¶ Hereafter follow ten certain Places of scripture, by whom it is proved, that the doctrines and traditions of men, aught to be avoided.  
 printer's device of Robert Wyer, featuring John the Evangelist (McKerrow 67β)   

The contents of this book.  

¶ The first place is Deuteronomii/ the four chapter, where Moses saith.  
¶ The second place/ is of isaiah the xxix chapter/ which place christ.  
¶ The third place is/ of Matthew, the xu chapter/ which saith.  
¶ The fourth place is/ of Paul, in the i. pistle/ the four chapter to Thymothe.  
¶ The fifth place is/ of Plaule in the ii chapter/ to the colossians.  
¶ The sixth place is also of Paul in the .i. chapter/ to the galatians.  
¶ The seventh place is of Paul/ in the first chapter/ to Thymothe.  
¶ The eight place is of saint Peter/ in the ii chapter/ of his last pistle.  
¶ The ninth place is/ of Matthew in the xxiiii. chapter/ when saith he.  
¶ The tenth place is/ of Solomon in the thirty. chapter/ of his proverbs.   
¶ Finis.   


stes words we might alway freely use them. ¶ thirdly, this error is also by this reproved, that the papists sound forth with full mouths, that is, that the Church commanded under pain of deadly sin to be necessary, that we should fast in four times of the year, in the evys of the apostles, and certain other saints all which things this saying of christ confoundeth. ¶ What soever entryth in through the mouth defileth not the man. verily, fasting aught to be free and voluntary, so that without chose of days or meats every man after his appetite, should fast or not fast. ¶ Fourthly, the Bnndictynes, the Bernardynes, the Chartusyans, and all other, which for men's traditions abstain from eggs, flesh and such like repugn as adversaries to christ. For why their doctrine contraryeth Christ'S doctrine/ after this manner. What soever entryth in through the mouth defoileth, by which saying they reprove christ as a liar, which saith. what so ever entryth in through the mouth defoylyth not. And so thou mayst perceive by this saying of christ that all the sects of Monks. yea & all that hole spiritual ordynauncꝭ (as they call it) are destroyed & condemned. For if that, that entryth through the mouth defoileth not the man how moche less than, shall the things/ which cover the body, as the cowl, the coote, the shirt, the hose, the , the gownne, the cloak, green colour, yellow, red white/ divers colour, beside this, the place, the temple, the house, the cell, the chamber defoil the man? By this it followeth that they again reprove Chryst of a lie/ which hold it for sin, if a monk be clothed beside the manner of his order. verily what christ reakenyth for no sin, that boldly affirm they to be sin. What other thing therefore I pray you is that, that this sort of men do, than to say to christ. Yea, even at his face? thou liest christ. For therein is sin, wherein thou sayst that none is. Neither verily shall it any thing avail them although they lay forth for them Gregory, bernard, benedict, or francis. For we should more attend to Christ'S sayings, which only in the mount of Thabor was created a teacher by his heavenly father, as Matthew testifieth in his xvii chapter This is (saith he) my dear beloved son/ in whom I have delight, him here ye. verily the father said not in this place, here bernard, bnndicte, frauncꝭ/ but this, this, this, my well-beloved son here ye. Ferther more who knoweth whether these holy men in these doings wrought well, or of fendyd. For undoubtedly they observed these things without conpulsyon, or else for some precept, now if they so observed them/ they are not yet so moche to be followed that christ should utterly be forsaken all these things christ in the same chapter of Mathewe confirmeth with the saying that followeth. That (saith he) which cometh forth from the mouth defoileth the man. For by it all ill adfectes break forth from the heart, as bawdry, adultery, theft, losings, backebytyngꝭ, & such like/ these things defile a man. Here I ask (for as much as that is only sin, which wellyth from the heart, as christ plainly concludeth) by what means doth butter, chief, milk, eggs defile a man/ while they come not forth from the mouth, but from the cows womb/ and from the hen? what man (I pray you) ever saw flesh, shavynges (which they call the priests crowns) places, hairy garments proceed from the mouth? The kine perchance sin while they bring us forth milk, butter, & calves. Moreover the dreams and imaginations of monks, yea and all the human traditions of manner of life, of clothes, of places/ and of all such outward things not only derogateth the glory of god/ and deceive the people/ but also are like to the tryfeling mows/ and lyghtcastꝭ of tomling apes. Nevertheless of truth some man coveteth to have dainty fare, and to wear fine and rich clothes/ but this desire and appetite proceedeth from the heart. And some man can as greadyly eat fish as flesh. A man shall also find some that will be as proud in a cote of yellow cloth, as another will be in a cote of silk, in conclusion. christ deceyvyth us not when he saith. Whatsoever entryth through the mouth pollutyth not a man/ but that that cometh forth from the mouth defileth the man. Now if it be true that a man is not defoiled nor sinneth in setting aside the human traditions, it must needs follow that no man is made clean or deserveth any thing if he keep and observe them specially while that is only clean and worthy of reward, which is contrary to sin & filthiness. Wherefore in all the hole life of monkis, there is nothing pure nor worthy of reward, which thing christ also affirmeth by Matthew, the xu chapter. In vain (saith he) worship they me with the traditions of men. Why saith he in vain? verily for that that in not regarding those traditions nothing is sinned, and in observing them nothing is deserved, for surely they are but mean things, and by this the spyrytulte suttelly deceive themself, while they reckon a reward where none is, & suppose that they offend where no sin can be so that this saying of the Prophet/ in the xiii Psalm may very well agree with their actis. They fear (saith he) where nothing is to be feared.   

¶ The fourth place is/ of Paul in his first pistle/ the 4 chapter.  
THe fourth place is/ of Paul in his first pistle/ the four chapter to Thymothe. The spirit (saith he) speaketh evidently, that in the later times some shall depart from the faith, & shall give heed to spirits of error and to devyllysshe doctrine, which are false speakers through feigned show of holiness having their consciences marked with a hot iron, forbyding to marry and commanding to abstain fro meats, which god hath created to be received with thanks giving, of them which believe and have known the truth, that whatsoever god created is good, and nothing to be refused, so that it be received with giving thanks for it, is sanctified by the word of god and prayer/ of these if thou shalt give knowledge and counsel to the brethren/ thou shalt then show thyself a good minister of christ, as one brought up in the words of faith and good doctrine/ which doctrine thou haste at all times followed. But cast away from the unghostly & old wives fables. O immortal god, with how great sound of words/ even as it were with thunder. Doth the apostle invade and overthrow the works, doctrines, & sects of men. first while these tradycyonaryes here after shall take pride that they have received their traditions of the Pope and other holy fathers. What judgement (I pray you) shall christ give upon this matter? Shall he not say on this manner? Paul was my apostle and chosen vessyll (as Luke left it mentioned in th'apostles acts). Why than gave ye not more credence to them than to the Pope & the father's/ saying that ye have no surety whether they be the instruments of god or of the devil? What shall they answer than trow ye? ¶ secondarily, I ask these tradycionaries, whether that eggs, butter, cheese, milk, flesh, & other meats/ fro which they abstain on fastyngdayes & by their ordres/ be the good creatures of god? Which if they will grant (other wise will they not dare say) than are they undoubtedly even the same/ of whom th'apostle speaketh, that is. That they should forbid meats which god hath created for the use of the true believers/ that they also should forbid to marry. And so yet shall they not win out/ but shall be twyched somewhat more on the quick with this text of Paul. Now hark what Paul saith of them and by what fashions he rolleth them from one place to another. ¶ first (saith he) they are departed from the faith. For it were impossible for them to teach the right wiseness of works, whiles they reckoned themself thereby to be justified. And this Synyon of theirs is a very sure token that they are departed from the faith. For they apply, iustefyenge to works/ which justifying should be given only to faith. ¶ secondarily, they give heed to spirits of error, (he sayeth not to men of error) but to spirits, that is. That they boast themself of spirytualytie/ rejoicing to be called spiritual. And say that all their acts are done, by the aid and maintenance of the spirit. But while they are barren of faith/ it can no otherwise be, but that they be blinded in spiritual things. These two therefore follow on the other, to depart from the faith/ and to give heed to spirits of error and disobeyed. ¶ Thirdly, th'apostle saith/ that their doctrine springeth of the devil their author/ which thing must also needs follow. For verily where faith and the doctrine of christ is not/ there Satanas the wonderful workman of such things, leadeth these erroneous spirits with painted doctrines and words/ so blindly, madly, and proudly, that they reckon themselves even the most spiritual men. But for as much as that doctrine springeth not out of the scriptures/ it can not be otherwise named but devilish doctrine. ¶ Fourthly, they are false speakers/ for they pervert holy scripture & the sayings of fathers to their own imaginations and dreams, as we daily see. That they pervert scripture, it is evident by this. For their doctrines & holy scriptures in nothing agree. ¶ Fyftly, their living is very hypocrisy/ which thing is so clear and open, that it needeth no interpretation: what is their hole life, but a monster & hypocrisy in outward things/ as meats & clothes. ¶ Syxtly, they have their conscience marked with a hot iron, that is/ their conscience is clean alienate from the human nature. For of truth other reckon they sin & are grudged in their conscience where no part (as we said before) of sin can be/ even as we perceive the print or mark of one wound in the body, far unlike other corrupt fuysters. ¶ Seventhly, they forbed to marry & that is because they would bring many in to their perverse state of their religion, as we daily see both priests and monks, canons, and freres, lead that life most impurely. Wherefore diligently away and look for the judgement of god upon such doctrines and such manner of life. As upon doctrines which spring of the devil erroneous/ false without faith and full of hypocrisy. Good lord what man will continue in that life, and apply to such doctrines, sins god threateneth so fearful judgement upon them? It shall make no matter with how many vows a man promise these doctrines for the more straight vow and oath, that in this behalf shall be made, the more soon should it be broken of & let at large. For that that it was made by the devil, and again god. But hark, how craftily they go about to unfold themselves from this knot, transferring this saying of Paul to the tatyans' heretics, which utterly condemn matrimony. But surely Paul speaketh not here of them, which utterly condemn matrimony. but of those which under a manner of holiness, and to seem the more holy forbid to marry. But be it, that these words were spoken again the tatyans, may they not therefore also be spoken by the Pope? Yes moste of all, for if the pope do those things which the tatyans did, why than should not these words agree with his actis? For surely Paul in this place condemneth the works notwithstanding the respect of the person. Now he that forbiddeth matrimony (as the sygnyfyeng of the words plainly openeth) is the disciple of Satan and his messenger. Than for as much as the Pope worketh like works, it must needs follow that he & all his hole flock of Sophister's, are the disciples and messanges of the devil, or else Paul lieth. ¶ eightly, many days they forbid to eat certain meats: which god hath created to be received with giving thanks. Where again thou mayst see the traditions of men to be applied to Satan even by god thorough the saying of Paul, as through god's Instument. Tell on (I pray you) what more what more abominable thing can thou here of the human traditions than that they depart fro the faith, erroneous false, devilish/ and full of hypocrisy. And if this one place be not sufficient to confound the doctrines of men, what then shall suffice? Moreover if these traditions of abstaining from meats be devilish & fer from a christian act, undoubtedly the traditions of clothes, havings, places and other outward conversations are also even as nigh kin to the devil & as fer from the true faith of christ. But here again they will answer and say that Paul did speak these words by the manichees. Yet shall they not so escape. For Paul in this place speaketh of them, which forbid to eat meats, which thing the pope & his doing. Now whether thou call the pope a tatyan or a manyche, I force not. verily the apostle speaketh here again that work, which the pope is guilty in. furthermore this place very well appertaineth to them. For if a man would forbid the eating of those meats to morrow, or ii days following, should not this place serve him well, all though he were not named a manyche? For should a man lawfully by that means do this thing which Paul here forbiddeth, and say that these words were not meant by him, but by the old manichees? God forbid, but whether the pope and his monkis, and priests be manichees or not, that refer I to other men's judgements. Howbeit I will this far not fear to say, that he so moche contraryeth Paul's doctrine, that I can scarcely know whether any manyche have more contraryed it or not. ¶ Nynethly, they are unthankful. For god hath created meats for that intent (as Paul saith) that they should be received with giving thanks Now they for this purpose give in commandment to abstain fro them that god should not be lawd for the receiving of them. The well and original of all, which things is infidelity, and lack of the truth of god. For the apostle saith that those meats were created for them that truly believe & know the truth that they should receive them with giving thanks. And now for as much as they be false believers & ignorant of the truth (as th'apostle in this place calleth them) undoubtedly they are also heathens, far fro christian men, blind and without true knowledge. So this is the Elogye of the pope, priests, and monks, which is given to them by Paul. ¶ Tenthly, They are mischievous and perilous ministers, which in the same place of Paul is proved, where he saith that Thymothe is a true minister and nourished up in the words of faith, and good doctrine. If he shall show these things to the brothers. Now of the other part, they without doubt are false ministers, and brought up in words of false believe & perverse doctrine, which teach clean contrary to the doctrine of Paul. ¶ eleventhly, the apostle calleth their doctrines unghostly and trifling fables, than which I pray you what can be said more contemptely, that so many doctors should be so occupied about such trifles, which the old wives are wont to sport themselves with, when they were gathered together to their buttered cakes, to their cleansing bowls, or to their wassing stoles. And that their doctrine are unghostly, lies, and fer from any holiness, although they boast that they were written by the aid & cause of the holy ghost. What man ever heard the human traditions so earnestly spoken again and rebuked, For that that they be barren of faith, hethenysshe erroneous, devilish, false, counterfeited devourers of consciences contrary to the glory of god, and his creatures, pernicious fables, and old wives lies, Let him now that can avoid so fearful judgement of god avoid it.   

¶ The fifth place/ is of Paul in the second chapter.  
THe fift place, is of Paul in the second chapter, to the colossians Let no man (saith he) trouble your conscience for meat and drink, or for a piece of a holy day, as the holy day of the new moon or of the Sabbath day, which are but shodowes of things to come/ but the body is of christ. Let no man myscarye you from the true path, which after his own imagination walketh in the humbleness and holiness of Angles, things, which he never saw vainly blown up with his carnal mind not holding the heed of whom all the body by joints and couples taketh norysshement and is knit together, and groweth with the increasing that cometh from god Wherefore if ye be deed with christ from the doctrines of the world, why than as though ye yet lived in the world are ye led with the traditions of them, that say touch not, taste not, handle not, all which perish with the abusing of them, after preceptis and doctrines of men, which things verily have the similitude of wisdom by chosen holiness/ and humbleness of the mind, and weyking of the body, & not by any worship for the maintenance of the flesh to his need. speaketh Paul now again of the manichees? and Tatyans. Or can any man excuse the papists of these saying? No, for the apostle speaketh here of those that entangle the wretched conscyencꝭ with human precepts and doctrines that they cause them to discern meat fro meat, drink fro drink, cloth fro cloth, & other outward things. Now it is openly known that the Pope, priests, and monkis, do these things. For it is ordained by their Decrees, that certain days men should abstain from flesh, eggs, butter, cheese, milk, & other creatures of god. And they have also for themselves peculiar garments fashioned far from other men's, again all which things Paul boldly fighteth. first when he saith let no man trouble your consciences for meat, drink, cloth, or day. Which thing what is it other (I pray you) than to say. Be ye not priests, monks, freers, neither observe ye the pope's Decretals, nor believe ye that to be sin which he challengeth and holdeth for sin. Now here a man may perceive that god commandeth by Paul his elect vessel that we should not regard the Decrees of the pope priests, monkis, & freers, or at  way we should reckon them to be free, & take them as mean things, which of themself be nor expedient nor prejudicial, lest happily they might trouble and steer our consciences. If we take not good heed/ which thing is no other to say/ but be ye not priests, monkis, nor freers. And they that all ready have entered in to the papists holy religion, should either rid themself from it, or this wise observe the papists Decretals, that if at any time they let pass or transgress in any of them, they should not reckon it to be sin, but count them as lawfully to be let slipped as retained. For all though these words were spoken by the jews, which observed them after the law of Moses (and Paul here saith that they were but shadows and figures of things to come, but the body is in christ.) Yet nevertheless they much more agree with the decrees of the pope, priests, & monkis. For if that be ceased which god instituted, and should no more bind the conscience. How moche more than ought nothing to be instituted & commanded by men, which might bind the conscience? Which thing hereafter shallbe more plainly showed. ¶ Secondarylye, Paul saith, let no man defraud you, or maliciously show you a wrong mark, to lead you fro the true prick, & beguile you of the reward, as who would say. Take heed to yourself that no man mysguyde you from faith (which is the only way to purchase the reward of health) in to the trust of works, that ye should will to be justified, and attain to the reward of health by a mean which the papists have prescribed. What way and mean they have prescribed. ye shall now openly perceive by that, that followeth. ¶ thirdly, he saith, let no man deceive you in voluntary and chosen humbleness and holiness of angels. painteth not Paul here, even with their colours the sects of monks and all the Pope's holy flock? Countyth not the pope and all the papists all their beluynges, rorynges, and cryengꝭ in the temple, and their obedience of beckꝭ & duegardes even for the highest virtues and works? So this is the honourable and devout humble holiness of the papists. But now of whom had they their precepts and traditions? They themselves have chosen them, and have sought them out even for their own mischiefs. For by this means they have withdrawn themself from the common humbleness and obedience of men, of which things we have by god's commandment that one should submit himself again the other, & the one should obey the other, which thing they never do. For they are not subject to a temporal ruler (to whom Paul commanded to obey) but have shaken themself from that yoke, & have begun a peculiar obedience and humbleness of their own inventions, nevertheless they boast that their obedience (in which are many shameful things) far excellyth the obedience of the lay men. Yea & that theirs is perfit, & like to the obedience of angels/ when yet throughout all the hole world a man can find no sort of people more dysobedyent or blown up with more pride. They have also avowed chastity, and poverty, neither labour they as other men do, but after the manner of heavenly angels they laud god night and day in often prayers and songs. And to be short they would have men think that they lead a heavenly life, when yet no man is more guilty of horrible pleasures, no man more rich in iniquity: no man less truly holy, no man more proud hearted than they which name themself spiritual. Yet transfer they under colour of their ghostly life, the prick of faith from all mortal men/ and deceive them upon the hope and justyfyeng of works. All these things (as I guess) were not spoken only by the manichees, and Tatyans, but also by the papists, which things their works full well declare. ¶ fourthly, walking (saith he) in things which he never saw, which thing is most provytions in the human doctrines & fashion of life. As who saith, that they which live after those traditions, & doctrines stick to no foundation nor example of true scripture, neither are they of any certainty, whether they do well or not. For all their labour is uncertain in so much that if a man require whether their manner of life please god or not, they must answer. We know not, yea & that all their good works be cast in the wind, and are of no account. Which thing they are constrained by force to confess. For why, they lack faith, which faith only assertayneth us, that all deeds be acceptable to god, and that without any occasion of our deserts, but only by the very grace & power of god. So all their obedience and holiness, even when they seem best, are uncertain and of no value. ¶ fifthly, Vainly (saith he) they are swollen with pride, that is although they can have no occasion of presumpsyon (for they are unstable, and false believers, and lead a cursed life,) Nevertheless yet cast they up their noses in the wind and boast that their manner life is the best and most sure way to purchase health, so farforth, that they repute all other men's conditions as vile and of no value, in Regard of their own. For truly those wretches perceive not their proud high carnal mind, because of their overmuch angelic humbleness and obedience. O abominable fruit of the human doctrine. ¶ Syxtly, They shall depart (saith he) and vary from christ, which is our head. Truly it is impossible that the traditions of men & christ should be in one sentence. For the one excludyth the other, for if the conscience give credence to christ, the trust of human traditions and works taketh a fall. But if the conscience put trust in works, than hath christ lost his place. For it can not be brought to pass that the heart can be grounded upon a double foundation the one must needs fail, likewise see we openly that the papists trust only to their ceremonies & traditions, for oonles they had trust in them, truly they would set them at nought and forsake them, or else at lestwaye they would use them freely, & when time required. But if no further danger were in them, this (Alas) were to much, that while they put trust in the abhomynablenes of human doctrines, they forsake god, and clean depart from him, which thing Peter also testifieth in his first pistle, in which he describeth the orders of Monks with horrible words. They are (saith he) the sects of damnation, which deny christ, and in the latter pistle the second chapter he saith on this manner. There shall be false ministers among you, which shall invent & bring in damnable sectis And shall deny the lord which bought them with his blood. ¶ seventhly, It may be openly thought by this saying of Paul that our spirituality are twyched in the quick where he saith. If ye be dead with Chryst why than yet suffer ye yourselves, as though ye were yet living in the world to be troubled and led about the bush with human traditions, as thou shalt not twyche that, thou shalt not eat that, thou shalt not handle that, Neither can any man deny but that god in this place of Paul forbade to teach & to here the doctrines of men, if by them the conscience of men should be bound & endangered. No man therefore can be with salve conscience, a monk, a priest, a freer, or such like. For all they (will they or not, are compelled to confess that their consciences are entangled and bond to the foresaid traditions. A man may perceive now how effectual this saying of Paul is again the traditions of men. And how horrible it is to be herd that they have forsaken christ which is our head: that they have dept from the faith, and that they are made so very heathens, while yet they suppose that all the world hangeth & is maintained, thoroughly by their holiness, which is even so true as heaven is upholden, & stondyth on the shoulders of Atlas the maurytane.   

¶ The sixth place is/ also of Paul in the first chapter.  
THe sixth place is/ also of Paul in the first chapter/ to the galatians. If we (saith he) or the aungle of heaven teach any other thing to you than that which we have taught, hold it accursed as we afore have said, so now say I again. If any man shall teach you any other thing, than that which ye have received & are learned of, hold it accursed. Behold now the judgement of god upon the doctrines of the Pope & other men, that is that should be accursed. But think thou not that this curse is like to the papystꝭ thretenynges of excommunycacions and curses/ but that it is eternal/ which also separateth a man from god, christ, health/ and all goodness, & bindeth him to Sathanas. O the fearful judgement of god. By this therefore it appeareth whether the pope, priests, and monks can teach any other thing, or any thing more than that that christ & his apostles have taught. For it is spoken afore that christ taught after this manner What soever entryth through the mouth defileth not the man, which thing the pope, priests, and monks openly Improve saying/ christ thou liest. For the Charthusians are polluted and dampened for eating of flesh. Likewise think they that are like to this sect. But is not this even to strike christ in the face and to detect him of a lie, to speak ill of him and to teach an other thing than ever he taught? Moreover this judgement of perpetual cursing is brought, even as it should be, upon the blasphemers of the glory of god, that is, that they should perish and be condemned in their royal holiness.   

¶ The .7. place is/ of Paul in the first chapter.  
THe seventh place is/ of Paul in the first chapter to Thymothe. Teach them (saith he) that they give no heed to untrue Fables and men's traditions, which things withdraw from the truth. Here again thou mayst perceive how the apostle plainly commanded, that we should not attend to men's doctrines and Decrees seemeth not this unto the as a very hell, or at  way an occasion to drive the to hell when Paul saith, that the precepts and traditions of men are far from the truth, yea and they lead a man so far from the truth that he can not be able to know the true thing from the false, but call good ill, and ill good, the day night, and the night day. For man's heart (as we afore have showed) can not have trust both in Christ's doctrine, and also in the doctrines & works of men. For as soon as the heart beginneth to apply to men's traditions it waxeth strange to the truth, and nothing regardyth it. Of the other part, after that that the heart beginneth to put hole trust in christ/ it can not choose but set at nought all men's traditions. By this thou mayst perceive whether the curse of christ, or of the pope is more to be feared. The Pope and his complices, curse the with their cruel excommunycacions even to the pit of hell. If thou apply not to their commandments. But christ thretenyth and forbiddeth the on pain of his everlasting curse that thou give no heed to their traditions & curses. Now advise the to which of the both thou shouldest obey.   

¶ The eight Place is/ of saint Peter in the ii chapter.  
THe eight Place is/ of saint Peter in the second chapter of his last pistle. There shallbe (saith he) false teachers among you, which privily shall bring in damnable sects, & shall deny the Lord which bought them bringing on their own heads swift damnation. And many shall follow their poisonable ways, by whom the way of truth shall be ill spoken of, & through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you. Here is it plainly opened why the diverse sorts of monks, canons, and freres/ be called damnable sects, verily for that that they deny christ, and falsely lie on the way of truth. By what mean, surely in the that christ ordained no iustyfyeng to be in meat and drink, clothes, placis, and human works/ but they stiffly affirm by their doctrine and living that iustyfyeng, and not iustyfyeng restyth in those things. Moreover christ is by these wretches invaded & rebuked of a lie, yea and all the doctrine of christ, and faith is reputed as vile, and utterly denayed Yet for all that by their glozing & painted words under colour of obedience, and of the divine ministers, they have kept privy their insatiable hunger of covetousness, and so farforth for the maintenance of their abominable lusts & wanton pleasures have they made merchandise of us, that they have almost shaven the lay people of all their goods and lands even with this subtlety, for they booste & make men believe that who soever have done any benefit to them, or give them any part of their goods, shall deserve to have heaven by their prayers & ceremonies. Wherefore all their ordinances and doctrines are even truly called of Peter. sects of damnation and blasphemies of god.   

¶ The ninth Place is/ of Mathewe in the xxiiii chapter.  
THe ninth place is/ of Mathewe in the xxiiii chapter. When (saith he) they shall say to you. Lo this is christ, believe them not. For there shall arise false Christ's, and false prophets, which shall show great signs & wonders, in so much if it were possible they should deceive the very elect. Lo I show all these things to you. And when they shall say to you. Lo christ is in wilderness, go ye not forth, also if they shall say to you, christ is in the secret placis believe them not. ¶ Now show me I pray you what monk or frete shall be saved. For every one rekenyth his health and salvation to be accepted in that place, which he bindeth and avoweth himself to. And saith, here is my christ for unless I tarried here, I should perish & be dampened. But christ answereth and saith, I am not there, who than shall make these two sayings accord? verily (as I think) no man. Wherefore it appeareth by this saying of christ, that all doctrines which bind and dedicate the conscience to any place are clean contrary to christ. Now if christ will not that the conscience be bound to any place, surely than of right the conscience ought to be free fro meats, drinks, clothes, traditions, and other outward things. Moreover for as much as we see the Pope and his spyritualyte do this, it is not to be doubted, but this saying of Mathewe maketh extremely again them. furthermore christ himself by this saying rideth and assoileth all priests, and monks, from their promised vows for that that he condempnyth all such orders and monasteries, when he saith, believe them not. Go ye not thither. Even for the same purpose Luke in his xvii chapter saith. The kingdom of god shall not come with the observing of outward rites and traditions of men, neither shall it be said. Lo here, lo there. For the kingdom of god is within you/ Is not this saying also clear and effectual enough to confound men's traditions?  
¶ The doctrines of men can teach or ordain no other thing but outward things. saying now that the kingdom of god resteth not in outward things, but in the inward, it can no otherwise be, but that both the teachers and lerners of men's traditions (which only teach outward things) are blind and fer wide from the prick of truth. They say we give heed and follow the steps of our holy fathers, which instituted these orders of monks, and freres. But they shall not escape with playing of that pageant, for christ pluckyth from them that cloak of false colour, when he saith. The chosen men also, if it could be brought to pass, shall be led out of the way that is the elect shallbe blinded, but shall not continue in error. For there should no notable error come (as christ hath foreshowed to come) whiles the elect had erred and err. What soever the doctrine and examples of the holy Fathers be, the words of christ be certain and plain, to whom therefore we should more obey than to the holy Fathers, because their doctrines and works be of no certainty, because also that that, which was before spoken maketh again their traditions that is. The kingdom of god is within you, and not without you, neither here, nor there?   

¶ The tenth Place is/ of Solomon the xxx chapter.  
THe tenth Place is/ of Solomon in the xxx chapter Of his Prover bies The words of god (saith he) are fired & are a defence for all them that stick to them, and believe them. Add thou nothing to the words of him, left he punish thee, and left thou be found culpable of a lie. Suffice the thou reader for this time with that that hath been said, howbeit many other places might have be found thoroughly amongs the prophets which would very well serve this purpose, namely in Heremye, which in his seventh chapter saith. Here ye not that which seemeth rightful and just to you, but that that I command you. And walk ye in every way which I have commanded you, that it might be well with you. And in the ix chapter, he saith because they have forsaken my law which I gave to them, and have not herd my voice, nor have walked in it, but have gone from it after the frowardness of their hearts, and after Bailym which thing they have learned of their Fathers. Therefore saith the Lord god of the congregation of Israel these things. Lo I shall feed this people with worm wood and give them water of gall for their drink and shall dyspercle them among nations which they nor their Fathers never knew. And I shall send my sword after them until they be destroyed. And Ezechyell in his xxxiiii chapter, saith woe be to the herds of Israel, which have fed themselves. Are the sheep not fed of the herds? ye have eaten the milk, and have covered yourself with the wool, and that that was fat ye have slain, but ye have not fed my flock. And in the second chapter of Malachi it is said. And now this commandment is to you ye priests, if ye will not here, and if ye will not set it on your hearts to give glory to my name saith the Lord of the congregation. I will send poverty upon you, and I will curse your blessings, and I will curse them because ye set it not in your hearts. Then will they cry (as Mycheas saith in his third chapyt) to the Lord, but he shall not hear them, and he shall hide his face from them at the time, because they have wickedly led their lines in their own inventions. And for the mischief of those inventions (as O see in his ix chapter witnesseth) god shall cast them out of his house, and in his twenty chapter He saith god shall reward them after their ways, and after their inventions. ✚    

¶ Our lord overthrow and break insunder every Invention of perdition, and grant the continuance of his faith to us, and restore us to the light of truth, which long time hath be darked with the clouds of men's traditions so farforth that the glory which ought to be given to the name of god, hath hitherto been translated to other names, thorough false doctrine, and feigned holiness, which have almost destroyed the true christian faith.  
¶ Be it reformed, when Gods will is. Amen.   

¶ Imprinted be me Robert wire/ dwelling in saint martin's parish beside charing Cross.  
¶ Cum privilegio.   woodcut of the early blazon or coat of arms of Henry VIII of England, featuring the Order of the Garter, crowned, supported by a dragon and a dog, encircling a shield, Quarterly, three fleurs-de-lys and three lions passant guardant; also a Tudor rose, a fleur-de-lis, a portcullis and an eagle or griffin with crown and sceptre 
· MON · · DIEV · ET · · DROYT ·  
· honey · · SOYT · QVI · MAL · Y · PENSE ·   printer's device of Robert Wyer, featuring John the Evangelist with eagle, and Wyer's name below (McKerrow 68 and 69) 
ROBERT wire.