EPISTLE

TO THE CHRISTIAN READER.

As in the folio edition (1573,) of the Works of Tyndale, Frith, and Barnes, the Antithesis annexed to the "Revelation of Antichrist" is reprinted, and which makes a part of the present volume, it appeared necessary to the completion of Frith's Works, to add the Epistle to the Christian Reader, prefixed to the same Treatise, which was as probably written by him as the Antithesis. The following is the title of the book:

A Pistle to

the Christen reader

The Revelation of Antichrist.
Antithesis/ wherein are compa
red to geder Christes actes
and oure holye father
the Popes.

Colophon:

At Malborow in the lande of Hes

se the xij day of Julye / An

no M.CCCCC.XXIX.

by me Hans

Luft.

RICHARD BRIGHTWELL UNTO THE CHRISTIAN

READER.

GRACE, mercy, and the peace of God passing all Phill. iii.
understanding, which is the sure confidence of re-
mission of sin in the blood of Christ, and perfect trust
of the heritage of everlasting life in the same Christ our
Lord, be with thee, Christian reader, and with all that
call upon the name of Jesus. Albeit there was nothing
that Christ spake, being present among us in this mortal
life, but it had a quickness, spirit, and comfort: yet John vi.
chiefly of all this warning precessed (in my judgment)
all other words, where he exhorted us, while we had
light to believe in the light, that we might be the chil-
dren of light. And again, Yet a little while is the light John xii.
with you, walk while ye have light, lest the darkness

come on you; for he that walketh in the dark wotteth
not whither he goeth. Who is this light that we are
exhorted to believe in?

Truly it is Christ, as St. John

doth testify. He was the true light that lighteneth all John i.
men which come into the world. To believe in this
light maketh us the children of light, and the sure in-
heritors with Jesus Christ. Even now have we cruel
adversaries which set up their bristles, saying, Why,
then, shall we do no good works? To these we answer
as Christ did to the people in the vi. of St. John, which
asked him what they should do that they might work
the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them,
This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom
he hath sent; and after it followeth, Verily verily I say
unto you, he that believeth on me hath everlasting life.
To this also condescendeth St. John, in his Epistle,

1

1 John v.

James ii.

Heb. ii.
1 Cor. xv.

saying, These things have I written unto you that be-
lieve on the name of the Son of God, that you may
surely know that you have eternal life.
have eternal life. What is the

name of the Son of God? Truly his name is Jesus, that is to say, a Saviour; therefore thou must believe that he is a Saviour. But what availeth this? The devils do thus believe and tremble. They know that he Matt. viii. is the Son of God, and said unto him, crying, O Jesu, the Son of God, what have we to do with thee? They know that he hath redeemed mankind by his passion, and laboured to let it; for when Pilate was set down to Matt.xxvii. give judgment, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man, for I have suffered many things this day in my sleep about him. No doubt she was vexed by the devil, to the intent that she should persuade her husband to give no sentence upon him, so that the longer Satan over mankind might have Hosea xiii. had jurisdiction. They know that he suppressed sin and death, as it is written, Death is consumed in victory. Death, where is thy sting? hell, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin. The strength of sin is the law. But thanks be unto God, which hath given us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ, which by sin damned sin in the flesh, for God made him to be sin for us, (that is to say, a sacrifice for our sin, and so is sin taken in many places of the two Testaments,) which knew no sin, that we by his means should be that righteousness which before God is allowed. It is not therefore sufficient to believe that he is a Saviour and Redeemer, but that he is a Saviour and Redeemer unto thee; and this canst thou not confess, except thou knowledge thyself to be a sinner, for he that thinketh himself no sinner, needeth no Saviour and Redeemer. And of these Christ saith, I came not to call righteous men, (that is to say, them that think themselves no sinners, for in very deed there is none righteous, no not one,) but sinners to repentance. For they which are strong have no need of

1 John v.

Rom. viii. 2 Cor. v.

Matt. ix.
Ps. xxxiii.
Rom. iii.

Matt. ix.

a physician, but they that are sick. Therefore knowledge thyself a sinner, that thou mayest be justified. Not that the numbering of thy sins can make thee righteous. But rather a greater sinner, yea and a blasphemer of the holy name of God, as thou mayest see in Cain, which said that his sins were greater than he might Gen. iii. receive forgiveness of God, and so was reprobate. Thou must keep therefore an order in thy justification, first considering what the law requireth on thee, which truly bindeth thee now to as much as though thou were in the state of innocency, and commandeth thee to be without concupiscence, which is original sin. Condemning the infants (that are not baptized in his blood) for this original sin, (yet could they not do withal,) which God of justice would not do except they had transgressed his law, and were bound to be without this concupiscence. If thou wouldest reason, why God doth thus, take Paul's answer, O man, what art thou which disputest with God? Rom. ix. Know this, that it is God which giveth the sentence, with whom is no iniquity, but all justice and mercy. Howbeit if thou ask me, Why he bindeth us also (which are come to perfect understanding) to that which is impossible for us to accomplish? thou shalt have St. Augustin's answer, which saith in the second book he wrote to Hierome, that the law was given us, that we might know what to do and what to eschew, to the intent that when we see ourselves not able to do that which we are bound to, nor avoid the contrary, that then we may know what we shall pray for; and of whom we shall ask this strength; so that we may say unto our Father, Good Father, command whatsoever it pleaseth thee: and give us grace to fulfil that thou commandest. And when we perceive that we cannot fulfil his will, yet let us confess that the law is good and holy, and that we are sinners and carnal, sold under sin; but Rom. vii.

let us not here stick, for now we are at hell gates, and

truly should fall into utter desperation, except God did