Acts and Monuments Volume 2 Part 2, Book 11 · Account 25 · Letter 8
*An other letter of William Tyms, with an exhortation to all Gods faythfull seruauntes to eschew the societie of Idolaters, and Gods enemies.
GRace be with you, and peace from God the father, and from the Lord Iesus Christ.
A… other … of W. Tyms to Gods faith…l seruāts.I thanke my God with al remēbraunce of you alwais in my prayers for you, and pray with gladnes, because of the fellowship which y… …aue in the Gospell, from the first day that I knew you, vntill this day: and I am surely certified of this, that he whiche hath begon a good worke in you, shall go forth with it, vntill the day of Iesus Chryste, as it becommeth me to iudge of you: whom I hauehave in my heart, and as companions of grace with me, euen in my bondes. And thus I praye that youre louelove may increase more and more in knowledge. Good brethrē, I most hartely desire God, that as you hauehave a willing minde to comfort my vile earthly body in this time of persecution, so he will strengthen you with his holy spirite, that my imprysonment do not discomfort, but rather strengthen and cō fort you, to see the goodnes of God shewed vntounto me, in that being a man without learning, & brought before three such bishops concerning worldly wisedome, hee gaue me both mouth and wisedome: in somuch that the Byshop of London wēt away in a great hast from me,… Boner … away from … Tyms, … not … to … his … good. and after that he sent his man with a Bible, turning to the 9. chapiter to the Heb. and the bishop of Bath looking on it, sayd: What meaneth my Lorde? this maketh nothing for his purpose. Then I looked on it, and sayd: my Lord seeth that I was weake, and therefore he hath holpen me: for here hee hath condemned the sacrifice of your masse: for you say that you offer a dayly sacrifice in your Masse: both for the quicke & the dead:Heb. 9. … mouth … to his …. and here S. Paule sayth: Without bloudshedding there is no forgeuenes of sinnes: therefore that is here condemned. He aunswered, Yea, sayth he so? So say all suche heretickes: and so forth with many like argumentes: whiche my neighbours that heard then, can declare, therefore I leaue them. Thus hauehave I written, that you shoulde not be afeard, but call vponupon God, as he hath commaunded vsus to aske, and we shall hauehave: Seeke, and you shall finde, knocke and it shall be opened vntounto you. Also hee hath commaunded vsus to call on him in the day of trouble, and he hath promised to heare vsus. Therfore if we hauehave not both mouthe and wisedome at his hand, the faulte is in vsus, that eyther wee wil not repent vsus of our wickednes, and amend our liues or els we bee vnfaythfull: and beleeue not the promises of God: and so wee oure selues are the cause that this wisedome is lacking in vsus. Therefore let vsus repente and amend our liues, and God is mercifull. And i… any case, as I hauehave alwayes sayd vntounto you, since I first knew you, so say I now: beware of Idolatry, and of your good intents if not, marke what hath followed vppon them that hathe left Gods commaundementes, and done theyr owne good intentes. Remember when the children of Israell hadde made them a golden calfe, did not God say they hadde mard all, and would hauehave destroyed them, had not Moyses earnestly prayed for them? I let manye other places alone that proueth the wrath of God to come vponupon the people for Idolatry: therfore as we will auoyd the wrathe of God, let vsus keepe vsus vnstayned from it. You hauehave examples out of the old Testament, how loth the godly fathers were to be partakers with the wicked. And yet to see how little we regarded it, it would make any Christian mans hart to weepe. God send vsus more grace.Warning to come away frō the wicked. First looke in the 11. and 12. of Genesis, Abraham, because he would not bee partaker of their Idolatry, fled from the people of Caldea being his natiue countrey. Also in the 19. of Genesis, Lo… at the commandement of the aungels departed from Sodome, least he tarying with the Sodomites, shoulde hauehave bene consumed with them. In the 21. of Genesis, Sara would not suffer Ismaell whiche was geuen to mocking, to keepe company with her sonne Isaac, least hee shoulde also become a mocker. Looke in Num. the 16. Moyses at Gods appoyntment commaunded the people to departe from the dwelling places of Chore, Dathan, and Abiron, least they also should be all wrapped in their sinnes and to pearish among them. So do I, euen as Moyses commā ded them that they should not keepe company with those wicked people, least ye vengeance of god shuld light on thē so do I geue you warning that you should not keep company with the Idolaters in theyr idolatrous temples, lest the wrath of God came vponupon you to destroy you.
Looke what S. Paule sayth in his second Epistle, and the 6. chap. to the Corinth. Set your selues (sayth he) therefore at large, and beare no straunge yoke with the vnbeleeuers, for what fellowship hath righteousnes with vnrighteousnesse? what company hath light with darckenes? what concord hath Chryste with Beliall? eyther what part hath he that beleueth, with an Infidell? How agreeth the temple of God with Images? 2. Cor. ….And yee are the temple of God, as sayth God: I will dwell among them, & walke among them, and will be theyr God and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from amonge them, and separate your selues (sayth the Lord) and touche no vncleane thing.
Good brethren, marke what commeth of keeping cō pany with the wicked. Syrach sayth: He that toucheth pitch, shall bee defiled wythall: and hee that keepeth companye with the proude, shall clothe himselfe with pride. Sirach. 13.Euen so he that is familiare with Idolaters, can not be vnstamed from idolatrie, except he do it to winne them to Christ, as there be but a few that doe: Yea it may not be where Idolatrye is openly committed, as for an ensample: Peter, so long as he continued wyth Christ and Christes disciples, he continued in the truth, preached the truthe, confessed openly Christe to be the sonne of the liuing God, and promised that he would not onelyonly go to prison, but also to very death with him:What it is to … associate in ill company. but when he came once into the Court into the Byshops house, he straight way was strikē with such a feare, that a poore maiden and simple ruffin (suche a one as my L. of London hath, that sayd: By Gods bloud, if I meete with any of these vile heretickes,A vyle seruaun… of B. Boners. I will thruste an arrow in him:) when Peter (I say) was amongst them, he denied his maister, and swore that he neuer knew him, whom he, before he came there, boldly confessed before all men: and againe, after that he hadde repented him of hys wicked deede, he boldly preached to the beleuing Iewes, commanding them among other his godly exhortations, to saue them selues frō that vntoward generation.Actes. 1. How many of our priests before this storme of persecution whē the Gospell was truely preached, were bolde, and coulde say, they would die rather, then denie their Maister? But whē they come once into the byshops houses, they preach no more Christe, but vtterlye denie him: therefore I praye GOD keepe them from thence, or else sende them more grace and strength. It is needefull to pray: therfore watch in prayer.
Paul, al the while he was among the Bishops, was a cruel persecutor,Anno 1556. Aprill. but after he was called of God from the Bishops, he became a true preacher: therfore God keep all Christian men out of the handes of our bishops. S. Paule in the xv. to the Rom. saith: I dare not speake any of those thinges that Christ hath not wrought by. He sayth also: I beseeche you brethren, marke them that make deuision, & geue occasions of euill, contrary to the doctrine that ye hauehave learned and them auoyd, Rom. 15. Rom. 16.for they that are such, serue not the Lord Iesus Christ: but theyr own bellies, and with such sweete and flattering wordes deceiue the hartes of the simple. Our mayster Chryste himselfe hath geuen vsus warning which they be: for he hath set the playne marke on them, in the 24. of Math. If they say here is Christ, or there is Christ, beleue them not, sayth Chryst. If they say, he is in the desert, go not forth. If they say, he is in the secret place, Math. 24.beleue them not. And I pray you, where canne he be more secret, then in so small a peece of bread? for my Lord of London, like a lyer, sayd to me, that after ye words be spoken, there remayneth neither bread nor wine. Then I asked him what he sayd to Dauid, where he sayth: Thou shalt not suffer thy holy one to see corruption? how say you to that?B. Boner not able to answere to this place of Dauid. Will not the sacrament of the Aultar putrifie or corrupt? He aunswered, Yes. I asked him, what it was that did corrupt, if there were neyther bread nor wine. Hee aunswered, and sayde, the accidences. I sayd vntounto hym, it was a madde accidence wythout substaunce, for you saye, there is neyther bread nor wyne, and then there is nothing to *How can corruption be referred to accidences when by all Philosophy generation and corruption belong onelyonly to the predicamēt of substance.corrupte: wyth manye suche like argumentes.
Therfore beware of them, for they go about to deceiue you with such argumentes. Say not but ye be warned, & a great deale the more worthy of youre damnation, if they deceiue you, because you hauehave had so much warning. Repent you betimes of your sinfull liues, and amend, & then no doubte but God will eyther turne their hartes, or ells take them away, or els he will geue vsus that, that hee promised to his Disciples, if we be contented to take the same reward that they had. And if wee disdayne the one, let vsus not look for the other. For he that will be his fathers heyre must be contented to receiue his fathers correction. For s. Paule sayth in the xij. to the Romaynes: If we be not vnderunder correction, whereof all are partakers, then are we bastardes, and not sonnes.
And you know what belongeth to a bastard: hee shall not be hys fathers heyre. And i… we remember our selues wel how negligent we hauehave bene to keepe our fathers cō mandement, we shall find our selues worthy to be corrected at his hand. If we refuse his correction, he will refuse vsus to be hys sonnes. I pray you looke what hee promised to his Disciples, and I pray you also looke how willingly they receiued it. And so must we do, if we wil be partakers with them. First let vsus see what Christe promised to hys Disciples. Looke in the x. of saynct Mathewe, and there shall you see these wordes: Behold I sende you forth as sheepe among Wolues. Be wise therefore as serpentes, and innocent as doues. Math. 10.Beware of men, for they shall deliuer you vp to the counsels, and shall scourge you in theyr Synagogues: yee shall bee brought before the head rulers and kinges for my names sake. But when they put you vp, take ye no thought: how or what yee shall speake: for it shall be geuen you in the same houre what ye shall speake. For it is not you that speake, but the spirite of my father whiche speaketh in you &c. Read the whole Chapt. for it is verye comfortable to a Christian man: and marke it well, and you shall find what we ought to do in the tyme of persecution. Also looke in the 2. Epistle of S. Paule to the Corinth. and the 4. chap. he sayth:…. Cor. 4. For we which liue are alwayes deliuered vntounto deathe for Iesus sake, that the lyfe also of Iesus might appeare in oure mortall fleshe. Thus you heare yt S. Paule doth boast of persecution: euen so should we, for it is the way to bring vsus to rest.
Therfore let vsus striue to enter in at ye narow gate, and let vsus remember the saying of S. Paule in the 21. chapt. of the Acts of the Apostles,Actes. 21. when he was going to Ierusalē. when he was in the house of Phillip the Euangelist, there came in a Prophet, and tooke of his girdle, and bound hys handes and his feete, saying: Thus shall they do with the man that oweth this girdle, when he commeth to Ierusalem. When the Disciples heard that, they would hauehave perswaded him that he should not go thither. Here you shall see what answere this Pastor made them: he was a faithfull shepheard: What do ye weepyng and breaking of my hart? I am not ready to be bound onelyonly, but also to dye at Hierusalem, for the name of the Lord Iesus.
Yet I thinke there be some that will say, that I needed not to hauehave ben takē, if I would hauehave kepte me out of the way. But I say vntounto, that the shrinking away of so many of our shepheardes as be gone, maketh so many of ye flock to scatter: which will be required at theyr handes, of ye maister of the sheepe. What shall he saye to them at the daye of accompt when they shall come to receaue their wages? He shall say to them: Departe from me ye wicked hyr…linges,A note … thē … shronke … way …. for when ye saw the Wolfe come ye ran away, and left my sheep in the wildernes. If you had bene good shepheards ye would rather hauehave lost your liues, then hauehave loste one sheepe committed to your charge through your fault. And I pray you, what case bee the sheepe in, when their shepheard runneth awaye from them? I neede not to tell you, you know the daunger that followeth so well.
Therefore let vsus pray to God to send vsus faithful shepheardes, & also obedient sheep, that will not heare a strangers voyce.Ro… ….8. I would all men woulde marke well the saying of s. Paule in the 8. to the Rom. wher he sayth in these wordes: Who shall separate vsus from the louelove of God? Shall tribulation, or anguish, or persecution, either nakednes, eyther perill, eyther sword? As it is written: For thy sake are wee killed all day long▪ and are counted as sheepe appoynted to bee slayne: neuerthelesse wee ouercome strongly through his helpe that loued vsus. Yea, I am sure that neither death neither lyfe, neither Angels, neyther rule, neyther power, neyther thinges present neyther thinges to come, neither heigth, neither depth, neyther anye other creature shall be able to separate vsus from the louelove of God: and so forth. Also he sayth in an other plac:2. Tim. 3. All that wil liue godly in Christe Iesus, must suffer persecution. Thus I proue it to be our heauenly fathers rod: therefore let vsus thankefully receaue it like obedient Children, and then our father will louelove vsus.
Yet heare what S. Peter saith in his first Epistle and the fourth Chapiter:1. Peter. 4. Dearely beloued (sayth he) be not troubled in this heate whiche is now come among you to try you, as though some strange thinge had happened vntounto you: but reioyce in asmuch as ye are partakers of Christes passions, that when his glory appeareth, you may bee mery and glad. If ye be rayled on for the name of Christ, happy are ye, for the spirite of glorye, and the spirite of God resteth vppon you. On their parte hee is euill spoken of, but on your parte hee is glorified. Here S. Peter sayth it is no straunge thing: and that I hauehave partly prooued before, because wee hauehave nothinge els promised vsus in this world.
Therefore let vsus call on God for grace.1. Reg. 19. Be ye sure that they can do nothing to vsus, till God permittt it. As for ensample: looke in the first booke of kinges, the xix. chapiter you shall see how Saule persecuted Dauid, purposing to kill hym: but hys labour was in vayne.
Also in the 3. booke of kings,3. Reg. 19. the 19. cha. Iesabel threatned & sware to slea Elias, but the Lord preferred him. Also in the 2. chap. of Iob, you see that Satan could doe nothinge to Iob, till God suffered him, neither exercise hys cruelnesse any further then God had appoynted him.Iob. 21 Dan. …. The godly woman Susanna, in the 8. of Daniell, thorough the false accusation of ye wicked iudges, was euen at a poynt to dye, yet God wonderfully deliuered her. These hauehave I written to put you in remembrance, that man can doe no more then is ye will of God: therefore let vsus not resist his will but referre all to him: and let vsus bee doing that thing that God hath commaunded vsus in his holy word.
Deare brethren, for the bloud of Christ refuse not the Crosse of Christ,Exhortatiō not to refuse Christs Crosse. Psal. 119. but remember the saying of the godly mā Dauid in his .119. Psalme, where he sayth: It is good for me that I hauehave bene in trouble, that I may learne thy statutes. In the same place he sayth: Before I was in trouble, I went wrong but now I hauehave kept thy word. Euen so it is in trouble wyth vsus,Gods word neuer so sweete a… in trouble. Rom. 5. for the word of God was neuer so sweete and comfortable, as it is now that we be in trouble. Also S. Paule sayth in the fift chapter to the Rom. We reioyce in tribulation: For wee knowe that tribulation bringeth patience, pacience bringeth experience, experience bringeth hope, and hope maketh not ashamed.
Also I pray you remember the saying of S. Paule in the second to Timothe and the first chapter where he saith Be not ashamed to testifie the Lorde: neither be ashamed of me. 2. Tim. 1.Euen so say I vntounto you, deare brethren: Be not ashamed of my imprisonment, neither sorye, but reioyce with me, that it hath pleased God of his goodnes to call me to suche a dignitie as this shal be vntounto me, if I may hauehave his grace to loose my life (which I regard as most vile) for his names sake: for then I shal be sure to find it agayne with aduantage: Therefore I desire you all that you will praye with me vntounto almighty god: yt he of his mercifull goodnes wil send me his grace & strength, that I may continue vntounto ye end: as I will pray for you, yt God will preserue you frō all the wicked wayes of Antichrist, & strengthen & comfort you, if it be his good pleasure yt you shall suffer any thyng for his names sake: as he hath faythfully promised to doe. And I certify you, yt if all mē knew ye comfort they should receiue at ye hande of God, being in prison, I thinke there would come mo to prison thē there do. For surely we find such comfort at ye hand of God since we hauehave bene in prisō: that we had rather dye then to be abroad to see theyr idolatry that is committed amōg them that be abroad: beside the seeking one of an others bloud, wt other wickednes to much. God send me more grace. But I trust amongst you there be none such: & if there be, repent and amend, least it be verified on you, that is spokē by the Prophet Ierem. 2. cha. where hee sayth, My people hathe committed two great euils. Ierem. ….They hauehave forsaken me the fountayne of the liuing waters, and digged them pittes: pittes (I say) that are broken, and canne hold no water, Also in the vii. he sayth: Take heede: ye truste in counsels that beguile you, Ierem. 7.and do you no good. In the 23. he sayth: Heare not the wordes of the Prophetes that preach theyr owne dreames. Good brethren beware of those false Prophetes that I hauehave geuen you warning of.Ierem. 23.
Dearely beloued, heare I make an end of this tyme, desiring the same health both of body and soule, vntounto you al that I would hauehave my selfe: and I end with the same that S. Pter sayth in his first Epistle and the 5. chap. Submitte your selues therefore vnderunder the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you when the time is come. Cast all youre care on him for he careth for you. Be sober and watche, for your aduersarye the Deuil like a roaring Lyon walketh about, seeking whō hee may deuour, whom resist steadfast in fayth: remembring that ye do but fulfill the same afflictions that are appoynted to youre brethren that are in the worlde. The God of all grace that called you vntounto his eternall glory, by Christe Iesus, shall his owne selfe, after you hauehave suffered a little affliction, make you perfect, shall settle, strengthen, and stablish you. To him be glory and dominiō for euer, and while ye world endureth. Amen.
Greete one an other with an holy kisse of louelove. Peace be with you all which are in Christ Iesus. I pray you all say, Amen. These be in the same prison where I am: the Bishop of S. Dauids, Doctor Taylor of Hadley, maister Philpot, and my singular good father M. Bradford, with fiue other of Sussex lay men.
I desire some good brother, to write this newe, for I wrote it (as I do many times) with feare. For if the kepers had found me, they would hauehave taken it from me, & my pen and inke also.
Good brethren, I am kept alone, and yet I thank God he comforteth me past all the comfort of anye man: for I thanke him, I was neuer meryer in Christ.
By me William Tyms, prisoner in the Kinges Benche.
About this time or somewhat before, came down certayne Commissioners assigned by the Queene and Counsayle,Experiment o… Gods c…n…ert in … of his …. to Northfolke and Suffolke (as to other countryes els besides) to enquire of matters of Religion: vntounto the which Commissioners there was a Supplicatiō then exhibited by some good and well disposed men (as by ye same may appeare) dwelling about those parties. Which Supplication, as I thought it not vnworthy to bee read, bearing ye date of thys presēt yeare, to be printed, so I thought it was not to be omittted, nor vnworthy here to bee placed, in consideration of the fruite which thereof might ensue to the reader.