THAT Somwhat I should write vnto your highnes of the expresse worde of God , ( Right myghty kyng Sigismond ) the vnbrideled bouldnes of the heretikes of our age hath moued me . Who albeit emong them selues they be wonderfully diuided , yet doth eche secte of them , so contentiously challenge the same vnto themselues , yea so vsurpe it vnto them selues alone , that from the possession therof , they labour to exclude , not only all suche sectes , as dissent from euery of them , but euen the very Catholikes and right beleuers . For suche is the arrogancy of these men , so great the forgetfulnes of them selues , that they take all others , to be but fooles , doultes , and blockes , that can see nothing in the scriptures and perswade them selues to be the only persons , that haue attayned to the true vnderstanding therof .

But is it leekly , where so great pryde resteth , where so great inflation of the mynde is , that there can be that Spirit , which [ resteth not but ouer the humble and meeke , and Esa 66. suche as fearfully tremble at his word ? ] Very Prouer. 11 notably sayd the wise man . [ Wher is humillite , ther is wisdo : wher is pryde and swelling of the mynd , ther is follye . For calling them selues Rom. 1. wise men , they are become fooles . In the lowe valleys ( sayeth that holly Kynge and Psal. 103. Prophet ) not in the high hills , doth God send foorth the springes and fountaynes of his grace : he hydeth his mysteries from the wyse and Matth. 11. reueleth them vnto the humble and meeke . ] Therfore none do lesse vnderstand what is the expresse worde of God , then they which most glory therof , and which do so arrogat vnto them selues alone the vnderstandig therof that ( as the Prouerbe sayeth ) they will seme to They are sayd to pryck out the choughs eyes which condemne and out of those things which with great consent hath byn allowed of old tyme by their forfathers Hiere. 28. pricke owt the choughs eyes . But this is no newe practys . It hath allwayes been the propertie of heretikes to glory of the clere and expresse word of God , and to challenge it vnto them selues alone . With what other shewe or pretence did the false prophettes , euen before the byrth of Christ , deceiue the people , but with this , of the word of God ? When the prophet Hieremy did foretel many heauy thigs , we reade he vsed to begynne with these wordes , as other the prophets of God did . [ Thus sayth our lord : ] And did not the false prophet Ananias also vse the same wordes , when falsely he prophecyed farre contrary thinges ? who our lord denyed to haue been sent from him ? Whom in an other place wee heare thus speaking of these false prophets : [ Falsly do prophets prophesie in Hie. 14. 29 my name , I sent them not , I commaunded them not , neither spake I vnto them . They prophesie vnto you a false vision , a deceiuable prophesie , and the wronge conceyte of their owne hart . ] And in an other place . [ Harken not Hier. 23. ( sayth he ) vnto the wordes of prophetes , which prophesie vnto you and deceyue you . They tell you the vision of their own hart , and not out of our lord his mowthe . They saye vnto them which blaspheme me . [ The lord Ibidem . hath sayed : peace shal be with you ] and a litle after , he sayeth , [ they steal his wordes . ]

Which place S. Hierome doth thus interprett : A lye ( sayth he ) doth allwayes counterfait , Hieron in commenta . ibidem . and borowe the likenes of a truthe . For howe could it otherwise abuse and deceyue the simple ? Euen so therefore as false prophetes did lye vnto the people before the comyng of Christ , saying , [ Thus sayth the lord I haue seen the lord , and the word of the lord was shewyd to hym , or to hym : ] so doo heretikes take vnto them the testimonies of scriptures out of the owld and newe testament , and steale the wordes of our Sauiour , euery one , of that which cometh next to hand : of the Prophetes , Apostles , and Euangelistes , and take vnto them their tounges , that therwith they may vtter owt of their mowthes , the poyson of their hartes . Very aptly doth S. Hierom compare heretikes with those lying prophetes , and right well ( said he ) doth a lye allwayes imitat , and counterfait a trowthe . For as the prophetes of God said : [ The word of our lord , The mowthe of our lord hath spoken it . Thus sayeth our lord ] the same phrase and termes vsed also the false prophettes .

But what they bothe prophecied lett vs marke a litle . The prophettes of God rebuked The prophetes of God . the sinnes of the people , exhorted them to amendement , and for shewed vnto them , the heauy wrathe of God to hang ouer their heades , that he would consume them with sworde , famyn , and pestilence : That he would oppresse them with most harde bondage , yea and vtterly destroy them with an vniuersal slaughter .

On the other syde , those lying prophettes False prophetes . Hiere. 14. ( whom our lorde had not sent nor commaunded ) sayde [ yowe shall not see the sworde , and hunger shall not be emong you , but the lord will geue you , true and sure peace . They cured ( sayth the prophett ) the contrition of the Hiere. 6. dowghter of my people slenderly saying peace , peace , yet was there no peace ] And as one other prophet saith of those lyars , who said , [ Thus sayth the lord ] when the lord had not Ezech. 13. spoken it , [ they sowde together cusshins for the elbowe of euery hand , and made pillowes to lay vnder the heades of euery age , the more easely to entrape their soules . ]

How contrary was the preaching of these The difference betwene true and false prophetts . ij . sortes of prophetes ? They thretned , to saue : These lulled , to destroye : Yet in the meane tyme both prophezied in the name of God : bothe gloried in the worde of the lorde .

But is not the trade and manner of the prophets of our age euen leeke to this ? What do they els which be laufully sent of the Catholike Churche , but denounce vnto the people the same which Esaie , Hieremie , Ezechiel , Esa. 58. Daniel , Ioël , Ionas , & other the prophets of God , did in those dayes denounce ? They rebuked the wickednes of the people , they exhorted them , that being dronke , they would awake , weepe , and howle . Fearfull thinges they fortolde them . And being so put in feare , they exhorted them , that they should turne vnto Ioell 1. our lord , that they should yeld worthy fruits of penaunce , that so being throughly correctyd thy might happely escape the paynes wherwith the lord had threatned them . And being so turned ageine vnto our lord [ yn fasting , Ioell 2. weeping , and mourning ] then at the last , did they discouer vnto them , the mercye of our lorde and did forbidde that no person throwgh the greatnes of his sinnes , should dispayre of pardon . [ For our lorde is gentle and Ezech ▪ 33. mercyful : pacyent and of much mercy , and one that wil be intreatid , to remitt his displeasure . He will not the death of a synner , but rather that he should conuert and lyue : ] He followeth not mans impatience , but [ loge looketh for our repentaunce ] so as yf wee Hiere. 26. yeld worthy fruictz of penaunce he also repenteth him of his threates , and forbearith to lett faull vppon vs the plages which he denounced , and with our chaunge , is also chaunged him self .

Thus the myndes of mortall men beyng lyft vp into a better hope , lest perhaps the preaching of the greatnes of Gods mercye might make them agayn negligent , and careles , behold how he tempered his speeche . [ Who Ioel. 2. knowyth ( sayth Ioël ) yf he shall turne ? yf he shall forbear and leaue behynd him his blessing . ] As though he would saye ( sayth S. Hierome ) wee , truly do exhort so myche as Hiero ▪ in commenta . ibidem . in vs is , to repentaunce , because wee knowe the mercy of God to be vnspeakable : but because we can not knowe the bottom of the wisedom and knowledge of God , we temper our speeche , and wishe rather then presume our sinnes to be forgeuen vs . And Remigius the Bisshopp of Auxerre , Remigius Altisiodo rensis Episcopus . about 700. yeres past or there about , following herein S. Hieron : They might ( sayth he ) haue answered , because the lord is pacyent and of myche mercy , as thow saiest , it is not needful that we afflict our selues and do penaunce , for he will haue mercy on vs , what so euer we do . But the prophett to mete with this , sayth : what man liuyng knoweth yf Ioel. 2. God be turned from the fury of his wrathe to mercye ? It is not possible for any man to knowe it . It is better that doing penaunce wee meryt to atteyne pardon of our sinnes , and after penaunce doon hauing obteyned remission thereof , then wee offer sacrifice vnto our lord .

After the same sort more then 400. yeres past Rupertus Abbat of Tuitia ( by Collen ) Rupertus Abbas Tu●tiēsis . reporting the same wordes . Euen yn penance it self ( sayth he ) the Prophett wissheth vs to be ware , and taketh away surety . Of the same opinion allso nere 300. yeres past was Albertus ( not without cause named the great ) whoo expownding the same wordes . Although ( saith hee ) it bee certaine that God pardoneth Albertus magnus the contryte , yett is it vncertayne whither any man be truly contryte : he shall see that he can not be correctyd whom God hath Eccl. 7. despysed . The wicked man prayed to the lord , 2. Mach. 9. of whom yet hee did not obteyne mercye . Cain made oblation , yett God had no regard Gene. 4. Nume . 16 to his sacrifyce . Moises saide of some : behold not o lord their oblations . Thus farre Albert. Behould how Ioël preached and how euer since by the space of one Thousand ij . hundred yeres by long succession of Priestes and Bisshops , euen to this our age these wordes of his , haue been vnderstanded .

Yet did not Iohel alone so preache , but Daniel Daniell . 4 allso . When he expownded to the king Nabugodonosor his dreame , did hee not in the beginning terribly feare him , when hee declared what mischieffs should happen vnto him ? yet did he not by and by will him to dispayr : but shewed him the waye wher by he might escape the paynes which were thretnyd vnto him . [ Let my councell ( sayth he ) ( O king ) please the : Redeme thy sinnes with almes , and thy iniquitees with mercy toward the poore . ] With these wordes he brought some comforte to the kinge , being before stryken with a wonderfull feare . Yett would hee not sett him in a carelesnes or surety . He said not , be sure thy sinnes shal be forgeeuen thee , but thus . [ God will perhaps forgeeue thy sinnes . ] Of wich wordes S. Hierom Hieron in Danie. treating : when Daniel ( sayth hee ) forknowing thinges to come doubteth of Gods determination , full rashely doo they which bouldly promise forgeuenes to sinnes . And the ordinary Glose saith . This their temerytee is intollerable . Thus then prophesied Ioëll , and thus Daniell .

But what did the kinge of Niniue when Ionas the prophett fortolde him , it should Ion. 3. The penaunce of the kyng of Niniuee . come to passe , that with in xl . dayes Niniue should be destroyed ? did not he ( being clothed him self in sackcloth and sitting in ashes ) exhorte the people to penaunce , that men and beastes should be couered with sackes , that they should strongly crye vnto our lorde , that men might be turned from their euill waye , and from the iniquitees which they had in hand ? But did he after suche conuersion bidd them stande by and by in surety of pardon ? No : but as Ioël and Daniel did , so did he : [ who knoweth ( saith he ) yf godd will be turned , and forgeue vs ? ] which wordes S. Hieron Hieronymus ibidem expounding sayth . Therfore this ( forgeuenes ) is made doutfull and incertain , that while men stand yn doubte of their saluacion , they shoulde the more earnestly doo penaunce and more stirre God vnto mercy . which wordes are in like termes repeted of Remigius and Rupertus and yn the ordinary glose . In such sorte that neuer any one man yn the Church of God semeth otherwise to haue vnderstode the wordes of those prophettes . Whose manner of preaching yn this point , wee reade the Apostles allso to haue followed . For so did Peter Act. 8. speake vnto Simon Magus , who thought the gift of God might be possessed for moony : [ Doo penaunce ( saith he ) for this thy wickednes , No man ought to stand assured of his saluacion and pray to God , to see yf happely this nawghty thought of thy hart may be forgeuen . ] If happely ( saith he : ) he dooth not bid him to be certayne and sure therof .

This doctryne of the prophettes and Apostles , dooth the Catholyke Churche yett howlde , geeuing Terrour to sinners , that therby shee may the more effectually stirre them to repentawnce , which when they haue done , shee dooth not therfore commaund them by and by to be owt of feare , but rather by all meanes dooth feare them from perillows securite , and well commawndeth Psal. 36. them , [ to hope in our lord and to doo good ] . But assurednes of forgiuenes of their synnes , and certayn knowledge therof to bragge of , and yn that suertye rechlesse to rest , shee forbyddeth . For albeit of the mercy of God , of his promyses , of the merytt of Christ his death , of the vertue and efficacye of the sacramentes no good man ought to doubte , yet when anny man respectyth hymself , and his owne infirmitee , hee may well feare and stand yn doubt of Gods grace in his owne parte . This is the preaching of the Catholyke Churche , well and rightly agreyng with the doctryne of Esay , Hieremie , Ezechiell , Daniel , Ioël , Ionas , yea and of S. Peter the Apostle .

But doo these men which not muche more then . xxx . yeres passed , departed from vs agree therwith ? Naye : rather they seeme , to stand cleane square from this doctrine . For what other thing saye these teachers , The doctryn of heretikes . but that which Ananias , Semeias , and the rest of the faulse prophetes sayde , to whom our lord had not spoken ? [ you shall not see the swoord ( say they ) there shal be no famyn emong you , but sure peace wyll the lord geeue you . ] Peace , Peace , they crye , when peace is not , and denouncyng a sownde slepe securyte , deceyue the sowles of many .

For they teache what so euer our woorkes So Luther in lib. de fide Christiana . be , so our fayth be fyrme and stedfast , wee are sure of our saluation , for that God regardeth not woorkes : Where yet the playn woordes of the scripture be manyfest to the contrary . Namely where it speakyth of the Niniuites their appeasing of God . [ God sawe their workes and because they were turned from their euill waye , he had mercy of them . ] God saw Ion. 3. their woorkes ( sayth the Prophet : ) These fellows on the other syde saye , God regardeth no workes [ Behould lord , ( sayth the prophet Dauyd ) my humillite and trauayll , and pardon Psal. 24. all my synnes ] And in an other psalme , [ Regard my humillitee , and deliuer me , because Psal. 118. I haue not forgotten thy lawe . Behould ( lord ) because I haue looued thy commandementes , Quicken me yn thy mercye .

Which wordes S. Hilary expounding . The Hilarius super psal 118. prophett ( sayth he ) reseruyng all to the iudgement of God , desireth to be deliuered , for Ambrosi ' the meryt of his humillitee . whom S. Ambrose following , sayth . As he which hath humbled his hart , As he , which hath laboured muche there he desireth his sinnes may be forgeuen , and here he prayeth to be deliuered . And after a fewe wordes he thus sayth farther . A good wrestlar sheweth his lymmes , that the well orderyng of him self for that feate , may be allowed : he allso then shewyth his lymmes , when after hard tugging , and paynfull grypes , hee is ageyn prouoked to the wrestlyng place : to the end , the Iudge , seing his weary and trauayled body , compell him not eft soones to wrestle . She we thow therfore the humillitee of thy hart , that the tokens of thy vertue may appeare . Shew also the paynfull stryfes thy body hath Indured , that thow mayest saye , I haue wrestled a good pulle . I haue endyd 1. Tim. 4. my race , and the spirituall Iudge beholding , thy striuing for the game , may adiudge vnto thee , the Crowne of iustice , because thow hast accomplisshed the lawe of the game . The prophett prayeth good that hee would regard his humilyte , his trauayll , and that he was not forgetfull of his lawe , that hee looued his Commandementes , which Saint Ambrose commaunded also wee should shewe vnto Godd .

But the false prophetes and false Ghospellers The fauls prophetes of this our age denye that God , hath any regard to our workes . of our age , denye that God regardith our workes . They denye that he hath any care of them , and teache , that how so euer our workes be , yett must euery man stand assured here of , that freely for Christes sake , his sinnes be forgeeuen him . That hee is in the fauour of God , and heyre of the lyfe euer lasting , for so muche as all our Iustice , and all our holynes , is but * * This is the clere doctryne of Luther in his Articles ad Leon ▪ 10. Art. 1. & 6 10. 11. 12. & 31. 32. mere synne , and a thing Condempned . As for Contrition that it is a thing so farre from profytyng that it makyth a man the greater synner . That yff remorse of synne doo gnawe any mans conscyence , hym doo they commawnd thus to awnswer .

What is synne but Sinne ? I am notwithstandyng The wicked saienges of heretikes holly , or yf I be not , yett Christ is God , As though it were lausull for euery man to be wicked , because Christ is God ? By his Iustice ( teache they ) wee are Iust , by his goodnes wee are good , yea thowgh wee haue not in vs so muche as one sparke of his goodnes . Yea althowgh wee be ouer whelmed yn all kindes of Iniquitee . Looke how muche the more wicked thow art ( sayth one of these newe Ghospellers ) so muche the sooner dooth God geeue his grace vnto thee . Yea hee Commawndeth his followers , thus to saye , My sinnes doo burden Christ , not my conscience .

But what ? maye not wee say with Hieremie the prophett ? [ Woonders are happened Hie. cap. 5. vpon the earthe to the astonning of men . Prophetes prophesied lyes , Priestes clapped their handes , and my people leeked suche thinges . ] In dede the people hath leeked suche thinges . For so may wee see men rauisshed with the smothe woordes of these lyeng prophetes , euen as it were with the sweet songes of meremaydes , that yf a man will go aboute to preache vnto them rather true and holsom thinges , then those which are swete and pleasaunt to the eares , he shall be hissed out of the place . And rude vnlearnyd asses , will not styck sometyme to prescribe vnto the prophettes , what they shall preache , and to teache them of whom they shoold be taught . [ See not ( say they ) looke not owt for vs those thinges which ar ryght : Speake vnto vs pleasing thinges , Looke owt errours for vs . ] Preache vnto vs Esaie 30. S. Hieron . in commentar . ibidem only fayth . Threaten not hell fyer , but promyse vs the kingdom of heauen . that after our ryott , and delycaces , after our incestuous wedlockes , wee may yett looke to fynd paradyse open vnto vs . what shewe youe vnto vs the way of the lord which wee are not willing to enter yn to ? what doo youe recyte to vs the name of the holly one of Israël , which dooth not enter ynto the secrettes of our hartes ?

Thow seest ( most vertuows kyng ) of what sort is the preaching of those , which in this our age call them selues Gospellers , ( wher yn deed they haue no agreement with the Gospell , ) and what ys agayne the doctryne of the catholykes . Those men commawnd nawght ells , but that eche man stedfastly beleeue , and rest well assured that he standeth yn the state of grace , and ys an Luthers doctrine worde for worde in lib. de Christi ana libertate & in cap. Babylonica ▪ The maner of preaching and vniforme doctrine of the catholikes vndoubted heyre of the kyngdom of heauen , how so euer his workes be , And with this their vayne surety they leade men hedlong to the euerlasting paynes of hell .

Our men on the other syde , albeit they commaund vs to hope , for mercy at our lorde his handes , yett doo they forbydde men , rechelesse to lyue yn securite , and farther warne them , that they thinke it not Inough to amend , except they yeeld allso woorthy fruictes of penaunce , and shewe foorth by their workes , the fayth which they professe : That when wee shall appere at the last Iudgement , it shall not be asked of vs what wee beleued , but ( beleeuing ) what good or euill wee haue done here in this liffe .

But seeme they not on bothe sydes armed with the woordes of the lawe of godd ? Truly The scriptures of the catholikes against Only faithe . Matt. 3. both partes glory of his expresse woorde . Bothe crye ▪ the woorde of the lord . The mouthe of the lord hath spoken it . Thus sayeth the lord . The Catholikes bring foorth these scriptures . [ Shewe foorth good fruictes of penaunce . Except yee repent Luke . 1● yee shall all perishe . Wee must suffer , with Christ , yf wee wyl be glorified with him , wee must dye with him , yf wee will Rom. 8. 2. Tim. 2 lyue with him , wee must indure with him , yf wee will raigne with him .

If thow wilt enter ynto life , keepe the Matt. 19 loan . 3. commawndementes . If you knowe these thinges , yee are happy so that yee doo them . Thow lord wilt geeue to euery man according Rom. 2. to his woorkes .

Wee must all be browght before the 2. Cor. 5. iudgement seate of Crist , that eche man may carry away according as hee hath done yn the flleshe either good , or euill . Mercy shall make a place to eche man according Eccles. 16. Apoc. 22 to the merytt of his workes . I comme quickly , and my reward is with me , to yeeld to euery man according to his workes .

They which haue doon good shall coome Ioan. 5. foorth to the Resurrection of lyffe and they which haue doon euyll to the Resurrection of Iudgement . Man knowyth Eccl. 9. Psal. 18. not whither hee bee woorthy of loue or hatred . Who vnderstandeth his offences ? From my secret and hidden sinnes lorde clense me . who can saye my hart is cleane , Prou. 20 Iob. 9. I am pure from synnes ? I fearid all my woorkes knowing that thow wooldest not spare an offender . My conscience dooth 1. Cor. 4. not accuse me of any thing , yet am I not Iustified therby . Of synne pardoned , yett stand not cleerly without feare . Say not Eccl. 5. the mercy of the lorde is great , he will haue mercy on the multitude of our sinnes : For his mercye , and wrathe are soone at hand , and wrath is bent vppon synne .

With feare and trembling worke your saluation . Philip. 2. Blessed is the man ▪ that is all wayes Prou. 28. fearfull : He that is without feare can not be iustified . ]

These and many others which were to Eccl. 1. long to recyte , are the scriptures wherby the Catholykes and right beleeuers , as by the expresse word of God , Indeuour to proue , that it is not Inough for a man to beleeue , his sinnes be , thorowgh Christ , forgeuen him , that hee standeth yn good grace , and is an heyre of the lyfe euerlasting , howe so euer the matter goe with his workes , but euen as [ It behoued Christ first to suffer Luke 24. and so to enter ynto his glory , ] so must wee allso suffer before wee come to that glorye , and [ as hee walked so must wee allso walke ] That wee must [ by our good workes make 2. Io. 2. 2. Pet. 1. stronge or sure our vocation , ] and yett when wee haue all doon , wee must not stand assured , or Carelesse , but mistrust all our Iob. 9. Luc. 17. Eccle. 5. workes , and [ say wee be vnprofitable seruauntes , ] so farre foorth as wee [ be not without feare euen of that synne which is forgeeuen vs . ]

They on the other syde which haue deuyded them selues from the Churche , bring foorth allso their scriptures and defend the contrary opinion . [ Hee that beleeueth and is baptised , shall be saued . So God looued Mark 16. Ioan. 3. the world that he gaue his only begotten sonne , that euery man that beleeueth yn him should not peris he , but haue lyfe euerlasting . Doo manfully , and feare not at the sight of them . Doo manfully and thy hart shal be Deut. 31. comfortyd . Saye yee vnto the cowardes , Psal 26 Esai . 35. Ephes. 6. 1. Pet. 5 be yee of good chere , feare not . Putt on you all the armour of God , that yee may resist yn the euyl daye . Whom resist you being strong yn faythe . Hee hath sent his sonne yn 1. Ioan. 4. to the world that wee should liue throwgh Rom. 5. him . Godd shewyd foorth his loue towardes vs in that , that when wee were yet sinners , Christ was doon to deathe for vs .

The lord gouerneth me and I shall want nothing , Psal. 22 Ibidem If I walke yn the middes of the shadow of death , I will feare no euill , because Psal. 26 thow art with me . The lord is the protector of my lyffe , of whom should I bee Psal. 30 affrayed ? In thee ( lord ) haue I trusted , I shall neuer be Confownded . Sure I am that Rom. 8. neither deathe , nor lyfe , nor Angels , nor anny other creature can seperatt me from the looue of God .

All that my father geeueth me , shall Ioan. 6 come vnto me , and him that cometh to me , I will not cast foorthe . Whoo so euer callyth Rom. 10 on the name of the lord shal be sauyd . All that is borne of God , ouercometh the 1. Ioan. 5. world , and this is our victory which ouercometh the world , Our fayth . ] These be the Brentius ●n his 2. pericope of his apologie ageinst Peter A soto . scriptures which Brentius bryngeth to confirme his assurednes and vayne suerty by . Yett they be suche , as you shall sooner drawe foorth mylke of a poomisse stone , then owt of them , the thing which Brentius seeketh .