Wherefore, wheresoever any discord,1 schism, or heresy is begun, it must needs follow, that there was first an unity, which is now divided by the Heretics: whereupon we must perfectly know what that unity is, which the Heretics so deuyde, by means whereof they take this their name. ⟨image 38⟩[…]true church of Christ, which putteth her trust only in god the father, through our lord Jesus Christ his son, by the power of the holy ghost. Yea also the sacraments of▪ Christ, Baptism, & the Supper of the Lord, serve to this purpose, by which the godly bind them selves to God, & mutually knit them selves together in love. And this therefore is that whole sum2 or unity, which being separated, maketh heretics. And we have examples hereof, in the ancient people of God, to whom God gave in commandment, that they should love him with all their hart, with all their soul, with all their strength, and therefore he included them into one church, gave them one law, made one covenant with them, instituted amongst them, one Tabernacle or Temple, one ark of covenant, one altar, Sacrifice and Priesthood. Yea their sacraments, that is to say Circumcision and the Passover, serve also to this unity, teaching them that they were all one people, under one God, & in one faith. And therefore he forbade them to worship or serve strange gods, that is to ⟨p. 28⟩say, to have in stead of God, or of a saviour, any thing whatsoever besides him self, who is the true and living God. He also forbade them to hearken after strange religions, or to worship him or offer Sacrifices unto him, in any other place but in it only, yea and after that sort, which himself had ordained. But Jeroboam king of Israel, did first manifestly, contrary to the ordinances of god: For first he separated the unity of the church into divers parts, and brought. x. tribes from the only temple, altars, priesthood, sacrifice, & brute them from the appointed & written service of God, built two ten ples after his own mind, in which he placed idols, built altars, & chose priests after his own will: whereof we may read in the first of Kings, in chap. 12. & 13. And this was the chefest heretic or divider of gods church▪ for the which oftentimes he was most sharply reproved by the word of God.
Wherfore, whersoeuer any discord,1 schisme, or heresie is begonne, it muste néedes followe, that there was first an vnitie, which is nowe deuided by the Heretickes: wherupon wée must perfectly know what that vnitie is, which the Heretickes so deuyde, by meanes whereof they take thys theyr name. ⟨image 38⟩〈…〉true church of Christ, which putteth hir trust only in god the father, through our lord Jesus Christ his son, by the power of the holy ghost. Yea also ye sacramēts of▪ Christ, Baptisme, & the Supper of the Lord, serue to this purpose, by which ye godly binde them selues to God, & mutually knit thē selues together in loue. And this therfore is that whole summe2 or vnitie, which being separated, maketh heretickes. And we haue exāples héereof, in the auncient people of God, to whō God gaue in cōmaundement, that they should loue him with al their hart, with all their soule, with all their strength, and therfore he included them into one churche, gaue them one lawe, made one couenaunt with them, instituted amongste them, one Tabernacle or Temple, one arke of couenaunt, one altare, Sacrifice and Priesthoode. Yea their sacramentes, that is to say Circū cision and the Passeouer, serue also to this vnitie, teaching them yt they were all one people, vnder one God, & in one faithe. And therefore he forbad them to worship or serue strāge gods, that is to ⟨p. 28⟩say, to haue in steade of God, or of a sauior, any thing whatsoeuer besides him selfe, who is the true and liuing God. He also forbad them to hearken after strange religions, or to worship him or offer Sacrifices vnto him, in any other place but in yt only, yea and after yt sort, which himself had ordained. But Jeroboam king of Israel, did first manifestly, cōtrary to the ordinances of god: For first he separated the vnitie of ye church into diuers parts, and brought. x. tribes frō the only temple, altars, priesthoode, sacrifice, & brue them frō the appoynted & written seruice of God, built two tē ples after his owne minde, in which he placed idols, built altars, & chose priests after his own wil: wherof we mai read in the first of Kings, in chap. 12. & 13. And this was the chefest heretike or deuider of gods church▪ for the which oftētimes he was moste sharpely reproued by the word of God.
- 1Where in the unity of Christs Church doth consist.Where in the vnitie of Christes Churche doth consist.
- 2An example of the breach of unity in the Church and faith.An example of the breach of vnitie in the Churche and faythe.
