is the shepe-hearde and head harkeneth to his voice and teaching alone and foloweth not the voice or coÌ„maundement of straunge tradicions but dothe concerning the wourship and true seruice of God touching the necessarie health of soule only that whiche the Lorde God coÌ„maundeth nother blenching on the right hande nor on the lefte But contrary wise like as the ê‘ticular churches of ArriaÌ„s Donatistes PelagiaÌ„s Marcionistes Eutichianes Mahometistes Idolaters libertines Anabaptistes and other sectaries fantastical spirites of errour be the variable malignauÌ„t churche wherof the prince of this world the deuil is the vndoubted head And the teachers defeÌ„dours of errours are by the apostle S. IohaÌ„ called Antichristes But so forasmuche as the Romyshe churche of the ruffling rabines popishe tippet men with their complices the papistes doo not only not founde nor grouÌ„de their autoritie decrees tradiciones doctrines for the most parte vpon the sure rocke the worde and gospell of Christ which as Chrisostome saithe is the only marke to knowe the true church In Math. ca. 24. Ho. 49. in opere impersecto of God by but also in some poyntes they wraste and wrythe and falsely allege textes of the scriptures for their carnal pleasure and profite and in the chiefest articles of the catholike christen faithe like most fantastical spirites of errour sowers of most wicked sectes they repugne and teache coÌ„trary to the gospel scriptures of God altring the immutable ordinaunce of Christ and setting vp straunge sacrifices and godseruice propounding other articles of faithe and meanes of saluacion besides Iesus Christ making the commaundement of God of non effecte for the aduauÌ„cemeÌ„t mayntenauÌ„ce of their owne traiterous tradiciones teaching doctrines of deuilles 1. Timo. 4 as forbidding of meates mariage And forasmuche also as the churche of the papistes caÌ„ not abyde the pure worde of God nor to haue it publikely in the vulgare tongue for Christes flocke to be fedde withall but with banishing and slaundering the euerlasting testament and blessed Bible of Iesus Christ with ê‘secuting emprisonyng murthering of the preachers witnesses of the same set vp their owne gloses coÌ„stituciones customes deuises dreames tradiciones procedinges of men contrary to the written worde and gospel of God coÌ„trary to the patriarkes prophetes Christ his apostles and contrary to the proceding exaÌ„ple of the fathers of the primatiue churche And seing moreouer that the churche of the papistes had her begynnyng proceding continuauÌ„ce power aduauÌ„cemeÌ„t successe only by force of wicked Emperours other naughty princes traitours vnder false pÌ„tenses garnished decked with the vsurped name of catholike churche other couÌ„trefaicte titles hipocritical colours is also maiÌ„tened vpholdeÌ„ by treason murther sacrilege fraude rauine crafte sorcerye coÌ„â—uring flattery lyeng marchauÌ„dise of mennes soules to vphold their idlenesse pryde crueltie wyueles hooremoÌ„ging wtal I coÌ„fesse plainly affirme that the same swarme and coÌ„gregacioÌ„ of papistes I meane as many as teache willingly mayntene obstinately defeÌ„d the supremacie tradiciones doctrines of the Romysh religioÌ„ setting asyde the Bible of God are Antichristes And amoÌ„g other erroneous churches of heretikes the chief ê‘ticular malignauÌ„t church of the deuil of al errours And that the churche sea of Rome according to the Dan. 7. 11. Apo. 13. 17. descripcions of Daniel Iohn thapostle is the very hoore of BabiloÌ„ wher with the kinges poteÌ„tates of the earthe haue coÌ„mitted spiritual fornicacioÌ„ are druÌ„ken with the cuppe of her obominaciones the sinful synagoge of sathaÌ„ the most cursed kenel cathedral churche of Antichrist And also that the bishop of Rome that head of the same churche is the vndoubted singular great Antichrist the man 2. Thes 2. of synne the childe of perdicioÌ„ and the principal aduersary that maketh batail with the lambe exalteth him self aboue all that is called God sitting in the teÌ„ple of God vauÌ„ting him self to be God whom the holy apostle S. Paule speaketh of 2. Thessa 2. is now by Goddes most merciful benefite reuealed in our dayes herafter the Lorde with the blast of his mouthe shall destroye him al his littour finally coÌ„mauÌ„de theÌ„ to be cast in to vtter darkenesse to Matth. 21. 24. haue their mede porcioÌ„ amoÌ„g hipocrites wher shal be weping gnashiÌ„g of tethe for euer euer worlde wtout ende This mater shal appeare more plaine in certain Homilies intitled Antichrist which I haue translated in to englishe and now by the goodnesse of God they are put in prynt accordingly For I promise in the sight of God he assisting me with the power of his holy spirite that I shal be an enemie to the vtermost of my poore possible power vnto the errours of that popishe malignaunt churche and satanical Romyshe religion while I lyue and after my deathe no lesse than an enemye Notwithstanding like as I neuer â—ought the hurte of any of theÌ„ either in their bodies or their goodes but by charitie al gentilnesse to wynne theÌ„ vnto the truthe if it might be euen so I beseche almightie god froÌ„ the botome of my harte if it be his godly will to grauÌ„t vnto the that be wrapped through infirmitie and ignorauÌ„ce in the darkenesse of popishe errours the light of his pure gospel with hartie repeÌ„tauÌ„ce and amendement of their iudgemeÌ„tes to be newe creatures in Iesus Christ walking in the true frutes of Christes faithe loue and as well to doo as I wolde doo my selfe Amen Touching the tenthe Article I beleue and confesse that almighty God The. 10. Article by his grace and mercye in Iesus Christ geueth vnto all true faithfull beleuers free pardon and forgeuenesse of al their synnes if they will acknowlage and confesse them vnto their onely and true goostly father God at what tyme so euer they shall repent And this I take to be the true preaching of the Gospell But as for the vnbeleuers and suche as persiste stil in their vnbelefe and impenitent wickednesse it is not possible for them euer to haue true perfaicte forgeuenesse of their sinnes And I doo confesse that al synnes are not alike nor after all one condicion but that som synnes are greater thaÌ„ some some sines more greuous than some as their maner is to tende against the glorie and loue of God against faithe and the loue of a mannes neighbour some more than som some lesse than some I saie moreouer that what so euer is comitted against the lawe of God that is to saye contrary to the will and worde of God that same is sinne Wherfore no faithfull preacher or ministre dothe make God the author of synne but we declare that the original poison of synne beganne in the apostata of God and the common aduersarie of mankynde and in mannes owne corrupt will Howbeit we deme not but that god thorough his infinite wisdoÌ„ ordreth
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 meÌ„nes 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 expouÌ„ded 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 diligeÌ„t 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 thiÌ„ke 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 auÌ„cientie so euer they be commended or bragged to be of if they be not founded grouÌ„ded 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 couÌ„treyes and places might be by it instructed taught coÌ„cernyng 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 coÌ„cerning 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 heaueÌ„ly 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 haÌ„de 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 coÌ„munion of Sainctes The forgeuenesse of synnes The resurrection of the body And the life euerlasting Amen Now forasmuche as God hathe geueÌ„ me grace thaÌ„kes be to his mercifull goodnesse therfore to pitch my staffe in the fouÌ„dacion of this most holy most asicient true catholike faith And to thinkeÌ„t you shal plaiÌ„ly knowe how I vnderstaÌ„de 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 sacrâ—o 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 maÌ„kynde 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 maÌ„kiÌ„de but that the same God was also a very father from euerlastiÌ„g 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 coÌ„fesse 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 thiÌ„ges put you in remeÌ„braunce of al thinges what so euer I haue spoken vnto you And againe he saieth I tel you truthe it is expedient for you that I go away For yf I go not away that comfortour shall not come vnto you But yf I goo away I shall sende him vnto you And whaÌ„ he cometh he shal reproue that world of sinne of righteousnes of iudgemeÌ„t Therfore all those that be true preachers ministers haue plaiÌ„ly instructed taught their parisheners people as I according to my poore talent haue done the our Lorde Iesus Christ is not nowe corporally with his churche here vpon earthe but that he worketh reigneth in his faithful flocke by the holy goost ê“ceding froÌ„ the father and him and by the same spirite doth comforte and sanctifie the faithfull Al the ioye all the vertue all the sanctificacion that is in the faithfull is of the spirite of God And without this spirite of God ther is nothing either holy or perfite Ther is no maÌ„ in al the wyde worlde that hathe faithe of him selfe but aswell faithe as al other good giftes are of the spirite of God as the holy apostle S. Paule dothe manyfoldly and in many places of his epistles teache and make mencion but specially Ephe. 4. and. 1. Cor. 12. The. 9. Article Concerning the nynthe Article I beleue coÌ„fesse that all they which truly beleue in Christ throughout all the hole what the true catholike churche of Christis vniuersal worlde are one body one church of Christ whoÌ„ he sanctifieth by his holy spirite in his own blood And all they are with one only boÌ„de knot of faithe through loue vnited knit to Christ one to another among them selues lyke membres all of one body and principally they are made partakers of the free grace gyftes of their heade and saueour Iesus Christ This churche is holy this churche is begotten and borne of the worde of God recorded in the holy scriptures this churche dothe frame and ordre al thynges accordyng to the worde of God this churche lyueth in christen sobrenesse and honest discipline this churche alwayes whan it maye and hauing no necessary lette is partaker of Christes most holy sacramentes which be two in nombre Baptisme the Lordes Supper From this churche the holy scriptures and syncere teachers therof do exclude and barre out nother the vse of mariage from any state or profession of men or women nor the possession and ê“pretie of worldly substaunce nether honest occupacions or worldly trauailes ne yet the ordres degrees of rulers and magistrates nother higher powers nor nobilitie ne yomaÌ„rie nether bonde nor free maister nor seruaunt nor any suche estates of meÌ„ This churche albeit not many wyse after that fleshe not many great estates nor many noble are chosen membres of the same yet for asmuche as euery long and nacion vnder heauen bothe Psal 113. of the Iewes and of the gentiles and some of euery state prayse the name of the Lorde from the rysyng of the Sunne to the Sunne settyng and seyng the voice of this churche is heard throughout all the coastes of the hole worlde and as the prophete sayeth hathe spread her braunches vnto the Psal 80. sea and her boughes vnto the ryuers therfore according to this article it is ryghtly called the catholike or vniuersal churche And bicause it is begotten borne 1. Pe. 1. of the immortall sede the worde of God mencioned in the scriptures heareth the voice of her head and shepeherde Iesus Christ sleeth from the voice of Ioh. 10. all straunge doctrines and spirites that be without or coÌ„trary to that worde and dothe all thynges lyke an obedient wyfe as her husbande Christ biddeth Ephe. 5. her in his written worde therfore is it also iustlye called the holye churche But forasmuche as the supremacie iurisdicion power antoritie lawes The popishe churche doctrine of the bishop and churche of Rome be not grouÌ„ded vpon Goddes worde which the Lordes shepe that is to saye his church and flocke heareth nor hath beÌ„ nether euer shal be heard receaued obeyed in al tongues nacions of true christen people but of a certain folkes in a fewe realmes dominions people whose eyes sathan the God of this worlde hath blinded and bewitched their myndes among whom Christ neuerthelesse scattereth his sely shepe and defendeth them vnder the shadowe of his gracious wynges euen as the heÌ„ne dothe her yong chickens therfore it foloweth manyfestlye that the bishop and churche of Rome with all his sacrificeing chaplayns other meÌ„bres coÌ„plices whosoeuer depending vpoÌ„ or cleaning to the supremacie new strauÌ„ge lawes constitucioÌ„s decrees tradicioÌ„s customes of the bishop church of Ro. may not be iustly called the catholike or vniuersal churche of Christ And forasmuche also as the supremacie lawes customes canones decrees doctrines of the bishop churche of Rome for the most parte with their meÌ„bres ar not borne nor truly grouÌ„ded vpoÌ„ the fouÌ„dacioÌ„ immortall sede of the worde of God nother do the papistes frame administre their tradicions doctrine religion sacramentes ceremonies according to the testament and gospel of God but vpon the deuises and power of men The teachers mainteners of that Romishe power supremacie religion with their membres coÌ„plices are falsely called the holy church Bicause that churche or flocke of christen shepe wherof Christ