BEing minded ( Christian Reader ) to publish in Print my Recantation made at Paules crosse , I thought it conuenient to make thee priuie what occasions mooued me heereunto . First therefore know that the request of a worshipful frend of mine , and his reason for the same alleged were principall and chiefe motiues in this matter : his manifolde good turnes on the one side did so greatly binde me , that by denying his reasonable and godly demand , I should haue spotted and defiled my selfe with the ignominious , vnnatural , & beastly staine of ingratitude which I haue alwayes in all men discommended and hated , and in my selfe ( to the vttermost of my power ) shunned and auoided : on the other side , his reason proposed did , as it were , command me for my countries good , to bring to publike view my weake and vndeseruing labors . His reason was , that as I had , in alienating the faithfull children from the obedience of their naturall mother , bin a publike hurt ( the scar whereof would long be a blemish in that faire spouse the Church of Christ ) so I might hereby vse a publike meanes , both to heale the wound , and also ( if it were possible ) to take away the scarre . His demand seeming euery way both reasonable , necessary , & not to be denied , I condiscended : considering also with my selfe , that as I had done great hurt in the church of God , so I was in conscience bound to make her all the satisfaction for the same that I could . To these motiues I added further certein considerations of mine owne , why it was necessary that the thing should be printed : which were these . First , that I might shew a reason for the satisfying of euery man , why I did omit some things which were thought necessary by diuers to haue bene spoken of , as Transubstantiation , Indulgences , Seruice in an vnknowen tongue , & such like : whom I desire to remaine satisfied with this answere . My purpose & meaning was not at that time to discourse of controuersies , or particularly one by one to confute euery error , for that ( as euery wise man knoweth ) had bene impossible for me as then to haue performed : for euery error and controuersie doth minister sufficient matter for a whole , yea , for many sermons , but my comming thither was to no other purpose , but to confesse & acknowledge my fault , and generally to renounce and abiure all those false opinions which I once held . Neither do I think it greatly necessary to make any supply in this Preface of those supposed wants which before I mentioned : onely I desire thee ( gentle Reader ) to haue this opinion of me , that , although I haue but spoken of a few particulars , yet that ( according to my protestation made ) I haue a generall , and faithfull detestation of all the rest , as my future life and labours ( by Gods grace ) shall sufficiently witnesse . Wherefore rest not discontented or vnsatisfied in any thing , but if haply thou be driuen to any doubt through the malicious suggestion of the Deuill , or thine owne infirmitie and weakenesse , know that in such cases thou art bound both in religious charitie and Christian duetie to reforme and remooue such corrupt & vncharitable opinions against thine euen Christian , or at the least suspend thy iudgement in what matter soeuer that is not too openly manifest & apparent . Carie not a suspicious & doubtfull iudgement of the trueth and sinceritie of my soule , for feare of iudging thine owne soule . In quo enim iudicio iudicaueritis , Mat. 7. iudicabimini : & , In qua mensura mensi fueritis , remetietur vobis . With what iudgement you iudge other men , you shal be iudged : and with what measure you mete , the same shal be measured to you againe . But thinke that I am a Christian as thou art , and haue a care to please God , as haply thou hast , and haue further knowledge in spirituall matters then euery one , to whom the perusing of these presents may come , & therefore do know in more ample sort , that hypocrisie and double dealing with God and his Church is a double wickednesse , at whose girdle there hangeth a fearefull scourge and punishment . Remember that thou art admonished by the the Apostle Saint Paul , Rom. 14. not to iudge another mans seruant for he doth either stand or fall to his master ; that is , to God , before whose tribunall we shall all stand , and giue an account euery one for himselfe : let vs not therefore , sayth he , any more iudge another , but iudge this rather , that no man put a stumbling blocke , or an occasion to fall in his brothers way . My meaning herein thou mayest easily gather , and God grant thou may vse it to the benefite of thine owne soule , and Christes small flocke .

The second cause that mooued me to the publishing heereof , was the good that might hereby grow to those that be but lightly infected with Papistrie , that by my example , seeing my conuersion , and reading my Recantation , they may be mooued to consider , for the safetie of their soules , the great perill and imminent danger wherein they doe continually liue , and so they may call to God for the heauenly vnction of his holy spirit , and the precious gift of his grace , that may cure their wounds , and leade them to the perfect knowledge of his pure trueth . And those that perticularly by my doctrine & example haue erred or doe goe astray , may by these meanes ( which I heartily aske of God for his sonne Iesus Christ his sake ) be reduced againe into the right way : and for mine owne part I shall for euer heereafter haue the testimonie of a better conscience , that I haue not bene negligent herein to performe the duetie of a good Christian , in putting such in minde of their estates , and shewing them the meanes ( the like wherof , if they aske it as they should , God doubtlesse will not denie them ) of my conuersion . If I had contented my selfe with the vttered matter , and not haue proceeded any further to publish the same , the world might haue layed some blame on me , and reprehended me for lighting of a candle , and putting it vnder a bushell , but being put on a candlesticke , and left indifferently to giue light to all , not presently , but for posterity , I shall be , I hope , in this behalfe , free from the calumniation of any .

Consider I pray thee ( deare Christian ) if thou bee a Papist , or any thing addicted that way , that thou canst not imagine any sinister cause for the which I should ( as they say ) haue turned my coat ; the greatest cause of all things which thou canst thinke of , is worldly wealth , which on that side I neuer wanted , nor any thing els that was conuenient either for my pleasures or necessities , and therefore I had no cause for that to forsake them , if I had not bene induced thereto by further considerations & means , than is the regard of worldly commodities : but contrarywise , ( as thou shalt more largely vnderstand in my recantation ) they were the onely things that for a long time withheld me from embracing the pure waters that spring to euerlasting life . But perchance thou wilt say , I hoped for better then I had , beleeue me no , I neither hoped for better , nor haue so good ; notwithstanding ( if I should be driuen to beg my bread ) let all the papists in the world know , that I will not forsake the kingdome of heauen for this worldes good , neither doe I make my bodily life more precious then my soule : for what would it profite me to winne the whole world , and to lose my soule ? or what exchange should I make with God for my soule ? I know they would receiue me againe , if I would like a dog returne yet to my vomite , but farre be that from me : better it were for me neuer to haue bin borne then once to thinke on any such matter , and I hope , God that hath done thus mercifully by me , and delt thus mightily with me , hath not , nor will not bestow his grace in vayne vpon me , but will perfect his worke so effectually begun . The last cause that moued me to publish these presents , was , to assure the aduersaries ( to whose hands I am sure they wil come ) that I neither haue done , nor hereafter wil doe any thing against them of malice , but in all my procedings I haue , & will deale as charitably as I can , not betraying the trueth of God , which I preferre before the estimation of the whole world : neither would I haue any man to think , that I speak as though I did any thing at all relie vpon their good opinions of me , for that I am assured they hate me as the deuil , and will not sticke to employ all the labour they can to deface and discredite both me and my calling . But let them not spare , their enuious carping will demonstrate in them the lying spirite that ouerruleth them , and euery one that is not as blinde as themselues , will soone perceiue their legierdemaine : and although their buzzing will obtaine place in the eares of their complices and fautors , who are alwayes ready to bandie the balls which their leaders tosse , so farre as the slanderous blastes of their wicked mouthes will cary them , yet I hope the force of them ( flie they neuer so stiffely ) shall not bee able to make winke the least child in Gods Church , much lesse ouerthrow him .

Moreouer I doe heartily desire euery Christian reader to weigh with good consideration these presents . Yf thou be already infected with error and blindnesse , pray to God that he will bestow vpon thee the cleare light of his truth : persist not wilfully in wickednes , but take occasion hereby to sift and try the spirit that is aswell in thy selfe as in thy teachers , if thou be ignorant and vnlearned , builde not thy faith vpon the credite and good opinion of other men , say not ( as I know many haue and doe say ) I am not able to render an accompt of this or that thing , but I know it is true , I must beleeue so , because this learned man , or these diuines , and good men beleeue so : aske , them , they are able to giue you an answere both for themselues & me : it is a weake building that hath so shallowe , and vncertaine a foundation , and a simple faith is it that is pinned so slenderly to other mens sleaues : the Apostle Saint Peter biddeth thee to bee able and readie to render an account of thy faith to euery one that shall demand it at thy hands , 1. Pet. 3. I meane not that thou art so exactly bound as he that teacheth both thee and others , but in some good measure according to thy abilitie , and the talent that God hath lent thee , thou art bound to knowe what thou beleeuest , in whom thou beleeuest , & what thou art bound to beleeue . Build not therefore thy faith vpon the faith of other men , for that foundation cannot chuse but faile thee , but erect thy building vpon the immooueable rocke Christ Iesus , of whom the scriptures doe most plentifully beare witnesse . Iohn 5. Art thou learned ? search the scriptures for in them ye thinke to haue eternall life , and they are they that testifie of me , &c. Art thou vnlearned ? goe to thy Pastor , goe to him that hath charge of thy soule , and receiueth instruction from God for thee , The Priestes lippes shall preserue knowledge , & thou shalt seeke the law at his mouth , for he is the messenger of the Lord of hostes . Mal. 2. So thou seest whether thou be learned or vnlearned , thou art without excuse if thou be ignorant in thy duety , because God of his great goodnesse and infinite mercy hath left thee sufficient meanes to come vnto him , for which cause we were all created , I meane truly and duetifully to serue God . God hath created all things both in heauen and earth for the behoofe and benefite of man , but hee hath made man onely for his owne selfe , for his owne seruice , wherein to be negligent and ignorant , is a hie contempt of God , & meere ingratitude for his manifold benefites . If hitherto therefore thou hast beene negligent and blinde , redeeme thy time with thy future diligence . What shall I say ( deare Christian ) but onely this , leaue the muddie and troubled waters , which thou drawest out of the durtie pits of mens imaginations , and returne to pure springs and welles of life , where thou mayest freely without money or danger drinke thy fill , and so satiate thy selfe , that thou shalt neuer thirst againe .

Those whom God hath called in his feare , I doe earnestly wish to bee warie how they walke , and carefull that they be not circumuented by any maner of false prophets : if at any time thou conuerse with them by chance , desire God to giue thee strength and grace not to be tempted , if thou be tempted , that it be not aboue thy strength . Qui stat videat ne cadat , hee that standeth let him take heede hee fall not : for wee carie this treasure that God hath giuen vs in vessels more brittle then glasse : for glasse is not more subiect to breaking , than our bodies ( which ought to be the temples of the holy Ghost ) be subiect to pollution by sinne , and our soules to bee infected with false doctrine , which will seeme in the mouth as pleasant as hony , but in the throate it will bee more bitter then wormewood and gall . It is like a canker which creepeth secretly , and hauing infected is most hardly killed . Wherefore if thou wilt not be bitten with the snake , sleepe not neere the hedge : hee that toucheth pitch , must needes cary away some stayne , and the Mariner that harkeneth to the Syrene shal be in danger of shipwracke : so hee that will curiously talke and hearken to the papistes sweete perswasions , shall scape very hardly , ( such is the outward face & shew thereof ) but he shall be intrapped , ( expertus dico , I haue tried it ) and therfore giue credence to me that knowes more therein then thy selfe , and wish thee so much good as my selfe .

Lastly , I am to giue thee to vnderstand ( good Reader ) that for sundry causes I haue hereunto ioyned my first recantation made also in a publique assembly , where I am to admonish thee not to looke for any expresse methode of my speeches therein , as in this other , for I neuer meant to publish it eyther in print or writing , but was only requested to make knowen to some of my friendes , by way of declaration , what I had done , and nowe it is thought meete to publish it in the same forme together with this : whereby thou mayest consider how willing I am to make such sufficient satisfaction to the Church of God as my abilitie may extend vnto , and how glad I shal be if any one doe take benefite by my labours . And for that I knowe it a thing impossible that any one worke should please euery man , but that there will be some fault found , & either the insufficiency of the man , or the maner of his methode , or the raggednesse of stile , or some such like matter will bee reprehended , because it commeth to the scanning of farre more sufficient persons then the Author himselfe commonly is , ( though one man sometimes is as sufficient as another ) some also are more ignorant , and therefore can not iudge vprightly , and some are curious , and seeke rather a fine and filed phrase , then the sounde substance of the matter , and because they are sicke of the facions , there remaineth a great corruption in their taste , so that nothing will please them bee it neuer so conuenient and fit for them : for my part I regard not the slanders of the enuious , nor the scoffes of the curious , nor the blunt bolts of the foolish , but as in humilitie I vndertooke these labours for the causes aforesayde , so in humilitie I offer them for the benefite of the good and vertuous , without respect of any other gayne but of their good prayers , which if I obtayne , my paynes are requited , and my selfe satisfied . Vale .