The vvhole workes of W. Tyndall, Iohn Frith, and Doct. Barnes, three worthy martyrs, and principall teachers of this Churche of England collected and compiled in one tome togither, beyng before scattered, [and] now in print here exhibited to the Church. To the prayse of God, and profite of all good Christian readers.

¶ Whether the Church were before the Gospell or the Gos∣pell before the Church.

AN other doubt there is, whether the Church or congregatiō be be∣fore * 1.1 the Gospell or the Gospell before the Church. Which question is as hard to solue, as whether the father be elder then the sonne or the sonne elder then his father. For the whole Scripture and all beleuing hartes testifie that we are begotten through the word. Wher∣fore if the word beget the congregatiō, & he that begetteth is before hym that is begotten, then is the Gospell before the Church. Paul also Rom. ix. sayth, how shall they call on him whom they * 1.2 beleue not? And how shall they beleue without a preacher? That is, Christ must first be preached yer men can be∣leue in him. And then it foloweth, that the word of the preacher must be be∣fore the fayth of the beleuer. And ther∣fore * 1.3 in as much as the word is before the faith, and faith maketh the congre∣gation, therfore is the word or Gospell before the congregation. And agayne as the ayre is darke of it selfe & recea∣ueth all her light of the sonne: euen so are all mens hartes of thēselues darke with lyes and receaue all their truth of Gods word, in that they consent ther∣to. And moreouer as the darke ayre ge¦ueth the sonne no light, but contrary∣wise the light of the sonne in respect of the ayre is of it selfe and lighteneth the ayre & purgeth it from darkenesse: euē so the lying hart of man can geue the word of God no truth, but contrary wise the truth of Gods word is of her self, and lighteneth the harts of the be∣leuers and maketh them true, and clen¦seth them from lyes, as thou readest Iohn. xv. ye be cleane by reason of the * 1.4 word. Which is to be vnderstand, in that the word had purged their harces from lyes, from false opinions & from thinking euill good, and therfore from consentyng to sinne. And Iohn. xvij. * 1.5 sanctifie them O father thorough thy truth. And thy woorde is truth. And thus thou seest that Gods truth depen¦deth not of man. It is not true because man so sayth or admitteth it for true: But man is true because he beleueth it, testifieth and geueth witnesse in hys hart that it is true. And Christ also sayth him selfe Iohn. v. I receaue no witnesse of mā. For if the multitude of * 1.6 mās witnesse might make ought true, then were the doctrine of Mahomete truer then Christes.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The chuch be∣fore y^• gos∣pell, or the Gospell be∣fore the church.
• * 1.2

  Rom. 9.
• * 1.3

  The word which is y^• Gospell was before the church.
• * 1.4

  Ioh. 15.
• * 1.5

  Ioh. 17.
• * 1.6

  Note w••ll thys.