And therefore when the Pope describeth God after his covetous complexion, and when M. More feeleth by inspiration 1and captivating his wits unto the Pope, that God forgiveth the everlasting pain and will yet punish 2me a thousand years in the Popes purgatory, that leaven savoureth not in my mouth. I understand my fathers words as they sound, and after the most merciful manner and not after the Popes leaven and M. Mores captivating his wits, to believe that every Poets fable is a true story. There is no father here that punisheth his son to purge him, when he is purged already and hath utterly forsaken sin and eu••l, and hath submitted himself unto his fathers doctrine. For to punish a man that hath forsaken sin of his own accord, is not to purge him, but to satisfy the lust of a tyrant. Neither ought it to be called Purgatory, but a Jail of tormenting and a satisfactory. 3And when the Pope saith it is done to satisfy the righteousness as a judge. I say we that believe have no judge of him, but a father, neither shall we come into judgement as Christ hath promised us, but are received under grace, mercy, and forgiveness. Show the Pope a little money, and God is so 4merciful that there is no Purgatory. And why is not the fire out as well, if I offer for me the blood of Christ? If ⟨p. 308⟩Christ hath deserved all for me, who gave the Pope might to keep part of his deservings from me, and to buy & sell Christs merits, & to make merchandise over us with feigned words. And thus as M. More feeleth that y• Pope is holy church, I feel that he is Antichrist. And as my feeling can be 5no proof to him, no more can his with all his captivating his wits to believe phantasies be unto me, wherefore if he have no other probation to prove that the Pope is holy church, then that his hart so agreeth unto his learning, he ought of no right to compel with sword unto his sect. How be it there are ever two manner people that will cleave unto God a fleshly, and a spiritual. The spiritual which be of God shall hear Gods word and the children of the truth shall consent unto the truth. And contrary, the fleshly and children of 6falsehood and of the devil, whose harts be full of lies, shall naturally consent unto lies (as young children though they have eat themselves as good as dead with fruit, yet will not nor can believe him that telleth them that such fruit is nought:
And therfore when the Pope describeth God after his couetous complexion, and when M. More feleth by inspiration 1and captiuating his wittes vnto the Pope, that God forgeueth the euerlasting payne and will yet punish 2me a thousand yeares in the Popes purgatory, that leauen sauoreth not in my mouth. I vnderstand my fathers wordes as they sound, and after the most mercifull maner and not after the Popes leauen and M. Mores captining his wittes, to beleue that euery Poetes fable is a true story. There is no father here that punisheth his sonne to purge hym, when he is purged already and hath vtterly forsaken sinne and eu••l, and hath submitted himselfe vnto his fathers doctrine. For to punishe a man that hath forsaken sinne of his owne accorde, is not to purge him, but to satisfie the lust of a tyrant. Neyther ought it to be called Purgatory, but a Iayle oftormenting and a satisfactory. 3And when the Pope sayth it is done to satisfie the righteousnes as a iudge. I say we that beleue haue no iudge of him, but a father, neither shal we come into iudgemēt as Christ hath promised vs, but are receaued vnder grace, mercy, and forgeuenes. Shew the Pope a litle money, and God is so 4mercifull that there is no Purgatory. And why is not the fire out as well, if I offer for me the bloud of Christ? If ⟨p. 308⟩Christ hath deserued all for me, who gaue the Pope might to keepe part of his deseruinges from me, and to buy & sell Christes merites, & to make marchaundise ouer vs wyth fayned wordes. And thus as M. More feleth that y• Pope is holy church, I feele that he is Antichrist. And as my feeling can be 5no proofe to him, no more cā his wyth all his captiuating his wittes to beleue phantasies be vnto me, wherefore if he haue no other probation to proue that the Pope is holy church, then that his hart so agreeth vnto hys learning, he ought of no right to cōpell with sword vnto his sect. How be it there are euer two maner people that will cleaue vnto God a fleshly, and a spirituall. The spirituall which be of God shall heare Gods woorde and the children of the truth shall consent vnto the truth. And contrary, the fleshly and children of 6
- 1[…] popes […].〈…〉 popes 〈…〉.
- 2Purgatory pr• to y• Pope.
- 3Purgatory to a tormenting Jail as y• Pope maketh it.Purgatory to a tormenting Iayle as y• Pope maketh it.
- 4Money dispatcheth Purgatory
- 5The Pope is Antichrist.
- 6The fleshly children do naturally consent unto lies.The fleshly children do naturally consent vnto lyes.
