If the heart think not as the tongue speaketh, or else the tongue speak otherwise then the heart thinketh, both be abominable before god. Read the .iii. and .vi. cha. of the first Epi of s. Paul to the Corin. where as S. Paul saith:1 know ye not y• your bodies be ye temples of the holy ghost, if your bodies be the temples of the holy ghost, what agreement hath it with ⟨image 5⟩through thy knowledge, shall that weak brother perish for whom Christ died. When ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ. This judgement of s. Paul is more to be followed, then all our own feigned and wrested defences that would seem to do well, when we halt on both sides, which god abhorreth. Paul hath a profound and a deep consideration of that mans fact, that hath knowledge, and perceiveth his dissimulation to be dangerous & perilous to all persons that he dwelleth withal First all such as be of a right & stayed judgement, & will not prostrate their bodies to an idol, doth he condemn. Secondly, by their such dissimulation, the very idolaters them selves have a confirmation, and defence of their abomination, by the presence of him, that the Christen congregation, knoweth to have knowledge. Thirdly, the weak sort, that would gladly take the best way, by a dissemblers halting and playing on both hands: embraceth both in body ⟨image 5⟩and in soul the evil that he abhorreth in his heart, that hath knowledge, & yet with presence honoureth it as other do, that have no knowledge. If S. Paul said, that the weak brother doth perish for whom Christ died, in him that abused knowledge in meats and drinks, that of themselves be indifferent, how much more in the knowledge of him that useth manifest idolatry, forbidden of god, as a thing not indifferent? Take heed therefore what s. Paul meaneth, & what he would prove against this man that had knowledge, that nether the idol nor the meats dedicated to Idols were any thing. Forsooth this he would prove, that a poor man that wanted knowledge, by the example of him that hath knowledge, doth adventure to do evil, which he would not do, in case he saw not those of whom he hath good opinion go before him as author of the evil. And in deed when the ignorant people or those that be half persuaded in a truth, yea or else thoroughly persuaded, what is evil, yet when they ⟨image 6⟩have any notable men or women for an example to follow.
If the hearte thinke not as the tonge speaketh, or elce the tonge speke otherwise then the heart thinketh, bothe be abhominable beefore god. Reade the .iii. and .vi. cha. of the first Epi of s. Paul to the Corin. wher as S. Paul saith:1 know ye not y• your bodies be ye tēples of the holy gost, if your bodies be the tēples of ye holi gost, what agrement hath it with ⟨image 5⟩throughe thi knoledge, shall that weake brother perishe for whom Christ died. When ye sinne so against the brethren, and wound their weake cōscience, ye sinne against Christ. This iudgement of s. Paull is more to be folowed, then al our owne fained and wrested defences that woulde seme to do wel, when we halt on both sides, which god abhorreth. Paull hath a profound and a deepe consideration of that mans fact, that hath knoledge, ād perceiueth his dissimulation to be dāgerus & perilous to all ꝑsōs that he dwelleth withal First al such as be of a right & staied iudgement, & will not prostrate their bodyes to an idol, doth he cōdemne. Secōdly, by their such dissimulatiō, the very idolaters them selues haue aconfirmatiō, and defence of their abhomination, by the ptesence of him, that the Christen congregation, knoeth to haue knolege. Thirdly, the weake sort, that wold gladly take the best waye, by a dissemblers halting and plaieng on both handes: embraceth both in bodye ⟨image 5⟩and in soule the euil that he abhorreth in his heart, that hath knowledge, & yet with presence honoreth it as other dooe, that haue no knoledge. If S. Paul said, that the weke brother doth perish for whō Christ died, ī him that abused knoledge in meates and drinkes, that of themselues be indifferent, how much more in the knoledge of him that vseth manifest idolatry, forbidden of god, as a thing not indifferent? Take hede therfore what s. Paul meaneth, & what he wolde proue against this manne that had knoledge, that nether the idol nor the meates dedicated to Idolles were anye thinge. Forsoth this he wold proue, that a poore mā that wanted knoledge, by the example of him that hath knoledge, dothe auēture to do euil, which he wold not do, in case he saw not those of whom he hath good opiniō go before him as author of the euil. And in dede when the ignorant people or those that be halfe perswaded in a truth, yea or else throwly perswaded, what is euil, yet whē thei ⟨image 6⟩haue anye notable men or wemen for an example to followe.
- 1i. Corint. iii. & .vi.
