A Comfortable Epistle to Gods Faithful People in England, Chapter 3
The. iij. Chapter.
FOr what other thing do the lyēg & blo dy papistes teache at this day / thā the very lyes / dreames and fantasyes of Antichrist the bishop of Rome and his adherentes? The doctri… ne of the pa pistes.as setting vp of aultars / taberna cles / Images / and roode loftes / hanging vp of the pyre / setting vp of candles before Ido les and …awmettes / halowyng of bread / salte / water / palmes / fyre / as…es / oyle / cris…e / rynges / candles. &c. Ladyes psalters / s▪ katerines knot…es / intercessions and merites of sainctes / Purgatorye / prayenge for the dead / trentalles / diriges / commendacions / masses of Requiē / masses of Scala celi / masses of Recordare / masses of Si iniquitates / masses for all diseas…s / masses for all thinges good or badde / auriculare confession / crepyng to the crosse with candles / egges / money / &c. Iustification of workes / fre will / popysh f…inge / prayers withoute vnderstanding / fayth withoute knowlege / deuocion without the sprete / … masses / prop…atory sacrifices / done by Sodomiticall priest…s / … / … of the Sacramentall breade / th… reall / corporall / substanciall / carnall / naturall and sens…ble presence of Christe in the Sacrament / so that we breake hym on peces with oure handes / teare hym with our tethe / and swallowe hym into the ma… / and so digeste hym / and sende hym / I can not tell whyther / with an whole sea of lyke errou…s and heresys / whiche the pylde / peuy… / … papistes teache without the author… of Gods woorde / euen of theyr owne …ayne and fantasye / vntounto the great dishonour of God / and the vtter damnacion of their soules / which… heare / beleue & folowe the doctrine of those Antichristes. And whence commeth it to passe / that we / which before were blessed of God / with so many heauenly benefites / are nowe mo…e miserably compassed about with all kynde of euilles / and become the very bonde slaues of these Antichristes and spiritual shameles shauelynges / & as men wholy estraū ged from God / and vtterly banished frome The … of … avvaye th… true religiō from vsus.the Christen common weale of the true Israelites? …erely oure ingratitude / our vnthankeful…s / oure vnkyndnes / yea / oure churlyshenes towarde God and hys holye worde hath caused all these miseries / worthely to fall vponupon vsus. We were weary of the heauenly Mauna / and had a pleasure to returne vntounto Egipt / where we myghte syt among the greasy flesh pottes / eatynge beffe and brewes knucle depe / and hauehave our deyntye fyshes / our melo…s / our cucūbers / oure onyons / oure garleke / oure lekes. &c. therfore accordinge to the fylthye lustes of oure wicked hartes hath God dealte with vsus / & sent vsus agayn into the popishe Egipte / to fe…e vponupon the pestilente leauen of the papisticall Phariseis / euen the beggarly ceremonies / …feling tradicions and dyrtye decrees of men / in steade of Gods holy worde vntounto the horrible and dredeful damnaciō of our soules / as he sayth by the Psalmographe: My people wold not hear my voyce / & Israel wolde not obeye me / therefore gaue Psal. …1.I them vp vntounto their owne hartes luste / & let thē folow their own imaginatiōs. Here vntounto agreeth the sayinge of s. Paule: Because …. thes. 2.they receaued not the louelove of the truthe / that they might be saued / therfore wyll God send thē a s…rōg illusiō to beleue lyes. Is not this the sayng of our sauior Christ? this is condēnacion / that light is come into Ioan. 3.the worlde / & mē hauehave loued darkenes more thā light / for their workes were euell. The thing therfore that brought this cōdēnaciō this darkenes / this blyndnes vpō …s / is the hating of the light of Gods worde / our vnthankefulnes for the benefites of Christes Gospel / & our sinful lyfe replenished with all kynd of wickednes. These thinges / these thinges made God to withdraw the moste pleasaūt & cōfortable light of his louing cō tenaūce frō vsus / & to suffer the prince of dar kenes to shadow vsus with his winges of hellish ignoraūcy & deuelish blindnes vntounto our great discōfort & cōtinual sorow. God hauehave mercy on vsus / & blesse vsus / & shew vsus the light of his cōtenācē / & be merciful vntounto vsus / that Psal. 67.we may know his way vpō the earth / & his sauing health amōg all natious.
Amen.