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.

The third Chapter.

IN the third Chapter he bryngeth in miracles done at S. Steues tombe. I aunswere that the miracles done at Saintes tombes, were done for the same purpose that the miracles which they dyd when they were aliue, were done: euen to prouoke vnto the faith of their doctrine, and not to trust in the place or in bones or in the Saint. As Paul sent his napkē to heale the sicke, not that mē should put trust in his nap kin, but beieue his preachyng.

And in the old Testament Eliseus healed Naaman the heathen mā in the water of Iordayne, not to put trust in the water or to pray in that place, but to wonder at the power of God & to come & beleue as he also did. And that his bones, when he was dead, raysed vp a dead man, was not done that mē shuld pray to him: for y^• was not law∣full the, by their own doctrme, neither to put theyr trust in hys bones. For God to anoyde all such Idolatrie, had poluted all dead bones, so that whoso∣euer touched a dead bone, was vn∣cleane and all that came in his compa∣ny, vntil he had washed him selfe: in so much that if a place were abused with offering vnto Idoles, there was no better remedie then to scatter dead bones there, to driue the people thēce, for beyng defiled and poluted. But his boues did that miracle, to testifie that

he was a true Prophet & to moue men vnto the fayth of his doctrine.

And euen so miracles done at the holy crosse, were done, to moue men vnto fayth of him that dyed thereon, & not that we shuld beleue in the wood.

He saith that pilgrimes put not trust in the place, as Nicromancers do in their circles, and sayth he wotteth not what, to mocke out the text of our Sa∣uiour of praying in the spirite. And in the end he confoundeth him selfe say∣ing, we reken our prayers more plea∣saunt in one place thē in an other. And that must be by the reason of the place, for God is as good in one place as in an other and also the man. Moreouer where a mā pleaseth God best, thether is he most bound to go. And so that i∣magination byndeth a mā to the place with a false fayth, as Nicromancers trust in their circles.

And agayne if God had sayd that he would more heare in one place then in an other, he had bound him selfe to the place. Now as God is like good eue∣ry where generally so hath hee made his Testament generally, wheresoe∣uer myne hart moueth me & am quyet to pray vnto hym, there to heare me like graciously.

And if a man lay to our charge, that God boūd them vnto the tabernacle & after to the Temple in the old Testa∣ment. I say that he dyd it not for y^e pla∣ces sake, but for the monumentes and testimonies, that their preached the word of god vnto them, so that though the priests had bene negligēt to preach, yet should such things that there were haue kept the people in the remem∣braunce of the Testamēt made betwen God and them. Which cause and such like onely should moue vs to come to Church, and vnto one place more then an other. And as lōg as I come more to one place then an other because of y^e quietnesse or that some thing preacheth gods word more liuely vnto me there then in an other, the place is my ser∣uaunt and I not bound to it: whiche cause and such like taken away, I can not but put trust in the place as Nicro¦mancers do in their circles, and am an image seruer & walke after myne own imagination & not after Gods word.

And when he sayth, we might as well mocke the obseruaūce of the Pas∣chall Lambe. I aunswere, Christ our Paschall Lambe is offered for vs and hath deliuered vs as Paule sayth. 1. Cor. v. whose signe and memoriall is the Sacrament of his body and bloud. Moreouer we were not deliuered one of Egypt. And therefore in as much as we be ouerladen with our owne, I see no cause why we should become Iewes, to obserue their ceremonies to.

And when he sayth holy straunge ge∣stures. I aunswere, for the holynesse I will not sweare: but the straungenesse I dare well auow. For euery Priest maketh them of a sundry maner & ma∣ny more madly then the gestures of Iack anapes. And when he sayth that they were left from hand to hand sence the Apostles time, it is vntrue. For the Apostles vsed the Sacramēt as Christ dyd, as thou mayst see. 1. Cor. xj. More ouer the Apostles left vs in the light & taught vs all the counsell of God, as Paule witnesseth Actes. xx. and hid no¦thyng in straunge holy gestures and apes play the significations wherof no man might vnderstand.

And a Christen man is more moued to pitie sayth he, at the sight of y^e crosse, then without it. If he take pitie as En¦glishmen do, for compassiō, I say, that a Christen man is moued to pitie whē hee seeth his brother beare the crosse. And at the sight of the Crosse, he that is learned in God wepeth not, with ignoraūt womē, as a mā doth for hys father when he is dead: but mourneth for hys sinnes, and at the sight of the crosse comforteth his soule with the cō∣solation of him that dyed theron. But there is no sight whether of the crosse or ought els, that can moue you to leue your wickednesse, for the Testament of God is not written in your hartes.

And when he speaketh of praying at Churche who denyeth hym that men might not pray at Church or that the church shuld not be a place of prayer? But that a man could not pray saue at Church, and that my prayers were not heard as well els where, If I prayed with like feruentnesse & strong sayth, is a false lye.

And whē he speaketh of the presence of God in the temple. I aunswere, that the Prophetes testified, how that hee dwelt not there, & so doth Paule Actes xvij. & so doth Steuē Actes. vij. & Sa∣lomon. iij. Of the kynges. viij. And no doubt as the madde Iewes ment, he dwelt not there, nor as we more mad suppose also. But he dwelled there one¦ly in his signes Sacramentes, and te∣stimonies which preached his woorde vnto the people. And finally for theyr false confidence in the temple, God de∣stroyed

it. And no doubt for our false fayth in visityng the monumentes of Christ, therefore hath God also de∣stroyed them and geuen the place vn∣der the infidels.

And when he speaketh of the piller of fire and cloude. I answere. that god was no otherwise present there, then in all fire and in all cloudes saue that he shewed his power there specially by the reason of the miracle, as he doth in the eyes of the blinde whom he ma∣keth see, and yet is no other wise pre∣sent in those eyes then in other, nor more there to be prayed to then in o∣ther. And in like maner he is no more to be prayed to where he doth a mira∣cle then where he doth none. Neither though we cā not but be in some place, ought we to seeke God in any place, saue onely in our hartes, and that in veritie, in fayth, hope, and loue or cha∣ritie, accordyng to the woorde of hys doctrine.

And our sacramentes, signes, cere∣monies, Images, reliques and monu∣mentes ought to be had in reuerence, so farforth as they put vs in mynde of Gods worde, and of the ensample of them that liued thereafter and no fur∣ther.

And the place is to be sought, and one to be preferred before an other for quietnesse to pray, and for liuely prea∣ching, and for y^e preaching of such mo∣numentes and so forth. And so long as the people so vsed thē in the olde testa∣ment, they were acceptable & pleasaūt to God, and God was sayd to dwell in the temple. But when the significa∣tions being lost, the people worship∣ped such thinges for the things selues, as we now do, they were abhomina∣ble to God, and God was sayde to be no longer in the temple.

Notes

• Miracles.
• Miracles were done by y^• sain•…•… to confirme theyr doc∣trine.
• Helisens.
• Dead bones may not be wor¦shypped.
• Pilgrima∣ges.
• More rea∣soneth vn∣towardly.
• God is like good in eue¦ry place.
• Temple.
• The peo∣ple were specially called to y^e Temple to behold the monumēts there, wher¦by they might the better learne the mighty power of God.
• Paschall Lambe.
• 1. 〈…〉〈…〉.
• Holy straunge ge¦stures is like ana∣pes play.
• 1. Cor. 11.
• Pitie.
• The true be holdyng of the signe of the crosse
• The Church is a place of prayer.
• God hea∣reth our prayer in all places.
• Actes. 17.
• Actes. 7.
• 3. Reg. 8.
• Ierusalem and the tē∣ple is de∣stroyed.
• The piller of fire.
• God is pre¦sent in all places a∣like.
• All places are to be preferred where we may wor∣ship God most quiet∣ly.