A15880:206
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
Letter › ¶Three mo sorts of confession of since.Letter › ¶Thre mo sortes of confession of synnes.
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.
Thirdly, this private confession is chiefly needful to them that are tormented in their consciences,1 & are not fully persuaded that their since are forgiven them, by reason whereof they are half in desperation. These I say have much need of a discrete spiritual ⟨p. 83⟩physician to comfort them. For unless their weak faith be stayed and lifted up by some comfortable restoratives of the sweet promises of grace and mercy in Christ Jesus, it is to be feared, that their ghostly enemy Satan will shortly bring them to desperation, and finally to everlasting damnation. Therefore here the discreet soul physician will labour with tooth & nail to beat into this spiritual patients mind and remembrance the most sweet, plain and evident promises of God's aid and assistance to be alway ready to them that ask it in faithful prayer. Wherefore it is very needful to such weaklings in the faith, that are so sore bruised in con science, to make all the haste that they can possible to the herdsman of their souls, and plainly to open and acknowledge their grief unto him, desiring to hear of his mouth the comfortable promises of grace in Christ Jesus, to stay and lift up their weak & feeble consciences. S. James sayeth:2 Pray one for an other, that ye may be healed. For (sayeth he) the fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. If the prayer of one godly person ⟨p. 84⟩be of much value, then is the prayers of two good christians agreeing together in prayer for any godly purpose, of more value.3 For Christ sayeth: If two of you shall agree upon earth (for what thing so ever it be that they would desire) they shall have it of my father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the middest among them. Mark that Christ sayeth: If two of you shall agree upon earth &c. And where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I present among them. And I pray you is not this weak faithed person and his curate consulting of these matters gathered together in Christs name? If they be (as undoubtedly they are) then is Christ in company with them, by the assistance of his grace and presence of his godhead. Again if they two thus assembled do agree to pray together to God, for the increase and establishment of the faith of this spiritual patient, than sayeth Christ unto them thus: