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The account reckoning and confession of the faith of Huldrik Zwinglius bishop of Zuryk…The accompt rekenynge and confession of the faith of Huldrik Zwinglius byshop of Zuryk…Huldrych Zwingli, 1555

¶The fourth Article.

pp. 13–187 passages

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.

:74p. 13

¶The fourth Article.

:75p. 13

Fourthly, I know that that great grandfathers father, our first father Adam through self love, by the subtle suggestion, wicked temptation and envious counsel of the devil, was allured to this point, to covet to be made like unto God. And when he had committed that sin, he tasted of the forbidden and most dangerous fruit,¹ whereby he fell into the fault and guiltiness of most horrible death and damnation, made thereby the stubborn adversary and enemy of his God. Wherefore wham God might of equity and right have utterly destroyed him, yet being most gracious Lord unto him, he changed his everlasting pain and punishment into a state, that is, to make him a bond servant, whom he might have worthily punished with everlasting death and utter destruction.

FOurthly, I knowe that that great graundfathers father, our fyrst father Adā through selfe loue, by the subtyle suggestion, wycked temptacion and enuious coūsel of the deuel, was allured to thys pointe, to couet to be made lyke vnto God. And when he had committed that synne, he tasted of the forbydden and moste daungerous frute,¹ wherby he fel into ye faute and gyltinesse of most horrible death and dampnacion, made therby the stubburne aduersarie and enemye of hys God. Wherfore whā God myght of equitie and ryght haue vtterly destroyed hym, yet beyng moste graciouse Lorde vnto him, he chaunged his euerlastynge payne and punyshment into a state, that is, to make hym a bond seruaunt, whome he myght haue worthelye punyshed wyth euerlastyng death and vtter destruccion.

1Of original sin.Of originall synne.

:76p. 13–14

:77p. 14–16

That is truly called sin, which is committed against the law: for where no law is, there is no transgression. And where no transgression is, there is no sin, as sin is properly taken, that is, so far as sin is a deed, a fault, an act or offence. Therefore I acknowledge that our first father sinned a sin, that is sin in deed, that is to say, an act a fault, and a detestable thing. But they that are borne of him have not sinned after that manner. For which of us have bitten with our teeth and eaten the forbidden fruit in Paradise? Wherefore will we nil we, we are compelled to grant that original sin as it is in the children of Adam, is not properly sin, as it is now declared, for properly it is not an act or deed committed against the law. But it may properly be called, a byrthsore, a natural sickness & ⟨p. 15⟩disease, and also it may be called a sinful state and condition. A disease it is, for as he of self love fell, so we also fall It is also a sinful state or condition: for like as he by his sin was made bond and subject to death, so we also are borne bond, the children of wrath, and subject to death. Al be it I pass nothing if this disease and condition after Pauls manner be called sin, yea it is such a sin, that who so ever are borne in it are the enemies & adversaries of God: for hither the sinful state of our birth draweth us, and not the actual committing of offence, except so far as our first parent hath committed it once. Therefore the very cause of enmity & death is the sin and offence committed of Adam,¹ and that is verily sin. But this sin which cleaveth to us in our conception is verily a natural disease & a sinful state, yea a necessity of dying. Notwithstanding that never should have ben by birth only, had not offence first defiled the birth. Sin therefore is the cause of mans misery, and not the birth. But of birth it is none otherwise, than of it that followeth of the fountain and principal ⟨p. 16⟩cause. The confirmation of this sentence is grounded both upon authority and example,² Paul speaketh thus: If by the sin of one,³ death reigned by the means of one: much more they (which receive abundance of grace, and of the gift of righteousness) shall reign in life by the means of one, that is to say, Jesus Christ. Here we see that sin is properly taken.

That is truly called synne, whych is cōmitted against ye lawe: for where no lawe is, there is no transgression. And where no transgression is, there is no synne, as synne is properlye taken, that is, so far as synne is a dede, a faute, an acte or offence. Therfore I acknowlege that our fyrst father synned a sinne, that is sinne in dede, that is to say, an acte a faute, and a detestable thynge. But they that are borne of hym haue not synned after that maner. For whyche of vs haue bytten wyth our teeth and eaten the forbydden frute in Paradice? Wherfore wil we nyl we, we are cōpelled to graunt that original synne as it is in the children of Adam, is not properly synne, as it is nowe declared, for properly it is not an acte or dede cōmitted agaīst the lawe. But it may properly be called, a byrthsore, a naturall sycknesse & ⟨p. 15⟩disease, and also it may be called a sinful state and cōdicion. A disease it is, for as he of self loue fel, so we also fal It is also a synful state or condicion: for lyke as he by his synne was made bond and subiecte to death, so we also are borne bond, the childrē of wrath, and subiecte to death. Al be it I passe nothynge yf thys disease and condicion after Paules maner be called syn, yea it is suche a synne, that who so euer are borne in it are the enemies & aduersaries of God: for hither the synful state of our byrth draweth vs, and not the actual cōmittynge of offence, excepte so farre as oure fyrst parent hath cōmitted it once. Therfore the very cause of enmitie & death is the synne and offente committed of Adā,¹ and that is verely synne. But this syn whych cleaueth to vs in our concepcion is verely a natural disease & a synfull state, yea a necessitie of dyenge. Notwythstandyng that neuer shulde haue ben by byrth onely, had not offence fyrst defyled the byrth. Synne therfore is the cause of mannes mysery, and not the byrth. But of byrth it is none otherwise, than of it that foloweth of the foūtayne and principall ⟨p. 16⟩cause. The confirmacion of this sentence is grounded both vpon authoritie and exēple,² Paule speaketh thus: Yf by the synne of one,³ death reygned by the meanes of one: muche more they (whyche receyue abundaunce of grace, and of the gyfte of ryghteousnes) shal raigne in lyfe by the meanes of one, that is to saye, Iesus Christ. Here we se that synne is properly taken.

1Sin is the cause of mans misery.Synne is the cause of mannes miserie.
2Roman. 5.
3AuthorityAutoritie

:78p. 16–17

for this one, is Adam, through whose fall death hangeth over our necks. Again the same Paul sayeth: All have sinned and have need of the glory,¹ that is, the goodness & liberality of God. Here sin is taken for the disease, state and birth, that we all are said to sin, yea before we are poured out into this light, that is, we are in the state and condition of sin and death, yea before we sin in act or deed, which sentence unavoidably is again strengthened by these words:² Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them also which had not sinned with like transgression as did Adā. Lo, death is upon us, albeit we have not sinned like as Adam did. Wherefore? For he sinned in deed, but seeing ⟨p. 17⟩we have not sinned after the manner, why doth death devour us? For he is dead because of sin, and being dead, that is, judged to death, he hath begotten us. Therefore we also dye, but through his fault, and by our own sinful state and disease, or if thou wilt, by sin, but taken unproperly.³ The example is such: one taken prisoner in battle, by his untruth, disloyalty & enmity hath well deserved to be a bondman. They that are borne of him, that is, the bondman's children are made bond, not by fault, act or offence on their behalf, but by state & condition, which followed the fault: for their father of whom they were begotten, had deserved that by offence. The children have not the offence, but the punishment & penalty of the offence, that is, the state or condition, the bond dage and prison. If ye lust to call these things offence, because they are executed and ministered for offence, I forbid you not. To be short.

for this one, is Adam, throughe whose fall death hāgeth ouer our neckes. Agayne the same Paule sayeth: All haue synned and haue nede of the glorie,¹ that is, the goodnes & lyberalytie of God. Here synne is taken for the disease, state and byrth, that we al are sayd to synne, yea before we are powred out into thys lyght, that is, we are in the state and condicion of synne and death, yea before we synne in acte or dede, whyche sentence vnauoydably is agayne strengthned by these wordes:² Neuerthelesse death raigned from Adam to Moses, euen ouer them also which had not synned wyth lyke transgression as dyd Adā. Loo, death is vpon vs, albeit we haue not synned lyke as Adam dyd. Wherfore? For he synned in dede, but seyng ⟨p. 17⟩we haue not synned after ye maner, why dothe death deuoure vs? For he is dead because of synne, and beynge dead, that is, iudged to death, he hath begottē vs. Therfore we also dye, but thorowe hys faute, and by our owne synfull state and disease, or yf thou wylt, by synne, but takē vnproperly.³ The exēple is suche: one takē prisoner in battel, by his vntruth, disloyaltie & ennemitie hath well deserued to be a bondmā. They that ar borne of him, that is, the bondmannes children are made bond, not by faute, acte or offence on theyr behalfe, but by state & condicion, whych followed the faute: for theyr father of whome they were begotten, had deserued that by offence. The chyldrē haue not ye offēce, but the punyshment & penaltie of the offence, that is, the state or condicion, the bō dage and prison. Yf ye lust to cal these thynges offence, because they are executed and ministred for offence, I forbyd you not. To be short.

1Roman. 3.
2Roman. 5.
3Example. The state springheth of the fault.Exemple. The state sprīgheth of the fawte.