A15877:23
The Reckoning and Declaration of the Faith
The reckoning and declaration of the faith and belief of huldrike Zwingli bishop of ziiryk the chief town of Helvetia, sent to Charles .v. that now is Emperor of Rome: holding a parliament or counsel at Ausbrough with the chief lords and learned men of Germany, the year of our Lord M.D.xxx. in the month of July.The rekenynge and declaracion of the fayth and belefe of huldrike zwyngly byshoppe of ziiryk the chefe town of Heluitia, sent to Charles .v. that nowe is Emproure of Rome: holdynge a parlement or counsayll at Ausbrough with the chefe lordes and lerned men of Germanye, the yere of our Lorde M.D.xxx. in the moneth of July.
printed by Richard wire, 1548printed by Richarde wyer, 1548
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.
¶The .iiii. Article.
¶The .iiii. Aarticle.
1Fourthly, I know that old Grandsire ou• first parent was through that love of him self hitherto brought (the devil, through envy enticing and ministering that pernicious counsel) that he desired to be like unto god. This great crime / when he had committed it: he did eat that forbidden and deadly apple whereby he became guilty death / now made the enemy of his own God. This man therefore when god might now by his justice have utterly lost and damned him: yet of his merciable goodness he toke a more easy way with him, that is to wit, he changed this deadly everlasting pain of both body & soul into a transitory condition or state: that is, he made him but a bond servant whom he might have perpetually said in torments.2 This bond condition of servitude, sith neither the man himself, nor yet any man, borne of him may avoid and take away (for what can the bond man beget but a bond man) he threw & thrusted all his posterity through the deadly taste of the apple also into bondage. And here this is my mind as touching Original sin: sin is called verily that that is committed against the law. For where as is no law, there is no transgression, & where as is no transgression,3 there is no sin properly so called, taking sin for that iniquity, crime, ungodliness, ⟨image 10⟩actually committed & guilty death. I knowledge therefore that ou• first parent sinned that actual and original sin which is verily sin, iniquity, crime & ungodliness. But they that are borne of him sinned not like manner to Adam. For which one of us his posterity devoured & eat any forbidden apple in paradise? wherefore we must needs grant,