(v)

learned divines of this country may be reckoned Abp. Cranmer, Bp. Parkhurst, Mr. Latimer, Abp. Parker, Bp. Grindal, Abp. Whitgift, Bp. Ridley, and Mr. Gualter, with many others equally celebrated for their piety and abilities; who affembled and met together at two Convocations held first in the year of our Lord 1562, and again in the reign of our late most gracious Majesty Queen ELIZABETH in 1571, and again in 1604, and by divine providence they have continued (tho' often shaken) unto this day: May the Lord still continue them, to his glory, and to the good of his Church and people.

Mr. Rogers has likewise taken much pains to collect together the names of all the particular perfons, sects, and denominations, who at first opposed and denied those Articles: a few of them I may occasionally mention, but their names are of no use to us: we have enough well known among us now, to fight against: may the God of all power give us strength and courage to do it, to his Honor and Glory, through Jetus Christ our Lord. Amen.

*** As an eminent Gospel Minister of this City has lately enforced upon his hearers, the reading the 39 Articles, I would therefore exhort every one attentively to read the Articles first, before they consult these Notes and Observations upon them.

The EDITOR.

ر

3. Of Chrift's going down into Hell

4. Of his Refurrection

5. Of the Holy Ghost

4

6

7

9

6. Of the Sufficiency of the Holy Scriptures, &c. 10

29. Of the Wicked, which eat not the Body of Chrift 45

EXPLICATION

OF THE

Thirty-nine ARTICLES, &c.

ART. I. Of Faith in the Holy Trinity.

HERE is but one living and true God, ever

Tlafting, without body

infinite power, wisdom, and goodness; the Maker and Preserver of all things both visible and invisible. And in unity of this Godhead there be three Perfons, of one substance, power, and eternity; the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.

But one living and true God.] " That there is such a Being, "which we in English call God, (Heb. Elohim) is manifest from "the order of causes; which must derive its origin from fome " first self existent cause. From the very idea or notion of a "God, which implies in itself a necessary existence. From the " origin and goverment of the world. The heavens and the earth, " &c. which all declare his glory; Pfal. xix. 1, 4, and from con" sent of all nations, people and languages. The prophecies " and miracles, both of the Old and New Testament; and like" wise the witnesses of the apostles, and all the Primitive Fa. "thers, together with many other holy and learned men; who all "agree, There is but one living and true God." And this is clearly proved from the following Texts of Scripture: 1. God faid unto Moses, 1 AM that 1 AM, Exod. iii. 14. And thou shalt have none other gods but me. Exod. xx. 3. Deut. xxxii. 39. The Lord our God is one Lord, Deut. vi. 4. And there is none other God beside Jehovah," Deut. iv. 35. Ifa. xliv. 6. - xlv. 5, 6. See also, 1 Cor. viii. 4, 6. There is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and Eph. iv. 6.-The living God. 2 Cor. vi. 16. The true God. Pfal. lxxxv. 2. 2 Chron. xv. 3. Jer. x.

10. And this (faith St. John) is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God. John xvii. 3. and 1 Theff. i. 9.

Everlasting.] " He is the everlasting God, Gen. xxi. 33. Ifa. " lx. 28. without beginning, without end." From everlasting to everlasting, thou art God, Pfal. xli. 13. xc. 2. xciii. 2. And everlasting King, Jer. x. 10. who only bath immortality, Heb. i. 8, 12. 1 Tim. vi. 16. The Alpha and the Omega; the beginning and the ending, of all Things. Rev. i. 4, 11. And therefore (as St. Paul faith) He that cometh unto God, must believe that he is, Heb. xi. 6. The Almighty, Eternal, Invisible self-existent Jehovah, God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come, I Tim. i. 17. Rev. iv. 8.

Without Body] As relative to God the Father, this is undoubtedly true: " For the form or shape of God is ineffable and inexpref

fible, and cannot be seen with our bodily eyes." God is a Spirit, faith our Lord, whom no man bath feen, or can fee, for a Spirit bath no body or flesh, see John i. 18. iv. 24. Luke xxiv. 39. and 1 Tim. vi, 16.

Parts or Paffions, &c.] Impertibilis, Lat. That is incapable of being divided: or passions, as we in English express it; though the scripture indeed (in condescension to our weak capacities) seems to attribute unto God those members, as Eyes, Ears, Hands, &c. Also Love, anger, hatred, &c. For 'tis faid, That God is angry with the wicked every day, Pfal. vii. 11. God was angry with Moses and Aaron, Deut. ix. 20. but all this is only spoken to come down to man's weakness, and to his better understanding the wonderful works of God. For God is a most simple essence; as by the name Jehovah, in Gen. xv. 7. Amos ix. 9. not subject to passions as man, see Acts xiv. 14. But immutable, always infinitely happy, admitting of no change, &c. Pfal. cii. 26, 27. and Jam. i. 7.

Of infinite power, wisdom, and goodness,] ist, " His power," all power belongeth unto God, Pfal. lxii. 11. with God all things are possible, Matt. xix. 26. All things are present before him. -By the Word of his power, (faith St. Clement) were all things made, and by a word he can destroy them; for he is God Almighty. Gen. xxxiv. II, He can do every thing, faith Job. He killeth, and be maketh alive, Job xlii. 2. Pfal. cxv. 3. But he is good to all, and his mercy is over all his works, Pfal. cxlv. 7, 9. Matt. xix. 66. Mark x. 10. Luke xviii. 19. See also Scorr's Christian Life, 2d part, 242, Rev, Mr. Romaine's first discourse on the The Apostles Creed,

The maker and preserver of all things.] " That this World is not eternal, neither did it arise by chance, is plain from scripture." The royal pfalmist says, By the word of the Lord, i. e. Chrift, qwere the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of bis mouth, or spirit. Pfalm xxxiii. 6.

Again, " In the beginning, (i. e. of time) God created the heavens and the earth, the sea, &c. See Gen. i. 1, 4. Pfalm cxxiv. 8. " cxxxiv. 4. and cxlvi. 6. Acts iv: 24.-" The Father by the "Son, or Word, made the worlds:" aud by him alone were all things created. See I John i. 2. Col. i. 16, 17. Heb. i. 2. and xi. 3. &c.

And in Unity of this Godhead, there be three Perfons, &c.] This is that mystery of mysteries which the world, the carnal minded, cannot fee, neither will they in any wife believe it; for as St. Paul declareth, 1 Cor. i. 21. The world by wisdom, (their own wifdom) knew not God. But every teachable willing mind, assisted by divine grace, who carefully reads the holy scriptures, may clearly see and diftinguish a Trinity of Persons in the sacred Deity. In the Old Testament God is frequently stiled Elohim, which signifies plurality; as in Gen. i. 26. Let us make Man in our Image. This plainly denotes a plurality of persons, fee also Gen. iii. 1, 5, 13.-2 Sam. chap. vii; but in Isa. chap. vi. 3. is a stronger proof of a Trinity, where the Angels cried one to another with adoration, Holy! Holy! Holy! Lord God of Hosts; the Almighty, Rev. iv. 8. In the New Testament nothing is more plain. At the Baptifm of Christ, was heard the Father's voice; the Son, present in person; and the Holy Ghost descending upon him, Matt. iii. 17. Mark i. 10. And by the words of Christ himself, in his promise to his difciples. See John chap. xiv. 26. xv. 26. See also Acts i. 4, 8. clearly proves a Trinity, and St. John says, There be three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost; and these three are one, I John v. 7.-" In essence "one; yet in persons three." (Nicene Creed) alfo St. Peter, z Pet. i. 17, 18. 21. and again our blessed Lord's own words, when he gave commandment that his gospel should be preached to all nations; saying, "Go teach all nations, and baptize them in the Name of the Father, of the Son, and the Holy Ghost, Matt. xxviii. 19. Also St. Paul, The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.