The whole works of W. Tyndall, John Frith, and Doct. Barnes, three worthy martyrs,…

Cyprian saith, How do we teach, or ¹how can we provoke men to shed their blood for the confession of Christs name, if we do deny them the blood of Christ when they shall go to battle? Or how dare we able them unto the victory of martyrdom, if we do not first by right admit them to drink the cup of our Lord in the congregation. &c. 306. col. 2

CYprian sayth, How doe we teach, or ¹how can we prouoke men to shed their bloud for the confessiō of Christes name, if we doe denye them the bloud of Christ whē they shal goe to battaile? Or how dare wee able them vnto the victory of martyrdome, if wee doe not firste by right admitte them to drinke the cuppe of our Lord in the congregation. &c. 306. col. 2

1. 1Ad Cornelium Papā.Ad Cornelium Papā.

Ambrose saith, to yt Emperor Theodosius, ¹how shalt thou lift up thy hands out of the which doth yet drop unrighteous blood? how shalt thou with those hands receive the body of God? with what boldness will thou receive into thy mouth the Cup of the precious blood, seeing that through yt woodness of thy words, so great blood is shed wrongfully, &c. 306. col. 2

Ambrose sayth, to yt Emperour Theodosius, ¹how shalt yu lift vp thy hands out of the which doth yet droppe vnrighteous bloud? how shalt thou with those handes receaue the body of God? with what boldnes will thou receaue into thy mouth the Cuppe of the precious bloud, seeing that through yt woodnes of thy wordes, so great bloud is shed wrongfully, &c. 306. col. 2

1. 1Ecclesiastica hist.

This doth S. Cyprian learn us saying, what thing so ever it be that is ordained by mans madness, where by the ordinance of God is violated, it is whoredom, it is of the devil and it is sacrilege. Wherefore fly from such contagiousness of men and avoid their words as a canker, and as pestilence. &c. 308. col. 1

This doth S. Ciprian learne vs saying, what thing so euer it bee that is ordeyned by mans maddenes, where by the ordinaunce of God is violated, it is whoredome, it is of the deuill and it is sacrilege. Wherfore flye from such contagiousnesse of men and auoid their wordes as a cancar, and as pestilence. &c. 308. col. 1

1. 1De consecr▪ di. 2. c. comperimus.

The Popes law saith, When the host is broken, and the blood shed out ¹of yt chalice into yt mouths of faithful men, what other thing is there signified, but the immolation of our Lords body on the cross, and the shedding of his blood out of his side. &c. •06. col. 1

The Popes law sayth, When the host is broken, and the bloud shed out ¹of yt chalyce into yt mouthes of faithfull men, what other thing is there signified, but the immolation of our Lordes body on the crosse, and the shedding of his bloud out of his side. &c. •06. col. 1

1. 1De consecr. di. 2. c. cum frangimus.

The Popes law saith, If that the blood of Christ be shed for remission of ¹sins (as often as it is shed) then ought I lawfully for to receive it. I which do always sin, must always receive a medicine. &c. 306. col. 1

The Popes lawe sayth, If that the bloud of Christ be shed for remission of ¹sinnes (as often as it is shedde) then ought I lawfully for to receaue it. I which doe alwaies sinne, must alwaies receaue a medecyne. &c. 306. col. 1

1. 1De consecr. de. 2. c. Si quoc•es•umque.

¶ That by Gods word it is lawful for Priests that hath not the gift of chastity to marry wives.

¶ That by Gods word it is lawfull for Priestes that hath not the gift of chastitie to marry wiues.

Athanasius upon the first Epistle of s. Paul to the Corinthians in the 7. ¹chapter saith, that the Apostle would compel no man to keep virginity against his will, nor he would not make virginity a thing of necessity. 314. col. 1

AThanasius vpon the first Epistle of s. Paule to the Corinthians in the 7. ¹chapter sayth, that the Apostle would compell no man to keepe virginitie against his will, nor he would not make virginitie a thing of necessitie. 314. col. 1

1. 1Athanasius super. 1. Cor. 7.

Cyprian saith, Thou doest ask what we do judge of virgins, the which after they have decreed to live chastely, are ¹afterward found in one bed with a man. Of the which thou sayest that one of them was a Deacon. We do with great sorrow see that great ruin of many persons, which cometh by the reason of such unlawful and perilous con panning together. Wherefore if they have dedicated them selves unto Christ, out of faith to live purely, and chastely, then let them so remain without any fable, and strongly, & steadfastly, to abide the reward of virginity: But if they will not abide, or else can not abide, then is it better to marry, than for to fall into the fire of concupiscence, and let them give unto the brethren and sisterne none occasion of slander. &c. 318. col. 2

Ciprian sayth, Thou doest aske what we doe iudge of virgines, the which after they haue decreed to liue chastly, are ¹afterward founde in one bedde with a man. Of the which thou sayst that one of them was a Deacon. We doe with great sorow see that great ruine of many persons, which commeth by the reason of such vnlawfull and perilous cō paning togtiher. Wherfore if they haue dedicated them selues vnto Christ, out of fayth to lyue purely, and chastly, thē let them so remayne without any fable, and strongly, & stedfastly, to abyde the reward of virginitye: But if they will not abyde, or els cā not abide, then is it better to marry, thē for to fall into the fier of concupiscence, and let them geue vnto the brethren and sisterne none occasion of sclaunder. &c. 318. col. 2

1. 1Cyprian Epist. 11.Ciprian Epist. 11.

Augustine saith, Certain men do ¹affirm those men to be adulterers, that doth marry after they have vowed chastity: but I do affirm, that those men do grievously sin, the which doth separate them. &c. 319. col. 1

Augustine sayth, Certaine men doe ¹affirme those men to bee aduoulterers, that doth marry after they haue vowed chastitie: but I doe affirme, that those men doe greuously sinne, ye which doth seperate them. &c. 319. col. 1

1. 1Aug. de bono coniugali ad Julianum.Aug. de bono coniugali ad Iulianum.

Also blessed S. Ambrose, writeth of ¹virginity in this manner: Chastity of body ought to be desired of us. The which thing I do give for a counsel, and do not command it imperiously. For virginity is a thing all only, that ought to be counselled, but not to be commanded▪ it is rather a thing of voluntary will then of precept. &c. 319. col. 2

Also blessed S. Ambrose, writeth of ¹virginitie in this maner: Chastitie of body ought to bee desired of vs. The which thing I doe geue for a counsell, and doe not commaund it imperiously. For virginitie is a thing all onely, that ought to bee counsayled, but not to be commaunded▪ it is rather a thing of voluntary will then of precept. &c. 319. col. 2

1. 1Ambro. 32. quest. cap. 1 Integri•as.

S. Hierome also saith, Let Bishops ¹and priests read this thing (he speaketh against misspending of goods, that is offered to help poor men with) the which doth teach their children profane letters, and maketh them to read comedies, and to sing bawdy songs of jesters▪ and these children they find of the charges of the church. &c. 319. col. 2

S. Hierome also sayth, Let Bishops ¹and priestes reade this thing (hee speaketh agaynst mispending of goodes, yt is offered to helpe poore men with) the whiche doth teache their children prophane letters, and maketh thē to read commedies, and to sing baudy songes of iesters▪ and these children they finde of the charges of the church. &c. 319. col. 2

1. 1Hie. d. 37. cap. Legans

The Council of Nicene, willing to ¹reform the life of men, did set certain laws, the which we call Canons: among the which certain men would have had a law to be brought i• that Bishops, priests, Deacons, and subdeacons, should no• lye with their wives, which they had married, before their consecration. But Paphnutius a confessor, did withstand them and said, that their marriage was honourable, and it was pure chastity for them to lye with their wives. So that the couns•as persuaded, not to make any […] law, affirming it for to be a gre•us occasion both unto them, a• a• unto their wives of fornication. […] this thing did Paphnutius, though that he him self was unmary•. The Council did allow this sentence. So that nothing was decreed, as concerning this thing, but every man was left unto his freewill, and not bound of any necessity. &c. 320. col. 1

The Councell of Nicene, willing to ¹reforme the lyfe of men, dyd set certaine lawes, the which we call Canones: among the which certaine men would haue had a lawe to bee brought i• that Byshops, priestes, Deacons, and subdeacons, should no• lye wt their wiues, which they had maryed, before their cō secration. But Paphnutius a confessour, did withstand them and sayd, that their mariage was honorable, and it was pure chastitie for them to lye with their wyues. So that the couns•as perswaded, not to make any 〈…〉 law, affirmyng it for to bee a gre•us occasiō both vnto them, a• a• vnto their wyues of fornicatio•. 〈…〉 this thing dyd Paphnutius, though that hee hym selfe was vnmary. The Councell did alowe this sentence. So that nothing was decreed, as concerning this thing, but euery man was left vnto his freewill, and not bounde of any necessitie. &c. 320. col. 1

The Popes law saith, If any man ¹doth teach, that a Priest by the reason of his order ought to forsake his wife, cursed be he. &c. 321. col. 1

The Popes lawe sayth, If any man ¹doth teach, that a Priest by the reason of his order ought to forsake his wyfe, cursed bee hee. &c. 321. col. 1

1. 1Canon Apost.

We read in the council of Gangrens, ¹how they mo•e this decree. If any man doth judge or condemn a Priest that is married, that he may not, by the reason of his marriage do sacrifice, but will abstain from his mass by the reason thereof, cursed be he. &c. 321. col. 1

We reade in the counsell of Gangrens, ¹how they mo•e this decree. If any mā doth iudge or condemne a Priest that is maried, that hee may not, by the reason of his mariage do sacrifice, but will abstayne from his masse by the reason thereof, cursed bee hee. &c. 321. col. 1

1. 1Consilium Gangrens. Canon. 4.

We do read in a council, that is ¹called the sixth Synod, these words: Considering that it is decreed amongest the laws made by them of Rome, that no Deacon, nor Priest, shall company with their wi•es. Therefore we notwithstanding that decree, following the rules of the Apostles, and the constitutions of holy men, will that from this day forth, marriage shall be lawful, in no wise dissolving the matrimony between them, and their wives, ⟨p. 365⟩nor depriving them of their familiarity in time convenient. Whosoever therefore shall be found able of the order of Deacon, Subdeacon, or of Priesthood, we will that no such men be prohibited to ascend the dignities aforesaid for the cohabitation of their wives: Nor that they be constrained at the receipt of their orders, to profess chastity, or to abstain from the company of their lawful wives. &c. 322. col. 1

We doe reade in a counsell, that is ¹called the sixt Synod, these wordes: Considering that it is decreed amongest the lawes made by them of Rome, that no Deacon, nor Priest, shall company with their wi•es. Therfore we notwithstanding that decree, folowing the rules of the Apostles, and the constitutions of holy men, will that from this day forth, maryage shall bee lawfull, in no wise dissoluing the matrimonye betweene them, and their wiues, ⟨p. 365⟩nor depriuyng them of their familiarytie in time cōuenient. Whosoeuer therfore shall bee founde able of the order of Deacon, Subdeacon, or of Priesthode, we will that no such men be prohibited to ascend the dignities aforesaid for the cohabitatiō of their wiues: Nor that they bee constrayned at the receite of their orders, to professe chastitie, or to abstayne from the company of their lawfull wiues. &c. 322. col. 1

1. 16. Sinodus.