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Author: Bèze, Théodore de, 1519-1605.
Title: A briefe and piththie summe of the Christian faith made in forme of a confession, vvith a confutation of all such superstitious errours, as are contrary therevnto. Made by Theodore de Beza. Translated out of Frenche by R.F.
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Print source: A briefe and piththie summe of the Christian faith made in forme of a confession, vvith a confutation of all such superstitious errours, as are contrary therevnto. Made by Theodore de Beza. Translated out of Frenche by R.F.
Bèze, Théodore de, 1519-1605., Fills, Robert, fl. 1562.
Printed at London: By Richard Serll, dwelling in Flete lane, at the sygne of the halfe Eagle and the Key, [1565?]
Alternate titles: Confessio Christianae fidei. English
Subject terms:
Theology, Doctrinal -- Early works to 1800.
URL: https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A68595.0001.001
How to cite: For suggestions on citing this text, please see Citing the TCP on the Text Creation Partnership website.

Table of Contents
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title page
The principall poynctes treated in thys confession.
To the ryght ho∣norable and vertuous Lord, the Lord Hastinges, Earle of Huntington. &c. Robert Fyll, vvysheth long lyfe with increase of honour in the feare of God. Amen. (∴)
This vvhole Worke or confession consisteth of .vij. principall poinctes. The first number signifieth the article. The second the leafe.
The Printer to the Reader.
¶ Certaine textes of the new Testament by the which euery faythfull christian is exhor∣ted to render a confession of their aith before men.
❧ Theodore de Beze. to the Church of the Lord, grace and peace in him.
treatise
Of the trinitie. The first point.
The first Article of the vnitie of God.
2. Of the Trinitie of persones distinct in one vnitie of substaunce.
3. Of the eternall prouidence of God.
Of God the Father. The ii point.
section 1
. Hovve the father is creatour and pre∣seruour of all thinges.
3. Of the creation of Angels.
4. The vvorkes of the Trinitye are inseperable.
Of Iesus Christ the only sonne of God. The thirde poynt.
The first article of the diuinity of the Sonne.
2 The sonne onely mediatour betvveene god and his elect eternally ordained.
3. God is perfectlye iuste and mecyfull.
4. God is immutable.
5. The councell of god dothe not exclude the seconde causes.
6. Man vvas created to declare the Iustice and mercy of god.
7. vvhye it vvas necessarye that the firste man shoulde be created good and pure.
8. It vvas necessarye that man should fal from his puritie.
9 Hovv God hath created men good.
10 Hovve man broughte himselfe vvith all hys posteritie culpable of the first and second death.
xi. The vvaye vvhyche leadeth to the first death.
12. The first death cannot be eternal.
13. The vvaye vvhich leadeth to the seconde death.
14 vvhat frevvyll remayneth in man after synne.
15. Abriefe some of originall synne
16. Hovve god tourneth mannes synn his glorye.
17. Iesus Christ the onely medatou ordained and promised.
18. The agrement and difference of the olde and nevve testament.
19 vvherfore it behoued Iesus Christ to be a verye naturall man in bodie and soule vvithout synne.
20. wherfore it was needfull that Iesus Christ should be very God.
21. Howe the misterie of our salua∣tion was fulfilled in Iesus Christ.
22 The tvvo natures vvere vnited and knitte in one person from the first instaunt of the conception.
23 The virgin Marye is mother of Iesus Christ God and man.
24. The summe of the accomplishe∣ment of oure saluation in Iesus christ.
25. Hovve Iesus christ beinge ascen∣ded into heuen is neuertheles here on earth vvith his flocke.
29. There can be no other nevve re∣ligion then this.
Of the holy ghost. The fourth point.
The firste article of the person of the holye Ghoste.
2. Of the effectes properlie considered in the holie ghost.
3. The holie ghost maketh vs partakers of Iesus Christ by faith onelie.
4. vvhat meanes the holie ghost vseth to create and maintaine faith in vs.
5. Hovve necessarie faith is, and vvhat faith is.
section 6
7. Hovve this is to be vnderstande, vvhich vve saye, as Sainet Paule sayth, that vve be iustified by one¦ly faithe.
8. To be assured of our saluation by faith in Iesus Christ, is nothing lesse then arrogancie or presumtion.
9 Faith fyndeth in Iesus Christ, al that is necessary to saluation.
10 Of the remedy which faith findeth in Iesus Christ only against the first assault of the fyrst temptatiō groun∣ded vpon the multitude of our sinnes and what assuraunce there is in this case, eyther vpon the sayncts, or vp∣on our selues.
11 The remedy which onely faith fyn∣deth in Iesus Christ onely against the second assault of the fyrst temptation grounded vppon this, that we be vn∣furnyshed of the righteousnes which God requireth of vs.
12 The third assault of the same temp∣tation, grounded vppon the naturall corruption or originall sinne whiche is within vs.
13 The remedye against the seconde temptation, whether we haue faith or not.
14 Those do slaunder vs falsely, which saye, that we disalowe good works.
15 The first difference in the matter of good workes is, which be good, and which be euyll.
16 vvhich be the most excellent works & the qualities of true praier according to the vvord of God, and the authoritie of the auncient doctours of the Church.
¶ Of workes of Charitie.
¶ Of workes indifferent.
17 The seconde difference in the mat∣ter of good workes, is to know from vvhence they proceede.
18 The thirde difference of the matter of good worke, is to knowe wherto they be good.
19 To vvhat ende good vvorkes doo serue vs before God and before men.
20. Remedies against the last and most daun∣gerous temptation, vvhiche is▪ vvhether vve be saued or not.
21. Of tvvo instrumentes, vvhere vvith the holy ghoste is serued to create fayth in the hartes of his electe, to vvitte, the vvord of od, and the sacramentes.
22 What it is that vve call the vvorde of God, and of the tvvo partes, that is to say, the lavve and the Gospell.
23. What difference there is betvveene the lavve and the Gospell.
24 After vvhat maner the preachyng of the lavve serueth the holy Ghost.
25. Of the other parte of the worde of God called the Gospell, of what au∣thorite it is. Wherefore, howe, and to what ende it is written.
26. Hovve the Gospell comprehendeth in sub∣staunce, all the bookes of the olde testa∣ment.
27 Hovv it is to be vnderstande that vve haue spoken of the auctoritie of the vvoorde vvritten, and if it be necessarie to tran∣slate it into all languages.
28. Hovv the holy Ghost is serued vvith the exteriour preachyng of the Gospel, to create faith in the hartes of the elect▪ and to harden the reprobate.
26. Another fruite of the preaching of the lavv, after the preaching of the gospell beginneth to vvorke.
30 The second meane vvhich the holye Ghost v∣seth to make vs reioice in Iesus Christ▪ and vvherefore the Lord is not onely content vvith the simple preaching of his vvord.
31 The diffinition of that vvhich is called a Sacrament.
32▪ The difference betvvene the sa∣cramentes of the olde couenaunt▪ and those of the nevve.
33. VVherby the false sacramentes be knowen from the true and the abuse of them from the right vsage.
34. VVhich thinges be common to the preaching of the worde and to the sacramentes.
section 35
36 Howe there is but two Sacra∣mentes in the Christian Church.
27. The foure pointes vvhiche be to be considered in the declaration of this matter.
38. The first point is to vnderstand what we doe meane by the name of signe, in this matter of Sacramentes, and wherefore the Lorde did chose for signes the most vulgar and com∣mon thinges.
40. From whence procedeth this al∣teration & the errour of those which make a charme▪ or sorcerie of the sa∣cramentall wordes.
42. The sacraments be no sacraments without the vse of them.
43. The second point is of the thing signified in the Sacramentes.
44. The thirde poynt is how Iesus Christ is ioyned with the signes.
45. The distinction of signes and of the thing signified.
94. The maner to communicate aswel the signes of the Sacramentes as the thing signifyed.
47. Application of all that is before said of the facrament of Baptisme.
48. For what causes the younge chil∣dren of the faythfull be baptised.
49. Application of all that goeth be∣fore of the Sacrament of the Supper and the right vse thereof.
¶ These places followyng be al∣ledged by the Fathers, touching this exposition.
subsection
50. The conclusion of the matter of the Sacramentes.
51. Wherefore the holye ghost is called the consolator or comforter and to vvhat purpose and ende the afflictions of the faithfull serueth.
Of the Church. The fyft poynt.
1. That there hath alvvaies beene and euer shall be a Church, out of the vvhich there is no saluation.
2. There can be but one true church
3. VVherefore vve call the Churche catholyke.
4. In vvhat thyng lyeth the communion of sainctes.
5. The churche hath but one heade, that is to saye Iesus Christe, to vvhome there needeth no lieu tenaunt.
9. The commuion of the Saintes letteth nor hindrh not the diuersity of of∣fyces amonge the faythfull.
7. The markes vvhereby vve maye di∣scerne the false Churche from the true.
8. Whiche be the true members of the Church.
9 The markes or tokens of the Chur∣che bée not alvvayes in one estate, and hovve it oughte to bee gouer∣ned.
10 Wherein consisteth the duetie and authoritie of the Churche generally.
section 11
Hovve far vve may differ from the councels.
13. To vvhome it pertayneth to call a councell.
14 Hovve those oughte to be chosen, vvhiche the Churches doe sende o the councels.
15. Euery man ought to be heard in the councell. Prouyded that there be no confusion.
16. Who ought to presede or be chiefe in the councell.
17 How far extendeth the power of the Counsels, and why they be or∣dained in the Church.
18 The fyrst poynt to consider the case well, when or at what tyme they should set vp politike lawes in the Church.
19 The seconde poynt which is to be considered in the ecclesiasticall or∣dinaunces.
20 The thyrde consideration that ought to be had in ecclesiasticall ordinaunces.
21 VVhat is to be aunswered to those which alledge councels against vs.
22. Of particular Counsels as of na∣tions o prouinces.
23 How many sortes of speciall gouer∣nours there be in the church.
24 The offyce of Apostles, Euange∣listes▪ and Prophets in the prima∣tiue Church.
15 Of the offyce of pastours and doctours.
26 The difference betweene Pastors and Doctours.
27 The pastours and doctours bee but instrumentes by the which God conducteth the ministerie of his worde.
28 The marckes and tokens of false doctours and pastours.
29 Of degrees which ought to bee among Ministers of the word, ac∣cordyng as they be disseuered by companies.
54 The secōd degree of ecclesiastical of∣fices which is the office of deacōs, & the distribution of the goods of the church.
31 Of the fowre orders which they call minores ordines.
32 The thirde degree of ecclesiasticall offyces whiche is the Iurisdiction and offyce of the elders.
33 To what purpose or ende serueth the ecclesiasticall iurisdiction and which be the partes therof.
34 VVhat is the office of the El∣ders in the Church.
35 How the ecclesiasticall elections ought to be.
36 Of the qualities and conditions of those which they ought to elect.
37 The order and maner to geue the voyces.
38 Of confyrmation and consecration of the persons elected.
39 Of mariage, of fasting, and of the difference of dayes, and meates.
40 Of the secōd part of the ecclasiasticall iurisdiction, concerning correction.
41 vvhat excommunication is, & what the right vse thereof is.
42 Of the ciuill and Christiā magistrate and to what ende his office tendeth.
33 Howe far they are bounde to obey the magistrate.
Of the last Iudge∣ment. The. vi. poynt.
1. VVhat it is that we do beleeue and hope of the last iudgement.
A briefe comparison betwene the doctrine of the Papistes, and this of the holy catholike Church. The. vii. poynt.
1 The Papistes worshippeth a false God, which is neyther righteous nor mercifull.
2 If the doctrine of the Papistes bee true, it foloweth that Iesus Christe is not verie man.
3 The papistes doctrine maketh the oblation of Iesus Christe of none effecte.
4 The Papistes abolyheth the true intercession of Iesus Christ.
5 The Papists doth not acknowledge Iesus Christ to be the perfect decla∣rer of the wyll of God, neyther the holy Scriptures to bee a suffycient doctrine of saluation.
6 The papistes spoyleth Iesus Christ of his office of head of the church.
7 By the doctrine of the papists, we can in no wise vnderstand how mortal the naturall sicknes of mankinde is.
8 Another execrable error of the pa∣pistes in the vsing of the onely medi∣cine of health, which is the benefit of Iesus Christ.
9 They know not in the papistry the exercise of the lawe of God, or the gospell.
10 They know not what good workes are in the papistrie.
11 In the papistry they know not what is a Sacrament, nor what is the vse therof.
First of confyrmation.
Of penance.
Of contrition.
Of confession.
¶ Of the extreme vnction called anealing.
Of orders.
Of the clericall tonsure.
Of mariage.
Of Baptisme.
Of the Supper.
12 In the papistry there is no ecclesia∣stical gouernement.
13 The abuse which is commytted in the seconde partie of ecclesiasticall offyces which be Deacons.
14 Of the abuse which is commytted in the order of Priesthoode, and in the gouernment of theyr spirituall iurisdiction.
¶ Of Moonkes.
15 The Papists be manifestly culpable of rebellion against the magistrate.
¶ The conclusion of that is aforesayde.
Another briefe confessi∣on of fayth, according to the same herebefore and the same authour.