A68831:1310
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.
As above of alms and prayer: even so here Christ rebuketh the false intent and hypocrisy of fasting. That they sought praise of that work that was ordained for to tame the flesh, and used 1such fashions, that all the world might know that they fasted, to praise them, and to say: O what holy men are these, how pale and pitiful look they, even like death, hanging down their heads, and beholding the earth, as men clean out of the world? If these come not to heaven, what shall become of us poor wretches of the world? If these be not great in the favour of god, and their prayers be heard whatsoever they ask, in what case are we lay people? Happy is he that may be a brother among them, & partaker of their prayers and fastings, and other holy living. In an unhappy, in an happy (I would say) hour was he borne that buildeth them a cell or a cloister, or giveth them a portion of his land to comfort them good men, in this painful living and strait penance which they have taken upon them. Blessed were he that might kiss the edge of the coat of one of them. Oh, he that might have his body wrapped in one of their old coats at the hour of death, it were as good to him as his Christendom. &c. It appeareth also by that they asked Christ why his disciples fasted not as well as the pharisees, that they oft fasted when the common people fasted not, and all to appear holy. As ours fast Advent, and begin before Lent at Septuagesima, when Laus tibi domine commethin.
As aboue of almose and prayer: enē so here Christ rebuketh the false entent and hipocrisie of fasting. That they sought prayse of that worke that was ordayned for to tame the fleshe, and vsed 1such fashions, that all the worlde might know that they fasted, to prayse them, and to say: O what holy mē are these, how pale and pitifull looke they, euen like death, hanging downe their heades, and beholding the earth, as mē cleane out of the world? If these come not to heauen, what shall become of vs poore wretches of the worlde? If these be not great in the fauour of god, and their prayers be heard whatsoeuer they aske, in what case are we laye people? Happy is he that may be a brother among them, & partaker of their prayers and fastinges, and other holy liuing. In an vnhappy, in an happy (I woulde say) houre was he borne that buildeth them a cell or a cloysture, or geueth them a portion of his land to comfort them good men, in this painfull liuing and straite penaunce which they haue taken vpon them. Blessed were he that might kisse the edge of the coate of one of thē. Oh, he that myght haue his body wrapped in one of their olde coates at the houre of death, it were as good to him as his Christendome. &c. It appeareth also by that they asked Christ why his disciples fasted not as well as the phariseyes, that they oft fasted when the common people fasted not, and all to appeare holy. As ours fast Aduent, and beginne before Lent at Septuagesima, whē Laus tibi domine commethin.