The fyrst chapyter .

SO well stand I not ( I thanke god ) good reader in myne own conceyte , & thereby so myche in myne owne lyghte , but that I can somwhat with egall iudgement and an euyn yie , byholde and consyder both my selfe and myne owne . Nor I vse not to folowe the condycion of Isopes ape , the thought her own babes so b●utuouse , & so farre passyng in all goodly feature and fauour / nor the crow that accompted her own byrdes the fayrest of all the fowles that flew . But like as some ( I se well ) there are , that can somwhat lesse than I , that yet for all that put oute theyr workes in wrytynge : so am I not so blynde vppon the tother syde , but that I very well perceyue , very many so farre in wyt and erudicyon aboue me , that in such mater as I haue any thyng wryten , yf other men , as many wolde haue take yt in hand as could haue done yt better , yt myght myche better haue becomen me to let the mater alone , then by wrytyng to presume any thing to medle therwyth .

And therfore good reader , syth I so well know so many men so farre excell & passe me , in all such thynges as are requyred in hym that myght aduenture to put his workes abrode , to stand and abyde the iudgement of all other men : I was neuer so farre ouer●●ne , as eyther to loke or hope that ●●ch fautes as in my writyng sholde by myne ouersyght escape me , coulde 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 of all other men 〈◊〉 forth vnspyed / but 〈…〉 both by 〈…〉 percey●●d / 〈◊〉 amo●● so many ●adde bre●●erne as I wy●● well wold be ●●●oth wyth th●̄ , shold be both sought out and syfted to the vtte●most flake of branne , and largely theruppon controlled and reproued .

But yet agaynste all thys ●eare this one thynge recomforted me , that syth I was of one poynte very faste and sure , that such thynges as I w●yte are consonaunt vnto the comen catholyque fayth & determynacyons of Chrystes catholyque chyrch , & are clere confutacions of false blasphemouse heresyes by Tyndale and Barons pu● forthe vnto the contrarye / any great faute and intoll●rab●e sholde they none finde , of such maner sort and kynde as the re●ders shold in theyr soules peryshe and be destroyed by / of whyche poysened fautes myne aduersa●yes bokes be full .

Now then as for other fautes of lesse w●yght and tolerable / I nothynge douted nor do , but that euery good chrysten reader wyll be so reasonable and indyfferent , as to pardon in me the thyng that happeth in all other men / and that no suche man wyll ouer me be so sore an audytour , & ouer my bokes suche a sore controller , as to charge me with any great losse , by gatherynge to gether of many such thynges as are wyth very fewe men aughte regarded / and to loke for suche exa●te cyrcumspeccy on and sure syght to be by me vsed in my wrytynge , as except the prophetis of god , and Cryste and his apostles , hath neuer I wene be founden in any mannes elles byfore / that is to wit to be perfyte in euery poynte clene from all maner of fautes / but hath alway ●en holden for a thyng excusable , though the reader in a longe worke perceyue that the wry●er haue as Horace sayth of Homere , here and there some tyme f●llen in a litle slomber / in whyche places as the reader seeth that the writer slept , so vseth he of courtesy yf he can not slepe , yet for company at the leste wyse to nappe and wynke with him , and leue his dreme vnchekked . whyche kynde of courtesy yf I sholde shew how often I haue vsed wyth Tyndale and Barons both , wynkynge at theyr tolerable fautes , and suche as I rather thought neglygently escaped them of ouersyght or foly , then dylygently deuysed of wyly falsed or malyce : y● I wolde adde all those fautes to theyr other , then sholde I double in length all my bokes , in whyche the bretherne fynd for the speciall faute , that they be to longe all redy .

But all be it that whan I wrote I was ( as I haue tolde you ) bolded and encoraged by the comon custume of all indyfferent readers , which wold I wyst well perdon and holde excused suche tolerable ouersyght in my wrytyng , as men may fynde some in any mannys all moste that euer wrote before : yet am I now myche more glad and bolde , whan I se that those folke whiche wolde faynest fynde my fawtes , can not yet happen on them / but after longe sekynge and serchynge for them , for all theyr bysynesse taken there aboute , are fayne to put for fawtes in my wrytynge , suche thynges as well consydered shall appere theyr owne fawtes for the fyndynge .

For they fynde fyrste for a great fawte , that my writyng is ouer longe , and therfore to tedyouse to rede . For whyche cause they say they will neuer onsvouchsaufe to loke theron .

But than say they ferther , that suche places of theym as are loked on by those that are lerned and can skyll , be soone perceyued for nought , & my reasons of lytell force . For they bost mych that they here somtyme diuers partes of my bokes answered and cōfutedfully in sundry of some mennes sermons , though my name be forborne / & than they wysshe me there they saye , for that it wolde do theyr hartes good to se my chekes redde for shame .

And ouer thys they fynde a greate fawte , that I handle Tyndale and Barons theyr two newe gospellers , with no fayrer wordes nor in no more courteyse maner .

And ouer thys I wryte they say in such wyse , that I shew my selfe suspecte in the mater & parciall toward the clergy .

And than they saye that my wurkes were wurthy myche more credence , yf I had wryten more indyfferentely , and had declared and made open to the peple the fawtes of the clergy .

And in this poynt they laye for a sample the goodly and godly mylde & g●ntle fashyon vsed by hym who so euer he was , that now lately wrote the boke of the deuisyon bytwene the temporaltye and the spy●ytualty / whyche charytable mylde maner they say that y● I had vsed , my wurkes wold haue ben redde both of many mo , & wyth mych better wyll .

And yet they saye bysydes ●ll thys , that I do but pyke oute pyeces at my pleasure , suche as I maye mo●te easely ●eme to soyle / & leue out what me lyste , and suche as wolde playnely proue the mater agaynste me . And so they saye that I vse but crafte & fraude agaynst Tyndale . For as for ●rere Barons I perceyue by sundry wayes , that the bretherhed ●peke myche lesse of hym , eyther for that they find hym in theyr owne myndes well and fully answered , or ellys that they take him in respec● of Tindale but for a man of a secunde sor●e . And that may● peraduenture be , bycause he leueth out ●omwhat that Tindale taketh in , that is to wy● the makynge of mockes and mowys agaynste the masse , & the blessed sacrament of the aulter .

But fynally they ●aye ferther yet , that I haue not fulfylled my promyse . For I promysed they saye in my preface of my confutacyon , that I wold proue the chyrche / and that they saye I haue not done .

The second chapiter .

Now wyll I begyn with that poynt that I most esteme . For of al the remanaunt make I litle counte . But surely loth wold I be to misse reherse any mannys reason agaynst whome I wryte , or to reherse hym slenderly . And in that poynt vndoutedly they se full well them selfe , that they saye not trew . For there is no reason that I reherse of Tyndales or of frere Barns eyther , but that I vse the contrarye maner therin that Tyndale vseth with myne . For he reherseth myne in euery place faintly and falsely to / and leueth out the pyth and the strength , and the profe that moste maketh for the purpose . And he fareth therin , as yf ●here were one that hauynge day of chalenge appoynted , in whyche he sholde wrestle with his aduersary , wold fynde the mean by craft to gete his aduersary byfore the day into his owne handes , and there kepe hym & dyet hym with such a thynne diete , that at the day he bry●geth hym forth feble , faynte , and famyshed , and all moste hunger storuen , and so lene that he can scant stand on his legges / and then is yt etheye wote well to geue the sely soule a fall . And yet when Tyndale hath done all this , he taketh the fall hym selfe .

But e●ery man maye well se , that I neuer vse that way wyth Tyndale nor wyth any of these folke / but I reherse theyr reason to the beste that they can make yt theym selfe / and ● rather enforce yt and st●ength it of myne own , th●n take any parte of theyrs there from .

And this vse I not onely in suche places as I do not reherse all theyr owne wordes ( for that is not requy●y●e in euery place ) but I vse yt also in suche places ●esyde , as of ●ll the●r owne wordes I leue not one syllable out . For such darkenes vse they purposely , & Tyndale in especyall , that ●xcepte I toke some payn● to set out theyr agumētꝭ plainly many that rede theym sholde ly●le wyt what they meane .

And to th entent euery man may se that these good bretherne lytle care how lowde they lye : let any man loke who so wyl / and he shal fynd , that of frere Barons I haue left out lytle , except a leaf or two concerning the generall counsayles , and I shew the cause why / & as for Tindale of dyuerse whole chapyters of his , I haue not wyttyngly left oute one lyne / & very few I am sure of ouer syght eyther , but haue put in all his chapiters whole , wheruppon any weyght of his mater hangeth , excepte onely in the defence of such englysh wordes as he hath chaunged in his translacion of the new testament . And yet therin they can neuer say , but that I haue put in all the strength and pith of his profe .

But all the remanaunt of hys chapyters , as farre as I haue goone haue I putte in whole , leuynge out noughte but raylynge and preachyng wythoute profe / and that but in one place or twayne / and where I so do , I geue the reader warnynge .

Now that his chapyters be whole rehersed in my boke , I suppose yt maye metely well appere by the mater consequently pursuyng , if the reader leue my wordes out bytwene , and ●ede but Tyndales alone . Or yf any one worde or some few left out of chaunce putte that profe in doute / yet haue the brethern among them I warraunt you of Tyndales bokes inough , by whyche they may trye this trew .

And well ye wote yf this were vntrew that I say , some of them could assigne at the lest wyse some one suche place for a sample . But that thyng neyther do they , nor neuer can whyle they lyue .

The thyrd chapyter

NOwe where ●s these good blessed bretherne say , that my wrytyng is so long and so tedyouse , that they wil not ones vouchsaufe to loke theron / they shew themself that my wrytynge is not so longe as theyre wyttes be shorte / and the yien of theyr soules very poore blynde , whyle they can not se so farre , as to perceyue that in fyndynge so many fautes in that boke , whych they confesse them selfe they neyther rede nor canne fynd in theyr hert to loke vppon , they shew theym selfe eyther of lyghtnes redy to geue hasty credence to other folke , or of malyce to make many lyes them selfe .

It is lytle meruayle that yt seme long and tedyouse vnto them to rede yt ouer wyth in , whome yt irketh to do so myche as loke yt ouer wythout / & euery way semeth long to hym that is wery ere he begynne .

But I fynde some men agayne , to whome the redynge is so farre fro ●edyouse , that they haue redde the hole bok● ouer thryes / and some that make tables therof for theyr owne remembraunce / & that suche men as haue as myche wytte and lernynge both , as the best of all thys blessed bretherhed that euer I herd of .

Now be it gladde wolde I haue bene yf it myghte hau● ben mych more shorte / for than sholde my labour haue ben so mych the lesse .

But they wyll yf they be resonable men , consyder in them selfe that it is a shorter thyng ●nd soner done to wryte heres●●s than to answere them .

For the most foly she heretyke in a town , may write mo fals heresyes in one lefe , than the wysest man in the hole world can well and conuenyently by reason and authoryte soyle & confute in fourtye .

Now whan that Tyndale not onely techeth false heresyes , but furnysheth hys er●ours also wyth pretence of reasone and scrypture / and in stede of reason somtyme with blont subtyltyes and rude ridyls , to the makynge open & lyghtesome to the reader , the darke wrytynge of hym that wold not by his wyll be well perceyued , hath putte me to more laboure and lengthe in enswerynge , than some man wold peraduenture haue ben contente to take .

And I somtyme take the payne to reherse some one thynge in dyuerse fasshyons in mo places than one , bycause I wo●de that the reder sholde in euery place where he fortuneth to fall in redynge , haue at hys hand wythout remyttynge ouer ellys where , or labour of ferther sekyng for it , as mych as shall seme requysyte for the mater that he there hath in hande . And therin the labour of all that lengthe ys myne owne , for ease & shortenynge of the readers payne .

Now on the other syde , as for Tyndale and Barns , I wote nere well whether I may call them longe or short .

For somtyme they be short in dede , bycause they wolde be darke , and haue theyr false fo lyes passe and repasse all vnperceyued .

Some tyme they can vse such a compendyouse kynde of eloquence , that they conuay and couche vp to gether , with a wonderfull breuyte , four fo lyes and fiue lyes in lesse then as many lynes .

But yet for all this , I se not in effec● any men more long then they . For they preache some tyme a longe procesle to very lytle purpose . And syth that of all theyre whole purpose , they proue in conclusyon neuer a pyece at al , were theyr wrytynge neuer so shorte / yet were theyre 〈◊〉 worke at 〈◊〉 to longe by all to gether .

But greatly can I not meruayle , though these euangelicall brethern thinke my workes to long . For euery thyng thynke they to longe that ought is .

Our ladyes psalter thinke they to longe by all the Aue Maryes / & some good pyece of the Crede to .

Then the masse thynk they to longe by the secretes , and the canon , and all the colectis wherin mencyon is made eyther of saintes or soules .

In stede of a longe portuouse , a shorte prymer shall serue them . And yet the prymer they thynke to longe by all our lady matens .

And the seuen Psalmes thinke they long inough with out the lateny .

And as for Dyryge or commendacyon for theyr frendes soules , all that seruyce they thynke to longe by all to gether .

But now good readers , I haue vnto these delycat daynty folke that can awaye wyth no longe redynge , prouyded wyth myne own payne and labour , as myche ease as my poore wyt coulde deuyse .

Fyrs●e when they were byfore faste in the catholyque fayth ▪ they neuer neded to haue redde any of these here tiques bokes , that haue brought them in to these new fangled fantasyes . But now syth they be by theyr owne foly , fallen fyrste into doutynge of the trouth , and afterwarde into the lenyng to warde a false by lyefe / they be very neglygent & vnreasonable , yf they wyll not at the leste wyse for theyr owne suerty , serche & se somwhat , wherby they maye per ceyue whyther these newe tea chers of theyres be suche as they take them for .

Now haue I then consydered , that they wold peraduenture ware wery to rede ouer a long boke / and therfore haue I taken the more payne vppon euery chapyter , to th entent that they shal not nede to rede ouer any chapyter but one , & that yt shall not force greatly whych one thorow out all the boke .

For I dare be bold to say , and am redy to make yt good with the beste euangelyst of all this euangely call bretherhed that wyll set his penne to the contrary , that there is not one chapyter of Tyndales or Barns eyther , that I haue touched thorowe myne whole worke , but that I haue so clere and so fully confuted hym , that who so rede yt indyfferently , maye well and clerely se that they handle theyr mater so falsly , and yet so folyshely therwyth , that no man whyche regardeth eyther trouth or wit , sholde ones vouchesaufe to rede any farther of them

Now he that wyll therfore rede any one chapyter , eyther at aduenture , or ellys some chosen pyece in whyche hym selfe had went that hys euangelycall father Tyndale had sayed wonderfull well , or els frere Barns eyther / when he shall in that one chapyter as I am sure he shall , fynde his holy prophete playnely proued a fole , he maye be soone eased of any ferther laboure . For than hath he good cause to caste hym quyte of , and neuer medle more wyth hym / & than shall he neuer nede to rede more of my booke neyther , and so shall he make it shorte inough .

How be it yf he lyste for all that to perdon hys prophete in that one place , and thynke that he wrote that pyece peraduenture whyle the spyryte was not vpon hym , and that he sayth mych better in some other place , and so wyll rede on ferther to fynde it : than shal hym self make my worke longe . For he shall I truste rede it ouer , and yet shall he neuer come to it . And thus as for the tedyouse length of my wry●ynge , I haue I truste without greate length geuen the good bretherhed a suffycyent answere .

The .iiii. chapyter .

BUt now wyll the bretherne peraduenture saye , that I may be bolde to say very largely of myn own , bycause men may not be bold in these maters to defend . Tindals parte .

It were in dede somwhat better then it is yf they sayed trewe . But neyther are suche thynges so dylygentely controlled , nor such folke so ●erd of suche heretycall fauour , as they shold be yf euery man dyd hys parte / nor they lacke no wyly dryftes in such wyse also to defend those thynges , as they may saue for them selfe some colour to saye that they ment none harme .

And to proue that they be neyther so sore aferde in such thynges , nor lacke suche inuencions of vtterynge theyr forboden ware , bysyde the bold erronyous talkynge that is now all moste in euery lewde laddys mouth / the bretherne bost that they here diuers partes of my boke well & playnly in sundry of theyr sermons confuted / & than they can not saye ye se well that they leue me vnanswered for fere .

Howe be it though they be bolde vpon some partes euen nowe / some partes happely there are wherupon they dare not be so bolde yet , but lytle & lytle wyll peraduenture hereafter .

How be yt some partes that they be all redy bolde vppon , be metely well for a begynny●ge / whereof for ensample I shall remember you one or twayne .

Tyndales false translacion of the new testament was ( as ye wo●e well and as hym selfe confesseth ) trranslated wyth suche chaunges as he hath made therin purposely , to the entent that by those wordes chaunged , the people shold be noseled in those opinions whiche hym selfe calleth trew catholyque fayth , and whyche thynges all trew catholyque people call very false pestylent heresyes .

This translacion therfore beynge by the clergy condempned , & at Poules crosse openly burned , and by the kynges graciouse proclamacyon openly forboden : I wrote in a place of my dyaloge in y● . C. leaf among other thynges these wordes .

The fautes be so many in Tyndal● translacyon of the new testament / and so spred thorough the hose boke / that lyke wrse as it were as sone done to weue a new webbe of cloth , as to so we vppe euery hole in a net / so were it almost as lytell labour and lesse , to translate the hole booke all new / as to make in hys translacyon so many chaunges as nede must be ere it were made good / bes●des thys that there wolde no wyse man I trow take the brede whych he well wyste was of hys enemyes hand onys poysoned / though he saw his frend after scrape it neuer so clene .

These wordes of myne were rehersed in a sermon , and answered in this wyse , that though there were brede that were poysoned in dede , yet were poysened brede better then no brede at all .

Now was this word taken vppe , & walked about abrode among the bretherne and systerne , so hyghly well lyked amonge them , that some of them sayd that all my reasons were auoyded clene wyth that one worde .

Now be it in dede one of theyr owne wyues yet told her own husbande at home , when she harde hym boste yt , how iolyly yt was preached better poysened brede then no brede / by our laken brother husbande quod she , but as properly as that was preched , yet wold I rather abyde the perell of bredynge wormes in my bely by eating of flesh without brede , then to eate wyth my meate the brede that I wyste well were poysoned .

And of trouth good reader , this worde of his was one of the moste proude and presumptuouse , and therewyth the most vnwyse to , that euer I harde passe the mouth of any man reputed and taken for wyse .

For when the thynge had ben examyned , consydered , & condempned , by suche as the iudgement and the orderyng of the thynge dyd apperteyne vnto , that false poysened translacyon was forboden the people / it was an heyghnouse presumpcyon of one man , vppon the truste of his owne wyt , to geue the people corage and boldenesse to resyste theyre prynce and disobey theyr prelates , and geue them no better staffe to stande by , then suche a bald poysoned reason , that poysened brede is better the●● no brede .

For ●yrste I pray you how pr●ueth ●e that poysened bred were better then no brede . I wolde wene yt were as good to forbere meate & starue for hunger , as to eate rat●is bane and dye by poyson / but yf the precher pro●e me that it were better for a man to kyll hym selfe then dye .

But now falleth he in double foly / for fyrst hys proper wyse worde can haue no wyt therin , but yf he proue that the people must nedes perishe for lacke of spyrytuall foode , e●cepte the scrypture be translated into theyr owne tonge .

Now if he say and afferme that / then euery fole almoste may fele the mannys foly .

For the people may haue euery necessary trewth of scrypture , and euery thynge necessary for them to know , concernynge the saluacyon of theyr soules , trewly taught and preched vnto theym , though the corps and bodye of the scrypture be not translated vnto them in theyr mother tonge .

For ellys hadde it ben wrong wyth englyshe peple from the fayth fyrste brought into this realme , vnto our own dayes / in all whyche tyme byfore , I am sure that euery englyshe man and woman that coulde rede yt , hadde not a boke by theym of the scrypture in englyshe . And yet is there I dout not of those folke many a good saued soule .

And secundly also , yf the hauynge of the scryputure in englyshe , be a thyng so requysyte of precise necessyte , that the peoples soules sholde nedes perysh but yf they haue it translated into theyre owne tonge : then muste there the most part perishe for all that , except the preacher make farther prouysyon besyde , that all the people shall be able to rede yt when they haue yt / of which people farre more then four partes of all the whole dyuyded into tenne , could neuer rede englyshe yet , and many now to olde to begynne to go to scole , & shall wyth goddes grace though they neuer rede worde of scrypture , come as well to heuen , & as sone to , as hym seit peraduenture that preched the wyse word . Many haue thought yt a thing very good & profitable , that the scrypture well and trewly translated sholde be in the englyshe tong . And all be yt that many ryghte wyse and well lerned bothe , & very vertuouse folke also , bothe haue bene and yet be in a farre other mynde : ye● for myne owne parte , I both haue bene and yet am also of the same opynyon styll , as I haue in my dya●oge declared , yf the men were amended and the tyme mete therfore . But that it were a thynge of suche precyse necessite , that the peoples soulys muste nedes perysshe but yf that be had / and that therfore we sholde su●er rather such a poysoned translacyon then none , and wylfully kyll our selfe wyth poysen rather thenne we wolde take holesome mete in at our mouth but y● we maye fyrste haue it in our own handes : thys herd I neuer any wise man say , no nor fole neyther ▪ tyll Tindale came forth wyth his new translated scrypture , translatynge the truth of Cryste into false Luthers heresyes .

And yet whan the bretherne haue herde such a wyse word in a sermone / that worde vse they to take solempnely for a sure authoryte , and saye that all the longe reasons of syr Thomas More is here answered shortely wyth one worde .

But now haue I with mo wordes than one , made you playne and open the foly of that wyse worde .

And whan so euer he that preched it , can herafter again wyth many mo wordes than I haue here wryten , proue his worde wysely spoken / let hym kepe one copye therof wyth hym selfe for lesynge , & sende an other to me / and than that copye that I receyue , I wyll be bounden to eate it though the booke be bounden in bordes .

The .v. chapyter .

ANother sample of such kynde of answerynge haue I sene made vnto the fyrste chapyter of my thyrde boke of Tyndals cōfutacyon / of whyche answere the bretherne boste greately and say that I am answered euyn to the poynt .

For thys worde was sayd vnto a frend of myne in great boste , by a specyall sure secret brother of thys newe broched brotherhed / wherupon when I had herde it , I longed sore to se that answere . For in good fayth I had my self thought , that I had so fully answered that chapyter of Tyndalys , whyche is whyther the chyrche were before the worde or the worde before the chyrche / that he sholde neuer wythout hys shame be able to reply whyle he lyued . And therfore longyng sore to se how I was answered now therin / I requyred my frend to fynde the meanes yf he myghte , that I myghte se the boke / wenynge that some newe worke of Tindals hadde bene of late come ouer . But afterwarde he brought me word that it was answered not beyond the see , but here wythin the realme / not by any booke specyally made agaynste it , but in a sermon onys or ●wyes openly preched . How be it not of a sodayn brayed , but fore studyed and penned / wherof the boke as a spyryte in close goo●h aboute secretely , velut negotium per ambulans in tenebris , amonge thys blessed bretherhed / but I trust to turne it into demonium meridianum , that euery man maye se hym somwhat more playne appere , and shewe hym self in hys owne lykenesse .

Now is it so in dede , that in that chapyter of Tyndals there be certayne lyuys lefte out in myne answere . How be it they were of trouth left out by ouerfyght in the pryntyng whyche maye well appere by thys . For in myne answere I so touche those wordes , that the leuynge out of them maketh myne owne more darke and lesse perceyued . And therfore are they content to fynde ●o fawte at the leuyng out of them , but make as though all were in / & also bycause that myne answere is as they bost by that sermon , so well & substancyally confuted .

But now bycause I wold be lothe to be iudged by the onely bretherne and sisters of the false fraternite / and to the entente they shall all well se that I fere not the iudgement of indyfferent folke , I shall put abrode that all folke may se those wordes of the solempne sermon , by whyche they boste that myne answere vnto that chapyter of Tyndales chapiter is so goodly confuted .

The very formall wordes lo good reders of that sermon , for as farre as pertayne to this mater , after the copy that was delyuered me ( whyche copy I reserue and kepe for my declaracyon ) therin be these wordes that here after folow .

Now yt foloweth in the epystle , Vo●●●●arie enim genuit nos verbo veritatis .

This text may be expowned after thys maner , He made vs by the ●routh of hys worde / he made vs 〈◊〉 ( ye knowe ) of nothynge / and he made vs as the chyefe and pryncypall of all his creatures . For he gaue vnto vs wyt and reason , the whyche he gaue vnto no creature ●ynynge in the erth but onely to vs . But to come more nere the mater , we may say that god wyllyngly begate vs by the worde of his trouth / and hath putte vs here in to thys worlde , and here to be as the lord and ruler of al his creatures , the which he made for our comforte and soco●re . But yet we may go more nere you , and say how that he hath begoten vs by the worde of hys trouthe . Marke I pray you here , howe that saint Iames sayth that god hath begoten vs thorough his worde of trouth ▪ Here yt appere●h that we be not trew of ●ure selfe / for we are made trew by god ●●orough his word . And where as of our selfe we were no nother but ●yer● , god of his 〈◊〉 go●dnes hath made vs ●y his wor●e the chy●d●en ●f trouth and of 〈…〉 as bef●re we were but 〈…〉 as worketh none othe● thyng 〈◊〉 euen the very dyspleasure of god .

Now god o● his mercy●ul goodnes by his h●ly wor●e of trouth hath made vs hys chyl●ren / that is to saye the chy●dren of his tr●●uth , euen as yt p●eased hym ( sayth ●ay●te Iames ) he hath begoten vs by the word of his trouth . Marke how that he sayth eu●n as it pleased him he begate v● . If we were begoten and made as yt p●eased hym / then was yt not done as yt pleased vs . And agayne and y● we were begoten by hym / then could not we gyue hym none occa●yon to lo●e vs . F●r why we cam of hym & not we of vs . ●e●e may yo● percey●e also , that this texte maketh agaynst theym that wyll saye , the chyrche was before the gospell .

It is playne yn●u●h that th● chyrche 〈◊〉 not before the worde / for saynt Iames sayth that god begate vs thorough th● word of his trouth . If we were begoten by the worde , then nedes must the worde ●e be●ore we were gote●● / or elles howe 〈◊〉 we be begoten by the word / and by 〈◊〉 ●●rde he sayth we were begoten . If god bega●e vs thorow the word / we must nedes graunte that he that begate vs was before that we were begoten / and he that begate vs , begate vs by the worde / then nedes mu●●e the worde be before that we were begoten . Nowe then yf this worde were before we were begoten / howe can we say that the chyrche was before thys worde .

If we meane by the chyrch , the chyrch of ●yme & stone , then yt is playne ynough that the word was before any such chyrch was made . For we fynde that yt was many a daye a●ter man was made , or eue● there were any suche chyrches made . If ye meane by the chyrche , the vnyuersall chyrche of god , the whych is the congregacyon of all chrysten peple . If you mean this chyrche , and saye howe this chyrche was before the worde : then saint Iames maketh you an answere to that , sayenge how that by the worde this chyrche was begoten . Then nedes mus●e we graunte that the worde of god was before any chyrche was .

ye but some wyll not be content wyth this answere , but they wyll saye that the chyrche was before that this worde was wryten of any man , and yt was admytted and alowed by the chyrch , and so was the chyrche before his word● . ye but yet I wyll say to you agayne , how that this word was writen before the chyrch was / ●e and yt was not wryten by men , but yt was wryten by god our sauyour afore the begynnynge of the worlde / as wytnesse saynt Poule , where he sayth to the Hebrewes , D●bo leges meas &c. I wyl geue my laws ●ayth god into theyr hertes , & in theyr myndes shall I wryte yt . Beholde how god gaue yt them at the begynnyng in theyr hertes , and wryt yt in theyr myndes , and they exercyses his lawe wryten in theyr he●tes in de●e and 〈◊〉 effecte .

Thus may ye ●e that at the begynnynge god wrote his lawes in theyr hertes , and therfore mu●●e we nedes graunte that the w●rde of god was taught to them longe or euer the congregacy●n taught yt . For you se that by the word we were begote / therfore the worde must nedes be before we were begoten / or elles how coulde the worde begete vs .

Some peraduenture wyll say , that the chyrche was before this worde was wryten in bokes of paper and pa●chement and suche other thynges , and that the chyrch dyd admit them to be rede of them , which they thought necessary to loke on theym . They wyll saye that the chyrche was before this was done . ye but what thyng is this to the purpose , or what shall we nede to stand arguynge of this mater .

It is playne ynough to all men that hath eyes to se & ●ares to heare , how the word of god was before any chyr●h was , & how the word of god was writen afore yt was wryten in any bokes or tabuls / and therfore what shall we nede to dyspute thys mater . But good lorde , yf yt had not ben wryten by the euāgelyfies in those days , how shold we do in these dayes , the whiche brynge forth the scrypture for theym in dede / and yet they wyll bere theym in hand that yt is no scrypture , and yf yt had not ben wryten in bokes then . Not wythstandyng ye may perceyue how the word was or euer the chyrche was , & the worde begate vs and not we the worde / and also yt was wryten or euer the chyrche alowed yt to be wryten .

Now good readers , to the entent ye maye the better perceyue for what purpose the bretherhed bosteth these wordes , ye shall vnderstande that where as Luther fyrste and Tyndale after hym , tell vs for a fundacyon of all theyre abomynable heresyes , that there is nothynge that ought to be taken for a sure and vndowted trouth of the chrysten bylyefe , but yf it maye be proued by playne and euydent scrypture : the kynges hyghnes in his most famouse boke of assercyon of the sacramentes , layed agaynste Luther / & I out o● the same boke of my sayd souerayne lord ▪ toke and layed agaynste Tyndale and all such , that the word of god is parte wryten in the scrypture , and part vnwryten that appereth not proued therein / as for ensample the perpetuall virgynyte of our lady & other dyuerse poyntes whych were onely taught by Cryste to his apostles and by them fo●th to the chyrche / and so by tradycyon of the chyrche bysyde the scrypture and wythout wrytynge , taught and delyuered vnto chrysten peple from age to age / and so the faythe and bylyefe of those thynges kep● and contynued fro thapo●●les dayes vnto our owne tyme . And that yf the chyrche were nothynge boun●en to byleue , but onely the thynges playnly wryten in scrypture / than had all folke b●fo●● Moyses dayes bene lefte at lyberty● to leue all goddes wordes vnbyleued . And than had Crystes chyrch in the begynnyng ben at libertye to leue a great parte of Crystes own wordes vnbyleued . For the chyrche was gathered and the faythe byleued , before any parte of the newe testament was put in wrytynge . And whyche wrytyng was or is the trew scrypture , neyther Luther nor Tindale knoweth but by the credence that they gyue to the chyrche .

And therfore syth the word of god is as stronge vnwryten as wryten , and whyche is hys worde wryten Tyndale can not tell but by the chyrch , whyche hath by the assystence of the spyryte of god therin the gyfte of dyscrecy on to knowe it / and syth that that gyfte is gyuen ( as saynt Austayn sayth and ●uther hym selfe confesseth ) to thys comon knowen catholyke chyrch : why shold not Luther and Tyndale as well byleue the chyrch , in that it telleth theym , thys thynge dyd Cryste and hys apostles saye , as they muste byleue the chyrche ( or ellys byleue nothynge ) in that it telleth them thys thynge dyd Crystes euangelystes and apostles wryte .

Now good readers , Tyndale seyng how sore thys reason of the kynges hyghnes doth towch and ●urne vp the very fundacyon & great parte of hys heresyes : he doth in his boke agaynste me , of whyche booke he maketh the tytle , whych is the chyrch and whether it may erre or not , putte thys chapy●er , Whether the chyrch were before the gospell , or the gospell before the chyrche . whyche chapyter to th ende ye the more clerely perceyue the mater , I shall reherse you hole / & after that some parte of myne answere therto . And than yf ye rede agayn the wor●es of thys sermon that I haue here inserted byfore / euery chylde almoste shall be well able to iudge , whyther thys preacher haue in hys sermon auoyded well myne answer● or no. These are Tyndals wo●des .

●●●ther d●ute there is , whether the chyrch or 〈◊〉 be before the gospe●l or the gospell before the chyrche . Whyche que●●yon is as harde to solue , as whether the father be elder then the sonne , or the sonne elder then his father . For the hole scryptu●e and all beleuynge he●tes tes●yfye ▪ that we are begoten thorowe the worde . ●herfore yf the worde begette the congregacyon , & he that begetteth is before hym that is begoten / then is the gospe●● be●ore the chyrche . Paule also Romano .ix. sayth , Howe shall they call on whom they byleue not ? And how shall they byleue wythout a preacher ?

That is , Chryste must fyrst be preached 〈◊〉 men can byleue in hym . And then yt foloweth , that the worde of the preacher must be before the sayth of the byleuer .

And therfore in as myche as the worde is before the fayth , and fayth maketh the congregacyon / therfore is the worde or gospell before the congregacyon .

And agayne , as the ayre is darke of yt selfe , & receyueth all her lyght of the ●o●● euen so are all mens hertes of themself darke wyth lyes and receyue all theyr trenth of goddes word , in that they consent therto .

And moreouer as the darke ayre gyueth the sonne no lyght / but contrarye wyse the lyght of the sonne in respecte of the ayre is of it self , and lyghteneth the ayre , and purgeth yt from darkenesse : euen so the lyeng herte of man can geue the word of god no tre●th / but contrary wise the treuth of goddes word is of her selfe and lyghtneth the hertes of the byleuers , and maketh them trew / and clenseth them from lyes / as thou redest Ioh●● .xv. ye be clene by reason of the worde . Whyche is to be vnderstande , in that the worde hadde pu●ged theyr hertes from lyes , from false opinyons and from thynkynge euyll good , and ther●ore from consentynge to synne . And Iohn . xvi● . Sanctyfy them o ●ather ●horow thy treuthe . And thy worde y●●●euth . And thus thou seeft that goddes trouth dependeth not of man . It is not trew because man so sayth or admytteth yt for trew . But man is trew bycause he beleueth yt , te●●●fyeth , & g●ueth wytnesse in his herte that yt is trew . And Chryste also sayth hym selfe Ioh● .v. I rec●yue no witnesse of man . For yf the multytude of mannys wytnesse myght make ought trew , then were the doctryne of Mahemete trewer then Chrystes .

Lo good reders , here haue ye herde Tyndals chapyter / the mater wherof the bretherne boste that the wordes of that sermon do so well and substancyally mayntayne , agaynste mine answere made vnto this chapyter .

But nowe to th entent ye may your self iudge , whyther the sermon may bere out theyr ●oste or not / I shall reherse you some parte of myne answere . Lo thus begynneth myne answere vnto Tindals chapyter .

Lo he that redeth thy● and hereth not thansw●r● / except hym self be well typed in the mater / may wene that Tyndale in these wordes had quit hym selfe syke a man / & borne me ouer quyte / he solueth the obieccyon so playnely / & playeth therwyth so pleasauntly . But now when ye sha●● vnderstand that neuer man wa● so madde to make thys obieccyon to Tyndale but hym selfe / then shall ye laugh● to se that ●e wreste●eth all alone and gyueth hym selfe a fall / and in his mery solucyon mocketh also no man but hym self .

I sayed in my dyasoge that the chyrch was before the gospell was writen / and that the fayth was taughte , and men were baptysed , & masses sayd & the other sacramentes my nystred amonge cristen people before any parte of the newe testament was putte in wrytyng / and that thys was done by the worde of god vnwryten . And I sayd also there / & yet saye here agayne / that the ryghte fayth whyche Adam had and suche as in the same fayth succeded hym long ere wrytyng began , was taught by the word of god vnwryten / and so went from man to man fro the father to the sonne by mouth . And I sayd that thys word of god vnwryten / is of as greate authoryte as is the worde of god wryten .

I shewed also that the chirch of Cryste hath ben / is / & eu●r shall be / taughte & instructed by god and hys holy spyryte with his holy word of eyther hynde / that is to wytte bothe wyth hys worde wryten and hys worde vnwryten / & that they whyche wyll not byleue goddes worde but yf he putte it in wrytynge / be as playne infydeles as they that wyll not byleue it wryten / syth goddes worde taketh hys authoryte of god that speketh it / & not of man that wryteth it .

And th●re is lyke suerty and lyke certayne knowledge of the worde of god vnwryten as there is of the word of god writen / syth ye know neyther the tone nor the tother to be the worde of god , but by the tradycyon of the chyrche .

whyche chyrche as all crysten m●n byleue / & the scrypture shew●th / and saynt Austayne declar●th / and Luther hym selfe confesseth / & the deuyll hym selfe sayth not naye / the ble●sed spyryte of god hath inwardly ta●ght/tea●heth / and ●uer shall teache / to knowe / iudge and dyscerne the worde of god from the word of man and shall kepe the chyrch from errour / ledynge it into euery trouth / as Crys●e sayth hym selfe in the .xvi. chapyt●r of saynt Iohans gospell . which he dyd not yf he suffered the chyrche to b● dampnably deceyued in takynge the worde of man for the worde of god / wherby it sholde in stede of seruyce to be done to god / fall in vnfaythfulnesse / and wyth idolatry do seruyce to the deuyll .

And therfore I shewed in my sayed dyaloge / and yet the kynges hyghnes myche more playnely shewed in hys most erudyte famouse booke agaynst Luther out of whych I toke it : that the worde of god vnwryten is of as greate authoryte / as certayn / and as sure / as ys hys worde wryten in the scryp●ure . which poynt is so faste and sure pytched vpon the rocke● our sauyour Cryst hym selfe that neyther Luther , Tindale , nor ●uskyn , nor all the hell houndes that the deuyll hath in his kenell / neuer hytherto could nor whyle god lyueth in heu●n & the deuyll lyeth in hell neuer hereafter shall ( barke they / baw●e they neuer so fast ) be able to wreste it out .

And that they be all as I tell you so feble in this poynt wherupon th effect of all theyr hole heresyes hangeth ( for but yf they veynquyshe this one poynt / all theyr heresyes fully be burned vp and fall as flatte to asshen as it were allmoyse all obstynate heretykes dyd ) ye maye se a clere proue by these wordes of Tyndale / whych he hath set so gloriously forth in the fore fronte of hys batayle / as thoughe they were able to wynne the hole felde . For where as I sayed that the gospell and the worde of god vnwrytten was before the chyrch / & by it was the chirch begon gathered and toughte / and that the chyrche was byfore that the gospell that now is wryten w●● wryten / that is to wy●●e byfore any parte of the gospell was wryten / for as for all the hole gospell that is to wyt all the wordes of god that he wolde haue knowen byleued and kepte / was yet neuer wryten : thys beynge the thyng that I sayd Tyndale w●th all the helpe he hath had of all the heretykes in A●mayne thys two or thre yere to gyther is yet in suche d●spa●re to be able to matche therewyth , that he ys wyth shame inough fayne to forgette that I sayd the chyrche was before the gospell wryten . whyche thynge hym selfe can not denye , & is fayne to frame the doute and make the obieccyon / as thoughe I had sayd that the chyrche had ben before the gospel and the word of god vnwriten / wherof hym selfe knoweth well that I sayd clene the contrary And therfore good reders hauynge thys thynge in your remembraunce : take nowe the ●ayne to rede Tyndal● wordes agayne and ye shall haue a pleasure to se how fondely ●e 〈◊〉 afore you . For now hys crafte open●d and decla●ed vnto you● ye shall per●●●ue that he playeth nothing ●●ene but fa●eth 〈…〉 that conuayeth hys galles so craftely that al the table spy●th them .

Lo good readers , here haue I nowe rehersed you but a pyece of myne answere vnto that chapyter of Tyndale / & yet by this one pyece alone may ye clerely perceyue , that all those wordes of that sermon go so farre wyde fro the ●oynt , that they not onely do nothynge helpe Tyndale ( for all the labour that they take aboute yt ) but also the preacher of them taketh a fowler faller than Tyndale / in that the preacher stumbleth at the same stocke , and falleth into the same puddell that Tyndale dyd , and that after that he was warned by myne answere made to Tindale afore .

For this here ye se , that this preacher in the fyrst part of his wordes , toucheth not the mater / but lytle and lytle he descendeth therto by the expownynge of these wordes of saynt Iames , voluntarie enim ge●uit nos verbo ver●●atis / that ys in englyshe , He hath wyllyngly begoten vs by the worde of trewth .

●ow be yt the peacher englysheth it thus , 〈…〉 whyche wordes after that he hath expowned after dyuerse maners , he cometh at laste to that exposycyon , by whych he expowneth those wordes in this wyse , that god hath wyllyngly by his worde made vs the 〈◊〉 of ●rewth and of 〈◊〉 . And after a thynge or two noted & marked therin , whyche I shall happely make you to marke well & s● somwhat more therin hereafter , then the preacher sheweth you there / he cometh to the poynt wyth whych we be now in hand and therin thus he begynneth . 〈…〉 .

But now do you good readers clerely perceyue and se , that this precher sayth wrong . For while they against whom he preacheth , that is to wytte , they that say the chyrche was byfore the gospel writen , do both m●ane and playnely , wryte that the chyrche was not by●●●● 〈…〉 that the he 〈…〉 wolde make men 〈◊〉 , that goddes word were of none authorite nor worthy to be byleued , but yf yt were wryten in the bokes : nowe I 〈◊〉 that syth ye knowe good ●●aders , that they agaynste whom this preacher thus precheth , do meane , and say , and wryte , as ye nowe se they do / ye can not but clerely perceyue and se , that this precher doth in this poynte but laboure to blynde his audience , & meteth nothynge wyth the mater ▪

For now this thyng hadde in mynde and consydered / all his reason after , whych he taketh oute of Tyndales chapyter , wa●eth euyn dede for colde .

For what he●e or what one sparke of life after this thyng consydered , haue all his wordes that folow , wherin he sayth .

It is playne ynough that the chyrche was not before the worde / for faynt Iames sayth that god begate vs thorough the word of his trouth . If we were begoten by the worde , then nedes must the worde be before we were goten / or elles howe 〈◊〉 we be begoten by the word / and by the worde he sayth we were begoten . If god be ga●e vs thorow the word / we mu●t nedes graunte that he that begate vs was before that we were begoten / and he that begate vs ▪ begate vs by the worde / then nedes muste the worde be before that we we●● 〈◊〉 . Nowe then yf this worde were bef●●e we were begoten / howe can we say that the chyrche was before thys worde .

If we meane by the chyrch , the chyrch of ●yme & stone ▪ then yt is playne ynough that the word 〈◊〉 before any such chyrch was made . For we fynde that yt was many a daye after man was made , or euer there were any suche chyrches made . If ye meane by the chyrche , the vnyuersall chyrche of god , the whych is the congregacyon of all chrysten peple . If you mean this chyrche , and saye howe this chyrche was before the worde : then ●aint Iames maketh you an answere to that , say●nge how that by the worde this chyrche was begoten . Then nedes muste we graunte that the worde of god w●s before any chyrche was .

Al this chyldesh reason ye wote well , whyche Tyndale hath begoten hym , and whyche he bryngeth out of Tyndales chapyter , and fathereth yt vppon saynt Iames , be yt neuer so quicke in another mater , is yet in this as touchyng them agaynst whome he preacheth yt , clene quayled in the trauayle , and vtterly borne dede / whyle they agaynste whome he preacheth , saye not precysely that the chyrch was before the gospell , nor byfore goddes worde , but onely saye that the chyrche was byfore the gospell and goddes word was put in wrytynge .

And that his reason is dede , as I say yt is / hym selfe that preached yt perceyueth / and therfore he goth farther and draweth nerer to the mater , and sayth .

ye but some wyll not be content wyth this answere , but they wyll saye that the chyrche was before that this worde was wryten of any man , and yt was admytred and alowed by the chyrch , and so was the chyrche before his worde , ye but yet I wyll say to you agayne , how that this word was writen before the chyrch was / y● and yt wa● not wryten by men , but yt was wryten by god our sauyour afore the begynnynge of the worlde / a● wytnesse saynt Pon●e ▪ where he sayth to the Hebrewes , Dabo leges mea● &c. I wyl geu● my law● sayth god into theyr hertes , & in theyr mynde●●●all I wryte yt . Behold● how god gaue yt them at the begynnyng in theyr herte● , and wryt yt in theyr myndes , and they exercyses his lawe wryten in theyr hertes in dede and in effecte .

Thus may ye se that at the begynnyng● god wrote his lawes in theyr hertes , and therfore m●ste we nedes graunte that the worde of god was taught to them longe or euer the congregacyon taught yt . For you se that by the word we were begoten / therfore the worde must nedes be before we were begoten / or elles how coulde the worde beget● v● .

By these wordes good readers ye se , that hym selfe perceyueth that all his other wordes were not wurth a ryshe , bycause they came not nere the purpose , nor any thyng towcheth them agaynst whom he precheth them . And therfore seynge that Tyndale is by myne answere therin proued a fole / he goth as ye se ferther than Tindale went . But ther in the nerer he cometh to the poynte , the more he proueth hym selfe to go the ferther from reason . For what reason hath he that in arguyng agaynst other , sayth but the same that they say ?

Now all that euer he sayth in these wordes , saye we against whom he precheth them .

And we not onely saye the thynges that he sayth nowe , that is to wytte that goddys worde was ere euer it was wryten , and that it was wryten in hartes ere euer it was wryten in bokes / but these be also the thynges that we specially lay agaynst him , whose sayd chapyter thys preacher wolde wyth these wordes defende . For syth the gospell o● Cryste and the wordes of god that are now wryten in bokes , were all wryten in hartes byfore they were wryten in bokes , and yet were at that time of the same strength and authoryte that they be now / we saye to Luther and Tyndale & all such oher heretikes , that they say false in that they preche & teche , that men are bounden to byleue nothyng but if it be wryten in bokes / syth god is at his liberty to geue his word in to hys chyrch euen yet at thys daye , by hys owne mouthe , thorow th inspyracyon of hys holy spyryte sent therunto , & by hym selfe abydynge euer therin / & at the prechyng of the chyrch , wryte it in the hertes of the herers , as well & as surely as euer he gaue hys word to his chyrche by hys apostles , and wrote it in the peoples hartes at theyr prechynge , at suche tyme as it was yet vnwryten in any of th apostles bokes .

And ouer this , we tell them that the same chyrch , by onely which chyrch they now know whyche bookes be those tha● haue the word of god in them that the apostles and euange tystes haue wryten / the same chyrche I say doth tell them , that the wordes of god which god wyll haue vs byleue , be not all wryten in those bokes but some parte styll remayne onely writen in hartes , as before the bookes wryten they dyd all to gyther . And we tell them that Tyndale muste as well byleue the chyrche in tellynge hym whyche be those wordes of god that yet remayne vnwryten , as he doth & must byleue it in tellyng hym whyche be those bokes , in whyche the wordes of god are wryten .

And therfore good reders what thynges in thys worlde coulde thys precher haue deuysed worse to brynge forth agaynst me for Tyndals defence , than those wyth whych as ye se Tyndale is most cle●ely confounded .

But nowe shall ye se , that this precher perceyueth it wel inough hym selfe . And therfore after that he hathe sette forth Tyndals reason , & dyssymuled myne answere that I haue made to it / and so before hys audyence wrestled a whyle in the darke , where for lacke of syghte of the mater they myghte se how he fell : he waxed yet halfe wery therof at last , and somwhat ashamed to , leste he were peraduenture spyed / & fayne wolde he therfore haue shaken of the mater , & rydde him self out honestly / and therfore in conclusyon he cometh downe to thys .

Some peraduenture wyll say , that the chyrche was before this worde was wryten in bokes of paper and parchement and suche other thynges , and that the chyrch dyd admit them to be rede of them , which they thought necessary to loke on theym . They wyll saye that the chyrche wa● before this was done ▪ ye but what thyng 〈◊〉 this to the purpose , or what shall we nede ●o stand arguynge of this mater .

It is playne ynough to all men that hath eyes to se & eares to heare , how the word of god was before any chyrch was , & how the word of god was writen afore yt was wryten in any bokes or tabuls / and therfore what shall we nede to dyspute thys mater . But good forde , yf yt had not ben wryten by the euāgelysles in those days , how shold we do in these dayes , the whiche brynge forth the scrypture for theym in dede / and yet they wyll bere theym in hand that yt is no scrypture , and yf yt had not ben wryten in bokes then . Not wyth standyng ye may perceyue how the word was or euer the chyrche was , & the worde begate vs and not we the worde / and also yt was wryten or euer the chyrche alowed yt to be wryten .

Here haue ye sene good readers after longe wrestelynge wyth me , what shyft this precher maketh to shake the mater of . For seynge that he can in no wyse defende Tyndalys reason , he wold at laste fayne shake of the questyon . And in dede the questyon as Tyndale frameth it of hys own fasshyon for hys owne aduauntage , is very fryuolouse and folysshe . And therfore thys preacher goth ( as I say ) somwhat ferther and cometh nerer to the poynt , in whyche the mater of the questyon lyeth . But than bycause he can not defende Tyndale and auoyde myne answere , after the tyme dreuyn forth in forneshynge of Tyndals reason / whan he cometh to the poynte he leueth myne answere vntouched , & wolde shake of the question for nought

But that thyng now good readers wyll not well be for hym . For the necessyte of this questyon you se now your self . For syth Luther , and Tyndale , and other suche heretykes , do teache that no worde of god is now to be byleued , nor to be taken for goddes worde by the teachyng of the catholyke chyrche , but yf it be wryten in scripture : they droue vs of necessyte to tell theym agayne , that the chyrche was before the scrypture , & before that any of goddes wordes were wryten therin / and that all hys wordes that he wyll haue byleued , were neuer writen / and that he is not so tong tayed , but that he is at lybertye to speke yet mo wordes whan he wyl , and may bynde vs as well to byleue them , as euer he bounde vs to byleue any worde that euer he spake before be it vnwryten or wryten . And that in all such thinges Luther & Tyndale both , and frere Barns to , & all the heretykes of them , muste ( as I sayd ) of reason byleue the chyrch as well whan it telleth theym , these thynges Cryste hath by hys owne spyryte or by the mouth of hys apostles taught vs , as whan it telleth them these thinges hath Crist by the penne of hys apostles wryten vs . Now is thys knot so sure , that it can neuer be losed , but yf these heretykes or thys precher for them , can by playne scrypture proue vs that god hath caused al such thinges to be wryten in scrypture all redy / and ouer that made a promyse , eyther that he wyl neuer speke any suche worde more , or that yf he do , he wyll at the leste wyse take no dyspleasure wyth vs , though we tell hym playnely that syth it is not in scrypture all redy , he shall wryte it in yf he wyll , or els wyll we not byleue hym .