It is called the christian & Apostolical church, because it is grounded & built by the blessed Apostles, upon the true rock, & that only everlasting foundation Jesus Christ, in the which foundation also, it is preserved, reedified and increased by the doctrine of the apostles, as we may learn by S. Paul 1. Cor. 3. Eph. 2. &. 4. 1. Pet. 2. And here is to be noted, that as the Israelites did believe Moses, (it is to say) did believe the doctrine & commandments which he brought to them from God: even so the christians believe the true church. Paul also calleth it the pillar and foundation1 of truth, because she heareth the voice only of her pastor Jesus Christ, & not the voice of any stranger. Nether is ⟨p. 3⟩it believed because it is the church only, it is to say the congregation or fellowship of men, but because it is the church of Christ & heareth only his eternal truth, preserveth, confesseth & teacheth the same: and for this cause she is called the pillar & foundation of truth. Wherefore we believe the church for Christs sake, and for his truth and doctrines sake, which by his faithful ministers is taught in the same. Neither ought any man to believe in the2 church: because she is collected of men, & therefore is of the order of things created. And it is manifest that God abhorreth all those which trust in men. Jerem. 17. wherefore this preposition, •n, is joined in the. xij. Articles of our faith, only to the three persons of the holy Trinity. For we confess that we believe in God the father, in his only begotten son, and in the holy ghost. Furthermore, Cyprian and other holy fathers do excellently teach in their interpretations of the Creed, that we must believe there is an holy church, but not to believe in the church. And therefore do we not teach any new thing, but that which the fathers before us, have themselves most plainly & diligently taught.
It is called the christian & Apostolical church, bicause it is grounded & built by ye blissed Apostles, vpō the true rock, & that only euerlasting foundation Jesus Christ, in ye which foundation also, it is preserued, réedified and increased by the doctrine of thapostles, as we may lerne by S. Paul 1. Cor. 3. Eph. 2. &. 4. 1. Pet. 2. And here is to be noted, yt as the Israelites did beléeue Moses, (yt is to say) did beleue the doctrin & commaundements which he brought to thē frō God: euen so the christiās beléeue the true church. Paule also calleth it the piller and foū dation1 of truth, bicause shée heareth the voice only of hir pastor Jesus Christ, & not the voice of any stranger. Nether is ⟨p. 3⟩it beleued bicause it is the church only, yt is to say ye congregation or felowship of mē, but bicause it is the church of Christ & heareth only his eternal truth, preserueth, confesseth & teacheth the same: and for this cause shée is called the piller & foūdatiō of truth. Wherfore we beleue the church for Christes sake, and for his truthe and doctrines sake, which by his faithfull ministers is taught in ye same. Neither ought any mā to beléeue in the2 church: bicause she is collected of men, & therfore is of ye order of things created. And it is manifest that God abhorreth all those which trust in men. Ierem. 17. wherfore this preposition, •n, is ioyned in the. xij. Articles of our faith, only to ye thrée persones of the holy Trinitie. For vve confesse that vve beleeue in God the father, in his only begotten sonne, and in the holy ghost. Furthermore, Cyprian and other holy fathers do excellently teach in their interpretations of the Créede, yt we must beleeue there is an holy church, but not to beleue in the church. And therfore do we not teache any new thing, but that which the fathers before vs, haue themselues most plainly & diligētly taught.
- 1Howe the Church is believed.Hovve the Churche is beleeued.
- 2We must not believe in the Church.Wee muste not beleue in the Church.
