Four godly sermons against the pollution of idolatries comforting men in persecutions, and teaching…Foure godlye sermons agaynst the pollution of idolatries comforting men in persecutions, and teachyng…

For this is plain and manifest that they do and will defend and cover themselves, under the person of a priest made for the nonce to colour and dissemble. But if they would rightly and lawfully celebrate that supper, it were their duty so to separate themselves from the order and profession of idolaters that they should appear in that to have nothing common with them. But now they be so far from this separation, that they ascribe themselves into their fellowship and communion, & do every one of them feignedly profess themselves to be members of that body. After this they will compare us to the old heretics, that did refuse the use of the sacraments for the vices of the ministers, as though we do here respect the proper sins of every man & not rather the common state & condition. I do pass over this matter ⟨image 20⟩shortly, because that which is spoken is sufficient enough to convince so foul & shameful impudency. But if these men be so foolish and dull witted that they perceive not this filthiness, the word of god must suffice us, when the lord sayeth by the prophet Jeremiah, Israel if thou doest turn, turn unto me. In which words is most plainly expressed with what simplicity & integrity of mind we ought to deal & walk before god, without any thought & will to return to those things which we know are not thankful nor allowed of him. Which is a cause why S. Paul also doth testify that he was sent to turn the unfaithful from their vanities unto the living god, as though he would say, it is to no purpose to change some one old & accustomed evil with other hypocrisies & feignings, but utterly to abolish all superstitions, that the true religion may be set in her own purity & holiness. For without this faith and integrity, men never come the right way unto god, but do always waver & are uncertain to what part they may turn themselves. There be others that are come thus far that they disallow and refuse the mass, but they would ⟨image 21⟩have some patches kept still which they call gods service, least as some men say, they should seem to be destitute of all religion. And it may be that some of these be moved with a godly mind & zeal at the least I will so think, but what soever their zeal & purpose be, yet may we not say that they keep, the true rule or any good measure. Many say we may come to their baptisms, because there is no manifest idolatry in them.

For this is plain and manifest that thei do and will defend and couer themselues, vnder the person of a priest made for the nonce to colour and dissemble. But if thei wolde rightly and lawfully celebrat yt supper, it were their dutie so to seperat themselues from the order and profession of idolatours that thei shuld apear in that to haue nothing common with them. But now thei be so far from this separation, that thei ascribe themselues into theyr felowship and communion, & do euerye one of thē feinedly professe themselues to be membres of that body. After this thei wil compare vs to the old heretiks, that did refuse the vse of the sacramēts for the vices of the ministers, as though we do here respect the proper sinnes of euery man & not rather the cōmon state & condicion. I do passe ouer this matter