Concerning the holy Catholike Church , what is there needfull to bee knowne , which hath not beene most plentifully and plainely set downe by Augustine aswell in other places , as especially in his bookes against the Donatists , euen out of he foundations of the holy scriptures ? But it is a matter of great moment , to knowe what and where the true church of Christ is : being out of the church there is no saluation : and therefore it is an article of faith not of the least accompt .

About the points of the sacraments also , if a man will content himselfe with the simple truth : what is more euident then the doctrine which the auncient fathers , Iustine , Ireneus , Tertullian , Cyprian , and chieflie Augustine haue deliuered out of the scriptures and left vnto vs in their writings ? One saith : Like as Iesus Christ being by the word of God , made flesh , had flesh and blood : so also we haue learned that the foode hallowed by him , by the word of prayer and thanks giuing , is the flesh and blood of the same incarnate Iesus Christ : ( euen according to those words of Christ , This is my bodie : ) But Christ , that is , the worde was made flesh without anie chaunging of it selfe into flesh , but onely by a hypostaticall or personall vnion : therefore neither is the bread made the body of Christ , by any transubstantiation of it selfe into the body , but onely by an vnion , and that not a physicall or bodily , or hypostaticall , but onely a sacramentall vnion : Also he saith , by that foode , namely of the blessed bread , our blood and our body is nourished , by a certaine chaunging ( of it selfe namely into Christ : ) therefore that chaunge which is made in the supper , is not , of the bread into Christs body : nor of Christ into vs , but of vs into Christ , by reason of our ingrafting : as also wee reade in Augustine , that Christ should say , speaking of the receiuing of the Eucharist , I shal not be chaunged into thee , but thou shalt be chaunged into me . The same man saith : vnto this ( the foode of the Eucharist ) none is to bee admitted , but they that beleeue that our doctrine is true , being washed with the water of regeneration vnto remission of their sinnes , & so liuing , as Christ hath taught them . Therfore no infidells and heretikes : nor they which haue not receiued the baptisme of Christ : not they which liue in such apparent sinne and wickednes , that they giue no notice to the church of their amendment : are to bee admitted to the supper .

Another of them saieth , the eucharist consisteth of two matters : an earthly and an heauenly . The bread , though it be sanctified , yet he calleth it an earthly matter : why so ? because it comes from the earth , it existeth on earth , and is eaten with an earthly mouth : the body of Christ he calleth a heauenly matter , not because the substance of it is out of heauen , but partly because it is taken into vnitie of the person of the word , and partly because it is in heauen endued with heauenly qualities . For although in the hypostasie , which is the very word , it bee euerie where : yet in the owne proper essence , it is only in heauen , and not on earth . Whereupon it also followeth , that it is not eaten , either by earthly men , or by the teeth of an earthly body : but onely of those men , who being borne from aboue , do carrie the image of heauenly men & eate it in a heauenly manner , namely in soule & spirite . And yet notwithstanding the very bodies also of the faithful , while they eate onely an earthly matter , they also participate of a heauenlie matter , to their glorious resurrection , & are nourished by it : as the same author in that place very learnedly expoundeth .

I think that by this which I haue spoken out of the creede concerning foure principal partes of christian doctrine , your Hon. can well gather , [ such is your piety , learning & wisedome ) what is to be concluded concerning the whole body . The summe is this : that those bee the true churches of Christ , and therefore called of vs the truely defensed citties of Christs kingdom , which professing generally the sacred scriptures , and specially the catechisme in all places receiued : doe so reuerence the auncient church and auncient fathers , hauing therefore friendshipp and communion with them being now in heauen ; that neither in their opinions , nor yet in their expositions of the holy scriptures , they will easily decline from them : but onely then , whenas they bee forced to dissent , both by manifest wordes of the holy scriptures , and also by testimonies , and consequences beyond all doubt necessary , drawne from the principles of faith . This surely was counted for a notorious fault in Nestorius , and it is written to bee the cause of his vile heresie : that contemning the fathers , and trusting vpon his owne witt , he expounded the holy scriptures after his owne braine . What speake I of Nestorius ? yea that the same contempt of the fathers , and some confidence of their owne witts , and their owne learning , did cause diuers more besides , otherwaies verie notable men , to fall into sundrie heresies : I could easilie shewe out of the Ecclesiasticall histories and councells , if the breuitie of an epistle would suffer me . For whence I pray was it , that after that most holy councell at Nice , so many heretikes forth with arose : of whome some oppugned the true and euerlasting deity of Christ : others his true and perfect humanitie : others the true vniting of both the natures in one and the same person : others the true distinction of their natures & their proprieties ? hence surely , that contemning the determinations of the fathers in the Nicene councell , and their expositions vpon the holy scriptures : and trusting confidently to their owne witts , and puffed vp with humane knowledge and eloquence , they dared euery one to expound , yea indeed , to depraue & wrest the holy scriptures , and foundations of the faith , according to their owne fansies . Hereunto pertaineth that which Vigilius left written in his first booke of the causes of heresies against Eutyches : but they blow forth [ saieth he ] these smoakes of vaine accusations chieflie : because they are euen sicke of the infirmity of ignorance or disease of contention : and whilst they are gogged on with a fond conceite of minde , they despise the rules of faith deliuered of old by the fathers , onely for this cause , to bring in their owne conceited opinions of innouations into the church . Thus saith Vigilius . This that I say , is confirmed by the dispositions , imitations , and wordes of the sound fathers on the other side , who expounding the scriptures and the foundations of christian faith according to the determinations of the fathers of elder times , haue euer no lesse prosperously then faithfully defended the truth of christian religion , and preserued the same soundly confirmed in the church . To which purpose tend the wordes which they vse in their owne determinations : We therefore euery where following the determinations of the old fathers , and their rule : doe also determine the same , &c. Nothing then is more safe , then that euery man keepe himselfe within these churches , as in citties well fensed : wherein the holy scriptures are expounded , according to the analogie or rules of faith , and according to the receiued expositions of the auncient fathers : and consequently , which hold the same faith , that the Apostles did , and all the auncient church .

I haue spoken of the first duety of a christian man , which desireth to keep himselfe and his family safe from his enemies , vnto euerlasting life : namely , that he must retire himselfe into the defensed citties of Christs kingdome , and there constantly abide : vntill that at the last all enemies , being put to flight , by the glorious comming of our king , we may be safe and free in all places .

But without prouision of vitalls , who can long maintaine his life : our victual or sustenance , is the daily hearing , reading and meditation of Gods word , and the receiuing of the holy supper at appointed times : For by both these wee are nourished , strengthened and we liue : & that through Christ our life , whome they offer and giue vnto vs . He which eateth this bread ( taken either by the word , or by the sacraments ) shall neuer die . In the Acts : Christs disciples continued in the Apostles doctrine , and in breaking of bread , that is , in their common loue-feastes , in which the Lords supper vsed to be celebrated . And such heauenvly victuals are seeldome wanting in well defensed citties : yet except thou eatest and drinkest , and by that meanes preseruest thy life , what good will it do thee to be in a defensed cittie ? Thou must therefore frequent sermons : and receiue the sacraments , and imploye thy selfe in reading the holy scriptures .

3 It is very needefull also , that continuall praiers , both publike and priuate bee made vnto God , wherein we must aske those things , which the Lord Iesus hath commanded to be asked of his father , namely al things , which pertaine aswell to his glorie , as to our owne and our neighbors saluation : and that he would defend vs from all kinds of enemies , and keep vs safe in the trueth . In the day of tribulation shalt thou call vpon me , saieth the Lord . And is not then chiefly the day of affliction , when heresies do ouerspread and tyrants persecute the truth ? Then therefore chiefly is God to bee called vpon , and that by faith . And therefore the Apostle Paule saieth , Pray ye without ceasing : and Christ Iesus , yee must praye alwaies , and not bee wearie . And he that thus prayeth , and prayeth by faith , howe should he not obtaine ? wherefore God addeth by his Prophet , And I will he are thee . Aske and yee shall receiue , said also the Lord Iesus Christ : seeke and yee shall finde : knocke and it shall bee opened vnto you .

4 But how can it be , that men should there liue happily , and the cittie be preserued : where the cittizens among themselues keep no friendship ? therefore brotherly loue , peace and concord must bee kept : then which , nothing is sweeter , nothing more pleasing to God , and nothing can be more profitable for preseruation of the church : as contrariewise there is no thing , by which , churches and all societies are sooner brought to ruine : then enuie , then hatred , then grudgings , then enmities , then dissentions , then domesticall fallinges out : Doubtlesse there is no faith , where charity hath not place : sith true faith as the Apostle witnesseth , worketh by charitie . And brotherly loue hath euer bin a marke of true christians : Christ himselfe saying : By this shall men know that yee are my disciples , if yee haue loue one with another . This do the Acts of the Apostles teach vs , where Luke saith of the faithfull : they had one minde and one heart , namely in the Lord . And Tertullian reporteth in Apolog. cap. 39. that the Romanes were wont to say of the christians : marke how they loue one another . For by this brotherly loue , as by the true badge of christian religion , they would haue christians discerned from them that were no christians .

5 Further more how necessary the care of health is to all the cittizens liuing in such a citty , to defend them and theirs , and so the whole cittie against the enemies : was said a little before . By this spirituall health , I meane a good conscience : which as it springeth from faith , so also it preserueth faith , that it cannot quite decay : euen as the life of the body bringeth forth health : and health preserueth the body in life . Euerie one therefore must be carefull , that he keepe a good conscience . But by what meanes is it kept ? 1. after a due sorrow , by a sure trust , of the free forgiuenes of our sinnes which we haue committed , through Christ : Next , by a true amendment of life : that is , an earnest studie of auoiding sinnes afterward , and keeping the commandements of god lastly by a firme purpose , if by infirmitie we do fal , to rise againe , and to flie vnto Christ for pardon . By this meanes shall wee alwaies hold fast a good conscience . He that in this sort constantly looketh vnto his health : let him assuredly know , that the Lord will neuer suffer him , that he shall die at all : that is , that hee shall euer erre and goe astray vnto his last ende , in that doctrine which is necessary to his saluation . For the Apostle saith to Timothie : keepe faith and a good conscience , which while some haue cast aside , they haue made shipwrack concerning faith , that is , the doctrine of faith . They therefore which keepe fast a good conscience , shall neuer make a deadly shipwrack of the doctrine necessary to saluation : Seing God by his grace , indueth them , as with the treasure of a good conscience , so also with a perseuerance in the faith and with a heauenly gift of doctrine . The safest thing therefore , both at all times , and especially in this diuersitie of religions , is , by continuing in the churches , where the pure word of God is preached , and the assured foundations of the faith according to the expositions of the fathers , are retained , to imploye our selues in hearing the word of God , and receiuing the sacraments : to call vpon God : to haue friendship with our brethren , and to keep a good conscience to our selues .

6 But vnto all these things , how necessarie watchfulnesse is , who , vnlesse he bee vtterly vnskilfull in all things , knowes not ? where there is nothing at all to be feared , as in heauen : there is also no need of watchfulnesse : but they may and they ought to liue in great securitie . But where there want no theeues , robbers , intrappers , flatterers , couseners , traytors , enemies , and where all things are full of trecheries , there , howe pernicious and daungerous , securitie and retchlesnesse is , who is he , that knoweth not ? Therefore Christ Iesus foreseeing the euills which were at hand , saide to the Apostles , watch yee and pray , least yee enter into temptation . And Peter , Be sober and watch : because your aduer sarie the deuill goeth about , seeking whome he may deuoure . But what manner of watchfulnes is this , which the holie ghost requireth ? what it is to watch in all liuing creatures , euerie man doth know . Therefore a man , in that he is indued with a minde , is saide then to watch : when putting from him all retchlesnesse or carelesnesse of minde , and with open eyes , he looketh attentiuely , on the things set before him : and wiselie discerneth what be good , and what be euill , what be profitable , and what be hurtfull : that so his will , may reiect that which is to be reiected , and choose that which is to bee chosen : may eschew and driue away that which is to bee eschewed , and allowe and seeke after that which is to bee allowed . Wherefore shaking of the drowsinesse of all carnall securitie , we must watch : and wee must warilie take heede to our selues , and beware of the subtelties of the deuill , the inticements of the world and the flesh , and of doctrines and sophismes of heretikes . Take heede vnto your selues of false prophets , saith our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ , which come vnto you in sheepes cloathing , but inwardly are rauening wolues .

7 Now how can any man watch , that is loaden with surfetting and dronkennes ? therefore sobrietie is verie needfull . Wherevpon the Apostle Peter first said , Be yee sober , and after addeth , and watch : and Paule : let vs bee sober and watch . Sobrietie is cleane opposite to dronkennesse : and sobrietas sobrietie is saide as it were sine ebrietate without dronkennesse . By which word , is signified by a Synecdoche the very surfett or sickishnes of the stomack . For sobrietie is the moderate vse , not onely of drinke , but also of meate : that we should be contented with such & so much , as sufficeth for sustaining of nature , and preseruing of health . Wherefore the Lord Iesus , exhorting them vnto sobrietie , dehorted them aswell from surfeting as from dronkenes , saying , Ouercharge not your hearts with surfetting and dronkenes : euidently shewing in one word , howe pernicious and noysome a thing dronkennes is . For by it mens hearts are so ouerloaden , and pressed downe towards the ground : that they can neuer bee lifted vp , to call vppon God sincerely , to an earnest contemplation of heauenly matters , to an attentiue reading , hearing , & true knowledge of the holy scriptures , lastly , to a profitable consideration of the misteries of God , such as is the Lords supper : and they which are giuen ouer to this vice of dronkennes , are most vnapt for all exercises of piety . And howe many are there , which euen for their bellies lake , doe fall from the trueth ? So farre from them is it , either that they can or will watch against the enemies thereof , or take heede to themselues because of false prophets : that thus at length they must needes miserably perish . But farre larger and wider doth this christian sobrietie extend it selfe , of which the Apostle speaketh : Let vs , saith he , be sober and watch : that is , in the moderate vse , not onely of meates and drinkes , but also of all other things in this world . For God would not haue vs to be , as it were by sweet wines , dronken with the too much loue of riches , pleasures , honours , friendes , children , wiues , nay not of our owne liues : but they which haue wiues , to be , as not hauing wiues : they which weep , as not weeping : and they which reioyce , as though they reioyced not : and they which buy , as though they possessed not : and they which vse this world , as though they vsed it not , &c. Now , how needfull this sobrietie is , to the keeping first of faith and true religion : is seene by those , which for too much loue of this world & the things thereof , are wont to fal from the trueth : and others , which neuer thinke vppon amendment of life : & others , in some part , to whome God giueth some consideration : as Demas , of of whome the Apostle saieth , Demas forsooke me , louing this present world . And the Lord Iesus when he had said , Take heede , least your hearts be ouer loaden with surfeting and aronkennes : he added , of this other part of dronkennes : saying : And the cares of this life : and so that last day come vpon you . For whence are these cares , but of too much loue of this life ? but then there is a third kinde of dronkennesse , which is more pestilent then both the other , by how much more subtile it is , and pertaineth more to the minde then to the flesh : namely , a dronkennesse of carnall wisedome , vaine eloquence , and worldlie philosophie . For who so bee addicted to these , as to sweet and counterfeit wines , and therewith bee delighted , and trust vppon them : they then loathing the simplicitie of christian doctrine , will verie soone and easily make shipwracke of their faith : Of which thing the Apostle Saint Paule saieth : Beware least there bee any man that spoyle you , through philosophie and vaine deceit . For while wee goe about to measure with our carnall speculations , and rules of humane learning , the misteries of God , which the holy ghost hath deliuered vnto vs in a simple and plaine stile and methode : being ouer weighed with the diuine glorie , which we are not able to beare , we fall headlong into the deepe pitt of diuers heresies : as it happened to Arrius , Marcion and almost all the heretikes : seeing the wisedome of the flesh , is enmitie against God : and the fleshlie man doeth not perceiue , nor can perceiue the thinges that are of God : for they are foolishnesse vnto him . By this , which ( so much as the shortnes of an epistle maye suffer ) I haue spoken of the three sortes of dronkennesse : how necessary the contrarie sobrietie is , to resist the enemies , and to keep safe the treasure of diuine wisedome : as you , ( my noble Earle , ) doe verie well knowne , so I thinke there is none , but he may , if he will , vnderstand . What if I adioyned likewise , that blinde and too exceeding loue of our teachers and maisters ? wherewith we● are for the most part so dronken : that whatsoeuer is said and written by them , the same without all iudgement and proofe wee imbrace and hold with tooth and nayle , euen as the oracles of the holy ghost : contrary to the Apostles precept : Trye all thinges , hold that which is good . Let vs therefore bee sober , and watch .

8 Our weapons or armour moreouer , are not carnall , but spirituall , as the Apostle teacheth , and are of two sortes : some to defend our selues : and some vsed for offence of the enemies . Of the first sort , are , the helmett , brest-plate , girdle , and shield : of the other sort , the sword , and darts .

First therefore the head of the inward man , must bee armed with the helmet of saluation : that is , with the assured hope of saluation , which as it is already begunne in vs , through Christ by his onely grace , so it shall bee made perfect through him , by the same grace . For vnlesse he haue this assured hope , who can be able to stand in the battaile , and to continue the same ? The breast , where the vitall partes lye , must bee armed round about with the breast-plate of righteousnes I say , of righteousnes of faith especially and of a good conscience . For who is able to stand to coape with so many and so great enemies in the battaile : vnlesse he bee persuaded that God standeth his helper and fauourer by him : and doth from his heart hate iniquity , against which ; & loueth righteousnes , for which the battaile is begunne ?

We must haue our loynes girt about with the girdle of trueth : and our feete shodd with the knowledge of the gospell of peace : that is , it behooueth vs to bee so armed on all partes , with the knowledge , loue , and might of the trueth : that we must be euer ready and prepared , to fight for the gospell : holding in our left hand the shield of faith , wherewith we may receiue and quench all the fiery darts of the aduersarie : but in our right hand , the sword of the word of God , wherewith the enemie may bee driuen back and wounded . We shall indeed vse the shield of faith , if against al the sophismes and subtelties of heretikes , wee hold fast those principles of faith , whereof we spake , howsoeuer wee bee to seeke in refelling their fine and subtle quirks , & then haue we vse of the sword of the word , if we conuince the enemies by apparent testimonies of scriptures , and reasons drawne by necessary consequence from them ? to which purpose it preuailes not a little , if wee cast at the enemies , sharp pointed darts , & stinging arrowes out of the quiuers of the auncientest fathers : as also we see those laeter fathers themselues haue done , bringing forth the testimonies and arguments of their predecessors , against heretikes . We must therefore take vnto vs this whole complete armour of god , with earnest praier vnto him : that in these troublesome and euill daies , wee may be able to withstand so manie , diuers , and mightie enemies , and in the ende we may triumph ouer them .

9 To the preseruation of the cittie and safetie of each cittizen , howe needfull it is , that , the cittie being cleane voide of all the enemies fauourers , hirelings , close workers , and traytors , may liue the more safely and quietly : who , that hath any sight at all in things past and present , can be ignorant ? Therefore the church gouernors , and magistrats must take great care : that according to the Apostles discipline , it may heedfully be lookt vnto , what doctrine each one professeth , and what life he leadeth : & they which being taught and admonished will not amend : to let them bee made knowne to the whole congregation openly , & separated from the holy assemblies , and from the conuersation with the other faithfull : least by their contagion others should also be infected : or least ( as the Apostle saieth ) a little leuen marre the whole lump . But to euery of the faithfull , let such obstinate men , be as Ethnicks and Publicanes : and let this saying of Iohn bee kept , if any man come vnto you , bringing not this doctrine , namely , which the Apostles haue deliuered concerning the sonne of God , and concerning the foundations of christian religion : him receiue not into house , nether bid him , god speed . This discipline is perpetuall in the church : of which Tertullian in apolog. the 39 chapter speaketh . The magistrate further , is to punish by Gods commandement , according to the qualitie of their faults or blasphemies .

10 That which in the ende wee said concerning the last duetie of each cittizen : the same is also in this businesse which wee haue in hand , verie easie to bee knowne ; I would it were as easie to bee performed . Our faith therefore which we giue and promise in Baptisme must constantly bee kept vnto our prince Christ Iesus , to our last ende ; yea if need be , euen to the spilling of our blood and our liues . And therefore that doctrine , which by the writings of the Prophets and Apostles , by the manifest principles of faith , and also by common consent of the whole auncient church , wee knowe assuredly to bee the doctrine of Iesus Christ : the same wee must hold and keepe with a most constant faith , against all new opinions : neither must we onely keepe them in our mindes , but also freely confesse the same with our mouths , and openly professe that we will neuer bee willing to decline from the same : and so we must professe it , that vnlesse wee doe it , wee can hope for no saluation . For with the heart , it is beleeued vnto righteousnesse : but with the mouth confession is made vnto saluation . With God indeede , who seeth the hearts of men , onely faith shall bee sufficient : but with men , and for mens sake , the free confession and profession thereof is also necessarie . Hee which is ashamed of me before men : I will also bee ashamed of him before my father : said the Lord Iesus Christ . For we while we are in this world , must set forward the glorie of God , the name of Christ , and saluation of our neighbour : and it is meet that we should make knowne to the whole church , what manner of religion wee follow , and with what faith we are by Gods grace indued : that it may be euidently knowne who be the members thereof . Whereuppon the same Lord , stirring vs vp to this confession , added : He which confesseth me before men , him will I also confesse before my father . And therfore we must neither be allured by commodities to betray Christ , neither must we be skared , by threatnings and punishments , from free confessing of him : but rather fixing our eyes vpon the same Lord , the captaine and perfecter of our faith , who with a willing gladnes suffred the torment on the crosse , not caring for the reproch , & sitteth at the right hand of the throne of God , we must constantly runne out our purposed race . For he which endureth vnto the ende shal be saued .