B08235:102
The image of both pastors set forth by that most famous clerk, Huldrych zwingliusThe ymage of both pastoures sette forth by that mooste famouse clerck, Huldrych zwinglius
The image of both pastors set forth by that most famous clerk, Huldrych zwinglius ; [and] now tra[n]slated out of Latin into English, By John Veron Sinonoys. A most fruitful [and] necessary book, to be had [and] read in all churches, there with to enarme all simple [and] ignorant folks, against the ravening wolves and false prophets.The ymage of both pastoures sette forth by that mooste famouse clerck, Huldrych zwinglius ; [and] now tra[n]slated out of Latin into Englishe, By John Veron Sinonoys. A most fruitefull [and] necessary boke, to be had [and] redde in all churches, ther wyth to enarme all symple [and] ignorant folkes, agaynst the raueninge wolues and false prophetes.
London: printed by William Seris and, 1550
¶Of false Pastors / & unpreaching Prelates.¶Of false Pastours / & vnpreachinge Prelates.
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.
But now, we will return to the rule of Christ, whereby he teacheth us to try such pastors, for, in Mat. he doth add:1 So, every good tree bringeth forth good fruits, and a rotten tree, can not bring forth good fruit. A good tree can ⟨image 71⟩not bring forth ill fruit: nor a rotten tree can bring forth no good fruit. Every tree that bringeth forth no good fruit, is hewed down, and hurled into the fire: therefore ye shall know them by their fruits. Here, we must diligently note & mark, what was said before of the faithful pastor, that is to say, that it is his office & duty, to be earnestly studious of those things, which he seeth to be contained in gods word, & commandeth other to observe & keep,2 and that he must in no wise set forth him self, with his own, or any other hypocritical works. And so likewise thee christian people ought to judge & try their Pastor, not by those works that are required in mens traditions, but by them, which god doeth command us in his holy word. Which, because it is not done now a days, we do see many simple & ignorant persons come forth which cry out.3 See ye not, where unto all things are come? The devotion of the blessed Mass is clean fallen away, the Images are nether worshipped nor trimmed, the goodly singu•ge in churches is contemned & nothing set by, Indulgences are nothing regarded, the priests, Monks, & Nuns receive few, ⟨image 71⟩or no offerings at all no man giveth towards the maintenance of our Lady's service, nor towards the building of her church, where unto they do add many like things with mournful & lamē table voices or words. But if these good folks knew that the buying & selling of Masses, doeth highly displease god, and that to cloth & deck the living Images of god,4 which are the poor needy members & limbs of Christ, not blocks and stones, is a worshipping, most acceptable unto god: Besides that none other singing is more pleasant unto him than when we do worship him in spirit and trueth, & not when the churches do resound with piping, lulling, bellowing and roaring: