Fourthly, we beleue and confesse concernyng iustification, that as it commeth onelye from Goddes mercye throughe Christ, so it is perceiued and had of none which be of yeres of discretion, otherwyse thē by faith onely, which fayth is not an opinion, but a certayne persuasion wrought by the holy ghost in the mynde & heart of man, where throughe as the mynde is illumined, so the heart is soupled to submyt it selfe to the wyll of god vnfaynedly, and so sheweth forth an inherent ryghteousnesse, which is to be discerned in the article of iustification, from the ryghteousnesse whiche God endueth vs withall, in iustifying vs, although inseperablye they goe together. And this we do not for curiositie or contention sake, but for conscience sake, that it might be quiet, which it can neuer be, if we confound without distinctiō, forgeuenesse of synnes, and Christes iustice imputed to vs, with regeneration and inherent ryghteousnesse. By this we disalow Papisticall Doctrine of free wil, of workes of supererogation, of merites, of the necessitie of auricular Confession, and satisfaction to Godwardes.
[Back to Top]Fiftly, we confesse and beleue concernynge the exteriour seruice of God, that it ought to be according to the worde of God, and therfore in the congregation all thynges publike oughte to be done in suche a tongue as maye be moste to edifye, and not in latin, wher the people vnderstande not the same.
Sixthly, we confesse and beleue that God onely by Christe Iesus is to bee prayed vnto & called vppon, and therefore we disalowe inuocation or praier to Sainctes departed this life.
Seuenthly, we confesse and beleue, that as a man departeth this lyfe, so shall he be iudged in the last day generally, and in the meane season is entred eyther into the state of þe blessed for euer, or damned for euer, and therfore is either past all helpe, or els nedeth no help of any in this life, by reason whereof we affyrme Purgatorye, Masses of Scala cœli, Trentalles, and suche Suffrages as the popish churche doeth obtrude as necessarye, to be the doctrine of Antichrist.
[Back to Top]Eightly, we confesse and beleue the Sacramentes of Christe, which be Baptisme and the Lordes Supper, that they ought to bee minystred according to the institution of Christ, concerning the substantiall partes of them. And that they be no longer Sacramentes, then thei be had in vse, and vsed to the ende for þe which they wer instituted.
[Back to Top]And here we playnely confesse that the mutilation of the Lordes Supper, and the subtraction of one kinde from the laye people, is Antichristian.
And so is the doctryne of Transubstantiation of the Sacramentall bread and wine after the wordes of consecration as they be called.
Item, the adoration of the Sacramente, with honoure due vnto God, the reseruation, and confirmation of the same.
Item, the Massse to be a propitiatory sacryfice for the quick and dead, or a work that pleaseth god.
All these we confesse and beleue to be Antichristes doctrine, as is the inhibitiō of Maryage as vnlawfull to any state. And we doubte not by gods grace, but we shal be able to proue all our confessions heare to be most true by the veritye of gods worde, and consent of the Catholike church, whiche foloweth, and hath folowed the gouernaunce of goddes spirite, and the iudgement of his worde.
[Back to Top]And this through the Lordes helpe we wyll doe, eyther in disputation by worde, before the Queenes highnesse, and her Counsayle, either before the Parliamente houses, of whome we doubt not but to be indifferently heard, either with our pennes, whensoeuer we shalbe therto by them that haue autoritie requyred & commaunded: In the meane season as obedyente subiectes we shall behaue our selues towardes all that be in autoritie, and not cease to praye to god for them, that he woulde gouerne them all, generally, and particularly with the spirit of wisedome and grace. And so we heartely desire, and humbly praye all menne to doe, in no poynt consenting to any kynde of rebellion or sedition agaynst oure Soueraigne Ladye the Quenes highnesse, but where they cannot obey, but they muste disobey god, there to submitte themselues with all patience and humylitie to suffer as the wyll and pleasure of the higher powers shall adiudge: As we are ready throughe the goodnesse of the Lorde to suffer whatsoeuer they shall adiudge vs vnto, rather thē we wil consēt to any contrary doctrine thē thys we heare confesse, vnlesse we shalbe iustly conuinced therof, ether by writing or by word, before suche iudges as the Queenes highnes and her counsayle, or the Parliament houses: For the Vniuersities and Clergy haue cōdemned our causes already by the bigger, and not by the better part, withoute all disputation of the same. And therefore moste iustly we maye, and doe appeale from them to bee oure iudges in this veritie, except it may be in writynge, þt to all men the matter may appeare. The Lord of mercye endue vs all with the spirite of hys truthe and grace of perseuerance therein vnto the ende. Amen. The 8. of May. An. Do. 1554.
[Back to Top]Robert Menauen alias Robert Ferrar. Rowlande Taylor. Iohn Philpot. Iohn Bradforde. Ioannes Wigorn & Glouc. Episcopus, alias | Ioannes Hoper Edwarde Crome. Iohn Rogers Laurentius Saunders. Edmunde Lawrence. I. P. T. M. |
☞ To these thinges aboue said, do I Myles Couerdale, late of Exon, consent and agree with these my afflicted brethren, being prysoners, with mine own hand.