A17222:13
Two epistles one of Henry Bullynger, with the consent of all the learned men…Two epystles one of Henry Bullynger, wyth the consent of all the lernyd men…
Two epistles one of Henry Bullynger, with the consent of all the learned men of the Church of Tigury: another of John Calvin, chief preacher of the church of Geneva: whether it be lawful for a Christen man to communicate or be partaker of the mass of the Papists, without offending God and his neighbour, or not.Two epystles one of Henry Bullynger, wyth the consent of all the lernyd men of the Churche of Tigury: another of Ihon Caluyn, cheffe preacher of the church of Geneue: whether it be lawfull for a Chrysten man to communycate or be pertaker of the masse of the Papysts, wythout offendyng God and hys neyghboure, or not.
Antwerp : M. Crom?, 1544?
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.
IT is showed us worshipful brother Herman / by the excellent & right godly man master John Beckstayne / that there goeth abroad a certain epistle from one to another among the congregations of low dowchlande / wherein it is plainly taught to be lawful for Christen men to go to high mass as they call it. And that because of this epistle some be greatly troubled in conscience / & other some conjecture all the ministers of the congregations of high dowchland to be of the same judgement. Wherefore we of the church of Tigurye thought it good to purge the old & true faith & learning which we hold / from this unhappy suspicion / openly confessing unto you (a minister by the grace of God / in the congregations of low Germany / both of good learning & conversation) that we nether be our selves of that mind / nor yet allow that sentence. As for things which be called mean & indifferent / we believe a christen man may use them in all times & places without scrupulosity of conscience / so that all thing be done discreetly / & according to charity. That is to say / to the glory of God & the edifying of our neighbours / & the hole congregation. But the popes mass / be it high or low / images / & other like / which be expressly against the word of God / & the pure faith / we reckon not among indifferent things: an indifferent thing is that which is nether good nor evil / for whether thou do it or do it not / thou shalt nether be righteous nor unrightwise therefore. For thus doth Jerome him self define it / in a epistle to saint Augustine. Now what man having his right understanding can say the high mass / & the use of images in churches not to be evil? or who can lightly grant it to be good? The law of God doth evidently condemn one & other / all strange worshipping & ceremonies / or God's service (/ that is to say) such as are not institute of God / or such as are invented by man with out the word of God. But what is the high mass / else save a rite or ceremony set up by man beside the word of God? For as for Christs supper what it is / • after what fashion christ commanded it to be celebrate we be not ⟨image 4⟩ignorant.1
IT is shewed vs worshipfull brother Hermā ne / by the excelēt & ryght godly man mayster Iohn Beckstayne / that ther goeth abrode a certayne epystle from one to a nother amonge the congregaciōs of lowe dowchlande / wherin it is playnely taught to be lefull for Christen men to goe to hyghe masse as they call it. And that because of this epystle some be greatlye trobled in conscyence / & other some coniecture all the mynisters of the congregacions of highe dowchland to be of the same iudgement. Wherfore we of the church of Tigurye thowght it good to purge the old & true fayth & lernynge whych we hold / from this vnhappye suspicion / openly confessing vnto you (a minister by the grace of God / in the congregacions of lowe Germanye / both of good lernynge & conuersacyon) that we nether be our selues of that mynde / nor yet alowe that sentence. As for thynges which be callyd meane & indifferent / we beleue a christen mā may vse them in all tymes & places without scrupulosyte of conscience / so that all thynge be done discreatlye / & accordyng to charite. That is to saye / to the glorye of God & the edifyeng of our neyghboures / & the hole congregation. But the popes masse / be it hygh or lowe / ymages / & other lyke / which be expresselye against the worde of God / & the pure fayth / we reckē not amō ge indifferent thynges: an indifferent thynge is that which is nether good nor euell / for whether thou do it or do it not / thou shalt nether be ryghtwise nor vnrightwise therfore. For thus doth Iherome hym selfe diffiue it / in a epystle to saynct Augustyne. Now what man hauyng his right vnderstondinge can saye the high masse / & the vse of ymages in churches not to be euell? or who can lyghtlye graunt it to be good? The lawe of God doth euedentlye condemne one & other / all straunge worshippynge & ceremonies / or goddes seruyce (/ that is to saye) such as are not institute of God / or such as are inuentide by mā with out the worde of God. But what is the high masse / els saue a ryte or ceremonye set vp by mā besyde the worde of God? For as for Christes supper what it is / after what fassyon christ commandyd it to be celebrate we be not