A07942:304
The temporiser (that is to sayThe temporysour (that is to saye
The temporiser (that is to say: the observer of time, or he that changeth with the time.) Compiled in Latin by the excellent clerk Wolfangus Musculus, and tra[n]slated into French by M. Vallerain Pullain. And out of French into English by R.P. 1555.The temporysour (that is to saye: the obseruer of tyme, or he that chaungeth with the tyme.) Compyled in Latyn by the excellent clarke Wolfangus Musculus, and tra[n]slated into Frenche by M. Vallerain Pullain. And out of Frenche into Inglishe by R.P. 1555.
printed by H. Singleton?, 1555
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.
¶Temporiser. Whereas for fear of the wicked, we dissemble our opinion touching the papistical religion, in communicating with them at the same: we think we may lawfully do it, and ought not thereof to be reprehended as of an unlawful fact: seeing that it is manifest that the like hath been done by diverse godly men before us,1 as witnesseth the Scriptures, who as we read,2 were neither reproved nor condemned therefore. Nicodemus was not ignorant of the trueth, and he loved very well Jesus Christ, who also had him in good reputation, and yet all this notwithstanding, he fearing the Jews did dissemble these things, neither did he withdraw him self from the company of the enemies of christ.3 The like thing is mentioned of Joseph of Arimathea, who as saith the scriptures was a secret disciple of Jesus christ, & that for fear of the Jews, amongest whom he lived. It is likewise specified of Naamā the Syrian. ⟨image 44⟩That the Prophet Elisha did grant him leave,4 that he being in the Temple of Remmō before strange Gods, for the assistance of his King, to kneel down, notwithstanding that by an excellent miracle, he was lately come to the knowledge of one only true God: if these men might then live so without offence, I would gladly understand from thee, wherefore their examples, doeth nothing help our matter? They kept their faith secrete in their hart, and outwardly did communicate with those whom they knew to be adversaries to the truth. They did them in all things like as we do now: I mean, I and my semblables. If this dissimulation (as thou callest it) did not hinder their salvation, wherefore then is it damnable unto us? is God changed, in condemning now, the thing that he before suffered in his children? I think it not to be true. For even as he is always one, and immutable, even so cannot his determination change more at one time, then at another.
¶Temporisour. Wheras for feare of the wicked, we dissemble our opinion touchinge the papisticall religion, in communicating with them at the same: we thinke we may lawfully doe it, and oughte not therof to be reprehended as of an vnlawfull fact: seyng that it is manyfest that the like hath bene done by dyuerse godlye men before vs,