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…

For so will it come to pass, that of the most part of those things, there shall be no question at all: about the which, yet at this day very many, partly by ignorance, partly through malice and frowardness, do most stubbornly contend and strive. And those things, which shall seem to be stayed, by the testimonies of scriptures, if they be judged not by custom (which when it departeth from the word, ⟨image 34⟩hath no authority at all in matters of religion) neither by the bare authority of certain men, be they new or old, but by the comparison of the places together, all the interpretations being examined by the proportion and rule of faith: then finally, no thing shall be found so hard, that shall not easily be understand, nothing so dark that shall not be made clear, nothing so doubtful, that shall not be made plain and evident. But who shall bind men to this order: who shall direct this action, and who finally shall treat these things by common authority? It is not our purpose, to prosecute these matters at this present, although whiles I often and many times do think of this matter, some things do come into my mind, of the which it may be, that I shall have occasion to speak at some other time. Now let us treat, that we have in hand.

For so will it come to passe, that of the moste parte of those thynges, there shal bee no question at all: aboute the whiche, yet at this daie verie many, partly by ignoraunce, partly through malice and frowardnesse, dooe moste stubbernely contende and striue. And those thynges, whiche shall seme to be staied, by the testimonies of scriptures, if thei be iudged not by custome (which when it departeth from the woorde, ⟨image 34⟩hath no aucthoritie at all in matters of religion) neither by the bare aucthoritie of certaine menne, bee thei newe or olde, but by the comparison of the places together, all the interpretaciōs beyng examined by the proporcion and rule of faithe: then finallie, no thyng shal bee founde so harde, that shall not easily be vnderstand, nothing so darke that shall not be made cleare, nothyng so doubtfull, that shall not bee made plaine and euidente. But who shall binde men to this order: who shall directe this action, and who finallie shall treate these thynges by common aucthoritie? It is not our purpose, to prosecute these matters at this presente, although whiles I often and many times dooe thinke of this matter, some thynges dooe come into my mynde, of the whiche it maie be, that I shal haue occasion to speake at some other time. Now lette vs treate, that wee haue in hande.