Christs Victory over Satans Tyranny, Book 6 · Part 23 – Part 29
The Answers of IOHN LAMBERT to diuers Articles administred to him.
VVHere you aske me of frée-will,…ree-will. whether a man hauehave frée-will that he may deserue ioy or paine: we deserue nothing by doing the commandements of God, as it appeareth by the Parable of the Master, which when his seruant is come from worke will make him waite on him vntill he hath eaten, and after giuegive him leaue to eate, and yet thanketh him not, because he hath done but his duetie: so should you say you are vnprofitable seruants when you hauehave done that which you were bound to doe; therefore when we hauehave done well, we should not magnifie our owne free-will, but his grace by which we did it.
And though …race be promised in many places to the kéepers of Gods precepts, yet such reward shall neu…r be attained of vsus, but by the grace and benefit of him which worketh all things in all creatures.
We should not doe works for louelove of reward, nor for dread of paine, but because they doe please God: and if we only ayme at the contenting of his pleasure, reward vndoubtedly would insue good déeds, as heat inseparably followeth fire. Thus wee should serue God for louelove, as children, and not for reward and dread as seruants.
We hauehave no frée-will nor abilitie of our selues to doe the will of God, but as Esay saith, We are subiect and thrald vntounto sinne: and Paule saith, By the grace of God we are set at libertie.
Touching eare… co…ession; it was not ordained of God b…t of man: in the booke called Historia tripa…tita, you shall find how it was first instituted, and after vndone againe, because of a huge vil…anie committed by a Minister vponupon a woman, through con…ession.
And touching their power to forgiue sinnes; I say onelyonly Christ looseth a sinner which is contrite, by his promise, and the Priest can but declare the promise: neither doth the declaring of the promise by the Priest benefit any one, vn…esse he be loosed from his sinne, by credence in the promise ministred. And Chrysostome in his booke, in opere imperfecto, affirmeth that the keyes of heauen are the doctrine of the word of God.
Ministers doe binde and loose after a sort, as Christ told Paule, Thou shalt open their eyes that they may be conuerted from darknes vntounto light. Here Paule is said to open the eyes of mens hear…s, yet to speake properly, it is God that doth it: therefore Dauid prayeth▪ Reuela oculos meos: and it is said of Iohn Baptist, That he should turn the harts of the fathers vntounto the children, and the vnbeleeuers vntounto the wisdom of the wise, although to turne mens hearts only belongeth to God; but so we vse to speake Metonomi….
Touching inioyning of penance; I know none that men need to admit, neither ought you to ini…yne any, except casting away the old vice, and taking the new vertue, which eueryevery …rue penitent intendeth, or ought to intend.
Touching the question, whether grace be giuen only by the Sacraments; God sendeth his grace where it pleaseth him, either with them or without them, and when he pleaseth: and many lewd persons receiue the Sacraments that are destitute of grace, to their confusion; yet in due receit of the Sacraments God giueth grace.
Where you aske,In opere imperf. whether all things necessary to saluation are in Scripture; S. Chrysostome saith he would hauehave a true preacher of Gods law not to swerue therefrom, neither on the right hand nor the left: for hee that should thereunto adde or withdraw, should enterprise to be wiser then God.
And Saint Cyprian in his Epistle ad Cicilium fratrem, teacheth how we ought to heare Christ only, not regarding traditions of men, like as he doth in diuers other places. And this agreeth well with Scripture, which is called the word of saluation, the administration of righteousnesse, the word of truth, the rodde of direction, our spirituall food, the spirituall sword that we ought to fight withall against all temptations and assaults of our glostly enemies, the seed of God, the kingdome of heauen, the keyes of the same, the power of God, the light of the world, the law of God, his wisedome and Testament: eueryevery one of which wordes will giuegive sufficient matter of argument, that following the same doctrine only shal hauehave sufficient safeconduct to come vntounto the inheritance promised, though no other way or mea…s were ann…xed vntounto the same. In the hundred and eightéene Psalme, Dauid saith, The word of God is true and his way verity; eueryevery man is vanity and lying: and Christ saith, EueryEvery one that heareth my words and doth them, is like one that buildeth his house vponupon a sure foundation; and that there is none other foundation by S. Paule: and he would hauehave vsus follow one doctrine of Christ to a vnitie of faith, that we may bee perfect men; not carried about with eueryevery winde of doctrine, brought vp by the slights and wilines of men that …tudie to deceiue vsus.
Touching the question, that there are many things to be beléeued vponupon paine of saluation, that are not in the Scripture: I say lawes ordained for the ciuill regiment of the body, and all other Lawes, so they be not hurtfull to Faith or Charitie, but help to the same, we ought to keep them not onelyonly for feare of punishment, but for Conscience sake, although such ordinance be not expressely in the Scripture; but I say there is nothing that is not expressely in the Scriptures, that is to bee beleeued vponupon necessitie of saluation.
Touching your Question of purgatory, and whether soules departed be there in torment and purged: I say there is a purgatory in this world, which is the fire of tribulations, through which all Christians shall passe, as S. Paul saith: All that liue godly in Christ shall suffer persecution: In this purgatory I doe reckon my selfe now to stand, God send me well to perseuere vntounto his honour.
Other Purgatory doe I know none, neither can any be proued by any place of Scripture: And S. August: de ebrietate, saith, let no man deceiue himselfe; for there be two places, the third is not knowne: He that with Christ hath not deserued to raigne, shall perish with the Diuell, and in his Booke de vanitate seculi, he saith, know you that when the soule is departed from the body, it is incontinent for the good deeds put into paradice, and else throwne headlong into the Dungeon of hell for the sinnes; and to this all Scripture agreeth.
Touching your question, whether Martirs, Apostles, and Confessors departed, ought to be honored and prayed vntounto.
Saint Augustine in his Booke de vera religione, would hauehave that we should worship no men departed, be they neuer so good and holy, no nor yet an Angell, nor to honour them, but onelyonly in imitating their good liuing as they followed God, not building Churches to them; no, the Angels would not hauehave vsus builde Churches to them, but would with them we should honour the Maker of all things. They refuse all honour, sauing honor Charitatis, which louelove wee should expresse, in helping the poore and helplesse: And the Scripture teacheth, that there is but one Mediator, and we are exhorted in all places of Scripture to call vponupon God in néed, but in no place to call vponupon any Saint.
Touching your demaund, whether Oblations and Pilgrimages, may deuoutlie and meritoriously be done vntounto the Sepulchers and Reliques of Saints.
Moses when he died, would be buried where no man should know which was his graue: & it was, because the Iewes, which were prone to new fangled worshipping, should not fall into Idolatr…, worshipping him as God, for the great and many miracles that were wrought by him when he was aliue. It is no point of my beleefe, to thinke that Oblations & Pilgrimages at Saints graues and Reliques, are meritorious workes, neither is there any deuotion at all in doing of them.
Touching fasting daies and time I say they are good for diuers respects, but it is no deadly sinne to breake them, for they are but the traditions of men.
Touching your question whether Images ought not to be in the Churches for a remembrance of Christ, and his Saints. I know no Images made with hands that ought to be worshipped; For the Psalme saith, Confusion be vntounto all such as worship carued Images and glory in pictures.
And S. Augustine in his Book de vera religione, let vsus not be bound to worship the workes of men, for the workemen are more excellent then the things that they make; whom notwithstanding we ought not to worship: and if Christs Doctrine were so opened, that people might vnderstand it, as Prelates chiefely ought to doe by teaching, we should hauehave no need of Images, for nothing is so effectuall to excite the remembrance of Disciples, as the liuely voice of good teachers.
Touching your demands, whether men forbidden to preach as suspected of Heresi… ought to cease from preaching, Christ and his Apostles were counted heretickes, and the Apostles were forbidden oftentimes of the High Priest and others to preach any more, and were imprisoned and scourged for it, yet they would not leaue preaching, but told them to their faces they must obey God which bad them preach, rather then men which forbad them; yea, the Angel deliuering them out of prison, bad them go preach againe. This is for our instruction, doubt not, for such practice is shewed in all ages, so you may sée when men bée wrongfully infamed of heresie, and so prohibited by Bishops to preach the Word of God: they ought not to stop for any mans commandement.
Touching your question of hauing the Bible in English, in England. In my opinion, I say it was not well done to inhibit it: and worse, that the Bishops hauehave not sithence amended it if they could, that the people might hauehave it to vse vertuously. And I will adde one reason, the Scripture is the food and sustinance of mans soule, as it appeareth by many places of the Scripture, as other meate is the foode of the body: then if he be an vnkind Father that kéepeth away the bodily meate the space of a wéeke or a month from his Children, it should seeme that our Bishops be no gentle Pastors or Fathers, that kéep away the food of mens souls from them, both months, yeares, and ages, especially when others offer the same.
Touching you question, whether faith onelyonly iustifieth. I answer with S. Augustine, Good works make not a man iustified, or right wise: but a man once iustified, doth good works.
These Articles being directed to the Archbishop of Canterburie, which was not Cranmer but Doctor Warham: whereby it may be gathered, that this godly learned man was long before he disputed before the King, or was condemned to death: vponupon the day that was appointed for him to suffer, this holy martyre of God was brought out of prison vntounto the house of the Lord Cromwell, and carried into his inward chamber, where it is reported Cromwell asked him forgiuenesse for what he had done. And being admonished of his houre of death, he was greatly comforted; and comming into the hall, he saluted the Gentlemen and sate down to breakfast, shewing no manner of sadnes or feare; after breakfast he was carried to the place of execution, where he should offer himselfe a sacrifice of sweet sauour vntounto the Lord, who is blessed in his Saints for euer and euer. Amen.
The storie of one COLLINS.
ONe Collins a Gentleman was burnt at London,1538. for that being besides his wits, by chance he came into a Church where a Priest was saying masse, and was come to the holding vp and shewing the Sacrament, Collins in like manner took vp a little Dogge, holding it ouer his head, shewing him vntounto the people; wherefore hee was condemned and burned, and the Dogge with him.
LEYTON and PVTTEDVE.
LEyton was a Monke of Aye in Suffolke, and was burned at Norwich, for speaking against a certaine Idoll, which they of Aye were wont to carry about in processions, and for affirming both kindes in the Sacrament: and Puttedue comming into a Church merily taunted the Priest, that after he had drunke vp all the wine alone, he blessed the hungry people with the empty Chalice: wherefore hee was condemned and burned.
Cowbridge.
THis Cowbridge came of a good stocke, his auncestors euen from Wickliffes time hetherto, had been alwaies fauourers of the Gospell,1539 and addicted to the setting sorth thereof in English: Hee was borne in Colchester; his Father was head Bayly thereof; hee was burned at Oxenford, for affirming that eueryevery poore Priest, being neuer so poore and needy, being of a good con…ersation, hath as great power and authoritie in the Church of God, and ministration of the Sacraments as the Pope or any other Bishops: they almoststerued him whilst hee was in prison in Bocardo: and a little before his examination they promised him meate, if at his execution he would say such things as they would minister vntounto him, which he promised to do: whereupon he was well cherished, and recouered some part of his sense. When he was come to execution, contrary to their expectation, often times calling vponupon the Name of the Lord Iesu…, with great quietnesse and méeknesse he yéelded his spirit into the han…s of the Lord.
This yeare one Peter a Germaine, and another with him, constantly indured death by the fire at Colchester, for the Lords Supper.
Fryer Forrest hanged for Papistry.
HE was an obseruant Fryer, and had secretly in confessi…ns declared to certaine of the Kings Subiects in confessions: that the King was not supreame head of the Church, and being examined how he could say the King was not supreme head, being sworne to the contrary: he answered; he took his oath with his outward man, and his inward man neuer consented thereto: he was further accused of diuers damnable Articles & conuicted, after he was hanged in Smithf…eld aliue in chaines, by the arme-holes and middle, and fire made vnderunder him, and so he was consumed to death. There was a scaffold prepared for the Priuy Cauncell and the Nobles to sit on, to graunt him pardon if he repented: there was also a Pulpit, where M…ster Hugh Latimer Bishop of Worcester declared his errours, and con…uted them by Scripture, with many exhortations to repent; but he would neither heare nor speak. A little before the execution, a great Image was brought out of Wales to the gallows, which was called Daruell Gatheren, whom the Welch-men much worshipped, and had a prophesie amongst them, That this Image should set a whole Forest on fire; which took effect: for he set this Forest on fire, & consumed him to nothing. When the Frier saw the fire comming vntounto him, he took hold on the ladder, and would not let it goe, but died so vnpatiently as neuer did any that put his trust in God.
Certaine Iniunctions giuen out in the thirtieth yeare of King HENRIES raigne.
AGainst printing and bringing from beyond Sea any books,1539. and offering to sell them without acquainting the King, or some of his Councell first, vponupon paine of forfeyting their goods and chattels, and their bodies to be imprisoned at the Kings pleasure.
That there shall none argue about the Sacrament of the Altar, vponupon paine of death and loosing their goods, except it be the learned in Diuinity, in their schooles and appoy…ted places for such matters.
And that holy bread, holy water, and procession, creeping to the Crosse, setting vp of lights before the Corpus Christi, bearing of candles on Candlemas day, Puri… cation of women deliuered with childe, off…ring of Chrisomes, kéeping of the foure offering dayes, paying their Tithes, these to be obserued vntill the King doe abrogate any of them.
Married Priests to be counted Laymen, and loose their Spirituall promotion.
That all Cleargy men, should diligently in their cures, preach, and teach the people the glory of God, and the truth of his word, declaring the difference betwixt the things that God commands, and the rightes and ceremonies then vsed, least the people thereby grow into further superstition.
And that Thomas Becket was a tray…or and not a saint, & his Images to be plucked downe in eueryevery place, and his holy dayes not to bee kept, and that the Anthiphens, Collects and prayers to him be not read, but raced out of the bookes.
Launcelot, Iohn a Painter, Gyles Germaine.
Iohn Painter and Gyles Germaine were accused of Heresie, and whilst they were … examination at London before the Bishoppe and other Iudges, by chance there came one of the Kings guarde one Launcelot, a tall man and of as goodly a mind, hee standing by, séemed by his gesture to fauour the cause and the poore men, whereuppon he was appr…hended, examined, and condemned with them, and the next day at …ue of the clocke in the morning was burned in St. Giles in the fields.