A15880:31
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.
When I had in latin red the notable confession of the faith of that excellent learned man Huldrik Zwinglius, I considered (if it were turned ⟨image 9⟩into English) that it would be both profitable & comfortable to a great multitude of my country folk, namely to them that are but younglings and weak in knowledge of true religion, whereof some perchance are in prison already for the gospel sake, and some shall hereafter be called before the Magistrates to give a reckoning of their faith:1 whereunto if they shall be required, there is no remedy, but openly and plainly to confess with their mouths, what they believe with their hearts, unless they will forsake Christ and his open truth, and so (which God forbid) run into the hazard of eternal damnation. Therefore they must unfeignedly say with S. Paul: I believe, and therefore I speak. For undoubtedly, if ever we look to be saved, the plain and open confession of the mouth must necessarily go with the right belief of the heart, though dreadful death should immediately follow. Do believe with the heart justifieth (sayeth S.2 Paul) but to knowledge with the mouth maketh a man safe. S. Peter likewise voucheth the same, saying:
Whan I had in latin red the notable confession of the fayth of that excellent learned mā Huldrik Zwinglius, I cōsydered (yf it were turned ⟨image 9⟩into Englyshe) that it wolde be both profitable & confortable to a great multitude of my contrey folke, namely to them that are but yongelinges and weake in knowlege of true religion, wherof some perchaunce are in pryson already for the gospel sake, and some shall hereafter be called before the Magistrates to gyue a rekening of theyr faith:1 whervnto yf they shalbe requyred, ther is no remedy, but openly and playnly to confesse wyth theyr mouthes, what they beleue wyth theyr hertes, vnlesse they wil forsake Christ and his open truthe, and so (whych God forbyd) runne into the hasarde of eternal damnaciō. Therfore they muste vnfaynedly saye wyth S. Paule: I beleue, and therfore I speake. For vndoutedly, yf euer we loke to be saued, the playne and open confession of the mouthe muste necessarelye go wyth the ryghte belefe of the herte, thoughe dredful death shulde immediatli folowe. Do beleue with the herte iustifieth (sayeth S.