Introduction
Originally titled “A True Confession of the Faith,
and Humble Acknowledgement of the Allegiance which we her Majesty’s Subjects,
falsely called Brownists, do hold towards God”, this document describes the
religious convictions of the Ancient Church of English separatists. That church
had its roots in early leadership such as Robert Browne, Henry Barrow, and John
Greenwood. By 1593, these preachers had been silenced through intimidation or
death. Their London congregation was now led by pastor Francis Johnson who was
arrested a few years later. The congregation fled to Amsterdam so they could be
free to create a congregational English church without interference. In 1596, Francis
Johnson wrote A True Confession in a cell of the Clink Prison of London.
It was accepted by the church across the Channel, and printed in Amsterdam. This
copy was carried in 1597 to Newfoundland in the unsuccessful attempt to start a
Separatist colony. Future editions, both English and Latin, were co-authored with
Henry Ainsworth.
A TRUE CONFESSION, 1596
A True Confession of the Faith, and Humble
Acknowledgement of the Allegiance which we her Majesty’s Subjects, falsely
called Brownists, do hold towards God, and yield to her Majesty and all other
that are over us in the Lord. Set down in Articles or Positions, for the better
and more easy understanding of those that shall read it. And published for the
clearing of ourselves from those unchristian slanders of heresy, schism, pride,
obstinate, disloyalty, sedition, etc. which by our adversaries are in all
places given out against us.
We believe therefore have we spoken.
2 Cor 4:13
But, who hath believed our report, and unto whom is
the arm of the Lord revealed?
Isa 53:1
A TRUE CONFESSION OF THE FAITH, AND HUMBLE
ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF THE ALLEGIANCE, which we her Majesty’s Subjects, falsely
called Brownists, do hold towards God, and yield to her Majesty and all other
that are over us in the Lord. Set down in Articles or Positions, for the better
& more easy understanding of those that shall read it: And published for
the clearing of our selves from those unchristian slanders of heresy, schism,
pride, obstinacy, disloyalty, sedition, etc. which by our adversaries are in
all places given out against us.
We believe with our hearts & confess with our
mouths:
ARTICLE 1
That there is but one God, one Christ, one Spirit, one
Church, one truth, one Faith, one Rule of obedience to all Christians, in all
places.
ARTICLE 2
That God is a Spirit, whose being is of himself, and
giveth being, moving, and preservation to all other things being himself
eternal, most holy, every way infinite, in greatness, wisdom, power, goodness,
justice, truth, etc.
And that in this Godhead there be three distinct
persons, coeternal, coequal, & co-essential, being every one of the one and
same God, & therefore not divided but distinguished one from another by
their several & peculiar properties: The Father of none, the Son begotten
of the Father from everlasting, the Holy Ghost proceeding from the Father and
the Son before all beginnings.
ARTICLE 3
That God hath decreed in himself from everlasting
touching all things, and the very least circumstances of everything,
effectually to work and dispose them according to the counsel of his own will,
to the praise and glory of his great name. And touching his chiefest Creatures
that God hath in Christ before the foundation of the world, according to the
good pleasure of his will, ordained some men and Angels, to eternal life to be
accomplished through Jesus Christ, to the praise of the glory of his grace. And
on the other hand hath likewise, before of old according to his just purpose
ordained other both Angels and men, to eternal condemnation, to be accomplished
through their own corruption to the praise of his justice.
ARTICLE 4
That in the beginning God made all things of nothing
very good: and created man after his own image and likeness, in righteousness
and holiness of truth. That straight ways after by the subtlety of the Serpent
which Satan used as his instrument himself with his Angels having sinned before
and not kept their first estate, but justify their own habitation; first Eve,
then Adam by her means, did wittingly & willingly fall into disobedience
& transgression of the commandment of God. For the which death reigned over
all: yea even our infants also, which have not sinned, after the like manner of
the transgression of Adam, that is, actually: Yet are all since the fall of
Adam begotten in his own likeness after his image, being conceived and born in
iniquity, and so by nature the children of wrath and servants of sin, and
subject to death, and all other calamities due unto sin in this world and forever.
ARTICLE 5
That all mankind being thus fallen and become
altogether dead in sin, & subject to the eternal wrath of God both by
original and actual corruption: The elect are redeemed, quickened, raised up
and saved again, not of themselves, neither by works, lest any man should boast
himself; but wholly and only by God of his free grace and mercy through faith
in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, & righteousness, &
sanctification, & redemption, that according as it is written, He that rejoiceth
let him rejoice in the Lord.
ARTICLE 6
That this therefore only is life eternal to know the
only true God, & whom he hath sent into the world: Jesus Christ. And that
on the contrary the Lord will render vengeance in flaming fire unto them that
know not God, & which obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
ARTICLE 7
That the rule of this knowledge faith & obedience,
Concerning the worship & service of God & all other Christian duties,
is not the opinions, devices, laws, or constitutions of men, but the written word
of the everliving God, contained in the canonical books of the old and new
Testament.
ARTICLE 8
That in this word Jesus Christ hath revealed
whatsoever his Father thought needful for us to know, believe & obey as
touching his person & Offices, in whom all the promises of God
are yea, & in whom they are Amen to the praise of God through us.
ARTICLE 9
That touching his person, the Lord Jesus, of whom
Moses & the Prophets wrote, & whom the Apostles preached, is the
everlasting Son of God, by eternal generation, the brightness of his Father’s
glory, & the engraven form of his Person; coessential, coequal, &
coeternal, God with him & with the holy Ghost, by whom he hath made the worlds,
by whom he upholdeth and governeth all the works he hath made; who also when
the fulness of time was come, was made man of a woman, of the Tribe of Judah,
of the seed of David & Abraham, to wit of Mary that blessed Virgin, by the
holy Ghost coming upon her, & the power of the most high overshadowing her;
& was also in all things like unto us, sin only excepted.
ARTICLE 10
That touching his Office, he only is made the Mediator
of the new Testament, even of the everlasting Covenant of grace between God
& man, to be perfectly & fully the Prophet, Priest & King of the
Church of God for evermore.
ARTICLE 11
That he was from everlasting, by the just &
sufficient authority of the father, & in respect of his manhood from the
womb, called & separated hereunto, & anointed also most fully &
abundantly with all necessary gifts, as is written; God hath not measured out
the Spirit unto him.
ARTICLE 12
That this Office, to be Mediator, that is, Prophet,
Priest and King of the Church of God, is so proper to him, as neither in the
whole, nor in any part therof, it can be transferred from him to any other.
ARTICLE 13
That touching his Prophecy, Christ hath perfectly
revealed out of the bosom of his father, the whole word & will of God, that
is needful for his servants, either jointly or severally to know, believe &
obey: That he hath spoken & doth speak to his Church in his own ordinance,
by his own ministers and instruments only, and not by any false ministry at any
time.
ARTICLE 14
That touching his Priesthood, being consecrated, he
hath appeared once to put away sin, by offering & sacrificing of himself;
and to this end hath fully performed and suffered all those things, by which
God through the blood of that his cross, in an acceptable sacrifice, might be
reconciled to his elect; & having broke down the partition wall, & therewith
finished & removed all those legal rites, shadows, & ceremonies, is now
entered within the veil into the Holy of Holies to the very heaven, and presence
of God, where he forever liveth, and sitteth at the right hand of Majesty appearing
before the face of his Father, to make intercession for such as come unto the
Throne of grace by that new & living way; And not that only, but maketh his
people a spiritual house, an holy Priesthood, to offer up spiritual
sacrifices, acceptable to God through him. Neither doth the Father accept, or
Christ offer any other sacrifice, worship, or worshippers.
ARTICLE 15
That touching Kingdom, being risen, ascended, entered
into glory, set at the right hand of God, all power in Heaven and earth give unto
him; which power here now exerciseth over all Angels and men, good and bad, to
the preservation and salvation of the elect, to the overruling and destruction
of the reprobate; communicating and applying the benefits, virtue and fruit of
his prophecy and Priesthood unto his elect, namely to the remission, subduing,
and taking away of their sins, to their justification, adoption-of-sons,
regeneration, sanctification, preservation & strengthening in all their
spiritual conflicts against Satan, the world & the flesh & continually
dwelling in, governing & keeping their hearts in his true faith and fear by
his holy spirit, which having once given it, he never taketh away from them,
but by it still begetteth and nourisheth in them repentance, faith, love,
obedience, comfort, peace, joy, hope, and all Christian virtues, unto immortality,
notwithstanding that it be sometimes through sin and temptation, interrupted,
smothered, and as it were overwhelmed for the time. Again on the contrary
ruling in the world over his enemies, Satan, and all the vessels of wrath;
limiting, using, restraining them by his mighty power, as seemeth good in divine
wisdom and justice, to the execution of his determinate counsel, to wit to
their seduction, hardening & condemnation, delivering them up to a
reprobate mind, to be kept in darkness, sin and sensuality unto judgment.
ARTICLE 16
That this Kingdom shall be then fully perfected when
he shall the second time come in glory with his mighty Angels unto judgment,
to abolish all rule, authority and power, to put all his enemies under his
feet, to separate and free all his chosen from them for ever, to punish the wicked
with everlasting perdition from his presence, to gather, join, and carry the
godly with himself into endless glory, and then to deliver up the Kingdom to
God, even the Father, that so the glory of the father may be full and perfect
in the Son, the glory of the Son in all his members, and God be all in all.
ARTICLE 17
That in the meantime, besides his absolute rule in the
world, Christ hath here in earth a spiritual Kingdom and canonical regiment in
his Church over his servants, which Church he hath purchased and redeemed to
himself, as a peculiar inheritance (notwithstanding many hypocrites do for the
time lurk amongst them) calling and winning them by the power of his word unto
the faith, separating them from amongst unbelievers, from idolatry, false
worship, superstition, vanity, dissolute life, & works of darkness, etc.;
making them a royal Priesthood, an holy Nation, a people set at liberty to show
forth the virtues of him that hath called them out of darkness into his marvelous
light, gathering and uniting them together as members of one body in his faith,
love and holy order, unto all general and mutual duties, instructing &
governing them by such officers and laws as he hath prescribed in his word; by
which Officers and laws he governeth his Church, and by none other.
ARTICLE 18
That to this Church he hath made the promises, and given
the seals of his Covenant, presence, love, blessing and protection: Here are
the holy Oracles as in the side of the Ark, surely kept & purely taught.
Here are all the fountains and springs of his grace continually replenished and
flowing forth. Here is he lifted up to all Nations, hither he inviteth all men
to his supper, his marriage feast; hither ought all men of all estates and
degrees that acknowledge him their Prophet, Priest and King to repair, to be
enrolled amongst his household servants, to be under his heavenly conduct and
government, to lead their lives in his walled sheepfold, & watered orchard,
to have communion here with the Saints, that they may be made meet to be
partakers of their inheritance in the kingdom of God.
ARTICLE 19
That as all his servants and subjects are called
hither, to present their bodies and souls, and to bring the gifts God hath
given them; so being come, they are hereby himself bestowed in their several
order, peculiar place, due use, being fitly compact and knit together by every
joint of help, according to the effectual work in the measure of every part, unto
the edification of itself in love; whereunto when he ascended up on high he gave
gifts unto men, that he might fill all these things, and hath distributed these
gifts unto several functions in his Church, having instituted and ratified to
continue unto the world’s end, only this public ordinary Ministry of Pastors,
Teachers, Elders, Deacons, Helpers to the instruction, government, and service
of his Church.
ARTICLE 20
That this ministry is exactly described,
distinguished, limited, concerning their office, their calling to their office,
ther administration of their office, and their maintenance in their office, by
most perfect and plain laws in God’s word, which law it is not lawful for these
Ministers, or for the whole Church wittingly to neglect, transgress, or violate
in any part; nor yet to receive any other laws brought into the Church by any
person whatsoever.
ARTICLE 21
That none may usurp or execute a ministry but such as
are rightly called by the Church whereof they stand ministers; and that such so
called ought to give all diligence to fulfill their ministry, to be found
faithful and unblameable in all things.
ARTICLE 22
That this ministry is alike given to every Christian
congregation, with like power and commission to have and enjoy the same, as God
offereth fit men and means, the same rules given to all for the election and
execution thereof in all places.
ARTICLE 23
That as every christian Congregation hath power and
commandment to elect and ordain their own ministry according to the rules
prescribed, and whilst they shall faithfully execute their office, to have them
in superabundant love for their work’s sake, to provide for them, to honour them
and reverence them, according to the dignity of the office they execute. So
have they also power and commandment when any such default, either in their life,
Doctrine, or administration breaketh out, as by the rule of the word debarreth
them from, or depriveth them of their ministry, by due order to depose them
from the ministry they exercised; yea if the case so require, and they remain
obstinate and impenitent, orderly to cut them off by excommunication.
ARTICLE 24
That Christ hath given this power to receive in or to
cut off any member, to the whole body together of every Christian Congregation,
and not to any one member apart, or to more members sequestered from the whole,
or to any other Congregation to do it for them: yet that each Congregation ought
to use the best help they can hereunto, and the most meet member they have to
pronounce the same in their public assembly.
ARTICLE 25
That every member of each Christian Congregation, how
excellent, great, or learned soever, ought to be subject to this censure & judgment
of Christ; Yet ought not the Church without great care & due advice to
proceed against such public persons.
ARTICLE 26
That for the keeping of this Church in holy &
orderly communion, as Christ hath placed some special men over the Church, who
by their office are to govern, oversee, visit, watch, etc. So likewise for the
better keeping thereof in all places, by all the members, he hath given
authority & lay duty upon to all to watch one over another.
ARTICLE 27
That whilst the Ministers and people thus remain
together in this holy order and christian communion, each one endeavoring to do
the will of God in their calling, & thus to walk in the obedience of faith
Christ hath promised to be present with them, to bless & defend them against
all adversaries’ power, & that the gates of Hell shall not prevail against
them.
ARTICLE 28
But when & where this holy order & diligent watch
was intermitted, neglected, violated… Antichrist, that man of sin, corrupted
& altered the holy ordinances, offices, & administrations of the church,
brought in & erected a strange new forged ministry, liturgy and government
& the Nations, Kingdoms & inhabitants of the earth were made drunken with
this cup of fornications & abominations, & all people enforced to receive
the Beast’s mark and worship his image & so brought into confusion & Babylonish
bondage.
ARTICLE 29
That the present ministry retained & used in England
of Archbishop, Lord Bishops, Deans, Prebendaries, Canons, Peti-Canons,
Arch-Deacons, Chancellors, Commissaries, Priests, Deacons, Parsons, Vicars,
Curates, Hireling roving Preachers, Church-wardens, Parish-clerks, their
Doctors, Proctors, & whole rabble of those Courts with all from & under
them set over these Cathedral & Parishional Assemblies in this confusion,
are a strange & Anti-christian ministry & offices; & are not that
ministry above named instituted in Christ’s Testament, or allowed in or over
his Church.
ARTICLE 30
That their Offices, Entrance, Administration and maintenance,
with their names, titles, privileges, & prerogatives the power & rule
they usurp over and in these Ecclesiastical assemblies over the whole ministry,
whole ministration and affairs therof, yea one over another by their making
Priests, citing, suspending, silencing, deposing, absolving, excommunicating, etc.
Their confounding of Ecclesiastical and Civil jurisdiction, causes &
proceedings in their persons, courts, commissions, Visitations, the rest of
less rule, taking their ministry from and exercising it under them by their
prescription and limitation, swearing Canonical obedience unto them, administering
by their devised, imposed, stinted popish Liturgy, etc. are sufficient proofs
of the former assertion, the particulars therin being duly examined by and
compared to the Rules of Christ’s Testament, or allowed in or over his Church.
ARTICLE 31
That these Ecclesiastical Assemblies, remaining in
confusion and bondage under this Antichristian Ministry, Courts, Canons,
worship, Ordinances, etc. without freedom or power to redress any enormity,
have not in this confusion and subjection [honored] Christ their Prophet,
Priest, and King, neither can be in this estate (whilst we judge them by the
rules of God’s word) esteemed the true, orderly gathered, or constituted
churches of Christ, whereof the faithful ought to become or stand Members, or
to have any Spiritual communion with them in their public worship
and Administration.
ARTICLE 32
That by God’s Commandment all that will be saved, must
with speed come forth of this Antichristian estate, leaving the suppression of
it unto the Magistrate to whom it belongeth. And that both all such as have
received or exercised any of these false Offices or any pretended function or
Ministry in or to this false and Antichristian constitution, are willingly in
God’s fear, to give over and leave those unlawful Offices, and no longer to
minister in this manner to these Assemblies in this estate And that none also,
of what sort or condition soever, do give any part of their Goods, Lands,
Money, or money worth to the maintenance of this false Ministry and worship upon
any Commandment, or under any colour whatsoever.
ARTICLE 33
That being come forth of this antichristian estate unto
the freedom and true profession of Christ, besides the instructing
and well guiding of their own Families, they are willingly to join together in
christian communion and orderly covenant, and by confession of Faith and
obedience of Christ, to unite themselves into peculiar Congregations; wherein,
as members of one body whereof Christ is the only head, they are to worship and
serve God according to his word, remembering to keep holy the Lord’s day.
ARTICLE 34
That such as God hath given gifts to interpret the
Scriptures, tried in the exercise of Prophecy, giving attendance to study and
learning, may and ought by the appointment of the Congregation, to teach
publicly the word, until the people be meet or God manifest men with able gifts
and fitness to such Office or Offices as Christ hath appointed to the public
ministry of his church; but no Sacraments to be administered until the Pastor
or Teachers be chosen and ordained into their Office.
ARTICLE 35
That whereas there shall be a people fit, and men
furnished with meet and necessary gifts, they do not only still continue the
exercise of Prophecy aforesaid, but do also upon due trial, proceed unto choice
and ordination of Officers for the ministry and service of the Church,
according to the rule of God’s word; And that so they hold on still to walk
forward in the ways of Christ for their mutual edification and comfort, as it
shall please God to give knowledge and grace thereunto. And particularly, that
such as be of the seed, or under the government of any of the Church, be even
in their infancy received to Baptism, and made partakers of the sign of God’s
Covenant made with the faithful and their seed throughout all Generations. And
that all of the Church that are of years, and able to examine themselues, do
communicate also in the Lord’s Supper both men and women, and in both kinds
bread and wine in which Elements, as also in the water of baptism, even after
they are consecrated, there is neither transubstantiation into, nor
Consubstantiation with the body and blood of Jesus Christ; whom the Heavens
must contain; until the time that all things be restored. But they are in the
ordinance of God signs and seals of God’s everlasting covenant, representing
and offering to all the receivers, but exhibiting only to the true believers
the Lord Jesus Christ and all his benefits unto righteousness, sanctification
and eternal life, through faith in his name to the glory and praise of God.
ARTICLE 36
That thus being rightly gathered, established, and still
proceeding in christian communion & obedience of the Gospel of Christ, none
is to separate for faults and corruptions which may and so long as the Church
consisteth of mortal men, will fall out & arise among them, even in a true
constituted Church, but by due order to seek redress therof.
ARTICLE 37
That such as yet see not the truth, may hear the public
doctrine and prayers of the church, and with all meekness are to be sought by
all means: Yet none who are grown in years to be received into their communion
as members, but such as do make confession of their faith, publicly desiring to
be received as members, and promising to walk in the obedience of Christ.
Neither any Infants, but such as are the seed of the faithful by one of the
parents, or under their education and government. And further not any from one
Congregation to be received members in another, without bringing certificate of
their former estate and present purpose.
ARTICLE 38
That though Congregations be thus distinct and several
bodies, every one as a compact City in itself, yet are they all to walk by one
and the same rule, & by all means convenient to have the counsel and help
one of another in all needful affairs of the Church, as members of one body in
the common Faith, under Christ their head.
ARTICLE 39
That it is the Office and duty of Princes and Magistrates,
who by the ordinance of God are supreme Governors under him over all persons
and causes within their Realms and Dominions, to suppress and root out by their
authority all false ministries, voluntary Religions and counterfeit worship of
God, to abolish and destroy the Idol Temples, Images, Altars, Vestments, and
all other monuments of Idolatry and superstition and to take and convert to
their own civil uses not only the benefit of all such idolatrous buildings
& monuments, but also the Revenues, Demesnes, Lordships, Possessions,
Glebes and maintenance of any false ministries and unlawful Ecclesiastical
functions whatsoever within their Dominions. And on the other hand to establish
& maintain by their laws every part of God’s word his pure Religion and
true ministry to cherish and protect all such as are carefull to worship God
according to his word, and to lead a godly life in all peace and loyalty; yea
to enforce all their Subiects whether Ecclesiastical or civil, to do their duties
to God and men, protecting & maintaining the good, punishing and restraining
the evil according as God hath commanded, whose Lieutenants they are here on
earth.
ARTICLE 40
That therefore the protection & commandment of the
Princes and Magistrates maketh it much more peaceable, though no whit at all
more lawful, to walk in the ways and ordinances of Jesus Christ which he hath
commanded his church to keep without spot and unrebukable until his appearing
in the end of the world. And that in this behalf the brethren thus minded and
proceeding as is beforesaid, do both continually supplicate to God, and as they
may, to their Princes and Governors that thus and under them they may lead a
quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
ARTICLE 41
That if God incline the Magistrates hearts to the allowance
& protection of them then they account it a happy blessing of God who
granteth such nursing Fathers and nursing Mothers to his Church, & be
careful to walk worthy so great a mercy of God in all thankfulness and
obedience.
ARTICLE 42
That if God withhold the Magistrates’ allowance and
furtherance herein, they yet proceed together in christian covenant &
communion thus to walk in the obedience of Christ even through the midst of all
trials and afflictions, not accounting their goods, Lands, Wives, Children,
Fathers, Mothers, brethren, Sisters, no nor their own lives dear unto them, so
as they may finish their course with joy, remembering always that we sought to
obey God rather than man, & grounding upon the commandment, commission, and
promise of our Saviour Christ, who as he hath all power in heaven & in
earth, so hath also promised (if we keep his commandments which he hath given
without limitation of time, place, Magistrates’ allowance or disallowance) to
be with us unto the end of the world: and when we have finished our course and
kept the faith, to give us the crown of righteousness which is laid up for all
that love his appearing.
ARTICLE 43
Unto all men is to be given them whatsoever is due
unto them. Tributes, Customs, and all other such lawful & accustomed
duties, ought willingly and orderly to be paid and performed. Our lands, goods,
and bodies, to be submitted in the Lord to the Magistrates’ pleasure. And the
Magistrates themselves every way to be acknowledged, reverenced, and obeyed
according to godliness, not because of wrath only but also for conscience’s
sake: And finally, all men so to be esteemed and regarded, as is due and meet
for their place, age, estate and condition.
ARTICLE 44
And thus we labour to give unto God that which is
God’s and unto Caesar that which is Caesar’s, and unto all men, that which
belongeth unto them: Endeavoring ourselves to have only a clear conscience
towards God and towards men: And having hope in God that the resurrection of
the dead shall be of the just unto life, & of the unjust unto condemnation,
everlasting. Now if any take this to be heresy, then do we with the Apostle
freely confess that after the way which they call heresy, we worship God the
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, believing all things that are written in the
Law and in the Prophets and Apostles: and whatsoever is according to this rule
of truth published in our own country or holden by any reformed Churches in
their Confessions abroad in the world. We do also reject and detest all strange
and heretical opinions & doctrines of all Heretics both old and new
whatsoever.
ARTICLE 45
Finally, whereas we are much slandered and traduced as
if we denied or misliked that form of prayer commonly called the Lord’s prayer:
we thought it needful here also concerning it to make known that we believe and
acknowledge it to be a most absolute and most excellent form of prayer, such as
no men nor Angels can set down the like. And that it was appointed and taught
by the Lord Jesus Christ, not that we should be tied to the use of those very
words, but that we should according to that rule make all our requests and
thanksgiving unto God, forasmuch as it is a perfect form & pattern,
containing in it plain and sufficient directions of prayer, for all occasions
and necessities that have been, are, or shall be, to the Church of God, or any
member thereof, to the end of the world.
CONCLUSION
Now unto him that is able to keep us that we fall not,
& to present us faultless before the presence of his glory with joy; that
is to God only wise our Saviour, be glory, and majesty, and dominion & power,
both now & for ever, Amen.
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