The humble and vnfained confessio[n] of the belefe of certain poore banished men grounded vpon the holy scriptures of God, and vpo[n] the articles of that vndefiled and onlye vndoubted true Christian faith, which the holy Catholicke (that is to say vniuersal) Churche of Christ professeth. Specially concerning, not only the worde of God, and the ministerye of the same: but also the church and sacramentes therof. Which we send moost humbly vnto the Lordes of Engla[n]d, and al the commons of the same. ... Lorde increase our faith. — Humble and unfained confession of the belefe of certain poore banished men.

The humble and vnfained confessio[n] of the belefe of certain poore banished men grounded vpon the holy scriptures of God, and vpo[n] the articles of that vndefiled and onlye vndoubted true Christian faith, which the holy Catholicke (that is to say vniuersal) Churche of Christ professeth. Specially concerning, not only the worde of God, and the ministerye of the same: but also the church and sacramentes therof. Which we send moost humbly vnto the Lordes of Engla[n]d, and al the commons of the same. ... Lorde increase our faith. — Humble and unfained confession of the belefe of certain poore banished men.

The humble and vnfained confessio[n] of the belefe of certain poore banished men grounded vpon the holy scriptures of God, and vpo[n] the articles of that vndefiled and onlye vndoubted true Christian faith, which the holy Catholicke (that is to say vniuersal) Churche of Christ professeth. Specially concerning, not only the worde of God, and the ministerye of the same: but also the church and sacramentes therof. Which we send moost humbly vnto the Lordes of Engla[n]d, and al the commons of the same. ... Lorde increase our faith. — Humble and unfained confession of the belefe of certain poore banished men.

Table of contents

Title page

❧ Grace and peace in our sauior Iesus Christe be with you euer, strengthen and preserue you in the stedfastnes of Christes worde, and bringe to luckie and blessed ende that gracious worke yt he hath begunne in you.

§

❧To all suche as loue to feare God, to serue and worshippe him in spirit and truth, and to lyue in charitie and vertue amōg their neighbours within the Realme of England, Grace mercye and peace be multipled with you, from God the father through Iesus Christ his only sōne, our Lord and only Sauiour.

Of the Churche,

Of the ministery of the word of God.

Of the Sacramentes.

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❧THE HVMBLE and vnfained confessiō of the belefe of certain poore banished men, grounded vpon the holy Scriptures of God, and vpō the Articles of that vndefiled and onlye vndoubted true Christian faith, which the holy Catholicke (that is to say vniuersal) Churche of Christ professeth.

¶Specially concerning, not only the worde of God, and the ministerye of the same: but also the Church and Sacramentes thereof.

Which we send moost humbly vnto the Lordes of Englād, and al the commons of the same.

Rom. x.

¶To beleue wyth the hart, iustifieth: and to cōfesse with the mouth, saueth.

Lorde increase our faith.

❧ Grace and peace in our sauior Iesus Christe be with you euer, strengthen and preserue you in the stedfastnes of Christes worde, and bringe to luckie and blessed ende that gracious worke yt he hath begunne in you.

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I Must needes with Saint Paule knowledge my selfe debter to all yt cal vpon the name of our Lorde Iesus Christ,Roma. i. but to non more thē to you most dearly beloued both because of such louynge frendship as I haue found in you, and most of al for the Christian loue, that some time beyng your Curate I founde amonge you, & that I trust continueth among you stil, not onely toward me, but to al that love the Lorde Iesus Christe, wherfore now consideryng the tyme of trial to be come,Mat. xxiiii i. Pet. iiii. ii. Tim. iii. i. Iohn. ii.iii.iiii. that both our Sau [...]or Christ, and al his holy Apostles warned vs of, I haue thought it my part wt this Epistle to cōsort you, not mistrusting, but you al are strengthened and comforted dayly with the cō fort that is of God: and do nowe earnestlye [Page] accompt with your selues the price of the buylding of your tower,Luke. xiiii. least if the foundation and beginning be layde and the worcke not finished, your enemies beginne to laugh you to skorne, and to sai: these men began to builde, but thei were not able to finishe. I trust you are not builte vpon the slippery sandes or grauels,Mat. vii. where euerye waue that beateth shall shake the foundation, and cause it to fal, but you are built vpon a sure groūd, depe digged,i. Cor. ii. and your foūdation layde vppon the foūdation of the Apostles, & Prophetes,Ephe. ii. vpon the corner stone Iesus Christ, in whom euery buildinge knitt and coupled together, groweth vnto an holye Temple for the Lorde,

For al though the builders refuse and cast away as a thyng of nought,Psa. cxvii. this stone Christ, whiche at this daye thei do,Mark. xii puttinge out of the Temples Gods holi word in the mother toūg,i. Pete. ii. to set vp a Latine vnknowne tounge, and in it to maintaine their olde Romyshe beggery, Yet shal that stone be the principal corner stone, to you that [Page] beleue elect, and precious. And whosoeuer beleueth in him, shall not be ashamed. And doubtlesse the vnbeleuers and vnfaithful must nedes fal & stomble vpon this stoone,Esa. xxviii. be broused and vtterlye destroyed at the laste, although for a time the Lorde vseth thē as the rodde of his furye,Esay. x. to chasten our wāton and tomuch worldly vain liuing, which in a manner had forgotten God, and mere to muche cooled from that ardent loue that Christ willed to be among his. Wherfore oure heauenly father doth mercifully call vs again to suffre afflictions with his sonne Christ, and so to tri and examin our fayth, that it beynge foūde more precious thē gold or siluer, myght be to the praise and honour of his name

Let vs therfore take this correction with al mekenes of heart and submission vnder the hand of God,i. Pet. v. that he may exalte vs when it shalbe his godly pleasure. We cal him our father, & our sauior Christ hath warranted vs so to do,Math. vi. Luke. xi. wherfore let vs knowe hym to be in deede a father, not onelye in [Page] king Edwardes daies, when we had al welth & quiet with his holye word: but also now in these perillous daies, when the angels of the depe, holde & stoppe the windes of Christes Gospel,Apoc. vii. that they should not blowe vpon the earth to make it fruitful, nor vpō the seas, to make them aboundaunte with fishe for the Apostles to catche, nor vpō the trees, to make thē bryng furth their fruites in due season. I sa [...] euen now the Lord is our father, and y• he correcteth vs, it is of very loue, and not of crueltie, of mercie and pytie,i. Cor. xi. and not of seuere iudgement. We are corrected saith Saint Paul of the Lord, that we should not be damned, with the world. Wherefore as obedient children, we must submit our selues, and sai with Dauid. O Lord thou art righteous,Psa. cxviii and righteous are thy iudgementes. It is good to me that thou hast hūbled me, yt I may learne thy iudgementes. The lawe of thy mouth is more dearer to me, thē thou sandes of gold and siluer. I trust dear brethren, that you al do nowe studie [Page] how to stand stedfast in Gods word vnto the ende, that you may optaine the promisse as the Lord sayth. Thus sayth the first and the last,Apo. ii. which was dead and liueth, I knowe thy works and tribulation, & pouertie, but thou art rich, and I knowe the blasphemy of those, that cal them selues Iewes, and are none: but are the sinagoge of Sathanas. The Lord calleth thē rich,Math. v. i. Tim. vi. that habounde in the ritche spirit of God, & in al good workes, that gods spirite moued theim vnto, as stedfast fayth, sure hope, ardent loue and charitie, diligent, often, and feruent praier, tamyng of the flesh with his lustes and appetites, which you may reade Galath. v. liberal almes to the poore and nedie, especial to the houshoulde of faith, and al other good dedes commaunded of God. But the other although thei bost neuer so much yt thei ar Iewes, yt is, confessors of the Lordes name, men of the church spiritualtie, yea Gospellers if thei wil to, yet the Lorde calleth theim blasphemers and of the sinagoge of Sathan.

[Page]Be not a bashed therefore wyth names, titles, or dignities, as Lorde, Duke. &c. or byshop, doctor. &c. for e [...] cept he bring the worde of God, and Christes Communiō with the maintenaunce of it, doubte not but by the fruites knowe him, and geue him his name that ye Lorde geueth him. A blasphemer, of the Sinagoge of Sathanas. And though persecutiō com vpō the, yet remēber what he saith that is first, & last, whē no tiraūt shal remain. Be not afraied of none of those thinges that thou shalt suffre. Behold the deuil wil cast some of you into prison that you mai be proued. You se dearly beloued,Iob. i.ii. that it is the deuil that raiseth vp these stormes against vs, but doubtles at Gods permission and sufferaunce,Math. vii yt we may be proued, whether we be Christians in dede as we confesse in word. Manye of vs thinketh our selues strong, but tempcation declareth,Mat. xxvi that we are but weake, Euen as Peter saide. Lorde I wil go with the into prison and death. But the knower & searcher of hertes sayd: [Page] Truly or the cocke crowe, thou shalt deny me. And so it came to passe. Neuertheles, after he wa [...]ed strong and ouer came that infirmitie and knewe, yt to fal we haue of our selues, to stād we haue onely of God. So is tribulation profitable to the strōg and mightie, for it bringeth them to the crown of glory, it profiteth the weake, for it, openeth their minde and maketh thē to seke to the Phisition and curer of our soules,Psalm. v [...] and to cry with Dauid. O Lord heale my soule, for I haue sinned against the. Let vs therfore labour to ouercome our weakenes, & to accomplishe that the Lorde commaundeth.i. Cor. iiii Be faithful vnto the death, and I wil geue the a crowne of life. You se the Lorde requireth faithfulnesse both in the stewardes that preach his worde and in the seru [...]intes that heare it. Death is the ende of al fleshe, as well of Kinges, and Quenes,Esay. xl. Dukes and bishops, as of poore men. For al flesh is grasse, and al the glory of fleshe as the flower of grasse. Whē the winde of the Lorde goeth ouer it, it falleth & [Page] fadeth: but the Lordes word abydeth for euer, and those that doth the wyll of the Lorde, abide also for euer. Happye are those to whom the Lorde geueth that crowne of lyfe, and to loose it, is a greater losse, then either Emperour, King, or Quene, or an Angel from heauen can either restore or recompence. Stand therfore faithfullye to gods word, beleue his promis. He that hath eares to heare, let him hear what the holy Gost saith to the churches. He that ouercōmeth shal not be hurt by the seconde death. The fyrste death is of the body as the Lord sayd to sinful Adam.Genes. iii. Earthe thou art, and into earth thou shalt returne agayne, But the secōd death, is it that Christ admonished vs to flie, saying: I sai to you my frendes,Luke. xii. be not afraid of thē, which withe body, and after that thei haue nothing more that they can do. I wil shew you whom you ought to feare: Feare hym, that after he hathe slaine the body, hath power to cast into hel fyre. Trulye I say to you feare him. Let not the feare of man so ouercome [Page] v [...], but that the fear of god may alway be ruler in our hartes, so shall we attaine the croune of life prepared for those that loue the Lorde and hys word vnfeinedly.

I haue not written this, as to those that are ignoraunt of theyr dutye, or vnable to strēgthen both them selues and others, but as to my moste deare brethren in the Lord, trusting y• Gods spirit that is among you, doth dayly moue your harts now, to the highest perfeccion of godlines, euen to denie your liues for Christes sake, & to take vp your crosse, and to folow him.Mat. xvi. Yf any haue in times past bene negligēt in the wai of godlynes: I prai, besech and exhort the same in the Lord Iesu,Esay. lix. to turn vnto the Lord with his whole hart,Iosu. vii. and not by his euyl and wicked liuing prouoke the Lordes wrath any longer, nor to bring plages vpon the whole congregacion for his wickednes. Brethren,ii. Esdr. Thre. i. fal to praier dayly euery man for him selfe and for his Christian brethren. Fal to weeping wyth Nehemias & Ieremye, to see the wall [Page] of Ierusalem broken, the city destroied with sweard and fire, and the temple burned.Math. ix. Fal to fasting, for now ye daies are come that our swete & deare Bridegrome Christ is taken from vs. I certeinli beleue that our to to much negligence in praier, and our sloutheful and seldome cōmyng to the holye Supper of the Lorde,Ioel. ii. are twoo of the great causes, why the Lord hath thus plaged vs. Let vs therfore earnestlye turne vnto the Lord, that he mai turn to vs,Mat. vii. cal, that he may hear, aske, that he may giue, seke, that we may finde, knocke,Luke. xi. that the Lord may open vnto vs. If euer we shewed our selues true Christiās,Ephes. iiii let vs now shew it, in godlines of conuersacion, and lyuinge, in quietnes,Col. iii.iiii in patiēt suffering, in meeke bearing of wronges, & doing of none to other, in forgeueing our enemyes, and praying for them, in feedyng the poore and needy Saintes of God, in pitying al men, and in praying for all men. And dearelye beloued praye for vs, that God of his mercy strengthen and cōforte vs in these troubles, that [Page] he nowe layeth vpon vs, and that the Lorde leaue vs not to our selu [...]s, but [...]uer hold his handouer vs, and kepe vs vnto the ende. For truly I know without his grace and mercyful help, no man is able to withs [...]and Sathās vyolence, therefore for Christes loue pray for vs, as we shal not faile dayly to do for you.

Here haue I (gētle Reader) setforth the Confession and Faith of certaine learned men, that as they haue writtē it in theyr exile for thy cōfort: so maiest thou giue god the praise, and helpe to stop the mouthes of suche blasphemers, as haue nothing in theyr mouthes, but Heretickes Heretickes. But I dout not, that when thou hast read it with iudgement, and cōferd it with theyr doctrine, that they now preach to thee: thou shalt se which sort ar the Heretickes. Thou mayest see that all theyr struglynge is to brynge thee to theyr stynckyng Romyshe puddels agayne. Thus I commende you all dearelye beloued in the tender mercies of Iesu Christ, vnto the tuitiō of [Page] the liuing god, which is the father of our Lord Iesus Christ, beseching him to send his holy Gost among you, & to bestow his ritch grace and blessing vpon you, that you al may be cōstant and perfect in Gods wayes, and vnmoueable in Christes faith, constantlye per [...]euering vnto the end. Amen. Grace be with you & peace frō God our Father, and from our Lord Iesus Christe, who tread down Sathan vnder our fete shortly. Amen.

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❧To all suche as loue to feare God, to serue and worshippe him in spirit and truth, and to lyue in charitie and vertue amōg their neighbours within the Realme of England, Grace mercye and peace be multipled with you, from God the father through Iesus Christ his only sōne, our Lord and only Sauiour.

BEcause we are assured, that the Deuil, not onely as an anucient murtherer, proceadeth stil in cruel tirannye and extremities, but also as the olde liar from the beginning and father of falsholde in misreporting, slaundring and beliynge the moost sacred veritie of Goddes holy worde, and vs poore men, that haue bene minis [...]ers of the same (specially now that we are absent, and gone far from our natiue coūtry of England) Therfor, partly to certifie such of you as knowe vs, that we shute styl at the olde marke of Gods worde, neither recanting nor reuokyng that whiche [Page] we haue learned in the [...]chole of Go [...] and taught amongst you: and partly, to signifi to as many of you as know vs not (and yet do hear howe our aduersaries raile vpon vs behynde oure backes callyng vs Heretyckes, S [...]smatickes. &c.) that we are not as they reporte, but better framed bothe in thought, word, and deede: we trust to the glory of God, and your edifying. For these and such cōsideracions, we haue therfore set forth this humble & vnfained confession of our belefe, that is to say: how we in conscience ar perswaded by the infallible testimony of the scriptures, concerning the word of God written, and the ministery of the same: his Church also, and sacramēts therof. For as these are the principall pointes of the fayth and true Religiō, which is builded only vpon Christ: so if our mindes by the witnes of the holy Gost in his word, be fully resolued herein, then by the grace of the same most holy spirite, neyther our vnderstandynge, nor good wylles, neyther yet oure bodyes shall be stopte nor [Page] hindred from praier [...]r fastynge, frō pacience or obedyence, from peace or Christian quietnes, from doynge our duties to God and man, or from e [...]ercisyng of those good works, that are comprehended in his holy preceptes, and cōmaundementes. And thus most hertely prayng you to kepe you stil in the Arke with Noah & his housholde. We assure you in the word of the Lorde, that so dooinge: the fludde shal not drowne you, nether shal the wrath to come, ouer take you. Amen

FIrst, because we mind not to build vppon a weke foundation, we are stedfastly perswaded, and do reuerētly beleue, al the Articles of the christē fayth, comprehended in thre Eredes, commonly called Simbolum Apos [...]olicum, Simbolum Nicenum, and simbolum Athanasii.

Item. We do stedfastli beleue, end reuerence, euen from the botome of our hartes, al the holy Scriptures of Gods b [...]oke, which is the sacred [...]yble, con [...]teinyng the Olde and Newe-testament: [Page] being fullye perswaded [...] our conscience, accordyng to the testimony of the holy gost, that the same holy Scripture, is able to make men learned vnto saluation, throughe the faith which is in Christ Iesu: And that like as the sayd holy Scripture was geuen by inspiration of God (whose gracious & blessed spirit was the worker therof) and is profitable to teach, to improue, [...]i. Tim. iii to refourme, and to instruct in righteousnes: that the man of God may be perfect and prepared vnto al good works, euen so is it the [...]ure word of prophecie, & very lighte that shineth in a darke place:ii. Pet. i. so that who so taketh hede therūto, doth wel vntil the day dawne, and til the daye starre arise in his heart.

Item. We beleue, that whosoeuer transgresseth (or ouer passeth) and abideth not in the Doctrine of Christ, [...]. Iohn. i hath not God: so that if any mā com vnto vs▪ and bring not this learny [...] of Gods holy word, we ought not to receiue him into our house, nether to welcome him: but rather to beware [Page] of such false prophetes as beynge inwardlye rauenynge wolffes,Math. vii woulde spoile vs through philosophy and de [...]eifull vanitie, after the tradicions of men, and after the ordinaunces of the world, and not a [...]ter Christ.Col [...]o. ii.

Item. Our stedfast beliefe is, that like as if an Angel from heauē, or the Apostles them selues, should preache vnto vs any other Gospel or doctrin concerning Religion contrary to that thei haue taught alredy,Gala. i. we ought to holde them accursed: Euen so we are bound to beware, least any man with vayn traditions or coloured holines, cause vs to shote at a wronge marke,Collo. ii. or leade vs out of the ryght way.

Item. We beleue verely, that whosoeuer doth wilfully follow (or teach) such doctrin as is contrary to the holy scriptures of God.i. Tim. vi. The same (for yt he agreeth not vnto the holsome wordes of oure sauior Iesus Christ) is a proud ignoraunt person, and a verye wast brain: And that vnto those which wil not receiue the loue of the said deuine truth and holye scriptures to [Page] their saluation▪ Almyghtie God doth most iustli send strōg delusiō,ii. Tess. ii. suffring thē to beleue lies: to ye damnatiō of al such as disdainīg to geue credēce vnto ye truth, haue plesure in vnrightousnes

Item. Our beleif is, that for al our liplabour and outwarde apperaunce or shewe of Religion▪ Yet so longe as we [...]epe vs not to the rule of the holy scripture, but wilfully folowe the corrupt tradicions, doctrines, preceptes and lawes of men, we worship Go [...] in vain,Esay. xxix Math. xv Mar. vii. and serue him not in such vpryght sort, as we ought to do.

Item. Our conscience is fully perswaded, that because men are so stubbourne and disobedient, so hard herted & froward, that thei thinke scorne to herkē vnto the voyce of God, and wilfully refuse to be ordred by the teaching of his holye worde and scriptures. God therfore geuing them vp to their owne heartes lust,Psa. lxxxi and sufferyng them to folowe their owne imaginations: doth most iustly take part against them, powrynge vpon theim such great and horrible pla [...]es, as the [Page] prophet Moses speaketh of.

Item. Our stedfast beleife is, that whatsoeuer the almightie and euerliuyng God commaūdeth vs by his word (which he hath appointed to be the Lanterne vnto our feete,Psal. cxix. & lyghte vnto our pathes) like as we ought to haue the same in such reuerence Iosu. xxiii Deut. xi. that we bowe not aside therfrom, neither to the ryght hand nor to the left, and that we do not suche thinges as seme good in our own eies, but Deut. iiii.xii. only that which is right in the sight of the Lord Pro. xxx. adding nothinge vnto his wordes, least he reproue and plage vs, & least we be found liars: Euen so,Apo. xxii. we should not take away or minish ought from his words The Byshops of England in theyr booke to king Henrye▪ ye .viii. circa An. M.D.XXXviii▪ least he take awaye from vs our porcion, out of the boke of life

Item. Like as our beleife is, that ye sayd holy word and scripture of God alone, sheweth mē ye right path to cōe to god, to se him, to know him to loue hym, to serue hym, & so to serue hym as he most desireth: so ar we fulli perswaded, according to s. Austines coū sail yt it is our boūden dutie, aswel to [Page] yelde and consent to the authoritie of holy scripture, which neither can disceiue, nor be desceiued. As also in the vnderstanding therof,De doct. Christia. lib. iii. ca. diligētly to obserue the circumstaūces of the places times and persons▪ and to take good hede, not oneli what, but also of whō any thing therin contained,In lib. ad Orosin. cōtra Priscilliam et Origenis. is spokē.

And here with this humble confesion of our fayth in Christ, we do euē from the botome o [...] our hartes, right sore, lament and bewaile, the present miserable decay of Christes true Religion, the manyfold inconueniences the great harme and horrible abuses, that are entred in among the generations of men of al sortes and degrees through addyng vnto the sayd holye Scripture, throughe minishing of it, and for not duely consideryng the circumstances therof: That is to say, for not regarding, for not obeiyng, and for not folowyng the infallible truth of the same moost reuerende word of God: The curssed and vnhappy contempt wherof vndoubtedli hath brought into this worlde, al wickednes, [Page] aswel of false doctrine, as of vngodly and sinful liuyng: To the subuerting of al good ordre, not oneli in matters of Religion, but also in thynges concernyng our duties one towardes another. Wherfore, beynge fullye perswaded, that the eternal God hath appoynted the ministery of his worde, to be continued in his churche or congregation,Rom. xii. and hath geuen giftes vnto mē to edifie it withal:i. Cor. xii▪ aswel bi teachyng of true doctrine and improuīg of false: aswel bi planting of godlines and al vertues,ii. Tim. iii▪ as by instructyng of the ignoraunt, rebukyng of the [...]uyll and refourmynge of thinges that be a misse. We mynde therfore nowe to confesse, what oure beliefe is consernyng the Church of Christ.

Of the Churche,

THough this word (church) betakē in diuers significatiōs: as for a perticuler congregation, somtime of the good, somtime of the wicked, sometime for an assemble of both good and euyll together, [Page] And other wise vsurped, partly for an house of commen resorte, and partly, for the only state of the Cicargie: ye [...] are we fullye perswaded, and do stedfastly beleue, that there is butEz. xxxvii Cant. vi. Iohn. x. oneonly Act. ii.iiii. Eph. iiii. Apostolicke and holy Catholicke or vniuersal Church and congregation of God Ez. xxxvii Ioh. xiiii.xvi. i. Iohn. ii Eph. iiii. which being moued, [...]aught and gathered together frō among al nations of the whole world, by the operation of the holy ghost, into the vnitie and truth of the faith and vndefiled Religion of the Apostles. Is not onely sanctified i. Ihon. i. Heb. ix. Ephes. v. clensed, and purified in the bloud of our sauior Christ, but specialli also endued with vnfained i. Pet. i. holines of life. This Church hath the Lord Iesus builded vpon the sure stedfast and hard stony Mat. xvi. i. Cor. xiii rocke: that is to say, vpon him self, against whom the gates of hel cannot preuayle,. Nether hath this Church any other founda [...]ion, thē that which Es. xxviii. (as the prophet sayth) Almyghti God the father hath [...]ayde alredy: which i. Pet. ii the Apostle declareth to be euen Iesus Christ. This Churche is the house, the dwellynge [Page] place, and congregation of the liuing God,i. Tim. iii. the piller and ground (that is to say, the mayntainer and defendor, the [...]ure staye and vpholder) of the truth.

This Church is the mistical bodye and beloued Spouse of Christe,Ephe. i. Collos. i. Psal. xlv. Eph. v. Titus. iii. who is the head and Sauiour therof, who also for the entire loue that he beareth therunto, not only gaue him selfe for it, to sanctifie it, & clensed it in the foū taine of water, thorow the woorde (to make it vnto him selfe a glorious cō gregacion or church without spot or wrinkle, or any such thing,Ephe. iiii yt it should be holy and without blame) But also after his ascencion, when he led captiuitie captiue, prouided ritchlye for it, aswel with a most bewtiful diuersitye of offices and ministrations:Roma. xii i. Cor. xii. as wyth his owne worthy giftes, meete & conuenient for the same, in a moste eccellent order, vnitie, & agreement▪ to the intent that his said church louinglye [...]olowing his truth, and in al thynges growyng in hym, as an whole bodye coupled and knyt together in euerye ioynt (w [...]erwyth one member ministreth [Page] vnto a nother, according to the measure of his gift) may helpe & edify it selfe,Ephe. iiii cōstantly to increase in al godlynes, and not to wauer therfrō, neyther to be caried with euery winde of doctrine by the wilynes & subtelty of men.Hebr. xiii. Of this Church are they whom the Apostle calleth Citizens wyth the Saints,Ephe. ii. and of the houshold of God: Which being built together vpon the same foundation, that the Prophetes and Apostles were builded vpon, are made an habitaciō of God in the spirite. This Church and Congregaciō, is the Cōmunion of Saintes,Heb. xii. the heauenly felowship, and blessed compani of al Gods elect and chosen children, that euer were from the beginning of the world, be now, or shalbe hereafter: euen a [...]l true worshyppers that serue him in the spirit,Iohn. iiii. and in the veritye, in such holynes & righteousnes as is alowed in his [...]ight:Luke. i. they that vnfainedly feare yt Lord, that walke not on styl in the counsaile of the vngodlye, that stand not in the way of wycked synners,Psa. i.iii. and that remain not among the [Page] spiteful scorners, but euer delite in the law of the Lorde, & alway study to obserue and kepe his cōmaundements, his rules, his ordinaunces, hys actes and statutes. Of this Churche are the poore in spirite, the true penitent, the meeke harted, the mercifull, the pure and cleane minded, the peacemakers.Math. v. Here are they, that being hongry and thyrsti for righteousnes, do suffer persecution for the same, and be reuyled, troubled, and falsly belied of men for the Lordes sake. Of this Churche are they, whom the Lord calleth the salte, and seasoners of the earth, the light of the world: which so shine before men, that they seing theyr good woorkes & godly liuing, do glorify & praise theyr father, whyche is in heauen. Of thys Church are thei, that both obserue the cōmaundements of Christ thē selues, and teache others also to do the lyke, who vnderstanding the law spiritually (accordyng to the Lordes interpretacion) declare them selues to be the perfect childrē of God, in louing their enemies, blessing those that cursse thē ▪ [Page] doing good to such as hate thē, praying for those that do them wrong and persecute them. Of thys Churche are they, yt when they do almes, let not ye left hand know what the right hande doth, seke no vaine glory, or to be sene of men:Math. vi And when they pray, they enter into the priuye chamber of theyr conscience, shutting the dore to them, and praying to theyr heauenly father which is in secret. And thoughe they babble not much in theyr prayers (as the Hethen doo) and are assured that theyr heauenly Father dothe knowe what thinges thei haue nede of, afore they aske of him: Yet being taught of the Lord, how, vnto whom, and what to pray, they most obediently folowe his order: forgiuing others theyr offē ces, as they them selues haue forgiuenes, and desyre styll to be forgeuen of God. These when they fast, do it not to be sene of men, but of theyr father, which seeth in secret. Of thys Church are they, that gather them selues treasure together, not vpon earthe, but in heauen, wher neither rust nor mothes [Page] corrupt, & wher theues nether breake vp nor steale. These dependyng vpon the only prouidence of God, though they▪ abhorring idelnes, do faithfully labour and trauaile euery one in their vocation? the hādes working, the eies looking, the mouth speaking, the fote going. &c. yet take they no vnlawfull care or thought for this life: but fyrste seke the kingdom of God, & the righteousnes therof, and so enioye at his hand, the rich prouision of al necessary thinges with a good conscience.

Of this Church are thei,Mat. vii. that geue not that which is holy, vnto dogges, nether cast their pearles before swyne These aske and haue: Seke, and fynde knocke, and the dore is opened vnto them. These doynge vnto others, as thei would be done vnto them selues, entre in at the streight gate, and bi the narrow way, which ledeth vnto lyfe. Of this Churche are the good trees▪ that oute of the good treasure of the heart, bring furth good fruitfull thinges. As thei that beynge ware of false prophetes, and herkening onely vnto [Page] Christes wordes, do also practise the same in their life and cōuersaciō: plaiing the partes of wisemen, whiche against stormes for to come, build their house vpon the rocke and sure foundation. Of this blessed felowship are thei, that endurynge stedfast vnto the ende, and fearyng God more thē mē, take vp theyr crosse and follow Christ beyng wel content to ieopard all that thei haue,Math. x. & their life also for his sake. These in al their aduersitie, resorte vnto the Lorde, takyng his yoke vppon them, and lernyng of him to be meke and lowly in heart,Math. xi. fynd ease and rest vnto their soules. Of thys holy congregation and Churche are thei, vnto whom it is geuen to knowe the misteries of the kyngdom of heauē:Mat. xiii. whose eyes are blessed, for they se: and lykewyse their cares, for thei beynge children of Gods kyngdome, & the good seede sowne in the fortunate grounde do not onely heare the word of God, but also vnderstand it,Luke. xi. and bring furth plentiful fruit, some more some lesse, accordyng to the measure of such giftes, [Page] as he hath geuen them. These are the Lordes owne shepe, whych knowing Hom their shepherd, & his voice, folowe not a straunger, but flye from him, for thei knowe not the voice of strangers.Iohn. [...]. It is the Lordes only voice that thei herken vnto, and hym they followe, who knoweth them, and geueth them eternal life: so tha they shal neuer perish, neither shal any manne plucke them out of his hand. The father of heauen, who hath geuen this holye flocke and Congregation vnto Christ his sone, is greater then al, and no man is able to plucke them out of his heauenly fathers hande. Nowe is God the father and Christ his sonne all one, to the endles comforte of this his vniuersal Church.Psa. xxxii. This flocke of Christ, this holy congregation, is that blessed Church,Rom. iiii. whose vnrightousnes is forgeuen, and whose sinnes are couered, and not imputed: Yea in this Church hath the Lord himself ordayned & appointed the heauēly ministracion of continuall remission and forgeuenes of sinnes, to al such as vnfainedly [Page] repente of their former wicked lyfe, and truelye conuerte vnto hym▪ For vnto this Church hath he geuen the keyes of heauen,Mat. xviii. that whatsoeuer thei bynde vpon earth, shalbe bounde in heauen: and whatsoeuer they lose in earth, shalbe losed in heauen: Vnto this Church hath he geuen his holye gost▪ so that whose synnes soeuer they forgeue,Iohn. xx. the same are forgeuen: And whose sinnes so euer thei retayne, the same are retained.

Act. i.ii.iiii i. Cori. xi.x.iii. Titus. ii.In this church is the pure word of God, and al the worthye exercises of his true Religion, the holy Sacramē tes, praiers, thankesgeuynge ecclesiasticall discipline, &c. duelye and faythfully ministred. And thoughe the particuler members of this church maye erre, as many (both perticuler persons & also perticuler churches) haue erred, and som do at this day, while thei are compaced with fleshe and bloud:Iohn. x. Math. xvi. Yet shall not one shepe perishe, that is of this holy vniuersall flocke, neither the fayth or foundation of this Catholike Churche fayle. This holy vniuersall [Page] church, as the sōne in brightnes, hath beames of light, whereof it commeth to passe, that there be also particuler Churches or congregations.Mat. xvii [...] ▪ Where thoughe there be but two or thre gathered together in ye name of Christe, He is in the myddes amonge theim. For thoughe we confesse and knowledge, that the holy Catholike or vniuersal churche of Christ, is inuisible, & suche as our Crede teacheth vs to beleue (yt such a church there is) Though no mortal man can se the regeneratiō of the spirit, and the fayth of Christ in it selfe. Yet a good tre mai be knowne by his fruts.Mat. vii. Like as the beames then that procede of the Sūne, are testimonies and partakers of the lyght therof: Euen so, what church or congregation soeuer professeth the name & Religiō of Christ, hauyng and exercising the pure and sincere doctrine of hys Gospel, of his Sacraments, and of al his dissipline, accordyng to his holye institutiō, ye same do we take vndoutedly for Christs church.Mat. xii.vii. For bi mās wordes and dedes we mai discerne to [Page] alowe or disalowe theim. True Prophetes also from false, may we know by their fruites. iii. Re. viii. The heart, God only seeth, and iudgeth.

Notwithstandyng, to build vpon, we are throwli perswaded, that as the sayd blessed vniuersal Church, and cō gregation of Christ, is the pillor and ground of the truth (for greate is the misterye of godlines that it teacheth) Euen so,i. Tim. iii. in such wonderful deuersitie of doctrines, sectes and sondry religions of the worlde, we should neither haue com to the true knowledge and beliefe of the Gospel, neither shoulde we be satisfied in our selues or surelye fixed to continewe and abyde still in in ye sayth therof (as we be God haue the praise) against al herisies and false opinions. If the authoritie of the said holy vniuersal and catholike churche of Christ, had not wholly & fully moued, stirred & prouoked, admonished and taught vs so to do.Cōtra epistolam fundamenti. cap. v. But whan we considered (with S. Augustine) the estimation and dignitie, the worthines and authoritie of the sayde, vnyuersal [Page] church, and howe vniformally the mē bers of that mistical body accordeth, and consenteth together, in the vnitie of the holy gost, and in the ministracion of heauenly thinges, our conscience with al thanful obedience, & with obedient thākfulnes, doth most cherfully and gladli agree: aswel to learne what the said church teacheth vs, and to beleue gods word that it preacheth vnto vs. As to be warned by the coū sailes that it geueth vs, and to folowe the instructions, lessons and ensāples that it sheweth vs. For sure we be (as we haue cōfessed alredy) that the foū dation of this Church is fyrme & fast. Herein hath the Lord set vp his owne lyght, that hath no darknes in it.Iohn. xii. Here is the truth that desceiueth no man, the lyfe that kylleth no man, and the kynges hye way that bringeth euery man righte to his iourneies ende. As for a perticuler mā,Psa. xxvi. Roma. iii. Iaco. iii. a perticuler church or Congregation (as we sayd before) they maye erre, thei may be disceiued in one thyng or other, at one tyme or other. The consideration wherof (as it [Page] appeareth) did moue S. Augustine, to haue most prīcipal regard to ye church vnyuersall, although the particuler churches of Aphrica in his time, were not defiled and poysoned, as they be nowe. O that mē were so circumspect this day, as to builde vppon so sure a ground. For though we maye safely geue credence to ani perticuler church whan it followeth the wholesome doctrine, wherin the holy gost by his Apostle, did stablish the Churche of the Ephesians, of the Philippians, of the Colossians, of the Tessalonians. &c. Yet if any such Church do shute at another marke, we shall but loose oure game in doyng therafter.

As (for ensample) what sound doctrine, what wholsome religion, what good and vpright discipline, is there at this present day, in any of the said particular Churches? Be they not vtterlye corrupted and poysoned with diuers kindes of horrible idolatrye, with shameful supersticious, with dā nable sectes and false religions, and with the dotyng doctrynes of men?Ephe. v. Is the Church of the Ephesians yet [Page] still light in the Lorde, and not rather barckenes in Mahomet? Hath the Church of the Philippians this present day, felowship stil in the Gospel,Philip. [...] ▪ and not rather in the fylthy doctryne of the Turke? Both the church of the Collossians continewe yet styl groū ded and stablished in the fayth of the word of God,Collo. ii. and not rather blinded in infidelitie, and in such horrible idolatry as is taughte by the false doctrines of men?i. Tessa. i. Is the churche of the Tessalonians nowe conuerted still from images to serue the liuynge God, or contente to suffre trouble and losse of their goodes for the truthes sake, and not rather turned back agayn to their idols (as the dogge to hys vomyte) and become cruel persecutors of Christes gospel? What sound doctrine thē cā be had in a church or cōgregation yt is so corrupted? Yea, is the churche of Rome it selfe nowe obedient vnto the faith of Christ (as it was in S Pauls time) and not rather to the Popes ordinaunces and decrees?Rom. xvi.

Wherfore, inconsideration of the [Page] premisses, and for auoydinge of suche stormes as must needes ouerthrowe the house that is builded vpō the sāde we are fully resolued in maner aboue written, concerning the sayd holye Apostolicke and Catholike or vniuersal church of Christ.

Of the ministery of the word of God.

VUe are fully perswaded, and do sted fastly beleue, that the same almighti, eternal, & most gracicious God,Hebru. i. who in times past, diuersly and many waies spake vnto the fathers by the Prophetes, hath in these last daies, not only spoken vnto vs by his owne deare sone, our onlye Sauiour Iesus Christ, but hathe also by him, ordained & appoynted in hys Churche, the ministerie of hys holye word:Mar. xvi. willing his Gospel to be preached vnto al creatures, to the intent yt al Nacions Madateu saie. Mat. xxviii might become his disciples, & be taught to obserue al thinges whatsoeuer he hathe commaunded. For in consideraciō of this most gracious [Page] purpose, he did not onlye geue vnto his Apostles and Disciples, the holy Ghost,Iohn. xx. and opened theyr wittes that they might vnderstand the scriptures, but also cōmitted vnto them, & to theyr succession in his Church, the office and charge of preaching repentaunce and remission of sinnes in hys name among al nacions.Luk. xxiiii. For this intent also hath it pleased him, to constitute, and ordaine diuers and sondrye Ministers:Roma. xii. some hauyng one charge, some another:i. Cor. xii. that the Saintes & holy members of his mistical body and Church, myght haue all thynges necessary to worke and minister wythall, for the edifying thereof: for the increase also and conseruatiō of his true doctrine and Religion.

This holy office,i. Cor. iiii. which the Apostle calleth ye stewardship of the misteries of God, the ministracion of the spirit,ii. Cor. iii. the ministracion of rightuousnes, the preaching of the attonement,ii. Cor. viii and the embassage of Christ (though the blind se it not, and the vnthankefull worlde regard it not) is a noble and preciousii. Cor. iiii. [Page] treasure: which the ministers haue in earthen ves [...]els,ii. Cor. iiii that the excellent power therof may appeare to be of god, and not of them: yea of suche worthynes is it, that the true ministers thereof are Messengers in the roume of Christ,ii. Cor. v. as if God himselfe did▪ beseche [...]s thorowe them, to be at one wyth him. So that who so heareth thē, heareth him:Luke. x. who so despiseth them, despiseth him, and he that receaueth whom soeuer the Lord sendeth, receaueth the Lord himself.Iohn. xiii. When we consider this (as we are bound to do) it moueth vs to haue the holy ministracion of gods blessed woorde the more in reuerence. And euen so are we occasioned to doe when we cal to remembraunce, how worthye Apostles. Euangeli [...]tes, and Disciples it pleased him.Mat. x. Luke. x. Actes. i. not onlye to appoin [...]e at the fyrst in hys primatiue Church, chiefly for the excecutinge of thys holy office, but also to descrybe by hym selfe and them, how vpryght Ministers hys wyll was to succeede them:Mat. ix.x. Act. xx. Titus. i. what good qualities and gift [...] they ought to be endued withal: ho [...] [Page] wel learned and exercised in the scriptures,i. Pet. v▪ i. Cor. iii. i. Cor. iiii. i. Tim. iii. how apt to teache other, howe true shepheardes, how painful worke men in Gods vyn [...] yarde, how dylygent labourers in hys housbandry & haruest, how faithful stewards of his misteries, how honest keepers of hospitality, how voyde of fylthynes and corrupcion, how discrite vertuous & fa [...]teles they ought to be, how sober, honest and faithful wyues, howe wel ordered housholdes, how obedient & godly brought vp children they shuld haue: how wel esteemed also and regarded, and how worthely prouided of nessary liuinges, they ought to be. Of these and such like thinges testifyed in the scriptures, we ar out of dout, concernyng the ministerye of Gods holye woorde.

Of the Sacramentes.

YF it be meete and conueniēt (as it is in dede) that the circumstā ces of the scriptures,De [...]o [...]. Christian. lib. iii. cap. xii. as S. Augustine saieth, be diligentlie obserued. Then is it lykewyse expedient [Page] & necessary, that in medlyng with Gods holy sacramentes, it be also r [...] uerently and discretly considered by whom, whā, wher, after what maner▪ for whom, and for what intent & purpose, they were ordeined. For the ignoraunce and not regardynge thereof, hathe marred al the matter, and is the verye occasion, that (as cōcerning the true vnderstāding & vse of Gods holy Sacramentes) men shute either to wide, to shorte, or to far of: so that therby they loose the game, and come not neare the marcke.

Now because we must nedes confesse, as we do reuerently wyth al our hartes, that the mistery of Gods holy Sacramentes is most comfortable, & most worthy to be tasted, felt and vnderstand in euery Christen consciēce: And forasmuch as the Diuel, with the cloud of blynd and wilful ignoraūce, hath darkned theeyes of mani a mothers child, so that they do not see nor perceiue the swetenes of this treasure what it is, wher it lyeth, nor the right vse of it. Therfore, albeit ye holy Gost [Page] him selfe hath broken the hard shel of the Nutte already, yet seing there are sondry good peeces of the swete kernel ca [...]t out, and lye, some troden vnder feete, some shuffeled amonge the shels. We mynde as sincerely & faithfullye as we can, to do our best in taking vp, and laying forth such parcels of the said most swete kernell, concerning the mis [...]ery of Gods holye Sacramentes as the Lord himselfe bi his grace, in this our humble confession, shal helpe and teach vs to vtter.

Nowe as it is most requisite, worthely to consider the sayde misterye,The misterye. whych is the Communiō and felowshyp that we haue in eternal lyfe thorow the me [...]i [...]es of Christ: Euē so we confesse, and fynde it so by ecsperiēce, that the verity and truth therof, doth much the more comfortably appeare, when Gods wonderful and most gragracious working for mankynde frō the beginnīg, is faithfully called to remembraunce.Gene. i.ii. For man in hys firste creacion, was made to the similitude and likenes of almighty God, endued [Page] with perfectnes, wisdome, rightuousnes and lyfe euerlastynge. Of the which incomparable kindnes & mercye, to the intēt he might styl be mindful, and keepe the same euer in thankful remembraūce, God prescribed vnto him a rule, law, or cōmaundemēt: whych to obey, was euen to continu in the felowshyp of the same immortal lyfe that was geuen hym: But to disobey it, in followyng his own wil, contrary to the cōmaundement,Genes. ii. was to be in seruice to euerlasting death, and to lose hys porciō in euerlastyng life. So when man was fallen from the obedience of the commaūdemēt, hys owne nakednes appeared vnto him selfe so horrible (by reason it was not couered wyth the image of lyfe) that he began to dispayre,Genes. iii. and durste not shew himselfe in the sight of god. How beit in this terrible distres, and most woful stare of man. Almightye God (who euer was and is merciful) dyd promis him againe euerlastynge lyfe, which was laied vp in his owne sonne▪ but so that (accordyng as he, euen [Page] God hymselfe by an euerlasting decree, had appointed) he wold be sati [...]yed, recompenced, and pacified againe, in the obedience of al his commaundementes, by the same nature of man:Roma. [...]. whych because of the corruption of synne, that had entred in to it by disobedience, could not fully satisfye the law, and therefore God made an euerlasting couenaunt of mercye with mankinde, & promysed the blessed seede: namely, that hys owne son should put vpon him our nature, and therwith in innocency, satisfi the law, and bryng vs agayne into the felowshyp of that euerlasting lyfe, whyche was lost thorow Adams disobediēce.

God now, to kepe his people in remembraunce of thys his great merci, requyred continual sacrifices to prouoke them vnto thankfulnes, and to geue them occasion frō tyme to time▪ to setle and reast theyr cōsciences stil, [...] hope vpon the sayde promes. And for thys cause he reneued the said couenaunt of mercy so oft and sondrye [...]imes by outward Sacramentes and [Page] ceremonies: in the which, the death of Christ was so present to the faith of ye fathers, that thei beleuing the promis made in the blessed seede, apprehēded the sayd life that was lost in Adam.

Gen. xvii. Roma. iiii.In Circumcision, whiche was not only an outward visible signe, but also a very seale of the rightuousnes of fayth, & a testimony of his grace & fauour [...]ewardes them thorow Christ, the holy Ghost certified theyr consciences of theyr porcion in the sayde euerlastynge lyfe.

Exod. xii.In the Sacramēt of the Passeouer, whē the bloud of the Lambe was striked vpon the postes of theyr doores, and the fleshe therof eaten rosted, and with such other ceremonies as therto wer appointed.Heb. xi. They geuing faith & credite to the said promis made in the blessed seede, saw the worthynes and merites of Christes bloud: by the cō fortable swetenes wherof, in the operacion of the holy Gost, they wer assured of the sayd lyfe euerlastyng.

Exod. xvi Iohn. vi.In the wildernes, Manna was geuen them from heauē, to declare that [Page] the very true nourishment and foode to life euerlasting, must come frō heauen: which mākind by stedfast beliefe thorow the merites of Christ, should taste, and be partaker of, and in al the sacrifices & slayne offeringes of ye law was the same misteri represented and set forth to the eyes of faith amonge the people of God. Thus the benefite of Gods mercy hath bene alway frō time to time, most louingli opened in hys Sacramentes and holy ordinaū ces: certifying vs (by faith thorow the death of Christ) that we haue our porcion againe in euerlasting lyfe, which was lost thorow Adams disobediēce.

Now to come somewhat nerer vnto the sacramēts of ye new law, we do hartely agree and cōsent to the iudgement of S. Augustine:Ad Ianu [...] rium. not only when he affirmeth yt our Lord Iesus Christ hath knyt together the felowshyp of his new people by Sacramēts, which are very few in nomber, very easy to be obserued, and very e [...]cellent in signification (as is baptime, & thesupper of the Lord) but also when he saieth, yt [Page] a Sacramēt is the signe (token or representacion) of an holy thing, the visible fourme of an inuisible grace, and a visible word of God. Moreouer the Sacramentes that are of the Lordes holy institucion, we do reuerently esteme to be no vain or bare signes, neither only euidences of the profession of Christen mē, but also certaine assured and effectuous testimonies (or rather seales) of the rightuosnes,Rom. iiii. grace, and good will of God towardes vs: wherby he working in vs supernaturally, & after an inuisible maner, doth not only styrre vp our faith towards him, but also establisheth and con [...]yrmeth it the more in the assuraunce of euerlastīg life. Wherfore like as stedfast faith in the operacion of the holy Gost doth certify vs:Roma. v. euen so the Sacramētes by propre similitudes being vsed according to the Lordes institucion testyfye the same. For the holye Gost (who glorifyeth his owne ordinaunces with his blessed presēce) and also the word it selfe assureth vs, that nothing, though it be outward & external [Page] (appointed and appertainīg to the right, whole and perfect vse of Gods holy sacramentes) is in vaine, or but a bare signe, for asmuch as when the minister doth execute the Lordes wil according to his holy ordinaunce, in the ministration of the visible Sacramēt by an outward action. The holy gost not only certifieth the faithful [...]eaceiuers, yt they are partakers of the thing promised, that is to sai: euerlasting life (which life euerlasting is euen God ye sonne,Iohn. vi. whose diuine nature is ioyned with the humanitie nowe syttyng in glory) not only we say, certifieth, but also inuisibly worketh in them,Gala. v. those vertues, wherby thei be vndoubtedly ioyned vnto Christ, and one towards another, hys mistical membres & partakers of eternall lyfe. So that to be partaker of that euerlasting lyfe, is to be as verely ioyned vnto him, & to be a member of his glorious bo [...]y of his flesh & of his bones, as his own diuine nature is ioyned vnto his humanitie.

O worlde howe mad, o man howe blinde art thou? that seest not this precious [Page] treasure, and taistest not the incomparable swetenes and moste heauenly comfort of this greate mistery betwene Christ and his cōgregation▪ Ephes, v. Thou gnawest vpon the harde shelle, but vpon the swete kernel wherein is spirit and life, thou fedest not. Wolde God, his truth coulde perswade vs, yt to be worthy pertakers hereof, is thorowe fayth by the operatiō of the holy gost, to be assured and fully certified, that followyng also the Lords will in the outward actions of his holy ordinaunces, and framynge our lyues, accordyng to his wholsome doctrine taught vs therein, we haue vndoubttedly the thinge that ther is promised which is euerlasting lyfe in his bodye and bloude.

For first, as concernyng fleshe and bloude, we were in felowshippe with Christ, in the loynes of our forefather Adam,Gene. iii. to whom he was promised immediatly after his offence, but opened vnto the worlde, whan he became incarnate:Heb. ii. So that this felowship was entred with vs, in that parte whyche [Page] was properli ours. In respect wherof the father of heauen (through fayth & operation of his holy spirit) vouchsafe to make vs partakers, of that whiche was properly his: namely the breade that came downe from heauen, which is lyfe it self, optained by Christes death, whereby his merites are become ours. So that then was this felloweship fully ioyned, whan the heauenly mariage betwene our nature and his was made, in the vnitie of persone in him, & not by cōfusiū of substance no more thē ether his deuine or humayn nature is confounded, thoughe he be both very God and very man. Thus thorow faith (wherunto this heauenly matter is offered) and by the workyng of the holy gost, we haue our felowship with euerlastynge life, in his body and bloud, which he tooke of vs and which now sitteth in glory, wher also our soule is present through faith so that we be one with him.

The fruitful knowledge and vnderstandyng of this heauenly mistery, is euidently setfurth to the eyes of faith▪ [Page] not onely by the fyrst institution and practise of ye Lordes holy Supper, but also by his most comfortable wordes afore in the Gospel,Iohn. vi. where he sayth: it is God the father, that doth graūt vs, his true bread, namely his owne sōne which came downe from heauen, and geueth life vnto the world. For he only deserued, that the father should geue vs agayne, this lyfe that was loste.

And like as the sonne sayth, that the father should geue vs the breade that came from heauen, that is to saye, his owne sonne (whō he also calleth lyfe, because he is the life it selfe:) Euen so the sōne saith, that the bread which he wold geue,Iohn. vi. shuld be his flesh which he would geue and offre to the father for the lyfe of the worlde: Namely, that the worlde by his death, myght haue that lyfe, whyche he sayde, the father woulde geue: and that is euen the very true breade that came downe from heauen. So yt in the Gospel, the sōne touchynge his deuinitie which came from heauen, is called bread: And like wyse his vmanitie whiche he offered vp vpon the crosse, he calleth bread.

[Page]Thus through faythe, we haue the perfourmaunce of that whiche was promised, namely, of ye deuine nature which is life after a more aboundaūt sort, then it was lost in Adam:i. Iohn. i. i. Corin. [...]. Ephes. v. So that this is, and may wel be called a verye felowship: and so in dede both Saynt Iohn and S. Paule termeth it.

The worthy Sacrament of the body and bloude of the Lorde, was instituted only by himselfe, in the Parler wher thei did eate the Easter lambe, the same night wherin he was betraied. And as cōcernyng the maner how the Lord and thei that receiued it with him, did vse it: Howe he also himselfe willed others his deputies and ministers of his congregation and church to do the same (for whom like wyse, & for what intent and purpose he did institute & ordayne it) it is sufficientlye mencioned by the thre Euangelistes and by the Apostle Paule.Mat. xxvi Mar. xiiii Luke. xxii. i. Cor. xi. Touching the which we must consider, that forasmuch as Christ did institute this to be a Sacramente, and taughte by his most worthy worde and practife, a ce [...] taine [Page] ordre in the ministration therof. Therfore as the thynges therein contained, ought Sacramentally to be vnderstand, without anye absurditie, or interruptynge either of the action or mistery. So if the ordre and fourme by him prescribed, and commaunded to be vsed (by suche as are appoynted for the ministratiō therof) be omitted Then is that no Sacrament of his.

For Sacramentes are as substancial couenauntes & agremētes, whose nature is to declare vnto vs, some righte, title, priuiledge or gifte, that we haue or shal receiue thereby: whether thei be grounded vpon a commen custome, or commaūded to be obserued, by such as haue authoritie to make a lawe or ordinaunce for the same. For whi should the ordre prescribed in this holy Sacramēt, be worse kept, or lesse obserued, then was the rule that God appoynted in the Sacramentes of the olde lawe? Their sacramentes had orders, which wer kept: and whi should not the rules of our Sacramentes be obserued likewyse?

[Page]Circumcision had a prescribed day what persons should be Circumcised,Gen. xvii and what part of the fleshe shoulde be cutte away. &c. The Lorde callinge it both his couenaunt, and the token of his couenaunt.

The celebration of Easter, had like wise of the Lorde a time appointed,Exod. xii. in the which euery houshold, hauynge a lambe or a kydde of one year olde, being a Male without blemishe, should slaye him: And not onely take & strike the bloude of him vpon the two syde postes, and on the vpper doorepost of the house,, but also eate the lambe (or kydde) the same nyght, with vnleauened bread, and with sower herbes, nether rawe nor sodden in water: but rosted at the fyre, the head, the feete, and purtenaunce together, with theyr loynes gyrded, shooes on theyr feete, sta [...]es in theyr handes, and to eate it in haist, nothing remainyng ouer vntyll the mornyng: The scripture callynge it the Passouer, and the sacrifice of the Lordes Passoeuer.

And diligently is this to be noted: [Page] Namely, that lyke as ye fathers in olde time did faythfully obserue and kepe the sayde rules, nether omyttyng any of them, nor minishyng theim, nether addyng ought vnto thē that the Lord himself, had not appoynted,: Euen so albeit that the cuttynge awaye of the fores [...]ynne of the fleshe in Circumcision, had the name of the Lordes couenaunt, and though the other sacramēt was called the passeouer of the Lorde, Yet were they neuer the lesse (without any strife, brawlyng or contention about the names) obediently and thākfulli in godli quietnes vsed & obserued

The Sacrament of Baptisme also, hath his ceremonies and rule appointed of the Lorde:ma. xxviii Ma [...]. xvi as to putte water vpō the childe, or to dy [...]p [...] him in water, to pronoūce him baptised in the name of [...]he father, the sonne and the holye gost.Iohn. iii. Actes. ii. Titus. iii &c. The scripture namynge it the newe byrth, the baptisme of remission of sinnes, the fountayne of the newe byrth. &c. Where as is likewise to be noted, that thei do horribly abuse the Sacrament of baptisme, that ether mynishe [Page] from it anye of the rules prescribed by the Lord himselfe, or adde ther vnto, their owne rites and supersticions, whether it be salt, spittle, creme, oyle, or any such thinges as may deface the worthines of Christ. Yet hath there no suche mischaunce happened vnto this holy sacrament, as ether to teach or beleue, that ther is any transsubstanciatiō of the water in baptism, or that it looseth the nature of water, though it be appointed and turned to a very holy vse.

Nowe to returne agayn to our purpose: The worthy Sacrament of the [...]ordes body and bloud, hath his prescribed order & rule. And, so that thys holy sacrament be, accordynge to the practise of his blessed institution, both ministred and receiued to gether. The election and appoyntmēt of the time thereof, is referred and left to ye godly discression of Christes Church. For ye Apostle saith: Quotiescumque. &c. As oft as ye eate this breade and drynke of this cu [...]pe,i. Cor. xi. ye shal shew the Lordes death, vntil he come. Neuerthelesse, omitted [Page] it may not be, nor left vndone, but vsed in due time accordingly, and in suche sorte, as is appointed by the word of God,mat. xxvi. Luke. xx. i. Cori. xi. who saith: ☞Take ye, eate ye, drincke ye al of it: Do this, in the remembraunce of me. And by his Apostle, he hath geuen this ordre, that we whiche mynde to be partakers of this holy Communion, shall haue no contencion nor strife amōg our selues but refourme our abuses: commynge here vnto, not onely together, but also after a better sort,What things ar requyred afore the holy communion. rather then after such euil wyse, as we happlye heretofore haue done: One to tarye for another without disdayne, and (afore we eate of this bread and drinke of thys cuppe) to proue, try, and examine our selues, our myndes and consciences, our wordes and dedes: callynge oure whole lyfe and conuersation earnestly to remembraunce, lamentyng and confessyng our sinnes vnto God callyng vpon him for mercy, conuerting vs whollye vnto him, knittynge our selues together in the vnitie of fayth, and godly loue: and so to come to the [Page] holy Sacrament: Where first the minister, takyng the bread, geuyng thankes & breaking it, ought by the Lords ensample, to deliuer it vnto other,The order to be kepte at ye holye cō munion. willynge theim also to take and eate it in remembraunce of the Lorde, whose wordes also he ought to repete accordingly. And likewise takyng the cup, to geue thanckes, and to deliuer it to the communicantes, willyng them al to drinke therof, in remembraunce of the Lorde.

This is nowe the ordre, appointed to be obserued at the ministration of this holy sacrament,The name of thys holy Sacrament. i. Cor. x.xi which the scripture calleth ☞ the Supper of the [...]ord the Communion (or felowship) of the body and bloud of Christ. Cōcerning the which, if the Lorde had authoritie to make a lawe, or to set an ordre, for the due ministration and vse thereof. Then we also that be his subiectes, ar boūd to obserue the same: and nether to ad ought therto, cōtrary vnto it, nether to minish or take away frō it, ani thinge that he hath wylled vs to vse: Or els, we playnly disapoynt our selues, [Page] of the ryghte title and possession of such comfortable commodities, as we, by vertue of this heauenlye couenaunt and bargayne, shoulde elece be sure of. For as this is a special gift, appointed by the last wyl and testamēt of our Sauior Christ, who in the true ministration of this his holye sacrament (by the operacion of this blessed spirite) hath promised to make iust deliueraunce of the thing promysed, So is it by him condicioned afore hand, that we shal duly receiue and vse the same: and not to eate of the breade, or drincke of the cup of the Lord vnworthely,i. Cor. xi. to our owne damnation.

In Ciuile causes the like order taketh place. Where a leace is made, it must not only be signed, sealed, & deliuered, but also receiued, and the partie put in possession: Not deliuered (I say) by euery man, but only by hym or his deputie, that hath authority to make or geue the leace: neither maye euery man receiue and ēnioye it, saue only he, to whom it is made or geuē, or that hath ryght thereto. Agayne, a [Page] leace cōmonly is not made wythout condicions: whych if they be broken, doth not ye farmer thē forfeit his leace?

And what meane we els by thys, but euen to shew that it is an horrible thing, & farre out of order, that whyle the Lord in this hys holy Sacramēt offreth vs so large a couenaūt of mercy, we shal thincke scorne, to kepe the condicions therof, and the rules that he hath prescribed vnto vs? No man doubtles (no not in Ciuile matters) would be so serued: wher like as it is no bargaine, til both parties be agreed, so cōmeth it to no perfect effecte, neither can it stand vnlesse the duties, cōdicions & promises be kept. Neuertheles this thing shal appeare muche more euident, if we compare the practise of these present miserable dayes▪ to the order of the [...]ord and his Apostles in the primitiue church, & lay the one agaynst the other. As for the perfourmaūce of the condicions on hys party, ther is no doubt: For wher as he couenanteth with vs in thys holy Sacrament, so to feede, nourish, & cō fort [Page] our consciences, that he wyl euen seale vs vnto him selfe, set hys marke vpō vs, and take vs for hys own. He certif [...]eth vs assuredly, that vpon such condicions, as we also vpon our allegiaunce, are boūd to kepe (whych we must either do, or els become vnworthy Receauers to our damnatiō) we haue felowship with him, and are partakers of the same eternall lyfe, that he hym selfe hath purchased for vs in hys body and bloud.

But how now? How kepe we our touche with him? By his order there should be no [...]cisme nor discencion among vs, about this matter: And yet Lord what a busines is ther about the defence of a new found transubstancia [...]ion, to proue yt bread is not bread,Ye shal se shortlye a boke whē eueri part of ye masse began. and that after the recityng of a fewe wordes of the Lord, ther remayneth the substaunce, neither of breade nor wyne? And what a doo is ther, about the maner of Christes presence in the Sacrament? Lord what tossing & turnyng, what detorting and wrestinge of the Scriptures is there, to proue [Page] the carnal & natural presence of Christes flesh and bloude (yea that in the fourme of bread, ther is contained the only natural substāce of Christ, God and man, flesh bloud & bone) to the vtter confounding of the two natures in Christ, though both the circūstāce of Christes action, the propertyes of hys humaniti, the nature of a Sacramēt, the Articles of ye Christian faith, the euident testimonies, aswell of the scripture, as of those that are estemed the best and moost worthye auncient wryters, declare the contrary?

Men should refourme al abuses about thys mater, and come to it in a better sorte then they haue done: And do they not wilfully kepe & maintai [...] theyr abuses styl? Yea, are they not eueri dai in their doings wors & wors▪

Men shoulde come to the Sacrament together, and the wole godly assemble to cōmunicate as brothers & sisters in ye Lord. But Alas, thei make a massing matter of it: where on man alone taketh vpon hym to receyue ye thinge that the whole congregacion [Page] ought to be partakers of: & where one shoulde rather tarye for another, then that any disorder shuld be committed about so worthy a Sacrament.

Men ought fyrst to proue and eramen wel theyr consciences, to cal thē selues, theyr thoughtes woordes and deede [...] iustly to accompt, earnestly to repent them of theyr sinnes, to lamēt & bewayle theyr manyfold offences, to acknowledge and confesse thē vnto God, hartely to cal on him for mercye, wholy to conuert vnto hym, and louingly to reconcile thēselues wit [...] their neighbours, afore they presume to aproche vnto the table of the Lord. And doo they not yet fall into it lyke Hogges, walowing styl in the filthenes of their abhominable liuing with out any iust remorce of conscience, wt out any true repentaunce or amendement of lyfe & wythout suche charytable recon [...]iliacion, as was wont to be among the worthy Cōmunicātes of Christes holy Sacrament?

The Priest ought so to minister, & in such a language, yt the people might [Page] vnderstād what he saith: But he hudling it vp in a corner by hym self, mū bleth we can not tel what. His dutye is sēsibly to declare vnto vs the Lordes death: that we therby myghte be styrred vp, aswel to remember & taste the swetenes of this mistery of our redemption, as to be thankful vnto the Lord for the same: But the Prest speaking to the wal, & not vnto vs, kepeth vs stil in blynde ignoraunce. So that as we cannot consider what the Lord hathe done, doth, or offereth to do for vs, so is it no maruayle, that we remayne styl vnthankful,

We should at the ministracion and recept of the Sacrament, haue good natural bread: but in stede thereof, we haue printed waifers, and suche starched stuffe, as is not pure & perfecte bread, nor lyke vnto that whych was vsed in the eating of the Lordes holy Supper at the first. The Lord biddeth his disciples take the breade: but oure lay people (whō we trust yet to be the Lords disciples) are forbiddē to touch it. The Lord saith: Take ye, & eate ye, [Page] he saith not, take thou it alon, and let no mā els eate with the. He saith, take and eate: he saith not, lift it vp aboue your heades: But nowe the Priestes take and lyft it vp an high. He sayeth: Take and eate, and saieth not hang it vp: But now it is taken & hanged vp by a lyne or cord. He sayth: Take and eate, and saith not, take and worshyp it as God: But now men crouch and kneele vnto it, honour and worship it as theyr maker. The Lord saith. Take & eate: He saith not, put it vp in store. or kepe it in a boxe tyl another tyme: But now it is reserued & caried about in procession, and in the streetes, that the people may fal downe (yea, when they se it not) knocke theyr breastes & worship it. The Lord saith: Do this in remembraunce of me: He sayeth not, do it in remembraunce of others: but now the Priestes do theyr Masse in remembraunce of the quicke & deade, in remembraunce of Angels & saints: they make an oblacion & sacrifice of it for the soules departed, for beasts and Catfel, for syknesses and diseases. &c. [Page] The Lord willeth al the Disciples that were with him, to drinke of the Cup, and the Euangelist saith▪ that they al dranke of it: But now the part of the Sacrament is takē from the lay people, as though Christ had not shed his bloud for thē, as wel as for others.

What can we then iustly looke for at the Lordes hand to be partakers of in this worthy Sacrament, when we so vnworthely disdaine & think scorne to minister, receaue and vse it according to the Lordes most holy institucion: but chop and chaunge, adde and minysh, after the pleasures, imaginacions and fond fantasies of men, & not after the word of the Lorde, nor after the rightful practise of hys primitiue and most pure Church?

Because the Corinthians did so vnworthely behaue them selues aboute thys holy Sacrament, by reason of these and such like abuses as we haue now spoken of, and for that thei made no difference of the Lordes body, that is to say, because thei so litle regarded not only his mistical body the church [Page] and congregacion, but also the death and merites of his natural blessed body that suffred and was crucified for them: therfore (saith the Apostle) many are weake and sicke among you, and many sleepe. And what thing els vnder the Sunne, hathe more prouoked the wrath and indignatiō of god ouer vs, or is a greater occasion why he withdraweth his grace & holy spirit from vs, and otherwise also sēdeth his sondrye plages amongst vs: Yea, what hath bene or is at thys daye, a greater cause of his displeasure, thē is the most filthy and abhominable idolatry and supersticion of theyr masse, the blinde and wylfull abusing of the Sacramēt, when neither the doctrine of the Lord is trulye taught nor beleued, neither those worthye fruites of repentaunce folow, that so godly florished in the primitiue churche, & that so vertuously shuld appeare in euerie one that receaueth ye holy cōmunion?

But now to conclude, for our own part: This worthy Sacrament of our Lord and only sauiour Iesus Christ, [Page] we so honour and reuerence, that we are fully resolued and perswade [...] (by the testimony of hys holy word) that it is a synguler and precious Iewell▪ which the Lorde himselfe, by hys last wyl and testament, hath moste graciously cōmitted and left to hys owne holy congregacion and church, to the intent that the same worthye Sacrament, which he ordayned to be a special renewing of hys gracious couenaunt with vs, and an vndoubted testimony and seale of his louing mercy towardes vs, should be also a continual and frutful exercise of our faith loue & hope to himward, & a myghtye prouocaciō vnto charity and al good workes among our selues. So as we fyrst duely examining our owne consciences, and then assembling our selues orderly to that solempne memorial of our redemption, hearing there the death of the Lorde, declared vnto vs: callyng the same in special (and all other hys benefites in general) moste thankfully to remembraunce: lamenting, bewailing, and repēting vs earnestly [Page] of our sinnes: knowledgyng & cōfessing them vnto God, [...]euoutlye calling vpō him for mercy, professing a new vertuous life: conuertynge vs wholy vnto him, & forgeueing one another in brotherly reconsiliacion frō the botome of our hartes, shoulde in the vnity of the holy Ghost, aproche reuerently vnto the table of the Lord, and worthely receiue such notable increase of heauenly cōfort, & spirituall repaste in our consciēces, as He there for that purpose (by the cōmuniō and felowship that we haue with hym in his precious body & bloude) most louinglye doth offer vnto vs, euen clothing vs, as it were wyth a newe power and strengthe frō aboue: that we being armed a freshe with hys owne weapons, may frō hence [...]orthe fyght themore valeauntly vnder his baner, against the flesh, y• world, & the Diuel: whiche to do, he graunt vs hys grace and holy spirit. Amen.

¶From Wittonburge by Nichola [...] Dorcastor. Ann. M.D.Liiii. the .xiiii. of May.

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The humble and vnfained confessio[n] of the belefe of certain poore banished men grounded vpon the holy scriptures of God, and vpo[n] the articles of that vndefiled and onlye vndoubted true Christian faith, which the holy Catholicke (that is to say vniuersal) Churche of Christ professeth. Specially concerning, not only the worde of God, and the ministerye of the same: but also the church and sacramentes therof. Which we send moost humbly vnto the Lordes of Engla[n]d, and al the commons of the same. ... Lorde increase our faith.Humble and unfained confession of the belefe of certain poore banished men.

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1554

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2004-03 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1).

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A19216

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99846561

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11540

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— The humble and vnfained confessio[n] of the belefe of certain poore banished men grounded vpon the holy scriptures of God, and vpo[n] the articles of that vndefiled and onlye vndoubted true Christian faith, which the holy Catholicke (that is to say vniuersal) Churche of Christ professeth. Specially concerning, not only the worde of God, and the ministerye of the same: but also the church and sacramentes therof. Which we send moost humbly vnto the Lordes of Engla[n]d, and al the commons of the same. ... Lorde increase our faith., Humble and unfained confession of the belefe of certain poore banished men., Ponet, John, 1516?-1556, attributed name..

Extent

[80] p.

By Nicholas Dorcastor [i.e. John Day?],. [From Wittonburge [i.e. London?] :: Ann. M.D.Liiii. the.xiiii.of May. [1554]]. (Sometimes attributed to John Ponet.) (Imprint from colophon. Place of publication and printer suggested by STC.) (Running title reads: The confession of the banished ministers.) (Signatures: A-E.) (Reproduction of the original in the Bodleian Library.)

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