argument loke ye yet for a nother purgatorye are ye so childish and insensyble to imagine that ye must yet go thorow purgatorye syth ye are all readye wyth out faute in hys syght Thys is a playne case god of hys ryghtwysnes will not punysh a man for nothynge but all that are grounded and stablyshed in y â— fayeth are in hys syght wyth out faute for theyr synnes are not imputed vnto them but forgeuen thorow Chri stes bloude wherfore of necessyte I must conclude that no faythfull shall euer come there 〈◊〉 verye maÌ„ y t departeth this worlde is eyther faythfull or vnfaythfull if he be faythfull then cometh he not there as the foresayde argumeÌ„t proueth And if he be vnfaithfull theÌ„ cometh he neuer in purgatorye but is all readie dampned JoaÌ„ 3. Marce y â— last Now if neyther faithfull nor vnfaythfull entre in to yt then shuld yt be in vayne but there is nothinge made in vayne wherfore I must coÌ„clude that there ys no soch purgatorye Paule saith be the spared not hys awne sonne but delyuered hym for vs all how shall he not wyth hym geue vs all thynges also who shall laye any thynge to y â— charge of goddes chosen Ro 8. Forsouth lorde god oure prelates laye so sore vnto theyr charge that they wolde haue them broyle in purgatorye But lorde be oure protectoure for it is thou that iustefyest vs and hast frelye geuen vs all thinge wyth hym Ro. 8. Paule saieth y â— lawe of y â— sprete wherin is liffe thorow christ Iesu hath deliuered mâ—… from the lawe of sinne deeth Roma 8. Seinge we beso delyuered what nead vs seke a nother dely verauÌ„ce speciallye sith they make it so paynefull Seinge we are on that maner deliuered hâ—…w chauÌ„ceth it that we áre takeÌ„ prisoners agayne vnder sinne that we must be purged a fresh by the fyre of purgatorie I praye god geue vs grace that we maye be purged from thys oure blinde ignoraunce thorow hys sprete of knowlege that we maye perceave how yt ys Iesus Christ that purgeth oure sinnes aÌ„d hath deliuered vs thorow his bloudeshedynge So shulde we geue him y â— prayse whych hath deserved yt And not be so vnkinde vnto him as we now be Paule sayeth that there ys no condemnacyon to them whych are in Chryst Iesu Roma viii But yf wee continue fyrme and stable in Chryst vnto the ende then shall we be saved Mathe. xxiiii what neadeth then purgatorye yee and what shuld purgatorye do Is not Chryst suffycyent Then ys oure fay eth in vayne And yf he be suffycyent then ys gurgatorye in vayne Paule saseth yf you be iustified bi y e law theÌ„ ys Chryst deed in vayne Now yf the lawe beinge good iust and holye Ro. 7. And euen of godden a wne makinge caÌ„ not iustefye vs thinkest thou to be iustefied by fryinge in purgatorye â—…hey that are the chefe patrones and proc toures of purgatorye do fayne it for no nother entente But to purge euell workes and to be as a penauÌ„ce to supplye y e good workes which we lacked beinge in thys worlde But all thys can not bringe vs in to heauen For then were christ deed in vaync And of thys haue we euydent examples Abraham Isaac Iacob Dauid aÌ„d all holye propherâ—…s were excluded from hea uen vntill christ had suffered deeth thys all mâ—… testyfye But yf good workes or penaunce coul de haue brought theÌ„ to heauen they shuld not haue taryed out of it so loÌ„ge Therfore I may conclude that it is but vanite to im agine a pur gatorye for to purge euell workes and supplye good For as I haue shewed y â— holpe not the patriarches Paraduenture thou wilt saye unto me shal I then do no good workes I answere yes Thou wilt aske me wherfore I aÌ„swere thou must do them because god hath coÌ„mauÌ„ded theÌ„ Thou wilt saye for what entent hath he commaunded them I answere because thou arte lyuynge in thys worlde and must nedes haue conuersacyon wyth men therfore hath god appoynted the what thou shalt do to the profytâ—… of they neyghboure aÌ„d taminge of thy flesh As paule testifyeth Eph. 2 we are hys worke made in christ Iesu vnto good workes whych workes god hath prepared that we shulde wal ke in them These workes god wold haue vs do that the vnfaythfull might se the godlye aÌ„d vertuous coÌ„uersasion of his faythfull and the rebye be coÌ„pelled to glorefie oure father which ys in heauen Mat. 5. And so are they both profitable for thy neyghboure and also a testymonie vnto the by the whych men maye knowe y t thou arte the right sonne of thy heuenlie father and a verye chryst vnto the neyghboure and euen as oure heuenlye father gaue hys christ vâ—… to vs not for anye profyte that he shalde haue therbye but onlye for oure profyte lykewyse thou shuldest do al thy good workes not hauin ge respecte what coÌ„modities thou shalt haue of it but euer atteÌ„dinge thorow cheryte the welth and profyt of thy neyghboure Thou wylt yet obiecte theÌ„ se I no greate profite that I shal ha ue by them I answere what woldest thou ha ue Fyrst Christ is geuen the frelie aÌ„d with him hast thou all thynges He is thy wisdome rightwysnes halowinge and redempcyon 1. Cor. 1. by hym arte thou made inherytoure of god aÌ„d felowheyer with christ Roma 8. This is frelie geuen the with Chryst before thou wast borne thorow the favoure and eleccyon of god whych eleccyon was done before the fundacyons of y â— worlde were cast Ephe. 1. Now were thou verye fonde aÌ„d vnkinde if thou thoughtest to put chase by thy workes y â— thinge which is alreadie geuen the. Therfore must thou do thy workes with a single yie hauinge neither respecte vnto the ioyes of heaueÌ„ neither yet to the paynes of hell but onlye do theÌ„ for y â— profyte of thy neygh boure as god coÌ„mauÌ„deth y â— and let hym alone wyth the resydueâ—… â—…o thys well agreeth paule Eph. 2. sayenge by grace are ye made saffe thorow faith aÌ„d that cometh not of youre selues but yt ys the gyfte of god and cometh not of workes lest any man shulde bost hym selfe Loo here sayeth paule playnlye that oure saluacion is the gifte of god 〈◊〉 cometh not of workes yf it come not of wor kes then are we worse then mad to fayne a put gatorye For the chefest operacyon of that shuld be but to supplye the workes whych we haue not accomplyshed beynge in thys bodyeâ—… Paule sayeth Roma xi The remnaunte whych are lefte at thys tyme are thorow the eleccyon of grace If yt be thorow grace then ys yt not by workes for theÌ„ grace were no gra ce Or yf yt be for the workes sake so is yt not of favours and grace accordinge to that whych he wrote before Roma 4. If abraham sayeth paule were iustylyed by his workes then
not beleue that chri stes deâ—…th were sufficient but that he must also go to purgatorye who shuld departe this worlde with a quyet minde The wiseman sayeth The soules of y â— right wise are in y â— hande of god They seamed to dye in the yies of y e folish their ende was thought to be payne and affliccion but they are in peace Sapiencie iij. There is no man but he must nedes graunte me that everye faithfull is right wi se in y â— sight of god as it is wryten Abacuc ij y â— right wiseman lyveth bi his faith And Rom. v. because we are iustifyed by faith we are at peace with god thorow oure lorde Iesus Christ. cÌ„ when these faithfull or rightwyse departe then sayth this texte that they are fooles which thin ke them to be in payne or affliccion for it affermeth that they are in peace Now sith their puâ—… gatorye which they imagyne is payne and afflic cion and yet fayne that the rightwyse onlye shall entre in to it after their deeth theÌ„ are they foles that suppose there is a purgatorye or elâ—… â—…his texte can not be true Hor what entent will god haue vs tourmen ted in purgatorye to make satisfaccion for oure sinnes verelye then is Christ deed in vayne as we haue often proved before But thinke you not reather that oure purgacion shuld be to encrease oure faith or grace or cherite for these thre couer the multitude of sinnes no verelye we can not fayne a purgatorye for any such cau se. For faith springeth by hearinge of the worde Romano 10. but the pope sendeth them no preachers thither ergo their faith can not there be encreased And agayne payne engendreth and kendleth â—…ate agenst god and not loue or charite Furthermore My lorde of Rochestre is compelled to graunte that the soules in purgatorye optayne there neyther more faith nor grace nor cherite then they brought in with them and so can I se no resonable cause why there shuld be a purgatorye Never thelesse Master More sayeth that both their grace aÌ„d cherite is encreased And so maye you perceave that lyes can never agre how wittye so ever they be that fayne and cloke them For in some poyntes they shall be founde contrarye so that at the length they maye be disclosed God is fullye pacefyed with thy will when thou hast no power to accomplish the outwarde facte For the wiseman sayeth proverb xxiij sonne geue me thy harte Now if thy will be vpright and so y â— thou haue a desyre to fulfill the lawe then doth god reken y â— will vnto the for y â— full facte If then thorow the frayltye of thy meÌ„ bres thou falle in to sinne thou mayst well saye with the apostle RomanoruÌ„ vij The good y t I wold do that do I not y t is I haue a will aÌ„d desire to fulfill the lawe of god and not to displease my hevenlye father yet that I do not But the evyll which I hate that do I that is I do coÌ„mitte sinne which in dead I hate Now if I hate the sinne which I do then loue I the lawe of god which forbiddeth sinne and do coÌ„sent vnto this lawe that it is good right wyse holye And so the sinne which I hate and yet coÌ„ mitte it thorow the frayltye of my membres is not iputed nor rekened vnto me for sinne Ney ther will S. Paule graunte that it is I which do that sinne but he sayed I haue a will to do good but I can not performe that will For I do not that good which I wolde but the evyll which I wolde not that do I. Now if I do y t thinge which I wold not do then is it not I y t do it but the sinne that dwelleth with in me I delight in the lawe of god with myne inwarde man that is with my will and mynde which is renued with the sprete of god but I se a nother lawe in my membres which rebelleth ageÌ„st the lawe of my minde and maketh me bonde vn to the lawe of sinne which is in my membres So y t I my silfe in my will and minde do obeye the lawe of god hatinge sinne as the lawe commaundeth me and not consentinge vnto it in my mynde and will but in my â—…iesh and membres I serve the lawe of sinne for the frayltâ—…e of my membres compelleth me to sinne Rom. 7. As by example if I se a poore man which is not of abilite to do me any pleasure and neuerthelesse doth all his diligence to seke my favoure and wolde with harâ—…e and minde geue me some acceptable present if he were of power beinge also sorye that he can not performe his will and minde towardes me Now if there be any poynte of humanite or gentlenesse in me I will counte this man for my frinde and accepte his good will as well as though he had in de ad performed his will For his abilite extendeth no further If his power were better better shulde I haue Even so sith we are not of power and abilite to performe the lawe of god yet beare a good harte towardes god and his lawe lamentinge oure imbecillitye that we can do him no further pleasure theÌ„ will god recoun te vs not as his enemyes but as his deare children and beloved frendes Neyther will he after warde thrust vs in to purgatorye but as a tendre father pardone vs oure trespaces and accep te oure good will for the full dede S. Paule exhorteth vs Gal. vj. that we wor ke well whyle we haue tyme for what so euer a man doth so we that shall hâ—… repe by this maye we evidentlye preceave that he shall not 〈◊〉 accordinge to his doinge or suffringe in a nother worlde and therfore caÌ„ there be no purgatorye The wyseman sayeth Eccle. xiiij worke rightu ousnes before thy deeth for after this liffe there is no meete that is to saye succoure to be founde There are some which will vnderstonde this place and also the texte in the. xlviij argument on this maner that there shulde be no place of deservinge but yet there maye well a be a place of punishment But this solucion besides that it is not groundâ—…d on scripture is verâ—…e 〈◊〉 For I praye you wherfore shuld their inveÌ„ 〈◊〉 of purgatorye serve but to be a place of pur ginge punishment and penaunce by the which the soule shuld make satisfaccion that it might so deserve to entre in to the rest of heaven Blessed are the deed which dye in the lorde from hence forwarde yee trulye saieth the sprete that they may rest from their laboures But their workes folowe with theÌ„ This texte they vse in their soulemasses as though it made for purgatorye But surelye me thinketh that it ma keth moch ageÌ„st them For let vs enquyre of all the 〈◊〉 and fautours of purgatorye whâ—…
sacrify ces can do them no good before they be rysen agayne froÌ„ deeth for els were it not in vayne to praye for theÌ„ although they shuld never ryse agayne As by example if I saye to a maÌ„ that he shall neuer optaine his purposse excepte he shul de sue to y â— kinges grace it is even as moch to saye to a mâ—… y â— hath any witte as he shall neuer optayne hys purposse before he hath sued to y â— kinges highnes Master More goeth a boute to â—…est them out of contenaunce whych saye that the boke of Machabees ys not autentyke because yt ys not receaved in the Canon of the hebrues and sayeth that by thys reason we maye also denye y â— boke of sapience and proue oure selues insipâ—… entâ—…s but 〈◊〉 if he admitte the boke of sapâ—… ence to be true and autentike I feare me it will go nye to proue him an insipient for grauntynge y t there is a purgatorie Reade y â— 45. argument agâ—…st Rastell aÌ„d theÌ„ iudge whether I saie true or not Hetherto haue I let slippe oure shoteanker haue runne y â— sees with him grauÌ„tinge him for hâ—…s pleasure y t thys boke shulde be of as good auctorite as Esai Not that the church or holie doctours or ani wise maÌ„ supposeth it of so good auctorite but onelye to se whate coÌ„clusion myght be brought vppoÌ„ it y t once grauÌ„ted And if any maÌ„ wold require my iudgemeÌ„t as coÌ„cernin ge this boke I wolde shortlye answere that ey ther thys boke is false aÌ„d of no auctoryte or els that Christ and hys apostles all holye doctoures and scolemen therto are false and with out auctoryte For he that admitteth prayers and sacrifyce to be done for the deed yee and also af fermeth that they are holye and holesom forsuch sinnes as are damned by the lawe of god which are in dede verye mortall doth not he a genst the worde of god yee and also agenâ—…t the comen consent of all men But thys boke doth so whych admitteth prayer and sacryfice to be done for the deed that were slaine in the battay le for their offence yee aÌ„d also dampned by the law Deutero 7. Now conclude youre selves what ye thinke of this boke Thus moch hath Master More brought to proue hys purposse out of the old testameÌ„t and I thynke ye se yt suffycyentlye answered And now he entendeth to proue hys purga torye by good and substancy all auctory te in the new testament also FIrst let vs considre saieth Master More the wordes of y â— blessed apostle aÌ„d eâ—…ange gelist S. Ioan. where he sayeth Est peccatuÌ„ ad morteÌ„ noÌ„ dico vt pro eo roget qs There is saith he some synne y t is vnto the deeth I byd not y â— any man shulde praye for y t this synne as y â— in terpreters agre ys vnderstonden of desperacyon and impenitencie as though Sayint Ioan wolde saye that who departe out of thys worlde impenytent or in despayre any prayer after made can never stande hym in stede Then it appareth clerelye that S. Ioan. meaâ—… neth that there are other which dye not in such case for whom he wolde men shulde praye beca use that prayer to such soules maye be profitable But that profyte can no man take beinge in hea â—…en where et nedeth not nor beinge in hell where it boteth not wherefore it appeareth y â— such praier helpeth onlye for purgagorye which thou must therfore nedes graunte excepte thou denye S. Iohan. The texte is writen 1. Ioan. 5. which sayeth there is a sinne vnto the deeth I bid not that any man shal praye for that In this place doth Master More vnderstoÌ„de by this worde deeth temporall deeth and then he taketh his pleasure But we will desyre him to loke ij lynes abo ue and not to snatch one pece of the texte on this facion I wil reherse you the hole texte and then ye shall heare myne answere The texte is this if any man perceave that his brother doth 〈◊〉 a sinne not vnto the deeth let him aske he shall geue him liffe to theÌ„ that sinne not vnto â—…th For there is somme sinne that is vnto dee th I bid not that any man shulde praye for tha 〈◊〉 Now 〈◊〉 myne answere Deeth an liffe 〈◊〉 contrarye and both wordes are in this tex te t 〈◊〉 if you vnderstonde this worde deeth 〈◊〉 emporall deeth theÌ„ must you also vnderstoÌ„ de 〈◊〉 this worde liffe teÌ„porall liffe And so shulâ—… 〈◊〉 prayer restore men agayne vnto tempo rall 〈◊〉 But I ensure you Mastre More taket 〈◊〉 this worde deeth so confusedlye that no 〈◊〉 can tell what he meaneth For in one place he taketh it for temporall deeth sayenge who so 〈◊〉 out of this worlde impeniteÌ„t cÌ„ and 〈◊〉 a nother place he is compelled to take it for therlastinge deeth Therfore will I shewe you y â— very vnderstondinge of y â— texte And better in â—…erpreters desyre I none then Christ him sâ—…lfe which sayed vnto the pharisees everye blasphe mye shall be forgeuen but the blasphemye ageÌ„st the holye gost which S. Ihoan calleth a sinne vnto the deeth shall never be forgeven but is â—…iltye vnto everlastinge dampnacion Mar. iij. â—…hat sinne or blasphemye is this â—…erelye y â— declareth S. Marc. sayenge Thâ—…y sayed that he had an vnclene sprete that was the sinne vn to deeth everlastinge that was the sinne that shulde never be forgeven He proved so evident lye vnto them that his miracles were done with the sprete of god that they coulde not denye it â—…nd yet of an harde and obstinate harte even knowinge the contrarye they sayed that he had 〈◊〉 devell with in him These pharisees died not forth with but lâ—… ved paraduenture manye yesâ—…es after Notwithstondinge if all the apostles had prayed for these 〈◊〉 whyles they were yet ly vinge for all that their sinne shulde never haue bene forgeuen them And truth it is that after they died in impenitencye and dispetaâ—…on which was the frute of that sinne but not the sinne it silfe Now se ye the meaninge of this texte and what the sinne vnto deeth or agenst the holye â—…ost is If any man perceave his brother â—…o sinne a sinne not vnto deeth that is not agenâ—… y t holye gost let him aske and he shall geve him lif fe that is let him praye vnto god for his brother and his sinne shalbe forgeuen him But if hâ—… se his brother sinne a sinne vnto deeth y â— is ageÌ„st the holye gost let him never praye for him for it â—…oteth not And so is not the texte vnderstonde of prayer after this liffe as Master More imageneth but even of prayer for oure brother which is ly vinge with vs. Notwithstondinge this sinne is not lighlye knoune excepte y â— persone knowlege it him silfe or els the 〈◊〉 of god open it vnto vs. Ther
euerlastinge daÌ„pna nacioÌ„ as youre a wne reason proueth theÌ„ shal there be no purgatorie to purge and punish theÌ„ Besides y â— if there were a purgatorie at y â— time yet coulde they not be cast in to it for all shal be done i y â— twiclige of an yie i. Cor. xv thei be ca ught vp to mete y â— lord 1. thess 4. Is not god as â—…ust then as he was before wil he not haue sin as well then as before Now se you no euasyoâ—… for all youre sotle imaginatioÌ„s for they are not pure and with out spotte as you saye excepte they make satisfaccyon them selues vnto god But they must be wyth out spotte or wryncle that shall entrâ—… in to heaueÌ„ as Rastell him selfe doth proue in the. ix chaptre of his thirde dyaloge How be it I regarde not his testimonye but the scrypture affermeth that to be true Ephe. 〈◊〉 5. Now syth they must be pure â—…uen with out spotte or wrincle that shall entre in to heaueÌ„ and these persones are yet spotted with sinne and haue neyther place nor space to purge them in you must nedes conclude whether you wyll or not that they must all be dampned and yet you thinke that vnresonable to Se whether youre argumentes of naturall reason bringe you But what sayeth the scrypture verelye paule i. thessa 4. espyed a nother waye for he sayeth so shall we euer be wyth the lorde and not dampned Of this â—…aye we undentlye conclude that some shalbe saued although they be sinners and neuer come in purgatorye there taketh Rastell a falle and all hys fautours and sith god is as iust and mercyfull now as he shalbe theÌ„ whye shall we go more in to purgatorie theÌ„ they but marke I praye you how properlye that substancyall reason wherwith they go aboute to stablish purgatorye concludeth which condempneth in to hell so many thousandes yee and euen them whom paule af firmeth to be saued And yet at the begynninge it semed verye resonable Now haue I proued you sufficientlye that this their reason can proue no purgatorye for as I saiâ—…d there shall sinuers entre in to heauen and neuer come in purgatorie Here paraduenâ—…ure you be desirous to know how goddes iusti ce is pacefyed For all synne by y â— iustyce of god must nedes be punyshed Now can the worlde espye no punishment here therfore they thought it necessarie to imagine a purgatorie to pur ge aÌ„d punish sinne Here answere I with paule â—…hrist the sonne of god beinge the bryghtnes of his glorie and verye image of hys substaunce bearinge vp all thinges with y â— worde of hys power hath in his awne person purged our sin nes and is sette on the right hande of god Beholde the true purgatorye and consuminge fire which hath fullye burnt vp and consumed ourâ—… synnes and hath for euer pacefyed the fathers wrath towardes vs. Marke how he saieth that Christ in his awne person hath purged oure sin nes If thou yet seke another purgacyon then arte thou iniuryous vnto y â— bloud of christ For if thou thought hys bloude sufficient then wol dest thou seke no nother purgatorye but geue him all the thankes and all the prayse of thy ho le helth aÌ„d saluacion aÌ„d reioyce hole in y â— lorde Paule writeth ephe 5. on thys maner Christ loued the congregacion And what did he for it sent he it in to purgatorie there to be clensed Naye verelye but gaue hym selfe for yt that he might sanctefye it and clense it in y â— fontayne of water thorow y â— worde to make it vnto hym selfe a glorious congregacion with out spott or wrincle or any such thinge but y t it shuld be ho lie with out blame Now if Christ by these me anes haue sanctefyed it made it with out spot te wrincle blame theÌ„ were it ageÌ„st all right to cast yt in to purgatorie wherfore I must nedes conclude y t eyther paule sayeth not true whych affermeth y â— christ hath so purged hys coÌ„gregâ—… cion or els y t Christ is vnrightwyse if he cast theÌ„ in to purgatorye which are with out spotte wrincle and blame in hys syght Chryst chose vs in hym before y â— beginninge of the worlde that we might be holye and with out spotte in his sight Ephe. i. If thorow hys chosinge and elecâ—…yon we be with out spotte in his sight Alas what blinde vnthankefulnes is that to suppose that he will yet haue vs tourmeÌ„ted in purgatorye Paraduenture euerye man perceauâ—…th not what this meaneth y t we are ryghtwyse in hys sight sâ—…inge y t euerye man is a sinner i. IohaÌ„ i. Therfore I wyll bryflye declare the meaninge of the apostle Thys is fiâ—…st a clere case that the re lyueth no man vppon y â— erth with out sinne Notwithstondinge all they that were chosen in Christ before the fundacions of the worlde we re layed are with out spotte of sinne in y e sight of god Eph. i. So that they are both synners and ryghtuous If we consydre the ymperfeccy on of oure fayth and cheryte If we consydre the conflycte of the flesh and the sprete gala 5. If we consydre oure rebellyous meÌ„bres whych are solde vnder synne Romanos 7. then are we greuous synners And coÌ„trarye wyse yf we beleue that of mercyable favoure god gaue hys most deare sonne to redeme vs from oure synne If we beleue that he imputeth not oure sin nes vnto vs but that hys wrath is pacefyed in christ aÌ„d hys bloude If we beleue y t he hath fre lye geueÌ„ vs his christ with him all thinges so y t we be destitute in no gifte Ro. 8. then are we rightwise in his sight oure coÌ„science at peace with god not thorow oure selues but thorow oure lorde Jesu christ Ro. 5. So maist thou per ceaue that thou arte a sinner in the silfe and yet arte thou rightwise in christ for thorow him is not thi sinne imputed nor rekened vnto y e. And so are they to whom god imputeth not their sin nes blessed rightwise with out spotte wrincle or blame Roma 4. psalm 31. And therfore will he neuer thrust them in to purgatorye Paule sayeth there is no 〈◊〉 for all haue sinned and lacke the glorie which before god is alowed but thei are â—…ustified freâ—…e bi his gra te thorow the redempeyon that is in christ Jeâ—…u Roma iii. what saye you now shall they yet go in to purgatorie Lalle ye that iustifi cacyon trelye by hys grace to lye in the paynes of purgatorye Suerlye that were a new kinde of spe ach which I thinke paule neuer vndâ—…rstode Paraduenture some man will thinke myne argumentes to be of small pith and to dissolue them by a dystinctyon sayenge it is truth that god hath so purged and clensed vs from all ou re