A68831:687
A68831:687
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.
God (which worketh all in all things) for a secrete judgement and purpose and for his godly pleasure, provided an hour that thy father and mother should come together, to make thee through them. He was present with thee in thy mothers womb and fashioned thee & breathed life into thee, and for yt great love he had unto thee, provided milk in thy mothers breasts for thee against thou were borne: moved also thy father and mother and all other to love thee, to pity thee and to care for thee.
GOd (which worketh all in all thynges) for a secrete iudgement and purpose and for hys godly pleasure, prouided an houre that thy father and mother should come together, to make thee throughe them. He was present with thee in thy mothers wombe and fashioned thee & brethed lyfe into thee, and for yt great loue he had vnto thee, prouided milke in thy mothers brestes for thee agaynst thou were borne: moued also thy father and mother and all other to loue thee, to pitie thee and to care for thee.
And as he made thee through them, so hath he cast thee under the power & authority of them, to obey and serve them in his stead, saying: honour thy father and mother. Exo. xx. Which is not 1to be understand in bowing the knee and putting of the cap only, but that thou love them with all thine hart and fear and dread them and wait on their commandments, and seek their worship, pleasure, will and profit in all things, and give thy life for them, counting them worthy of all honour, remembering that thou art their good and possession, & that thou owest unto them thine own self, and all thou art able, yea and more then thou art able to do.
And as he made thee through them, so hath he cast thee vnder the power & authoritie of them, to obeye and serue them in his stede, saying: honor thy father and mother. Exo. xx. Which is not 1to be vnderstand in bowyng the knee and puttyng of the cappe onely, but that thou loue them with al thyne hart and feare and drede them and wayte on their commaundementes, and seke their worshyp, pleasure, will and profite in all thynges, and geue thy life for them, counting them worthy of all honour, remembryng that thou art theyr good and possession, & that thou owest vnto thē thine owne selfe, and all thou art able, yea and more then thou art able to doe.
Understand also that what soever 1thou doest unto them (be it good or bad) thou doest unto God. When thou pleasest them, y• pleasest god: when thou displeasest them, thou displeasest God: when they are angry with thee, god is angry with thee: neither is it possible for thee to come unto y• favour of God again (no though all the angels of heaven pray for thee) until thou have submitted thy self unto thy father and mother again.
Vnderstand also that what soeuer 1thou doest vnto thē (be it good or bad) thou doest vnto God. Whē thou pleasest them, y• pleasest god: whē thou displeasest thē, thou displeasest God: whē they are angry with thee, god is angry wt thee: neither is it possible for thee to come vnto y• fauour of God againe (no though all the aūgels of heauē pray for thee) vntil thou haue submitted thy self vnto thy father and mother agayne.
If thou obey (though it be but carnally 1(either for fear, for vain glory or profit) thy blessing shall be long life upon the earth. For he saith, honour thy father and mother, that thou mayest live long upon the earth. Exod. xx. Contrariwise 2if thou disobey them, thy life shall be shortened upon the earth. For it followeth. Exod. xxj. He that smiteth his father or mother shall be put to death for it. And he that curseth (that is to say, raileth or dishonoured his father or mother with opprobrious words) shall be slain for it. And Deut. xx•. If any man have a son stubborn and disobedient, which heareth not the voice of his father and the voice of his mother, so that they have taught him nurture and he regardeth them not, then let his father and mother take him, & bring him forth unto the Seniors, or elders of the City and unto the gate of the same place. And let them say unto the Seniors of that City: this our son is stubborn, and disobedient. He will not hearken unto our voice: he is a rioter, and a drunkard. Then let the men of the City, stone him with stones unto death: so shall ye put away wickedness from among you, and all Israel shall hear and shall fear.
If thou obey (though it be but carnally 1(either for feare, for vayne glorie or profite) thy blessyng shalbe long lyfe vpon the earth. For he sayth, honour thy father and mother, that thou mayest liue long vpon the earth. Exod. xx. Contrarywise 2if thou disobey them, thy life shalbe shortned vpon the earth. For it foloweth. Exod. xxj. He that smiteth his father or mother shalbe put to death for it. And he that curseth (that is to say, rayleth or dishonoured hys father or mother with opprobrious woordes) shalbe slayne for it. And Deut. xx•. If any man haue a sonne stubburne and disobedient, which heareth not the voyce of his father and the voyce of hys mother, so that they haue taught hym nurtoure and he regardeth them not, then let his father and mother take hym, & bryng him forth vnto the Seniours, or elders of the Citie and vnto the gate of the same place. And let them say vnto the Seniours of that Citie: this our sonne is stubburne, and disobedient. He will not harken vnto our voyce: he is a rioter, and a dronkard. Thē let the men of the Citie, stone hym with stones vnto death: so shall ye put awaye wickednesse from among you, and all Israell shall heare and shall feare.
And though that the temporal officers (to their own damnation) be negligent in punishing such disobedience (as the spiritual officers are to teach it) and wink at it or look on it thorough the fingers: yet shall they not scape unpunished. For the vengeance 1of God shall accompany them (as thou mayst see Deut. xxviij.) With all misfortune and evil luck, & shall not depart from them until they be murdered, drowned or hanged, either until by one mischance or an other they be utterly brought to nought. Yea & the world often times hangeth many a man for that they never deserved, but God hangeth them because they would not obey and hearken unto their elders: as the consciences of many well find when they come unto the gallows. There can they preach and teach other, that which they them selves would not learn in season.
And though that the temporall officers (to their owne damnation) be negligent in punishing such disobedience (as the spirituall officers are to teache it) and winke at it or looke on it thorough the fingers: yet shall they not scape vnpunished. For the vengeance 1of God shall accōpanie them (as thou mayst see Deut. xxviij.) With all misfortune and euill lucke, & shall not depart from them vntill they be murdered, drownde or hanged, either vntill by one mischaunce or an other they be vtterly brought to nought. Yea & the world often tymes hangeth many a man for that they neuer deserued, but God hāgeth them because they would not obey and harkē vnto their elders: as the consciences of many well finde when they come vnto the galowes. There can they preach and teach other, that whiche they thē selues would not learne in season.
The Marriage also of the children 1pertaineth unto their elders, as thou mayst see. i. Cor. vij. and throughout all the Scripture, by the authority of the said commandment, child obey father and mother. Which thing the heathen and gentiles have ever kept and to this day keep, unto thee great shame and rebuke of us Christen: in as 2much as the weddings of our virgins (shame it is to speak it) are more like unto the saute of a bitch, then the marrying of a reasonable creature. See not we daily three or four challenging one woman before the Commissary or Official, of which not one hath the consent of her father and mother. And yet he that hath most money, hath best right, and shall have her in the despite of all her friends and in defiance of ⟨p. 108⟩Gods ordinances.
The Mariage also of the children 1perteineth vnto their elders, as thou mayst see. i. Cor. vij. and throughout all the Scripture, by the authoritie of the sayd commaundement, child obey father and mother. Whiche thyng the heathen and gentiles haue euer kept and to this day keepe, vnto thee great shame and rebuke of vs Christē: in as 2much as the weddyngs of our virgins (shame it is to speake it) are more lyke vnto the saute of a bitche, then the mariyng of a reasonable creature. Se not we dayly three or foure calengyng one woman before the Commissary or Officiall, of whiche not one hath the consent of her father and mother. And yet hee that hath most money, hath best right, and shall haue her in the despite of all her frendes and in deffiaunce of ⟨p. 108⟩Gods ordinaunces.
Moreover when she is given by the judge unto yt one party, & also married, even then oft times shall the contrary party sue before an higher judge, or an other that succeedeth the same, & for money divorce her again. So shamefully doth the covetousness and ambition of our Prelates mock with the laws of God. I pass over with silence how many years they will prolong the sentence with cavillations and subtlety, if they be well moneyed on both parties, 1and if a damsel promise ij. how shameful Counsel they will give the second, and also how the religious of Satan do separate unseparable matrimony. For after thou art lawfully married at the commandment of father and mother, and with the consent of all thy friends: yet if thou wilt be disguised eke 2unto one of them, and swear obedience unto their traditions, thou mayst disobey father and mother, break the oath which thou hast sworn to God before his holy congregation, and withdraw love and charity the hiest of Gods commandments, and that duty and service which thou owest unto thy wife: whereof Christ can not dispense with thee. For Christ is not against God, but with God, and came not to break Gods ordinances, but to fulfil them. That is, he came to overcome thee with kindness, and to make thee to do of very love the thing which the law compelleth thee to do. For love only and to do service unto thy neighbour is the fulfilling of the law in yt sight of God. To be a Monk or a Friar, thou mayst thus forsake thy wife before thou hast line with her, but not to be a secular priest. And yet after thou art professed, the Pope for money will dispense with 3thee, both for thy coat and all thy obedience, & make a secular Priest of thee: likewise as it is simony to sell a benefice (as they call it) but to resign upon a pension, and then to redeem the same, is no simony at all. Oh crafty jugglers 4and mockers with the word of God.
Moreouer when she is geuen by the iudge vnto yt one party, & also maried, euen then oft tymes shall the contrary party sue before an hyer iudge, or an other that succedeth the same, & for money deuorce her agayne. So shamefully doth the couetousnes and ambition of our Prelates mocke with the lawes of God. I passe ouer with silence how many yeares they will prolōg the sentence with cauillations and suttletie, if they be well monyed on both parties,
After that Eve was deceived of the Serpent, God said unto her Gene. iij. Thy lust or appetite shall pertain unto thy husband, and he shall rule thee or reign over thee. God which created the woman knoweth what is in that weak vessel (as Peter calleth her) and hath therefore put her under the obedience of her husband, to rule her lusts and wanton appetites. i. Peter. iij. exhorteth wives to be in subjection unto their husbands, after the ensample of the holy women which in old time trusted in GOD, and as Sarah obeyed Abraham and called him Lord. Which Sarah before she was married, was Abraham's sister and equal with him: but as soon as she was married 1was in subjection, and became with out comparison inferior. For so is the nature of wedlock by the ordinance of God. It were much better that our wives followed the ensample of the holy women of old time in obeying their husbands, then to worship them with a Pater noster, an Ave and a Credo, or to stick up candles before their images. Paul Ephe. v. saith: women submit your selves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the wives head, even as Christ is the head of the congregation. Therefore as the congregation is in subjection to Christ, likewise let wives be in subjection unto their husbands in all things. Let the woman therefore fear her husband, as Paul saith in the said place. For her husband is unto her in yt stead of God, that she obey him, and wait on his commandments. And his commandments are Gods commandments. 2If she therefore grudge against him. or resist him, she grudgeth against God, and resisteth God.
AFter that Eue was deceaued of the Serpent, God said vnto her Gene. iij. Thy lust or appetite shall perteyne vnto thy husband, and he shall rule thee or raigne ouer thee. God whiche created the woman knoweth what is in that weake vessell (as Peter calleth her) and hath therefore put her vnder the obedience of her husband, to rule her lustes and wanton appetites. i. Peter. iij. exhorteth wiues to bee in subiection vnto their husbandes, after the ensample of the holy wemen whiche in old tyme trusted in GOD, and as Sara obeyed Abraham and called hym Lord. Whiche Sara before she was maried, was Abrahams sister and equall with him: but as soone as she was maried 1
Servants obey your carnal masters with fear and trembling, in singleness of your hearts as unto Christ: not with service in the eye sight as men pleasers: but as the servants of Christ doing the will of God from the hart with good will, even as though ye served the Lord, and not men. Eph. vj. And i. Pet. ij. servants obey your masters with all fear not only if they be good and courteous: but also though they be froward. For it cometh of grace, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief suffering wrongfully. 1For what praise is it if when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye take it patiently? But and if when ye do well, ye suffer wrong and take it patiently, then is there thank with God. Hereunto ⟨p. 109⟩verily were ye called. For Christ also suffered for our sakes, leaving us an example to follow his steppes. In what so ever kind therefore thou art a servant, during the time of thy covenants, thy master is unto thee 2in the stead and room of God, and God thorough him feedeth thee, clotheth thee, ruleth thee, and learneth thee. His commandments are Gods commandments, and thou oughtest to obey him as God, and in all things to seek his pleasure and profit. For thou art his good and possession, as his Ox or his Horse, in so much that who so ever doth but desire thee in his hart from him without his love and licence, is condemned of God, which saith Exod. xx. See thou once covet not thy neighbours servants.
SEruauntes obey your carnall masters with feare and tremblyng, in singlenesse of your hartes as vnto Christ: not with seruice in the eye sight as mē pleaseres: but as the seruauntes of Christ doyng the wil of God from the hart with good will, euen as thoughe ye serued the Lord, and not men. Eph. vj. And i. Pet. ij. seruauntes obey your masters with all feare not onely if they be good and curteous: but also though they be froward. For it commeth of grace, if a man for conscience towarde God endure grief suffering wrongfully. 1For what prayse is it if when ye be buffeted for your faultes, ye take it paciently? But and if when ye do well, ye suffer wrong and take it paciently, thē is there thanke with God. Hereunto
Paul the Apostle sent home Onemus 1unto his master (as thou readest in the epistle of Paul to Philemon). In so much that though the said Philemon with his servant also was converted by Paul, & obeyed unto Paul and to the word that Paul preached, not his servant only, but also himself: yea and though that Paul was in necessity, and lacked ministers to minister unto him in yt bonds which he suffered for the Gospels sake: yet would he not retain the servant necessary unto the furtherance of the Gospel, without the consent of the master.
Paule the Apostle sent home Onemus 1vnto his maister (as thou readest in the epistle of Paule to Philemon). In so much that though the sayd Philemon with his seruaunt also was cō uerted by Paul, & obeyed vnto Paule and to the worde that Paule preached, not hys seruaunt onely, but also himselfe: yea and though that Paule was in necessitie, and lacked ministers to minister vnto hym in yt bondes which he suffered for the Gospels sake: yet would he not retaine the seruaunt necessary vnto the furtheraunce of the Gospell, wythout the consent of the mayster.
O how sore differeth the doctrine 1of Christ and his Apostles, from the doctrine of the Pope, and of his Apostles. For if any man will obey neither father nor mother, neither Lord nor master, neither King nor Prince, 2the same needeth but only to take the mark of the beast, that is, to shave himself a Monk, a Fryer, or a priest, and is then immediately free and exempted from all service and obedience due unto man. He that will obey no man (as they will not) is most acceptable 3unto them. The more disobedient that thou art unto Gods ordinances, the more apt & meet art thou for theirs. Neither is the professing, vowing and swearing obedience unto their ordinances, any other thing, than the defying, denying & forswearing obedience unto the ordinances of God.
O how sore differeth the doctrine 1of Christ and his Apostles, from the doctrine of the Pope, and of his Apostles. For if any man wyll obeye neither father nor mother, neither Lord nor maister, neither King nor Prince, 2the same needeth but onely to take the marke of the beast, that is, to shaue himselfe a Monke, a Fryer, or a priest, and is then immediatly free and exempted from all seruice and obedience due vnto man. He that will obey no man (as they will not) is most acceptable 3vnto them. The more disobedient that thou art vnto Gods ordinaū ces, the more apt & meete art thou for theirs. Neither is the professing, vowing and swearyng obediēce vnto their ordinaunces, any other thyng, thē the defiyng, denying & forswearyng obedience vnto the ordinaunces of God.