A17219:357
Questions of religion cast abroad in Helvetia by the adversaries of the sameQuestions of religion cast abroad in Helvetia by the aduersaries of the same
Questions of religion cast abroad in Helvetia by the adversaries of the same: and answered by M. H. Bullinger of Zurick: reduced into .17. common places. Translated into English by John Cox. 1572Questions of religion cast abroad in Helvetia by the aduersaries of the same: and aunswered by M. H. Bullinger of Zurick: reduced into .17. common places. Translated into Englishe by Iohn Coxe. 1572
London: printed by Henry Bynneman for George Byshop, 1572London: printed by Henrie Bynneman for George Byshop, 1572
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.
The Answer.
The Answere.
Vows for the most part1 in the old Testament, were only external gifts and bodily Sacrifices: And who so ever therefore had vowed these things, was bound to perform the same. But what doth this appertain to the Vows of Priests, Monks & Nuns, which they make in their Monasteries and Colleges? For these vows of chastity, poverty, and of obedience, were never known in the scriptures or primitive church. And therefore they are in deed but vain words and no works amongst our unspiritual spirituality, as the whole world knoweth, proveth, and is forced to confess. For what chastity, poverty, or obedience is in these ⟨p. 123⟩days in their religious houses and monasteries? Truly all filthiness of lust, whoredom, gluttony, drunkenness, and all impudency, is both secrete and manifestly used and seen in them for the most part. Those which are poor and needy in this world, leaving the same, and entering into these religious houses, are in them made so rich and mighty, that oftentimes they govern in the world, and feel no want of any thing. Yea, whilst they obey their spiritual Lords, they do disobey the laws of God, the Magistrates instituted of god, yea, & oftentimes their natural parents. And what may the Faithful say of these? Or wherein may they praise them, having God and his word to warrant the same? Why then do they object against us, Vows, and the observing thereof? Let them rather show us, that God hath commanded these, and that these, which they now a days do, are acceptable unto him. For which of the Prophets or Apostles, at any time made any such Vow? And again, if their Vows be so good and ⟨image 134⟩holy, why then keep they them not them selves, sith they so straightly urge them on others? But let us see what they do, or what they keep, or what they are able to keep. For if they vow chastity, there is none other chastity but of the body and mind, who so therefore hath not this, may marry, and the same is also called chastity. Therefore, if they will observe chastity, they must either live chastely in a single life, or else marry, and so live from whoredom, drunkenness, & gluttony.