A04917:33
A godly letter sent too the faithful in London, Newcastle, Berwick, and to all…A godly letter sent too the fayethfull in London, Newcastell, Barwyke, and to all…
A godly letter sent too the faithful in London, Newcastle, Berwick, and to all other within the realm off England, that love the co[m]minge of our Lord Jesus by John KnoxA godly letter sent too the fayethfull in London, Newcastell, Barwyke, and to all other within the realme off Englande, that loue the co[m]minge of oure Lorde Iesus by Ihon Knox
Rome: printed by J. Lambrecht? for H. Singleton, 1554
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.
1You may not be partakers of the Lords table, and of the table of devils, you may not drink the Lords cup / and the cup of devils. As these two places / of scripture plainly resolveth the former question / so do they confirm that which is before said. That the league betwixt us and God requireth / avoiding off all Idolatry.2 First plain it is / that in Gath and in Corinthus / were no small number off Idolaters / when David was there in exile / & when Paul wrote his Epistle / yet neither saith David / that he will kill any in that place because he was their magistrate / neither giveth Paul any such commandment / but in one thing they both agree / that such as hath society & league with God / must so abhor Idolatry / that no part of the body be defiled therewith. For David sayeth: I will not take their names in my mouth. As he would say / so odious are the names of false & vain Gods / that the mention of them is righteously compared to stinking dung / & vile carrion / which neither can be eaten / neither yet smelled without displeasure of such that hath not lost the judgement of their senses / & therefore sayeth David / I will not defile me mouth with them / that is / I will never speak one favourable ⟨image 17⟩word of them. I think much less / would he have crouched and knelled before them for any mans pleasure. Advert brethren / 3that David inspired with the holy Ghost knew no such shifts / as worldly wise men imagine now a days: That they may kept their hearts pure and clean to God / howbeit / their body dance with the devil: Not so dear brethren, not so, The temple of God hath nothing to do with Idols. The cause expresseth David in their words: The Lord him self is my portion and my inheritance. Great is the cause / if it be deeply considered. David illuminated by the holy Ghost seeth even the self same thing / which before we have alleged of the Apostles words / that God will not part spoil with the devil / permitting him to have the servant of the body / & he too stand content with the soul / heart and mind.
1You maye not be partakers of the Lordes table, and of the table of deuils, you may not drinke the Lordes cup / and the cup of deuils. As these two places / of scriptur plainly resolueth the former question / so do they confirme that which is before sayd. That the leag betwixt vs and God requireth / auoydinge off all Idolatrye.