Actes and monuments of matters most speciall and memorable, happenyng in the Church. [vol. 2, part 2] with an vniuersall history of the same, wherein is set forth at large the whole race and course of the Church, from the primitiue age to these latter tymes of ours, with the bloudy times, horrible troubles, and great persecutions agaynst the true martyrs of Christ, sought and wrought as well by heathen emperours, as nowe lately practised by Romish prelates, especially in this realme of England and Scotland. Newly reuised and recognised, partly also augmented, and now the fourth time agayne published and recommended to the studious reader, by the author (through the helpe of Christ our Lord) Iohn Foxe, which desireth thee good reader to helpe him with thy prayer.

¶A true Copy of the Confession of Patricke Patingham sent out of Newgate to cer∣tayn of his frends.

I Patricke Patingham, being condemned for the veritie of Gods trueth that is to say in confessing of one God,* 1.1 which was the creatour of all things visible and inuisible and also that he made those by his sonne, whome he hath made heyre of all thinges. And also I confesse, that he is the onely begotten sonne of God, in whome we haue re∣demption, euen the forgeuenes of sinnes. And also in con∣fessing Gods most holy Church, being builded vpon the foundation of the Apostles, and Prophetes Iesus Christ being the head corner stone. In whome sayth S. Paule euery building coupled together groweth to an holy tem∣ple in the Lord, in whome I beleeue I am builded toge∣ther as a member and made an habitation for God in the spirite. And also I confesse that Christ is the head of the holy Church, as S. Paule sayth, and that God is Christs head.

And also I had x. articles that is to say agaynst theyr wicked traditions and commaundementes whiche they vse, whiche are agaynst the commaundementes of God, whereof they did condemne me not suffering me to speake in the consistory house, but condemning me not my cause heard. But yet I did protest vnto them, that their Church or synagogue is of Sathan, that is to say, Sathan beyng the head thereof. Furthermore, my friend or friendes vn∣known, I haue receiued your letter and red it ouer, wher∣in you say that I am in a blasphemous errour. In deede frends I confesse, that it is an error. If you will make my beliefe, that is to say, that Christ is the sonne of the liuyng God, to be an errour, and to beleeue that there is one god as S. Paule saith, and one mediatour betwixt God and man, euen the man Christ Iesus. And although there bee that are called Gods, whether in heauen or in earth, as there be Gods many and Lordes many, yet vnto vs is there but one God which is the father, of whome are all things, and we in hym, and one Lord Iesus Christ, by whom are all thyngs, and we by him. I beleeue that there is but one Lord, one fayth, one Baptisme, and one God in all, and aboue all, and thorough all, which onely God as S. Paule sayeth, worketh in all creatures that beleeue in him, and speaketh in them as S. Paule sayeth: God in tymes past diuersly and many wayes spake vnto the fa∣thers by prophets, but in these last daies he spake vnto vs by his sonne whom he hath made heire of all thyngs. My friend or friends, be it known vnto you, that this is no er∣rour as ye suppose, but it is the truth of Gods will, that we should beleeue as S. Iohn sayth: That Christ Iesus

is the sonne of the liuing God, and in so beleeuyng wee should haue euerlasting lyfe. Thus with loue I write vnto you, praying God night and day to deliuer you frō euill which is in you, and to keepe you from it. Wherefore my friend or friendes, you are not crucified with Christ, you are not dead with him as concerning sinne, you are not graffed with him in Baptisme, nor you know not god nor his sonne whome he hath sent, nor his commaunde∣ments which he hath commaunded, and yet will ye teach other, with most hearty prayer praying to God for you continually.

Patrike Patingham.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Referre this to the page. 1686.