A short instruction for to arm all good Christian people against the pestiferous errors…A short instruction for to arme all good Christian people agaynst the pestiferous errours…

But yet I pardon them, all this, that I may come to that point, which is of greater weight. For in saying that he which sinneth by ignorance, and not by his own will, ought to be caste out, they do declare, as they do openly teach and maintain, that if a man do sin willingly, he shall never obtain forgiveness of his sin because, that all voluntary since, after their fantasy, are sin against the holy Ghost, and irremissible. I say that this opinion is an execrable blasphemy against the grace of God, and a false doctrine very pernicious to drive all poor souls to despair. As I have seen the experience in some, which were for a time seduced to this wicked sect. It is true, that we ought earnestly to think in our selves, & declare the same to other, that it is no small thing, willingly to offend God, and to commit any act against our conscience, to provoke his wrath against us. Therefore who so ever shall use these terms that if it so happen that after we have known God, we do sin against our conscience, that it is but a small fault easy to be pardoned: and that God is not so greatly grieved therewith, that we need to torment our selves therefore: we must avoid such a man as we would the Devil, which by such flatteries would induce us to the contempt of God: but let us rather think this, that it is no small fault to go against the holy will of God, by rebellion and contumacy, by advised purpose violating his Justice: and so to do, is outrageously to violate the ⟨image 23⟩grace which he hath showed unto us. Yea and it is much to be feared that he which so mocketh with God, be not given over into a reprobate mind, to be hardened in malice, so that he shall never be converted. And here let us bring forth the threats, which in holy scripture, are made against such ingratitude. But when all this is said and done, yet may we not drive them into despair, which by chance have thus fallen. For where shall we then be become? Among ten, hardly shall we find one, that after he knew God, hath not sinned willingly. Is not this to bring the holy church in to ruin: to bring all men into despair? They will say, that this bringeth consciences a sleep, to draw them to do evil. But I say rather he is a sleep which bringeth him self in belief, that he never offendeth but by ignorance:

But yet I pardon them, al thys, that I may come to that poynte, whyche is of greater waight. For in saiyng that he which sinneth by ignoraunce, and not by hys owne wyll, ought to be caste out, they do declare, as they do openlye teache and mayntayne, that if a man do synne wyllyngely, he shall neuer obtayne forgeuenes of hys synne bycause, that all voluntarye synnes, after theyr phantasye, are synne agaynste the holye Gooste, and irremissible. I saye that thys opinion is an execrable blasphemy agaynst the grace of God, and a false doctrine verye pernitiouse to dryue all poore soules to dispayre. As I haue sene the experience in some, which were for a tyme seduced to thys wycked secte. It is true, that we ought earnestlye to thinke in oure selues, & declare the same to other, that it is no small thynge, wyllyngely to offende God, and to commit any acte agaynste oure conscience, to prouoke his wrath against vs. Therfore who so euer shall vse these termes that if it so happen that after we haue knowen God, we do synne agaynste our conscience, yt it is but a small faulte easy to be pardoned: and that God is not so greatly greaued therwyth, that we nede to torment oure selues therfore: we must auoyde suche a man as we woulde the Deuyll, whyche by suche flatteries woulde induce vs to the contempt of God: but let vs rather thynke thys, that it is no small faulte to go agaynste the holye wyll of God, by rebellion and contumacye, by aduised purpose violatynge hys Iustyce: and so to do, is outragiouslye to violate the