/ That thoughe the Masse be not the Lords supper / but
an Idolatrie / yet is not the presence at it so earnestly to be
forbidden / seing that such thinges haue been graunted vnto the
Infirmities of men: If a man do aske them wheare:

[[Naman.]]

They do bringe forth the Example of Naaman the Syrian / and by
it they will neades haue it made Lawfull vnto them to
communicate with wicked supersticions.

[[4. Reg. 5.]]

for he prayed Heliseus / saye they / that he might be suffred to
kneele in the temple of Rymmon that Idoll / when the kinge did
worshipp / and leane vppon his arme. whom the prophet answered /
goo in peace. And that / saye they / which was permitted vnto
Naaman / whi do ye forbyd vnto vs? ffurst theise men shuld weye
with them selues / whether that we only haue redde this Example
of Naaman / or not. So we thincke that the holy Apostles and
Martirs of the olde churche which wer occupied nighte and daye
in the holy scriptures / did not consider this acte and Example?
Truly they wer not ignorant of the historie / yet did they neuer
knowe this vnderstandinge of it: for if they did / whi then
wolde they not folow this example / especially when they might
therby haue saued their lyues?

But these holy and godly learned men did see that thinge in this
historie / which our men do not consider / namely this / that
Naaman now newly conuerted to the faithe was a smoking flaxe which
was not to be putt out / a weake and shaken reade which was not
to be brosed in peices / and that as yet he was very weake / for
he was not yet prepared and readye to denye and forsake hymself
and all that was his for goddes sake. He thought that it might
comme to pas that he shuld together with the knowledge of the
Lyuing godd / easili holde and keape still his old place /
office / and dignitie / if he coulde happen to haue that / which
he desired of the prophet: And when he did well perceyue that
this was his infirmitie and synne / it trobled himso that
therfor he desired the prayers and helpe of Heliseus: he desired
hym / that if he shuld happen to fall into this euill / yeat
that he might be fauored / that he mighte finde mercie / and that
Heliseus wold praye that the Lorde wolde forgyue hym. Who doth
at ony tyme aske forgyuenes for that which he accomptithe
Lawfull? forgyuenes is asked for synnes only / Naaman therfor
acknowledged this his acte to be a synne: And if I so fall (quod
he) then praye the Lorde to forgyue me. T