well yf Tyndale and his felowes be spyrytuall electys must as theyr fyrst author of theyr new spyrytuall secte be nedys one of the very chyef Let not therfore Tyndall good reder wyth his gay gloryouse wordes carye you so fast so far away but that ye remembre to pull hym bakke by the sleue a lytle and aske hym whyther his owne hyghe spirytuall doctour mayster Martyne Luther hym selfe beynge specyally borne agayne new created of the spyryte whom god in many places of holy scrypture hath commaunded to kepe his vowe made of chastyte when he then so far contrarye there vnto toke out of relygyon a spouse of Cryste wedded her hym selfe in reproche of wedloke called her his wyfe and made her his harlot and in doble despyte of maryage and relygyon both lyueth wyth her openly and lyeth wyth her nyghtly in shamefull inceste and abominable bycherye dothe he the whyle after Tyndalys hyghe wordes serche the depe secretys and neuer leue serchynge tyll he come to the botome the pyth the quycke the lyfe the spyryte the mary and the very cause of that commaundement why and so iudgeth all thynge Thus good reders examyne hym and then shall ye perceyue how fondly suche an hyghe pure spyrytuall processe accordeth wyth such a baas fowle fleshly lyuyng But Tyndale hath an hope that whyle he paynteth his prologe wyth such gay colours of spirytuall vertue there can no man in the meane whyle remember and consyder what vngracious frute theyr deceytfull doctryne false fayth bryngeth forth And therfore to carye the reder farther of from the remembrauÌ„ce therof he letteth goo by theyr fylthy lechery and holyly speketh of loue Tyndale Take an example in the great commaundement loue god with all thyn harte the spyrytuall sercheth the cause and lokâ—â—h on the benesytys of god and so coÌ„ceyueth loue in hys harte More In thys example of the great commaundemeÌ„t of louyng of god there can lacke no causes but wythout any farre serche there offer them selfe I now at hande except men wil fully wyll forget them But yet all be yt that in many thynges a man may peraduenture well and with frute enserche the cause of goddes coÌ„maundementys yet may the spyryte of a man that were as spirytuall as Tyndale is or Luther eyther and take frere Huskyn to them go some tyme to far in the serchyng of the depe secretys of god and wade so farre therin that he shall fynde these wordes of holy scripture true Proâ—er 25 He that is that the sercher of the maiestye shall be oppressyd of the glorye and he shall fynde the depe secretis of god so depe that the secrete botome wyll not be founde oute for hym and specyally in that thyng in which Tyndall and his felowes be as I shall hereafter shew you moste presumptuously besye that is in goddys fynall electis predestinatys wherof saynt Paule cryeth hymself Râ—â— 11 O altitudo diuitiaruÌ„ sapientiae sciâ—tiae deiâ— O yâ— heâ—th and depenes of the ryches of the wysedome science of god And as for that that Tyndall sayth that what so euer god commauÌ„deth the spyrytuall man to do he neuer 〈◊〉 serchynge tyll he come at the botome the pyth the quycks the lyffe the spyryte the maryâ— and the very cause whyâ— and iudgeth all thynges I say as I sayd byfore it may peradueÌ„ture in some thynges do well to consyder the causes of goddes commaundement so yt be done moderately and wyth reuerence But many suche spyrituall persones as Tyndale is and Luther and frere Huskyn so be wonte to reason and serche the cause of goddes commaundementys wyth them selfe as kynge Saul dyd or bytwene the dyuell and theâ—m selfe as our mother Eue dyd Râ—â—â—â— 1◠〈◊〉 â— that they fall vppon fallacyes and false causes whereby lyke as Saul was deceyued in sauynge of the bestes for sacryfyce whych bestes god hadde prâ—cysely commaunded hym to destroy and Eue was so by gyled that she thought she myght well ete the apple whyche god hadde precysely commaunded her to forbere so doth I say to these men that ar in this new fashyon spyrytuall the dyuell theyr euyll spyryte and them selfe wyth theyr incessaunte serche fynde out salfe causes wherof they take occasyon to breke the commaundementys of god whyche commaundementys other good seely symple soules wythoute any serche obserue As for ensample lo where as god hath in holy scrypture euydently commauÌ„ded Psal. â— 5 Ecc.c. 5 Esaiae 19 Ionae 2 that who so make a vowe shall performe and kepe yt as is wryteÌ„ by the holy Psalmiste Uowe ye and pay your vowes to our lorde and where as our blessyd lady thought her self bounde therto all the holy sayntes synnys Cristes dayes vnto Tyndals tyme haue without any varyance written affyrmed the same not onely they but also all crysten people both good badde haue this .xv. C. yerâ— abhorted as an abominabyle moÌ„ster and accompted yt in comen talkynge for suche a prodigyouse cryme that euer monke or frere shold wedde an nuÌ„ne as they thought shold neuer happen in crystendome therfore haue alway iested that Antecryste sholde be borne betwene a frere and a nuÌ„ne these new spirytuall men haue now Luther Tyndall and frere Huskyn and the dyuell to gyther so longe enserched the cause of thys commaundement of god by whych euery man is coÌ„maunded to kepe his vowe that they haue with longe serche fouÌ„den oute at laste that monkes freres and nunnes be not bounden by that commaundement at all but may for all theyr vowe lawfully runne out of relygyon and lye to gyther when they lyste and call theyr fylthy lechery good and lawfull wedloke And thus lo good reder these newe spyrytuall men wyth theyr depe serche interprete and expowne holy scripture and fynde oute therin suche godly vertues as this is whych the olde holy doctours coulde neuer fynde therin for lacke of grace by lykelyhod for we se well they lacked no wyt had as mych lernynge as these men haue and ten tymes more to and dyd theyr dylygence to but they were as yt semyth but naturall onely not borne agayne nor created of newe wyth the spyryte of god as Luther is and Tyndale frere Huskyn and hys felowes Take ensample sayth Tyndale in the great commaundement loue god wyth all thyne harte the spyrytuall serchyth the cause and loketh on the benefytes of god and so conceyueth loue in his harte In these wordes I lay no fawte But all be yt a man myghte assygne other causes of our loue towarde god then Tyndale doth as for ensample his owne excellent nature and goodnes of yt selfe worthy â—to be loued lauded and honored of vs though we shold yf yt were possyble receyue to oure selfe no benefyte at his hande at all yet I very well alow the cause that Tyndale allegeth that is to wytte the consyderacyon of the great benefytys of god yt is a cause of loue
in dede both resonable of yâ— selfe and also by many a good and vertuouse man alleged and consydered byfore But yet me thynketh that this consyderacyon of loue affyrmed by Tyndale dothe confounde both Tyndall Luther all theyr hole secte in that they hold that yt is not laufull to loue and serue god neyther for auoydynge of payne nor for obteynyng of rewarde callyng this manner of loue and seruyce seruyle bonde and mercennary This is they re comen opynyon and Tyndale hath yt often as well in this boke as in dyuerse other But now remember good reder that Tyndale sayth here the contrary whych I am glad to here hym say For I am better content that he say some tyme well then alway naught And here he sayth ryght well that the respecte of goddes benefytys is a cause of oure loue towarde god and surely so is yt in dede For all though the very good and great excelleÌ„t nature of god be worthy to be loued of vs and worshypped and serued to for the souerayne and surmountynge goodnes of yt selfe though we sholde our selfe take no manner of benefyte thereby yet may we well haue mo causes of loue honour and seruyce ioyned therunto yet am I not sure whyther Tyndale wyll saye that I do hym wrong in that I ioyne seruyce wyth loue where he sâ—eketh not of seruyce but of loue onely But I haue bene boâ—d to ioyne our loue and seruyce towarde god to gyther bycause I veryly thynke that Tyndale wyll hym selfe graunt vs that for what so euer cause yt is lawfull for vs to loue god for the self same cause yt is lawfull for vs to serue god But Tyndale agreeth that we may loue hym for his benefytys wherof yt foloweth excepte he say that we may loue for some cause for whyche it is not laufull to serue hym els I say muste Tyndale nedys graunte that for goddes benefytys yt is lawfull for vs to serue hym Now yf Tyndale graunte vs that conclusyon we wyll then wade with hym a lytle forther and ioyne therunto that yf yt be lawfull for vs to serue god for his benefytys which we haue receyued yt is also lawfull for vs to serue him for his benefytis which we longe hope to receyue And surely as the respecte of his benefytys whych we haue receyued is a good cause of loue so is the belyef of hys ê“mysys hope of his benefitys to come a good and a great cause of loue towarde hym Then yf we may seruâ— god for his benefytys to come yt semeth no dowte but that we may serue hym for to get heuen whyche is of all benefytys the greateste At thys poynte wyll Tyndale happely stykke wyth me and he well say styfly that fayth we may vse and serue god therwyth to th entent therewyth to gete heuen for fayth his felowes and he affyrme to be the thynge whych onely doth iustyfye vs. But then they say playnly that yf we serue god wyth any other good worke fastyng prayer or almose dede to th entent that we may therwyth please god the better or the rather come to heuen this seruyce is vnlawfull dyspleasaunt to god and playn vnfaythfulnes for as mych as we shall as they say be saued onely by Crystes bloode by oure belyffe in his promyses of the same therfore they call yt playne idolatrye to serue god wyth any good workes for heuen or to th entent that we myght please god the better therby For that thynge they say were as mych as to make oure self Cryste and to saye that we wolde be our owne sauyours by our owne workes and not Cryste by the worke of hys passyon In this poynte they stycke styffely and when they be answeryd that all though we serue god wyth good workes wrought with his gracyous helpe to th enteÌ„t to please hym the better therby as hymselfe hath in many places of holly scrypture coÌ„maundyd vs hope also that suche good workes shall the rather helpe vs to heuyn and that we shall in heuyn be rewarded for theym and for the respecte of goddê commaundement and for thys entent also we do them as Cryste hath also gyuen vs good occasyon where he saythe that who so gyue so mych as a draught of colde water shall not lese hys rewarde Mar. 9 and where he byddeth vs gyue vnto the poore to th entent that they may receyue vs in to the eternal tabernacles Lucae 16. and where he sheweth that at the daye of dome men shall haue heuyn for theyr charytable almesse dedes done here in erthe now when we tell them thus and that we do neuer the lesse knowlege and confesse therwyth that we neyther do nor can do any good worke wythout the specyall grace helpe of god and that our deades be coÌ„menly so defectyue that though good deades well done be rewardable yet euery man maye fynde in hymselfe great cause to mystruste hys owne and that we tell them also that all the best that the best man maye do is yet not more than hys deutye for euery man is of his deutye â—ounden to labour for heuyn and to serue and please god aswell and asmych as he maye and notwythstandynge that we also tell them that the best worke that any maÌ„ worketh wyth goddys helpe and grace is not yet rewardable with heuyn of the nature or goodnes of the worke it selfe all though he suffred euery daye in a longe lyfe a dowble martyrdome accordynge to the wordes of saynt Paule Rom. 8 the passyons of thys worlde be not worthy the glory that is to come that shall be reueled and shewed vppon vs and notwythstandynge that we tell them to that all the heuynly rewarde of mannes good workes cometh onely of goddys owne lyberall goodnes in that it hath pleased hys hyghe bountye to gyue so great a ryche pryce for so poore and symple ware as are all meÌ„nys workes all be it that we tell them also that god wolde not rewarde our workes in such wyse were it not for the shedynge of hys sonnes blood and so we fynally referre all the thanke and rewarde of our good workes bothe the begynnynge the progresse and the ende effectually to god and the merytes of Crystes passyon when we tell Tyndale and Luther all this yet fare they as though they herde vs not and styll they synge vs on theyr olde songe that it is ydolatrye to serue god wyth any good workes to th entent the better to please god therewyth and the rather to come to heuyn therforeâ—and that we may not wyth out synne for any helpe to heuynwarde serue god wyth any good worke sauynge onely fayth yet when we aske them whyther we may not laufully for the same entent serue god wyth hope to to that thyng they care not to graunte but then they confounde the termys of fayth and hope so as I neyther wote howe nor themselfe neyther Then yf we aske them farther whither it
wordes vsed amonge the hethen ere Cryste was borne Tyndale Fynally I saye not cheryte god or cheryte your neyghbour but loue god and loue your neyghbour More This is a prety poynt of iuglynge by whyche he wolde make the reader loke a syde yâ— hym selfe myght playe a false caste the whyle and men sholde not se wherin the questyon standeth For he maketh as though I reproued that he hath this worde loue in his translacion in any place at all where I neyther so sayed nor so thought But the faute I founde as in my dialoge I sayed playnely inough was that he rather chose to vse thys worde loue then thys worde cheryte in such places as he myghte well haue vsed thys word cheryte and where the latyn texte was charitas and where thys holy word cheryte was more proper for the mater then thys indyfferent worde loue Thys was the fawte that I found And therfore wherof serueth hys tryflyng betwene yâ— nowne and the verbe I let hym not to say loue thy neyghbour nor I bydde hym not say cheryte thy neyghbour nor good affeccyon thy neyghbour nor good mynde thy neyghbour â—â— more then drynke thy neyghbour And yet as he maye saye there geue thy neyghbour drynke so may he if it please hym saye here thy neyghbour good mynde bere thy neyghbour charyte Tyndale Though we saye a man ought to loue his neyghbours wyfe or his neyghbours doughter a cristen man doth not vnderstande that â—e is commanded to defyse his neyghbours wyfe nor his neyghbours doughter More This mater is somewhat amended here by this worde ought to loue But ellys if Tyndale fall not to the cherytyng but to the louynge of his neyghbours wyfe or the louynge of his neyghbours doughter I had as leue he bare them both a bare cheryte as wyth the frayle feminyne sexe fall to far in loue namely syth he sayth that prestes muste nedes haue wyfes But where of serueth hym this ensample Dyd any man forbede hym to vse this worde loue He maketh as though I forbode the worde vtterly bycause I forbede yt hym where he sholde not vse yt but charyte Thus cryeth he 〈◊〉 vppon all the chyrche sayth they forbede all 〈◊〉 bycause they forbede the banys bytwene frerys and â—â—â—nes Agaynste 〈…〉 fauour in stede of grace Tyndale ANd wyth lyke reasons rageth he bycause I torne charis into fauour and not in to grace sayenge that euery fauour is not grace and that in some fauour there is but lytle grace I can say also in some grace there is lytle goodnesse as when we say he standeth well in my ladyes grace we vnderstande no greatë godly fauoure and in vnyuersitees there be many vngracyouse graces goten More Thys ys all that he sayeth for hys puttynge out of grace and settynge in of fauour And I praye you consyder what cause hath he now shewede why he so sholde do And yet his tytell of this chapiter is why fauour not grace as though he wolde tell you why And hath he now shewed you any cause at all but thynketh that hys proper scoffynge is suffycyent to chaung yâ— knowen holy namys of vertue thorow all scrypture in to suche wordes as hym selfe lyketh And now he pleaseth hym self wonderfully well bycause he hath founde out so fetely that prety scoffe that grace sygnyfyeth somtyme no good as when a man standeth well in his ladyes grace But he seeth well that I fynde wyth hym the faute for chaungynge grace into fauour where the scrypture speketh not of the grace of my lady but of the grace of our lorde In spekynge wherof all be it that goddys fauour is neuer but good yet is in respecte vnto hys creature hys grace and his fauour not alwaye one but he both fauoreth for his grace and gyueth grace for his fauour fauoreth for his mercy and yet his fauour and his mercy not bothe one in respecte I saye to his creatures though hys owne nature be so entyere and hole that all that euer is in hym is all one And yet where he putteth his ensample of standyng in his ladyes grace bycause yt is yet but indyfferent for yâ— maye be good inough he sholde haue made thensample by â—â—wde Luther his lewâ— ladyes grace And when he sayeth that in the vnyuersyte many vngracyouse graces be goten he sholde haue made it more playne and better perceyued yf he had sayed as for ensample when hys owne grace was thâ—â—â— graunted to be made mayster of arte And thus gracyon â—â— hath he quytte hym selfe in puttynge out of grace 〈◊〉 Tyndales chaungynge of confessyon in to knowlege penauns into repentauns Tyndale ANd that I vse thys worde knowlege and not â—â—â—sâ—syon and thys worde repentaunce and not â—enaunâ—â— in which all be caÌ„ not proue that I gyue not the ryâ—â—â—â— englysshe vnto the greke worde More Thys is playne vntrew that Tyndale sayth as I haue playnely shewed all redy in the wordes chyrche preste cheryte and grace all whyche chapyters who so rede and consyder from the begynnynge and aduyse well Tyndales wordes and myne be he lerned be he not lerned that readeth them yf he haue naturall wyt and be but indyffereÌ„t he shall I dowte not fynde Tindale in these poyntes so clerely confounded that he shall truste bothe hys lernyng the lesse and his wyt the worse whyle he leueth after Besydes that he shall perceyue also malyce hatered and enuy so stuffed in Tyndales harte that all though he had greate wyt and lernyng bothe yet must the myste of suche blynde affeccyons nedys blyndefelde them bothe Tyndale But yt is a farre other thyng that payneth them and byteth theÌ„ by the â—restis There be secrete paâ—ges that pinche the very hertes of them wherof they dare not complayne The sykenesse that maketh them so impacyent is that they haue loste theyr iuglynge termes For the doctours preachers were wont to make many diuisyons distinccyons and sottis of grace gratis â—ata gratum faciens praeuenicus subsequens More Nay god he thanked they haue not lost these termys yet and god forbede they sholde For these termys of grace be no englyush termys but termys necessarye for the trewe knowledge of goddys gyâ—tes graces But Tyndale hath indede loste them from whose harte the deuyll hath 〈◊〉 all grace saue gratia gratis data and yet that to almâ—â—â—e â—â—yth whyche gratia gratis data all had he therof â—yche 〈◊〉 then he hath he myghte go forth as he goth the straygâ—◠〈◊〉 downe to the deuyll For those 〈◊〉 graces and 〈…〉 god gyueth a man wherof he maye make a mâ—â—â—r of 〈◊〉 or a mater of vyce as hym lyst to 〈…〉 them to 〈◊〉 the man is mych the worse for them as 〈◊〉 strength lernynge or wyt Gratia gratâ—â— facieâ—â—s is that grace by 〈◊〉 the man is acceptable to god As the grace gyuen in y◠〈…〉 though it be to chyldren and the grace with which in fayth hope and cheryte man worketh good workes
be not laufull to serue god wyth charyte to whyche now they leue and fall all to lusty loue wyth intent to get heuyn the rather to that they let not to grauÌ„te also but they say the cause is for that fayth they say hath alwaye charyte therwyth But all be it that in that poynte theyr affyrmacyoÌ„ is fals as by reason and pleyne scrypture hath ben often proued vnto them 1. Câ—r 13 Iacâ—bi 2 that is ynough to me that they graunte that a man maye laufully loue god and serue hym wyth charyte to th entent to be the rather saued and come to heuyn therby For now semeth me that yf we laufully maye as Tyndale wyll grauÌ„t we maye serue god with the vertues of fayth and hope and charyte or of any one of them wyth respecte vnto goddys benefytes receyued and also to come and to th entent therby the rather to be saued come to heuyn we may then laufully with lyke respecte purpose inteÌ„t serue god wyth any other vertue that procedeth of fayth hope charyte or of any suche one of them wyth whyche it is laufull for vs for suche respecte entent purpose to serue god then wyll not Tyndale denye but that prayer fastynge almesse dede and contynence and clennesse of body penauÌ„ce trouble of the mynde wyth sufferauns of trybulacyon or afflyccyon of the flesshe wyllyngly taken wyth many other outwarde and inwarde workes may procede of fayth hope and charyte wherfore I can not se but that Tyndale as he graunteth here that we maye serue god wyth loue entendyng thereby to please hym and be sauyd the rather so must he nedys graunte and agre that lykewyse may we wyth lyke entente and purpose serue wyth all other workes aboue remembryd procedynge of a faythfull workynge charyte wherof he and all hys fonde felowes in euery place holde hytherto the contrary And thus haue I now playnly deducyd vppon Tyndals owne wordes the full confusyon of hys owne comen conclusyon so many tymes by hym and hys felowes obiected and among them all neuer onys yet well prouyd nor neuer able to be proued agaynst the profyte of good mennys chrysten workes for chrysten be theyr prayers theyr fastynge and theyr almosse dedys when they be done in fayth hope and charyte and in the state of grace Tyndall And when he is commaundyd to obay the powers and rewlers of the worlde be loketh on the benefytes whiche god shewyth the worlde thorow them and therfore doeth it gladly More In this obedyence Tyndale is yet content to haue a respecte to the benefytes that god worketh and shewyth the worlde thorow the powers and rewlers of the world putteth that for eyther the onely or the chyefe cause of hys obedyence as he putteth it for the onely or chyefe cause of goddys commaundement In whiche kynde of obedyence semeth not the greatest vertue when a man obeyeth onely for hys owne aduauntage but the very chrysten obedyence is to obaye specially for that god so coÌ„maundeth and not so to serche and lymyte the cause of goddes coÌ„maundement as he may therby take hymselfe gyue to other an easy bolde occasyoÌ„ to dysobaye resyste and rebell agaynst theyr hedys and rulers pretendynge that they be not profytable Thys thynge meanyth Tyndale as it apperyth by hys wordes here in the cause of hys obedyence to the powers and rulers of the worlde as it apperyth in dyuers other places of hys workes and Luther his maysters to But god all though he wyll that the gouernours and rulers of the world sholde be good and profytable to the people yet wyll he not that the people shall measure the dewty of theyr obedyence by the onely rule and measure of theyr owne profyte and coÌ„modyte but that they shall obaye theyr prynces and other rulers and gouernours bycause that they be theyr gouernours and rulers and bycause that god hath so coÌ„mauÌ„ded For yf they may measure theyr obedyeÌ„ce by yâ— measure of theyr owne profyte as Tyndale telleth vs they shall sone seke occasyon of sedycion and therof do themselfe also more harme in one daye then sholde theyr ruler in many yeres all were he ryght vnprofytable in dede as apperyd by the vplandysshe Lutherans in Almayn whyche measuryng theyr obedyence by Tyndalys rule gyuen them before by Tyndalys mayster became all vnrulye and dysobeyd and rebellyd agaynst theyr rulers and therby dysobeyd goddes commaundement and brought therby the vengeaunce of god vppon theyr owne heddys to the slaughter of aboue foure score thowsand of them in one sommer the remenaunt the worse entreated euer syns and that hath made Luther and Tyndale a lytell to retreate syns and set a new glose therto yâ— will but shrewdly serue them as I shall shewe you when I come to the place hereafter in hys boke Tyndall And when he is commaunded to loue his neyghbour as hymselfe â—e serchâ—â—â— that hys neyghbour is created of god and bought with Crysâ—es blode and so forth More Loo thys is very louyngly spoken he sayth very well and I praye god that he be one of those spyrytuals that so doeth but surely many places in euery boke that he writeth seme clerely to declare that he hath another maner of spyryte then suche a spyryte of loue And yet were it herde excepte yâ— goddys coÌ„maundement gyue vs that warnyng ellys wyll it be somwhat herd for any man vppoÌ„ the other two causes by any serche to perceyue that he were in reason bouÌ„den to loue another aswell as hymselfe though they maye serue to loue hym ryght well Tyndale And therfore he loueth hym oute of his harte Owt of 〈◊〉 â—erte not in hys heâ—â—e And yf he be euyll forbereth hym and wyth all loue and pacyeÌ„ce draueth hym to good as elder brotheren wayte on the yonger and serue them and suffre them and when they wyll not come they speke fayre and flater and gyue some gaye thyng and promyse fayre and so drawe them and smyte them not but yf they may in no wyse be holpe referre the ponyshement to the father and mother and so forth And by thesâ— iudgeth be all other lawes oâ— god and vnderstandeth the true vse and meanyng of them and by these vnderstandeth he in the lawes of man whych are ryght and whyche tyrannye More Useth Tyndale and his spyrytuall mayster thys manes of loue this forberynge and this maner of pacyeÌ„s to warde the pope and the clergye and towarde prynces and other teÌ„porall rulers we se perde thorow all theyr bokes in what lowly louynge fashion they serue and suffer them and how fayre they speke and how plesauntly they flater all holy catholyque crysten people sauyng onely theyr own secte with as venemouse wordes and as poysen speche as the dyuell can dyuyse them wyth all the meanes they may to sow dyuysyon and dyssencyon and set the people in sedycyon vnder colour of true fayth to brynge them in heresyes and destroye both bodye and soule
But Tyndale wold now that we shold for the whyle forget all that he and his mayster wryteth ellys where and hym selfe in many placys after in this same boke and that we sholde onely marke these holy louyng wordes that he wryteth here in his present prologe in whych he sayth that they whych be spirytuall do neuer smyte theyr yonger brothereÌ„ that ys to saye suche as be not in fayth and vertue growen vp as they be nor wyll not wyth them come forwarde therin but be euyll and wyll be no better but the spyritualles as theyr elder brothereÌ„ doth flater them and promyse fayre and gyue them gay thynges and so draweth them forward in grace and fynally yf that wyll not helpe them then the spirytuall elder brother referreth theyr punyshement to the father and the mother that is as he meaneth to all myghty god for yf he ment vnto theyr rulers so yt is all redy for none other hath authoryte to correcte and punysse And hys mynde he hath declared in that byhalfe in sundry placys that non man shold in any wyse pursue and punysh any maÌ„ specyally for any heresye for he that pursueth any man is no spyrytuall man I let passe here that after this waye the worlde all be yt that yt be badde ynough all redye wold yet wax then mich worse and I passe ouer also that as well all wyse men as all good men and holy scripture also yt selfe is open and playne to the contrarye And I wyll for the whyle no more but aske of Tyndale whether he accompte the pope the clergy and the temporall prynces for menne borne agayne and renewed with the spyryte of god and therby spyrytuall or not If he reken them for suche theÌ„ by hys owne rule they can and do very well iudge all thynge and so sholde he then thynke that the thynges that they do be well done for he sayth hym selfe that the spirytualles do serche the botome of goddes commaundementes and fulfyll them gladly Now yf he say that they be not the spyrytualles but such as Luther is and frere Huskyn and hym selfe suche other as so serche the causes that they care not as Tyndale sayth after whyther the preste saye masse in hys gowne or in hys cope and wyll as sone gape for sande as holy salte and had as lyefe be smered with vnhalowed butter as enoynted wyth charmed oyle excepte men can tell them the causes whyche they saye that no man can and therfore they mocke and ieste therat nowe yf thys theyr sorte be as Tyndale sayth the spyrytuall and therby the elder brothern then wyll we say to Tyndale and aske hym why do not you Tyndale and your spyrytuall felowes accordynge to your owne wordes here loue out of your hartes the pope the cardynals the clergye the prynces the people and so forth beynge as your younger brothern not yet borne agayne and why do you not forbere them wyth all loue and pacyence so forth Tyndale taketh greâ—â—â—â—easuâ—e in often bryngynge in theâ—e wordes And so forth and wayte on them and serue them and suffer them and so forth and when they wyll not wyth you come forth why do you not then speke them fayre and flater them and promyse them fayre and so forth and so drawe them forth and so forth And yf that for aâ—l thys they wyll not come forth why do you not then referre the punysshement to the father and mother and smyte them not but contrary to your owne wordes vse at your yoÌ„ger brothern to laughe theÌ„ to skorne to mocke to ieste to checke to chyde to brawle rybaldously to rayle callynge them apyshe peuysshe popysshe iuglers theues murderers bloodsupers tormentours and traytours Pylatys Cayphaas Herodys Annaas Antecrystes Iudaas hypochrytes mokenmongers pryapystes idolatres horemaysters and sodomytes abomynable shameles stark madde and faythlesse bestes hangemen martyr quellers and Cryste kyllers serpentes scorpyons dremers and very dyuels fynally wyth such venemouse wordes and other malyciouse wayes the wurste that the dyuell and you deuyse to gether bysely put forth youre payne to sow debate dyssencion scysmes stryfe and sedycion and cause your spyrytuall people that ys to wyt the elder brothern borne agayne of the spirite to ryse and rebell agaynst your yonger brothern but naturall yet and not borne agayne and the tone parte to smyte kyll the tother by thousandys on a daye as ye haue done in Almayne prouidynge alway that your selfs the chyeff captayns and authours of such sedycion and rebelliouse bloodshed gate vp vppon some hyll in the meane whyle and stonde and loke vppon sure safe a syde halfe out of all gonshotâ— and com not at hand strokes in no wise but serue for trompetours with the blaste of youre wordes and vngracyous wrytynges to kyndâ—e them call vppon and set them all a worke and yf yt walke on youre syde then to gaude and glory and yf yt go agaynste you your parte go to wrake then slynk awaye fro the felde and make as ye cam not there nor neuer enteÌ„ded harme nor meÌ„t any such mater or as your mayster dyd in Almayne to put your selfe out of suspycyon crye to the coÌ„trary parte to kyll them downe hande smothe whom your owne wordes raysed vp and synfully set a worke And lo thus hath Tyndale coÌ„nyngly declared the grete commaundement of loue and by hym selfe and his felowes as ye se so louyngly put in vre that they wolde helpe the tother parte to all the myschyefe they myghte and wolde that on the tother syde what so euer they do them self be it neuer so myscheuouse no man sholde ones chyde them nor gyue fowle wordes but in theyr deuylyshe dedys forbere styll suffer them and take them then â—s younger brothern lytell babys vntaught and gyue them fayre wordes and pretye proper gere ratylles cokbelles and gay goldeÌ„ shone and yf the wantons wyll not lerne yet but byte scratche theyr felowes bete not the babys yet in no wyse but go and tell theyr mother and so forth And when Tyndale hath thus connyngly declared the greate commauÌ„dement of loue and hath so spyrytually set it out to the shew then concludeth he well worshypfully that by thys commaundement of loue in suche a wyse waye vnderstanden his spyrytuall sorte iudgeth all the lawes of god and vnderstande the true vse of them and by the same in lykewyse vnderstande they all the lawes of man which are ryght and whych tyranny For by thys then vnderstande that for the loue that they bere to theyr own wyll euery glose that they gyue them selfe is the ryght meanyng of the worde of god and all that all other holy men haue wryten is but fantasyes and false And in mennis law to let them bete other men for saynge trueth were well ordeyned and ryghte but any man to chyde onys any of theym for a hondred heresyes that were vtter wronge and no lawfull law but
so repent in herte shall neuer do so more wyllyngâ—â— and of purpose syth he that hathe repented 〈◊〉 harte may do so agayne wyllyngly and of purpose to he that dyd 〈…〉 â—sed purpose doth yt yet for all that 〈…〉 he do yt wyllyngly And for coÌ„clusyon though yt may be sayâ—◠〈◊〉 good men of good mynde in exhortacyon in perseuerauÌ„â—◠〈◊〉 good workes agaynst the 〈◊〉 of such as 〈…〉 agayne that they 〈…〉 lyghtenes geueth 〈…〉 to thynke and saye yet to put ye for a rule and 〈…〉 as Tyndale doth that who so repeÌ„teth onys in haâ—te â—â—all 〈…〉 wyllyngly of purpose that they that synne 〈…〉 lyngly and of purpose dyd neuer repent in harte is very â—alse doctryne a very playne heresye Tyndale And yf I beleued the gospell what god hath done for me in Criste I shold surely loue hym agayne and of loue prepare my selfe vnto his commaundement More It is vndowtely a very good occasyon to moue a man to loue god agayne when he beleueth the loue that god hath to hym and the thynges that of very loue god hath done for hym But yet it is not trew that Tyndale sayth that euery man whyche byleueth thys loue doeth so loue god agayne that of loue he prepareth hym selfe vnto goddys commaundementes I dare say that saynt Peter loued hym well and yet he bothe forsoke hym and forsware hym to But a man that well byleued sholde peraduenture prepare hym to goddys commaundementes yf neyther the worlde the flesshe nor the deuyll drewe hym bakke nor suche heretykes worse yet theÌ„ all â—â—re 〈◊〉 the râ—te of ryght bylefe out of hys harte And 〈◊〉 standen the wordes of Tyndale wyth Luthers holy doctryne whyche he precheth agaynste the lybertye of mannys fre wyll wherof yf man haue none as theyr heresye techeth then how can it be trewe that a man can of loue prepare hym selfe to the commaundementes of god And fynally yf it be trew that Tyndale sayth that is to 〈◊〉 thâ—â— yf he beleued the gospell he sholde surely prepare hym selfe to the coÌ„maundementes of god and then yf thys be trew 〈◊〉 as in dede it is that he that doeth as Tindale doeth enfeete hys neyghbours wyth dedely poysened heresyes agaynst the blessed sacramentes therby maketh theyr bodyes be burned in erthe wyth hys bokes and theyr soul ys burned in helle wyth hys heresyes is the most trayâ—â—rouse 〈◊〉 of goddys commaundementes that can be 〈…〉 very clerely that Tindale byleueth not 〈◊〉 gospell 〈◊〉 all and surely no more he doeth And now cometh he and sayth that I knowe that all y◠〈…〉 for hys defence in the chaunge of chyrch preste 〈…〉 penaunce and suche other is trew bycause 〈…〉 as he â—ayth the greke afore hym where as I by 〈…〉 knowledge as I haue of greke latyn and of our owne 〈…〉 tonge togyther knowe hys defence dothe 〈…〉 And that haue I so clerely proueâ— that to the 〈…〉 of bothe hys 〈◊〉 and hys â—oly there shall not greately nede yâ— knowlege of thâ—â— tonges nor twayne neyther but an indyfferent reader that vnderstandeth englysshe and hath in hys hed any reason or naturall wyt For all be it that the more lernynge the reder hath the more madnesse he shall perceyue in Tyndales defence of these thynges afore remembred yet he that hath wyt and no lernyng at all shall clerely perceyue inoughâ— And to that entent onely haue I taken the labour 〈◊〉 answere hys defence to make it open to lerned and vnlerned bothe that he bryngeth to the mater after hys two 〈◊〉 musynge thereuppon â—eyther insyghte of any substancyall lernynge nor yet any profe of reason or naturall wytte but onely a rasshe malyciouse frantyke brayde furnysshed with a bare bolde assercyon and affyrmacyon of false poysoned heresyes For sauynge to make thys appere I neded not to touche those poyntes at all For euery man well knoweth yâ— the entent and purpose of my dyaloge was none other but to make the people perceyue that Tyndale chaunged in his translacyon the comen knowen wordes to th enteÌ„t to 〈◊〉 a chauÌ„ge in the fayth As for ensample that he chauÌ„ged the worde chyrche in to thys worde congregacyon bycause he wolde brynge it in questyon whyche were the chyrche anâ— set forth Luthers heresye that the chyrch whyche we sholde byleue and obaye is not the comen knowen body of all crysten reames remaynynge in the fayth of Cryste not falleâ— of nor cut of wyth heresyes as Boheme is and some parteâ— of Germany but that the chyrche whyche we sholde byleue and obay were some secrete vnknoweÌ„ sorte of euyll lyuyng and worse byleuyng heretykes And that he chauÌ„ged preste into senior bycause he enteÌ„ded to set forth Luthers heresye techynge that presthed is no sacrament but the 〈◊〉 of a laye man or a laye woman appoynted by the people to preche And that he chauÌ„ged penauÌ„ce into 〈…〉 he wolde set forth Luthers heresye techyng that penauÌ„ce is no sacrament Lo thys beyng yâ— onely purpose entent of 〈…〉 Tyndale cometh now and expressely 〈◊〉 the same thynge that I purposed to shew For he 〈◊〉 wryteth openly those false heresyes in dede that I â—â—yed then â—â—teded after to do so that hyâ— selfe sheweth now that I 〈◊〉 then shewâ— the people trewth thâ—â—â—eded I to make 〈◊〉 answere syth hys owne wrytyng sheweth that he made his translacyon to the entent to set forth suche heresyes as I sayed he dyd For as for that that Tyndale calleth them none heresyes but the very fayth forceth me but lytle for so hath euery he retyque called his owne heresyes syns crysteÌ„dome fyrste byganne But for all that the deuyll wyll be the deuyll though Tyndale wolde call hym god And I made my boke to good crysten people that know such heresyes for heresyes to gyue theÌ„ warnynge that by scripture of his owne false forgynge for so is his false translacyon and not the scrypture of god he sholde not bygyle them and make them wene the thynge were otherwyse then yt is in dede For as for such as are so madde all redy to take those heresyes for other then heresyes and are thereby them selfe no faythfull folke but heretyques yf they lyst not to lerne and leue of but longe to lye styll in theyr false bylyefe yt were all in vayne to gyue them warnynge thereof For when theyr wyllys be bent thereto and theyr hertys set thereon there wyll no warnynge serue them And therfore syth Tyndale hath here confessed in his defence that he made suche chaunges for the settynge forth of suche thynges as I sayed yt is inough for good cristen men that know those thynges for heresyes to abhorre and burne vppe his bokes and the lykers of them wyth them so that as I say I neded none answere to all his defence at all sauynge to make as I haue done both lerned and vnlerned folke perceyue hym for an vnlerned fole And yet defendynge hym self so fondely and teachyng open heresyes so shamefully he
out of the scrypture wherein he may as well byleue what he wyll and take what he lyste not of yâ— tradycyon of Crystes catholyque chyrche but of the tradycyon of Martyne Luthers lemman as frame hym selfe a fayth by a deduccion of scripture deduced in such a fashion In the same manner he draweth out of scrypture in hys boke of obedyence and in thys boke also that a frere may marye a nonne by the authoryte of saynt Poule For beyng asked where he fyndeth yt in scrypture he sayth yt is wryten in these wordes to Timothe 1. Timoth. 3 a byshoppe muste be vnreprouable and the husbande of one wyfe And in the wordes of saynte Poule 1. Timoth. 4. there shall come false prophetes that shall forbede maryage And in this texte also 1. Corinth 7. yt is better to may then to burne Is not this conclusyon trow ye well deduced In the fyrst bycause saynte Poule dyd putte in this word one to forbyd and exclude any mo then one Tyndale deduceth that a bysshoppe muste nedes haue one and thereby maketh saynte Poule false in a nother place where he counsayleth wysshyth that he sholde rather haue none In the seconde texte bycause saynt Poule condeÌ„neth theÌ„ that wolde saye yt were not lawfull for any man to mary Tyndale deduceth that euery maye mary though hym self haue made vnto god a contrary promyse byfore myght as well deduce that no man maye be forbode to mary though he haue a wyfe all redy For the frâ—re is as well and as clerely forboden to mary by the scryptures that forbedeth hym the breche of his vowe as is the man forbodeÌ„ to mary that hath a wyfe all redye And vppon the thyrde texte bycause saynt Poule sayth that yt is better to mary theÌ„ to burne Tyndale deduceth that it is better for a frere to marye then to forbere lechery coÌ„sydereth not that when he breketh his vow and weddeth an harlot then he burneth both bodye and soule fyrste hete in fyre of foule fylthy luste and after thys worlde in euerlastynge fyre of hell Is not thys conclusyon worshypfully deduced vppon scrypture It is meruayle that he deduceth it not rather vppon the texte that he speketh of here Loue thy neyghbour as thy selfe and vppon thys texte also Do to another as thou woldest be done to thy selfe These haue yet some better colour for Luther and hys leÌ„man and I doute not but he wyll fynde them at laste and saye that hys maryage is grounded there bycause he loueth her wyth suche a lewde lousy loue as the lewde lousy louer in lechery loueth hym selfe and is so ryghtuousely dysposed that he wyll neuer desyre that she shall lye wyth hym but wheÌ„ he is euen as well content that hym selfe shall lye wyth her Thys that we saye now in sporte he wyll saye ones in erneste I warraunt you Now for the declaracyon of hys purpose in drawynge deducynge of thartycle of theyr faythlesse fayth out of scrypture of god these ensamples suffyse and therfore I shall procede farther Now nexte he coÌ„meth to the purpose to proue you that euery necessary thyng that we be bounden eyther to byleue or to doâ— is wryten in scrypture And now harke I praye you how properly the good man proueth it These are hys wordes Tyndale For yf that I were bounden to do or byleue vnder payne of losse of my soule any thyâ—ge that were not wryten nor depended of that whyche is wryten what â—olpe me the scrypture that is wrytâ—n More Lo here is hys fyrste argumeÌ„t that he setteth forth in the fore fronte of the feld as a specyall stronge bande whyche argument who so wâ—ll aduyâ—e and consyder yf hym selfe haue wyt shall playnely saye that it commeth out of a mad mannâ—s mouth For by thys â—â—afon tyll the gospellys were wryten euery man myghtâ— haue refused all the doctryne of Cryst in euery poyâ—t that was not wryteÌ„ in the scrypture before his day nor drawen out therof by a lytell streyghter lyne then Luther draweth his And when Cryste taught them the counsayle of virgiâ—â—tâ— and â—any other holesâ—â—â— thynges aboue the perfeccyon of theyr olde lawe they myght haue sayd shew me tâ—ys in wrytyng And then yf he had answered that hym selfe beynge suche as he was and for suche testyfyed by wrytyng and by the worde of hys father and by hys owne wonderouse workes owed to be byleued of them in euery thyng vppon payne of the losse of theyr soules they myghte haue sayed agayn as Tyndale sayth now yf we be bouÌ„den vppoÌ„ the payne of losse of our soules to beleue any thynge that is not wryten nor dependeth of that whyche is wryten what holpe vs the scrypture that is wryten Thys tale of Tyndales myghte they haue tolde vnto Cryst hym self agaynst the sacrament of baptysme the sacrament of the awter to 1. Corinth 11. Now when saynt Poule in his pystle to the Corynthyes sayed I wyll order the remanaunt when I come my selfe they sholde by Tyndales reason haue sent hym hys pystle agayne and saye If we shall be bounden to do any thynge vnwryten what auayleth vs all that euer thou wrytest But there nedeth no places of scrypture to thys blasphemouse foly of Tindale spoken agaynst the scripture bycause god hath taught left some parte of hys pleasure wythout scrypture For yf a man wryte certayne rules to hys howsholde seruauÌ„tes and yet gyue them certayne besyde by his owne mouth such as peraduenture shold nede no warnyng in wrytynge bycause the coÌ„tynuall vse and excerâ—yse of theÌ„ coude not suffer them to bâ— forgotten in whych kynde of coÌ„maundementes be the blessed sacramentes so dayly vsed in Crystes chyrch that forgoten they can not be nor lefte they shall not be for all the besynesse that these heretykes the deuyls doctours can make yf thys lordes seruauntes were so wyse to lerne thys lesson of Tyndale and saye naye syr and ye leue these thynges vnwryten then a strawe for all that ye haue wryten myghte not the mayster saye that hys menne were a sorte of malaperte folysshe knauys And thys is as ye se Tyndales fyrst reason wherwyth he full properly proueth vs that the apostles wrote alâ— togyther that euer we sholde be bounden to byleue whyche reason ye se your selfe is not worth one â—ysshe but râ—â—her a playne â—nreasonable blasphemy folysshely spoken agaynst the â—criptuâ—â— of god whych he sayth serueth for nought yf god bynâ—â— vs to byleue any worde of hys bysyâ—e Now let vs procede to the seconde whyâ—â— is I promyse you very seconde foâ— any frute that ye shall fynâ—â— therin These are hys wordeâ— Tyndale In as mych as Cryste and all his apostles warned vs that false prophetes shold come with false myracles euen to deceyue the electes yf it were possible wherwyth sholde the trew precher confouÌ„de the false excepte he brought trew myracles to confounde the false or ellys autentique scrypture of full authoryte all redy