A confession of faith made by common consent of divers reformed churches beyond the…A confession of fayth made by common consent of diuers reformed churches beyonde the…

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.