blood not by the carnal companie of man but by the holy goost And that he was borne of the same virgin very man howbeit holy and pure without synne For all men elles are according to their owne nature bothe conceaued in synnes and borne the children of wrathe vnto deathe And in this behalfe I do playnly Original â—â—nne confesse original synne For inasmuche as all mankynde aswell the infauntes which haue not yet commytted actuall faultes as others of further age are originally poisoned Psal 51. with sinne and therfore subiecte vnto deathe as the wages of synne from Ro. 6. the which synne and deathe mankynde could not be in any wise delyuered and redemed but by Christ alone for that cause it was requisite that Christ which should put awaye the same poison shoulde he conceaued and borne holilie and purely without al spotte of synne to thinteÌ„t he might 1. Pâ— 1. Ephe. 5. Ro. 3. 5. offre a pure and a cleane sacrifice for all bothe olde and yong to make vs pure and free CoÌ„cerning the fourth Article I beleue and confesse that the same sonne The 4. Article of God and of Mary our Lord Iesus Christ in going about the busynesse and affaires of our saluacion did perfitly and fully declare the waye of saluacion here vpon earthe And that he to shewe vs more certainly that he is the only Lorde of life and deathe which is only hable to helpe and at whose haÌ„des al helpe must be sought cured all maner of diseases ceassed the rageing stormes of the wyndes and of the sea suppressed the power of satan troade downe all power of aduersaries forgaue synnes and raised vp the dead vnto life And after all this he gaue him self willingly and of his owne accorde vnto deathe And was shamefully and spitefully brought furthe and deliuered by the Iewes cruelly tormeÌ„ted of the gentiles and last of all giltlesly nailed vpon the crosse And here I confesse that this same our Lorde Iesus Christ very God very maÌ„ suffred not for him self but for vs and for our synnes sake most greuous paynes vndeserued stripes and bitter sorowes in his humayne nature which coulde dye he was vndoubtedly dead and buried in his soule he suffred most extremely the bitter sharpenesse of Goddes iudgemeÌ„t and the very paines of hel that he might deliuer vs ther from And I most faithfully and certainly beleue that this blessed passion and deathe of the innocent sonne of God Iustificaâ—ion is the only perfite and eternal righteousnesse and iustificacion of man before God and the true satisfaccion raunsome and payment for the synnes of all the hole worlde And therfore forasmuche as I am throughly instructed in this most certain and sure strong argumeÌ„t of this our true and vndoubted christen catholike faithe I plainly confesse that man can in no wise be iustified pourged of his synnes or fynde any shifte to satisfie or to be clensed of them either by any workes or merites of maÌ„ but only by the free grace of God that that is to saye by the most blessed passion and giltles deathe of the crucified sonne of God And that we are made partakers of the innocencie and merite of the deathe bloodshead of Christ at suche tyme as we doo constauntly and faithfully beleue that the soÌ„ne of God is our owne and that he suffred that bitter deathe for our synnes to make vs righteous and blessed For I will in no wise contemne or recken as of non effecte the most fauourable free grace of God which opened it self most expressely plainly in the passioÌ„ deathe of Iesus Christ But I thinke rather verily and surely beleue and coÌ„fesse that we should openly cast away and compt the deathe of Christ to be of noÌ„ effecte in case we should seke or thinke to be clensed saued iustified froÌ„ our synnes by any other meanes than through faithe by that only bloodshead deathe rauÌ„som of Iesus Christ in asmuche as we heare the holy Apostle S. Paule saye I despise not the grace of God for yf righteousnesse Gala 2. 3. come by the lawe than Christ dyed in vayne And also If the enheritaunce come of the lawe than it is not of promyse But God gaue vnto AbrahaÌ„ by promise so that they which haue fayth are blessed with faythful AbrahaÌ„ As many therfore as in the olde lawe from our furst father Adames tyme vnto the coÌ„ming of Christ were blessed and iustified I beleue verely saye that they were made blessed holy and iustifyed through faithe of free pardon and grace by none other but by Iesus Christ the blessed sede alone Touching the fyfthe article I beleue and confesse that Iesus Christe The. 5. article very God and very man in the selfe same bodye that was hanged on the crosse and from thence taken downe and buried rose agayne froÌ„ the dead For althoughe our synnes be perfitly purged by the Lordes deathe and a most full satisfaction made therby for the same yet hope of lyfe is restored vnto vs and faythe in him is engendred in vs by his resurrection For yf he hade not rysen agayne we coulde not haue thought that deathe had ben ouercome And so we could not haue beleued that he hade satisfyed for our synnes For deathe is the hyre of synne And death remaynyng in his force synne must also be thought to remayne Moreouer Boddes spirite and faythe wherby Christes deathe and merites are applyed vnto vs be the gyftes of Christ raysed from the deade Of Christ I saye which hathe washed vs cleane from our synnes in his owne blood and so is become the propiciacion or mercy seate for our synnes and not for our sinnes only but for the synnes of all the hole worlde and nowe hauyng dyed for our synnes and being rysen agayne for our iustificacion he reygneth and trihumpheth ouer deathe Notwithstanding his very fleshe bones that is to saye his very humayne body with his reasonable and humaine soule was not deified that is to saye not chaunged turned in to his God-head but only clarified And the clarificacion dothe not consume waste nor take awaye the propreties of a very humaine body either the substaunce or facion therof but only despecheth deliuereth the body and the state of the body froÌ„ all diseases whether they be corrupcions or infirmities that is to saye from feare dreade sorowe heauynesse from all carke and care from hate from carnall loue couetous desires from false Ioyes and griefes froÌ„ affections troubles hoÌ„gre colde heate wearynesse and from al maner of infirmities saintnes smerte and specially from mortalitie and corruptioÌ„ And on the other parte it maketh the body and the facion of the body glorious cleare immortal and vncorruptible Suche a maner of body S. Paules wonted phrase is to call a glorious a spiritual body not that it is afterwarde no more fleshe nor that it is chauÌ„ged and turned in to the spirite 1.
Cor. 15. but bicause it is no more subiecte to any cares or griefes or to corrupcions vncleanesse or infirmities of the fleshe and bicause it is garnished and beautified with vncorrupcion immortalitie and many other spirituall giftes besides out of nombre And like as the body of Christ after it was risen vp froÌ„ deathe remayned still a very body notwithstaÌ„ding it was become after the resurrection immortal and glorious euen so shall the bodies of all faithfull folke at the general resurrection be made like vnto the body of Iesus Christ wherof I shall speake more largely in the eleuenth article of our faithe For Christ our Lorde by his glorious resurreccion from the dead dothe most euidently proue and declare that he hathe despeched synne quyte out of the waye that he hathe ouercome deathe which cometh by the occasion of synne that he hathe restored life that he hathe coÌ„quered hell for all them that are true faithfull beleuers and that he hathe mightily put sathan to flight CoÌ„cerning the sixthe Article I beleue and confesse that our Lorde Iesus The. 6. article Christ ascended in to heaueÌ„ with the very self same his humaine body that rose again from the dead and sithence exerciceth not his dominion and gouernement here vpon earthe corporally For according to the nature propretie of his very humayne body he is in no mo places but in only one in one self same moment And forasmuche as he hathe caried our fleshe in to heauen hathe placed it at the fathers right hande that is to saye in euerlasting ioye felicitie all faithfull beleuers knowe now for a certaintie that the waye to heaueÌ„ is vnshutte set wyde open that they also shall through Christ in whom they beleue be caried bothe body and soule in to euerlasting life For the Lorde him self with manifest Ioh. 17. and playne wordes hathe saide I wil father that wher I am ther shal my seruaunt be also Seing than that the body and fleshe of our Lorde and brother Christ is abyding and resteth now in heauen our fleshe hath this certaine assured hope that it shal be caried thider also ther according to Christes promise Ioh. 14. shal haue a perpetual dwelling place Further more Christ our Lorde sytteth on the heaueÌ„ly fathers right haÌ„de that is to saye euen he that is bothe very God very man reigneth hathe dominion in like power like glorie with God the father so as al thinges are in subiectioÌ„ vnder his power he with the father the holy goost vpholdeth ê‘serueth al thinges is also wourshipped serued the vndoubted true eternal almightie God The chief bishop most high king of al faithfull people sitteth on the right haÌ„de of God Christ Iesus is the only eternal faithful true bishop priest of al true beleuers It is he that dothe most trustily pleade al that matters causes of his faithfull people before God his heaueÌ„ly father It is he the offreth vp all our good wishes and faithfull folkes prayers to God the father It is he that appeareth coÌ„tinually in the sight of God prayeng and making intercession for them geueth them his blessing And so those that be of the true faithful belief in dede wil nother seke allowe nor receaue any other mediatour intercessour spokes-man attournaye or entreatour but Christ alone He is that only and eternall sacrifice and oblacion which being ones offred for all endureth for euer clenseth and saÌ„ctifieth al them that are true beleuers And euen he this selfe same high Bishop and priest of ours dothe daily with his spirite worde instructe teache his churche and congregacion geueth them trusty and syncere vpright men to be their teachers and ministers whom he also garnisheth and decketh with his grace and most excellent giftes and defeÌ„deth from al euil Vpon Goddes right hande sitteth Christ our most roial king the king of kinges the iudge mightie Lorde of heaueÌ„ earth He it is that informeth and ordreth his churche and people with holsome and good lawes according whervnto they frame and addresse all their matters to the loue of God and of their neighbour This king of ours beholdeth vs faithfully and layeth vp all our griefes and sorowes trustily in his harte He is content with good will to heare the complaintes sutes and desyres of all his faithfull flocke and is neuer wearied nor grieued with the tediousnesse of them He also is that most pleynteous fountayne which alwaies geueth liberally and yet neuer waÌ„teth which only filleth and yet is neuer the lesse nor any whitte decreaceth FroÌ„ him ther can nothing at all no not so muche as meÌ„nes inwarde thoughtes be hidden or kept secrete He is the righteous true iudge iudgeing after thintent and purpose of the harte and rendreth aswell to the good as to the badde all that they doo without all respecte of persones Those that be oppressed he relieueth with his ioyfull and comfortable succour But as for theÌ„ that are stowte arrogauÌ„t prowde braggers of their owne powers whan he seeth his iust tyme he is on the bones of theÌ„ strayght waies and hurleth them downe and the necke before Ther is no maner of thing but he hathe a respecte and a consideracion vnto it His infinite wisdome in euery thing and euery where vseth iuste and right deserued meanes He by his exceding great grace sendeth faithfull trusty and good meÌ„ to be gouernours and rulers And theÌ„ he directeth and maynteneth in his churche And contrary wise he dothe somtymes take awaye good gouernours as he did lately our most christen king Edwarde the sixte and setteth vp naughti and wicked persones in autoritie now and than as bloody bishoppes proude popishe pestileÌ„t priestes vnnatural merciles forayners to reigne rule the rost to punyshe hipocrites couÌ„trefaicte gospellers and worldlinges withall To be shorte Christ dothe at all tymes defende and kepe those that his be from their enemies and foes bothe visible and inuisible After this sorte Christ sitteth on the right haÌ„de of God and thus is he the only head of his faithfull beleuing people the only most high bishop the most roial euerlasting kyng and prince of them that be his He is neuer out of their coÌ„gregacion and company he is alwaies occupied in the myddes of them so that he nedeth nother the seruice aide nor assistence of any vicegerent or helpe felowe For he is the only and euerlasting suÌ„ne of righteousnesse whiche altough as concerning his humayne corporal presence he be in one only place in heaueÌ„ yet he doth worke seÌ„siblie frutefully with his vertue light glorie nourishement and power in al them that be faithfull In coÌ„sideracioÌ„ hereof I admonishe in Goddes behalfe require you as I haue accordiÌ„g to mi litel taleÌ„t alwaies taught my parisheners and in other places wher I haue occupied the rowme of a preacher aswell to pray and without ceassing
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
be set openly vpon a candlesticke to geue light to all them that be in the house I thought it my duetie in conscience to put you in remembraunce of the true christen catholike faithe nowe in these daungerous dayes of persecucion by writyng which I ministred vnto you in open doctrine to the comforte and saluacioÌ„ of so many as contynue stedfast beleuers and obedient folowers of the same At that tyme the hooded chaplaines of Antichrist not only wolde not speake ones against my doctrine either in Lichefelde Couentrie or elles where but also allowed it coÌ„meÌ„ded it thaÌ„ked god in wordes at least for it And som offred me for my paynes money and large rewardes which I thaÌ„ke God I haue kept my handes cleane from yet hitherto as I reporte me to their owne consciences At that tyme they confessed theÌ„selues throughly persuaded manifestly coÌ„uicte by the only streynght power of Goddes opeÌ„ worde wtout further coÌ„straiÌ„t And so were they chearished and louingly vsed intreated with all lenitie and geÌ„tilnesse not susteining the losse of one halpeny of their lyuinges nor trouble of their bodies for any poynt of religion But what charitie geÌ„tilnesse is shewed now a daies vnto suche poore ministres as be in my case with what face streinght of shameles lyes merciles tyraÌ„ny they defeÌ„de their popishe pedlarie drowsie dregges of Antichristes alelomes God knoweth vnto whoÌ„ I committe both my selfe the truth of my doctrine which neuertheles is not mi doctrine but the doctrine of al the true catholike christeÌ„ churche which I haue by goddes pleynteous mercie sucked out of her spiritual pappes by faithe wherby God hathe made me hable now thus to vttre and speake To be shorte at a worde I ê“teste coÌ„stauÌ„tly affirme in the sight of almighty God the knoweth that thoughtes of all Psal 8. Act. 10. men of his soÌ„ne Iesus Christ which is ordained to be the iudge bothe of the quicke of the dead that I neuer taught nor preached any thing vnto my parisheners or elles where touching any of these Articles aforesaid during the tyme of my ministerie by the kinges licence but that aswell I was bouÌ„den by force of my ministerie to preache and teache in payne of my daÌ„nacioÌ„ as also my parisheners hearers to beleue doo after in payne of their damnacion â–ª Wherfore I pronounce with the Gal. 1. holy apostle If any man preache any other gospell than that we haue preached and taught cursed be he Seing than that Christe taught and spake among them by me let theÌ„ not esteme that maner of speaking teaching though it were homely and plainly as the worde or speche of maÌ„ but as it was in dede the very worde gospel voice of Iesus Christ which is not only the power of God to saue Ro. 1. al that beleue but also the thing wherby euery one of vs shal be iudged at the great daye of reckonyng Seing also that the true preachers of Christes gospell among whoÌ„ God of his mercie appointed me to be one are a good sauour vnto God bothe in them that are saued and in them that perishe in them that perishe the sauour 1. Cor. 2. of deathe vnto deathe and in theÌ„ that are saued the sauour of life vnto life I beseche you for the vnspeake able mercies of God as you tendre the saluacioÌ„ of your owne soules cast not awaye that most pleasaunt heauenly poysye of the swete smelling gospel of God but holde it harde to the nose senses of your soules that the stynking carion of Masses other filthie foile of blasphemous popishe idolatrie and wicked life poison you not vnto euerlasting deathe Geue no credence to those idle belied bussarde bishoppes and priestes wethere cocke bishoppes priestes which in blessed kiÌ„g Edwardes daies semed to be fauourours of the gospel furtherours of the kinges pcedinges as they termed it and now for their owne filthy gaynes sake pleasing of meÌ„ they shutte vp the kingdom of heaueÌ„ the glorious gospel of Christ before men nother entring in them selues Maith 23. nor suffring them that wolde but som of them contrary to their owne conscience persecute it and yet for cake pudding wolde turne again like wethercockes which waye so euer the wynde bloweth as a man will haue them and being blynde guydes take vpoÌ„ theÌ„ to leade the blynde vntil both fall in to the dike of ppetual daÌ„nacioÌ„ Deceaue not your selues with the example of your forefathers elders Elders which were conceaued and borne in synne brought vp in ignoraunce as well as you but rather doo after the commaundemeÌ„t of the pure spottles lambe of God Iesus Christ which was before your fathers and is the very eternal truth it self as ye hearde before by S. Augustin and Saint Cipriane Folowe not the facioÌ„ of this frentike worlde nor the rashe opinioÌ„ and The multitude Ephe. 4. trade of the madde multitude which walke in the vanitie of their owne mynde and not after Christ nor in the consideracion of any iudgement to com but rather be you renewed in the spirite of your mynde and put on the new man that after God is made through righteousnesse and true holynesse considering that all our troubles and veracioÌ„s are the rodde correccion of our most louing heauenly Hebr. 13. 1. Cor. 11. father God that we shoulde not be damned with the wicked worlde Be not carefull for meate clothe and wealthe of the worlde either for Care of worldly lyuing your selues or for your wyues children or familie but seing the almightie eternal God him selfe is the father of the fatherles and the prouider and defendour of the widowe and seing also he forsaketh not the godly nor suffreth the righteous mannes sede to begge their bread but openeth his hande and filleth euery lyuyng creature with the largesse and pleyntie of his blessing cast all your care vpon Christes backe which shall fede your sede and householdes and shall neuer see the righteous lefte destitute Drede not the daungerous tyraÌ„nie Tyrannes of Antichristes souldiours nor the bragging othes or chittre chattre power of the pratiÌ„g pye or any such other seing the nature of that kynde of birdes haunteth not hennes nestes for loue of the henne but to fill their belies with the yolke of her egges and seing that all the heares of our head are nombred ye may be assured that they shal doo no more against vs thaÌ„ theternal purpose and hande of God hath determined For God is faithful which will not suffre vs to be teÌ„pted aboue our habilitie but shall geue vs a waye out with the temptacion that we maye be hable to abyde it Be not afraide brethren Goddes iron rodde is as strong to beate them backe as euer it was He that dwelleth in heauen laugheth them to scorne and will combre their stomackes one daye so sore that they shall not knowe which