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,…

Holy work men think that God rejoiceth in the deed self, without any further respect. They think also that God as a cruel tyrant, rejoiceth and hath delectation in our pain taking without any further respect. And therefore many of them martyr themselves without cause, after the ensample of Baals Priests which (iij. Reg. xviij. cut themselves to please their God with all, and as the old heathen pagans sacrificed their children in the fire unto their Gods. The Monks of the Charterhouse think that y• very eating of fish in it self pleaseth God, and refer not the eating unto the chastening of the body. For when they have slain their bodies with cold fleme of fish-eating: yet then will they eat no flesh, and slay themselves before their days. We also when we offer our sons or daughters, and compel or persuade them to vow & profess chastity, think that y• very pain and that rage and burning which they suffer in abstaining from a make, pleaseth God, and so refer not our chastity unto our neighbours profit. For when we see thousands fall to innumerable diseases thereby, and to die before their days: yea though we see them break the commandments of God daily, and also of very impatience work abominations against nature, to shameful to be spoken of: yet will we not let them marry, but compel them to continue still with violence. And thus teach our divines as it appeareth by their arguments. He that taketh most pain, say they, is greatest and so forth.

Holy worke men thinke that God reioyceth in the deede selfe, without any further respecte. They thinke also that God as a cruell tyrant, reioyceth and hath delectation in our payne takyng without any further respect. And therefore many of them martyr themselues wythout cause, after the ensample of Baals Priestes which (iij. Reg. xviij. cut themselues to please theyr God with all, and as the olde heathen pagans sacrificed their children in the fyre vnto their Gods. The Monkes of the Charterhouse thinke that y• very eating of fishe in it selfe pleaseth God, and referre not the eating vnto the chastening of the body. For when they haue slayne their bodyes wyth colde fleme of fisheating: yet then will they eate no fleshe, and sley themselues before their dayes. We also when we offer our sonnes or daughters, and compell or perswade them to vowe & professe chastitie, thinke that y• very payne and that rage and burning which they suffer in absteining from a make, pleaseth God, and so referre not our chastitie vnto our neighbours profet. For when we see thousandes fall to innumerable diseases therby, and to die before their dayes: yea though we see thē breake the commaundementes of God dayly, and also of very impatiency worke abhominations against nature, to shamefull to be spoken of: yet wyll we not let them marry, but compell them to continue still wyth violence. And thus teach our deuines as it appereth by their argumentes. He that taketh most payne, say they, is greatest and so forth.