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,…

And Christ saith Math. xxiiij. there ¹shall false anointed arise and show signs and wonders: that is, they shall show miracles & so prevail that, if it were possible, the elect should be brought out of the true way. And these false anointed, by the same rule of Paul and in that Christ saith also that they shall come in his name must be in the Church of Christ and of them that shall call them selves Christen, and shall show their wonders before the elect and be a sore temptation unto them, to bring them out of the way. And the elect which […] few in comparison of them that be called and come feignedly, shall among that great multitude be kept by the mighty hand of God against all natural possibility. So that the Church & ²very elect shall never be such a multitude together by them selves without persecution & temptation of their •ayth, as the great multitude under the pope is which persecute and •t. And these which the Pope calleth heretics show no miracles, by their own confession, neither ought they▪ […] as much as they bring no new learning nor ought save the Scripture which is all ready received & confirmed with miracles. Christ also promiseth us nought in this world save persecution for our faith. And the stories of the old Testament are also by Paulus. 1. Cor. x. our ³examples. And there, though God at a time called with miracles a great multitude, ⁴yet the very chosen that received the faith in their harts, to put their trust in God alone, and which endureth in temptations, were but few and ever oppressed of their false brethren and persecuted unto the death, and driven unto corners.

And Christ sayth Math. xxiiij. there ¹shall false annoynted arise and shew signes and wonders: that is, they shall shew miracles & so preuayle that, if it were possible, the elect should be brought out of the true way. And these false annoynted, by the same rule of Paule and in that Christ sayth also that they shall come in his name must be in the Church of Christ and of them that shal call thē selues Christen, and shall shew their wonders before the elect and be a sore temptation vnto them, to bryng thē out of the way. And ye elect whiche 〈…〉 few in comparison of them that be called and come faynedly, shall among that great multitude bee kepte by the mighty hand of God agaynst all naturall possibilitie. So that the Church & ²very elert shall neuer be such a multitude together by them selues without persecution & temptatiō of their •ayth, as the great multitude vnder the pope is which persecute and •t. And these which the Pope calleth heretikes shew no miracles, by their owne confession, neither ought they▪ 〈…〉 as much as they bryng no new learnyng nor ought saue the Scripture which is all ready receaued & cōfirmed with miracles. Christ also promiseth vs nought in this world saue persecution for our fayth. And the stories of the old Testament are also by Paulus. 1. Cor. x. our ³examples. And there, though God at a time called with miracles a great multitude, ⁴yet the very chosen that receaued the fayth in their harts, to put their trust in God alone, and which endureth in temptations, were but few and euer oppressed of their false brethrē and persecuted vnto the death, and driuen vnto corners.

1. 1Math. 24▪
2. 2The popish church are […] but no suffers.The popish church are 〈…〉 but no sufferes.
3. 31. Cor. 10.
4. 4The church of Chris ever persecuted.The church of Chri• euer persecuted.

And when Paul. ij. Thes. ij. saith ¹that Antichrists coming, shall be by the working of Satan with all power, signs and wonders of falsehood & all deceivableness for them that perish, because they conceived not love unto the truth, to be saved by, and therefore shall God send them strong delusion ⟨p. 290⟩or guile, to believe lies: the text must also pertain unto a multitude gathered ²together in christs name, of which one part and no doubt the greater, for lack of love unto the truth that is in Christ, to live thereafter, shall fall into sects and a false faith under the name of Christ and shall be indurate and stablished therein with false miracles to perish for their unkindness. The pope first hath no Scripture that he dare abide ³by in the light, neither careth, but blasphemeth that his word is truer than the Scripture. He hath miracles with out Gods word, as all false Prophets had. He hath lies in all his Legends in all preachings and in all books. They have no love unto the truth, which appeareth by their great sins that they have set up above all the abomination of all the heathen that ever were, and by their long continuance therein, not of frailty: but of malice unto the truth and of obstinate lust & self will to sin. Which appeareth in two things: the one, that they have gotten them with wiles and falsehood from under all laws of man and even above King and Emperor, that no man ⁴should constrain their bodies & bring them unto better order, that they may sin freely without fear of man. And on the other side, they have brought Gods word a sleep, that it should not unquiet their consciences, in so much ⁵that if any man rebuke them with that, they persecute him immediately & pose him in their false doctrine and make him an heretic and burn him and quench it.

And when Paule. ij. Thes. ij. sayth ¹

And Paul saith. ij. Timo. iij. in the later days there shall be perilous times. For there shall be men that love them selves, covetous, high minded, ¹proud, railers, disobedient to father and mother, unthankful, ungodly, churlish, promise breakers, accusers or pickquareles, unloving, despisers of the good, traitors, heady, pu•sed up & that love lusts more than God, having an appearance of godliness, but denying the power thereof. And by power I understand the pure faith in gods word which is the power and pith of all godliness and whence all that pleaseth God springeth. And this text pertaineth ²unto them that profess Christ. And in that he saith having an appearance of godliness & of that followeth in the text, of this sort are they that enter into mens houses and lead women captive laden with sin, ever asking & never able to attain unto the truth (as our hearers of confessions do) it appeareth ³that they be such as will be holier then other and teachers and leaders of the rest. And look whether there be here any syllable that agreeth not unto our spirituality in the highest degree. Love they not them selves their own ⁴decrees and ordinances, their own lies and dreams & despise all laws of God and man, regard no man but them only that be disguised as they be? And as for their covetousness which ⁵all the world is not able to satisfy, tell me what it is that they make not serve it? in so much that if God punish the world with an evil pock, they immediately paint a block and call it Job to heal the disease in stead of warning the people to mend their living. And as for their high mind and pride, see ⁶whether they be not above Kings and Emperor & all the names of God, & whether any man may come to bear rule in this world except he be sworn to them and come up under them.

And Paule sayth. ij. Timo. iij. in the later dayes there shal be perilous tymes. For there shal be men that loue them selues, couetous, high mynded,

Of ¹these and such like texts, and of the similitudes that Christ maketh in the Gospel of the kingdom of heaven it appeareth, that though the holy ghost be in the chosen, and teacheth them all truth in Christ, to put their trust in him, so that they cannot err therein, yet while the world standeth, God shall never have a church that shall either persecute or be unpersecuted them selves any season, after the fashion of y• Pope. But there shall be in the church ²a fleshly seed of Abraham and a spiritual, a Cain and an Abel, an Ismael and an Isaac, an Esau and a Jacob, as I have said, a worker and a believer, a great multitude of them that be called and a small flock of them that be elect and chosen. And the fleshly shall persecute the spiritual, as Cain did Abel, and Ismael Isaac, & so forth, and the great multitude shall persecute y• small little flock, and Antichrist will be ever the best christen man.

Of ¹these and such like textes, and of the similitudes that Christ maketh in the Gospell of the kyngdome of heauen it appeareth, that though the holy ghost be in the chosen, and teacheth them all truth in Christ, to put their trust in hym, so that they cannot erre therein, yet whyle the worlde standeth, God shall neuer haue a church that shal eyther persecute or be vnpersecuted them selues any season, after the fashion of y• Pope. But there shall be in the church ²a fleshly seede of Abraham and a spirituall, a Cain and an Abell, an Ismael and an Isaac, an Esan and a Iacob, as I haue sayd, a worker and a beleuer, a great multitude of them that be called and a small flocke of them that be elect and chosen. And the fleshly shall persecute the spirituall, as Cain did Abel, and Ismaell Isaac, & so forth, and the great multitude shall persecute y• small little flocke, and Antichrist wil be euer the best christen man.

1. 1

SO now the church of God is double, ¹a fleshly and a spiritual: the one will be and is not, the other is & may not be so be called, but must be called a Lutheran, an heretic, and such ²like. Understand therefore, that God when he calleth a congregation unto his name, sendeth forth his messengers to call generally, which messengers bring in a great multitude amazed and astonied with miracles and power of the reasons which the preachers make, and therewith be compelled to confess that there is but one God of power & might above all, & that Christ is God and man, and borne of a virgin, and a thousand other things. And then the great multitude that is called and not chosen, when they have gotten this faith common as well to the devils as them, & more strongly persuaded unto the devils then unto them, then they go unto their own imaginations, saying: we may no longer serve Idols, but God that is but one. And the manner of service they fetch out of their own ³brains and not of the word of God, and serve God with bodily service as they did in times past their Idols, their hearts serving their own lusts still. And one will serve him in white, an other in black, an other in grey, & an other in pied. And an other to do ⁴God a pleasure withal, will be sure, that his show shall have two or three good thick soles under, and will cut ⁵him above, so that in summer while the weather is hot thou mayst see his bare foot, & in winter his sock. They will be shorne and shaven and Sadducees: that is to say, righteous, and Pharisees, that is separated in fashions from all other men. Yea and they will consecrate themselves altogether unto God, and will anoint their hands, and hallow them as the chalice, from all manner lay uses: so that they may serve neither father nor mother, master, Lord or Prince, for polluting themselves, but must wait on God only, to gather up his rents, tithes, offerings, & all other duties. And all the sacrifice that come, they consume in the altar of their bellies, and make Calil of it, that is, a sacrifice that no man may have part of. ⁶

But they put their trust and confidence in their own works, and by their own works they will be saved, as the rich of this world, when they sue unto great men, hope with gifts and presents to obtain their causes. Neither other serving of God know they, save such as their eyes may see and their bellies feel. And of very zeal they will be Gods vicars, and prescribe a manner unto other, and after what fashion they shall serve God, and compel them thereto, for the avoiding of Idolatry, as thou seest in the Pharisees.

But they put their trust and confidence in their owne workes, and by their own workes they will be saued, as the rich of this world, whē they sue vnto great men, hope with giftes and presentes to obtayne their causes. Neither other seruing of God know they, saue such as their eyes may see and their bellyes feele. And of very zeale they will be Gods vicars, and prescribe a maner vnto other, and after what fashiō they shall serue God, and compell thē therto, for the auoyding of Idolatry, as thou seest in the Phariseis.

But little flock, as soon as he is ¹persuaded that there is a God, he run neth not unto his own imaginations, but unto the messenger that called him, and of him asketh how he shall serve God. As little Paul Act. ix. when Christ had overthrown him and caught him ²in his net, asked saying: Lord what wilt thou that I do. And as the multitude that were converted Act. 2. asked ³of the Apostles what they should do. And the preacher setteth the law of God before them, and they offer their hearts to have it written therein, consenting that it is good and righteous.

But little flocke, as soone as he is ¹perswaded that there is a God, he rū neth not vnto hys owne imaginatiōs, but vnto the messēger that called hym, and of hym asketh how he shall serue God. As litle Paul Act. ix. whē Christ had ouerthrowen him and caught him ²in hys net, asked saying: Lord what wilt thou that I do. And as the multitude that were cōuerted Act. 2. asked ³of the Apostles what they shoulde do. And the preacher setteth the lawe of God before them, and they offer their hartes to haue it written therein, consenting that it is good and righteous.

1. 1The small flock of Christ cometh to the word and promises of God.The small flocke of Christ commeth to the word and promises of God.
2. 2

And because they have run clean contrary unto that good law, they sorrow & mourn, and because also their bodies and flesh are otherwise disposed. But the preacher comforteth them and showeth them the testament of Christs ¹blood, how that for his sake all y• is done is forgiven, and all their weakness shall be taken in worth until they be stronger, only if they repent & will submit themselves to be scholars and learn to keep this law. And a little flock receiveth this testament in his hart, and in it walketh & serveth God, in the spirit. And from henceforth all is Christ with him, and Christ is his, & he is Christs. All that he receiveth, he receiveth of Christ, and all that he ²doth, he doth to Christ. Father, mother, master, Lord and Prince, are Christs unto him, and as Christ he serveth them with all love. His wife, children, servants and subjects are Christ unto him, and he teacheth them to serve Christ and not himself and his lusts. And if he receive any good ³thing of man, he thanketh god in Christ, which moved the mans hart. And his neighbour he serveth as Christ in all his need, of such things as God hath lent, because that all degrees are bought as he is, with Christs blood.

And because they haue runne cleane contrary vnto that good law, they sorrow & mourne, and because also their bodyes and flesh are otherwise disposed. But the preacher comforteth them and sheweth thē the testamēt of Christes ¹bloud, how that for his sake all y• is done is forgeuē, and all their weaknes shalbe taken in worth vntil they be stronger, onely if they repent & wyll submit themselues to be scholers and learne to keepe this law. And a little flocke receaueth thys testament in hys hart, and in it walketh & serueth God, in the spirit. And from henceforth all is Christ wyth hym, and Christ is his, & he is Christes. All that he receaueth, he receaueth of Christ, and all that he ²doth, he doth to Christ. Father, mother, maister, Lord and Prince, are Christes vnto hym, and as Christ he serueth them wyth all loue. Hys wife, children, seruauntes and subiectes are Christ vnto hym, and he teacheth them to serue Christ and not hymselfe and hys lustes. And if he receaue any good

And he will not be saved, for serving his brethren, neither promiseth his brethren heaven for serving him. But heaven, justifying, forgiveness, all gifts ¹of grace, and all that is promised them they receive of Christ and by his merits freely. And of that which they have received of Christ they serve each other freely as one hand doth the other, seeking for their service no more than one hand doth of an other each the others health, wealth, help aid, succour, & to assist one an other in the way of Christ. And God they serve in the spirit only, in love, hope, faith and dread.

And he wil not be saued, for seruing hys brethrē, neither promiseth his brethren heauē for seruyng hym. But heauen, iustifying, forgeuenes, all gyftes ¹of grace, and all that is promised them they receaue of Christ and by hys merites freely. And of yt which they haue receaued of Christ they serue ech other freely as one hand doth the other, seekyng for their seruice no more thē one hand doth of an other ech the others health, wealth, helpe ayde, succour, & to assiste one an other in the way of Christ. And God they serue in the spirit only, in loue, hope, faith and dread.

1. 1The Christian sel•eth his salvation only in Christ.The Christian sel•eth his saluatiō onely in Christ.

When the great multitude that be ¹called and not chosen, Cain, Ismael, Esau & carnal Israel that serve God night and day with bodily service and holy works, such as they were wont to serve their Idols withal, behold little flock that they come not forth in the service of god, they roar out, where are thou? Why comest thou not forth and takest holy water? Wherefore saith y• little flock. To put away thy sins. Nay brethren, god forbid that ye should so think, Christs blood only washeth away the sins of all that repent and believe. Fire, salt, water, bread, & ²oil be bodily things, given unto man for his necessity and to help his brother with, and God that is a spirit cannot be served therewith. Neither can such things enter into the soul to purge her. For Gods word only is her purgation. No say they, are not such things hallowed. And say we not in the hallowing of them that who ³soever is sprinkled with the water, or eateth of the bread shall receive health of soul and body? Sir the blessings ⁴promised unto Abraham for all nations are in Christ, and out of his blood we must fetch them, and his word is the bread, salt, & water of our souls. God hath given you no power to give through your charms such virtue unto unsensible creatures, which he hath hallowed himself & made them all clean (for the bodily use of them that believe) through his word of promise and permission and our thanks giving. God saith, if thou believe Saint Ihons gospel thou shalt be saved, and not for the bearing of it about thee with so many crosses, or for the observing of any such observances.

When the great multitude that be ¹called and not chosen, Cain, Ismaell, Esau & carnall Israell that serue God night and day wyth bodely seruice and holy workes, such as they were wont to serue their Idoles withall, beholde little flocke that they come not forth in the seruice of god, they rore out, where are thou? Why commest thou not forth and takest holy water? Wherfore saith y• little flock. To put away thy sinnes. Nay brethrē, god forbid that ye should so thinke, Christes bloud onely washeth away the sinnes of all that repent and beleue. Fire, salt, water, bread, &

God for thy bitter passion roar they ¹out by & by, what an heretic is this? I tell thee that holy church need to allege no scripture for them, for they have the holy Ghost which inspireth them ever secretly, so that they can not err whatsoever they, say, do, or ordain. What wilt thou despise the blessed Sacraments of holy church wherewith God hath been served this xv. hundred year (yea verily this v. thousand years, even since Cain hitherto, and shall endure unto the worlds end, among them that have no love unto the truth to be saved thereby) thou art a strong heretic and worthy to be burnt. And then he is excommunicate out of the church. If that little flock fear not that bug, then they go straight unto the king, ⟨p. 293⟩And it like your grace, perilous people and seditious, and even enough to destroy ²your realm, if ye see not to them betimes. They be so obstinate & tough, that they will not be converted, and rebellious against God and the ordinances of his holy church. And how much more shall they so be against your grace, if they increase and grow to a multitude. They will pervert all, and surely make new laws, and either subdue your grace unto them, or rise against you. And then goeth a part of that little flock to pot, and the rest scatter. ³Thus hath it ever been and shall ever •e, let no man therefore deceive himself.

God for thy bitter passion rore they ¹out by & by, what an hereticke is this? I tel thee that holy church neede to alleadge no scripture for them, for they haue the holy Ghost which inspireth thē euer secretly, so yt they can not erre whatsoeuer they, say, do, or ordayne. What wilt thou dispise the blessed Sacramentes of holy church wherewyth God hath bene serued this xv. hundred yeare (ye verely this v. thousād yeres, euen since Cain hetherto, and shall endure vnto the worldes end, among thē that haue no loue vnto the truth to be saued thereby) thou art a strong hereticke and worthy to be burnt. And thē he is excommunicat out of the church. If yt little flocke feare not that bugge, then they goe straight vnto the king,

An answer to M. Mores second book.

An aunswere to M. Mores second booke.

IN the first Chapter ye may not try the doctrine of the spirituality by the Scripture: But what they say, that believe undoubtedly and by that try the Scripture. And if thou ¹find the plain contrary in the Scripture, thou mayst not believe the Scripture, but seek a Gloss and an allegory to make them agree. As when the pope saith, ye be justified by the works of the ceremonies and Sacraments and so forth, and the Scripture saith, that we be justified at the repentance of the hart through Christs blood. The first is true plain, as the pope saith it and as it standeth in his text, but the second is false as it appeareth unto thine understanding and the literal sense that killeth. Thou must therefore believe the Pope and for Christs doctrine seek an allegory and a mystical sense: that is, thou must leave the clear light and walk in the mist. And yet Christ and his Apostles for all their miracles required ²not to be believed without scripture, as thou mayst see John. v. and Act. xvij. and by their diligent alleging of Scripture through out all the new Testament.

IN the first Chapter ye may not try the doctrine of the spiritualtie by the Scripture: But what they say, that beleue vndoubtedly and by that try the Scripture. And if thou ¹finde the playne contrary in the Scripture, thou mayst not beleue the Scripture, but seke a Glose and an allegorie to make them agree. As whē the pope sayth, ye be iustified by the woorkes of the ceremonies and Sacramentes and so forth, and the Scripture sayth, that we be iustified at the repentaūce of the hart through Christes bloud. The first is true playne, as the pope sayth it and as it standeth in his text, but the secōd is false as it appeareth vnto thine vnderstandyng and the literall sence that killeth. Thou must therfore beleue the Pope and for Christes doctrine seeke an allegorie and a mysticall sence: that is, thou must leaue the cleare light and walke in the miste. And yet Christ and his Apostles for all their miracles required ²not to be beleued without scripture, as thou mayst see

And in the end he saith for his pleasure, ¹that we knowledge, that no man may minister Sacraments but he that is derived out of the Pope. Howbeit this we knowledge, that no man could minister Sacraments without signification which are no Sacraments, save such as are of the Popes generation.

And in the end he sayth for his pleasure, ¹that we knowledge, that no man may minister Sacramēts but he that is deriuede out of the Pope. Howbeit this we knowledge, that no man could minister Sacramentes without signification which are no Sacramentes, saue such as are of the Popes generation.

1. 1None can minister the Sacraments superbly but the Popes generation.None can minister the Sacramentes super•ly but the Popes generation.

The iij. Chapter.