it with the tradicions of men And albeit mennes spirites are not hable to accorde with some bokes textes of the scriptures the mater is not much to be passed vpoÌ For we know that mennes iudgementes ought to be applied and obeye vnto the scriptures and not the scriptures vnto meÌnes iudgementes And touching the interpretacion of the holy canonical scripture this haue I thought and after the examples of other christen ministers I haue taught and yet stil I thinke and confesse vnto the worlde that it ought 1. Pe. 1. not nor must be interpreted or expouÌded after any mannes opinion or thought much lesse after euery mannes pleasure and phantasie but by it self and of it selfe aswell according to the propreties of the tongues wherin it was furst written and by diligent wayeng and consideracion of the sayenges that goo before and those that be ioyned together and folowe with all the circumstaunces as also according to the meanyng of other places that seme either more playne or like ther vnto or elles contrary by the lyne and rule of faithe and charitie And wher the fathers the doctours of the holy churche haue interpreted Doctours and expounded the scriptures after this maner and haue in no wise blenched nor swarued froÌ this lawe and rule now before mencioned them we doo with harte and good will acknowlage and take for faithfull and diligeÌt interpretours of the scripture and honourable instrumentes of the holy goost whose paynefull labours and industries our Lorde God hathe vsed in the churche to the glorie of his owne name and to the profite of his faithfull flocke And therfore we not only reuerence theÌ but also thiÌke not well of suche men as haue them in contempt But as for all other doctrines and tradicions of men how glorious how gaye how highe autoritie title or auÌcientie so euer they be commended or bragged to be of if they be not founded grouÌded vpon some testimonies of the scriptutes and also if they pull vs from God from the scripture and from the true faithe or be hinderous vnto vs in the same I thinke them altogether vayne vnprofitable and of non effecte yea rather pernicious and noysom as Christ him self openly reporteth of them Matth. 15. Moreouer the only intent scope ende of the canonical scripture is this that al men of all naciones couÌtreyes and places might be by it instructed taught coÌcernyng the grace of God concerning the redempcion bounteous liberalitie and saluacion that is pleyntifully bestowed geuen in Iesus Christ vnto this most wretched most corrupte synfull worlde also coÌcerning charitie and faithe namely that the people being now regenerate might be partakers of this saluacioÌ by true faithe the holy childreÌ of God the father and heires of al his heaueÌly substaunce And touching the faithe of Christ I and suche other poore slaundred Ministres haue nother taught nor doo beleue any other thing than that is deliuered vnto be from the holy apostles and that we haue receaued of our christian elders and faithfull forefathers And that same I for my parte sithence it pleased God to translate me from the Antichristian darkenesse of popery in to the kingdome of his sonne haue constauntly and faith fully kept hitherto pure in euery condicion And the same I purpose by the helpe of Christes gracious fauour to kepe still and confesse with the true catholike churche of Christ while the breathe is in my body that is eueÌ thus I Beleue in God the father almigh tye maker of heauen and earthe And in Iesus Christ his only sonne our Lorde Whiche was conceaued by the holy goost borne of the virgin Mary Suffred vnder Ponce Pilate was crucified dead and buried Be descended in to hell The thrid daye he rose again from the dead Be ascended in to heaueÌ sitteth on the right haÌde of God the father almightie From thence he shall come to iudge the quicke and the dead I beleue in the holy goost The holy catholike churche the coÌmunion of Sainctes The forgeuenesse of synnes The resurrection of the body And the life euerlasting Amen Now forasmuche as God hathe geueÌ me grace thaÌkes be to his mercifull goodnesse therfore to pitch my staffe in the fouÌdacion of this most holy most asicient true catholike faith And to thinkeÌt you shal plaiÌly knowe how I vnderstaÌde the said articles of my Crede I do truly saye playnly confesse touching the furst article that ther The furst Article is but one only blessed eternal and almightie Lorde and God in the holy sacrâo inseperable and vnconfused Trinitie God the Father the Sonne and the holy Goost And what so euer is in the nature of thinges aswel visible as inuisible it is well and rightly created and made of God to the be hoote and profite of man and by him it is also preserued bestowed and administred And therfore God is the father of mankind not for his creating of maÌkynde only but also for his daily conseruacion eternal goodnesse mercie prouidence comforting and helping of mankynde Concerning the seconde Article I beleue confesse that God the father The. 2. Article became a father not only after he had made maÌkiÌde but that the same God was also a very father from euerlastiÌg so that he hathe also one onely eternal sone eternally begotteÌ of God the father after a diuine vnspeakeable maner This sonne of God I beleue and coÌfesse is of the fathers owne substaunce and of all one being of like equalitie and consubstaunciall with the father of all one substaunce I saye nature power and vertue and very natural Lorde and God aboue all in al and through al thinges Notwithstanding we confesse the sonne to be our Lorde most chiefly for that he hathe deliuered and made vs free from the lordeship power and tyrannye of the deuil and hauing payde our raunsom with his owne precious blood which he sheadde for vs he hathe made vs his owne peculiar people wherof I shall speake afterwarde at more large Touching the thirde Article I beleue and confesse that the same sonne The. 3. Article of God which eternally hathe ben and is with the father hathe also in this worlde taken vpon him the very nature of man of the fleshe and blood of the blessed virgin Mary which was Abrahams daughter and borne of the stocke of Dauid according to the promise of God declared by his ministers and seruauntes the Patriarkes and prophetes and being borne of her she remayning and contynuing stil a chaste and a pure maide very God and very man in one inseperable persone without confusion of the natures of his godhead and manhead together he became like vnto men his brethreÌ touching his reasonable and immortal soule and his mortal body in al thinges sinne only except And after this maner I confesse that he was conceaued very natural man in the wombe of that chaste and most pure virgin and of her blessed
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 thiÌges put you in remeÌbraunce 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 iudgemeÌt Therfore all those that be true preachers ministers haue plaiÌly 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 êceding 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 coÌfesse 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 boÌde 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 êpretie of worldly substaunce nether honest occupacions or worldly trauailes ne yet the ordres degrees of rulers and magistrates nother higher powers nor nobilitie ne yomaÌrie 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 coÌtrary 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 grouÌded 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 heÌne dothe her yong chickens therfore it foloweth manyfestlye that the bishop and churche of Rome with all his sacrificeing chaplayns other meÌbres coÌplices whosoeuer depending vpoÌ or cleaning to the supremacie new strauÌge lawes constitucioÌs decrees tradicioÌs 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 meÌbres ar not borne nor truly grouÌded vpoÌ the fouÌdacioÌ 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 coÌplices are falsely called the holy church Bicause that churche or flocke of christen shepe wherof Christ
to call vpon God through Iesus Christ and alwayes faithfully to set furthe his praise according to the doctrine of the holy scriptures as also to beware and take hede that ye make no inuocacion nor praier to the sayntes departed for helpe or succour forasmuche as to make any moo or any other mediatours intercessours spokesmen sutours or attournayes to the throne of Goddes mercie for any necessary thing either bodyly or goostli but only Iesus Christ our alone euerlasting sacrificer and aduocate is the horrible transgression of the furst coÌmanÌdemeÌt dishonour to the high maiestie of God the father preiudice to the honour dignite of Christes euerlastig priesthode blasphemous against the schole learning of the holy goost vtterly against our coÌmoÌ catholike Crede and contrary to the doctrine and example of all the patriarkes prophetes apostles euangelistes martires confessours and virgines that haue any name or commeÌdacion either in the olde testament or newe a plaine denyall and falsifyeng of the hole body of the blessed Bible the most vndoubted true holy worde of almightie God Concerning the seuenth Article I beleue and confesse that the state The. 7. Article of this season and this corruptible worlde which hathe his beginnyng and was created of God shall haue also his ending and be vtterly despeched and that at the final despeche of the worlde Christ our Lorde shall in the same body that was wouÌded nailed on the crosse come vnfailingly in the clowdes of heauen to iudge bothe the quicke and the dead For at suche tyme as the most parte of this worlde shall layne and holde with the power of Antichrist flyrting of the tyme in most horrible conteÌpt of bothe God and his worde and walowing themselfes in all kynde of sinne abominacion and lust and shal deuise and set their myndes vpon mocking and persecuting of them that be true faithful christeÌ beleuers than shall Christ at a sodain cheoppe as it were lightenyng from heauen com in the clowdes with his holy angelles vnto iudgement And the same houre as many as haue died from the begynnyng of the worlde vnto the last ende of the worlde shall by the might power of Christ rise strayghtwaye again vnto life the other that are not than departed this life but haue lyued still vnto the last daye shall in the space of a momeÌt or the twincling of an eie be chaunged from mortalitie and corruption in to immortalitie and vncorrupcion And after that all meÌ of al partes of the worlde shal be restored gathered together and be presented staÌde before the iudgement seate of Iesus Christ shall see the iudge ouer their heades corporally in the selfe same bodye that he fuffred in And than the righteous iudge our Lorde Iesus Christ shall pronounce and geue his last and most iust iudgement vpon al fleshe in the same maner fourme that he long agoo tolde before hande Matth. 25. Than shall euery one receaue according to their workes Than as Christes body was at his ascension taken vp from the mount Oliuete so shal they that be faithfull by the might and power of God be taken from this earthe bothe body and soule and caried vp in to the clowdes vnto Christ our Lorde Him they shall folowe and with him shall they dwell in euerlasting ioye for euermore continually to abyde And those that be vnfaithfull wicked shal be deliuered to the deuil whose chaÌpiones and householde seruauntes they were to fele and abyde both body soule suche paynes sorowes and tormeÌtes as no tongue caÌ expresse for euer to endure worlde without ende In this behalfe I haue alwaies besought my parisheners hearers so now I require theÌ eftesones to the same to set euer before their eies diligently to print in their myndes that last iudgement of God and with earnest repentauÌce of their former filthy life to geue themselues vnto christen charitie good workes For like as the holy scripture dothe clearely and euidently shewe that we are not made righteous blessed and holy by our owne merites and good workes but by the only grace of Christ through faithe so that all glorie and honour must be manifestly and plainly ascribed and geuen to the only fre grace and pardon of God and to the redeÌption of Iesus Christ his sonne euen so haue I euer taught and now by the waraunt of Goddes most holy worde confesse and constauntly affirme that this doctrine of faithe is vnauaileable and of non effecte to impenitent hooremongers bawdes gluttones dronkerdes oppressours brivers Idolaters men pleasers epicures and other wicked vnfaithful persones And that this lyuely iustifieng faithe is the worker of all maner of good workes what so euer they be according to the worde of God For he that is iustified and made righteous as faithe only iustifieth and maketh righteous doth liue also iustly and righteously and iustly and righteously doth al thinges And he that dothe faithfully beleue the worde of God dothe without al doubt perceaue and knowe that to be good which God commaundeth and that to be euil what so euer he forbiddeth Yea it is the very wonted maner of faithe it selfe to moue and enforce the iustified maÌ to eschue that is euil folowe that is good and right Moreouer he that perfitly throughly by faithe vnderstandeth the mater of mannes saluacion and redempcion bothe doubtles loue bothe God his neighbour And loue is the perfite fulfilling of the lawe yea in the loue of God and a mannes neighbour heÌgeth al the hole lawe the prophetes These maner of workes which be the frutes of the spirite faith and charitie and that we should fall to amendement of our life and what so euer the worde of God dothe furthermore commende vnto vs like as all faithfull preachers and Ministers doo diligently teache and set furthe vnto the people euen so they abhorre reiecte all suche workes as folkes are vsed to fantasie and deuise of their owne braynes deuocion or good intentes coÌtrary or without the sure warrauÌt of Goddes worde how vertuous or how holy so euer they be estemed or how long so euer they haue ben accustomed and vsed For as saint Augustin saithe Whan the truth is manifestly De vnico Baptis Li. 2. shewed custoÌ ought to geue place vnto the truthe And moreouer he allegeth Let no man preferre custom before reason truthe for reason truthe do alwaies shutte custom out of the dores And the holy martir S. Ciprian saith also we ought not to passe what our elders and fathers that were before vs did but muche rather what Christ which was before all men coÌmaundeth vs to doo This also doo all godly preachers ministres warne the people of that no man that walketh in the coÌmaundemeÌtes of God and is riche in good workes in dede set his workes in Christes place nor put any asââaunce confidence or trust in theÌ as though he were made righteous holy
folowe the staÌdarde 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 baÌdes 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 êtly 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 conscieÌce 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 conteÌplacion 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 coÌtinually 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 baÌdes 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 staÌde 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 coÌsorte 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 coÌstauÌt in faithe by the holy goost ioyfully loking for the commyng of the great God our saueour Iesus Christ finally to be fouÌde to the laude glorie of his grace amoÌg the righteous which shal shyne like the suÌne in the kingdome of our heaueÌly father by the merites of his only deare soÌne 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