MarginaliaAn. 1555. October.holy ghost in the Psalmes, hymmes, and spirituall songes which are setforth in the Bible, did teach and instruct all the people of England in the English tounge, that they might aske such thynges as are according to the wil of the father, and might ioyne their hartes and lippes in prayer together: MarginaliaIn King Edwardes time the people knew what they prayed: in Q. Maries time they neyther knew what, nor to whom they prayed.but now all these thinges are commaunded to be hid and shut vp from them in a straunge tounge, whereby it must needes follow, that the people neyther can tell how to pray nor what to pray for: and how can they ioyne their hartes and voyce together when they vnderstand no more what the voyce signifyeth, then a brute beast.

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Finally, I heare say that the Cathechisme which was lately set forth in the English toung, is now in euery pulpit condemned.MarginaliaThe Catechisme set forth in King Edwardes time for children: in Q. Maries time forbidden. Oh deuilish malice, and most spitefully iniurious to the saluation of mankind purchased be IESVS CHRIST. In deede Sathan could not long suffer that so great light should be spread abroad in the world: he saw well inough that nothing was able to ouerthrow his kingdome so much, as if childrē being godly enstructed in religion, should learne to know CHRIST whilest they are yet young: wherby not onely Children, but the elder sort also & aged folkes that before were not taught to know CHRIST in their childhode, should now euen with children & babes be forced to learne to know him. Now therefore he roareth, now hee rageth. But what els do they (brethrē) which serue Satan and become hys ministers and slaues in maintaining of this impiety, but euē the same which they did, to whom CHRIST our Sauiour threatneth this curse in the Gospell: MarginaliaMath. 23.MarginaliaThe Catholicke Phariseis neyther enter themselues, nor will suffer other to enter gods kingdome.VVo vnto you which shut vp the kingdome of heauen before men, and take away the key of knowledge from thē: you your selues haue not entred in, neither haue you suffered them that would enter to come in. And from whence shall we say (brethren) that this horrible and mischeuous darkenes proceedeth, whych is nowe brought vpō the world? From whence I pray you, but euen from MarginaliaApoc. 9.the smoke of the great furnace the bottomles pit, so that the Sunne & the ayre are now darkned by the smoke of the pit? Now, euē now (out of doubt brethren) MarginaliaThe pit of the locusts opened.the pit is opened amongest vs, and the Locustes begyn to swarme, and Abbadon now raygneth.

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Ye therfore (my brethren) which pertain vnto CHRIST and haue MarginaliaApoca. 7.the seale of God marked in your foreheades, that is to wyt, are sealed with the earnest of the spirite to be a peculiar people vnto God, quite your selues lyke men and be strong, for Marginalia1. Iohn. 5.he that is in vs, is stronger then he which is in the world: and ye knowe that all that is borne of God ouercommeth the world, & this is our victorye that ouercommeth the world, euen our faith. Let the world freate, let it rage neuer so much, be it neuer so cruell and bloudy, MarginaliaExhortation to stand constant in Christ and his truth.yet be sure that no man can take vs out of the fathers handes, for he is greater then all: who hath not spared his own sonne, but hath geuen hym to death for vs all, and therefore how shall he not with him geue vs all thinges also? Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods elect? It is God that iustifieth, who shal then condemne? It is CHRIST that is dead, yea rather which is rysen agayne, who is also at the right hand of God, and maketh request also for vs. MarginaliaRoma. 8.Who shal seperate vs from the loue of CHRIST? Shall tribulation, or anguish, or persecution, or famine, or nakednes, or peryll, or sword? the reste ye know brethren. We are certainly persuaded with S. Paule by the grace of our Lorde IESVS CHRIST, that no kinde of thing shal be able to separate vs from the loue of God which is in CHRIST IESVS our Lord. Which thing, that it may come to passe by the grace and mercy of our Lord IESVS CHRIST, to the comfort both of you and of vs all, as we for our partes wyll continually (God wylling) pray for you: so (deare brethren in the Lord) with all earnest and harty request we beseche you, euen in the bowels of our Lord IESVS CHRIST, that ye will not cease to pray for vs. Fare ye well deare brethrē. The grace of our Lord IESVS CHRIST be with you all euermore, Amen.

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Yours in the Lord Nich. Ridley.

MarginaliaAn other letter of B. Ridley answering one M. West sometime hys Chaplayn.I Wish you grace in God and loue of the truth, without the which truly stablished in mens harts by the mighty hand of almighty God, it is no more possible to stād by the truth in CHRIST in time of trouble, then it is for the waxe to abide þ^e heat of the fire. Sir, know you this, that I am (blessed be God) persuaded that this world is but transitory, and (as S. Iohn saythMarginalia1. Iohn. 2.) the world passeth away

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and the lust therof. I am persuaded CHRISTES wordes to be true: MarginaliaMath. 10.VVhosoeuer shall cōfesse me before men, hym will I confesse also before my father which is in heauen: and I beleue that no earthly creature shalbe saued, whō þ^e redemer & Sauiour of the world shall before his father deny.MarginaliaNo creature can be saued, which Christ denyeth before his father. This the Lord graunt, that it may be so graffed, established, and fixed in my hart, that neither thinges present nor to come, highe nor low, life nor death be able to remoue me thence. It is a goodly wish that you wish me deepely to consider thinges pertaining vnto Gods glory: but if you had wished also that neither feare of death, nor hope of worldly prosperity should let me to maintaine Gods word & his truth, which is his glory and true honour, it would haue liked me well. You desire me for Gods sake to remember my selfe. MarginaliaWhat it is for a man well to remember himselfe.In deede Syr, now it is tyme so to do, for so farre as I can perceiue, it standeth me vpon no lesse daūger, then of the losse both of body and soule, and I trow then it is time for a man to awake, if any thing will awake him. He that will not Marginalia
Luke. 12
Feare of God.feare him that threatneth to cast both body and soule into euerlastyng fire, whō will he feare? With this feare, O Lord, fasten thou together our fraile flesh, that we neuer swarue from thy lawes. You say you haue made much sute for me. Syr, MarginaliaB. Ridley refuseth to haue sute made for him.God graunt that you haue not in suyng for my worldly deliueraunce, empayred and hindered the furtheraunce of Gods word and his truth.

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You haue knowne me long in deede: in þ^e which tyme it hath chaunced me (as you say) to mislyke some things. It is true, I graunt: for sodaine chaunges without substantiall and necessary cause, and the heady settyng forth of extremities, I did neuer loue. MarginaliaConfession to the minister in the way of asking counsayle, not misliked.Confession vnto the minister which is hable to instruct, correct, comfort, and informe the weake, wounded, and ignoraunt conscience, in deede I euer thought might do much good in CHRISTES cōgregation, & so, I assure you, I thinke euen at this day. My doctrine and my preachyng you say you haue heard often, and after your iudgement haue thought it godly, sauing onely for the Sacrament, which thyng although it was of me reuerently handledMarginaliaB. Ridley euer a Reuerend handler of the Sacrament. and a great deale better then of the rest (as you say) yet in the margēt you write warely, and in this world wisely: and yet me thought all sounded not well. Syr, but that I see so many chaunges in this world and so much alteration, els at this your saying I would not a litle maruaile. I haue taken you for my frend, and a man whom I fansied for plaines and faithfulnes, as much (I assure you) as for your learnyng: & haue you kept this so close in your hart from me vnto this day? Sir, I consider moe things then one, and will not say all that I thinke. But what neede you to care what I thinke, for any thyng I shalbe able to do vnto you, either good or harme? You geue me good lessons to stand in nothyng agaynst my learnyng and to beware of vayne glory.  

Truly Syr, I herein like your counsell very well, and by Gods grace I entend to folow it vnto my liues ende.

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To write vnto those whom you name, I can not see what it will auayle me.  

For this I would haue you know, that I esteme nothing auailable for me, which also will not further the glory of God.MarginaliaThe part of a true B. only to seke the glory of Christ his master. And now, because I perceiue you haue an entire zeale and desire of my deliuerance out of this captiuitie and worldly misery, if I should not beare you a good hart in God agayne, me thinke I were to blame. Syr how nigh the day of my dissolution and departure out of this world is at hand, I can not tell: the Lordes will be fulfilled how soone so euer it shall come. I know the Lordes wordes must be verified on me, that I shall appeare before the incorrupt iudge, and be countable to him of all my former life. And although the hope of his mercy is my shooteanker of eternall saluation, yet am I persuaded, that whosoeuer wittingly neglecteth and regardeth not to cleare his cōscience, he can not haue peace with God nor a liuely faith in his mercy. Consciēce therfore moueth me, consideryng you were one of my familie and one of my household, of whom then I thinke I had a speciall cure,   and of all thē which were within my house, which in deede ought to haue bene an example of godlines to all the rest of my cure, not onely of good life, but also in promotyng of Gods word to the vttermost of their power (but, alas, now when the tryall doth separate the chaffe from the corne, how small a deale it is, God knoweth, whiche the wynd doth not blow away): MarginaliaB. Ridley repenteth that he was not more ernest in stablishing the consciences of his famely and cure.this conscience I say, doth moue me to feare lest the lightnes of my family shalbe layd to my charge for lacke of more earnest and diligent instruction which should haue bene done. But blessed be God which hath geuen me grace to see this my default

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