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
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
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
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