all these bokes be so fully agreed by the expositioÌ„s and interpretations of the holy doctours that they make but one boke and one body of scripture and haue in them all but one spirite of lyfe that is to saye the spirite of Christe Jesu Euen as in the body of man there be many partes and many membres yet for as moche as in euery of them is but one lyfe and one soule therfore the body is but one This thynge was figured in a vision shewed vnto the prophet Ezechiell he sawe one roundell and many roundels and eche of them in the myddis of other but in all these roundels was but one spirite of lyfe So euery parte of scripture is lyke a roundel For it hath no corners Trouth is rouÌ„de and hath none angles The psalter of Dauid is a roundell of trouthe and eche of the gospels is a roundell of trouthe The gospelles be in the psalter and the psalter is in the gospelles and the spirite of Christe maketh one roundell of them all The newe testament is a roundell and the olde testament is a roundell and either of them is in the other but there is but one spirite of lyfe in them bothe and so in euery roundell of scripture and this spirite maketh one roundell of all And with these also the expositioÌ„s of the fathers whiche were inspired by the same spirite make one roundell with the same The doctrine of Luther can nat be thus nor yet partiner of this spirite of lyfe bicause it is repugnant and deuyded frome the holle corps of the doctryne of the churche Wherfore we maye necessarily The doctrine of Luther is nat one with the doctrine of Christe conclude that the doctryne of Luther is nat one with the doctryne of Christe nor hath in it the spirite of lyfe For as moche as it is repugnant and contradyctorily dyuerse from the doctryne of the churche Whiche thynge we maye proue by iij. reasons The fyrst is this The doctrine of the churche wherin all the fathers agree is spoken by Christe and inspired by the holy spirite of Christe as it doth appere of the fyrste collection But Christe and his holy spirite can nat teache and inspire two doctrynes the whiche be clene contrary Wherfore the doctryne of Luther is nat the doctrine of Christe and of his most holy spirite Seconde Christe Jesu sayth of hym selfe that he is the veray trouth Ego sum veritas But one trouth can nat be deuided at ones to two contradictories And why If that one of them haue the trouth that other muste nedes want it For one trouth can nat be commune vnto them bothe Thyrde the holy goste is the spirite of lyfe vnto the doctryne of the churche But the sprite of lyfe can nat be deuided but it must go holle As we se that whaÌ„ a mannes arme is cutte from his body the lyfe is nat deuided parte vnto the arme and parte vnto the body but the holle lyfe gothe with the body and the arme hath no parte therof So for bicause that Luther by his intricate expositions maketh one parte of scripture to be repugnaÌ„t agaynst an other as he confesseth hym selfe that he can nat frame his other expositions with the Epistole of saynt James and with the gospell of Luke Therfore it is manifest â–ª that his doctryne is deuided from the holle corps of scripture and is nat one with the doctryne of the churche nor hath nat in it the spirite of lyfe ¶ But nowe by your sufferance I wyll speke a fewe wordes vnto these ê‘sons which be abiured My bretherne ye may perceyue by this that I haue sayd that the sede of the worde of god that is to say the doctrine of Christis churche for these iij. considerations afore rehersed is one And that the doctryne of Luther is by the same iij. considerations nat one Wherfore ye may sufficiently coÌ„clude that the doctryne of Luther is nat the gratious sede of the worde of god nor hath in it the spirite of lyfe but is an euyll sede a sede of corruption a sede of pestilent infection a sede that blyâ—â—deth meÌ„nes hertes a sede that enueougleth their sight a sede that extincteth in them the true faith â–ª a sede that distroyeth their soules finally the veray sede of the deuyll whiche is inspired by the wicked spirites Therfore good bretherne I wold aduise both you euery other true christen maÌ„ to eschew this sede And if it be sowen iÌ„ your hartes to plucke it out by the routis to receyue the gratious sede of the worde of god and fully to assent to the doctrine of Christis churche that the wordes aboue rehersed may be sayde to eche of you Respice fides tua te safuâ—i fecit Open thynâ—ies this is the faithe that may make the safe The thyrde collection THe thyrde thynge to be marked is The good erthe the good erthe by the whiche our sauiour vnderstandeth in this parable one certayne maner of people For he so declareth it hym selfe sayeng Quod autem in terram bonam hi sunt qui corde honesto et bono That is to say this good erthe betokeneth them whiche be of one hart honest good I meane the people of whom we spake in the gospell of the miracle before the multitude I saye whiche had Christe amonge them Soone after that our sauiour had begonne together this people to giders whiche we calle the christen people he sayd vn them that than were present Amen diâ—o â—obis non preteribit generatio â—ec donec â—ec omnia fucta Mat. 24. fuerint I tell you for a certayne this generation shall nat passe vnto than all these thynges that I nowe haue spoken of shal be perfourmed He ment nat here any carnall generation No. for that carnall generation to whom he than spake were deed many huÌ„dred yeres ago And also tho thynges that he than spake of be nat yet perfurmed but shal be perfourmed about th ende of the worlde Wherfore doubtles he ment a spiritual generation that is to say the generation of christeÌ„ people whiche hitherto in dispite of all theyr ennemies haue contynued and shall continue vnto the worldis ende Great malice and persecution hath ben vsed agaynst this generation bothe by the Jewes and by the gentiles by the tyrantes by the philosophers and the heretickes but all they myght nat preuaile agaynst this generatioÌ„ accordyng as our sauiour Christe hath promised Et porte inferi non preuasebunt aduersue â—am And al the Mat. 16. malice of helle shal nat preuayle agaynst this generation nor interrupt it ¶ The wonderfull continuance of this generation was one thyng specially that kepte saynt Augustyne as he reportethe hym selfe and helde hym in the catholicke faith In the boke contra ij thinges did establishe saynt Augustyne iÌ„ the catholyke faith Manichesi he remembreth ij thynges concernyng this matter That one is this Tenet me ab ipsa
many great errours One errour suffiseth to spill and to distroye any mannes faithe but moche rather many great errours and specially suche as here before haue bene condempned by many generall counsayles had in the churche At the whiche counsayles were present great nouÌ„bre of honorable fathers assembled to gether by the holy gost men of singular lernyÌ„g and excellent holynes the whiche was confirmed by many great miracles Wherfore the faithe of the Lutherans and the faith of the churche can nat agree but be clene repugnant one agaynst an other And therfore if they bothe be true faithes than shall there be two faithes the whiche saynt Paule vtterly denyeth sayng Dnus dominus vna Ephe. 4 fides Wherfore also they want this seconde condiction that is to say honestie and beautie of faithe The thyrde condition is bono that meaneth the The thyrd condition towardnes of a good wyll to brynge forthe the frute of good workes For withouten that all fayth is nought as sayth saint James Fides sine operibus Jac. 2. mortua est It suffiseth nat for a christen man to beleue the doctryne of the churche but he muste also worke bringe forthe some encrease of good frute This frute they bryng nat forth as it more playnly shall appere here after Wherfore they want also this condition of the good erthe But what thaÌ„ be they Surely they be the trodde erthe in the high way and the stones and the thornes wherof the gospell here speketh Saynt Peter in his seconde Epistole where he prophiseth of suche heretickes hath â— Peirâ—â— expressedly discribed the Lutherans and telleth iij. conditions of them Wherby they Howe the LutheraÌ„s maye be knowen may be clerery knowen The fyrst is this Qui carnem sequentes in coÌ„cupiscentia polutionis ambulant That is to say they folowe the wayes of theyr flesshe walke in the vnclene disires of the same Thus Luther doth withouteÌ„ doubt and they all whiche be of his secte for he sayth it is necessary for euery man and woman to haue the carnall vse of their body as it is to eate or to drynke But where this carnalite reigneth there the wicked spirites haue full dominatioÌ„ and there they kepe their hauÌ„te and make that soule and herte as coÌ„mune a trodde as is the high way These be the byrdes of the ayre whiche eate vp the sede of the worde of god they leaue nothynge but the veray hulle of that sede the vertue oâ— it they conuey away The fayre speche the eloquece the knowlege of languages these be but the veray hulle of the scriptures This hulle these heretickes haue But the veray pithe and substance of the sede is piked out of theyr hartes by these euyll spirites that kepe them in this carnalite The seconde condition is Dominationem contenmuÌ„t audaces prefracti That is to say they dispise al gouernours and them that be iÌ„ auctorite they be stiffe heedy in their wayes be nat the Lutherans thus who is more styffe yea more furious than Luther is For he dispiseth kynges princes popes bisshoppes and all auctorite both spirituall and temporall And what is this but a veray stonynes indurate of pride and obstynacie The thyrde condition is this Qui gloria precesientes non verentur coÌ„uitus incessere That is to say they drede nat nor be a shamed to skoffe and checke and to rebuke yea to teare scratche and rente the fames and lyues of noble men And this the Lutherans also do and Luther hym selfe principally and thus they shewe them selfe to be very thornes and briers whiche as the gospell sayth doth strangle the good sede Nowe thaÌ„ to you my bretherne whiche be abiured I must direct my speche For as moche as by this collectioÌ„ ye perceyue that the erthe ment in this parable is the true christen people whiche haue Christe amonge them accordyng as the gospel of the miracle telleth and that this people hath continued their succession hitherto fro the see of Peter and that also they haue in them iij. conditions that is to say they be of one harte by true doctryne they be of one honesty by the brightnes of faith And thyrde they be of one good wyll to brynge forthe eÌ„crease of good frute The Lutherans waÌ„t these iij. conditions they be nat of one harte and of one doctryne with this multitude Nor they haue nat one faithe with them And as for any frute they care nat as shal be clerely shewed in the fourthe collection Wherfore they be nat this good erthe but they rather haue the conditions of thornes and stones and of the clonge erthe as it manifestly appereth by the prophecy of saynt Peter as ye haue herde Wherfore it shal be expedient that ye from hensforth fle their company adioyne you with the good erthe with the catholike people and folowe the doctryne of Christis churche that I may repete vnto euery of you the wordis aboue rehersed Respice fides tua te saluum fecit Open thyn eies this thy faith nowe beleuynge as the churche beleueth hath made the safe The fourth collection concernynge the encreace of good frute THe fourthe and the laste thyng to be marked in this parable is the encreace of frute â–ª the whiche in the gospel of Mattheu is tolde more expressely â–ª Aliud quideÌ„ centuplam aliud sexâ—â—â—agecuplum Mat. 1â— aliud trigecupsum In some erthe this sede bryngeth forthe an hundred folde encreace in some sixtyfolde in some thyrtyfolde This diuersite of encreace betokeneth vnto vs diuerse degrees of spiritualnes whiche the sede of the worde of god workethe in our hartes more or lesse accordynge as our hartes better or worse be disposed The hart that is more towardly disposed is made more spiritual and the hart that is lesse towarly is lesse spirituall The same diuersite of frute was signified in the gospell of the myracle For there all that multitude that folowed Christe was nat elyke nygh vnto Christe euery one of them Wherfore tho that were nexte vntyll hym betoken the most perfect tho that were farther of lesse perfecte and tho that were farthest of the leaste perfecte But we shall nowe speke of the diuerse degrees of encrease of frute Conceyue me what I meane Ye se that though the grounde in the feeldes by the dylygence of men be neuer so well broken and seasoned yet if there be no good seede sowen in it it bryngeth nothynge forthe of it selfe but weedes and all his naturall moysture tourneth in to weedes But whan some good sede is caste in to hit than that sede by his naturall vertue and by the influence of the heuens so myghtily draweth that erthely moysture of the grounde and chaungeth it and assembleth it in to his owne substaunce in so moche that in some well prepared erthe there spryngeth nat one weede but all the moysture of the grounde is tourned in to corne In some other be fewer or mo weedes accordyng
¶ A sermon had at Paulis by the coÌ„mandment of the most reuerend father in god my lorde legate and sayd by JohnÌ„ the bysshop of Rochester vpoÌ„ quiÌ„quagesom sonday concernynge certayne heretickes whiche thaÌ„ were abiured for holdynge the heresies of Martyn Luther that famous hereticke and for the kepyng and reteynyng of his bokes agaynst the ordinance of the bulle of pope Leo the tenthe CuÌ„ priuilegio a rege indulto Fyrst here foloweth an Epistole vnto the reder by the same byshop My dere brother or syster in our sauiour Christe Jesu who so euer ye be that shall fortune to rede this queare our lorde for his great mercy graunt you his grace that the redyng therof some what may proffit your soule Fyrst I shall beseche you nat to misconstrue myn enteÌ„t in puttyng forthe this queare to be printed but that ye take it to the best For verily my wyll and mynde is that some frute myght ryse by the same vnto the christeÌ„ people whiche be the spouse of Christe Unto whom though vnworthy I am ordeyned a minister for my lytell porcion My duty is to endeuer me after my poure power to resist these heretickes the whiche seasse nat to subuett the churche of Christe If we shall syt styll and let them in euery place sowe theyr vngratious heresies and euery where distroye the soulis whiche were so derely bought with that moste precious blode of our sauiour Christe Jesu howe terribly shall he lay this vntyll our charge whan we shal be called vntyll a rekenynge for this matter It shal be moche rebukefull and moche worthy punishement if we for our party shall nat gyue diligeÌ„ce for the defence of the true christen people fro these heresies as these heretickes gyue for the corruption of the same specially whan we be certayne that our labour shall nat be vnrewarded as saint Paule dothe promyse sayeng Vnusquisque propriam mercedem accipiet secuÌ„duÌ„ suum laborem Euery 1. CorÌ„ 3. man shall take his owne rewarde accordynge to his labour And so moche the more diligence we muste gyue bicause that the wretched nature of man is more prone to euery thynge that nought is than it is to that whiche is of greatter frute The dry teÌ„der is nat more redy to be kendled with the leaste sparkell of fyre than we be redy to be incensed to all euyll Our hartes by the olde corruption of synne be of that molde that they withouteÌ„ any great diligence of them selfe brynge for the all maner of vices but nothynge that vertuous is withouten a great labour And assuredly these herelies be lyke the stynkynge weedes the whiche iÌ„ euery erthe sprynge by them selfe for as these euyll weedes nede no settynge no sowynge no waterynge no wedynge nor suche other deligence as the good herbes require but sprynge anone withouten all that busines and where they haue enteres ones in any grounde it is veray herde to delyuer that grounde from them euen so it is of these heresies they nede no plantynge they nede no wateryng they nede no lowkyng nor wedyng but rankly sprynge by them selfe of a full lyght occasion Contrary wyse it is of true doctryne of god this is lyke vnto the good herbes whiche wil nat euery where lightly growe but they must be set or sowen in a chosen erthe they must be watred they muste be weded and haue moche attendaunce orels they wyll anone myscary Ye may se this euidently by the begynnyng of Christis churche Our sauiour whan he hym selfe dyd sowe his doctryne he complayned of the vntowardnes of mennes hartes and sayd Sermo meus Jo. â— non capit in vobis This sede of my worde taketh no rote in the erthe of your hartes And vpon a tyme a great nombre of his disciples forsoke hym and cast hym vp For theyr hartes coude nat sauour his doctrine If this doctrine sowen by this most myghty and counnynge sower toke none effecte in these persons hartes ye may se that the erthâ— of our hartes by it selfe can nat receyue this sedâ— â–ª Saint Paule the whiche in lyke maner gaue his diligence to plante and to water this sede yet as moche as he proffitted by his preachynge in one place he lost by his abseÌ„ce in an other place Doth he nat crye out therfore vpon the Galathes bicause that this doctrine whiche he had sowen amonge them sone after his deperture from them dyd wyther in theyr hartes O insensati Galathe quis â—aâ— â— vos fascinauit noÌ„ obedire veritati O ye folishe people who hath thus witched you that ye do nat obey vnto the trouth And euery where the same saint Paule fighteth agaynst the heretickes and is veray solicite and carefull lest the flocke of Christe shal be corrupted by theyr heresies In so moche that he sayth vnto the Corinthies Timeo ne sicut serpeÌ„s â— CorÌ„â—1 Euam seduxit astucia sua ita sensus vestri corrumpantur a simplicitate que est in Christo I drede me lest as the serpent desceyued the fyrste woman Eue by his wylynes so your sences shal be corrupted by these heretickes and so fall froÌ„ the symplicite of faithe whiche ye haue in Christe And therfore a litel after he calleth them Pseudo apostolos oê‘arios subdolos â— CorÌ„ 11. traÌ„sfiguraÌ„tes se iÌ„ apostolos Christi that is to say fals apostles disceytful workers preteÌ„dyng to be the messangers of Christe and be nat in veray dede If ther were suche perill of heretickes in the tyme of saint Paule as it dothe appere in all his epistoles and if the heresies thaÌ„ so lightly toke roote in the hartes of men And if the sede of the doctryne of Christe with suche difficultie did sprynge growe in the hartes of the people whiche were in that maruelous plentuous tyme of all grace What wonder is it that lykewyse nowe in this miserable tyme these heretickes multiply and theyr heresies do sprede Whan hit was prophesied before nat onely by our sauiour Christe but also by saynt Peter in his epistoles and by saynt Paule in his bothe and by saynt Jude that suche heresyes shulde ryse and specially towarde th ende of the worlde Nowe therfore whan so litell diligence is done about the ministryng of this true doctryne it is necessary that all tho that haue charge of the flocke of Christe endeuour them selfe to gaynestande these pernitious heresies Wherin doutles the moost Reuerend father in god my lorde legate hath nowe meritoriously traueiled and so entendeth to perseuer and to continue to the full extirpatioÌ„ of the same For heresy is a perillous wede it is the sede of the deuyll the inspiration of the wicked spirites the corruption of oux hartes the blyndyng of our sight the quenching of our faith the distruction of all good frute and fynally the mourder of our soules And therfore some what to resist this wicked sede by the mocion of dyuerse persoÌ„s I haue put forth this sermon to
sauiour Christe Jesu by their mouthes dyd truly sowe this sede and the holy spirite of god gaue his most gratious influence so plentiously both vnto the fathers and vnto the people that this moost gratious sede toke effecte in bothe theyr hartes By this collection all the heresies of Luther at here the heresyed of Euther fasse ones falle vnto the grounde For if the doctryne of the fathers be true as it must be if our sauiour spake by their mouthes Luthers doctryne whiche is contrary muste nedis be false Now therfore my bretherne ye that be abiured here take hede Sith it is euideÌ„t that our sauiour by the mouthes of the fathers hath sowen this sede of his worde and declared the scriptures of god by the same the spirite of god hath also gyueu his influence vnto this same sede By whom suppose ye that the doctryne of Luther whiche is playne contrary vnto this doctryne and vtterly coÌ„demned by the holy fathers by whom I say suppose ye that this mischeuous sede was sowen By whom els but by the deuyl and inspired by the wicked spirites Therfore if ye loue your owne soules nowe flee this doctryne hens forwarde and ioyne you vnto the doctryne of the churche and beleue as the churche beleueth that I may saye vnto eche of you Rispice fides tua te saluum fecit Open thyne eies for this faithe that nowe thou haste beleleuynge as the churche of Christe beleueth hath sauedthe The seconde collection THe seconde thyng that I The sede sayde was to be marked is the sede of the worde of god whiche here is nat called Semina but SemeÌ„ nat many but one This sede for iii. considerations is but one sede Fyrst for it is fortable and agreable and lyke vnto The sede of the word of god is but one sede for 3 consyderations it selfe in euery parte As whan we se an heape of wheate that is clene and pure wheare without any diuerse medlyng of cockel or of any other noughty and euyll sede though there be many diuerse cornis yet for as moche as they be all of one kynde we say it is al one sede and in lyke maner it is of the worde of god though there be many wordes and many trouthes in it many specialties many parables many similitudes many coÌ„maundemeÌ„tes many consailes many thretes many promises many persuasions yet for as moche as it hath no falsehod nor vntrouth none errour no wicked doctryne medled therwith but is all as ye wolde say of one grayne of one groweth of one countre for all cometh from aboue Est saptentia desursunt descendens a patre luminum as Jacobi â— saint James saith Therfore it is but one worde one sede one doctryne Contrary wyse it is of the doctryne of Luther For it is a medley made of many dyuerse colours of dyuerse patches hath a partye coote Hit is nat one but many doctrines adulterate as saynt Paule saith Adulterantes verbum dei These heretickes adulterate â— Col. â— the worde of god and make a shewe and a face of their heresie outward as though it were the worde of god and hit is nat It is diuerse from the doctrine sede of this worde I say nat but Luther vseth full often the wordes and scriptures of god I shulde say rather abuseth them But he intermedleth with them many great errours many falsehodes many peruerse expositions contrary vnto the true teachyng lefte vnto vs by the holy fathers in tymes paste and contrary to the holle determinatioÌ„ of Christis churche And for bycause that he thus hath intermedled moche euyll sede with the sede of god and interlaced many great heresies Therfore his doctryne is nat one but diuerse and of many kyndes The secoÌ„de coÌ„sideration why the sede of the worde The secoÌ„d consydecation of god is one is for bicause ther is in it no discord no repugnancy no contradiction of one parte of it with another It is lyke of it of a songe where be many syngers that diuersely descant vpon the playne songe but for as moche as they all agre withouten any gerryng withouten any mystunynge they make al but one soÌ„ge one armony In lyke maner it is of the scriptures of god and of the doctryne of the churche There be many singers some synge the playne songe and some synge the descant saynt Mathewe saint Marke saynt Luke saynt Johane saynt Peter saint Paule saint James saint Jude syng the playne songe Than be there a great nombre of the doctours whiche descante vpon this playne songe but for bicause ther is no discorde no repugnancy no contradiction amonge them at the leest in any poynt concernyng the substance of our faithe all their boyces make but one songe one armony The doctryne of Luther can nat be so For he nat onely disagreeth with the fathers but also with hym selfe in places innumerable as they whiche haue writeÌ„ ageynst hym haue euidently proued who that redeth the kynges boke the boke of maister More the bokes of Catharinus the bokes of Empser of Corleus of Eckius and many other he shal clerely se that this is a trouth whiche I nowe saye And nat only this but also god therof highly be thanked they nowe gerre and difagre The heretihes â—isegre amoÌ„ge them selfe amonge them selfe Thre principall capitaynes of them defende iij. playne contrary sentêces and that in that most high worde of Christ concernyng the sacrameÌ„t of the auter I dare nat reherse theyr contrary expositions For as saynt Paule saith Sermo eorum sicut cancer serpit Theyr â— Tim. 2 hersies be perillous For they spredde lyke a canker and as a pestilence they do infecte the herers Neuerthelesse this is a veray trouth that I say vnto you twayne of them that is to say Luther and OecolaÌ„padius fully disagre make playne contradictorie expositions of these same wordes And the thyrde whiche is called Carlstadius holdeth clene contrary to them both Here be worthy maisters for a good christen man to put his soule in their haÌ„des that so repugnantly vary in expouÌ„dyng the scriptures And yet all these iij. be meÌ„ of great name and of high reputacion in lernyng amonge the Lutherians This is the syngular goodnes of god to stricke them with this contradiction repugnancy amoÌ„ge them selfe so that one of them shall nat here another Euen as whaÌ„ the towre of Babylon was enforsed to be buylded all mighty god thus stroke the builders of that towre that one of them dyd nat vnderstaÌ„d another So nowe hath he striken these heretikes whiche enforsed them to buylde a towre agaynst the churche that amonge them selfe they haue clene contrary doctrynes and one of them wyll nat here another The thyrde consideration why the sede of the The thyrd consyderation worde of god is but one is this Though there be many bokes of scripture bothe in the olde testament and in the newe also yet
and of elder yeres what lyfe suppose ye that he lyued in the feruour and heate of his youthâ— â–ª He speketh moche of hypocricy but what hypocricy vsed he all this longe tyme that he was a frere vnder his freers coote If he dyd nat than conteyne What abhominations dyd he vse in the luste of his youthe that nowe in his later dayes may nat lyue chaste O Jesus who may thinke that any gratious and frutfull knowlege of holy scriptures dyd entre and abpde in this mannes breast whan it is writen In masiuosam animam non introihit saptentia nec habitabit Sap. 1. in corpore subdito peccatis We rede of diuerse that for the foule vncleÌ„nes of their bodies lost the singular gyfte of the holy spirite whiche they had got before Wherfore if this man led this abhominable lyfe before and might nat conteyne hym selfe it is certeyne he hath no frutfull knowlege of god nor of his holy scriptures And so this excuse shal be rather his coÌ„dempnation But if they say that he before conteyned Than I say that he shulde so nowe haue done specially being nowe of elder yeres and a religious man and a preacher of the worde of god He shulde haue chastised his body as saint Paule dyd sayeng Ego castigo corpus mefi â— Cor. 9. et in seruituteÌ„ redigo ne quum aliis predicauero ipse reprobus inueniar I chastise my body subdue it leste that whan I shall preache to other I be founde reprouable my selfe Dyd nat saynt Paule suffre many temptations and assaultes and brontes in his flesshe yes doubtles so he sayth hym selfe But by the chastisemeÌ„t of his body and by grace of god he dyd ouercome them And so this maÌ„ shuld haue done he shulde haue chastised his body by fastyng by watche by prayer and so by the helpe of grace haue mortified his carnall desires Thus thaÌ„ ye perceyue I suppose clerely that the doctrine of this most peruersed hereticke hath neither the encrease of the frute after the hiest degree of virginite nor after the meane degree of wydowhed nor after the lowest of matrimony but that the couplyng of hym of his mate to gyders is a veray brothelry a detestable sacrilege before the eies of god of both these parties So that I dare surely say that all the stewes lesse offeÌ„deth the eies of god with their abhominations than doth Luther and his mate with theyr double sacrilege Put nowe vnto this the blasphemes reproches The blasphemes of Luther agaynst almighty god wherby he doth impute vnto god that he shulde be the auctour of synne And that his coÌ„mandementes be impossible to be kepte Agaynst our sauiour Christe denyeng that he by the mouthes of the fathers hath sowen the true â—â—positioÌ„ of the holy scriptures Nor that he so was assistent with his churche accordynge to his promyse Agaynst the holy goste that he shulde 〈◊〉 sufficieÌ„tly instructe by the same fathers the christen people in euery trouth perteynyÌ„g vnto the faith of Christe Agaynst the blessed mother of Christe that ther shuld be no differeÌ„ce betwene her other womeÌ„ but that she was as synful as other be Agaynst the holy crosse that he wolde breÌ„ne as many peates therof as he might gette AgayÌ„st the blessed sayntes that their prayers helpe vs nat and that they shuld nat be honored vpoÌ„ vs. AgayÌ„st certeynÌ„ bokes of scripture namely the gospel of Luke and the Epistole of saint James Agaynst the other scriptures who shall nombre the false coÌ„structioÌ„s the wroÌ„ge intpretatioÌ„s the mischeuous errours wher by he hath corrupted the holy scriptures of god Agaynst the sacrameÌ„tes of Christis churche all saue twayne that is the sacrameÌ„t of the altar baptyme And agaynst the holy canon of the masse Agaynst the doctryne of the holy fathers whose holynes was coÌ„firmed by many miracles he clerely dispiseth bothe them and theyr miracles Agaynst religion who shall reken howe many religious ê‘sones bothe men and women whiche before were in the high way of saluation that nowe by his pestilent doctryne be become apostatas and haue forsaken theyr ordre and be retourned vnto the carnall wayes of the worlde to their perill and euerlastyng damnation Agaynst all them that be in souerayntie as well teÌ„porall as spiritual coÌ„trary to the playne doctrine of holy scriptures Agaynst hym selfe and his herers and folowers intrikyÌ„ge snarlyng bothe hym and them in so pestilent errours and heresies to the high displeasure of god that he hath suffred them to tomble in mentem improbam that is to say into a peruersed iudgemeÌ„t approuyng this wretched carnalitie wherin they nowe lyue Agaynst his owne countrey gyuyng occasion by his moste mischeuous doctryne to the subuersioÌ„ of that contrey whiche was the floure of the empire by insurrections amonge them selfe wherby many pyles many castels many great holdes many stronge fortresses haue bene ouerthrowen and cast vnto the grounde many teÌ„ples many famous monasteries many noble houses of religioÌ„ haue bene clerely destroyed and suche a murdre of meÌ„ as in our dayes hath nat ben herde of in so shorte a tyme Doutles it is the hande and stroke of god vpon them for the fauoryng subportyÌ„g of his most mischeuous doctrines Suche a murdre of men as credebly and faithfully is reported aboue an C. thousande This is the frute whiche is spronge of this moste wicked sede The sede of god in the good hartes of true christen people worketh great encreace of gratious frute CoÌ„trary wyse the sede of the deuyll in the hartes of the Lutherans worketh all mischefe corruptioÌ„ I shall conclude as I verily thynke I beleue that onles Satanas were let lose out of hell as in the Apocalypsis it is promised that he shulde beleued towarde the ende of the worlde so great a mischefe by one man withouten his counsaile cou 〈…〉 haue bene wrought ¶ Nowe my bretherne I wolde auise you so loke well vpon this matter and nat so lightly to caste your soulis away by beleuyÌ„g this doctrine of this most pernitious hereticke whiche bryngeth forth none eÌ„crease of frute after any of these uâ— degrees aboue rehersed but moche habundance of pestâ—â—â— and stynkyng weedes of carnall corruptioÌ„ of horrible blasphemes of detestable murders Folowe rather the doctrine of the churche by the whiche in the hartes of the true christeÌ„ people springeth aryseth and encreaseth all these iii. degrees pleÌ„teously so that by this doctryne ye may also be restored to the clerenes of your sight as was the blyÌ„d man vpon whom our sauiour shewed that great miracle afore tolde And nowe hens forwarde as that man dyd folowe ye Christ in the right way For it is sayd there of hym Confestum vidit et sequebatur eum He forthe with had his sight and folowed Christe Do ye in like wyse and beware that ye retourne nat in to your olde errours agayne nor that ye loke nat backe vnto these heresies nor stoppe in the way by any wauering of your faith but go forthe right in meritorious workes wherin the churche walketh whiche hath with them the continuall presence of Christe and of his most holy spirite that one to sowe this gratious doctrine that other to gyue his influence with the same vnto the herers And doubt nat but this waye shall finally brynge you vnto the glorious contrey of heuen where ye shal haue the presence of almighty god with endlesse ioye and blisse to the whiche he brynge vs all Qui cum patre et spiritu sancto viuâ—â— et regnat deus Amen Imprinted at London in fletestrete in the house of Thomas Berthelet nere to the Cundite at the signe of Lucrece ¶ Cum priuilegio a rege indulto