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 as for their railing look in their excommunication, and see whether ¹they spare King or Emperor or the Testament of God. And as for e•edience to father and mother, Nay, they ²be immediately under God and his holy vicar the Pope, he is their father & on his ceremonies they must wait. And as for unthankful, they be so kind, ³that if they have received a thousand pound land of a man, yet for all that they would not receive one of his offspring unto a nights harbour at his need, for their founders sake. And whether they be ungodly or no I report me unto ⁴the parchment. And as for churlishness, see whether they will not have their causes avenged, though it should cost whole regions, yea and all Christen dome, as ye shall see and as it hath cost half Christendom all ready. And as for their promise or truce breaking, see ⁵whether any appointment may endure for their dispensations, be it never so lawful, though the Sacrament were received for the confirmation. And see whether they have not broken all the appointments made between them and their founders. And see whether they be not accusers and traitors also ⁶of all men, and that secretly & of their very own Kings and of their own nation. And as for their headmeste, see ⁷whether they be not prove, bold and run headlong unto all mischief, without pity & compassion or caring what ⟨p. 291⟩misery and destruction should fall on other men, so they may have their present pleasure fulfilled. And see whether they love not their lusts, that they ⁸will not be refrained from them either by any law of God or man. And as for ⁹their appearance of godliness, see whether all be not Gods service that they feign, and see whether not almost all consciences be captive thereto. And it followeth in the text, as the sorcerers of Egypt resisted Moses, so resisted they the truth. They must be therefore mighty ¹⁰jugglers. And to point the popish with the finger he saith, men are they with corrupt minds, and cast aways concerning faith, that is, they be so fleshly minded, so crooked so stubborn and so monstrous shapen, that they can receive no fashion to stand in any building that is grounded upon faith: but when thou hast turned them all ways and done thy best to hew them and to make them frame, thou must be fain to cast them out with the Turks and Jews, to serve God with the image service of their own false works.

And as for their raylyng looke in their excōmunication, and see whether ¹they spare Kyng or Emperour or the Testament of God. And as for e•edience to father and mother, Nay, they ²be immediatly vnder God and his holy vicare the Pope, he is their father & on hys ceremonies they must wayte. And as for vnthākfull, they be so kind, ³that if they haue receaued a thousand pound land of a man, yet for all yt they would not receaue one of his ofspryng vnto a nights harbour at his nede, for their founders sake. And whether they be vngodly or no I reporte me vnto ⁴the parchement. And as for churlishnesse, see whether they will not haue their causes venged, though it should cost whole regions, yea and all Christē dome, as ye shall see and as it hath cost halfe Christendome all ready. And as for their promise or trucebreakyng, see ⁵whether any appoyntement may endure for their dispensations, be it neuer so lawfull, though the Sacrament were receaued for the cōfirmatiō. And see whether they haue not brokē all the appointementes made betwene them and their founders. And see whether they be not accusers and ••aytours also ⁶of all mē, and that secretly & of theyr very owne Kynges and of their owne nation. And as for their headmeste, see ⁷whether they be not proue, bold and runne headlōg vnto all mischief, without pitie & compassion or caryng what ⟨p. 291⟩misery and destruction should fall on other men, so they may haue theyr present pleasure fulfilled. And see whether they loue not theyr lustes, that they ⁸will not be refrained from them either by any law of God or man. And as for ⁹their apperaūce of godlynesse, see whether all be not Gods seruice that they fayne, and see whether not almost all consciences be captiue thereto. And it foloweth in the text, as the sorcerers of Egipt resisted Moses, so resisted they the truth. They must be therfore mighty

1. 1Railers.Raylers.
2. 2Disobedient.
3. 3Unthankful.Vnthankefull.
4. 4Ungodly▪ Churlish.Vngodly▪ Churlishe.
5. 5Promise breaketh.
6. 6Accusers.Accus•rs.
7. 7Heady.Heady•.
8. 8Leaving lusts.Leuyng lustes.
9. 9Appearance of godliness.Appearaunce of godlynesse.
10. 10The Pope and his are mighty jugglers.The Pope and his are mighty iugglers.

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 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.

IN the third Chapter & in the Chapter following, he uttereth how fleshly minded he is, and how beastly he imagineth of God, as Paul saith. 1. ¹Cor. 2. the natural man can not under stand the things of the spirit of God. He thinketh of God, as he doth of his ²Cardinal, that he is a monster, pleased when men flatter him, & if of whatsoever frailty it be, men break his commandments, he is then raging mad as the Pope is & seeketh to be venged. Nay, God is ever fatherly minded toward the elect members of his Church. He loved them ere the world began, in Christ. Ephe. 1. He loveth them, while they be yet evil & his enemies in their ³hearts, ere they be come unto y• knowledge of his son Christ, and ere his law be written in their hearts: as a father loveth his young son, while he is yet evil & ere it know the fathers law to consent thereto.

IN the third Chapter & in the Chapter folowyng, he vttereth how fleshly mynded he is, and how beastly he imagineth of God, as Paule sayth. 1. ¹Cor. 2. the naturall man can not vnder stand the thyngs of the spirite of God. He thinketh of God, as he doth of hys ²Cardinall, that he is a monster, pleased when men flatter him, & if of whatsoeuer frailtie it be, men breake his cō maundementes, he is thē ragyng mad as the Pope is & seketh to be venged. Nay, God is euer fatherly minded toward the elect mēbers of his Church. He loued them yer the world began, in Christ. Ephe. 1. He loueth thē, while they be yet euill & his enemies in their

And after they be once actually of his Church and the law of God & faith of Christ written in their hearts, their hearts never sin any more, though as Paul saith. Rom. vij. the flesh doth ¹in them that the spirit would not. And when they sin of frailty, God ceaseth ²not to love them still, though he •e angry, to put a cross of tribulations upon their backs, to purge them and to subdue the flesh unto the spirit or to all to break their consciences with threatening of the law and to fear them with hell. As a father when his son offendeth him feareth him with the rod, but hateth him not.

And after they be once actually of his Church and the law of God & faith of Christ written in their hartes, their hartes neuer sinne any more, though as Paul sayth. Rom. vij. the flesh doth ¹in them that the spirit would not. And when they sinne of frailtie, God ceaseth ²not to loue them still, though he •e angry, to put a crosse of tribulatiōs vpon their backes, to purge them and to subdue the flesh vnto the spirite or to all to breake their consciences with threatnyng of the law and to feare thē with hell. As a father when his sonne offēdeth him feareth him with the rod, but hateth him not.

1. 1Rom. 7.
2. 2I• we sin of frailty God is merciful & ready to forgive.I• we sinne of frailtie God is mercifull & ready to forgeue.

God did not hate Paul, when he persecuted, but had laid up mercy for him in store, though he was angry with him to scourge him and to teach him better. Neither were those things laid on his back which he after suffered, to make satisfaction for his foresinnes, but only to serve his brethren and to keep the flesh under. Neither ¹did God hate David when he had sinned, though he was angry with him. Neither did he after suffer to make satisfaction to God for his old sins, but to keep his flesh under & to keep him in meekness and to be an example for our learning.

God did not hate Paule, when he persecuted, but had layd vp mercy for hym in store, though he was angry with him to scourge him and to teach him better. Neither were those things layd on his backe which he after suffered, to make satisfaction for his foresinnes, but onely to serue his brethren and to keepe the flesh vnder. Neither ¹did God hate Dauid when he had sinned, though he was angry with hym. Neither did he after suffer to make satisfactiō to God for his old sinnes, but to kepe his flesh vnder & to keepe him in mekenesse and to be an example for our learnyng.

1. 1The new life doth tame the flesh and serve her neighbour▪The new life doth tame the fleshe and serue her neighbour▪