wherfore yt ys onlye the 〈◊〉 pes faute whâ—…h hath the satisfaction in his po wer and wyll not geue it till he haue monye aÌ„d not goddes faute which must nedes tarie vntyl satisfactyon be made And so ys thys reason as stronge as it was before and the pope proued a cruell tyraunte BUt yet to excuse the pope he sayeth It ys not mete that the pope shulde be so quycke in delyueraunce for so shulde he geue a gre ate occasyon to men boldlye to falle in to synne and lytle to care or feare how slowlye they ryse agayne and that were not mete for hys offyce Horsouth thys ys a ientle reason He maye not be quicke in delyueraunce because he shulde geue men occasyon of synne But for one penye he wyll quyte delyuer you and that wyth spead For yf ye offer a penye vnto Saynt Dominykes boxe assone as ye hâ—…are the penye rin ge in the boxe even so sone ys the soule in heaven Call you not that quicke delyueraunce If you geue not that penye then maye he not delyuer the soule for yt shulde be an occasyon of synne But yf you geve that penye then is there no such occasyon of synne Such greate vertue hath that one penye in Master Mo res sight that yt clene wypeth awaye the occasyon of synne Hurthermore yf thys redempcyon maye be done for monye yt shalbe stylle an occasyon vnto the rych that they regarde not synne and yet had they more nede to be brydled then â—…he poore for where richesse and abundaunce is there raigneth sinne most of all How be it I haue shewed sufficientlve before agenst Rastell that they which feare not to sinne but for fea re of purgatorie shal never come in it but be daÌ„ ned in hell For we shulde not abstayne from sinne for any feare but for the pure loue that we haue to god oure most mercyfull father cÌ„ THen cometh Master More to this imagi nacyon that we shulde saye how no mannes prayer or good dead caÌ„ helpe a nother And sayeth he if that were true then coulde not christes bitter passion profite vs. Sir myne opinion of Christes deeth is this We haue al sinned in Adam with out oure aw ne consent and worke And we are losed from sinne thorow Christ with out oure workes or deservinges Sinne is comen in to the worlde thorow Adam and is punished with deeth The deeth thorow Christ is tourned in to a me dicyne and clene finisheth sinne One mannes sinne which is Adam hath condeÌ„ ned manye men One mannes grace which is Christe hath vanqueshed sinne and holpen manye If one mannes sinne be able to condemne vs with out oure workes Then moch more is goddes grace of power to saue vs with out oure workes Sinne thorow Adam was planted in vs. Grace thorow Christ is planted in vs. Sinne hath had dominion ouer all men thorow Adam Grace prevayleth ouer vs thorow Christe Deeth thorow sinne is planted in vs. Liffe thorow grace is planted in vs Deeth thorow sinne hath dominion over vs. Liffe thorow grace prevayleth ouer vs. Sinne and deeth haue condemned all men Grace and liffe haue saved all men Thorow Adam Adams sinne was counted oure awne Thorow Christ Christes rightwysnesse is repu ted vnto vs for oure awne Of this maye you perceave that we thinke that Christes deeth profiteth vs for we take his deeth and resurrection for oure hole redeâ—… cyon and saluacyon Now as concerninge mennes good deades and prayers I saye that they profitte oure neyghboures yee and good workes were ordeyned for that entent that I shulde profite my neyghboure thorow them And prayer ought to be made to god for everye state But if I shulde graunte that such workes and prayers shuld helpe them that are departed then shulde I speake cleane with out my bo ke for the worde of god knoweth no such thinge Let them therfore that praye for the deed exa mine them selves well with what faith they do it for faith leaneth onlye on the worde of god so that where his worde is not there can be no good faith and if their prayer procede not of faith surelye it can not please god Hebre. xj NOw suppose sayeth master More y t purgatorye coulde in no wyse be proved by scri pture and that some wolde yet saye playnlye y t there were one and some wolde saye playnlye naye let vs now se whether sorte of these twayne might take most harme if their parte were y e wronge Furst he that beleved there were purâ—… and that his prayer and good workes wrought for his frendes soules might relyeve them therin and because of that vsed moch pra per and almose for them he coulde not lese y â— rewarde of his good will although his opinioÌ„ we re vntrue and that there were no purgatorye at all But on the tother side he that beleveth there is none and therfore prayeth for none if his opinion be false and that there be purgatorye in dead he lesâ—…th moch good and getteth him al so moch harme For he both feareth moch lesse to sinne and to lye longe in purgatorie savinge that his heresye shall kepe him thence and sende him doune depe in to hell I answere that he shulde take most harme that beleved there were a purgatorye if his opinion were wronge and coulâ—…e not be proved by the scripture as master More supposed for he shulde sinne and transgresse agenst the lawe of god which sayeth Deuteronomye xij That I commaunde the y t onlye do vnto the lorde neyther adde any thinge nor diminish And before in the. iiij chaptre of y â— same boke yee shall not adde vnto the worde that I speake vnto you neyther shall ye take any thinge from it And agayne in the. v. chaptre ye shall not decline neyther to the right hand doinge y â— which is good in youre awne sight neyther yet vnto y â— left haÌ„de doinge that which I manifestlie forbide you as though he shulde saye do that onlye which I coÌ„maunde the. And where master More sayeth y t he can not lese the rewarde of his good will although his opinion be vntrue I answere yes for it is but chosen holinesse which Paule condemneth Colos. ij which surelye shall rather be imputed vnto him for sinne then for any good worke And because as I sayed before it can not be done thorow faith I saye that it is vtter lye reproved of god And on the tother side he y t beleveth it not sith it can not be proved by scripture can catch no harme at all although his opinion were false but rather moch good prayse both of god and all good men because he feareth to swerve from the worde of god and had lever not to beleue y t thinge whiâ—…h is true be it in case that purgatorye were aÌ„d not sette forth
maye he reioyce but not before god But what sayeth the scrypture Abraham belcued god and that was unputed vnto him for rightwysnes for he that worketh reccaueth hys rewarde not of savoure but of dutye Now if it be dutye then ne deth he not to thanke god but rather hym selfe for then god geueth hym nothinge but y t which ys hys awne of dutye Where ys then the prayse and glorye that we owe to god Therfore yt foloweth in y â— same texte vnto him y t worketh not but beleueth in hym that iustefieth the wy ked ys his faith imputed â—…or ryghtwysenes Now if oure saluacyon come of fayth and not thorow oure workes desertes thâ—… is purgato rie shutte out of dore quite vanisheth awayeâ—… Christ sayeth So hath god loued the worlde that he wolde geue hys onlye sonne that all whych beieue in hym shuld not perish but that they shulde haue everlastinge liffe Ioan. 3. TheÌ„ what nedeth purgatoriâ—… Thou wilt paraduen turesay it is true they shal haue euerlastige life but they must first go thorow purgatorye I an swere naye verelye But christ affirmeth that with an oth that he which heareth his worde beleveth his father which sent him hath everlastinge liffe yee that he is gone alreadye from deeth vnto liffe Ioan. 5. wilt thou now saye y t he shall in to purgatorye for south if that were true and the fyre also so hote as our prelates af firme then went he not froÌ„ deeth vnto lyffe but rather from a small deeth vnto a greater deeth The prophete sayeth precious is in the sight of the lorde the deeth of his sayntes Psal. 116. And. S. Ioan. sayeth blessed are the deed which dye in the lorde Apo. 14. but surelye if they shuld go in to y â— paynfull purgatorye there to be tour mented of fendes theÌ„ were they not blissed but rather wretched God sayeth by Moses Exodi 33. I will shewe mercye to whom I shew mercie and will ha ue compassioÌ„ on whom I haue coÌ„passion Now ifoure saluacion be of mercye and compassion then can there be no soch purgatorye For y â— na ture of mercye is to forgeue but purgatorye wil haue all payde and satisâ—…yed so that they tway ne be desperate and can in no wyse agre And lo ke how manye textes in scripture commeÌ„d goddes mercye even so manye deny this paynfull purgatorye The prophete sayeth he hath not dealt with vs after oure sinnes neyther hath rewarded vs accordinge to oure iniquytyes but loke how hye heauens are aboue the erth even so hye hath he made his mercye to preuayle ouer them that worshuppe him And loke how farre the east is from the west even so farre hath he sette oure sinnes from vs. Psal. 103. And before 〈◊〉 the same psalme the prophete exhorteth hys soule to prayse the lorde sayenge Prayse the lorde o my soule which forgeueth y â— all thyne iniquityes aÌ„d healeth all thy dyseas es Now yf this be true y t he ordoreth vs not accordinge to oure sinnes but poureth hys mercye so plentu â—…uslic vppoÌ„ vs if also he forgeue vs all oure inâ—… quityes why shulde there be any such purgatorye to purge and tourment the sely soules and speeyallye sith all was forgeuen them before wilt thou not calle hym a shrewed creditou â—…e whych after he hath frelye forgeuen hys deâ—… toure wyll yet cast hym in preson for the same debte I thinke euerye man wold saye on thys maner It was in hys awne pleasure whether he wolde forgeue it or not and then of favoure and compassyon he forgaue it But now he hath forgeuen yt he doeth vnryghtwyslye to punysh hys debtoure for yt And all be yt man repent hys forgeuynge and afterwarde sue for hys debte yet god can never repent hym selfe of hys mercyable giftes Roma xi And therfore wyll he uâ—…uer tourment vs for oure trespaces no nor yet once remembre them Ezechyelis 18. Hebre. 10. â—…yth god forgeueth the greater offences why shall he not also forgeue the lesse He forgaue frelye moch greater offences vnto the publycane whych knowleged hym sylfe to be a synner Luce. 18 then those be for whych men fayne that we must be tourmen ted in purgatorye For there ys no soule as they graunte them selves that suffreth in purgatorye for greate crimes and mortall syn nes But onlye for lytle preatye peccadu tyans yf a man maye be boolde to vse Master Mores worde and for veniall sinnes Dis. 25. Cap. qualis He forgaue moch greater enormityes vnto the thefe to whom he sayed this daye shalt thou be with me not in purgato rye but in paradyse Luc. xxiij He forgaue moch greater vnto Marye Mawdelene Luce. vij Is his hande now shortened Is not his power as greate as it was Is he not as merciful as ever he was why leave we the cisterne of lyvinge water and digge vs pittes of oure a wne which can hold no pure water Hieremie ii why forsa ke we Christ which hath hoellye purged vs an seke a nother purgatorye of oure awne imaginacion If thou beleue that Christes bloude is sufficient to purge thy sinne why sekest thou a nother purgatorye S. Paule sayeth I desyre to be loosed from this bodye and to be with Christ Phil. 1. Uerelye if he had thought to haue gone thorow purgatorye he wolde not haue bene so hastye For there shuld he haue had an hote broth an hart lesse and so might he rather haue desyred longe to have lyved And therfore I suppose that he knew nothinge of purgatorye but y t he rather thought as the truth is y t deeth shulde finish all his evylles and sorowes aÌ„d geue him rest in loosinge him from his rebellious meÌ„bres which were solde and capty ve vnder sinne All christen men shuld desyre deeth as Pau 〈◊〉 doeth Phililp 1. not because of their crosse trouble which they suffer in this present worlde for then they sought them selves and their awne profyte and not the glorye of god But if we will well desyre deeth we must first coÌ„sidre how sore sinne displeaseth god oure father and then oure awne nature and frayltye and oure membres so bounde vnder sinne that we can not do nor yet thinke a good thought of oure selues 2. Cor. 3. Then shall we finde occasion to lament oure liffe not for the troubles that we suffer in it but because we be so prone vnto sinne and so continuallye displease god oure father Uvhat desyreth he that wolde longe lyve but daylye to hepe sinne vppon sinne And therfore shuld we haue a will to dye because that in deeth oure sin ne 〈◊〉 and then we shall no more displease god oure father Now if we shuld fayne a purgatorye it were not possible to imagyne a greater obstacle to make vs feare and flye from 〈◊〉 For sith everye man must knowlege him silfe a 〈◊〉 1. Joan. 1. And
from all what nede another purgatorye nede we more purginge when all are clensed I will surelye converte Iuda and turne Israhell vnto me and I will purefye them from all their iniquytyes wherwith they haue offended me Hieremie xxxiij If he purefye them from all what shulde they do in purgatâ—…rye I wilbe mercifull vnto their wykednes and their sinnes will I no more remembre Hieremie xxxj Hebreo viij If he will not remembre oure sinnes any more theÌ„ maye we be sure that he will not frye vs in y â— fyre of purgatorye for oure sinnes NOw let vs se his seconde argumeÌ„t which is in the fourth chaptre and is surelye fon de how be it his solucioÌ„ is yet more folysh The some of his argument is this Dan was made and ordeyned to haue an in finite beinge therfore after this mortalite and deeth he must haue ifinite ioye or infinite payne I will put you a like argument A man is or deyned in this worlde to be a kinge or a subiecte therfore after he is borne he is ever a kinge or â—…s ever a subiecte Now maye this be false for paradventure he maye be borne a subiecte and after made kinge or els he maye be borne a kin ge and after deposed and made a subiecte Ther fore this argument holdeth not formallye But it holdeth on this maner as I shulde saye to an ape thou must nedes be an ape or an asse which now is true But if I shuld saye the verye same wordes to Master Iohan Rastell I thinke he wolde be angrye and saye that it we re false And I suppose oure scolemen will saye that he lyeth aÌ„d put him an ensample of the enâ—…auntes that dye with out christndome whiche as the scolemeÌ„ saye shall never haue ioye nor payne But I will graunte him his argumeÌ„t to se how properlye he wil confute it Now marke his answere which stondeth in the. v. chaptre There are degrees in sinnes some sinnes are greate and some greater and therfore must there be degrees in punishment some punishment is greate and some greater 〈◊〉 for youre ple asure I â—…m content to graunte you this to But els were it a matter worthye disputacion what now 〈◊〉 that a man saieth Rastel here in erth hath committed a greate sinne and offence and taken repentaunce wherbye the sinne is forgeven marke that he beinge ignoraunt of Christ saieth thorow repentaunce the sinne is forgeven and yet hath not taken such suffycyent repentaunce therfore nor had any suffycyent punishment which shulde make a full payment and satisfaccioÌ„ for that sinne and dyeth before any condigne or full satisfaccioÌ„ made god must then of his rightwysnes ordeyne a place of pur gatorye where his soule shall haue a further pu nishment to make a condigne and full satis faccion for that sinne and so to be purged and purefyed before it shalbe able and worthy to be ad mitted to receave the eternall ioye in heaven First brethren you must graunte that we haue a Christ or no Christ a redemer or no reâ—… mer a iustefyer or no iustefyar If there be none such as Rastell with his turcke Gingemin suppose then al the repentaunce in the worlde coul de not satisfye for one synne but whosocuer coÌ„ mitted a sinne shulde be dampned therfore So that Rastell speaketh and seyth al in diminutyues for where he shulde of truth spye hell the re espyeth he but purgatorye And where he shuld saye that al sinners if they stick not to Christes bloude shall be dampned eternallye there saieth he that they shalbe punished in pur gatorye And to be shorte if Rastell saye truth theÌ„ is Christ deed in vayne If he saye not truth why stick you to his reason But paraduentute thou that knowest Christ wilt saye as manie do that Christes deeth and redempcion serueth the but for originall sinne or at most for those sinnes that thou committedst before baptyme To that I answere with S. Ioan. Children this do I wryte vnto you y â— ye sin ne not And if any maÌ„ sinne yet we haue an ad vocate with the father Iesus Christ which is rightwyse And he it is that obtayneth grace for oure sinnes not for oure sinnes onlye but also for the sinnes of all the worlde To whom wrote S. IoaÌ„ this epistle Thinke you that he wrote not vnto the christen and them that were all readye baptized And yet he sayed if any maÌ„ sinne we haue an aduocate with the father Ie sus Christ which is rightwysâ—… and he it is that obtayneth grace for oure sinnes Loo he adnum breth him 〈◊〉 also for he sayeth we haue an ad vocate and sayeth agayne for oure sinnes â—…e maye se that he meaneth not onlye originall sin ne neyther yet the sinnes done before baptyme for I doubte not but he was baptized when he wrote this pistle and yet sayed he if we sinne meaninge after baptyme or when so euer it be we haue an advocate with the father Ihesus Christ this is S. Ioans lerninge he knew no nother remedye if we felle in to sinne but onlye Christ. Not withstandinge oure prelates haue pactized further for they saye if any man sinne he shall lye in the paynes of purgatorye vntill he be delyuered thence by masse pence the popes pardon or certen other suffragyes but not with out Monye you maye be sure Christ saieth no man cometh vnto the father but thorow me Iohan. xiii for sayeth he I am the waye yes lorde oure prelates haue espyed a nother waye which although it be more payn full vnto the poore yet is it more profitable for the prelates Come vnto me all ye that laboure and are laden and I will ease you saieth oure savioure Christ Iesu. Matthei xi wilt thou sende vs lor de in to purgatorye forsouth there is litle ease if the fyre be so hote as oure prelates haue fayned it It is even I that put out thyne iniquytyes for myne awne sake saieth god the father and thy sinnes will I no more remembre Estate 〈◊〉 Ergo then he putteth them not a waye for broylinge in purgatorye He addeth also that he will no more remembre oure sinnes calle ye that no remembraunce to cast vs in to purgatorye for them â—…hom god predestinated them he called and whom he called them he iustefyed and what did he with them then Did he cast them in to purgatorye there to be clensed forsouth the apostle maketh no mencion therof but addeth immedi atlye whom he iustefyed them he glorefyed Romano viiâ—… wherfore let not vs put such obstacles and be vâ—…kinde vnto the gracious favoure of god Besides that Paule forbiddeth vs to be ca refull for them that slepe that is to saye for the deed as they that haue no hope But surelye if he had knowne of any purgatorye he wolde ha ue bene carefull for them sith they fayne them in such miserable
a light repentaunce shuld be sufficieÌ„t with out any other satisfaccion to be made it shuld be an occasion to destroye all vertue and encrease vice aÌ„d sinne to y â— vtter destruccioÌ„ of the comen welth quyet lyuinge of y â— people And thus he maketh an 〈◊〉 As to the first where he sayeth that it wold put awaye the dreade of god and geue boldnes to sinne if we thought there were no purgatorye we se and maye evidentlye perceaue the con trarye all daye both in yonge and olde of them that beleue there is a purgatorye The yoÌ„ge sa ye I will take my pleasure whyle I maye and if I maye haue but one houâ—…es respite to crye god mercye I care not for then shall I go but to purgatorye aÌ„d so shall I be sure to be saued The old saye I will kepe my goodes as longe as I maye for I wotte not what nead I shal haue But when I die I wyll crye god mercye aÌ„d then shall I go but to purgatorye and myne executours that haue my goodes shall redeme me thence well ynough And so to beleue purgatorye is rather an occasion of rechlesse boldenesseâ—… then of the feare of god Besydes that if they knews that there were no purgatorye theÌ„ 〈◊〉 de manye the more feare god do well them selues not trust to their executoures for feare of daÌ„pnacioÌ„ how be it as I haue saied bâ—…fore they y â— feare not god but for payne whether it be of hell or purgatorye are yet vnder condeÌ„pnacion aÌ„d not in goddes fauoure And this dare I bold lye afferme that they which feare not god but for purgatoryes sake shall neuer come in it no nor yet in heaven And therfore it is but folye to imagine purgatorye for that entent As coÌ„cerninge y â— seconde poynte If the people beleued y t they neded not to make satisfaccioÌ„ to their neyghboures for their trespaces cÌ„ I haue sufficieÌ„tlye aÌ„swered before y â— we must make satisfaccioÌ„ vnto oure neyghboures if we be able or els will god never forgeue vs. And if we be not able yet must we knowlege oure offeÌ„ce and theÌ„ is oure neyghboure bounde to forgeue vs vnder y â— payne of daÌ„pnacioÌ„ And so can this pro ue no purgatorye Now as touchinge y â— thir de y t if they beleued y â— such a light repentaunce were sufficieÌ„t with out any other satisfaccioÌ„ it shuld be an occasioÌ„ of vice subuersioÌ„ of y â— comeÌ„ welth I answere as I haue done before al most in euerie argumeÌ„t sith thou arte ignoraunte of Christes deeth and his satisfaccion vnto the father for vs that al the repentaunce which we can take is not sufficient to countrepayse one cryme but that if Christ were not we shuld albe dampned Here will I leave Rastell hys turcke Gingemin wyth all thyce naturall phylosophye whych ys now proued folishnes for hetherto hath he proued no purgatorye neyther hath he one good reason nor yet to that varen reasons one good solucyon as we haue sufficieÌ„tlye declared But let vs heare 〈◊〉 what more of goddes worde and se how purgatorye stondeth wyth that Paule sayeth we must all be brought before the iugement seate of christ that euery man maye receaue accordinge to the workes of hys bodye whether yt be good or badde 2. Cor. 5. yf thys be true then can there be no purgatorye whych shall profyte hym after he is dyssolued from hys bodye for then shuld he not receaue accordinge to the workes of hys bodye But rather accordinge to the paynes that he suffered in purgatorye Now yf thys texte be true then must it folow that all thyne executoures dealin ge and offeringe of massepence c. helpe the not a myte And by thys texte it is not possible that there shulde be a purgatorye Uppon thys texte wolde I fayne dyspute a poynte of sophystrye whych I wolde gladlye haue dyssolued of them that thinke them selues lerned in phylosophye My sophisme is y â— two contradictoryes maye stonde to gether and be both true whych I am sure no sophystre dare graunte for it hath in tymes past ben condemp ned in oxforde foranâ—…eresie The coÌ„tradictories are these Euerye man shall receaue accordinge to the workes of hys bodye And some maÌ„ shall not receaue accordinge to the workes of his bo dye that these two coÌ„tradictoryes be both true I wyll proue The fyrst proposycyon is paules 2. Cor. 5. whych no man will denye to be true And the seconde maye caselye be proued true whych is that some man shall not receaue accordinge to the workes of his bodye For be yâ—… in case y â— there departe a man out of thys worl de which is not clene purged by faith aÌ„d y â— wor de of god neyther hath hys rebellyous meÌ„bres subdued thorow deeth as they imagyne but y â— the spottes and remnauntes of sinne remayne in hym for the whych he is worthye to lye in y â— paynes of purgatorie for the space of sixe yeare Thys grauÌ„ted whych I am sure they wyll not denye then also put I the case that thys man lyinge in purgatorye by the space of a moneth haue a freÌ„de whych offereth for hym a peny vnto S. dominikes boxe whych hath such power that assone as the tinginge is harde in the boxe so sone the soule is fre in heauen or that a frende of hys bye a pardon for him which maye absolue him a pena a culpa for all cometh to one effecte Thys maÌ„ deliuered on that maner doth not receaue accordinge to the workes of his bo dye for by the workes of his bodie he shulde yet lye in purgatorie more then v. yere And that doth he not but is by and by delyuered froÌ„ purgatorye Ergo I maye conclude that some man receaueth not accordynge to the workes of hys bodye and so are two contradictoryes true or els there can be no such deliuerauÌ„ce out of purgatorye whych destroyeth all pardons massepence and suffragyes for the deed This wolde I haue soluted How be it I wyll not adnumbre it for an argumeÌ„t because the vnlerned peo ple vnto whoÌ„ I wryte thys boke can not well perceaue it But thys sophisme haue I wryten to stoppe the chatteringe mouthes of the sophi sters and to cast them a bone to gnawe vppon Paule sayeth you which were in tymes pa ste straungers aÌ„d enemyes because youre myn des were sette in euell workes hath he now reconcyled in the bodye of hys flesh thorow deeth to make you holye aÌ„d such as no man can complayne on aÌ„dwyth out faute in his awne sight yf ye continue grounded and stablyshed in the fayeth and be not moued awaye from the hope of the gospell Collo 1. Here paule affermeth that you are reconcyled thorow hys deeth so that ye are made holye and wyth oute faute in hys syghâ—… I haue expounded what yt is to be wyth out fautâ—… in hys syght in my sixte
argument loke ye yet for a nother purgatorye are ye so childish and insensyble to imagine that ye must yet go thorow purgatorye syth ye are all readye wyth out faute in hys syght Thys is a playne case god of hys ryghtwysnes will not punysh a man for nothynge but all that are grounded and stablyshed in y â— fayeth are in hys syght wyth out faute for theyr synnes are not imputed vnto them but forgeuen thorow Chri stes bloude wherfore of necessyte I must conclude that no faythfull shall euer come there 〈◊〉 verye maÌ„ y t departeth this worlde is eyther faythfull or vnfaythfull if he be faythfull then cometh he not there as the foresayde argumeÌ„t proueth And if he be vnfaithfull theÌ„ cometh he neuer in purgatorye but is all readie dampned JoaÌ„ 3. Marce y â— last Now if neyther faithfull nor vnfaythfull entre in to yt then shuld yt be in vayne but there is nothinge made in vayne wherfore I must coÌ„clude that there ys no soch purgatorye Paule saith be the spared not hys awne sonne but delyuered hym for vs all how shall he not wyth hym geue vs all thynges also who shall laye any thynge to y â— charge of goddes chosen Ro 8. Forsouth lorde god oure prelates laye so sore vnto theyr charge that they wolde haue them broyle in purgatorye But lorde be oure protectoure for it is thou that iustefyest vs and hast frelye geuen vs all thinge wyth hym Ro. 8. Paule saieth y â— lawe of y â— sprete wherin is liffe thorow christ Iesu hath deliuered mâ—… from the lawe of sinne deeth Roma 8. Seinge we beso delyuered what nead vs seke a nother dely verauÌ„ce speciallye sith they make it so paynefull Seinge we are on that maner deliuered hâ—…w chauÌ„ceth it that we áre takeÌ„ prisoners agayne vnder sinne that we must be purged a fresh by the fyre of purgatorie I praye god geue vs grace that we maye be purged from thys oure blinde ignoraunce thorow hys sprete of knowlege that we maye perceave how yt ys Iesus Christ that purgeth oure sinnes aÌ„d hath deliuered vs thorow his bloudeshedynge So shulde we geue him y â— prayse whych hath deserved yt And not be so vnkinde vnto him as we now be Paule sayeth that there ys no condemnacyon to them whych are in Chryst Iesu Roma viii But yf wee continue fyrme and stable in Chryst vnto the ende then shall we be saved Mathe. xxiiii what neadeth then purgatorye yee and what shuld purgatorye do Is not Chryst suffycyent Then ys oure fay eth in vayne And yf he be suffycyent then ys gurgatorye in vayne Paule saseth yf you be iustified bi y e law theÌ„ ys Chryst deed in vayne Now yf the lawe beinge good iust and holye Ro. 7. And euen of godden a wne makinge caÌ„ not iustefye vs thinkest thou to be iustefied by fryinge in purgatorye â—…hey that are the chefe patrones and proc toures of purgatorye do fayne it for no nother entente But to purge euell workes and to be as a penauÌ„ce to supplye y e good workes which we lacked beinge in thys worlde But all thys can not bringe vs in to heauen For then were christ deed in vaync And of thys haue we euydent examples Abraham Isaac Iacob Dauid aÌ„d all holye propherâ—…s were excluded from hea uen vntill christ had suffered deeth thys all mâ—… testyfye But yf good workes or penaunce coul de haue brought theÌ„ to heauen they shuld not haue taryed out of it so loÌ„ge Therfore I may conclude that it is but vanite to im agine a pur gatorye for to purge euell workes and supplye good For as I haue shewed y â— holpe not the patriarches Paraduenture thou wilt saye unto me shal I then do no good workes I answere yes Thou wilt aske me wherfore I aÌ„swere thou must do them because god hath coÌ„mauÌ„ded theÌ„ Thou wilt saye for what entent hath he commaunded them I answere because thou arte lyuynge in thys worlde and must nedes haue conuersacyon wyth men therfore hath god appoynted the what thou shalt do to the profytâ—… of they neyghboure aÌ„d taminge of thy flesh As paule testifyeth Eph. 2 we are hys worke made in christ Iesu vnto good workes whych workes god hath prepared that we shulde wal ke in them These workes god wold haue vs do that the vnfaythfull might se the godlye aÌ„d vertuous coÌ„uersasion of his faythfull and the rebye be coÌ„pelled to glorefie oure father which ys in heauen Mat. 5. And so are they both profitable for thy neyghboure and also a testymonie vnto the by the whych men maye knowe y t thou arte the right sonne of thy heuenlie father and a verye chryst vnto the neyghboure and euen as oure heuenlye father gaue hys christ vâ—… to vs not for anye profyte that he shalde haue therbye but onlye for oure profyte lykewyse thou shuldest do al thy good workes not hauin ge respecte what coÌ„modities thou shalt haue of it but euer atteÌ„dinge thorow cheryte the welth and profyt of thy neyghboure Thou wylt yet obiecte theÌ„ se I no greate profite that I shal ha ue by them I answere what woldest thou ha ue Fyrst Christ is geuen the frelie aÌ„d with him hast thou all thynges He is thy wisdome rightwysnes halowinge and redempcyon 1. Cor. 1. by hym arte thou made inherytoure of god aÌ„d felowheyer with christ Roma 8. This is frelie geuen the with Chryst before thou wast borne thorow the favoure and eleccyon of god whych eleccyon was done before the fundacyons of y â— worlde were cast Ephe. 1. Now were thou verye fonde aÌ„d vnkinde if thou thoughtest to put chase by thy workes y â— thinge which is alreadie geuen the. Therfore must thou do thy workes with a single yie hauinge neither respecte vnto the ioyes of heaueÌ„ neither yet to the paynes of hell but onlye do theÌ„ for y â— profyte of thy neygh boure as god coÌ„mauÌ„deth y â— and let hym alone wyth the resydueâ—… â—…o thys well agreeth paule Eph. 2. sayenge by grace are ye made saffe thorow faith aÌ„d that cometh not of youre selues but yt ys the gyfte of god and cometh not of workes lest any man shulde bost hym selfe Loo here sayeth paule playnlye that oure saluacion is the gifte of god 〈◊〉 cometh not of workes yf it come not of wor kes then are we worse then mad to fayne a put gatorye For the chefest operacyon of that shuld be but to supplye the workes whych we haue not accomplyshed beynge in thys bodyeâ—… Paule sayeth Roma xi The remnaunte whych are lefte at thys tyme are thorow the eleccyon of grace If yt be thorow grace then ys yt not by workes for theÌ„ grace were no gra ce Or yf yt be for the workes sake so is yt not of favours and grace accordinge to that whych he wrote before Roma 4. If abraham sayeth paule were iustylyed by his workes then
sacrify ces can do them no good before they be rysen agayne froÌ„ deeth for els were it not in vayne to praye for theÌ„ although they shuld never ryse agayne As by example if I saye to a maÌ„ that he shall neuer optaine his purposse excepte he shul de sue to y â— kinges grace it is even as moch to saye to a mâ—… y â— hath any witte as he shall neuer optayne hys purposse before he hath sued to y â— kinges highnes Master More goeth a boute to â—…est them out of contenaunce whych saye that the boke of Machabees ys not autentyke because yt ys not receaved in the Canon of the hebrues and sayeth that by thys reason we maye also denye y â— boke of sapience and proue oure selues insipâ—… entâ—…s but 〈◊〉 if he admitte the boke of sapâ—… ence to be true and autentike I feare me it will go nye to proue him an insipient for grauntynge y t there is a purgatorie Reade y â— 45. argument agâ—…st Rastell aÌ„d theÌ„ iudge whether I saie true or not Hetherto haue I let slippe oure shoteanker haue runne y â— sees with him grauÌ„tinge him for hâ—…s pleasure y t thys boke shulde be of as good auctorite as Esai Not that the church or holie doctours or ani wise maÌ„ supposeth it of so good auctorite but onelye to se whate coÌ„clusion myght be brought vppoÌ„ it y t once grauÌ„ted And if any maÌ„ wold require my iudgemeÌ„t as coÌ„cernin ge this boke I wolde shortlye answere that ey ther thys boke is false aÌ„d of no auctoryte or els that Christ and hys apostles all holye doctoures and scolemen therto are false and with out auctoryte For he that admitteth prayers and sacrifyce to be done for the deed yee and also af fermeth that they are holye and holesom forsuch sinnes as are damned by the lawe of god which are in dede verye mortall doth not he a genst the worde of god yee and also agenâ—…t the comen consent of all men But thys boke doth so whych admitteth prayer and sacryfice to be done for the deed that were slaine in the battay le for their offence yee aÌ„d also dampned by the law Deutero 7. Now conclude youre selves what ye thinke of this boke Thus moch hath Master More brought to proue hys purposse out of the old testameÌ„t and I thynke ye se yt suffycyentlye answered And now he entendeth to proue hys purga torye by good and substancy all auctory te in the new testament also FIrst let vs considre saieth Master More the wordes of y â— blessed apostle aÌ„d eâ—…ange gelist S. Ioan. where he sayeth Est peccatuÌ„ ad morteÌ„ noÌ„ dico vt pro eo roget qs There is saith he some synne y t is vnto the deeth I byd not y â— any man shulde praye for y t this synne as y â— in terpreters agre ys vnderstonden of desperacyon and impenitencie as though Sayint Ioan wolde saye that who departe out of thys worlde impenytent or in despayre any prayer after made can never stande hym in stede Then it appareth clerelye that S. Ioan. meaâ—… neth that there are other which dye not in such case for whom he wolde men shulde praye beca use that prayer to such soules maye be profitable But that profyte can no man take beinge in hea â—…en where et nedeth not nor beinge in hell where it boteth not wherefore it appeareth y â— such praier helpeth onlye for purgagorye which thou must therfore nedes graunte excepte thou denye S. Iohan. The texte is writen 1. Ioan. 5. which sayeth there is a sinne vnto the deeth I bid not that any man shal praye for that In this place doth Master More vnderstoÌ„de by this worde deeth temporall deeth and then he taketh his pleasure But we will desyre him to loke ij lynes abo ue and not to snatch one pece of the texte on this facion I wil reherse you the hole texte and then ye shall heare myne answere The texte is this if any man perceave that his brother doth 〈◊〉 a sinne not vnto the deeth let him aske he shall geue him liffe to theÌ„ that sinne not vnto â—…th For there is somme sinne that is vnto dee th I bid not that any man shulde praye for tha 〈◊〉 Now 〈◊〉 myne answere Deeth an liffe 〈◊〉 contrarye and both wordes are in this tex te t 〈◊〉 if you vnderstonde this worde deeth 〈◊〉 emporall deeth theÌ„ must you also vnderstoÌ„ de 〈◊〉 this worde liffe teÌ„porall liffe And so shulâ—… 〈◊〉 prayer restore men agayne vnto tempo rall 〈◊〉 But I ensure you Mastre More taket 〈◊〉 this worde deeth so confusedlye that no 〈◊〉 can tell what he meaneth For in one place he taketh it for temporall deeth sayenge who so 〈◊〉 out of this worlde impeniteÌ„t cÌ„ and 〈◊〉 a nother place he is compelled to take it for therlastinge deeth Therfore will I shewe you y â— very vnderstondinge of y â— texte And better in â—…erpreters desyre I none then Christ him sâ—…lfe which sayed vnto the pharisees everye blasphe mye shall be forgeuen but the blasphemye ageÌ„st the holye gost which S. Ihoan calleth a sinne vnto the deeth shall never be forgeven but is â—…iltye vnto everlastinge dampnacion Mar. iij. â—…hat sinne or blasphemye is this â—…erelye y â— declareth S. Marc. sayenge Thâ—…y sayed that he had an vnclene sprete that was the sinne vn to deeth everlastinge that was the sinne that shulde never be forgeven He proved so evident lye vnto them that his miracles were done with the sprete of god that they coulde not denye it â—…nd yet of an harde and obstinate harte even knowinge the contrarye they sayed that he had 〈◊〉 devell with in him These pharisees died not forth with but lâ—… ved paraduenture manye yesâ—…es after Notwithstondinge if all the apostles had prayed for these 〈◊〉 whyles they were yet ly vinge for all that their sinne shulde never haue bene forgeuen them And truth it is that after they died in impenitencye and dispetaâ—…on which was the frute of that sinne but not the sinne it silfe Now se ye the meaninge of this texte and what the sinne vnto deeth or agenst the holye â—…ost is If any man perceave his brother â—…o sinne a sinne not vnto deeth that is not agenâ—… y t holye gost let him aske and he shall geve him lif fe that is let him praye vnto god for his brother and his sinne shalbe forgeuen him But if hâ—… se his brother sinne a sinne vnto deeth y â— is ageÌ„st the holye gost let him never praye for him for it â—…oteth not And so is not the texte vnderstonde of prayer after this liffe as Master More imageneth but even of prayer for oure brother which is ly vinge with vs. Notwithstondinge this sinne is not lighlye knoune excepte y â— persone knowlege it him silfe or els the 〈◊〉 of god open it vnto vs. Ther
their deeth For when I saye that I wyll not forgeue hym neyther in my liffe nor after my deeth I meane that I wyll neuer forgeue hym and make that addicion because he shulde not of folysh nes loke for any such forgevenesse But thus foloweth the argumeÌ„t well it shall not be forgeuen in thys worlde nor in the worl de to come ergo it shall neuer be forgeuen And even so doth Saynte Marce expounde these wordes of christ in the thyrde chaptre For Mathew sayeth in the. xii He that speaketh ag enst the holye goost shall neuer haue yt forgeuen in this worlde nor in the worlde to come Marc. expoundeth yt thus he that spea keth a blaspemye agenst the holye gost hath no remission for ever but is giltye vnto euerlastinge damnacyon But of thys haue I spoken suffycientlye before in solutynge the texte 1. Ioan. 5. both what the synne ys and also how the texte ys to be vnderstande Neyther affeâ—…meth the scripture in anye place y t anye sinne ys forgeueÌ„ after this liffe but saith be readye for ye knowe not the tyme when the lorde shall come as who shulde saye in thys lyfe ys remissyon and full mer cye to â—…e had laboure therfore to attayne yt for after thys lyfe ys no such forgevene sse but eueÌ„ as y â— lorde fyndeth y â— so shal he iudge y â— Hys nexte last argu meÌ„t of scriptu re is thys ☜ CHryst saeyth as yt ys rehersed in y â— xii of Mathew y â— men shall yelde a rekenynge of everye ydle worde and that shalbe after thys present lyffe TheÌ„woteth euerye man that by that rekeninge ys vnderstonde a punyshmeÌ„t therfore whych shall not be in hell moch lesse in heueÌ„ aÌ„d therfore caÌ„ yt be now here els but in purgatoye 〈◊〉 I haue not harde of a partone that so vnprofytable defendeth hys clyent nor yet of any man that geueth hym sylfe such propre trippes to cast hym selfe excepte he wâ—…nt aboute to betraye and vtterlye destroye the parte which he wolde seme to fauoure for this texte maketh more agenst him theÌ„ anye that he brought before semeth to make wi th him The wordes of Mathewe are these I tell you that of everye idle worde that men spe ake shall they yelde a rekeninge in y â— daye of iu dgement but that leuetâ—… he out full craftelye Now let vs reason of this texte By the rekenin ge is vnderstonde a punishment for the sinne as Master More sayeth him silfe and this re keninge shalbe vppon the daye of dome ergo then this punishment for sinne can not be before the daye of dome but eyther vppon or els after the daye of dome For god will not first punish them and then after reken with theÌ„ to punish them anewe And so is purgatorye quyte excluded For al they that ever imagined anye purgatorye do put it before the iudgement for when christ cometh to iudgement then ceaseth pâ—…rgatorye as they all consent neyther is there any prayer or sufrage which at that tyme caÌ„ do anye helpe at all And so hath master More by this texte geven him silfe a propre fall Here maye you se â—…ow stroÌ„ge his reasons are and what will happen to him that taketh in haÌ„ de to defende the falsehed agenst the truth of goddes worde for his reasons make more ageÌ„st him then with him you maye wel knowe that if his matter had bene anye thinge likelye he wol de haue coloured it if a nother facion But sith such a patrone so greatlye commended for his conveyaunce and wysedome handleth this mat ter so slenderlye you maye well mistrust his cau se. Thâ—…s is the last reason grounded of scripture wher with he hath laboured to proue purgatorye And after his reason he rekeneth vpp the doctoures aÌ„d saith for his pleasure that all make for him but as touchinge the doctours I wil make a suffycient answere in the thirde parte which is agenst my lorde of Rochestre Thus he leueth the scripture which he hath full vnmanerlye handled and now endevoureth him silfe to proue his purposse by some pro bable reasons And first he bringeth in his olde argument that the church can not erre to the which reason I nede not to answere for wyllyam Tindale hath declared abundantlye in a treatise which by goddes grace you shall shortlye haue whate the church is and also that it both maye erre and doth erre if the pope aÌ„d his adherentes be the church as master More imagineth After this he coÌ„firmeth his phantasye with phantasticall apparicions sayenge that there haue in everie contre and in everye age ap paricions bene had and wel knowne and testifyed by which men haue had suffycient reuelation and proâ—…e of purgatorye How manye haue by goddes most gracious fauoure appered to their frendes after their deeth and shewed them selves holpen and delyuered thence by pil grimages almosedede prayer cÌ„ If they saye y â— these be lyes then be they moch worse theÌ„ their master Luther him silfe for he coÌ„senteth in his sermons that manye such apparicions be truâ—… and if they be true then must there nedes be a purgatorye Here playeth master More the sotle sophâ—… â—…ter and wolde deceave meÌ„ with a fallace which lyeth in this worde true so that wheÌ„ he sayeth that such apparicions be true this sentence ma ye be taken two maner of wayes One that it is true that such phaÌ„tastical apparicions do ap peare to diverse and that I thinke no man be so folish but he will graunte him And yet in dede are they no soules but verye devels that so appeare to delude men that they shulde falle from the faith of Christ and make a god of their awne workes trustinge to be saved therebye But to suppose this true y â— they are the soules of purgatorye which so appeare is verye fonde false and agenst al scriptu re for Esai sayeth shall we goo for the quicke vnto the deed that is shall we enquyre of the deed and beleue them in such poyntes as concerne oure welth Naye saith he but vnto the lawe and witnes that is vnto god and his worde And so are we monished by Esay in the. 8. that we beleue no such phantasyes we are also commaunded by the lawe of god that we enquyre not of the deed not for the truth for god abhorreth it Deuteronomye xviij Besides that the parable of the rich man and Lazarus doth vtterlye condemne all such appa ricyons that they are no soules which appeare but verye devels For when the rich man desyred that Lazarus might go and warne his brothren that they shulde not come in to that place of payne Abraham answered that they had Moses and the Prophetes addinge also that if they beleved not them then wolde they not beleue although one shulde ryse agayne and tell it thâ—…m And so maye I conclude that it were in vay 〈◊〉 to
derstonde of the childreÌ„ of Israel which thorow the lorde were delivered from their affliccions and enemyes and then offered their loyall sacrifices of prayse and thankes to y â— lorde their shil de and proteccion NOw flieth my lorde vnto the church and sa yeth that because the church hath affirmed it we must nedes beleue it for the church caÌ„ not erre As thouchinge this poynte I will referre you vnto a worke that wyllyam Tindaâ—… hath writen agenst M. More wherin ye shall well perceyve what the church of Christ is and that his church never determed any such thinge But that it is the sinagoge of Satan y t maketh articles of y â— faith and bindeth mennes coÌ„sciences further then the scripture wille THen wexeth his lordeshippe somwhat hate ageÌ„st Marten Luther Because he wolde y â— no man shulde be compâ—…led to beleue purgatorye For my lorde sayeth that it is profitable and well done to compell men to beleue such thinges whether they will or wil not And to sta blish his opinion he plucketh out a worde of y â— parable of luke xiiij that a certen man made a greate souper and sayed vnto his servauntes goo forth quyclye in 〈◊〉 the wayes and compell â—…em to entre in â—…erelye there Christ ment no nother thinge but that his apostles shulde goo forth in to all the worlde and preach his worde vnto all na cyons openinge vnto them the miserable state and condâ—…n that they be in and agayne what mercye god hath shewed theÌ„ in his sonne christ This wolde Christ that his apostles shulde expounde and laye out so evidentlye by reasons scriptures and miracles vnto the gentils y t they shuld even by their manifest persuasions be coÌ„pelled to graunte vnto them that he was christ and to take vppon theÌ„ the faith that is in christ One this maner did Christ compell y â— saducees to graunte the resurreccion Matthei xxij And by these meanes compelled he the Pharisâ—…s to graunte in their consciences that he did his myracles with the power of god and yet astir warde of verye hate knowinge in their hartes the contrarye they sayed that he did them bi the po wer of the devâ—…ll Matthei xij But to saye that Christ wolde haue his disciples to compell men with presonmeÌ„t feters 〈◊〉 ginge swerde fy re is verye false farre from the â—…enesse of a christen spirite although my lorde approue it ne ver so moch For Christ did forbid his disciples such tyrannye 〈◊〉 rebuked them because they wolde haue desyred that fyre shulde descende from heaven to consume the Samaritanes whych wolde not receyue Christ Luke ix But he coÌ„ maunded them that if men wolde not receyve their doctrine they shulde departe from thence and sprincle of the dust of their fetâ—… to be a testimonye agenst the vnfaithfull that they had bene there and preached vnto them the worde of liffe But with violence will god haue no man compelled vnto his lawe Paule also testifyeth ij Corin. 1. that he had not rule over the Corinthians as touchinge their faith By oure fayth we stande in the lorde and by oâ—…re infidelite we falle from him As no man can serch the herte but onlye god so can no man iudge or ordre ou 〈◊〉 faith but onlye god thorow his holye spreteâ—… 〈◊〉 faith is a gifte of god which he destributeth at his awne pleasure 1. Cor. â—…ij If he geue it not this daye he maye geue it to morow And if thou perceyve by any exterior worke that they neyboure haue it not enstructe him with goddes worde and praye god to geue him grace to beleue and that is rather a poynte of a christen man then to coÌ„pell a man by deeth or exterior violence Hynallye what doeth thy compulsion and violence Uerelye nothinge but make a starcke hypocrite For no man can compell the harte to beleue a thynge excepte it se evidence and sufficient profe I haue harde tell of a boye which was present at his fathers burninge for his bele ue and assone as the officers had espyed y e boye they sayed to ech other Let vs take him and examine him also parad veÌ„ture we shall finde him as greate an heretike as his father Uvhen thâ—… boye sawe that his father was deed and that y â— catchpolles begaÌ„ne to snatch at him he was sore dismayed and thought that he shulde dye to And wheÌ„ one of them apposed him askinge him how he beleved he answered Master I beleue even as it pleaseth you Even so by tourmen tes and craftye handlinge a man maye be compelâ—…ed to saye that he beleveth the thinge which he neyther thinketh nor yet can beleue For a mannes faith is not in his awne power But how doth god accepte this thinge to saye that I beleue that which in dede I beleue not Uere lye he vtterlye coÌ„deÌ„pneth it whether the opinioÌ„ be true or false For if the opinion be true as by example that the faith in Christes bloude iustefyeth me before god and I confesse it before all the bysshopes in engloude with my mouth and beleue it not with myne harte then am I nothinge the better for I shulde haue no parte of Christes bloude but I am moch the worse For first god condempneth me which iudgeth me after myne harte and also myne awne harte condeÌ„pneth me because I haue openlye graun tid that myne harte deuyeth And contrarie wyse if I shulde beleue this fullye in inyne harte ad yet for feare of persecu tion shulde denye it when I were examined opeÌ„ lye of my faith then shall I be condemned of god excepte I repent and also mine awne har te shalbe a witnesse to condemne me And so is it verâ—…e noysome and vngodlye to be compelled vnto any thinge for god ever sercheth the harte which can not be compelled ☜ BUt my lorde obiecteth writinge vppon the xviiâ—… article sayinge If a man take awaye purgatorye for what entent shall we nede any pardons As longe sayeth he as no man regar ded purgatorye there was no man that sought any pardon for all the estimacyon of pardons hangeth therof so that we shall haue no nede of them if there be no purgatory Uerelye I care not though I graunte him that to And I thinke y â— Monye was the mother of them both For out of y â— scripture shall he be able to proue neyther nother But maÌ„mon is a greate god even of power ynough to inveÌ„t such knackes yee and to make them articles of the faith to â—…urne those that can not beleve theÌ„ And it was a preatye practise to make such poyntes articles of the faith for after y t oure holye fathers had geven vppe prea chinge wolde take no more paynes neyther ser ve their brothren any more then sette they vppe such articles of the faith as shulde bringe in mo nye to vppholde their astate with all