A04917:37
A godly letter sent too the faithful in London, Newcastle, Berwick, and to all…A godly letter sent too the fayethfull in London, Newcastell, Barwyke, and to all…
A godly letter sent too the faithful in London, Newcastle, Berwick, and to all other within the realm off England, that love the co[m]minge of our Lord Jesus by John KnoxA godly letter sent too the fayethfull in London, Newcastell, Barwyke, and to all other within the realme off Englande, that loue the co[m]minge of oure Lorde Iesus by Ihon Knox
Rome: printed by J. Lambrecht? for H. Singleton, 1554
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
And David saith: I have believed / & therefore I have spoken / but I was sore troubled / as David would say / I would not counsel the confession of my faith / howbeit / trouble did ensue the same. Thus the holy Ghost joineth faith and confession / as things that be inseparable the one from the other / and therefore dare I not take upon me to deceiver them / but must say / that where true faith is / there is also confession of the same / 1when time and necessity requireth / & that where confession is not found that their faith is a sleep / if we be not from home.
And Dauid sayth: I haue beleued / & therefore I haue spoken / but I was sore trobled / as Dauid wolde saye / I wolde not counsaile the confession of my faith / howbeit / troble did ensew thesame. Thus the holy Ghost ioyneth fayth and confession / as thinges that be inseperable the one from the other / and therefore dare I not take vpon me to disceauer them / but muste saye / that where trew faith is / there is also cō fession of the same / 1when tyme and necessitie requireth / & that where confession is not foūd that their faithe is a slepe / if we be not frome home.
- 1Note wellNote wel
Now is it to be considered / if this time requireth the confession of our faith.1 Christ and his Evangel are oppugned / his holy sacraments are profaned. Christs messengers are some exiled / some cruelly tormented in prison / our adversaries hath gotten the upper hand / and an execrable Idol / 2erected up in confirmation of all iniquity. What now shall I do? that am assured that all this is abomination / here Christ is in battle / shall I do as the multitude / or as Christs enemies doth / what confession give I then? Assuredly even such as the rest doeth / for neither doeth foot / hand / eye / nor mouth witness the contrary.