A. They who feign that the old fathers did look only for transitory promises.

Q. Although the law, given from God, by Moses, as touching ceremonies, and rites, do not bind Christian men, nor the civil precepts thereof ought of necessity to be received, in any commonwealth; yet what are Christians bound to ?

A. No Christian whatsoever is free from the obedience of the commandments, which are called moral?

Scripture Proofs.

I Corinthians x. 1-4. Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, and were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea, and did all eat the same spiritual meat, and did all drink the same spiritual drink; for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ.

Isaiah liii. 5. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities, the chastisement of our peace was upon him, and with his stripes we are healed.

Isaiah vii. 14. And shall call his name Immanuel (God with us.)

Job xix. 25. I know that my Redeemer liveth.

Matthew v. 17-19. Think not that I am come to destroy the law and the prophets; I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever, therefore, shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven; and whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

This Article shows very plainly the connection between the old and new Testament :- -"The law was our schoolmaster, to bring us to Christ," "that we might be justified by faith;" and "faith working by love," through the operation of the Holy Spirit, gives us a disposition to “cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of flesh and spirit, and to perfect holiness in the fear of the Lord." The law, as a covenant, is broken, but it must be ever considered as a rule of life to believers. Christ died not to save his people in their sins, but from their sins. I here caution you against the most baneful heresy that ever infested a Christian church, I mean the heresy of 'Antinomianism,' which is a compound of ignorance, self-conceit, and spiritual pride; clamorous, morose, and scornful; and warn you that no Christian man whatsoever is free from the obedience of the commandments which are called moral.

VIII.

OF THE THREE CREEDS.

The three Creeds, Nicene Creed, Athanasius' Creed, and that which is commonly called the Apostles' Creed, ought thoroughly to be received and believed: for they may be proved by most certain warrants of Holy Scripture.

Q. What are the names of the three Creeds? A. The Nicene Creed, Athanasius' Creed, and the Apostles' Creed.

Q. Why ought these three Creeds to be thoroughly received and believed?

A. Because they may be proved by most certain warrant of Holy Scripture.

Scripture Proofs.

Hebrews xi. 6. Without faith it is impossible to please him, for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Mark xvi. 16. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved, but he that believeth not shall be damned.

Jude 3. Ye should earnestly contend for the faith once delivered to the saints.

Great respect is due to all these Creeds, on account of their antiquity and general reception among Christians.

The Nicene Creed is so denominated because the greater part was drawn up and agreed to at the Council of Nice, A. D. 325.

The Athanasian Creed is a confession of faith long supposed to have been drawn up by Athanasius, bishop of Alexandria, in the fourth century, to justify himself against the calumnies of his Arian enemies; however, it is now generally allowed not to have been his, and that it obtained the name of the Athanasian Creed, because it contains the principles of Athanasius on the Trinity. The reception of this Creed has been both general and ancient.

The Apostles' Creed contains a summary of the Christian faith; it may be said to be that of the Apostles, with respect to the doctrines contained in it: but we receive these three creeds, not for their own sakes, nor for the sakes of those who prepared them, but because we believe that the doctrine they declare is contained in Holy Writ.

IX.

OF ORIGINAL OR BIRTH SIN.

Original sin standeth not in the following of Adam (as the Pelagians do vainly talk); but it is the fault and corruption of the nature of every man, that naturally is engendered of the offspring of Adam; whereby man is very far gone from original righteousness, and is of his own nature inclined to evil, so that the flesh lusteth always contrary to the spirit; and therefore in every person born into this world, it deserveth God's wrath and damnation. And this infection of nature doth remain; yea, in them that are regenerated; whereby the lust of the flesh, called in Greek phronema sarkos, which some do expound the wisdom, some sensuality, some the affection, some the desire of the flesh, is not subject to the law of God. And although there is no condemnation for them that believe and are baptized, yet the apostle doth confess, that concupiscence and lust, hath of itself, the nature of sin.

Q. What is original sin?

A. It is the fault and corruption of the nature of