A13257:237
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…
A confession of faith made by common consent of divers reformed churches beyond the seas: with an exhortation to the reformation of the Church. Perused and allowed according to the Queens Majesties injunctions.A confession of fayth made by common consent of diuers reformed churches beyonde the seas: with an exhortation to the reformation of the Churche. Perused and allowed accordinge to the Queenes Maiesties iniunctions.
London: printed by Henry Wykes for Lucas Harrison, 1568
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.
The Frenchmen that desire to live according to the purity of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, to the King.
The Frenchmen that desire to liue accordyng to the puritie of the Gospell of our Lord Iesus Christ, to the King.
WE have great cause (most mighty Prince,) to give God thanks, that having not hitherto had access to your Majesty, whereby we might declare what rigour of persecutions we have suffered and daily do suffer, for desiring to live according to the purity of the Gospel, and quietness of our consciences: he hath no vouchsafed to grant us this favour, that your grace is willing to understand of our cause, as appeareth ⟨image 142⟩by the last proclamation given at Amboise the month of March, the year. 1559. when it pleased your Majesty to cause the publication of the same. Which boldeneth us at this present to open mouth, which before (by the violence and injustice of certain your officers) was closed and stopped up, rather of malice to us ward, than good affection or service to you ward. And to the end your Majesty may be plainly and fully informed of the whole cause, we most humbly beseech you to read and understand this our Confession of Faith, which we here present unto you, hoping it to be sufficient defence for us, against all such blames and slanders, as we have hitherto wrongfully ben charged withal, by such, as have daily sought to condemn us, before our cause were known or heard. Wherein we protest there is nothing repugnant to the word of God, or contrary to that subjection which we owe to your Majesty. For these articles of Faith set forth at large in our confession, tend ⟨p. 97⟩all to this end, that seeing God hath sufficiently declared his will, by his Prophets and Apostles, yea, by the mouth of his dearly beloved soon, our saviour Jesus Christ, we ought so to honour and reverence, this holy word of God, that we add nothing thereto of our own, but wholly conform our selves, to the rule prescribed unto us therein. And for that the Romish Church (leaving the use and custom of the primitive Church) hath brought in new commandments, and a new manner of serving God, we think it most reasonable to prefer the commandments of God, (which is the truth it self) to the commandments of men, who naturally are inclined to leasing and vanity.