MysecondargumentistakenfromthesubjectofthesermonsoftheApostles，bothwhilstourSaviourlivedonearth，andafterhisascension。TheApostlesinourSaviour’stimeweresenttopreachthekingdomofGod：*forneitherthere，norMatthew，10。7，givethheanycommissiontothemotherthanthis，“Asyego，preach，saying，thekingdomofheavenisathand“；thatis，thatJesusistheMessiah，theChrist，theKingwhichwastocome。ThattheirpreachingalsoafterhisascensionwasthesameismanifestoutoftheActs，17。6，“Theydrew，“saithSt。Luke，“Jasonandcertainbrethrenuntotherulersofthecity，crying，Thesethathaveturnedtheworldupsidedownarecomehitheralso，whomJasonhathreceived。AndthesealldocontrarytothedecreesofCaesar，sayingthatthereisanotherking，oneJesus。“Andoutofthesecondandthirdversesofthesamechapter，whereitissaidthatSt。Paul，“ashismannerwas，wentinuntothem；andthreeSabbathdaysreasonedwiththemoutoftheScriptures；openingandallegingthatChristmustneedshavesuffered，andrisenagainfromthedead，andthatthisJesusisChrist。“
ThethirdargumentisfromthoseplacesofScripturebywhichallthefaithrequiredtosalvationisdeclaredtobeeasy。ForifaninwardassentofthemindtoallthedoctrinesconcerningChristianfaithnowtaught，whereofthegreatestpartaredisputed，werenecessarytosalvation，therewouldbenothingintheworldsohardastobeaChristian。Thethiefuponthecross，thoughrepenting，couldnothavebeensavedforsaying，“Lord，remembermewhenthoucomestintothykingdom“；bywhichhetestifiednobeliefsofanyotherarticle，butthis，thatJesuswastheKing。Norcoulditbesaid，asitis，Matthew，11。30，that“Christ’syokeiseasy，andhisburdenlight“：northat“littlechildrenbelieveinhim，“asitis，Matthew，18。6。NorcouldSt。PaulhavesaidICor。，1。21，“ItpleasedGodbythefoolishnessofpreaching，tosavethemthatbelieve“：*norcouldSt。Paulhimselfhavebeensaved，muchlesshavebeensogreatadoctoroftheChurchsosuddenly，thatneverperhapsthoughtoftransubstantiation，norpurgatory，normanyotherarticlesnowobtruded。
*ICorinthians，1。21
Thefourthargumentistakenfromplacesexpress，andsuchasreceivenocontroversyofinterpretation；asfirst，John，5。39，“SearchtheScriptures，forinthemyethinkyehaveeternallife，andtheyaretheythattestifyofme。“OurSaviourherespeakethoftheScripturesonlyoftheOldTestament；fortheJewsatthattimecouldnotsearchtheScripturesoftheNewTestament，whichwerenotwritten。ButtheOldTestamenthathnothingofChristbutthemarksbywhichmenmightknowhimwhenhecame；asthatheshoulddescendfromDavid；bebornatBethlehem，andofavirgin；dogreatmiracles，andthelike。ThereforetobelievethatthisJesuswas，hewassufficienttoeternallife：butmorethansufficientisnotnecessary；andconsequentlynootherarticleisrequired。Again，“Whosoeverlivethandbelievethinmeshallnotdieeternally。“*
ThereforetobelieveinChristisfaithsufficienttoeternallife；
andconsequentlynomorefaiththanthatisnecessary。ButtobelieveinJesus，andtobelievethatJesusistheChrist，isallone，asappearethintheversesimmediatelyfollowing。ForwhenourSaviourhadsaidtoMartha，“Believestthouthis？“*2sheanswereth，“Yea，Lord，IbelievethatthouarttheChrist，theSonofGod，whichshouldcomeintotheworld。“*3Thereforethisarticlealoneisfaithsufficienttolifeeternal，andmorethansufficientisnotnecessary。
Thirdly，John，20。31，“Thesethingsarewrittenthatyemightbelieve，thatJesusistheChrist，theSonofGod，andthatbelievingyemighthavelifethroughhisname。“There，tobelievethatJesusistheChristisfaithsufficienttotheobtainingoflife；
andthereforenootherarticleisnecessary。Fourthly，IJohn，4。2，“EveryspiritthatconfesseththatJesusChristiscomeinthefleshisofGod。“AndIJohn，5。1，“WhosoeverbelieveththatJesusistheChristisbornofGod。“Andverse5，“Whoishethatovercomeththeworld，buthethatbelieveththatJesusistheSonofGod？“Fifthly，Acts，8。36，37，“See，“saiththeeunuch，“hereiswater，whatdothhindermetobebaptized？AndPhilipsaid，Ifthoubelievestwithallthyheartthoumayst。Andheansweredandsaid，IbelievethatJesusChrististheSonofGod。“Thereforethisarticlebelieved，JesusistheChrist，issufficienttobaptism，thatistosay，toourreceptionintothekingdomofGod，and，byconsequence，onlynecessary。AndgenerallyinallplaceswhereourSavioursaithtoanyman，“Thyfaithhathsavedthee，“thecausehesaithitissomeconfessionwhichdirectly，orbyconsequence，impliethabeliefthatJesusistheChrist。
Thelastargumentisfromtheplaceswherethisarticleismadethefoundationoffaith：forhethatholdeththefoundationshallbesaved。Whichplacesarefirst，Matthew，24。23，“Ifanymanshallsayuntoyou，Lo，hereisChrist，orthere，believeitnot，forthereshallarisefalseChrists，andfalseprophets，andshallshewgreatsigns，andwonders，“etc。Here，wesee，thisarticle，JesusistheChrist，mustbeheld，thoughhethatshallteachthecontraryshoulddogreatmiracles。ThesecondplaceisGalatians，1。8，“Thoughwe，oranangelfromheaven，preachanyothergospeluntoyouthanthatwehavepreacheduntoyou，lethimbeaccursed。“ButthegospelwhichPaulandtheotherApostlespreachedwasonlythisarticle，thatJesusistheChrist：thereforeforthebeliefofthisarticle，wearetorejecttheauthorityofanangelfromheaven；muchmoreofanymortalman，ifheteachthecontrary。ThisisthereforethefundamentalarticleofChristianfaith。AthirdplaceisIJohn，4。1，“Beloved，believenoteveryspirit。HerebyyeshallknowtheSpiritofGod；everyspiritthatconfesseththatiscomeinthefleshisofGod。“Bywhichitisevidentthatthisarticleisthemeasureandrulebywhichtoestimateandexamineallotherarticles，andisthereforeonlyfundamental。AfourthisMatthew，16。18，where，afterSt。Peterhadprofessedthisarticle，sayingtoourSaviour，“ThouartChristtheSonofthelivingGod，“ourSaviouranswered，“ThouartPeter，anduponthisrockIwillbuildmyChurch“：fromwhenceIinferthatthisarticleisthatonwhichallotherdoctrinesoftheChurcharebuilt，asontheirfoundation。AfifthisICorinthians，3。11，12，etc。，“Otherfoundationcannomanlaythanthatwhichislaid，JesusistheChrist。Nowifanymanbuilduponthisfoundation，gold，silver，preciousstones，wood，hay，stubble；everyman’sworkshallbemademanifest；forthedayshalldeclareit，becauseitshallberevealedbyfire，andthefireshalltryeveryman’swork，whatsortitis。Ifanyman’sworkabidewhichhehathbuiltthereupon，heshallreceiveareward。Ifanyman’sworkshallbeburnt，heshallsufferloss；buthehimselfshallbesaved，yetsoasbyfire。“Whichwords，beingpartlyplainandeasytounderstand，andpartlyallegoricalanddifficult，outofthatwhichisplainmaybeinferredthatpastorsthatteachthisfoundation，thatJesusistheChrist，thoughtheydrawfromitfalseconsequenceswhichallmenaresometimessubjectto，theymayneverthelessbesaved；muchmorethattheymaybesaved，who，beingnopastors，buthearers，believethatwhichisbytheirlawfulpastorstaughtthem。
Thereforethebeliefofthisarticleissufficient；andbyconsequence，thereisnootherarticleoffaithnecessarilyrequiredtosalvation。
Nowforthepartwhichisallegorical，asthat“thefireshalltryeveryman’swork，“andthatthey“shallbesaved，butsoasbyfire，“or“throughfire“fortheoriginalisdiapuros，itmakethnothingagainstthisconclusionwhichIhavedrawnfromtheotherwordsthatareplain。Nevertheless，becauseuponthisplacetherehathbeenanargumenttakentoprovethefireofpurgatory，Iwillalsohereofferyoumyconjectureconcerningthemeaningofthistrialofdoctrinesandsavingofmenasbyfire。TheApostlehereseemethtoalludetothewordsoftheProphetZechariah，who，speakingoftherestorationofthekingdomofGod，saiththus，“Twopartsthereinshallbecutoff，anddie，butthethirdshallbelefttherein；andIwillbringthethirdpartthroughthefire，andwillrefinethemassilverisrefined，andwilltrythemasgoldistried；theyshallcallonthenameoftheLord，andIwillhearthem。“*ThedayofjudgementisthedayoftherestorationofthekingdomofGod；andatthatdayitisthatSt。Petertellsusshallbetheconflagrationoftheworld，whereinthewickedshallperish；buttheremnantwhichGodwillsaveshallpassthroughthatfireunhurt，andbethereinassilverandgoldarerefinedbythefirefromtheirdrosstried，andrefinedfromtheiridolatry，andbemadetocalluponthenameofthetrueGod。*2Alludingwhereto，St。Paulheresaiththat“theday“thatis，thedayofjudgement，thegreatdayofourSaviour’scomingtorestorethekingdomofGodinIsraelshalltryeveryman’sdoctrine，byjudgingwhicharegold，silver，preciousstones，wood，hay，stubble；andthentheythathavebuiltfalseconsequencesonthetruefoundationshallseetheirdoctrinescondemned；
neverthelesstheythemselvesshallbesaved，andpassunhurtthroughthisuniversalfire，andliveeternally，tocalluponthenameofthetrueandonlyGod。InwhichsensethereisnothingthataccordethnotwiththerestofHolyScripture，oranyglimpseofthefireofpurgatory。
ButamanmayhereaskwhetheritbenotasnecessarytosalvationtobelievethatGodisOmnipotentCreatoroftheworld；thatJesusChristisrisen；andthatallmenelseshallriseagainfromthedeadatthelastday；astobelievethatJesusistheChrist。TowhichIanswer，theyare；andsoaremanymorearticles；buttheyaresuchasarecontainedinthisone，andmaybededucedfromit，withmoreorlessdifficulty。ForwhoistherethatdoesnotseethattheywhobelieveJesustobetheSonoftheGodofIsrael，andthattheIsraeliteshadforGodtheOmnipotentCreatorofallthings，dothereinalsobelievethatGodistheOmnipotentCreatorofallthings？
OrhowcanamanbelievethatJesusisthekingthatshallreigneternally，unlesshebelievehimalsorisenagainfromthedead？Foradeadmancannotexercisetheofficeofaking。Insum，hethatholdeththisfoundation，JesusistheChrist，holdethexpresslyallthatheseethrightlydeducedfromit，andimplicitlyallthatisconsequentthereunto，thoughhehavenotskillenoughtodiscerntheconsequence。
Andthereforeitholdethstillgoodthatthebeliefofthisonearticleissufficientfaithtoobtainremissionofsinstothepenitent，andconsequentlytobringthemintothekingdomofheaven。
NowthatIhaveshownthatalltheobediencerequiredtosalvationconsistethinthewilltoobeythelawofGod，thatistosay，inrepentance；andallthefaithrequiredtothesameiscomprehendedinthebeliefofthisarticle，JesusistheChrist；IwillfurtherallegethoseplacesoftheGospelthatprovethatallthatisnecessarytosalvationiscontainedinboththesejoinedtogether。ThementowhomSt。PeterpreachedonthedayofPentecost，nextaftertheascensionofourSaviour，askedhim，andtherestoftheApostles，saying，“Menandbrethren，whatshallwedo？“*TowhomSt。Peteranswered，“Repent，andbebaptizedeveryoneofyou，fortheremissionofsins，andyeshallreceivethegiftoftheHolyGhost。“*2