The obedience of a Christian man by William Tyndale (Available from Amazon or free here) - Read the sections entitled 'Of miracles...' and 'Of prayer'.
Firstly Tyndale criticises the miracles that were done by the Roman Catholic saints for pulling people away from the truth: '...the miracles of antichrist are done to pull thee from the word of God, and from believing his promises, and from Christ, and to put thy trust in a man, or a Christ, ceremony wherein God's word is not. As soon as God's word is believed, the faith spread abroad, then cease the miracles of God.'
Then Tyndale condemns the prayers of monks and friars: 'Prayer is the longing for God's promises; which promises, as they preach them not, so long they not for them, nor wish them unto any man. Their longing is to fill their paunch whom they serve, and not Christ : and through sweet preaching and flattering words deceive the hearts of the simple and unlearned.'
I enjoyed Tyndale's description of a hypothetical meeting with Paul: 'If Paul were here and loved me, (as he loved them his time of whom he was sent, and to whom he was a servant to preach Christ,) what gfood could he do for me or wish me, but preach Christ and pray to God for me, to open mine heart, to give me his Spirit, and to bring me unto the full knowledge of Christ? unto which port or haven, when I am once come, I am as safe as Paul, fellow with Paul, joint heir with Paul of all the promises of God, and God's truth heareth my prayer as well as Paul's.'
Paul is not to be worshipped and adored. And he would be the first to tell you!
Next week's reading
Commence the section entitled 'The four senses of the Scripture' by reading up to the paragraph beginning 'And as they are false prophets, which prove with allegories, similitudes, and world reasons, that which is no where made mention of in the Scripture;'.
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
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