Cor. 15. but bicause it is no more subiecte to any cares or griefes or to corrupcions vncleanesse or infirmities of the fleshe and bicause it is garnished and beautified with vncorrupcion immortalitie and many other spirituall giftes besides out of nombre And like as the body of Christ after it was risen vp froÌ„ deathe remayned still a very body notwithstaÌ„ding it was become after the resurrection immortal and glorious euen so shall the bodies of all faithfull folke at the general resurrection be made like vnto the body of Iesus Christ wherof I shall speake more largely in the eleuenth article of our faithe For Christ our Lorde by his glorious resurreccion from the dead dothe most euidently proue and declare that he hathe despeched synne quyte out of the waye that he hathe ouercome deathe which cometh by the occasion of synne that he hathe restored life that he hathe coÌ„quered hell for all them that are true faithfull beleuers and that he hathe mightily put sathan to flight CoÌ„cerning the sixthe Article I beleue and confesse that our Lorde Iesus The. 6. article Christ ascended in to heaueÌ„ with the very self same his humaine body that rose again from the dead and sithence exerciceth not his dominion and gouernement here vpon earthe corporally For according to the nature propretie of his very humayne body he is in no mo places but in only one in one self same moment And forasmuche as he hathe caried our fleshe in to heauen hathe placed it at the fathers right hande that is to saye in euerlasting ioye felicitie all faithfull beleuers knowe now for a certaintie that the waye to heaueÌ„ is vnshutte set wyde open that they also shall through Christ in whom they beleue be caried bothe body and soule in to euerlasting life For the Lorde him self with manifest Ioh. 17. and playne wordes hathe saide I wil father that wher I am ther shal my seruaunt be also Seing than that the body and fleshe of our Lorde and brother Christ is abyding and resteth now in heauen our fleshe hath this certaine assured hope that it shal be caried thider also ther according to Christes promise Ioh. 14. shal haue a perpetual dwelling place Further more Christ our Lorde sytteth on the heaueÌ„ly fathers right haÌ„de that is to saye euen he that is bothe very God very man reigneth hathe dominion in like power like glorie with God the father so as al thinges are in subiectioÌ„ vnder his power he with the father the holy goost vpholdeth ê‘serueth al thinges is also wourshipped serued the vndoubted true eternal almightie God The chief bishop most high king of al faithfull people sitteth on the right haÌ„de of God Christ Iesus is the only eternal faithful true bishop priest of al true beleuers It is he that dothe most trustily pleade al that matters causes of his faithfull people before God his heaueÌ„ly father It is he the offreth vp all our good wishes and faithfull folkes prayers to God the father It is he that appeareth coÌ„tinually in the sight of God prayeng and making intercession for them geueth them his blessing And so those that be of the true faithful belief in dede wil nother seke allowe nor receaue any other mediatour intercessour spokes-man attournaye or entreatour but Christ alone He is that only and eternall sacrifice and oblacion which being ones offred for all endureth for euer clenseth and saÌ„ctifieth al them that are true beleuers And euen he this selfe same high Bishop and priest of ours dothe daily with his spirite worde instructe teache his churche and congregacion geueth them trusty and syncere vpright men to be their teachers and ministers whom he also garnisheth and decketh with his grace and most excellent giftes and defeÌ„deth from al euil Vpon Goddes right hande sitteth Christ our most roial king the king of kinges the iudge mightie Lorde of heaueÌ„ earth He it is that informeth and ordreth his churche and people with holsome and good lawes according whervnto they frame and addresse all their matters to the loue of God and of their neighbour This king of ours beholdeth vs faithfully and layeth vp all our griefes and sorowes trustily in his harte He is content with good will to heare the complaintes sutes and desyres of all his faithfull flocke and is neuer wearied nor grieued with the tediousnesse of them He also is that most pleynteous fountayne which alwaies geueth liberally and yet neuer waÌ„teth which only filleth and yet is neuer the lesse nor any whitte decreaceth FroÌ„ him ther can nothing at all no not so muche as meÌ„nes inwarde thoughtes be hidden or kept secrete He is the righteous true iudge iudgeing after thintent and purpose of the harte and rendreth aswell to the good as to the badde all that they doo without all respecte of persones Those that be oppressed he relieueth with his ioyfull and comfortable succour But as for theÌ„ that are stowte arrogauÌ„t prowde braggers of their owne powers whan he seeth his iust tyme he is on the bones of theÌ„ strayght waies and hurleth them downe and the necke before Ther is no maner of thing but he hathe a respecte and a consideracion vnto it His infinite wisdome in euery thing and euery where vseth iuste and right deserued meanes He by his exceding great grace sendeth faithfull trusty and good meÌ„ to be gouernours and rulers And theÌ„ he directeth and maynteneth in his churche And contrary wise he dothe somtymes take awaye good gouernours as he did lately our most christen king Edwarde the sixte and setteth vp naughti and wicked persones in autoritie now and than as bloody bishoppes proude popishe pestileÌ„t priestes vnnatural merciles forayners to reigne rule the rost to punyshe hipocrites couÌ„trefaicte gospellers and worldlinges withall To be shorte Christ dothe at all tymes defende and kepe those that his be from their enemies and foes bothe visible and inuisible After this sorte Christ sitteth on the right haÌ„de of God and thus is he the only head of his faithfull beleuing people the only most high bishop the most roial euerlasting kyng and prince of them that be his He is neuer out of their coÌ„gregacion and company he is alwaies occupied in the myddes of them so that he nedeth nother the seruice aide nor assistence of any vicegerent or helpe felowe For he is the only and euerlasting suÌ„ne of righteousnesse whiche altough as concerning his humayne corporal presence he be in one only place in heaueÌ„ yet he doth worke seÌ„siblie frutefully with his vertue light glorie nourishement and power in al them that be faithfull In coÌ„sideracioÌ„ hereof I admonishe in Goddes behalfe require you as I haue accordiÌ„g to mi litel taleÌ„t alwaies taught my parisheners and in other places wher I haue occupied the rowme of a preacher aswell to pray and without ceassing
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
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
to call vpon God through Iesus Christ and alwayes faithfully to set furthe his praise according to the doctrine of the holy scriptures as also to beware and take hede that ye make no inuocacion nor praier to the sayntes departed for helpe or succour forasmuche as to make any moo or any other mediatours intercessours spokesmen sutours or attournayes to the throne of Goddes mercie for any necessary thing either bodyly or goostli but only Iesus Christ our alone euerlasting sacrificer and aduocate is the horrible transgression of the furst coÌ„manÌ„demeÌ„t dishonour to the high maiestie of God the father preiudice to the honour dignite of Christes euerlastig priesthode blasphemous against the schole learning of the holy goost vtterly against our coÌ„moÌ„ catholike Crede and contrary to the doctrine and example of all the patriarkes prophetes apostles euangelistes martires confessours and virgines that haue any name or commeÌ„dacion either in the olde testament or newe a plaine denyall and falsifyeng of the hole body of the blessed Bible the most vndoubted true holy worde of almightie God Concerning the seuenth Article I beleue and confesse that the state The. 7. Article of this season and this corruptible worlde which hathe his beginnyng and was created of God shall haue also his ending and be vtterly despeched and that at the final despeche of the worlde Christ our Lorde shall in the same body that was wouÌ„ded nailed on the crosse come vnfailingly in the clowdes of heauen to iudge bothe the quicke and the dead For at suche tyme as the most parte of this worlde shall layne and holde with the power of Antichrist flyrting of the tyme in most horrible conteÌ„pt of bothe God and his worde and walowing themselfes in all kynde of sinne abominacion and lust and shal deuise and set their myndes vpon mocking and persecuting of them that be true faithful christeÌ„ beleuers than shall Christ at a sodain cheoppe as it were lightenyng from heauen com in the clowdes with his holy angelles vnto iudgement And the same houre as many as haue died from the begynnyng of the worlde vnto the last ende of the worlde shall by the might power of Christ rise strayghtwaye again vnto life the other that are not than departed this life but haue lyued still vnto the last daye shall in the space of a momeÌ„t or the twincling of an eie be chaunged from mortalitie and corruption in to immortalitie and vncorrupcion And after that all meÌ„ of al partes of the worlde shal be restored gathered together and be presented staÌ„de before the iudgement seate of Iesus Christ shall see the iudge ouer their heades corporally in the selfe same bodye that he fuffred in And than the righteous iudge our Lorde Iesus Christ shall pronounce and geue his last and most iust iudgement vpon al fleshe in the same maner fourme that he long agoo tolde before hande Matth. 25. Than shall euery one receaue according to their workes Than as Christes body was at his ascension taken vp from the mount Oliuete so shal they that be faithfull by the might and power of God be taken from this earthe bothe body and soule and caried vp in to the clowdes vnto Christ our Lorde Him they shall folowe and with him shall they dwell in euerlasting ioye for euermore continually to abyde And those that be vnfaithfull wicked shal be deliuered to the deuil whose chaÌ„piones and householde seruauntes they were to fele and abyde both body soule suche paynes sorowes and tormeÌ„tes as no tongue caÌ„ expresse for euer to endure worlde without ende In this behalfe I haue alwaies besought my parisheners hearers so now I require theÌ„ eftesones to the same to set euer before their eies diligently to print in their myndes that last iudgement of God and with earnest repentauÌ„ce of their former filthy life to geue themselues vnto christen charitie good workes For like as the holy scripture dothe clearely and euidently shewe that we are not made righteous blessed and holy by our owne merites and good workes but by the only grace of Christ through faithe so that all glorie and honour must be manifestly and plainly ascribed and geuen to the only fre grace and pardon of God and to the redeÌ„ption of Iesus Christ his sonne euen so haue I euer taught and now by the waraunt of Goddes most holy worde confesse and constauntly affirme that this doctrine of faithe is vnauaileable and of non effecte to impenitent hooremongers bawdes gluttones dronkerdes oppressours brivers Idolaters men pleasers epicures and other wicked vnfaithful persones And that this lyuely iustifieng faithe is the worker of all maner of good workes what so euer they be according to the worde of God For he that is iustified and made righteous as faithe only iustifieth and maketh righteous doth liue also iustly and righteously and iustly and righteously doth al thinges And he that dothe faithfully beleue the worde of God dothe without al doubt perceaue and knowe that to be good which God commaundeth and that to be euil what so euer he forbiddeth Yea it is the very wonted maner of faithe it selfe to moue and enforce the iustified maÌ„ to eschue that is euil folowe that is good and right Moreouer he that perfitly throughly by faithe vnderstandeth the mater of mannes saluacion and redempcion bothe doubtles loue bothe God his neighbour And loue is the perfite fulfilling of the lawe yea in the loue of God and a mannes neighbour heÌ„geth al the hole lawe the prophetes These maner of workes which be the frutes of the spirite faith and charitie and that we should fall to amendement of our life and what so euer the worde of God dothe furthermore commende vnto vs like as all faithfull preachers and Ministers doo diligently teache and set furthe vnto the people euen so they abhorre reiecte all suche workes as folkes are vsed to fantasie and deuise of their owne braynes deuocion or good intentes coÌ„trary or without the sure warrauÌ„t of Goddes worde how vertuous or how holy so euer they be estemed or how long so euer they haue ben accustomed and vsed For as saint Augustin saithe Whan the truth is manifestly De vnico Baptis Li. 2. shewed custoÌ„ ought to geue place vnto the truthe And moreouer he allegeth Let no man preferre custom before reason truthe for reason truthe do alwaies shutte custom out of the dores And the holy martir S. Ciprian saith also we ought not to passe what our elders and fathers that were before vs did but muche rather what Christ which was before all men coÌ„maundeth vs to doo This also doo all godly preachers ministres warne the people of that no man that walketh in the coÌ„maundemeÌ„tes of God and is riche in good workes in dede set his workes in Christes place nor put any asâ—â—aunce confidence or trust in theÌ„ as though he were made righteous holy