A68831:930
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,…
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.
They preach also that the wagging of the Bishops hand over us blesseth us,1 and putteth away our sins. Are these works not against Christ? How can they do more shame unto Christs blood? For if the wagging of the Bishops hand over me be so precious a thing in the sight of God that I am thereby blessed, how then am I full blessed with all spiritual blessing in Christ as Paul saith Ephe. j? Or if my sins be full done away in Christ, how remaineth there any to be done away by such phantasies? The Apostles knew no ways to put away sin, or to bless us but by preaching Christ. Paul saith Gal. ij.2 If righteousness come by the law, then Christ dyed in vain. So dispute I here. If blessing come by the wagging of the Bishops hand, then dyed Christ in vain, and his death blesseth us not. And a little afore, saith Paul, if while we seek to be justified by Christ, we be yet found sinners (so that we must be justified by the law or ceremonies) is not Christ then a minister of sin? So dispute I here. If while we seek to be blessed in Christ we are yet unblessed, and must be blessed by the wagging of the Bishops hand, what have we then of Christ but curse? Thou wilt say: When we come first to the faith, then Christ forgiveth us and blesseth us. But the sins which we afterward commit are forgiven us through such things. I answer: 3If any man repent truly and come to the faith and put his trust in Christ, then as oft as he sinneth of frailty, at the sigh of the hart is his sin put away in Christs blood. For Christs blood purgeth ever and blesseth ever. For John saith in the second of his first epistle. This I write unto you that ye sin not. And though any man sin (meaning of frailty and so repent) yet have we an advocate with the father, Jesus Christ which is righteous, and he it is that obtaineth grace for our sins, and Heb. vij. it is written. But this man (meaning Christ) because he lasteth or abideth ever, hath an everlasting priesthood. Therefore is he able also ever to save them that come to God through him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for us. The Bishops therefore ought to bless us in preaching Christ, and not to deceive us and to bring the curse of God upon us, with wagging their hands over us. To preach is their duty only, and not to offer their feet to be kissed, or testicles or stones to be groped.