A15857:640
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. About what matters especially the ecclesiastical ministry is employed.
VI. About what matters especially the ecclesiasticall ministerie is imployed.
But as the sum of christian piety, consisteth in three things: in faith in Christ: in continual repentance, that is, in the mortification of our flesh, and of our sins, and quickening of the spirit: and lastly, in charity towards our neighbour: so also we acknowledge three principal parts of the ecclesiastical ministry. First to teach, and to preach the word of the gospel, and also to administer the sacraments, and offer up the public sacrifice of praise to God, through Jesus Christ: Secondly to […] ⟨p. 222⟩declared by the Apostles: and lastly, to do all such things, which though they be not expressed in the scriptures, yet do belong to order and to decency, and do make for edification and not for destruction, according to the general rule given by the Apostle, 1that all things ought to be done in the church in order, decently, and to edification. Neither think we that any authority is given unto ministers beyond the bounds of the word of God, or to any other end, then for edification: & therefore we deny that one Bishop or all Bishops together, have authority to appoint any thing against the scriptures: to add or detract any thing, or change any thing in them: to dispense with the commandments of God: to make new articles of faith: to institute new sacraments: to bring new rites into the church: to prescribe any laws, which may bind consciences, or may be thought equal to gods law: to forbid any things, which God hath granted, and left free: or lastly, to command any thing, without the word of God, as necessary to salvation: sith not the whole church can have or truly be said to have this authority.