But as we acknowledge none other 1head of the Church, then Christ, so we agnise not every one, that boasteth it self for the true Church, to be the true Church in deed, We teach that to be the true Church, wherein are found the signs or marks of the true Church, especially the right and sincere preaching of God his word. As we be taught in the books of the Prophets and Apostles: who refer all to Christ, which faith in the Gospel, My Sheep hear […] voice, and I know them, they follow me, and I give to them eternal life, and they shall never perish, they follow not a stranger, but fly from him, because they know not the voice of strangers: and these Sheep be all of one faith, of one spirit, and therefore worship one only ⟨image 97⟩God, serving him alone in spirit, and truth, and loving him only with all their heart, with all their strength, do call on him only for Christ his sake, their only mediator and intercessor, seeking without Christ, and faith in him no righteousness, no life, because they acknowledge Christ, to be the only head and foundation of the Church, and them selves to be laid upon this foundation. They do daily repair them selves with repentance, do patiently bear the cross […] upon them, and being knit together by unfeigned love, with all Christs members, do thereby declare them selves, to be the Disciples of Christ, continuing in the bond of peace, and godly unity. They be also partakers together of the Sacraments, instituted by Christ, and taught of the Apostles, using them none otherwise, then the lord hath commanded them. The saying of the Apostle is well known to all men: I have received of the lord, that which I also have delivered unto you: Wherefore we condemn those ⟨p. 53⟩2Churches, as disagreeing from Christ his true Church, which be not such as we have heard that they should be, boast they never so much of the succession of Bishops, of unity, and antiquity. Yea, the Apostles command us to fly from Idolatry and Babylon, and not to take part with her, except we would 3take part of God his plagues also. We so much esteem the society, with the true Church of Christ, that we deny that they can live in GOD his sight, which do not communicate with the true Church of God, but separate them selves from it.
But as wee acknowledge none other 1hedde of the Churche, then Christ, so wee agnise not euery one, that boasteth it self for the true Churche, to be the true Churche in deede, We teache that to bee the true Churche, wherein are found the signes or markes of the true Churche, especially the right and sincere preachyng of God his woorde. As wée be taught in the bookes of the Prophettes and Apostles: who referre all to Christ, whiche faieth in the Gospell, My Shepe heare 〈…〉 voice, and I knowe theim, thei followe me, and I geue to thē eternall life, and thei shall neuer perishe, thei followe not a straū ger, but flie from hym, because thei knowe not the voice of straūgers: and these Shepe be all of one faithe, of one spirit, and therefore worship one onely ⟨image 97⟩God, seruyng hym alone in spirite, and truth, and louing him onely with all their harte, with all their strength, dooe call on hym onely for Christe his sake, their onely mediatour and intercossour, seekyng without Christe, and faithe in him no rightuousnes, no life, because thei acknowledge Christe, to be the onely hedde and foundacion of the Churche, and them selues to bee laied vpon this foundacion. Thei doe daiely repare them selues with repentaunce, dooe paciently beare the crosse 〈…〉 vpon them, and beyng knitte together by vnfained loue, with al Christes members, doe thereby declare thē selues, to bee the Disciples of Christe, continuyng in the bonde of peace, and godlie vnitie. Thei be also partakers together of the Sacramentes, instituted by Christe, and taught of the Apostles, vsyng them none otherwise, then the lorde hath commanded them. The saiyng of the Apostle is well knowen to all men: I haue receiued of the lord, that whiche I also haue deliuered vnto you: Wherfore we condemne those ⟨p. 53⟩2Churches, as disagreyng from Christ his true Church, which be not such as we haue heard that thei shuld be, boast thei neuer so muche of the succession of Bisshops, of vnitie, and antiquitie. Yea, the Apostles commaūde vs to flie from Idolatrie and Babilon, and not to take part with her, except we would 3take part of God his plages also. We so muche esteme the societie, with the true Churche of Christe, that we deny that thei can liue in GOD his sighte, whiche doe not communicate with the true Churche of God, but separate thē selues from it.
- 1The marks of the true church.The markes of the true churche.
- 2i. Cor. xi.
- 3i. Cor. x. i. John. v. Apoc. xviii ii. Cor. vi. There is no salvation with out we be of Christ his church.i. Cor. x. i. Ihon. v. Apoc. xviii ii. Cor. vi. There is no saluatiō with out we be of Christe his churche.
