William Roye's Diälogue between a Christi;m Fatlier arid his stubborn Son.
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gospell of. S. Jhon. and [fol. 38 b .] in Paulis pistle j. Cor. x. xi. xij.
to the Corinthians. which from the begynnynge to the ende
sownde nothynge but fayth and thankes gevynge to the lorde, and
love to oure brethren. And* therfore ought we none wother wyse
to vnderstonde theym. Wherfore with theym that despyse this
Christis remembraunce, and persever in the worckes of darcknes
(as are, dronckardes, whoremongers, and soche wother,
descrybed in the fyft chapter of the fyrst pistle to the Corrinthians,
and in the fyft of the Ephesians) loke thowe in
no wyse kepe Company, and that thou breake not the lordis
bred with theym. But at all times se thou fervently in Christis
name desyre of god thy father to grownde the in the trewe
love and perfett belefe. and to graunt the, the trewe vnderstondynge
of his godly worde and will. For the kyngdom of
god stondeth nether in outwarde thynges, nor in transitory
wordes but only in the power of god. Thougli thou never so
gretly beleve, excepte it live in thy liert, it is before god of
none effecte. Further to procede in our fyrst purpose, An holy
Company of sayntes. Sou. Wliat is that to saye. Fa. Here
with I knowledge as many as are parte takers with vs of this
exteriall baptem, and Christis super (yf they with pu- [fol. 39".]
re faythe and charite declare theym selves as members of
Christis body) to be saintos, and amonge theym selves to liave
all thynges commen. Son. What are they which are not of
this commenalte ? Fa. As many as come not therinto Joan x.
throwe Christ, as are all Jewes, hethen, heretykes, and open
synners, which ymagen another maner of belefe and livinge
after their owne fantasy. Whom we diligently ought to flye as
authours, and bryngers vppe of sectes, and inventours of newe
learnynges, and gevers more occasion vnto stryfe, then to rnayntayne
peace and vnite. Wherfore we ought more to embrace
/thynges grownded in scripture, and aproved by the Company
of sainctes, then presomteously to geve credence, or to approve
eny strawnge, or newe fangled learnyng. And for this purpose
shulde none of Christis congregacion be.agreved to bestowe the
geftes geven vnto theym for the weltli and profit of their even
Christen. For loke as one member of the body is j- Co. xij.
ayde and healpe vnto the whoale, even so ought eache one of
vs to be vnto oure brethren. It shulde also be no more