is suche thynges dothe he thynke speake and worke But we be fleshe therfor we sauour of fleshly thynges Why do we not graunte with saynt Austin in the boke of true innocency that whan a man lyueth after his owne way and not after God he is lyke the deuel for an angel shulde not haue lyued after an angell but after God that he myght stonde in the trueth A mā hath nought of hym self but lyeng and synne but yf a man haue ony trueth or ryghteousnesse he hath it of the welle which is Christe And that which we haue by goddes lyberalite hangeth of gods power and not of oure myght Fyrst cōsider me well the wordes of the holy goost Ro. ix where he calleth his owne the vessels of mercy and Roma viii The children of God be led with the sprite of god Esaie xxvi Lorde thou hast wrought all our workes in vs. Therfore knowlege thyself the handy worke of the almyghty maker ordened in Chiste Iesu to brynge forth good workes that he hath ordeyned marke which he hath ordeyned that we shuld worke in them Ephes ii Therfore that thou consentest to the inspiracion of God hast a good wyll and workest wel the grace of god worketh all these thynges in ye. Thou in dede cōsentest wylleste and workest but god maketh the to consente wyll and worke so that thys sayng also may be alwayes iustly layd before thyne eyes what hast thou that thou hast not receaued Yf thou hast receaued it of other why doest thou reioyce boaste as though thou haddest not receaued it i. Corinth iiii Not to vs Lorde not vnto vs but to thy name geue prayse Behold nowe not thy frewyll but bounde But yf the sonne delyuer the then salte thou be truly fre Iohā viii For we be delyuered from syn by Christ that we may serue ryghteousnesse Roma vi ¶ Of fayth workes the newe learnynge Not onely faythe iustifyeth for workes iustifye also and fayth may stande and be without good fruts grace that iustifieth in hym that is a breaker of the cōmaundemēt of god Therfore ther are two kyndes of ryghteousnesses necessary to saluatiō that is to wyte of fayth workes The one without the other excepte a mā haue no tyme or leasur doth not saue a man ¶ The olde learninge We suppose that a man is iustifyed by fayth without the dedes of the lawe Ro. iii. Here the Apostell doth not doute or gesse as som do vnderstonde hym a mysse for the truthe of the greke hath we reken or gather by reason For Theophilactus doth expoūde thys word sayth sillogizometha as though by reasonynge he gathered thys foresayde sayenge Wherfore workes do not iustifye but fayth And this is not my dreame but the moost pure doctrine of the holy goost in the .iii. .iiii. to the Roma Where as the Apostell reasonyng by the scripture of Abrahā beyng iustifyed most euidently proueth that fayth is rekened to vs for righteousnes Yf Abrahā sayth he was iustified by his works he hath where vpō he may boast but not before god For what sayeth the scripture Genest xv Abraham gaue credence to God and that was rekened vnto hym for righteousnesse And in the ende of the fourth chapt he sayeth That it was not wrytten for hym onely that it was rekened to hym for ryghteousnesse but also for vs to whome it shal be rekened Nother vnderstandeth he here onely the ceremonyall workes of the lawe but also of the .x. cōmandementes the which is playne Roma iii. when he sayde that no man was iustifyed by the workes of the lawe shortly after he sayeth For the knowlege of syn is thorow the lawe The which clause doth sufficiētly shewe of what workes of the lawe he speaketh Yf it be so that oure workes also do iustifye than Christ geueth but the halfe of oure saluacion and then how many saueours shal ther be Ther is onely but one iustifyer and saueoure that is Christe by whome we be iustifyed frely thorow hys grace Roma iii. Thefore workes do not iustifye but fayth in Christe not that fayth the scoolmen cal informis that is a dead fayth but that true and lyuyng faythe workynge by charite Gala. v. chapt lykewyse as we be iustifyed before god by fayth the which is the true iustifycacion so before men that se vs in the face we be iustifyed by workes that is to saye we be knowen to be ryghteous by the frute of good workes of the which thynge the wordes of saynt Iames ought to be vnderstonde so he that wyll loke well on Paules disputacion of fayth and workes shall easely perceaue why that we saye that faythe alone iustifyeth For we fayne not with this word alone a fayth that is wthout charite but we shew that workes be not the begynnyng of oure iustifycacion Also we be not saued by workes Titum iii. but accordynge to the mercy of god thorow the lauour of regeneracion and by renewynge of the holy goost lest ony man shulde boaste of man Good workes are not forbydden by this doctrine but faythe the welle of good workes is taught and vnto grace is geuen that is hyr dewty Parte of the prayse is geuen vnto vs by the newe learnyng of scoolmen the which thynge how blasphemous a thyng it is the faythful Christē men can tell And so the old learnyng taketh not away workes but setteth them in theyr place that they maye be witnesses of our fayth subdue the fleshe serue our neyghbour but not that they shuld iustifye seynge that onely fayth of the mere mercy of god thorow his worde doth iustifye a man The person that is iustified worketh iustly yet for al that it doth not boaste of the righteousnesse of workes as necessary to saluatiō leste when it seketh his owne righteousnesse it lese the ryghteousnesse of God that is faythe Roma x. And it graunteth the very truth with Esay .lxiiii. That the ryghteousnesse of his workes is lyke a fylthy clothe defyled with the flours of a woman And he an vnprofitable seruaunt The which is onely the way to come to true ryghteousnesse of oure workes That is when thou workyng besely yet in al thy workes knowlegest thy self a synner flyēge onely to the grace of the mediatour settest muche by the pryce of oure redempciōn For yf the ryghteousnesse of our workes be of ony value the death of Christe hath not wholy and fully wrought oure saluacion the whiche is blasphemous The short argument of Paule stondeth and is sure and vnmoueable Yf the righteousnesse come of the lawe then is Christe dead in vayne But Christ dyed not in vayne therfore ye boaste in vayne of the ryghteousnesse of workes and of the lawe ¶ Of meryte or deseruynge the newe learnynge Whan we do that lyeth in vs ī drawynge out of a good mocion towarde god by the frenesse of the wyll we deserue the fyrste grace of congruite semlynesse although not of worthynes Also the soule endued with
righteous by the lawe and workes of Moses lawe how muche lesse by the worke of vowes whan as scripture vtterly refuseth and defyeth all mans traditions and God wyll not be worshypped with lawes of mans tradicions Esay xxix Math. xv Marc. vii For onely fayth in Christe doth iustifye and not workes what so euer they be and syncere fayth wyll not suffer men to put confidence in theyr workes In dede fayth brīgeth forth workes because she worketh by charite but she suffereth no man to trust vnto them with thys vngodly opinion that he shuld be iustifyed by them because that were to deny the Lord that bought vs with hys precious bloud Vowes are wont to be taken with none other opinion thē that by them synnes shuld be done away and to deserue grace and remission of synnes therefore they spring of the ignoraūce of Christes religion they be playnely wicked therfor they be nought and of no pryce For euen the scoole mē say that those thynges be no vowes which do turne to the dāmage or hynderaūce of a mās saluation seyng that a vowe hathe the same thynges folowynge which an oth hathe that is iustice iudgement truthe To wyll desyre to be iustifyed by workes is to cast away the grace of Christ and that is to lese the true healthe and saluacion Therfore these vowes that be so greatly boasted of be no vowes and of no value for thys short argument of Paule fearfull to all vowers shall stande yf ryghteousnesse be of the law then Chryst dyed in vayne Galat. v. Ye are gone quyte from Christ as many as are iustifyed by the lawe and are fallē from grace Gala. ii We know that a man is not iustifyed by the workes of the law but by the fayth of Iesu Christe Yf these thynges be sayde vnto the Iewes the which presumed to be iustifyed by the works of moses law who can abyde our vngodlynesse which loke for those thynges by the workes of our lawes the which onely Christ geueth in fayth Therfore it repenteth vs of oure rechlesse vowe we desyre forgeuenesse of God for our syn done by oure folysh vowe we turne agayn to the lyberte which Christes bloude gat vnto vs with a sure belefe and defyenge the masters teachers of workes the opē enemyes of Christe we rather heare the saynge of the holy goost Gala. v. Stande in the lyberte where with Christ hath made vs fre wrap not your selues agayn in the yock of bondage As touching the places which they bring owt of the old testament for the mayntaynyng and stablyssynge of vowes they make nothynge for the purpose for the maner of vowyng pertayned vnto the Iewes now be put away as be sacrifices Actu xv Fayth in Christe maketh all outwarde thynges fre nother doth the bondage of vowes and our lyberte agre What nede many wordes Oure vowes be without faythe therfore they be syn Now who wold be afrayed to leaue forsake syn ¶ Of counsels the newe learnynge The gospell is diuyded into counsels and cōmaūdementes we be bound to kepe the cōmaundementes not to despyse the counsels The counselles be in .v. of Math. to loue our enemyes not to resist euell not to stryue in the court or law to lende euery one that nedeth such other lyke The wich yf they were cōmaundementes they were to heuy burthens for the new lawe Thus saye the Parisiās ¶ The olde learnynge We haue a counsel in the gospel of lyuyng syngle Math. xix .i. Corint vii But they that be in the fyfte of Math. they be no counselles but preceptes the which thynge is manyfest by the circūstaūce of the text For Christ dothe threatē the which he wolde not haue done yf he had onely coūselled He that doth threaten a payn doth propound set forth a law coūselleth not Moreouer it is cōmaūded Loue thy neyghboure as thy selfe That loue conteyneth in it those thinges which we haue spokē of And also lust is forbyddē therfore be the aforesayd forbyddē Whā mat he had rehearsed those thynges which the scoolmē rekē amōg coūsels sayeth by by after That ye may be the chyldren of youre father whiche is in heauen Math. v. Lykewyse also saynt Luke after that he had rekened vp these lawes sayeth And ye shal be the sonnes of the mooste hyest Therfore they that do them not shall not be the chyldren Surely a counsell her wolde not haue spokē after this maner yee thus dyd Chrisostom Austen Hilary vnderstand the wordes of Christe Then yf the Lord cōmaūded all those thynges why do we that be seruaūtes louse and breake the lawes of the Lord for oure pleasure ¶ Of matrymony The newe learnynge The fourthe degre of kynred stoppeth matrimony There be .xii. impedimentes of matrymony which hinder maryage to be made and lose it yf it be contract namely errour condition vowe kynred faute or cryme the diuersite of worshippyng power bond honesty yf thou be of affynite yf thou be impotent in rendrynge dutye These hynder mariage to be made yf it be made breake it agayne Certayne thynges ther be which hyndre mariage to be made but they lose it not yf it be contract that is the tyme of not spousynge and the forbyddyng of the churche Also a spirituall kynred is gottē by the sacrament of baptyme cōfirmation or byshoppynge the which letteth matrymony to be and putteth a sunder it that is made Itē the order of subdeacō deacon and presthod stop matrymony to be taken and putte it awaye yf it is taken bycause that the vowe of chastite is ioyned to those orders Also yf ther be a deuorcement both the man and the woman must abyde vnmaryed ¶ The olde learnynge Ther be degrees of kynne or consanguinite and affinite red to be forbydden in the .xviii. of Leuiticus namely father mother stepmother a natural syster lawful syster both of father and mother cosyn aūte of the fathers syde of the mothers syde the wyfe of myne vncle the doughter in lawe the wyfe of my brother stepdoughter the son of the stepson or stepdoughter the syster of my wyfe my wyfe beynge alyue Here is forbyddē the fyrst degre of affinite the secōd of kyne or consanguinite thoughe the doughter or nefe of my brother or syster is not rekened to be forbydden Seyng that these be prouyded taken hede of by the law of God they must nedes be honest so that it were folysh hardynesse for a man put his decrees to the worde of God Those thynges that be spoken of the tymes that be voyde of spousels of the forbyddynge of the churche they be mans inuencyons And the spirituall kynred hath no testimony in the scripture Therfore yf it shyne and glyster wyth neuer so fare and goodly a lykenesse we maye as easely despise it as receaue it Why doth not holy fraternite let mariage by the which we are all knyt together in Christe
A coÌ„parison betwene the Olde learnynge the Newe ¶ Translated out of latin in Englysh by Wyliam Turner Prynted in Sowthwarke by me Iames NicolsoÌ„ Anno. 1537. The contentes of this boke Of the sacramentes Of penaunce Of confession Of satisfaccyon Of frewyll Of fayth and workes Of merites Of synne Of the worshippynge of sayntes Of the supper of the Lorde Of the choyse of meates Of fastynge Of the difference of dayes Of prayer Of vowes Of counselles Of matrimony Of bisshoppes Of ceremonies Of mans traditions Of councels lawes made by a multitude of bisshoppes gathered together ¶ To the reader Some ther be that do defye All that is newe and euer do crye The olde is better awaye with the new Because it is false and the olde is true Let them this boke reade and beholde For it preferreth the learnyng most olde ¶ Vrbanus Regius to a certayne frende of his wysheth CHRIST oure ryghteousnesse WHan our saueour in the fyrst of Marke had caste out of a man an vncleane sprete the Iewes were astoÌ„nyed sayenge what new learnynge is this It was thought new to those wretches for lacke of knowlege of scripture which of all thynges was oldest that is to saye the Gospell the which was longe tofore promysed by the prophetes in the scripture of the soÌ„ne of God Iesu Christ The same thynge was sayd to Paul whan he preached Christ at Athene they toke him led hym to Marcis strete sayenge May we not knowe what new learnyng this is that ye teach for ye brynge in to our eares new thynges Was the teachynge of the Apostles I praye you strayght waye new because it was thought new to the proude gentyles swellynge and bounde with theyr carnall and fleshly wysedome Euen suche lyke thinges in these later dayes do they al suffer which teach purely the Gospel of the gracyous fauour and glory of God Which do not abuse the worde of euerlastynge truth for auauÌ„tage but as it were of syncernesse but as it were of god so speak we by Christ in the syght of God This is the new doctrine saye our aduersaries lately deuysed fâ—rnyshed in the shoppes or workhouses of heretikes Let vs abyde styl in our old fayth Let the holynesse of our fathers the authorite of the couÌ„cels the consent of the longe tyme so many ages holde vs in the wayes of our fathers Let the heretikes go shake theyr eares with theyr new learnynge which spronge and rose vp of late Those thynges which we teach came not all from Christe and the Apostles by wrytynge neuerthelesse they came by a faythfull reuelacyon shewynge vnto vs. To whom I wyll answere none otherwyse then Christ answered the Saduces Ye erre sayeth he and ar ignoraunt in the scripture And wolde to God that I myghte purchace and obtayne so much equyte of a braynlesse kynde of meÌ„ as one heythen man sheweth to another that is yf they wolde fyrst heare the cause or matter and then afterwarde yf it please them condemne hym that is accused Now they condemne innocentes without ony hearynge of theyr cause And they crye vnto vs which defeÌ„de the worde of God with nothynge but galowes ropes and fyre not witesafyng vs the leest corner of the catholyke church In so much that I wonder of what sprete they be of For that gentle and pleasaunt sprete of Christ the which fedeth the mysticall body seketh for the health and not for the destruccyon of them that erre Charite the frute of the holy goost as the apostell sayeth doth thynke none euell but is glad and reioyceth with the trueth beleueth all thynges trusteth all thynges Surely they that set asyde the blynde iudgement of the affeccyon and loke earnestly vpon the matter iudge otherwyse of vs. For the olde auÌ„cient fathers dyd neuer knowe or heare tell of the moost parte of those thynges whiche oure condemners do teache then ye maye be sure that theyr learnynge ought not to be rekened for olde learnynge and apostolicall Furthermore not euery thynge that the olde fathers wrote sauoureth of the syncernesse and purenesse of the sprete of the Apostles Certayne thynges which were deuised with in these foure hundreth yeares yee rather euen of late haue bene receaued by and by of them as soone as they were made namely this is theyr learnynge and so olde that they desyre for this that the Gospell almoost shulde be cast awaye and couÌ„ted as a new teachynge and learnynge Therfore I wolde that they shulde knowe and vnderstande that we do teache and preache the olde and the trewe heauenly doctryne of the sprete that is the gospell of god The greate mystery of holynesse and godlynesse that god was declared in the fleshe was iustified in sprete sene of the angelles preached to the gentyles that coÌ„fidence was geueÌ„ to him in the worlde was receaued in to glory What saye you be these newes God dyd predestinate vs that he myght chose and purches vs to be his soÌ„nes by Christe Iesus in his owne selfe accordynge to the pleasure of his wyl that the glory of the grace of God myght be praysed whereby he made vs welbeloued thorowe his welbeloud by whome we haue redeÌ„pcioÌ„ thorowe his bloude forgeuenesse of synnes accordyng to the ryches of his grace This was the fathers counsell vpon vs before the begynnyng of the worlde that he shuld saue vs and calle vs with an holy vocacion not accordyng to our workes but accordyng to his purpose and grace whiche is geuen vnto vs thorowe Iesus Christ before the euerlasting times but it is opened and declared nowe by the appearing of our saueour Christ which put deathe away and hathe thorowe the gospel brought forthe the lyfe into lyght and mortalite The which thyng seyng that it was promysed so longe ago by the prophetes at the coÌ„maundement of the holy gooste and nowe published thorowe al the coastes of the worlde howe dare they for shame call it newe learnyng Ceasse you wycked men and staunche your blasphemyes geue glory and prayse with vs vnto god and enbrace loue as ye ought to do the mysteries of the truthe with deuoute myndes lefte ye be indurate and made harde harted of god with the reprobate and castawayes the which beleue not the truth but alowe vnryghtuousnesse The are is layed at the roote of the trees Wherfore I doynge the offyce of a christen brother haue made a comparyson betwene the newe learnynge and the olde whereby deare brother thou maye easely knowe whether we are called worthely or vnworthely the preachers of new learnyng For so dyd they call vs of late scornynge and of a contempte and you desyred of me to know what I thought best to answer to these braynles and madde fellowes The which thynge seynge that it can not be expressed in an epystell I thought it beste to bestow a few houres in thys matter in these dayes called fastyngam in latyn carnis priuium whiche hath the name of the takyng awaye