is the shepe-hearde and head harkeneth to his voice and teaching alone and foloweth not the voice or coÌ„maundement of straunge tradicions but dothe concerning the wourship and true seruice of God touching the necessarie health of soule only that whiche the Lorde God coÌ„maundeth nother blenching on the right hande nor on the lefte But contrary wise like as the ê‘ticular churches of ArriaÌ„s Donatistes PelagiaÌ„s Marcionistes Eutichianes Mahometistes Idolaters libertines Anabaptistes and other sectaries fantastical spirites of errour be the variable malignauÌ„t churche wherof the prince of this world the deuil is the vndoubted head And the teachers defeÌ„dours of errours are by the apostle S. IohaÌ„ called Antichristes But so forasmuche as the Romyshe churche of the ruffling rabines popishe tippet men with their complices the papistes doo not only not founde nor grouÌ„de their autoritie decrees tradiciones doctrines for the most parte vpon the sure rocke the worde and gospell of Christ which as Chrisostome saithe is the only marke to knowe the true church In Math. ca. 24. Ho. 49. in opere impersecto of God by but also in some poyntes they wraste and wrythe and falsely allege textes of the scriptures for their carnal pleasure and profite and in the chiefest articles of the catholike christen faithe like most fantastical spirites of errour sowers of most wicked sectes they repugne and teache coÌ„trary to the gospel scriptures of God altring the immutable ordinaunce of Christ and setting vp straunge sacrifices and godseruice propounding other articles of faithe and meanes of saluacion besides Iesus Christ making the commaundement of God of non effecte for the aduauÌ„cemeÌ„t mayntenauÌ„ce of their owne traiterous tradiciones teaching doctrines of deuilles 1. Timo. 4 as forbidding of meates mariage And forasmuche also as the churche of the papistes caÌ„ not abyde the pure worde of God nor to haue it publikely in the vulgare tongue for Christes flocke to be fedde withall but with banishing and slaundering the euerlasting testament and blessed Bible of Iesus Christ with ê‘secuting emprisonyng murthering of the preachers witnesses of the same set vp their owne gloses coÌ„stituciones customes deuises dreames tradiciones procedinges of men contrary to the written worde and gospel of God coÌ„trary to the patriarkes prophetes Christ his apostles and contrary to the proceding exaÌ„ple of the fathers of the primatiue churche And seing moreouer that the churche of the papistes had her begynnyng proceding continuauÌ„ce power aduauÌ„cemeÌ„t successe only by force of wicked Emperours other naughty princes traitours vnder false pÌ„tenses garnished decked with the vsurped name of catholike churche other couÌ„trefaicte titles hipocritical colours is also maiÌ„tened vpholdeÌ„ by treason murther sacrilege fraude rauine crafte sorcerye coÌ„â—uring flattery lyeng marchauÌ„dise of mennes soules to vphold their idlenesse pryde crueltie wyueles hooremoÌ„ging wtal I coÌ„fesse plainly affirme that the same swarme and coÌ„gregacioÌ„ of papistes I meane as many as teache willingly mayntene obstinately defeÌ„d the supremacie tradiciones doctrines of the Romysh religioÌ„ setting asyde the Bible of God are Antichristes And amoÌ„g other erroneous churches of heretikes the chief ê‘ticular malignauÌ„t church of the deuil of al errours And that the churche sea of Rome according to the Dan. 7. 11. Apo. 13. 17. descripcions of Daniel Iohn thapostle is the very hoore of BabiloÌ„ wher with the kinges poteÌ„tates of the earthe haue coÌ„mitted spiritual fornicacioÌ„ are druÌ„ken with the cuppe of her obominaciones the sinful synagoge of sathaÌ„ the most cursed kenel cathedral churche of Antichrist And also that the bishop of Rome that head of the same churche is the vndoubted singular great Antichrist the man 2. Thes 2. of synne the childe of perdicioÌ„ and the principal aduersary that maketh batail with the lambe exalteth him self aboue all that is called God sitting in the teÌ„ple of God vauÌ„ting him self to be God whom the holy apostle S. Paule speaketh of 2. Thessa 2. is now by Goddes most merciful benefite reuealed in our dayes herafter the Lorde with the blast of his mouthe shall destroye him al his littour finally coÌ„mauÌ„de theÌ„ to be cast in to vtter darkenesse to Matth. 21. 24. haue their mede porcioÌ„ amoÌ„g hipocrites wher shal be weping gnashiÌ„g of tethe for euer euer worlde wtout ende This mater shal appeare more plaine in certain Homilies intitled Antichrist which I haue translated in to englishe and now by the goodnesse of God they are put in prynt accordingly For I promise in the sight of God he assisting me with the power of his holy spirite that I shal be an enemie to the vtermost of my poore possible power vnto the errours of that popishe malignaunt churche and satanical Romyshe religion while I lyue and after my deathe no lesse than an enemye Notwithstanding like as I neuer â—ought the hurte of any of theÌ„ either in their bodies or their goodes but by charitie al gentilnesse to wynne theÌ„ vnto the truthe if it might be euen so I beseche almightie god froÌ„ the botome of my harte if it be his godly will to grauÌ„t vnto the that be wrapped through infirmitie and ignorauÌ„ce in the darkenesse of popishe errours the light of his pure gospel with hartie repeÌ„tauÌ„ce and amendement of their iudgemeÌ„tes to be newe creatures in Iesus Christ walking in the true frutes of Christes faithe loue and as well to doo as I wolde doo my selfe Amen Touching the tenthe Article I beleue and confesse that almighty God The. 10. Article by his grace and mercye in Iesus Christ geueth vnto all true faithfull beleuers free pardon and forgeuenesse of al their synnes if they will acknowlage and confesse them vnto their onely and true goostly father God at what tyme so euer they shall repent And this I take to be the true preaching of the Gospell But as for the vnbeleuers and suche as persiste stil in their vnbelefe and impenitent wickednesse it is not possible for them euer to haue true perfaicte forgeuenesse of their sinnes And I doo confesse that al synnes are not alike nor after all one condicion but that som synnes are greater thaÌ„ some some sines more greuous than some as their maner is to tende against the glorie and loue of God against faithe and the loue of a mannes neighbour some more than som some lesse than some I saie moreouer that what so euer is comitted against the lawe of God that is to saye contrary to the will and worde of God that same is sinne Wherfore no faithfull preacher or ministre dothe make God the author of synne but we declare that the original poison of synne beganne in the apostata of God and the common aduersarie of mankynde and in mannes owne corrupt will Howbeit we deme not but that god thorough his infinite wisdoÌ„ ordreth
A confession of the most auncient and true christeÌ„ catholike olde belefe accordyng to the ordre of the xii articles of our coÌ„mon Crede set furthe in Englishe to the glory of almightye God and to the confirmacion of Christes people in Christes catholike olde faith By I. D. Psal 116. I beleue and therfore haue I spoken Roma 10. The belefe of the hearte iustifieth and the mouthe confesseth to saluacion ☞ Imprinted in Sothewarke by Christophor Truthal Cum priuilegio Regalj In April 1556. To the vnfayned fauourours louers of the pure worde and Gospell of Iesus Christ enhabiting within the cities and diocese of Couentrie and Lichfelde and in all other places where it hathe chaunced me to haue occupied the rowme of a Preacher Grace mercye and peace ioyned with earnest repentauÌ„ce and constaunt faithe in the doctrine of the Gospell froÌ„ God the father and his sonne Iesus Christ the coÌ„mon only saueour of the worlde MY most sounng frendes and brethreÌ„ concerning our coÌ„mon faith in Christ our Lorde where of late dayes I am contemptuously and slaunderously reported and named among some to be an erroneous felowe one of the new learning an heretike one of Latimers secte I wotte not what Be it knowen to the worlde that I am none other thaÌ„ a true christian man regenerate instructed nowe in my middle age in the blessed schole of Goddes most holy Bible and Testament thankes be to his fatherly bounteous mercy therfore sythence I haue not folowed the secte of any earthy man nether grounded myne opinion faithe or doctrine vpoÌ„ any newe learning or heresie but vpon the most certaine pure vnfailing true worde and learning of almightie God sent downe reuealed taught from the seate of his Maiestie preached at his coÌ„mauÌ„dement by the fathers and prophetes by Christ his sonne and his holy Apostles and also regestred and specified in the rolles euideÌ„ces of the holy sacred scriptures to be the fouÌ„dacion rule and lawe for the true catholike churche of God to be builded vpon and ruled by from the begynning of the worlde vnto the laste daye of iudgement And here vpon only haue I set the building of my faythe Iesus Christ hym self beyng the head corner stone Ephe. 2. and according thervnto I haue diligently and faythfully taught and instructed my parisheners and neighbours as vnto my vocacion I consydered it iustlye to apperteyne NotwithstaÌ„dyng like as S. paule reporteth that Apollo he were ministers 1. Cor. 3. by whom the CorinthiaÌ„s beleued as God distributed vnto euery one euen so doo I acknowlage from the botome of my harte vnfeynedly confesse that the reuerende father of blessed memorie Hugh Latimer was to the Hugh Latymer very death a right worthy instrumeÌ„t minister of God by whose most holsome doctrine syncere exaÌ„ple of godly lyfe and constauÌ„t frendship towardes me it hathe pleased thalmighty Lord to open vnto me among many other the most vnworthy the true christian faithe to cal me out of the damnable darkenesse of Antichristes iniquirie in to the true light of Christes gospelles veritie And like as the people of Berrhoe by diligent reading and examining Act. 17. of the scriptures fouÌ„de that Paules doctrine was bothe right true and certainly good euen so do I vndoubtedly credite plainly testifye the doctrine aswel of the glorious martir of Iesus Christ Hugh Latimer concernyng Iustificacion other articles of the christen faithe as also of the most reuerende father in God and right constaunt confessour of Christ Iesus Thomas Cranmere Archebishop of Cantorbury concerning the blessed sacrament Thomas Cranmer of Christes precious body bloud most catholikely and syncerely set furthe in print not being sedde by any carnall affeccion towardes their persones nether for worldly promocion but bicause I haue perfitly proued their doctrine to be conteyned in the holy sacred scriptures by testimonie and waraunt wherof they and other ministers of Christes gospell haue taught and set furthe the true catholike doctrine worde of maÌ„nes saluacion accordingly And forasmuche as I esteme them men which without sure holde of the scriptures might both haue deceaued and ben deceaued therfore I and all other that be knytte together in one true vntoÌ„ and knotte of Christes spirite laye our foundacion grounde worke not vpoÌ„ fleshe bloud that is to saye vpoÌ„ no mannes worde of what power vertue wisdome learning autoritie estate or coÌ„dicioÌ„ so euer he be but vpoÌ„ the vnfailing true worde of the almightie euerlyuing Lorde God In the meane while yf any man can teache me better more truly by the holy canonical scripture I am coÌ„tent as reason is gladly hartily to folowe him willingly geue him place with coÌ„digne praise great gramercies But as for any other doctrine of faith besides the scriptures or contraryr to the autoritie of the scriptures either elles by violent wrasting and wrythyng of the scriptures out of of their owne seÌ„se or right meanyng I shall by the assistence of goddes merciful helpe neuer suffre my selfe to be plucked awaye froÌ„ the simple plaine apostolike true faithe bicause man is frely iustified by this saith and euery fayth contrary to this is a dead fruteles faithe euery doctrine not fouÌ„ded vpon or coÌ„trarie to Goddes holy boke Ro. 3. 4. Iac. 2. Gal. 1. the Bible is to be holde accursed yea although it were preached set furthe or coÌ„mauÌ„ded by an Angel of heauen muche more by any mortall creature thoughe it be neuer so great a Kyng Quene gouernour or potentate And coÌ„cerning the holy canonicall The holy canonical Scriptures scripture I among other poore ministers of the Gospel hauing charge of soule folowing the exaÌ„ples of other christiaÌ„ churches teachers haue beleued taught my parisheners and neyghbours so stil beleue and testifie on this maner of waye folowing The canonical scripture I meane the holy Bible which is the true vnfailing declaracion of the eternal wil of God deliuered by the holy Goost preached diligently declared vnto the worlde vnto maÌ„kinde I meane by the holy prophetes chosen apostles is of al other the most auÌ„cient most perfite most excelleÌ„t doctrine coÌ„preheÌ„ding teaching absolutly fully al that is necessarely required to the holsome know lage of God to true faithe the true worship of God to true christian righteousnesse and to the framyng ordring of honest blessed holy lyfe And forasmuche as the Canonical scripture the Bible I saye is the selfe same worde that the eternal God him selfe hath spoken and taught and therfore endureth permanent to be a lanterne vnto the fete a light vnto meÌ„nes fotesteppes ê“cedinges for euermore it hath fidelitie autoritie certaitie truthe estimacioÌ„ perfectioÌ„ pleinteously ynough in it self so as it ought not to be made authentike again by the churche or by autoritie of the wytnesse of men either yet to be piceâ—â—… and patched
and acceptable vnto God for his workes sake For it is the only deathe of Christ and free grace and pardon of God that maketh a man acceptable vnto God and fitte vnto all good workes yea to speake truly and plainly All the good workes that true faithfull people doo are nothing elles but a certain free working that the grace of God enforceth procureth Wherfore all that is spoken in the scriptures concerning the merite and rewarde that the faithful shall haue ought rightly to be iudged and taken for the grace and free gifte of God By reasoÌ„ wherof S Austi also taught that all the good workes that the faythfull do are the grace of God the God dothe crowne reward his owne merites in the faithfull which he of his bounteous liberalitie reputeth as though they were our merites or as though we of our selues deserued theÌ„ Touching theight Article I beleue confesse that the holy goost the thrid The. 8 Article persone in Trinitie is the very true eternal God with the father the sonne that our Lorde Iesus now reigneth administreth al thinges in his churche by the holy goost as he him self said I wil pray the father he shal geue you an other comfortour to abyde with you for euer euen the spirite of truth which the worlde can not receaue because he seeth hiÌ„ not nor knoweth him But you knowe him for he abideth with you shal be in you Be shal teache you al thiÌ„ges put you in remeÌ„braunce of al thinges what so euer I haue spoken vnto you And againe he saieth I tel you truthe it is expedient for you that I go away For yf I go not away that comfortour shall not come vnto you But yf I goo away I shall sende him vnto you And whaÌ„ he cometh he shal reproue that world of sinne of righteousnes of iudgemeÌ„t Therfore all those that be true preachers ministers haue plaiÌ„ly instructed taught their parisheners people as I according to my poore talent haue done the our Lorde Iesus Christ is not nowe corporally with his churche here vpon earthe but that he worketh reigneth in his faithful flocke by the holy goost ê“ceding froÌ„ the father and him and by the same spirite doth comforte and sanctifie the faithfull Al the ioye all the vertue all the sanctificacion that is in the faithfull is of the spirite of God And without this spirite of God ther is nothing either holy or perfite Ther is no maÌ„ in al the wyde worlde that hathe faithe of him selfe but aswell faithe as al other good giftes are of the spirite of God as the holy apostle S. Paule dothe manyfoldly and in many places of his epistles teache and make mencion but specially Ephe. 4. and. 1. Cor. 12. The. 9. Article Concerning the nynthe Article I beleue coÌ„fesse that all they which truly beleue in Christ throughout all the hole what the true catholike churche of Christis vniuersal worlde are one body one church of Christ whoÌ„ he sanctifieth by his holy spirite in his own blood And all they are with one only boÌ„de knot of faithe through loue vnited knit to Christ one to another among them selues lyke membres all of one body and principally they are made partakers of the free grace gyftes of their heade and saueour Iesus Christ This churche is holy this churche is begotten and borne of the worde of God recorded in the holy scriptures this churche dothe frame and ordre al thynges accordyng to the worde of God this churche lyueth in christen sobrenesse and honest discipline this churche alwayes whan it maye and hauing no necessary lette is partaker of Christes most holy sacramentes which be two in nombre Baptisme the Lordes Supper From this churche the holy scriptures and syncere teachers therof do exclude and barre out nother the vse of mariage from any state or profession of men or women nor the possession and ê“pretie of worldly substaunce nether honest occupacions or worldly trauailes ne yet the ordres degrees of rulers and magistrates nother higher powers nor nobilitie ne yomaÌ„rie nether bonde nor free maister nor seruaunt nor any suche estates of meÌ„ This churche albeit not many wyse after that fleshe not many great estates nor many noble are chosen membres of the same yet for asmuche as euery long and nacion vnder heauen bothe Psal 113. of the Iewes and of the gentiles and some of euery state prayse the name of the Lorde from the rysyng of the Sunne to the Sunne settyng and seyng the voice of this churche is heard throughout all the coastes of the hole worlde and as the prophete sayeth hathe spread her braunches vnto the Psal 80. sea and her boughes vnto the ryuers therfore according to this article it is ryghtly called the catholike or vniuersal churche And bicause it is begotten borne 1. Pe. 1. of the immortall sede the worde of God mencioned in the scriptures heareth the voice of her head and shepeherde Iesus Christ sleeth from the voice of Ioh. 10. all straunge doctrines and spirites that be without or coÌ„trary to that worde and dothe all thynges lyke an obedient wyfe as her husbande Christ biddeth Ephe. 5. her in his written worde therfore is it also iustlye called the holye churche But forasmuche as the supremacie iurisdicion power antoritie lawes The popishe churche doctrine of the bishop and churche of Rome be not grouÌ„ded vpon Goddes worde which the Lordes shepe that is to saye his church and flocke heareth nor hath beÌ„ nether euer shal be heard receaued obeyed in al tongues nacions of true christen people but of a certain folkes in a fewe realmes dominions people whose eyes sathan the God of this worlde hath blinded and bewitched their myndes among whom Christ neuerthelesse scattereth his sely shepe and defendeth them vnder the shadowe of his gracious wynges euen as the heÌ„ne dothe her yong chickens therfore it foloweth manyfestlye that the bishop and churche of Rome with all his sacrificeing chaplayns other meÌ„bres coÌ„plices whosoeuer depending vpoÌ„ or cleaning to the supremacie new strauÌ„ge lawes constitucioÌ„s decrees tradicioÌ„s customes of the bishop church of Ro. may not be iustly called the catholike or vniuersal churche of Christ And forasmuche also as the supremacie lawes customes canones decrees doctrines of the bishop churche of Rome for the most parte with their meÌ„bres ar not borne nor truly grouÌ„ded vpoÌ„ the fouÌ„dacioÌ„ immortall sede of the worde of God nother do the papistes frame administre their tradicions doctrine religion sacramentes ceremonies according to the testament and gospel of God but vpon the deuises and power of men The teachers mainteners of that Romishe power supremacie religion with their membres coÌ„plices are falsely called the holy church Bicause that churche or flocke of christen shepe wherof Christ
serue God For God requireth the hole mā to serue him with all the soule and powers of man or elles he reckoneth it not only for no seruice at all but also taketh it for very enemytie And therfore he saythe He that is not with me is against me The body go the not to Masse with out the company and consent of the soule And therfore it must nedes be graunted that the soule is caryed with the body to serue the deuil at Masse not the body caried awaye by the soule from that most stinking idolatrie and supersticion to the pure seruice of God Bicause Christ died for theternal saluacion aswel of the body as of the soule the holy goost commaundeth vs also to beare and glorifie God in our bodyes and that euery one should possesse The gaynes of going to Masse and vse the vessel of his body in holynesse and in honour And to bestowe our bodies vpon the seruice or presence of the synfull filthie Masse is not to possesse the vessell of the body in holynesse and honour but to defile the hole man with filthynesse and dishonestie to breake wedlocke with Christ our husbande to offēde the weake for whom Christ died to comfirme the wicked in their popery and so to prouoke the vengaūce of God vpō bothe the body and the soule Saint Iames saithe that a double mynded man is incōstaunt in al his waies and maye not loke to obteyne any thing of the Lorde wher so euer he praieth muche lesse wil God graūt his peticiones which he makteh in that temple wher God by the same peticion makers presēce is dishonoured and the congregacion which is the right temple of Christ in dede is defiled The scriptures teache vs that at the great iudgement euery one shall receaue according to the dedes that are done by the bodie And at the general resurreccion the body and the soule shal be ioyned together perpetually to abide either ioye or sorowe so that the bodye must nedes goo to hell for defiling it self with the abominable Masse and other popery And the soule can not chose but goo with the body and take suche parte as the body dothe For God wil not parte stakes with the deuill Therfore it is but a vayne pretense and a very mocking of God to saye that the harte and soule serueth God seing the body ioyned with the soule serueth the deuil in the sight of God and men So it semeth manifest that suche gospellers as be masse hearers are not spiritual gospell folowers but carnall gospell slaunderours and walke after the fleshe vpon whome the holy Goost geueth sharpe sentence sayng Yf ye lyue after the fleshe you shall dye Considre brothren that we are now after our syncere gospelling ledde of the holy goost in to wildernesse as Christ was after his baptisme to be tempted of the deuil Therfore we must either take the deuilles counsail and so distrusting the might mercifull prouidence of God make stones stockes and idolatrous popishe Masses bread to poisō our selues withall or throwe our selues downe headlōg from the highe pynnacle of Goddes temple the celestial Ierusalem in to the botomles pitte of all errous infidelitie and hell or fall to the deuilles fete and take him for our good Lorde Or elles contrary wise sticking fast to the scriptures and gospel of Iesus Christ bidde the deuil auaunt Satan with all his mummyng Masses and styncking supersticion We wyll non of thē though we neuer haue breade though we be torne in pieces for it Euery cowherde will for couetousnesse of wages and fee be glad to be reteyned in garison and set the better legge before as though he wolde be a good souldiour while no daungier of batail is at hande and while ther is peace take all one parte And so in blessed king Edwardes daies euery wan almost pretended frendeship forewardenesse to the doctrine of the gospell and englishe churche seruice seing the Magistrates multitude layne to that syde some of consciēce som of flattery but the most men for the commodious gayne that they founde by churche landes goodes not mynding to amende their lyues towardes God by the gospel but vnder colour therof to augment their lyuinges and pelfe in this worlde But like as if a souldiour rūne frō the armye of his souerayne liege Lord to the enemies side although he saye his harte was with his soueraine stil and that he ranne awaye only for feare must nedes be demed a traitour a cowhearde and rennagate euen so shal euery one that professeth the name and religion of Christ to be one of his souldiours for our life is a very warfare vpon earthe be demed and conuicte of highe treasō against his most natural souerayne liege Lorde Iesus Christ king of all kinges which in tyme of his spirituall warres for the gospelles sake renneth awaye frō his standarde and garison in to the deuilles campe to take parte with popishe massemongers the most deadly foes of Christes gospell and bloodshead Now is the fielde pitched now our enemies bende their ordinaūce agaīst vs face to face now they see the campe of gospellers weakened and lye open vnto their municiones They see som fall to their side som speake faire som dissemble and fewe are glad to abide the bickering that maketh the cruell papistes to make so thicke Larūmes and to com on so lustily with their hotte skyrmishes on euery side against Christ our captaī al his armye roial Howbeit seing Christ hathe the victorie and shall make al his enemies his foote stole and seing also he promiseth patentes of so large honourable fee wages to such his souldiours as by pacient suffring of persecuciōs stande māfully to his standarde and abyde the ende of the fraye as he by his heraulde of armes thapostle Paule maketh open proclamacion in his coate armour sayeng Yf we dye with Christ here we shall lyue with him 2. Tim. 2 ▪ euerlastingly Yf we suffre with him here we shall reigne with him in his eternal glorious heauenly kingdom And on the cōtrary parte forasmuche as the same proclamacion declareth the payne of suche of vs as rēne away frō Christes ensigne or stādarde sayeng Yf we denye or forsake him he wil also denye forsake vs. And whā the general mustre and paye daye cometh wher the constaunt souldiours shal be crowned with glorie and honour in the eternal heauenly kingdom Christ the captain and iudge shal saye vnto suche shrinking traytours and cowheardly rennagates Auaunt you workers of wickednesse I knowe yow not Get you hence you cursed in to euerlasting fyre which is p̄pared for the deuil and his angelles I thinke therfore it is necessary good and very highe tyme for vs to arme our selues cappe a pee as the same Heraulde of armes Paule commaundeth vs in king Iesus name Ephe. 6. and for our owne sauegarde vauntage to kepe batail raye through persecucions troubles rebukes and slaūders of the worlde and
folowe the staÌ„darde of Christes bloody crosse lustyly and to bestere vs like tall felowes in mortifieng our owne fleshe especially hauing before our eies the fore rennyng example and viewe not only of all the martirs and confessours that haue ben souldiours of the same bande and skyrmished in their owne blood from the dayes of Abel vnto these daies but also the present constaunt courage of the most faithfull souldiours of Christ Thomas Cranmere Arrchbishop of Cantorbury Hugh Latimer Micholas Riddley IhonÌ„ Hooper Robert ferrar Rolande Tailour IohnÌ„ Rogers Laurence Gaunders IohnÌ„ Bradforde IohnÌ„ Filpotte Robert Glouer and IohnÌ„ Cardemaker with many other bothe men and womeÌ„ which did boldly in baÌ„des spleaye Christes hanner in the myddes of his enemies and willingly haue sheadde their blood for the salekeping of their forte I meane for the defense of Christes inuincible gospell as well to the great comforte and encorageing of the rest of Christes armye as to the confusion and vaynquishing of Antichrist with all his blood thirstie shauelinges and massemonging kyndome for all their prowde bragges and impudent rusting Neuerthelesse how faynt and how weake a souldiour I my self haue beÌ„ in this behalfe myne owne experience at my furst entrie in to the gospel taught me .x. or .xi. yeares agoo By reason wherof being afrayed of mine owne weakenesse partly being enforced from my vicarage by malicious force rage of some vnthankeful people ê‘tly bycause I was laid wayte for by writtes processes and cruell threateninges of D. Ermestede certain other traiterous harted papistes which recanted their errours popery in the kinges visitacion but chiefly being loth to fal in to myne enemies handes for feare of blasphemyng the truthe by reason of myne owne synful weakenesse or rigorous enprison ment I departed from my vicarage somwhat before extreme trouble came And albeit I did confirme this doctrine of faithe in sondry sermones within my parishe in that rude rageing tempest offred to haue done the like in other great parishes ther about where they durst not receaue me yet myne owne conscieÌ„ce accuseth me for that I taried not ther still to the vttermost And therfore if that haue ben any occasion of offence or stombling blocke to any of Christes congregacion as I trust it hathe not I most hartily heseche theÌ„ to forgeue me that weake wickednesse and wicked weakenesse And like as it hathe pleased God of his merciful goodnesse to holde me still in the confession of the same vnfailing truthe that I taught priuately openly in those parties during the tyme of my ministerie euen so I trust he will graunt me the continuaunce of this faithe vnto the ende the rather at the conteÌ„placion of your good hartie prayers grace to seke only his glorie to the comforte of his poore afflicted flocke with that litel talent that he hathe lent me And if it be his godly pleasure to cast me in to his enemies handes I trust he will also geue me will and streynght manfully and ioyfully to geue my life for the confirmacion of this my faithe Now for a farewell I beseche you also good brothren praye after your wonted maner coÌ„tinually to the mercie seate of God that it wolde please him to defende and encreace his churche to graunt his gospel a ioyful free passage and prosperous successe through out the hole worlde to holde his merciful hande of proteccion ouer the realme of Englande to geue vs true repentaunce and to forgeue vs all our synnes to succour helpe comforte all that be in daungier necessitie trouble erile or in baÌ„des for his glorious gospell and wordes sake to bring in to the waye of truthe al suche as haue erred and are deceaued to forgeue our enemies persecutours slaunderours to turne their hartes to streynghten suche as doo staÌ„de to comforte helpe the weake harted to raise vp them that fall and shortly to treade downe the deuil vnder our fete and with his almighty power to destroye Antichrist with al his swarme of shauelinges cursed kingdom And finally to haue mercie vpoÌ„ all men Amen Good brothren I beseche you by the mercifulnesse of God forgeue one an other loue one an other beare one with an other chearishe one an other exhorte one an other coÌ„sorte one an other to your power helpe one an other so as we maye in the myddes of this rageing tempest skyrmyshe of persecucioÌ„ be coÌ„stauÌ„t in faithe by the holy goost ioyfully loking for the commyng of the great God our saueour Iesus Christ finally to be fouÌ„de to the laude glorie of his grace amoÌ„g the righteous which shal shyne like the suÌ„ne in the kingdome of our heaueÌ„ly father by the merites of his only deare soÌ„ne Iesus Christ our Lorde brother euerlasting saueour To whoÌ„ with the father the holy goost be al glorie power praise now and for euermore worlde wtout ende Amen And in the same one immortal almightie God I bid you al most hartily wel to fare Your poore seruaunt in the Lorde Io. Olde