SAint Paule in the .x. to the Romaynes annexeth the faith of Christ in the hert wyth Confession of the mouth , Rom. x. so that the one ( it semeth bi him ) can be no more without the other , then fire can be without heat , saing these wordes : the hearte beleueth to iustice , the confession of the mouth is to saluation . wherin he declareth , that euen as the cause of our acception , through Christ is the confidence and faith of the heart in the promises of god : so is the confession outwardly of the same faith by mouth , the fruite that al christian faithful heartes bringe fourth throughe the same gifte of god , And wher as this effect of confession is not : there wanteth also the cause of confession , whiche is true faith . For as the tre is knowen bi hir fruites : so is faith bi hir effectes . And as the want of fruite , is a demonstration that the tree is vnprofitable : so the want of true confession of faith , is a token that the faith is dead , the ende of the vnprofitable tre is cutting down , and casting into the fyre . The ende of the fruitles faith is death , and casting to eternal damnation . wherfore S. Peter requiteth vs , Pe. iii to make answer to euery man , that demandeth of vs , of such hope as is in vs , with gentlenes & reuerence , which is a very testimony that we sanctify god in our hartes , as it is before in the same chap. For the greatest honour that man can geue to god : is to confesse and answer in the time of trouble , truly and faithfully to his holy word and faith . wherfore it is the dutie of euery christian , to prai & studie to haue a through knoledge of his faith in Christ and that as the glory of god shall require , and his religion attempt : to be redy to make answer for the same . whatsoeuer the world feare , displeasure , frendshippe , or other lettes should saie to the contrary : vpon paine saith Christ , that i will denie him before mi father , Mark viii Luke . ix·xii . which is in heauen . But how hard a thing it is to confesse Christ in the daies of trouble , not onely the Scripture but also daily experience in good men & women doth declare . True confession is enuironed on euerye side with mani daungers on the right hand & on the left hand , nowe with faire meanes , then with foul thretnings , fearful & dangerous as it is said by Christ , thei shal betraye you to the iudges , and of theim ye shal be beaten & iudged to death . On thother side , shal pul vs backe the loue of wife , children , brother sister , kindred , frinds , lands , & the loue vnto our selues , but he that is ouer come bi any of these meanes , Mat. x Luke . xiii . hath this iudgement , He is not mete for me saith Christ . These thinges are vnpossible vnto men , yet to christian men in Christ possible , & so necessary , that christianitie and true religion cannot be in him that is afraide to confesse Christe and hys gospel in the time of persecution . The wysdome of the world doth say : although i do accomplish the desire of my frindes , and to the sight of the world , am present at the masse , and with my body do as other men do : or as i mai do , yet my heart is clene contrary to their belefe , and I do detest such idolatry , and beleue that the thing that i am present at , is mere idolatri and abhomination . Here be fair wordes for an euill purpose , and a pretensed excuse for a iust condemnacion before god . For if it be true , ye know the thing ye resort vnto to be the dishonour of god : why do ye honour it with your presence ? If ye know it to be euil , why refrain ye not from it ? If your conscience say it is idolatry , why serueth your bodi such thinges as your faith abhorreth ? If in your heart ye knowe but one God , whi with your external presence serue ye the thynge that ye know is not god ? If your faith see idolatri , whi doth your silence confes & profes the same ? Two men in one , god loueth not . If the inward man know the truth , whi doth the outward man confesse a falshod ? If the spirit be persuaded that the masse is idolatri , esay . xxix . ezechi . xxxiii . Mat. xv whi doth the corporal presence vse it as god in doing godly honour to it ? Do ye not perceiue what is writen in Esaie and s. Mathew . This people honoure me with the mouth , but their hartes be far from me . The cause whi God was offended with this people , Math. xv . Esay . xix . Ese . xx . ●ii . was that outwardly thei confessed him , but their heartes were farre from him inwardly . wherof ye may se what it is to beare ii . faces in one hode , outwardly to serue god , and inwardly to serue the deuil . Now marke of this place . If it bee so horrible and damnable a thinge to be false in the hert , which none knoeth but God , & is worthi also of damnation , what is to be iudged of the outward & manifest vse of idolatry ? whiche not onely God , but also eueri good man knoeth and abhorreth . Ther is no coulered nor clooked hipocrisie that god can awaie with . If the hearte thinke not as the tonge speaketh , or elce the tonge speke otherwise then the heart thinketh , bothe be abhominable beefore god . Reade the .iii. and .vi. cha. of the first Epi of s. Paul to the Corin. wher as S. Paul saith : i. Corint . iii. & .vi. know ye not that your bodies be the temples of the holy gost , if your bodies be the temples of the holi gost , what agrement hath it with throughe thi knoledge , shall that weake brother perishe for whom Christ died . When ye sinne so against the brethren , and wound their weake conscience , ye sinne against Christ . This iudgement of s. Paull is more to be folowed , then al our owne fained and wrested defences that woulde seme to do wel , when we halt on both sides , which god abhorreth . Paull hath a profound and a deepe consideration of that mans fact , that hath knoledge , and perceiueth his dissimulation to be dangerus & perilous to all persons that he dwelleth withal First al such as be of a right & staied iudgement , & will not prostrate their bodyes to an idol , doth he condemne . Secondly , by their such dissimulation , the very idolaters them selues haue aconfirmation , and defence of their abhomination , by the ptesence of him , that the Christen congregation , knoeth to haue knolege . Thirdly , the weake sort , that wold gladly take the best waye , by a dissemblers halting and plaieng on both handes : embraceth both in bodye and in soule the euil that he abhorreth in his heart , that hath knowledge , & yet with presence honoreth it as other dooe , that haue no knoledge . If S. Paul said , that the weke brother doth perish for whom Christ died , in him that abused knoledge in meates and drinkes , that of themselues be indifferent , how much more in the knoledge of him that vseth manifest idolatry , forbidden of god , as a thing not indifferent ? Take hede therfore what s. Paul meaneth , & what he wolde proue against this manne that had knoledge , that nether the idol nor the meates dedicated to Idolles were anye thinge . Forsoth this he wold proue , that a poore man that wanted knoledge , by the example of him that hath knoledge , dothe auenture to do euil , which he wold not do , in case he saw not those of whom he hath good opinion go before him as author of the euil . And in dede when the ignorant people or those that be halfe perswaded in a truth , yea or else throwly perswaded , what is euil , yet when thei haue anye notable men or wemen for an example to followe . Thei thinke in following of theim , thei be excused : yea although peraduenture thei do it against their conscience , as ye may se by the example of Peter , Gala. ii . how mani good men began to dissemble : yea , Barnabas himselfe Th apostle of the Gentiles . But howe great offence this is before God , so to make a doubtful and relucting conscience to do any thing that is not godly : let the iudgement of men passe , and measure it by gods word . Christ saith : it were better a milstone were hanged about such an offenders neck , mat . xviii and caste into the sea . And doubtles , the pain must be the greater , because we geue offence wittinglie against our owne consciences , and this before God , is a wicked knoledge , that causeth another to perish . wo be to him that is learned , to bring his brother to destruction . Doth a christian manne know the truth to bring his brother to a lye ? for those weaklinges that we make to stumble , Christ died for , as S. Paule saith : God defende that we should confirme any mans conscience in euil . Let euery man of God weie with himselfe the Doctrine of s. Paule , that commaundeth vs to flie from idolatrye . And marke what s. Paule in that place calleth idolatry . It is to bee sene plainly , that he speaketh not of such idolatri , as men that lack knoledge in their hearts what God is , & what is not god . For in the .viii. chap. before , he saithe that menne knowe that the idols wer no gods , & that althoughe by name the Gentyles had mani gods : yet thei knew ther was but one God . Therfor he meaneth nothinge by this commaundement , flie idolatry , but to auoyd such rites , ceremonies & vsages as outwardly were vsed in the honor & reuerence of the idols , that wer not god . And weiing the right vse of the Lordes Supper , and the dignitie therof , with the maner & vse of the gentiles toward their gods : would bring the church of the Corinthians to vnderstand , how that as the deuine and sacred rites , ceremonies and vse of the blessed sacrament of Christes body & bloud did sacrate , sanctify and declare him that vseth it , to be the seruant and childe of god : so did the rites and sacramentes of the Gentiles define and declare the vses therof to be the seruauntes & children of the idolles , notwithstandinge in their hert , thei knew wel inough the idoll was nothing . God bi his sacramentes doth couple vs to him selfe . Let vs praye to him that we pollute not our selues , with any rites , ceremonies or vsages , not instituted by god . In this case a faythful man to be at the Masse , is to be considered with what mind those that there he accompanieth himself withal , commeth thither , and what the ende is of the work that the priest doth . The people come to honour the bread and wyne for god , and the prist purposeth to consecrate both god and man , and so to offer Christ to the father for remission of sinne . Nowe doe those that adioyne themselues vnto these people , professe and declare a sosietie and felowship of the same impietie , as s. Paul laid to the Corinthians charge . S. Paull was not offended with the Corinthians because thei lacked knoledge of the true God : ii . Cor. vi but because contrary to their knoledge , thei associated themselues with idolatores . For this is true ▪ that in all rites , sacramentes , and honoringes , whether thei be of God or of the Deuill , there is a profession of the communion : so that anye man protesteth to be of the same religion that the rest bee of that be partakers with him . I do knowe there bee manye inuasions made by men , that teach a manne with safegard of his conscience to be at Masse , but forasmuch as Master Caluin , Master Bullenger and others , haue throughly answered theim , suche as bee in doubt , may rede their bookes .

This is a true confession , and consonant to goddes holy worde .