as they agree together in profession of Christ's
name, so agree they now together in preparation of a common power,
in defence of Christendom against our common enemy the Turk. And I
trust in God that this shall not only help us here to strengthen us
in this war, but also that, as God hath caused them to agree
together in the defence of his name, so shall he graciously bring
them to agree together in the truth of his faith. Therefore will I
let God work, and leave off contention. And I shall now say nothing
but that with which they who are themselves of the contrary mind
shall in reason have no cause to be discontented.

First, as for purgatory: Though they think there be none, yet since
they deny not that all the corps of Christendom for so many hundred
years have believed the contrary, and among them all the old
interpreters of scripture from the apostles' days down to our time,
many of whom they deny not for holy saints, these men must, of
their courtesy, hold my poor fear excused, that I dare not now
believe them against all those. And I beseech our Lord heartily for
them, that when they depart out of this wretched world, they find
no purgatory at all--provided God keep them from hell!

As for the merit of man in his good works, neither are those who
deny it fully agreed among themselves, nor is there any man almost
of them all that, since they began to write, hath not somewhat
changed and varied from himself. And far the more part are thus far
agreed with us: Like as we grant them that no good work is worth
aught toward heaven without faith; and that no good work of man is
rewardable in heaven of its own nature, but through the mere
goodness of God, who is pleased to put so high a price upon so poor
a thing; and that this price God setteth through Christ's passion,
and also because they are his own works with us (for no man worketh
good works toward God unless God work with him); and as we grant
them also that no man may be proud of his works for his own
imperfect working, because in all that he may do he can do God no
good, but is an unprofitable servant, and doth but his bare
duty--as we, I say, grant them these things, so this one thing or
twain do they grant us in turn: That men are bound to work good
works if they have time and power, and that whosoever worketh in
true faith most, shall be most rewarded. But then they add to this
that all his reward shall be given him for his faith alone and
nothing for his