depryue any man the comunioÌ„ of the faythfull or lawefully denounce hym for suche one excepte fyrst it be ê‘feytly knoweÌ„ by testymonye of scrypture that he be depryuyd it of the lorde ⧠⧠♣ Euery churche of the faythfull and who so euer berythe rule as kynges prynces and offycers where as cause is may ye they ought do depÌ„ue theyr subiectes the outwarde company of the faythful that is they shall nat dwell with them or otherwyse kepe coÌ„pany ☞ The cause for the whiche many be depriued this outwarde comunyon is by adultery horehuÌ„tyng thefte vsure cursyng couytousenes cruelnes excesse and druÌ„kenes to be reproche to the churche of god 1. Corin. 5. and to be apostata from Christe is to speke agaynste the doctryne of mekenes and nat to sufre it As is euydent the seconde canonicall epystle of Iohan. ¶ No congregacyon of the faythful may lawfully other dreade or receyue the abhomynable costomes interditementes or decrees of the kyngedome of the pope for truely they can hurte them that beleue no maner wayes ☞ In case any man for thynges that agre with the worde of god or bicause he is rulyd by the worde be excomunicate cursyd or enterdyted of the pope or his it is turned to him iÌ„to the most precyouse and amyable blessynge for when they curse god blessythe Psal 108. and to those that loue god all thinges be wroght in goodnes Ro. 8. ¶ Of true goodworkes and the lawe of grace and the gospell and vertues of the faythfull Capi. 4. ALl though we be iustyfied alonly by fayth yet workes be necessarye ♣ Faythe is neuer with out true goodworkes for he hathe his effycacytie by loue ⧠⧠Trewe good workes be whatsoeuer is of faythe ye to eate to drynke to slepe so there be no excesse ⧠♣ what thynges that be nat prohibite by goddê worde may be done in fayth other may nat ☞ ♣ ☜ ☞ what so euer is nat of faithe is wicked though it apere outwardly good / iuste and holy Roma 4. ☞ Faythfull to do well haue no nede of decrees and tradycyons of men ⧠These be doctryne lawes and tradycyons of men that do nat consent with the scriptures of god or els they parteyne to them for the doctryne of man is lyeng bycause man is alyer Psalm 115. trewely the worde of the lorde is verytye Psalme 118. ♣ The lawe of god is suffycyent for faythfull whiche is the lawe of the spirite wrytten in theyr hertes Eisai 51. and Hiere 31. whose scriptures be the most suryst wytnes of the lorde Psal 18. 118. and the spirite dothe wryte in them the gospell of pease and euerlastynge healthe whiche is no other thynge but a surenes of the grace of god and remyssyon of syn by fayth in Christe and his truthe whiche whosoeuer preachythe purely is an euangelyst For the gospell is a gladde and good tydynges ☞ ⧠♣ ¶ For that same spirite dothe teache them all truthe Iohan. 16. and is gouerner of them in euery thynge ⧠♣ It is heresye to say that scriptures of god be superfluous for they be necessarye that hyely that we maye be sure if those thyngê that be in our hertes be of god or no for by what reasoÌ„ as I haue sayde shulde we be more sure theÌ„ of the scriptures of god whiche be his testymonyes ⧠⧠☞ And althoughe we had nede of the same scriptures for witnese of truthe yet for all that euery sermon of the worde of god and all scripture is vnprofytable and in vayne excepte it be wryten in our hertes of the holy spirite whiche scripture of the spirite is the quicke voyce of god ☞ ♣ ☜ ⧠wherfore it is heresye to affyrme that there is any other quycke voyce of god necessary besydes thys and to suppresse his meruelouse testimonies Psalm 118. as many false prophetes do nowe adayes ⧠⧠⧠⧠⧠Therfore the testymonyes of god muste be preached and it is necessarye to be conuersant in them with all dylygence which who so euer dothe truly is verely blessid Psalm 1. and .118 but the fruyte of that preachyng and conuersacyon muste be lokyd for of the holy ghoste ☞ ⧠♣ ⧠☜ ☞ The pryncypall vse of those scriptures of god is that we maye serche in them the testymonyes of his godly wyll ☞ ⧠⧠☜ ☞ ⧠Verely the frute of them is that we beleuyng may be iustyfyed that is we may gette the grace of god and remyssyon of synnes ☞ ⧠♣ ♣ The grace of god is nat that qualyty that Sophesters call Habitus but the fauour and beneuolence of god hauynge vs free when we beleue hym and he hathe his grace that is kynde to hym ☞ ⧠♣ ⧠☜ ☞ Alonly by the merit of Christe we beleuyng in him and nothyng doutiÌ„g of his wordes we gette this grace for then we do receyue hys plentifulnes Iohan the fyrste chapitre ⧠Faythful receiued in to the grace of god by Christe haue togither by hiÌ„ that iustyce whiche hathe in it all parfytnes Of the whiche is spokeÌ„ Psal 71. Iustyce and aboundance of pease shal spryng in his dayes And Psalm 84. mercy and veritie haue mette him pease iustyce haue kyssed hym and also of this is spokeÌ„ Eisaie 53. in his science he beyng iuste shall iustify my seruantes very many ☞ ⧠⧠☜ ♣ Bycause therfore that faythefull haue all thynges in Christe it is superfluous curious and also dampnable to scarche so many partes kyndes and offyces of vertues as false Deuynes do for they that intende suche thyng be but curyouse for they put so many pertykeles that it is vnpossyble to remembre all as you may perceyue manyfestly iÌ„ the SuÌ„leles of Thomas ⧠Rede what god dothe coÌ„maunde and be ofte couersant in his scriptures and thou shalte be full of vertues all thoughe thou neuer knowe soo many names partê and offices as they putte ¶ Of the presthode of the faythefull and trewe mynysters of the churche that is byshopes and deacoÌ„s The fyfte Chapitre The fyfte Chapter BY the presthode of christ and mynysters of hys churche the preesthode of Aaron ministeryes of hys deacons be abrogat and put downe ♣ Chryste alone is the bye byshope and preste of the church Psalmo 109. Hebre. 5. and. 9. full of grace and truthe ♣ As many as beleue in hym be made pertakers of hys plentyfulnes Io. 1. and of hys oyntment that is of the holy goost Psalmo 44. O god the sone thy god the father hath oynted the with oyle of gladnes the spyryte makynge glade aboue thy felowes that is other faythful whiche be pertakers of thy plentyfulnes ♣ All faythful of both kyndes be consecrate into prestes by hym as Peter wryteth to all faythful 1. Pet. 2. you are a chosen generacyon a ryall presthode Apocalip 5. thou haste made vs kynges and prestes to our god and we shal reygne apon the erthe ♣ I do not call them seny ours by the greke worde Presbitri but
wyse to be made in a tonge vnknowen to the penitente ⧠✚ ♣ ⧠☞ For it is necessary that he vnderstande the worde wherby hys soule is to be comfortyd in the lorde to whom he muste nedes beleue ¶ Of sygnes of grace and remyssoyn of synnes ⧠BAptysme is to the faythefull as loÌ„ge as he lyueth the most surist sygne of grace and remyssyon of siÌ„nes for in al his lyfe he asking that is moste assurid by that signe all though it be receiuyd but ones ⧠For what so euer the faythful takyth as mortyfyeng crusyfyeng quotidiane spoylyng of the olde man be fyguryd in the plongynge out and in the water with the iudgement of the newe man Roma 6. ♣ Another sygne there is the table of the lorde which is to euery maÌ„ receyuyng it in fayth the moste suryst signe of grace and remyssyon of synnes ♣ Thys table is a memory of a sacryfyse ones offerid in the crosse and nat the sacryfyse ¶ For to affyrme that it is a sacryfise and that it shulde be sacryfyed of any man it is execrable wicked and abhomynable byfore the lorde and more of this in another place ♣ The thyrde sygne is the worde spoken of the churche or of any faythful sygnifieng grace and remyssyon of sinnes to be gyuen by him that amendith and asketh it in faythe ⧠These sygnes be the vesselles of grace as manye haue defynyd in the spirite of errour ☞ But sygnes do not brynge grace but the lorde Psalmo 83. It is not gyueÌ„ by signes but by fayth ¶ By fayth we be pertakers of al the gyftes of the holye goste ♣ Also these sygnes without faythe / be nothynge / whiche scolers saye of fayned thynges ☞ ⧠☞ ⧠¶ Paule saythe Ephe. 5. Chryst hath santyfyed his churche made it clene with the lauer of water by his worde verelye it is clensyd with the worde when it beleueth it of the which clensynge the lauer of water is a sygne he sayd not symply it is made clene with the lauer of water but put to by the worde that you maye knowe the makyng clene to be sygnifyed by the lauer ¶ whiche thou haste openly 1. Pe. 3. baptyme hath made vs safe not by the which fylth of the fleshe is put away / but it maketh that a good conscyence answeryth well to god by the resurrectyon of Iesus Chryste ♣ Althoughe that we get by the same alonlye faythe in Chryste grace full remyssyon of all our synnes yet god the hyest and greateste of the aboundance of hys goodnes hathe put to these sygnes to the greatter comforte of the faythefull whether any cases may be reseruyd WHat so euer the man of syn the son of perdycyon the pope with all his kyngdome haue reseruyd and kepte cases hath ben a faynynge of the deuyl so moch more hateful dampnable cursyd as it repugnethe euen contrarye to the eternall scryptures of god ♣ Nothynge at all may be reserued to the faythful that hathe all most plentyfully remytted to hym so that there can be no greater ♣ The church caÌ„ nether lose or bynde but after the worde of god by whoÌ„ she muste be gouerned in all thynge Of satysfaccyon and as they call it inioynynge of penaunce BYcause satysfaccyon for synnes dothe shewe a suffycyencye of deades by whoÌ„ euelles be restored which haue chauÌ„syd iÌ„ those synnes there is no maÌ„ that can outher gyue or do suffycient for theÌ„ it is wekyd that sophysters thynke that we can satysfye for them ¶ For nether with fastynge prayer nor almes or any other worke we be able to satysfye bycause these be not satisfaccions but frutes of true fayth for there is another satysfaccyoÌ„ with out all these ♣ There is one alone ful and true satysfaccyon for the synnes of all the world in whom we must nedes beleue made of the lorde Iesus Chryste ¶ Sines be sayde to be redemed with almes yf it be of fayth for they be redemyd of faythe of the gyuer and not for the almes it selfe ♣ The same iudgement is of fastynge and prayer and of al workes of fayth which be good bycause of true fayth ¶ whiche fayth beynge absent be but mere wekydnes and syn for all that is not of fayth is synne Roma 14. ♣ Of iogelyng spirites and doctryne of deuyls dyd it sprynge that many haue affyrmyd penaunce to be inioynyd ☞ For it can not be inioyned of man but gyueÌ„ of god to the siÌ„ner that he may truly be penytent for his synnes ♣ They call it folyshlye penaunce that these chapleyns haue costomyd to inioyne to him that telleth his synnes ☞ For theyr ought nothynge to be inioyned by cause Chryste is full satysfaccyon for all faythfull ⧠The penytent is to be comfortyd with the worde of god and to be monyshyd to true faythe and the workes of it for as it is sayde what so euer is not of faythe is hypocresye and syn ♣ Not that people shulde be losyd or that he cleuynge to this maner of confessyon shulde styke to vs as the prophetes of antychryste inioyne vs but we haue wrytten so of penaunce that al dreames and lyes of men put away and all crafty conueyance and greate burdens of the kyngedome of antychryste reiecte Chryste and the worde of truthe may reygne in euery place ♣ we haue spoken of penauÌ„ce those that perteyne to the scryptures of god in fewe wordes hauynge no regarde what the wyked synagoge of the kyngdome of antychryste in the spirite of errour hath otherwyse dyffyned for it is necessary for vs to flye his poyson for it can not be that we shal gyue place both to Chryst and Antychrist ♣ The conclusyon THe sum of christyanyte we haue breflye wrytten that is in .385 peradoxes or posycyons that thys boke myght be to bere in the handes of theÌ„ that desyreth it there was .ij. thiÌ„ges that mouyd me cheflye to do it fyrste there be very many that put forthe reprouable peradoxes as there was one Tregaryus by whome they be about to make the symple people straunge from the truth the other is that before the .ix. monethe at the noble cetye of Wetens the companye of antychryste was gatheryd agaynst me which mouyd me to styke vp many posytyons verely I put to them a huÌ„dreth and .xxvi. whoÌ„ I haue nowe increasyd to .385 let theÌ„ answere therfore yf they haue any thynge let not these blynde pharesyes stande iÌ„ theyr owne conceyte and legates and tyrantes of the sonne of perdicyon that for hê decre and lyke preachynge dyd make the noble wytnes of Chryste S Iohan castellane somtyme my welbelouyd brother the laste of all that is the 12. daye of the monethe of Ianuarye Anno. 1525. at Vuy a towne of lotherynge with fyer they made hym a martyr of Chryste but for hiÌ„ god shall fyght agaynste them and for one well rayse a thousande and yf they hade slayne me to Chryst hade vouchsafe thys glorye of martyrdome to me for me ten thousaÌ„de shulde ryse for surely antychryste with all hys kyngedome apostata shall falle to the glorye of the lorde Iesus Chryst and that with spirite of hys mouthe which with the father and the holye goste lyueth one god gloryous for euer more So be it WOo woo be to the thou purple whore / whore of Babylon that loueth the sygne of the rose coloryd beaste and to it empyre thou arte made drunke with the blode of prophetes sayntê and dothe call to the shedynge of the blode of the electe as it were to a feast of deÌ„tyes promysinge to thy assystentes grace and remyssyon of synnes with thy false iogelynge woo I saye to the for thou shalte be dystroyd for with the vyolence of a mylstone throwen into the see thou shalte be sende into the botome of hel and thou shalt be founde no more Apoca. 18. bycause the lorde hathe remembred the blode of hys electe whom thou haste slayne and whom thou hast deceyuyd to establyshe thy lyes and abhomynatyons and hathe alwaye trode vnder fode the veryte of our lorde Iesus Chryste for the which thou shalt be troden downe of it for euermore and the beaste that thou haste worshypped shall peryshe with the. So be it ¶ Let thys be done lorde Iesu come quyckly thy enemyes ouercome and reygne in vs. So be it The ende of thys collectyon of places of scrypture ☞ ⧠☜ ⧠⧠♣ ⧠♣ ☞ ☜
and gospellers they be made of Belzebub Sathan that is of nought worse and moste hatefull to god ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ⧠Aboue all the cloystures of the Mynorytes ought to be scolles of the professyon of the gospell for Chryste commaunded to saynt Frauncys that they shulde lyue after the forme of the holy gospel whiche I haue prouyd in the coÌ„mentaries of theyr rule Cap. 1. ✚ Princes and rulers of theyr offyce ought dylygently to watche that the goynge forthe of all cloysters myght be free and by al meanes so to do that they whiche yet tary in cloysters lyue subiecte and be dylygently instructyd with the alonlye worde of god or els what shal these cloysters be but chafe ringe houses and bonde houses of the deuyl these laste 18. posytyons and other belongyng to monastycal secte I haue declaryd in my coÌ„mentarye into the rule of the minorytes more largely whose deutye is to iudge of the voyce of the lernyd / yf he be of god / and by what we be assuryd / also of wekyd vnyuersytes Capi. 12. IT dothe belonge to the church of god / to iudge of the voyce of all that teache / yf it be of god / whiche we haue proued openly in other bokes chefly in the cantykles of Solomon / the voyce of my well beloued cÌ„ Capitu. 2. and. 5. to what the churche of god is is declaryd within ♣ For of the worde of god / they aloÌ„ly can iudge that haue the spirite of christ whose deuty is to iudge of hye thingê 1. Corinthi 2. ☞ ✚ ♣ ⧠☜ ¶ It is heresye to affyrme / that the spirite of Chryste is not in the faythfull for he is in them / and they walke and vnderstande after hym by whome they mortifye the deades of the fleshe and lyue and crye in hym abba Pater and he gyuethe a testymonye to theyr spirite that they be children heyres of god hayres annexyd with chryste he axethe for vs with teres vnable to be spoken of and makyth intercessyoÌ„ for sayntes after god whiche Paule speketh of moste ceposlye Roma 8. ♣ Furthermore it is theÌ„ knowen that any man iudgethe of the spirite when he goeth aboute hys iudgement with open testimonyes of scrypture for the scryptures of god be the moste sureste testimonyes of the iudgementes of hê spirite as I haue sayde verye ofte ✚ whiche scryptures who so euer denyeth to be necessarye can no otherwayes affyrme the surenes of hê saynges bycause those alone be the sure testymonyes of god ☞ ♣ ⧠¶ Therfore they that be of the church of god that is to say symple and meke yee plowe men and artyfycers that syncerely beleue in god and be the shepe of chryst may iudge of the voyce of theyr pastor yf it be in those doctoures or not ☞ ☜ ☞ ♣ ♣ ♣ ✚ Verelye they that be not of that church can not iudge of it but rather abhore and hate it bycause it is aduersarye to theyr sense that is to say the fleshe by whiche they be ruled ♣ For any man to iudge of the worde it helpeth not to haue be many yeres at Parryse or other vnyuersityes or to haue stodyed the tongues excepte the holye gooste be presente ♣ Vnyuersyties that haue be of many yeres stryue clene agaynst the worde of God ☞ ✚ ☜ ⧠♣ ⧠☞ Promotyons of deuynes whiche they hunt for doth engeÌ„dre nothinge but pryde and be full of couetousnes and vanyte and is a certen gentyles maner for what so euer is of goddes worde yf monye be brought quyckely there is a tytle grauntyd and doctoures neuer teachynge and ofte tymes the most foles be promotyd wherfore they be abhomynable to god ⧠¶ And the lorde forbade hê apostles / that they shulde be made maysters Math. 23. no doute but he wolde haue them maysters and teachers of the people .i. that they myght teache hys scriptures but he wolde not that they shulde hunt for the vayne and proude tytles nor wolde not that they shuld teach any thyng but vnder hê seruyce ✚ There is no man almoste that teachethe more vnhappely the scryptures of god then these pompos bugges and ydolles of the worlde ☞ ♣ ⧠♣ Yf any man be worthye the mynysterye of god I wolde counsel that he shulde fyrste be chosen of other deuynes mete that he may be sende to any place and that the companye of the faythefull shulde pray for hym and yf he haue it let hiÌ„ gyue to the nedy and pore people and make them a feast accordynge to the gospell not as they do nowe a dayes to gyue cappes gloues or make greate coste of feastes to ryche men and full belyes that the same day they begyn to professe the gospell they do openlye agaynste the gospell for in truthe all these be abhomynatyon byfore the lorde ¶ Yf al cloystures of the worlde that withiÌ„ or nye to cetyes were as I sayd a lytle before the scoles of the worde of god so that the superstecioÌ„ of clothing were not obseruyd mans tradicions for we caÌ„ not serue both God Baal the worde of god the worde of men ✚ Prynces and rulers yf they wyll iustlye rule let them take hede aboue al thynge that Chryste maye rule his people also let them make scoles in euery place for chyldren and maydes in whoÌ„ they may be wel instructe iÌ„ the worde of god and honeste laboures lerne to dreade loue our lorde Iesu Chryst to whom with the father and the holy goste be honour worshyppe and empyre for euer more .. So be it Of the partes as they cal it of penaunce Cap. 13. THe partes of holy true penaunce is not confessyon coÌ„trytyon satysfaccyon but the actes of a true penytente of faythe without satysfaccyon ¶ whiche be necessarye to helthe but not as sophysters saye ☞ ♣ ⧠True satysfaccyoÌ„ iÌ„ so much as it is iÌ„ the merites of Christe alonly can be no perte of penauÌ„ce nor act of the penyteÌ„t ✚ But it is the hyest rewarde which we that beleue syncerely in chryste haue by hys meryte ⧠♣ ⧠♣ The inseperable seruaunte of true and necessarye penauÌ„ce is pure fayth for these the sauyour ioyned to gether saynge be penytent beleue the gospel ♣ This necessarye fayth is not to beleue this or that promise but so to beleue them all that we doute in no promyse of god no not in the leaste as is that he stedefastlye cleaue to goddes promyse iÌ„ which he hath promysyd to al faithful grace remissioÌ„ of siÌ„nes by christ as ofte as they axe it iÌ„ faythe thê is the gospel to whoÌ„ we must beleue ¶ True penaunce can neuer be wtout true fayth nor sayth is neuer without grace and the spirite of truthe also affectyons and true good workes what true penaunce is PEnaunce that the kyngdome of the pope preacheth teacheth is wykyd cursyd and lyenge to the lorde for it is nothinge lesse then
cÌ„ ⧠☞ That the preceptes of god be inpossible to man this fruyte comyth of it that man knowing it is constreynid to professe that he can do nothyng of hym selfe and to meruell at the depnes of the iudgementes of god ✚ ☞ Of confessyon ☜ THe maner gyuen of scolers for auryculer confessyon is vnprofytable moste vayne inpossyble curyouse and moste dampnable and aduersary to the lawe of god it is so muche lesse that it is of goddê lawe as sophesters lye it is vnprofytable and moste vayne bycause it is without the frute of the spirite lettyng froÌ„ the purenes of faythe inpossible also for innumerable bowes leaues mothers doughters and cyrcumstances which no man althoughe he be lernyd can dilygently obserue muche lesse the vnlernyd It is curiouse also serchynge with a friuolouse care those thynges that be nothyng to the purpose wherby the mynde of him that is confessyd is lette that it can nat ryse with pure faythe in Christe and the same confession is to him moste dampnable for so impure and fylthy thynges be ofte rehersyd in suche confessyons that they corrupte good maners and infecte as well the speker as the herer For what be they but euyll comunicacyon and moste hurtefull iangelyng so muche more horryble that they be admyttyd vnder the colour of mekenes ⧠♣ It is the most coÌ„fussyd maase what so euer the synagoge of the pope hath gyuen of confessyon vnto this daye without the worde of god and of hys owne inuencyon ☞ ♣ ☜ ♣ For by what aucthorite be these iugelars bolde to prescribe to the moste free seruauntes of Christ newe lawes strauÌ„ge froÌ„ the doctryne of mekenes ¶ Trewe and profytable confessyon of siÌ„nes is made foure maner of ways fyrste inwardly to god alone seconde openly when cause requyreth thyrde to him whom thou haste offendyd lest thou defende synne but be reconsylyd to hym in loue of god fourthe to him of whom thou lokyst for the mery worde of the gospell that is the sermon of goddes grace and remyssyon of synnes by Christe and of this laste we speke ⧠✚ ⧠¶ To this thou muste chose a propre confessour whom thou seest able that he can comforte thy spirite with the worde who so euer he be ☞ It is execrable and abhomynable byfore the lorde that a faythfull christyane is bounde to admytte for a confessoure and his pastor marchauntes and rauenynge wolues of the kyngedome of the sonne of perdycyon ☞ Therfore thou comynge to a man myghty in the wysdome and worde of Christe the specyal that same moste hurtfull supputacyon of synnes layde aparte confesse moste purely the to be subiecte to many synnes and therfore to haue nede of the marcye of god ⧠In the begynnyng therfore lette him be the moste meke accuser of hym selfe the seconde let hym beleue stedfastly in the promyse of god that he shall gette the grace of god and remissyon of synnes the thyrde let him beleue that he can haue it nat by hys owne merytê or by the merytes of any saynte ye of the virgyn mary but alonlye by the goodnes and meryttes of Christ for he alone is that lambe that takythe away the siÌ„nes of the worlde the fourthe that by thys fayth he may be made parttaker of this heuenly iusstyce let him ascrybe nothyng to the iustyce of the fleshe but confesse with a pure harte alonly the iustyce of god to be louid serchid for amplectio and hym selfe to haue of hym selfe no iustyce at all and knowledge thys without feyninge the fyfthe lette him seâ—e some faythfull and conynge man that knowythe to gyue counsell of helthe and with the scriptures of god and can make stronge the mynde of the penytent in faythe and if there be nat a man hauyng faythe to do this thynge or he dreadyng him to be vnlawfull or nat hauyng the worde wherby he may comforthe hym in the lorde If there be a faythfull woman in whoÌ„ he knowyth these aforsayde to be to that same faythfull woman ye all though she be ioynyd carnally to hym I saye very nye It is lawfull for him to be coÌ„fessyd generally I say generally that he by no reason count hys synnes lest he infecte the herer for as we haue sayde euyll comunicacyon corruptyth good maners and of a truth that same foule and lycencyouse spekyng of the confessyons of antychristes factyon haue infecte innumerable and haue drawen them to the moste enormouse crymes ♣ Therfore let nothyng be openyd of any man leste that for mannes feynynges doctryne he beseme to dyspyse the thynges of god for god neuer coÌ„mauÌ„dith that what so euer many haue iudgyd in the spirite of errour wonders and many punyshementes be gyuen of certeyne lyers agaynste them that wyll nat nombre all pertyculerly but I haue made open that al these be of the deuyll in the boke of the causes of the blyndenes cÌ„ ⧠The confessyon of synnes that be longeth to outwarde thynges may be on thys maner Brother or syster in Christe I perceyue me ouer throwen with infidelite and innumerable sines the which I coÌ„fesse with all my herte I am very iniuste and full of ifidelite I haue done no good thynge and am an vnprofitable seruande wherof my synnes greatly greue me and I truely knowe that if I couyt to be sauyd I had nede of the mercye of god grace and iustyce therfore I aske of you the worde of the gospell of pease that is to saye remssyyon of my synnes ☞ And let euery faythfull take hede that he say this thyng without any in fidelyte and at the laste lete hym stedfastly beleue that the worde of absolucyon what so euer it be is a sure signe of the grace of god and remyssyon of synnes as he hathe beleued to be giueÌ„ him of the lorde for all the workes of god be in faythe Psalm 32. and euery man taketh so muche as he beleuythe and if he beleue nothyng he receyuith nothynge ☞ ⧠⧠☜ ♣ The forme of absolucyon is free so that it do sygnyfie all synnes to be remyttyd by Christe for this is good I absolue the froÌ„ thy sinnes in the name of the father cÌ„ or alonly in the name of Christ or this I pronounce to the absolucyoÌ„ of all thy siÌ„nes in the name cÌ„ or thus thy synnes are forgyueÌ„ the by Christe or in the name cÌ„ or thus By the name of Christe al thy synnes be forgyuen the. ☞ ⧠♣ ¶ All suche absolucyon is good and to the faythful a sure sygne of grace if he leue out this worde I. It forsyth nat what so euer sophesters dreame ⧠The more pure and symple the absolucyon is the better ☞ All absolucyons of the kyngdome of the pope be wycked patching many thyngê to gyther without frute of the keys of the holy mother the churche of the apostles Peter and Paule of excomunycacyon more and lesse frome pena and culpa ☞ ♣ ⧠⧠An absolucyon ought no
christen brother lent to me as yet bothe yonge in yeres and muche lesse in learnynge haue taken in hande to translate this so precyous a treasure and offer it to your most noble grace rudely sette forth trustynge that youre grace wyll cause the same eloquently and ornatly to be translated by some of your dyscret wyse and well learned clarkes most humbly besechynge your grace in good parte to take this my rude enterpryse pryncypally to confesse the truthe bycause I am very vnmete to do such a thinge and partly for lake of tyme oppressed with pouertye the whiche as the Poete MANTVANE wrytteth is enemy to good maners consequeÌ„tlye my wryttynge is verye course and base as yet ferre from the trade of a wryter the which be the causes of my offerynge to your grace so rude a volume so indygeste a phrase and to be brefe so vnsemely set together wherfore I humbly beseche your grace to take these my fyrste frutê yf they may be called frutes euen as Chryste our mayster hathe accepted the offerynge of the pore woman whose wyll was good Mar. 12 Lu. 21. wheÌ„ she offered al that she hade thoughe it was but lytle And the holy goste preserue our sayde soueraygne Lorde and your most deare husbande your grace the ladye ELEZABETHE Pryncesse Doughter heyre vnto you bothe and gyue to you the lyght of hys mercye to whome with god the Father and the Sonne be honoure and glorye for euer more So be it ✚ The epystell of the auctour ⧠To the noble and moste gentyll lorde lorde SEBASTIAN of MouÌ„t faulcone prynce of Lausanc FRANCIS LAMBERT the vnprofytable seruancte of Iesus Christe grace and peace of god the father and the lorde Iesus Christe ⧠NOt many yeres passyd moste noble prynce whaÌ„ I shulde preache the pure and holsome worde of god at your cytie of Lausane I dyd ê‘ceiue by many argumentes bothe the sobre gentylnes of youre mynde and also the outragyous wyckednes of certayne flaterers and deceiuers For at altymes where as you were present at my sermons you dyd moste purely fauer the worde of god and whan you were constreynyd with vrgent busynes to be absent whiche was ones and eftsones as you haue enformyd me very many were aboute sumwhat busyly to alyenat or make you straunge ye as it were to say enuiously to drawe you frome the worde of god lyke fyrye burnyng knyghtes adfyrmyng that I preachyd heresye But at the laste the myghty verytye hathe so conuycte you that you haue wryten many thynges for me and I gladly coÌ„fesse that for the loue of you I was gentylly enterteynyd with the BerneÌ„ses Ligurynes Basylyanes Friburgyanes Farthermore at my departyng from you you instantly desyryd me very ofte to wryte to you whiche to do I gladly promysed in tyme conuenient wherfore I beseche your hyghnes of pardone bycause I haue nat performyd it to thys daye for it chansyd nother by obliuiousnes or neglygence but very ofte whan I was about to do it I was constreynydly rapte to other maters The laste of al I wolde haue made answere to the hundreth paradoxes or questyones of CONRADVS TREGARIVS the Augustyne frereseÌ„t to you wherin he is very busy not alonly to pull you away frome Christe but also the noble gentyles of Heluetia although he do glory with pretens and zele of the spirite of Christ in the spirite of erroure and blyndnes Veryly he dothe teache nothyng lesse then Christ For he laboryth very sore to vndermyne the vyneyarde of the lorde of companies that is to saye the congregacyon or churche of christen people euyn lyke to a crafty or wyly foxe but this foxe muste be taken I saye thys lytle foxe ye the whiche is without effycacytie or strengthe of the spirite that other he maye be sauyd or els confoundyd put downe accordynge as the spouse commaundyth in the cantykles saing take to vs these foxes these lytle foxê that vndermyne the vyneyardes and the lytle eyes of the vynes which wordes howe they shulde be vnderstaÌ„dyd I haue declaryd in my enarracyon in to the cantycles Farthermore whaÌ„ I was about an answere in to the sayde paradoxes or conclusyons the derely belouyd and trewe teachyd bretheren of god VVLSGANGVS FABRICIVS Capito and MARTINE BVCER two of the byshopes of Argentyne preuentyd me And for that cause I dyd leaue of my purpose and toke on hande the reiteracyon or settyng forthe the comentaryes whiche I had begonne in to certayne of the prophetes with many other thynges for I knowe them to furnyshe that mater more dylygently then shal nede that any man shulde adde any thynge to theyr wrytingê I wolde but alonly monishe you to beware and take hede of suche wolues goyng in shepes clothyng that they do nat in euery place vyolently rapte slee and dystroye I haue also made answere to the epystle that he dyd wryte to you in the begynnyng of his boke deferrynge to wryte to you matters of greater grauytye vnto a tyme more conuenient as well as if I had made answere to the sayde paradoxes or conclusyones Nor you shall nat merueyle that I sayde there be many byshopes of one cytye for verely euery cytie hath so many byshoppes as it hathe true euangelystes or preachers for euery preacher of the truthe I say of the truthe that dothe nat preachelyes decrees inuencions dreames lawes and couÌ„selles of men but the moste pure and symple worde of god is a true byshope although he be nat callyd so of many the churche of god hathe no other byshopes but these therfore there as is no pure minister of the worde of god is no bysshop and without doute we haue ben very longe and manye yeres without byshopes in the moste fearfull iudgement of god for they that haue be callyd byshopes to this day be nothyng lesse than byshopes excepte they wyll be callyd wycked or purse byshopes or byshopes of the kyngdome of antichriste Verely a byshope is callyd by interpretacyoÌ„ an ouersear or watcher and euery man is byshope of the thiÌ„g that he moste entendythe But there is no man so blynde but he perceuyth to what thyngê these byshopes of the kyngdome of perdycyon entende Ye and they glory them selues in lyenge wordes sayeng He that dothe a thiÌ„g by another / aperethe to do it by hym selfe This rule / is execrable / and cursyd byfore the lorde in those thynges that pertaine to the office of a byshop whose hyest pointe is ministery of the alonly worde of god for they may coÌ„mytte to other the ministery of sacramentes bycause they be pryncypally sent to the ministery of the worde As saynte Paule wryteth of hym selfe in the fyrste epystle to the Corinthianes the fyrste chapitre sayeng Christ sent nat me to baptyze but to preache the gospell more ouer these buggyshe bysshopes substitute or haue none vnder theÌ„ that is a pure euangelyst but hyre wretches and moste couytouse marchantes of lukre that seke nothynge lesse then the
of in the boke of the causes of the blyndnes cÌ„ tracta 5. capi 12. ¶ The pope and other with hym that canonyse vsurpe that whiche is ê“pre to the alonly god that is to adscrybe and numbre his electe ¶ To adfyrme that the pope or any other men may canonyse the electe of god it is herysye bycause it dothe dissent from holy scrypture ♣ Alonly the electe whom god hathe adscrybed in the eternitie and numbre of his sayntes be of his churche But vnto they beleue they abyde without the churche ¶ For any man to be of the churche of god kynde condycyon age nacyon coloure of clothyng or deynteousnes or any other outwarde thynge nothiÌ„g profyteth As is playne Galath 3. Coloss 3. but syncere faythfull do admyt no outwarde thynge that dothe nat agre in all thynge with the worde of god ☞ wherof it foloweth that it is heresye to adfyrme that the pope cardynalles byshopes with all his kyngedome be of the churche of god which is meke all pure and holy Forthermore as I haue sayde it is iÌ„uisible .i. it maye nat be knowen surely by outwarde thynges althoughe it haue alway the externe workes of faythe for it dothe althyng of faythe whether it eate / drynke or any other thyng But that it dothe thys of faythe there is none but god and he beynge worker that seeth ¶ They that be of the coÌ„gregacyon / of the wycked / haue ofte workes aperyngly good / very ofte apere to the electe to be more holye for it / verely god knoweth that all theyr workes be euyll bycause they be nat of faythe ¶ Therfore of faythe / and infidelyte / good workes and euyll iuste / and iniuste / do come ¶ who so euer lyueth nat and worketh of this forsayde faythe / is of the company / and synagoge that is spoken of Psalmo 23. I haue hatyd the churche malygnant / and. Apocalip 2. I knowe theyr blasphemyes that saye they be Iues / and be nat / but be the synagoge of satane and agayne capitulo 3. beholde I shall gyue of the synagoge of satane that say they be Iues be nat ¶ Of this kynde / is the hole churche of the pope / it is so muche lesse that it shulde be / of the ympollutyd churche of god ¶ All that be of the synagoge / of the pope wyl be callyd ecclesiastycall / and there is no lye more open theÌ„ this If thou do referre this name to the churche of god / in a respecte they may be alonly callyd ecclesiasty call or spirituall to the churche of the deuyll ¶ Therfore bycause / the kyngedome of the pope / hathe nothyng comen / with the churche of god / as many as perteyne to hym / be the very chyldren of his worlde / veryly all other / if they be noble men or marchaÌ„tes artificers / or husbandemen / so that there be syncere faythe / in whiche they lyue / and worke / and dysseÌ„t from the kyngdome of the pope / be ecclesiastycall / and of the churche of god / to whoÌ„ these scismatikes haue done the most poysened iniury and wronge bycause they haue callyd them seculer and carnal or temporal / and they haue coÌ„maundyd with a hatefull pryde them selues to be callyd ecclesiasticall and spirituall ¶ Verely who so euer is of the churche of god is ecclesiastycall and spirituall / and dothe all thynges of fayth / whiche be spirituall ¶ The sinagoge / of the pope is more aduersary to Christe / then the turke / for the emperoure of trukes sofferyth faythfull that be in his landes / to lyue after the pure worde of god / whom these blynde enemyes of mekenes / dothe nat cease to reclame agaynst in the myddes of theyr blyndnes ¶ wherfore it were better for vs to lyue vnder the empyre of the turke / then the pope truely it is lawfull for faythfull to lyue vnder any prynce / so that Christ his worde be frely sufferid as it was lawful for the Isralites to lyue vnder Nabugodonosor Cyro Daryo Assuero the Romanes the AsseryeÌ„s cÌ„ ♣ From this forsayde synagoge there may none passe to the churche of god excepte he fyrste forsake the pope and his decrees for the pope and Christ be more contrary then fyre and water ☞ He is the very greate and true antechriste and all the tyrannes of hys kyngdome .i. cardinalles and byshopes cÌ„ they that do nat dyssent froÌ„ hym be also antichristes ⧠Euen as it was necessarye to the blessyd angelles to theyr eternal helthe to dyssent from that fyrste angell apostata so to all that couit to be sauid it is necessary to be alyenat from the pope and his kiÌ„gdome orels they shall neuer truely knowe Christe and cleaue to his verytye with full herte wherfore they muste nedes peryshe at the laste ☞ ⧠♣ ⧠☜ ¶ Of the comunyon of sayntes of excomunicacion bulles of the son of perdycyon Capi. 3. The thyrde Chapitre ALl that be of the churche of god haue theyr comunion to gyther of one faythe one spirite one grace truthe iustice pease baptym and of al gyftes of the spirite ☞ Alonly by faythe they that beleue be partakers of all these For all the workes of god be in faythe ⧠♣ Bycause the kyngdome of the pope lyuys nat of faythe it can haue none of these it is so muche lesse that it can gyue them to other ☞ ⧠⧠It is heresye to afyrme that by the cursyd indulgences of the kyngedome of the pope the grace of god or remyssyon of al sines or of the thyrde or forthe or halfe parte or of one only synne is grauntyd ☞ ⧠♣ ☞ And the grace of god whiche is of faythe alonly be pÌ„seÌ„t al synnes be for gyuen nat ymputyd But if it be absent none is forgiuen but al ymputid ⧠Therfore nat one or some parte of syn is remytted but all to gether other remytted or holden For that maÌ„ is blessyd alonly whose iniquityes be forgyuen and coueryd and are nat ymputyd Psalm 31. so that if one syn be retayned yet dothe other remayne hatred and cursydnes ☞ ⧠♣ ♣ Bulles Iubylyes and all pardons of the kyngedome of the pope be no other thynge but dysceytfulnes dyuelysshe iuglyng sure nettes to drawe all the substance of the worlde cursyd marchandyse fedynge of the enemyes of god an abomynable inuencyon turnyng froÌ„ the syncere faythe of Christ alonly profytable to dystroye soules and noryshe satannes synagoge ⧠⧠who so euer dothe truste to these false bulles dothe nat perceyue that they be dystructyon he is blynde and shall neuer obtayne the grace of god by them or remissyon of one syn what so euer he dothe or gyuethe therfore ♣ Alonly god receyueth the electe of faythe to the aforsayde glory and comunyon of sayntes frome the whiche he alone makyth infideles straunge ☞ wherfore no man lyuyng neyther popes nor theyr byshopes nor all angelles and men togyther can
Saserdotes whiche we call prestes for Presbiter is a greke worde and sygnifythe a senyour or elder and is proper to the hye mynysters of the churche as byshoppes or preachers of the worde of god Sacerdos whiche we call a prest is who so euer is sacrated to god by faythe ¶ Euery true senyour .i. euery true mynyster of the worde is a preste but euery preeste is not a senyour or mynyster ♣ The pope with all hys byshoppes and all the worlde together can not make one prest of the churche of god for it is alonely goddes offyce which dothe sanctyfye hys electe in faythe / and dothe cōsecrate them into prestes for hym selfe ¶ Presthode of the kyngdome of the pope was inuented of men / without the testymonye of the worde of god / came forthe by the strenthe and eyde of the deuell ¶ Prestes of that kyngdome can not be prestes of the kyngdome of Chryst except firste they do forsake the presthode of the pope .i. they shal not trust or attrybute any thynge to him / altho for the tyme they admyt many thynges for the infyrmytye of other ¶ In place of mynysters of the lawe as prestes and leuites / there be alonly two kyndes of mynysters vnder the gospell / byshoppes / and deacons ¶ Euery syncere mynyster of godes / worde / is called in scrypture by these names / fyrste an ouerseer Ezechiel 3. secōdly / a prophet 1. Cor. 14. therdly an euaungelyste of the gospell that he preacheth / Eisaie 41. I shall gyue Hyerusalem an euaungelest Ephe. 4. other truly euaungelistes it is sayd 2. Tymo 4. do the worke of an euaungelyst and. Actes 21. entrynge into the house of Phylyp the euaūgelyst therfore / Mathew / Marke / Luke / Iohā be not alonly euaungelystes / but all true preachers of the scryptures of god / fourthely ecclesyastycal .i. apreacher Ecclesia i. the church is a congregacyon therfore he that rulythe hyt with the worde is called a preacher / fyftely a seniour or elder .i. Tymo 5. senyours that gouerne wel be worthy double honour / and also / agaynst the senyour syxthely a byshope that is an ouerseer .i. Tymoth 3. a byshope must be fautles / and to Tytum 1. a byshope must be without blame / and Act. 10. the holy goost hath mayde you byshopes seuenthely an apostle / for apostle is a messenger and sente / and cometh of the greke worde 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that sygnyfyth to sende that is necessarye for the mynysters of goddes worde / to be hys aposteles that is to be sente of hym Rom. 10. howe shuld they preache except they be sente / but some be greate apostles and some lesse 2. cor 11. Also that you may knowe the office of a bishope apostle to be both one / when Peter Actes 1. sayde that some man muste be desyred into thys mynysterye and offyce of an apostle / from which Iudas was exyled he dyd aledge this place of Dauyd and hys byshoppryke another shal possesse ¶ You may gather therfore / because neyther the pope / nor byshoppes / or tyrantes / of his kyngedome haue any of these afore sayde / they be not of the churche of god ouerseers / prophetes euaungelystes / preachers / senyoures / byshoppes / or aposteles / excepte you ioyne thys terme false to euery one of them ¶ Cetyes and townes which haue no pastore / symply preachynge the moste pure worde of god / haue no byshope / senyour / preacher / or euaungelyste / of Iesu Chryste ¶ In many cetyes / all that be of the reprouable synagoge of antychryste / perceyuinge that the immaculate worde of god settes openly forth theyr abhomynacyon / they do so hate them / and dreade leste any true mynyster of the worde shuld be harde of the people / that assone as any commeth / before he can open hys mouthe they go aboute to stope hym / whiche I haue proued my selfe very ofte / specyally in the noble cetye of Wetens in the whiche god hath delyuered me ofte from the handes of antychrystes sekyng my soule ¶ There was in that cety / that tyme a holy byshope of god / nowe a blessed martyr witnes of Christ saynt Iohā castellanc / whome for the testymonye of truthe the apostate kyngedome of the sone of perdycyon vehemently hatynge / when they coulde not hurt him in the cetye / they brought to passe / by treason / that he shuld go forthe of the cetye and he so banyshed they toke hī prysoner by by afore the .9 monthe whome Anthony abbot with a false procter / many false pharysyes were aboute to brynge hym to that passe / that he shulde denye Chryste and hys veryte But the holy champyon of god perseuered immouable / and was neuer ouer come / the lorde confyrminge his breste with hys spirite / then they moued ī theyr reprouable myndes / the last of all that is the .12 day of Ianuarye Anno .1525 at vuy a towne of lotheringe the same Iohan reioysynge and beynge glade in the lorde / not warned before of it / but led to execucyō / when that he wolde not recante into the fauoure of antychryste they made him a gloryous merter of Chryst / with most cruel tormētes of fyre whō they dyd couet to extyncte / they crouned with a incomperable dyedeme of glorye / euen agaynst theyr wylles so that if it were lawefull to call apon sayntes he were to be named no lesse then Peter or Paule other aposteles / but there is one aduocate and our mediator the lorde Iesus Chryste I haue brought thys paradox that we maye gloryfye this saynt Iohan in the lorde and the lorde in hī / and also that hys burners and bochers / may se theyr fautes / and most greuous cryme / and may amende lest they perishe / the lord Iesus Chryst make them of Saules / Paules / that is of the enemyes of Chryste and hys truth / his frendes and of persecuters defenders and his preachers ¶ There is nor cā be no true bishope of the churche of Iesu Chryste / but a pure and euaungelycall preacher / for other proude blowen pompes bugges of the kyngedome of the pope be nothynge lesse then byshoppes In euery cety / towne / village there ought to be many byshoppes .i. euaungelystes or preachers / after the quantyte of places multytude of people ¶ Yf many peryshes be so great / that one byshope is not suffycient for thē / let thē be deuyded / and to euery parte a byshoppe assygned / these two conclusions I haue expounded in my exposycyon of the rule of the Mynorytes Capitulo 15. ¶ It is necessary for bishoppes to be sēt and called of god / and that I haue proued in the same 15. Chapi of the same enarracyō ī the boke of callynge ¶ It is the most greuous cryme / and by no menes to be sufferyd / that many chyldren
it selfe Call them selues Christes seruauntes and loue hys worde yet they denye and treade downe bothe Christe and his worde and receyue for him donge of inuencyons of men and worshyppe for Christe antichriste and his lawes this euery man perceyueth excepte he be blynde as they be O I wolde to God the lorde wolde sende another Iosy as that wolde dystroy all greate buldynges places aulters phaanes secres decrees of antychriste and all that beloÌ„geth to that curfyd worshyp 4. Reg. 23. and. 2. Parali 34. ⧠⧠In what thynges bysshoppes of the churche of God shulde be subiecte to prynces and rulers and of theyr auctoryte and mynystery that is of the worde and sacramentes and of sentwaryes The seuenthe Chapitre ☞ ♣ ♣ ☜ BYshoppes .i. mynysters of the worde / be in all thynge subiecte to prynces and rulers as other cytezyns be excepte in these thynges that belonge to theyr propre offyce For it is necessarye that they be cytezyns whiche we adfyrme of all relygyouse ☞ ✚ ⧠♣ ⧠Byshoppes in mynystery of the worde be subiecte to no man but god alone iudgement of the churche whiche dothe iudge by the worde of god ☞ If lordes probybyte preachyng to byshopes for a day or .ij. they must be obeyd but perpetually obey them nat for god must rather be obeyd theÌ„ man Actes .5 If they coÌ„maunde they shall interprete the worde of god agaynste hys propre nature that is after the wyl of the pope his kyngdome obey them nat but resyste the mater more purely and feruently ☞ ✚ ♣ ⧠¶ And they coÌ„maunde that they shal teache tradycyons and coÌ„mauÌ„dementes of men obey them nat and so of al other of this maner that be agaynste the worde of the lorde ☞ ⧠☞ The greatyst and hyest poynte of theyr offyce is to preache to the people those thynges that the lorde hath spoken so purely so nakydly and so symply as god saythe nother increasynge nor demynyshyng .i. puttyng to nothynge of the inuencyons and dreames of meÌ„ for the people of the faythful shuldbe rulyd by the alonly worde of the lorde ☞ ✚ ☜ ♣ Theyr auctorite is to correcte with the worde of god ye kynges and prynces and rulers and with the church togyther to seperate apostates and slanderers of the worde froÌ„ the comunion of the faythfull and they so amending to receyue them agayne ☞ It is also aparte of theyr offyce chefly in those dayes that the chylde of perdycyon the man of syn is to be publyshed to the electe with the spirite of the mouthe of the lorde .i. with hys worde lest they consentyng to him do peryshe to expouÌ„de to al people with a quicke voyce and wrytyng those places of scrypture perteynynge to that kyngdome euery man as he hathe taken of the lorde let hym be banyshed from the temples of god that is frome the hertes of the faythful and let him neuermore be taken of them for the vycker of god or spouse of the church for if he be to be reuelid with the worde of the lorde it is necessary that it be done fyrste pryncypally by theÌ„ whoÌ„ god hathe made his euangelystes ♣ But I do nat denie this to belonge to all faythefull that haue the worde of god for it is commaundyd to all men of the kyngdome of the pope vnder the similitude of the whore of Babylon mother of al fornycacyon Apocalyp 18. Go from her my people and be nat parttakers of her synnes bycause her synnes haue come to heuyn and the lorde remembrethe her iniquities gyue her as she hathe gyuen to you and double her double workes in the cuppe that she dyd myxe to you myxte to her double as muche as she hathe gloryfyed her selfe in delycates so muche gyue to her tormente mournynge whiche wordes I haue expouÌ„dyd in the preface of myne oracyon in to the rule of the mynorytes ⧠¶ Therfore nother emperoure kyngê nor prynces or any other rulers may lawfully prohybyte that these thyngê shulde nat be done and if they do prohybite they ought nat to be obeyd for God is more than manne â—ormes and rotennes ☞ ⧠♣ ✚ ⧠They may forbyd that any thyng shulde be done without the worde and then they are to be obeyed ⧠♣ ☞ And they may constrayne .i. leste any man robbe or strike the popes chaplens and monkes / or of hys owne brayne plucke downe ydolles for this belongeth to prynces and rulers that haue the sworde that if any thynge muste be done it may be done with holsome counsel and in good tyme by the worde of god ☞ ⧠♣ ⧠☜ ⧠For all that the companye of the faythfull gatheryd and well enformyd in the worde of god may for this matter desyre and that instantly prynces and rulers that all thyng may be done pesably ordinatly and in good season ¶ wherfore messengers that is apostles and byshoppes of god be subiecte alonly to god iÌ„ ministery of the worde we say in mynystery of the worde for as for al outwarde thyngê as to preache in thys place rather then in that place with a surplyce or without in tabernacles of the faythfull and nat in the comen market or in the market and nat in the tabernacles and so of all other outwarde thynges by which theyr mynysterye is nat lette they be subiecte to prynces rulers as other cytyzens be ☞ ⧠♣ ✚ ☜ ♣ For and cause lawfull be they may holsom counsell taken depryue putte them forthe and pryson them cÌ„ ☞ Nat withstandynge the decrees of the sonne of perdicyon whiche vnder payne of cursynge do prohybyte leste any man touche his tyrannes and mynysters of hys clergye for what wyll suche preceptes but to wyll that with out any lette they may waxe wanton stele and go madde Forthermore I haue sayde that god turnythe all the cursyng of this kyngedome of perdycyon to his electe in to a louyng blessynge ☞ ⧠♣ ⧠☜ ⧠Also all sanctuaryes pryuyleges and pardones of that kyngedome be lyes of the deuyll and therfore to be countyd for nought ¶ ✚ ¶ ☞ Therfore bothe byshoppes and al other if they haue offendyd maye be taken from any place ye frome tabernacles and churcheyardes ♣ Townes and places may be ordeyned of prynces and rulers in whome they that flee whiche by chauÌ„ce with out hate or malyce haue shedde blode maye be safe vnto theyr innocencye knowen they maye retourne to theyr owne ⧠♣ ✚ ⧠⧠who so euer with sworde staffe or stone or any other way of hate or lyeng in wayte hathe stryken or slayne any man he ought nat to be suffered safe in any place but alonly he that agaynst his wyl hath done any of these And so the lorde hathe ordeyned cytyes for them that flee Numeri 35. ¶ No byshop hathe aucthoryte vpon hys felowe but to teache hym if he knowe the truthe better for the feynynge of archbyshoppes is nat of the worde of god ⧠Byshoppes haue no nede to be