A15877:49
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 .x. article.
For the tenth, I believe the office of interpreting scriptures or preaching to be right holy, as an office among all to be most necessary. For to speak orderly we see among all men the outward preaching of the apostles ⟨image 27⟩and Evangelists or bishops to have had gone before the faith / which faith we ascribe only unto the holy ghost. For we see (alas) a great many hearing the outward preaching of the gospel, but they believe it not: which cometh for lack of the spirit. whither so ever therefore these preachers be sent, there is it a token of the grace of God, that he will make the knowledge of him manifest unto his elect and chosen.1 And unto whom these preachers be denied, there is it an evident token of his wrath to be at hand, as every man may gather of the prophets and of the example of Paul which was sometime forbidden to go to some men / & in the mean reason called and sent to other men. Yea both laws and princes may have no greater a present help to defend the common justice then by preaching.2 For in vain is it commanded that, that just is, unless they unto whom it is commanded have a consideration of that at Just is, and so love equity & minister the same. And unto this love and consideration do the preachers as ministers prepare & excite mens hearts, but the spirit is as the author both of the teacher & also of the hearer These manner of ministers which teach comfort, fear, & take cure faithfully overseeing ⟨image 28⟩and visiting the people of Christ with the word, we acknowledge reverence and embrace But this office which baptiseth / and in the supper do hear about & distribute the body and blood of the Lord (for thus we call the holy bread and wine of the supper / even the thing signified for the sign) visit the sick and feed the pore with thy riches, and in the name of the congregation, yea and these ministers also which read, interpret scriptures, teach and instruct other or profess that they them selves or other might be so informed and taught that in time to come may be very pastors and true curates over the congregation we love,