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
is the shepe-hearde and head harkeneth to his voice and teaching alone and foloweth not the voice or coÌ„maundement of straunge tradicions but dothe concerning the wourship and true seruice of God touching the necessarie health of soule only that whiche the Lorde God coÌ„maundeth nother blenching on the right hande nor on the lefte But contrary wise like as the ê‘ticular churches of ArriaÌ„s Donatistes PelagiaÌ„s Marcionistes Eutichianes Mahometistes Idolaters libertines Anabaptistes and other sectaries fantastical spirites of errour be the variable malignauÌ„t churche wherof the prince of this world the deuil is the vndoubted head And the teachers defeÌ„dours of errours are by the apostle S. IohaÌ„ called Antichristes But so forasmuche as the Romyshe churche of the ruffling rabines popishe tippet men with their complices the papistes doo not only not founde nor grouÌ„de their autoritie decrees tradiciones doctrines for the most parte vpon the sure rocke the worde and gospell of Christ which as Chrisostome saithe is the only marke to knowe the true church In Math. ca. 24. Ho. 49. in opere impersecto of God by but also in some poyntes they wraste and wrythe and falsely allege textes of the scriptures for their carnal pleasure and profite and in the chiefest articles of the catholike christen faithe like most fantastical spirites of errour sowers of most wicked sectes they repugne and teache coÌ„trary to the gospel scriptures of God altring the immutable ordinaunce of Christ and setting vp straunge sacrifices and godseruice propounding other articles of faithe and meanes of saluacion besides Iesus Christ making the commaundement of God of non effecte for the aduauÌ„cemeÌ„t mayntenauÌ„ce of their owne traiterous tradiciones teaching doctrines of deuilles 1. Timo. 4 as forbidding of meates mariage And forasmuche also as the churche of the papistes caÌ„ not abyde the pure worde of God nor to haue it publikely in the vulgare tongue for Christes flocke to be fedde withall but with banishing and slaundering the euerlasting testament and blessed Bible of Iesus Christ with ê‘secuting emprisonyng murthering of the preachers witnesses of the same set vp their owne gloses coÌ„stituciones customes deuises dreames tradiciones procedinges of men contrary to the written worde and gospel of God coÌ„trary to the patriarkes prophetes Christ his apostles and contrary to the proceding exaÌ„ple of the fathers of the primatiue churche And seing moreouer that the churche of the papistes had her begynnyng proceding continuauÌ„ce power aduauÌ„cemeÌ„t successe only by force of wicked Emperours other naughty princes traitours vnder false pÌ„tenses garnished decked with the vsurped name of catholike churche other couÌ„trefaicte titles hipocritical colours is also maiÌ„tened vpholdeÌ„ by treason murther sacrilege fraude rauine crafte sorcerye coÌ„â—uring flattery lyeng marchauÌ„dise of mennes soules to vphold their idlenesse pryde crueltie wyueles hooremoÌ„ging wtal I coÌ„fesse plainly affirme that the same swarme and coÌ„gregacioÌ„ of papistes I meane as many as teache willingly mayntene obstinately defeÌ„d the supremacie tradiciones doctrines of the Romysh religioÌ„ setting asyde the Bible of God are Antichristes And amoÌ„g other erroneous churches of heretikes the chief ê‘ticular malignauÌ„t church of the deuil of al errours And that the churche sea of Rome according to the Dan. 7. 11. Apo. 13. 17. descripcions of Daniel Iohn thapostle is the very hoore of BabiloÌ„ wher with the kinges poteÌ„tates of the earthe haue coÌ„mitted spiritual fornicacioÌ„ are druÌ„ken with the cuppe of her obominaciones the sinful synagoge of sathaÌ„ the most cursed kenel cathedral churche of Antichrist And also that the bishop of Rome that head of the same churche is the vndoubted singular great Antichrist the man 2. Thes 2. of synne the childe of perdicioÌ„ and the principal aduersary that maketh batail with the lambe exalteth him self aboue all that is called God sitting in the teÌ„ple of God vauÌ„ting him self to be God whom the holy apostle S. Paule speaketh of 2. Thessa 2. is now by Goddes most merciful benefite reuealed in our dayes herafter the Lorde with the blast of his mouthe shall destroye him al his littour finally coÌ„mauÌ„de theÌ„ to be cast in to vtter darkenesse to Matth. 21. 24. haue their mede porcioÌ„ amoÌ„g hipocrites wher shal be weping gnashiÌ„g of tethe for euer euer worlde wtout ende This mater shal appeare more plaine in certain Homilies intitled Antichrist which I haue translated in to englishe and now by the goodnesse of God they are put in prynt accordingly For I promise in the sight of God he assisting me with the power of his holy spirite that I shal be an enemie to the vtermost of my poore possible power vnto the errours of that popishe malignaunt churche and satanical Romyshe religion while I lyue and after my deathe no lesse than an enemye Notwithstanding like as I neuer â—ought the hurte of any of theÌ„ either in their bodies or their goodes but by charitie al gentilnesse to wynne theÌ„ vnto the truthe if it might be euen so I beseche almightie god froÌ„ the botome of my harte if it be his godly will to grauÌ„t vnto the that be wrapped through infirmitie and ignorauÌ„ce in the darkenesse of popishe errours the light of his pure gospel with hartie repeÌ„tauÌ„ce and amendement of their iudgemeÌ„tes to be newe creatures in Iesus Christ walking in the true frutes of Christes faithe loue and as well to doo as I wolde doo my selfe Amen Touching the tenthe Article I beleue and confesse that almighty God The. 10. Article by his grace and mercye in Iesus Christ geueth vnto all true faithfull beleuers free pardon and forgeuenesse of al their synnes if they will acknowlage and confesse them vnto their onely and true goostly father God at what tyme so euer they shall repent And this I take to be the true preaching of the Gospell But as for the vnbeleuers and suche as persiste stil in their vnbelefe and impenitent wickednesse it is not possible for them euer to haue true perfaicte forgeuenesse of their sinnes And I doo confesse that al synnes are not alike nor after all one condicion but that som synnes are greater thaÌ„ some some sines more greuous than some as their maner is to tende against the glorie and loue of God against faithe and the loue of a mannes neighbour some more than som some lesse than some I saie moreouer that what so euer is comitted against the lawe of God that is to saye contrary to the will and worde of God that same is sinne Wherfore no faithfull preacher or ministre dothe make God the author of synne but we declare that the original poison of synne beganne in the apostata of God and the common aduersarie of mankynde and in mannes owne corrupt will Howbeit we deme not but that god thorough his infinite wisdoÌ„ ordreth
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