A68831:1270
The whole works of W. Tyndall, John Frith, and Doct. Barnes, three worthy martyrs,…The vvhole workes of W. Tyndall, Iohn Frith, and Doct. Barnes, three worthy martyrs,…
The whole works of W. Tyndall, John Frith, and Doct. Barnes, three worthy martyrs, and principal teachers of this Church of England collected and compiled in one tome together, being before scattered, [and] now in print here exhibited to the Church. To the praise of God, and profit of all good Christian readers.The vvhole workes of W. Tyndall, Iohn Frith, and Doct. Barnes, three worthy martyrs, and principall teachers of this Churche of England collected and compiled in one tome togither, beyng before scattered, [and] now in print here exhibited to the Church. To the prayse of God, and profite of all good Christian readers.
London: printed by John Daye, 1573London: printed by Iohn Daye, 1573
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.
To give alms, to pray, to fast or 1to do any thing at all, whether between thee and God, or between thee and thy neighbour, canst thou never do to please God therewith, except thou have the true knowledge of Gods word to season thy deeds with all. For God hath put a rule in the Scripture without which thou canst not move an here of thine head, but that it is damnable in the sight of God. As it is of y• Jews, though (as Paul beareth them record) they have a fervent zeal to God, yea and have the Scripture thereto: yet because ⟨p. 220⟩they have not the true understā ding, all is damnable that they do. Hypocrites with scraps of alms get an hundred fold. And with prayer they get praise (as thou seest here) and pray thereto and rob widows houses, as thou readest Math. xxiij. And with fasting they get fat belies, full dishes & ever more then enough. And yet there is none alms, praying or fasting among them in the sight of God. With their prayers they exclude all true prayers, and make it impossible that there should be any among them. For prayer is, either a longing for the honour of 2the name of God that all men should fear him, and keep his precepts, and 3believe in him. And contrary to that, they seek their own honour, that men should fear them and keep their ordinances, and believe in their sweet blessings, prayers, pardons, and what soever they promise. If they bid fast thou must do it or be damned and be an heretic and rebellious to holy Church. If they dispense and give thee clean remission for to eat flesh on good friday (though thou be never so lusty) thou must obey, or else thou art damned and an heretic, because thou doest not believe in holy Church. Either prayer is, to give God thanks for the benefits received. Contrary to which, they will first have thanks of the world for their prayers, and rob not only widows houses: But also Lord, Prince, Emperor and all the world, of house and land, yea & of their wits to. And then they bind God to thank them, and to give them. (Beside the thanks which they have gotten in the world) not only heaven and an higher place but that he give heaven to no other man, save thorough their merits.