A declaration of Christ and of his office compiledA declaration of Christe and of his offyce compylyd

such as teacheth people to know the church by these signs The traditions of men, and the succession of bishops teach wrong. Those too false opinions hath given unto the succession of bishops pore to interpret the scripture, and pore to make such laws in ⟨image 79⟩the church as it pleased them. There is no man hath pore to interpret the scripture god for the preservation of his church doth give unto certain persons the gift and knowledge to open the scripture. But that yest is no pore bound to any order succession of bishops or title of dignity. The princes of the Earth doth give always such pore of civil Justice by succession, as one is chief justice for the time of his office to do every thing appertaining unto the same, so hath always his successor the like. God hath given the civil magistrates pour and authority to make such laws for the commune wealth as shall be agreeable with reason and not against God's law and like wise pore to interpret the same laws. But this is not to be admitted in the church unto whom god hath given the gospel, and inter pretatyd the same by his only son: ⟨image 80⟩taught the meaning and contents thereof himself. To know god, and his ire against sin, the greatness of sin the justice given in Christ, the fear of god. The faith in his promises, the persecution of his members. The aid and help of god in adversity, the resurrection of the dead. Where and what the true church is of Everlasting lief. Of the too natures in Christ of the father the son, and the holy ghost. These be contents of the law where unto god hath bound his church and commanded here to hire his son concerning the interpretation of these points. And at the commandment of Christ the Apostles were sent to preach these verities in the spirit of god. It is therefore necessary to retain in the church the doctrine given unto us by the Apostles, and to be the disciples of there doctrine: and not to feign interpretations of our own ⟨image 80⟩heads contrary unto there doctrine. Such as will be the members of this church must be a disciple of the gospel and learn in fear and humbleness of spirit the articles of our religion as they be taught there: and not stand unto the judgment of any man what so ever he be though he say truth: for his truth is nothing except the authority of God's word contain the said truth.