A CONFESSION OF FAITH. 15 



was left after the fall, being sufficient to accuse : 

 then it was more manifestly expressed in the written 

 law ; and was yet more opened by the prophets ; 

 and, lastly, expounded in the true perfection by the 

 Son of God, the great Prophet, and perfect interpre 

 ter, as also fulfiller of the law. That likewise the 

 word of the promise was manifested and revealed : 

 first, by immediate revelation and inspiration ; after 

 by figures, which were of two natures : the one, the 

 rites and ceremonies of the law ; the other, the con 

 tinual history of the old world, and Church of the 

 Jews ; which though it be literally true, yet is it 

 pregnant of a perpetual allegory and shadow of the 

 work of the redemption to follow. The same pro 

 mise or evangile was more clearly revealed and de 

 clared by the prophets, and then by the Son him 

 self, and lastly by the Holy Ghost, which illumi- 

 nateth the Church to the end of the world. 



That in the fulness of time, according to the 

 promise and oath, of a chosen lineage descended the 

 blessed seed of the woman, Jesus Christ, the only 

 begotten Son of God and Saviour of the world ; 

 who was conceived by the power and overshadowing 

 of the Holy Ghost, and took flesh of the Virgin 

 Mary : that the Word did not only take flesh, or 

 was joined to flesh, but was made flesh, though 

 without confusion of substance or nature : so as the 

 eternal Son of God and the ever blessed Son of Mary 

 was one person ; so one, as the blessed virgin may 

 be truly and catholicly called &quot; Deipara,&quot; the Mother 

 of God ; so one, as there is no unity in universal 



