Acts and Monuments Volume 2 Part 2, Book 11 · Letters 1 · Letter 5
*A letter of Syr Edward Baynton Knight, aunsweryng to the letter of M. Latymer sent to him before.
MAyster Latimer, after hartye recommendations,The copy of Syr Edward Bayntōs letter to M. Latimer. I hauehave cōmunicated the effect of youre letters to diuers of my frendes, such as for Christen charity (as they say) rather desire in you a reformation, eyther in youre opinion) if it swerue frō the truth) or at the least in your maner and behauiour, in as much as it geueth occasion of sclaunder and trouble in let of your good purposes, then anye other inconuenience to youre person or good name.These friendes of M. Bay…tō seeme to be some Popish Priestes, and enemyes to the Gospell, as Powell, Wilson, Sherwood, Hubberdine. &c. And for asmuch as your sayd letter misliked them in some parte, and that I hauehave such confidence in your Christen breste, as in my iudgement ye wil conformably and gladly, both heare that may be reformed in you, and also (as it is worthy) so knowledge and confesse the same: I hauehave therefore desired them to take the payne to note theyr mindes in this letter whiche I send to you, as agregate of theyr sayinges, & sent from me your assured frend and fauourer, in that that is the very truth of Gods word, wherein neuerthelesse, as I trust ye your selfe will temper your owne iudgement, and in a sobernes affirme no truth of your selfe,The Papistes will not hauehave vnity disturbed. whiche shoulde deuide the vnitie of the Congregation in Chryst, and the receiued truth agreed vponupon by holy fathers of the Churche, consonaunt to the scripture of GOD, euen so what soeuer ye will do therein (as I thinke ye will not otherwise then ye should do) I beyng vnlearned, and not of the knowledge to geue sentence in this altera…ion and contention,Papistry coloured with authority of holy fathers. must rather of good congruence shew my selfe in that you disagree with thē, readyer to follow theyr doctrine in truth, then yours, vnlesse it may please almightye God to inspire and confirm the heartes of suche people to testify the same in some honest number as ought to induce me to geue credence vntounto them.M. Bayntō will follow the most number.
OnelyOnly God knoweth the certayne trueth, whiche is communicate vntounto vsus, as our capacitie may comprehend it by fayth, but that it is per speculum in enigmate. And there hauehave bene qui zelum Dei habuerunt, sed non secundum scientiam. Among whiche I repute not you,Note the proceedynge of the Pope… Church, which would not hauehave the people certayne of Gods truth and religion. but to this purpose I write it, that to cal this or that truth it requireth a deep and profound knowledge, consideryng that to me vnlearned, that I take for truth may be otherwyse, not hauyng sensus exercitatos, as saynct Paule sayth, ad discernendum bonum & malum, and it is shewed me, that an opinion or maner of teachyng, which causeth dissension in a Christian congregation, is not of God, by the doctrine of S. Iohn in his Epistle, where he sayth: Omnis qui confitetur Christū in carne. &c. ex Deo est. And like as ye word of God hath alwayes caused dissension among men vnchristened,Errour and false doctrine would fayne lye still in peace and no… be stirred. wherevpon hath ensued and followed Martyrdome to the preacher, so in Christes congregation amonge them that professe Christes name, In vno Domino, vno Baptismate & vna fide, they that preache and stirre rather contention, then charitie, though they can defēd their saying, yet theyr teachyng is not to be taken as of God, in that it breaketh the chayne of Christen charitie, and maketh diuision in the people,Vnity in the Lord, in Baptisme, in fayth. congregate and called by GOD into an vnitie of fayth and Baptisme. But for thys poynt I would pray to God, that not onelyonly in the truth may be agreement, but also suche sobernes and vniforme behauiour vsed in teachyng and preaching,The Chayne of christen charity. as men may wholy expresse (as they may) the charitie of God tendyng onelyonly to the vnion in louelove of vsus all, to the profite and saluation of our soules.