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,…

Yet let us see one of their reasons wherewith they prove it. The chief reason is this, every man doth more for his mother, say they, then for other, in like manner must Christ do for his mother, therefore hath she this preeminence, that her body is in heaven. And yet Christ in the xij. chapter of Math. knoweth her not for his mother: but as far forth as she kept his fathers commandments. And Paul in the ij. Epistle to the Corinthians v. chap. knoweth not Christ himself fleshly or after a worldly purpose. Last of all God is free & no further bound then he bindeth him self: if he have made her any promise he is bound, if not, then is he not. Finally if thou set this above rehearsed chapter of Math. before thee where Christ would not know his mother, and the ij. of John where he rebuked her, and the ij. of Luke where she lost him and how negligent she was to leave him behind her at Jerusalem unawares and to go a days journey ere she sought for him y• mightest resolve many of their reasons which they make of this matter, and that she was without original sin: read also Erasmus annotations in the said places. And as for me I commit all such matters unto those idle belies which have nought else to do, then to move such questions and give them free liberty to hold what they list, as long as it hurteth not the faith, whether it be so or no, exhorting yet with Paul all that will please God and obtain that salvation that is in Christ, that they give no heed unto unnecessary and brawling disputations, & that they labour for the knowledge of those things without which they can not be saved. And remember that the sun was given us to guide us in our way and works bodily. Now if thou leave the natural use of the sun and will look directly on him to see how bright he is and such like curiosity then will the sun blind thee. So was the Scripture given us to guide us in our way and works ghostly. The way is Christ & the promises in him are our salvation if we long for them. Now if we shall leave that right use and turn our selves unto vain questions and to search the unsearchable secretes of God: then no doubt shall the Scripture blind us as it hath done our school men and our subtle disputers.

Yet let vs see one of their reasons wherewith they proue it. The chief reason is this, euery mā doth more for his mother, say they, then for other, in like maner must Christ do for his mother, therefore hath she this preheminence, that her body is in heauen. And yet Christ in the xij. chapter of Math. knoweth her not for his mother: but as farrefoorth as she kept his fathers commaundementes. And Paule in the ij. Epistle to the Corinthians v. chap. knoweth not Christ himselfe fleshly or after a worldly purpose. Last of all God is free & no further bounde then he bindeth him selfe: if hee haue made her any promise he is bounde, if not, then is he not. Finally if thou set this aboue rehearsed chapter of Math. before thee where Christe woulde not know his mother, and the ij. of Iohn where he rebuked her, and the ij. of Luke where she lost him and how negligent she was to leaue him behinde her at Ierusalem vnwars and to go a dayes iorney ere she sought for hym y mightest resolue many of their reasons which they make of this matter, and that she was without originall sinne: read also Erasmus annotations in the sayd places. And as for me I cō mit all such matters vnto those idle belyes which haue nought els to doe, then to moue such questions and geue them free libertie to holde what they lyst, as long as it hurteth not the faith, whether it bee so or no, exhortyng yet with Paule all that will please God and obtayne that saluation that is in Christe, that they geue no hede vnto vnnecessary and braulyng disputations, & that they labour for the knowledge of those thinges without which they can not be saued. And remember that the sunne was geuen vs to guide vs in our way and woorkes bodyly. Now if thou leaue the naturall vse of the sunne and will looke directly on hym to see howe bright he is and such like curiositie then wil the sunne blind thee. So was the Scripture geuen vs to guide vs in our way and woorkes ghostly. The way is Christ & the promises in hym are our saluation if we long for them. Now if we shall leaue that right vse and turne our selues vnto vayne questions and to searche the vnsearchable secretes of God: then no dout shall the Scripture blinde vs as it hath done our schole men and our suttle disputers.