12. W. BISHOP.
9. * 1.1 I beleeue the holy Catholike Church, the communion of Saints. First, where as there is but on Catholike church, as the Councel of Nice expresly defineth following sundry texts of the word of God; they commonly teach that there be two churches: one inuisible of the elect; another visible of both good and bad. * 1.2 Secondly, they imagine it to be holy, by the im∣putation of Christs holinesse to the elected Bretheren, and not by the infusion of the holy Ghost into the hearts of all the faith∣full. * 1.3 Thirdly, they cannot abide the name Catholike in the true sense of it: that is, they will not beleeue the true Church, to haue beene alwaies visibly extant since the Apostles time, and to haue beene generally spread into all countries; otherwise they must needes forsake their owne church, which began with Friar Luther, and is not receiued generally in the greatest part of the Christian world. Finally, they beleeue no Church, no not their owne in all points of faith: but hold that the true Church may erre in some principall points of faith. How then can any man safely relie his saluation, vpon the credite of such an vncertaine ground and erring guide? may they not then as well say that they do not beleeue the one Catholike Church: because they doe as well not beleeue it, as beleeue it? And as for the communion of Saints, their learned Masters doe commonly cassier it out of the Creed, and that not without cause. For by the Saints vnderstanding (as the Apostles did) all good Christans whether aliue or departed this world, they that deny praier to Saints, and for the soules in Purgatory, haue reason to reiect the com∣mon society and enter course that is betweene the Saints, and the mutuall honour and help which such good Christian soules doe yeeld and afford one to another.