A15877:60
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.
First whether we that follow this way of the gospel and the right use of the sacrament of thanks giving have ever instituted and ordered our living, that there can any good man hitherto doubt whether we ought not to be had in estimation and place of good & faithful men. Also whether that even from our cradles, have we ben so far from wit & lea•nynge, that all hope ⟨image 31⟩of erudition ought to be cast away from us: Surely yet do we of neither of these things glory nor boast our selves, when Paul himself affirmeth to be the same that he was by the grace of god. Notwithstanding yet if our life hath chanced to be a little prosperous and jocund, yet did it never fall to tarry in lust and shameless filthiness, neither yet did it degener into cruelness, pride, or contumacy so that the testimony of our living hath so astoned the counsels of our adversaries / that they have revoked & repelled them from their purposes against us. As for our learning and erudition although it be greater than our enemies either may bear resist or without conscience can cotnempne, yet is it far inferior in our opinion, than these that so fool hardly persecute us, judge it to be. But yet that we may attain unto our purpose, we have so laboured now not a few years and read both the scriptures and other humane letters, that what we now teach it is not unadvisedly nor rashly done, for we may lawfully praise the grace and gifts of god so liberally divided unto our congregations. Doubtless so have our congregations which hear the Lord by us, received the word of God, that now all lying and false ⟨image 31⟩dealing are repressed, pride and wantonness are broken, rebuking, chiding,1 & division are gone away from among us. Which all verily if these be not the fruits of the holy ghost, what else are they?
Fyrst whether we that folowe this waye of the gospell and the ryghte vse of the sacrament of thākes gyuyng haue euer insti•uted and ordred our lyuynge, that there can any good man hitherto doute whether we oughte not to be had in estimacion and place of good & faythfull mē. Also whether that euen from our cradles, haue we ben so far from wytte & lea•nynge, that all hope