and terrestiall for the seruice of man to the ende that by his creatures he should come vnto the knowledg of the Creator that also he hath made fashoned Mā for him selfe that of him and by him he shoulde be knowne loued feared serued and honored this is the soueraigne goodnesse of man and that in him shoulde shine the Image of the heauenlye vertues and perfections in al good works the which GOD hath prepared that we should walke in thē vnto his honor and glorye and to the confusiō of the aduersary and by that meanes the ruine of the Angels was restored and man possessed the eternal kingdome made and prepared for him before the constitution of the worlde The .vii. Article I Beléeue the same man to haue byn constituted by the Lorde God mayster and ruler ouer al creatures the which he did loose by his sinne aswell for him selfe as for all his posteritie the which domination and segniory I beléeue nowe to appertaine vnto one onely Iesus Christ very GOD and man and vnto those to whome he wil bestow it as are the faythfull and not vnto the infidels and reprobate The .viii. Article I Beleue the first mā thorow the subtilty and craft of Sathan to be fallē from the excellentnesse in whiche God created him agreeing thorow his free wil which then he had to the canteloas suggestion of the Serpent wherby he hath lost the benefits which the Lord gaue vnto him In so much that of wise he became foolish of iust vniust of true a lyer of perfect altogether vnperfect hauing afterwarde a will altogether depraued which can not nor will not agrée with the will of GOD but altogether vnto the will of the Deuil the world the flesh and of sinne not able to do anye thing of him selfe but euill for that he is altogeather carnall captiue bonde and sould vnder sin Beholde the free or rather the bonde will of man for the estate of of this present lyfe The .ix. Article I Beléeue that that discorde and corruption of nature was not onely in Adam because of his sin but also in all men generally which descend from him one onelye Iesus Christ except insomuch that they are all according to theyr nature corrupted vnrighteous lyers ignoraunt ingratefull and vnperfect altogether Not being able according to their nature to do think speake nor will any thing which pleaseth God vntyll such time as they are regenerated and renewed by the spirite of God. The .x. Article I Beléeue that this corruption of nature otherwise called originall sin is the beginning roote of all other sins by which do come vnto vs all the miseries calamities and aduersities whiche we suffer in this lyfe aswell in bodye as in spirite and in the ende double death to wit of body and soule These are the fruites and rewardes for sinne But although that the same is due and common vnto all men generallye yet neuerthelesse the Lorde through his mercye hath reserued a certaine number to him only knowen whome he hath drawne from this corrupted masse hath sanctified and clensed them in the blood of his Sonne Iesus Christ And by that meanes hath made the vessels of election to honor apt and fit to all good workes And therfore The .xi. Article I Beléeue that the Father in Iesus Christ his Son by the holy Ghost hath elected and chosen those that be his according to his good wil before the foundation constitution of the world whome he hath predestinated to eternall lyfe because they were his Children by adoption hauing greater care of them without any comparisō then the best Father could haue of the best childe of this world not suffering that any thing should come frō the heauens aboue or from the earth beneath but it shoulde be for theyr vtilitye and great profit The .xii. Article I Beléeue that the father by his Son with the holy Ghost from the beginning hath alwaies seene to the restoring of man to whom he manifested him selfe yea after the sinne making vnto him a promise of the blessed seede by which the Serpents head must be broken and the faythfull ought to receyue blessing by that promise afterwardes oftentymes confirmed and ratefyed to the holye fathers the man otherwise in despaire in his sinne being releued ayded and comforted hath lyued in hope vnto the exhibiting and accomplishing of the same The xiii Article I Do also beléeue that after this promise the Lorde hath prescribed and geuen the lawe of the commaundementes to man promising life vnto those that kéepe them and death vnto those that transgresse them and he geueth them not that man shoulde seeke iustification health or lyfe in them but for the pollicie peace and tranquilitie of his people for to defende the good and to chastice correct the wicked and to houlde and kéepe euery one in his office And chiefly that by the same man should better know him selfe his disease poorenesse and imperfection And by that meanes should haue occasion to humble him selfe before the law geuer and to seeke remedy health and lyfe otherwise to wit in the holy seede promised which is Iesus Christ For that cause it is called a Scoolemayster for to come vnto Christ the which also serueth vs as a glasse for to knowe our vices our spirituall leprosie and to augment that knowledge In like manner it serueth vs for an accuser to accuse vs before the Lorde and instéede of a seuere cruell Iudge for to declare the wrath iudgement of GOD vpon vs the condemnation and eternal death by that meanes to feare vs and to make vs in dispayre vntyll such tyme as we be comforted by the Gospel which is the faith in Iesus Christ by the which we are exempt and deliuered from all those maledictious These are the Offices of the lawe the which are tourned to vs in goodnesse by the sayth of the Gospell the which hath oppositiue offices and altogether contrary Furthermore I confesse that the law of God is good right holy and perfect and wheras it bringeth nothing to perfection the faulte is not in it but in vs which are altogether imperfecte nor we can not anye thing at all accomplish it not to touch it with the least finger And therfore The .xiiii. Article I Beléeue and confesse Iesus Christ to be the fulnesse the ende and consūmation of the lawe to the righteousnesse of all beleeuers to whom by whom onely al the promises of the father are fulfilled whoe also alone hath perfectly satisfied the lawe the which none among men could do for somuch as the lawe commaundeth impossible thinges to the corruptible man the which neuerthelesse he shall fulfill not in working but in beleeuing as also the lawe is fulfilled by fayth and not by workes and by that meanes he shall finde the righteousnesse of fayth
the begynning and roote of all good workes as infydelitie is the fountayne and roote of all euylles The lxxxxi Article I Beléeue moreouer that the good workes are not superfluous vaine nor vnprofitable but necessarie to saluation I call good works not those which are done after the fantasie or commaundement of men but those only which God hath cōmaunded to be be done by his worde the which ought to be done not for to merite any thing towardes the Lorde or for to auoyde eternall condempnation But onelye because that God hath commaunded them And for to testifie the loue which we haue vnto the Lord and the obedience vnto his worde and commaundement And to the ende that in vs and by vs hee be glorifyed and our neighbours aswell faithfull as vnfaithfull maye be edifyed Lykewise to shewe and manifest the faith which we haue in God and in his worde as the good tree declareth him selfe and is known by his fruite and for to render certain and sure our vocation election and Predestination These are the endes of good workes commaunded of God and who so euer dooth them to any other ende hee abuseth sinneth dooth wrong and dishonor vnto the blood of Christe and dishonoreth God and his worde For by his doings he declareth Christe to haue dyed in vaine The lxxxxii Article I Beléeue the there is no man in this worlde nor in the other neyther in heauen nor in the earth which can forgeue and pardō my sinnes but one onely God who also hath geuen the power and authoritie vnto the Mynisters of his worde to declare vnto the faythfull that beleeue and which are contrite and penitent the remission of their sinnes to be done by grace freely in the blood of Christe shead for them And to declare them to bee absolued from their sinnes and that altogether by the Minister of the worde in the catholyke Church in which that forgeuenes is made and done and not otherwyse But of our parte is requyred entyre and true repentaunce The which hath two partes The first is contrition that is to saye knowledge with displeasure and detestation to sinne the which is administred by the lawe and causeth in vs a despayre if it be not ayded of the other parte which is the lyuelie faith in the mercie of the father by the blood of Iesus Christ the which proceedeth from the Gospell that doth comfort vs and maketh vs to persyst and finde grace and fauour before the iudgement of God. The lxxxxiii Article I Beléeue that the sinne abydeth alwayes in man yea vnto those that are sanctified after the regeneration made by the baptisme and the holie spyrite the which neuerthelesse is not imputed vnto them thorow the fayth that they haue in Iesus Christe For as all the sinnes of the Infidels and reprobate are mortall and irremissyble because of their infidelitie so all the sinnes of the faithfull and elect are veniable and remissible because of their fayth And therfore I beléeue one onelie sinne to be mortall irremissyble that is to saye Infidelitie That is to say not to beleeue in the sonne of God for where true faith in Iesus Christe is founde all sinnes are hydden couered and pardoned ¶ I beleeue the resurrection of the fleshe which is the seconde fruit of my fayth The lxxxxiiii Article I Beléeue a resurrection to come and generall vnto all the worlde aswell to the good as euyll The which shall be done at the ende and consummation of the worlde by the vertue of Christe and by the ministring of the Angels the which with a lowde Trumpet shall call all the worlde before the Lorde and shall assemble all the elect from the fowre windes from the highest heauens vnto the lowest part of the earth and shall seperate the wicked from the middest of the righteous and shall cast them in the fornace of fyre where shall be wéeping gnashing of téethe Then the righteous shall shyne as the Sunne in the kingdome of their Father And shal be lyke and companions with the Angelles of god That is the seconde resurrection and blessed is he that shall haue parte and portion in the same for he shal neuer be touched with the second death The lxxxxv Article I Beléeue that that resurrection shall be done in fleshe and not in spyrite That is to saye that the soule or spyrite of man shall not ryse againe for so muche as it is immortall and neuer dyeth But the bodye the which before aswell according to his nature as thorow sin was subiect vnto death corrpution rotten brought into dust and ashes shall be raysed vp and vnited with his soule and proper spirite and set in a perfecter estate then that of the first man before sinne exempted from all corruption of sinne and consequentlie from all other imperfections like vnto the gloryous bodye of Christe The lxxxxvi Article I Do also beléeue that I shall ryse againe not in the fleshe or body of another mans but in my very owne body which I brought from my mothers wombe with those same bones with the very body which I haue nowe The same notwithstanding transformed and chaunged made of mortall immortall of corruptible incorruptible of vyle and contemptible glorious And therefore I looke for my sauiour Iesus Christe who thorow his vertue shall transfigure my vile body that it maye be lyke vnto his glorious body according to the power by which hee can make all thinges subiect vnto himselfe ¶ I beleeue the lyfe euerlastyng VVhich is the thirde and laste fruite of my fayth The lxxxxvii Article I Beléeue that I shall ryse againe as I haue sayde with all the faithfull and electe not for to dye againe as those which were myraculouslye raysed aswell by Christe as by the Prophets and Apostles and such other but into an immortal eternall and perdurable lyfe for to raigne eternallye with God in body and soule And hereof I am very certayne and doubte nothing at all of it knowing that whosoeuer doubteth of his saluation made by Iesus Christe he shall neuer bee saued Wherefore euen as I am sure and certaine that Christe is dead and rose againe for mée and doubt nothing at all therof but am sure and certaine of my saluation made by him And that infallibly I shal be saued and shal go into eternall lyfe by him The lxxxxviii Article I Beléeue that then I shall sée face to face him whome I do nowe sée but by the glasse of fayth shall know him perfectly whome I knowe nowe but partlye who after that he hath destroyed and confounded all his aduersaries putting them as his footestoole wyll make all thinges newe for the glorie of his chosen And shall be God all in all and in all things Then euery one shall not teache his brother
auailable before the Lorde and not those of workes the which bringeth nothing vnto perfection BEholde as touching the first poynt of my faith what I beleue of the Father of the thinges made by him and consequently of the holy Trinitie with the fall of man. Let vs now come vnto the second point which is of the Sonne of GOD and of the things done by hâ—m chiefly of the restoring and reparing of man. I beleeue in Iesus Christ his onely Sonne our Lorde which was conceaued by the holye Ghost borne of the Virgin MARY suffered vnder PONCE PILATE was crucified dead buried descended into Hell the thirde day he arose againe from death He ascended into HeaueÌ„ there he sitteth at the right hand of GOD the Father almighty From thence shall he come to iudge the quicke and the deade The .xv. Article I Beléeue that Iesus Christ is verye God and very man hauing two natures inteâ—mixts in one person the diuine nature according to whiche he is the naturall Son of God equall to the Father in al through al. And humaine nature according to the which he is verye man in all and by al lyke vnto vs sin onely excepted The .xvi. Article I Beléeue that Iesus Christ the Son of GOD in the fulnesse of tyme prefixed and preordained of the Father from euerlasting was sent into the world by the Father was made very maÌ„ conceaued within the womb of a Virgin called Mary of the proper substaunce and of pure blood purifyed of her because that he was found very Man descending from the séede of Adam Noe Abraham Isaac Iacob Dauid and of the other fathers to whom the promise was made The .xvii. Article I Do also beleeue all that to be done by the operation of the holy Ghost without the worke of man to the ende that all should be holy vndefiled pure and cleane and by that meanes our conception was purified and sanctifyed the which of it selfe was marred and defyled with sinne The .xviii. Article I Beleeue the same Iesus Christ to be borne of the Virgin Mary without anye sin and without breaking of her virginitie because that by his pure and holye natiuitie he purifyeth and sanctifyeth ours the which of it selfe is altogether marred and defiled with sinne In that natiuitie of Christ I see and consider the firste estate and condition of man with his fall which was the cause of the comming of Christe into this world likewise the grace and beneuolence of GOD the Father who hath represented and geuen vnto vs his onely begotteÌ„ sonne for to serue vs And the loue of the son who hath abased and humbled him self for to eleuate and exalte vs hath made him selfe poore for to enrich vs and hath him self subiected for to affranchise vs and he is made the sonne of man for to make vs the children of God and possessors of eternall life by whose comming mans nature was restored and made noble and the man that was lost broken and destroyed was raysed vp againe set agayne in his first place and hath recouered all that which he lost throwe sin and more For by that meanes all the treasures graces and benedictions of the Lord are geuen and bestowed vpon him and that altogether thorow grace without any merites The .xix. Article I Do also beléeue and knowe by the holy scriptures an other conception and natiuitie of Christe which is spirituall the which I saye to be of no lesser dignitie then the first That is that euerye faythfull man ought to conceaue in his hart and minde Iesus Christ thorow a liuely and true faith and to bring him foorth thorowe the manifest confession of the mouth as often as néede shal require I estéeme that conception and natiuitie to be so necessarye vnto saluation that if the Virgin Marye had not more blessedly borne Iesus Christ in her hart mind then in her womb the carnal maternity would not haue much profited her By that meanes we are called the mothers brethren and sisters of Iesus Christ The .xx. Article I Beleeue that the same Iesus Christ is verely the Christ that is to saye the Messias the annoynted by the holy Ghost because that he shoulde be the true Kyng Prophete and great Priest of all the beléeuers the which was promised in the Lawe of whom also haue spoken all the Prophetes This annoynting of Christ was not corporall with a materiall and visible oyle as the same of Kyngs Priestes and Prophets in times past But spiritual with an inuisible oyle which is the grace gyftes of the holy Ghost of which he was filled aboue al other insomuch that that oyntment is descended vnto vs which haue felt and prooued the sauour thereof whereby also we beare the name of a Christian that is to say annoynted The xxi Article I Beléeue that that Sacrifisor Iesus Christ not to haue bene Leuiticall or carnall for to offer vp and sacrifice bullocks kyne or such like things as Aaron did and al his successors but spirituall yet neuerthelesse reall and true for to offer and sacrifice him self that is to say his body and his blood for the remission of the sinnes of all the worlde as also his kyngdome is not of this carnall worlde but spirituall the which consisteth in the guyding and gouerning of his by his holy spirite ouer whom he raigneth by his word and to the vtter destruction of all his aduersaries which are sinne death hell Satan and all infidels wicked and reprobate which rebell against the word of the Gospel The .xxii. Article I beléeue that Iesus Christ hath trulye exercised these thrée offices to wete Prophet Kyng and Priest not onely in this worlde he being a mortall man as we are But also that he yet doth exercise them daily in heauen before the face of his father where he standeth and appeareth continually for vs and thereof being taught by his spirit aydeth maynteyneth and defendeth those that are his and therfore he is called Prophet Kyng and high Priest after the order of Melchisedech which is eternall and not after the order of Aaron which ended with the Lawe The .xxiii. Article I Beléeue that the same Iesus Christ after that he had preached the Gospel in the countrey of Iudea Galile by the space of thrée yeres or there abouts declaring him selfe the naturall sonne of God aswel by his miraculous workes as by the words and wrytings of the Prophetes that he hath bene vniustly and falsely accused by the Priestes who when that they had taken him in their counsell did vniustly condemne him to death being bounde and chayned brought hym before Pilate Prouost at that tyme in Ierusalem who at the instance and request of the said Priests hath vniustly and without any cause condemned hym to death the most horrible and ignominious that one can thinke or excogitate That is to
be crucified and buryed with Christ through the mortification of theyr fleshe The .xxx. Article I Beléeue that euen as Iesus Christ was delyuered to death for our sinnes that so he arose agayne the thirde day for our iustification to immortall lyfe wherein hee declared hym selfe openly to be very God and very man triumphing ouer all his enemies hauing confounded and beaten downe all his enemies that is to say the worlde sinne death hell and Satan not so much for him selfe as for vs which beléeue in him knowing his victorie to be ours that in hym and through him we vanquishe those same enemies hauyng victorie ouer them to the honour of God and our great profite The .xxxi. Article I Beléeue consider that resurrection of Iesus Christ not only as touching the storie as the same of Lazarus or other lyke which haue bene miraculoslye raysed vp through the vertue and power of the Lord but also as the example and efficient cause thereof as the seales and markes of the general resurrection of al the beléeuers for as Christ is raysed the thirde day after his death through his diuine vertue into immortal lyfe so by the vertue of the same I hope to ryse one day in body and soule into eternall lyfe afterwards to be here in this world raysed in spirit through a newe and true fayth in newnes of lyfe mortifying and crucifiyng the fleshe with the affections and concupiscences of worlde the which ought to be dead and crucified vnto vs and we vnto it for we are buryed with Christ in his death by the baptisme that as he rose agayne from death by the glory of the father without euer dying any more that so we shoulde walke in newnes of life without euer seruing any more sinne seekyng alwayes chiefly the things aboue celestiall eternall Forsaking the earthly transitorie thinges of this world knowyng that we haue not here a continuall Citie but let vs séeke that which is to come The xxxii Article I Beléeue also and confesse that Iesus Christ the fourty day after his resurrection visibly and before all his Apostles eyes went vp into heauen that is to say in the maiestie of God his father in glory and eternall felicitie in which he was before he came into this miserable world for to be made man yea before the constitution of the world that is to say from euerlasting The xxxiii Article I Beléeue that he ascended in heauen for to accomplishe and fulfill and to make an end of his pilgrimage also for to prepare vs the place and to open the way for vs in heauen that we may there ascend after hym and folow hym as our head for to be eternally vnited with him in glory The which we begin here through fayth in like maner because that of the same he beautifieth his Church in sending the Comforter vnto his Apostles as hee promised them by which they should be comforted instructed and directed in all trueth and the Church susteyned mainteyned and defended against the wynds of Satan and all the gates of hell The .xxxiiii. Article I Also beléeue that he is ascended into heauen for to be there our Patrone Intercessor Mediator and Aduocate because that nowe he appeareth for vs before his fathers face obteyning for vs grace abundance of all goodnes In so much that I knowe nor receyue any other Mediator betwene God and men nor any other Aduocate nor Intercessor before GOD the father then his onely sonne Iesus Christ our Lorde Vnto him I drawe my selfe of him I content my selfe and any other I wyll not séeke nor looke for fearing to blaspheme the name of God giuing vnto the creature that which belongeth vnto the Creator or vnto the seruant that which apperteyneth vnto the maister The .xxxv. Article I Beléeue that all those which demaunde search or receyue any other Mediator Intercessor or Aduocate towards God the father then Iesus Christ his sonne doe abuse and dreame them selues greatly yea doe blaspheme against God and doe dishonour vnto Iesus Christ and to the Saintes by which they pray For as God the father woulde be knowen serued loued feared and honoured in his sonne Iesus Christ not by any other meanes so would he be prayed vnto and called vpon in his sonne and by the onely name of his sonne not otherwise For besides Iesus Christ there is no other god Herein I think not nor will not speake euil of the blessed Saints which are in heauen with the Lord but wyl honour and reuerence them as lawful faythfull seruants of the Lord as the Temple of the holy Ghost and true members of Christ and wyll haue them as myrrours and examples before my eyes for to folowe them aswel in their good lyfe conuersation as in their fayth and holy doctrine Furthermore of them or by them I look for none other thing knowing that all my goodnes ayde and helpe procéedeth from one onely God by the meanes of one onely Iesus Christ who hath made the Saintes worthie of his glory by his free grace by which also as I beleeue he wyl make me worthie with them for to be their companion in glory because that al together doe giue honor prayse and glory vnto him alone for euer and euer The .xxxvi. Article I Beléeue that the same Iesus Christ is set downe at the ryght hande of God the father almightie That is to say that he raigneth in one selfe maiestie and equall power with God his father by whom he so gouerneth his vntill the consummation of the world that no power of the aduersary can hurt them without his permission and wil Also the father hath made and constituted him Lord and Ruler ouer all creatures celestiall and terrestriall geuing him all power ouer heauen and earth when he eleuated him aboue all principallitie and power vertue and seignory and aboue euery name which is named not onelye in this worlde but also in that to come And hath assubiected all thinges vnder his feete Constituting him aboue all thinges to be the head of the Church the which is his body And therefore I receiue not nor acknowledge anye other to be the head of the church but one only Christ who hath geuen his bloud for to wash her from her filthinesse and to heale her of her woundes who keepeth nurrisheth defendeth and gouerneth her by his spirite He is the only head and foundation of the Church vpon whome euery one ought to builde according to his vocation The .xxxvii. Article I Beléeue that Iesus Christe is ascended into heauen and that hee is there corporallye that is to say in flesh bone body and soule So that he is not nor cannot be by such meanes and fashion here below on the earth with vs for asmuch as his body although that it be glorious cannot be in
saying Knowe the Lord For all shall knowe him from the greatest to the least among them The lxxxxix Article I Doo also beléeue that as the soules and spyrites of the Infidels wicked and reprobate after they are departed from the body that strayght way they descende into hell in the eternall fyre of hell their bodies remayning in the earth corrupted and rotten So the spirites and soules of the faithfull and elect children of God assoone as they depart from their body without tarying any whytte doo go strayght way into heauen into glorye with the Lorde And there doo looke for alwayes with great desyre the comming and totall redemption of their bodyes the which they haue left rotten and corrupted in the earth the which they shall obtaine at the latter daye and not before Wherein I reiect the foolysh opinion of the dreamers although there be of the auncients and excellent Authors which affirme the spirites of the Saints not to be yet in heauen but to sléepe in a certaine place to vs vnknowen vntyll they hauing receyued theyr bodyes at the latter daye in which the mysticall body of Christ being entyer perfect and fulfilled ought to enter into eternall glory The C. Article FInally I beléeue that as the Saints and blessed the Iudgement being done doo go with Christe triumphing in the ayre in body and soule for to abyde eternally in glorie with him and his Angelles That so the wicked myserable and dampned shall go into hel in body and soule with the diuell and his angels for to abyde there eternally and to be tormented with him in hell fire which neuer goeth out where is wéeping and gnashing of teethe where the woorme neuer dyeth From which the Lorde preserue and kéepe vs thorowe his grace and mercie Amen ⧠The Conclusion BEholde my déere and welbeloued brethren in Iesus Christ briefly the fayth knowledge of the mysteries which the Lorde hath geuen and bestowed vppon mee thorowe his grace and mercy vnworthy and poore sinner which haue not meryted so much goodnesse towardes him but rather his wrath and iudgement And therfore I know and confesse all to haue procéeded from him vnto whom onely I render eternall thankes whome also I beséeche in the name of his Sonne Iesus Christ our Lord to preserue kéepe me thorow his holy spirit in that faith vnto the ende to geue mee grace vertue power to confesse it with the hart and mouth aswell before the Infidelles as the faithfull the tyrants and hangmen of Antechrist to mayntaine the same vnto the last drop of my blood I desire greatly to lyue and dye in the faith knowing being well assured that it hath for her foūdation the only word of God and that in the same al the holy Fathers Patriarkes Prophets and Apostles of Iesus Christ haue liued and dyed in it That is the true knowledge of the Lord the which consysteth in the beatytude and felicitie of man as Christe sayth in the Gospell This is lyfe eternall O Father that we acknowledge thée to be very God and him whom thou hast sent Iesus Christe This is the auncient doctrine nowe reuealed by the holy spyrite the which in our tyme was raysed vp againe and as from the bottome of the depthes was restored vnto vs againe by the grace and mercye of God and by the mynistring of good Doctors and true faythfull Mynisters of the same This is the hydden trueth the which was buryed and kepte close by that Antechriste of Rome and his false Prophets these fiue hundreth yéeres or there about who in stéede thereof dyd auaunce their dreaminges and mans traditions and other lyke doctrine fryuolous vaine and vnprofitable to the great dishonor of God to the offending of the faythfull and to the ruyne of all the Churche of Iesus Christe As also they doo yet at this daye in many places thorowe out the world persecuting that holy Euangelicall doctrine in all places and by all meanes Endeuoring them selues to burie it againe to hyde and couer it and altogether to destroye it but they shall all perish in their enterprises and the worde of the Gospell shall abyde eternally For so hath hée promised who is onely true and can not lye And heauen and earth shall sooner passe then his promise shoulde not hée fulfilled Wherefore blessed is hée that shall continue vnto the ende in that doctrine For he shall be partaker of all the promises of God And on the contrarie wo be vnto him that shall contempne despyse or reiecte it For the wrath of God abydeth vpon him Hée that beléeueth in mée sayth Christe hee shall not bée condempned But hée that beléeueth not hee is alreadye condempned his parte and portion shall be with the peruerse and wycked Hypocrites in eternall hell fyre Also I reiecte alwayes the doctryne of Luiterim with whome I wyll haue neyther parte nor portion And also I renownce all the doctryne of that Antechrist of Rome with al his Idolatries mans sectes errors and papisticall superstitions in which I haue bene some tyme plunged in it to my great hurte euen vp to the eares abusing my selfe after the creatures forsaking my Creator persecuting yea euē vnto death those which dyd teache that same which I now beléeue and confes But I haue obtained mercy of the Lord because I dyd it thorow ignoraunce in my vnbeléefe as many do yet at this day thorowe out the worlde being lead and conducted with a foolish vndiscrete zeale who in accusing persecuting and putting to death the faithfull and true members of Iesus Christe which doo seeke nothing else but the honor of God and the saluation of all the worlde doo thinke to doo things agréeable to God and to offer vnto him great Sacrifices whome I desire not to be so wylful and rash in iudgement but to examine it neerer and to searche and trye the matter better before they take any thing in hande To the ende they be not one day constrained to say confesse that which I nowe confesse of my selfe that they haue shamefully erred and sinned But thinking they dyd well notwithstanding in persecuting my good Lorde maister and onely sauior Iesus Christ For that which I haue done vnto his members and faithfull whome then I esteemed as Heretickes seditious and blasphemers of God and of his worde where they were louers thereof I doo esteeme that I dyd it vnto him selfe For hee sayth in the Gospell that that which men do vnto those which beleeue in him hee esteemeth it to be done vnto himselfe be it good or euyll The which he hath afterwards confirmed to Paul persecuting his Church after his ascencion I then knowing the great errors abuses and superstitions wherein I was plunged beforetyme Nowe I renounce and forsake all Idolatryes and false doctrines which are contrary and against the doctrine of my maister Iesus Christe which is the holy and pure worde
as it is sayd for the young ones simple and ignoraunt who maye take what they thinke good and leaue the rest for to auoyd prolixity therfore I haue deuided and distinguished it by Articles Furthermore this Confession is deuided in to foure principall poyntes In the first I shew what I beleeue of the holy Trinitie chiefly of the eternall Father and of the thinges made by him of the first creation of man and of his fall In the second what I beléeue of the Sonne which is the second person and of the thinges by him made chiefly of the repayring and restoring of man In the third what I beléeue of the holy ghost which is the thirde person of the holye Trynitie by whom man made by the Father and restored by the Sonne is mayntained and kept in his being In the fourth what I beléeue of the holy Catholike Church and of the thinges concerning the same That doon I shew and declare the great frutes proceeding and comming from that fayth whiche are thrée in number as you may see towardes the ende And all of it is made after the order of the simbole or creede which we call commonly the Apostles creede which hath bene receiued at all tymes without any contraduction in the Catholike Church And let no man maruaile although I multiplye these Articles vnto an hundreth although that the Créede containeth but twelue For euery one of the twelue contayneth other twelue and more Doo then as the honnye Bées who of all flowers doo gather profit By that meanes you shall augment more and more in fayth and knowledg of the Lord in charity and loue towardes your neyghbours for therein dependeth all the lawe and the Prophets I beséeche that good God and celestiall father which hath deliuered you from the tirraunye of Antechriste and hath drawne you from darknesse error and ignorance opening your inward eyes declaring him selfe vnto you by his Gospell that it would please him to augment alwaies his giftes graces and benedictions in you to direct and keepe you by his holy spirite Vnto eternall life in the name of his sonne Iesus Christe our Lord and one-Sauiour Amen From Strasburg 24. Iuly 1549. ¶ Iohn Brooke to the Christian Reader THis litle Pamphlet gentle Reader may seeme vnto thee a thing of small value and lesse importance if thou make thy estimation thereof by the small outwarde showe and feeling But if in this litle and light worke to the eye be encluded great and waighty matter if in this briefe and short Treatise be wrapped and sufficiently set forth long and manifold causes how much the more then is it to be imbraced and estemed I promyse thee nothing but for gramrecye offer thee my good wyll and trauaile I red it in French written by master Iohn Gardiner and finding it pithy profitable and necessary to bee red of all Christians for thine onelye commodity and comfort I haue translated him into thy mother tongue If in this translation thou finde any imperfection let my zeale good meaning towardes thee counteruaile or rather preuaile to gaine thy friendly acceptaunce and do not therein condemne the thing or the Authour who vndoubtedly needeth no supporter or defender but bringeth with him munition and defence sufficient But aduenture I say the reading as I did at the firste if thou finde him worthye make it a Iewell vnto thee beare him daily in thy hand or button him nere thy hart in thy bosō he is neither heauy nor cūbrous nor wil be vnto thee very chargeable Gods holy spirite be thy guide in reading and vnderstanding to the establishment and confirmation of thy Christian faith Farewell ⧠A briefe and cleare Confession of the Christian Fayth contayning a hundreth Articles after the order of the Apostles Creede I beleeue in GOD the Father almightye maker of Heauen and Earth The .1 Article FIrst of al I beleue in one GOD onely in essence and substaunce thrée in person the Father the Sonne and the holy Ghost The Father as the Originall and beginning of all thinges aswell visible as inuisible Of whome also they depende aswell in their being as conseruation And he dependeth not but of him selfe eternall without ende and without beginning The Sonne as the heauenly worde the sapience and wisdome of the Father which is eternally before al worlds begotten of the Father of his proper substaunce and nature Because that in him shineth his proper carecter Image otherwise inuisible vnto the mortall man. The holy Ghost as the vertue and eternall power which is neyther made nor created nor begotten but proceeding from the father and the Sonne eternally as alone proceeding of two persons The 2 Article I Beléeue that these three persons are of one essence and substance nature Authoritie power will goodnesse wisdome and eternitie And that these three are but one spirituall substaunce eternall without ende and beginning true good iust mercifull of soueraigne power and wisdome hauing and containing in him selfe all goodnes hauing no neede of any thing The 3. Article I Beleeue that GOD being so onely one in essence and three in person ought onely to be serued honored feared loued adored and inuocated in all our necessities as he which can and wil prouide for them and none other And therefore I say and confesse that I beleeue in one God that is to saye I acknowledge and receyue him for one onely Lorde Mayster and Sauiour of whome proceedeth all my goodnesse with whom I can do all things Without whom I can do nothing In him alone I doe trust and fixe all my harte hoping that he will take my parte against all men assisting me alwayes through his holye spirite and deliuering me from all perilles and daungers through his grace and mercye without my merits administring vnto me all thinges necessary aswell for the soule as body as a good father as he promised me by his word The .4 Article I Beleeue that he being altogether puissant hath of nothing from the beginning created Heauen and Earth and all things that are therin That is to saye all thinges aswell celestiall as terrestriall visible as inuisible reasonable as vnreasonable sensible as insensible Whome he kéepeth guideth ruleth and gouerneth through his diuine wisdome without whose prouidence nothing commeth to passe neyther in this world nor in the other The .v. Article I Beléeue that the same God the father Sonne and holye Ghost after hauing created all thinges created and made man after his owne Image and likenesse that is to saye immortall good iust true sage wise mercifull and perfit in all thinges perticipating vnto him his goodnesse righteousnesse and other perfections of God hauing a will that can accorde and agrée in all and by all vnto the will of his Lorde and that altogether by grace without any merit The .vi. Article I Do also beléeue that as the Lorde hath created all things celestiall
fayth of those thinges sealeth and confirmeth the promises of the Lorde within our hartes through his goodnesse and grace that we néede not to doubt any thing at all The .xliiii. Article I Beléeue that that holy Ghost dwelling in vs doth regenerate vs thorow his grace and vertue into a renouation and chaunging of life mortifiyng in vs all that which is of vs and of the olde man the flesh and the world and quickning all that which is his that wee should liue no more to our selues but to Christe who also doth and worketh in vs al good works agréeable to the father and rebuketh checketh and vanquisheth the world of sinne righteousnesse and iudgement The .xlv. Article I Beleeue that the holy Ghost is the Doctor of the Ignorant who teacheth directeth and leadeth vs into the knowledg of the trueth by which we are deliuered from darknesse and set into life Also he is the comforter of the poore afflicted for to ayde fortifie comfort and assist them in al troubles and aduersities that they shoulde not dispaire in them as the wicked and reprobate doo but that they shoulde taste and féele the gentlenesse benignitie and mercifulnesse of the father who thorow crosse and diuerse trybulations doth bring his into eternall glory The .xlvi. Article I Beléeue that that holy Ghost is the spirite of lyfe quickening all other spirites aswell celestiall as terrestriall and that he is only holy in him selfe by whome all other are sanctified so that if any spirites are holy as they are either in heauen or in earth it is not but thorow the sanctitie of that holy spirite which is the cause wherfore I beléeue in him that is to say that in him I hope and put al my affiance assurance and truste as I haue spoken before of the Father and the Sonne Behold the third point of my faith which is touching the holie Ghost the thirde persoÌ„ of the holy Trinitie by whom after that we are made by the father and restored by the sonne we are kept and gouerned vnto the ende Now it remaineth to intreat of the fourth point of my faith which is touching the Church and the thinges concerning the same I beleeue the holye catholike Church the Communion of Saintes The .xlvii. Article I Beléeue and confesse one onelye catholike and vniuersall Church which is a holy Congregation and assembly of all the faythfull beléeuers chosen and predestinated to eternall life before the constitutioÌ„ of the world of whose number I accompte and beléeue my selfe to be one thorow the only grace and mercy of the Father hauing the merite of my good Lorde and Maister Iesus Christe and not by my good workes or merites which are none at all The .xlviii. Article I Beléeue that Church to be inuisible to mans sight and vnto God alone knowen the which is not set tyed or limited in a certaine place or to certaine men but dispersed and seperated abroad thorow out the world Neuerthelesse ioygned together in harte wil and minde thorow the band of fayth and loue acknowledging all of them one onely God one only head and mediator Iesus Christ one faith one law one baptisme one spirituall table in which one onely meate and one onely spirituall drinke is administred vnto them vntil the consumation of this world That Church comprehendeth in it all the iust and elect from the first iust Abell vnto the last which shal be â—ound in the ende of the world and therfore I call it vniuersall For touching the visible Church which is the congregation of the good and of the wicked the elect and reprobate and generally of all those which say that they beléeue in Christe I beléeue it not because I see it with my eye and fayth is of inuisible thinges The .xlix. Article I Beléeue that that inuisible Church is the Lordes fielde within which there is neither cockle nor darnell but that it is the house and habitacle of the holy Ghost within which there is neither Caim Iudas nor the wicked rich man. That it is also the sheepefolde of Christe within which there commeth no stincking nor infected goates but all shéepe lambes and domesticall ewes bearing fruit in theyr tymes and seasons That it is the body of Christ in which theyr is no rotten or corrupt member That is also the spowse of Christ pure and cleane without spot or wrincle or anye such like thing holy and erreprehensible purified and sanctified in the bloud and by the word of his head and wel-beloued spowse Iesus Christe wherfore those which are grafted in her through liuely fayth cannot perish The .l. Article I Beléeue that the giftes and graces of the holy Ghost are dispersed and geuen vnto euery one of the members of that Church not so much for the perticuler profit vtility of them as for the generall profit and vtilitye of al the assemble or Church and that altogether through grace without any merite according to the good will and prouidence of God to some more and to some lesse that we may know the one to haue néede of the other and maye ayde and helpe the one the other in all necessities aswell corporall as spirituall as members of one body The .li. Article I Beléeue the communion of Saintes that is to saye that all that whiche the Lorde geueth vs in this worlde whether they bee goodes concerning the body of the spirite that he geueth them chiefly to the profit and vtillitie of all the Church and therfore ought to be distributed and bestowed vnto all the faythfull chiefly in necessity Insomuch that as we do al communicate in one GOD in one fayth in one law in one baptisme and in one spiritual table that also we may communicate in all that which proceedeth and commeth vnto vs by the meanes of all those things for otherwise we are not Christians nor faythfull dispensators of Christe I alwaies reiect the Anabaptisticall Communalty of goodes wiues and other like things receiuing the Apostolicall communaltie which hauing and possessing some goodes perticulerly deuideth and distributeth vnto euery one as he shall haue neede and as necessity requireth The lii Article I Beléeue that that Church is as the Arke of Noe within which there was health and lyfe and out of which there was but death ruine and perdition For as Christ is and raigneth in his Church so Sathan is and raigneth altogether out of the same the which also is kept thorow the spirite of Christe directed and guided by his worde and nurrished by the Sacramentes She shall haue alwayes aduersaries and shal be alwaies tormeÌ„ted in that sea by the thunders of Antechriste and by the windes and tempestes of Sathan For all the gates of Hell do arme and set themselues against it But she shal not be drowned in the waters but shall abyde eternally For somuch as she hath a
the entrance of the Church a washing of regeneration and a renewing in the holye Ghost by which we renownce our selues Sathan the flesh sinne and the worlde for hauing layd away the olde man with all his concupicences we put on the newe man which is Iesus Christe in righteousnesse and holinesse with whome we dye and are buried in his death that as Christe is rysen from death by the glorye of the Father so should we walke in newnesse of life mortifiyng alwayes that which is of vs in vs for to destroy and roote out the body of sinne The .lxi. Article I Beléeue that that baptisme ought to be administred not with oyle salt spittle or such like things but only in pure and cleane water in the name of the Father the sonne and of the holye Ghoste after the ordinance and institution of God without chaunging any thing adding or diminishing and that altogether in a vulgare and common language vnderstanded of all forasmuch as all that which is doon or sayde in the Churche of Christe ought to be vnderstanded and knowen of all the faythfull By that Baptisme wee are chaunged and transformed from the Children of wrath sinne dyuell and perdition into the children of God of grace and saluation For to bee heyres of GOD and coheyres with Christe in eternall lyfe And therefore it ought to be geuen and bestowed onely to reasonable creatures which are capable of those thinges and not vnto vels or such like things whiche cannot receyue it nor exercyse the thinges sygnifyed by the same The .lxii. Article I Beléeue that Baptisme of water not to bee so necessary vnto saluation that man cannot be saued without it in case of necessitye Also I doubt not of the saluation of the litle Infanntes which dye without Baptisme but that they are saued in the fayth of theyr parentes aswell as if they were baptised as also in tymes past the litle Chyldren vnder the lawe whiche dyed without Circumcision were saued in the fayth of theyr parentes I vnderstande that onely of the children of the faythfull to whome the promyses of the Lorde appertayned and not to the Infidels and reprobate The .lxiii. Article I Beléeue that the holye Sacrament of the Supper is a holye and externe Ceremonye instituted by Iesus Christe in his Gospell one day ebefore his death vnder the likenesse of breade and wine in remembrance and recordation of his death and passion hauyng and contayning in it the promyse of the forgeuenesse of synnes by whych we perticipate truly the body and blood of Iesus Christe and are nurrished and fed in the Lordes house which is his Church after that we are entred in the same by the Baptisme That also ought to be geuen and bestowed vnto all vnder both kindes after the ordinance commaundement of Christe against which it is not lawfull to attempt any thing The .lxiiii. Article I Beléeue that in that holye Sacrament the signes or Symboles are not in any wise chainged but that they abide wholye in theyr nature That is to say that the bread is not changed nor transubstantiated as the Caphardes and false Doctors haue taught deceiuing the poore people into the body of Iesus Christ neither the wine transustantiated into hys blood But that the bread abydeth alwayes bread and the wine wine euerye one in his proper and first nature For the wordes which Christe spake vnto his Apostles in geuing the bread saying This is my body I do vnderstand and beléeue it to be spoken by a figure called Metonimia whiche is a kinde of speaking verye common in the holye scriptures as the holy scriptures and ecclesiasticall Doctors Ireneus Cyprian Tertulian Ambrose Augustine Chrysostome and such other haue vnderstanded and declared by theyr writinges who lyued before the Counsell of Lateran in which was concluded the transubstantiation of the bread into the body of Christe and the wine into his blood and geuen for an article of faith to the great dishonor of God and offence of all the Church in the yeere of our Lorde .1050 by pope Leo the ninth in whiche tyme Sathan was then let loose as was foreshewed in the Apocalips troubled the Church of Christe more then it was before The .lxv. Article I Beléeue that all that Sacrament lieth and consisteth in vsing so that in not vsing that bread and that wine do differ nothing from other cōmon bread and wine which men vse commonly in their houses therfore I beléeue not that the body of Christ is contayned tyed or enclosed in that bread vnder that bread or with that bread neither the blood in that wine vnder that wine or with that wine But I beleeue and confesse his body to be in heauen at the right hande of the Father as we haue declared before and that as often and when we vse that bread and that wine according to the ordinance and institution of Christ that truly and indéede we receyue his body and his blood The .lxvi. Article I Beleeue that that receyuing is doone not carnallye or corporally but in spyrite thorow a lyuelye and true fayth That is to saye that the body and blood of Christe are not geuen to the mouth or belly for the nurrishing of the bodye but to our fayth for nurrishing of the spirite and inwarde manne to eternall lyfe And for to doo that it is not needefull that Christe descende from heauen for to come vnto vs but that we ascende vnto him addressing our hartes thorow lyuely fayth an hygh to the right hand of the father where he sitteth from whence we looke for our redemption and not to séeke it in these corruptible elementes The .lxvii. Article I Beléeue that that holye Supper is a Sacrament of fayth vnto the faythfull onely and not for the infidelles in which one fyndeth and receyueth that that one bringeth thyther and no more except it be peraduenture augmentation of fayth grace and vertue and therfore in the same those onelye doo receyue and finde Iesus Christ to saluatiō which bringe it with them thorow a lyuely and true fayth But others doo finde and receyue there onely the externe and visible Symboles and that to their condempnation as Iudas and other such wicked and reprobate The .lxviii. Article I Beléeue that that Sacrament containeth two thinges one which is terrestriall carnall and vsible another which is celestiall spirituall and inuisible and I do confesse that as our body and inward man receyueth the terrestriall and visible thing which is the bread and the wine by which it is alymented and nurrished that also verely our spirit and inward man receiued the celestiall spirituall thing signified by the bread wine to wete the body and blood of Christe So that we are made one with him bone of his bones flesh of his flesh perticipating with him in all righteousnesse
his worde For as God is a spyrite so woulde he be serued in spyrite and trueth The .lxxxv. Article I Beléeue that all the seruyng of GOD which is done without hys worde and commaundement to be Idolatrie and wickednesse I call Idolatry after the fashion of the Prophetes not onely that which is done to the honor of an Idoll or of strange Gods. But also that which is done for the honor of the liuing God without his worde and commaundement Therefore Idolaters are not onelie those which do worshyp and serue Idols and straunge Gods as the Ethnickes Panymes and such lyke But also all those which worshyppe and serue the true God of heauen after their fantasie or traditions of men without fayth without the worde and otherwise then God commaūded And on the other syde I call those faithfull which do acknowledge and serue one onely God of heauen after his worde and commaundement of whome all the works aswell externall and internall corporall as spyrituall are the true seruing of the Lorde for that they are done in the fayth of the sonne of God and according to the vocation of the Lord according to which euery faithfull person ought to walk The .lxxxvi. Article I Beléeue and confesse that it is not lawfull for any Christian to be assistant neither in spirite nor body to the sacrifices of Idolaters nor also to enter into their Temples whylest they are doing their Idolatries Sacrifices except it be for to rebuke thē in shewing them their abuse and to teach them the trueth as the holy Prophets and Apostles haue done and not for to dyssemble as Hypocrites For if the body be a creature of God as it is as the soule is the Temple of the holy Ghost and member of the misticall body of Christe If it must one day ryse againe and possesse the eternall lyfe with the soule it must also necessarily be that it be altogether geuen vnto the seruing of God in this world with the soule and spyrite Otherwise they cannot be ioygned together after the generall resurrection but being seperated the one should be in heauen with God whome be loued and the other in hell with the diuell whome hee serued the which is an impossyble thing Therefore I saye that all those dissymulations to bee a verie renouncing of Christe and of his Gospel In lyke manner I beleeue confesse that all those fayninges and false shewes by which the veritie of the Gospell is hidden and the word of God despised or by which the ignoraunt and Infidel is confirmed in his error or by which the weake is offended are not of God but of Satan altogether contrary vnto the truth of the word Therfore we must not halt on both sides but go vprightly before that great God which séeth beholdeth knoweth all things yea before they are begun The .lxxxvii. Article I Do also beléeue that the beginning of all Idolatryes was the excogitation and fyrst inuention of Images the which also were made to the abhomination and offence of the Soules of men and are as snares and nettes to the féete of the ignoraunt for to make them stumble Therefore they ought not to be honoured serued adored nor suffred in the Temples or Churches nor in the places where the Christiās doo assemble them selues together for to heare and vnderstand the word but altogether to be taken away destroied as the seconde commaundement of God doth well declare and that by the publyke authoritie of the Magistrate and not by the priuate authoritie of one perticular man. For the woodde of the gybbit by which one doth Iustice is blessed of God But the Image made with mans hande is curssed of God and he that maketh it with it Therefore we ought to kéepe our selues from Images aboue all thinges BEholde what I beleeue of the catholike Church and of the thinges concerning the same and that is for the fourth point of my faith Nowe remaineth to speake of the fruites proceeding from it and what I receyue by that faith which are three in number VVherof the first is The forgeuenesse of sinnes The .lxxxviii. Article I Beléeue that all those which are come and which shall come of the race or lyne of Adam generallye are conceiued and borne in iniquity corruption except one onely Iesus Christe and that they are all sinners transgressors of the lawe and wyll of God And according to their nature corrupted the chyldren of wrath worthy of Gods iudgemēt of condempnation eternall death hauing all néede of the grace mercy of God and of the blood of Christe to be shead For God hath enclosed all men vnder sinne that hée shoulde shewe mercie vnto all thorow Iesus Christ our Lorde The .lxxxix. Article I Beléeue that the knowledge of sin procéedeth from the law but the forgeuenes pardon of the same commeth from the Gospell and is geuen vnto vs thorow the only grace mercie of God in the blood of Iesus Christ kéeping the faith that we haue in him by which wee are reputed righteous before God and not thorowe our good works or merites nor by the merites of the purest creature celestiall or terrestiall For I do not know nor receyue any other merites thē those of my good Lord master and onely sauiour Iesus Christe who hath merited satisfied aboundantly for vs and hath payd the debt for all his in cancelating the hand wryting and obligation which was against vs and taking it away frō the midst of vs hath fixed it in the Crosse The lxxxx Article I Beléeue that that iustifying fayth is a pure singuler gyft of God the which is commonly geuen by the hearing of the word vpon which onely it is builded and not vpon the doctrines and traditions of men I call the iustifying faith a certayne assuraunce and sure peswasion of the good wyll loue grace goodnes and mercy of God towardes vs by which we are assured and verely perswaded in our harts of the mercy fauour and beneuolence of God the Father that he is for vs towards vs against vs and wil be vnto vs a mercifull father to pardon our sinnes to geue grace to adopt vs for his children and to constitute vs to be his heyres in the eternall life and that altogether fréely in his sonne and thorow his onely sonne Iesus Christ our Lorde and not thorow our merites or good workes That faith can doo all thinges and nothing is impossible to it the which is neuer perfect nor great inough in vs therefore we ought alwayes to pray with the Apostles saying Lord encrease our faith helpe our vnbeléefe For that onely doth comfort vs maketh vs holy righteous and agreeable before the Lorde doth make and declare vs to bee the chyldren of God and heyres of eternall life The which also is the mother