A15857:675
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.
Confession › Chapter 25 › Aphorism 37: 37 The parts of vulgar or common discipline.
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.
37 The parts of vulgar or common discipline.
That common and popular discipline consisteth chiefly in these matters: first, for the beginning, when any is received into the church, he must learn to know God, and Christ, and to call upon him, and to understand what is his will. This is done by catechizing, wherein every one is taught the sum of christian religion: and being taught, he must profess his faith before the whole congregation, & promise obedience unto Christ and to his church according to the doctrine of the gospel. Then, 1because not to go forward in the way of god is to go backward: therefore they which are godly, that they may truly proceed, and go on in godliness, must often frequent the holy assemblies at appointed times and places, and give themselves to hear the word of God, & make prayers with others, and practise charitable deeds towards the poor bestowing their gifts and oblations liberally. But seeing even in our proceeding we do all fall, some more grievously and with greater offence to ⟨p. 237⟩the church, some less grievously, therefore the third part consisteth in the censure of our lives and actions: namely that every one be subject to the censure, 2all the time of his life, & yield unto brotherly correction. And if any have fallen into a grievous fault, known unto the congregation, and being reprehended, hath not truly repented, for which cause he may deserve to be driven forth of the church for a time, and to be bound, until he make amends, and till he make public signification to the church of his true repentance: let such a brother be excluded out of the church, and be bound: but when he hath repented, let him be loosed, received into favour, and admitted into his former communion. This is the first discipline, the end whereof is, that every one should live unto God, and at last also dye in the Lord Jesus.