[The Pentateuch]

But under the pretence of their soul health it is a servant unto our spiritualities holy cove•nousnesse and an extortioner and a builder of Abbeys, Colleges, Chantries and cathedral churches with false gotten good, a pick purse, a polar, and a bottomless bag

But vnder the pretence of their soule health it is a servaunt vnto oure spiritualtyes holy coue•nousnesse and an extorcyonar and a bylder of Abayes, Colleges, Chauntryes and cathedrall chirches with false gotē good, a pick purse, a pollar, ād a bottomlesse bagge

Some man would haply say, that the prayers of the mass help much: not the living only, but also the dead. Of the hot fire of their fervent prayer which consumeth faster then all the world is able to bring sacrifice, I have said sufficiently in other places. Howe be it it is not possible to bring me in belief that the prayer which helpeth h•• own master unto no virtue, should purchase me the forgiveness of my since. If I saw that their prayers had obtained them grace to live such a life as God's word did not rebuke, then could I soon be borne in hand that what soever they axed off ⟨image 181⟩God their prayers should not be in vain. But now what good can he wish me in his prayers that envieth me Christ the food and the life of my soul? What good can he wish me whose heart cleaveth a sunder for pain when I am taught to repent of my evil?

Some man wold happely saye, that the prayers of the masse helpe moch: not the lyuinge only, but also the dead. Of the hote fire of their farvent prayer which consumeth faster then all the world is able to bringe sacrifice, I haue sayde sufficiently in other places. Howe be it it is not possible to bringe me in beleffe that the prayer which helpeth h•• awne master vnto no vertue, shuld purchesse me the forgeuesse of my synnes. If I sawe that their prayers had obtayned thē grace to lyue soch a liffe as goddes worde did not rebuke, then coud I sone be borne in hande that what soeuer they axed off