A15880:156
The account reckoning and confession of the faith of Huldrik Zwinglius bishop of Zuryk…The accompt rekenynge and confession of the faith of Huldrik Zwinglius byshop of Zuryk…
The account reckoning and confession of the faith of Huldrik Zwinglius bishop of Zuryk the chief town of Helvetia sent unto Charles the fifth now Emperor of Rome, holding a counsel with the most noble princes, estates and learned men of Germany assembled together at Augsburg. 1530. in the month of July. Translated out of latin by Thomas Cotsforde. And imprinted at Geneva. In April. 1555.The accompt rekenynge and confession of the faith of Huldrik Zwinglius byshop of Zuryk the chief towne of Heluetia sent vnto Charles the fyfte nowe Emperoure of Rome, holdynge a counsel wyth the moost noble princes, estates and learned men of Germany assembled together at Ausburgh. 1530. in the moneth of Iuly. Translated out of latyn by Thomas Cotsforde. And imprinted at Geneua. In April. 1555.
printed by Egidius Van der Erve, 1555
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 .xi. Article.
Eleventh. I know that the Magistrate rightly chosen & admitted is God's lieutenant aswell as the preacher. For as the preacher is the minister of the heavenly wisdom and goodness, as he that faithfully teacheth and rebuketh sin and error: so the Magistrate is the minister of goodness and righteousness. Of goodness, that with faithfulness and temperance like unto God he may both hear and see unto the causes, matters and businesses of his people. Of righteousness, that he may repress, hold down, break and punish the boldness of the wicked: and support maintain and defend the innocents. If a Prince have these gifts, I believe that his subjects need not be afraid of his conscience. If he lack them, and yet for all that will show himself terrible and to be feared, I believe that his conscience by no means ⟨p. 55⟩can be discharged therefore, because he is rightly chosen and admitted. But yet also I believe that a christen man ought to obey such a tyrant, unto such an occasion as Paul speaketh of: If thou mayst be free, rather use it. Which occasion nevertheless I believe to be showed of God only,1 & not of man, and that not obscurely, but as openly as Saul was abject, and David taken to be his successor. And as touching paying of tribute and custom for our defence, I utterly think as Paul doth. Rom. 13.
ELeuenth. I knowe that the Magistrate ryghtly chosen & admitted is Goddes lieutenaunt aswel as the preacher. For as the preacher is the minister of the heauenly wysedome and goodnes, as he that faythfullye teacheth and rebuketh sinne and errour: so the Magistrate is the minister of goodnes and ryghteousnes. Of goodnes, that wyth faythfulnes and temperancie lyke vnto God he may both heare and se vnto the causes, matters and busynesses of his people. Of righteousnes, that he may represse, holde downe, breake and punyshe the boldnes of the wycked: and support maintayne and defende the innocentes. Yf a Prince haue these gyftes, I beleue that hys subiectes nede not be afrayed of his conscience. Yf he lacke them, and yet for al that wyll shewe hymselfe terrible and to be feared, I beleue that his cōsciēce by no meanes