SIRS , that which I intend at this time to offer vnto you , it may be , would be better accepted if it were tendred vnto you by another hand : howbeit I dare boldly affirme , that neuer any spake vnto you , that was either more voide of hatred , of more desirous of your good and saluation . The word of God , whereupon we ground our Religion , commandeth vs to loue those that hate vs ; and to beleeue that those which haue persecuted vs , haue thought that in so doing they haue done God good seruice . Euery man that seeketh the truth , ought to be thus affected , without which it is impossible to reape any fruite by our communication : for no wound will euer be healed , as long as the inflammation continues . And as in an house that burneth , those that speake are not vnderstood , by reason of the noise and cries of those that gather about it : so we shall neuer vnderstand one the other , as long as our minds are inflamed with hatred and rancour . The studie of sacred truth requireth a peaceable spirit , which deliberately weigheth things , without carping at the persons . For what reason haue we to hate any man because he erreth , or because we thinke we see clearer then he doth ? Now as blind men commonly are mutinous and cholericke , so those men are most violent that haue least vnderstanding : so that he that will take vpon him to remedy this ignorance , must seeke to pacifie their rage . But there is no hope of remedy in him who studieth to be ignorant , and feareth to know the will of God , lest he should be obliged to follow it . Such is the malady of this age , wherein the people make profession to follow without knowledge ; and to beleeue the Church , not knowing what the Church ought to beleeue : and rely vpon the faith of another , not knowing the rule of faith , which is the word of God . As if those that are our pastors and guides , ought to be our warrant before the iugdement seate of God ; or as if it were a vertue to beleeue in God by an atturney . It is true , that the people ought to obey their guides ( prouided God be their guide , ) and to beleeue that which they teach , ( so that which they teach be drawne from the word of God : ) which if they hide from the people , and hinder them from the reading thereof , it is an euident signe either that they feele themselues culpable ; or that in stead of submitting themselues vnto this rule , they would haue their authority to be the supreme rule . For why should the word of God contained in the holy Scriptures , be suspected by vs to be a dangerous booke ? Index librorum prohibitorum cum regulis confectis per patres à Tridentina Synodo delectos . Regula 4. Cum experimento manifestum sit , si sacra Biblia vulgari lingua passim sine discrimine permittantur , plus inde ob hominum temeritatem detrimenti quàm vtilitatis oriri : Qui absque tali fatultate ea legere seu habère praesumpserit , nisi prius Biblijs ordinario reddi●is , peccatorum absolutionem percipere non possit . Where you must note , that there it is spoken of Bibles translated by Catholicke Romane authors . Why should children be forbidden to looke into their fathers testament ? Saint Paul the Apostle wrote his Epistles to the people of Rome , Corinth , and Ephesus , that they might reade them : why then should Christians in these dayes be depriued of the reading of them ? The Catholicke Epistles of Saint Iames , Saint Peter , and Saint Iohn , are written to all the faithfull in generall : why then should not Christian people reade those letters that are expresly addressed vnto them , and written for their instructions ? Why should not a Christian reade the writings of the Prophets , as well as they of Beroea did , Act. 17.11 . who hauing bin at Saint Pauls preaching , went and conferred his doctrine with the Scriptures ? To what end is it , in our Sermons to alledge the places of the holy Scriptures , if the auditory be not permitted to examine whether they haue bin faithfully and truly alledged ? It is a most horrible thing , that in those countries where the Inquisition reigneth , it should be a crime deseruing burning , to haue a Bible in the vulgar tongue ; and in the meane time not onely the reading of friuolous fables is tollerated , but whoredome also by the law and publicke authoritie is established and permitted . And if it be the translation that displeaseth his Holinesse , at least he ought to take order that there should be one done according to his mind . To alledge that some men abuse the reading thereof , is as much as to accuse the Apostles of want of discretion , for hauing written their Epistles to Christian people , without foreseeing that they might abuse them . By the same reason also , preaching likewise should be prohibited , because men abuse it . We also abuse the bountie and goodnesse of God . And if we must haue speciall leaue to reade the holy Scriptures , is it not a miserable case , that we may not obey God without licence ? and that God can haue no seruants without the Pope of Romes permission ? If they say , that it is not conuenient nor fit that ignorant people should reade them ; I answer , that all men are ignorant in religion before they haue read them ; and that , without impietie , a man cannot haue knowledge in religion without the Scriptures . Therefore let me intreate you to shake off this scrupulositie , whereby God is wronged , as if his word were contagious , and a net spread abroad to intangle the consciences of weake Christians ; lest that prophecie be accomplished in you which is pronounced by the Prophet Esay , saying , Esa . 5.13 . Therefore my people are gone into captiuitie because they haue no knowledge ; and that saying of our Sauiour Christ , Ye are deceiued , Math . 22.19 . not knowing the Scriptures . Suffer not this precious treasure , nor this contract of our spirituall mariage with the Sonne of God , to be pulled out of your hands . Suspect those who during the night of ignorance , hide this celestiall light , and in the meane time light and set vp candles at noone day . Neuer hope to be saued by the faith of other men , for God saith , Habac . 2.4 . that The iust shall liue by his faith ; and that If the blind leade the blind , Math . 15.14 . both shall fall into the ditch . Now to make you know , that the Scripture is taken away from you , not to keepe you within the bounds of sobrietie , but to detaine you in ignorance , consider that in the Church of Rome they reade certaine Chapters of the holy Scriptures openly vnto you in a language which you vnderstand not . If in those Chapters men spake vnto God , it might for an excuse be alledged , that God vnderstandeth all languages : but those Chapters are diuine instructions , wherein God speaketh vnto men . Tell me in conscience , why should God be , as it were , a barbarian vnto vs , speaking vnto vs in an vnknowne tongue ? Why doth he speake vnto men , but because he would haue them to vnderstand him ? Why are those things ( which otherwise would be held to be ridiculous , and contrary to common sense ) in religion esteemed to be good and conuenient ? Is it not rather an intention of the enemy of our saluation , by that meanes to expose Christianitie to an open scorne , and to hinder the word of God from being vnderstood by vs ? to the end also that the threatning pronounced by God vnto those people with whom he is angry , might be accomplished , saying , 1. Cor . 14.21 . By men of other languages will I speake vnto this people , and yet will they not heare me . This mischiefe hath produced another ; for that by taking the holy Scriptures from you , which is the booke that maketh men wise , they haue giuen you images , which are termed the books of the ignorant , because by them ignorance is maintained . By them the people is amused , in stead of being taught the truth . In stead of instruction , they giue them recreation . But because the second commandement of the law of God is against it , which concerning the seruice of God , forbiddeth vs to make any grauen images , & to worship or fall downe before any thing that is in heauen aboue , or in the earth beneath : and that this law pronounced with thunder and lightening , thundereth yet against this superstition : these Doctors haue imposed silence to the law of God , and haue bene so bold as to race this commandement out of the Houres of the virgin Mary and Seruice bookes which they giue you leaue to reade : which makes vs wholly to suspect them . And it is a thing hardly to be thought or beleeued , that poore little wormes of the earth dare be so bold , as to correct that law which God pronounced with his owne mouth : yea the same law , whereby at the latter day they shall be iudged . For these practises the holy and sacred name of the Church serueth for a couer . They say , that the Church cannot erre : that she is the soueraigne Iudge of the points and doubts of faith : and that she is an infallible interpreter of the Scriptures . By which Church they vnderstand neither the Grecian , Syrian , nor African , ( although much ancienter and purer then the Romane , ) but onely the Romane Church : which hauing neuer bene other then a particular Church , is said to be the vniuersall Church ; and by this meanes the Church of Rome is become a iudge in her owne cause . The Greek Church ( much ancienter then the Romane ) complaineth that the Church of Rome hath reuolted and separated it selfe from her , producing against her , her chaires , her succession , and her antiquitie . In this controuersie , the Church of Rome boasteth to be Iudge , and so will be both Iudge and partie . And in the question , whether the Church of Rome cannot erre , she her selfe will be Iudge : and which is more , when question is made to decide what the dutie of the Church is , the Church of Rome will be the soueraigne Iudge , that she may haue no other law then that which she will establish , and which she propoundeth to her selfe . And when any argument is moued concerning the sense and interpretation of the Law of God , she saith she is the infallible interpreter thereof , and will haue her interpretations to be held to be of equall authority with the Law of God . And yet it is certaine , that at the latter day she shall be iudged by that Law . There is no absurditie more palpable , then to make sinfull men infallible iudges of the sence of that law by which their sins ought to be iudged . What obedience , thinke you , is the soueraigne Maister of all creatures to expect , if his seruants might presume to say vnto him , It is true that thou hast commanded vs to obserue such a law , but we interprete the same otherwise , and iudge that thy commandement ought thus to be vnderstood ; and thou knowest that we are infallible iudges in such matters , and that our interpretations are of equall authoritie with thy commandement . After this maner it were better to be a seruant then a maister . By which of these two wayes , think you , ought the Prelates of the Church to be iudged at the latter day ? whether by the law of God , or by their owne interpretations ? Herein I make all men iudges , that haue any sparke of common sense , or any free iudgement without preiudicate opinion in them ; whether in religion , God gouerning and teaching the Church by his word , or the Church which ought to receiue this word and yeeld obedience vnto him , ought rather to be soueraigne Iudge ? And which should rather be Iudge , either the Scripture that commands that there shall be a Church , and propounds and prescribes lawes thereunto ; or the Church which onely testifieth the same to be the Scripture ? specially seeing that this testimonie may be giuen by a corrupt and disobedient Church to the Scripture ? Which shall rather be Iudge , the Scripture that is one , and which iudgeth without passion ; or the Church which is deuided into diuers contrary Churches , which cannot be assembled together , and whereof the Pastors are subiect to be ambitious , and addicted to couetousnes , and that ought to be suspected Iudges , when they onely seeke their owne profite and authoritie .

Here I can easily , as it were with a finger , point out and shew vnto you , that you are led and guided in a way wherein it is impossible for you to be saued . For you are taught simply to beleeue in the Church of Rome , and without other enquiry , wholly to depend vpon the authoritie thereof . And yet neuerthelesse , you are depriued of all meanes whereby to know and find out , whether this Church wherein you beleeue is pure , and teacheth true doctrine . For how should you know it ? is it by the holy Scriptures ? But that booke you are not permitted to reade . At Rome and in Spaine , to reade it is burning . Wil you know it by antiquitie ? But they are Greeke and Latin bookes , which the people vnderstand not . What knowes an artificer , a woman , or labourer among you , whether his Church teacheth truly according to the Scriptures ? or whether his Church was the same that it is now , twelue or fifteene hundred yeares past ? or whether in a great role of Popes set downe in a paper , the first of them beleeued as the latter do ; and whether time hath wrought no alteration therein ? To be short , you haue no other proofe for the puritie of your Church , but onely the testimonie of your Church it selfe , the Prelates whereof boast and brag that they cannot erre . In the meane time they bereaue you of all meanes of discerning error from truth , by hiding from you the rule of truth , which is the holy Scriptures . But why should the Church of Rome rather haue this perfection , then the Greeke or Syrian Churches ( farre ancienter and purer then the Church of Rome ) founded by Iesus Christ himselfe and by his Apostles , and which also affirme that they haue Saint Peters chaire ? Doth the Scripture attribute any prerogatiue aboue others to the Romane Church ? or doth it giue her the priuiledge not to erre ? From all this there followeth two things that are as cleare as the Sunne at noone day ; the one , that your faith is onely grounded vpon the authoritie of men ; and by consequence , that your religion is humane , and not diuine . Whosoeuer saith , I beleeue the Gospell and the word of God , because the Church commandeth it , giueth more credite to the Church then to God . To doubt of Gods truth , is a lesse crime then to make it to depend vpon men . The other , that of all humane testimonies you ground vpon the worst & most vncertaine : for you beleeue that your Church is good , because she saith so , and make her Iudge in her owne cause : not once considering , that by this word Church , you vnderstand not the Christian people , nor all Pastors in generall , but the Pope and a few Prelats , whose rules are called the Rules of the Church ; although they tend wholly to the profite of the Clergie , and to aduance the Empire of the Bishop of Rome . And will you alwayes hold your soules , by God created according to his image , and which he hath redeemed by the bloud of his Sonne , in this miserable captiuitie ? Will you draw and heape the wrath and indignation of God vpon your heads , by reiecting the saluation which is offered vnto you ?

I confesse that the Church of Rome in certaine points alledgeth the Scriptures ; and that betweene vs and her there is great contention touching the interpretation thereof : but we vse the Scriptures in other manner then those that teach you .

1. For they prohibite the people to reade them , and we exhort them thereunto .

2. They perswade you that the Scriptures are obscure and ambiguous : but we say , that all things necessary to saluation are therein contained , and may be from thence clearely deduced .

3. They say , that the Scriptures are an imperfect rule , and will haue another vnwritten rule , and traditions of the Church , which they equall in authoritie with the Scriptures . We on the contrary say , that the holy Scriptures are able to make vs wise vnto saluation : 2. Tim . 3.15 . 1. Cor . 4.6 . and that we ought not to presume aboue that which is written : and that in those things which are cleare and manifest in the Scriptures , and need no interpretation , all doctrines necessary to saluation are contained .

4. Also when we alledge the Scriptures , we alledge them as the soueraigne Iudge , and as that which gouerneth the Church , and giues her her authoritie . But the Church of Rome alledgeth the Scriptures as a doctrine authorised by the Church , and saith , that we must receiue them because the Church hath so ordained it .

5. And when we interpret the Scriptures , we giue not our interpretations for lawes , as the Church of Rome doth , neither do we make our selues iudges and infallible interpreters of the holy Scriptures .

6. Lastly , when we interpret the Scriptures , we draw our interpretations from the Scriptures themselues . But the Church of Rome drawes her interpretations from the vnwritten word and traditions . He tooke bread & gaue it , Do this in remembrance of me . As for example , we expound these words , This is my bodie , by these words , The bread which I giue you , is the commemoration of my bodie ; which exposition is found in the text it selfe , touching the institution of the Sacrament : or by these words of the Apostle , 1. Cor . 10.16 . The bread which we breake , is it not the communion of the bodie of Christ ? But your Doctors do not interpret the Scriptures so : for they draw their interpretations from the vnwritten word , and from Traditions . When the Lord said to Peter , I haue prayed that thy faith may not faile : they say that by those words the vertue not to erre was promised to Saint Peter , and to the Popes of Rome his successors . But the Scripture speaketh not of Popes , nor of Bishops of Rome , nor giueth any successor to Saint Peter in his Apostolicall place . In like sort there is mention in Malachi of a pure oblation that should be offered in all places . Mala . 1.11 . This oblation , according to the interpretations of the Romish Doctors , is the Masse , wherein they say , that the body of our Lord is really sacrificed . But this interpretation is taken out of the vnwritten word : for the holy Scripture speaketh not of the Masse , neither commandeth vs to sacrifice the body of Iesus Christ ; nor establisheth Priests in the Church to sacrifice the Sonne of God . And so when the Scripture saith , Thou shalt worship one onely God , and him onely shalt thou serue : the Romish Doctors interpret it , that God onely forbiddeth the adoration of Latria , but not of Dulia , which is an inferiour religious seruice . But the Scriptures make no mention of the adoration of Dulia , nor of any other religious seruice , but onely of that which is due vnto God . These are interpretations which the Romish Church drawes from the vnwritten word , which is referred to the discretion of the Church of Rome , and cannot be learned but from her mouth . For I am of opinion , that neuer any man saw all the doctrines of the vnwritten word drawne into one bodie , because that word altereth and changeth with times and seasons , and is accommodated to the times , and that still the Church of Rome hath power to adde new articles therunto , and namely touching the points of faith .

The greatest mischiefe is , that these traditions and doctrines of the vnwritten word , are not onely additions to the Scriptures , but manifest contradictions : whereof the Masse onely sheweth many examples .

1. Bellar . in Bark cap . 3. Non recte de Ecclesia Christi sentit , qui nihil admittit , nisi quod expresse in veteri Ecclesia sumptum aut factum esse legit : quasi Ecclesia posterioris temporis aut defierit esse Ecclesia , aut facultatem non habeat explicandi , & declarandi , constituendi , etiam & iubendi quae ad fidem & mores Christianorum pertinent . For Iesus Christ administring the Sacrament of the Eucharist , spake in a tongue vnderstood by the assistants : but the Priest in the Masse speakes in a tongue not vnderstood by the people .

2. Iesus Christ communicated to all the assistants : but the Priest oftentimes eateth and drinketh alone .

3. Iesus Christ giueth the cup to all men , and will haue all to drinke thereof : but the Priest drinkes alone , and denieth the cup to the people .

4. Iesus Christ offered nothing to God : but the Priest in the Masse prayeth God to accept his oblation of Christ .

5. Iesus Christ lifted vp no hoast : but the Priest lifteth vp an hoast to be adored .

6. In the institution of the holy Sacrament , there is no mention made of a sacrifice , nor to sacrifice the bodie of Iesus Christ : on the contrary , the Priest pretendeth to sacrifice the body of Iesus Christ in a reall and propitiatory sacrifice for the quicke and the dead .

7. In the institution of this Sacrament , there is no adoration of the hoast , but all the Apostles sate at the table : on the contrary , the Priest causeth the hoast to be adored . He that at this day should do as the Apostles did , should be held and esteemed to be prophane and an hereticke . Oramus te Domine per merita Sanctorum quorum reliquiae hic sunt & omnium Sanctorum , vt indulgere digneris omnia peccata mea .

8. There was no reliques hidden vnder the Lords table , nor bones of any of the Patriarkes or Prophets : on the contrary , vnder the stones of the altar there are bones of the dead , without which reliques an altar cannot be consecrated ; and the Priest in the Masse asketh mercie and forgiuenesse of his sinnes for the merites of the Saints , whose bones are hidden vnder the altar .

9. The Gospell witnesseth , that Iesus Christ giuing bread vnto his disciples , said , it was his body : on the contrary , the Priest saith , that the bread is not the body of Iesus Christ , but that the bread is transsubstantiated into the body of Iesus Christ .

11. Iesus Christ witnesseth , that it was the fruite of the vine which he dranke : but the Priest denieth that it is the fruite of the vine .

11. Iesus Christ will haue vs to do it in remembrance of him : but the Priest pretendeth to make Christ himselfe .

12. Saint Paul in foure places saith , that we breake and eate bread : on the contrary , the Priest maintaineth that we neither breake nor eate bread .

13. The Lord instituted a Sacrament , but the Priest celebrateth a sacrifice . In a word , the one celebrated the holy Supper , the other singeth Masse , expresly made to disfigure the holy Supper of the Lord .

The Romish Doctors thinke to defend their cause by vsing a childish accusation or obiection against vs , saying , that seeing we will needs follow our Lord Iesus Christ , we ought to celebrate the holy Sacrament after supper , in a high chamber , and admit no women vnto it . But neither the place , nor the houre , nor the sexes of the assistants , are of the essence or any part of the action ; and without them the action is still entire : and therein Iesus Christ neither prescribed any rule , nor made any prohibition . But the change and alteration which we obiect against them , is in essentiall things , and such as change the nature of the action : seeing that thereby an adoration is induced , which was neuer commanded , nor yet practised by the Apostles : a sacrifice established which the Lord did not appoint : a superstition touching dead mens bones authorized : a common repast changed into a priuate Masse : and the people depriued of the vnderstanding of the ordinary Seruice ; taught to take God in their hands , to eate their Creator , to adore the Creature , and are depriued of halfe the Sacrament ( that is , of the cup ) whereof Christ said , Drinke ye all of this ; 1. Cor . 11.8 . Let a man examine him selfe , and so eate of this bread and drinke of this cup . as the Apostle also commandeth the people of Corinth to take the cup as well as the bread . Wherein we propound a way and meanes for vs to agree one with another , which cannot be refused but by him that loueth discord , that hath no Christian bloud in him , or that striueth against God . For euery Christian confesseth , that Iesus Christ did well , and that there is no exception to be taken against his institution . And although it were lawfull to celebrate the Supper in other manner then he did it , yet all men grant , that it should not be ill done to follow his example , to speake as he spake , and to do as he did . This is it that we require . And it is certaine , that the Pope might end all the controuersies growne and raised vpon this point , which trouble and make a diuision in Christendome , if he would reduce the holy Supper into the forme wherein the Lord did celebrate it ; laying aside all disputations , and bind the people to the example of the Sonne of God . What discommodities or inconueniences soeuer might be alledged to the contrary , they cannot equalize nor counterballance the obedience that we owe vnto Iesus Christ , the peace of Christendome , nor the revnion of this rupture and separation of the people , which hath bin the cause of so many troubles , and hath shed so much bloud , and which openeth the sides of the Church of Rome , as well as it doth ours , exposing the same to the violence of Turkes and Infidels .

All indifferent persons will easily confesse and acknowledge that this is truth ; but fearing that your consciences should be touched therewith , they vse an artificiall meanes to represent our religion vnto you in other maner then it is , and paint it out before you like a terrible monster , making vs to speake and teach those things which are altogether contrary to our beleefe and confession : and withall , diuers of you are so light of credit , and so easily caried away , that you rather desire to learne and vnderstand what our religion is by the inuectiues of our enemies , then by our owne confession . And although we haue protested , that we beleeue nothing of all that which they impose vpon vs , yet they will constantly perswade vs , that we beleeue that which we beleue not . Wherein against their wils they iustifie vs. For thereby they secretly confesse , that our religion being truly set downe , cannot be repressed : and that if it were liuely described , it would at the first make a strong impression in the spirits and hearts of the auditors , by the euidence of the truth thereof . They say ,

1. That our religion teacheth , that good works are not necessary .

2. That the elect may commit sinne , and liue wickedly without danger .

3. That God rewardeth not good workes .

4. That God constraineth our wils , and forcibly draweth them to goodnesse .

5. That we accuse and blame God to be vniust , as hauing propounded a law vnto vs , which we cannot fulfil .

6. That we are enemies to the Saints and to the virgin Marie .