also y ◠later fathers as Austen Chrisostōe and others Whyche though in some places they seme very manifestli to alow praying for y ◠deed yet they are not to be vnderstād otherwise thē I haue said for them For neuer knewe they of our merites purgatory for if thei had but dreāed therō surely thei would haue bē much more circūspect in their speakigs writinges of this thē theiwer Where they saye that beecause thys sacrifice is the sacryfice of the whole churche whereof the dead be members therfore they should be prayed for as beefore I haue shewed that we must put a difference betwene the mēbers of the churche militaunte here on earth and those whyche bee now in rest and peace with god so wold I haue you to note here that they should pray for none other dead then suche as be members of Chrystes Churche Nowe in that al such dye in the lord and therfore are happye I would gladly learne what good such prayer doeth to those so departed As for purgatory pyke pursse they passe not vpon it But that thys is a sacrifice applycatorye or propiciatory the papistes cā neuer proue Where they saye charitie requireth it I answer that in asmuche as charitie foloweth fayth and wyll not goe a fote farther then fayth sheweth the waye seyng fayth is not but of the worde of god and goddes woorde for thys they haue not easy it is to perceaue that thys praying thus for the dead is not of Christian charitie But be it y ◠charitie réquired it I then meruail why thei ar so vncharitable that wyll doe nothyng herein w t out money Whye wyll they not pray without pens If the pope and his prelates were charitable they woulde I trowe make swepe stake at once wyth purgatorye Where they alledge the sentence of the Machabees as all men of learnynge knowe the fathers alowe not that booke to be gods spirite or catholike so doe I wonder that in al the olde testamente this sacrificing for the dead was neuer spokē of before In all the sacrifices that God appoynted we reade of neuer one for the dead Thys geer came not vp till the religion was wonderfullye corrupte among the Iewes As wyth vs it was neuer founde out til horrible corrupcion of religion and ignoraunces of Godes worde came into the churche of god whan preachyng was putte downe and massynge came vp Then fayth in Christ was colde penaunce became popyshe and trust was taughte in creatures ignoraunce abounded and loke what the clergi said that was beleued Then came vp visions miracles dead sprites walkynge and talkynge how they myghte bee releued by thys masse by that pylgremage gate goynge And so came vp this pelfe of prayinge for the dead whyche Paul the apostles and al the prophetes neuer spake one word of For all menne maye easelye see that it is a thinge which helpeth much vyce and hyndreth godlynesse Who wyll bee so earneste to amende to make restytucyon of that he hath gotten vniustli and lyue in a Godlye loue and true frare of GOD beeyng taught that by prayers by masses by foundynge of Chaunteryes c. whan he is gone he shall fynde case releafe yea and come to ioye eternall Chrystes doctrine is that the waye of saluacion is strayte But thys teachyng heapyng of masses one vpō another whan we are dead maketh it voyde Chrystes teachyng is that we shoulde liue in loue and charite the Sonne should not go down on our wrath But this doctrine to pray for the dead to be delyuered out of purgatory teacheth rather to lyue in litle loue in wrath euen tyl our deathes day For syr Iohn can and wil helpe syr thomas by a masse of Scala celi wyll bryng vs into heauen Chrystes doctryne is that he is the way but thys doctryne maketh the massyng priest the way Away in dede it is but to hell to y e deuil Dearly beloued therfore take good hearte vnto you for thys geer rather then you would consente vnto it to loose lyfe and all that euer you haue You shal be sure wyth Chryst to fynde it and that for euer wyth infinite increace Last of al wher they alledge the catholyke churche and consēt of al doctors in thys mater as I wyshe you should knowe that to be the true and catholyk church which is grounded vpon gods worde whiche worde they haue not for them in thys matter So would I ye shoulde knowe that ther is no membre of the church but he mai erre For thei be men and al men be lyers as Dauyd sayeth Now if al the members may erre then you mai easeli se wher to your fayth ought to leene euē vnto gods wryttē worde Heare the churche and the doctors of y ◠churche but none otherwyse thē as teachers and trye their teachyng by gods worde If they teache accordyng to it then beeleue and obeye them If contrary then knowe they be but menne and alwayes lette your fayth leene to gods worde Howbeit for thys mater of prayinge for the dead knowe of trueth that ther be no doctors of 400 or 500. yeare after Christs ascension but if thei in sōe places seme to alowe prayinge for the dead yet they would be taken in some of the senses whiche I haue specified In many places doe they by diuerse sētences declare it them selues But of this ynough The. 13. Chapter The refutacion of the heresye of prayinge to sainctes departed out of this world NOw to the laste of prayinge to saynctes Fyrste where they say there be moo mediators of intercession then Chryst makynge a distinction not learned out of gods boke in suche sense and for suche purpose as they alledge I wyshe they woulde loke on the. 8. to the Romaynes and 1. Iohn 2. there shal they lerne to take better hede The one sayeth Chryste sitteth on the ryght hand of hys father and prayeth for vs. The other sayth he is our aduocate that is a spokesman cōforter intercessor and mediator Now would I aske them seyng that Chryst is a mediator of intercessyon as I am sure thei wil graunt whether he be sufficient or no. If they say no then all mē wil know they lye But if they saye yea then maye I aske whie they are not content wyth sufficient What fault fynde ye wyth him Is there any more mercyful thē he Any more desyrous to do vs good thē he Any that knoweth our grefe and nede so muche as he Any that knoweth the way to helpe vs so wel as he No none so well He cryeth Aske and ye shal háue come to me and I wil helpe you aske that youre ioye may be ful Hetherto ye haue not asked any thyng in my name Therefore my good brethren and sisters let vs thanke god for thys mediator And as he is one alone mediatour for redempcion lette vs take hym euen so for intercessiō For if by hys worke of redempcyon of
worshippyng the worke of mens hande in steade of thee their sauiour Oh lette vs not so runne down headlong into perdicion stombling on those sines from the whiche there is no recouery but a causynge of thee to deny vs before thy father makig our later ende worse then the begynnyng as chaunced to Loths wife Iudas Iscarioth FraÌ„cisc Spira in these our dayes and to many other But rather strengthen vs all in thi grace and in those things whych thy worde teacheth that we may here hasarde our life for thy sake And so shall we bee sure to saue it as if we seke to saue it we can not but lose it And it beyng lost what profyt can we haue if we wanne the whole world Oh set thou alwaies before our eies not as reason doth thys lyfe or the pleasures of the same death of the body and prysonment c. But euerlastyng lyfe and those vnspeakable ioyes whyche vndoubtedlye they shall haue that take vp their crosse and folowe the. Set euer before vs also the eternall fyer and perpetuall destruccion of soule and body that they must nedes at length leape into whyche are afrayed of the hore froste of aduersitie that man or the deuyll stereth vp to stoppe and hynder vs froÌ„ going forwarde in oure iourney to heauens blysse to the whyche O Lorde doe thou brynge vs for thy name sake Amen Pray for al your brethreÌ„ which be in prison and exile and so absent from you in bodye but yet presente with you in spirite and hartely praye god once to proue vs and trust vs agayne with his holy worde and gospell that we may be suffred to speke and you to heare his voyce as heretofore we and you haue done but vnthankfully negligentli I may say yea very vnworthely carnally And therfore is his moste iust anger fallen nowe vpon vs. He remember hys mercie towardes vs in his time we beseche hym Amen ¶ The Contentes of this boke as they folowe in euerye Chapter ☞ The Preface to the Christian reader folio 3 ☞ The. 1. Chapter ☞ What we bee and where we be folio 5 ☞ The. 2 Chapter ☞ Persecucion muste not bee straunge vnto vs. fo 11 ☞ The. 3. Chapter ☞ Trouble can not hurt Gods children folio 19 ☞ The. 4. Chapter ☞ The crosse is commodious and profitable folio 33 ☞ The. 5. Chapter ☞ How the papists holde their 4. speciall articles whyche they so greuously persecute for 60 ☞ The. 6. Chapter ☞ Howe Goddes worde teacheth of the supper wyth confutacion of transubstanciacyon folio 69 ☞ The. 7. Chapter ☞ How Gods worde teacheth of Christs sacrifice with the Romysh blasphemye therin reproued folio 85 ☞ The. 8. Chapter ☞ Of prayinge for the dead the true doctrine folio 90 ☞ The. 9. Chapter ☞ Of prayinge to sayntes 97 ☞ The. 10. Chapter ☞ The Romyshe doctryne of the sacramente confuted more largely folio 102 ☞ The. 11. Chapter ☞ The popyshe doctryne of the sacryfyce in mâ—ssynge confuted folio 111. ☞ The. 12. Chapter ☞ The confutacion of the papystes sacrificing and prayinge for the dead folio 127 ☞ The. 13. Chapter ☞ The refutacion of the heresy of praying to saynctes departed out of thys world fo 139 ☞ The. 14. Chapter ☞ The knettynge vp of the 〈…〉 ter and conclusion or peroracioÌ„wyth prayer for the helpe of god in thys tyme of daungers and diuers teÌ„ptacions folio 149 FINIS 2. Cor. 〈◊〉 Gene. 15 Luke 〈◊〉 â–ª Gene. 19. Apoca. 21. Psal 75. 1. Peter 4 â–ª Iohn 16. Iohn 14. Psal 17. 2. Cor. 4. Apo. 12. Heb. 11. 1. Pet. 2. Hebr. 13. Psal 116 119. Math. 28. Roma 9. 1. Iohn 5. Apoâ—a 13. Luke 6. Eze. 9. Math. 5. Esa 22. 1. Cor. 15. Esai 28. Mal. 3. â—zâ— 8. Pâ—â—â— 73. Luâ—e 4. Dani. 3. Math. 8 Luâ—e 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2 â—xo 23. 〈◊〉 Reg. 22. Roma 〈◊〉 Colossi 3 â–ª Mal. 〈◊〉 Luke 〈◊〉 â–ª Psal 14. 33. 101. Deut. 6. Math. 4. Daniel 3. 〈◊〉 Pet. 2. Psal 120. 〈◊〉 Mac. 2. Math. 7. 〈◊〉 Reg. 22. Phil. 3. Heb. 13. Apoc. 7. Iob. 78. 14. Psal 90. 102. Iacob 4. 〈◊〉 Peter 4. John 14. I. Peter 5. Math. 7. 1. Peter 4. John 9. Math. 25. Gene. 4. 6. 〈◊〉 8. 9. c. Math. 11. Eusebius Eccl. hist Tripart historia 1. Peter 2. Thren 3. Heb. 6. Philip. 3. Roma 8 Psal 44 2. Tim. 2 3. Cor. 2. Gene. 4. Gene. 7. 8. Gene. 12. Exo. 14. 〈◊〉 Re. 16. c 〈◊〉 Reg. 22. Iere. 20 〈◊〉 Cor. 4. Roma 8. Eusebius Eccl. histo Lib. 3. ca. 5 6. 7. 8. 9. 1. Thessa 4. Math 13. Luke 16. Sapi. 3. The tyme of sufferiâ— is but a triffle 1. Cor. 2. Isa 64. Hebru 2 The firste commodite of y e crosse Amos. 3. Thren 3. Math. 10. Sopho. 1. Esa 45. Psal 145. Psal 51. Hebr 12 Gal. 5. Psal 5. Psal 51. Gene. 8. Iere. 17. Eph. 2. 〈◊〉 Reg. 8. Gene. 4â— The second commoditie of the crosse Iacob 1. Note The thirde commoditie of the crosse Roma 1. Mans reason concernyng the affliccioÌ„ of the church Successe The duke of North. The relentyng of many Plages ParliameÌ„t The cause of our persecucyon Apoca. 20. 3. Reg. 20. Causes of victorye Why manirelent and recant The greater sorte Math 7 Math. 27. Iohn 19. Gene. 12. Plages Math. 8. Ephe. 1. The parliament Iohn 7. Iob. 34. The ignoraunce of worldly wysdome Luke 13. 2. Cor. 5. Philip. 1. 2. Thes 1. 2. Pet. 2. Iob. 1. Actes 16. 17. 18. c. Psal 119. The fourth commoditie of the crosse Amos. 3. Thren 3. Esa 45. Soph. 1. Math. 10. The deuyll is gods instrumente Esay 45. Ose 2 1. Reg. 2. Luke 1. Psal 139. 1. Perer. 5. 2. Cor. 1. Presence ProuideÌ„ce Power Heb. 12. Exo. 15. 1. Pet. 4. Iohn 6. Of the sacryfyce Prayer for the dead Prayer to saynctes Titus 〈◊〉 Gene. 17. Math. 26. Mark 14. Luke 22. 1. Cor. 10. 11 Math. 26. Marke 14 Iohn 13. Luke 22 1. Cor. 10. 11 Math. 15. Iohn 6. Eph. 5. Apo. 20. Apo. 17. 18 〈◊〉 Thessa 2. Scotus super 4. seÌ„teÌ„ dist 11. Gabriel super caÌ„ mis Apoca. 13. 1. Timo. 2. Mich. 3. 5. Eccle. 11. Iohn 5. Gal. 6. Col. 3. Rom. 14. 2. Cor. 5. rom 10. 14. 1. Thessa 4 Apoca. 14. 2. Timo. 4. Luke 11. Esa 64. Iacob 1. Psal 50. 1. Timo. 6. Hebru 13. Psal 5. Hebru 2. 4 Heb. 3. 4. 1. Pet. 2. Math. 3. 17. Math. 7. 1. Iohn 5. Iohn 14. Psal 50. Eph. 3. TransubstancyacyoÌ„ is a newe doctryne Iohn 6. Of the priestes in tente Math. 28. Mark 16. Luke 24. Actes 10. Col. 1. 2. 2. Cor. 5. 1. Cor. 1. Roma 1. Gal. 1. 2. Timo. 4. Roma 10. Math. 7. Math. 11. Iohn 16. Roma 5. Heb. 1. Deu. 12. Apo. 22. Psal 50. Esa 65. Math. 5. â—â—e 33. Psal 145. Psal 63. 1. Cor. 1. Roma 10. Deut. 12. Psal 145. Deut. 4. Hebr. 4. Psa 33. 95. 1. Timo. 2. Roma 10. Hiere 17. Math. 3. 17 Luke 18. Iohn 14. 15. 16. Psal 27. Iohn 10. 1. Pet. 5. Actes 2. Deu. 20. Psal 91. Math. 26. Luke 22 2. Peter 2. Heb. 6. 10. Math. 10. Mark 8. Luke 11. Gene. 19. Math. 27. Math. 16.
enemyes we are made frendes surely we beyng frēdes and hauyng hym aboue on the ryghte hande of hys father shal by hym obteyne althynges Where they call it a poynte of a lowly and an humble spirite to goe to saynctes that they maye pray for them you may caselise it is a poynt of an arrogaūt here and a false vntrue sprete For in asmuch as god playnly byddeth the that thou put naught to his worde nor rate aught there frō in that hys worde is thou shalte call vpon him in thy nede why art thou so arrogaūt and proud that y ◠wilt goe to Peter or Paul to praye for thee Where haste thou gods worde Dost y ◠think god is true of hys promes Whithen dost thou not go vnto him Doste y ◠thynke that god at any tyme receaueth thee for thy worthynes On whom be hys eyes but vpon hym that trembleth at hys wordes Blessed are they that be pore in sprite and thynke themselues vnworthy of gods helpe Wherfore hath god sworne that he wil not the death of a syuner but y ◠synners myght be moste certayn of his loue mercy to be muche greater then they be able to conceiue His mercyes are aboue al his workes But thou that rūnest to saincts thynkest that it is not so for els wouldeste thou goe to hym thy selfe that thou seing his so much goodnesse mighteste the more loue him which thou canst not if thou vse other meanes then by Chryst only Where they bryng in the ensaumple of saynctes praying for the people and obteynyng benefytes for them whylest they wer lyuyng here on earth And so gather that muche more they wyll and can doe it nowe for vs in that they be wyth GOD if we wyll pray vnto them very easeli maye we put thys awaye by many reasons Firste that the cases be not like For whan they were alyue they myght know the nede of the people But nowe who can tel whether they knowe any thyng of our calamities and nede Esaye saith Abraham dyd not knowe them that were in hys age Agayne if the people had come to them to haue desired theyr prayers as they would haue taken thys for an admonishment of their dutye to the people So woulde they agayne haue warned the people of their dewtye that wyth them they also would pray vnto God them selfes Wheras there be no such reciprocal and mutuall offices betwene the dead and the lyuyng nowe can not we admonishe them and tell them of oure nedes Or if we shoulde goe aboute it surely we should styl stande in a doubt whether they did perceue vs or no. For if they dyd perceaue the miseries of their brethren surely theyr reste would not bee wythout greate grefe and of thys we are sure that they can tel vs nothyng also Besides this thys their reasoning smelleth as it that wente before of mans reason which is a foole in gods seruice and of a good intent whych is not accordyng to knoweledge We maye not do after that which is good in our own eyes but accordynge to that whych God biddeth vs doe In our eyes it semeth good that as to kynges and great men we vse meanes by men whyche are of their priuy chamber or ner about thē either co come to their spech or to atteyne our sutes so we shoulde doe to Gode by his saynctes But to dreame on thys sorte wyth god to vse sainctes so wer and is vnto fayth very foolyshe For god vseth no such priuie chābers to hide himselfe in He is at hand saith Dauid to al that call vpon hym And Moses said before him god is nere the in all thy praiers No nacion hath their goddes so nye vnto them as our god is to vs in all our prayers He nedeth none to put him in remēberaūce of vs for he hath al thynges opē to his eyes the heigth of y e hilles and the botomes of the depthes are in hys syght Nothynge can hyde it selfe from his knowledg He hath ordayned Christ Iesus alonely to be the meane by whō we shal spede and receaue our requestes which be accordynge to hys will if we open oure purse mouth that he may poure into y ◠same I meane fayth For as a thynge poured vpon a vessel or other thyng y e mouth being closed is spilt lost so if we aske any thing according to gods wil by Christ y e same doth vs no good except the purse mouth of our harte be opened by fayth to receaue it But to make an end S. Paul telleth playnly that wythout fayth prayer is not made Now in that fayth is due onelye to God for cursed is he that hath hys fayth in man saynt or aungel to God onely let vs make oure prayers but by Iesus Chryst and in his name onely For onelye in hym is the father wel pleased This if we do and that often as Chryst wylleth oportet semper orare we must praie alway then shal we vndoubtedly in all thynges be directed by goddes holy sprite whom Chryste hath promysed to be oure doctor teacher and cōforter And therefore nede we not to feare what man or deuill can doe vnto vs eyther by false teachynge or cruell persecucion For oure pastor is such one y ◠none can take his shepe out of his handes To hym be praise for euer Amē The. 14. Chapter ¶ The knittynge vp of the mater and conclusyon or peroracion wyth the autors desier and prayer for the persecuted brethren ANd thus much my good brethren and sisters in oure deare Lorde and sauyoure Iesus Chryste I thoughte good to wryte vnto you for your cōfort in these trouble some daies and for the cōfirmacion of the trueth that ye haue already receaued From the whyche if you for feare of man losse of goods frends or lyfe do swarue or departe you departe and swarue from Chryst and so snarre your selfe in Satans sophistry to your vtter subuersiō Therfore as Peter sayth watche and be sober for as a roaring liō he seketh to deuoure you But be ye strōg in faith that is stagger not wauer not in gods promises and be assured that thei perteine vnto you that god is your God that he is wyth you in trouble wyll delyuer you and gloryfye you But yet see that ye call vpon hym specially that you enter not into temptacion as he taughte his disciples to pray euen at such tyme as he saw Satan desier to sift them as now he hath desired to sift vs. O most deare sauyor preuent hym now as thou didst then with thi praier we besech thee and graunte that our fayth faynte not but strengthen vs to confirme the weake that they deny not thee and thy gospell that they returne not to their vomite and puddle of myer in poperie supersticion As massyng praying to sayntes prayinge for the dead or