A01279:130
A pistle to the Christen reader The revelation of Antichrist. Antithesis
A pistle to the Christen reader The revelation of Antichrist. Antithesis, wherein are compared to gather Christs acts and our holy father the Popes.A pistle to the Christen reader The revelation of Antichrist. Antithesis, wherin are compared to geder Christes actes and oure holye father the Popes.
At Malborow in the land of Hesse i.e. Antwerp : the. xij. day of July, anno. M.CCCCC.xxix. by me Hans luft i.e. Johannes Hoochstraten, 1529At Malborow in the lande of Hesse i.e. Antwerp : the. xij. day of Iulye, anno. M.CCCCC.xxix. by me Hans luft i.e. Johannes Hoochstraten, 1529
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Besides thes manners of since & perditions / the pope hath ordained other transgressions. first the false trust of such works / which is double iniquity / for they which obey the pope in his precepts / & eschew such things as the pope commandeth / do think with high presumption (ye & also are counted of other) that they have done well & des•roed heaven. And this is the other pernicious instrument of corruption which rageth through the hole world / Be cause ye with this trust & confidence the faith of Christ can not consist / furthermore be cause they are so oppressed & lade with the multitude of laws / that they fulfil them only with the outward work for their wills are clean contrary & would resist them / As we see by experience in the troublous business / of vigils / masses / and hours which both must be said and ⟨image 72⟩song / In the which they labour with such weariness / that now adays no labour is more tedious. Yet nevertheless the heads masters & cruel exactors of these most hard works compel us to work such things with out ceasing / which before god are nothing but grievous since / all though before men they be good works / and counted for the service of god / here are invented the enticements of the senses through organs / music / and diversity of songs / but these are nothing to the spirit / which rather is extinct through these wanton trifles Ah Christ / with what violence / with what host and power are they driven headlong to sin and perish / through •his abominable abomination / It is an •••rible / trembling and fear to look in •o these cruel whorlp owls of consciences / which perish with such great pains and labour.1 O what light and childish offences are these / wherein Manasseh and other wicked kings sinned by doing sacrifice with their own children and progeny. Truly the cursed sacrifices of the most rude gentiles / no not of the lestrigones / 2may be compared unto ours / The saying of Christ may be verified in us seven more wicked spirits make the end worse then the beginning / for I say that we gentiles are worse seven times than we were before we knew Christ.