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…

XVIII. A confirmation of the former opinion.

For the Lord hath especially forbidden, ¹that we should have any fellowship, with idolaters, and obstinate apostates and heretics, in their idolatries and heresies. Nor otherwise do the fathers teach (as they are alleged for witnesses even in the canons) then, that not only if there be a man, but also, if there be a ⟨p. 198⟩church, which renounceth the faith, ²& holdeth not the foundation of the Apostles preaching, and in which Christ doctrine abideth not: it is to be forsaken. Neither for any other cause was the old church of Rome so celebrated of the fathers, that which then flourished, & was holy, and called the mother of the churches: but because it constantly retained the doctrine received of the Apostles, all the rest for the most part slipping away. But now what the doctrine of it is, and what service, and how far it is fallen from the ancient doctrine in many things, it is too too well known. We therefore moreover protest, that we have made no other separation from the church of Rome that now is, but as we are constrained by the word of God, & as we must needs obey God, so commanding us: and therefore least we should still abide in an apostasy from the apostolic and catholic church, we have judged it our parts and duties to return at length to the same again, and to depart from the idolatries of this filthy polluted Romish company.

For the Lord hath especially forbidden, ¹that we should haue any fellowship, with idolaters, and obstinate apostataes and heritickes, in their idolatries and heresies. Nor otherwise do the fathers teach (as they are alleadged for witnesses euen in the canons) then, that not onely if there be a man, but also, if there bee a