A17219:56
Questions of religion cast abroad in Helvetia by the adversaries of the sameQuestions of religion cast abroad in Helvetia by the aduersaries of the same
Questions of religion cast abroad in Helvetia by the adversaries of the same: and answered by M. H. Bullinger of Zurick: reduced into .17. common places. Translated into English by John Cox. 1572Questions of religion cast abroad in Helvetia by the aduersaries of the same: and aunswered by M. H. Bullinger of Zurick: reduced into .17. common places. Translated into Englishe by Iohn Coxe. 1572
London: printed by Henry Bynneman for George Byshop, 1572London: printed by Henrie Bynneman for George Byshop, 1572
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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 Answer.
The Answere.
IT behoveth in this place to use some distinction. For the congregation of the saints which are in heaven (although we behold them with-the eyes of our faith, & desire to be coupled with them in the rest & joy which they possess) yet are they invisible to the faithful which live here on the earth touching the bodily sight. Furthermore, •ith God alone knoweth the harts, & that he only knoweth who are faithful, and who not, and because many do boast them selves to be faithful, which notwithstanding are nothing so, but are mere hypocrites, which thing none seeth but God alone, yea and because many times men judge those to be wretched •inners, and abjects from God, which ⟨p. 14⟩yet nevertheless are not separated from him, but are better affected in their heart towards God than we do know, and are also known to him only: therefore in respect hereof also the church of Christ is called invisible. Again because the universal church of Christ can never be gathered together that we may wholly see it before the la••e day and judgement of our Lord Jesus Christ, it is also called invisible. But she is not called invisible, as though s•e were not at all: for we do willingly confess, that upon this earth the church of Christ is visible also. For it is evident that the congregations of the Corinthians▪ Ephesians, Philippians. &c. are called of Paul the church, and we know also that every one of those faithful in those churches were visible, although yet nevertheless the spirit & those spiritual gifts which they had were invisible, but when they showed forth them selves by the exercises of sundry virtues. But what needed this question? Or what profit cometh thereby to the faithful? Truly it tendeth o th end: