learned, pious, and good man. The good bishop Bale also says of him, that for knowledge, purity of doctrine, and holiness of life, he ought to be esteemed the next English Reformer after Wickliffe, and that he was born for the conversion and edification of many souls. His picture represents him with a bible in his hand, and this distich; Hác ut luce tuas dispergam, Roma, tenebras, That light o'er all thy darkness, Rome, An exile freely I become, Freely a sacrifice. The works which he wrote, besides the translation of the scriptures, are the following; which were published in one general volume : 1. A Christian's obedience. 2. The uhrighteous mammon. 3. The practice of the papists. 4. Commentaries on the seventh chapter of St Matthew. 5. A discourse of the last will and testament of Tracii. 6. An answer to Sir Thomas More's dialogues. 7. The doctrine of the Lord's Supper against More. 8. Of the sacrament of the altar. 9. Of the sacramental signs. 10. A footpath leading to the scriptures. 11. Three letters to John Frith. The remains of such men, when they are but few, are the more desirable and precious. We will, therefore, insert (as they discover the spirit and temper of this good man) the three letters above-mentioned, preserved by Mr Fox; and especially as his voluminous writings are not in the possession, or within the purchase, of many serious persons. I. THE grace and peace of God our Father, and of Jesus Christ our Lord, be with you, Amen. "Dearly beloved brother John, I have heard say, how "the hypocrites, now that they have overcome that great "business which letted them, or at the least way have "brought it to a stay, return to their old nature again, "The will of God be fulfilled, and that which he hath "ordained to be ere the world was made, that come, "and his glory reign over all, "Dearly beloved, however the matter be, commit your"self wholly and only unto your most loving Father, and "most kind Lord; fear not men that threat, nor trust "men that speak fair: But trust him that is true of pro "mise, and able to make his word good. Your cause is "Christ's gospel, a light that must be fed with the blood "of faith. The lamp must be dressed and snuffed daily, "and that oil poured in every evening and morning, "that the light go not out. Though we be sinners, yet "is the cause right. If when we be buffeted for well "doing, we suffer patiently and endure, that is accepta"ble with God. For to that end we are called. For "Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example that "we should follow his steps, who did no sin. Hereby "have we perceived love, that he laid down his life for therefore we ought also to lay down our lives for "the brethren. Rejoice and be glad, for great is your "reward in heaven. For we suffer with him, that we 66 us; may also be glorified with him: Who shall change "our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his "glorious body, according to the working whereby he " is able even to subdue all things unto himself. Dearly beloved, be of good courage, and comfort "your soul with the hope of this high reward, and bear "the image of Christ in your mortal body, that it may at "his coming be made like to his immortal body; and fol"low the example of all your other dear brethren, which "chose to suffer in hope of a better resurrection. Keep your conscience pure and undefiled, and say against "that nothing. Stick at necessary things, and re "member_the_blasphemies of the enemies of Christ, "saying, they find none but who will abjure rather than "suffer the extremity. Moreover, the death of them "that come again after they have once denied, though "it be accepted with God, and all that believe, yet it is "not glorious: For the hypocrites say, he must needs "die, denying helpeth not. But might it have holpen, "they would have denied five hundred times, but seeing "it would not help them, therefore of pure pride and "mere malice together, they spake with their mouths "what their conscience knoweth false. If you give your"self, cast yourself, yield yourself, commit yourself "wholly and only to your loving Father, then shall his 66 power be in you and make you strong, and that so strong, that you shall feel no pain, which should be to "another present death: And his Spirit shall speak in you, "and teach you what to answer, according to his pro"mise: he shall set out his truth by you wonderfully, and "work for you above all that your heart can imagine; yea, and you are not yet dead, though the hypocrites 66 ❝ all, all, with all that they can make, have sworn your ❝ death. Una salus, victis nullam sperare salutem; To "look for no man's help, bringeth the help of God to "them that seem to be overcome in the eyes of the hy"pocrites: Yea, it shall make God to carry you thorow "thick and thin for his truth's sake, in spite of all the "enemies of his truth. There falleth not a hair till his «hour be come; and when his hour is come, necessity "carrieth us hence, though we be not willing. But if "we be willing, then have we a reward and thank. "Fear not the threatening therefore, neither be over"come of sweet words; with which twain the hypocrites “shall assail you. Neither let the persuasions of worldly "wisdom bear rule in your heart, no, though they be 66 your friends that counsel you. Let Bilney be a warn❝ing to you, let not their vizor beguile your eyes. Let "not your body faint. He that endureth to the end "shall be saved. If the pain be above your strength, "remember, Whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, I will give it you. And pray to your Father in that name, " and he shall cease your pain, or shorten it. The Lord "of peace, of hope, and of faith, be with you. Amen. "WILLIAM TINDALE." II. Two WO have suffered in Antwerp, in die sancta crucis, unto the great glory of the gospel; four at Rysels in Flanders; and at Luke hath there one at "least suffered, and all the same day. At Roan in France "they persecute. And at Paris are five doctors taken "for the gospel. See, you are not alone; be chearful "and remember that among the hard-hearted in England, "there is a number reserved by grace: For whose sakes, "if need be, you must be ready to suffer. Sir, if you may write, how short soever it be, forget it not, that "we may know how it goeth with you, for our heart's The Lord be yet again with you, with all his "plenteousness, and fill you that you flow over. Amen. "If when you have read this, you can send it to "Adrian; do, I pray you, that he may know how that "our heart is with you. ❝ease. "George Joy at Candlemas, being at Barrow, printed "two leaves of Genesis in a great form, and sent one copy to the king, and another to the new queen, with a "letter to N. to deliver them; and to purchase license, 66 <<< that "that he might so go through all the bible. Out of "this is sprung the noise of the new bible; and out of "that is the great seeking for English books at all printers ❝ and book-binders in Antwerp, and for an English priest "that should print. "This chanced the ninth day of May. "Sir, your wife is well content with the will of God, "and would not for her sake have the glory of God ❝ hindered. III. "WILLIAM TINDALE." "The grace of our Saviour Jesus, his patience, meek"ness, humbleness, circumspection, and wisdom, be "with your heart, Amen. " DEARLY beloved brother, mine heart's desire <s in our Saviour Jesus, is, that you arm your"self with patience, and be cool, sober, wise, and cir"cumspect, and that you keep you a low by the ground, "avoiding high questions, that pass the common capa"city. But expound the law truly, and open the vail "of Moses, to condemn all flesh, and prove all men sin"ners, and all deeds under the law, before mercy have "taken away the condemnation thereof, to be sin and ❝ damnable, and then, as a faithful minister, set a broach "the mercy of our Lord Jesus, and let the wounded "consciences drink of the water of Him. And then shall "your preaching be with power, and not as the doctrine "of the hypocrites; and the Spirit of God shall work "with you, and all consciences shall bear record unto << you, and feel that it is so. And all doctrine that "casteth a mist on those two, to shadow and hide them, "I mean the law of God, and mercy of Christ, that resist you with all your power. Sacraments without signi"fication refuse. If they put significations to them, "receive them, if you see it may help, though it be not "necessary. "Of the presence of Christ's body in the sacrament, "meddle as little as you can, that there appear no di"vision among us. Barnes will be hot against you. "The Saxons be sore on the affirmative; whether con❝stant or obstinate, I remit it to God. Philip Melanc"thon is said to be with the French king. There be in Antwerp that say, they saw him come into Paris "with an hundred and fifty horses, and that they spake " with him. If the French men receive the word of "God, he will plant the affirmative in them. George "Joy would have put forth a treatise of that matter, but "I have stopt him as yet: What he will do if he get I wot not. I believe he would make many money, "reasons little serving to that purpose: My mind is, "that nothing be put forth till we hear how you shall have sped. I would have the right use preached, and "the presence to be an indifferent thing, till the matter "might be reasoned in peace at leizure of both parties. "If you be required, shew the phrases of the scripture, " and let them talk what they will. For as to believe "that God is every where, hurteth no man that worshippeth him no where but within the heart, in spirit and "verity: Even so to believe, that the body of Christ is 66 every where (though it cannot be proved) hurteth nơ "man, that worshippeth him no where, save in the faith "of his gospel. You perceive my mind: Howbeit, if "God shew you otherwise, it is free for you to do as he "moveth you. "I guessed long ago, that God would send a dazing " into the head of the spirituality, to catch themselves in "their own subtilty, and trust it is come to pass. And "now me thinketh I smell a counsel to be taken, little "for their profits in time to come. But you must un❝derstand, that it is not of a pure heart and for love of "the truth, but to avenge themselves, and to eat the "whore's flesh, and to suck the marrow of her bones. "Wherefore cleave fast to the rock of the help of God, "and commit the end of all things unto him: And if "God shall call you, that you may then use the wisdom "of the worldly, as far as you perceive the glory of God 66 may come thereof, refuse it not; and ever among "thrust in, that the scripture may be in the mother"tongue, and learning set up in the universities. But "if ought be required contrary to the glory of God, and "his Christ, then stand fast, and commit yourself to "God, and be not overcome of men's persuasions; "which haply shall say, We see no other way to bring "in the truth. "Brother, beloved in my heart, there liveth not in "whom I have so good hope and trust, and in whom "my heart rejoiceth, and my soul comforteth herself, as "in you; not the thousand part so much for your learn"ing, and what other gifts else you have, as because you "will creep alow by the ground, and walk in those K "things |