A68831:4866
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.
Rent your hearts and not your garment &c. Showing that in the contrition of the hart, which is understanded by the renting thereof, sins were forgiven, and not by confession of the mouth, which is a part of exterior satisfaction, which he calleth the renting of our garments, by a part understanding the whole.
REnt your hartes and not your garmēt &c. Shewyng that in the contritiō of the hart, which is vnderstanded by the rentyng therof, sinnes were forgeuen, and not by confessiō of the mouth, which is a part of exteriour satisfactiō, which hee calleth the rentyng of our garmentes, by a part vnderstandyng the whole.
IN what hour soever a sinner shall be converted. &c. For it is not said when soever he shall confess with his mouth, but only when he shall be turned & shall be sorry for his sins, he shall live and not dye.
IN what houre soeuer a sinner shalbe conuerted. &c. For it is not said whē soeuer hee shal cōfesse with his mouth, but onely when hee shall bee turned & shall bee sory for his sinnes, hee shall liue and not dye.
They do more easily purchase gods favour, which being not convicted by mans judgement, but of their own accord acknowledge their faults, which do either by their own confessions bewray the same, or else when other men know not what privy offenders they be do condemn them selves to voluntary excommunication, and separating them selves from the altar whereon they ministered, not by compulsion but willingly bewail their life as no life, being sure that they being reconciled by the fruits of effectual penitency they do not only recover things that were lost from God, but being also made Citizens of the everlasting habitation they may come to joy everlasting.
THey doe more easely purchase gods fauour, which beeing not conuicted by mans iudgement, but of their own accord acknowlege their faultes, which doe either by their owne confessions bewray the same, or els when other mē know not what priuye offenders they bee doe cōdemne them selues to voluntary excommunication, and seperating them selues from the aulter whereon they ministred, not by compultion but willingly bewayle their life as no life, beeyng sure that they beeyng recōciled by the fruites of effectual penitēcy they do not onely recouer things that were lost from God, but beeyng also made Citizens of the euerlastyng habitation they may come to ioy euerlastyng.
Confess thy sins that thou mayst blot them out, if thou be abashed to ⟨p. 370⟩confess that thou hast offended, confess them daily in thy soul. I do not say that thou shouldest confess to thy companion or fellow servant, who may upbraid thee: declare them to God who hath regard of them. But if thou declare them not, is God ignorant of them? or will he learn them by thee? When thou diddest them he was at hand: when thou committest them he had perfect knowledge.
COnfesse thy sinnes that thou mayst blot them out, if thou be abashed to ⟨p. 370⟩confesse that thou hast offended, cōfesse them dayly in thy soule. I doe not say that thou shouldest confesse to thy companion or felow seruaunt, who may obrayed thee: declare thē to God who hath regarde of them. But if thou declare them not, is God ignoraunt of them? or will hee learne them by thee? When thou didest thē hee was at hād: whē thou cōmittest them hee had perfect knowledge.
Let us therefore persuade our selves that we have sinned, nor let the tongue only pronounce it, but the inward conscience also: Neither let us only say that we be sinners, but let us specially account every singular offence. I do not say that thou shouldest, bewray thy self publicly, neither that thou shouldst accuse thy self to others, but I would have thee obey the Prophet, saying: Reveal thy way unto the Lord.1
LEt vs therfore persuade our selues that we haue sinned, nor let the toung onely pronounce it, but the inward conscience also: Neither let vs onely say that wee bee sinners, but let vs specially accompt euery singulare offence. I doe not say yt thou shouldest, bewray thy selfe publikly, neither that thou shouldst accuse thy selfe to others, but I would haue thee obey the Prophet, saying: Reuele thy waye vnto the Lord.1
Peter burst forth into tears, asking nothing with his voice. I do find that he wept, but I find not what he said. Of his tears I read, but of his satisfaction I read nothing.
PEter brust forth into teares, askyng nothing with his voice. I doe finde that hee wept, but I finde not what he sayed. Of his teares I read, but of hys satisfaction I read nothyng.
Therefore to thee Lord am I manifestly known what soever I am, & what profiteth me then to confess my self unto thee. Neither do I it with words of the flesh or with voice, but with the words of my soul and with clamour of my thought which thy ear understandeth. For whereas I am evil, to confess my self unto thee, is nothing else but to mislike of my self. And when I am godly, to confess me unto thee, is nothing else, then not to attribute the same to my self. Because thou Lord doest bless the just, but first thou doest justify him being wicked. My confession therefore my God, in thy sight, is made unto thee both secretly and not secretly. For it is secret in speech, but crieth out in hart. Neither do I say any good thing unto men which thou hast not first heard of me, neither thou also shalt hear any such thing of me, which thou hast not first showed unto me. What therefore have I to do with men that they should hear my confession, as though they should heal all my sorrows & griefs, who commonly are wont to be curious to know an other mans life, and slow to amend their own. Why demand they of me to hear what I am, which will not hear of thee who they them selves are? And how know they that they hear of me to be true? Forasmuch as no man knoweth what is done in man, but the spirit of man that is in man.
THerfore to thee Lord am I manifestly knowen what soeuer I am, & what profiteth me then to confesse my selfe vnto thee. Neither doe I it with wordes of the flesh or with voyce, but with the wordes of my soule and with clamour of my thought which thy eare vnderstandeth. For whereas I am euill, to confesse my selfe vnto thee, is nothyng els but to mislike of my selfe. And when I am godly, to confesse me vnto thee, is nothyng els, then not to attribute the same to my selfe. Because thou Lord doest blesse the iust, but first thou doest iustifie hym beeyng wicked. My confession therfore my God, in thy sight, is made vnto thee both secretely and not secretly. For it is secret in speach, but crieth out in hart. Neither doe I say any good thyng vnto men which thou hast not first heard of me, neither thou also shalt heare any such thyng of me, which thou hast not first shewed vnto me. What therfore haue I to doe with men that they should heare my confession, as though they should heale all my sorowes & griefes, who commonly are wont to bee curious to know an other mans lyfe, and slow to amende their owne. Why demaūd they of me to heare what I am, which will not heare of thee who they them selues are? And how know they that they heare of me to bee true? Forasmuch as no man knoweth what is done in man, but the spirite of mā that is in man.