A20920:98
Certain letters, translated into English, being first written in Latin. Two, by the reverend…Certayne letters, translated into English, being first written in Latine. Two, by the reverend…
Certain letters, translated into English, being first written in Latin. Two, by the reverend and learned Mr. Francis Junius, divinity reader at Leiden in Holland. The other, by the exiled English Church, abiding for the present at Amsterdam in Holland. Together with the confession of faith prefixed: where upon the said letters were first writtenCertayne letters, translated into English, being first written in Latine. Two, by the reverend and learned Mr. Francis Iunius, divinitie reader at Leyden in Holland. The other, by the exiled English Church, abiding for the present at Amsterdam in Holland. Together with the confession of faith prefixed: where vpon the said letters were first written
Amsterdam : Printed, in the year. 1602Amsterdam : Printed, in the yeare. 1602
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.
I marvel that the point of doctrine, or little book of your confession, beloved brethren, is sent over to me. I marvel that it was sent over to all the students of holy Scriptures in all Christian Universities; for if there be a certain consent of doctrine as you pretend it, truly I do not see what need there was, that you should set forth a new confession in this consent of holy and ancient doctrine. But if there be a dissension peradventure in the doctrine, or rather a difference, that in deed ought not to be dissembled, if so be that ye thought it necessary, that your doctrine should be declared.
I marvell that the point of doctrine, or little booke of your confession, beloved brethrē, is sent ouer to me. I marvell that it was sent ouer to all the students of holy Scriptures in all Christian Vniuersities; for if there be a certaine consent of doctrine as you pretend it, truely I do not see what need there was, that you should set forth a newe confession in this consent of holy and auncient doctrine. But if there be a dissention peradventure in the doctrine, or rather a differēce, that in deed ought not to bee dissembled, if so be that yee thought it necessarie, that your doctrine should be declared.
Besides, in that you send to me; yea that you send to public view, “your confession, I marvel, brethren, yea I greatly marvel, what your meaning should be, both in respect of the end and the fact. For if ye have set it forth to that end, that ye might purge your selves, I pray you brethren, wherefore do ye desire, to purge your selves with so many souls; who have not known you as yet to be accused; who can never take knowledge of the right or wrong of your accusation; and who are not called unto it by any lawful means? and (that which is worse) wherefore would ye have this done before so many“ deadly enemies to God and the Church, who thirst after nothing so much as the blood of the Church of God, and do rejoice that we undiscreetly make a publishing of these wounds: that they by these very wounds might spoil the Church, that precious body of Christ, of the blood of verity, and juice of charity? Finally, why do ye this before so many weak ones, who not yet knowing, that ye are borne (as I may so say) are offended, rather with a carcass like stink of schisms in the Church, before they know certainly the body whereunto they may cleave?