bothe Christ his apostles bidde vs take hede in so many places of the holy scripturs Agaynst these ought all men to fighte that tender y â— glory of God To confounde these Antichristes ought we to sell walet scrippe cote with all that euer we haue and to bye vs a swerde I meane y â— swerde of the spirit which is the worde of God And to this ende that I maye prouoke other valeauntly and boldely to fighte agaynste these aforesayde Antichristes I according to the talent geuen me haue taken vpoÌ„ me to wrastle with those wicked Papistes which beleue teach that God alone doeth not forgeue synne but man also with y â— same power like authoritie Whiche thinge I take in haÌ„de the more gladly because I se y â— thys kynde of doctrine is a great defacing of Gods glory and that it throweth many into great dauÌ„ger forasmuche as they looke for that at the hand of man whiche onely is the gift of God yea it encourageth not a fewe to lyue dissolutely and without the feare of God seyng they are perswaded that if the Prieste layeth his hande ones vpon their head and saye Ego absoluo te they are quyte delyuered of their synneful burden and though they returne streyght waies vnto their filthy vomyte what skylleth it Ego aâ—soluo te will dispatche all togyther If any man sitteth in the temple of God bosting him self as God surely they do it which take vpon theÌ„ the office of God that is to remitte and forgeue synne But they shall be slayne with the breath of the Lordes mouth The order which I wil obserue in the treatise folowing is this Fyrst I wil proue with manifest scriptures that God alone forgeueth sinne SecoÌ„dli that the Priest is but a minister appoynted of God to declare fre remission of synnes to the truly penitent to declare I say and not to forgeue Thirdly I will aunswer to the obiections of the aduersaries and vtterly wype them awaye restorynge the scriptures to their natiue sense At the laste leste I should seme to despyse the true Christen absolucion of a faythfull Minister the vse of y â— keyes whiche consisteth in preaching I will expresse my mynde concerninge them also so that to any indifferent person I doubt not but that my iudgemeÌ„t shal appeare godly and confirmabâ—e to the true vayn of the holy scriptures Thys littel treatyse mooste vertuous Ladye I sende vnto youre grace as a testimonye of my redye benâ— good will and seruiseable hart towarde youre grace beynge prouoked herevnto thorow youre excedynge loue and feruent zâ—le whyche youre mooste honorable Ladyshippe beare bothe towarde the woorde of God and the true professours of the same moste humbly besechynge your grace to take in good parte thys my rude and simple gifte God whyche by hys holy spirit hath wroughte in your hart this entâ—er loue towarde the Gospell of hys sonne Christe Iesu moughte also bringe forthe in youre grace plenteousnes of good workes vnto the glory of hys blessed name and the profit of hys holy congregacioÌ„ AMEN Your graces mooste humble and faythfull oratoure Thomas Becon ¶ The Castel of comforte THat God alone absolueth y e truly penitent and onely forgeueth the synnes of so many as with vnfayned fayth and harty repentaunce conuerte turne and fle vnto his mercy it is manifestly proued by diuers textes of y â— holy scripture First let vs heare what God him self sayeth by the Prophet I am he yea I am he in dede which putteth awaye thy synnes yea and that for myne owne sake and I will remember thy synnes nomore Call to remembraunce let vs be iudged together Tel if thou haste any thinge y â— thou mayste be iustified Thy first father synned thy Prophetes haue trespassed agaynste me Are not these woordes euident ynough God the father perceyuynge righte wel that there shoulde aryse fals annoynted fals preachers whiche without all shame woulde arrogantlye arrogate and proudely chaleÌ„ge to them selfes that power of forgeuinge synne whych alone pertayneth to him plainly here affirmeth that he alone putteth away oure sinnes And because he would haue vs the more seriously and earnestly to beleue it he repetethe thys worde I twyse sayinge I am he yea I am he in dede whiche putteth awaye thy synnes yea and that for myne awne sake And leaste any man shoulde thynke that one may more forgeue another hys synnes I speake of those synnes which are betwene God and our conscience and not of the brotherly reconciliation he affirmeth that our firste father Adam and all Prophetes and preachers haue synned so that of them no remission of synnes is to be loked for Can fleshe purifye the soule that whiche is borne of fleshe is fleshe sayeth Christ. All haue synned sayeth saint Paule and wante y â— glory of God Again God hath wrapped all nacions sayth he in vnbelefe that he might haue mercy on all If al be sinners flesh and the chyldren of wrath if al be hipocrites vnprofitable seruauntes earth dust and ashes if all be the enemies of God vnfaythfull howe dare we be so bolde as to take vpoÌ„ vs one to forgeue another their synnes Is a traytoure a mete maÌ„ to purchase a pardon of a Price for another traytoure Can one traytoure forgeue another hys treason CaÌ„ one sinner forgeue another his sinne Of the vnclene what caÌ„ be made clene as Iob saith Who can make him clene that is conceyued of vnclene sede Is it not thou alone o Lorde It is the Lorde alone in dede as Dauid sayeth thou o Lord shalte sprinkle me with Hysop I shall be made clene yea I shall be made whyther than snowe And as our sauior Christe sayde vnto Peter If I washe the not thou haste no parte with me If God washeth vs not from oure filthines we haue no parte in the heritage of Christ. Agayn the aforesayde Prophet sayth the Lord is our iudge the Lorde is our Lawegeuer the Lorde is our Kynge and he it is that shall saue vs. Howe ofte is the Lorde here repeted to shewe y â— it is he alone whiche worketh all good thinges in vs which forgeueth our synnes and saueth vs yea and none but he alone Agayne the Lorde hym selfe sayeth by the same Prophet I am the Lorde there is no Sauiour besides me Here God hym selfe coÌ„fesseth that he alone is the Lorde and that there is none other sauiour besydes hym that is too saye none that forgeueth synne and geueth eternall lyfe but he alone By another Prophet he also saieth thy destruccioÌ„ o Israel cometh of thy self onely of me cometh thy healpe and saluacion Dauid that holy kyng and godly Prophet knowyng hys deliueraunce from sinne to be of God alone stireth vp his inwarde man to magnifie the Lorde sayinge magnifye the Lorde o my soule and all that are within me prayse his holy name O
For y e Papistes will here obiecte If remissioÌ„ of sinnes cometh from God alone than were the keyes geuen to the congregacioÌ„ in vayne But to the entent that I maye stop the mouthes of y e aduersaries and that they may haue no occasion to barke agaynst the glory of God after this marke wel good Reader what shal be spoken Trueth it is y â— God alone teacheth men hys verite by the holy Ghoste as it is written Al shal be taughte of God Again I will poure oute of my spirite vpon all fleshe and youre sonnes and your doughters shall prophecye The Psalmographe also sayeth I will heare what the Lord speaketh in me yet will he that they shoulde be studious of the holy scriptures bothe daye and nyghte as it is commaunded of Christe Searche the scriptures and also diligently heare the preachynge of hys woorde as it is written He that is of God heareth the woordes of God My shepe heare my voyce Euery one that is of the trueth heareth my voyce So in like maner although God alone remitteth all synne yet will he y â— remission of synnes shoulde be preached to the people that by this meanes they maye repent beleue and be made whole as Christ testifieth saying It behoued Christ to suffer and too ryse agayn froÌ„ death the thirde day and that repentaunce and remission of synnes shoulde be preached in hys name amonge all nacions Faythe cometh by hearing hearing by the worde of God For the ministers of the gospell are the organnes instrumeÌ„tes of Christ by whom God worketh thorow his holy spirit health and saluacion in so many as are predestinate vnto eternal lyfe They are Gods laborers ministers by whom we beleue eueÌ„ as the Lord geueth euery man grace They are the oratours messengers interpreters Asigels Apostles and Embassadours of the Lord as the Apostle sayeth all thinges are of God which hath reconciled vs vnto hym selfe by Iesu Christ and hath geueÌ„ vs the office to preache the attonement For God was in Christ reconciled the worlde vnto him self and imputed not their sinnes vnto them and among vs hath he set vp the worde of attonement Now then are we messengers in the roume of Christ euen as though God exhorted by vs. We beseche you nowe therfore in Christes steade that yâ— be at one with god Agayne to the Galathians he writteth on this manner Ye did not despyse nor abhorre me but receyued me as an Aungell of God yea euen as Christe Iesu. Hereto pertayneth hys saying to the Thessalonians He that casteth awaye vs casteth not awaye menne but God whiche hath geuen hys holy spirit into vs. Moyses also in tymes paste sayde to the people that murmured agaynste hym The Lorde hath hearde your grudgynge and murmuryng wherwith ye murmure against him For what are we Youre murmuriÌ„gs are not against vs but agaynst the Lorde So likewise reade we in the Gospell that the Lord spake of hys ministers Uerely verely I saye vnto you He that receyueth wlâ—ome soeuer I shall sende receyueth me And he that receyueth me receyueth him that also that sent me Agayne he sayeth he that heareth you heareth me and he that despyseth you despiseth me and he that despyseth â—e despyseth hym also that sent me Here se we that the ministers of Goddes woorde are not to be despysed for they are necessarye instrumentes vnto the health of men and they are worthy of double honoure as the Apostle sayeth Therefore maye it be concluded that the absolucion of the Prieste is not too be despysed seynge it is none other thynge if it be a true and Christen absolucion than the preachynge of fre remission of oure synnes in Christes name And although he y â— plaÌ„teth be nothing he that wattereth be nothing but God which geueth the encrease agayne albeit the Lorde blesseth vs with al spiritual benediction yet inasmuche as the inestimable kyndnes manyfolde benefytes of God toward vs can not be knowen nor beleued without preachinge for fayth cometh by hearynge and hearing by the worde of God therefore hath God appoynted hys ministers to open declare vnto men those excellent misteries those confortable ioyful promyses of Gods mercy and good wil towarde mankynde that they maye perceyue learne and vnderstande what is geueÌ„ them of the Lorde what they ought to beleue how thei shuld obtayne the giftes of God and lede a lyfe worthy the kyndnes of so bounteous a father God also hath appoynted the ministers to beget men in Christ Iesu by the Gospell too open the eyes of the blynde to turne theÌ„ from darkenes to lighte to coÌ„uerte the hertes of fathers into children and the disobedient to the wysdome of the righteous He hath commaunded them to preache repaÌ„taunce and remissioÌ„ of synnes in his name vnto all nacions Go youre waye sayeth he into the worlde vniuersall and preache the gospell to euery creature He that beleueth and is baptised shall be saued He that beleueth not shal be condemned Moreouer he hath geuen to his faythful ministers the keyes of the kyngedom of heaueÌ„ that whatsoeuer they loosen in earthe maye be also loosened in heauen And whatsoeuer thei bynde in earth maye also be bounde in heaueÌ„ that is to saye he hath committed to theim the office of preachyng the Gospel y t they should go forth into the worlde preache vnto all men the grace and fauoure that is geuen of God the father for Christes sake yea and that thei should proclaime publish and set abrode vnto all men that so many as repent beleue are losoned froÌ„ the captiuitie of sathaÌ„ purged froÌ„ syn deliuered froÌ„ death made enheritours of eternal life Again that so many as beleue not remayne still y â— captiues bonde sâ—aues of sataÌ„ coÌ„tinew bouÌ„de in their synnes and in the state of damnacion and that therefore thei shal dye the death and for euer more be damned excepte they repent turne and beleue And thus their preachynge is so certeyn and sure before God that whatsoeuer they pronounce beynge conformable to the worde of God shall as certenly come to passe as thoughe God hym selfe had spoken it As for an example Whan soeuer the ministers preachers of Gods woorde in this worlde shall declare to the faythfull repentaunce remission of synnes tell them that they be losoned froÌ„ y â— captiuitie of sathaÌ„ it is euen as certen sure as though God hym selfe had sayde these woordes vnto them Thy synnes are forgeueÌ„ the. In lyke manner whan they shall saye to the vnfaythfull that they remayne still bouÌ„de in their synne and that the wrathe of God abydeth vpon them and therefore they shall be damned God approapproueth their sayinge and it shal vndoubtedly come to passe according to their preachinge So that whatsoeuer the minister of Gods worde sayeth accordynge to the worde of
ouercome them both Who caÌ„ make me good but he alone whiche onely is good Who caÌ„ make me wyse righteous and holy but he alone which is appoynted of God the father to be our wysdome righteousnes sanctification Finally who caÌ„ engraffe in me life vertu but he alone in whome is all hope of life and vertue Therfore ful well doth Christ cal so many as labour and are loden with the burdeÌ„ of synne to him and promiseth that he wil refresh them that is to saye absolue and deliuer them frome their synnes Hereto belongeth the sayinge of blessed Iohan Baptiste Beholde that laÌ„be of God whiche taketh awaye the sinne of the worlde Here blessed Baptiste confesseth that it is Christe alone whiche absolueth and taketh awaye the synne of the worlde Doeth not also the holy Euangelist sainct Iohan in the aforesayde Chapter call Christe that true lighte which lighteneth euery man that cometh into this worlde what other thinge is it to lighten thaÌ„ too put awaye the cloudes of synnes and to sende into oure hertes the radiante and glisteringe beames of the eternall sonne whiche is the knowlege of Gods mooste holy will And this sayeth saincte Iohan is the office of Christe alone Why doth Christe cal so many as thyrste vnto hym promyseth that floudes of lyuysh water shall flowe out of their bellies yea and that he will geue them the water of life frely â–ª but onely to shewe that whosoeuer is thyrsty and hartely desireth remission of synnes muste with all haste come to hym and saye with the Psalmographe Lyke as the harte desireth the water brokes so longeth my soule after the o God My soule is a thyrste for God yea euen for y e liuinge God c. Furthermore Christe commaundeth y t repentaunce and remission of sinnes shoulde be preached in his name Where we may learne that forgeuenes of synne cometh onely by the name of Christe And in the Actes of y â— Apostles we fynde y â— when any famous notable acte or miracle was done â–ª the people as manye at this daye did ascribe it to the vertue and power of the Apostles willynge to do sacrifice vnto them for it but the Apostles did reiecte and cast awaye all suche immerited honor and vndeserued prayse contendyng and maynly laborynge to perswade the people that whatsoeuer was don came not to passe by their power but by the vertue of Iesu Christe whom God raysed vp from death And wheÌ„ they made mencion of remissioÌ„ of synnes they did neuer remeÌ„ber and reherse their owne power to forgeue synne but onely preached that so many as beleued and were baptised into the remission of synnes shoulde be absolued and frely forgeuen by the name of Iesu Christe And in the actes of the apostles blessed Peter playnly confesseth y â— there is no health no lyfe no remission of synnes but in Christ alone and that there is none other name geuen vnto meÌ„ vnder heauen wherein they muste be saued but the name of Iesu Christe alone Neyther did the Apostles absolue any otherwise than by the preachyng of gods worde which wheÌ„ it was heard beleued than were y â— diligent hearers and faythful beleuers of the same truly absolued as Christ sayeth Now are ye clene for the wordes sake that I haue spoken vnto you that is Now are ye deliuered froÌ„ your sinnes because ye haue beleued my preaching The fayth of y â— herte iustifieth sayeth sainct Paule Where it maye be learned y â— if fayth be not geuen to the worde there is no absolucion or deliuerauÌ„ce froÌ„ sinne For whatsoeuer is not of fayth is sinne where fayth is not there abydeth the wrathe of God as holy Iohan Baptist sayeth he y â— beleueth y â— sonne hath euerlasting life but he that beleueth not the sonne shal not se life but the wrath of God abydeth vpon him Therfore before Christ absolued any man of his synnes he did beholde se whether he had faith or not If Christe founde true fayth in his hert thaÌ„ he alwais sayde thy fayth hath saued the. Seyng than y e none can search the hert whyther it be faythfull or vnfaythful â–ª but God alone seynge also that the absolution beareth no strength but where faythe is it foloweth that none canne absolue me of my synnes but that Lorde alone whiche searcheth the raynes the herte The prieste is onely Gods minister appoynted of God if he be truly sent to preache that absolucion and fre deliueraunce from my synne thorow the name of Iesu Christe whiche preâ—chinge if I beleue I am so sure to be deliuered froÌ„ all my sinnes as though Christ hym self had sayde vnto me I frely absolue the or thy synnes are forgeueÌ„ the for thy faythes sake in my name Are not these the wordes of Christ whiche is the self trueth and can not lye spoken too all faythfull Ministers He that heareth you heareth me and he that deâ—pyseth you despiseth me and he that despyseth me despiseth hym y â— sent me But let vs reherse mo scriptures althoughe too anye Christen hert these whiche hytherto I haue recyted maye seme abundantly too suffice Blessed Paule in his Epistel to the Romains proueth manifestly that God alone iustiâ—ieth vs. If our iustificacion cometh from God alone than foloweth it wel that the remission of our sinnes cometh from God alone also For remission of synnes goeth before Iustification By Christes death are we deliuered from our synnes but by his resurreccion are we instiâ—ide and made righteous So doeth it euidently appere that it is God alone which both remitteth the synne and also iustifieth y â— synner for Christes sake which is our righteousnes Agayne the aforesayde Apostle sayeth that God hath not onely geuen vs his sonne but also all thinges with hym Ergo absolucion of synnes So se we y â— God alone absolueth forgeueth vs oure synnes for Christes sake SaiÌ„t Paule to the Galathians affirmeth that Christ gaue him self for our sinnes that he might deliuer vs from this present euill worlde that is to saye from all euil in this present worlde Ergo God alone it is which deliuereth vs from oure sinnes in this vale of misery Ye are wasshed awaye from your sinnes sayeth he yea ye are sanctified made righteous by y â— name of the Lord Iesu and by the spirit of our God Ergo our absolucion oure deliueraunce frome synne our sanctification oure iustification and all that euer good is cometh frome God thorowe Iesu Christ our Lord. Agayn he sayeth God y â— father hath blessed vs with all spirituall blessinges ergo with the blessinge of absolucion and fre deliueraunce from all oure sinnes God hathe deliuered vs from the power of darkenes and caryed vs into the kyngedome of his welbeloued sonne by whome we haue
forgeuen them frely of God if they repent and beleue in Christe as it is written He that beleueth y â— sonne hath euerlasting lyfe If synnes be forgeuen of God the ministers commaunded to declare that same to the people than doth it folowe that they forgeue not the synne but only are ministers appointed of god to publishe that benefite of our saluacion If a Prince pardonneth his subiect for hys treason committed against hys person and sendeth hys letters of fauoure to the traytoure by one of his faythfull seruauntes coÌ„maundynge him to declare his pitefull mercy to the gilty who forgeueth the fauâ—â— the messenger or the kynge I am sure it wyll be answered the kynge And not vniustly For y â— prince alone pardoneth the messenger only declareth hys princes pleasure to the traytoure Euen so all we haue offended worthely deserued eternall deathe Nowe the good pleasure of our moste mighty prince is to forgeue vs euen of his owne fre mercy without our desertes or merites for Christes sake and that hys vnspeakable goodnes towarde mankynde maye be knowen he hath appoynted his ministers to publishe it abrode The summe of their commissioÌ„ is this that whosoeuer will repente hys former lyfe beleue to haue remissioÌ„ of their sinnes thorowe the mercye of God in Iesu Christ our Lord they shal be forgeuen The ministers of God publish these ioiful newes exhorte vnto repentaunce and fayth The people repent beleue their synnes are forgeuen Who forgeueth the synnes of y â— faythful repentauÌ„te The grauÌ„ter of the commission or the declarer thereof God or man I doubte not but that ye wil aunswer God If god alone whom we offende forgeueth the sinne and not the declarers of y â— forgeuenes I haue gotteÌ„ that I haue desyred for the probacion of the second parte of this littel treatyse But let vs heare what Christe sayeth as my father sent me so sende I you Nowe I praye you howe was Christe sent and for what purpose ¶ Let vs heare what he hym selfe sayeth and than shall I be blamelesse By the Prophete Esaye he speaketh on this maner The spirite of the Lorde is vpon me because he hathe anoynted me to preache y â— Gospell too the poore he hath sende me to heale the brâ—ken haâ—ted to preache deliueraunce to the captiue and sighte to the blind frely to set at liberte them that are brosed and to preache the acceptable yere of the Lorde Agayn he sayth I must preach the glad ioyful tydinges of y â— kingdom of God to other cities also fortherfore am I seÌ„t Once again he saith let vs go into y â— next tounes that I may preach ther also for therfor am I come Al these seÌ„teÌ„ces declare manifestly y â— that Christ was sent to preach the kyngdome of God that is to saye fre deliueraunce frome synne to so many as repent and beleue If thei wil not be aboue Christe they must be contented to preache the will of the celestiall father as he was and not to take vpon them that thynge wherof only they are ministers Doth not saint Paule Iames Peter and Iude call theÌ„ selfs the seruauntes of Iesu Christe in all their Epistles declaringe therby that they are not the self master by whome remission absolucion of synnes cometh but onely the ministers of him whiche infundeth and poureth into all men grace fauoure remission of synnes and euerlastyng lyfe there is but one master that is to saye Christe the other are seruauntes as saynct Paule witnesseth We preache not our selfes but Christe Iesu the Lorde and we your seruauÌ„tes for Iesus sake Agayn let a man this wyse esteme vs euen as the ministers of Christ and stewardes of y â— secretes of God All these textes declare manifestlye that priestes if they be true ministers and not rather idolles are nothinge but ministers and seruauÌ„tes appoynted of God to declare vnto the christen congregacion that fre remission of synnes cometh vnto vs from God alone thorow the glorious name of Iesu christe so farre is it of that the priestes contrary to their commission caÌ„ forgeue synnes whose office coÌ„sisteth in declaring and not in geuinge remission of sinnes Therfore let theim be conteÌ„ted nomore froÌ„ hensforth arrogaÌ„tly to arrogate y t vnto them which pertayne to God alone but huÌ„bly coÌ„fesse that God onely forgeueth the synne and that they are but commissioners appointed of God to publishe and setforth the same I meane the remission of synnes geuen to the faythfull peniteÌ„t of God alone Neyther let theym frowne at thys doctrine whiche setteth them in their righte place but rather as it becometh good faythfull seruauntes let theim geue the glory of our saluacioÌ„ to God alone and be glad that they are called vnto so worthy honorable office to declare the misteries of God to the people whose preachinges or sermoÌ„s whosoeuer beleueth may be so certenly assured of y â— remissioÌ„ of their sinnes as though God hiÌ„ self had sayd vnto theÌ„ your sinnes are forgeueÌ„ you For thys sayng of Christ is an infallible verite he y â— heareth you heareth me Now let vs beholde y e obieccioÌ„s of y â— papistes briefly confute theÌ„ y â— all y â— glory may be the Lordes Fyrst they alledge this saying of Christe loosen hym let him go away Agayn loosen theÌ„ a bring theÌ„ vnto me Here is simple poore shyfte too proue their absolucion whan thei are coÌ„pelled to fle vnto y â— vnteiyng of a vile shete and loseninge of a simple rude Asse Loke whersoeuer the papistes fynde any worde that cometh of this verbe Soluo that maketh for absolucioÌ„ streyght wayes I maruel how this escaped theym Solue quod debes I thinke if Salue regina hadde bene turned into Solue regina as some of theim that be not very fyne mouthed pronounce it they wolde not haue bene ashamed to haue alledged it for absolutioÌ„ euen as some of the papistes do which where so euer they fynde Ignis take it for Purgatory streyght-wayes O noble doctors of Tyrology rather than of Theology As concerning the first text which is that Christ commaunded that Lazarus should be let loose and suffered frely to go hys waye if they will gather their absolucion of that it may than be proued y â— all other men and womeÌ„ haue that same power so well as they For there were at that tyme present not onely the disciples of Christe but also diuers Iewes with certeyn women whiche I am sure were not all priestes Haue they not made a good market they haue brought a shillinge to .ix. pens yea rather to nothynge They haue done fayre by them selfes by my fay Whyle thei laboure to make them selfs goddes to excell all other in dignitie they go so wisely to worke that they haue made them selfs equal to the mooste inferioure O crafty dawbers Whiche of them all is able too proue that Christ
God ought to be receyued w t greate reuerence and takeÌ„ as an oraele sent doune from heauen vndoubtedly beleued as a manifeste and infallible veritie of God And this preaching of remittyng or retaynyng sinnes are the keyes of the kyngdome of heauen which Christ promysed his Apostles before hys death as we maye se in Matthew and after hys resurrectioÌ„ performed hys promyse as we rede in the Gospel of saint Iohan And by a Metaphore Christ calleth the preachyng of his worde a keye For as a keye hath twoo properties one too shutte another to open so hath the worde of God It openeth to the faythfull the treasure of the giftes of God grace mercy fauouâ—e remission of synnes quietnes of conscience euerlastyng life but to the vnfaithfull it shutteth all his treasures and suffereth theÌ„ to receiue none of them all so loÌ„g as they persiste and remayne in theyr incredulity and vnfaithfulnes These keyes are geuen too so many as beynge truely called vnto the office of ministracion preache y â— worde of God They loosen that is to say they preache to the faythfull remissioÌ„ of synnes by Christe They also bynde that is they declare to y â— vnfaythfull damnacion But he y â— preacheth not the woorde of God can neyther bynde nor loose though he chaleÌ„ge neuer so great dignitie authoritie power For Christ calleth it the keye of knowlege And the Prophet sayth y â— lyppes of a Priest kepe knowledge and at hys mouthe shall they requyre the lawe for he is the Aungell or messenger of the Lorde of hoostes Therefore where there is no kâ—â—wlege there is no keye And where there is no keye there is neyther openynge nor shuttinge that is neyther byndynge nor loosonynge Here let all menne iudge what is to be thoughte of the Papistes absolucion whereof they crake so muche whiche also they sell derely If no remission of synnes cometh from them but by preachynge Gods woorde it foloweth that their absolucion auayleth but littel seyng they neuer preache neyther the lawe of God nor the swete promyses of hym but onely mumble a fewe woordes in the latin tonge yea and this is not vnderstanded so likewise many tymes contrarye too the diuine scriptures and y e glory of god Miserable doubâ—les is that coÌ„gregacion which hath a blynd guyde to their Curate whiche hath neyther the gyfte nor the knowledge of preachynge For if the blynde leadeth the blynd both falle into y e dyche Agayn greately fortunate is that Paryshe and hyghly blessed of God to whome a learned shepeheard hath chaunced which can feede them wyth knowlege and doctrine Whatsoeuer they shall heare of suche a learned and godly minister lette theym beleue it as a voyce comynge doune frome heauen And so ofte as by suche a shepeharde remission of synnes in y e bloude of Christe is preached vnto the congregation let theÌ„ esteme that preachinge none otherwyse than if the Lord hym self had preached it Let them stedfastly beleue the woorde of God and vndoubtedly by their fayth thâ—row the grace of God they shall obtayne remission of all theyr synnes Contrariwise iâ— they beleue not their synnes are retayned and by no meanes forgeuen These thinges haue I spoken concernyng the absâ—lâ—cion or the keyes which consisteth only in preaching Gods worde that the Papistes maye haue no occasioÌ„ iustly to barke agaynst me as they haue done hytherto both for my sermons and bkes God forgeue them and sende them a better mynde Nowe forasmuche as the true and Christen absolution is nothing els but the preachinge of fre deliueraunce from synne by y â— death of Iesu Christ it ought not to be contemned and despised but rather to be receiued w t great humilitie and reuerence euen as a diuine oracle sente doune from the father of lightes For no maÌ„ caÌ„ expresse how greatly it conforteth infirme weake consciences whiche are troubled with y â— feare of Gods iudgementes Whan the Prophet Nathan came vnto kyng Dauid and rebuked hym for sleyng Urias the Hethite for takiÌ„g his wyfe Bethsabe vnto hys wyfe and tolde hym howe greatly God was angrye with hym and what plages shoulde fall vpon hys house yea vpon hym selfe for hys wickednes it is not to be doubted but that Dauid was stryken with a woÌ„derfull great heuynes and his hert pearsed with an inwarde sorowe insomuche that he was righte ashamed of hym selfe of his faulte of his wickednes was coÌ„pelled euen of conscieÌ„ce to braste out into the knowlege of hys synne to saye I haue synned agaynst the Lorde As Dauid was now full of sorow griefe trouble disquietnes in his hert had ioye of nothing vnto suche shame and confusion was he broughte in hys conscience so likewyse it is not to be doubted but that he was wonderfully reuiued maruelouslye restored vnto the peace and quietnes of his conscience yea and plenteously replenisshed with ioye in hys mynde whan the Prophet sayde these wordes vnto hym The Lorde hath put away thy synne thou shalt not dye Mary magdalen was a famous synner whan she herde her vnclene conuersacion rebuked by the woorde of God she hertely repented and was replenished w t an inwarde sorow lamenting greatly that she had offended so bounteous a Lorde mercifull God insomuche that a large fountayne of teares folowed out of her teÌ„der eyes All this tyme vndoubtedly her sorow was greater thaÌ„ it can be here expressed But whan she herde this confortable absolucion of our sauioure Christe RemittuÌ„tur tibi peccata Thy synnes are forgeuen the. Again thy faith hath made the safe Go thy way in peace that is to saye wyth a quiete and mery conscience O good God who is able to expresse w t howe great ioye and singular solace she was affected So sure and confortable is it to weake and troubled consciences too heare the swete and confortable wordes of our fre deliueraunce froÌ„ the greuous burden of â—ynnes by Christes bloude The thiefe was full of great anguysh and trouble in his conscience whan he hanged vpon the crosse in y â— time of Christes passion confessed that both he hys felowe thefe suffered worthely euen according to their desertes and in the middes of his troubled conscience he cryed vnto the Lord Christe on this maner sayeng Lorde remember me whaÌ„ thou comest into thy kyngdom But whan Christ had made him auÌ„swere and sayde Uerely I saye vnto the this day shalt thou be wyth me in Paradyse O wyth what a quiet conscieÌ„ce suffered he hys paynes and with howe gladde an hert yeldeâ— he vp his spirit into the haÌ„des of the eternal father So confortable a thynge is it to a troubled conscience for to heare any thynge that maye quiet it Agayn whaÌ„ blessed Peter preached vnto the Iewes and tolde theÌ„ that they had crucifyde Christ the Lord the scripture sayeth that they were pricked in their hertes sayde vnto Peter and vnto