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,…

Unto which I answer: if we should deny this Epistle for those texts sakes, so should we deny first ¹Matthew, which in his xij. Chapter affirmeth that he which blasphemeth the holy Ghost, shall neither be forgiven here, nor in the world to come. And then Mark, which in his third Chapter saith, that he that blasphemeth the holy Ghost, shall never have forgiveness, but shall be in danger of eternal damnation. And thirdly Luke, which saith there shall be no remission to him that blasphemeth the spirit of God. Moreover John in his first Epistle saith, there is a sin unto death, for which a man should not pray. And ij. Pet. ij. saith if a man be fled from the uncleanness of the world through the knowledge of our Saviour Jesus Christ, and then be wrapped in again, his end is worse then the beginning, and that it had better for him never to have known the truth. And Paul ij, Ti. iij. curseth Alexander the Coppersmith, desiring the lord to reward him according to his deeds. Which is a sign that either yt Epistle should not be good, or that Alexander had sinned past forgiveness, no more to be prayed for. Wherefore, seeing no Scripture is of private interpretation, but must be expounded according to the general Articles of our faith, and agreeable to other open and evident texts, & confirmed ²or compared to like sentences, why should we not understand these places with like reverence as we do the other, namely when all the remnant of the Epistle is so godly, & of so great learning?

Vnto whiche I aunswere: if we should denye this Epistle for those textes sakes, so should we deny first ¹Mathew, which in his xij. Chapter affirmeth that he which blasphemeth the holy Ghost, shall neither be forgiuen here, nor in the world to come. And then Marke, which in his thyrd Chapiter sayth, that he that blasphemeth the holy Ghost, shal neuer haue forgiuenesse, but shalbe in daunger of eternall damnation. And thirdly Luke, which saith there shall be no remission to him that blasphemeth the spirite of God. Moreouer Iohn in his first Epistle saith, there is a sinne vnto death, for which a man should not pray. And ij. Pet. ij. saith if a man be fled from the vncleanesse of the world through the knowledge of our Sauiour Iesus Christ, and then be wrapt in agayne, his ende is worse then the beginnyng, and that it had better for him neuer to haue knowen the truth. And Paule ij, Ti. iij. curseth Alexander the Coppersmith, desiring the lord to reward him accordyng to his deedes. Whiche is a signe that either yt Epistle should not be good, or that Alexander had sinned past forgiuenesse, no more to be prayed for. Wherfore, seyng no Scripture is of priuate interpretation, but must be expounded accordyng to the generall Articles of our fayth, and agreable to other open and euident textes, & confirmed