HAIL & FIRE - a resource for Reformed and Gospel Theology in the works, exhortations, prayers, and apologetics of those who have maintained the Gospel and expounded upon the Scripture as the Eternal Word of God and the sole authority in Christian doctrine.
HAIL & FIRE - a resource for Reformed and Gospel Theology in the works, exhortations, prayers, and apologetics of those who have maintained the Gospel and expounded upon the Scripture as the Eternal Word of God and the sole authority in Christian doctrine.

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"The world may look in vain for 'free will' and pretend to it, but the heart that is alive is alive to righteousness, is dead to sin, is captive to the law which is written upon it by God, and is free to serve and keep that law. So it is upon this earth and in this mortal being; and so in heaven where the soul, unhindered by the mortal flesh, is made eternally free to practice righteousness according to godliness - its very life and will and desire." Hail & Fire, 2011

"Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law." Rom 3:27-28

Click to Read Authority of the Scripture by William Tyndale - Hail and Fire - Doctrine

Click to Read Answer to Sir Thomas More's Dialogue by William Tyndale - Hail and Fire Book Library

Click to Read About the life of William Tyndale - Hail and Fire Book Library

HOME > Doctrine > On Faith and Good Works - an excerpt from Answer to Sir Thomas More's Dialogue by William Tyndale
"Hereof ye see that I cannot be justified without repentance; and yet repentance justifieth me not." William Tyndale

Martyrdom of William Tyndale by strangulation and burning at the stake, 1536, Foxe's Acts & Monuments

William Tyndale (1494-1536ad) Reformer, Bible Translator and Protestant Martyr, 1536

"Christ forbideth his disciples and that oft (as thou mayest see Mat 18 and also 20, Mar 9 and also 10, Luk 9 and also 22, even at his last supper) not only to climb above lords, kings and emperors in worldly rule, but also to exalt themselves one above another in the kingdom of God. But in vain: for the Pope would not hear it: though he had commanded it ten thousand times, God's Word should rule only and not bishops' decrees or Pope's pleasure. That ought they to preach purely and spiritually and to fashion their lives thereafter and with all example of godly living and long suffering, to draw all to Christ: and not to expound the scriptures carnally and worldly saying: 'God spake this to Peter and I am his successor, therefore his authority is mine only:' and then bring in the tyranny of their fleshly wisdom, in presentia maioris cessat potestas minoris that is, in the presence of the greater the less hath no power. There is no brotherhood where such philosophy is taught.” William Tyndale, "The Obedience of a Christian Man," 1528.

On Faith and Good Works

an excerpt from:

"Answer to Sir Thomas More's Dialogue"

William Tyndale

"When the great multitude, that be called and not chosen, Cain, Ishmael, Esau, and carnal Israel, that serve God night and day with bodily service and holy works, such as they were wont to serve their idols withal, behold little flock, that they come not forth in the service of God, they roar out, 'Where art thou? Why comest thou not forth and takest holy water?' 'Wherefore?' saith little flock. 'To put away thy sins.' 'Nay, brethren, God forbid that ye should so think; help his brother with; and God that is a spirit cannot be served therewith: neither can such things enter into the soul, to purge her; for God's word only is her purgation.'"

"But little flock, as soon as he is persuaded that there is a God, he runneth not unto his own imaginations, but unto the messenger that called him, and of him asketh how he shall serve God: as little Paul (Acts 9), when Christ had over­thrown him, and caught him in his net, asked, saying, "Lord, what wilt thou that I do?" and as the multitude that were converted (Acts 2) asked of the apostles, what they should do. And the preacher setteth the law of God before them; and they offer their hearts, to have it written therein, consenting that it is good and righteous. And because they have run clean contrary unto that good law, they sorrow and mourn; and because, also, their bodies and flesh are otherwise disposed. But the preacher comforteth them, and sheweth them the testament of Christ's blood; how that for his sake all that is done is forgiven, and all their weakness shall be taken a worth, until they be stronger, only if they repent, and will submit themselves to be scholars, and learn to keep this law. And little flock receiveth this testament in his heart, and in it walketh and serveth God in the spirit. And from henceforth all is Christ with him; and Christ is his, and he is Christ's. All that he receiveth he receiveth of Christ, and all that he doth he doth to Christ. Father, mother, master, lord and prince, are Christ unto him; and as Christ he serveth them, with all love. His wife, children, servants and subjects, are Christ unto him; and he teacheth them to serve Christ, and not himself and his lusts. And if he receive any good thing of man, he thanketh God in Christ, which moved the man's heart. And his neighbour he serveth as Christ in all his need, of such things as God hath lent; because that all degrees are bought, as he is, with Christ's blood. And he will not be saved for serving his brethren; neither promiseth his brethren heaven for serving him. But heaven, justifying, forgiveness, all gifts of grace, and all that is promised them, they receive of Christ, and by his merits freely. And of that which they have received of Christ, they serve each other freely, as one hand doth the other; seeking for their service no more than one hand doth of another, each the other's health, wealth, help, aid, succour, and to assist one another in the way of Christ. And God they serve in the spirit only, in love, hope, faith and dread.

When the great multitude, that be called and not chosen, Cain, Ishmael, Esau, and carnal Israel, that serve God night and day with bodily service and holy works, such as they were wont to serve their idols withal, behold little flock, that they come not forth in the service of God, they roar out, 'Where art thou? Why comest thou not forth and takest holy water?' 'Wherefore?' saith little flock. 'To put away thy sins.' 'Nay, brethren, God forbid that ye should so think; help his brother with; and God that is a spirit cannot be served therewith: neither can such things enter into the soul, to purge her; for God's word only is her purgation.' 'No!' say they, 'are not such things hallowed? and say we not in the hallowing of them, that whosoever is sprinkled with the water, or eateth of the bread, shall receive health of soul and body?' ' Sir, the blessings promised unto Abraham, for all nations, are in Christ; and out of his blood we must fetch them, and his word is the bread, salt, and water of our souls. God hath given you no power to give, through your charms, such virtue unto unsensible creatures, which he hath hallowed himself, and made them all clean (for the bodily use of them that believe) through his word of promise and permission, and our thanksgiving. God saith, If thou believe St John's gospel, thou shalt be saved; and not for the bearing of it about thee with so many crosses, or for the observing of any such observances.'

'God, for thy bitter passion,' roar they out by and by, 'what an heretic is this! I tell thee that holy church need to allege no scripture for them; for they have the Holy Ghost, which inspireth them ever secretly, so that they cannot err, whatsoever they say, do, or ordain. What, wilt thou despise the blessed sacraments of holy church, wherewith God hath been served this fifteen hundred years?' (yea, verily this five thousand years, even since Cain hitherto, and shall endure unto the world's end, among them that have no love unto the truth, to be saved thereby) 'thou art a strong heretic, and worthy to be burnt.' And then he is excommunicate out of the church. If little flock fear not that bug, then they go straight unto the king: 'And it like your grace, perilous people, and seditious, and even enough to destroy your realm, if ye see not to them betimes. They be so obstinate and tough, that they will not be converted, and rebellious against God and the ordinances of his holy church. And how much more shall they so be against your grace, if they increase and grow to a multitude! They will pervert all, and surely make new laws, and either subdue your grace unto them, or rise against you.' And then goeth a part of little flock to pot, and the rest scatter. Thus hath it ever been, and shall ever be: let no man therefore deceive himself. "

William Tyndale - an exerpt from:
"Answer to Sir Thomas More's Dialogue." (Read the full text edition online Free) »



"For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith." 1 Joh 5:3-4 KJV
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