The generall vses of the Creede

Hitherto by Gods goodnesse I haue shewed the meaning of the Creede: now to drawe to a conclusion, the generall vses which are to be made of it follow. And first of all we learne by it, that the Church of Rome hath no cause to condemne us for heretikes: for we doe truly hold and beleeue the whole Apostolicall Symbole or Creed, which is an epitome of the scriptures and the verie keie of faith. It will be said, that we denie the Popes supremacie, iustification by workes, purgatorie, the sacrifice of the Masse for the sinnes of the quicke and the dead, the invocation and intercession of saintes, &c. which are the greatest pointes of religion. It is true indeed, we denie and renounce them as doctrines of deuils: perswading our selues that if they indeed had beene Apostolicall, and the verie grounds and pillars of religion, as they are now auouched to be; they should in no wise haue bin left forth of the Creed. For it is an ouersight in making a confession of faith, to omit the principall points and rules of faith. It will be further saide, that in the Creed we beleeue the Church, & so consequētly are to beleeue all these former points which are taught and avouched by the Church: but this defence is foolish. For it takes this for graunted, that the Church of Rome is the Church here ment which we denie, unlesse they can proue a particular Church to be vniversall or Catholicke. Nay, I adde further, that the principall grounds of popish faith, for which they contend with us as for life and death, are not mentioned in any other Creedes which were made by the Churches & councels for many hundred yeres after Christ.

Secondly the Creed serues as a storehouse of remedies against all troubles & temptations whatsoeuer. I. If a man be grieued for the losse of earthly riches, let him consider that he beleeues God to be his Creatour, who will therfore guide and preserue his owne workemanship, & by his prouidēce minister all things needfull unto it. And that he hath not lost the principall blessing of all, in that he hath God to be his father, Christ to be his redeemer, & the H. ghost to be his comforter: and that, considering he lookes for life eternall, he is not to be ouermuch carefull for this life: & that Christ being our Lord will not forsake us being the seruāts in his own house, but will prouide things needfull for us. II. If any man be grieued in respect of outward disgrace and contempt, let him remember that he beleeues in Christ crucified, and that therefore hee is to reioyce in contempt for righteousnesse sake. III. They which are troubled for the decease of friends are to comfort themselues in the cōmunion of saints, and that they haue God the father & Christ and the holy ghost for their friends. IIII. Against bodily captivitie, let men consider that they beleeue in Christ their Lord whose seruice is perfect libertie. V. Against the feare of bodily diseases, we must remember the resurrection of the bodie in which all diseases and infirmities shalbe abolished. VI. If a man feare the death of the body, let him consider that hee beleeues in Christ which died vpon the crosse, who by death hath vanquished death. VII. The feare of persecution is restrained, if we call to remembrance that God is a Father almightie, not onely able but also willing to represse the power of the adversarie, so farre forth as shall be for the good of his children. VIII. Terrours arising of the consideration of the last iudgement are delayed by remembrance of this, that Christ shall be our iudge who is our redeemer. IX. Feare of damnation is remedied by cōsideration that Christ died to make satisfaction for us, and now sits at the right hand of his father to make intercession for us: & by the resurrection of the body to life euerlasting. X. Terrours of conscience for sinne are repressed, if we consider that God is a Father, and therefore much in sparing, & that it is a prerogative of the Church to haue remission of sinnes.

Trin-uni Deo gloria.