Against proud Maisters and Authours of sects. 5. Of the manifold sinnes of the vnbridled
tongue. 12. The difference betwixt proud, contentious, and worldly wisedom, and that wisedom
which is heauenly, peaceable, modest, and so-forth.
1. BE yee not
*
Mt. 23,8.
many Maisters
Many Maisters.
Many Maisters are many proud Sect-Maisters.
He meaneth principally Sect-maisters that make themselues seueral Ring-leaders in sundry
forts of new deuised doctrines: euery one arrogating to himself to be Maister, and none
so humble as to be a scholer, either to God's Church and true Pastours, or to other
guides and Authours of the said Sects. So did Zuinglius disdaine to be Luthers
scholer, and Caluin to be the follower of Zuinglius.
, my Brethren, knowing that you receiue the greater iudgement.
2. For in many things we offend al.
*
Eccl. 14,1, 19,16.
If any man offend not in word; this is a perfect
man. He is able also with bridle to turne about the whole body.
3. And if we put bits into the mouths of horses that they may obey vs, we turne
about al their body also.
4. And behold, the ships, whereas they be great, and are driuen of strong winds: yet
are they turned about with a litle sterne whither the violence of the directour wil.
5. So the tongue also is certes a litle member, and
✟
μεγαλαυχεῖ.
vaunteth great things. Behold how
✟
' litle
much fire what a great wood it kindleth?
6. And the tongue, is fire, a whole world of iniquitie. The tongue is set among our
members, which defileth the whole bodie, and inflameth the wheele of our natiuitie, inflamed of hel.
7. For al nature of beasts & soules & serpents & of the rest is tamed & hath been tamed
by the nature of man:
8. But the tongue no man can tame, an vnquiet euil, ful of deadly poison.
9. By it we blesse God and the Father, & by it we curse men which are made after
the similitude of God.
10. Out of the self-same mouth proceedeth blessing & cursing. These things must not
be so done, my Brethren.
11. Doth the fountaine giue forth out of one hole sweet and soure water?
12. Can, my Brethren, the figge-tree yeald grapes, or the vine, figges? So neither
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' can it yeald salt & sweet water.
can the salt water yeald sweet.
13. Who is wise and hath knowledge among you? Let him shew by good conuersation his
working in mildnesse of wisedom.
14. But if you haue bitter zeale, and there be contentions in you harts; glorie not
and be not liers against the truth.
15. For this is not
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The difference betwixt the humane wisedom, specially of heretikes; & the wisedom
of the Catholike Church & her children.
wisedom descending from aboue: but earthly, sensual, diuelish.
16. For where zeale and contention is, there is inconstancie, and euery peruerse worke.
17. But the wisedom that is from aboue, first certes is chast; then peaceable, modest,
suasible, consenting to the good, ful of mercie and good fruits not iudging, without simulation.
18. And the fruit of iustice, in peace is sowed, to them that make peace.