A68831:193
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.
If I vow voluntary poverty, this must be my purpose, that I will be con tent with a competent living, which cometh unto me either by succession 1of mine elders, or which I get truly with my labour in ministering, & doing service unto the common wealth, in one office or in an other, or in one occupation or other, because that riches and honour shall not corrupt my mind, and draw mine hart from God, and to give an example of virtue and edifying unto other, and that my neighbour may have a living by me as well as I, if I make a cloak of dissimulation of my vow, laying a net of feigned beggary to catch superfluous abundance 2of riches, and high degree and authority, and thorough the estimation of false holiness, to feed & maintain my slothful idleness with the sweat, labour, lands, and rents of other men (after the example of our spirituality) robbing them of their faiths, & God of his honour turning unto mine hypocrisy that confidence, which should be given unto the promises of GOD only, am I not a wily fox, and a ravening wolf in a lambs skin, and a painted sepulchre fair without and filthy with in? In like manner though I seek no worldly promotion thereby, yet if I do it to be justified therewith, and to get an higher place in heaven, thinking that I do it of mine own natural strength, and of the natural power of my freewill, and that every man hath might even so to do, & that they do it not is their fault, and negligence, & so with the proud Pharisee in comparison of my self despise the sinful Publicans: what other thing do I then eat the blood and fat of my sacrifice, devouring that my self, which should be offered unto God alone, and his Christ. And shortly what soever a man doth of his natural gifts, of his natural wit, wisdom, understanding, reason, will, and good 3intent before he be otherwise and clean contrary taught of Gods spirit, and have received other wit, understanding, reason and will, is flesh, worldly and wrought in abominable blindness, with which a man can but seek him self, his own profit, glory and honour, even in very spiritual matters.
If I vow voluntary pouertie, this must be my purpose, that I will be cō tent with a competent liuyng, whiche commeth vnto me either by succession 1