A15857:589
H. Zanchius his confession of Christian religion Which now at length being 70. years…H. Zanchius his confession of Christian religion Which novve at length being 70. yeares…
H. Zanchius his confession of Christian religion Which now at length being 70. years of age, he caused to be published in the name of himself & his family. Englished in sense agreeable, and in words as answerable to his own latin copy, as in so grave a mans work is requisite: for the profit of all the unlearneder sort, of English christians, that desire to know his judgement in matters of faith.H. Zanchius his confession of Christian religion Which novve at length being 70. yeares of age, he caused to bee published in the name of himselfe & his family. Englished in sense agreeable, and in words as answerable to his ovvne latine copie, as in so graue a mans worke is requisite: for the profite of all the vnlearneder sort, of English christians, that desire to know his iudgement in matters of faith.
Cambridge: printed by John Legat, 1599Cambridge: printed by Iohn Legat, 1599
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
VI. By what manner of succession of Bishops it may be showed, that some church is Apostolical.
VI. By vvhat manner of succession of Byshops it may be shewed, that some church is Apostolicall.
So we acknowledge, that from a perpetual succession of bishops in some church, I say not any manner of succession, but such a one, as hath had joined also unto it, a continuance of the Apostles doctrine: it may rightly be showed, that that church is Apostolical: such a one as was once the church of Rome, & the succession of the bishops thereof, even to the time of Ireneus, Tertullian, Cyprian, and some other. So that they were wont not without reason, to appeal unto it, and cite before it, and such other of the fathers, the heretics of their times. But indeed as we do acknowledge ⟨p. 188⟩and confess with Tertullian and other of the fathers that those churches are to be acknowledged to be truly Apostolical, in which the Apostles doctrine, with the discipline of Christ and lawful administration of the Sacraments, is kept pure, though the same have not been planted by the Apostles, nor have had a perpetual succession of bishops, even from the Apostles time: So again, the churches which were planted and watered by the Apostles, although they can show a succession of Bishops continual and without interruption, yet if with the succession of bishops they can not also show a continuance of the doctrine of Christ and his Apostles: we will grant, that they have bin christian and Apostolical churches: but now we cannot acknowledge them for such. For as the hood (as the Proverb saith) makes not the monk, but his godly and holy life: so neither do bishops, but the doctrine of Christ and christian religion, make the church of Christ.