A68595:580
A Brief and Pithy Sum of the Christian Faith
A brief and pithy sum of the Christian faith made in form of a confession, with a confutation of all such superstitious errors, as are contrary thereunto. Made by Theodore de Beza. Translated out of French by R.F.A briefe and piththie summe of the Christian faith made in forme of a confession, vvith a confutation of all such superstitious errours, as are contrary therevnto. Made by Theodore de Beza. Translated out of Frenche by R.F.
London: printed by Richard Serll, 1565
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.
Moreover this doctrine had been written in vain, if it were not preached and declared faithfully. And man cannot endure nor sustain the face of God or of Angels. And God having pity of the seed of man, in this point hath ordained and constituted Pastors and Teachers in his Church, by whom he willed that this doctrine should be faithfully declared and applied to the necessities of the Church publicly and particularly, that man should not allege any ignorance ⟨image 202⟩of the will of God.
Moreouer this doctrine had bene written in vayne, if it were not preached and declared faythfully. And man cannot endure nor sustayne the face of God or of Angelles. And God hauing pittie of the seede of man, in this poynt hath ordained and constytuted Pastours and Teachers in his Church, by whome he wylled that this doctryne shoulde be faythfully declared and applyed to the necessyties of the Church publykely and partycularly, that man shoulde not alledge any ignoraunce ⟨image 202⟩of the wyll of God.
Wherefore to the end I may comprehend all these things in few words, we learn by the mouth of the faithful Ministers of God, which declare his word to the church, all that we have heretofore declared to be necessary to understand our misery and our salvation. And for as much as when the word of God is preached unto man, it is as if they spake unto insensible stones, therefore we must know that as God worketh to the external senses by his word pronounced by his Ministers, even so he worketh inwardly by his infinite power, that is to say, by his holy spirit, whose office consisteth in these effects here following.
Wherefore to the ende I may comprehende all these things in few wordes, we learne by the mouth of the faithfull Ministers of God, which declare his woorde to the church, al that we haue heretofore declared to be necessarie to vnderstande our myserie and our saluation. And for as much as when the word of God is preached vnto man, it is as if they spake vnto insensible stones, therfore we must know that as God worketh to the external senses by his woorde pronounced by his Ministers, euen so hee worketh inwardly by his infinite power, that is to saye, by hys holy spirit, whose office consisteth in these effectes here following.