A Golden Chain

Furthermore, the Churches of Helvetia, and Savoy, and the free cities of France, and the low Countries, and Scotland, are to be reverenced as the true Churches of God, as their confession make manifest. And no less must we think of our own Churches in England and Ireland. For we hold, believe, and maintain, and preach the true faith, that is, the ancient doctrine of salvation by Christ, taught and published by the Prophets and Apostles, as the book of the articles of faith agreed upon in open Parliament do fully show: and withal now we are, and have been ready to testify this our faith, ⟨p. 497⟩by venturing our lives even in the cause of religion against foreign power, and especially the Spaniard: and hereupon all the Churches in Europe give unto us the hand of fellowship. And whereas sundry among us that separate and indeed excommunicate themselves, give out that there is no Church in England, no Ministers, no Sacraments: their peremptory asseverations wanting sufficient ground, are but as paper-shot. They allege that our assemblies are full of grievous blots and enormities. Ans. The defects and corruptions of Churches must be distinguished: and they be either in doctrine, or manners. Again corruptions in doctrine must further be distinguished: some of them are errors indeed, but beside the foundation; and some errors directly against the foundation: and these overturn all religion, whereas the former do not. Now it can not be showed that in our Churches is taught any one error that razeth the foundation, and consequently annihilateth the truth of Gods Church. Indeed there is controversy among us touching the point of Ecclesiastical regiment: but mark in what manner. We all jointly agree in the substance of the regiment, confessing freely that there must be preaching of the word, administration of the Sacraments according to the institution, and the use of the Power of the Keys in admonitions, suspensions, excommunications: the difference between us is only touching the persons, and the manner of putting this government in execution: and therefore men on both parts, though both hold not the trueth in this point; yet because both hold Christ the foundation, they still remain brethren and true members of Christ. As for corruptions in manners, they make not a Church to be no church,¹ but a bad church.

Furthermore, the Churches of Helvetia, and Savoie, and the free citties of Fraunce, and the lowe Countries, and Scotland, are to bee reuerenced as the true Churches of God, as their confession make manifest. And no lesse must we thinke of our owne Churches in England and Ireland. For wee holde, beleeue, and maintaine, and preach the true faith, that is, the ancient doctrine of saluation by Christ, taught and published by the Prophets and Apostles, as the booke of the articles of faith agreed vpon in open Parliament doe fully shewe: and withall now we are, and haue beene readie to testifie this our faith,