Selected quad for the lemma: judgement_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
judgement_n	bring_v	death_n	sin_n	2,245	5	4.6873	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A19367	A supplication exhibited to the most mightie Prince Philip king of Spain &c. VVherin is contained the summe of our Christian religion, for theprofession whereof the Protestants in the lowe Countries of Flaunders, &c. doe suffer persecution, vvyth the meanes to acquiet and appease the troubles in those partes. There is annexed An epistle written to the ministers of Antwerpe, which are called of the confession of Auspurge, concerning the Supper of our sauiour Iesus Christ. VVritten in French and Latine, by Anthonie Corronus of Siuill, professor of Diuinitie.	Corro, Antonio del, 1527-1591.; Corro, Antonio del, 1527-1591. Epistle or godlie admonition, to the pastoures of the Flemish Church in Antwerp. aut	1577 (1577)	STC 5791; ESTC S116690	149,833	422

as they terme them ●ut for other men wonderous necessarie ●or they saluation But some wil men say what shal be●de these of daintie and delicate persons ●hat are soddainly swapte vp with death ●re they can haue these merits of Monks ●applied vnto them and enioye them in ●heir full perfection for it séemeth theyr soules shoulde be in present peril of eternall damnation as who say they may in good time take vp their Inne in Purgatorie whence they maye easyly escape when it shall please the Popes holinesse to open the treasures of Christes bloude and applye vnto them the merrites of Saints and the monkes to commun●●● 〈◊〉 vnto them largely and liberally parte 〈◊〉 their good workes and playe with th● giffe gaffe lyke good fellowes And th● is welnéere the summe of the Popish doctrine concerning satisfaction to pa●● ouer a thousande dreames and blasph●mous lies whyche these men haue de●sed againste the redemption of Christ● perfected moste absolutely by the shedi● of his moste precious bloude Of the satisfaction for sinnes according to the word of God. IF your maiesty most mighty prince haue with any diligēce considered 〈◊〉 obserued that which hath bin said lately before your highnes vnderstandeth right well that there was no mencion made at all of the benefit bestowed by Christ our sauiour wheras the scriptures do minister vs no other comforte to our afflicted consciences than the redemption of oure lord and sauiour Iesus Christ that euerlasting prieste after the order of Melchizedeck whiche offered vp himselfe to the iustice of god a propitiatiō for al the sins 〈◊〉 mankinde the burthen wherof he layd ●d caried vpon his own shoulders as the ●ophet Isay saith therfore gaue vp his ●dy to bée broken to bée sacrifized and ●fered to God his father And to the intent the matter might be ●ade more plaine and euident bycause 〈◊〉 is of so great and singuler commoditie ●e muste repeate a little of that is sayde ●efore concerning the estate of mā in sin ●●oued with repentaunce and sorrow for ●he same For when hée is sommoned to ●ppere before the iudgemēt seat of god ●ath put in baile to answer vnto the law and iustice of god for his forth comming and apperance hath no cloke to couer his sins not so much as a poore fig leafe he is enforced at the lēgth as it were one that were tormēted gréeuously on the rack to cōfesse his manifold and great offēces to acknowledge his nakednesse misery being astonied with the iudgemēt of god not that a man should fall into despayre considering God willeth not the deathe of a synner but hys life and saluation but to the ende only that hée might as● the knowledge of his sinne and transgr●sion bring him vnto repentaunce Then after a mans mynde i● th● prepared the spirite of God beginneth 〈◊〉 to possesse him that he accompteth him 〈◊〉 be wholy his pardoneth all his offences maketh him one of Gods housholde a●● electeth him into the number of hys ch●dren And yet notwithstanding he remoueth not from the eyes of his soule th● liuely Image of God in anger and di●pleasure whose voice and countenaun● was wonte to amaze him and make hi● whole body tremble thereat bycause 〈◊〉 ofte as the minde shal be ouercome with the prouocations and allurementes 〈◊〉 sin the terrible sounde of his thundering voice and the sighte of hys sterne countenaunce shoulde so appall hym that he shoulde shunne and auoyde synne by al●● meanes Agayne the same holy spirite of God to the intent that man should remoue from him and quite abandone all feare doth set as it were before the eies of mā Iesus Christe and him crucified that hée might bée fullye perswaded that all hys sinnes be purged by his death and passion But forasmuche as man being miserable both by his owne nature and by the sense of his sinne and conscience therof doth iudge himselfe to be verye farre from God and can hardly be perswaded that the benefit of Christ doth appertain vnto him therefore the holye ghoste laboureth to perswade him that almightie God is reconciled vnto man and doeth tender hym wyth singular loue and affection and afterwards openeth the eies of man béeyng in thys blindenesse that hée may beholde and sée by faith Christ Iesus the earnest of his saluation last of al breaketh the peruerse frowardnesse and obstinacie of the minde that the same being somewhat instructed and comforted with the hope of Gods promisses maye wholly submitte hys will vnto Christe and imbrace him moste willingly as the onely phisition of al his diseases and maladies And this worke of the holye Ghoste wherby the reason vnderstanding mind and will of man is instructed in true pietie and godlinesse we may well terme by the name of Faith not any weake opinion or vaine imagination of the worde of God but a firme and constant perswasion by the whiche we are assured that we are beloued of god and adopted to be his sonnes and inheritours of his heauenlye kingdome that by the benefite of this latter Adam we may be as it were remitted into oure former estate of oure auncient inheritaunce namely innocen●ie righteousnes and euerlasting felicitie the whiche was loste by the mischeuous acte of the firste Adam the same faith doth teach vs that after we be reconciled and at one with God there is nothing more gréeuous or offensiue vnto God than iniquitie and sinne and that wée bée deliuered from the yoke and bondage of the Deuil onelye vppon condition that wée should thencefoorth leade a godly righteous and sober life The whiche faith being thus planted in mens mindes by the holy spirite is like an instrument or hand wherby wée apprehēd Iesus Christ or as our mouth to receiue and eate Christ that moste swete foode of our soules and whosoeue is endued with this repentance is not now to be ascribed and thought one of olde Adās ofspring but by meanes of this faith is so linked and coupled with Christe that he is reputed and taken as a brother vnto him so that Christe and a Christian man doe make as it were one spirituall body For we may not call it in question but verily beléeue that what Christ praied for vnto his heauenly father in the .17 of Iohn he obtained the same at his hāds But after this greate and nighe affinitie is brought to passe and fast knitte with the bonde of faith and of the holye ghost then doth the heauenly father looke vpon man being otherwise a sinner with the eies of mercie and grace perceyuing man to be clothed and garnished with the moste beutifull and precious garment of Christ that is to saye the innocencie and holines of Christes flesh and taking delight in the moste fragrant smell thereof dothe bothe perfecte his felicitie and rewardeth him with the inheritance of his heauenly kingdome euen as in time past the Patriarche Isaac delt with

God hathe ●●mmaunded vs to doe And to define this corruption in few●●ordes wée muste thus thynke that ●here is no parte in man from heade to ●ote voide of thys execrable wickednesse ●nd detestable waywardenesse and per●ersenesse as the Apostle in the place I ●ited before hath noted wyth greate vn●erstanding quoting togither diuers and ●undrye places of holye scripture verye ●ptlye and wiselye to the same intent Oute of thys fountayne also infynite ●ices issue and spring vppe in the mindes of the elect The infection and contagion wher● the verie best and moste godly men y●● the greatest sainctes them selues ha● sensibly had experience of in themselu●● boyling in the myndes of men yea eu● the moste perfecte that euer haue bée● like a burnyng fyre or a flaming fo●neys And the infection is wroughte them thrée maner of wayes especially First and formoste it stirreth vp certa● inwarde motions affections desires a● cogitations contrarie to the law of G●● though the will in all pointes be not f●ly consenting therevnto then followe● immediatly a great tumulte in the mi●des of the elect so great and so veheme● as cannot be vttered in wordes hauyn● a moste feruente desire to be released 〈◊〉 the length and set at libertie from thi● corruption The whyche motions a●● affections of the mynde the holy script●res doe testifie bothe to be sinnes su●● as prouoke the wrath of god whom w● ought to worship and reuerence with al● our minde wyth al our soule with al● our strength notwythstanding oure doing Doctours to pacifie mens mindes ●nd qualifie their faultes haue coyned ●ertaine distinctions of thrée kindes of ●otions and affectiōs of the mind in the ●●rst second and third degrée as thoughe ●hey myght by this meanes escape the ●udgement of God the horrible threat●ings denounced againste the transgres●ors of the lawe of god Secondarily af●er the same motions doth ensue the con●ent of mans will the mother of concu●iscence and luste equall in nature to the ●ynne itselfe as our Lorde himselfe hath ●aught vs. And yet these false Doctors valewing ●ll thing by their owne weight and mea●ure haue in this behalfe likewise inuen●ed certaine differences of delectations ●n quantitie and measure some to be sin●le some double some long time some ●horte heaping to themselues damnation ●n tyme to come for their wilfull error ●nd ignorance Of Actuall synne as they call it CAste of all after the other two vp● starteth a thirde kinde of sinne nam●ly that beside the motion of the mind a●● the willing inclination of the same is ●ctually committed in déede of which so be worshipping of Idolls blasphemy a●● cursing othes to the dishonor of God a●● prophaning of his moste holye name so persticious adoration and pilgrimages as also the other trespasses committed ●gainste the commaundementes of the s●conde table the whyche bée so grosse a●● palpable that the very heathen philos●phers were moued againste them and a●waies detested them bothe in worde a●● déed yet haue our diuines in this part all founde out a verye fine and a subtill d●stinction betwixte mortall sinnes and v●nial pretending venial syns to be such 〈◊〉 a drop or twoo of holye water the sign● of the Crosse and such other trifling an● ridiculous ceremonies might purge an● clense vs of and by that meanes lulli●● vs a sléepe flatter vs in oure moste gréeuous and horrible synnes wherevppo● haue growen greate and more gréeuous ●ynnes among the Christians than euer ●id in any common wealth that was on●ye gouerned and guided by philosophers ●eing méere pagans and such as had no ●anner of vnderstanding in Gods holy ●isteries In summe the learned sorte and well ●isposed will confesse that the Popish do●toures haue erred moste shamefully in his doctrine touching originall synne of motions of the minde and differences of ●ynnes and haue béene ignoraunt not on●ye of the nature and qualitye thereof ●ut also how miserable effect it wrought ●n vs wherin being both deceyued themselues and leading other into lyke error being the cause of al the infirmities that bée in man whyle they goe aboute to applye remedyes they haue heaped erroure vppon errour as shall bée héereafter declared in his due and conuenient place Of the miraculous meanes that God vsed to repayre the fall of man. OVr Lorde and God like a moste louing and merciful father perceiuing that hys creature and workemanshippe beautified with so manye notable giftes and graces prouoked by the crafte and subtilty of Sathan was voluntarily fallen from him and his commaundement vouchedsafe to open his iustice and mercye towardes vs that as by the one hée might punishe the synne and transgression of mā so by the other heale and close vppe oure woundes againe Wherevpon he putte in execution his eternall counsel to punish the rebelling and disobedient nature of man and his fall from him according to his desert not in the person of him that became so disobedient and shranke from God but in the newe and celestiall Adam whiche might bée a fitte intercessor and mediatour béetwixte all mankinde and God being both God and man For it was requisite and necessary for the reconciling of these twoo togither God and man that the other seconde Adam shuld be true and very perfect man subiect to all infirmities of man yea vnto death it selfe to the ende that he might suffer the paines appointed by the iuste iudgement of God for oure worldly and sinfull fleshe as also that he should be the very true son of God to ouercome death sinne and the worlde treade downe the gates of hell ouerthrow al the kingdome of Sathan and as Paule saith to be giuen vppe for our transgressions and rise againe for our iustification Roman 4. The whiche mercye and abundaunte goodnesse of God was in expresse wordes declared to the firste man when it was tolde hym that the séede of the woman shoulde in time to come breake the heade of the serpente and the same was renued by often promisse made to diuers afterwardes but especiallye to Abraham This celestiall Adam I saye hath bene ●y diuers signes and misteries signified vnto vs of olde that by this means al mē might comfort them selues with a most ●ure and certaine hope and an vndoub●able perswasion of Gods promisses The description of Christe after the Popishe Churche beli●fe ANd thys is oure opinion and beliefe concernyng Christe whereof it is a worlde to consider howe manye infinite questions the Diuines of oure dayes or Sophisters rather to terme them more aptly haue curiously and vainely handled whyche are not onely not profytable for the staying and stablishing of our faith but foolishe and ridiculous and do withholde manye Iewes and other of forren nations from the Christian faith in so muche that a man woulde rather thinke they described some fantasie o● dreame or vision than Christ oure Messias and Sauioure by the wonderfu● power of God sente from aboue W● spend many yeares arguing in schooles in what termes wée muste

of time whether Christe after his resurrection coulde doe any merite to make vs righteous béefore God yea or no whether this word Iustification is to be construed largely or strictely in the fifth to ●he Romaines where the Apostle saith ●hus béeing iustified by fayth wée haue ●eace towardes God throughe our Lord ●esus Christe whether Iustification be 〈◊〉 motion to the atteynment of perfecte ●ighteousnesse or of vnperfect with such ●ther like foolish stuffe wherin they spēd ●heir time idelly vnprofitablye For in ●l this there is not one worde I warrāt ●ou of Christe the sonne of God the true ●nd onely Iustifier of mankinde whose Gospel ought to be spred euery where ●ound in all places but specially in their ●ares whiche are almoste pressed down ●o the grounde with the weight of theyr ●ins and by the law cited and sommoned to appeare before the maiesty of god in his cōsistory seat of iudgemēt For wherto serue al these subtil points quiddities if we be not instructed by what means we may be deliuered frō the tiranny of sin the threatnings of the law the dominion of Sathā the feare of death nor the pit of hell for this I say is the true and sounde doctrine whiche wée oughte bothe to learne oure selues and to teache others Of Iustification according as wee are taught out of the word of God. WHerefore that the matter grow 〈◊〉 more obscure and bée amplified 〈◊〉 arguments lette vs content oure selu● with the simple word of God and them learne the true fruite and profite of th● doctrine rather than vaine ostentation ▪ For Iustification is nothing else but certaine diuine worke whereby God r●ceiueth vs to grace and fauour thoug● we be the ofspring of olde Adam and pa●takers of his corruption and doth frée● make vs his childrē brethrē vnto Chri●● by adoption And wée are not ignorau●● that a man cannot be iustified vnlesse h● bée present in person so that none ma● execute the matter by an atturney or a●signe to receaue righteousnesse in his behalfe Neither doe wée estéeme a man t● be a blocke or a stone senselesse and with out witte or vnderstanding but to bée 〈◊〉 creature endued with with will and reason whereby hée may bée able by knowledge to discerne and haue will to receiu● what soeuer good thing God of hys goodnesse and fatherly kindnesse doth bestow ●●on him And therefore they that in this matter ●nto the question of frée will doe be●●ye their owne vnskilfulnesse séeing 〈◊〉 euerye man knoweth right well in 〈◊〉 own conscience how blinde he is bée●● hée bée engrafted into Christe and ●e wilfull and obstinate in withstan●●●g the will of God till he be reclaimed 〈◊〉 the mercifull goodnesse of oure god 〈◊〉 in this respect we say wée haue great ●●de of the motion of Gods holye spirite open the eies of oure heartes bothe to knowledge oure maladie and to craue 〈◊〉 helpe of the heauenly phisition to mol●ye oure heartes mindes and willes ●at wée myghte imbrace the playster ●ouided for vs by that heauenly phisiti●● to be a perfecte salue for all men The ●hiche worke of the holy ghost we call 〈◊〉 the name of Faith by onely meanes ●d helpe whereof man is engrafted in●● Christe and made partaker of hys ●ghteousnesse and by the benefite there● is prouoked with a frée ready harte wholy to be inflamed wyth the loue 〈◊〉 zeale of god vnderstanding that throu● his grace he hathe obtained that hoe w●vnnethable to doe by his owne nature And then doth almightie god besto● twoo especiall benefits vpon man the 〈◊〉 in assuring him that all his sins are cle●sed with the bloude of his son the other beautifying him with his owne righte●nesse innocēcie The which the Apos● dothe in moste manifest wordes decla● vnto vs and citing the t●stimony of D●uid where he saith Blessed is the 〈◊〉 whose iniquities are remitted and h● sins couered Blessed is the man to who● the Lorde imputeth not his sinne and forth as followeth consequently in t● same psalme 3● The firste sentence may bée resemb● to the common forme vsed of course places of iudgement when as Princ● and Magistrates of their singuler gra● and fauour do pardon persons attaynt● of fellonye The seconde séemeth to bée borow● of the clothyng of a naked bodye in th● cure heauenlye father doth in like sorte ●uer oure filthinesse and abhominati●s with his heauenly innocencie The thirde hathe a kinde of similitude 〈◊〉 likenesse vnto the dealing of credi●●s whyche hauyng bookes of their ac●mptes and the names of their det●rs doe crosse the summe and make it ●●scharged In lyke manner doeth the ●nly Apostle teach vs that the note booke foure sins is to be blotted forth the obli●ation that was to be shewed against vs is ●aced and cācelled by the bloud of Christ ●nto all those that with a liuely faith ac●nowlege so great a benefit with true ●bedience apply our selues to perfourme ●is will. But forasmuche as man throu●he this wonderfull worke of God doth ●onfesse the acknowledging of his synne ●nd his hartie repentaunce and sorowe ●n béeing so bolde and carelesse to of●ende agaynste the Maiestye of God ●othe in worde and déede therefore the ●ate wryters in Diuinitie doe fayne ●hat these workes and thys zeale hathe hys originall of mans industrye wisedome and freewill only by the w●che he receiueth faith as it were by h● owne preparation and so by means th● of maketh himselfe a member of Chri● And bycause wée preache and teache t● people that this agnisyng confessi●● sorowing and repenting of sinne are 〈◊〉 to be estéemed called the works of ma● that they be notwithstanding reputed 〈◊〉 procéede frō the force and power of go● holy spirite who prepareth the hart an● will of man to conceiue them firste an● after to put the same in practise Therfor● doe they lay heresie to our chardge mos● vniustly and impudently as they doe 〈◊〉 vntruly slaundering vs most falsely tha● wee reiecte good workes and moue me● to slouth and contempt of their dutie t●wards god Howbeit your Maiesty 〈◊〉 it please you to enter into your own co●science with the earneste consideratio● hereof may easily be iudge herein wh●ther it be a matter that consisteth in th● fréewill of man to offer hymselfe in th● Courte of almightie God and before hi● Maiestie to confesse hys sinne a thing 〈◊〉 odious and abhominable in the sight of God or to sorrowe hartily for his sinnes and to fal to amendment with due repentaunce or to be vexed and tormented in conscience for the horriblenesse of sinne or to embrace Iesus Christe wyth suche fayth humilitie and reuerence as wée oughte to doe that is to saye as our only sacrifice propitiation of our sins once offred for vs for who so is able to performe the things of what value or estimation so euer they bée him doe I accompt rather lyke vnto God than vnto man. Surely I am of opinion that

answere that there is henceforth 〈◊〉 cause of triall by disputation for asmuch as our religion hath ben long ago ●●ndemned by many generall Councels and by all vniuersities namely and principally at the councell of Constance at which tyme by the sentence and awa● of that Councell Iohn Husse and Hiero● of Prage were burned for maynteyn● that error which Luther of late ren● likewise at the counsell of Trent was ●●thers heresy condemned so that there ●●maineth nothing but present deathe 〈◊〉 them that shal shewe themselues diso●dient to the decrées and determinatio● of councels forasmuche as they are ●●come rebells and haue fallen from t● faith of their holye mother Churche the whiche it is not vnknowen how th● all this their tiranny they shew to war● vs hathe taken hys originall and beg●ning whiche if a man woulde enter m● narrowly into the consideration of a● diligently weighe the words thereof t● shoulde easily perceiue there is no suc● matter of importance why princes shu● not be forwarde and willing to defen● their subiectes from those lyons mouth which beare themselues so bolde boa● of the name of the Churche touchin● the preiudice of the Vniuersities whic● accompte oure doctrine hereticall and so condemne it They do al know rig●t wel and their consciences maye beare them sufficient record that they speak not what they thinke but for feare of punishment or losse of their prefermentes and dignities or confiscation of goods or for shame or losse of lyfe are enforced agaynste their conscience as might appeare most manifestlye in the condemnation of that moste learned and godlye Doctour Iohn Egidio of Arragon chiefe Cannon preacher in the Cathedrall Churche in Siuil where certaine that were iudges and arbritratours in the matter whom the Inquisitours do call Qualifiers of the cause repenting themselues of the iniurie offered to that good and godly man did afterwardes make protestation accordyng to the truth whiche was also the cause that a certayne diuine called Maestro Blanco was burned and Doctour Constantino de la Fuente after he had bin long time tossed to and fro and vexed by the inquisitours and caught a great sicknesse by reason of the continuall filth and stench of hys prison at the lengthe tooke hys death of the same And for the selfe same cause lykewise were Ieronymo de Caro and Luys de Metina bothe Monkes of the order of Sainct Dominick executed wyth dyuers other learned and godlye persons whose names youre Maiestie is right well acquainted withall It may therfore please youre highenesse to consider thus muche that if these men hadde indifferent iustice ministred vnto them and frée pardon of spéeche to speake frankclye what they thoughte they woulde haue spoken most notably in defence of the truth For the diuines and clergie of Spaine had sufficient trial aswell of their excellent learning as of their singuler vertue And here I omitte to speake of the great residue who agréeing in the same profession of faith whiche the Protestantes of Germany doe professe dydde with greate constancye of hearte and stoutnesse of courage ende their miserable life by a far more ioyfull and glorious deathe amiddes the flames of fire And among these diuines there and vniuersitie you shall perhaps fynd some good men and yet some so simple and rude ●diots God wot that they thinke it againste Gods forbod to bée but one dram wiser than their maysters whyche like shepe that followe the belwether depend wholly either of the Deane or rector as they call him of the Vniuiuersitie or of ●he Abbot or prior of the couent or some famous and notable doctour or graduat And who knoweth not that these bée the Popes owne tender dearlings which besturre them on al sides to kepe the coales of Purgatorye alwayes alyue What iudgement then can they gyue on the other side for the other partie whiche acknowledgeth no other Purgatorie than the bloude of Iesus Christe by the whiche all men of all tymes and ages were purged from the filthe of theyr synnes and delyuered from eternall deathe and damnation Concerning the councell of Constāce all the world knoweth of what dispositiō Pope Iohn was and what earnest suters Antipopes against hym for the popedome and what decrées and constitutions were made at the same assembly as also how all they that were at the same counsell wer affected in religion it is euident to all the worlde in that they condēned those men to be burned who laboured earnestly to haue enormities of the churche reformed and came not thither nother of themselues wythout sendyng for but vnder promise of their safeconducte safely to returne again In somuch that that counsell is termed of many men in theyr writings a petie counsell declaring therby that it was not an assēbly of the pastors and ministers of the Gospell for the reformation and amendemente of the decayed estate of the Churche but rather of furious and diuellishe persons to ouerthrowe the poore remanent of the church forasmuche as at the same most troublesome time thrée Popes were at greate variāce and dissention among thē selues proclaymed open warre one agaynste an other were all of them remoued and in their places was Martine the fifte substituted Pope But to speake somewhat in a generalitie concerning counsels it is a playne matter that he that is guiltie will neuer giue sentence against himselfe And therfore the Counsell of Trent whyche was purposely summoned assēbled agaynst them that impugne the authoritie of the Pope maye aptely be resembled to a confederacie of theues and murderers whiche assemble themselues togither in wods and deserte places and there condemne also the inhabitantes bothe of the Town and Countrey aboute them for that they lye in waite for them and séeke to bring them before the Magistrate to examination For what other thing do the Popes in all theyr counsells they call Fyrste and formoste they appoint some strong Citie for the purpose they prouide garrisons of Souldiours to guarde and to defende them from forraine force they banishe al out of that assemblye that would any wayes disagrée from them or if they admitte them it goeth néere to cost them their liues And when they bée met togither and mounted into their seats thence they sende their threates and curses lyke shunder boltes thicke and thréefolde to the greate disturbaunce and anoy of all the world threatning excommunication warre destruction banishemēt murder and lastly fire and fagots But to whom I beséeche you do they send these their fiery dartes Forsooth euen vnto suche a● with hartie sorrowe and griefe doe complaine againste them and accuse them o● moste horrible sacrilege whereby they haue berefte the poore Christian people of their onely health and comforte Christ Iesus for their own commoditie and aduantage that they might with more securitie satisfye theyr filthie mindes with riote ambition and all kinde of abhominable luste Wherefore I referre the matter to your most gracious consideration and iudgement whether anye such● councells

in the duties of loue charitie of one towards an other to the which places al the works studies of the electe and faythfull bée referred and aptely applyed as Paule doth teache Rom. 12. Galath 5. Colos 3. where hée saith If therfore ye be risen againe with Christe séeke after those things whiche be aboue where Christe sitteth at the right hande of God set your affection on thinges aboue not on things on the earthe for you are dead and your life is hid with Christe in God whensoeuer Christ whiche is oure life shall appeare then shall you also appere with him in glory Mortifie therfore your earthly members fornication vncleannesse wantonnesse euil concupiscence and couetousnesse whiche is the worshypping of Images for the which things sake the vengeance of God is come vpon the children of disobediēce In which vices ye also walked sometime when ye liued in them but nowe put ye all wrath enuie malice blasphemie filthy communication out of your mouthlye not one to another after ye haue put of that olde manne and hys workes and putte ouer the newe man whiche is renued into the knowlege according to the Image of him that made him where is neither Iewe nor Grecian circumcision nor vncircumcision Barbarian Scithian bonde nor frée but Christe is all are all put ye on therefore as it becommeth the electe of God holy and beloued bowels of mercie kindenesse humblenesse of minde longsuffering forbearing one another forgiuing one another if any haue a quarell against another euen as Christ hath forgiuē you so also do ye aboue a● things put on loue which is the bōd of perfectnesse let the defēce of god haue victory in your harts to the which we are also called to be one bodye and sée that yée bée thankefull let the worde of Christ dwell in you abundauntly with all wisedome teaching admonishing your own selues with psalmes and himnes and spirituall songs singing and giuing thankes and praises vnto god in your harts whatsoeuer yée shall doe or say do it in the name of the Lorde Iesu giuing thankes vnto God the father throughe him And these saye I are the good workes of the faithfull not the superstitious ceremonies of hypocrites Behold most gracious soueraigne summarily and briefly the righteousnesse of a Christiā man from whom all these controuersies almoste throughout al Christendome haue gone as out of a heade or spring specially in youre maiesties lowe Countries whereby youre highenesse may well perceiue if it maye please you to make comparison of oure doctrine and theyrs that it is no trifle that is in question béetwixte vs neither doe wée contende of pleasure or will in a matter wherein we hazarde bothe life and goods nor it is no small or peltyng quarrell for riches or anye possessions For they that follow thys profession and are zealous in this religion are disinherited of their auntient and rightefull inheritaunces But herein consisteth the knotte of all oure controuersies in that we affirme all our whole studye and endeuoure to tende to this ende that wée might perfectely and absolutelye enioye that moste perfecte and absolute benefit of Christe bestowed vppon vs and wholly possesse and enioy him in such wise as our heauenly father hath giuen him vnto vs and that we shoulde moste diligently and aboue all things take héede that wée be not broughte in opinion to purchase our saluation by golde or siluer by the vaine and superstitious doctrine of men And now I referre it to your Maiesties good iudgement and consideration whether this our most iuste defence and well meaning and our earneste zeale of godlinesse haue deserued thus sundry wayes to be persecuted by imprisonment exile rackes tortures fire and sworde to rid vs out of the waye whiche haue no other care of oure lyues but that wée maye fyrste and principallye gyue God hys due honoure that is to worship hym in spirite and truth and nexte thereto sub●itte themselues with all humilitie vn● your Maiestie be obedient vnto you ●nd doe to your highnesse all loyall and ●utifull seruice with most willing minds ●nd hartie good wil as faithfull subiectes 〈◊〉 their naturall Prince It maye there●ore please your Maiestie of your grati●us goodnesse to consider whether it b●e a matter incident and apperteining to your ●ffice and princely vocation with equitie ●nd fauour to heare and to dete●mine ●his so waightie a matter where●n consisteth the life and safetie of youre Subiects or to permitte them to be taken as it were perforce out of your Maiesties hands and iurisdiction and without declaration of any iust cause to be tormented with all kinde of tortures and exquisite deuises of tirannye whose onely request ●s to haue the controuersie for the waightinesse therof decided by your maiesties determination and defi●●tiue sentence It is writen of Salomon that puisaunt and wise Prince vnto whom manye men resorted out of farre Countries only to sée him for the reporte was made of him the admiration that all men ha● him in for his passing and excellent wisedome when the two poore women wer● in strife for the liue childe to whyche o● them two it shoulde appertaine that h● disdained not to call them before him into his chamber of presence and estate to ende the controuersie by his moste wise 〈◊〉 notable sentence iudgement Whos● example herein ought to be a president● to directe your maiestie in this our case● and to moue your grace to the deuision 〈◊〉 determination of al quarrels controuersies now depending betwixt your maiesties Subiects For as that most wise Kyng did easily discerne betwixte the true mother the false after he vnderstoode that the harlot forced not if the King shoulde award that the liue childe should be deuided into two parts euen so may your maiestie easly perceiue that the church of Rome which falsely challengeth vnto hir selfe the name of the Catholike Churche is not the true mother that bringeth foorth Gods children bycause shée doeth not onely not shewe some louyng affection and pitifull compassion towardes ●hose being not contented notwithstan●ing she make accompte of them as of hir ●un to sée them dailye condemned exe●uted most cruelly but also moueth and stirreth vppe Princes and Potentates ●o practise all tyrannye vppon them ar●eth and entertayneth men of warre to ●estroy them bloweth the coales and kindleth the flame hirselfe lyke a moste cruell stepdame to consume the children that belong not to hir If then the Pope be our holy father if he be the shepheard of Gods flocke why doeth he rather desire to kill them than with moste louing and gentle persuasiō labor to allure them home to the folde of Chr●ste And therefore we make our humble request petition to your maiesty most gratious our most dread soueraigne to imitate this exāple of Salomō to take vpō you the hearing deciding of our cause forasmuch as this mother Churche of Rome or to terme