The Gratulation of the mooste famous Clerke M. Martin Bucer a man of no lesse learninge and lyterature then Godlye studie and example of lyuing vnto the churche of Englande for the restitucion of Christes religion And Hys answere vnto the two raylinge epistles of SteueÌ„ Bisshoppe of Winchester concerninge the vnmaried state of preestes and cloysterars wherin is euidently declared that it is against the lawes of God and of his churche to require of all suche as be and must be admitted to preesthood to refrain from holye matrimonie Translated out of Latin in to Englishe Hebru xiij Wedlocke is to be had in price amonge al men is a chamber vndefyled As for hoore keapers adulterers God wyll iudge them To his right worshypfull Brother Syr Philyppe Hobye knight M. of y e Kinges maiesties ordinaunce Thomas Hobye wishethe grace and peace throught our lorde Iesus Christe EMonge the sundrye and manifolde benifittes whiche from my tender childhod I haue fouÌ„de in yow and receaued at your handes most especiall good brother thys is not the leaste that ye haue now af late dayes of the good zeale ye beare to Gods worde which at all tymes hath byn moste feruent in you caused me to be sent not only in to such a regioÌ„ where as florissheth Gods worde all good letters bothe holye and prophane all honestie puritie of lyfe men in all artes and sciences moste cunning and experte But also to such a man who is of no lesse wisdom knouledge godlines then of fame reporte renoune by all godly mens iudgementes one of the perfectest and greatest Clerkes nowe lyuinge namelye M. Martyne Buâ—â—â— in whose daylye conuersation and companye and by whose wisdome learninge and documeÌ„tes I shoulde receaue and learne that shoulde belonge not onlie to myne owne fuâ—â—herance profyt but also to the consolation and comfort of you all my frendes whoÌ„ hytherto I haue founde moste beneficyall towardes me Sythe therfore it hath thus chaunced by your most godly procurement prouision that I should for a season here remaine with this profounde and famous Clerke ye myght not vnworthelye in dede with iuste cause impute vnto me either the vyce of igname or els obliuion and forgetfulnes of your moste large and ample benefittes if I should let slippe suche a mete apt and necessarye epistle of his and especiallie beinge writteÌ„ and indited to the whole churche or congregation of Englande bothe learned vnlearned in the which he expresseth not only the assured and vnfained loue that he beareth at all tymes hathe borne towardes this realme and rulars and ministers of the same but also very euidentlye declareth and with moste manifeste testimonies of scripture setteth furthe at large suche thinges as maye be to the profitt and furtherance of many and wherin he hath confuted not al for it were in maner an infinite worke to stande aboute all but as many sophisticall wranglinge schoolishe reasons as are of any probabilitie or likehoode whiche my lorde of Uvynchester farre vnsemely for a sober Bisshoppe hath expressed set forthe in his two moste coÌ„tumelious railing epistles agaiÌ„st him winkiÌ„g at ouerhippiÌ„g his wel most innumerable opprobrious wordes checkes tauntes rebukes quarellinges scoffinges reuiliÌ„ges scoldinges railinges wherwith they are filled as full as they may be heaped to gether In the which are so fewe argumeÌ„tes or reasons of any probabilitie that had not the vrgeÌ„t and instant requeste of his frendes certain of oure couÌ„tray men bien he wold neuer once haue put penn to the paper nor yet haue made anye a do about them but wolde haue left them to the iudgemeÌ„t arbitrimeÌ„t of the reader notwithstanding now of late dayes it chaunced that he gate a litle vacant tyme to do the same seing he promised it to certaine from his manifolde impedimentes necessarie ecclesiastical busines wher with we knowe such men are no smale dele let to reconcile him selfe which the Bisshoppe scornfullye after his olde woÌ„te casteth in his tethe to his brother before he â—â—ay his offringe vpon the altare The whiche thoughe it be brefe and coÌ„pencious not set forth to the largeste yet is it verye dilucidious pithie full of argumentes concluded not onlye vpon y e holy gostes vnfained decrees apoiÌ„tmentes and ordinaunces but also the olde and holye doctores of the church and for the brefnes of tyme sufficient inough The which when he had finisshed I furthe with toke in hande acording to my childishe talent to translate into our vulgare and coÌ„mune speache and haue sent it vnto yow to thenâ—ent some well disposed and better learned which purchaunce wyll not bestowe so moch tym as the translation therof requireth maye yet at the least wyse peruse it acording as he thinketh beste so that at lengthe it may be worthy to come abroade for the profit and instruction of the ignoraunt whiche haue not receaued the knowledge of the Latin tonge because it is written to them as wel as to the other Wherin I will desyre yow to accept my good wyll as thought it colde extende farther and do moch better which yf ye do it shalbe a great incourage and vrgent cause vnto me to employ and bestowe the reste of my studie dilygence and laboure herafter in other affayres which I truste shalbe no lesse acceptable vnto yowe then great furtherance to myne onne profyt vtilitie The spirite of treuthe be with yow who guide yow in all your pathes acording to his will and lead yow into all goâ—tlye knowlege Amen At Argentyne Kalendis Februarij To the holye churche of God the churche of England ministers of the same oure lorde Iesus Christe geue increace of this grace and spirite WE geue thankes and that not without cause to God and the father our lord Iesus Christe throughe this his sonne and our sauiour moste worthye louinge brethren for that maruelous coÌ„solation which of his infinite bountie he bringeth at this present time vnto vs because that emonge you he repaireth renueth y e foundatioâ—s of his kingdome so excellentlye so perfecctly so luckylye For it chauÌ„ced now of late dayes that youre sermons or Homelies came vnto oure haÌ„des wher with ye godlye effectiouslye exhorte youre people to the reading of holye scripture and therin expounde to thesame the faithe wherby we holde our christianitie iustificatioÌ„ wherevpon al oure healthe consisteth and other most holye principles of our religion with a most godly zeale For these foundations truely layde what may then longe after wante in youre churches to the ful perfection of Christ hys doctryne and discipline â–ª For when suche as wil be of Christe shal reade the holye scriptures as you most godly instruct and suade prefarre them so much before all the decrees of mans wisdome as God is greater hygher then man Oure especial and moste bouÌ„teful heaueÌ„ly mayster Iesus Christe wil so largely powre hys
sones kinges which were chefe fauores and no wrisshers of good letters and artes nowe euer sins y e moste prudeÌ„t king Sigibertus whiche abowt y e yere of oure lorde D. C.xxx fyrste of al founded adourned not only y e vniuersitie of Cambrig â–ª but also manie other schooles throughe his realme By y e whiche gift of God the moste prudent victorious kinge Henry the viij so excelled that at this daye there is not one realme y t hath more well learned godlye men in authoritie nor none wherin Bisshops excell in so moche doctrine and puritie of life who so euer my Uvinchester hath not yet made subiect to the crosse of Christ his erudition which he hath verie largely receaued of God It is therfor our parte all others that beare feruent loue to Christes kingdom continuallye to praye oure father most feruently through his sonn oure lorde Iesus Christe that it wolde be his pleasure to continewe to briÌ„g to passe with lyke prosperitie this his worke begone emonge yow so luckily the worke of healthe and not of yowrs onlye but of manye of Gods Chyldren throwghe yow the restytututyon I meane of hys Kyngdome And to theâ—â—tent this work 〈◊〉 with more power increâ—se y t 〈…〉 〈◊〉 preserue and of 〈…〉 〈…〉 with his giftes both your◠〈◊〉 king and also al his 〈◊〉 faithfull â—â—unsaylers and ministers â—n the â—yâ—â—ste and ecclesiaticall adminst a 〈◊〉 The lorde therfor stâ—re vpe and corroborate with his spirite to praye y t sathe both 〈◊〉 vs and all his ol his mere mercie vowchosafe to geue care vnto oure prayers So â—e it Ye shall also desyre God and oure father through his sonne oure Lorde Iesus christe with feruent desyres for vs â—ermaineâ— that â—â—ing he hath mad vs in this tyme the fyrst to spreade a brode and to restore his kingdome he will not permitt vs throughe oure ingratitude to be the laste in the fruition of the same ben fyâ—â— The Grace of God be with yow all Amen Finis Yowre humble and daylie oratoure in the Lorde Martine Bucer Imprynted ad London by me Richard Iugge dwelling at the nourth dore of Poules Cum Priuilegio ad imprimendum solum The restitutioÌ„ of Christes doctryne through EnglaÌ„d ij tim iij The trewe and lyuely fayth is well separated from the deade false Of the infinite power of y e cleargye the Byshop of Rome Distinctio .xl. li. Papa The lyfe of theÌ„ that put more trust in the Pope then in christ Thankes geuing for the restitutioÌ„ of christes kyngdoÌ„ in Englaâ—de 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Causes why Buâ—er differred in answere Wynchesters caâ—illations Tractatus de celibatu Buceri ad Latomum Principles wherby the Popish law concerning the abstineÌ„ce chastitye of preestes is confuted The demonstration of hys confutation Wynchester bringeth nothing agaynst the foundations of the cause An Argument of hys iuste defence agaynste Wynchester Kinge Henri y e viij his first purpose The cause whye here he maketh answere of the oÌ„maryed state also 〈…〉 chapters of this present defense answers mat xix i. cor vij Of the proper interpretation of christes sainges all men can not awaye this saiÌ„g sauing they to whoÌ„ c. And he that can take it let hym take it In priore Wyntonien epistola contra Bucerum ca. ij S. Hier. Marke he y t caÌ„ and not he that well S. Hila. S. Augustin he is prouoked y t can take it S. Gre. Christ denied y t all men take the worde of chastitie All can not take it Uvynchester taketh it to be spoken vndeterminatly thoughe it be spokeÌ„ determinatly Bicause y e Apo. wisshed all to be chaste it is not coÌ„cluded y e chastitie is profitable for all Bicause the Apostle said I wolde y t ye all spaeke w t thuÌ„gs and prophecieed it foloweth not y t it is good for al to speake with tuÌ„ges Rom. ix Uvynchesters seconde reason â–ª Iu. i. Epistola Uvin toniensis Ca. 4 Uvynchesters two false principles that God of what thiÌ„ges he leaveth fre election he geueth also the facultie of the same thiÌ„ges and excepte he do so he compelleth them God geueth not furthe with the power of thes thiÌ„nges wherof he hath made fre election Eph. v. i. Co. xij God wil geue all thynges whiche we aske in the name of hys sonne but by hys name we can aske nothyng perfectlye but suche thynges as beloÌ„g to hys glorye God therfore compelleth not to anye kynde of lyfe bycause he callethe theyder and leadeth withe hys gyftes God leaueth vnto his the fre election of many thynges but that he ruleth accordyng to hys arbitryment God draweth hys to hys sonne yet for all y t they come vnto hym of theyr fre wyl S. Austyne coÌ„cernyng the gyft of continence Uvynchesters thyrd reason Uvynchester layth to Bucer that he speketh without scripture yet doth he hymself recite the scriptures whiche he followeth in thys behalfe teacheth not whether thei be well recyted or no. Ioh. viij ij Co. iij. Thys is false yf a man can do any thynge by the gyfte of god that he maye as well not do thesame Uvho so hath any good thynge aboue other y t hath he not but by y e peculier gifte of god wherewith those other are not indued A secte of heretiques Manachei a secte of he retiques wherof the head was called Manes who hym toke vpoÌ„ christes shape spirite Eusebius ecclesias hist. In hys fyrst Epistle D. i. ij Bucer neuer spake nor writ no suche thynge therfore Uvynchester maketh a lye vpon hym god maketh apointeth his yeuen froÌ„ the mothers wombe vnto thos thiÌ„gs whervnto he hath destined euery maÌ„ Dionisius Bisshope of corinth writ an Epistle to y e Guosians wheryn he admonissheth instanly exhorteth ther Bisshop Pinitus that he will not layd the brethren with the great burtheÌ„s of coÌ„pultion to vowe chastitie for so he might chaunce to put y e iÌ„ firmite of manie in a hasarde Eusebeus de ecclesias Histo. li. iiij Ca. xiiij 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Uvinchesters notable quarelling what y e gift of chastitie is called and of what effect it is Signes of y e gift of chastitie burning is also a token of the vocation to matrymonie of what principles â–ª maÌ„ may decerue iudge of y e present disputatioÌ„ * And other place of this defense what so euer be of y e gift of chastitie yet y â— this is against y e lawes of god and the churche bycause y e abstinence from holy matrimony is required of al preestes and solytarye parsoÌ„s 1. Tim. 3. Act. i. Chastitie yf it be not taken y t thou mayest haue the more leser â—o godlye dedes ministeryes is abominable to God The holy fathers had rather haue had shepeherdes maryed meÌ„ geueÌ„ to holy thiÌ„ges then vnmaryed implicated in the cares of y e worlde That whiche shoulde be chiefly saught for in the chastitye of preestes the abstinence froÌ„ y e busynes of the worlde is cleane neglected of the Romanes How vacant Wynchester is from the cares of the worlde The old auncient iudged it a mad thynge yf the churches had beÌ„ soner ministred by no pastores or els very ill vnmaryed Epiphaniê° was in opinyon that wheras wante mete ministers there shoulde maryed meÌ„ haue the gouernauÌ„ce ouer y e Churches w t good ryghte Epiphanius and Hierom couÌ„t not theÌ„ flagitious whiche by no necessitie made maryed men the gouernars ouer the Churches The holy fathers wold at thys day cast forth the vnmaryed y t take the cure euer the churches and wold set maryed men in theyr place The old fathers suffered the churches to be ministred by laye meÌ„ and that in theyr presens The old Bysshops receaued both the lay men and also husbanâ— men prefarred theÌ„ before them selues to teach y e people when they founde theÌ„ more mete thervnto then themselues Eusebius de ecclesiastica histo Li. vi Ca. xv No constrained vowes please God Uvhat vowes are acceptable to God Howe gentlye God y e holye fathers remytted rash vowes Ciprianus Epiphanius It is better in takynge a wyfe after the vowe to fall in to iudgement then in Augustynus de bono viduitatis Ca. v. xx In distinctioâ— xxiij quedaÌ„â— xxvij ij Nuptiarum In alteâ—a epistola coÌ„tra Buccerum Uve admit gladlye anye mete witnesse Uvinchester complaineth y e Bucer keapeth close his writing and yet he setteth it not forth in print hiÌ„ selfe Uvinchesters wordes owt of hys haÌ„d writiÌ„ge Wintonien adsertor stoicus Uvinchester is an vncertan sceptical coniectuâ—rar Se how this Bisshope is prepared to speake well The conclusion vpoÌ„ WiÌ„chesters lye How Uvyâ—chester burned in oure disputation â–ª Uvynchesters reproches haÌ„g in hym selfe It shold haue beÌ„ long ere he wold haue done it him selfe i. Co. vij Uvhat thynges were in coÌ„trouersye betwext Uvynchester Bucer in â–ª theyr communication together The coÌ„futation of y e papistes obiectioÌ„ y t say euery maÌ„ maye wreste writ y e scriptures not regardynge y e old fathers of y e churche to what seÌ„se he thiketh beste Uvynchesters horrible principle y t mans lawes are iustly ponyshed with greater punyshmeÌ„t thaÌ„ Godes whaÌ„ thei are transgressed Uvynchesters argumeÌ„t The father may kepe his doughter agaynste her wyll vnmaryed therfor may rulars lefully â—oÌ„strain preestes to chastitie S. Ambrose S. Primasius Necessitie for y e wyl of y e mayden He byddeth euery man to take counsail of hys fleshe what he can sustayne The latter interpreters agre also Uvynchester wil haue that the father may tangle hys doughter in y e snare of virginitye Uvinchesters scoffinges Photiê° will haue y e giftes vocatioÌ„ of God coÌ„sidered Uvinchesters manifest vanitie God maketh stedfaste the condicious of his Psal. 39. Psalm xxxi Ps lxxiij Ps. Cxi â–ª Al necessitie is not agaynste fre wyll but that necessitye only which is of compultion The coÌ„clusyon It is not good for a maÌ„ to be alone It is good for a maÌ„ not to touch a womaÌ„ Phil. i As anye thyng is more necessary so is it to y e godly more voluntary Let euery man haue his wyfe Marc. i and .ix Uvynchesters hold affirmans in a doubtful matter i. Cor. v i. Co. xij
godlye and wyse men in Chryst and the very functions of the lyfe offerid from aboue the Godlye affayres readie at hande whiche in chastitie or matrimonie may coÌ„modiously be takeÌ„ to gods glorie to the furtherance of the church Also the Godlye propentions and inclinations of mindes to eyther kinde of lyfe the facuties both of body minde Certainlye the vnmaried state of it selfe pleaseth not God and they receaue the rewarde of the fooliysh virgines whiche take and kepe it not for the kingdome of heauens sake that is to say that they may be the more readye stedfaste and frutfull to serue the lord in more large charges and duties then the maryed lyfe can sustayne and whose vtilitie extendeth farther Thes tokens therfor wolde we haue suche to obserue that make inquisytion whether they are called to the state vnmaried or no. But bycause as I haue said the holye gooste the thefe teacher and distributer of trew holynes pronunceth euidentlye hym selfe that suche as burne that is as Chrisostome expoundeth such as sustaine moch force and burninge and for that cause are in ieopardie of fallyng shold put them selues out of such a dauniger be matrimonie Uve caÌ„ not gain saye nor ought nor y t they whiche sustaine such force and burninge and can not auoide it by prayers or trew mortifying of the fleshe and also perceaue that they haue more occations offered vnto them to serue God accordinge to his preceptes in matrymonye then castitie do wel and Godlye seing thes tokens declare their vocation to matrymonye Now haue I sufficiently spoken concerning the fyrste place of our defense wherin I purposed to proue that certaine are so called and geuen from aboue to holye matrimony and emonge them not a fewe indued and geuen to the holye ministerye of the churches that they sholde frustrat theyr laboure in praynge for the gift of chastitie and should neuer lead this kinde of life godlye nor yet happily The which things most deuout men I commit to yowr iudgement and all other mens that wyll read and ponder godlye what the holye letters in all places both teache in preceptes and set furth in examples Fyrst concerning Gods â—â—nipotent powr godnes and wisdom which bringeth to effecte all thinges in al men Secondarelye concerninge the vacatioÌ„ of the children of Gods reuocation certaine motion in all meÌ„ through his spirite Laste of all concerning the verye matrimony and chastitie and the vse of them bothe in the church Besydes this consider ye what that greatly to be lamented experience of so longe time teacheth monissheth vanquisseth which the holye ought neuer to contemne bycause it is a token of Gods workes giftes Nother do I doubt but who so knoweth and wayeth all thes thinges Godlie shall throughly perceaue that the far greater parte of men emong them verie manye holye and Godlye whiche are by all meanes prepared ordained of god to minister y e churches are so made called and geuen to holye matrimony from aboue that they can not demaunde of God nor yet vse the gift and vse of the acceptable chastitie vnto GOD that is to saye whiche auaileth to y e fetting furth of his kingdom seing that his pleasure shold be altogether by faith prefarred before all mans iudgement and vowe And that all thinges what so euer Uvinchester hath brought to the contrarye ar vaine vngodly brauling scholishe reasons Now therfor wil we passe ouer to aÌ„other place of oure present defense and teache that what so euer be in the offerid gift of chastitie geueÌ„ other to all meÌ„ indisserentlye which Uvinchester will haue or to certaine onlye and men chosen from aboue for the same purpose which we haue proued and vanquisshed by the worde of God authoritie of the holy fathers Yet that this is cleane contrarye to the lawes of God and of the church againste the authoritie of holye fathers to require at this daye the foreswearinge of matrimony and abstaininge from the same of all such as muste be admitted or are admitted into presthood or professyon of solytarines Fyrst therfor I exhorte all meÌ„ that loue christes kingdom that desyre the comelynes of Gods howse and the trew holines of preestes to be restored again that it maye be Godly pondered what God him selfe who alone konweth what gyft he hath geuen or will geue to euerye man and what is more deceut and furtheraunce to the prystlye lyfe teacheth and coÌ„maundeth concerning the mariage of prestes in that he dothe it in two places by hys Apostle Paul in thos places wher as he speaketh euidentlye of the holynes and vertues of preestes that a prest should be the husbande of one wife a good instructâ—r of his children Thys doth he set to be the chefe of thos vertues which he requireth in a Bisshop other ministers Then do I desyre them to confert Godlye with this holy precept y e lawe of y e romish seate whose defense Uvinchester hath taken vpon him wherbye no man be he neuer so holy in all his tyme or furnisshed with all giftes of the holy ghost to the ministerye of the holye church is admitted in to the order of prestes without he vowe him selfe to be the husbande of no wife is put besyde his presthod who so euer marieth a wife therin and then let them iudge whether this lawe of the pope of Rome be not cleane contrarye to the lawe of God For God as well in the order of preestes as of Bisshops doth both require and also plainlye admyt a maried maÌ„ But the pope of Rome â—oth nother admitt a maried man in to this order nor yet bye any meanes sufferith him therin Let Uvinchester therfor expounde vnto vs how the pope of Rome an erthly God therin speaketh not cleane contrarye to the heauenlye and trewe God Here yf Uvinchester flie to the authoritye of thos fathers which wolde haue this precept of God so to be vnderstanded that therbye they should be excluded from presthoode which haue more wyues then owne and yet they should not be admitted to presthod whiche haue one and will kepe her in the vse of matrimonye and laye againste vs the church of Egipt of the chaste of the apostolycall seate which now in S. HieroÌ„s tyme were wont to receaue for prestes none except they wer other no maried men or els had resigned it Uve again laye vnto him Fyrst the saing of the holye ghost in the whiche is not one worde wherbye may be gathered that he onlye should be admitted to presthood which was and is not the husbande of one wife Further more Uvinchester is not ignorant that no lawe necessarye for oure helthe can be apointed by the authoritie of holye fathers Also he can not denye that S. Chrisostoms authoritie and others y t make with vs sholde be anie lesse sett bye then the authoritie of his holye fathers yea theirs sholde be so moche the
more sett by as their interpretation is more agreable with the wordes of the holy ghooste But they vnderstoode expounded this saing the husbande of one wife in the same meaning as we tawght plainelye that the holye ghoste by this precept that a Bisshope shold be the husband of one wife wold commēde the dignitie of matrimonye and condemne before thos heretiques whiche blasphemed that there was some vnpurenes in matrimonye that bicawse he teachethe in this place that matrimonye is such a holy thing and honeste y t therwith a man may ascende yeuen vnto y e holye throne that is to say the seat of a Bisshoppe In fine Uvinchester knoweth also this y t S. Chrisostoms interpretation others making with vs is reiected of none of the holye fathers that it shold not be counted to be of the right opinion no truly not of S. Hierom who notwithstāding alleaged it in expoundinge this place Let winchester therfor now declare by what authoritie y e romisshe seate prohibiteth to followe S. Chrisostoms opinion other fathers that agre wyth vs and constraineth leauinge this as erronious to followe the interpretatiō of S. hierom and such other that make with him Let hym shewe whye it is thrust furth vnto vs for a catholik law which was neuer catholike no not by thos fathers y t alowe it Furthermor Uvīchester knoweth that the holye fathers made fyrme with manie lawes and that with the lawes of God that no man what so euer he be sholde be admitted in to anie degree of the Cleargie or els if anie be admitted shold be sufferid to remaine therin if he be foūde to haue liued or do lyue of anie likelihood with impuritie vncleannes of life moch lesse if he be founde to liue dishonestly in the face of the worlde And so therfor let him make answere what spirite the Romains folowe and suche as make with them whē they exalt to the chefe orders of holye ministerye and suffer therin to remain that now such a lōg continuance of tyme them that lyue w t open dishonestie Let him also shewe what spirite shold be thanked for this that they not contented to caste from holye ministeries but besydes that punishe cruellye prestes that marie wiues against diuerse lawes thos apoīted by mā lyue they neuer so Godly holyly and be they neuer so studious apt to edifie Gods churche And in y t mean season prestes and Bisshops implicated in manifest hore huntinges defyllinges of virgines adulterie and other greather myschewes and which newer came to the perfect knowledge of anie parte of the pastorall mynystery moch lesse purposed by al meanes to go about it they do not onlye leue vnponisshed but also eft sones adorne them with the chefe and highest degres of y e ecclesiastical dignitie powr Besides this Uvynchester knoweth also that all the fathers acknowleged that chastitie thowghe it be purelie kept for as much as pertayneth to the bodie yet that the hypochrysye of it is abominable before God yf it be not taken and kepte for thys intent that euery man maye cleaue so moche the more without separatyon vnto God and exhibite hys mynysterye vnto hym the more perfectely to the edifyenge of the churche It is knowen vnto hym well ynoughe as I suppose y t Saynte Chrysostome writteth vpon thys place of Saynte Paule Thys do I saye for your profitte not that I shoulde tangle you in a snare but for that which is honeste and comely vnto you and whiche herevnto conduceth that ye maye perfectely and without separation sticke vnto the Lorde that she is nother virgyn nor yet honeste whiche is wrapt and tyed faste in the cares of the worlde For the Apostle when he said that a woman and a virgyn are separated in so saynge he sette the difference betwext them that is to saye because the one taketh care for the thynges of the worlde and the other for the thynges of God and gaue a definition of a virgyn not maringe nor continence 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 other to be deliuered from the cares of the worlde or to be wrapped in them Uvherfore the holye fathers made neuer so moche of chastitie for all they counted it of great valu but that they supposed maryed men shoulde rather haue the gouernaunce ouer the churches which setting a part a worldly busines shoulde be more geuen to heauenly cares then virgynes and vnmaryed whiche shoulde be slacker in the trewe studye of religyon Uvherof S. Hierom writ these thīges agaynst Iouinianus And howe commeth it to passe ye will say that the vnmaryed eft sones in y e prestlye ordinaunce is not regarded and the maryed chosen Because purchaunce he hath no other workes agreable to hys vnmaryed state Or els is thought to be chaste and is not or elles hys chastytye is slaunderous or els at the least wyse by hys chastitie he waxeth hye mynded and whyles he standeth in hys owne concept of the onelye chastitie of the bodye he neglecteth other vertewes Nouryssheth not the poore is greadye of money these are hys wordes Beholde thys man of God graunteth worthilye to be secluded from holy ministerye not them all onely whose virginite is fayned slaunderous and suspicious but they also whose virginite wanteth other vertues and workes correspondent to virginite whiche nouryshe not the poore whiche are couetous or gready of money Here let Wynchester make answer by what face or audacitie the Romysh seat and suche as make with it may in thys cause brynge forthe agaynste vs the authoritie of holy fathers whiche requyre not of theyr preestes so moch as the chastitie of the bodye and moch lesse suche a chastitie whiche al worldly cares set a parte shoulde be onelye geuen to Heauenlye thynges by suche seueritie and such cruelnes as they make diligente searche that no man haue a leaful wyfe And here lett Uvynchester also examyne hys lyfe hys dedes and hys Episcopalle gouernaunce and acknowelege hym self how farre wyde he had declared hym to be from suche an one as the holy fathers confesse to be onely a Christian moche wyder from the chastitie that ought to be in a preeste And that fyrst of all performe in hym selfe then requyre and put it from other whether they be of the Cleargye or of the Laytye which at some tyme were fruetful vnto hym I call not here to remembraunce how he refused or tooke vpon hym worldlye busynes and functions whiche pertayned not to a Bysshope howe he diminysshed or increaced the pōpious court in his familie Let him be his owne accuser and iudge but accordinge to the lawes of God and the churche In verie dede I chatter not furthe as he reproued me in his last epistle yf he haue done his prince anie seruice to the weale publike and edifiinge of the church For I knowe what ambasages S Ambrose hath gone for his rulars and busines S Gregorye hath done for the Romanes And
of Christe and a pure mynde He myght haue expressid this senteÌ„se saithe Uvinchester if he had mynded to teache the same in fewe wordes and mete for the matter he had in haÌ„de Let him therfor shew him selfe what according to oure interpretation is superstuous in them or disagreeth to the matter he intreated vpon Not onlye we perceaue no such thinge but also so manye moste holye fathers and mete interpreters of y e Apostle sawe no such thinge Herof therfor it may be sufficieÌ„lye knowen with what vngodlye malepertnes Uvinchester hath spitefully reproched that this not so moch oure interpretation as all the holye fathers and his Photius is therfor hitherto his own also is verie foolish colde obscure and which maketh the holye ghostes wordes to be frustrated and spokeÌ„ in vaine and without sense Now let vs throughlye marke whether in thes the Apostles wordes takeÌ„ after this oure interpretation and the holye fathers there seme to be anye 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or owght contrary to it self For that will Uvinchester haue to appeare by thes his two gloses The one is that Paul saith Notwithstandingâ— if anie haue purposed surelye in his hart but ther can be nothing stedfastly apoiÌ„ted by the father concerning his doughter Yf he ought to take into his counsayl her waueringe condition and wyl and speciallye seinge we saye that no man at all can at anie tyme knowe for a certaintie whether he him selfe be called to perpetuall chastitie The other is yf the father folowe Gods vocation in his doughter whether he shold apoint to kepe her or to geue her to matrimonye he shold euer haue necessitie of his iudgemeÌ„t neuer y â— fre power of hys will so that it sholde neuer be verifyed of him And hath no power when he must of necessitie folowe the vocation of God Unto the first scholishe reason we answere that in verie dede no maÌ„ and moche lesse the mayde beinge a virgin can for a suretie know by him self what God hath apointed of him no not so moch as at the tyme preseÌ„t moch lesse for the tyme to come or for euer But such as vnfainedly pray vnto god that he wolde vowchesafe to teache theÌ„ to knowe and in all pointes to folowe his will and to lead them in his pathes thos doth not the moste bountifull father suffer to stycke in anye doubtfull deliberations but openeth vnto them as the spalmiste declareth and teache them his wayes and pathes For the lorde guideth the gentle in the iudgement and teacheth the meeke his wayes O who is he The maÌ„ I saye that feareth the lorde for he wyll teach him the waye whiche he hath chosen But this benefit of God and all other thinges muste be sowght and prayed for with Godlie studye and holy praiers Therfor the Christian father intendinge to prouide for his dowghter whiâ—he now is not so moche his as Gods firste of all callinge vpon the spirite of Christe by him selfe and his doughter withal his housholde with the wholle churche for out â—ept he estable she y e iudgement of the father what so euer he ordain shalbe variable and vnsteadfaste shall trie owt with most Godlye ernestnes what condition she is of and what is her enteÌ„t and what giftes she hath receiuid of God and what not so that herupon God him selfe maye shewe to whether kinde of lyfe he hath called his doughter And when the father prayeth and maketh inquisitioÌ„ one this maner to knowe and to accomplishe what so euer God him selfe will haue done with her God oure moste boutifull father will graunt that he shall so determine of his doughter and apoint the thinge whiche like as God hath apointed and ordained it before so must it nedes be to the furtherance honesty both of the father and of his doughter And y t will God hiÌ„ selfe make so firme and steadfaste y t y e doughter shal serue him in the stedfaste sanctitie of her bodye and sowle albeit she be weake and of an vncertaine purpose of her selfe For y e lordes counsaille endureth for euer establissheth the worke him selfe what so euer he worketh in his that it maye continue for their furtherans to the verie ende And so God will make fyrme and stedfaste holye chastite also in all them whom he hath called therunto so long as it shalbe to their furterance When it beginneth to be to y e coÌ„trarie it is their dutie to follow God y t calleth them and at his coÌ„maundement to make a permutatioÌ„ of the vnmaried state with holye matrimonye and he wil not any manÌ„ of vnstedfastes or any other vice especially emonge the children of God For they whom God iustifieth and glorifyeth are wonte to be condemned and to be mocking stockes to the men of this worlde Thes thinges may Uvynchesters holynes and stedfastnes now mocke scorne at his pleasure yet do such as in y t trew obedieÌ„ce of god studie for trew holynes and stedfastnes place all their tymes and momentes of lyfe in the hande of the Lord vnto hym thei stretche forth theyr ryght hand and permit themselues to the vttermoste to be gouerned in all thynges by hys counsayle and at all tyme and the constance stedfastnes of al theyr counsayles and dedes they demaunde of hym whose commaundementes are al stedfaste sure for euermore Thes thynges therfor who so godly ponder shall knowe sufficientlye y t there is nothynge in oure interpretation vpon thys place of Paul whiche dothe not manifestlye condescend and agre with those the Apostles wordes wherewith he requyreth that the father shoulde appoynte and iudge stedfastlye in his harte about the keapyng of hys doughter But for so muche as Uvynchester now agayne playeth the blynde sophister about the necessitie of the fathers decree because the father after oure interpretatyon whiche requyreth that he folowe the vocation of the Lorde should euermore haue the necessitie of doynge aâ—d neuer the power ouer his owne wil because the holy father must nedes folowe Gods vocation in hys doughter these thynges ye se your selues howe vnworthy they are that we shoulde speake moche of them For yf the father perceaue that his doughter is called to chastitie hathe he then any necessitie to marye her But fre power he hath to kepe her a virgin On the contrary parte Yf he know she is called to holy wedlock hath he any nede to kepe her a virgyn But he hath fre power to marye her althoughe in verye dede it behoueth and is necessarye so to be seynge it so pleaseth God Uvynchester euer sticketh in that erroure as thoughe all necessitie shold fight with fre wyll because y t necessitie is agaynst the lyberty of the wyl which hath in it any compultion or force but no suche necessitie can happen to them that in trewe faythe folowe Gods worde For lyke as in God and in the blessed with hym vpon this there is great necessitie of ryghte wyl and
vnmaryed after theyr leful age to mary yf it were not for the cause to learne Gods lawe to be gilty of the cryme of bloud sheddinge and of the diminisshyng of the glorye and honour of God emong the people of Israel and therfor vnworthy to be suffered emoÌ„g Gods people They made so moche of the offyce of begettynge children emonge the people of Israel The wise men emong the Grecyans agreynge with thes were in opinyon that they which were vnmaryed vnto fyue and thyrthye yeres shold not only be punisshed by the purse but also put to shame that expressidly to thentent no man shold do them y t honoure which is accustomed to be done of y e yonger vnto the elders By thes cawses therfor it is verye lyke that there arose contentions emonge the Corinthians about this matter as they were besydes full of coÌ„tention And for that cawse the wholl churche though mete to demaunde by epistle of the Apostle whether chastitie what chasttite shold be comelye for Christian relygion In dede the Apostle in this place maketh farr greater a do and tarieth lenger in praysing chastitie then matrimony for what shold y e prayse therof nede emoÌ„ge them whiche were now so feruent in y e studie of chastitie But for somoch as y e Apostle in thes his answeres passed not matrimonye without commendation it semeth he did it rather for this cawse leaste the coÌ„mendation of chastitie which yet came to passe sholde be taken in a backewarde sense of their posteritie then y t the Corinthians had nede at that tyme to be taught y t matrimonie is lefull and holye which were so hardlye persuaded that fornication is vnlefull and against the holynes profession of Christians Make yow iudgement both of the coniecture also of the reasons of y e coniectures of them both yet for all ye see how moche oure coniectures are more probable then Uvinchesters we sticke not vnto them in this cause but vnto thos clere and manifestlye pronunced oracles of God which I haue here to fore recited and wherupon I haue concluded oure demonstrations Thos yf Uvinchester can let him disconfecte bring forth the perfect foundations of his opinion not such not trifling sophistrie and querelinge scholishe reasons But he in both his epistles against me braggethe hiÌ„ self moste in thos places wherin coÌ„sisteth not the state of the state of the controuersyes betwext vs lettinge stippe like a valiaunt maÌ„ thos argumentes wherupoÌ„ oure doctrine speciallye consysteth and the contrarye therof cleane ouerthrowen How he hath also done in the interpretation of that place in the first epistle to y e CorinthiaÌ„s the xiiij chap. which we obiected against Latomus other oure aduersaries which go about to addict the faithe of Gods people to the Pope of Rome and his obnoxious couÌ„sailes let other geue iudgement for bicause this saing of the Apostle may be vnderstande by y e other prophetes only though it be no necessitie oure interpretation agre moch more both to Paules wordes to the senteÌ„ce also which S. Ambrose in lyke maner taught that by this place it is graunted to all in y e churche to examine suche thinges as were harde of the prophetes to reason therin as S. Ambrose turned this worde 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Yet doth UviÌ„chester so scolde and raile against vs bicause we are wont to vnderstande y t of all that here in y e churche as though he had founde y t we wold ouerthrowe some principalle article of oure faithe In y e meane season he maketh not word of the state it selfe of oure controuersy And though we graunt the authoritye of this place to oure aduersaries yet with how many euident and vndoubted testimonies of scrypture haue weshewed that whyche we contende together in this controuersye to say that it behoueth euerie Christian maÌ„ to knowe to iudg him self by y e spirite of God what so euer be offerid him in y e steade of Gods worde or precept of whom so euer it be offerid so that euerye man shold be truelye instructed of God vnfainidly beleue not man but God and recken it cursed if an Angell come from heaueÌ„ and teache y t coÌ„trary And in euerie point after the same fassion he inuaded vs also about the sacrament of thankes geuing the worshippinge of the same But of thes and other quarellinges of this man I shall in mete place commune at the full and will shewe what open iniurie he doth me in casting in my teethe both y e strife he had with such as are of oure opinioÌ„ about this matter also the recantatioÌ„ and retractation of the doctrine they at the fyrst defended Though I haue declared vnto the godlie the wholle drift as it is all to gether coÌ„cerning thes maters in my eâ—arrations retractatioÌ„s vpon the Euangelystes Now sithe I haue gone somthinge farther then the maner of a preface requireth I will ende to confute this mans quarellinges and sophistries will coÌ„mit and leaue all thes thinges to youre and all godlye mens iudgemens And I desyre God the father of oure lord Iesus Christe that he wil vowchsafe to iudâ—e with his spirite and to illumine with the lyght of his gosspell this mans and all other mens mindes whiche are not so moch aduersaries to vs as to the kingdom of his son that they maye in tyme turninge from the hope they put in theÌ„ selues imbrace his son before his anger waxinge hott against them they perish owt of the waye The same sauiour oure good shepherde kepe and preserue cumulate with all his heauenly benediction your most redoubted famous kinge both in godlynes and mightie prowes The most noble victorius Protectour of all his realmes The most godlye and prudeÌ„t Archebisshop of Canterburye primate of the churches of Engeland And all the kinges moste honourable counsaill And the ministers of both y e administrations Ecclesyastical and politicall with all the people of Christe wherbye wheÌ„ youre churches are ous cleane reedified ther may afterwarde some of them be sent to repaire y e churches in manie other natioÌ„s as in times paste when in manie places of fraunce and Germanie Christes religion stode well moste in decaye with y e knowlege of holie scripture of good artes your churches gaue the right reuerende father Beda Alcuinus Claudius Iohan Scotus meÌ„ of notable religioÌ„ doctrin and befor their tyme Bonifacius manie other verie studious as thos times by the secrete dispensation of God permitted repairers of christes churches That this moste large benefit of God shall through yow passe through manie regions of Europa y e feruent loue and vnfeaseable studie of youre Kynge in this age puissance of royaltie which he beareth towarde Christes pure religion good letters bringeth vnto vs no smale hoope then that singuler and durable beneuolence of God towardes youre realme wherbye he hath vowched safe to geue yow eft
spirite the onely guyde vnto al veritie vpon them that hereby instructed to helthe by fayth they may be dayly more perfecte and apte to all good workes as Gods seruaunte accordynge to the promyse of the holye ghooste manyfested by the Apostle Paule To the whiche felicitie ye prepare awaye for them and specially in expoundynge so plainelye and substancially the nature and efficacye of the trew and Christiane fayth which first of al must be learned by y e scriptures separate it so religiously froÌ„ the dead faythe Here also ye declare aâ—d with most euydent testimonies of scripture confirme Fyrste into how great myserye deathe we are al caste headloÌ„g through the synne of our former pareÌ„t Adam Afterwarde how we are delyuered from thys perdition by the onely grace of God by the merytes and resurrection of hys sonne iustifyed in Gods syght taken by adoption of hym for children and heyres Finallye what the studye workes of theÌ„ ought to be which are so iustifyed renued By thys so happye and perfect a restitutioÌ„ of Christes doctryne ye so enlarge al christes kyngdom with your meÌ„ y t there can remaine for no long season any remnant of the olde leuen in anye parte of the ceremonyes or discypline For whiche your men can be ignorant from hensforth that Gods sacramentes ought so whollye to be mynystred as Christ hym self left add gaue them vnto vs so that throughe them hys grace and helth some partakynge may be preached â—et furth signed vnto al moste plainelye and godly whiche oughte to be partakers of them so that they maye profitte greatly to the vndoubted settyng furth and reedifyenge of faythe and all godlynes Uvho also can not know that al the ceremonies of the churches al discipline as wel of the Clergye and the laytye shoulde be so repayred retayned and daylye had in practyse that the gospell and Christes sacramentes may be ministred and receaued with so moche the more dignitie and holynes The whiche happye obtaynynge of Christes gyftes and workes the old aduersary of mankynde bearynge in mynde goeth aboute with toothe and nayle as in fore tymes so nowe also to brynge to passe that men shoulde eyther not reade the scriptures at all or at the least wyse not reade them as thynges that myght teach and instructe vs suffiefficieÌ„tly for our helth or els not be vnderstanded of theÌ„selues without the traditions and interpretatioÌ„ of the churche as they falsely name it For whome he can perswade that those which are called the traditions of the church shoulde be had in like estimatioÌ„ and honour with the verie scripture of God that there is no right interpretation of the scripture vnlesse the Romishe seat hathe approued it vnder the name of al Christes church Those can he also easely afterward make beleue and cause to receaue any of hys iuglinges cloked with the titles other of the traditions or interpretations of the churche and so withdrawen by a litle and litle from Gods liuely worde and gouernaunce addict them altogether vnto hys moste detestable doctryne and tyrannye For vnto those furthwith as we see experience he establyssheth thys hys determination of deade faythe that they thinke that who so is indued therewith that is to witte who so say and affirme that they obserue all thynges what soeuer the Romysh seate geueth furthe to be beleued whether it be of y e scriptures or theyr fayninges they are strayght furthe and must be counted notwithstanding though they denye apparantly in theyr dedes Christes trewe and lyuely faythe not onely to be of the commune sorte but also the chiefe rulers of the churche yf thei once come into that place by the permissyon and fauoure of the Romysh seate Uvherevnto immediatly he addeth another one of the chiefâ—st snares of soules the determination of the infinite dignitie immunitie and power of hys cleargye but chiefly of the Byshop of Rome whiche he beateth into mens heades that al those whome the Bysshop of Rome once admitteth acknowlegeth in hys cleargye muste be iudged and corrected of none but onely of the Bysshoppe of Rome and he of no lyuyng creature no not of the very counsayl though he drawe with hym manye milians of soules to hell Also that heauen gates can be opeÌ„ to no man whiche commeth not thyther fauored of him and purged with his ceremonies Finally that he hathe in his keapinge the keyes of heauen earth and hell so that it is in hys power to bynde and to â—oule at hys wyll and pleasure al lawes and Empires And that he is the veraye Lorde of the whole worlde and trew possessor of al the ryches therof and yet nother man nor God Yes truely a God of y e earth Uvith these snares meny entangled and kepte folowe moste communlye theyr lyfe whome they suppose are apointed guydes vnto them to the blessed and happye lyfe And albeit they treade vnder foote the Sonne of God with theyr manyfest mischeues flagitiousnes and counte hys blood prophane notwithstaÌ„dyng they promyse that God wyl be mercyfull vnto theÌ„ and at lengthe after tollerable purgation obtayne the happye and blessed lyfe so that perseuerynge in the obeyâ—aunce towardes the Romyshe seate communicatynge of the ceremonyes how soeuer they be approued by the same seate get and obtayne the iâ—dulgenties of the same seate and intercessyon of the sayntes by those wayes whiche the same seate hath prescrybed This is the cause y t al they y t be are the name of Christians few excepte haue ben seduced and gone headling into so muche vngodlines abomination y t we are therfor abominable euen vnto the Turkes ¶ Uve ought therfore of bounde dutye to thanke God greatly our sauyour for you whome he hath minded breaking so happilye these which were ones most strayte bondes of y e deuil and driuyng away that darkenes to bryng your selues youres vnder y e happie plesaunt yoke of our Lorde Iesus Christ into a kingdom of lyght and euerlastyng libertie for bycause ye restore prayse vnto al the readyng authoritie of holye scripture on thys maner as we se by thes hedde princyples of al christiaÌ„ doctryne expound theÌ„ so godly holy CoÌ„cerning y t trew and liâ—ely fayth in Christ. The perditioÌ„ of al mankynd by the former â—arthlye AdaÌ„ The restâ— tution and renouation of the elect by the other heauenly Adam And then duties which are so restored renued For now your men who so will thankefully receaue these so great benefittes of Christe at your hande shalbe instructed daylye more and more by these holye letters to all godlynes and helth and framed to all good worke bothe openly priuately And that not alonelye the stronge in faythe but also the weake for hereof as ye declare agreyng with S Fulgentius Christes suckelynges may sucke no lesse theyr milke reason simplicitie then the strong in faythe comprehende sounde meate