A04482:802
The true copies of the letters between the reverend father in God John Bishop…The true copies of the letters betwene the reuerend father in God Iohn Bisshop…
The true copies of the letters between the reverend father in God John Bishop of Sarum and D. Cole upon occasion of a sermon that the said Bishop preached before the Queens Majesty, and her most honourable Counsel. 1560. Set forth and allowed, according to the order appointed in the Queens Maiesties iniunctions. Cum gratia & privilegio Regiæ Maiestatis per septennium.The true copies of the letters betwene the reuerend father in God Iohn Bisshop of Sarum and D. Cole vpon occasion of a sermon that the said Bishop preached before the Quenes Maiestie, and hir most honorable Counsel. 1560. Set forthe and allowed, according to the order appointed in the Quenes Maiesties iniunctions. Cum gratia & priuilegio Regiæ Maiestatis per septennium.
London: printed by John Day, 1560
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.
Wherefore, good people, and dearly beloved brethren, forasmuch as we see, there have […] great and evident abuses, and errors in the Mass, so plain and so manifest, that no man, that hath reason, and will consider them, can deny it. Let us follow the coū sell of S. Paul, let us return to the ordinance of Christ, unto the true standard that cannot fail us.
Wherefore, good people, and derelye beloued bretherne, for asmuche as we see, there haue 〈…〉 great and euident abuses, and errours in the Masse, so plaine and so manifest, that no man, that hath reason, and wyll consyder them, can deny it. Let vs folow the coū sel of S. Paule, let vs returne to the ordinaunce of Christ, vnto the true standard that cannot fail vs.
As it is not in the power of man, to appoint sacraments: so is it not in the power of man, to alter or change sacraments. God will not be worshipped, after our phā tasies, and therefore, so oftentimes, he chargeth us, in the scriptures: Non facietis quod bonum videtur in oculis vestris. Ye shall not do that thing, that seemeth good to ⟨p. 174⟩you in your own sight: ye shall not turn, neither to the left hand, nor to the right: But what thing soever I bid you do, that only shall ye do. Your thoughts be not my thoughts, neither be your ways my ways. For as far as heaven is from the earth, or the east from the west, so far of, be your thoughts from my thoughts, & your ways, from my ways, saith the Lord. It is a dangerous thing, for a mortal man, to control, or find fault, with the wisdom of the immortal God. Tertullian, an old father of y• church, showeth us, the wilfulness of mans hart, after it hath once enterprysed, to presume a little against Gods truth, and ordinance. Prae• scripturas faciunt, ut post, […] contra scripturas faciunt▪
As it is not in the power of mā, to appoint sacraments: so is it not in the power of man, to alter or chaunge sacramentes. God wyll not be worshipped, after our phā tasies, and therfore, so oftentimes, he chargeth vs, in the scriptures: Non facietis quod bonum videtur in oculis vestris. Ye shall not do that thynge, that semeth good to