THe thing that moued me to vndertake , to aunswere this sclaundre ( good frende ) was not . That I either thought or iudged my self so wyse or so learned , as the I could set it forth with such wysdom , or eloquenche : as so good a matter , and trewe cause requyred , or as yf some learned man had vndertaken it : neyther do I write it , to th ende it should be comen and receyued of all men , or haue free accesse into all places : but onelye to you my frend : and to that towne where ye presently habyte ( the place of my birth and educacion . ) As also for the excuse of those good m●r , of that towne , whiche in lyke maner with me haue abandoned & geuen ouer theyr rowmes , which men as in Greke and Latyn auctours they be ignoraunt . By reason whereof , they can not explicate nor make knowen to you , the cause why they haue chosen this paynefull exyle : so they wishe you , and all other honeste men , to know and vnderstand : that neyther lightnesse , rashe wyll , or i●constancie , hath moued them there vnto , ( as some of that towne , vntruely & agaynst theyr owne knowledge doe surmyse & blowe abroa●e . ) But a good zeale grounded vp on Gods trueth , confyrmed by the opinion of all good and godly learned men : and that they might with the more pure conscience serue god in the congregacion of the godly , where Gods moste holy worde and Sacramentes are purely preached and ministred . In the which place as the Prophete Dauid saythe : It is better to dwel in a most poore degree , then to abyde in wealth and prosperous estate , among the wicked . Which mynd and good purpose of theirs , as a iuste excuse to satis●ye the mindes of good and godly men which principally they desyre . They haue earnestly desyred me , to make knowen and to put forth the same in writinge : and to adresse this Apologie to you : Knowig right well , that although for lacke of learninge and wysoom , I shall not be able to satisfye theyr expectacion , or set it forth according to the worthynes of the matter . For that I neuer haunted scoles or anye vniuersities . Nor neuer was brought vp in any other state then with them , as a most poore man and Souldiour , ( simple and vnworthye ) yet because they shall aswell perceyue my good wyll and preste seruyce towardes them , as charitie and our consuete familiaritie woulde , and compelleth me : as also for that my parte is in it participating , the life obloque and sclaundre with them . For that we haue wrought al one lyke facte , and attempted one entrepryse . These thinges wayed and proponed , I haue the more gladly graunted to ful fyll theyr requestes , praying you my frend of charitie to graunt me thus much fauour . That yf I ether shal write or penne any thig the agreeth not with your mind , & the opinion of other men , not to n it at the first sight , because it maketh not for your purpose , but rather confarre it with the scriptures of God , the trew touchstone , which al mens workes ought to be iudged by , & to the which I pray you submit your conscience : & yf ye find that it varie not from the sacred word of god , nor dissent from the mynde of good & godly learned men . Then embrace it as a manifest trueth , desyring god the father of al mercy for his sonnes sake Christ , in the worke of his holi spirite , to make you consent to it . And to testifye our doynges to be lawful and consonante to Gods gospell . Staying your opinion with this our aunswere putting other men to silence by the same .

And now to come to the causes which ye proponed to men in my house , saying : ye were sente from many good honest & godly me , which not a litle merueled , that I had set away into flaunders my wife & children : & much more that I my self was also delibered to folow . Wherin , as ye alledged , they iudged I wrought vnwisely & not according to knowledge , but rather preferred a wil more wilful , than godli wise , knowig aswell my poore estate & litle riches with my great family , as also the inciuil nature of this nacion with finale relief , saying : within a short time begging to ouer take me , for the I nether had arte , faculte , or occupacion to liue by . More the if god should tourne the impietie of this time , I should neuer be able to recouer the like rowme or office , & so al my life wander in misery , which they as my very frendes much lamented , with many other causes by you alledged , thereby to staye my iourneye . Which perswasions as to the fleshe , they semed harde and vneasi to be borne , and tollerated of any worldly man . So I for my parte do moste hartely praise God , whose good worke it was : they not abashed me nor altered my purpose , as ye my frende know right well .

Secondlye ye alledged agaynst me the doynges of other men , which ye named both good honest , and godly : and of an vpright pure conscience , which men obserued the ordre of thys tyme .

Thyrdely ye sayd that yf my conscience were so strayght laced , as that I could not consente , to the putting of my name into the boke among others , you for your parte iudged it no synne , nor felte any repugnaunce of coscience for your so doyng , whérby ye iudged it no offence . And yf it were sinne , as ye sayde ye doubted , yet it was a light synne , and easy to be forgeuen saying : God must remitte greater offences , or els ye should neuer come in heauen .

Well , now my frend accordinge to my conscience & little knowledge , receyued from Gods word : I wyll aunswere youre three causes alledged agaynst me . Prayinge you to accept them in as good parte , as with an vnfayned harte & good mynde I doe adresse them to you .

And as to the fyrste cause which ye preferred to staye my goynge : whereas you & manye good men lamented that misery should oppresse me , and that specially in a straunge land farre from frendes . Where I should be compelled eyther to begge or labor , which I neuer had done nor was brought vp in such extremitie , wherfore they feared I should not be able to endure it . I aunswere them with S. Paul , I haue learned in what estate soeuer I am , there with to be content . I can doe all thinges thorough the helpe of Christ . I also saye with S. Paul , Phil. iiij . Rom. viij shall tribulacion , or anguishe , or persecucion : eyther hunger , or nakednesse : perill , or sworde , separate vs from the loue of God : Timo. vi Mar. viij More the same Apostle sayth : Godlines is great ryches , yf a man be content with that he hath , for we brought nothing into the world , and it is a playne case , that we can carye nothing out . What should it auayle a man to winne the whole world , & lose his owne soule : I most hartely reioyse in god , that I haue not receyued his gospell in vayne . For I had rather with Lazarus enioy a poore estate , Luke . xvi begging my bread in myserye with a quiet conscience : them with dyues to wallow in welth , and for pleasure sake lose the lyfe euerlasting . Christ Iesus the alone Sauiour , Philip. ij . our Lorde & mayster , thought it no robberye , as S. Paule sayth , beyng very God , to take our nature vpon him , and for our sakes to become man in moste lowe degree . Who as a most pure pater●● and godly example for vs to folow , walked in this vale of miserie , in great humilitie and poore estate , saying : the foxes haue holes , Luke . ix & the byrdes of the ayre haue nestes : but the sonne of man hath not a place to put his head in . O my frend these places of Scripture are not written in vayne , but for our learninge : Roma . x● that we through pacience and comforte of the Scripture might haue hope . It is geuen vs as S. Paule sayth : not onely to beleue on Christ : but to suffre for his sake , yf Christ Iesus my Lord and maister walked in such poore estate , Wall I a wretched sinner , beyng but earth & wormes meat , hauig no certentie of my life , Rom. viij ij . Tim. 7. for a litle pleasure in this worlde lose the life euerlasting ▪ God forbid , remembring the yf we wil raigne with Christ , we must suffre with him . Now my frende yf I & other men should doe as you & other do , what nede we to suffre with christ : For yf , when as the gospel by god his special mercy , & auctoritie of the king is set forth , I then embrace it as a truth in those daies there is no cause why I should suffre for the gospel , as in the time of the godly Price king Toward the sixt . Psal. lxvi Gapien . 3 Lcclesi . 2 But when for our vnthankefulnes & wretched liuing , god doth take his gospel away from vs , as it is come to passe in our land at this day , to make trial of his elect according to this saying : As gold is tried in the furneys , so god doth trie his elect , yf I then ( as you & most men doe now i these daies ) dissemble with the trueth , which before I embrased , confirming my selfe to the impiete of this time . There is then no cause why I should suffre with christ , no man wil lay any matter to my charge , yf externally I obserue the law , and then were these wordes of suffring with christ in vayn , & the gospel such a trueth as I liste to make & applie it . Yf I shal perswade my self to please christ , & to be in fauor with God , & yet wil not suffre with christ . My frende in mine opinion it is not in our chose , to take vp christes crosse as we lift , & the way we would : but as god our he auēly father in christ hath destined & appointed vs vnto : wel , let the man be ware which obserueth the ordre of this time , maynteyninge his owne doyng , & condemning other men for not doyng the same , & yet wil say : he is gods seru●●t . Truely I wil not n hi , for God shal be his iudge : But surely I thinke he might aswell saye there were no god , for god is none otherwise knowen & honored of him , but as his fleshly wyll list to knowe & serue him , not captiuating his iudgement to the word of god , by the which word god is truly serued & worshipped & not pleased as we imagine . Mat. xvij We are commaunded to harken to the voyce of christ & to heare him , which sayth : he the wyll be my disciple let him forsake himselfe , & take vp his crosse & folow me . Now yf the man which wil liue ● al securite & pleasure of this life , when God maketh trial of his church , wil nether suffre with him , Mat. xvi . nor take vp his crosse & folow him & yet wil say he hath right in his doyng , surelye this place may be verified of him . Not al they which say , lord , lord shal entre into the kingdom of heauen , Iames .i. Roma . ij . but he the doeth the wil of my father which is in heauen : not the hearers of the law , but the doers shal be iustified . Christ sayth : Zroade is the way that leadeth to destruction , & many go in therat , but narow is the way the ledeth to saluacion , Mat. vij . Luke . xiij & few ther be which find it . Christes flock is b●t a litle flock . The cause my frend , why it is but litle & the narrow way not founde out , is : because the of our nature we are sinful , & delight in the corrupcion thereof , pleasing our selues with corruptible thinges , not delighting in heauenvly misteries , for flesh & bloud is not capable of heauenlye knowledge . Therefore hath God geuen vs ouer to a lewde mynd , perswading oure selues to be in the righte , when as manifestlye we are in the wrong , according to the saying of S. Paul , Roma . i. when as they knewe God & dyd not worship him an god , the lord gaue them ouer to their own lustes And because that when we had the light of Gods Gospel among vs , we embraced not , nor walked in the same . Therefore hath God suffered darkenes & errour to ouerwhelme vs : & yet we wyll saye , we are in the right , & may dissemble for the time , saying : God knoweth our hartes . My frende be not deceyued : God requyreth the whole man withall our powers to serue him according to the fyrst commaundemente , Exod. xx . Mat. xxij . where it is written . Thou shalte loue the Lorde thy God withal thy harte , soule , & mynd , & withall thy powers . How we obserue this precepte when as we prostrate our selues before an Idol partaking with the vngodly : the Lorde at the last day shal reuele & make openly knowen . It is like as yf a maried woman should submit her body to the vse of another man : & when her husbande layeth the offence to her charge , she aunswereth : husband be not angrie for my so doyng , for although I abandoned my body to that mans vse yet I reserued my hart wholy to you . My frend I thinke there is no man , beynge of any godly knowledge , could digest that aunswere of his wyfe , or take it in good parte : but condemning her as an aduoutresse would repudiat and forsake her . And shal we perswade oure selues to please God , Exod. xx . Deut. vi . beyng a ialouse God ( as the scripture calleth him ) who requyreth of vs the whole man to serue him withal : when as we geue the greater parte of his creacion to the seruinge of Idols , saying : God knoweth & hath my harte . Well God deale with vs according to his greate mercy , & geue vs an hart to repent & knowledge our offences , least we perishe in our sinnes : for as God is mercyful , so is he iust . Christ saith : Luk. xiiij Math. x. Luke . ix . he that setteth more by father or mother , wife , children , landes , riches , or coūtryr , then by me , is not mete for me , nor worthye to be my disciple . Reade the whole Chap. in Luke , & examen what the buylding of the towre signifieth . Ye haue heard often taught & preached , that , he the wyl professe the Gospel in tyme of prosperitie should cast accompt with him self , what may happen to him for the same , in the dayes of aduersitie . Or els in vayne hath he begon to buy i de , and shal be called a foolishe buylder . I thinke there be a great many of honest & good men in that towne , which in times past haue bene feruent Gospellers , and yet at this daye loue the trueth , sorowing in their hartes the impiete of this tyme . That yf it were not for feare to lose theyr liuinges , riches , & countrie : & to become poore in a straunge land , would folowe & seke Christ in the wildernes : Apoca. xij searching with paine to seke out the narowe way . But alas so colde is oure loue to Christe , which hath so dearelye bought vs , that we could be content to loue him so that we lose not by him . But these doubtes to tast miserie , poull vs from folowing poore Christ . So frayle is our lyfe , & such a lumpe of synne & corrupte tabernacle , we are wrapped in . That seyng the best waye & knowing the better parte , we can not chuse it , nor walke in the same . I pray God this sentence be not verified vpon vs . Luke . xij He that knoweth his maysters wyll & doeth it not , shal be beaten with many strypes . By many tribulacions must we entre into the Kingdom of heauen . Christ sayth : Luke . ix . he that putteth his hand to the plough , & loketh backe , is not mete for the kingdom of heauen . mat. 24. x. It is not ynough for vs to haue begon in the knowledge of Christ , oneles we perseuer & folowe him to the end . Closing our dayes in his peace , which peace of Christ is better in a beggers bosome , at the howre of death , them a mountayn of gold to a ryche man with a troubled conscience . Christ sayth : my shepe heare my voyce : now my frend , because the voyce of oure shepeherde Christ , Iohn . x. is not to be heard in that towne where ye dwell . Therefore I & other men of that place , haue abandoned our lyuinges & vocacion , to seke oure shepeherd christ that we might heare his voice and participate his sacramentes purely ministred according to his holy worde , & in the place to our great comforte to prayse him : where , to our great consolacion we now remayne . In the which companie how ioyfull it is to be among . The Prophete Dauid describeth in the lxxxiiij Psalm , Psal. 84. which I most hartely requyre you , not onely to reade , but diligentlye to marke & examin , what the Prophete meaneth in the same , & by th●● place to iudge whether we haue righte in our doyuges , or are iustely to be condemned , O my frend in that towne where ye presentely inhabite , the gospel of Iesus Christ hath bene moste plenteously preached & purely taught the space of seuen yeares . Mat. xiij . Mar. iiij . And yf there shoulde no good ground appeare after so much & long sowinge of so good sede , to bring forth encrease of good corne , it mighte well be called a cursed place , & an yll soyle . I saye this my frend , yf al men of that town , which were called gospellers should obserue the ordre of this vnhappye tyme , submitting them selues to this vngodly religion . What a cause of triumphe should the papistes haue to reioyse : perswadig & blowing abrode no trueth or religion to be trew , but onely that which they now teache & set forth , because all men obserue the same . But for because they see a noumbre of good & godly learned men with the losse of their liues , & spilling of their bloud , to testifye it an vntruth . As also a great noumbre of honest men of good conuersacion doe departe theyr countrey , leauing their riches & liuinges : some of them beginneth to doubt , whether his religion be a truth or not . Other which are of the worst sorte of papistes , & that most setteth forth this religion , be ashamed to make greate boaste of their doctrine : for that in the tyme of the gospel , lyke dissemblers & hipocrites , they gaue place to the trueth , and would in no wyse suffre for theyr religion . And nowe they seing men to dye and suffre penurie in a straunge land , it maketh them poul back their to much boasting of their religion , so that by this meanes it appeareth most playne to him that hath but halfe an eye , that the gospel is a moste manifeste trueth and pure religion , in that men suffre for the same , which is promysed to all them , ij . Tim. i● that wyll lyue godly in Christ Iesu . These causes my frend & many other , moued me with other men to vnder take this painful iourney , & greuous exyle . Examen the boke of genesis , & ponder wel the doyng of the old Patriarke Iacob , who forsoke no smale substaunce & riches beside the comodite of his countrey & dwelling place , Gene. 43. onli as the scripture sayth Because of famyne that occupied the soyle and land where he dwelte , and in much payne and great trauayle in his olde dayes with a greate familie drew into Egipte , a people in maners & condicions , not agreeyng with his nature . Yf our father Iacob dyd vndertake this long and painful iourney , to seke meate for the body : considre my frend , how much more we that are called Christians , & which haue professed Christ , ought to seke for the fode of the soule , which is the preaching of Gods holi word & participacion of his holy Sacramentes : by the which we waxe strong in fayth , pacience , & all good workes , Mat. iiij . as Christ our mayster sayth : Man shal not lyue by bread only , but by euery worde the procedeth oute of the mouth of God . Christ commaundeth by Esay the Prophet , Esay . lij . saying to his people : Away , away , get you out from thence , and touche no vncleane thing . Ieremie in another place cryeth , Ierem. li. saying : Flee away from Babilon , euery man saue his lyfe . O my frend do ye thinke that the word of the spirite of God , speaking so earnestly & with such vehemence , by the●●nouthes of those holy men : to commaunde vs to auoyde the company of Idolaters , is written in vayne & to no purpose . Truely in my simple iudgement , & as my conscience testifieth to me ( ruled by Gods holy spirite ) They ar written specially for our dayes , that we shoulde be without al excuse , when as God shal lay & make open euery mans dedes . ij . Cor. vi . S. Paul hath the lyke saying : Come out from amonge them , & separate your selues from them , saith the Lord : reade out the Chap. and note the wordes well . And lette your conscience witnesse with you , who hath the right . It is a thig very difficile to touche pitch , Eccl. xiij . and not to be defyled . I wylknitte vp the first parte of your matter obiected against me with this conclusion . The. viij . Chap. to the Romains , and so consequentely all the whole Scripture through , doth teache these two poinctes . That fyrst , God the father in his free mercy by hy● sonne Christ hath chosen vs , withoute any deseruing on oure partes , accordinge to this sayinge : Those which he appoynted before , them also he called : & which he called , them also he iustified : which he iustified , them also he glorifyed . Secondly , he dyd it to this ende : that as the scripture sayth : they might be made like to the Image of his sonne , in suffring with him . Now my frend , yf we wil pers●ade our selfes , to be chosen in Christ : and wyl not suffre with him , and yet thinke to raygne with him . I pray God we beguyle not our selues .

To come to the second part , In that ye layd agaynste me the doynges of other men , which being both good and godlye obserued the order of this tyme . Laying to my charge , why I shoulde be more precyse and scrupule of conscience , then other men they beyng godly .

To that sayinge I aunswere . The doynges of men , is no presidente for a Christen man to folowe , how good soeuer they be called , onles they dyrecte theyr wayes , according to Gods holy worde . Howbeit folowing the counsayle of S. Paule . I wyll reporte well of them , as Christen charitie , woulde to iudge the beste in hid thinges . Therfore for that I can not know with what mynd they do it , I muste folow the admonicion of the Apostle , to thinke wel of them . Onely this I know , & am not ignoraunte of , & by experience do proue & taste in my fraile life and corrupt nature ( which is altogether sinneful ) that terrour of lawes maketh vs to stoupe and decline to thinges , sinning agaynst knowledge , for the preseruacion of this vncertayne life , & keping of our goodes . O that we would remembre this saying : i. Petri. i. All fleshe is as grasse , & all the glorie of man is as the flowre of grasse , which sentence wel wayed would kepe vs from dissembling in that thing whereof our conscience accuseth vs : & to the which my harte in no wise can agree to consent . Mat. xvi . Christ sayeth : who soeuer shal lose his life for my fake , shal find it . More I am a ialous God , Exod. xx . that cannot suffre my honour to be geuen to any other , nor no part therof . The Lord in these wordes doeth accommodate him selfe to vs , as oure weake nature can know him . Our fleshe is in no one cause so sone moued or prouoked to wrath , as in that fighte that may styrre vs to ialowsye , which offence we can almost by no intercession or sute skantly remitte or pardon . And God which seeth al our doynges , & before whose presece al thiges are open , beholdeth howe we dissemble with hys loue makinge familiar frendship & league with his enemies . Wel these wordes I am a ialous god , require in vs an vpright pure , vndefiled couersacion , lest by our dissimulacion we prouoke the lord to anger . i. Petri. i. O my frend the god which in hys mercy hath so dearely bought vs ( not with corruptible gold or syluer , but with his moste holy & precious harte bloud , requyreth of vs our whole man , with mind & conuersacion to serue him , ●ccording to this saying : ●e holy , Leuit. xix i. Petri. 1. ij . Cori. vi for I am ho●● : be not partakers with the vngodly : for what ●ncorde hath Christ with Belial 〈◊〉 or howe a●reeth darkenes with light : Now thy frende ●amen these wordes well , & iudge whether it ●e the acte or parte of him , that would ●e repu●d & taken for a perfect Christen man , to com●unicáte & be partaker with ydolaters , and to ●●ire his ●a●●e into the boke among them , to ye●reat sclaundre of Gods Gospell . In that the ●apistes may triumphe , that all me ( and speci●lly such as were called Feruent gospellers ) do ●mbrace and folow the order of this vnhappy ●yme : whereby they boas●● & glorie their reli●ion to be most trew . On the other part , consy●●e how ye wound & offende the conscience of ●our weake brother , not yet growen to ful per●ection of knowledge , who hath his eyes open ●pon you , who seyng you to do the same , thin●eth it a lawful acte , & so ye are the cause of his ●all . S. Paul sayth : when ye sinne agaynst the ●rethren , & wounde their weake conscience , i. Cor. viij ye finne agaynst Christ . Reade the Chapt. yf S. ●aul had that mynde in lawfull thinges : that ●ather then he would offend the conscience of ●is weake brother , he woulde neuer ●ate fleshe while he liued , how much more my frend ought ●e to haue a conscience to offend your brother , ●n an vnlawefull thinge : We be to him sayeth ●hrist : that offendeth one of these little ones . It were better for him to haue a mylstone tied ●t his necke , & so cast into the sea . Luk. xvij . Cal to youre remembraunce , & digest well the worthy commendacion geuen to Elea●a● in Gods boke called the Bible . That were as his frendes moue with peuishe pitie ( hauinge no taste of an vp right conscience ) perswaded him for the sau● garde of his lyfe to eate swynes fleshe , 2. Mac. 6 whic● in no wise he would do , for that it was again● the law● of God , & his conscience . And wh●● his frendes perceyned that for no perswasio● he would not eate it , they earnestly oportun●● and counsayled him to make a countenaunce , a● though he had eaten some , which dissimulaci● Elēazar knowing it to be against Gods wo●● aswel fearing the yll president & example , th● might grow thereof to other men : beyng yo● weake , and vnperfect in Gods worde , as al● remembring his honorable lyfe , good conue● sacion & old age , would in no case make coun● nannce to eate , nor vse any such dissimulacio● but rather presar●ed to dye , than he would co● terfect suche hypoc●isie . Loke & reade the ter● calling for wysoo & knowledge to God . Co●ming to the boke with a pure my●de , & ye sha●● easely perceaue , whether the obseruers of th● tyme walke in that puritie of lyfe , whiche 〈◊〉 ch●fely requyr●d in him , that in time past ha●● bene called a gospeller . There is another no● and lesson in Eleagar to be marked ▪ that wh●● his frendes pa●aiued the constancie and pu●● mynde of him that he would in no case consen● to theyr perswasions & counsayl : they conu●●ted theyr amytis ▪ & frandyship into malice . S●● yf that El●●●ar had consented to that unpiet● they had had a goodly close to maynteyne a● coloure theyr between to be good , with thy saying : Lo , such a man doth dissemble , who ●oth good & learned : and so they woulde haue ●ustifyed theyr doynges to be lawefull by hy● example : which Elear●r ●ercey●ing , constant●y to the death , withstode that coloured conscience , and vnpure mynde of theyrs . My frende I wryte this because some men of that towne wyll reporte euyll of me and other men which ●e gone awaye , not for that they can laye anye wictednesse or vngodlye conuersacion to oure charge ( God be glorified therefore , ) but only of an yll mynd : because we wyl not consente to ●heyr doynges , and ioyne with them in obser●inge the ordre of this religion . Well , let them ●ay what they lift . 〈…〉 God from whom no secrete ●s hyd , & which knoweth the hartes of al men , ●an iudge with what conscience we haue abandoned our vocacions , & countrey : & howe glad we would be to haue theyr good wyl & commen●acion , doyng also as they d● , so we knew and were assured to please god . But thus much for ●n aunswere to the second poyn● : I woulde yf 〈◊〉 pleased God , I had sufficient learning and ●ype knowledge in his holy word , 〈…〉 by the same ●o argue their ●oynges . But this much I write and thinke , that yf they be good men fearinge God , and of a good conscience , as ye saye they ●e , which obserue the ordre of this ty●e , ( and ●rnely I thinke they be so a greate noumbre of ●hem , ) then I say they haue a pricke of conscience , which ●estifyeth to them , theyr doynges ●o be vnlawfull . And which before God with ●eares and sorowe of harte they doe dewayle , 〈…〉 ●ot standinge in defence of theyr doynges , as ●e my frende doe , which in my 〈…〉 d●●th agrauate ▪ the offence before God 〈◊〉 man .

To aunswere the thyrde poynte , in that y● make it so facill and light , beleuing it to be no● sinne , saying ▪ The Lorde must remitte greate● offences . Well , I pray God ye presume not to● much in his mercy , for he is not mercy full , bu● to them that repent , theyr wickedues . I coul● somewhat more by the scriptures dilate & approue the same , as vnlearned as I a●●but the●● fewe leaues areynoughe , to hym that hath 〈◊〉 good conscience ▪ The Byble sayeth there is 〈◊〉 waye which semeth right vnto a man , but th● ende of it leadeth to destruction . Deu. 5.12 Ye shall not 〈…〉 euery one of you , the se●eth right in your owne eyes , but that which ●●gumaund you , sayeth● the Lord : because thy sy●●e is forgeuen thee● Be no● therfore without●●are , Ecclesi . v neyther heap●● one synne vpon another . And saye not : tu●●e the mercye of the Lorde is great : he shall for● geue me my sinnes , be they neuer so many . Fo● lyke as he is merciful , so goeth wrath from hyn● also , Esaye . v. & his indignacion cometh down vpon syn●ne●s . Wo be to them , that call euyll good , and good euyll , which make , darkenes light , & ligh● darkenes : that make sowre s●●ete , and swet●● sowre . Now my frend , yf ye may doe the which ye commit without offence , them ye haue scriptur● to assure & warrant youre d●ynge . Or els you nor no mā●ls , ( be he neuer so wel learned ) ca●● defend the same , but to be sinnefull . For sain●● Paul● say●●h : Roma . 14 Whatsoeuer is not of faith , tha● same is synne . Reade the. x● . and .xix. Psalm o● Dauid , iudge your selfe by them . And wher● 〈…〉 be●wene sinnes of 〈…〉 the 〈…〉 . Kem●●●b●● , 〈…〉 ●sau sought 〈…〉 ●eares , and found it not : Iusti●●● . 〈…〉 , least ye prouoke the Lord . 〈…〉 . Lu. xviij . The Publican confessinge his fawte 〈…〉 : but the Pharise , iustifying him 〈…〉 ▪ was condemned . The Prophete Dauid 〈…〉 ●salmes desy●eth God to par●●● 〈…〉 of those which fall of frayltie , 〈…〉 for vengeaunce , to fal vpon 〈…〉 ●●folde , which synne of obstina 〈…〉 I pray ▪ God the father of al mercy , & Lord 〈…〉 consolacion for his mercy sake in the bloud 〈…〉 his sonne Christ , to make you withal them , 〈…〉 in this tyme of imp●ete fall through frail 〈…〉 and for feare ●f lawes in the noumbre of 〈…〉 man , which ▪ 〈◊〉 xxxij . Psalm speaketh of . 〈…〉 thus an end● ▪ according to my one talente 〈…〉 Fare well in the Lorde Ies● withall 〈…〉 that vnfay●edlye call vpon the name of 〈…〉 Lorde .

And thus my frende I ende this 〈…〉 & ●●ple wryting , praying●●●●not to 〈…〉 with the same . And yf ye 〈…〉 in it , whiche agreeth not with youre ●●●nion , and wherein ye thinke I erre & straye 〈…〉 the scriptures , aduertyse me ●●nd I shall ●●●ste gladly reuoke and recante the same . But 〈…〉 fynd that it agreewith the word of God , 〈…〉 I pray you c●ase to saye or thinke our do 〈…〉 to be yll , beyng a 〈◊〉 & aduocate for 〈…〉 to all good men : which through ignoraunce 〈…〉 all sinesterly reporte of our goynge awaye . 〈…〉 quiet my conscience ; , and assure my 〈…〉 then the sclaundērous 〈…〉 table 〈…〉