VOLUME 3

AN ANSWERE VNTO SIR THOMAS MORES DIALOGE

LOCATION
KEY Commentary Side Textual Bibliographic Scriptural

In the .xij. he allegeth that S. Hierom and Augustine prayed to sayntes / and concludeth / that if any secte be one better then a nother they be the beste. I answere / though he coude proue that they prayed to saintes / yet coude he not proue him selfe therby of the best secte ner that it were good therfore to praye to saintes. For first the apostles / patriarkes and prophetes were sure to befolowed / which prayed to nonne. And agayne / a good man might erre in many thynges and not be damned / so that his erroure were not directly agenst the promises that are in christes bloude / nether that he held them maliciously. As if I beleued that the soules were in heuen immediatly and that they praid for vs / as we doo one for a nother / and did beleue that they herd all that we spake or thought / and vppon that prayed to some saint / to praye for me / to put him in remembraunce only / as I praye my neyboure / and with out other trust or confidence and though al be false / yet shuld I not be damned / so longe as I had no obstinacie therin / for the faith that I haue in christes bloude shuld swalowe vp that erroure / tyll I were better taught / but master More shuld haue alleged the places where they prayed vn to sayntes.

175/10–18 we affirme . . . therto. A concise account of God's justifying grace according to Tyndale. It is the impression upon the heart of love for God's law, now known in its "swetnesse" and so affirmed as good and consented to. This differs from Luther, for whom grace is the saving verdict of forgiveness propter Christum ("for Christ's sake"), a verdict that delivers a person from the law's condemnation. (JW)

175/13 powred . . . soules. Cf. Gal. 4.6.

175/17 swetnesse in his law. Cf. Ps. 119.103.

175/18–19 we can doo . . . euell. Cf. Matt. 12.35, Luke 6.45.

175/19–20 seke . . . trueth. Cf. John 5.44.

And then he allegeth agenst him self / that the miracles were wrought by god / to confirme his doctrine and to testifie that the preacher therof was a true mesinger. But the miracles that confirme praienge to saintes / doo not confirme gods doctrine. But mannes imaginacions. For there was neuer man yet that came forth and saide / loo / the soules of the sayntes that be deed

175/21–22 hores . . . god. Cf. 1 Cor. 6.9–10.