The science of the Scripture is practical and not speculative; it requireth a doer and not a speaker only. There be many that dissemble faith, and have a certain show of religion, when indeed in the inward man there is no faith at all. Let every man therefore search his own conscience, with what faith he is endued, and remember that Christ said, "It is a strait way and narrow that leadeth to life (Matt. vii.), and but a few that walk therein." Therefore our only remedy is to pray for grace and amend. ́Printed in Zurich by Augustine Fries, GODLY CONFESSION AND PROTESTATION OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH. MADE BY JOHN HOOPER. WHEREIN IS DECLARED WHAT A CHRISTIAN MAN IS BOUND TO BELIEVE OF GOD, HIS KING, HIS NEIGHBOUR, AND HIMSELF. "The heart believeth to justice, confession by the mouth is to salvation." Rom. x. Imprinted at London by John Day, dwelling over Aldersgate, A. D. 1550. VOL. V. A GODLY CONFESSION, &c. DEDICATION. To the most virtuous and mighty Prince Edward the Sixth, our most redoubted Sovereign Lord, King of England, France, and Ireland, defender of the faith, and in earth, next and immediately under God, the supreme head of the churches of England and Ireland and also to the most wise, godly, and honourable Lords of his Highness's Privy Council, and unto the rest of the most wise, godly, and learned assembly of all the Honourables and others appointed to be of His Majesty's most high and godly court of Parliament; I, John Hooper, his most humble, loving, and obedient subject, wish all grace and peace from God, with long, godly, and most prosperous reign over us in all godly knowledge, honour, health, and perpetual felicity. The wise man Cicero (most gracious and mighty Prince) saith, that he doth not only wrong, that by violence oppresseth wrongfully another man; but also he that defendeth not (if it lie in his power) the wrongs offered, and is no less faulty than though he had forsaken parents, friends, or country. The same doctrine practised he in defence and propulsing the injuries and wrongs attempted wrongfully against Milo by the friends of Clodius, as it appeareth by his eloquent and facundious oration made for that purpose in the senate of Rome. The same kind of injuries other godly men in the Scriptures of God have always, according to the law, eschewed: for it is written; "If a man see his neighbour's ass fall under his burden, or his ox to go astray, his neighbour is bound to help them both, the ass from burden, and the ox from his straying." The same practised Abraham, when he perceived his nephew Lot oppressed with the wars of the infidels, propulsed and revenged the injuries, and set his nephew at large and liberty. Even so be there two sorts of people, that two sorts of ways do injuries and wrongs unto the soul and conscience of men. The one of them by force or subtilty defraudeth them from the truth and perfection of God's words, as heretical and superstitious ministers. The other, at such time as they should with prayer, diligence, and preaching, defend the people of God from such injuries and wrongs, are negligent or dumb. The which kind of injury doubtless the Lord God Almighty will at length grievously revenge. Therefore against this kind of injury, he spake unto the Prophet Ezekiel: "If I purpose to send a plague upon the people, and thou give them not warning thereof, I will require their blood at thy hand." The same said he unto St. Peter: "Feed my lambs," "feed my sheep." And unto all the Apostles he said, "Make ye all Gentiles my disciples." And St. Paul, fearing to fall in the danger of the second kind of doing wrong, in saving the wrongs of false religion from the church of Christ, said, "Wo be unto me, if I preach not." Upon the consideration of the premises, seeing all things be written for our doctrine, I have thought it good to write and set forth this confession and protestation of my faith, submitting myself and my faith also most humbly to be judged by your Majesty, your most honourable council, with the godly assemblance of your Majesty's most high court of Parliament, according to the word of God: that by this means I may avoid the pain and danger due unto all them that neglect or omit the injuries and wrongs that may happen and chance by sinister report, and |