wyse to be made in a tonge vnknowen to the penitente ⧠✚ ♣ ⧠☞ For it is necessary that he vnderstande the worde wherby hys soule is to be comfortyd in the lorde to whom he muste nedes beleue ¶ Of sygnes of grace and remyssoyn of synnes ⧠BAptysme is to the faythefull as loÌ„ge as he lyueth the most surist sygne of grace and remyssyon of siÌ„nes for in al his lyfe he asking that is moste assurid by that signe all though it be receiuyd but ones ⧠For what so euer the faythful takyth as mortyfyeng crusyfyeng quotidiane spoylyng of the olde man be fyguryd in the plongynge out and in the water with the iudgement of the newe man Roma 6. ♣ Another sygne there is the table of the lorde which is to euery maÌ„ receyuyng it in fayth the moste suryst signe of grace and remyssyon of synnes ♣ Thys table is a memory of a sacryfyse ones offerid in the crosse and nat the sacryfyse ¶ For to affyrme that it is a sacryfise and that it shulde be sacryfyed of any man it is execrable wicked and abhomynable byfore the lorde and more of this in another place ♣ The thyrde sygne is the worde spoken of the churche or of any faythful sygnifieng grace and remyssyon of sinnes to be gyuen by him that amendith and asketh it in faythe ⧠These sygnes be the vesselles of grace as manye haue defynyd in the spirite of errour ☞ But sygnes do not brynge grace but the lorde Psalmo 83. It is not gyueÌ„ by signes but by fayth ¶ By fayth we be pertakers of al the gyftes of the holye goste ♣ Also these sygnes without faythe / be nothynge / whiche scolers saye of fayned thynges ☞ ⧠☞ ⧠¶ Paule saythe Ephe. 5. Chryst hath santyfyed his churche made it clene with the lauer of water by his worde verelye it is clensyd with the worde when it beleueth it of the which clensynge the lauer of water is a sygne he sayd not symply it is made clene with the lauer of water but put to by the worde that you maye knowe the makyng clene to be sygnifyed by the lauer ¶ whiche thou haste openly 1. Pe. 3. baptyme hath made vs safe not by the which fylth of the fleshe is put away / but it maketh that a good conscyence answeryth well to god by the resurrectyon of Iesus Chryste ♣ Althoughe that we get by the same alonlye faythe in Chryste grace full remyssyon of all our synnes yet god the hyest and greateste of the aboundance of hys goodnes hathe put to these sygnes to the greatter comforte of the faythefull whether any cases may be reseruyd WHat so euer the man of syn the son of perdycyon the pope with all his kyngdome haue reseruyd and kepte cases hath ben a faynynge of the deuyl so moch more hateful dampnable cursyd as it repugnethe euen contrarye to the eternall scryptures of god ♣ Nothynge at all may be reserued to the faythful that hathe all most plentyfully remytted to hym so that there can be no greater ♣ The church caÌ„ nether lose or bynde but after the worde of god by whoÌ„ she muste be gouerned in all thynge Of satysfaccyon and as they call it inioynynge of penaunce BYcause satysfaccyon for synnes dothe shewe a suffycyencye of deades by whoÌ„ euelles be restored which haue chauÌ„syd iÌ„ those synnes there is no maÌ„ that can outher gyue or do suffycient for theÌ„ it is wekyd that sophysters thynke that we can satysfye for them ¶ For nether with fastynge prayer nor almes or any other worke we be able to satysfye bycause these be not satisfaccions but frutes of true fayth for there is another satysfaccyoÌ„ with out all these ♣ There is one alone ful and true satysfaccyon for the synnes of all the world in whom we must nedes beleue made of the lorde Iesus Chryste ¶ Sines be sayde to be redemed with almes yf it be of fayth for they be redemyd of faythe of the gyuer and not for the almes it selfe ♣ The same iudgement is of fastynge and prayer and of al workes of fayth which be good bycause of true fayth ¶ whiche fayth beynge absent be but mere wekydnes and syn for all that is not of fayth is synne Roma 14. ♣ Of iogelyng spirites and doctryne of deuyls dyd it sprynge that many haue affyrmyd penaunce to be inioynyd ☞ For it can not be inioyned of man but gyueÌ„ of god to the siÌ„ner that he may truly be penytent for his synnes ♣ They call it folyshlye penaunce that these chapleyns haue costomyd to inioyne to him that telleth his synnes ☞ For theyr ought nothynge to be inioyned by cause Chryste is full satysfaccyon for all faythfull ⧠The penytent is to be comfortyd with the worde of god and to be monyshyd to true faythe and the workes of it for as it is sayde what so euer is not of faythe is hypocresye and syn ♣ Not that people shulde be losyd or that he cleuynge to this maner of confessyon shulde styke to vs as the prophetes of antychryste inioyne vs but we haue wrytten so of penaunce that al dreames and lyes of men put away and all crafty conueyance and greate burdens of the kyngedome of antychryste reiecte Chryste and the worde of truthe may reygne in euery place ♣ we haue spoken of penauÌ„ce those that perteyne to the scryptures of god in fewe wordes hauynge no regarde what the wyked synagoge of the kyngdome of antychryste in the spirite of errour hath otherwyse dyffyned for it is necessary for vs to flye his poyson for it can not be that we shal gyue place both to Chryst and Antychrist ♣ The conclusyon THe sum of christyanyte we haue breflye wrytten that is in .385 peradoxes or posycyons that thys boke myght be to bere in the handes of theÌ„ that desyreth it there was .ij. thiÌ„ges that mouyd me cheflye to do it fyrste there be very many that put forthe reprouable peradoxes as there was one Tregaryus by whome they be about to make the symple people straunge from the truth the other is that before the .ix. monethe at the noble cetye of Wetens the companye of antychryste was gatheryd agaynst me which mouyd me to styke vp many posytyons verely I put to them a huÌ„dreth and .xxvi. whoÌ„ I haue nowe increasyd to .385 let theÌ„ answere therfore yf they haue any thynge let not these blynde pharesyes stande iÌ„ theyr owne conceyte and legates and tyrantes of the sonne of perdicyon that for hê decre and lyke preachynge dyd make the noble wytnes of Chryste S Iohan castellane somtyme my welbelouyd brother the laste of all that is the 12. daye of the monethe of Ianuarye Anno. 1525. at Vuy a towne of lotherynge with fyer they made hym a martyr of Chryste but for hiÌ„ god shall fyght agaynste them and for one well rayse a thousande and yf they hade slayne me to Chryst hade vouchsafe thys glorye of martyrdome to me for me ten thousaÌ„de shulde ryse for surely antychryste with all hys kyngedome apostata shall falle to the glorye of the lorde Iesus Chryst and that with spirite of hys mouthe which with the father and the holye goste lyueth one god gloryous for euer more So be it WOo woo be to the thou purple whore / whore of Babylon that loueth the sygne of the rose coloryd beaste and to it empyre thou arte made drunke with the blode of prophetes sayntê and dothe call to the shedynge of the blode of the electe as it were to a feast of deÌ„tyes promysinge to thy assystentes grace and remyssyon of synnes with thy false iogelynge woo I saye to the for thou shalte be dystroyd for with the vyolence of a mylstone throwen into the see thou shalte be sende into the botome of hel and thou shalt be founde no more Apoca. 18. bycause the lorde hathe remembred the blode of hys electe whom thou haste slayne and whom thou hast deceyuyd to establyshe thy lyes and abhomynatyons and hathe alwaye trode vnder fode the veryte of our lorde Iesus Chryste for the which thou shalt be troden downe of it for euermore and the beaste that thou haste worshypped shall peryshe with the. So be it ¶ Let thys be done lorde Iesu come quyckly thy enemyes ouercome and reygne in vs. So be it The ende of thys collectyon of places of scrypture ☞ ⧠☜ ⧠⧠♣ ⧠♣ ☞ ☜
The summe of christianitie gatheryd out almoste of al placis of scripture by that noble and famouse clerke FRANCIS LAMBERT of Auynyon And translatyd and put in to prynte in Englyshe by TRISTRAM REVEL The yere of our lorde 1536. ⧠The table of this boke FYrste ther is an epistle of the translatour to the most vertuous Quene ANNE There is also the epystle of the Author in place or stede of a prologe to the moste noble lorde lorde Sebastyan prynce of Lausane in the which is made answere to those thyngê that Tregaryus wrytte to the same Lorde in hys epystle prefyxed hys hundreth paradoxes Also these thynges folowynge be intreated vpon in .385 paradoxes or questyons deuyded into chapiters ¶ The fyrst Chapiter of the blydnes of the worldes paste and hathe Paradoxes .29 ¶ The seconde Chapiter of the holy Churche of god and reprouable synagoge of Sathan of canonyzynge and inuocatyon of Saynctes and hathe Paradoxes .31 ¶ The thyrde Chapiter of the communyon of Sayntes of excomunycatyon and bulles of the sonne of perdycyon and hathe Paradoxes .14 ¶ The fourthe Chapitre of true good workes and the lawe of grace and the gospell and vertues of the faythefull and hathe Paradoxes .20 ¶ The fyfthe Chapitre of the prestehode of the faythefull and true ministres of the churche .i. byshopes and deacons and hathe Paradoxes .38 ¶ The syxte Chapitre of punyshmeÌ„t and deposiÌ„g false byshopes and false apostles and hathe Paradoxes .31 ¶ The seuenthe Chapitre of the auctoryty and ministery of byshopes and in what thynges they ought to be subiecte to prynces and rulers of sanctuaryes and hathe Paradoxes .27 ¶ The eyght Chapitre that byshoppes maye nat be prynces and lordes and hathe Paradoxes .13 ¶ The nynthe Chapitre of abrogacyon of fyrste frutes tythes and offerynges and what the faythfull owe to theyr bysshoppes .i. ministers of the worde also of those thinges that they owe to prynces and rulers and hathe Paradoxes .28 ¶ The tenthe Chapitre of the table of the lorde and execrable costomes of the kyngdome of the son of perdycyon vtterly to be extincte and putte downe and of Purgatory and hathe Paradoxes .36 ¶ The eleuenthe Chapitre of sectes and beggyng hathe Paradoxes .18 ¶ The twelfthe Chapitre to whom it belongythe to iudge of doctryne if it be of god or nat and of wycked vniuersyties and hathe Paradoxes .15 ¶ The thyrtenthe Chapitre of the partes as they call it of penaunce and all that belongythe there to and hathe Paradoxes .85 ¶ This terme Paradoxe is a conclusyon or posiscyon or questyon ☞ ♣ ☜ ⧠The epystle of the translator ⧠To the moste gracyous Quene ANNE most deare wyfe of our most drade soueraygne lorde HENRY the eyght of Englande of FrauÌ„ce kynge defender of the faythe and lorde of Irelande and vnder god next chefe and supreme heade of the churche of Englande your most bondeÌ„ oratour Trystram Reuel wysshethe helthe GRace and peace from God the father and the lorde Iesus Chryste be with you moste Gracyous Quene / moste humbly and with all reuerence gyuynge laudes / and praysynges vnto almyghtye god for your grace euen after the mynde of saynte Paule Ephe alwayes in all my prayers for your grace with gladnes bycause of the felyshype whiche your grace hathe in the gospel froÌ„ the fyrst day vntyll nowe and am surely certyfyed that he whiche hathe begonne a good worke in you wyl also go forthe with it vntyl the day of Iesus chryst with the encrease and establyshement of his gospell as yet but yonge hath many enemyes to whome the lorde sende the day of his visytatyon to hê honoure and glory and your grace to perseuere with all dylygence as your grace haue begone to promote furder and sette forthe â—oh 1. Goddes worde vpon the selfe same zele that saynte Iohan cryed in deserte make redy the way of the lorde / So that euery man may be rulyd by the laste wyll and testamente of our eldest brother and lorde Iesus Chryste which is suffycyent for al vs to lyue after to euerlastynge helth to knowe God the father to be God alone and whoÌ„ he hath sent Iesus Chryste 〈◊〉 17. without any other foreyne or straung lawes he hath also straytly coÌ„mauÌ„ded his lawyers â—â—odi â— byshopes ouer the coÌ„gregation or any other nether to adde or dymynyshe one Iote to or from hys forsayd last wyl isai â—â— sayng I am thy god the God of Zelotes one alone suffycyent thou shalte haue no straunge godes iÌ„ my syht â—ie 31. nether turne to the ryght hande nor the lefte And nowe heare Israel the preceptes and iudgementes whiche I teache the that doynge them thou mayste lyue goinge in may possesse the laÌ„de that the lorde God of thy fathers wyll gyue the. Thou shalt adde nothyng to the worde that I speake to the Deu. â— nor take any thynge from it kepe the commaundementes of thy lord god and holde the kynges hyghe waye the pathe of holy scrypture which is the worde besydes whoÌ„ there is none other furthermore vpon the selfe same charge he hathe ordayned instytute and made executors for the performaunce of hys sayde testament that euery maÌ„ without respecte of person shulde be equally receyued and that of sundry wyse Fyrst he hathe instytute Mark 17. Math 16. Mark 10. Lu. 2. Hu. 1 3. Regum â— Bysshoppes to teache hys people therin to lose to bynde to pronauÌ„ce grace and remissyon of synnes gyuen thoroughe hys worde Moreouer he hathe put kynges prynces rulers iÌ„ theyr auctorytes to punyshe correcte and expulse from hys congregacyon transgressours of hys lawes and straungers not sekynge to edefye but to kyl which be callyd bloude suppers men lyuynge after theyr owne braynes and fantasies not commynge in at the dore but another waye settynge forthe theyr owne lawes tradycyons almost deceyuynge the very electe as is wel knowen to the faythfull with suppressyon and treadynge vnder fote Math. 4. euen to this day the lyght of euerlastyng veryte the lyuely word of god And for the cause most chrysten Quene that noble and famous clarke FRAVNCYS ' LAMBERT Author of thys lytle treatyse perceyuynge both the exilynge of the gospel from chrysten meÌ„nes hartes â—oh 16 and also the ruyne and destructyon of the faythfull moste lyke a true champyon hath sette forthe to the quycke Image the pestylente doctryne and actes of the kyngedome of perdycyon the church of Antychryste the men of synne the Pope and his sectes in many workes with great laboures and study chefly in thys lytle boke clerely confutynge the synagoge of Sathan as a noble executour of his brothers aforesayde wyll and by the same auctoryte hathe descrybed and set forth true mynisters of goddes moste holye worde a boke to be redde of all chrysteÌ„ people therin they may learne to walke in theyr callynge pryncypally byshopes ouer the congregacion which sayde lytle treatyse by a good
and gospellers they be made of Belzebub Sathan that is of nought worse and moste hatefull to god ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ⧠Aboue all the cloystures of the Mynorytes ought to be scolles of the professyon of the gospell for Chryste commaunded to saynt Frauncys that they shulde lyue after the forme of the holy gospel whiche I haue prouyd in the coÌ„mentaries of theyr rule Cap. 1. ✚ Princes and rulers of theyr offyce ought dylygently to watche that the goynge forthe of all cloysters myght be free and by al meanes so to do that they whiche yet tary in cloysters lyue subiecte and be dylygently instructyd with the alonlye worde of god or els what shal these cloysters be but chafe ringe houses and bonde houses of the deuyl these laste 18. posytyons and other belongyng to monastycal secte I haue declaryd in my coÌ„mentarye into the rule of the minorytes more largely whose deutye is to iudge of the voyce of the lernyd / yf he be of god / and by what we be assuryd / also of wekyd vnyuersytes Capi. 12. IT dothe belonge to the church of god / to iudge of the voyce of all that teache / yf it be of god / whiche we haue proued openly in other bokes chefly in the cantykles of Solomon / the voyce of my well beloued cÌ„ Capitu. 2. and. 5. to what the churche of god is is declaryd within ♣ For of the worde of god / they aloÌ„ly can iudge that haue the spirite of christ whose deuty is to iudge of hye thingê 1. Corinthi 2. ☞ ✚ ♣ ⧠☜ ¶ It is heresye to affyrme / that the spirite of Chryste is not in the faythfull for he is in them / and they walke and vnderstande after hym by whome they mortifye the deades of the fleshe and lyue and crye in hym abba Pater and he gyuethe a testymonye to theyr spirite that they be children heyres of god hayres annexyd with chryste he axethe for vs with teres vnable to be spoken of and makyth intercessyoÌ„ for sayntes after god whiche Paule speketh of moste ceposlye Roma 8. ♣ Furthermore it is theÌ„ knowen that any man iudgethe of the spirite when he goeth aboute hys iudgement with open testimonyes of scrypture for the scryptures of god be the moste sureste testimonyes of the iudgementes of hê spirite as I haue sayde verye ofte ✚ whiche scryptures who so euer denyeth to be necessarye can no otherwayes affyrme the surenes of hê saynges bycause those alone be the sure testymonyes of god ☞ ♣ ⧠¶ Therfore they that be of the church of god that is to say symple and meke yee plowe men and artyfycers that syncerely beleue in god and be the shepe of chryst may iudge of the voyce of theyr pastor yf it be in those doctoures or not ☞ ☜ ☞ ♣ ♣ ♣ ✚ Verelye they that be not of that church can not iudge of it but rather abhore and hate it bycause it is aduersarye to theyr sense that is to say the fleshe by whiche they be ruled ♣ For any man to iudge of the worde it helpeth not to haue be many yeres at Parryse or other vnyuersityes or to haue stodyed the tongues excepte the holye gooste be presente ♣ Vnyuersyties that haue be of many yeres stryue clene agaynst the worde of God ☞ ✚ ☜ ⧠♣ ⧠☞ Promotyons of deuynes whiche they hunt for doth engeÌ„dre nothinge but pryde and be full of couetousnes and vanyte and is a certen gentyles maner for what so euer is of goddes worde yf monye be brought quyckely there is a tytle grauntyd and doctoures neuer teachynge and ofte tymes the most foles be promotyd wherfore they be abhomynable to god ⧠¶ And the lorde forbade hê apostles / that they shulde be made maysters Math. 23. no doute but he wolde haue them maysters and teachers of the people .i. that they myght teache hys scriptures but he wolde not that they shulde hunt for the vayne and proude tytles nor wolde not that they shuld teach any thyng but vnder hê seruyce ✚ There is no man almoste that teachethe more vnhappely the scryptures of god then these pompos bugges and ydolles of the worlde ☞ ♣ ⧠♣ Yf any man be worthye the mynysterye of god I wolde counsel that he shulde fyrste be chosen of other deuynes mete that he may be sende to any place and that the companye of the faythefull shulde pray for hym and yf he haue it let hiÌ„ gyue to the nedy and pore people and make them a feast accordynge to the gospell not as they do nowe a dayes to gyue cappes gloues or make greate coste of feastes to ryche men and full belyes that the same day they begyn to professe the gospell they do openlye agaynste the gospell for in truthe all these be abhomynatyon byfore the lorde ¶ Yf al cloystures of the worlde that withiÌ„ or nye to cetyes were as I sayd a lytle before the scoles of the worde of god so that the superstecioÌ„ of clothing were not obseruyd mans tradicions for we caÌ„ not serue both God Baal the worde of god the worde of men ✚ Prynces and rulers yf they wyll iustlye rule let them take hede aboue al thynge that Chryste maye rule his people also let them make scoles in euery place for chyldren and maydes in whoÌ„ they may be wel instructe iÌ„ the worde of god and honeste laboures lerne to dreade loue our lorde Iesu Chryst to whom with the father and the holy goste be honour worshyppe and empyre for euer more .. So be it Of the partes as they cal it of penaunce Cap. 13. THe partes of holy true penaunce is not confessyon coÌ„trytyon satysfaccyon but the actes of a true penytente of faythe without satysfaccyon ¶ whiche be necessarye to helthe but not as sophysters saye ☞ ♣ ⧠True satysfaccyoÌ„ iÌ„ so much as it is iÌ„ the merites of Christe alonly can be no perte of penauÌ„ce nor act of the penyteÌ„t ✚ But it is the hyest rewarde which we that beleue syncerely in chryste haue by hys meryte ⧠♣ ⧠♣ The inseperable seruaunte of true and necessarye penauÌ„ce is pure fayth for these the sauyour ioyned to gether saynge be penytent beleue the gospel ♣ This necessarye fayth is not to beleue this or that promise but so to beleue them all that we doute in no promyse of god no not in the leaste as is that he stedefastlye cleaue to goddes promyse iÌ„ which he hath promysyd to al faithful grace remissioÌ„ of siÌ„nes by christ as ofte as they axe it iÌ„ faythe thê is the gospel to whoÌ„ we must beleue ¶ True penaunce can neuer be wtout true fayth nor sayth is neuer without grace and the spirite of truthe also affectyons and true good workes what true penaunce is PEnaunce that the kyngdome of the pope preacheth teacheth is wykyd cursyd and lyenge to the lorde for it is nothinge lesse then
christen brother lent to me as yet bothe yonge in yeres and muche lesse in learnynge haue taken in hande to translate this so precyous a treasure and offer it to your most noble grace rudely sette forth trustynge that youre grace wyll cause the same eloquently and ornatly to be translated by some of your dyscret wyse and well learned clarkes most humbly besechynge your grace in good parte to take this my rude enterpryse pryncypally to confesse the truthe bycause I am very vnmete to do such a thinge and partly for lake of tyme oppressed with pouertye the whiche as the Poete MANTVANE wrytteth is enemy to good maners consequeÌ„tlye my wryttynge is verye course and base as yet ferre from the trade of a wryter the which be the causes of my offerynge to your grace so rude a volume so indygeste a phrase and to be brefe so vnsemely set together wherfore I humbly beseche your grace to take these my fyrste frutê yf they may be called frutes euen as Chryste our mayster hathe accepted the offerynge of the pore woman whose wyll was good Mar. 12 Lu. 21. wheÌ„ she offered al that she hade thoughe it was but lytle And the holy goste preserue our sayde soueraygne Lorde and your most deare husbande your grace the ladye ELEZABETHE Pryncesse Doughter heyre vnto you bothe and gyue to you the lyght of hys mercye to whome with god the Father and the Sonne be honoure and glorye for euer more So be it ✚ The epystell of the auctour ⧠To the noble and moste gentyll lorde lorde SEBASTIAN of MouÌ„t faulcone prynce of Lausanc FRANCIS LAMBERT the vnprofytable seruancte of Iesus Christe grace and peace of god the father and the lorde Iesus Christe ⧠NOt many yeres passyd moste noble prynce whaÌ„ I shulde preache the pure and holsome worde of god at your cytie of Lausane I dyd ê‘ceiue by many argumentes bothe the sobre gentylnes of youre mynde and also the outragyous wyckednes of certayne flaterers and deceiuers For at altymes where as you were present at my sermons you dyd moste purely fauer the worde of god and whan you were constreynyd with vrgent busynes to be absent whiche was ones and eftsones as you haue enformyd me very many were aboute sumwhat busyly to alyenat or make you straunge ye as it were to say enuiously to drawe you frome the worde of god lyke fyrye burnyng knyghtes adfyrmyng that I preachyd heresye But at the laste the myghty verytye hathe so conuycte you that you haue wryten many thynges for me and I gladly coÌ„fesse that for the loue of you I was gentylly enterteynyd with the BerneÌ„ses Ligurynes Basylyanes Friburgyanes Farthermore at my departyng from you you instantly desyryd me very ofte to wryte to you whiche to do I gladly promysed in tyme conuenient wherfore I beseche your hyghnes of pardone bycause I haue nat performyd it to thys daye for it chansyd nother by obliuiousnes or neglygence but very ofte whan I was about to do it I was constreynydly rapte to other maters The laste of al I wolde haue made answere to the hundreth paradoxes or questyones of CONRADVS TREGARIVS the Augustyne frereseÌ„t to you wherin he is very busy not alonly to pull you away frome Christe but also the noble gentyles of Heluetia although he do glory with pretens and zele of the spirite of Christ in the spirite of erroure and blyndnes Veryly he dothe teache nothyng lesse then Christ For he laboryth very sore to vndermyne the vyneyarde of the lorde of companies that is to saye the congregacyon or churche of christen people euyn lyke to a crafty or wyly foxe but this foxe muste be taken I saye thys lytle foxe ye the whiche is without effycacytie or strengthe of the spirite that other he maye be sauyd or els confoundyd put downe accordynge as the spouse commaundyth in the cantykles saing take to vs these foxes these lytle foxê that vndermyne the vyneyardes and the lytle eyes of the vynes which wordes howe they shulde be vnderstaÌ„dyd I haue declaryd in my enarracyon in to the cantycles Farthermore whaÌ„ I was about an answere in to the sayde paradoxes or conclusyons the derely belouyd and trewe teachyd bretheren of god VVLSGANGVS FABRICIVS Capito and MARTINE BVCER two of the byshopes of Argentyne preuentyd me And for that cause I dyd leaue of my purpose and toke on hande the reiteracyon or settyng forthe the comentaryes whiche I had begonne in to certayne of the prophetes with many other thynges for I knowe them to furnyshe that mater more dylygently then shal nede that any man shulde adde any thynge to theyr wrytingê I wolde but alonly monishe you to beware and take hede of suche wolues goyng in shepes clothyng that they do nat in euery place vyolently rapte slee and dystroye I haue also made answere to the epystle that he dyd wryte to you in the begynnyng of his boke deferrynge to wryte to you matters of greater grauytye vnto a tyme more conuenient as well as if I had made answere to the sayde paradoxes or conclusyones Nor you shall nat merueyle that I sayde there be many byshopes of one cytye for verely euery cytie hath so many byshoppes as it hathe true euangelystes or preachers for euery preacher of the truthe I say of the truthe that dothe nat preachelyes decrees inuencions dreames lawes and couÌ„selles of men but the moste pure and symple worde of god is a true byshope although he be nat callyd so of many the churche of god hathe no other byshopes but these therfore there as is no pure minister of the worde of god is no bysshop and without doute we haue ben very longe and manye yeres without byshopes in the moste fearfull iudgement of god for they that haue be callyd byshopes to this day be nothyng lesse than byshopes excepte they wyll be callyd wycked or purse byshopes or byshopes of the kyngdome of antichriste Verely a byshope is callyd by interpretacyoÌ„ an ouersear or watcher and euery man is byshope of the thiÌ„g that he moste entendythe But there is no man so blynde but he perceuyth to what thyngê these byshopes of the kyngdome of perdycyon entende Ye and they glory them selues in lyenge wordes sayeng He that dothe a thiÌ„g by another / aperethe to do it by hym selfe This rule / is execrable / and cursyd byfore the lorde in those thynges that pertaine to the office of a byshop whose hyest pointe is ministery of the alonly worde of god for they may coÌ„mytte to other the ministery of sacramentes bycause they be pryncypally sent to the ministery of the worde As saynte Paule wryteth of hym selfe in the fyrste epystle to the Corinthianes the fyrste chapitre sayeng Christ sent nat me to baptyze but to preache the gospell more ouer these buggyshe bysshopes substitute or haue none vnder theÌ„ that is a pure euangelyst but hyre wretches and moste couytouse marchantes of lukre that seke nothynge lesse then the
/ dothe rayse vp the sworde very ofte in hym selfe / accordynge to the sayiÌ„g of the lorde I dyd nat come to sende pease / but a sworde Math .x. and it is wrytten Luke .2 that Christ is put in to the falle of the vnfaythefull in to resurrection of the faythfull and in to a sygne that shal be resysted and spoken agaynste of those vnfaythful if we shulde teache worldly thynges / beyng carnall and hypocrytes / they wolde nat resyst and ryse agaynst vs as they do but bycause we preache thingê coÌ„trary to the worlde the worlde hatyth vs / and callyth vs tumultuous / and sedecyous felowes Ye and byfore it Christe him selfe was a sower of euell sedes / a sclaunderer with wordes / a sedycyous felowe / an herityke a deceiuer a subuerter of the people / and an euyll doer Forthermore all that lyue mekely in Christe Iesu / and couyt so to do / suffre persecucyon of it 2. Timoth. 3. God dothe coÌ„maunde vs also / of Tregarius / and suche other men of that secte / whiche no doubte pertayne to the abhomynable courte of that purple whore of Babylon / mother of all fornicatyon / in the eyghtenthe Chapitre of the reuelacions of saynt IohaÌ„ sayeng Go from her my people / and be nat parttakers of her synnes / and receyue nat of her plages / for her dampnable synnes haue come to heaueÌ„ / and the lord hathe remembryd her iniquities / rewarde her euyn as she rewardyd you / and gyue her double according to her workes and powre in double in the same cuppe / which she filled vnto you asmuche as she glorified in her selfe / and lyued wantonly / so muche powre you in for her of punyshement / and sorowe This wycked whore iÌ„ tyme past hathe fylled to vs her abhominacioÌ„s / in the golden cuppe / of the worde of god For she hathe confyrmyd her tyrannyes / by placys of scripture / falsly vnderstaÌ„dyd / and vnder the most holy name of Christe / she hathe outragyd / aboue that at man can speake / euyn agaynste Christe him selfe Verely god wyll that we giue doble to her in that cuppe .i. better thyngê then that druÌ„ke whore that is to saye / that we do nat fyll to other nowe after the trutâ—e receyuyd / the abhominable / and â—ynkiÌ„g dunge of the wysdome of the fleshe / inuencyons of men But muche more prâ—cyous thingê / the whiche do aâ—â—â—e with the golden cuppe of the wâ—â—â—e of god that is to say the spirite truthe of the lettre by whoÌ„ is openly knoweÌ„ that these iugelers be antichristes scismatykes heretykes chyldren of perdicion and men of syn To whose preceptes bycause we do obey / and gyue place they name vs to be sclanderers repleting al the worlde ful of rumours and horyble crymes But I myght moue thys questyon to them in what thynge do we erre I pray you do nat they with an indurat harte resyst / and speake agaynst the truthe Ye and that same truthe it selfe doth name his enemyes in euery place / wolues / Foxes Beares / Lyones / Dogges / Leoperdes / wylde beastes / false prophettes / pseudo apostles roten sedes vnfaythfull hypocrites folishe cowerdes nat hearing the voyce of theyr lorde god a baren howse the churche malignant the synagoge of Satan the generacioÌ„ of the lordes furye apostaticall gentyles hauynge the fronte of the greate whore the fruyte and generatyon of Vipers the counsell of the wycked Dragones the kynde of the serpente Aspis deafe and stopyng theyr eares the ennemyes of the lorde a wycked couent the tabernacles of synnes the sede of Chaname Egypte Sodome euyl trees and vnfruitful mokers that say to men sayeng wyll nat you to see / speake pleasauÌ„t thynges to our eares take hede of our errours let holy Israell cease from our syght the blacke tayles of smokye bronddes ydolles blynde studientes the generacyon of Cain wycked and adulterous deceyuable workemen felowes of theuys effemynate deserte chyldren false doctoures whose god is theyr belye and glorie in theyr confusyon the tasters of earthly thynges theues of innocentes and wydoes and dothe name theÌ„ that resyste and speake agaynste the doctryne of mekenes with suche names of this kynde which of vs coulde euer attayne to suche a vehemence of speakyng that in confoundyng the reprouable we might obtayne one parte of the pythye rebukyng that is fouÌ„de agaynste them in holy scrypture And peraduenture Tregarius wyll reprehende the holy ghoste and say that he dothe fyl the worlde ful of hatred and malyce / bycause that suche names / shulde be putte in holy scripture or at the leaste saye that these be contrarye to Christe when he saythe Lerne of me c And agayne saye well by them that saye euyll by you c the whiche as we haue sayde he dyd aledge agaynst vs. But what is the cause that he dyd nat take hede also of the word that folowythe you of men that saye euyll by vs we muste speake well but nat of them that speake euyll by the lorde Iesus Christe and his verytye No nor yet we maye nat make lyes to say well by any man For and a man myght be bolde with you is this well sayde to saye that Magister noster the noble doctour Tregarius a good seruande of Christ and dothe well in suppressynge the churche and worde of god for the synagoge of Antychriste and lyes of men Or is it lawfull for me to wryte the reuerende father in god Prouyncial of the Augustyne freers by the hyer Germanye is a good oratour and can wryte very well for the counselles of the Pope hys Cardynalles and Byshopes and with a noble profe openly declarith that the Synagoge of the Pope is the trewe church of god am nat I rather bouÌ„de to speake playnly after the worde of god saye thys foxe thys wolfe this falsse prophete is aboute to turne the people frome the sermones of truthe to the lyes of antychrist and couytith to bryng the prynce of Lausane the noble gentyles of Heluetia from god and hys Christe and wolde that they shulde alway perseuer and continewe in darkenes of errours in the whiche we haue be drownyd so longe season and hathe nat one iota of scripture to confyrme those thynges that he adfyrmythe in hys lyeng wherof he muste nedes fal For he can neuer withstaÌ„de the myghty worde of the Lorde the whiche he so sore reclamyth agaynst of whom he shal be confoundyd trodeÌ„ downe and consumyd Ye and if there were innumerable thousandes of the prophettes of Baalle with this Tregarius they shal be dystroyed and fall from the syde of theÌ„ that loue teach the pure worde One Helias one prophete of the lorde shall ouercome and dystroye theÌ„ all although they wolde resyste with playne batayle and crye howle in theyr deÌ„nes but in case that he thynke hym selfe nat worthye thys name as to be callyd a foxe or a wolfe let hym
named It dothe greaue me sore / moste noble prynce to make answere to the wekydnes of thê deceyuer I wold but alonly gyue you warnynge that you with al dilygence shulde flee and auoyde the poyson of hym and suche other for you must do so of necessyte if you wyl play the true prince / or els it is impossible that you shulde be sauyd / nowe perceyue / I do thys with a greate hope / remembryng our olde amytye / the whiche in tymes passed / you dyd vouchsafe apon me / of the noble mynde of your good lordshyppe / I wyl not go aboute to oynte your hede with oyle of a synner / the burden is great that oppressythe you take hede therfore lest you peryshe vnder it / take hede also that you haue vnder you / true chrysten people / and that chryste may regyne in them / for then you shall cheflye play the true prince / when you chefly gyue delygence / that Chryst maye be a prynce in your subiectes / take hede also that the most pure worde of god may be preached to you banyshe from your landes / al false prophetes / wolues suche maner of marchande meÌ„ / I wolde that you shulde perfytlye knowe / that if youre people peryshe your soule shal be for theyres ye if it be thorowe your cause if ther peryshe but one / pryncypally beware of al hoded men / for al they / excepte a fewe / haue coniured agaynst god / and hê chryst / but aboue al other take hede of these for they are to be flede of you that glory them selues wykedly / with the tytle of obseruantes / execrable to all Chrystyanes / for theyr ypocrysye hathe lede very many / ye almost innumerable to death / I pray god the hyest and best / that they maye shortly be expulsyd / the courtes of al princes / by lytle and lytle it is hyely necessary that you extyncte / put downe / the tyrannes of the kyngdome of Antychryst .i. these dysceytfulnes of perdons ydolatry of sayntes that slepe / the offycyalles courtes / cursyd costomes / by no meanes to be permytted of Chrystyanes the outragiousnes of sectes with al such other then conceaue in your mynde that you wyl haue holy scryptures in your haÌ„des stody vpon theÌ„ nyght day the holy gost wyl teache and enforme you / by what meanes all thyngê shal be wel orderyd withiÌ„ your kyngdome for yf you deny the word of god to the people they ought not to obeye you for they be the shepe of Christ they wyl be fedde with the meate of his holy worde therfore al the people of the faythful maye saye to theyr princes / rulers ye they be bounde to make coÌ„gregatyons for it and say / we wyl heare the worde of our lorde god we wyll not heare the decrees lawes of the pope / we wyl not yeâ—ecreralles of these glosing sophysters the which yf prynces / or rulers wyll denye them when they wylbe taken for faythful the sayde people may depryue them theyr kyngdomes / lordshypes / the people be subiecte / in al thinges to princes rulers / sauynge those thinges / that be against the worde of god / or that they shulde not haue the worde of god preached / let your hyghnes gyue place to the truthe / and god shal encrease you in althynges / establyshe your kyngdome I was aduertysed of late that bycause a certeyne minyster as we cal it a prest despysynge that decre of antychryst prefarryng the precepte of god is maryed to a wyfe / for the which he is taken prisoner of a certeyne tyrante thorowe your consente they do saye that he doth persecute him to deathe / take hede that you consent not to any man for your soule shuldbe for his he hathe done a thynge necessary which god hathe commaunded to al that can not absteyne as I haue copyouslye opened in my boke of matrymony and euedeÌ„tly proued it To the most chrysteÌ„ Kynge of Fraunce the whiche I dyd put forth because of my owne mariage for I am maryed altho the synagoge of the son of perdicyon was madde at it for we must rather obeye god then man god hath coÌ„maunded matrimony to euery man that can not abstayne the pope prohibyteth and maketh ypocrytes to whom shuld we gyue place not to god the lorde dyd make no distynctyon betwyxte the layealtye and the clargye the coÌ„maundement is general perteyning to euery maÌ„ of euery state ye and if your highnes wyl beleue the truthe take a wyfe and by your exmaple you shal destroy this cursed decre of antychryste for when he dyd commaunde to the Clargy chastyte of lyuynge contrarye to the worde of god he dyd multyply al maner of lecherye and to speke the truthe thys reprouable order is spronge of no other thing but of dysceytfull spirites doctryne of deuylles as you maye playnly perceyue the first of Tim 4. the same iudgement is of the prohybyting of meattes iÌ„ the same place very copyously I hade no space nor tyme to wryt many thinges to you therfore I haue brefly made answere to that wyked Tregaryus wherin I haue putte moch good councel bycause this deceyuer goeth about falsly to instructe you of the authoryte of the couÌ„celles of the church of the which matter we hade comunycatyon very oft in your palace I shal also adde to .385 Paradoxes or coÌ„clusyons / concludynge another thiÌ„ge then Tregaryus hathe teached I do also make redy my selfe to answere to them al where so euer it shal be eyther in Germanye or in Fraunce or where so euer they wyl so that they wyll heare me not go about to put me to deathe vn harde I wyl dyspute the matter openly if the counsel be holdeÌ„ in FraÌ„ce and wyl no other iudges but the most pure worde of god and all that iudge syncerely after it bycause it is no otherwyse lawefull in case they ouercome me with the worde of god and proue that I dyssent from the truthe in those thynges that I shall affyrme by the same worde let them order me as they thynke it beste and yf they be conuycte I wyl not that they shulde be in danger of the least heare of theyr hede but alonly let glory be gyuen to the truthe wherfore I beseche youre Lordeshyppe to accepte thys treatyse of Paradoxes or conclusyons compendyouslye concludynge almost all what soo euer dothe perteyne to Chrystyanytye / and doo not dysdayne my dewetye towarde your hyghenes / and perauenture God the greatteste / and moste hye wyl graunte that I may shortlye put forthe vnder your name some thinge more exelent peace and grace of oure Lorde Iesus Chryste and ioye of the holye gost be with your noble lordship and with al youre people So be it ⧠The fyrste Chapitre ¶ The cause of the greate blyndnes of the worlde whiche hathe coÌ„tinued so longe tyme by what meanes the
Saserdotes whiche we call prestes for Presbiter is a greke worde and sygnifythe a senyour or elder and is proper to the hye mynysters of the churche as byshoppes or preachers of the worde of god Sacerdos whiche we call a prest is who so euer is sacrated to god by faythe ¶ Euery true senyour .i. euery true mynyster of the worde is a preste but euery preeste is not a senyour or mynyster ♣ The pope with all hys byshoppes and all the worlde together can not make one prest of the churche of god for it is alonely goddes offyce which dothe sanctyfye hys electe in faythe / and dothe cōsecrate them into prestes for hym selfe ¶ Presthode of the kyngdome of the pope was inuented of men / without the testymonye of the worde of god / came forthe by the strenthe and eyde of the deuell ¶ Prestes of that kyngdome can not be prestes of the kyngdome of Chryst except firste they do forsake the presthode of the pope .i. they shal not trust or attrybute any thynge to him / altho for the tyme they admyt many thynges for the infyrmytye of other ¶ In place of mynysters of the lawe as prestes and leuites / there be alonly two kyndes of mynysters vnder the gospell / byshoppes / and deacons ¶ Euery syncere mynyster of godes / worde / is called in scrypture by these names / fyrste an ouerseer Ezechiel 3. secōdly / a prophet 1. Cor. 14. therdly an euaungelyste of the gospell that he preacheth / Eisaie 41. I shall gyue Hyerusalem an euaungelest Ephe. 4. other truly euaungelistes it is sayd 2. Tymo 4. do the worke of an euaungelyst and. Actes 21. entrynge into the house of Phylyp the euaūgelyst therfore / Mathew / Marke / Luke / Iohā be not alonly euaungelystes / but all true preachers of the scryptures of god / fourthely ecclesyastycal .i. apreacher Ecclesia i. the church is a congregacyon therfore he that rulythe hyt with the worde is called a preacher / fyftely a seniour or elder .i. Tymo 5. senyours that gouerne wel be worthy double honour / and also / agaynst the senyour syxthely a byshope that is an ouerseer .i. Tymoth 3. a byshope must be fautles / and to Tytum 1. a byshope must be without blame / and Act. 10. the holy goost hath mayde you byshopes seuenthely an apostle / for apostle is a messenger and sente / and cometh of the greke worde 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that sygnyfyth to sende that is necessarye for the mynysters of goddes worde / to be hys aposteles that is to be sente of hym Rom. 10. howe shuld they preache except they be sente / but some be greate apostles and some lesse 2. cor 11. Also that you may knowe the office of a bishope apostle to be both one / when Peter Actes 1. sayde that some man muste be desyred into thys mynysterye and offyce of an apostle / from which Iudas was exyled he dyd aledge this place of Dauyd and hys byshoppryke another shal possesse ¶ You may gather therfore / because neyther the pope / nor byshoppes / or tyrantes / of his kyngedome haue any of these afore sayde / they be not of the churche of god ouerseers / prophetes euaungelystes / preachers / senyoures / byshoppes / or aposteles / excepte you ioyne thys terme false to euery one of them ¶ Cetyes and townes which haue no pastore / symply preachynge the moste pure worde of god / haue no byshope / senyour / preacher / or euaungelyste / of Iesu Chryste ¶ In many cetyes / all that be of the reprouable synagoge of antychryste / perceyuinge that the immaculate worde of god settes openly forth theyr abhomynacyon / they do so hate them / and dreade leste any true mynyster of the worde shuld be harde of the people / that assone as any commeth / before he can open hys mouthe they go aboute to stope hym / whiche I haue proued my selfe very ofte / specyally in the noble cetye of Wetens in the whiche god hath delyuered me ofte from the handes of antychrystes sekyng my soule ¶ There was in that cety / that tyme a holy byshope of god / nowe a blessed martyr witnes of Christ saynt Iohā castellanc / whome for the testymonye of truthe the apostate kyngedome of the sone of perdycyon vehemently hatynge / when they coulde not hurt him in the cetye / they brought to passe / by treason / that he shuld go forthe of the cetye and he so banyshed they toke hī prysoner by by afore the .9 monthe whome Anthony abbot with a false procter / many false pharysyes were aboute to brynge hym to that passe / that he shulde denye Chryste and hys veryte But the holy champyon of god perseuered immouable / and was neuer ouer come / the lorde confyrminge his breste with hys spirite / then they moued ī theyr reprouable myndes / the last of all that is the .12 day of Ianuarye Anno .1525 at vuy a towne of lotheringe the same Iohan reioysynge and beynge glade in the lorde / not warned before of it / but led to execucyō / when that he wolde not recante into the fauoure of antychryste they made him a gloryous merter of Chryst / with most cruel tormētes of fyre whō they dyd couet to extyncte / they crouned with a incomperable dyedeme of glorye / euen agaynst theyr wylles so that if it were lawefull to call apon sayntes he were to be named no lesse then Peter or Paule other aposteles / but there is one aduocate and our mediator the lorde Iesus Chryste I haue brought thys paradox that we maye gloryfye this saynt Iohan in the lorde and the lorde in hī / and also that hys burners and bochers / may se theyr fautes / and most greuous cryme / and may amende lest they perishe / the lord Iesus Chryst make them of Saules / Paules / that is of the enemyes of Chryste and hys truth / his frendes and of persecuters defenders and his preachers ¶ There is nor cā be no true bishope of the churche of Iesu Chryste / but a pure and euaungelycall preacher / for other proude blowen pompes bugges of the kyngedome of the pope be nothynge lesse then byshoppes In euery cety / towne / village there ought to be many byshoppes .i. euaungelystes or preachers / after the quantyte of places multytude of people ¶ Yf many peryshes be so great / that one byshope is not suffycient for thē / let thē be deuyded / and to euery parte a byshoppe assygned / these two conclusions I haue expounded in my exposycyon of the rule of the Mynorytes Capitulo 15. ¶ It is necessary for bishoppes to be sēt and called of god / and that I haue proued in the same 15. Chapi of the same enarracyō ī the boke of callynge ¶ It is the most greuous cryme / and by no menes to be sufferyd / that many chyldren
then hys chaplens whiche be all heresye because they repugne to the most opeÌ„ textes of scripture for if you loke apon those that be spoken of it Mat. 26. Marke 14. Luke 22. and. 1. Cor. 11. you shall pleynly perceyue thys to be the table of god whiche you maye not sacrefice but eate and drynke and to be the newe Testament of whom the scryptures be instrumentes in whome the grace of god and remission of synnes is promysyd of whome they that beleue be pertakers and bothe kindes to be gyuen to all that haue proued them selues whether they beleue in the promesse of god and at the laste by thê takynge to shewe the lordes deathe vntyll he come to iudegement .i. to remember be a memoryal of his death to them that beleue for so ofte doth he dye to them with the most surest signe that is to saye the frute of his deathe is geuen to them as ofte as they eate thys breade and drynke thys bloude in faythe ☞ ⧠♣ ♣ whosoeuer is pertaker of this table in fayth is made a member of Chryst and eateth his fleshe and drynketh hê bloude Iohan. 6. to the which he that goethe without faythe eateth drynketh his iudgement makynge no difference of the lordes bodye ♣ ♣ ♣ To serche here more cureouslye theÌ„ the symplenes of the texte wyllyth is abomynable before the lorde ♣ The superstecyousnes is not to be suffred to kepe the breade of the lord in the tabernacles of the faythfull it was not ordayned of the lorde to be kepyd so or borne aboute so poÌ„poslye but that it myght be eaten ⧠✚ ♣ And for that cause lette syncere euaungelystes prouyde that it be not kepyd for that kepynge is besyde the order of god for truly then the breade is to be santyfyed with the worde of god whoÌ„ it is to be taken what houre soeuer it be and what soeuer the heresye of Antychryste hathe otherwyse dyffyned and we saye the same of the cuppe that both must be gyuen to gyther ♣ we do not saye that this table is to be mynystred to chyldren or they that beleue not but vtterlye to all that can beleue in the promyse of god ♣ It is the deuty of byshoppes to order them dylygentlye that they maye knowe what this holy feast is and not to receyue to it all that puttes him selfe to it but theÌ„ whoÌ„ they haue instructe or do not doute to be well instructe ⧠The hye preparacyon is that any man beynge thrystye or hongry go to it .i. that he confesse with al his harte that he hath nede of the grace of god and remissyon of synnes and beleue to goddes promyse that beinge pertaker of this table he shall obteyne hys desyer by the meryte of the passyon of Christ of whoÌ„ this feast is a memorye ⧠Althoughe thys holye feast and also baptysme be moste sure sygnes to the faythful of the grace of god to be hade yet without these sygnes euery faythefull beleuynge the truthe perceyueth the same as apereth in many places of scrypture ☞ ⧠¶ And for that cause it perteyneth to the aboundance of goddes worshype that he hathe put these sygnes to the more copyous coÌ„forte of the faythful of whom I haue spoken more cheflye in the boke of the causes of the blindnes cÌ„ Tracta 5. Capitulo 7. and. 8 ¶ Augustyne and other sayntes and the Mayster of sentences 12. Dystyn 4. do not affyrme thys table to be properly a sacrifyce but so to be called so of some bycause it is a memorye of a sacryfyce ones offeryd on the crosse ¶ But as the memorye of a thinge is not the thynge nor the memorye of golde or a person is not golde or the person soo nor the memorye of the sacryfyce is the sacryfyce ☞ ♣ ⧠♣ It was an execrable faynynge of the deuell to make of thys swetest testament of euerlasting helthe a sacryfyce of the kingdome of Antychryste wherof is spronge vsurye marchandyse fayres and innumerable errores aboute the masse by the whiche innumerable haue peryshed slowe belyes be fatted and sette out ⧠¶ It is laweful no more to the faythfull to sacrefyce Chryste then to kyll hiÌ„ but alonly to worshyppe the memorye of hys deathe in faythe in pertakynge of hys table ☞ ☞ All that nowe the truthe openyd agayne sacryfyce Chryste do alwaye synne moste greuouslye ✚ Therfore yf any man in any place to auoyd the offeÌ„ce of many be coÌ„straynyd to say masse let him leaue out al that that maketh mencyon of a sacryfyce priÌ„cipally the CanoÌ„ except the wordê of buÌ„dictioÌ„ froÌ„ thê place Qui pridie cÌ„ ♣ And let him take hede that neyther for that nor if he haue lefte out any other thynge as the manyple stole c. that he be prykyd in hys conscyence as for one offence knowynge that the faythful is not bounde to the tradycyoÌ„s of men but is free yet because of the weake these outwarde thynges are not in euery place to be lefte out ⧠whiche yf it make agaynste thy conscyence it edefyethe to hell fyer and yf it folowe a wauerynge conscyence synneth lette hym therfore put away thy wauerynge conscyence and for that axe lyghtenynge of the lorde ♣ Neyther for quyke nor for deade it is laweful to offer Chryste neyther in the sacrament nor otherwyse for he hathe offered hym selfe ones for all ☞ All foundacyons of masses yeres myndes cryenge of the quere and all suche that be done in the kyngedome of the pope be hylye abhomynable to god besydes that they be for the more part vsury what so euer the son of perdycyon in a certen wauerynge hathe otherwyse dyffyned a thynge vtterly aduersarye to the worde of god grantyng to hys synagoge Chryst prohybytythe vsury Luke .6 lende one to another trustynge for no auauntage whiche thys man of synne hath made lawefull / and what is it that he dare not dyffyne agaynste the immaculate scriptures of god so that any thyng may come to the tresorye of hê kyngdome ♣ In a dysceytfull spyryte / and doctryne of deuyls / was purgatorye feynyd as many mo were ☞ ⧠⧠✚ Therof hathe the deceyuynge of the worlde cheflye come / and the cursyd fayres of the kingdome of the pope ✚ I praye you let the kyngedome of the pope answere / from what thynges shulde a maÌ„ be purged to be sauyd / not alonlye from synnes ☞ ⧠☜ ✚ But alonly by fayth in Chryst we be purged from them / and iustyfyed / not with fyre / water / sworde / laboure / or any other externe thynge / nor with the prayers of any saynte as I haue proued Luke .1 and Cantico .1 ✚ Althoughe he that is iustyfyed of faythe / workethe many good workes / for faythe hathe her strength by loue Galat. 5. and is neuer seperate from good workes / yf it be true ✚ If by fyer / the prayers of other / any laboure or worke / we be purâ—yd / and iustyfyed /
penaunce and maketh nought but an ypocryte wherfore we call it false ♣ This diffynityoÌ„ of penauÌ„ce is most colde penaunce is to lamente synnes paste and in mornynge not to commyt them agayne ☞ ♣ ☜ ⧠¶ True penaunce is to amende dayly from syn with fayth in Christe by the whiche he stedfastly beleuyth all synnes to be remyttyd to hym by chryste and hollye to be gyuen hym to walke in newenes of lyfe ♣ This dayly amendynge is a curcyfyenge of the fleshe and mortyfyeng of it necessarye to all faythefull whiche christe coÌ„maundeth to be borne about in name of the crosse that with frut in veryte we may folowe him .i. to beleue most purely to him folowe him ¶ All the lyfe of a chrystyan is to be penytent and beleue in Christ that is to mortyfye dayly and ryse by chryst ¶ For a maÌ„ altho he be holy as longe as he is in this lyfe hathe vnstedfaste fleshe resystynge the spirite and therfore he ought to crucyfye it dayly that it may be subiect to the spirite ¶ All affectyons and all worke without the spirite of god is fleshe and is then crucyfyed when it is hatyd and suppressyd ☞ ☞ ⧠⧠⧠¶ who so euer is so truly penytent hath chryst lyuynge and reynynge in hym and therfore is of the kyngdome of chryst verely the fleshe that is concupysceÌ„ce and al worke that is not of the spirite of god is dayly more crucyfyed subiecte and mortyfyed ♣ And who so euer is not so penytent is an ypocryte and crucyfyeth chryst in hym not wyllynge that he reygne vpon hiÌ„ wherby he is not of the kyngdome of chryst but of the fleshe and the worlde that lyue reygne in hê hart ¶ Chryst reygneth in our hart plesythe when we trust to him verelye he is crucifyed and doth not please wheÌ„ we trust in other and not in hym ♣ The worlde and the fleshe reygne iÌ„ vs wheÌ„ they please we trust to them they be crucyfyed and mortifyed wheÌ„ we represse them and truste nothynge to them but rather hate them and do not to theyr desyres Of true good workes A Trewe penitent is neuer without trewe goodworkes for he dothe all thyng in faythe whiche shulde els be wycked for al thynge that is nat of faythe is synne Roma 14. ♣ They that be of the coniuryng and kingdome of antichrist be neuer truly penitent or do true good workes for they do nat lyue and worke of faythe ☞ The prophetes of antichriste that they may more lyghtly turne the symple people froÌ„ Chiste say that we prohybyte fastynge prayers and all good dedes when we do preache nothynge more then that they shulde haue true good workes that is of faythe for we preache thus that we be iustified alonly by faythe and say that we muste do god workes nat to be iustified but to brynge forthe frutes of true fayth for they be frutes of faythe that be done in that faythe ⧠we saye that there muste be good workes nat as the kyngedome of the poâ—e but as Christe teachythe wherfore â—e can nat erre bycause Christ is truthe and true doctour of the faythfull verely the pope and euery man is alyer Psalm 115. ☞ ⧠☞ They say there muste be good workes after the doctryne of the pope other men wherfore it is nat inpossyble that they shulde erre and therof it folowyth that they be full of heresies and made antychristes scysmatykes and apostata frome the kyngedome of our lorde Iesus Christe ⧠♣ From whoÌ„ leste we be made strauÌ„ge therof to peryshe we be made Christes seruauntes and be apostata frome the kyngdome of that anty christe the pope ☞ ⧠♣ ♣ And who so euer is nat made strauÌ„g from that same kyngdome is a scismatyke from Christe apostata and antychriste and at the laste shall peryshe for euer ☞ ⧠♣ ⧠☞ ⧠Of lybertye and subiectyon of the faythefull THe faythful dothe alway worke well for he dothe all thynge in faythe and lybertie of the holy ghoste If he eate or drynke or do any other thynge he dothe all in the glory of Christe or els in faythe or in hys name whiche be all one ⧠♣ This lybertie is nat that they may thynke it free to do any thynge but that they may knowe that it is moste fre to them to do those thynges that they be commaundyd by the worde of god ye and all the men of the worlde wolde commauÌ„de otherwyse for they be free from all doctrynes and tradycyons of men that do nat agree with the worde of god as be the decrees of the kyngedome of the pope and doctryne of sophisters ¶ The lybertye of the spirite is nat carnall but spirituall and moste holy makynge a man free frome all lawe of men that he is bounde to none except it agre with the scriptures of god ✚ Also as you may se of Paule to the RomÌ„ Galath it makyth a man free from the lawe of god euyn that spirite nat that we ought nat to kepe the preceptes of god nat that we shulde kepe them nowe by compulsyon as before the spirite be there but with the moste redy wyll ☞ ♣ ✚ ⧠☞ Thys lybertie makyth a man syncere without hypocrysy the louer of of truthe plentyful ful of charity and moste full of all good workes ⧠⧠For then a man is so made free in Christe that he wyl be subiecte to euery humane creature for Christe ☞ He is cursyd and execrable to the lorde who so euer vnder the name of christen lybertie dothe gyue hym selfe to chaÌ„burynges drunknes and suche other for verely they walke nat after the spirite but after the fleshe but this holy lybertie admytteth no carnall thynge ☞ ♣ ⧠☞ Of contrycyon ☜ COntrycyon is nat a sorowe voluntaryly taken of vs for our sinnes but that whiche the spirite dothe worke in vs. that is to say trewe hate of syn for zele of the glory of god without hypocrysie or lyenge for it is a worke alonly of the power of god ☞ ♣ ⧠¶ For the wyll of man can nat without lyeng and hypocrysy hate synne nor to take for it sorowe sadnes for the pure wyl of man which is without the spirite of god is a synner alway ♣ God commaundeth that we shulde take the mournyng of his only sonne that is that we shulde be sorowful and mourne truly for our synnes bycause the wyll of a synner can nat fulfyll it of it selfe ☞ ♣ ⧠⧠For euery precepte of god is inpossyble to the wyll beynge a synner whiche god with hys spirite makythe possyble to vs. for that whiche he commaundythe in vs he wyll fulfyl in vs that he alone may haue glorye for all and that euery fleshe may nat presume to be gloryed in hys syght ¶ But it is by the hyghe goodnes of god that he gyueth to his seruandes those thyngê that he mercyfully doth in them callyng them contryte iuste penitent conuertyd
cÌ„ ⧠☞ That the preceptes of god be inpossible to man this fruyte comyth of it that man knowing it is constreynid to professe that he can do nothyng of hym selfe and to meruell at the depnes of the iudgementes of god ✚ ☞ Of confessyon ☜ THe maner gyuen of scolers for auryculer confessyon is vnprofytable moste vayne inpossyble curyouse and moste dampnable and aduersary to the lawe of god it is so muche lesse that it is of goddê lawe as sophesters lye it is vnprofytable and moste vayne bycause it is without the frute of the spirite lettyng froÌ„ the purenes of faythe inpossible also for innumerable bowes leaues mothers doughters and cyrcumstances which no man althoughe he be lernyd can dilygently obserue muche lesse the vnlernyd It is curiouse also serchynge with a friuolouse care those thynges that be nothyng to the purpose wherby the mynde of him that is confessyd is lette that it can nat ryse with pure faythe in Christe and the same confession is to him moste dampnable for so impure and fylthy thynges be ofte rehersyd in suche confessyons that they corrupte good maners and infecte as well the speker as the herer For what be they but euyll comunicacyon and moste hurtefull iangelyng so muche more horryble that they be admyttyd vnder the colour of mekenes ⧠♣ It is the most coÌ„fussyd maase what so euer the synagoge of the pope hath gyuen of confessyon vnto this daye without the worde of god and of hys owne inuencyon ☞ ♣ ☜ ♣ For by what aucthorite be these iugelars bolde to prescribe to the moste free seruauntes of Christ newe lawes strauÌ„ge froÌ„ the doctryne of mekenes ¶ Trewe and profytable confessyon of siÌ„nes is made foure maner of ways fyrste inwardly to god alone seconde openly when cause requyreth thyrde to him whom thou haste offendyd lest thou defende synne but be reconsylyd to hym in loue of god fourthe to him of whom thou lokyst for the mery worde of the gospell that is the sermon of goddes grace and remyssyon of synnes by Christe and of this laste we speke ⧠✚ ⧠¶ To this thou muste chose a propre confessour whom thou seest able that he can comforte thy spirite with the worde who so euer he be ☞ It is execrable and abhomynable byfore the lorde that a faythfull christyane is bounde to admytte for a confessoure and his pastor marchauntes and rauenynge wolues of the kyngedome of the sonne of perdycyon ☞ Therfore thou comynge to a man myghty in the wysdome and worde of Christe the specyal that same moste hurtfull supputacyon of synnes layde aparte confesse moste purely the to be subiecte to many synnes and therfore to haue nede of the marcye of god ⧠In the begynnyng therfore lette him be the moste meke accuser of hym selfe the seconde let hym beleue stedfastly in the promyse of god that he shall gette the grace of god and remissyon of synnes the thyrde let him beleue that he can haue it nat by hys owne merytê or by the merytes of any saynte ye of the virgyn mary but alonlye by the goodnes and meryttes of Christ for he alone is that lambe that takythe away the siÌ„nes of the worlde the fourthe that by thys fayth he may be made parttaker of this heuenly iusstyce let him ascrybe nothyng to the iustyce of the fleshe but confesse with a pure harte alonly the iustyce of god to be louid serchid for amplectio and hym selfe to haue of hym selfe no iustyce at all and knowledge thys without feyninge the fyfthe lette him seâ—e some faythfull and conynge man that knowythe to gyue counsell of helthe and with the scriptures of god and can make stronge the mynde of the penytent in faythe and if there be nat a man hauyng faythe to do this thynge or he dreadyng him to be vnlawfull or nat hauyng the worde wherby he may comforthe hym in the lorde If there be a faythfull woman in whoÌ„ he knowyth these aforsayde to be to that same faythfull woman ye all though she be ioynyd carnally to hym I saye very nye It is lawfull for him to be coÌ„fessyd generally I say generally that he by no reason count hys synnes lest he infecte the herer for as we haue sayde euyll comunicacyon corruptyth good maners and of a truth that same foule and lycencyouse spekyng of the confessyons of antychristes factyon haue infecte innumerable and haue drawen them to the moste enormouse crymes ♣ Therfore let nothyng be openyd of any man leste that for mannes feynynges doctryne he beseme to dyspyse the thynges of god for god neuer coÌ„mauÌ„dith that what so euer many haue iudgyd in the spirite of errour wonders and many punyshementes be gyuen of certeyne lyers agaynste them that wyll nat nombre all pertyculerly but I haue made open that al these be of the deuyll in the boke of the causes of the blyndenes cÌ„ ⧠The confessyon of synnes that be longeth to outwarde thynges may be on thys maner Brother or syster in Christe I perceyue me ouer throwen with infidelite and innumerable sines the which I coÌ„fesse with all my herte I am very iniuste and full of ifidelite I haue done no good thynge and am an vnprofitable seruande wherof my synnes greatly greue me and I truely knowe that if I couyt to be sauyd I had nede of the mercye of god grace and iustyce therfore I aske of you the worde of the gospell of pease that is to saye remssyyon of my synnes ☞ And let euery faythfull take hede that he say this thyng without any in fidelyte and at the laste lete hym stedfastly beleue that the worde of absolucyon what so euer it be is a sure signe of the grace of god and remyssyon of synnes as he hathe beleued to be giueÌ„ him of the lorde for all the workes of god be in faythe Psalm 32. and euery man taketh so muche as he beleuythe and if he beleue nothyng he receyuith nothynge ☞ ⧠⧠☜ ♣ The forme of absolucyon is free so that it do sygnyfie all synnes to be remyttyd by Christe for this is good I absolue the froÌ„ thy sinnes in the name of the father cÌ„ or alonly in the name of Christ or this I pronounce to the absolucyoÌ„ of all thy siÌ„nes in the name cÌ„ or thus thy synnes are forgyueÌ„ the by Christe or in the name cÌ„ or thus By the name of Christe al thy synnes be forgyuen the. ☞ ⧠♣ ¶ All suche absolucyon is good and to the faythful a sure sygne of grace if he leue out this worde I. It forsyth nat what so euer sophesters dreame ⧠The more pure and symple the absolucyon is the better ☞ All absolucyons of the kyngdome of the pope be wycked patching many thyngê to gyther without frute of the keys of the holy mother the churche of the apostles Peter and Paule of excomunycacyon more and lesse frome pena and culpa ☞ ♣ ⧠⧠An absolucyon ought no