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
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
penaunce and maketh nought but an ypocryte wherfore we call it false ♣ This diffynityoÌ„ of penauÌ„ce is most colde penaunce is to lamente synnes paste and in mornynge not to commyt them agayne ☞ ♣ ☜ ⧠¶ True penaunce is to amende dayly from syn with fayth in Christe by the whiche he stedfastly beleuyth all synnes to be remyttyd to hym by chryste and hollye to be gyuen hym to walke in newenes of lyfe ♣ This dayly amendynge is a curcyfyenge of the fleshe and mortyfyeng of it necessarye to all faythefull whiche christe coÌ„maundeth to be borne about in name of the crosse that with frut in veryte we may folowe him .i. to beleue most purely to him folowe him ¶ All the lyfe of a chrystyan is to be penytent and beleue in Christ that is to mortyfye dayly and ryse by chryst ¶ For a maÌ„ altho he be holy as longe as he is in this lyfe hathe vnstedfaste fleshe resystynge the spirite and therfore he ought to crucyfye it dayly that it may be subiect to the spirite ¶ All affectyons and all worke without the spirite of god is fleshe and is then crucyfyed when it is hatyd and suppressyd ☞ ☞ ⧠⧠⧠¶ who so euer is so truly penytent hath chryst lyuynge and reynynge in hym and therfore is of the kyngdome of chryst verely the fleshe that is concupysceÌ„ce and al worke that is not of the spirite of god is dayly more crucyfyed subiecte and mortyfyed ♣ And who so euer is not so penytent is an ypocryte and crucyfyeth chryst in hym not wyllynge that he reygne vpon hiÌ„ wherby he is not of the kyngdome of chryst but of the fleshe and the worlde that lyue reygne in hê hart ¶ Chryst reygneth in our hart plesythe when we trust to him verelye he is crucifyed and doth not please wheÌ„ we trust in other and not in hym ♣ The worlde and the fleshe reygne iÌ„ vs wheÌ„ they please we trust to them they be crucyfyed and mortifyed wheÌ„ we represse them and truste nothynge to them but rather hate them and do not to theyr desyres Of true good workes A Trewe penitent is neuer without trewe goodworkes for he dothe all thyng in faythe whiche shulde els be wycked for al thynge that is nat of faythe is synne Roma 14. ♣ They that be of the coniuryng and kingdome of antichrist be neuer truly penitent or do true good workes for they do nat lyue and worke of faythe ☞ The prophetes of antichriste that they may more lyghtly turne the symple people froÌ„ Chiste say that we prohybyte fastynge prayers and all good dedes when we do preache nothynge more then that they shulde haue true good workes that is of faythe for we preache thus that we be iustified alonly by faythe and say that we muste do god workes nat to be iustified but to brynge forthe frutes of true fayth for they be frutes of faythe that be done in that faythe ⧠we saye that there muste be good workes nat as the kyngedome of the poâ—e but as Christe teachythe wherfore â—e can nat erre bycause Christ is truthe and true doctour of the faythfull verely the pope and euery man is alyer Psalm 115. ☞ ⧠☞ They say there muste be good workes after the doctryne of the pope other men wherfore it is nat inpossyble that they shulde erre and therof it folowyth that they be full of heresies and made antychristes scysmatykes and apostata frome the kyngedome of our lorde Iesus Christe ⧠♣ From whoÌ„ leste we be made strauÌ„ge therof to peryshe we be made Christes seruauntes and be apostata frome the kyngdome of that anty christe the pope ☞ ⧠♣ ♣ And who so euer is nat made strauÌ„g from that same kyngdome is a scismatyke from Christe apostata and antychriste and at the laste shall peryshe for euer ☞ ⧠♣ ⧠☞ ⧠Of lybertye and subiectyon of the faythefull THe faythful dothe alway worke well for he dothe all thynge in faythe and lybertie of the holy ghoste If he eate or drynke or do any other thynge he dothe all in the glory of Christe or els in faythe or in hys name whiche be all one ⧠♣ This lybertie is nat that they may thynke it free to do any thynge but that they may knowe that it is moste fre to them to do those thynges that they be commaundyd by the worde of god ye and all the men of the worlde wolde commauÌ„de otherwyse for they be free from all doctrynes and tradycyons of men that do nat agree with the worde of god as be the decrees of the kyngedome of the pope and doctryne of sophisters ¶ The lybertye of the spirite is nat carnall but spirituall and moste holy makynge a man free frome all lawe of men that he is bounde to none except it agre with the scriptures of god ✚ Also as you may se of Paule to the RomÌ„ Galath it makyth a man free from the lawe of god euyn that spirite nat that we ought nat to kepe the preceptes of god nat that we shulde kepe them nowe by compulsyon as before the spirite be there but with the moste redy wyll ☞ ♣ ✚ ⧠☞ Thys lybertie makyth a man syncere without hypocrysy the louer of of truthe plentyful ful of charity and moste full of all good workes ⧠⧠For then a man is so made free in Christe that he wyl be subiecte to euery humane creature for Christe ☞ He is cursyd and execrable to the lorde who so euer vnder the name of christen lybertie dothe gyue hym selfe to chaÌ„burynges drunknes and suche other for verely they walke nat after the spirite but after the fleshe but this holy lybertie admytteth no carnall thynge ☞ ♣ ⧠☞ Of contrycyon ☜ COntrycyon is nat a sorowe voluntaryly taken of vs for our sinnes but that whiche the spirite dothe worke in vs. that is to say trewe hate of syn for zele of the glory of god without hypocrysie or lyenge for it is a worke alonly of the power of god ☞ ♣ ⧠¶ For the wyll of man can nat without lyeng and hypocrysy hate synne nor to take for it sorowe sadnes for the pure wyl of man which is without the spirite of god is a synner alway ♣ God commaundeth that we shulde take the mournyng of his only sonne that is that we shulde be sorowful and mourne truly for our synnes bycause the wyll of a synner can nat fulfyll it of it selfe ☞ ♣ ⧠⧠For euery precepte of god is inpossyble to the wyll beynge a synner whiche god with hys spirite makythe possyble to vs. for that whiche he commaundythe in vs he wyll fulfyl in vs that he alone may haue glorye for all and that euery fleshe may nat presume to be gloryed in hys syght ¶ But it is by the hyghe goodnes of god that he gyueth to his seruandes those thyngê that he mercyfully doth in them callyng them contryte iuste penitent conuertyd
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
glory of god and helthe of soules I shall brefly intreate vpon with your hyghnes of those thynges that I copiously wrytte vpon to the moste noble lorde IOHAN Cardinal as they call it of Lotherynge what the Pope with hys Cardynalles Archebyshopes Byshopes Abbottes Chanones all other benefised men shall do leste they peryshe but may be sauyd For of truthe / all theyr hyghnes is of the dyuell Let them beware therfore / that they be nat euerlastiÌ„gly confoundyd / and peryshe For byshopes be alonly ê“phetes of truthe / and there shulde be so many byshopes as the multytude of people requyreth Ye and to confesse the truthe I can nat call your hyghnes a byshope excepte I shulde flatre and do agaynst my conscyence whiche is to be auoydyd of the faythfull euyn as the venyme of the serpent Aspis I coÌ„fesse you to be a prynce I knowe nat you to be a bysshoppe bycause you preache nat the gospell But it is nat in euery man to preache the gospel but of theÌ„ to whoÌ„ it is gyuen of the lorde for they muste be sende to it of him And these be the true byshopes of the churche of god Therfore dylygently endeuour your selfe that treâ—e byshopes may be encreasyd within your lordshyp Bysshopes may nat be lordes but alonlye doctours or teachers and seruauntes of the people of god It is iniury to a prynce to be callyd byshope ye and vtterly the moste greuous mockage if the thynge spoken be delygently examynyd wolde nat be thynke hym selfe deludyd that were callyd by a name nothyng 〈◊〉 for him whan any man is callyd â—â—shoâ—e what other thyng is it than to say beholde a preacher of the worde of god contynually preachyng the gospell hauyng knowledge of holy scripture teachiÌ„g the people with the alonly pure worde of god attrybutynge to god hys due honour and prayse herberous or kepyng hospitalytie geuyng example of him selfe to other to folowe the gospell in lyuyng moste dylygent in redynge and expounding the scriptures and yet he hathe none of all these I wyll suffre euery man to call you a byshop which I wyll nat do my selfe leste I be iniuryous to you I well knowe that you be prynce of Lausane ye and I wolde that you shulde so playe the prynce that you wolde dylygently laboure to haue many true byshopes vnder you For verely euery paryshe ought to haue hys propre byshope the whiche shulde be chosen of the people and coÌ„fyrmed by the cominaltie of the churche of euery place and to do this thiÌ„g they haue no nede of letters rynges sealles tokeÌ„s and suche other of this kynde very muche vsyd clene coÌ„trary to the worde of god So longe they shulde be accountyd for byshopes as they preache moste purely the gospell of the kyngdome of god FroÌ„ the whiche if they swarue one iote and teache straunge doctryne they ought to be deposyd and put out of them by whoÌ„ they were electe and chosen that is to say of the comynaltie of the churche afore namyd and other more apte to be electe But of thys matter I haue spoken more at the large in an other place Therfore I wyll returne to our purpose of Tregarius He dyd wryte to your hyghnes supposyng you to be Fabiane where as you be Sebastiane as the letters beare wytnes gyuen to me by your owne handes wherin he goyth aboute to supprese and treade vnder fote the eternall veritie of god vnder the name as he hathe wrytten of Lutherane secte and vnder colour of zele towarde the church he rayleth the moste lyceÌ„tiously in to the truthe and that same churche â—ho is he at the leaste that ê‘ceiueth the thyngê of god that folowith Luther or sayeth I am of Luthers secte Luther is a man and therfore of hym selfe a lyer but if Luther or any other speake the veritie and truthe of god what is the cause that we do nat gyue place to the truthe whiche the holy ghoste dothe make open to vs by Luther For I praye you is it nat wrytten of suche men you be nat they that speake but the spirite of your father that spekith in you it is nothyng sauery nor pleasythe nat at all that some men do say and talke of the wysdome of god whiche is founde in Paules epistles they call it Paules philophie I do gyue place and beleue the wrytynges of Paule Petre IohaÌ„ Esaie Hieremie and other prophetes of god nat for them but for the spirite of god which dyd speake in them Luther hathe nat teachyd me nother hys wrytynges those thingê the which I haue knoweÌ„ by the gyfte of god in holy scriptures Yet for all that I coÌ„fesse me to knowe Luther ye and nat a lytle to haue profytyd thorugh hys company I know him to be the apostle and aungell of god that is to say sent of hym For it is inpossible that he shulde be sent but of him to haue wrytten those thynges that he hathe wrytteÌ„ that is the scriptures of truthe and euyn as it is nat to be condempnyd that Paule hathe wrytten bycause he was a man in lyke case nother Luthers wrytynges are to be coÌ„dempnid bycause he is a man For it is nat Luther but god that hathe wrytten and spoken in Luther But thê Tregarius to obtayne the fauour of Antichriste vnder the name of Luther dothe openly speake agaynste Christe and his viritie He dothe also vnder that name resyste the impollutyd scriptures of god all the prophetes and his louers and callythe them defenders of sectes causing great rumores repletynge the worlde with all vnquietnes Philistianes hauiÌ„g vaine and folyshe armoure mockers / and deceyuers / of this maner dothe rayle agaynste them with the moste opprobrious crimes Forthermore he dothe reproue them of vehemente and wycked zele / and saithe that they haue forgote the saieng of our sauyour Lerne of me for I am meke and humble in harte and agayne blesse them that say euyll of you / and praye for them that persecute you But nowe loke vpon the craftynes of this foxe ê‘auenture he is afrayde / leaste that he shulde be put out and exilyd of antychrist / from the tyraÌ„nycall prouincialshype of his secte / for that cause / he so feruently defeÌ„dyth his parte / settyng at nought the worde of the lorde Nowe if he take this for a secte / to loue and teach the moste pure worde of god the whiche we doubte nat of we do couit and halfe this holy / necessary eternal and inuincible secte / and byfore hym and suche lyke / we wyll be of this secte / cleaue to it must surely / orels without remedy we shulde peryshe ê‘petually we be adhereÌ„tes and defeÌ„ders of thys eternall / heuenly / and deuyne secte / it is necessary / that we be tumultuous or bryngers vp of rumoures for it / agaynst the execrable / cursid / and abhomynable secte of antichriste For the worde of the lorde dothe burst vp carnal pease
verytye of scriptures of god hathe be hydde and suppressyd Capi. i. The Paradoxes OF Christ and his apostles the same veryte truthe was diligently preached whiche nowe is opened agayne with his gyfte and spirite They dyd preache the moste pure worde of god with the same siÌ„cerenes that it was reuelyd shew yd of god nat admyxted with proude phylosophy chyding sophymes dreames decrees tradycyons of meÌ„ne and to do the same we our selues be aboute and couit with all our hertes ¶ For it is vnpossible that any man shulde perceiue the scriptures of god by carnal wysdome as S. Paule dothe say in his fyrst epystle to the Corinthians the .2 chapitre sayeng god hathe made them open by his spirite for the spirite sercheth althynges ye the botome of godes secretes ⧠¶ Verely the alonly spirite of god is the moste lawfull interpreter of scriptures and most surely dothe iudge of the secretes of god .i. Corinthians 2. the thyngê of god no man knoweth but the spirite of god ☞ ⧠¶ who so euer dothe preache and expounde the scriptures nat of this spirite powres forth his dreames lyes for he is then carnall nat perceiuyng those thyngê that be of the spirite of god for they seme but folyshenes to him wherfore he can nat ê‘ceiue that as I haue sayde they be taken in spirite 1. Corin. 2. ☞ ⧠⧠☜ ♣ God hathe gyuen to vs the moste surest testimonie of his spirite that is to say his scriptures by whom is wel knowen who dothe iudge rytiously or no. so scripture is called a witnes or testimonie Esaie 8. the Psalme 18. and very ofte in the .118 Psalme ⧠⧠Euery exposicion of any place of scripture whiche dothe dyssent from no other place of the same scripture is of the spirite of god but if it do dissent in one iote it is nat of the holy ghoste but commeth of the lyeng and folyshe sense of men for euery man of hym selfe is a lyer Psalmus 115. ♣ Hat longe after the apostles dayes Doctours began to expouÌ„de the most spirituall scriptures of god agaynste theyr propre nature and ordre of god whiche had openid theÌ„ after the wysdome of the flesshe moste vayne phylosophy admyxtinge them dayly with theyr reê“uable soteltyes sophymes ☞ By what meanes it came to passe that they were depriued the equal iudgement of god and true intellygence of scriptures and blyndyd euery day more then other so that by the multitude of sophymes and carnall inuencyons the lyght of euerlastyng verytye and truethe was vtterly hydde ⧠wherof the moste pure textes of scripture were forgotten and inuentoures feynours and dreamars were receyuyd as chydyng / Sophesters / Scotystes / Thomystes / Occanystes Summystes / and suche other ⧠☞ After that mannes wysdome and proude phylosophy was admytted to the exposycyon of scriptures of god whiche is inpossyble to it for it peruertyth the germane and true sense of it and we fall in to the moste rude and ieoperdouse confusyon of blyndenes ygnorance and erroures that almoste there shuldbe none that walkyth nat in lyenge ☞ ⧠♣ ⧠☜ ⧠Also nat longe after the apostles tyme vnto these happy dayes hathe be the very worldes of blyndnes and darkenes but nowe the nyght darknes be gone and the amyable daye of verytie and truthe is at hande ♣ It is heresye to say that to coÌ„uicte heretykes we hadde nede of sophistical soteltyes or mannes phylosophy for veryly god is neuer knoweÌ„ by theÌ„ nor they by hym bycause no man may stryue for god and hys veryte bycause it is contrary to God Forther more the wysdome of this worlde is dystroyed ouercome and reproued with the alonly and moste pure worde of the crosse 1. Cor. 2. and the chapitre folowyng Paule dothe saye that he dyd nat come to the Corynthyans in eloqueÌ„ce of speakyng or wysdome but that he might open and shewe the testymonye of Christ Iesu and many thynges of thys matter in the same place ☞ ⧠♣ ⧠☜ ☞ They that beleue by eloquence so phymes philosophy and suche other wordes of mannes wysdome to teache Christe wyl that our faythe be in wysdome of men whiche is inpossyble at the leaste of true faythe whiche is nat but of the worde of the crosse and open shewynge of the spirite power of god 1. Corynthyans 2. ☞ ⧠♣ In all the ieoperdouse tyme of erroure and darkenes we were herytykes sysmatikes from Christe and his verytie and drowned in the most greuouse erroures whiche we coulde nat perceyue of our selues for bycause the alonly iudgement of the flesshe that dothe neuer condempne it selfe but is alway aboute to ordayne it ye aboue god was then receiued dyd please and men dyd cleaue to it whiche god dothe hyghly abhorre ☞ ⧠♣ ⧠The lyeng and reprouable sense and iudgement of the flesshe then reyâ—yng after that and contrary to goddes worde was inuentyd the supercylyous and proude state of the pope his cardynalles and bysshopes and what soeuer dothe perteyne to the apostatate kyngdome as be the monastycall sectes indulgences of yeres dayes from pena culpa cÌ„ decrees and rules of men vsurpyng of rythes fyrste frutes and oblacyons inquisitours .i. ê“tectoures of this heryticall iniquitie promocyons of false deuynes scoles of decrees and such other of thys kynde execreable feynynges of the dyuell by the whiche vnto the tyme apoynted that is vnto the tyme that the iniquities of this kyngdome of the sonne of perdicyon was endyd the same kyngdome was establysshed ♣ The surest and moste euident sygne that this greate blyndenes hathe so longe endured is that inueÌ„cions tradycyons and decrees of men were regardid and setby more than the moste holy lawe of god and bycause the pure textes and sense of the byble were almoste clene extyncte and putte our of memory besydes that in theyr exposicyon euery man dyd folowe the dreames and feynynges of hys harte and nat theyr true and germane sense nat the marke of the euerlastynge spirite and dyd glory with hys inuencyons so that there was none that myght be acountyd any thynge worthe at all in mynistery of the worde but such a ruâ—ler of whom might be sayde Beholde here a goodly preacher a noble plaâ—e with his newe inueÌ„cions in preachiÌ„g and wrytyng he is copyous moues mery conceites in euery place that is as muche to say as derysyoÌ„ and mockage of the holy ministery of the gospell and to be brefe the bysshopes apostles and prophetes of god were nat serchyd for But Antychristê and theyr synagoges whiche with theyr inueÌ„cyons with one brethe can prouoke men bothe to laughe and wepe vomyte a hundreth allegaciones pratyng and preachyng to the people decrees and lawes of men customes and deades of many yeres examples and dreames of olde wyues monstrous lyes of the kyngedome of Antychriste ypocrytes deceyuers lyers nat wyllyng to orden the iustyce of god but the iustyce of the flesshe and of theyr sectes and of
antychrystes nat sekyng the glorie of god but theyr owne glorie they dyd all stryue for the pope and the minorites for theyr Francys Bonauenture Scote and Occam c agaynst Dominike Thomas and Capriolus cÌ„ and so of other slobelyes deuouriÌ„g vp wydoes iÌ„noceÌ„tê howses ye all the substance of the worlde ⧠Another sure and euident token that this blyndnes hathe ben is disceÌ„cyon neuer ceasyng that hathe bene amongest preachers for what do we se in them but coÌ„tencyon / debate / and chydynge agaynste the nature of the holy ghoste whiche is spirite of vnyoÌ„ and peace and of the sermons of god whiche neuer sofferith nature of contrary osnes in theÌ„ and aganst the custome of the churche of god whiche loueth true peace / and is enemy of contencyon ☞ ⧠♣ ⧠☜ ¶ The thyrde manyfest sygne is abhomynable peace of the fleshe for the worde of god bryngethe the sworde seperates chyldren from theyr parentes / and frendes from frendes whose louers muste nedes sufre persecucyon for it is vnpossyble that the worde of the crosse shulde be without a crosse that it shulde nat be spoken agaynst for Christe those that longe to him be put in sygne of coÌ„tradictyon Luc. 2. bycause therfore that the doctryne that hath contynued so longe the decrees of Antechriste the pryde and al the apostasy of his kyngedome hathe be obserued so longe tyme in an execrable pease so that frely this man of synne with the tyrannes of his kyngedome what so euer they wolde scarsly any man withstandynge dyd ordayne chaunge and dystroy contrary to the playne textes of scripture by what meanes it is well knowen this peryllouse blyndenes to haue reygnyd by suche contynuance ☞ ⧠⧠☜ ♣ The .iiij. and moste euydent sygne is that lawes lycencyous lyuyng deuylyshe pompe moste proude ornameÌ„tes crownes burletes hattes myters hypocrysy hauynge no lyke deceyuable chastitie dyuersite and supersticyoÌ„ of sectes settynge vp of ydolles chapelles colleges phaanes .i. of hye and monstrouse places lyeng bulles steliÌ„g of tythes fyrst frutes and offerynges vsurping of kyngdomes and lordshyppes sacryfyce of masses and all other atteynyng to the kyngdome of Antechriste clene contrary to the immaculat worde of god ☞ ♣ ☜ ☞ It was predestynat that the sonne of perdycyon the manne of synne the pope and his kyngdome whom the apostle 2. Thessa 2. dyd prophesye to be reuelat and byfore that he shulde be knowen to be hydde that by tyme and tymes that is to say longe tyme halfe tyme for the laste tyme where as he thought to reygne perpetually is cutte of the halfe when he falleth by lytle and lytle as he is knowen by the worde of god he had neuer reigned so longe if we had knowen whom he had ben all that tyme therfore that he hathe reygned vntyl he was knowen by and by where as he is reuelyd by the mercye of god in the tyme pÌ„fynyte of god that is in our blessyd tyme he begynneth to falle and is peryshed with the sworde of the mouthe of the lorde and dayly he is tossed plucked without handes ⧠And for that cause the lorde hath opened with his worde fyrste that the pope and as many as do pertayne to his kyngdome be the chyldren of perdycyon for no doubte who so euer is nat apostata and alyenat frome that kingdome is apostata and alienat and a scysmatyke froÌ„ Christe wherof they may be bothe callyd chyldren of perdycyon and deceyuynge other with theyr lyes ⧠♣ ♣ Secondly he hathe shewed that they be men of synne bycause al theyr affectyons and cogytacyons and workes be synne Also with theyr tradycyons and synnes they haue encreasyd synne aboue al estymacyon there was neuer man from the begynnyng of the worlde that hathe so bounde mennes conscyence as the pope and his tyrannes that is cardynales and byshopes with theyr reprouable counselles ¶ Thyrdly god hathe made manyfest to vs that who so euer hathe the prymacye of the churche of Satane and is takeÌ„ for the pope is aboue al other the sonne of perdicion the man of syn and antychriste whiche dothe exalte hymselfe aboue all that is called god or worshypped suppressing the lawes and true worshyppe of god so that he dothe sitte in the teÌ„ple of god as god and is taken of the faythefull whiche be the quycke temples of god for the vycker of the hye god ☞ Nowe afterwarde that god hathe manifestly shewed to vs that the papacye that is the kyngedome of Antychriste is the kyngedome of synne to be abhorryd and damnable it is necessary for all that do attayne to it to be alyenat from it and to couÌ„te them for nothynge but as dregges or castynge out of dyuelles to attribute nothyng to them to truste in nothing that they do as in decrees excominycacyons pardons pryuyleges bulles with suche other bagage And the same of the pope cardynalles patriarkes legates archebyshopes falsebyshopes chanones and monkes and so of all other ⧠we haue a sure knowledge specyally in .iiij. thynges that the doctryne whiche nowe is reuelyd to vs of the lorde is the very and mere truthe fyrst that the pure textes of the byble the deceyuable inueÌ„cions of men abiecte be dylygently receyued wryten and preachyd The seconde is that al syncere preachers although they be personally seperate nor one of them hearyth nat another or rede his wrytingê yet do they for the moste parte agree but in case they dyssent for a tyme in any thyng then the scriptures of god delygently serchyd they be appesyd contentyd The thyrde is althoughe many do abuse the lybertye of the gospell yet as many as do receyue thys doctryne gently and mekely be meke mercyfull faythefull reioysyng in spirite pacyent very gentyll full of charytie procuriÌ„g the glorye of god with out any superstycyousnes or hypocrysye copyouse in frutes of trewe good workes The fourthe is that this doctryne is neuer resysted nor spoken agaynste but of the chyldren of perdycyon carnall men antechristes and men of synne euyn as Symeon dyd prophisy of Christe in the .2 chapitre of Luke sayng in that signe that shall be resisted and spoken agaynst c. yet for al that they do nat specially name innocentes and true preachers it can neuer be but they shal be resysted and spoken agaynste for it is wrytten if they haue persecuted me they shal persecute you IohnÌ„ in the .15 cha agayne all that wyll mekely lyue in Christ Iesu shal suffre ê‘secucyoÌ„ .2 Tymo 3. ♣ The electe that haue gone byfore vs in the miserable time of errour and derkenes althoughe they dyd aberre from the hydde iudgement of god yet for theyr electioÌ„ that is bycause they were chosen of god frome the begynnyng they were acceptable to him for though he dyd abhorre theyr synnes he dyd immutably loue theyr ê‘sones For he by the purenes of theyr faythe hathe taken all theyr synnes hathe nat ymputed them for pure faythe is imputed to iustyce