The Apoftles Creed.] "Not composed by them, as we now "have it, but because it contains their whole and united fenti"ments, agreeable to the fcripture and the counsel of God, and the precepts, and doctrine delivered to them, by our "bleffed Lord himself, who, immediately before his afcenfion "into heaven, commanded them to go and preach this gospel to "all nations, and to baptize them in the name of the Father, "the Son, and Holy Ghost," three perfons in one Jehovah. See Matt. xxviii. 19. 1 John v. 7. The Creeds ought thoroughly to be received and believed:] "because most clearly proved by the Word of God, the Holy Scripture of old, as well as by the words of the Apostles themselves; fince feveral of the Fathers affirm, that the twelve fentences, or parts of the Apoftles Creed, were attered diftinctly by each of them, as I fhall notice by and by. St. Ambrofe faith, "That "the Creed of the Twelve Apoftles, who, like wife workmen "being met together by the council, they formed a key, as it "may be truly fo called, whereby the Devil's darkness is "opened, and the true light of Chrift comes in," St. Austin, St. Hierome, &c, fay, "That the fymbol of our Faith and 66 Hope, delivered by the 12 Apoftles, is not written in ink on paper, but in the fleshly tables of the heart." See Bp. Beve ridge on this article, Hocker's Eccl. Pol. The Apostles Creed, or Confeffion of Faith, in 12 Parts, with Scripture Proofs. I I believe in (one) God the Father Almighty; Deut. vi. 4. Pfal. xc. 2. Rev. iv. 8. This confeffion is the grand foundation of our Faith; not only of the Apoftles, but of all believers, in all ages. For be that cometh unto God (saith the Apostle) must believe that he is, namely, (the Almighty, Eternal, Invifible, Self-existent Jehovah'), Heb. xi. 6. 2. The maker of heaven and earth; John i. 1, 2. Pfalm cxlvi. 6. Heb. i. 1. 3. I believe in Jefus Chrift his only Son our Lord (and Redeemer). John i. 18,-vi. 69. 1 John iv. 9. Thou art Chrift, the Son of the living God; faith Peter. Matt. xvi. 16. Heb. i. 5. See Art. 2d. 4. Who 4 Who was conceived of the Holy Ghoft, born of the Virgin Mary; as promised, Ifa. vii. 14. and fulfilled, See Matt. i. 18. Luke i. 27. 5 He fuffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified dead, and buried. See John xix. 1 to 24. Luke xxiii. 52. A facrafice for fin. See Heb. ii. 9, 17.-ix. 26. 6 { He defcended into Hell, See Pfal. xvi. 10. Acts ii. 31. I Cor. xv. 55, 56. the third day he rose again from the dead; and was feen of many brethren, 1 Cor. xv. 4, 5. A&s ix. 4 Col. i. 18. See Art. 5. 7 He afcended into heaven, Luke xxiv. 51. Acts i. 9, 10. and fitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; · Eph. i. 20. iv. 8. 1 Pet. iii. 22. Pfalm cx. i. xxii. 44. Mark xvii. 19. Acts iii. 9, 10. Matt.. 8 From thence he shall come again to judge both the quick and the dead; John v. 22. Acts i. 11. Phil. iii. 20. 9 10 1 Cor. xv. 52. I believe in the Holy Ghost, (the Sanctifier) John iv. 24. The communion of faints, See Eph. iv. 3, 15. 1 Cor. The forgiveness of fins; See Ifa. xliv. 22. Matt. xviii, 23. Colof. ii. 13, 14. 1 John i. 9. 11 The refurrection of the flesh, or body. John v. 28, 29. I Cor. xv. 20, 34. Colof. i. 16. Phil. iii. 21. 12 And the life everlasting. See Dan. xii. 2.* John vi. 39, 40. 1 Pet. i. 4. Rev. xxi. 4.. And all faid Amen:-So be it. I shall just add a word or two upon this grand and most sublime conclufion of this Article of the Apoles Creed, viz. "The Life everlasting," a thing much easier expreffed than un"derstood. "For eye hath not feen, nor ear heard, neither "hath it entered into the heart of man to conceive (faith the Apoftle) what good things God hath prepared for them that "love him." Ifa. Ixiv. 4. I Cor. ii. 9, 10. 1. Everlasting or eternal life is a ftate directly oppofite to that of eternal, or everlasting death; the one includes all happi *The Rev, Mr. Romaine's 15th Difcourfe. nefs nefs and felicity, which all true believers in Jefus Chrift fhall hereafter fully and perfectly enjoy in the prefence of God, and that innumerable company of Saints and Angels, in the realms of blifs and glory; while the wicked, and all unbelievers in Chrift and his gofpel, will be banished for ever from God's prefence into everlafting torments, with the company of Devils and damned Spirits; in that Lake, where the worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. Read Ifa. Ixvi. 24. Matt. xxv. 41. Mark ix. 43, 44. John v. 29. 66 The Prophet Daniel, speaking of the Refurrection, faith, " And many (i. e. all) that fleep in the duft of the earth shall awake; fome to everlasting life, and fome to frame and everlasting con ,, tempt." Daniel xii. 2. John iii. 16. But for the believer's comfort, our bleffed Lord faith, He that heareth (or regardeth) my Word, and believeth on him that fent me, bath everlasting life; is now really poffeffed of it: and Shall not come into condemnation. John v. 24, and vi. 40. 1 John ii. 25. but he that believeth not, (these truths) fall perish everlastingly. Mark xvi. 16. John xii. 48. 1 John v. 12 "As many therefore (faith Irenæus) as fubfcribe to these "Articles, and yet do not truly believe that these Creeds are agreeable to the Holy Scriptures, are highly guilty of lying "both against God and man, and their own confcience:" for St. Jude faith, “This is the Faith once delivered unto the Saints.” Jude's Epiftle; and St. Paul writing to Timothy, faith, Hold faft the form of found words,—in faith and love, which is in Chrift Jefus. Tim. i. 13. Befides the three Creeds, we have now in use, there were several other Creeds ufed in the primitive church, viz. one written by St. Cyril, one by Irenæus, one by Tertullian, and another by Gregory Thaumaturgus, &c. all confirm a blessed, perfect, and undivided Trinity, viz. one Father, one Son, "one Holy Ghost, three Perfons in one Jehovah: Co-eternal together, and coequal: not divided, nor excluded in glory, "dominion, nor eternity." See the Rev. Mr. Romaine's illusteration of the Athanafian Creed. + Many have been the oppofers of thefe Creeds at the beginning of the Reformation; and we have too many amongst us at this day, who deny these truths. ART. ART. IX. Of Original or Birth-Sin. RIGINAL Sin ftandeth 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 ingendered of the offspring of Adam, whereby man is very far gone from original righteoufnefs, and is of his own nature inclined to evil, fo that the flesh Jufteth always contrary to the Spirit; and therefore in every person born into this world, it deferveth God's wrath and damnation. And this infection of nature doth remain; yea, in them that are regenerated: whereby the luft of the flesh, called in Greek, Φρόνημα σαρκός which fome do expound the Wisdom, fome Senfuality, fome the Affection, fome the Defire 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 confefs, that concupifcence and luft hath of itself the nature of fin. Original Sin." Though there be no fuch word as origi "nal fin to be found in the Scriptures; yet there is fuch "a thing to be found in our hearts, we have too fad and woe"ful experience." Bp. Bew. And fince Infants, as well as adult perfons, have need of a mediator, it follows that there is fomething in them which ftands in need of being remitted; and what can this be but fin? And fince thefe Infants are not capable to follow or imitate any other perfon, it is evident that original fin is the fault and corruption of nature. See Rom. v. 14. where it says, Death reigned from Adam to Mofes, even over them that had not finned after the fimilitude of Adam's tranfgreffion: Therefore fays St. Paul again, By one obedience many were made finners. Rom. v. 12, 13, C man's dif 18.—It is written written of Job, that he was a righteous man, devout towards God, efchewing all evil, and yet this fame Job accufeth himself before God, and acknowledgeth that no one is without pollution. Job xiv. 4, 17. And Pfalm li. 5. If we say we have no fin, we deceive ourselves, &c. 1 John i. 8. Eph. ii. 3, 4. Of his own nature inclined to evil.] "Every imagination of "the thoughts of man's heart, is evil continually; from his "Youth." Gen, vi. 5, 12,-viii. 21. See alfo Matt. xv. 19. 20. 1 Cor. vi. 10, 11.-There is not a just doeth good and finneth not. lufteth, or friveth against the Spirit.: So that things that we would Gal. v. 17. man on earth, that Eccl. vii. 20. The flesh always we cannot do the Deferveth God's wrath.] Not becaufe God imputes to Adam's posterity the crime that he committed in eating the forbiden fruit, for which God forgave him on his repentance; but becaufe by that fin, eating of that tree which God told him and warned him of, that it was death to eat of it. Gen. ii. 17. By which Adam corrupted his whole nature, and therefore from a corrupt parent we are born a corrupt offspring, for who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? Not one, faith Job, xiv. 4. Original righteousness being loft, nothing of good remaineth in us, fo nothing of good can proceed from us; An evil tree cannot bring forth good fruit; but evil. Matt. vii. 17, 18. And therefore is worth nothing but to be cut down as fuel for the fire, even the fire of God's eternal wrath. See Rom. i. 18. Heb. ii. 4. Deut. xxii, 26. Gal. iii. 11. Bp. Beveridge. And this Infection remaineth.] This all who believe, too fadly experience; Ram. viii. 15.-21. “And if the Lord was just to mark iniquities who would stand ?" Pfal. xxx. 3. For all have finned, &c. Rom. iii, 23. But God is juft, therefore he will punish finners." No, he has found a ranfom; therefore will he fpare, and pardon. See Rom. v. 18. There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Chrift Jefus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Rom. viii. 1. And if we fin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jefus Chrift the righteous; and he is the propitiation for our fins. 1 John ii. 1, 2. Not that we should wilfully commit or live in fin, God forbid. We are to mortify our members which are upon earth. Read Col. iii. 5. 1 Pet. iii. 11. The Lord enable us all fo to walk before him |