A68831:1698
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.
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.
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.
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,
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.
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.
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.
IN the fourth saith he if the Church were an unknown company, how should the infidels, if they longed for the faith, ⟨p. 294⟩come thereby? O whether wandereth a fleshly mind, as though we first 1sought out God. Nay, God knoweth his and seeketh them out & sendeth his messengers unto them & giveth them an hart to understand. Did the heathen or any nation seek Christ? Nay, Christ sought them and sent his Apostles unto them. As thou seest in the stories from the beginning of the world and as the parables and similitudes of the Gospel declare.
IN the fourth sayth he if the Churche were an vnknowē cōpany, how should the infidels, if they longed for the fayth, ⟨p. 294⟩come thereby? O whether wandereth a fleshly mynde, as though we first 1sought out God. Nay, God kitoweth his and seketh them out & sendeth his messengers vnto them & geueth them an hart to vnderstand. Did the heathē or any nation seke Christ? Nay, Christ sought them and sent his Apostles vnto them. As thou seest in the storyes from the begynnyng of the world and as the parables and similitudes of the Gospell declare.
And when he saith, he never found nor heard of any of us, but that he would 1forswear to save his life. Answer, the more wrath of God will light on them, that so cruelly delight to torment them and so craftily to beguile the weak. Nevertheless yet it is untrue. For he hath heard of Sir Thomas Hitton whom 2the Bishops of Rochester and Canterbury slew at Maidstone and of many that suffered in Brabant, Holland, & at Colen and in all quarters of Dutchland and do daily.
And when he sayth, he neuer founde nor heard of any of vs, but that he would 1forsweare to saue his lyfe. Aunswere, the more wrath of God wil light on them, that so cruelly delite to torment them and so craftely to beguile the weake. Neuerthelesse yet it is vntrue. For he hath heard of Sir Thomas Hitton whō 2the Byshops of Rochester and Caunterbury slew at Maydstone and of many yt suffered in Braband, Holand, & at Colen and in all quarters of Dutchland and do dayly.
