WE believe the holy Scriptures to be of divine inſpiration and infallible Authority; and whatſoever of therein contained we firmly aſſent unto, as to the Word of God, the Author of all Truth.

But ſince in the holy Scriptures there are ſome things hard to be underſtood, 2 Pet. 3.16 which the ignorant and ſtable wreſt to their own deſtruction; we therefore profeſſe (for the ending of controverſ ••• in our Religion, and ſetling of peace in our Conſciences) to ſubmit our private judgements to the Judgement of the Church, repreſented in a free Generall 〈◊〉 .

2. We humbly believe the ſacred Myſtery of the Bleſſed Trinity, one Eternall, Almighty, and Incomprehenſible God, whom only, we adore and worſhip, as alone having Soveraign Dominion over all things, to whom only, 1 Tim. 1.17. we acknowledge as due from men and Angells, all glory, ſervice, and obedience; abhorring from our hearts, as a moſt deteſtable Sacriledge, to give our Creators honor to any creature whatſoever.

And therefore we ſolemnly proteſt, that by the prayers we addreſſe to Angells and Saints, we intend no other then humbly to ſollicite their aſſiſtance before the Throne of God, as we deſire the prayers of one another here upon earth, not that we hope any thing from them, as originall Authors thereof, but from God the Fountain of all Goodneſſe, through Ieſus Chriſt, our only Mediator and Redeemer.

Neither do we believe any divinity or vertue to be in Images, for which they ought to be worſhip't, as the Gentiles did their Idolls, but we retain them with due and decent reſpect in our Churches, as inſtruments, which we find by experience, do often aſſiſt our memories, and excite our affections.

3. We firmly believe, that no force of nature nor dignity of our beſt works can merit our Iuſtification, but we are juſtified freely by grace, Rom. 3.24. through the Redemption that is in Jeſus Christ.

And although we ſhould by the grace of God perſevere unto the end in a godly life and holy obedience to the Commandements; yet are our hopes of eternall glory ſtill built upon the mercy of God, and the merits of Chriſt Jeſus.

All other merits, (according to our ſenſe of that word) ſignifie no more, then Actions done by the aſſiſtance of Gods grace, to which it has pleaſed his goodneſſe to promiſe a reward; a Doctrine ſo far from being inſuitable to the ſenſe of the holy Scriptures, the 〈◊〉 their principall deſign to invite and provoke us to a diligent obſervance of the Commandements, by promiſing heaven as the reward of our obedience, 1 Tim. 4.2. Godlineſſe is profitable to all things, having the promiſe of this life, and of that which is to come. And Rom. 2.6. God will render to every man according to his deeds, to them, who by patient confidence in well-doing, ſeek for glory, and honor, and immortality, eternall life. And again, Rom. 8.13. If you live after the fleſh you ſhall die, but if through the ſpirit you mortifie the deeds of the body, you ſhall live. And Heb. 6.10. God is not unjuſt to forget your work and labour of love which you have ſhewed for his name, &c. Nothing being ſo frequently repeated in the Word of God, as his ••••• ons promiſes to recompenſe with everlaſting glory the faith and obedience of his ſervants; Nor is the county of God barely according to our works, but high and plentifull, Luk. 6.38. even beyond our capacities, giving 〈◊〉 meaſure, heaped up, preſſed down, and running over into the boſomes of all that love him.

Thus we believe the merit or rewardable 〈…〉 holy living (both which ſignifie the ſame thing with us) ariſes not from the ſelf-value even of our be 〈…〉 , as they are ours, but from the Grace and Bounty of God; and for our ſelves, we ſincerely profeſſe when we have done all thoſe things, which are commanded us, we are unprofitable ſervants, Luk. 17.10 having done nothing but that which was our duty, ſo that our boaſting is not in our ſelves, but all our glorying is in Chriſt.

4. We firmly believe, and highly reverence 〈◊〉 Mor all Law, being ſo ſolemnly delivered to Moſes upon the Mount, Exod. 10. ſo expreſſely confirmed by our Saviour in the Goſpell, and containing in it ſelf ſo perfect an Abridgment of our whole duty both to God and man. Mat. 19.

Which Morall Law we believe obliges all men to proceed with faithfullneſſe and ſincerity in their 〈◊〉 all contracts one towards another; Eccleſ. 12.13. and therefore our conſtant Profeſſion is, that we are moſt ſtrictly and abſolutely bound to the exact and entire performance of our promiſes, made to any perſon of what Religion ſoever; much more to the Magiſtrates and Civill Powers, under whoſe protection we live, whom 〈◊〉 taught by the Word of God to obey, not only for fear, but conſcience lake; and to whom we will moſt faithfully obſerve our promiſes of duty and obedience, notwithſtanding any diſpenſation, abſolution, or other proceedings of any forraign Power or Authority whatſoever.

Wherefore we utterly deny and renounce that falſe and ſcandalous poſition, that Faith is not to be kept with Heretikes, as moſt uncharitably imputed to our practiſes, and moſt unjuſtly pinned upon our Religion.