who either from the beginning of the world, or from the time of the apostles have existed throughout, as they pretend up to the present time; surely a very insignificant matter! ["Trust ye not in lying words," saith the Lord, "saying, The temple of the Lord, The temple of the Lord, The temple of the Lord, arc these" (Jer. 7:4).] For, if they reckon from the beginning of the world, we have shown, that…
-
13. Of the False Church’s Origin
Of the Ungodly and False Church, which is the Opposite of the Church of God, and the Origin, Progress and Succession of the Same through All Times Where God builds a temple, says the old proverb, there the devil builds another in opposition. This has been apparent ever since the beginning of the world. For at the same time that Abel became a martyr of God, and, therefore, a good leader of the children of God, Cain made himself a murderer, and became a leader of the children of Satan, who belong to the ungodly and false church, as members of one body. Gen. 4:8. He was followed by Lamech, one of Cain's descendants, who slew a young man, and afterwards spoke of it to…
-
12. The Third Confession
Third Confession Drawn up at Dort, at a certain peace convention on the 21st of April, 1632, being a statement of the chief articles of our general Christian faith, as the same are taught and practiced throughout in our church. I. Of God and the Creation of All Things Since we find it testified that without faith it is impossible to please God, and that he that would come to God must believe that there is a God, and that He is a rewarder of them that seek Him; therefore, we confess with the mouth, and believe with the heart, with all the pious, according to the holy Scriptures, in one eternal, almighty, and incomprehensible God, the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, and in none…
-
11. The Second Confession
Second Confession Also drawn up at Amsterdam, on the 7th of October, 1630, called: Confession of Faith, and the principal articles of the Christian doctrine. [Not divided into separate articles, except the articles of belief in God, and the manner of life in the church.] We believe with the heart, and confess with the mouth, that there is one only, eternal, incomprehensible, spiritual Being, which, in Scripture, is called God; to whom alone is ascribed omnipotence, mercy, righteousness, perfection, wisdom, all goodness, and omniscience, and who is called a fountain of life, and the source of all good, the Creator of all things; and the Preserver of the same; who in the Old Testament bears various appellations—the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God…
-
10. The First Confession
First Confession Drawn up at Amsterdam, the 27th of September, 1627, called Scriptural Instruction, concerning who the people are, on whom the peace of God rests, and,how they are bound to peace and unity; given in answer to the following several questions, of which the first is: What are the fundamental and unmistakable marks by which the children of God and members of Jesus Christ (being the church of God) can and must be known, according to the testimony of the word of the Lord? In order to answer this question correctly, we must consider what the means are, by which men become children of God, members of Jesus Christ, and the church of God. For although the blessed Lord Jesus Christ is the only…
-
9. The Apostles’ Creed
To give evidence, then, of the faith professed by us, we declare, that we believe in our heart, and confess with our mouth: The Apostles’ Creed 1. I believe in one God, the Father, the almighty Creator of heaven and earth; 2. And in Jesus Christ, His only-begotten Son, our Lord; 3. Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, and born of the virgin Mary; 4. Who suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; 5. Rose from the dead on the third day; 6. Ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God, the almighty Father; 7. From whence He will come to judge the living and the dead; 8. I believe in the Holy Ghost; 9. I believe in…
