1Go too, let us compare now the lives and manners of these holy fathers (all whose preachings sound nothing else almost, beat nothing else into the ears of the people, but the only works of the law:) what kind of works do they busy them selves about at the length, what undefiled chastity is in their ly•es, what holiness in their conversation, what humility devoid of all haughtiness is in their hearts, what modesty acquainted with no kind of ambition, what mildness insuffering injuries: how earnest a zeal to prefer the glory of Christ, how who••e a love have they to their neighbours? But it is well, sithence their demeanour such as it is, appeareth manifestly enough, and is known of the whole world. For their open patcheries be not so closely pa•t up in the budget of their confession, but that they be apparent now, and wax ridiculous a•d odious to all men: •ertes they can neither deceive the eyes of the Lord, nor escape his judgement, except the only faith in Christ plead better for them, then any their gay wo•kes. Yet I make not here so great reckoning of their manners. My ⟨p. 67⟩whole discourse at this present is undertaken against them for their erroneous doctrine, and perverse frowardness of corrupt religion. Whereof what others judge I know not: for mine own part when I do considerately behold and pry into those thick and black clouds of darkness, into the trash, chaff, and contagion of their errors, into the grossness of their doctrine, into the poison of their opinions, into their impiety of religion, into the labyrinth of their traditions, and into the monstrous misshapen orders of cloisterers and Regulars: finally when I do throughly consider the lively fountains of Evangelical sincerity and doctrine Apostolical, troubled and defiled in most filthy manner by them, and the chief and only author thereof the Pope of Rome: I become not a little doubtful in mine imagination, whether the tyranny of the Turk have more grievously wounded the Christian common weal, or the doctrine of the Pope hath been more prejudicial too the Gospel of Christ: whether the Turkish •ury, either the Popes flames and fagots, or his crafty conspiracies have swallowed up and devoured more Christians.
1Goe too, let vs compare nowe the lyues and maners of these holy fathers (al whose preachinges sounde nothing els almost, beate nothing els into the eares of the people, but the onely woorkes of the lawe:) what kynde of workes doe they busie them selues about at the length, what vndefiled chastitie is in their ly•es, what holinesse in their conuersation, what humilitie deuoyde of all hawtinesse is in their heartes, what modestie acquainted with no kynde of ambition, what mildenesse insuffering iniuries: howe earnest a zeale to preferre the glorie of Christe, howe who••e a loue haue they to their neighbours? But it is well, sithence their demeanour such as it is, appeareth manifestly enough, and is knowen of the whole worlde. For their open patcheries be not so closely pa•t vp in the budget of their confession, but that they be apparan• nowe, and waxe ridiculous a•d odious to all men: •ertes they can neither deceiue the eyes of the Lorde, nor escape his iudgement, except the onely faith in Christ pleade better for them, then any their gaye wo•kes. Yet I make not here so great reck•ning of their manners. My ⟨p. 67⟩whole discourse at this present is vndertaken against them for their erronious doctrine, and peruerse frowardnes of corrupt religion. Whereof what others iudge I knowe not: for mine owne part when I doe consideratly beholde and prye into those thicke and blacke clowdes of darkenesse, into the trashe, chaffe, and contagion of their errors, into the grossenesse of their doctrine, into the poyson of their opinions, into their impietie of religion, into the laberinthe of their traditions, and into the monstr•ouse misshapen orders of cloysterers and Regulers: finally when I doe throughly consider the liuely fountaines of Euangelicall sinceritie and doctrine Apostolicall, troubled and defiled in most filthy maner by thē, and the chiefe and onely authour thereof the Pope of Rome: I become not a litle doutfull in mine imagination, whether the tyrannie of the Turke haue more grieuous•y wounded the Christian common weale, or the docrine of the Pope hath beene more preiudiciall too the Gospell of Christ: whether the Turkishe •ury, either the Popes flames and fagottes, or his crafty conspiracies haue swallowed vp and deuoured more Christians.
- 1A comparison betwixt the preachers of the law and the Gospel: and betwixt thē which plod upon nothing else then the righteousness of the law and works.A comparison betwixt the preachers of the lawe and the Gospel: and betwixt thē which plod vpon nothing els then the right•ousnes of the lawe and workes.
