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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…
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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…
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8. Of Doctrinal Succession
Succession of Doctrine Here the words of Tertullian are applicable. He says: "The Christian church is called apostolic not just because of the succession of persons, but on account of the kinship of doctrine, since she holds the doctrine of the apostles." Lib. de praescript, etc. This doctrine everyone who boasts ["Let no man glory in men," says Paul, I Cor. 3:21. We may not glory, therefore, in the succession of eminent persons, if they do not derive their eminence from the eminence and truth of the word of God. The prophet Jeremiah, going further yet in this point, has cursed that man who trusts in man, and maketh flesh his arm. Jer. 17:5.] of the true succession, must prove from the true apostolic writings,…
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7. Of Personal Succession
Personal Succession As a great building, house, or castle, can be considered, firstly, with regard to it as a whole, and, secondly, with respect to its different parts, so also the whole church of Christ can properly be considered: firstly, in the whole or in general, as comprising all the congregations in the whole world, which have in common the most holy faith, and the practice, which, according to God's holy Word, must follow therefrom; secondly, in any particular part of the same, as, this or that church which is in accord with it, as for instance, the church at Amsterdam, Harlem, Dort, etc. Likewise there is also (or, certainly can be) a twofold personal succession: (1) a general, (2) a particular one. By the…
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6. Of the Church’s Succession
The Succession of the Church of God, Personal Succession, and Succession of Doctrine From the Latin word saccedo, that is, to go under, or to take the place of one, is derived the word, succession, which we, though improperly, have mixed into our Dutch language. The various branches proceeding from this root, that is, the numerous words taking their origin from it, together with their significations, we leave untouched; in general we understand by it, to follow any one in his place, right, or reign. There is a twofold succession, natural and spiritual, political and ecclesiastical, or civil and ecclesiastical; but we have to speak here only of the spiritual and ecclesiastical, and not of the natural, political, or civil, succession; for only the former,…
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5. Of the Church’s Obscurity
The Church of God Obscured and Rendered Almost Invisible in Some Place; and What has been the Cause of it from Ancient Times As the moon, notwithstanding her substance and body never perish, is not always seen in her full light by the human eye, either, because she sinks beneath the horizon, or, being too close to the sun, is obscured by him, or, being far from the sun, is darkened by the shadow of the earth, which is called an eclipse; even so it is with the substance and appearance of the church of God on earth. The latter, though never perishing entirely, does not always show herself in her full form, yea, at times she seems to have vanished altogether, yet not in…
