We could in this place recite infinite authorities and testimonies of the scripture, and of the fathers: but we have said many things already of this matter heretofore. And there is no need to rehearse many testimonies unto him, which knoweth wherefore Christ was given unto us / and which knoweth that Christ is the mercy stock for our since. Isaiah saith, The lord hath laid on him the iniquities of us. Our adversaries do teach the contrary, that god doth lay our iniquities not on Christ, but on our own works. Neither it lusteth me here to tell what manner works they teach. We do see an horrible decree to be made against us, which should fear us a great deal more, if we did strive about doubtful or trifling matters. But now for as much as our consciences do understand and know, that our adversaries condemn the manifest truth, the defence whereof is necessary to the hole church / and doth amplify and set forth the glory of Christ: we easily despise all terrors ⟨image 152⟩and punishments of the world, and with a bold mind we shall abide and suffer, if any thing is to be suffered for the glory of Christ, and for the utility of the church. For I pray you who would not be glad to die in the confession of these articles, that we do freely obtain remission of since by faith for Christs sake, and that by our works we do not merit remission of since? The consciences of godly men shall have no sure and strong consolation against the terrors of sin and death, and against the devil, tempting and provoking to desperation: if they do not know, that they ought to be assured, and to decree with them selves, that they have remission of sins freely for Christs sake. This faith holdeth up, comforteth, and quickeneth hearts in that most sharp battle of desperation. This is therefore a cause worthy, wherefore we should refuse no manner jeopardy. Thou therefore, whosoever thou be, that dost agree and assent to our confession: shrink not for any persecutions or punishments / step forth the more boldly, when the adversaries go about with fears, with torments, with punishments to take from the this so great consolation, which is offered and propounded to all the hole church in this our article. If thou seekest, thou canst not lack testimonies and authorities of scripture, which shall establish thy mind.
We coulde in this place recite infinite authorities and testimonies of the scripture, and of the fathers: but we haue sayd many thynges alredye of this matter heretofore. And there is no nede to reherse many testimonies vnto hym, whiche knowethe wherfore Christe was gyuen vnto vs / and whiche knoweth yt Christ is ye mercy stocke for our synnes. Esaie sayth, The lorde hath layde on hym the iniquities of vs. Our aduersaries do teache the cōtrary, that god dothe laye our iniquities not on Christe, but on our owne workes. Neyther it lustethe me here to tell what maner workꝭ they teache. We do se an horrible decree to be made agaīst vs, whiche shulde feare vs a greate dele more, if we dyd stryue aboute doubtfull or tryflynge matters. But nowe for asmoche as our consciences do vnderstande and knowe, that oure aduersaries condempne the manifeste truthe, the defence wherof is necessarye to the hole churche / and dothe amplifie and set forth the glorie of Christ: we easyly despise al terrours ⟨image 152⟩and punyshementes of the worlde, and with a bolde mynde we shall abyde and suffre, if any thyng is to be suffred for the glorie of Christ, and for the vtilitie of the church. For I pray you who wolde not be gladde to die in the cō fession of these articles, that we do freely obteyne remission of synnes by faythe for Christis sake, and that by our workꝭ we do not merite remission of synnes? The consciences of godly men shal haue no sure and stronge consolation agaynste the terrours of synne and deathe, and agaynst the deuyll, temptyng and prouokynge to desperation: if they do not knowe, that they oughte to be assured, and to decree with them selues, that they haue remission of sinnes freelye for Christis sake. This faythe holdeth vp, cōforteth, and quickeneth hartes in that moste sharpe batayle of desperation. This is therfore a cause worthy, wherfore we shulde refuse no maner ieoperdy. Thou therfore, whosoeuer thou be, that doste agre and assent to our confession: shrynke nat for any persecutions or punyshementes / step forthe the more boldly, when the aduersaries go aboute with feares, with tormentes, with punyshmentes to take from the this so greate consolation, whiche is offered and propouned to all the hole churche in this our article. If thou sekest, thou canste nat lacke testimonies and authorities of scripture, whiche shal establishe thy mynde.
