The Observer of Time, To the reader
¶An excellent admonicion and reſolucion, of the godlye and famous learned man Celius ſecundus Curio. Dedicated vntounto all faythful Chriſtians, to the ende, they (beyng warned) may auoyde al ſuperſticious and erronious papiſticall ſeruices. Tranſlated out of Frenche into Engliſh. By R. P.
☞Pſalm. xvi.
¶Al my delyte is vponupon the ſainctes that are in …he earth, & vponupon ſuch as excell in vertue. But …hey that runne after another God, ſhall hauehave …reat trouble.
Theyr drinke offering of bloud wil not I of…er, nether make mencion of their names with…n my lippes. The Lorde him ſelf is the por…ion of mine inheritaunce, and of my cuppe: he …hall maynteyne my lotte.
¶Iob. viij.
¶May a ruſhe be grene without moyſtnes? or maye the graſſe growe withoute water? no… …ut (or euer it be ſhot forthe, & or euer it be ga…hered) it wythereth before anye other herbe. Euen ſo goeth it withal them that forget god, and euen thus alſo ſhall the ypocrites hope, …ome to nought. His cōfidēce ſhalbe deſtroied and his truſt ſhalbe a ſpyders web. He ſhall leane vponupon his houſe, but it ſhal not ſtand. He ſhal hold him faſt by it, yet ſhal it not endure.
¶An excellent …dmonicion and reſolucion, of the godlye and …amous learned man Celius ſecundus Curio. …edicated vntounto all faythful Chriſtians, to the ende, they (beyng warned) may auoyde al ſuperſticious and erronious papiſticall ſeruices. Tranſlated out of Frenche into Engliſh. By R. P.
THe brethren beyng as yet in Babilon, doe aſke oure aduyſe: to wytte, yf it be not lawefull, and conſonnant wyth the worde of God, in a pure conſcience, to be corporally preſent, to aſſiſte, & communicate at the Babilonicall papiſticall ſerui…es, the harte beyng abſent and alienated from all ſuperſticion and vayne religion. To whom fyrſt of al, I aunſwere: that it is harde to geue coūſail to thoſe that are oppreſſed with ſo horrible tyrannie. In aſmuche as on the one ſyde, theyr great calamitie doth inclyne the harte to pytie and compaſſion: and on the other ſyde, …eritie doeth reuoke the ſame to himſelfe. So yt in determining, the mynde is led hyther & thyther, into dyuerſe ambigio…s and doubtful cogitacions. For I my ſelfe … he… to fore experimented the lyke payne …, hauehave learned for the louelove of thoſe that are as yet deteyned in the ſame, to leade my lyfe in … ſorowe and heauihes. Albeit, notwithstandinge that the har…e cannot refrayne it ſelf from ſuch affections: yet neuertheleſſe it behoueth vsus to trauayl, that this our counſayl & aduyſe be vtterly exēpted, frō al harted, amitie, angre, pitie and from al ſuch affectiō, as cuſtomably doth reuoke the mynde from the veritie and trueth. Wherfore I beſeche theſe my moſt deare brethren to pardon me, yf in geuinge counſayle I ſhal ſpeake any thing that ſhal ſeme ouer harde vntounto them, not hauing accommodated my ſelf ſufficientelye to theyr infirmitie: but rather to perſwade them ſelfes, that not onelyonly by counſayl, but alſo by ayde and fact, we would moſt gladly in all poſſyble maner ſupport theyr calamities.
Wherefore thē in this deliberat determinaciō we wyl propone and ſet forth two endes to the which all oure doynges are to be refar…ed.
The one is the glory of the kingdō of chriſt▪ and the righteouſnes of the ſame. The other is the ſaluacion of oure brethren, that is to ſaye… the Church: Where vponupon fyrſt of all, I wil ſay this much. That yf we had perfectely learned Chriſt,i. Corin. i. and had onelye knowen him to be our… wyſdō, ſanctificacion, righteouſnes, & redempcion. Yf we had (I ſay) accumelated & heaped vp, o…r ryches & treaſure in heauen, wheras h… is ſet downe on the right hand of God the father: we ſhould hauehave now no nede of theſe aduyſes and conſideracions. For then we ſhould know that our duety is to abandon al worldl… thinges for his ſake:Math. x as frēdes, parētes, ryche… …,Luk. xiiij & alſo our owne lyues to the ende … reſerue, kep…, and entertayne in al fayt… fulneſſe, the pure & perfecte ſeruyce of Chriſt, and the religion, honour, glory and maieſtie of his name. And furthermore we woulde endeuour oure ſelues by all poſſible meanes not to offende oure brethren, neyther by fact, worde… nor diſſimulacion: for whom Chriſt Ieſus o… Lord hath vouchſaued to ſuffre death: but rather in imitatinge his example we ought to be preſte and ready to ſhed our bloud for them, in confyrming them in the trueth.
The fyrſte thinge then, that it behoueth v… chefely to attempt, is thorowly and perfectely to learne Chriſte, and to waxe ryche in the excellent knowledge of hys name: from whenc… …nelye procedeth the fyrmyte and conſtancye of the mynde. For whereas ſome doe perſecute Chriſt in hys membres, ſome doe denye hym before the Maieſtrates, and other ſome doe diſſemble theyr fayth in hym: From what other thinge doeth this proceade (ſuppoſe we) …ut onelye of ignoraunce, and wante of the knowledge of chriſt… thoſe ar vtterly voyd o… ye knowledge of Chriſt▪ that doe perſecute him: …or yf they had knowen hym,i. Corin. ij they woulde ne…er hauehave crucyfyed the Lorde of glorye. L… …le doe they knowe hym, that eyther doe de…ye hym: or els do diſſemble theyr knowledge …hat they hauehave of him. For as much as ſuche … …iſſimulacion is a certayne kynde of denyall. For yf they had thorowly learned Chriſt, and …ad bene perfectely inſtructed in the doctryne …f the Goſpell, yf they had at any tyme recey…ed the …ite of Chriſt, and had taſted of the … of the celeſtiall grace: none of theſe thinges ſhould hauehave happened vntounto the…, but rather (as it is ſaid of the apoſtles) thei would hauehave witneſſed Chriſt with great confydence,Actu. 4. 9 and. 10. in ſettinge aparte all other thinges, and hauehave maynteyned his trew ſeruyce and pure religiō with a merueylous conſtancie. Let thoſe that thinke it lawful to ſemble or diſſemble in religion… tell me, where appeareth in them the glorie of Chriſt? Where is the ſaluacion & example of theyr brethren: by the which they ought to indure and bringe them to Chriſte? As touching the glory of God, it ſhineth not amōgeſt them: in aſmuch as by theyr ſylence and diſſimulacion, they doe not onelyonly obſcure it, but alſo aſmuche as in them lyeth they doe vtterlye quenche it. On the other ſide, how do thei procure the ſaluacion of theyr brethren, conſydering that by theyr pernicious example they do wounde theyr conſciences, and confyrme them in all ſuperſticion, and falſe religion? and yet notwithſtandinge, they knowe Chriſt to hauehave ſayd:Math. x. he that confeſſeth me before men, I wyll alſo confeſſe him before my father and his aū gels: And he that wyl not confeſſe & acknowledge me before men, but denye me, I wyl not alſo acknowledge him, but denye hym before my father. And as touching theyr brethrē, they are not ignoraūt of the greuous threateninges of the Lord vntounto all thoſe that d… offende oneMath. 18 of the leaſt of thoſe litle ones that truſt in him They are not ignoraunt alſo,i. Corin. 8 of that which his Apoſtle Paul hath ſayd:Galat. ij. that all th…ſe yt ſynne agaynſte theyr brethren, in woundinge theyr …ake conſciences, doe ſynne agaynſt Chriſte. Where is it that the holy ſcriptures doeth approue any diſſimulacion in religion, and holy thinges: Or rather wher is it, yt it doth not reproue ye ſame? Let ſuch perſōs call to theyr remēbraunce, & diligently conſydre the excellent example of the thre worthy younge Iſraelites,Danie. iij that in time paſt in Babilon (vponupon the lyfe occaſion miniſtred) dyd ſeriouſlye debate this queſtion, in making a notable diffinicion and reſolacion of the ſame, worthy of all men to be imitated and folowed. Did they in any reſpect diſſemble? or rather dyd they not thinke it meter to expoſe them ſelues quick vntounto the flamy fornace,An obiection. then to inclyne to any diſſimulacion? But the ſoule and mynd (ſay they) aby deth alwayes firmely fixed in God, although the body do diſſemble in outward facte, at the papiſticall ſeruices, (this do they alledge:) But let them aunſwere me:Aūſwere. hath not God created and geuen, aſwell the bodye as the ſoule: Hath he not reſerned and dedicated them bothe vntounto him ſelfe? Ought we not to beleue with ye hart vntounto iuſtificacion?Roma. 10 and with the mouth and other exieriour ieſtures, oughte we not to make confeſſiō vntounto ſaluaciō? The wyfe in abandoning hyr body to the vſe of another man, ſhall ſhe be excuſed towardes hyr huſbande, by ſayinge that ſhe hath alwayes reſerued him moſt deareſt in her harte? no truely. And as this is no reaſonable excuſe, euen ſo is not the other: but rather much leſſe to be alowed. Thou whiche art but one, wilt thou deuyde thy ſelfe? in dedicating the one part of thee, vntounto Chriſt: & the other to Antechriſte? Wo worth this dulneſſe and cowardnes of mynd, wherin reſteth ſuch peruerſite, that eyther for feare or for any other cauſe do declyne frō our dutyes and ſeruyces, which I owe vntounto the immortall God: we (I ſay) whoſe parte it were to ſuffre al maner of death for mortal men. But they replye, ſaying:An obiection. That for a ſinguler commodotie & profyte vntounto the church of God: or for a good end and purpoſe, it is ſometyme lawfull to diſſemble. I aunſwere that there is no greater comoditie then to obſerue the trew and perfect religion:Aūſwere. there is no comodite more greater thē the glorie of Chriſt, and the ſaluacion of oure brethren. For we may in no wyſe do euyl,Roma. iij how little ſoeuer it be (as witneſſeth S. Paule) to the ende that good may come thereof: nether hath God any nede of our lyes, and diſſimulaciōs. It ſemeth that the Apoſtles hauehave ſometyme diſſembled, but in very dede they dyd not diſſemble, but vnfaynedly for a time thei did obſerue that which was conteyned in the law, to the ende that by that meanes they might alure and winne the Iewes vntounto the knowledge of Chriſt: wherin they dyd nothing againſt their conſciences, for aſmuch as the ceremonies thē vſed were firſt eſtabliſhed by the word of god. But we contrary wyſe, nothing regarding the premyſes, do thoſe thinges not onelyonly, not permitted of God, but alſo vehemently reproued by his holy word.Math. 28 And fyrſt, as touchinge the forme & order of Baptiſme, the which the papiſtical preſtes do now vſe, although it be true that the ſame be auayleable and effectual vntounto young childrē beyng baptyſed therwt, whō the prophenaciō of the ſacramēt cannot anoye: yet not withſtanding vntounto the aged, & vntounto thoſe that are ſufficiently inſtructed by the word of God of the impiete of the ſame, it is vntounto them nothing els, but the marke & token of the Babilonicall armye, whereby they ioyne thē ſelues vntounto Antechriſt, & proteſte to ſerue him in hys warres.Luke. xxij Yf any queſtiō be of the ſacramēt of ye aulter,i. Corin. 11 to the which the people ones in the yere at leaſt, do runne ſo faſt? what other thinge is it, but a general monſterday, of the garriſon & ſouldiors of Anthechriſt?Ebre. ix. Yf any do aſke oure aduyſe of the maſſe? what other aunſwere can we rendre, but yt it is the great enſigne & ſtandart of Antechriſt, eleuated and erected vp againſt Chriſt & his merites, vnderunder the which al the ſoldiours of Antichriſt doe aſſemble them ſelues:Canti. iij. Danie. iij or els it is the great Image of gold erected by Nabuchodonoſor, to the dedicacion & worſhipping wherof al the Babiloniās do aſſemble & come together: the which alſo contrarywyſe al the Iſraelites of God doe flee & abhorre. Yf any mā aſke our aduyſe of theyr Canonicall howres,Collo. iij. of theyr latyn Mattens and Euenſong, and of theyr ſolemne ſinginge and Ceremonies? We aunſwere that they are nothing els,Danie. iij apo. 17. 18 but the tabrettes, harpes, vyalles & ſwete armonye of the Kynge of Babilon, and the pleaſaunte daunſinge and melodye of the roſe coulered whore attired in purple. Yf anye doe doubte,Deute. v. of the worſhyppinge of Idolles, and of the inuocation of innumerable Saynctes,Iohn. iiij we certyfye them that it is no thinge els but a battayle and ſtryfe,i. Cori. xij wherein we do openly fight agaynſt God & his chriſt.Eſay. 28. Finally yf any doe diſpute of the funeralles & ſeruyces of the dead?Mat. viij we affyrme it is nothing els,i. Teſſa. 4 then vnfortunately to periſhe in battayle, in makinge compoſicion with death and hell: thereby renouncinge lyfe and heauen (that is to ſaye:) Chriſte hym ſelfe, in buryinge oure ſelfes wyth the wicked in vngodlines. O how miſerable are we, yf we acknowledge not theſe thinges: and more miſerable yf we know them and do diſſemble them: and moſt miſerable yf we do allowe them, and openly defend them. Yf the brethren do conſydre theſe thinges, and dyligentely examyne the ſame, they ſhal eaſely knowe, to what ende all thinges oughte to be refarred, and in what maner it behoueth them to lyue. For yf they do not ſet before thē ſelfes certayne determinate endes, where vntounto they purpoſe to dyrecte all theyr doynges and coū ſaylles: then of force they muſte nedes ſtraye from the right way. Wherfore as we ſayd before, there are two endes ſet forth vntounto euerye Chriſtian man. The fyrſt: the ſekinge of the auauncement of the glorye of God. The ſecond: the wealth and ſaluacion of our brethren, as a thing annexed vntounto the fyrſt. Now, in a…much as we are obliged vntounto Chriſt, and do marche vnderunder his ſtandart: it behoueth vsus by all poſſible meanes to ſeke the auauncement of hys glorye, and that with the haſarde of oure lyues, and ſmarte of oure bodyes: oneleſſe we wylbe reputed traytours to hys Maieſtie.
But for aſmuch as dyuers are ſo infyrme & weake, and indewed with ſo lyttle knowledge and fayth, that they dare not publykelye contemne and forſake the ſuperſticio… ſeru… … I woulde counſayle ſuche not to attempte or enterpryſe any thing raſhely: but to kepe them ſelues within in the lymities of theyr fayth, with out forſaking theyr vocacion, tyll ſuch tyme as they are growen vp into a more perfection, knowledge, & ſtrēgth. Let ſuch (I ſay) cōtinually frequēt the reading of the holy ſcriptures in theyr houſes. Let thē diligently repaire vntounto ſuch as hauehave the gyft of interpretaciō, & are of godly cōuerſaciō. Let them oftē tymes pray vntounto God the father of our Lord Ieſus chriſt, that he wyl increaſe theyr fayth, ſo that at the laſt they may grow vp into perfect mē, namely, ſuch as becometh the trewe diſciples of Ieſus Chriſt. And yf at any tyme, ether frayltie, or feare of mē, or any other thing, do cauſe thē to withdraw thē ſelfes frō this their purpoſed determinaciō, in cōmunicating with the papiſtes at theyr wicked ſeruices & execrable ydolatries: let thē beware that thei doe not by any meanes excuſe their fact & doynges: but rather accuſe & condemne thē ſelfes, & that before god and theyr brethren, whō by theyr euyl example they hauehave offended. In bewayling their miſerable ſeruitude & wante of ſtrength,i. Corin. … to reſiſte temptaciō. Aſking pardon of the Lorde, in cō mitting thē ſelfes wholy to the mercy of God, to the ende (that they beyng voyde of coūſayl, what to doe;) it may pleaſe the Lorde to geue thē ſuch hartes & cōſtant mindes rather to ſuffre death for the glory of his name (yf nede requyre) thē continually to lyue in vnquietneſſe of cōſciences poluted with ſinneful Idolatrie, Or els yf it pleaſe him not to geue thē ſo great a gyft, & frute of faith (which is geuen but vntounto few) that then he wyl vouchſafe to ſhow thē the meanes & way, by ye which thei may eſcape frō ſo great tyrannie, in ſeruing the Lorde in a pure & fre religiō, in a quiet & peaceable place. The which thing truely, our good celeſtiall father wyl performe: and wyl not ſuffre vsus to be aſſaulted aboue our ſtrēgth: but wil accōpliſhe the good deſyre of his ſaynctes, in ſatiſfyinge thoſe that thyrſt after righteouſneſſe. We hauehave by the aſſiſtaunce of God his ſpirit, produced this litle admoniciō, for the conſolacion of our brethren, beyng as yet in the Babilonicall captiuitie, amongeſte the papiſtes: for aſmuch as we were informed that they required oure aduyſe herein. Wherfore yf they deſyre to be further inſtructed of any thing els by vsus: as are ye declaration of the places that ſome are accuſtomed to alledge out of the holy ſcriptures, for ye defence of theyr diſſimulacion: or els the refuctaciō of thoſe thinges that are more ingeniouſ…y, then faithfully of diuers excogitated & produced. Or els yf there be any that (not cōtented with this my writing) deſyre farther to be inſtructed & ſatiſfyed: let ſuch reade ye writinges and iudgementes, of ſuch learned & vertuouſe brethren, as hauehave moſte purely and ſincerelye intreated of thoſe matters: whoſe wrytinge I doe moſt gladly knowe & allowe: ſo that there neded not in any thinge oure aduyſe herein, yf we had not bene inſtantly requeſted there vntounto by certayne brethren, whoſe earneſt & godly deſyre, we would not, nor durſt not refuſe.
The LORDE hauehave mercye vponupon …, and ſhortely breake Sathans head, and throw downe all power, that ſ…ryueth to hindre the trewe and pure ſeruyce of GOD. Amen.
¶Finis.
☞ ¶i. Corinthi. vi. ☞
¶Set your ſelues at large, & beare not ye the yoke with the vnbeleuers. For what felowſhip hath righteouſneſſe with vnrighteouſneſſe? or what cōpani hath light with darknes? or what concorde hath Chriſt with Belial? ether what part hath he that beleueth with an infydel? or how agreeth the Tēple of God with Idolles? For ye are the Tēple of the liuing God (as ſaid God: I will dwell amongeſt them, & walke amongeſt them: & wilbe theyr God, & they ſhall be my people: wherfore come out frō amōgeſt thē, & ſeperate your ſelues frō them (ſayth the Lord:) & touche no vncleane thinge, ſo wyll I receyue you, & wyll be a father vntounto you: & ye ſhalbe my ſonnes and doughters, ſayth the almightie Lorde.
¶Iob. xx.
¶Knoweſt thou not this, namely, that frō the beginninge (euer ſince the creacion of man vponupon the earth) the gladneſſe of the vngodlye hath bene ſhorte, and that the ioye of ypo… crites, continued but the twinkeling of an eye?
End of the text · Wolfgang Musculus, The Observer of Time (1555)