XVIII - Of the Notes by the which the true Church is discerned from the false, and who shall be Iudge of the Doctrine

Because that Sathan from the beginning hath laboured to deck his pestilent Synagogue with the Title of the Church of God, Gen. 4.8. Gen. 21.9. Gen. 27.41. Mat. 23.34. Ioh. 15.18, 19. and hath inflamed the hearts of cruell murtherers to persecute, trouble and molest the true Church and Members thereof, as Cain did Abel, Ishmael, Isaac, Esau, Iacob, and the whole Priesthood of the Iewes, Jesus Christ himself, Iohn 11 35. Ioh. 15.20, 24. and his Apostles after him. It is a thing most requisite, that the true Church be discerned from the filthy Synagogue, by cleere and perfect Notes, Act. 4.1, &c. Act 5.17, &c. Gen. 4 1. Psal. 48.1, 2. lest we being deceived, receive and embrace to our own condemnation the one for the other. The Notes, Signes, and assured Tokens whereby the Immaculate Spouse of Christ Jesus is knowne from the horrible Harlot the Church malignant, Mat 5.35. Iohn 12.42. Ephes. 2.20. Act. 2.42. we affirm, are neither antiquity, title usurped, lineall descents, place appointed, nor multitude of men approving any errour; For Cain in age and title was preferred to Abel and Seth. Ierusalem had prerogative above all places of the earth, Iohn 10, 27. where also were the Priests lineally descended from Aaron, and greater multitude followed the Scribes, Iohn 18.37. Pharisees, and Priests, then unfainedly believed and approved Christ Jesus and his Doctrine; 1 Cor. 1 13. and yet (as we suppose) no man of whole judgement will grant that any of the forenamed were the Church of God: The Notes therefore of the true Church of God, we beleeve, confesse, and avow, to be first the true preaching of the Word of God; 1 Cor. 11.20, 23. in which God hath revealed himself to us, as the writings of the Prophets and Apostles doe declare. Mat. 28 19 20 Mark 16.15. Rom 4 11. Matth 18 20. 1 Cor 1.2. 2 Cor. 1.1. Gal. 1 2. Ephes. 1 1. Acts 16.9, 10.18. Secondly, the right administration of the Sacraments of Christ Jesus, which must be annexed to the word and promise of God, to seale and confirme the same in our hearts. Lastly, Ecclesiasticall discipline uprightly ministred, as Gods Word prescribeth, whereby vice is repressed, and vertue nourished, wheresoever then these former Notes are seen, and of any time continuall (be the number never so few above two or three) there without all doubt is the true Church of Christ, who according to his promise is in the midst of them; 1 Cor. 1. &c. Act. 20.17, &c. John 20.31. 2 Tim 3 16 17 2 Pet. 1 20, 21. not of that universall (of which we have before spoken) but particular, such as was in Corinthus, Galatia, Ephesus, and other places in which the Ministerie was planted by Paul, and were of himselfe named the Churches of God: and such Churches we the Inhabitants of the Realme of Scotland, professours of Christ Jesus, confesse us to have in our Cities, Townes, and places reformed: For the Doctrine taught in our Churches, is contained in the written Word of God, to wit, in the Books of the New and Old Testaments; in those Books we meane, which of ancient have been reputed Canonicall, in the which we affirme that all things necessary to be beleeved for the salvation of mankinde is sufficiently expressed. John 5 29. The interpretation whereof, we confesse, neither appertaineth unto any private nor publike person; neither yet to any Church for any preheminence or prerogative personall or locall, which one hath above another, but appertaineth to the Spirit of God, Ephes 4 4 by the which also the Scripture was written. When controversie then hapneth for the right understanding of any place or sentence of Scripture, or for the reformation of any abuse within the Church of God, we ought not so much to looke what men before us have said and done, as unto that which the Holy Ghost uniformly speaketh within the body of the Scriptures, and unto that which Christ Jesus himself did, and commanded to be done. For this is a thing universally granted, That the Spirit of God, which is the Spirit of unitie, is in nothing contrary to himselfe. If then the interpretation, determination or sentence of any Doctor, Church or Councell, repugne to the plain Word of God, written in any other place of Scripture, it is a thing most certain that there is not the true understanding and meaning of the Holy Ghost; supposing that Counsels, Realms, and Nations have approved and received the same. For we dare not receive and admit any Interpretation, which oppugneth to any principall point of our faith, or to any other plain text of Scripture, or yet to the rule of charitie.