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
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 put on the crosse and to be crucified betwéene two théeues as though he had bene the prince and captaine of them the which he endured and suffred willingly and innocently without deseruing it for otherwise he had not satisfied for vs and his crosse had profited vs nothing at all The .xxiiii. Article I Beléeue also that he beyng on the same crosse dying and yéelding vp his spirit to God his father that he descended into hell that is to say that he verely felte and experimented the great distresse and payne of death with the paynes flames of hell that is to say the great furor ire and the seuere iudgement of God vpon hym as though he had bene man and halfe damned insomuch that he was constrayned to crye with a loude voyce My God my God why hast thou forsaken me Beholde simplie what I vnderstand by the descending of Christ into hell Furthermore I know that this Article was not at the first in the Créede and that many haue vnderstanded and interpreted it otherwyse and haue thought Christ verely and in very deede to haue descended into hell into the place of the dampned aleadging the text of Saint Peter the which I confesse to be couered and hyd frō me at this present The Lord graunt vs to open the gate and giue vs entrance into those mysteries The .xxv. Article I Beléeue all that to haue bene done not for hym which neuer dyd any sinne in whose mouth there was neuer found any fraude nor lying but for vs poore and miserable sinners whose place he helde in the crosse as a pledge where he represented the person of al the sinners which euer haue bene are or shal be vntil the end of the worlde And because that those haue by their sinnes deserued to féele and trye the extreme dolours of death to be forsaken of God and of all creatures to féele the furor yre and seuere iudgement of God vpon them Christ who was their pledge dyd satisfie for them in the crosse did feele all that same and that to affranchise vs delyuer vs from all these paynes from the furor yre and iudgement of God from condemnation and eternal death Herein I reiect and estéeme as fables al the lymbe of the fathers and of litle children purgatorie and other suche follyes dreames and abuses which men inuented and founde out without the word of God. For I beléeue and receaue but two places in the other worlde to wit paradise for the faythfull elect with the Angels and hel for the Infidels and reprobate with the dyuels The .xxvi. Article I Beléeue consider that death and passion as also al other mysteries of Iesus Christ not onely as touching the historie as a patrone and example for to imitate and folow as the same of holy men which haue died for the Lordes quarrel But also chiefly touching the cause fruites and vse of the same thereby to knowe the grauitie burthen of my synnes the grace and mercie of the father and the loue of the sonne by which we are reconciled with God deliuered from the tirannie of the deuil released and restored into the libertie of the spirit That is the glasse without spot for to make vs know our fylthines The lauer or cleare fountaine for to washe clense vs and the infinite treasure for to satisfie and content our creditors Of whom and by whom onely Gods deuine iustice hath bene fully satisfied for all the synnes of all those which haue bene are and shal be vntill the end of the world And therefore I beléeue and confesse the condemnation of Iesus Christ to be my absolution his crucifiyng to be my deliueraunce his descending into hell to be my ascending into heauen his death to be my lyfe his blood to be my washyng and purgatorie by whom onely I am washed purified made cleane from all my sinnes so that I neither receaue nor beléeue that there is any other purgatorie neither in this worlde nor in the worlde to come by which I may be purged but the onely blood of Iesus Christ by which all is purged and made cleane for euer The .xxvii. Article I Beléeue that Iesus Christ by the sacrifice of his body that he offred vpon the trée of the crosse hath defaced and destroyed sinne death and Sathan with al his kingdome hath altogether consummated and finished the worke of our redemption hath ended and abolished all other sacrifices insomuch that from hencefoorth we must not looke nor séeke for any other propiciatorie sacrifice then this neither for the lyuing nor for the dead For if we sinne wyllingly after that we haue receyued the knowledge of the trueth there remayneth no other sacrifice for the remission of synnes then this here by which Christ alone hath consecrated for euer all those which are sanctified And therefore The xxviii Article I Beléeue the holye Supper of the Lord not to be a sacrifice but onely a remembrance and commemoration of that holy sacrifice of Iesus Christ Therefore it ought not to be adored and woorshipped as God nor Christ to be in the same but onely in him selfe out of all corruptible elements In like maner I beleeue and confesse that the papisticall Masse is an inuention and ordinance of man a sacrifice of Antichrist and a forsaking of the sacrifice of Iesus Christ that is to say of his death and passion that it is a stynking and infectious sepulchre which couereth and hydeth the merite of the blood of Christ And therefore it ought to be abolished and the holy Supper of the Lord restored and set agayne in his fyrst estate The .xxix. Article I Also doo beleue that as the Prophet Ionas was in the Whales bellye which is a place of corruption thrée dayes and three nightes without being any thyng at all corrupted from whome he came out the thyrde day without any hurt safe sounde that euen so Iesus Christ after his death was put into a newe sepulchre which is a place of corruption within which he was thrée dayes and thrée nightes not being touched with any infection stynking or corruption but alwayes abode safe and sound for to declare the vertue of his blood for to accomplishe the writing of the holy Prophets and for to verefie the veritie aswel of his body as of his death with which I beléeue the lawe to be buryed abrogated and abolished to the faythfull not as touching the obligation that they shoulde be no more bounde to lyue and walke after the same but onely as touching the condemnation that is to say that the transgression of the same doeth not condemne them at the iudgement of God through the faith that they haue in Christ And therefore within one sepulchre I comprehend thrée things buryed that is to say Christ the law and all the faythfull which ought 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
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
diuerse places nor in many places at one very tyme but so in one according to the nature of his glorious body that then hee cannot be in anye other otherwise he should not be a true and naturall body but a shadow that is to saye a thing appearing and not being the which is false and altogether against our faith And therfore I say and confesse the true and naturall body of Christe to be in heauen and that from thence he shall not departe vntyll he hath put all his enemies vnder his féete and come for to iudge both the quick and the dead The .xxxviii. Article I Beléeue when the number of the elect children of God shal be accomplished the Lorde Iesus in that same bodye with which hee suffered with which he roase and ascended into heauen shall come with great power and maiestie visibly in a clowde euen as he ascended and that shal be to iudge the quick and the dead and shall geue vnto euery one according to Iustice vnto the good which shal be founde among them after theyr goodnesse and to the wicked after their naughtines That iudgement shal be general that is to say all shal be called and summoned to appeare personally by the voice of the Aungell to which all shall appeare aswell the good as euyll the elect as reprobate that euery one doo make and render vp his accompt and reckoning before the iudiciall seate of Christe of all thinges done by them in this world be it good or ill yea for euery idle worde the which the world doth not thinke to be sin Then shall all those be saued which shal be found written in the booke of lyfe The .xxxix. Article I Beleeue that then shal be made the totall and last seperation of the good from the wicked of the elect from the reprobate the which nowe are mingled together as the good fishes and badde in the nettes the chaffe with the corne and the darnell with the wheate But when the haruest commeth he which hath the fanne in his handes will make the seperation and wil put the corne aside in his garner but the chaf and tares shal be cast into the fyre for to burne eternally Then shal be perfectlye declared and knowen the iustice and mercy of the Lorde with the fruite of the Crosse and blood of Iesus Christe the which now wee know onely but in parte Then the good and elect shal know the stone vpon which they builded theyr fayth and hope and shall not be confounded And the wicked shall also knowe the stone vpon which they stumbled the which they reiected coÌ„temned and despised and shal be confounded Then the Lorde Iesus shall make an ende of his office and ministrie for his mistical body shal be altogether accomplished with all his members and shall render the kingdome and his spowse which is the Church vnto God his father al faire glorious erreprehensible and acceptable without spot or wrinckle or any such thing Then shal be perfectly vanquished and confounded Sathan hell sinne and death and all the other aduersaries of Christe whoe at this present do exercise yet tirrany ouer all his members holding them vnder their griefes bondes and snares But then wee as people rauished for Ioy will reherse the words that are written O Death where is thy stinge O Hel where is thy victory But thanks be vnto GOD which hath geuen vs victorye through Iesus Christe our Lorde The xl Article I Beléeue that that Iudgement being meruelous terrible and feareful vnto the wicked and reprobate is much to be desired and of great consolation vnto the good faythfull and elect for asmuch as theÌ„ their total redemption to wéete of body shal be ended and that they shall receiue the fruit of their labors Their Innocencie shal be openly declared and known of all the worlde and they shall sée the vengaunce and condemnation of the wicked which haue tirrannously afflicted and tormented them in this world whose iniquitye and wickednesse shal be manifested by the Lorde and cleerely knowen of all to theyr great confusion and to the honor and glory of the iust children of God the which shal be in perfect peace and traÌ„quillitie and shall haue full ioye and fruition of all that which the Lorde hath promised and prepared for them that loue him Which the eye hath not séene nor the eare hath heard neither hath it entered into mans harte Therefore I tarry and looke for that great day of retribution with a great desire as the same which bringeth and declareth vnto me my chiefest goodnesse The .xli. Article I Beléeue that wee shall not all dye but we shal be all changed in a moment that is to say that in that latter day and general iudgement some shal be found lyuing which shal neuer dye by seperation of the body and soule but shall abide so alyue eternally that Christe maye be knowen Lorde and Iudge of the quick and the dead and his grace and merite may be founde greater then the sinne of Adam For as sin hath raigned to death In like-maner must grace raign through Iesus Christ to eternall lyfe Neuerthelesse they shal be chaunged and transformed from corruption into incorruption from mortallity to immortallity from despising into glory insomuch that they shal be the chiefest of of all the giftes graces and benefites which the Lorde shall geue vnto those which before were dead whome they shall not go before but all together shal be rauished in the clowdes before in the ayre and also they shall be alwayes together with the Lorde BEholde for the seconde point of my faith touching Iesus Christe the second person of the Trinitie and of the restoration and repairing of man don by him Let vs now come vnto the third point which is of the holie Ghoste by whome man is restored maintained and keept in his being I beleeue in the holy Ghoste The .xlii. Article I Beléeue that the holy Ghost is one diuine persoÌ„ distinct from the father and the son procéeding of them both equall in all thorow all and coeternall with them by whom the Church hath byn alwayes is yet and shal be ruled conducted directâ—d and gouerned vntill the consumation of this world by whome also haue spoken al the holy Patriarkes Prophetes and Apostles of our Lorde Iesus Christe Therefore I beléeue nor receiue any other Vicar or Lieuetenant of Christ in earth within his Church but the holy Ghost which cannot be receiued of the wicked The .xliii. Article I Beléeue that the holy Ghost is the wages and ernest of our celestiall enheritance by whom we are assured assertained and liuely perswaded in our consciences that wee are the children of God and adoptiue brethreÌ„ of Iesus Christe and consequentlye Coheyres of eternall lyfe That is also the finger of God the which printeth in our mindes the
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
good Patron and foundation which is Iesus Christe the righteous Therfore I call it myllitant looking for the triumphant of the blessed where there shal be but peace iâ—ie and eternall saluation The .liii. Article I Beléeue that the Lorde hath geuen vnto vs three signes or principall markes by which we may knowe that Church that is to say the word the Sacramentes and the disciplyne I call the word onely that which was reuealed by the holy Ghost vnto the holye Patriarkes Prophetes and Apostles of Iesus Christe the which is contained in the cononicall bookes of the olde and new testament by which we are mundified and receiue the very same and altogether asmuch as by the Sacraments That is to say that Iesus Christe geueth and communicateth himselfe vnto vs by the word of faith aswell without saying better as by the Sacraments although it be after another manner and fashion The .liiii. Article I Beléeue that word of God to be of more greater authoritie then the Church the which alone sufficiently declareth and teacheth vnto vs all thinges concerning our saluation what we must doo or not doo That is the true patron and perfect rule after which al the faithful ought to gouern and direct their life without declining either to the right hand or left without chainging anye thing or diminishing knowing that all the workes of God are perfect and chiefly his word The lv Article I Beléeue that as one onely Iesus Christ amongst al men is holy and true and all other are sinners and lyers that also amongst al doctrines his onelye doctrine is holye and true and all other are vncleane and full of lyinges That doctrine is the fountaine of life the lampe and pyller of fyre for to guide vs The bread of the soule and the vertue of GOD to the saluation of all beléeuers Therefore the same onely for all occasion ought to be aduaunced preached heard vnderstanded and receiued thorow out the whole worlde to the consolation and health of the beléeuers and to the greatest condempnation of the vnbeleeuers wicked and reprobate For as the Manna in the wildernesse gaue vnto some wormes and to other some good meate and Christe was set and geuen as a stone of offence to the ruine of the wicked and resurrection of the good So the word of the Gospell is vnto some a sauor of death in death and vnto other a sauor of lyfe in lyfe the which onely I receiue and take for my guide after which I will liue and dye The .lvi. Article I Beléeue that the reading of that word or Gospell ought not nor can not be forbidden or prohibited anye man whatsoeuer of what estate or coÌ„dition soeuer he be But ought to be commoÌ„ vnto all the world aswell men as womeÌ„ yea also in a vulgar coÌ„mon languag vnderstaÌ„d of al for asmuch as to al generally it is directed the promises of the Lord contained in the same appertaineth vnto all whereby Antechrist with all his do exercise great and cruell tiranny vpon all the faithfull children of God aswell for that he taketh from them and forbiddeth them the reading thereof setting before them his dreames cannons and damnable traditions in stéede of the same But also for that he forbiddeth and commaundeth in any indifferent things vpon paine of deadly sin and eternall condempnation which is a true note and marke of Antechrist The .lvii. Article I Beléeue that holy euangelical doctrine to haue byn confirmed in his time by diuine miracles aswell by Iesus Christ the prophets Apostls as by other faythfull and good ministers of the same So that it is not neede now to haue or demauÌ„d other but to content our selues with that which hath byn made and to beléeue simply in the onely worde without séeking any further Watching and alwayes taking héede that we be not deceiued by the false myracles of Antechriste of which the worlde is at this daye full whiche are doon and wrought by the opperation of sathan for to conforme all idolatries errors abuses and iniquities in blinding the poore ignoraunt people The Lorde doth permit the same iustlye because they well not receiue the spirite of trueth for to be saued He permitteth that they should receiue the spirite of lyinges with the effecacie of abusion for to be condempned for that they haue allowed lying and iniquitie And haue reiected righteousnesse and trueth Then the true myracles are done by the onely vertue of God for the confirmation of his doctrine and are geuen vnto the Infidelles and not vnto the beleeuers but the prophesie that is to saye the worde is geuen vnto the faythfull and beléeuers The .lviii. Article I Do also beléeue the holy Sacraments which are the second mark of the true Church to be the signes of the Alliance made betwéene God and vs by Iesus Christ seales of the Lordes promise and externe and visible Symboles of the inwarde faith the which are onely two in number to weete Baptisme and the holye Supper of the Lorde These are not voyde and emptye signes but full That is to saye not onely significatiue signes but also exhibitiue of the thinge they signify indeede as wee wyll declare hereafter GOD wylling Touching the other fyue whiche are receaued and exercised with great abuse and superstition in the papisticall Church to wéete Confyrmation Confession Maryage laying on of handes otherwise called order and vnction I saye all those to haue beene ecclesiasticall ceremonies whiche the holy Fathers haue vsed in their tyme holyly without anye superstition whiche also we may at this daye vse after theyr example so that it be doon without error abuse and superstition Alwayes saued the christian and euangellicall lybertye the whiche delyuereth our consciences from all externall Ceremonies instituted by menne wythout the woorde of God. The .lix. Article I Beléeue that the Baptisme is the signe of the new alliance betwéene god and vs made by Iesus Christ and the marke of the Christians in the Gospell as of late the Circumcision was the mark of the Iewes vnder the law That it is also an exterior washing doon by water signifiing an interior washing in the spirit don by the blood of Christe the which ought to be geuen and bestowed aswell to the litle Children as to the olde ones according to the ordinance of Iesus Christe and that once only without reiterating it That is the red Sea within which Pharao that is to saye the Diuell with his prouokementes of sinne is altogether drowned and the Israelites passed thorow the middes safe And afterwardes walked thorow the wildernesse of this worlde with great anguish werynesse and troubles vsed daylye the celestiall Manna which is the holye worde of the Lorde vntyll they entred by death into the Lande of the celestiall promise The lx Article I Beléeue also that the Baptisme is
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
of God contained in the canonicall bookes of the olde and newe TestameÌ„t reuealed by the holy Ghost whom I take for my guide and leader for to dyrect and leade me in this mortall life as the pyller of fyre dyd leade the chyldren of Israell thorowe the wyldernes into the lande of promise That shall be the Lanterne vnto my feete Furthermore I promise from hencefoorth and for the residue of my lyfe to walke and lyue according to that doctrine the best I can possyble hauing the spirite of God who shall assyst and dyrect mee in all my wayes without whome I can doo nothing with which I can doo all thinges insomuch that all shall be to the prayse of the Lorde to the aduauncement of the kyngdome of his sonne and to the edifycation of all the Churche and to the saluation of my soule The which most humbly with all my harte I require of that good father which is aboue in the heauens that his name maye bee in vs and thorowe vs sanctified as hee is holye in him selfe And that his kingdome come so that hee doo raygne perfectlie ouer vs and we maye obey his worde and commaundement That his wyll be done here belowe in earth as it is done by the Angelles aboue in heauen Beseeching him also thorowe Iesus Christ his Sonne our Lorde to geue and admynister vnto mee in this mortall life all thinges necessarie aswell to the Soule as body admynistring vnto me euerie daye the daylye breade of his worde without which my soule can not lyue And because I am a synner by nature corrupte solde vnder sinne not able to doo none other thing but to sinne and that I offende more then there be dayes I beseeche him not to enter into iudgement with mee neyther correcte and punishe me according to my merytes and desertes but mercifullye pardon mee all my offences against him committed as I doo pardon all those which haue offended mee And looke vppon mee not in mee but in the face of his sonne Iesus Christe thorow whose meanes I finde grace and mercy before him and before his righteous iudgement I beseech him alwayes to assist me thorowe his holye spirite by which I may escape the assault and embushments of the world the flesh and of Satan to surmouÌ„t alwayes vanquish their assaults and temptations without being broken or ouercome in any thing That their snares and cords being broken I maye gloriously escape and by that meanes I shall know plainly that bee is the King of Kinges and Lorde ouer all Lordes onely God sage immortal and inuysible altogether mightie strong and glorious vnto whom onelye appertayneth the kyngdome the power and the glorie for euer and euer Amen FINIS 26. Februarie 1577. 1. Tim. 2. S. Ierom. Exo. 25. 1. Cor. 3. Ephe. 4. Math. â— Luke 21. 1. Peter 3. Mat. 10.16 Mark. 8. Luke 9.17 Exo. 12. Exo. 12. Heb. 10. Collos 2. Ioh. 10. Exo. 20. 1. Pet. 5. Math. 7.15 Deut. 6. Esa. 6.45 Mala. 2. Gene. 1. Ps. 33.101 Esa. 64. Iere. 23. Actes 4.17 Psa 2.110 Iohn 1.3 5 14. Math. 3.17 Luke 3. 2. Cor. 4. Colos 1. Hebre. 1. Ps. 51.143 Ioh. 3.14.15.16 Deut. 4.23 Esa. 44.45 Ioh. 1.5.10 Exod 20. Deut 6.32 Mâ—la 2. Ioh. 10.17 Pâ—a 24.50 Roma 11. Iob. 9. Deut. 6.30 Math. 4. 1. Timo. 1. Apoca. 14. Esay 55. Iere. 2. Psalm 50. Math. 6.7 Iohn 15. Phil. â— Psalm 91. Gen. 17. Leuit. 26. Deut. 28. Psa 37.55 Esai 49.99 Math. 6.7 1. Peter 5. Gene. 1. Psa 33.101 Iere. 32. Mala. 2. Iob. 1.2 Lament 3. Actes 17. Hebre. 1. GeÌ„ 1.2.5.9 Ephe. 4. Colos 3. Sapient 2. Eccle. 17. Eccle. 15. Gene. 1. Psalm 19. 1. Cor. 3. Sapien. 13. Roma 1. Gene. 2. 1. Cor. 6. 1. Thes 4. Iohn 17. Ephe. 2. Colos 1. 2. Peter 2. Iude. 1. Apoca. 12. Math. 25. Gene. 1. Psalm 8. Gene. 3. Roma 5. Dani. 7. Mat. 11 2â— Iohn 8.13 Phil. 2. Gene. 3. Psalm 49. Eccle. 15. Ps. â— 13.52 Eccle. 17. Oseas 13. Rom. 3.5.7 Phil. 2. 1. Cor. 2 Iohn â— 15 Roma 7. Gene. 8. Ps. 14 140 Esay 59. Iohn 8. Roma 3.5 1. Cor. 15. Iere. 10. Iohn 15. Roma 7. 1. Cor. 3. Iohn 3. Titus 3. Psalm 51. Ephe. 2. Roma 7. Gene. 2. Iob. 4.5 Iohn 5. Roma 5. Roma 6 3. Reg. 19. Roma 11. Iohn 10. Roma 8. 1. Timo. 2. Rama 9. 1. Timo. 2. Math. 25. Ephe. 1. 2. Timot. 1. Titus 1.3 Roma 8. Galath 4. Esay 49. Psal. 113. Math. 7. Iob. 1.2.21 Psal. 94.73 Math. 8 1â— Iere. 31. Ephe. 1.2.3 1. Peter 1. Gene 1.22 Galath 3. Deut. 18. Esay 40. Gen. 17.21 2. Reg. 7. Psal. 132. Luke 1. Gala 4. Exod. 19. Leuit. 18. Ezech. 20. Roma 10. Galath 3. Baru 4. Exo. 20.21 22.23 Ezech. 20. 1. Timo. 1 Rom. 3.5.7 1. Cor. 15. Galath 3. Gene 3.17 Deut. 18. Actes 3. Galath 3. Rom. 3.5.7 Galath 3. Iohn 5. Leuit. 26. Deu. 27.28 Gala 3. 2. Cor. 3. Gene. â— Math. 27. Luke 22. Iohn 18. Galath 3. Psalm 19. Roma 7. 1. Timo. 1. Hebre. 7. Rom. 1.7.8 Actes 15. Rom. 10. Galath 3. 1. Cor. 1. Math. 5. Roma 8. Psa 18.32 130 143. Exod. 34. Dâ—niel 9. Actes 15. Rom. 8.11 Galath 3. Rom. 10. Phil. 3. Hebre. â— Esay 7.9 Math. 1. Iohn 1.3 Psal. 2.110 Roma 1.9 Heb. 1.2.3 1. Iohn 4.5 Hebre. 2.4 Roma 8. Galath 4. Phil. 2. Esay 7. Math. 1. Luke 1. Galath 4. Gene. 3.22 2. Reg. 7. Psalm 132 Math. 1. Luke 1 Iob. 14. Psalm 51. Math. 1. Luke 2. Esay 7.9 Ezech. 44. Iohn 3. Ephe. 2. Gene. 1.2.3 Math. 9. 1. Tim. 1. Esay 9. Iohn 3. Roma 8. Phil. 2. 2. Cor. 8. Gala. 4. Rome 8. Iohn 1. Ephe. 5. Iere. 18. Luke 15. Roma 5. Roma 8. Colos 2. Ephe. 2. Titus 3. Esay 26 Math. 2 Marke 3. Luke 8. Iohn 1. 1. Cor. 4. Galath 4. Roma 10. Math. 10. S. August Psalm 27. Math. 12. Iohn 20. Psal. 110. Esay 61. Mat. 1.16 Luke 2. Ioh. 1.4.6 Heb. 7.9 Deut. 18. Actes 3. 1. Reg. 10.16 3. Reg. 1.19 Leuit. 8. Psal. 45. Esai 61. Luke 4. Psal. 133. Iohn 1. Ephe. 4. Actes 11. Heb. 7.9.10 Leuit. 1.2.4.7.8 Heb. 10. 1. Iohn 2. Dani. 7. Iohn 19. Luke 17. Rom. 8. 1. Cor. 4. 2. Cor. 10. Mat. 5.6.7.24.27 Luke 21.23 Ioh. 17.19 Rom. 8. Heb. 9. Act. 7. Gen. 13. Psal. 110. Heb. 7. Math. 4.9 Luke 4. Ephe. 2. Iohn 5.6.7.8.9.10.11 12. Math. 26. Mark. 14. Luke 22. Iohn 18. Act. 2.4 Mat. 27. Mark. 15. Luke 23. Iohn 19. Esai 53. Sapi. 2. Gala. 3. Philip. 2. Luke 23. Iohn 19. Psal. 16.18 Actes 2. Esai 53. 2. Cor. 5. Gala. 3. 1. Pet. 2. Psal. 22. Math. 2. Mark. 15. 1. Pet. 3.4 Esai 53. Iohn 8.14 1. Pet. 2. 1. Iohn 3. Esai 53. Iohn 3. Rom. 5.6 2. Cor. 5. Gala. 3. Colos 1. 1. Iohn 2. Gene. 2. Leuit. 26. Deut. 28. Eze. 18.33 Rom. 5.6 Ephe. 2. Colos 2. 1. Thes 5. Hebr. 9.10 1.
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