Forasmuch as Master Doctor Barnes in the first Edition of his English works, which were first corruptly Printed beyond the Seas, had collected at the end thereof all the testimonies of the Doctors, Councils, and of the Popes laws, which he had before alleged, and were confusedly mingled with the Table by the order of the Alphabet: and whereas it was thought more expedient by the advise of the learned, and for the better edifying of the Reader, to have those testimonies for every article collected severally by them selves: I have therefore according to my simple skill, gathered this Epitome, and have added also thereunto four other articles translated into English out of hys Book De Doctorum Sententijs, which be confirmed in the like sort only by bare testimonies of scriptures, fathers, councils, & laws. Which four articles, and the treatise before of the original of the Mass, were omitted in his English works. But as for all the other testimonies in his book De Doctorū Sententijs, he hath in this volume of his works dispersedly alleged most of them to his purpose, as he had occasion, which by this Epitome following thou mayest perceive. Now hast thou gentle reader to consider of these ancient testimonies: desiring thee for the confirming and establishing of thy doubtful conscience, to compare these sayings of Doctors, holy fathers, and of the Popes own law, unto the saying of the Pope and his Papistical bishops, that be in these latter days, and to their late practises, where their power is, or hath been received: and then give sentence how they do agree. If they do accord, then is it like they be of the true Church, whereof these holy fathers were. But if they agree not, then mayest thou suspect, that they have gone astray, and that the devil hath transfigured him self into an Angel of light, and that they are his ministers. Who notwithstanding have fashioned them selves as though they were the ministers of righteousness, whose end shall be according to their deeds.
FOrasmuch as Maister Doctor Barnes in the first Edition of his Englishe workes, whiche were first corruptlye Printed beyonde the Seas, had collected at the ende thereof all the testimonyes of the Doctours, Councelles, and of the Popes lawes, which he had beefore alleaged, and were confusely myngled with the Table by the order of the Alphabete: and whereas it was thought more expedient by the aduise of the learned, and for the better edifying of the Reader, to haue those testimonyes for euery article collected seuerally by thē selues: I haue therefore accordyng to my simple skill, gathered this Epitome, and haue added also thereunto foure other articles translated into Englishe out of hys Booke De Doctorum Sententijs, whiche bee confirmed in the lyke sorte onely by bare testimonyes of scriptures, fathers, coūcels, & lawes. Which foure articles, and the treatise beefore of the originall of the Masse, were omitted in hys English workes. But as for all the other testimonies in his booke De Doctorū Sententijs, hee hath in this volume of his workes dispersedly alleaged most of them to his purpose, as hee had occasion, which by this Epitome folowing thou mayest perceaue. Now hast thou gentle reader to consider of these auncient testimonyes: desiring thee for the cōfirming and establishyng of thy doubtfull conscience, to compare these sayinges of Doctors, holy fathers, and of the Popes own law, vnto the saying of the Pope and his Papisticall byshops, that bee in these latter dayes, and to their late practises, where their power is, or hath beene receaued: and then geeue sentence howe they doe agree. If they doe accorde, then is it lyke they bee of the true Church, whereof these holy fathers were. But if they agree not, then mayest thou suspect, that they haue gone astray, and that the deuill hath transfigured hym selfe into an Aungell of light, and that they are his ministers. Who notwithstandyng haue fashioned them selues as though they were the ministers of righteousnes, whose end shall bee accordyng to their deedes.
