A Golden Chain

Ecclesiastical writings are either general, particular, or proper. General, are the Creeds and confessions of the Church dispersed over the whole world, and among the rest the Creed of the Apostles, made either by the Apostles themselves, or by their hearers and disciples, apostolical men delivered to the Church, and conveyed from hand to hand to our times. Particular writings are the confessions of particular Churches. Proper writings are the books and confessions of private men. Now between these we must make difference. For the General Creed of the Apostles, (other universal Creeds in this case not excepted) though it be of less authority then scripture; yet hath it more authority then the particular & private writings of Churches and men. For it hath been received and approved by universal consent of the Catholic Church in all ages, and so were never these: in it the meaning and doctrine can not be changed by the authority of the whole Catholic Church: and if either the order of the doctrine or the words whereby it is expressed, should upon some occasion be changed, a particular Church of any country can not do it, without Catholic consent of the whole Church: yet particular writings and confessions made by some special Churches may be altered in the words & in the points of doctrine by the same Churches without offence to the Catholic Church. Lastly it is received as a rule of faith among all Churches to try doctrines & interpretations of scriptures by, not because it is a rule of it self, for that the scripture is alone; but because it borroweth his authority from scripture with which it agreeth. And this honour no other writings of men can have.

Ecclesiasticall writings are either generall, particular, or proper. Generall, are the Creedes and confessions of the Church dispersed ouer the whole worlde, and among the rest the Creede of the Apostles, made either by the Apostles themselues, or by their hearers and disciples, apostolicall men deliuered to the Church, and conueied from hand to hand to our times. Particular writings are the confessions of particular Churches. Proper writings are the bookes and confessions of priuate men. Nowe betweene these we must make difference. For the Generall Creede of the Apostles, (other vniuersall Creeds in this case not excepted) though it be of lesse authoritie then scripture; yet hath it more authoritie then the particular & priuate writings of Churches and men. For it hath beene receiued and approoued by vniuersall consent of the Catholike Church in all ages, and so were neuer these: in it the meaning and doctrine can not be changed by the authoritie of the whole Catholike Church: and if either the order of the doctrine or the wordes whereby it is expressed, should vpon some occasion be changed, a particular Church of any country can not do it, without Catholike consent of the whole Churche: yet particular writings and confessions made by some speciall Churches may be altered in the words & in the points of doctrine by the same Churches without offence to the Catholike Church. Lastly it is receiued as a rule of faith among all Churches to trie doctrines & interpretations of scriptures by, not because it is a rule of it selfe, for that the scripture is alone; but because it borroweth his authoritie frō scripture with which it agreeth. And this honour no other writings of men can haue.