not beleue that chri stes deâ—…th were sufficient but that he must also go to purgatorye who shuld departe this worlde with a quyet minde The wiseman sayeth The soules of y â— right wise are in y â— hande of god They seamed to dye in the yies of y e folish their ende was thought to be payne and affliccion but they are in peace Sapiencie iij. There is no man but he must nedes graunte me that everye faithfull is right wi se in y â— sight of god as it is wryten Abacuc ij y â— right wiseman lyveth bi his faith And Rom. v. because we are iustifyed by faith we are at peace with god thorow oure lorde Iesus Christ. cÌ„ when these faithfull or rightwyse departe then sayth this texte that they are fooles which thin ke them to be in payne or affliccion for it affermeth that they are in peace Now sith their puâ—… gatorye which they imagyne is payne and afflic cion and yet fayne that the rightwyse onlye shall entre in to it after their deeth theÌ„ are they foles that suppose there is a purgatorye or elâ—… â—…his texte can not be true Hor what entent will god haue vs tourmen ted in purgatorye to make satisfaccion for oure sinnes verelye then is Christ deed in vayne as we haue often proved before But thinke you not reather that oure purgacion shuld be to encrease oure faith or grace or cherite for these thre couer the multitude of sinnes no verelye we can not fayne a purgatorye for any such cau se. For faith springeth by hearinge of the worde Romano 10. but the pope sendeth them no preachers thither ergo their faith can not there be encreased And agayne payne engendreth and kendleth â—…ate agenst god and not loue or charite Furthermore My lorde of Rochestre is compelled to graunte that the soules in purgatorye optayne there neyther more faith nor grace nor cherite then they brought in with them and so can I se no resonable cause why there shuld be a purgatorye Never thelesse Master More sayeth that both their grace aÌ„d cherite is encreased And so maye you perceave that lyes can never agre how wittye so ever they be that fayne and cloke them For in some poyntes they shall be founde contrarye so that at the length they maye be disclosed God is fullye pacefyed with thy will when thou hast no power to accomplish the outwarde facte For the wiseman sayeth proverb xxiij sonne geue me thy harte Now if thy will be vpright and so y â— thou haue a desyre to fulfill the lawe then doth god reken y â— will vnto the for y â— full facte If then thorow the frayltye of thy meÌ„ bres thou falle in to sinne thou mayst well saye with the apostle RomanoruÌ„ vij The good y t I wold do that do I not y t is I haue a will aÌ„d desire to fulfill the lawe of god and not to displease my hevenlye father yet that I do not But the evyll which I hate that do I that is I do coÌ„mitte sinne which in dead I hate Now if I hate the sinne which I do then loue I the lawe of god which forbiddeth sinne and do coÌ„sent vnto this lawe that it is good right wyse holye And so the sinne which I hate and yet coÌ„ mitte it thorow the frayltye of my membres is not iputed nor rekened vnto me for sinne Ney ther will S. Paule graunte that it is I which do that sinne but he sayed I haue a will to do good but I can not performe that will For I do not that good which I wolde but the evyll which I wolde not that do I. Now if I do y t thinge which I wold not do then is it not I y t do it but the sinne that dwelleth with in me I delight in the lawe of god with myne inwarde man that is with my will and mynde which is renued with the sprete of god but I se a nother lawe in my membres which rebelleth ageÌ„st the lawe of my minde and maketh me bonde vn to the lawe of sinne which is in my membres So y t I my silfe in my will and minde do obeye the lawe of god hatinge sinne as the lawe commaundeth me and not consentinge vnto it in my mynde and will but in my â—…iesh and membres I serve the lawe of sinne for the frayltâ—…e of my membres compelleth me to sinne Rom. 7. As by example if I se a poore man which is not of abilite to do me any pleasure and neuerthelesse doth all his diligence to seke my favoure and wolde with harâ—…e and minde geue me some acceptable present if he were of power beinge also sorye that he can not performe his will and minde towardes me Now if there be any poynte of humanite or gentlenesse in me I will counte this man for my frinde and accepte his good will as well as though he had in de ad performed his will For his abilite extendeth no further If his power were better better shulde I haue Even so sith we are not of power and abilite to performe the lawe of god yet beare a good harte towardes god and his lawe lamentinge oure imbecillitye that we can do him no further pleasure theÌ„ will god recoun te vs not as his enemyes but as his deare children and beloved frendes Neyther will he after warde thrust vs in to purgatorye but as a tendre father pardone vs oure trespaces and accep te oure good will for the full dede S. Paule exhorteth vs Gal. vj. that we wor ke well whyle we haue tyme for what so euer a man doth so we that shall hâ—… repe by this maye we evidentlye preceave that he shall not 〈◊〉 accordinge to his doinge or suffringe in a nother worlde and therfore caÌ„ there be no purgatorye The wyseman sayeth Eccle. xiiij worke rightu ousnes before thy deeth for after this liffe there is no meete that is to saye succoure to be founde There are some which will vnderstonde this place and also the texte in the. xlviij argument on this maner that there shulde be no place of deservinge but yet there maye well a be a place of punishment But this solucion besides that it is not groundâ—…d on scripture is verâ—…e 〈◊〉 For I praye you wherfore shuld their inveÌ„ 〈◊〉 of purgatorye serve but to be a place of pur ginge punishment and penaunce by the which the soule shuld make satisfaccion that it might so deserve to entre in to the rest of heaven Blessed are the deed which dye in the lorde from hence forwarde yee trulye saieth the sprete that they may rest from their laboures But their workes folowe with theÌ„ This texte they vse in their soulemasses as though it made for purgatorye But surelye me thinketh that it ma keth moch ageÌ„st them For let vs enquyre of all the 〈◊〉 and fautours of purgatorye whâ—…
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
abused thesa 〈◊〉 fyces and deceaved the simple people Master More also sayeth that the monye was sent to buye sacrifices which shuld beoffered for the sinne of the slayne Now knoweth everye christen that all maner of sacrifices and offeringes were nothinge but figures of Christ which shuld be offered for the sinne of his people So that when Christ came all sacrifyces aÌ„d oblacions ceased If thou shuldest now offer a calfe to purge thy sinne thou were no doubte in iuryous vnto the bloude of Christ for if thou thought his bloude sufficent then woldest thou not seke a nother sacrifyce for thy sinne yee I will go further with you there was not one sacrifice in the olde testament that purged or toke awaye sinne For the bloude of oxen or gootes can not take awaye sinne Hebreorum x. But all the sacrifyces which were then offered did but signefye that Christ shuld come and be made a sacrifyce for vs which shuld purge oure sinne for ever Now were their sacrifices aÌ„d oblacions institute of god and yet could they not take awaye sinne But onlye signifyed y t Christ thorow his bloude shulde take it awaye what madnes theÌ„ is come in to oure braynes that we thinke that oure oblacyons which are ordeyned but of oure awne imaginacion shuld take awaye sinne Uvhat if Iudas gathered soch an offeringe in the olde testament shuld it then folowe that we must do so to which knowe that Christ is to me and that all oblacyons are ceased in him shall we become Iewes and go backe agayne to the shadowe and ceremonye sith we haue the bodye and signification which is Christ Iesu Be it that Iudas were a holye man might he not yet do amisse Be it in case that he did well shall we therfore streight wayes out of his wor ke grounde an article of oure faith Dauid was an holye man and yet committed â—…e both murther and ad voutrye shall we with out further enserchinge the scriptures streyght wayes folow his example 〈◊〉 was an holye man and was commaunded of god to offer his awne sonne shall we offer oure children therfore Ge dion and Iosua destroyed the vnfaithfull kinges and princes and dyd well and were preysed of god Must we do so to And wherfore shall we more folowe the example of Iudâ—…s then of the other Shall I tell you whye verelye for this example of Iudas bringeth monye vnto oure spiritualtye These xij thousande drachmas shyne so bright in their yies that with out other candell lantren or spectacles they haue espyed an article of oure faith you maye not coÌ„ sidre that they haue taken this texte of xij thou sand drachmas for a pistle in soule masses for then parad venture you might fall in to some shâ—…ewed suspeccion that they shuld do it of covetuousnes which faute 〈◊〉 be espied in ouâ—…e spiritualtye as you know well ynough He y â— holdeth any ceremonye of the lawe as necessarie is bounde to kepe and fulfill the hole lawe This is evident of Paule Gala. 6. where he sayeth If ye be circumcysed then are ye deâ—… toures to fulfill the hole lawe That is if ye put any confidence in circumcysioÌ„ or recounte it as necessarie for 〈◊〉 it is of it silfe neyther good nor evell then make you youre selues bonde vn der the lawe which burthen neyther we nor oure fathers coulde beare and tempte god Act. 15 And this sacrifice of Iudas was but a ceremonye signifyed y t christ shuld with his bloude quench oure sinnes ergo he y t kepeth or counte th this ceremonye as necessarye as are aâ—… y â— arti cles of y â— faith doth captiuâ—… him silfevnder y â— lawe teÌ„pteth god to speake nomore sharpelye yet will I go a litle nere vnto you Iudas him silfe beleved not that there was a purgatorye For in the tyme of the olde testament there was no purgatorye as the scolemeÌ„ graunte theÌ„ selues but onlye a place of rest which they called limbus patrum wherfore they are pituous lye deceaved that will prove purgatorye by the tâ—…xtes of the olde testament sith as they saye theÌ„ selves there was no purgatorye at y t tyme. â—…ynallye I can not finde a place that of it silfe more properlye confuteth this phantastical purgatorye theÌ„ doth this same texte which they sticke so sore to imageninge that it stablisheth purgatorye The texte sayeth on this maner ex cepte he had hoped that they which were slayne shuld ryse agayne It shuld seme voyed and in vayne to praye for the deed If you fayne a pur gatorye theÌ„ must this texte nedes be false for be it in case that the deed shuld not ryse agayne Now saith the texte that it were voyed aÌ„d in vayne to praye for the deed if they shuld not ri â—…e agayne But if there were a purgatorye whe rin they shulde be purged and punished in the meane ceason then were it not in vayne to pra ye for them to delyuer them out of that payne but rather verye frutefull and necessarye although they shuld never rise agayne aÌ„d therfore if this texte be of auctorite it is impossible y t there shuld be any purgatorye neyther is there any texte that in my iudgement can better vnder mine purgatorye and make it fall Parad venture you desyre to knowe my min de in this place and that I shuld expounde vnto you what Iudas ment in his oblacion sith he thought of no purgatorye as the for sayde texte doth well specefye Uerelye I thinke that Iudas beleued that there shuld be a resurreccion as this texte prayseth him sayenge thinkin ge well and devoutelye of the resurrection For emonge the Iewes there were manye that bele ved not the resurrection of oure flesch aÌ„d they that beleved it were yet so rude and ignoraunte that they thought they shuld ryse but to optayne a carnall kingdone and haue their enemies subdued vnder them with out rebellioÌ„ And therto sticke the Iewes vnto this daye And it is most like y t this shuld be his meaninge we shal all ryse agayne and possesse this londe in pe ace and these men which are slayne are out of the fauoure of god because they haue coÌ„trarye to y â— lawe Deut. 7. taken of the Idolles oblacions therfore is it best that we sende a sacrifice vnto Ierusalem to pacefye the wrath of god towardes them lest when they rise agayne the lorde shuld sende some plage amongest vs for theyr transgression which they committed whi le they were here lyvinge If any man can better gesse I am wel conteÌ„t to admitte it but this is plaine ynough he thought that this sacrifice could not helpe theÌ„ before they shuld rise agayne which doth fullye destroye purgatorye For where he sayeth that it were voyed and in vayne to praye for y â— deed excepte they shuld ryse agayne Is euen as moâ—…h to saye vnto him that hath any wytte as that this prayer and
noysome as the apostles graunted vnto the Iewes that the gentils shulde kepe so me of Moses lawe Actes xv y t they might the better come to their purposse to saue the Iues with the gentles For if they had at the first vâ—… 〈◊〉 sette off the lawe then wolde the Iues ne uer haue geven anye audience vnto the apostles And even so S. Austyne went wyselye to worke First condempninge by the scripture that er roure which was most no ysome and wrote on this maner Albeit some might be purged thorow fyre yet not such as y â— apostle condeÌ„pneth when he saith that y e persones which so do shall not possesse the kingedome of heaveÌ„ And where they woldehaue stucke vnto Paules text 1. Cor. 3. affirme that they shulde be saved thorow fi re S. Austyne aÌ„swered y t Paules texte was vn derstande of the spirituall fire which is tempta cyon affliccyon tribulacyon cÌ„ This wrote he in the. 67. 68. of his enchiridioÌ„ to subverte that grosse crroure that al shulde be saved thorow the fyre of purgatorye yet in the. 69. he goeth a litle nere them and sayeth y t it maye be douted whether there be any such purgatorye or not hâ—…durst not yet openlye condempne it because he thought that men coude not at that tyme beare it But after in his boke which he entitled de vanitate huius seculi there doth he fullye she â—…e his minde in these wordes Scitote quod cuÌ„ anima a corpore auellitur statim aut pro meritis bonis in paradiso collocatur aut pro meritis malis in inferni tartara precipitatur That is wete ye well that when y â— soule is departed froÌ„ the bodye eyther is it by and by put in paradyse accordinge to his good desertes orels it is thrust hedlinge in to hell for his sinnes Here he â—…lene condempneth purgatorye For if this be done by and by assone as the soule is departed from the bodye then caÌ„ there be no purgatorye And so maketh S. Austyne hoell with vs. Thin â—…e ye that S. Austyne dissenteth from his companion S. Hierome or from his awne Master S. Ambrose Naye vere lye How be it I will allege their awne wordes and then iudge ☞ SAynte Ambrose dissenteth not from S. Au styne but doth stablish his sentence as fully as is possible For he writeth in the seconde chaptre of his boke which is called de bono mor tis on this maner bringinge in the wordes of Dauid Psal. 39. Ad vena ego sum in terra et pe regrinus sicut omnes patres mei Et ideo tanquam peregrinus ad illam sanctorum communem omnium patriam festinabat Petens pro huius commorationis inquinamento remitti si bi peccata priusquam discederet de vita Qui enim hic non acceperit remissionem peccatorum illic non erit Non erit autem quia ad vitam eternam non potuerit peruenire quia vi ta eterna remissio peccatorum est Ideoqz dicit reâ—…itte mihi vt refrigerer priusquaÌ„ abeam cÌ„ that is I am a straunger and pilgryme in the erth as all my fathers haue bene And therfore as a pilgryme he hasted vnto the comeÌ„ countre of all saintes requiringe for the filthinesse that he had receaved in this bodelye mansion y t his sinnes might be forgeven him before he departed from this life For he that here hath not receyved forgeuenesse of his sinnes shall not be there He shall not surelye be there for he caÌ„ not come vnto everlastinge liffe for everlastinge life â—…o the forgevenesse of sinnes And therfore he sa yeth forgeue me that I maye be cooled before I departe Here maye you evidâ—…ntlye perceaue that Saynt Ambrose knewe 〈◊〉 of purgatorie nor of any forgeuenesse that shulde be after this lyffe But playnlye affyrmeth that he that receyveth not forgevenesse of hys synnes here that ys in thys lyfe shall never come in heuen And for a more vehement affyrmacyon he doubleth hys awne wordes sayenge he y â— here hath not receyved forgevenesse of hys synnes he shall not be there he shal not surelie be there hemea neth that he shal neuer come to heven which he re hath not hys remission SAynt Hieromes minde maie sone be gathe red by hys exposition of the. ix chaptre of ecclesiastes vppon thys texte the deed haue no parte in this worlde not in any worke that ys done vnder the sonnâ—… There addeth S. Hierome that the deed can adde nothynge vnto that whych they haue taken with theÌ„ out of this lyf fe For they can nother do good not sinne neyther can they encrease in vertue or vice Albe yt sayth he some will contrarie this exposicyoÌ„ af fyrmynge also that we maye encrease aÌ„d decrea se after deeth Here are thre thinges to be noted First y t the texte sayeth that the deed are not partetakers of any worke y t is done vnder y â— son ne And there maye you se y â— al suffragies offâ—…rtÌ„ ges and dyryges for the deed are in vayâ—…e and profyte them not for they are partetakers of no thinke vnder y e sonne SecoÌ„darilie you maye se. S. Hieromes awne mide y t y e deed caÌ„ nother do good nor evell neyther encrease in vertue nor vice And so is purgatorie put out for if theâ—… can do no good what shulde they do in purgato rye And agayne if they can not encrease in vertue they be like to lye longe in purgatorye Par aduenture some man wolde thinkâ—… that they do no good but onlye that they suffer good To y t I aÌ„swere that he y t suffreth good doth good For if a maÌ„ shulde suffer hys bodye to be burnt for the fayth of chryst wolde you not saye that he did a good dead and yet doth he but suffre Thyrdlye ye maye note that S. Hierome was not ignoraunt that certayne as they which did fayne purgatorye wolde denye hâ—…s exposicion saye that we might encrease and decrease in ver tue and vice after deeth yet that notwithstondinge he helde his sentence condempninge their opiniâ—…n which thinge he wolde not haue done specyalye sith he knew that he shulde haue adversaryes for it excepte he had bene sure y t his senteÌ„ce was right Se I praye you how y t not onlye scripture but eueÌ„ theyr awne doctoures condemp ne this phantasticall put gatorye And yet my lordes are not a sha med to saye that all make for them â—… NEverthelesse I will go further with him Be it in case that all the doctours did af firme purgatorye as they do not what were my lorde the nere his purpose verelye not one Iote For the auctoryte of doctoures by my lordes awne coÌ„fession extendeth no further buâ—… is oÌ„lye to be admitted whyles they coÌ„firme theiâ—… wordes bi scripture or els bi someprobable reasoÌ„ For my lorde writeth on this maner Article 37 the pope