A15877:29
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.
Preface › Article 6: ¶The .vi. article.Preface › Article 6: ¶The .vi. artycle.
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 .vi. article.
¶The .vi. artycle.
¶ Of the church therefore, this is our mind.1 The church, is taken diversly in scripture: Sometime for these elect which by the will of god are predestinated and ordained unto life everlasting.2 Of which church Paul speaketh where he saith. It hath neither rimple nor spot.3 This church is only known unto god. For he after Solomon, only knoweth the hearts of men. Notwithstanding they that be the members of this church (when they have faith) they know themselves to be elect and the members of this first church. But the other members they know it not. Thus is it written in the Acts.4 And as many as ⟨image 14⟩were ordained unto everlasting life believed. They therefore that believe, are ordained to life everlasting. But who believe, no man knoweth but the self believer. This man therefore is assured himself to be the chosen child of god. For he hath the earnest penny of the spirit as saith the apostle: whereby he is betrothed and consigned to know himself very free and made the son of the family and not to be bond.5 For the spirit can not deceive. Which if he tell us firmly that god is our father,6 and that we so assured call him boldly father, being also certified that we shall go unto his everlasting heritage: then is it firm & fast that the spirit of the Son of God is poured into our hearts. It is therefore undoubted sure him to be the chosen child of God that thus is assured and persuaded of the spirit, for they that believe are ordained and predestined unto life everlasting. There were, & now be many elect, which as yet have not faith. As was Mary the mother of god, John, Paul, while they were yet infants & young: were they not elect? yea & that before the creation of the world. And yet their election knew they not neither by faith nor revelation. Matthew, zachena, the these, and Maudsē, were they not elect before the world