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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
work_n	charity_n	faith_n	justification_n	4,801	5	9.5998	5	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A19367	A supplication exhibited to the most mightie Prince Philip king of Spain &c. VVherin is contained the summe of our Christian religion, for theprofession whereof the Protestants in the lowe Countries of Flaunders, &c. doe suffer persecution, vvyth the meanes to acquiet and appease the troubles in those partes. There is annexed An epistle written to the ministers of Antwerpe, which are called of the confession of Auspurge, concerning the Supper of our sauiour Iesus Christ. VVritten in French and Latine, by Anthonie Corronus of Siuill, professor of Diuinitie.	Corro, Antonio del, 1527-1591.; Corro, Antonio del, 1527-1591. Epistle or godlie admonition, to the pastoures of the Flemish Church in Antwerp. aut	1577 (1577)	STC 5791; ESTC S116690	149,833	422

speake o● Christe Whether thys propositio● bée true Christe was from the béeginnyng whether it bée more aptely● sayde that hée is compounded o● bothe natures or consysteth or is commixte or knitte togyther and combined or as it were gellied or moul●ed or coupled and conioyned Howe muche better were it to omit these moti●ns and vaine questions and to content ●ur selues with that which the Apostles ●aue taught vs whiche affirme vnto vs 〈◊〉 plaine termes that Christe accordyng ●o the fleshe was made or begotten of the ●éed of Dauid and is the true son of God ●lmighty according to the spirite and so ●y thys meanes contenting our selues with this simplicitie of speach should en●euour our selues to expresse Christ him ●elfe that is to say practise moste perfect ●olynesse and innocency in our liues and ●onuersation Besides this in how darke ●nd doubtfull termes do these blind Sco●istes dispute and reason of the foure in●tants of nature as also where they goe ●boute to proue that this worde person ●oth not signifie relatione Origenis neyther ●he common relation c. Many more examples of like impious and wicked dis●utations procéeding from the idle curio●itie of this Scotist might here be alledged but bycause the matter it selfe is blasphemous and too vnreuerent in r●spect of the person of Christe but also 〈◊〉 vttered with suche termes as the common people can in no wise vnderstande for our mother tongue will not ministe● words to vtter so fond and nice conce●● withall I haue thought good to retourn● to matters more euident leauing the● and other such like toys as the religio● is full fraught For to what purpose is 〈◊〉 vainely to spende the tyme aboute disputing of Gods greatenesse and howe infinite he is of soch motions and mere imaginations as these be or of the relation and foundacions of the Trinitie and th● vnspeakeable beginning of the worde whether it tooke being at an instant o● by processe of tyme by waye of procéeding or generation These and such other like what vse I beséeche you can the● haue either to the building or beautifying of the Church of God notwithstanding sée the mischiefe how this their philosophie preuaileth and those ioyly diuines thinke vs altogither vnlearned bicause we hold our selues contented onl● with the pure and perfect word reiecting ●homas Aquinas with his curious questi●ns Scotus with his subtil and sophistical ●rgumentes Durandus with his follies ●nd diuers others of that sorte with their ●oste impudent vanities Of the lawe of God and the force therof AFterwards when god perceiued that mankinde was become almost sense●esse in so much that he neither was tou●hed with his own misery and calamity ●or of himselfe vnderstoode what should become of him except their mindes were cherished and comforted with the hope of his promisses besides to the ende that hée might chose vnto himselfe a people as it were specially and peculiarly apart from the rest After he had deliuered the Israelits out of the captiuitie and bondage of Pharao he made a lawe which he established and published in mount Sinay The force wherof was to awake such as slept securely in synne to accuse and reproue them to proue whole mankinde guiltye before the throne and Maiestye of God that thereby they mighte learne to séeke righteousnesse and innocencye whereof they were altogither destitute at the onely mercies of God when euery one should acknowlege in his own cōscience know by his own experiēce the naturall corruption deprauation of his minde by the iudgement and manifestation of the lawe Secondarily to the end that the faithfull and chosen of God shold be taught by the law as by a most excellent and learned schoolemaister what exercises and dueties God requireth at the handes of hys children bycause no man shoulde deuise of his owne fantasie and imagination any newe seruice of God other than was by the law of God prescribed and appointed The summe and effecte of whiche doctrine albeit the holy Apostle hath plainly and sufficientlye declared in hys Epistles yet haue these vnlerned doctours broughte in méere Iudaisme and Paganisme into Christian religion For they teache vs that the lawe was giuen vs onely to this intent that we shoulde ●alke in good workes by the which men night not only be acceptable in the sight ●f God but iustified also before him And herevpon they take occasion to ●aunder vs as though we should affirme ●ood workes to be néedelesse and shoulde withdrawe men from the studye and ex●rcise of vertue and lette them loose to all ●icenciousnesse Whereas we studye all we can and vse all our endeuour to shew ●he people that suche as bée regenerate oughte duely to beée conuersaunte in good workes and in godly exercises bothe to tame the lustes and concupiscences of their myndes and to engender a mutuall loue and charitie among men as also confirme and establish euery particular mans conscience in the perswasion of his election and to retaine Gods spirite the better in their mindes by whose good motion and direction their willes mighte the rather bée alwayes pliable and conformable to doe all good and godlye exercises of true godlynesse and vertue And yet wée flattely denye that these works be the cause of our iustification but rather the effectes the fignes and tokens of true faith settled in our heartes euen as by good fruites it appeareth tha● the trées bée good where they doe procéede Of the Ceremonies and Sacrifices of the olde Testament MOreouer whereas the corrupte and peruerse nature of man was suche that of hymselfe hée coulde not putte hys whole affiaunce and truste in God thinking it a matter of very great difficultie almoste of impossibilitie to bée delyuered from the bondage and slauerye of Sathan the tiranny of sinne and the yoke of the lawe whiche required a paye aboue his power to wit puritie sinceritie and holinesse bothe of mynde and bodye the Lorde did institute Ceremonies and sacrifices and burnt offerings by the whiche men shoulde be admonished and putte in mind that he standeth in néed of some mediatour and redemer by whose means he might bée loosed out of all the bondes and snares wherein he was entangled ●taine true and perfect libertie And to ●e intent that he might be led as it were ●y the hand to the knowlege of his Mes●as and Sauiour he set before his eyes ●sible ceremonies wherein as in a Ta●le wée mighte beholde the person the ●ffice and the moste singuler and super●●cellent effects of the said Sauiour and ●edemer Christ Iesus to wit the sacri●ice and order of sacrifying the Sanctu●ry the propiciation the vaile the table ●he shewe breade with other suche lyke Of the Popishe Ceremonies ANd now I beséech you compare the Popishe Ceremonies and these togi●her and no doubte ye shall well perceiue ●t to be true that Augustine complayned of in his time that they are growen to so great a multitude and swarme that they are not onely equall in

that we be the mēbers of his misticall body The same Paule doth likewise testify in the epistle to the Corinths that Christe dothe speake in him whose power and vertue the Corinthians also did perceiue in his speache and warneth thē that they shoulde giue eare vnto Christe dwelling within thē for otherwise saith hée Christe will reiecte and refuse you Moreouer our Lorde and sauiour Iesus Christe did likewise make his earnest requeste vnto his father and no doubt but he obtained it that those which were his might bée so coupled togyther in so sure and faste a bande that as hée and his father were one so they might also be one The manner and order of whiche societie Cyrill a very auntient doctour dothe very largely entreate of in hys treatise vppon the .17 Chapter of the Gospel after Iohn whether I referre the reader concerning the same And now I cannot otherwise thinke but that these phrases of speache vsuall in Paule and diuers auntient writers in the Churche shall in these our dayes be thought somewhat absurde and vnapte forasmuche as all labour now adays not to profite religion with the true and perfecte exercises of the mind but with ceremonies and suche like trashe deuised rather for vaine shewe and ostentation thā vppon any godly purpose Wherevppon it groweth the oure aduersaries acknowledge no other communion of the body of Christe saue onely that whiche they say is exhibited in the holy supper vnto vs al. As they likewise know no other regeneration than that whyche they thinke is giuen in baptisme nor any other righteousnesse or iustification than that which is hid in Christe who is so farre distant from vs as heauen from earth wheras notwithstanding he that hathe not putte on Christe is voide of all iustice and innocencie the only pathes that leade vs vnto God neyther is it meruayle that these sayings of the Apostles and other the faithfull haue béene vnknowne vnto diuers For it is as easye a matter to teache the blinde to conceiue the brightnesse of the shining Sun beames by the comparison of other creatures which he hathe neuer séene as to teache men these things and perswade them therein whiche are onely addicte to the naturall diseases of the fleshe and therefore I doe moste hartily pray and beséech those that moue and prouoke youre Maiestie to persecute vs by all kind of torments and cruelties that they woulde firste learne the reason and cause of oure Iustification in the schoole of oure sauiour Christ before they procéed to condemne vs to be heretikes vnworthy this life or the societie and fellowship of men Of good workes after the doctrine of the Papistes AFter they haue thus fowly shamefully erred in thys chiefe foundation of our faith touching satisfaction and iustification they cannot possibly deliuer vnto vs anye true and certayne doctrine of good workes and yet notwithstandyng wée haue better cause to bewaile their blindnesse and vnmercifulnesse thā to ieste thereat who falsely slaundering vs with the reiecting of good works haue taughte a doctrine of theyr owne deuise cōcerning the same most pernicious and hurtefull vnto man. Therfore this they lay for the ground worke of this their doctrine that a man ●ustified maye safely and lawfullye per●ourme that which is riquired in the law ●f God after their owne fantasie and ●ccording to the power and strengthe of ●heir owne will that they by the aide and assistaunce of Gods grace are able to do workes meritorious de condigno as they call it In the mean while not one word of Christe Iesus and the presence of hys holye Spirite in the heartes of the faithfull wherevppon procéedeth all oure power and strength whatsoeuer the fruites of which fréewill they cal merites digna and therof do make thrée sortes The first sort they terme to be of congruence wherby we prepare our selues to receyue the grace of God The second of c●ndigniti● as they call it or of deserte for bicause that the doer and worker thereof is worthye the grace of God and the increase therein The thirde kinde comprehendeth both the other two sorts of merits the whiche being compared with the rewards propounded for the same do easyly match thē in worthinesse excellency Cōcerning the first sort they teach v● that a man of his ownefrée motion wil● may without the grace of God prepar● and able himselfe to receiue the grace o● God so that a man onely doe hys endeuour and good wil. Again this preparation contayneth thrée partes The first● that a man shoulde ceasse to committ● sinne Secondly to abate his lust and w●● to sinne Thirdely to endeuour hymself● to imbrace righteousnesse likewise the● saye that thrée things are requisite in a man to the doing of a meritorious acte the minde that worketh it the frée will that moueth the minde the intention and purpose respecting a good end but of God and of hys holy spirite not one worde I warrant you And the workes that issue out of thys roote deserue thrée things remissiō of sin encrease of grace and possession of life euerlasting the which we merit by meane of charitie the excellencie of the work likewise of good works ther be two sorts either of commaundementes or but only of counsell or supererogation as they terme them bicause a man is not bound 〈◊〉 doe them but that Gods will is that 〈◊〉 shoulde merite so much the more And ●ese be the workes saye they whyche ●hriste taught hys disciples in the .5 of ●athew in this wise Blessed be the poore 〈◊〉 spirite for theirs is the Kingdome of ●eauen Blessed are they that mourne or they shall receiue comforte Blessed ●re the méeke in harte for they shall in●erite the earthe Blessed are they that ●unger and thirst for righteousnesse sake ●or they shall be satisfied Blessed are the ●leane in hearte for they shall sée God Blessed are the peacemakers for they ●hall be called the children of God Bles●ed are they that suffer persecution for ●heirs is the kingdome of heauen Blessed are ye when men persecute and reuile you and speake all euil vppon you slaundering you moste falsely for my sake reioice be glad for great is your rewarde in heaue for so hauen they persecuted the Prophets in olde time But by these and other like places of holy scripture vncōstrued they gather the order and lyfe of Monkerie the vowes of chastitie ob●dience pouertie full of all superstition 〈◊〉 this kind of life say they is perfecte an● most acceptable vnto God insomuche 〈◊〉 they cōtemne al other things in respect and call al other Christians worldlings and secular and lay people The residue of their good workes ar● to fast in the holy time of Lente to abstein frō the eating of flesh at certain tymes in the weke which they cal the ho●● wéeke to whip and scourge themselues to buylde Chappels found Chauntries giue lampes candle-lights to set before saints in

foure certaine pointes and that more to reueale the slender edification that their readers may hope for of such lessons than to encumber our selues with the confutation of such vanities Touching that which you say of our inheritance of the originall sin and frée will lost the worlde it selfe doth declare well inough at this daye that euery one hath gotten a good lumpe of the inheritance of the corruption of Adam and the originall sinne as they call it and your writings shewe that you haue had youre parte thereof And I beléeue as you say that men nowe a dayes haue not any Frée will séeing it maye be further beléeued that there be a great many that haue slender sense and well worse vnderstanding as being altogither ruled and caried ouer by their affections Touching the matter of the incarnation of the sonne of God and redemption of man I coulde well haue pardoned you the obmission of the subtill questions you vse therein searching curiously the house wherein Christe dwelleth Item what make we of ascension or the signification of this worde heauen or the righte hande of God so that you woulde teache vs the true meane to receyue Iesus Christ into our selues séeing it pleaseth him in respecte of his goodnesse to make his dwelling in the hearts of the faythful and regenerate Otherways of what vse is Iesus Christe to vs being so far from the hart of man as you make him B. 4. Touching youre place of iustifying fayth I vnderstande not your language where you say that only fayth by meane whereof we take as of a hande the benefite of Iesus Christe to obtaine iustification regeneratiō and health the whiche indéede is true but immediatly after you say that by the Sacramentes are imputed and applied to vs the iustice and merite of Iesus Christe B. 4. Item in the same doctrine of Iustification you say it is a moste harde question to know what is that true Iustice which makes vs iust and agréeable to god with atteinment of eternall life but I had rather that without so many argumentes confutations and subtilties you hadde shewed to the poore and ignorant people what is the christian iustice and by what meane shée is giuen to vs B. 5. In the tractate of good workes you saye that the workes which men oughte to call good are those whyche God demaundes in hys worde and that those which be regenerate and guided by the spirite of God are they whiche shewe the fruites of a good Trée I beléeue it well and conclude vpon your saying that who hath not zeale loue charitie who suffereth not all things with pacience taketh euery thing in the best part couereth the faults of his neighbor and laboureth not to put peace in place of dissention can not haue regeneration And touching the rest of your questions whether good workes concurre in iustification as a cause formall or efficient the simple people haue not to doe contenting themselues wyth this beliefe that regeneration and faith without good works is a méere hipocrisie thing dead and that it is necessary that our new obedience serue as witnesse of our reconciliation and iustification Nowe deare brethren as I am voide of intent herein eyther to examine or exaggerate the newnesse of youre confession and much lesse to confute it by argumentes so I will leaue to the consideration of the Reader youre excuse in cutting off the commandement of the liuing God vnder pretext of certaine gloses and distinctions vnworthy to be vttered for here we doe not dispute whether the commaundement not to make anye images of veneration be a commandement particular or an appendix of an other whether it be ceremoniall or morall but wée will here mayntaine that it is an audacitie moste cursed to cut off from the law of oure God any one worde séeing specially that that summe and content of cōmandement is so shorte and compēdious that it conteineth but ten commandemētes the which if god woulde haue abridged he knew better how to do it than wée and therfore such as vndertake to correct his stile and accuse him of prolixitie giue sufficient proofe of their abhominable temeritie But let vs nowe come to the principall poynte of your debate and auncient question the which vpon a brauery you séeme to renue vppon euery purpose and place without hauing respect to the gret slaunder of those that bée weake Firste you vtter the summe of your confession of the Supper in these wordes Credimus igitur Christo affirmante quòd corpus sanguis eius verè ac realiter in sacra Coena adsit deturque externo modo accipiendum cùm Pane vino non fide tantùm aut spiritualiter idque tam ab indignis quàm à dignis sumantur contraria docentes cum Augustana confessione consentiendo damnamus That is to saye Wée beléeue in Chryste who assureth vs that his body and bloud be truly and really in the sacred Supper and that it is gyuen vs in taking it outwardly wyth the bread and wine not only with faith and spirituallye the whyche body is eaten aswell of the vnworthy as of those that be worthy And those that shall teache the contrary wée sticking to the confession of Auspurge do condemne them Sée here my brethren youre goodlye entrie of the article of your supper whiche we may not improperly liken to that of the newe inquisitors who condemne anathematize excommunicate and call Heretikes and cut off from the communion of the Churche all those whiche receiue not their cōfession which me think you doe also as of purpose to maintayne yours of Auspurge as though it were a fifth Gospel or new article of the Créed What shall we say brethrē to these matters haue you no shame that men of good iudgement and vnderstandyng shoulde reade suche arrogant and rashe wordes Who are they that haue se● the authour of the confession of Auspurge or that of yours in such aucthoritie or degrée of the Churche that they may pronounce sentence of damnation agaynste suche as will not admitte theyr interpretation vppon a place or Texte of the Scripture What is hée of anye iudgement at all who will not feare to forsake the tyrannie of the Papistes to euer into an nther almoste of like condition Wée call the Pope Antichriste tyrant and butcher of mens consciences bycause that wythout libertie to heare men speake he cōdemneth and excommunicateth them and yet your doings are nothing inferior to his crueltie in pronouncing condemnation not onely agaynste your enimies but also againste suche as you receiue for youre brethren and companions in the worke of the Lorde and w●o no lesse for the duety of Christians than to take away the slaunder from the Churche of Christe doe searche by all theyr possible meanes to lyue in loue and friendshippe with you I coulde willingly say to the authour of youre confession as the Apostle sayth my brother my friend what art thou that condemns the seruants of another

mid day to go on pilgremage●sing Masses such execrable workes of superstitiō Of which things this saying of Esai may wel and aptly be verified against them that vse thē Who hath required these things at your hands that not without a cause for this kind of seruice is so far from being acceptable vnto him that they are most odious hatefull vnto him as may appeare by the many fold plagues punishmēts which he layeth daily vpon vs that most worthily Therfore if our aduersaries finde fault ●ith vs bicause we teach not the people 〈◊〉 do such works we are very wel con●nt to sustein that accusation of theirs ●or let thē denounce against vs cōdem●tion neuer so great nor so oft our god ●ne doubt not will absolue vs let them ●rsecute vs neuer so extremely he will 〈◊〉 our defence and buckler let them put 〈◊〉 to most cruel deaths almightie God ●il restore vs vnto life again thorough ●hriste Iesus who is our only life Fi●ally though they burne vs to ashes he ●hat raysed Iesus Christe from death ●ill likewise rayse vp again oure bodies ●ute of duste and ashes for the spirites ●ake that dwelleth in vs Rom. 8. Of the good woorkes of a man that is iustifyed FIrste we protest and affirme that our aduersaries do most falsly slander vs where they say of vs that we cōtemne the doing of good works and that we persuade the people that they ar made holy and righteous in Christe and th● it skilleth not how they liue For we pr●teste the contrary that that doctrine 〈◊〉 neyther the doctrine of the Gospell 〈◊〉 our doctrine forasmuche as it appeareth manifestlye in scripture that a good t●● muste bring forth good fruite whereby 〈◊〉 may appere that the roote therof is god ▪ And the Apostle doth plainely teache 〈◊〉 the cause why Christe hathe deliuere● vs from the tiranny of sinne and by h●● righteousnesse made vs righteous whe● he saith on this wise For wee also som● time were madde stubberne wandering out of the waye seruing diuers lusts an● vanities liuing in malice enuie hatefull one at deadly hatred wyth another● but after that the goodnesse and abundan● loue of oure Lorde and Sauiour Iesus Christe was manifested towardes men he saued vs not for the good workes that we our selues had done but of hys ow● frée grace and mercie by the fountain of regeneration and by the renouation of the holy Spirite the whiche he poured vpon vs abundātly by his sonne Christ that being iustified through his grace we shoulde bée made heyres of euerlastyng life according to hope Also in an other place he saith that the grace of Almightie God our sauiour was declared that men laying aparte all worldly pleasures shuld wholy bende themselues to true and perfecte goodlinesse righteousnesse and sobernesse looking for the happy hope and the glorious comming of our lorde god If these things then be true as we beléeue them to be moste true what impudencie were it to affirme that a man shuld liue idelly in the houshold of God truely wée affirme that a man not indued wyth the spirit of regeneration or berefte of that grace is altogither vnable to do or speak any thing that can please God yea so muche as to acknowledge Iesus Christe in his hearte vnlesse hée haue in hym Gods holy spirite and therfore we déeme those things that haue béene declared by vs as touching merits of congruence and of condignitie and suche other lyke fonde and foolishe distinctions to be méere deuises of mans vaine heade to make sinners become hipocrites and counterfaiters of holinesse whiles they vnderstand not the darke mistes of their ignorance and bée senselesse as touching their owne misery and destructiō which they cannot escape neither by these works preparatorie nor by any diligence or worldly wisedome but by the onely goodnesse and mercye of God whiles hée moueth oure mindes with forcible motions and openeth oure eies that wée should sée the most miserable estate and condition we be in wade out of this moste filthy puddell and sinke of all sinne where we are almost drewned and be washed with the moste precious bloud of the immaculate lambe that we may our selues be new creatures the whiche thing we call properly regeneration and newe birth or sanctification rather if ye liste so to terme it And after wée bée iustified and thus renued wée are so vnited and knitte in Christ with the band of his holy spirit that our works that we do afterwards ought to be accōpted Christes works in that respect are most acceptable in the sight of God but least any should fondly vainely imagine and dreame hereof with himselfe when he heareth vs speake of thys coniunction felowship with Christe we do not hereby mean any kind of transformation or transsubstantiation of the bodye of Christe into oure bodies as if it were néedful that the true humilitie of Christ shoulde be laide aside and vanish awaye God forbid But for the true and right vnderstanding of thys misterye wée requyre a spirituall man suche one as hathe bene instructed by the holy spirite to discerne and iudge of things rightely and as they ought to be in due place and order so that he maye be able to conceiue and comprehend in the vnderstanding of his mind Iesus Christ our redemer the son of god very God and very man glorified and sitting at the right hand of his heauenly father hauyng all power committed vnto hym bothe in heauen and in earth the whiche throughe faith hath hys continuall abode and dwelling in the heartes of hys elect chosen people And who so is iustified on this sorte occupy not themselues in buildyng of Chappell 's in saying of Masses in wandering on pilgrimage nor spende their whole life in such like superstitious exercises but referre all their actions and enterprises and cogitations to that seruice whiche they knowe God requireth at our handes speciallye they endeuour themselues firmly to retaine in their myndes the perpetuall and continuall meditation of the wonderfull coniunction they haue with Christe whose spirite witnesseth vnto our spirit that we are the children of God brethren and heires annexed with Christe the whych testimony is a strong assurance and most certaine earneste and seale of oure election and of Gods gratious goodnes as Esaias doth teache vs of the couenaunte which God hath entred with vs Neither is there anye other meanes to retaine this affiance and adoption than the continuall calling vppon the name of God ioyned with the reading and meditation of holy scriptures and the mortifying of our olde Adam and extending charitable almes towardes our neighboure And to the intent we may orderly learne whiche be the good workes of him that is regenerate and borne againe in Christ they may be referred to these thrée principall pointes the encrease of faith the desire of mortification of the fleshe and the societie of man consisting

most certaynly chosen and receiued into the societie and felowship of th● heauenly couenaunt and so by this me●nes should reape all the fruite and for● of this sacrament in our soules For w● are not of opinion nor may not be so perswaded that this is brought to passe 〈◊〉 opere operato that is to saye for the w●●thinesse of the worke wrought as th● schoolemen terme it but put our whi● truste and confidence in the onely me● and goodnesse of almightie God we ha●● our faith more and more confirmed a● strengthned by baptisme by the which faith we beléeue assuredly that our he●uenly father hathe adopted vs into t●● number of his children hathe pardon● vs all oure offences hathe endewed 〈◊〉 wyth his heauenly grace hathe clens● all the filth and corruption of our soule● that wée from thencefoorth being whol● dedicate and consecrated to serue hy● and deliuered from the feare of all o●● ghostly enimies shoulde leade a iuste an ●neste and an holy life before hym that ●●th bestowed these so many so greate ●●nefits vpon vs And thus much brief-concerning Baptism wherof by gods ●ace I maye entreate more largely at ●ne other tyme hereafter Of Popishe Penaunce IF any after baptisme do verely perceiue féele in his consciēce that thes●●eir vaine deuises and fonde ceremonies ●herof we haue spoken by occasion and 〈◊〉 oportunitie serued haue ben little or ●thyng auaileable vnto them and that ●ese and such like distinctions of theirs ●oad culpam as to the fault quoad reatum ●s to the guilte quoad veniam as to the ●ardon bée méere friuolous and foolishe ●nd as the prophet saith nothing but soft ●illows for the people to leane vnto and ●ée lulled a sléepe on if any I saye being ●hus affected fynd a trouble in his con●cience concerning his saluation begin ●o muse vpon some means how he maye ●scape the iudgement of God wherwith his conscience is striken and astonied 〈◊〉 and by they bid him leane to a rotten p●● that is to say to penance but good Lor● what can be more contrarye to true p●nance than this which they appoint hy● vnto whiche is nothing but a méerē d●ceipt and iuggling and deuises imagi●● by them to picke mennes purses no 〈◊〉 this is but a weake plancke to saue a 〈◊〉 from shipwracke and helpe hym to la●● but to sincke rather to the bottome of t●● Sea. Of the partes of popish penance namely of the fyrste parte called contrition PEnaunce they teache vs hath th● partes contrition of hearte confess● of mouth and satisfaction of workes 〈◊〉 who so desireth to vnderstand the reas●● of this diuision let him resorte to Thom● Aquinas Durandus and Scotus in th●● bookes whiche they wrote of the ques●●ons of diuinitie but to discende to t●● particularities Contrition say they is griefe voluntarily conceiued for syn● committed wyth a purpose to confe● them and make satisfaction for the same ●his definition is moste like Autentical 〈◊〉 They say moreouer such may be the ●eatnesse and force of contrition suche ●at it is able not only to purge the fault ●●d quiet it selfe but to remoue the pu●●shement due for the same and that twoo ●ayes First for the charitie sake which 〈◊〉 the very true cause that bréedeth sor●w and griefe which charitie spreading ●ir braunches far in compasse bringeth ●orthe contrition and meriteth partly re●ission of the payne Secondarilye for ●he sense of that griefe prouoked and stir●ed vp by the wil in the very Contrition And forasmuch as this sorrow and griefe ●s very greate and gréeuous it is effectu●ll also and auaileable to take away both ●he offence and the punishment likewise they mince the sorrowe of contrition into thrée partes one to be deficient another sufficient the thirde preeminent wherof the firste driueth downe to the pitte of hell the second raiseth him vp to purgatorie the thirde hoiseth hym vppe to Paradise 〈◊〉 Moreouer contrition differeth from attrition as faith framed from that whic● is vnframed and they are al doubtfull 〈◊〉 this point whether contrition maye ri●● of attrition or whether there may bée any place in Hell Purgatorie Paradise for contrition whiche question is as y● vndecided And this is welnéere the sum of this doctrine oute of the whiche I bée● séech your Maiesty to consider most gratious Prince what commoditie comfort or reliefe can come to a troubled conscience how shal a mā be able to escape ou● of so many difficulte and intricate questions or how shall a man haue any remedies of his sorrowes at his owne hands or staye hymselfe vppon the strength o● man For the will of man whence they saye contrition doeth spring is more inclining and yéelding to luste and concupiscence than to any sorrowe or pensiuenesse Howe can it then possibly come to passe that a man shoulde vse the same to the beating down and mortifying of most horrible and detestable vices Finally in all this péece of doctrine not one worde of Christe Iesus and his holy spirite nothyng ruleth but onely the will of man ●e sorrow and griefe of man the heaui●sse of the hearte pensiuenesse charitie ●nd laste of all attrition which is trans●urmed into contrition as it were by inbantment and witchcrafte Of true contrition according to the word of God. HOwe be it Gods worde teacheth vs that Contrition is the wonderfull worke of God and that the conuerteth the hearte of the synner accordyng to hys ●nfinite goodnesse and mercye breaketh ●t mollifyeth it which otherwise of it owne nature woulde become harder than ●flint stubborne rebelling obstinate and prone to all mischiefe It is he that of a stony heart maketh it softe as fleshe apt to bend tractable and pliable to his moste holy will. And therfore Dauid acknowledging hys offence praieth vnto God that he would create a newe hearte in him the whiche God neuer despiseth nor contemneth if it bée humble and lowlye Wherfore almightie God to the ●●●tent that hée myghte abate and pluck● downe the pride and hautinesse of man● mynde he doth firste vse the threats and terrours of his lawe and looketh with the burning and fierie eies of his indignation and displeasure as those can tell by experience whiche do truly and hartyly repent that they haue so long continued in the seruice of Sathan and the palpable darkenesse of popish errour for they vnderstande right wel by what steppes and degrées their heauenlye father hathe aduaunced them to the excellency of regeneration and newe birth in Christe that is to say to bée partakers of the righteousnesse and innocencie of Christe which is the onely path to passe to by the Kingdome of heauen Of popishe confession THe seconde parte of Penaunce they say is to bée shriuen of a Prieste by auriculer confession and this they affirm to be a Sacrament of Christes institution in the 16. and 18. of his Gospell after Mathew Albeit it appeareth by Iames ●t there was a farre other vse thereof ●hey say moreouer

in the duties of loue charitie of one towards an other to the which places al the works studies of the electe and faythfull bée referred and aptely applyed as Paule doth teache Rom. 12. Galath 5. Colos 3. where hée saith If therfore ye be risen againe with Christe séeke after those things whiche be aboue where Christe sitteth at the right hande of God set your affection on thinges aboue not on things on the earthe for you are dead and your life is hid with Christe in God whensoeuer Christ whiche is oure life shall appeare then shall you also appere with him in glory Mortifie therfore your earthly members fornication vncleannesse wantonnesse euil concupiscence and couetousnesse whiche is the worshypping of Images for the which things sake the vengeance of God is come vpon the children of disobediēce In which vices ye also walked sometime when ye liued in them but nowe put ye all wrath enuie malice blasphemie filthy communication out of your mouthlye not one to another after ye haue put of that olde manne and hys workes and putte ouer the newe man whiche is renued into the knowlege according to the Image of him that made him where is neither Iewe nor Grecian circumcision nor vncircumcision Barbarian Scithian bonde nor frée but Christe is all are all put ye on therefore as it becommeth the electe of God holy and beloued bowels of mercie kindenesse humblenesse of minde longsuffering forbearing one another forgiuing one another if any haue a quarell against another euen as Christ hath forgiuē you so also do ye aboue a● things put on loue which is the bōd of perfectnesse let the defēce of god haue victory in your harts to the which we are also called to be one bodye and sée that yée bée thankefull let the worde of Christ dwell in you abundauntly with all wisedome teaching admonishing your own selues with psalmes and himnes and spirituall songs singing and giuing thankes and praises vnto god in your harts whatsoeuer yée shall doe or say do it in the name of the Lorde Iesu giuing thankes vnto God the father throughe him And these saye I are the good workes of the faithfull not the superstitious ceremonies of hypocrites Behold most gracious soueraigne summarily and briefly the righteousnesse of a Christiā man from whom all these controuersies almoste throughout al Christendome haue gone as out of a heade or spring specially in youre maiesties lowe Countries whereby youre highenesse may well perceiue if it maye please you to make comparison of oure doctrine and theyrs that it is no trifle that is in question béetwixte vs neither doe wée contende of pleasure or will in a matter wherein we hazarde bothe life and goods nor it is no small or peltyng quarrell for riches or anye possessions For they that follow thys profession and are zealous in this religion are disinherited of their auntient and rightefull inheritaunces But herein consisteth the knotte of all oure controuersies in that we affirme all our whole studye and endeuoure to tende to this ende that wée might perfectely and absolutelye enioye that moste perfecte and absolute benefit of Christe bestowed vppon vs and wholly possesse and enioy him in such wise as our heauenly father hath giuen him vnto vs and that we shoulde moste diligently and aboue all things take héede that wée be not broughte in opinion to purchase our saluation by golde or siluer by the vaine and superstitious doctrine of men And now I referre it to your Maiesties good iudgement and consideration whether this our most iuste defence and well meaning and our earneste zeale of godlinesse haue deserued thus sundry wayes to be persecuted by imprisonment exile rackes tortures fire and sworde to rid vs out of the waye whiche haue no other care of oure lyues but that wée maye fyrste and principallye gyue God hys due honoure that is to worship hym in spirite and truth and nexte thereto sub●itte themselues with all humilitie vn● your Maiestie be obedient vnto you ●nd doe to your highnesse all loyall and ●utifull seruice with most willing minds ●nd hartie good wil as faithfull subiectes 〈◊〉 their naturall Prince It maye there●ore please your Maiestie of your grati●us goodnesse to consider whether it b●e a matter incident and apperteining to your ●ffice and princely vocation with equitie ●nd fauour to heare and to dete●mine ●his so waightie a matter where●n consisteth the life and safetie of youre Subiects or to permitte them to be taken as it were perforce out of your Maiesties hands and iurisdiction and without declaration of any iust cause to be tormented with all kinde of tortures and exquisite deuises of tirannye whose onely request ●s to haue the controuersie for the waightinesse therof decided by your maiesties determination and defi●●tiue sentence It is writen of Salomon that puisaunt and wise Prince vnto whom manye men resorted out of farre Countries only to sée him for the reporte was made of him the admiration that all men ha● him in for his passing and excellent wisedome when the two poore women wer● in strife for the liue childe to whyche o● them two it shoulde appertaine that h● disdained not to call them before him into his chamber of presence and estate to ende the controuersie by his moste wise 〈◊〉 notable sentence iudgement Whos● example herein ought to be a president● to directe your maiestie in this our case● and to moue your grace to the deuision 〈◊〉 determination of al quarrels controuersies now depending betwixt your maiesties Subiects For as that most wise Kyng did easily discerne betwixte the true mother the false after he vnderstoode that the harlot forced not if the King shoulde award that the liue childe should be deuided into two parts euen so may your maiestie easly perceiue that the church of Rome which falsely challengeth vnto hir selfe the name of the Catholike Churche is not the true mother that bringeth foorth Gods children bycause shée doeth not onely not shewe some louyng affection and pitifull compassion towardes ●hose being not contented notwithstan●ing she make accompte of them as of hir ●un to sée them dailye condemned exe●uted most cruelly but also moueth and stirreth vppe Princes and Potentates ●o practise all tyrannye vppon them ar●eth and entertayneth men of warre to ●estroy them bloweth the coales and kindleth the flame hirselfe lyke a moste cruell stepdame to consume the children that belong not to hir If then the Pope be our holy father if he be the shepheard of Gods flocke why doeth he rather desire to kill them than with moste louing and gentle persuasiō labor to allure them home to the folde of Chr●ste And therefore we make our humble request petition to your maiesty most gratious our most dread soueraigne to imitate this exāple of Salomō to take vpō you the hearing deciding of our cause forasmuch as this mother Churche of Rome or to terme