A13862:67
The testament of master William Tracie esquire, expounded bothThe testament of master Wylliam Tracie esquier, expounded both
The testament of master William Tracie esquire, expounded both by William Tyndale and Iho[n] Frith. Wherein thou shalt perceive with what charity y[e] chancellor of Worcester burned when he toke up the deek carcass and made ashes of hit after hit was buriedThe testament of master Wylliam Tracie esquier, expounded both by Willism Tindall and Iho[n] Frith. Wherin thou shalt perceyue with what charitie y[e] chaunceler of Worcester burned whan he toke vp the deek carkas and made asshes of hit after hit was buried
Antwerp : H. Peetersen van Middelburch?, M.D.xxxv. 1535
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Commentary Frith: ✚ John FrithCommentary Frith: ✚ Ihon Frith
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.
the Apostle saith / not of grace but of duty / but he crowneth the in compassion and mercy / and if thy merits have proceeded / god saith unto the / bolt out thy good merits and thou shalt find that they are my gifts / this is the righteousness of God / not meanyng• the righteousness whereby he him self is righteous but the righteousness wherewith he justifieth them whom he maketh righteous where before they w• re wicked / these are Austins words.
the Apostle sayth / not of grace but of deutye / but he crounyth the in compassion and mercye / and yf thy merites haue proceded / god sayth vnto the / boulte out thy good merites and thou shalt fynde that they are my gyftes / this is the rightuousnes of God / not meanyng• the rightuousnes wherbye he hym selfe is rightwise but the rightuousnes wherwith he iustifyethe them whom he makithe rightwyse wher before they w• re wicked / these are Austynes wordes.
Finally let not that move you where he addeth / that a good work maketh not a good man / but ⟨image 18⟩rather a good man maketh the work good / for there is no man but he is either good or evil / If he be evil then can he not do good but evil / for according to Christs testimony / a rotten tree beareth no good fruit. Matth. vij. And again he saith / how can you say well seeing you your selves are evil. Mat. xij. But if he be good / he shall also bring forth good fruit at his season / how be it that fruit maketh not the man good / for except the man be first good he can not bring forth good fruit / but the tree is known by the fruit / And therefore faith as a quickening root must ever go before / which of wicked maketh us righteous and good / which thing our works could never bring to pass / out of this fountain spring those good works which justify us before men / that is to say / declare us to be very righteous / for before God we are verily justified by that root of faith / for he searcheth the heart & therefore this just judge doth inwardly justify or condemn / giving sentence according to faith / but men must look for the works / for their sight can not enter into the heart / and therefore they first give judgement of works / and are many times deceived under the cloak of hypocrisy