superior authority, each having its own particular sphere of duties and privileges in reference to matters ministerial and ecclesiastical, yet all subordinate to the same general design. [Acts 15, 2. 4. 6.22. 23. 25.] 111. It is the prerogative of these courts, ministerially, to determine controversies of faith and questions of morals, to set down rules and 5 directions for the better ordering of the public worship of God and government of his Church, to receive complaints in cases of maladministration, and authoritatively to determine the same, which determinations are to be received with reverence and submission. [Acts 16, 4. 1. Tim. 4, 14. Acts 14, 23. 20, 17. 1. Tim. 5, 17. Titus 1, 5. James 5, 14.] 10 DEATH AND THE RESURRECTION. 112. The bodies of men, after death, return to dust; but their spirits, being immortal, return to God who gave them. The spirits of the righteous are received into heaven, where they behold the face of God in light and glory, waiting for the full redemption of their bodies; 15 and the spirits of the wicked are cast into hell, where they are reserved to the judgment of the great day. The Scriptures speak of no other place for departed spirits. [Gen. 3, 19. Acts 13, 36. Luke 23, 43. Ecc. 12, 7. Heb. 12, 23. Phil. 1, 23. 2. Cor. 5, 1. 1. John 3, 2. Luke 16, 23. 24. Matt. 25, 46. Jude 6. 7.] 20 20 113. At the resurrection, those who are alive shall not die, but be changed; and all the dead shall be raised up, spiritual and immortal, and spirits and bodies be reunited forever. There shall be a resurrection both of the just and the unjust: of the unjust to dishonor, and of the just unto honor; the bodies of the latter shall be fashioned like unto 25 Christ's glorious body. [1. Thess. 4, 17. 1. Cor. 15, 51. 52. Acts 24, 15. John 5, 28. 29. Phil. 3, 21.] THE JUDGMENT. 114. God has appointed a day wherein he will judge the world in righteousness by Jesus Christ - to whom all power and judgment are 30 given by the Father in which not only the apostate angels shall be judged, but likewise all persons who have lived upon earth shall appear before the tribunal of Christ, and shall receive according to what they have done, whether good or evil. [Acts 17, 31. John 5, 22. 27. Jude 6. 2. Pet. 2, 4. 2. Cor. 5, 10. Ecc. 12, 14. Rom. 2, 16. 14, 10. 12. Matt. 12, 36. 37.] 35 115. After the judgment, the wicked shall go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life. [Matt. 25, 46. Rev. 14, 11. Jude 7.] 55. Bekenntnis der amerikanischen Kongregatio nalisten von 1883. 5 Statement of Doctrine. I. We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible. And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who is of one substance with the Father; by whom all things were made; And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of life, who is sent 10 from the Father and Son, and who together with the Father and Son is worshiped and glorified. II. We believe that the providence of God, by wich he executes his eternal purposes in the government of the world, is in and over all events; yet so that the freedom and responsibility of man are not im15 paired, and sin is the act of the creature alone. III. We believe that man was made in the image of God, that he might know, love, and obey God, and enjoy him forever; that our first parents by disobedience fell under the righteous condemnation of God; and that all men are so alienated from God that there is no salvation 20 from the guilt and power of sin except through God's redeeming grace. IV. We believe that God would have all men return to him; that to this end he has made himself known, not only through the works of nature, the course of his providence, and the consciences of men, but also through supernatural revelations made especially to a chosen people, 25 and above all, when the fullness of time was come, through Jesus Christ his Son. V. We believe that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the records of God's revelation of himself in the work of redemption; that they were written by men under the special guidance of the Holy 30 Spirit; that they are able to make wise unto salvation; and that they constitute the authoritative standard by which religious teaching and human conduct are to be regulated and judged. VI. We believe that the love of God to sinful men has found its highest expression in the redemptive work of his Son; who became 35 man, uniting his divine nature with our human nature in one person; who was tempted like other men, yet without sin; who by his humiliation, his holy obedience, his sufferings, his death on the cross, and his resurrection, became a perfect Redeemer; whose sacrifice of himself for the sins of the world declares the righteousness of God, and is the sole 40 and sufficient ground of forgiveness and of reconciliation with him. VII. We believe that Jesus Christ, after he had risen from the dead, ascended into heaven, where, as the one mediator between God and man, he carries forward his work of saving men; that he sends the Holy Spirit, to convict them of sin, and to lead them to repentance and faith; and that those who through renewing grace turn to righteousness, an trust in Jesus Christ as their Redeemer, receive for his sake the forgiveness of their sins, and are made the children of God. VIII. We believe that those who are thus regenerated and justified, grow in sanctified character through fellowship with Christ, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, and obedience to the truth; that a holy life is the fruit and evidence of saving faith; and that the believer's hope of continuance in such a life is in the preserving grace of God. IX. We believe that Jesus Christ came to establish among men the kingdom of God, the reign of truth and love, righteousness and peace; that to Jesus Christ, the Head of his kingdom, Christians are directly responsible in faith and conduct; and that to him all have immediate access without mediatorial or priestly intervention. 5 10 15 X. We believe that the Church of Christ, invisible and spiritual, comprises all true believers, whose duty is to associate themselves in churches, for the maintenance of worship, for the promotion of spiritual growth and fellowship, and for the conversion of men; that these churches, under the guidance of the Holy Scriptures and in fellowship with one 20 another, may determine each for itself their organization, statements of belief, and forms of worship, may appoint and set apart their own ministers, and should co-operate in the work which Christ has committed to them for the furtherance of the gospel throughout the world. XI. We believe in the observance of the Lord's Day, as a day of 25 holy rest and worship; in the ministry of the word; and in the two sacraments, which Christ has appointed for his church: Baptism, to be administered to believers and their children, as a sign of cleansing from sin, of union to Christ, and of the impartation of the Holy Spirit; and the Lord's Supper, as a symbol of his atoning death, a seal of its effi- 30 cacy, and a means whereby he confirms and strengthens the spiritual union and communion of believers with himself. XII. We believe in the ultimate prevalence of the kingdom of Christ over all the earth; in the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; in the resurrection of the dead; and in 35 a final judgment, the issues of which are everlasting punishment and everlasting life. 56. Bekenntnis der ostfriesischen Prädikanten von 1528. Summa unde bekenninghe Christliker leer der predican5 ten In Oostfrieslandt, warinne men sien mach wo si nicht noch Gades wort noch Sacramenten verachten, als hem valschelyck opghelecht werdt. Anno 1528. Dat eerste Artikel. God die here kent, heft lief, seghent 10 de sine van eewicheit, heft zijn rijke sinen gesegenden van aenbegin der weerelt bereit in sinem enigen lieven soon Christo. 2. Timo. 2, 19. Hie. 31, 3. Mathe. 25, 34. Ephe. 1, 4. Dat 2. Artikel. Dit is nochtans verborgen so lange dattet hoer tijtlic openbart werde, utwendich dorch de menschwerdinge ende 15 verkundinge des Godliken wordes, welc is de voergenoemde sone Christus, Inwendich doer den hiligen geist ende den geloven, welcke gelove is gods eygen gave unde werc in hen. 1. Tymoth. 3, 16. 1. Corin. 3, 7. Joh. 6, 29. Dat 3. Artikel. So is de eenige christus de rechte middeler 20 tusschen god ende den menschen, hi is alleen de doere, de wech, de waerheyt, ende dat leven. Hi is ons gemaket van gode tot wijsheyt, tot gerechticheyt, tot hilliginge, ende tot verlossinge. 1. Timot. 2, 5. Johannes 10, 7. 1. Corint. 1, 30. Dat evangelion locket tot Dat 4. Artikel. In dem eenigen Christo openbaert god ende 25 gheeft zijn goetheit, barmherticheit, gunst, vergevinge der sunden, rechtverdicheit, salicheit, dat eewige leven, in summa hen sulven. In hem geft hi al wat hi van uns eyschet doer die wet 1), ende wat hi uns toseyt doer dat Evangelium: Nae dem Christus is dat ende, ende de vervullinge beyde des wets ende des Evangelij. De wet dringet als ein tuchtmeister 30 tot Christum doer openbaringe unser sunden. hem doer openbaringe der godliker genaden. Rom. 10, 4. Rom. 1, 1-3. 16 f. Gala. 3, 24. Rom. 3, 21. 7, 4. Math. 11, 28. Dat 5. Artikel. Nicht alleen geeft uns god christum ende alle dingen mit hem enn in hem, dan hi geeft uns ooc ende werket in uns 35 den geloven, doer welcke gelove wi sulc altemael aennemen ende toe tasten, ons daer up laten. Dat heyt nu dat fleys ende dat bloedt Christi, ia Christum selven heel ende al eten ende drincken, metter dope christi dat 1) wet Gesetz. is mitten hilgen geest gedoopt werden, nieu geboren werden, van dem vader getoghen ende geleert ende christo geschenct werden, tot christum comen, zijn stemme hoeren. Rom. 8, 32. Joh. 6, 29. 35. 53 f. 1, 33. 4, 14. 6, 44, 37.65 enn 10, 16. Dat 6. Artikel. Sulc doet god alleen; dat is hi prediket, hi 5 doepet, hi gevet den hilligen geist ende dat ghelove, hi werket alleyn inwendich inder herten, daer konnen wij niet thodoen. Na dien he sulcx doet, niet alleen recht op die tijt als wij preken 1) horen, gedoopt werden, dat aventmael des heren holden uthwendich, dan mede, vor unde na, wanner dat sijnen godliken willen beliefft. Gods werck mach an werck niet gebunden sijn. Dat 7. Artikel. Gods eygen inwendige werck, zijn preken, dopen etc, is alleen krefftich, profitelic, ende van node vor god tot rechvaerdicheit unde salicheit, tot vertroostinge unde versekeringe der conscientien. ons 10 Dat 8. Artikel. Nochtans unse utwendich werck, als preken unde preken horen, dopen ende gedoopt werden, dat aventmael des heren holden, is oock woll nutt, dan alleen vor den menschen tot anderen dingen; soe naevolcht. 15 Dat 9. Artikel. Dat preken dient totter leer, tot vermaningen, 20 tot straffen, tot overtuginge, tot openbaringe Christi, datmen gheen onsculdinge solde hebben der sunden. Mat. 24, 14. Jo. 15, 22. 2. Tim. 3, 16. 4, 2. Dat 10. Artikel. De waterdoope dient tot avtellinge off2) inscrivunge tot dat getal van anderen Christen, als de mit Christo willen 25 off solden sterven van horen sundigen leven ende weder opstaen tot eyn nyeu leven. Mat. 28, 19. Acta 2, 38. 11, (10, 48?). Rom. 6, 3. 4. Dat 11. Artikel. Dat avontmael des heren dient tot gedenckenisse des heren, verkündige syns doets, so lange dat he lijflíjken wederkompt. Item te betugen den gelove, welcke gelove is dat rechte enige 30 eten unde drincken des vleys ende des bloets Christi. totter broderliker liefden. Luc. 22, 19. 1. Kor. 11, 26. Dat 12. Artikel. Het dient mede Hoe wel dese unde alle andere dingen, ia ock duvel, doot, unde helle, den utverkoren kinderen unde liefhebbers gods ten besten mothen dienen: Staet niet te min die grunt vast, dat 35 geen wercken oeck van god geboden, de doer menschen kracht3) geschieden, geen sacramenten, geen utwendige dingen, nodich, nutt, off kraftich sijn vor god tot rechtverdicheit unde salicheit, naden verstande dz god ons um sulcke dingen wille solde rechtverdich achten ende salich maken, so dat de gemeen man verstaet. Rom. 8, 28. Dat 13. Artikel. Anders waer Christus de enige gehele rechtvardicheit ende salicheit niet, anders most godes gave ende werck in uns, welc is de gelove, onvolkomen syn totter salicheit, dat doch niet wesen mach, want) den enigen geloven dat ewige leven wert toe ge 40 45 |