A14151:9
The practise of prelates. CompiledThe practyse of prelates. Compyled
The practise of prelates. Compiled by the faithful and godly learned man, William TyndaleThe practyse of prelates. Compyled by the faythfull and godly learned man, Wyllyam Tyndale
London: printed by Anthony Scoloker and William Seres. Dwelling without Temple bar, 1548London: printed by Anthony Scoloker and Willyam Seres. Dwellynge wythout Temple barre, 1548
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.
Take heed therefore wicked prelates blind leaders of the blind, indurat• and obstinate hypocrites take heed. For if the pharisees for their resisting the holy ghost (that is to say, persecuting the open and manifest ⟨image 4⟩truth and slaying the preachers thereof) […] not the wrath and vengeance of god: how shall ye escape, which are far worse then the pharisees? for though the pharisees had shut up the Scripture & set up their own professions, yet they kept their own professions for the most part. But ye will be the chefest in Christs flock, and ye will not keep one jot of the right way of his doctrine. Ye have thereto set up wonderful professions to be more holy thereby then ye think that Christs doctrine is able to make •ou, and yet keep as little thereof (except it be▪ with dispensations) in so much that if a man axe you, what your marvellous fashioned▪ playing coats and your other popystrye, mean, and what your disfigured Heads▪ and all your apps play mean, ye know not / and yet are they but Signs of things, which ye have professed. Thirdly, ye will be papists and hold of the Pope, and yet look in the popes law, and ye keep thereof a•l most nought at all, but what soever soundeth to make for your bellies and to maintain your honour / whether in the scripture or in your own traditions or in the popes law that ye compel the lay people to observe violently threatening them with ⟨image 5⟩your excommunications & curses that they shall be damned both body and soul, if they keep them not. And if that help you not▪ then ye murder them mercilessly with the sword of the temporal powers, whom ye have made so blind, that they be ready to slay whom ye command, and will not yet hear his cause examined, nor give him room to answer for him self.
Take hede therfore wicked prelates blinde leaders of the blinde, indurat• and obstinate hipocrites take hede. For if the pharises for their resisting the holy ghost (that is to saye, persecutyng the open ād manyfest