Paragraph 8.1

1. The Nicen, Athanasian, and Apostolicall Creedes, ought to be receiued, and beleeued.

2. The three creedes, viz. the Ni. Athan. and of the Apostles, may be prooved by the holy Scripture.

This Proposition the Churches of God, both aunciently, and in these daies,^* doe acknowledge for true.

The adversaries vnto this truth.

Therefore much out of the way of Godlinesse are they, which tearme the Apostles Creede, A forged patcherie, as Barrowe doth,^† and Athanasius, Sathanasius creede, so did Gregorius Paulus in Polouia,^‡ and in the newe Arrians, and Nestorians in Lituania.⁴

My selfe some 18. yeares agoe, heard a great learned man, whose name vpon an other occasion afore is expressed (to whose acquaintance I was artificially brought) which in private conference betweene him, and my selfe, tearmed worthy Zanchius a Foole, & an Asse, from his booke de tribus Elohim, which refuteth the newe Arrians, against whose sounders, the Creedes of Athanasius, and Nicene were deuised. Him attentiuely I heard, but could neuer, since abide for those wordes: & in deede I neuer sawe him since.

The proofe from Gods word.

Than this assertion nothing is more true. For the Creedes, I meane these three Creedes speake first.

Of one and the same God, whom wee are to beleeue is for essence, but one,^a in persons three,^b viz. the Father, the Creator,^c the Sonne, the Redeemer,^d the holy Ghost, the sanctifier.^e Next of the people of God which we must thinke, and beleeue is,

The holy,^f and Catholike Church,^g

The communion of Saints,^h

Pardoned of all their sinnes,ⁱ

And appointed to arise from death,^j and to enioy eternall life, both in body and soule.^k

Aduersaries vnto this truth.

Therefore wee are enemies to all adversaries of this doctrine, or any whit of the same in them comprised, whether they be Atheists, Iewes, Sadduces, Ebionites, Tretheites, Antitrinitarains, Apollinarians, Arrians, Manichies, Nestorians, Origenians, Turkes, Papists, Familists, Anabaptists, or whosoeuer.