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…

XXI. A confirmation of the former opinion.

Peter doubtless did err at Antioch, & many ⟨p. 201⟩in the church of Corinth, and more in that of Galatia, being seduced by the false Apostles did most grossly err: though they were soon after called back again by the Apostle from their errors. David also taught that the very sheep of Christ may err, ¹when he said, I have gone astray like a sheep that is lost: and why were the ministry of the word in the church, needful for all the godly, if they could not err? Sith therefore every godly man in each particular church, and the same a true and pure church have often and do often err: & that hypocrites are never endued with true faith, whereby they are rightly minded: how can it be said of any particular church, that it can not err? that then can much less be affirmed of those churches, from whence the trueth is banished, and wherein lies do prevail, and iniquity it self, and palpable darkness. They surely which are such, cannot be the true church of Christ: ²if the church be the pillar and ground of trueth. Therefore we conclude that every particular flock, and each several sheep thereof, can so far forth not err, as it heareth only the voice of the shepherd Christ, being guided by the holy ghost: but as oft as it heareth not his voice, but harkeneth to strangers voices, it can straight ways do no other than err. But in a word, seeing God in the scattering and dissolving of all churches, doeth yet reserve some unto himself whom he holdeth in the trueth, and by whose ministry he will spread ⟨p. 202⟩