A15880:80
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.
That is truly called sin, which is committed against the law: for where no law is, there is no transgression. And where no transgression is, there is no sin, as sin is properly taken, that is, so far as sin is a deed, a fault, an act or offence. Therefore I acknowledge that our first father sinned a sin, that is sin in deed, that is to say, an act a fault, and a detestable thing. But they that are borne of him have not sinned after that manner. For which of us have bitten with our teeth and eaten the forbidden fruit in Paradise? Wherefore will we nil we, we are compelled to grant that original sin as it is in the children of Adam, is not properly sin, as it is now declared, for properly it is not an act or deed committed against the law. But it may properly be called, a byrthsore, a natural sickness & ⟨p. 15⟩disease, and also it may be called a sinful state and condition. A disease it is, for as he of self love fell, so we also fall It is also a sinful state or condition: for like as he by his sin was made bond and subject to death, so we also are borne bond, the children of wrath, and subject to death. Al be it I pass nothing if this disease and condition after Pauls manner be called sin, yea it is such a sin, that who so ever are borne in it are the enemies & adversaries of God: for hither the sinful state of our birth draweth us, and not the actual committing of offence, except so far as our first parent hath committed it once. Therefore the very cause of enmity & death is the sin and offence committed of Adam,1 and that is verily sin. But this sin which cleaveth to us in our conception is verily a natural disease & a sinful state, yea a necessity of dying. Notwithstanding that never should have ben by birth only, had not offence first defiled the birth. Sin therefore is the cause of mans misery, and not the birth. But of birth it is none otherwise, than of it that followeth of the fountain and principal ⟨p. 16⟩cause. The confirmation of this sentence is grounded both upon authority and example,2 Paul speaketh thus: If by the sin of one,3 death reigned by the means of one: much more they (which receive abundance of grace, and of the gift of righteousness) shall reign in life by the means of one, that is to say, Jesus Christ. Here we see that sin is properly taken.