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 tenth Chapter.

IN the tenth he inueyeth and rayleth against that which neither he nor a∣ny * 1.1 fleshly mynded Papiste can vnder∣stand; as they haue no power to cōsent vnto the lawes of God, which herein appeareth, that they compell their bre∣thren which be as good as they, to do and beleue what they lust, & not what God commaundeth. He affirmeth that Martin sayth, how that we do no sinne our selues with our owne will, but that * 1.2 God sinneth in vs, and vseth vs as a dead instrument, and forceth vs therunto and dāneth vs, not for our owne deedes but for his, and for his owne pleasure, as he compelleth vnto sinne for his pleasure or rather he for hys pleasure sinneth in vs. I say, that a man sinneth voluntarily, but the power of the will and of the deede is of God, and euery will and deede are good in the nature of the deede, and the euilnesse is a lacke that there is, as the eye, though it be blinde is good in nature, in that it is such a member created for such a good vse: but it is called euill for lacke of sight. And so are our deedes euill because we * 1.3 lacke knowledge and loue to referre them vnto the glory of God. Which lacke commeth of the deuill that blyn∣deth vs with lustes and occasions that we can not see the goodnesse and righ∣teousnes of the law of God & the mea∣nes how to fulfill it. For could we see it, and the way to do it, we should loue it naturally as a childe doth a fayre ap∣ple. For a childe whē as a mā sheweth him a fayre apple, and will not geue it hym weepeth, so should we natural∣ly mourne when the members woulde not come forwarde to fulfill the lawe according to the desire of our hartes. For Paule sayth. ij. Cor. iiij. If our * 1.4 Gospell be hid, it is hid vnto thē that perishe, among which the God of this world hath blynded the wittes of the vnbeleuers, that the light of the glori∣ous gospell of Christ should not shine * 1.5 to them. And Christ sayth that the bir∣des eate vp the seede sowen vppon the way, and interpreteth by the seede the worde, and by the foules, the deuill. So that the deuill blindeth vs wyth

falshead and lyes which is our world∣ly * 1.6 wisdome, and therewith stoppeth out the true light of Gods wisdome, which blindenes is the euilnesse of all our deedes.

And on the other side, that an other man loueth the lawes of God and v∣seth y^e power that he hath of god well, and referreth hys will and his deedes vnto the honour of God, commeth of the mercy of God which hath opened his wittes, and shewed him light to see the goodnes and righteousnes of the lawe of God, and the way that is in Christ to fulfill it, wherby he loueth it naturally and trusteth to do it. Why doth God open one mans eyes & not an others? Paule Rom. ix. forbiddeth to aske why. For it is to deepe for mās * 1.7 capacitie. God we see is honoured therby, and his mercy set out, and the more seene in the vessels of mercy. But the popishe can suffer God to haue no secret hid to himselfe. They haue sear∣ched to come to the botome of hys bo∣tomlesse wisdome, and because they cā not attayne to that secrete and be to proude to let it alone, and to graunt themselues ignoraūt with the Apostle that knew no other then Gods glory * 1.8 in the elect, they go and set vp freewill with the heathen philosophers, and say that a mans freewill is the cause why God chuseth one and not an other, cō∣trary vnto all the scripture. Paul saith it commeth not of the will nor of the deede, but of the mercy of God. And they say that euery man hath at y^e least way power in his freewill, to deserue that power shoulde be geuen hym of god to kepe the law. But the scripture testifieth that Christ hath deserued for y^• elect, euen thē whē they hated God, that their eyes should be opened to see the goodnes of the lawe of God, and the way to fulfill it, and forgeuenes of all that is passed, wherby they be dra∣wen to loue it and to hate sinne.

I aske the popishe one question whe¦ther the will can preuent a mans witte * 1.9 and make the witte see the righteous∣nesse of the lawe, and the way to fulfill it in Christ? If I must first see the rea∣son why yer I can loue, how shall I with my will do that good thing that I know not of? how shall I thanke God for the mercy that is layde vp for me in Christ, yer I beleue it. For I must beleue the mercy yer I can loue the worke. Now fayth commeth not of our frewill, but is the grace of God geuen vs by grace yer there be any will in our hartes to do the lawe of * 1.10 God. And why God geueth it not e∣uery man I can geue no reckoning of his iudgementes. But well I wot, I neuer deserued it, nor prepared my self vnto it, but ranne an other way cleane contrary in my blyndnesse, and sought not that way, but he sought me, and found me out, and shewed it me, and therwith drew me to him. And I bow the knees of mine hart vnto god night and day, that he will shew it all other men. And I suffer all that I can to be a seruaunt to open their eyes.

For well I wot they can not see of themselues before God haue preuēted them wyth hys grace. For Paule saith Phil. i. he that began a good worke in * 1.11 you shall continue or bring it vnto a full ende, so that God must beginue to worke in vs. And Phil. ij. God it is * 1.12 that worketh both the willing and al∣so bringing to passe. And it must nee∣des * 1.13 be, for God must open mine eyes, and shew me somewhat and make me see the goodnesse of it, to draw me to hym, yer I can loue, consent, or haue any actuall will to come.

And when I am willing, he must assiste me and helpe to tame my fleshe, and to ouercome the occasions of the worlde, and the power of the fendes. God therfore hath a special care for his * 1.14 elect, in so much that he will shorten y^e wicked dayes for their sakes, in which no man, if they should continue might endure. And Paule suffereth all for the electe. ij. Timothy. ij. And Gods sure foundation standeth sayth Paule, God knoweth hys. So that refuse the truth who shall, God will keepe a nū∣ber of his mercy, and call them out of blindnesse; to testifie the truth vnto the rest, that their damnation may be with out excuse.

The Turke, the Iew and the Po∣pish build vpon frewill & ascribe theyr iustifying vnto their woorkes. The Turke when he hath synned, runneth to the purifyinges or ceremonies of Mahomet, and the Iew to the ceremo¦nies of Moses, and the Pope vnto his owne ceremonies, to fet forgeuenesse of their sinnes. And the Christen goeth * 1.15 thorough repentaunce towarde the law, vnto the fayth that is in Christes bloud.

And the Pope saith that the ceremo∣nies of Moyses iustified not, compel∣led with the woordes of Paule. And how then should his iustifie? Moyses Sacramentes were but signes of pro∣mises

of fayth, by which fayth the bele∣uers are iustified, and euen so be Chri∣stes also. And now because the Iewes haue put out the significations of their Sacraments and put their trust in the workes of them, therfore they be Ido∣laters, and so is the Pope for like pur∣pose. The Pope sayth that Christ dyed * 1.16 not for vs, but for the Sacramentes, to geue them power to iustifie. O An∣tichrist.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Freewi••t.
• * 1.2

  More blas∣phemeth God.
• * 1.3

  Our dedes are euill, because we lacke know ledge to re∣ferre them vnto the glory of God.
• * 1.4

  2. Cor. 4.
• * 1.5

  The deuill is the blin∣der & kepee of vs frō y^• vnderstan∣ding of gods wyll.
• * 1.6

  The deuill is the blin∣de•• and ke∣per of vs from the vnderstan∣dyng of Gods wil.
• * 1.7

  We may not be curi¦ous to search gods secretes.
• * 1.8

  A Papisti∣call opiniō.
• * 1.9

  Witte, rea∣son, & iudge¦ment goeth before will.
• * 1.10

  Faith is the gift of God & com¦meth not by free wil.
• * 1.11

  Phil. 1.
• * 1.12

  Phil. 2.
• * 1.13

  God is the first wor∣ker & bring¦ger to passe of our well doynges.
• * 1.14

  Math. 24.
• * 1.15

  The Chri∣stians seeke helpe of Christ.
• * 1.16

  O abhomi∣nable blas∣phemy.