Marginalia1555. March.But maister Thomas Causton answered againe, and said: No, I wyl not abiure. For I came not hither to that purpse: and therewithal he did exhibite in writing vnto the Bishop (as well in his owne name, as also in Thom. Higbeds name) a confession of their faith,MarginaliaM. Causton and M. Higbed do exhibite a confession of their fayth. to the whiche they would stand: and required leaue to reade the same, whiche (after great suite) was obteined, and so he read it openly in the hearing of the people, as foloweth.

MarginaliaThe confession of M. Causton.1 FIrst, we beleue and professe in Baptisme, to forsake the Deuyll and his workes & pompes, and MarginaliaAbrenouncing of the world.the vanities of the wicked worlde, with all the sinfull lustes of the fleshe.

MarginaliaThe articles of the Creede2 We beleue al the articles of our Christian faith.

MarginaliaThe commaundementes.3 We beleue that we are bound to keepe Gods holy wyl and commaundements, & to walke in the same all the dayes of our life.

MarginaliaThe Lordes prayer.4 We beleue that there is conteyned in the Lords prayer all thinges necessary both for body and soule, and that we are taught therby to pray to our heauēly father, and to none other saint or angell.

MarginaliaThe Catholicke church.5 We beleue that there is a Catholike Church, euen the Communion of Saintes, Built vpon the foundation of the Prophets and Apostles (as saint Paul saith) Christ being the head corner stone. For the which Church Christ gaue hym selfe, to make it to hym selfe a glorious congregation, without fault in his sight.

MarginaliaThe Church of it selfe is sinfull by imputation righteous.6 We beleue that this Church, of her selfe, and by her owne merites is sinfull, and must nedes say: Father, forgeue vs our sinnes: but through Christe and his merites, shee is freely forgeuen: For he in his owne person (saith saint Paul) hath purged her sinnes, and made her faultles in his sight. Besides whom there is no Saueour (sayth the Prophete) neither is there saluation (saith saint Peter) in any other name.

MarginaliaChrist onely our mediatour.7 We beleue, as he is our onely Saueour, so is he our onely Mediatour. For the holy Apostle saint Paul sayth: There is one God, one Mediatour betwene God and man, euen the man Iesus Christ. Wherfore seeing none hath this name, God and man, but Iesus Christ, therfore there is no Mediator, but Iesus Christ.

MarginaliaThe condition of the Church to be persecuted.8 We beleue that this Churche of Christ is and hath bene persecuted, by the woordes of Christ, saying: As they haue persecuted me, so shal they persecute you: For the disciple is not aboue his maister. For it is not onely geuen vnto you to beleue in Christ (saith saint Paul) but also to suffer for his sake. For all that wyll liue godly in Christ Iesu, must suffer persecution.

MarginaliaThe Church onely is directed by Gods word neyther adding nor taking fro.9 We beleue that the Churche of Christe teacheth the woorde of God truely and sincerely, puttyng nothing to, nor taking any thing fro: and also doth minister the sacraments according to the Primitiue Church.

MarginaliaThe true church forbiddeth none to reade the scriptures.10 We beleue that this Churche of Christ suffereth all men to reade the Scriptures, according to Christes commaundement, saying: Searche the Scriptures: for they testifie of me. We reade also out of the Actes, that when saint Paul preached, the audience dayly searched the scriptures, whether he preached truely or no. Also þ^e Prophet Dauid teacheth all men to pray w^t vnderstandyng: For how shal the vnlearned (saith saint Paul) say, Amen, at the geuyng of thanks, when they vnderstand not what is said? And what is more allowed, then true fayth, which saint Paul sayth, commeth by hearing of the word of God?

MarginaliaGod onely to be worshipped after his word.11 We beleeue, that the Church of Christ teacheth that God ought to be worshipped accordyng to his woorde, and not after the doctrine of men: For in vaine (saith Christ) ye worship me, teaching nothyng but the doctrine of men.

MarginaliaGods precepts to be folowed, and not the constitutions of men.Also we are commaunded of God, by his prophete, saying: Walke not in the traditions and preceptes of your Elders: but walke (saith he) in my preceptes: do that I commaunde you: put nothing therunto, neither take any thyng from it. Likewise (saith Christ) you shal forsake father and mother, and folowe me. Wherby we learne, that if our Elders teach otherwise then God cōmaunded, in that point we must forsake them.

MarginaliaThe Lordes supper is not to be chaunged from the institution of Christ.12 We beleue that the Supper of the Lord ought not to be altered and chaunged, for as much as Christ hym self being the wisedome of the Father, did institute it. For it is written: Cursed is he that chaungeth my ordinaunces, and departeth from my Commaundements, or taketh any thing from them.

Nowe, we find by the scriptures, that this holy supper is sore abused.

MarginaliaThe Lords supper how many wayes it is abused.First, in that it is geuen in one kynd, where Christ gaue it in both.

MarginaliaThe secōd abuse.Secondly, in that it is made a priuate Masse, where Christ made it a Communion: for hee gaue it not to one alone, but to all the Apostles, in the name of the whole Churche.

MarginaliaThe thyrd abuse.Thirdly, in that it is made a sacrifice for the quicke and the dead, wheras Christ ordeyned it for a remembraunce of the euerlasting sacrifice, which was his owne body offered vpon the aultar of the Crosse once for all, as the holy Apostle saith: Euen the ful and perfect pryce of our redemption: and where there is remission of sinne (saith he) there is no more sacrifice for sinne.

MarginaliaThe 4. abuse.Fourthly, in that it is woorshipped contrary to the commaundement, saying: Thou shalt worship nothing that is made with handes.

MarginaliaThe 5. abuse.Fiftly, in that it is geuen in an vnknowen tongue, wherby the people are ignorant of the right vse therof, how Christ dyed for our sinnes and rose againe for our iustification, by whom we be set at peace with God, and receyued to his fauour and mercy by his promise, wherof this sacrament is a sure seale and witnes.

MarginaliaThe 6. abuse.Besides this, it is hanged vp and shut in a boxe: yea many tymes so long, that wormes breedeth in it, and so it putrifieth: wherby þ^e rude people haue an occasion to speake vnreuerently thereof, which otherwise woulde speake reuerently.

Therof they that thus abuse it, bryng vp the sclaunder and not we, whiche pray dayly to God to restore it to the right vse, according to Christes institution.

Nowe, concerning Christes wordes: This is my body, MarginaliaChristes wordes: Hoc est corpus meum, not denyed, but expounded.we deny thē not, but we say, that the mynd of Christ in thē must be searched out by other open scriptures, wherby we may come to the spirituall vnderstanding of them, whiche shal be moste to the glory of God. For as the holy Apostle saith: There is no scripture that hath any priuate interpretation. Besides this, the scriptures are ful of the like figuratiue speaches: as for example, Christ saith: MarginaliaThe phrase of scripture expounded by other phrases.This cup is the newe Testament in my bloud. The rocke is Christe, (saith saint Paul.) Who soeuer receyueth a childe in my name (saith our saueour Iesus Christ) receyueth me.

Which sētences must not be vnderstand after the letter, lest we do erre, as the Capernaites dyd, which thought that Christes body should haue ben eaten with their teeth, when he spake of the eating therof. Vnto whom Christe said: Suche a fleshly eating of my body profiteth nothyng: it is the spirite (saith our saueour Iesus Christ) that quickneth: the fleshe profiteth nothyng: for my woordes are spirite and life.

Thus we see that Christes wordes must bee vnderstanded MarginaliaThe wordes of the sacrament ought to be taken spiritually, and not literally.spiritually, and not literally. Therfore he that commeth to this worthy supper of the Lord, must not prepare his Iawe, but hys hart: neither Tooth nor Belly: but Beleue (sayth S. Augustine) and thou hast eaten it: so that we must bring wyth vs a spirituall hunger.MarginaliaChrist is to be eaten spiritually. And as the Apostle saith: Trye and examine our selues, whether our conscience do testifie vnto vs, that we do truely beleue in Christe, according to the Scriptures: whereof if we be truely certified, being new borne from our old conuersation in hart, mynd, wyl, and dede, then may we boldly with this mariage garment of faith come to the feast.

In consideration whereof wee haue inuincyble Scriptures, as of Christ him selfe: This do in the remembraunce of me. And S. Paul: As often (saith he) as ye eate of this bread, and drinke of this cup, ye shall remember the Lordes death vntyll he come. MarginaliaThe substance of bread not chaunged.Here is no chaunge, but bread styll. And s. Luke affirmeth the same. Also Christ hath made a iust promise, saying: Me you shall not haue alwayes with you. I leaue the world, and go to my father: for if I should not depart, the comforter which I wyl sende, can not come vnto you. So according to his promise he is ascended: as the Euangelistes testifie. Also saint Peter saith: That heauen shal keepe hym vntyl the last day also.

Nowe, as touching his omnipotent power, we confesse & say w^t S. Augustine, that Christ is both God & man. In that he is God, he is euery where: but in that he is man, MarginaliaChristes body but in one place at once.he is in heauen, and can occupie but one place: whereunto the Scriptures dooth agree. For his body was not in al places at once, when he was here: for it was not in the graue when the women sought it, as the Angel saith: neither was it at Bethania where Lazarus died, by Christes owne wordes, saying: I am glad I was not there. And thus we conclude with the scriptures, that Christ is in his holy supper sacramentally and spiritually in al them that worthily receyue it, and corporally in heauen, both God and man.