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AS there is but one onely Iustyce by imputation for the whiche we be estéemed, and holden for rygh∣teous before God, & be consequent saued that is to say, by the righteousnes of Ie∣sus Christe, whiche is declared to vs in the gospell. So is there but one meane to be ioyned & vnited with Iesus Christe
for to haue saluation in hym, that is to we••e fayth, which is an assuraunce that all Christiās ought to haue of their elec∣tion & saluation by the onely grace and goodnes of God, in Iesus Christ. Fayth and assuraunce is created, and dayly en∣creased by the vertue of the holy ghoste, within the hartes of the electe, by the meane of preachinge the worde of God, and the ministration of the sacraments, as wée haue amply and largely declared in the thyrde and fowrth poyncte of this confession. So then this fayth is as the hande, which onely doth receyue and ap∣prehende Iesus Christe to the saluation of him that beleeueth. It followeth that those doo take awaye all meanes of sal∣uation from men, which dyrectly stryue and fyght againste this doctrine, not knowinge them selues what fayth is, muche lesse can they declare it to others. For according to theyr doctrine, fayth is no other thinge than to beléeue in gene∣rall, that which is contayned in the holie scriptures to be true, & that the Romish
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Church as they call it, cannot erre, what soeuer they saye or doo. Notwithstan∣ding, concerning the fyrst of these two poyntes, it is forbydden to translate the Scriptures into the mother tongue, and to reade it, to knowe what is contayned therein, to the ende it maye bée knowen what it is that they do beléeue, except he be a Doctour or a man of the Church, as they cal them. And so by this means it is folly to permyt the greatest part of their priests to reade it. For cōsider the grea∣test parte of them cannot scarcely reade it truly. And of those which cā reade, yea euen the greatest Prelates, (setting a∣syde those whiche haue not muche more knowledge of Christes doctrine, than beasts which féede in the fielde, and those which passe not greatly for it, in exercy∣sing them selues rather in other things than in their vocation, & namely mocke it with open mouthe) I beléeue the rest shalbe found maruelous few. Notwith∣stāding according to their own doctrine al this is not without faith, although he
knowe not what he beleeueth, and what may happē of this. Certainly y• which Ie¦sus Christ said, if the blind lead the blind both falleth into ye pyt. Here ye may sée ye heauē, whether this which they cal faith may bring vs vnto. But ther is yet more for namely they say & maintain (so sham∣les are they) y• to be assured of electiō & sal¦uatiō in Iesus christ, & to pray wt al trust & assurance, as saith s. Iames is a presūp¦tion: but to trust in good workes as they cal thē, & to stay & wait vpon whatsoeuer they teach of their own brain, this is no presūption after their doctrin, but a true & catholike deuotion. Behold the 2. point of theyr fayth, y• is to wete, to beleue al y• which séemeth good to them, & not so har∣dy to enquire whether y• be according to ye scripture or no. Now y• reason why, for sooth, because whosoeuer hath a Myter & a crosse, can neuer erre in the fayth. And aboue all the Pope, yea although he led into hel soules by cartloads (as themsel∣ues are not ashamed to declare by wry∣ting to theyr Cannons) reuersyng and
ouerthrowing the worde of God and all the auncient counselles? But who shall beleeue them, but he that wyll be decey∣ued willingly? Looke what was prophe∣sied by the Apostles of them, and ye shall see it as cleare as the Sunne in a fayre day come to passe.