A68831:4886
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.
Go your ways and show your selves unto the Priest. And it came to pass that as they went they were made clean. It is not found that the Lord sent any of those, to whom he showed these corporal benefits, unto the Priests, but only lepers: soothly because the Priest hood of the Jews was a figure of the regal Priesthood to come, which is in the Church, by the which all pertaining to the body of Christ, the highest Priest and Prince of all others, are consecrated. And who soever from heretical 1malice, or gentilical superstition, or judaical, treachery, or else with brotherly discord, as from the spotted colour of leprosy, shall be cleansed by the grace of Christ, it is necessary for him to ⟨p. 371⟩come to the Church and there show the 2true colour of his faith which he hath received. But other vices, as it were diseases of the members of the soul, & the senses, the Lord by him self inwardly in the conscience and understanding doth heal and correct them.
GOe your wayes and shew your selues vnto the Priest. And it came to passe that as they wēt they were made cleane. It is not found that the Lord sent any of those, to whom hee shewed these corporall benefites, vnto the Priestes, but onely lepers: soothly because the Priest hode of the Iewes was a figure of the regall Priesthode to come, which is in the Church, by the which all pertainyng to the body of Christ, the hyghest Priest and Prince of all others, are cō secrated. And who soeuer from hereticall 1malice, or gentilical superstition, or iudaicall, trechery, or els with brotherly discord, as from the spotted coullour of leprosie, shal bee clensed by the grace of Christ, it is necessary for hym to ⟨p. 371⟩come to the Church and there shew the 2true coullor of his fayth which he hath receaued. But other vices, as it were diseases of the members of the soule, & the senses, ye Lord by him selfe inwardly in the conscience and vnderstanding doth heale and correct them.
But now is it not necessary that our 1sins should be confessed before witnesses. Let thy offences be searched out in thy inward thought, and let that showing be without a witness, and let God only hear thy confession. God (I say) that upbraideth not thy sins, but looseth them, because of thy confession.
BVt now is it not necessary that our 1sinnes should bee confessed before witnesses. Let thy offences be searched out in thy inward thought, and let that shewyng bee without a witnesse, and let God onely heare thy cōfession. God (I say) that obbraideth not thy sinnes, but looseth them, because of thy confession.
TO thee I will give the keys &c. This place the Bishops 1& Priests not understanding, do arrogate unto them selves some thing of the Pharisees pride: forasmuch as they think they may condemn innocents, or release sinners: Where as before God the sentence of the priests is not regarded, but the life of the offenders is considered. We read in Leviticus of the lepers, where as they are willed to show them selves to the Priests. And if they had the leprosy then by yt priest were they made unclean: not that the Priests did make men lepers & unclean, but because they had the knowledge who were lepers, & who were not, and could discern who were clean, and who were unclean. Like as therefore the Priests did there make the leper clean, or unclean: so doth our Bishop or Priest loose, or bind, not those which be sinful or innocent, but according to his office, when he hath heard the varieties of the sins, he knoweth who is to be bound, and who is to be loosed.
TO thee I will geue the keys &c. This place the Byshops 1& Priestes not vnderstandyng, doe arrogate vnto thē selues some thyng of the Phariseis pride: forasmuch as they thinke they may condemne innocentes, or release sinners: Where as beefore God the sētēce of the priestes is not regarded, but the lyfe of the offenders is considered. We read in Leuiticus of the lepers, where as they are willed to shew them selues to the Priestes. And if they had the lepry then by yt priest were they made vncleane: not that the Priestes did make men lepers & vncleane, but because they had the knowledge who were lepours, & who were not, and could discerne who were cleane, and who were vncleane. Lyke as therfore the Priests dyd there make the lepour cleane, or vncleane: so doth our Byshop or Priest loose, or bynd, not those which bee sinnefull or innocent, but accordyng to his office, when hee hath heard the varieties of the sinnes, hee knoweth who is to bee bound, and who is to bee losed.
IT was therefore truly said to Peter. Thou art Peter. 1&c. Notwithstanding it seemeth to be said also to all the Apostles, and to all perfect faithful men, because they be all Peters & rocks and upon them all is the Church of Christ builded, & against no one of those that be such, shall the gates of hell prevail. Notwithstanding by that which followeth let us see farther. Doest thou think that to Peter only were given the keys of the kingdom of heaven? and shall no other of the blessed Saints receive them? If it be common to all, that was said, I will give thee the keys, why should not all that was referred to Peter before, seem to be common to all the Apostles. For in the Gospel of S. John, Jesus giving the holy Ghost to his Disciples by breathing, said these words, Receive the holy ghost. &c. as though he said it to all such so affectionated as Peter was. For all which be followers of Christ in like manner are named rocks Thou art Peter &c. But because they which do challenge the place of a bishop do use this text as Peter did, & teach us that they have received the keys of the kingdom of heaven from Christ, because that who soever be bound by them, they be bound in heaven also, & they which be loosed by them, ye is, have received remission of their sins, be loosed in heaven also: We must say that they say well, if they have those good works for the which it was said unto Peter, Thou art Peter: and if they be 2such as Peter was, that on them may be builded the Church of Christ, if the gates of hell shall not prevail against them. Otherwise it is a vain jest to say, that he which is tied with the bonds of sins, and draweth his sins after him as a long rope, and his iniquities be as the hoofs of a calf, for that only, that he is a called Bishop should have such power, that they which be loosed of him, be also loosed in heaven, or who so be bound in earth by him, be bound also in heaven. Let the Bishop therefore which doth bind, or loose an other man, be irreprehensible him self.
IT was therefore truely sayd to Peter. Thou art Peter. 1&c. Notwithstandyng it semeth to bee sayd also to all the Apostles, and to all perfect faythfull men, because they bee all Peters & rockes and vppon them all is the Church of Christ builded, & agaynst no one of those that bee such, shall the gates of hell preuayle. Notwithstandyng by that which foloweth let vs see farther. Doest thou thinke that to Peter onely were geuen the keyes of the kingdome of heauē? and shall no other of the blessed Saintes receaue them? If it be cō mon to all, that was sayd, I will geeue thee the keyes, why should not all that was referred to Peter before, seeme to bee common to all the Apostles. For in the Gospell of S. Iohn, Iesus geuyng the holy Ghost to his Disciples by breatnyng, sayd these wordes, Receaue the holy ghost. &c. as though hee said it to all such so affectionated as Peter was. For all which bee folowers of Christ in like maner are named rockes Thou art Peter &c. But because they which do chalēge the place of a byshop doe vse this text as Peter dyd, & teach vs that they haue receaued the keyes of the kyngdome of heauē from Christ, because that who soeuer bee bound by them, they bee bound in heauen also, & they which bee loosed by thē, ye is, haue receaued remission of their sinnes, bee loosed in heauen also: We must say that they say well, if they haue those good workes for the which it was sayd vnto Peter, Thou art Peter: and if they bee
He that is worthy to bind or lose in heaven, must be the husband of one wife, sober, chaste, comely apparelled, a lover of hospitality, apt to teach, not given to over much wine, no striker, nor greedy of filthy lucre, but gentle, no quarreller, abhorring covetousness, one that ruleth well his own house, having children in subjection, in all chastity. If he be such a one he shall not unjustly bind upon earth, neither shall he lose without good advisement. For if there shall ⟨p. 372⟩be as (I may say) a Peter, and hath not these gifts here mentioned, as it we•e to Peter, and shall think, that he can so bind sins, that the same shall be bound in heaven, & so lose them, that they shall be loosed in heaven, he deceiveth him self, not understanding the meaning of the Scripture, but puffed up, he falleth into the judgement of the devil.
Hee that is worthy to bynd or lose in heauen, must bee the husband of one wife, sober, chast, comely apparelled, a louer of hospitalitie, apt to teach, not geuē to ouer much wyne, no striker, nor greedy of filthy lukre, but gentle, no quareller, abhorryng couetousnes, one that ruleth well his owne house, hauyng childrē in subiection, in all chastitie. If hee bee such a one hee shall not vniustly bynde vpon earth, neither shall hee lose without good aduisement. For if there shall ⟨p. 372⟩bee as (I may say) a Peter, and hath not these giftes here mentioned, as it we•e to Peter, and shall thinke, that he can so bind sinnes, that the same shall bee bound in heauen, & so lose thē, that they shall bee losed in heauen, hee deceaueth him selfe, not vnderstandyng the meaning of the Scripture, but puffed vp, hee falleth into the iudgement of the deuill.
Because it is known to be a divine thing and above mans nature never to sin, God commanded remission to be given to sinners that do repent. But they which refuse to acknowledge their sins, they heap unto themselves 1a greater burden of sins. Wherefore it seemed good to the ancient Bishops, that as it were upon a stage under the testimony of the Ecclesiastical people their sins should be opened. And for this purpose they appointed a Priest of good conversation, a wise man, and a keeper of secretes, unto whom they coming that had offended confessed their own sins. But he according to every mans offence assigned a penalty. Which custom also hitherunto is observed in the Western Churches & especially at Rome, where there is also a certain place appointed for repentant sinners. For the offenders stand amongest the penitents and mourners. For when as the holy celebration is a doing, they not participating the communion, prostrate them selves upon the earth with morning and lamentation, unto whom the Bishop repairing, he also prostrateth him self with spiritual tears and groaning, and all the common multitude in the Church fall on weeping. After this, first ariseth the Bishop and taketh up those which lay on the ground. Then when he hath competently prayed for them which have repented, he demiseth them all. But they of there own accord afflicting them selves, either with fasting, or abstinence from washing, or forbearing of meats, or by other like things which they be commanded, do look for the general day which the Bishop assigneth. The time being appointed and they having as it were fulfilled certain duties and tendered the penalty for their sin, then are they admitted to communicate with the people. And this custom, the ancient bishops of Rome have observed even until our days. Moreover at Constantinople there was a minister appointed to attend upon the penitent until that time, that a certain noble woman, when she had confessed her sins, and the minister had commanded her that she should fast and pray unto God with good works, when she had this observed, she confessed that she had often times lain with the Deacon. When the people 2understood this they raged at the Priests as though they had been injurious to the Church.
BEcause it is knowen to bee a diuine thyng and aboue mās nature neuer to sinne, God commaunded remission to bee geuen to sinners that doe repēt. But they which refuse to acknowlege their sinnes, they heape vnto thēselues
Then Nectarius the Bishop removed the wicked Deacon, and certain persuading him, that he would leave free for every mans conscience to communicate when they thought good, appointed no more any Deacon to attend on the penitents. And from that time, that ancient custom was taken away. When as I think less offences were committed for the shame of confession and the subtle examination.
Then Nectarius the Bishop remoued the wicked Deacon, and certaine persuadyng him, that hee would leaue free for euery mans conscience to communicate when they thought good, appoynted no more any Deacon to attend on the penitēts. And from that tyme, that auncient custome was taken away. When as I thinke lesse offences were committed for the shame of confession and the subtill examination.
