a moment be chaunged into the same state with the dead that are risen and then Christ being come downe from heauen euen in the cloudes there shall iudge all men and from thence giue sentence on them shal shew himselfe apparently to all and that all the godlie being taken vpp from the earth euen into the clouds shall goe to meet him 1. Thess 5.1 c. Mat. 24.3 25.31 attended on by the Angells and appearing in his great maiestie and glorie as also he himselfe and his Apostles haue taught and left in writing II. Christ shall visibly returne from one place to another and that with a bodie visible locall and determinate We therefore beleeue Christ shall so return visiblie as he before in the Apostles sight ascended into heauen and shall come euen out of that heauen where he now is therefore from that which is farre distant from the earth and from the clouds vnto which he shall descend and we beleeue he shall so descend with his naturall bodie that it must needs be grauÌ„ted that the same is locall and finite and consequently not existing euerie where seing also the holie ghost describeth such a descending vnto simple people which hee sheweth cannot be made without chaunge of places III. The faithlesse reprobates shall not come vpp to Christ sitting in the cloudes but remaining on the earth shall heare the sentence of the iudge But seing the Scriptures do pronounce only of the godlie that they shall bee caught vpp into the cloudes and shall meete Christ in the ayre wee beleeue that the vngodlie shall not come vp vnto Christ but remaining vnder his feete vppon the earth shall heare that senteÌ„ce of the iudge goe yee cursed into euerlasting fire when all the Saints which shal bee aloft with Christ shall approue the same sentence of the iudge according as the Apostle thinketh 1. Cor. 6.2.3 The Saints shall iudge the world yea and the Angells IV. For what causes that generall iudgement was appointed And wee beleeue that for two causes principally this iudgement was appointed wherin Christ shall sitt as iudge in the sight of all men the first is that such thinges as are nowe hidden vnto men aswel innocencie faith and the good consciences of the godlie as the hypocrisie and vile deeds of the wicked may be openly knowne to all the world and thereby be manifestly seene how iust the iudgements of God were euer from the first to the last Whereuppon also the Apostle called that day the day of declaration The other cause Rom. 2.5 is that the reward which was promised aswell to the good for their good workes as to the bad for their euill deedes should be fully paied and restored as the Apostle saieth 2. Cor. 5.10 wee must all appeare before the iudgement seat of Christ that euerie man may receiue the things vvhich are done in his bodie according to that he hath done whether it be good or euill whereupon also the same Apostle calleth it the day of the iust iudgement Rom. 2.5 V. Aeternall life which shal bee giuen to the elect is called and is a reward yet due vnto vs onely vppon fauour and not but for Christs sake For albeit it be a meere gift of God which the elect shall receiue and purchased by the meritts of Christ alone yet we doubt not but it is named and that it is truely a reward sith the Lord Iesus vouchsafed to call it so namely a free reward seing also that the good works themselues of the godlie and all the causes wherefrom the same do proceed are free gifts of God free election free redemption free calling faith iustification regeneration forgruenesse of sinnes and lastly a free pardon of all wants and imperfections wherewith our good works are infected and a free imputation of Christs perfect obedience wherewith our imperfect obedience is clothed and made acceptable to god and consequently to speak properly is a reward not due vnto vs for our owne workes considered in themselues but for the meriâ—ts of Christ imputed to vs. VI. After the iudgement giuen the godly shal bee presently with Christ in heauen but the vngodly in hell with the deuill his Angells Further more wee beleeue that presently after the same iudgement the godly shall follow Christ into heauen but the wicked shal be thrust downe with the deuills into hell Christ saying to the first come yee blessed of my father but to the other Goe yee cursed into euerlasting fire VII That day shal be to the godly most ioyfull and is therefore to be wished for to the wicked most heauie is therefore eueÌ„ in the only hearing intollerable So do wee beleeue that this last day shal bee vnto them which are grafted into Christ most happie and ioyfull and therefore loued wished of them 2. Tim. 4.8 and ought to be loued wished for of vs and to the wicked the most accursed and wofull day that euer was and therefore no maruaile though they hate that day cannot abide the mention of it VIII Errors We condemne whosoeuer shall denie that Christ shall truely and in verie deede descend in his humaine bodie from heauen into the cloudes and then returne with his chosen into heauen againe and would prooue that it shall all bee without any chaunge of places onely by appearance as they call it a certaine likenesse to the which the Angells doe affirme the contrarie vnto the Apostles Act. 1.11 as yee haue seene him ascend into heauen so shall he come againe VVee disallowe also those which teach that the works of pietie considered in themselues are the true cause for which eternall life is giuen and are the true meritts thereof against which the Apostle also saieth Rom. 6.23 The gift of God is eternall life Neither doe we approue the opinion of the Chiliasts concerning the thousand years wherin Christ with his elect should remaine heere in the earth after the latter iudgement and that they should here liue in the delights yet honest delights of the flesh and should procreate children but Saints so at last be translated vpp into heauen And we condemne and detest their error which stand in contention that the fire whereinto the wicked shal be throwne shall at the length be queÌ„ched so that all euen the deuills themselues shall liue blessedlie in the kingdome of God flatt against the plaine words of Christ goe yee into euerlasting fire Mat. 25.4 CHAP. XXX Of eternall life I. Eternall life shal be giuen to all which by their good workes haue witnessed that they were truely grafted into Christ and haue beleeued in Christ WE beleeue that eternall life that is full and perfect possession of eternall life shal bee giuen in that last daye vnto all who by the apparent workes of true faith and godlinesse shal be declared before al Angells and men manifestly shewed and by sentence of the iudge Christ pronounced to haue beene
our sinnes shall no more bee imputed vnto vs as being once washed away in Christ but shal be pardoned by the fauour of God for Christs sake alone Ia. 2.21 and on the other side that Christs righteousnesse shal bee imputed to vs as our owne and that wee being clothed there with shall be and shal bee counted iust in the sight of God An assured and manifest testimonie whereof is as wee saide before that same begonne and inhaerent righteousnes in vs which consisteth in the detesting of sinne and the loue of righteousnesse and the studie of good workes VI. A confirmation vvhat it is to be iustified by faith Wherefore when we saye a man is iustified by faith or through faith we doe not meane that the vertue of faith is that verie thing whereby as by the forme as they speake and by true iustice he is iustified or that for which we deserue forgiuenes of our sinnes and iustification or that which as the head of al other vertues and the cause or fountaine of all good works doeth drawe with it all other vertues charitie cleanesse of heart in ward iustice and good workes whereby wee are iustified But because it is as the light whereby looking into the glasse of the gospell we behold in what state wee are in Christ by the free bountie will of God and through the merites of the same Christ and also because it is as the hand whereby we grasp and take hold vppon that fauour of God and benefite of Christ shewed vnto vs in the gospell and performed in the person of Christ or to say more brieflie as the matter is wee are said to be iustified by faith that is by remission of sinnes and by the imputation of Christs righteousnesse apprehended by faith so that faith is taken for the thing that is beleeued or apprehended by faith As we read of Abrahā Gen 15.6 He beleeued God it was imputed vnto him for righteousnesse namely that which he beleeued of the seede promised vnto him that is Christ For he is the righteousnesse of all the chosen which beleeue and of the children of the promise as the scripture calleth them VII Men are iustified by faith alone Here by it is easily vnderstood what is mēt in that wee haue euermore confessed and doe yet constantly confesse with the holy scripturs and with the godly fathers that wee are iustified by faith alone For sith to bee iustified by faith in the sight of God is nothing else but to be accounted iust by the remission of sinne and iustice of Christ apprehended by faith that this is onely the true righteousnes whēas whatsoeuer inherent righteousnesse there is in vs and whatsoeuer good worke wee doe is such as cannot stande in the sight of God according to that saying Psal 142.2 Enter not into iudgement with thy seruant O Lord Psal 130.3 for no flesh is righteous in thy sight and that also if thou markest what is done amisse O Lord Lord vvho can abide it it most plainely appeareth that our beleefe concerning iustification by faith alone is most certaine and most true VIII Not onely in the beginning of our conuersion but euen in the whole course of our life to our death wee are iustified onely by faith And hereby also is it that wee cannot but beleeue and constantly affirme that not onely in the beginning when of vngodly men we bee made righteousse but also all the whole course of our life euen vnto the end we are iustified onely by faith in Christ so that our righteousnesse is alwaies from faith to faith For there is no man which doth not daily sinne so that we haue need continually to say Mat. 6.12 Psal 32.6 1. Cor. 1.30 1. Ioh. 2.2 Forgiue vs our sinnes and To thee saieth Dauid shall euerie one that is godlie make his prayers for forgiuenes of his sinnes And Christ not once but euermore is our righteousnesse sanctification redemption and the propitiation for our sinnes IX Iustification by faith alone is no imaginarie or fained matter Now least any man might thinke that wee forge a certaine imaginarie righteousnesse which hath no foundation nor force in vs we will againe repeat that which we haue before made profession of First that this faith where by we say that we are iustified is a faith that is liuely and worketh through loue then that God doeth not so iustifie vs by the forgiuing of our sinnes and imputing Christs righteousnesse vnto vs but that he also makes vs partakers of his diuine nature but that he regenerateth refineth sanctifieth vs giueth inherent righteousnesse to vs and makes vs conformable to the image of his sonne and this begun righteousnesse in vs is a manifest testimonie of that other true and perfect righteousnesse which wee haue in Christ alone and wee confesse that both of these are ioyned together by the band of the same holy spirit Rom. 5.15 as the Apostle saith not onely the grace of God but also the gift by grace which is by one man Iesus Christ hath abounded vnto manie For euen as not onely the disobedience of Adam was imputed vnto vs but also the corruption of his nature flowed into vs so also not onely the obedience righteousnes of Christ is imputed to vs which are ingrafted into him but also his holy nature is truely communicated vnto vs 2. Cor. 5.17 Eph. 2.10 Tit. 2.14 that wee may be made new creatures righteousse and holie euen in our selues followers of good workes X. Inherent righteousnesse is increased by good works But like as we say that the former iustice is neither due to our good works nor begonne nor increased by them so the latter although it be not due nor begunn by our good works that wēt before for they are all sinne sith good workes goe not before him that is to be iustified but followe him that is iustified yet wee confesse that by these following good works and exercises of godlinesse it is much preserued set forward and increased 2. Tim. 1.6 as the Apostle teacheth the gifts of God bestowed on vs are stirred vp nourished and maintained with such māner of exercises like vnto a fire and of this increase of righteousnesse Iohn saith Hee that is righteousse let him be righteousse still Apo. 22.11 And therefore when wee speake onely of this inherent righteousnesse we denie not but that a man is iustified by good works and not of faith onely that is he is made more and more iust XI A man is iustified by that iustice vvhich consisteth in the forgiuenesse of sinnes and imputation of Christes iustice and not properly of his owne works but by them he is declared to be iustified to be iust But if we bee asked of the former kinde of iustifying wee aunswer that a man is neuer iustified by his workes but alwaies properly by faith alone but yet that it is declared by his works whether he bee iust
of God neither can we do all that we would But because our regeneration is as it were onely begonne and not as yet perfect so that whereas we were before wholly flesh now we consist partly of the spirite and partly of the flesh Gal. 5.17 which do cōtinually fight the one against the other that what good things we would them wee cannot performe but in our spirite we serue the lawe of God Rom. 7.25 but in our flesh the law of sinne Therfore we beleeue that which wee also knowe by experience in the regenerate that much bondage still remaineth much darkenesse in the soule and peruersnesse in the heart and weakenesse in all the faculties of minde and bodie that wee haue still neede of new help from God and new grace whereby both our mindes may be more and more enlightened and our willes made better better and our strength to do good more increased and perfected And therefore while wee remaine in this flesh our free choise is neuer truely and meerely free that is neuer able inough of it selfe to auoide ill and doe good especially sith the euent of all things is not in our power but in the hand of God and that it must needs bee that all those thinges come to passe Act. 4.28 not which we thinke but whatsoeuer his hand and purpose hath decreed shal bee done VIII That God so gouerneth the mindes and wills of the godly that in the very conflict of tēptations and of the flesh he suffreth them not altogether to fall from him Meane while wee hold this that they which be alreadie ingrafted into Christ their minds and willes being now indued with the holie ghost are so gouerned and vpheld by God for Christs sake Ier. 32.40 Luc. 22.32 Rom. 8.35 that although they may be weakned many waies and by manie temptations yet they are neuer suffred wholly and altogether to be beaten downe and so to perish IX Errors We condemne them which either denying or extenuating this new birth will haue a mā regenerate to be as vnable to doe good and as much the seruant of sinne as he was before he was borne againe against so many and so manifest testimonies of holie scripture concerning the deliuerance of the regenerate frō the bondage of sinne and their choise to doe good to saye nothing of that bigh iniurie which is done to the holie ghost which dwelleth and worketh in vs. Againe wee disallow those likewise which will haue a regenerate man to bee so deliuered out of the bondage of sinne that he can by no meanes sinne anie more which all the whole scripture in generall and our daily experience gain-saieth For although wee bee not suffered to sinne vnto death yet it is verie apparent that we commit manie sinnes in their owne nature worthy of death Therefore on the other side wee also disallow their opinion which do so extenuate or make smale the force of the spirit in the regenerate and so enlarge set out thereliques and remainder of the flesh that they saye the working of the spirite is often times quite extinguished by the forces of the old man and teach that the same regenerate man may vtterly fall out of the fauour of God and so eternally perish which God gaine-saith by the Prophet I will giue my feare into their hearts Ier. 32.40 2. Tim. 2.19 Phil. 1.6 that they shall not slippe from me And the Apostle affirmeth that the foundation standeth sure c. And He which beganne this good worke in you shall perfect it vnto the ende CHAP. XXI Of good workes I. They which are ingrafted into Christ haue both whereby they themselues do liue and bring forth the workes of their life for others and this is the principall ende of their ingrafting AS the braunch doth not onely draw sap and nourishment from the vine whereby it liueth it selfe but also taketh from it whereby to bring forth fruite vnto vs so also we beleeue that the faithful haue not onely life from Christ in whome they are planted whereby they liue themselues but all force power whereby they shewe forth fruites of good works to the glorie of God and edification of the church Ioh. 15.5 c as Christ saith I am the vine and you the braunches he that abideth in me and he in whome I abide he shall bring forth much fruite Wherunto this also pertaineth we are his workmanship Eph. 2.10 created in Christ Jesus vnto good vvorkes vvhich God hath ordained that vvee should vvalke in them II. What we meane by the name of good workes But by the name of good workes 2. Pet. 1.5 we vnderstand all those actions which are done by men regenerate after the rule of Gods will reuealed in his word and by a liuely faithin Christ 1. Tim. 1.5 and a pure heart through the holy ghost For Rom. 14.23 as euerie thing which is not of faith is sinne so all things which are of faith and so out of a pure heart and good conscience must needes be good works wherefore we do not thinke that those deedes can bee numbred among good workes and acceptable to God Col. 2.18.23 which are done of the vngodly without faith and without the worde of God Mat. 15.8.9 and not through the guiding of the holie spirit howsoeuer they may carrie a shew of great pietie and seruice of God III. Good works are done of vs by power of the holy ghost For as the braunch of the vine or the wild oliue boughes being grafted into a good oliue tree bring forth fruits not of themselus but by the vertue of the vine the tree where into they are ingrafted so wee also doe not good workes of our selues but by vertue of Christs spirit to whome we are incorporated and from whome wee draw that life whereby we liue Christ himselfe working in vs by his spirite both that wee may will that which is good Phil. 2.13 Ioh. 15.5 and performe the same For without me said he yee can do nothing IV. Good works are not the cause but the effect of our vniting to Christ and of our iustification and life Likewise as these braunches and boughes doe not therefore bring forth good fruites that they might by them bee planted in the vine or the oliue tree or that they might liue therein but therefore they bringe fruite because they are already planted and doe liue and so their good fruites are not the causes of their planting and life but the effects and manifest testimonies thereof after the verie same manner wee beleeue that it is betweene vs Christ as also Augustiue fully teacheth who also saith that good works do not goe before him that is to be iustified but follow him that is iustified And therefore wee constantly confesse that a man speaking properly and of the iustification of his life is not iustified by works but by them declared to be iust V. Although we
bee not iustified by our workes yet others are oftimes edified thereby and saued Now this also we add that as of the fruits of trees though the trees themselues liue not by the same yet others namely earthly creatures and men are fedde and their life maintained by the same so although wee by our owne good works bee not iustified yet others thereby are not a little edified Mar. 5.16 and stirred vp both to glorifie God and also by our example to seeke after the true righteousnesse and life in Christ and are so saued Rom. 11.13 The Apostle also saying that he magnified his office among the gentilles namely by his diligence and holines of life that he might prouoke them of his flesh to follow him might saue some of them 1. Cor. 7.16 And in another place Sometime by the beleeuing wife liuing godly and holily and doing her duetie the vnbeleeuing husbād is saued And to Timothie 1. Tim. 4.16 if he look to himselfe that is doe the duetie of a byshop he shall saue himselfe and others VI. Though we deny a man to be iustified by works yet we do not therefore condemne works Wherefore though wee denie that good workes are to bee done to this ende that by them we might bee iustified because that this ouerthroweth the free iustice of god whole benefite of Christ yet wee doe not therefore disallowe the care of a holie life and good works nay we commend them and vrge mē thereunto as much as we can possiblie VII There be many and those most weightie causes why men must labour to doe good works For there be many and very weighty causes declared in the holy scriptures why wee must diligently labour to do good works although wee bee not iustified by the same whereof some are referred immediatly to the glory of God some to the saluation of our neighbour and profite of the church and some also pertaine to our owne thankfulnes towards God yea and to our owne saluation God commandeth this thing and to his commaundement we must simply obey Mat. 5.16 By these workes God is glorified and the glorie of God must bee set forward Tit. 2.12 God did therefore elect create redeeme and plant vs in Christ that we should liue soberly iustly and godly in this worlde and God is not to bee defrauded of his purpose Act. 10.35 Col. 1.10 They please God for he hateth iniquity and loueth righteousnesse and wee must doe those thinges which please god though thereby there should arise no profite either to our neighbour or to our selues But both to our neighbour and to the church especially commeth great profite by our good works not onely in regard of the bodie and external cōmodities but also of eternall saluation whilst by our example to let passe other thinges the elect are prouoked to the like godlinesse 2. Cor. 1.4 Heb. 10.24 2. Pet. 1.10 And to vs they are profitable first because that by good works as by the effectes of our election and vocation wee make them both that is both our election and calling assured both to our selues and others Secondly because faith not onely manifesteth and vttereth it selfe by the fruites thereof 2. Tim. 1.6 but is also by them exercised kindled strengthened and increased euē as al moral vertues do get increase strēghtning by the exercising of them Thirdly because Eph. 4.30 as by our sinnes we grieue the holie spirit dwelling in vs so by good works we make glad and fill our hearts and consciences with spirituall ioye and contrariewise we resist the temptations of the deuill Fourthly because Deut. 28 as in auoyding sinnes there be also many punishments auoyded so by doing good works Eph. 2.10 we obtaine many blessinges of God aswell in this life as especially in the other Lastly because they are the waye by which God ordinarily leadeth his elect vnto eternall life and vnlesse the braunch bring forth fruite it shall be cut of and cast into the fire Ioh. 15.6 VIII There is promised and giuen a revvard to our good workes yet of free grace and for Christ Whereby wee vnderstand that although by our works we cannot to speake properly deserue for our selues the possession of the heauenly inheritance for eternall life is the gifte of God yet we may obtaine the same Luc. 17.10 Rom. 6.25 Ier. 31.34 Mar. 5.7 as it were a reward but yet of the free mercie of god and for the merits of Christ IX Errors We cōdemne therefore those which teach that for the worthinesse of their works there is due vnto them either remission of sinnes or ternall life or any other good gift For though wee should perfectly fulfill the commandements of God yet we should be but vnprofitable seruants Luc. 17.10 But no mā yea after his ingrafting into Christ keepeth the commandemēts of God as they should be kept Meanewhile we disproue not the Fathers in that they vsed the worde merite namely so farreforth as thereby they ment nothing else then a good worke done by faith vnto which of fauour and for the onely merites of Christ was giuen a reward Againe wee cannot allowe of those which doe so discourse of good workes as if they were things indifferent and therefore hold that the same are not onely needelesse Heb. 11.6 Iud. 2 20 but also doe nothing auaile to saluation For how should any man bee saued without faith and how can he haue a liuing faith without a care to doe good workes and who can also hold faith vnlesse hee also keepe a good conscience and how can he keep a good conscience vnlesse he also keepe a care to auoide sinne and to doe good workes and to frame his whole life to the will of God but wee simply condemne all Libertines who make it all one to keep or not to keep gods commandements to do well or to doe ill We condemne also those which teach that our good workes doe profite the very soules of the dead which lye in a certaine burning flame which they call purgatorie 2. Cor. 3.10 sith the scripture saieth euerie one shal be iudged according to his owne works which he did in his owne bodie Apoc. 14.13 and not the works of other men but their owne workes doe followe them which are dead CHAP. XXII Of inuocation and an oath BEcause among the other good workes commaunded by God prayer is not the least so that very often in the scriptures it is taken for the whole seruice of god whereunto is ioyned also an oath as being a part of Gods seruice therefore we haue thought fitt brieflie to declare our faith concerning these two things and the rather sith among the professours of Christ there is some controuersie about both these points I. Onely God and so Iesus Christ to be praied vnto We beleeue that speaking of prayer which pertaineth vnto religion the true God that is the Father Sonne and
truely ioyned to him by the holie spirit and so to haue beleeued in god the father in his sonne Iesus Christ and in the holie ghost and to haue bin liuelie members of the holie church and to haue had communion withal the Saints and obtained forgiuenesse of their sinnes which the Lord also teacheth saying He will say to them which shal be on his right hand come yee blessed of my father possesse the kingdome prepared for you before the foundation of the vvorld for I vvas hungrie and yee gaue me to eate c. II. A confirmation of the former opinion and that eternall life is not giuen for our owne works but for Christ in whom we are freely chosen blessed and made the children of god For by these wordes the Lord seemeth to haue declared vnto vs that our good workes are testimonies of our election blessing and adoption in Christ and so of our lawfull inheritance and that the cause whereby we shall obtaine eternall life and possession of the heauenly kingdome is partly because that ere the beginning of the world that is ere we had done any good thing that kingdome was freely prepared for vs in Christ partly because we were blessed of the father namely Eph. 1.3 with all spirituall blessing in Christ and therefore called by grace iustified forgiuen our offences and sanctified lastly because we were in the same Christ adopted the sonnes of God and â—â—nued or borne againe by his spirit therefore made coheirs with him of the kingdom which he plainly ment by the worde 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is by the right of inheritance possesse as sonnes VVhereas the Lord therefore shall recken vp the works of pietie he shall do it wee doubt not to this purpose that by them it may appeare to the whole world that wee were the truely blessed chosen iust children of God to whome the inheritance was due Rom. 8.17 the Apostle saying If sonnes then heires also but that wee are the sonnes of God is declared by our regeneration and regeneration by the effectes of regeneration which are called works of faith and pietie III. As the godlie shall haue eternall life so the paines and fire of the wicked shal bee eternall And as wee beleeue that the children of God shal obtaine eternall life so also we confesse that the hypocrites and all the wicked shall bee cast into the fire that neuer shal bee quenched and there bee tormented for euer Christ saying plainely Goe yee into euerlasting fire Mat. 25.42 IV. How happie that eternall life shal be it can neither be said nor thought But what and what manner of life it is and how great felicitie which is ment by the name of the heauenly kingdome wee doe with the Apostle freely confesse 1. Cor. 2.9 that neither eare hath heard nor hath it come into mans heart to conceiue for it is a matter greater and more excellent then can be comprehended in mans vnderstanding of such passing happines that nothing caÌ„ be wished more happie We therfore simply beleeue that we which are christs which are guided by his spirite which depend on his word which lastlie doe place but whole hope of saluation in him shall all bee most blessed Mat. 13.43 shall all shine as the sunne in the fight of god we shall all see God euen as he is 1. Cor. 13.12 we shall all liue a heauenlie and diuine life with Christ his Angells and be deliuered from all sinne from all misterie from all ill without any longer griefe without feare without lack or desire of any thing 1. Cor. 15.28 Apo. 22.3.4 because God shal bee all in all and wee shall behold his face And in that citie shal be no more night neither shall there neede any candell or sunne-light because the Lord shall giue vs light and wee shall raigne for euer and euer with Christ Iesus our head spouse Sauiour and our Lord to whome bee praise honor and glorie worlde without ende Amen Obseruations of the same Zanchius vppon his owne confession NOT few nor smale were the the occasions whereby I was induced rather to adioyne these mine obsernations to my confession it selfe then to alter anie thing therein contained Many there bee to whome it is not vnknowne vpon what occasion at what time at whose commaundement in whose names and for what purposes I euen against my will and constrained thereunto wrote this summe of christian doctrine For although there is no man but seeth that this coÌ„fession as was neuer looked for is published in their name for whose sakes it was written yet how this came to passe for what causes it was done all men do not know manie wondring at the deede yet ignorant of the true causes Hereuppon how diuerse suspitions many men might gather how diuerse iudgements might bee giuen of me and of the confession it selfe I say not of priuate men but euen of the whole congregations yea howe diuerse and sinister speaches might be throwne out among the vulgar sort who is it that perceiueth not I was therefore enforced before I dye to stoppe such sinister and false suspitions iudgementes and speaches concerning my doctrine That I thought could bee done by no better meanes then to publish a parte by it selfe both the confession euen as I write it and a part likewise my obseruations vppon the same wherein what so is darke is expounded and what so is doubtfull is confirmed so to leaue the iudgement of the whole matter together to all the true catholicke church I thought moreouer it would bee no little help to take away al suspicions of men if there be any conceiued if such iudgements as learned men haue giuen of my confessions I make knowne to all the godlie readers out of their owne letters especially sith by them it may well appeare vnto euerie man what were the causes why the confession came not forth in the same manner as was appointed One great learned man write vnto me concerning that matter in these words Whereas you write vnto me concerning your confession it hath beene read ouer both by me by N. and others with great pleasure which is written verie learnedly and with an exquisite methode and if you take out that same which you haue added in the ende concerning Arch-bishops and the hierarchie it pleaseth me passing well But whenas together with the brethren N.N. which are with vs we conferred about the way and meanes of an agreement among the churches of our confession to be begonne they all with one consent thought onely this to be the safest and speediest waye that the confessions of faith receiued and set forth by euerie of the churches in each prouince should bee composed and framed into one harmonie that they might bee alike touching the substance of faith all of them and each church embrace theÌ„ as their owne This their aduise sith they coÌ„mended to vs by many reasons we haue writteÌ„ vnto you