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

Understand therefore that to bind and to loose, is to preach the law of ¹God and the Gospel or promises, as thou mayst see in the third chapter of the second epistle to the Corinthians: Where Paul calleth the preaching of the law the ministration of death, and damnation, and the preaching of the promises then ministering of the spirit and of righteousness. For when the law is preached, all men are found sinners, and therefore damned: and when the Gospel & glad tidings are preached, then are all that repent and believe, found righteous in Christ. And so expound it all the old doctors. ²Saint Hierome saith upon this text, whatsoever thou bindest, the Bishops and Priests saith he, for lack of understanding, take a little presumption of the Pharisees upon them. And think that they have authority to bind innocents, and to loose the wicked, which thing our Pope and Bishops do. For they say the curse is to be feared, ³be it right or wrong. Though thou have not deserved, yet if the Pope curse thee, thou art in peril of thy soul as they lie: yea and though he be never so wrongfully cursed, he must be fain to ⁴buy absolution. But Saint Hierome saith as the Priest of the old law made the lepers clean or unclean, so bindeth and unbindeth the Priest of the new law.⁵

Vnderstand therrfore that to bynde and to loose, is to preach the lawe of ¹God and the Gospell or promises, as thou mayst see in the third chapter of the second epistle to the Corinthians: Where Paule calleth the preaching of the law the ministration of death, and damnation, and the preaching of the promises then ministring of the spirite and of righteousnes. For when the law is preached, all men are found sinners, and therefore damned: and when the Gospell & glad tydinges are preached, then are all that repent and beleue, founde righteous in Christ. And so expounde it all the olde doctours. ²