htly tryfle it of and excuse it / sayinge that it is but
light / and small: for synne is not to be considered of the
matier / and manier of the action only / but of the force
poure / and dignitie of Godds worde which doth forbidd it. And
yet les I shuld seeme to be to rigorus and strayte in this
matier of massehauntinge / let ther be hadd a consideracion / or
difference of the matier / and doinge.

And truly I can not see / how this kinde of synne and doinge can
be iudged to be light / or small / seing that it is a
transgression committed against the furst table of the lawe / in
which the worship due vntto Godd is commaunded which worshipp
being sownde and safe in a man other vices and synnes ar the more
easily corrected: And agayn this being corrupted / all other
actes are most vnacceptable vnto Godd. Whordom by Godds lawe is
to be punyshed by deathe / yet is it a synne but against the
.ii. table. And what shal we thincke then of spirituall
whordome? how seuerely doth Godd iudge it? how sharply ought it
to be punished? If therfor thow dost consider the commandement
which thou breakest / it is of God: If the matier / it is
aganist the furst table and therfore thys synne is the more
heynus and weightie. Besids this / our men do counte this Masse
hauntinge a fault to be either contemned / or not so depely to
be considered in theim bicause they do not synne with mynde will
and affection / but as it wer compelled and of necessite. But I
aske them / what manier a violence and compulsion this is
throughe which that necessite commithe of which they make their
excuse? Truly they can not saye that it is ony other / then
bicause they wolde not ronne into the daunger of the losse of
their Goodes / their estimacion and lyfe.

[[Aristote. Ethi. lib. 3.]]

This is then no absolute necessite but such a one as risith of
ther own corrupt affection and will, wich prouith that their
action is voluntarie. As Aristotle in his Ethicks doth saye of
the losse which shippmen do suffer in a tempest / which do cast
out of their ship al their Goodes when they be in daunger of
shipp wracke: They seame truly to be compelled to do it / and
yet willingly they do it / and therfor they are sayed .To do.
bicause that withe deliberacion and aduise / they do determin /
both with iudgement and will / rather to abide the losse of their
goddes / then of their lyfe. Which thinge as the mariners do
wisely determyne / so our men do folishly / which for t