Volume II Part 10 (2/2)

THE CONTINUANCE, INCREASE, AND PRESERVATIOUN OF THE KIRK.[221]--CAP.

V.

[221] In the editions 1561, ”Church.”

[Sidenote: Ezech. 16.]

[Sidenote: Gen. 12. 13. Exod. 1. 2. Exod. 20.]

[Sidenote: Josu. 1. 2. 3. 1 Sam. 1. 23. 2 Reg. 17.]

[Sidenote: 2 Reg. 24. 25. Deut. 28. Jere. 39. Esdr. 1. Agg. 1, 2.

Zach. 3.]

We maist constantlie beleif, that G.o.d preservit, instruct.i.t, multipleit, honourit, decoirit, and frome death callit to lyfe his Kirk in all aiges, fra Adam, till the c.u.ming of Chryst Jesus in the flesche: for Abraham he callit frome his fatheris c.u.n.trey, him he instruct.i.t, his seid he multipleit, the same he marvalouslie preservit, and mair marvelouslie delyverit frome the bondage [and tyranny] of Pharao; to thame he gaif his lawis, const.i.tutiouns, and ceremoneis; thame he possessit in the land of Canaan; to thame efter Jugeis, and efter Saule he gaif David to be kyng, to quham he maid promeise, ”That of the fruit of his loynis sould ane sitt for ever upoun his regall saitt.” To this same pepill from tyme to tyme he send propheittis to reduce thame to the recht way of thair G.o.d, frome the quhilk often tymis thay declyneit by idolatrie. And albeit for thair stubburne contempt of justice, he was compellit to gif thame in the handis of thair ennemeis, as befoir was threatnit by the mouth of Moyses, in samekill that the halye citie[222] was destroyit, the tempill brynt with fyre, and the haill land left desolat the s.p.a.ce of sevintie yeiris; yitt of mercy did he reduce thame agane to Jerusalem, quhair the citie and tempill war reedifeit, and they, against all temptatiounis and a.s.saultis of Sathan, did abyde till the Messias came, according to the promeise.

[222] In the MSS. of Knox, ”the haill citie.”

OFF THE INCARNATIOUN OF CHRYST JESUS.--CAP. VI.

[Sidenote: Gal. 4.]

[Sidenote: Luc. 1, 2.]

[Sidenote: Esai.]

Quhan the fulnes of tyme came, G.o.d send his Sone, his Eternall Wisdome, the substance of his awin glory, in this warld, quha tuik the nature of manheid of the substance of ane woman, to witt, of ane Virgin, and that be the operatioun of the Holie Ghost: And sa was borne the just seid of David, the angell of the greit counsall of G.o.d; the verray Messias promesit, quham we acknawledge and confesse Emanuell; verray G.o.d and verray man, twa perfyte naturis unit.i.t and joynit in ane persona. By quhilk oure confessioun we dampne[223] the d.a.m.nabill and pestilent hereseyis of Arrius, Marcion, Eutiches, Nestorius, and sick utheris, as either deny[224] the eternitie of his G.o.dheid, either the veratie of his human nature, either confound thame, either yit devyde thame.

[223] In the old printed copies, ”condempne.”

[224] In the old printed copies, ”did deny;” and ”or,” instead of ”either,” in the two next lines.

QUHY IT BEHOVIT THE MEDIATOUR TO BE VERRAY G.o.d AND VERRAY MAN.--CAP.

VII.

We acknawledge and confesse, that this maist wonderous conjunctioun betwix the G.o.dheid and the Manheid in Chryst Jesus, did proceid frome the eternall and immutabill decree of G.o.d, quhence alssua oure salvatioun springis and dependis.[225]

[225] In the edition 1561, and MS. G, ”whence also our salvation springeth, and dependeth;” in the Acts of Parliament 1567, ”fra quhilk all our salvatioun springs and depends.”

ELECTIOUN.--CAP. VIII.

[Sidenote: Eph. 1.]

[Sidenote: Heb. 2.]

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