is the shepe-hearde and head harkeneth to his voice and teaching alone and foloweth not the voice or coÌmaundement 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 coÌmaundeth nother blenching on the right hande nor on the lefte But contrary wise like as the êticular churches of ArriaÌs Donatistes PelagiaÌs Marcionistes Eutichianes Mahometistes Idolaters libertines Anabaptistes and other sectaries fantastical spirites of errour be the variable malignauÌt churche wherof the prince of this world the deuil is the vndoubted head And the teachers defeÌdours 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 grouÌde 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 coÌtrary 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 aduauÌcemeÌt mayntenauÌce 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 êsecuting emprisonyng murthering of the preachers witnesses of the same set vp their owne gloses coÌstituciones customes deuises dreames tradiciones procedinges of men contrary to the written worde and gospel of God coÌtrary to the patriarkes prophetes Christ his apostles and contrary to the proceding exaÌple of the fathers of the primatiue churche And seing moreouer that the churche of the papistes had her begynnyng proceding continuauÌce power aduauÌcemeÌt successe only by force of wicked Emperours other naughty princes traitours vnder false pÌtenses garnished decked with the vsurped name of catholike churche other couÌtrefaicte titles hipocritical colours is also maiÌtened vpholdeÌ by treason murther sacrilege fraude rauine crafte sorcerye coÌâuring flattery lyeng marchauÌdise of mennes soules to vphold their idlenesse pryde crueltie wyueles hooremoÌging wtal I coÌfesse plainly affirme that the same swarme and coÌgregacioÌ of papistes I meane as many as teache willingly mayntene obstinately defeÌd the supremacie tradiciones doctrines of the Romysh religioÌ setting asyde the Bible of God are Antichristes And amoÌg other erroneous churches of heretikes the chief êticular malignauÌt 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 poteÌtates of the earthe haue coÌmitted spiritual fornicacioÌ are druÌken 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 teÌple of God vauÌting 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 coÌmauÌde theÌ to be cast in to vtter darkenesse to Matth. 21. 24. haue their mede porcioÌ amoÌg hipocrites wher shal be weping gnashiÌg 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 âought 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 grauÌt vnto the that be wrapped through infirmitie and ignorauÌce in the darkenesse of popishe errours the light of his pure gospel with hartie repeÌtauÌce and amendement of their iudgemeÌtes 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 coÌmon 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 â 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 repentauÌce and constaunt faithe in the doctrine of the Gospell froÌ God the father and his sonne Iesus Christ the coÌmon only saueour of the worlde MY most sounng frendes and brethreÌ concerning our coÌmon 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 coÌmauÌdement by the fathers and prophetes by Christ his sonne and his holy Apostles and also regestred and specified in the rolles euideÌces of the holy sacred scriptures to be the fouÌdacion 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 NotwithstaÌdyng like as S. paule reporteth that Apollo he were ministers 1. Cor. 3. by whom the CorinthiaÌs 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 instrumeÌt minister of God by whose most holsome doctrine syncere exaÌple of godly lyfe and constauÌt 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 fouÌde 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 maÌnes 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 coÌdicioÌ 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 coÌtent as reason is gladly hartily to folowe him willingly geue him place with coÌdigne 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 seÌse 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 fouÌded vpon or coÌtrarie 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 coÌmauÌded by an Angel of heauen muche more by any mortall creature thoughe it be neuer so great a Kyng Quene gouernour or potentate And coÌcerning the holy canonicall The holy canonical Scriptures scripture I among other poore ministers of the Gospel hauing charge of soule folowing the exaÌples 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 maÌkinde I meane by the holy prophetes chosen apostles is of al other the most auÌcient most perfite most excelleÌt doctrine coÌpreheÌding 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 meÌnes fotesteppes êcedinges 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 piceââ⦠and patched
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