A Brief and Pithy Sum of the Christian Faith

We do not put any part of our salvation in those things, that is to say, either in marriage, or virginity, either in flesh or fish, either to eat or not to eat^b: but we do stay and establish our selves in Jesus Christ only as hath been said afore. And as for good works wherein the Christians ought to ex•••yse them selves, they do far excel these aforesaid according as is commanded or forbidden in the two tables of the. •. commandments ^c▪ Yet notwithstanding we do commend and praise such things, as far forth as the spirit of God doth commend them to us. That is to wit as followeth. First we know that y• seat ⟨p. 118⟩of chastity resteth in the hart. And therefore let not those brag or boast of virginity, which do abstain from the outward act, but those in whom the natural concupiscence is so mortified, that they have no need of y• remedy of marriage^d. Secondarily, we know by the word of God, & by most evident experience, that continency is a special gift, which God giveth to those which seemeth good to him. And for as long time as it pleaseth him^e. Thirdly to abstain from marriage, is not a thing that of it self doeth make us acceptable to God, nor yet marriage. But he that is unmarried hath more leisure to execute the public or particular office that God hath given him, and in this respect we praise continency as a thing which serveth us to use our vocation better and none otherwise ^f▪

We do not put any part of our saluation in those things, that is to say, either in mariage, or virginity, either in fleshe or fyshe, eyther to eate or not to eate