Whole Works, Tracts 1 · Tract 2 · To the reader

Whole Works · Tracts 1 · Tract 2 · To the reader

p. 97¶ The obedience of a Chriſten man, and how Chriſten rulers ought to gouerne, Wherein alſo (if thou marke diligently) thou ſhalt finde eyes to perceaue the craftie conueyaunce of all iugglers.

Set forth by William Tyndall. 1528. Octob. 2.

William Tyndall otherwyſe called Hitchins to the Reader.

GRace, peace, and increaſe of knowledge in our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, be with thee reader, and with all that call on the name of the Lord vnfaynedly, and with a pure conſcience. Amen.

Let it not make thee diſpayre, neither yet diſcourage thee (O Reader,) that it is forbidden thee in payne of life and goods, or that it is made breaking of the Kinges peace, or treaſon vntounto his highneſſe to read the worde of thy ſoules health: but much rather be bold The nature of Gods word is to be perſecuted.in the Lorde, and comforte thy ſoule, for aſmuch as thou art ſure, and haſt an euident token through ſuche perſecution, that it is the true worde of God: which worde is euer hated of the worlde, neyther was euer without perſecution, (as thou ſeeſt in all the ſtories of the Bible, both of the newe Teſtament, and alſo of the olde) neyther can be, no more then the Sunne can be without his light. And The Pope is receaued and receaueth and per ſecuteth.foraſmuch as contrariwiſe thou art ſure that the popes doctrine is not of God, which (as thou ſeeſt) is ſo agreable vntounto the world, and is ſo receiued of the world, or which rather ſo receaueth the world, and the pleaſures of the worlde, and ſeeketh nothing but the poſſeſſions of the worlde, and aucthoritie in the world, & to beare a rule in the world, & perſecuteth the worde of God, & with all wilineſſe driueth the people from it, and with falſe and ſophiſticall reaſons maketh them afeard of it: he curſeth them, and excommunicateth them, and bringeth them in beleef that they be damned if they looke on it: and that it is but doctrine to deceaue men: and moueth the blinde powers of the world to ſlay with fire, water, and ſworde, all that cleaue vntounto it: For the LoueLove of the world is hatred of God and his holy Goſpell.world loueth that which is his, and hateth that which is choſen out of the world to ſerue God in the ſpirite, as Chriſt ſayth to his Diſciples. Iohn. 15. If ye were of the world, the world would louelove his owne: but I hauehave choſen you out of the worlde, and therefore the world hateth you.

An other comfort haſt thou, that as the God defendeth his doctrine hym ſelfe.weake powers of the worlde defende the doctrine of the worlde: ſo the mighty power of God, defendeth the doctrine of God. Which thing thou ſhalt euidentlye perceiue, if thou call to minde the wonderfull deedes whiche God hath euer wrought for his word in extreame neceſſitie, ſince the worlde began, beyond all mans reaſon. Whiche are written (as Paule ſayth, Roma. 15.) for our learning, (and not for our deceauing) that we through patience, and comfort of the ſcripture might hauehave hope. The nature of Gods word Gods word ſighteth agaynſt hipocrites.is to fight agaynſt hypocrites. It beganne at Abell, and hath euer ſince continued, and ſhall (I doubte not) vntyll the laſte daye. And the hypocrites hauehave alway the world on their ſides, as thou ſeeſt in the time of Chriſt. They had the elders, that is to witte, the rulers Nowe our maſter Chriſt was entreated…of the Iewes, on theyr ſide. They had Pilate, and the Emperors power on theyr ſide: They had Herode alſo on theyr ſide. Moreouer, they brought all theyr worldlye wyſedome to paſſe, and all that they coulde thinke▪ or imagine, to ſerue for theyr purpoſe. Fyrſt, to feare the people withal, they excommunicated all that beleeued in him, and put The craft o… the hypocrites.them out of the temple, as thou ſeeſt Iohn. 9. Secondly, they founde the meanes to hauehave him condemned by the Emperors power, and made it treaſon to Ceſar, to beleeue in him. Thirdly, they obtayned to hauehave him hanged as a theefe, or a murtherer, which after theyr belly wiſedome, was a cauſe aboue all cauſes, that no man ſhould beleeue in him: For the Iewes take it for a ſure token of euerlaſting damnation, if a man be hanged. For it is written in theyr lawe, Deutero. 21. Curſed is whoſoeuer hangeth on tree. Moyſes alſo in the ſame place commaundeth, if any man be hanged, to take him downe the ſame day, and bury him, for feare of polluting or defiling the countrey, that is, leaſt they ſhoulde bring the wrath and curſe of God vponupon them. And therfore the wicked Iewes themſelues, which with ſo venemous hate perſecuted the doctrine of Chriſt, and did all the ſhame, that they coulde do vntounto him, (though they would fayne hauehave had Chriſt to hang ſtill on the croſſe, and there to rotte, as he ſhoulde hauehave done by the Emperors lawe, yet for feare of defiling theyr Sabboth, and of bringing the wrath and curſe of God vponupon them,) begged of Pilate to take him downe. Ioh. 19. which was againſt them ſelues.

Finally, when they had done all they coulde, and that they thought ſufficient, and when chriſt was in the hart of the earth, & ſo many billes and pollares about him, to keepe him down, and when it was paſt mans helpe, then holpe God when man coulde not bring Gods truth worketh w… ders & maketh the wiſedome of the hypocrites fooliſhnes.him agayne, Gods truth fetched him agayne. The oth that God had ſworne to Abrahā, to Dauid, & to other holy fathers & Prophetes, rayſed him vp agayne, to bleſſe, and ſaue all that beleeue in him. Thus became the wiſedome of the hypocrites fooliſhnes. Loe, thys was written for thy learning and comfort.

How wonderfully were the children of The captiuitie of the Iſraelit… vnderunder ….Iſraell locked in Egipt? In what tribulation. combraunce, and aduerſitie were they in? The land alſo that was promiſed them, was farre of, and full of great cities, walled with high walles vp to the ſkye, & inhabited with If…with…who can be ….great giantes: yet Gods truth brought them out of Egipt, and planted them in the land of p. 98the giantes. This is alſo written for our learning: For there is no power agaynſt Gods, If God be with vsus, who can be againſt vsus? Pharao ſ…aieth the men children.neyther any wiſedome againſt Gods wiſedome… he is ſtronger and wiſer, then all his enemies. What holpe it Pharao, to drowne the men childrē? So little (I feare not) ſhall it at the laſt helpe the pope, and his byſhops, to burne our men children, whiche manfully confeſſe, that Ieſus Chriſt is the Lorde, and that there is no other name geuen vntounto men, to be ſaued by: as Peter teſtifieth, Actes. 4.

Who dryed vp the red ſea? Who ſlew Golias? How Moſes comforteth the Iſraelites.Who did all thoſe wonderfull deedes, which thon readeſt in the Bible? Who deliuered the Iſraelites euermore from thra…dom and bondage, as ſoone as they repented, and turned to God? Fayth verely, and Gods truth, and the truſt in the promiſes which he had made. Read the xj. to the Hebrues, for thy conſolation.

When the children of Iſraell were ready to diſpayre, for the greatnes & the multitude of the Giantes, Moyſes comforted them euer, ſaying: Remēber what your Lord God hath done for you in Egipt, his wonderfull plagues, his miracles, his wonders, his mighty hand, his ſtretched out arme, and what he hath done for you hetherto. He ſhall deſtroye them, he ſhall take theyr hartes from them, and make them feare, and flye before you. He ſhall ſtorme them, and ſtirre vp a tempeſt among them, and ſcatter them, and bring them to naught. He hath ſworne, he is true, he will fullfill the promiſes that he hath made vntounto Abraham, Iſaac, and Iacob. This is written Gods truth fighteth for vsus.for our learning: for verely he is a true God, and is our God as well as theyres, and his promiſes are with vsus, as well as with them, and he preſente with vsus, as well as he was with them. If we aſke, we ſhal obtain: if we knocke, he will open: if we ſeeke, wee ſhall finde: if we thyrſt, his truth ſhall fullfill our luſt. Chriſt is with vsus vntill the worldes ende. Math. y^• laſt. Let this little flock be bold therefore: for if God be on our ſide, what matter maketh it who be againſt vsus, be they byſhops, cardinalles, popes, or what ſo euer names they will?

Marke this alſo, if God ſende thee to the ſea, and promiſe to goe with thee, and to bring God tryeth the fayth of his children.thee ſafe to lande, he will rayſe vp a tempeſt agaynſt thee, to proue whether thou wilt abide by his worde, and that thou mayſt feele thy fayth, and perceiue his goodnes. For, if it were alwayes fayre weather, and thou neuer brought into ſuch ieoperdy, whēce his mercy onelyonly deliuered thee, thy fayth ſhould be but a preſumption, and thou ſhouldeſt be euer vnthanckfull to God, and mercileſſe vntounto thy neighbour.

If God promiſe ritches, the way therto is God worketh backward.pouertie. Whom he loueth, him he chaſteneth: whome he exalteth, he caſteth downe: whome he ſaueth, he damneth firſt: he bringeth no man to heauen, except he ſend him to hell firſt: if he promiſe life, he ſlayeth firſt: when he buildeth, he caſteth all downe firſt: he is no patcher; he can not builde on an other mans foundation: he will not woorke, vntill all be paſt remedy, and brought vntounto ſuch a caſe, y^• men may ſee, how that his hand, his power, his mercy, his goodneſſe, and trueth hath wrought all together: he will let no man be partaker with him of hys prayſe, and glorye: his workes are wonderful, and contrary vntounto mans workes. Who euer (ſauing he) deliuered his owne ſonne, his onelyonly ſonne, hys deare ſonne vntounto the death, and that for his enemies ſake, to winne his enemye, to ouercomme him with louelove, that he might ſee louelove, and louelove againe, and of louelove to do likewiſe to other men, and to ouercome them with well doing?

Ioſeph ſaw the Sunne and the Moone, and xj. ſtarres worſhipping him. Neuertheleſſe Ioſeph.ere that came to paſſe, God layed hym where he could neither ſee ſunne, nor moone, neyther any ſtarre of the ſkye, and that many yeares, and alſo vndeſerued, to norture him, to humble, to meeke, and to teach him Gods wayes, and to make him apt and meet for the roome and honor, againſt he came to it, that he might perceiue and feele, that it came of God, and that he might be ſtrong in the ſpirite to miniſter it godly.

He promiſed the children of Iſraell a Iſraelites.lande with riuers of milke and honny. But brought them for the ſpace of fourty yeares, into a land, where not onelyonly riuers of mylke and honny were not, but where ſo much as a drop of water was not, to nourture them, and to teach them, as a father doth his ſonne, and to do them good at the latter ende, and that they might be ſtrong in their ſpirite, & ſoules, to vſe his giftes and benefites, godly, and after hys will.

He promiſed Dauid a kingdome, and immediatly Dauid.ſtirred vp king Saule againſt him, to perſecute him, to hunt him as men do hares with greyhoundes, and to ferret him out of eueryevery hole, & that for the ſpace of many yeares to tame him, to meeke him, to kill his luſtes, to make him feele other mens diſeaſes, to make him mercifull, to make him vnderſtand that he was made king, to miniſter, and to ſerue his brethren, and that he ſhoulde not thincke that his ſubiectes were made to miniſter vntounto his luſtes, and that it were lawfull for him to take away from them life & goods, at his pleaſure.

Oh that our kinges were ſo nourtured How Biſhops inſtruct kings.how a dayes, which our holy byſhops teache of a farre other maner, ſaying: Your grace ſhal take your pleaſure: yea, take what pleaſure you liſt, ſpare nothing: we ſhall diſpence with you, we hauehave power, we are Gods vicars: and let vsus alone with the realme, we ſhall take payne for you, and ſee that nothing be well: your Grace ſhall but defende the fayth onelyonly.

Let vsus therefore looke diligently whereunto Wherunto a chriſtian is called.we are called, that we deceaue not our ſelues. We are called, not to diſpute as the popes diſciples do: but to dye with Chriſt, that we may liue with him, and to ſuffer with him, that we may raigne with him. We be called vntounto a kingdome, that muſt be wonne w^t ſuffring only, as a ſicke man winneth health. Our fighting is to ſuffer while God fighteth for vsus.God is he that doth all thing for vsus, and fighteth for vsus, & we do but ſuffer onelyonly. Chriſt ſayth, Iohn xx. As my Father ſent me, ſo ſende I you. and Iohn xv. If they perſecute me, then ſhall they perſecute you. and Chriſt ſayth Math. x. I ſend you forth, as ſheepe among p. 99wolues. The ſheepe fight not: but the ſhepheard fighteth for them, and careth for them. Be harmeles as Doues therfore, ſaith Chriſt, and wiſe as ſerpentes. The doues imagine no defence, nor ſeeke to auenge themſelues. The wiſedome of the Serpent.The ſerpentes wiſedome is, to keepe his head, and thoſe partes wherein his life reſteth. Chriſt is our head, and Gods word is that wherin our life reſteth. To cleaue therfore faſt vntounto Chriſt, and vntounto thoſe promiſes which God hath made vsus for his ſake, is our wiſedome. Beware of men (ſayth he) for they ſhall deliuer you vp vntounto theyr counſels, and ſhall ſcourge you, and ye ſhall be brought before rulers, and kinges for my ſake: the brother ſhall betray, or deliuer the brother to death, and the father, the ſonne: and the children ſhall riſe againſt father and mother, and put them to death. Heare what Chriſt ſayth more, The diſciple is not greater thē his maſter, neyther the ſeruaunte greater or better then his Lorde: if they hauehave called the goodman of the houſe Beelzebub, how much rather ſhall they call his houſehold ſeruants ſo? And Luke xiiij. ſayth Chriſt, Which of you diſpoſed to builde a tower, ſitteth not downe fyrſt, and counteth the coſt, whether he hauehave ſufficient to performe it? leſt when he hath layd the foundation, and then not able to performe it, al that behold it, begin to mocke him, He maketh a mocke of him ſelfe, that caſteth not the ende …re he beginſaying: this man beganne to builde, and was not able to make an ende: ſo likewiſe none of you that forſaketh not all that he hath, can be my diſciple. Whoſoeuer therefore caſteth not this aforehand, I muſt ieoberd life, goods, honor, worſhip, and al that there is, for Chriſtes ſake.) deceaueth him ſelfe, and maketh a mocke of himſelfe, vntounto the godles hipocrites & infidels. No man can ſerue two maiſters, God, and Mammon (that is to ſay) wicked riches alſo. Mathew. vj. Thou muſt louelove Chriſt aboue all thing: but that doeſt thou How is the Pope …ure whiche taketh all for Chriſtes ſake but forſaketh nought.not, if thou be not ready to forſake all for hys ſake: if thou hauehave forſaken all for his ſake, then art thou ſure, that thou loueſt him. Tribulation is our right baptiſme, and is ſignified by plunging into the water. Wee that are baptized in the name of Chriſt (ſayth Paule Rom. vj.) are baptized to dye with him.Tribulation is ou… Baptiſme.

The ſpirite through tribulation purgeth vsus, and killeth our fleſhly witte, our worldly vnderſtādyng, and belly wiſedome: and filleth vsus full of the wiſedome of God. Tribulation is a bleſſing that commeth of God, as witneſſeth Chriſt, Math. v. Bleſſed are they that Tribulation is a bleſſingſuffer perſecution for righteouſnes ſake, for theyrs is the kyngdome of heauen. Is not this a comfortable word? Who ought not rather to chuſe and deſire to be bleſſed w^t Chriſt in a little tribulation, then to be curſed perpetually with the world for a little pleaſure?

Proſperitie is a right curſe, and a thing Proſperitie is a curſe.that God geueth vntounto his enemies. Wo be to you ritch: (ſayth Chriſt; Luke. vj.) loe, ye hauehave your conſolation: wo be to you that are ful, for ye ſhall hunger: wo be to you that laugh, for ye ſhall weepe: wo be to you when men prayſe you, for ſo did theyr fathers vntounto the falſe prophetes: yea, and ſo hauehave our fathers done vntounto the falſe hypocrites. The hipocrites with worldly preaching, hauehave not gotten the prayſe onelyonly, but euen the poſſeſſions alſo, and the dominion, and rule of the whole worlde.

Tribulation for righteouſnes, is not a Tribulation in the gift of God.bleſſing onelyonly: but alſo a gift that God geueth vntounto none ſaue his ſpeciall frendes. The Apoſtles, Act. v. reioyced, that they were counted woorthy, to ſuffer rebuke for Chriſtes ſake. And Paule in the ſecond epiſtle & third chapter to Timothe, ſayth: All that will liue godly in Chriſt Ieſu muſt ſuffer perſecutiō. And Philip. j. he ſayth: Ʋnto you it is geuen not onelyonly to beleue in Chriſt, but alſo to ſuffer for his ſake. Here ſeeſt thou, that it is Gods gift, to ſuffer for Chriſtes ſake. And in the 1. Pet. 4. ſayth: Happy are ye, if ye ſuffer for the name of Chriſt, for the glorious ſpirite of God reſteth in you. Is it not an happy thing, to be ſure, that thou art ſealed with Gods ſpirite vntounto euerlaſting life? And verily thou art ſure therof, if thou ſuffer patiently for his ſake. By ſuffring art thou ſure: but by perſecuting canſt thou neuer be ſure. For Paule Rom. 5. ſayth: Tribulation maketh feeling, Wherby the are the pope and byſhops ſure?that is, it maketh vsus feele the goodneſſe of God, and his helpe, and the working of his ſpirite. 2. Cor. 12. the Lord ſayd vntounto Paul: My grace is ſufficiēt for thee: for my ſtrēgth is made perfect through weaknes. Lo, Chriſt is neuer ſtrong in vsus, till we be weake. As our ſtrength abateth, ſo groweth the ſtrength The weake… to the world the ſtronger to Chriſt.of Chriſt in vsus: when we are cleane emptied of our own ſtrength, then are we ful of Chriſtes ſtrength: & looke how much of our owne ſtrength remayneth in vsus, ſo much lacketh there of y^• ſtrength of Chriſt. Therfore ſayth Paule, 2. Cor. 12. Ʋery gladly will I reioyce in my weaknes, that the ſtrength of Chriſt may dwell in me: therfore hauehave I delectation (ſayth Paule) in infirmities, in rebukes, in need, in perſecutions, and in anguiſh for Chriſtes ſake: for when I am weake, Weakenes of the fleſh a the ſtrength of the ſpiritethen am I ſtrong. Meaning, that the weaknes of the fleſhe, is the ſtrength of the ſpirite. And by fleſh vnderſtand, wit, wiſedome, and all that is in a man, before the ſpirite of God Fleſh.come, and whatſoeuer ſpringeth not of the ſpirite of God, and of Gods woorde. And of like teſtimonies is all the ſcripture full.

Behold, God ſetteth before vsus a bleſſing and alſo a curſe. A bleſſing verely, and that a glorious and an euerlaſting, if we will ſuffer In ij. things we are put to our choiſ…tribulatiō and aduerſity with our Lord, and ſauiour Chriſt. And an euerlaſting curſe, if for a little pleaſure ſake, we withdrawe our ſelues from the chaſtyſing & nurture of God, wherewith he teacheth all his ſonnes, and faſhioneth them after his godly will, and maketh them perfect (as he did Chriſt,) and maketh them apte, and meete veſſels to receiue his grace, and hys ſpirite, that they might perceaue and feele the exceeding mercy which we hauehave in Chriſt, & the innumerable bleſſinges, and the vnſpeakeable inheritance, whereunto we are called, and choſen, and ſealed in our ſauiour Ieſus Chriſt, vntounto whome be prayſe for euer. Amen.

Finally, whome God chuſeth to raigne euerlaſtingly with chriſt, him ſealeth he with his mighty ſpirite, and poureth ſtrength into The differēce betwen the children of God & of the deuill.his hart to ſuffer afflictiōs alſo with Chriſt, for bearing witneſſe vntounto the truth. And this is the difference betwene the children of God p. 100and of ſaluation, and betwene the children of the deuyll, and of damnation: that the children of God hauehave power in theyr hartes, to ſuffer for Gods worde, which is theyr life and ſaluatiō, their hope, and truſt, and whereby they liue in the ſoule, and ſpirite before God. And the children of the deuyll in time of aduerſity flye from Chriſt, whome they followed faynedly, theyr hartes not ſealed with hys holy & mighty ſpirite, and gett them to the ſtanderde of theyr right father the Deuyll, and take his The deuils wages.wages, the pleaſures of this world, which ar the earneſt of euerlaſting damnation: which concluſion the xij. chap. to the Hebrues, well confirmeth ſaying, My ſonne deſpiſe not thou the chaſticing of the Lord, neither faint whē thou art rebuked of him: for whom the Lord All Gods children are vnderunder chaſticing.loueth, him he chaſticeth: yea, & he ſcourgeth eueryevery ſonne whome he receaueth. To, perſecution and aduerſitie for the truthes ſake is Gods ſcourge, and Gods rod, and pertaineth vntounto all his children indifferently: for when he ſayth, he ſcourgeth eueryevery ſonne, he maketh none exception. Moreouer ſayth the text: If ye ſhall endure chaſticing, God offreth hymſelfe vntounto you, as vntounto ſonnes: what ſonne is it that the father chaſticeth not? If ye be not vnderunder correction (whereof all are partakers) then are ye baſtardes, and not ſonnes.

Foraſmuch then as we muſt needes bee baptiſed in tribulations, and through the red ſea, and a great, and a fearefull wildernes, & a land of cruell Giantes, into our naturall coū trey▪ yea, and in aſmuch as it is a playne earneſt, that there is no other way into the kingdome Which way go the Byſhops to heauen then?of life, then through perſecution, & ſufferyng of payne, & of very death, after the enſample of Chriſte: therefore let vsus arme our ſoules with the comforte of the Scriptures: How that God is euer ready at hand in time of neede to helpe vsus: and how that ſuch tyrants and perſecutors, are but gods ſcourge, and his rod to chaſtice vsus. And as the father hath alway in time of correction the rod faſt in his hand, ſo that the rod doth nothing, but as the father moueth it: euen ſo hath God all tyrantes The tyrātes hauehave not power to doe what they would.in hys hande, and letteth them not do whatſoeuer they would, but as much onelyonly, as he appoynteth them to do, and as far forth as it is neceſſarye for vsus. And as when the childe ſubmitteth himſelfe vntounto hys fathers correction and nurture, and humbleth himſelf altogether vntounto the will of his father, thē the rod is taken away: euen ſo when we ar come vntounto the knowledge of the right waye, and hauehave forſaken our owne will, and offer our ſelues cleane vntounto the will of God, to walke which way ſoeuer he will hauehave vsus: then turneth he the tyrantes: or els, if they enforce to perſecute vsus any further, he putteth them out of the way, according vntounto the comfortable enſamples of the ſcripture.

Moreouer, let vsus arme our ſoules with the promiſes both of helpe and aſſiſtance, and The promiſes of God are comfortable, yea they are all comfort.alſo of the glorious rewarde that followeth. Great is your reward in heauē, ſayth Chriſt, Math. 5. And he that knowledgeth mee before men, him will I knowledge before my father that is in heauen. Math. 10. and, Call on me in time of tribulation, and I wyll deliuer thee. Pſal. 65. and, Beholde the eyes of the Lord are ouer them thet feare hym, and ouer them, that truſt in hys mercy: to deliuer theyr ſoules from death, and to feede them in time of hunger. Pſal. 46. And in Pſal. 47. ſayth Dauid, The Lorde is nygh them that are troubled in theyr hartes, and the meeke in ſpirite will he ſaue. The tribulations of the righteous are many, and out of them all will the Lord deliuer them. The Lord keepeth al the bones of them, ſo that not one of thē ſhall be bruſed. The Lord ſhal redeeme the ſoules of his ſeruauntes. And of ſuch like conſolation are all the Pſalmes full: woulde to God, when ye read them, ye vnderſtood them. And Math. 10. When they deliuer you, take no thought what ye ſhall ſay: it ſhall be geuen you the ſame houre what ye ſhall ſay: for it is not ye that ſpeake, but the ſpirite of your Father which ſpeaketh in you. The very heares of your heades are numbred, ſaith Chriſt alſo Math. 10. If God care for our heares, he much more careth for our ſoules, which he hath ſealed with his holy ſpirite. Therefore ſayth Peter, 1. Pet. 4. Caſt all your care vppon him: for he careth for you. And Paule 1. Cor. 10. ſayeth: God is true, he wil not ſuffer you to be tempted aboue your might. And Pſal. 71. Caſt thy care vponupon the Lord.

Let thy care be to prepare thy ſelfe with A Chriſten mans care.all thy ſtrength, for to walke which way he will hauehave thee, and to beleue that he will goe with thee, & aſſiſt thee, and ſtrengthen thee agaynſt all tyrātes, & deliuer thee out of al tribulatiō. But what way, or by what meanes he will do it, that committe vntounto him, and his godly pleaſure, and wiſedome, and caſt that care vponupon him. And though it ſeeme neuer ſo vnlikely, or neuer ſo impoſſible vntounto naturall reaſon, yet beleue ſtedfaſtly that he will do it: and then ſhall he (according to his olde vſe) chainge the courſe of the worlde, euen in the twinckling of an eye, and come ſodenly vponupon our Gyantes, as a theefe in the night, and cō paſſe them in their wyles, and worldly wiſedome, when they crye peace, & all is ſafe, then ſhall theyr ſorrowes beginne, as the panges of a woman that traueileth with childe: and then ſhall he deſtroy them, and deliuer thee, vntounto the glorious prayſe of hys mercy and truth. Amen.

ANd as pertayning vntounto them that deſpiſe Gods worde, counting it as a phantaſie, or The deſpiſers, perſecutors & they that fall frō the word are threatened.a dreame, and to them alſo that for feare of a little perſecution fall from it, ſette this before thyne eyes: how God ſince the beginning of the world, before a generall plague, euer ſent his true prophetes, & preachers of his word, to warne the people, and gaue them time to repent. But they for the greateſt part of thē, hardened theyr hartes, and perſecuted the worde that was ſent to ſaue them. And then God deſtroyed them vtterly, and tooke them cleane from the earth. As thou ſeeſt what followed the preaching of Noe in y^• olde world, what folowed the preaching of Loth among N…. Loth. Moſes and Aaron.the Sodomites, & the preachyng of Moſes, and Aaron among the Egiptians, and that ſodenly againſt all poſſibilitie of mans witte. Moreouer as ofte as the children of Iſraell fel from God to the worſhipping of images, he ſent his prophets vntounto them: and they perſecuted The Prophetes.and waxed harde harted: and then he ſent them into all places of the world captiue. p. 101Laſt of all he ſent his owne ſonne vntounto them: and they waxed more. hard harted then euer Chriſt.before: And ſee what a fearefull example of his wrath, and cruel vengeance he hath made of them vntounto all the worlde, now almoſt fifteene hundred yeares.

VntoUnto the olde Brittaines alſo (which dwelled where our natiō doth now) preached …ildas,Gildas, and rebuked them of theyr wickednes, and propheſied both vntounto the ſpirituall …hey be ſpi…tuall: that … de…iliſhe: …r the de…ll is a ſpi…t….(as they will be called,) and vntounto the lay men alſo, what vengeaunce would follow, except they repented. But they waxed hard harted: and God ſente his plagues, and peſtilences among them, and ſent theyr enemies in vppon them on eueryevery ſide, & deſtroyed them vtterly.

Marke alſo how Chriſt threateneth thē that forſake him, for whatſoeuer cauſe it be: whether for feare, eyther for ſhame, eyther for loſſe of honour, frendes, lyfe, or goodes▪ He that denyeth me before men, him will I de…y before my father, that is in heauen. He that loueth, father or mother more then me, is not worthy of me, all thys he ſayth Math. 10. And in Mark. 8. he ſayth: Whoſoeuer is aſhamed of me, or my wordes, among this adulterous and ſinfull generation, of him ſhall the ſonne of man be aſhamed, when he commeth in the glory of his father, with his holy We muſt in no caſe deny Chriſt.Angels. And Luk. 9. alſo: None that layeth his hande to the plowe, and looketh backe, is meete for the kingdome of heauen.

Neuertheleſſe yet, if any man hauehave reſiſted God receaueth them that come agayne.ignorantly as Paule did, let him looke on the truth which Paule wrote after he came to knowledge. Alſo if any man cleane againſt his hart (but ouercome with the weaknes of the fleſh) for feare of perſecution, hauehave denied as Peter did, or hauehave deliuered his booke, or put it away ſecretly: let him (if he repente) come again, and take better hold, and not diſpayre or take it for a ſigne that God hath forſaken him: for God ofttimes taketh hys Why God letteth hys elect fall.ſtrength euen frō his very elect, whē they either truſt in theyr own ſtrength, or are negligent to call to him for his ſtrength. And that doth hee to teach thē, & to make thē feele that in that fire of tribulatiō for his wordes ſake, nothing can endure and abide, ſaue his word, and that ſtrēgth onelyonly, which he hath promiſed. For the which ſtrength he will hauehave vsus to praye vntounto him night and day, wyth all inſtance.

THat thou mayſt perceyue how that y^• ſcripture That the Scripture ought to bee in the Engliſh toung.ought to be in the mother tounge: and that the reaſons which our ſprites make for the contrary, are but ſophiſtry and falſe wiles to feare thee from the light, that thou mighteſt follow them blindfolde, and be theyr captiue to honor theyr ceremonies, and to offer to theyr belly.

Firſt God gaue the children of Iſraell a law by the hande of Moſes, in their mother tounge, and all the prophetes wrote in theyr mother tounge, and all the Pſalmes were in the mother tongue. And there was Chriſt but figured, and deſcribed in ceremonies, in riddles, in parables, and in darck prophecies. What is the cauſe that we may not hauehave the olde Teſtament, with the new alſo, which is the light of the olde, and wherin is openly declared before the eyes, that there was darckly propheſied? I can imagine no cauſe verely, except it be that we ſhould not ſee the woorke of Antechriſt, & iugglyng of hipocrites: what ſhoulde be the cauſe, that we which walke in the broad day, ſhould not ſee, as well as they that walked in the night, or that wee ſhoulde not ſee as well at noone, as they did in y^• twylight? Came Chriſt to make the world more blinde? By this meanes, Chriſt is the darknes of the world, and no… the light, as he ſaith him ſelfe, Iohn. 8.

Moreouer Moſes ſaith, Deut. 6. Heare Iſraell, let theſe wordes which I cōmaunde thee thys day ſticke faſt in thine hart, & whet Whette th… on thy children that is exerciſe thy children in them, and put them … …re.thē on thy children, & talke of thē as thou ſitteſt in thine houſe, & as thou walkeſt by the way, & when thou lyeſt downe, & when thou riſeſt vp, & binde them for a token to thyne hand, & let them be a remembraunce betwene thine eyes, & write thē on the poſ…es & gates of thine houſe. This was commaūded generally vntounto all men: How cometh it that gods word pertaineth leſſe vntounto vsus, thē vntounto the? Yea, howe commeth it, that our Moyſeſſes forbid vsus, and commaund vsus the contrary, & threaten vsus if we do, & will not that we once ſpeake of Gods worde. How can we whette Gods word (that is, to put it in practiſe, vſe, & exerciſe) vpō our children & houſhold, whē we are violently kepte from it, and knowe it not? How can we (as Peter commaundeth) geue a reaſon of our hope, when we wot not what it is that God hath promiſed, or what to hope? Moyſes alſo commaundeth in the ſayd chapter: If the ſonne aſke what the teſtimonies, lawes, and obſeruaunces of the Lorde meane, that the father teach him. If our childrē aſke what our cerimonies (which No nor ſy… Iohn hys ghoſtly children.are moe then the Iewes were) meane: no father can tell his ſonne. And in the xj. chapter, he repeteth all againe for feare of forgetting.

They will ſay happely, the ſcripture requireth a pure minde, and a quiet minde. And therefore the lay man becauſe he is altogether combred with worldly buſines, can not vnderſtand them. If that be the cauſe, then it is a plaine caſe, that our prelates vnderſtand not the Scriptures them ſelues: for no lay man is ſo tangled with worldly buſines as they are. The great thinges of the worlde are miniſtred by them: neyther do the lay people any great thing, but at their aſſignement.

If the Scripture were in the mother tongue, they will ſay, then would the lay people vnderſtande it, eueryevery man after his owne wayes. Wherfore ſerueth the Curate, but to teach him the right way? Wherfore were the holy dayes made, but that the people ſhoulde Holy dayescome and learne? Are yee not abhominable ſcholemaiſters, in that ye take ſo great wages Our Schole maſters take great wages but teach not.if ye will not teach? If ye would teach, how could ye do it ſo well, and with ſo great profite, as when the lay people hauehave the ſcripture before them in theyr mother tongue? for then ſhould they ſee by the order of the text, whether thou iugledeſt or not: and then woulde they beleue it, becauſe it is y^• ſcripture of god, thoughe thy liuyng be neuer ſo abhominable. Why the preachers are not beloued when they ſaye trouth.Where now, becauſe your liuing, & your preaching are ſo contrary, and becauſe they grope out in eueryevery ſermon your open, and manifeſt lyes, and ſmell your vnſatiable couetouſnes, p. 102they beleue you not when you preach truth. But alas, the Curates them ſelues (for the The curates wotte not what a Bible meanethmoſt part) wot no more what the new or olde Teſtament meaneth, then do the Turkes: neither know they of any more then that they read at maſſe, mattens, and euenſong, which yet they vnderſtande not: neyther care they, but euen to mumble vp ſo much eueryevery day (as the Pye and Poymgay ſpeake, they wot not what) to ſill vp theyr bellies withall. If they will not let the lay man hauehave the woorde of God in hys mother tounge, yet let the prieſts hauehave it, which for a great part of them do vnderſtand The Prieſts vnderſtand …o Latin.no latine at all: but ſing, and ſay, and patter all day with the lips onelyonly, that which the hart vnderſtandeth not.

Chriſt commaundeth to ſearch the ſcriptures. Search the Scriptures.Iohn. 5. Though that miracles bare recorde vntounto hys doctrine, yet deſired he no fayth to be geuen eyther vntounto hys doctrine, or vntounto hys miracles, without recorde of the ſcripture. When Paule preached Act. 17. the other ſearched the ſcriptures dayly, whether they were as he alleaged them. Why ſhal not I likewiſe ſee, whether it be the ſcripture y^• thou alleageſt: yea, why ſhall I not ſee the ſcripture and the circumſtaunces, and what goeth before and after, that I may knowe whether thine interpretation be y^• right ſence, or whether thou iugleſt, and draweſt the ſcripture violently vntounto thy carnall and fleſhlye purpoſe? or whether thou be about to teache me, or to diſccaue me.

Chriſt ſayth, that there ſhall come falſe prophets in his name, and ſay that they themſelues are Chriſt, that is, they ſhall ſo preache chriſt that mē muſt beleue in thē, in their holines, and thinges of their imagination w^tout gods word: yea, & that agaynſt Chriſt or Antechriſt that ſhall come, is nothyng but ſuche falſe prophetes that ſhall iuggle with the ſcripture, and beguile the people with falſe interpretatiōs, as all the falſe prophetes, ſcribes, & phariſies did in y^t old Teſtamēt. How ſhall I know whether ye are agaynſt Chriſt, or fals prophetes, or no, ſeing ye will not let me ſee how ye alleage the ſcriptures? Chriſt ſayth: By theyr deedes ye ſhall know them. Now Agaynſte Chriſt is knowen by his dedes. A ſeuerall kyngdome.when we looke on your deeds, we ſee that ye are all ſworne together, and hauehave ſeperated yourſelues from the lay people, and hauehave a ſeuerall kingdome amōg your ſelues, and ſeuerall lawes of your owne making, wherewith ye violently binde the lay people that neuer Seuerall lawes. What chriſt lowſeth …rely the Pope byndeth to lowſe it agayne for money. A ſecret coū ſayle.conſented vntounto the making of them. A thouſand thinges forbidde ye, which Chriſt made free, and diſpence with them agayne for money: neyther is there any exception at all, but lacke of money. Ye hauehave a ſecret counſell by your ſelues. All other mens ſecretes & counſels know ye, and no man yours: ye ſeek but honour, riches, promotion, authoritie, and to raigne ouer all, and will obey no man. If the father geue you ought of curteſie, ye will cō pell the ſonne to geue it violently, whether he will or not, by crafte of your owne lawes. Theſe deedes are againſt Chriſt.

When a whole pariſh of vsus hyre a ſcholemaiſter to teach our children, what reaſon is it, that we ſhoulde be compelled to pay thys ſcholemaiſter his wages, and he ſhould hauehave licence to goe where he wil, and to dwell in an other contrey, and to leaue our children vntaught? Doth not the pope ſo? HaueHave we not geuen vp our tithes of curteſie vntounto one, for to teach vsus Gods worde? and commeth not the pope, and compelleth vsus to pay it violently to them that neuer teach? Maketh he not one Parſon, which neuer commeth at vsus? Perſon.yea, one ſhall hauehave v. or vj. or as many as he can get, and wotteth oftentimes where neuer one of them ſtandeth. Another is made Ʋicare, Vicare.to whom he geueth a diſpenſation to goe where he will, and to ſet in a pariſhe prieſt which can but miniſter a ſort of dumme ceremonies. Pariſhe Prieſt.And he becauſe he hath moſt labour and leaſt profite, polleth on hys part, and fetteth here a maſſe peuy, there a trentall, yonder dirige money, and for his beadroule with a confeſſion peny, and ſuch like. And thus are we neuer taught, and are yet neuertheles compelled: ye compelde to hyre many coſtly ſcholemaſters. Theſe deedes are verely agaynſt Chriſt. Shall we therefore iudge you by your dedes, as Chriſt commaundeth? So are ye falſe Prophetes, and the Diſciples of Antechriſt, or agaynſt Chriſt.

The Sermons which thou readeſt in the Actes of the Apoſtles, and all that the Apoſtles preached, were no doubt preached in the mother tongue. Why then might they not be written in the mother tounge? As if one of vsus preach a good ſermon, why may it not be written? Saint Hierome alſo tranſlated the Bible into his mother tounge: Why may not we alſo? They will ſay it can not be tranſlated into our tounge it is ſo rude. It is not ſo rude as they are falſe lyers. For the Greeke tounge agreeth more with the Engliſh then wyth the Latin. And the properties of the The prop… ties of the Hebrue toung agree with the Engliſh.Hebrue tounge agreeth a thouſand tymes more wyth the Engliſhe, then wyth the Latyn. The maner of ſpeaking is both one, ſo that in a thouſand places thou needeſt not but to trāſlate it into the Engliſh, worde for worde, when thou muſt ſeeke a compaſſe in the Latin, and yet ſhalt hauehave much worke to tranſlate it welfauouredly, ſo that it hauehave the ſame grace & ſweteneſſe, ſence & pure vnderſtanding with it in the Latin, & as it hath in the Hebrue. A thouſand partes better maye it be tranſlated into the Engliſh, thē into the Latin. Yea, and except my memory fayle me, and that I hauehave forgotten what I red whē I was a childe, thou ſhalt finde in the Engliſhe cronicle, how that kyng Adelſtone cauſed Kyng Adelſton.the holy Scripture to be tranſlated into the tounge that then was in Englande, and how the Prelates exhorted him thereunto.

Moreouer ſeyng that one of you euer Contrary preachyng.preacheth contrary to an other: and when two of you meete, the one diſputeth & brauleth wyth the other, as it were two ſcoldes. And foraſmuch as one holdeth this Doctor, and an other that: One foloweth Duns, an Contrary Doctours.other Saint Thomas, an other Bonauenture, Alexāder de hales, Raymond, Lyre, Brygot, Dorbell, Holcot, Gorram, Trumbett, Hugo de ſancto victore, De monte regio, De noua uilla, De media villa, and ſuch lyke out of nūber. So that if thou haddeſt but of eueryevery authour one booke, thou couldeſt not pyle them vp in any ware houſe p. 103in London, and eueryevery authour is one contrary vntounto an other. In ſo great diuerſitie of ſpirites, how ſhall I know who lyeth, and who ſayeth truth? Whereby ſhall I trye thē and iudge them? Ʋerely by Gods worde which onelyonly is true. But how ſhall I that do, when thou wilt not let me ſee ſcripture?

Nay ſay they, the ſcriptures is ſo harde that thou couldeſt neuer vnderſtand it but by the Doctours. That is, I muſt meaſure the mete yarde by the cloth. Here be twenty clothes of diuers lengthes & of diuers bredthes. How ſhall I be ſure of the length of the mete yarde by them? I ſuppoſe rather I muſt be firſt ſure of the length of the mete yarde, and thereby meaſure, and iudge the clothes. If I muſt firſt beleue the Doctour, then is the Doctour firſt true, and the truth of the ſcripture dependeth of hys truth, & ſo the truth of God ſpringeth of the truth of man. Thus Antechriſt turneth the rotes of the trees vpwarde. What is the cauſe that we damne Antechriſt turneth the rootes of the tree vpward.ſome of Origenes workes, and alowe ſome? How know we that ſome is hereſy, and ſome not? By the ſcripture I trow. How know we that Saint Auguſtine (which is the beſt or one of the beſt that euer wrote vponupon the Scripture) wrote many thynges amiſſe at the beginning, as many other Doctours The Scripture is the triall of all doctrine, & the right touch ſtone.doe? Ʋerely by the Scriptures, as he hymſelfe well perceaued afterward when he looked more diligently vponupon them, and reuoked many thynges agayne. He wrote of many thinges which he vnderſtode not when he was newly conuerted, yer he had throughly ſeene the Scriptures: and folowed the opinions of Plato, and the common perſwaſions of mans wiſedom, that were then famous.Philoſophy

They wyll ſay yet more ſhamefully, that no man can vnderſtād the Scriptures without Philautia, that is to ſay, Philoſophy. A man muſte firſt bee well ſeene in Ariſtotle, yer he cā vnderſtand the Scripture ſay they. Ariſtotle.Ariſtotles doctrine is, that the worlde was wythout beginning, and ſhall be wythout ende, and that the firſt man neuer was, and the laſt ſhall neuer be. And that God doth all of neceſſitie, neither careth what we doe, neither wyll aſke any accomptes of that we do. Scripture.Wythout thys doctrine how coulde we vnderſtande the Scripture that ſayth, God created the world of nought, and God worketh all thyng of hys free wyll, and for a ſecret purpoſe, & that we ſhall all ryſe agayne, and that God will hauehave accomptes of all that Ariſtotle.we hauehave done in thys lyfe. Ariſtotle ſayth. Geue a man a lawe, and he hath power of hymſelfe to doe or fulfill the lawe, and becō meth righteous wyth workyng righteouſly. Paul.But Paule and all the ſcripture ſayth, that the lawe doth but vtter ſinne onelyonly, and helpeth not. Neyther hath any man power to doe the lawe, tyll the ſpirite of God be geuen hym through fayth in Chriſt. Is it not a madnes then to ſay that we coulde not vnderſtand the Scripture wythout Ariſtotle? Ariſtotle.Ariſtotles righteouſnes, and all hys vertues ſpring of mans free wyll. And a Turke and eueryevery Infidell and Idolater may be righteous, and vertuous wyth that righteouſnes & thoſe vertues. Moreouer Ariſtotles felicitie and bleſſednes ſtandeth in auoyding of all tribulatiōs, and in riches, health, honour, worſhip, frendes and authoritie, which felicitie pleaſeth our ſpiritualty well. Now without theſe and a thouſand ſuch lyke pointes, couldeſt thou not vnderſtand Scripture, which ….ſayth that righteouſnes commeth by Chriſt, and not of mans will, and how that vertues are the fruites, and the gift of Gods ſpirite, and that Chriſt bleſſeth vsus in tribulations, perſecution, and aduerſitie. How, I ſay, couldeſt thou vnderſtād the ſcripture without Philoſophy, in as much as Paule in the Philoſophy Paul.ſecond to the Colloſſians warned them to beware leaſt any man ſhould ſpoyle them (that is to ſay, robbe them of their fayth in Chriſt) thorough Philoſophy and deceitful vanities, and thorough the traditions of men, and ordinaunces after y^e world, & not after Chriſt▪

By this meanes then, thou wilt that no man teach an other, but that eueryevery man take the Scripture, and learne by hymſelfe. Nay When no man will teach, if we deſire▪ God will teach.verely, ſo ſay I not. Neuertheleſſe, ſeyng that ye wyll not teach, if any man thyrſt for the truth, and read the Scripture by hymſelfe, deſiring God to open the dore of knowledge vntounto him, god for his truthes ſake wil, and muſt teach hym. Howbeit my meaning is, that as a mayſter teacheth his prentice to know all the poyntes of the mete yarde, firſt how many inches, how many feete, and the halfe yarde, the quarter, and the nayle, and then teacheth him to mete other things therby: euen ſo will I that ye teach the people The order of teachyng.Gods lawe, and what obedience God requireth of vsus vntounto father and mother, mayſter, Lord, King, and all ſuperiours, and wyth what frendly louelove he commaundeth one to louelove an other. And teach them to know that naturall vename, and byrth poyſon, which moueth the very harts of vsus to rebell againſt the ordinaunces and will of God, and proue that no man is righteous in the ſight of God, but that we are all damned by the lawe. And then (whē thou haſt meeked them, and feared them wyth the lawe) teache them the teſtament, and promiſes which God hath made vntounto vsus in Chriſt, and how much he loueth vsus in Chriſt. And teach them the principles, and the ground of the fayth, and what the ſacramentes ſignifie, and then ſhall the ſpirite worke wyth thy preaching, & make thē feele. So would it come to paſſe, that as we know by naturall wit, what followeth of a true principle of naturall reaſō: euē ſo by y^e principles of y^e fayth, & by y^• plaine ſcriptures, & by the circumſtāces of the text, ſhould we iudge all mēs expoſition, and all mens doctrine, and ſhould receaue the beſt, and refuſe the worſt. I woulde hauehave you to teach them alſo the properties, and maner of ſpeakinges of the ſcripture, and how to expound prouerbes and ſimilitudes. And then if they goe abroad, and walke by the fieldes, and medowes of all maner doctours and Philoſophers, they coulde catch no harme. They ſhould diſcerne the poyſon from the hoonny, and bring home nothyng, The diſorder or ouer thwar… order of our … men. The ſchole doctrine … they call … corrupteth the iudgementes o… youth.but that which is holſome.

But now do ye cleane contrary, ye driue them from Gods worde, and will let no man come therto, vntil he hauehave ben two yeres maiſter of art. Firſt they noſel them in ſophiſtry, and in benefundatum. And there corrupt they their iudgementes with apparent argumēts, and wyth alleaging vntounto them textes of Logike, p. 104of naturall P…ia. of metaphiſike, and morall Philoſophy, & of all maner bookes of Ariſtotle, and of all maner Doctours which they yet neuer ſawe. Moreouer one holdeth this, an other that. One is reall, an other nominall. What wonderfull dreames hauehave they ….of their Predicamentes, vniuerſales, ſecond intentions, Quidities, Hecſeities. and Relatiues? And whether Species ſundata in chimerae, be …aſpecies. And whether this propoſition be true, … eus eſt aliquid. Whether eus be …quiuocum, or …. …ns is a voyce onelyonly ſay ſome. Ens is … ſaith an other, and deſcendeth into ens crea… ▪ and into e…s increatum per mod…s in…ſ…os. whē they hauehave this wiſe brauled viij. x. or xij. or moo yeares, and after that their iudgementes are vtterly corrupt: then they beginne their diuinitie. Not at the ſcripture: ….but eueryevery man taketh a ſundry Doctour, which Doctours are as ſundry, and as diuers, the one cōtrary vntounto the other, as there Yet in this they all agree, that no…is ſaued … ▪ …. … th… … … er▪ and that t…e Pope…C…ſt … me…to who … will and take them …om whom … will. …: ye ….are diuers faſhions and monſtrous ſhapes, none like an other, among our ſecres of religion. EueryEvery religion, eueryevery vniuerſitie, and almoſt eueryevery man hath a ſundry diuinitie. Now what ſoeuer opinions eueryevery man fyndeth wyth his Doctour, that is his Goſpel, and that onelyonly is true with him, and that holdeth he all his life long, and eueryevery man to maintaine his Doctour with all, corrupteth the Scripture & faſhioneth it after his owne imagination, as a Potter doth his claye. Of what text thou proueſt hell, will an other proue purgatory, an other Lymbo p…trum, and an other the aſſumption of our Lady: And an other ſhall proue of the ſame text that an Ape hath a tayle. And of what texte the Graye Fryer proueth that our Lady was without originall ſinne, of the ſame ſhall the blacke Fryer proue that ſhe was conceaued in originall ſinne. And all this do they wyth apparent reaſons, with falſe ſimilitudes, and likeneſſes, and with argumentes and perſwaſions of mans wiſedome. Now there is no other diuiſiōn or hereſy in the world ſaue mās … ſimi….wiſedome, and when mans foliſhe wiſedome interpreteth the ſcripture. Mans wiſedome ….…atereth, diuideth and maketh ſectes, while the wiſedome of one is that a white coate is beſt to ſerue God in, & an other ſaith a black, an other a graye, an other a blew: And while one ſaith that God will heare your prayer in this place, an other ſaith in that place: And while one ſaith this place is holyer, and an other, that place is holyer, and this religion Place.… …. …s wiſe… …s … …ol…t…y. …hat …od ….is holyer then that, and this Saint is greater with God then that, & an hundred thouſand like thinges. Mans wiſedome is plaine idolatry, neither is there any other idolatry thē to imagine of God after mans wiſdome. God is not mans imagination, but that onelyonly which he ſaith of himſelfe. God is nothyng but hys law, and his promiſes, that is to ſay, that which he biddeth thee to doe, and that which he biddeth thee beleue and hope. God is but his worde: as Chriſt ſayth Iohn. 8. I am that I ſay vntounto you, that is to ſay, that which I preach am I. My words are ſpirite and life. God is that onelyonly which he teſtifieth of himſelfe, and to imagine any other thing of God then that, is damnable idolatry. Therefore ſaith the 118. Pſalme. Happy are they which ſearch y^• teſtimonies of the Lord, that is to ſay, that which God teſtifieth, and witneſſeth vntounto vsus. But how ſhall I that doe, when ye will not let me hauehave his Then thinke the papiſtes their wicked lyfe will ſhew it ſelfe to theyr ſhame and confuſion.teſtimonies, or witneſſes in a toūge which I vnderſtand? Will ye reſiſt God? Will ye forbid hym to geue hys ſpirite vntounto the laye as well vntounto you? Hath he not made y^e Engliſh tounge? Why forbidde ye hym to ſpeake in the Engliſhe tounge then, as well as in the Latine?

Fynally that this threatning and forbidding the laye people to reade the Scripture The Pope licenced the people to read & ſay what they would ſaue the truth.is not for louelove of your ſoules (which they care for, as the Foxe both for the Geeſſe) is euident and clearer then the Sunne, in as much as they permitte and ſuffer you to read Robbin Hode & Beuis of Hampton, Hercules, Hector, and Troylus, with a thouſand hiſtories and fables of louelove and wantones, and of rybaudry, as filthy as hart can thinke, to corrupt the mindes of youth withall, cleane contrary to the doctrine of Chriſt and of his Apoſtles. For Paule (Epheſ. v.) ſayth: ſee that fornication and all vncleannes or couetouſnes be not once named amonge you, as it becommeth Saintes: neither filthines, neither fooliſhe talking, nor geſting whiche are not comely. For this ye knowe that no whoremonger either vncleane perſon or couetous perſon (which is the worſhipper of images) hath any enheritaunce in the kyngdome of Chriſt and of God. And after ſayth he, thorough ſuch thyngs commeth the wrath of God vponupon the children of vnbeliefe. Now ſeyng they permitte you freely to reade But the one forbiddeth not theyr pompe and be…y cheate, as the other doth.thoſe thynges which corrupte your myndes, and robbe you of the kingdome of God and Chriſt, and bring the wrath of God vponupon you, how is this forbidding, for louelove of your ſoules?

A thouſand reaſons moe might be made (as thou mayſt ſee in Paracleſis Eraſmi, & in his preface to the paraphaſis of Mathew) vntounto which they ſhould be cōpelled to holde their peace, or to geue ſhamefull aunſweres. But I hope that theſe are ſufficient vntounto them that thyrſt the truth. God for his mercy and truth ſhall well open them moe: yea, and other ſecretes of hys Godly wiſedome, if they be diligent to cry vntounto him, which grace graunt God. Amen.