not ignoraunt of it And yet the B. of Rome ascribeth that mater that is to say forgeuenesse of synnes after suche sorte to him self that he wickedly ê‘uerteth many places of the scripture and exerciceth the greatest parte of his tyraÌ„nye vnder pÌ„tese of it For hereof sprong the harde holding disputacion of the Keyes of power to bynde and lose of the feding of Christes shepe of other maters in numerable Hereof proceded auricular confessioÌ„ priestishe mumming absolucioÌ„ practiceing of countrefait penaunce the sheoppe of cases reserued the markettes of pardons and infinite other mo thinges ymagined to torment mennes confiences with all All which thinges if we loke more narowly vpoÌ„ them do attribute to the B. of Rome and to his massing sacrificers which are men drowned in the synke of all naughtynesse to his cloistred monkes chanones friers bishoppes and cardinailes what so euer are the offices of none other but of the only grace and power of God and of the merite of Christ Wherfore in this point he also maketh him self God and is exalted aboue the only true God Neuertheles I am not all ignorauÌ„t what answer aswel the bishops of R. them selfes as they that stowtely mayntene their partes will obiecte in this behalfe For the B. of Rome say they taketh not these maters other suche like vpon him selfe as though it were in his owne power to do them of him self but he exerciceth the power in that church which he receaued and was deliuered him of God that is to saye the power of God working by him towardes synners For the Lorde him self wypeth awaye all this excuse which with his owne worde spoke to the purpose by Esaye the prophet the. 42. chap. saithe thus I am the Lorde this is my name and I will not geue my glorie to any other nor my praise to grauen ymages And what other glorie is it that the Lorde receaueth of vs but that those what glorie God receaueth of vs. which be faithfull folkes acknowlage him to be their saueour redemour iustifiour sanctifiour and the onlye autour of their saluacioÌ„ These thinges in asmuche as he geueth to none other and specially to grauen ymages whom he excedingly abhorreth truly he wil not also geue them to the B. of Rome nor yet hathe he graunted them to any other which by making and worshipping of Images are become like vnto them Ther is no cause therfore why the B. of Rome should saye he receaued those thinges of God which he of his owne temerarious and churche robbing sawcye entreprise hathe taken vpon him self To be brief if we will set all this aparte and loke vpon their owne Canones and decrees than we shal at leynght heare those wonderfull and presumptuous thinges which Antichrist according to Danieles ê“phecie is accustomed to bring out against the Lorde For they are not content to haue claymed to the B. of Rome the dominion of all the churche and of the hole compasse of christendome but they also write that he hathe suche power and autoritie either to commaunde or inhibite what he will at his pleasure that all men are bouÌ„den necessarily to obeye him yea euen in those maters which are scarcely tolerable that he commaundeth Besides this they procede further on saye that non other man hathe any autoritie at all to iudge of him and so attribute such autoritie vnto him that they saye he ought to be iudged of no mortal maÌ„ in what dede so euer he dothe But now let vs heare the beast him self speake Pope Agatho in his 19. dist Pope agatho writeth to all bishoppes on this sorte All the decrees of the see apostolike are so to be accepted as though they were coÌ„firmed by the diuine worde of Petre him self Again Boniface theight in his Extrauagauntes Com. Li. 1. Tit. De Maioritate Boniface the. 8. obedientia comprehendeth the hole mysterie of this beast in suche wise that if ther were non but that one only place it were hable to proue him to be the same that we saye he is For furst after he hathe proued that ther is but one churche he claymeth the supremacie and dominion of it to him self with a very goodly kynde of argument This ê™ he is the seameles coate which was not cut in pieces but came by casting of lottes And these wordes Boniface speaketh truly as the mater is in dede For if Christes coate the churche came to the bishoppes of Rome by castiÌ„g of lottes than truly they are not successours of the apostle Petre but of the most wicked hangmen that cast lottes for our Lordes coat vnder the crosse whan he him self loked vpoÌ„ theÌ„ Thus the barlot bewrayeth him self in his owne tale telliÌ„g But let vs tel on Therfore ther is but one bodye of one only churche and one head not two heades lyke a monstre that is to wete Christ and his vicare Petre and Petres successour What an open contradiction is in these wordes He saythe ther is but one head of the churche least he should make the churche a monstre And yet in thus sayeng he setteth two heades vpon it farre vnlyke the one to the other that is to saye Christ very true God and man and Petre a mortall man and a synner whych acknowlageth him selfe to be delyuered not by his owne righteousnesse but by the merite of Christ And yet for al that they thrust them self shamelesly in withal ThaÌ„ what shifte shal the most holy fathers make in this case Wil they say that Christ Petre are both but one the self same one That they can not be hable to doo in any wyse But they say not that Petre is the very head self but the vicare of Christ the very true head And thaÌ„ they make them selues successours to Petre. Nowe good meÌ„ at what tyme doth Christ the head departe from his body to geue place of vicarship vnto Petre WhaÌ„ also dothe the office glorie of the head returne vnto you if Christ and Petre be bothe absent Verily you seme to make the church like vnto those ymages which haue twoo heades the one for worke daies and the other being a more galaunt head they coÌ„monly weare at no tyme but vpoÌ„ their owne holydaies But least the father of this moÌ„stre Boniface might lightly haue ben laught to scorne he woulde grounde him self vpon the autoritie of scriptures For he saithe that these wordes ought thus to be beleued that our Lorde speaketh to Petre Fede my shepe Myne ê™ he and that generally not singularly these or those shepe by the which it is vnderstanden that he committed all vnto him vniuersally Therfore whether they be grekes or others the saye they were not coÌ„mitted vnto Petre his successours they must confesse of necessite that they are none of Christes shepe Wher as the Lorde saithe in Iohan that ther is but one shepefolde and one shepehearde Who is he that wolde not be astonied at this gaire brethreÌ„ who
Senacherib king of the Assirianes and the most wofull ende of many suche tirannes as they were Now let these suffice to be spoken in the fourth place concernyng Antichristes workes and practices Wherby it appeareth most manifestly as it dothe by the other sayenges that are meÌ„cioned before that the B. of Rome is that notable and mightie houge Antichrist whom God wold haue reuealed in the oracles of his worde by Daniel and the rest of the prophetes Now therfore let vs passe ouer vnto the fifthe special poiÌ„t of that we 5. Antichristes weapones haue in hande that we maye considre with what weapones Antichrist shal obteyne enlarge mayntene his kingdom And these it is necessary for vs to haue skilful knowlage of that we maye the more handsomly beware of them and arme our selues the more strongly against his tirannie For as in feates of warre it is a good piece of the victorie if a man can knowe his enemies weapons put by the strokes euen so the same is specially requisite for vs in this sore fraye of Christ our king And as for the hole furniture and all the weapones wherwith Antichrist dothe bothe defende him self make batail against other the apostle Paule in his seconde epistle to the Thessalonianes comprehendeth them all in fewe wordes sayeng that Antichrist shall come after the working of sataÌ„ with all power and with lyeng signes and wondres and with all deceaueablenesse of vnrighteousnesse In these wordes we must note brethren that the apostle saithe all Antichristes power al his streynght and all his weapones shal be deuillishe so that he teacheth vs that Antichrist shall ordre all his affaires after the working of sathan Therfore if we marke what kynde a thing the what the power of Sathan is power of sathan is we shall also most perfitly perceaue what Antichristes streynght and weapones be And albeit Paules wordes might suffice to make this mater playne yet let vs hear Christ the eternal wisdoÌ„ of God the father speake which talketh thus of sathan the prince of the worlde He was a murtherour from the begynnyng Io. 8. and stode not in the truthe for the truthe is not in him Whan he speaketh a lye he speaketh of his owne for he is a lyer and the father of lies Christ here comprehendeth all the streynght and all the weapones of the deuile in two kyndes murther lyeng By this worde Lyes he vnderstandeth Lieng al that is contrarie to the truthe and also his sleightes his giles his false fraudes and deceaueablenesse aswell in wordes dedes as in miracles doctrine And this terme Murther coÌ„teyneth al wrongful violeÌ„ce Murther al temerarious atteÌ„ptates al the force al the tirannie and all the power that men are violeÌ„tly pressed withal And that these haue ben alwaies that deuilles tooles weapones it is manifest by many examples sence the begynnyng of the worlde For thus he deceaued our furst pareÌ„tes with false ê“mises robbed them of paradise of their blessed state asmuche as in him laye he spoiled theÌ„ also of euerlasting life And afterwarde through murther he made warre bi their furst begoteÌ„ soÌ„ne Cayn against true religioÌ„ the folowers therof euer sithence he hathe shewed him self such a one as his furst frutes hade shewed that he wolde be Now seing the holy goost reporteth that Antichrist shal be armed with the deuilles weapons LyeÌ„g and murther it standeth vs in hande to trye these also to be in the B. of Rome whom scripture they haue for their trinkettes they are not ashamed to saye that they lacke that but they rather heape lies vpon lies and bring out a certain new lyeÌ„g blasphemous glose Tushe saye they al is not coÌ„teined in that scriptures that is necessary for man to obteyne saluacion by As for the autoritie of the holy goost they are not afraide of it which making answer to their blasphemous sayeng speaketh by the apostle S. Paule in plaine wordes All scripture geuen by inspiracion 2. Timo. 3. of God is profitable to teache to reproue to amende and to informe in righteousnesse that the man of God may be hole or perfite prepared to all good workes What can be spoken more clearely more pithily more euideÌ„tly thaÌ„ these wordes be The apostle Paule the chosen instrument of God being endued with the spirit of Christ saieth that all the scripture is inspired of God and that therfore it is profitable and effectuall not only to teache to monishe and amende but to this vse that also the man of God may be hole perfite and fitte to doo all thing that God iudgeth to be good is good in dede Howbeit those most shameles and most lyeng deceauours without reuerence to the autoritie of these wordes wher they dare not denye but the scripture is inspired of God yet they saye it is vnperfite and prate that all thinges are not conteyned in the scripture that man hathe nede of to saluacion and to religion And is God vnperfite O shameles impudencie Shall we cal that vnperfite which is set furth by god through the spirit of truthe and thinke that perfite and absolute which was inueÌ„ted by the rashe reason of man But Note well Paules wordes teache vs a greater mater yet thaÌ„ al this For if the scriptures make a man perfite fitte vnto all good workes than can it not be a good worke that is required hauing Good workes non autoritie of the scriptures to beare it therfore they shall neuer worthily be called good workes which they require besides the autoritte of the scriptures Let these vayne helhoundes lose and ridde them selues out of this knotte if they can But they must nedes fight with lyes the very owne propre weapons of satan that in thus speaking they may both plucke the vnlearned rude coÌ„mon people from the truthe of the scriptures and also to tye them to the licke peny tradicions of mennes deuising Yet to vttre them selues more openly they doo not only set vp these kinde of lies but also they fight with false tokens and lyeng woÌ„ders wherof Paule maketh mencioÌ„ here Christ hath biddeÌ„ vs to beware of theÌ„ For who is it that knoweth not the endles heape of tokens that flyering friers muÌ„myng massepriestes were wont to prate openly of in the papacie For somtyme they feyne that soules appeare make mone vnto them somtyme they declare miracles wrought by ymages somtyme they preache of wonders wrought by the bread God of the aultare infinit suche other trickes they ymagine dayly wherby they maye the more easily cheoppe men downe into the kyngdome of darkenesse hold theÌ„ downe surely whaÌ„ they haue them once ther. Therfore brethren to thintent we be False tokens not begiled herein we must note that ther be false signes wonders that by two maner of false meanes For furst ther are oftentymes signes feyned that are false in dede
might be obteyned with al that the B. of R. is the head the vniuersall bishop of all the churche as he that being successour of Petre the prīce of the apostles Christes vicare hath his sea in the principall churche And bycause this so ambicious and lickepeny lieng glose shoulde not lacke his countrefait colour these arrogaunt sawcy helhoūdes haue brought furth places of scripture violentlye wretchedly wrasted for their purpose And where as we reade that Christe sayd to Petre whan he confessed him to be the sonne of God Thou art Petre and vpon this rocke will I buylde my churche They sayde Christes wordes are thus to be vnderstanden that Christ made Petre the foundacion of hys churche and that al churches are bounden therfore of duetie to be vnder the obedience of Petres successour the B. of Rome Againe wher the Lorde saithe Petre fede my shepe these men haue expounded this worde fede so that they wold nedes haue the autoritie and supremacie of all bishoppes and churches geuen to the B. of Rome as vnto Petres successour They haue also violently wrasted this vnto the same purpose the Christ speaking of the keyes sayth What so euer thow shalt bynde in earthe shal be boūden in heauen and what so euer thow shalt lose on earthe shal be losed in heauen For they saide whom so euer either the B. of Rome him self or any other sacrificeing priest being consecrated by the B. of Romes autoritie assoiled was losed and ridde from the bondes of synnes and contrary wise that vnto whom so euer that maner of absolucion was denyed he was bounden still in the cheynes of synne and in the state of damnacion These toyes I saye and infinite other haue the subtil sleighty marchauntes beaten in to the eares and heartes of the common simple sorte And as sone as these maters beganne once to growe in to credence men beganne also to taste of the B. of Romes power and tirannye For if any mā hade so good a stomacke that he durst set his fote either against the B. of Rome or his he was straightwaies knocked in the head with the thonderbolt of excommunicacion and reputed of all men for a damned and an vndone man and thus the mater growed so farre furthe that euen most mighty emperours began to be afraide of the B. of Romes power For they spared not emperours but shotte of their ordinaunce at them also and commaunded straitly vnder great paynes that no mā should obey those emperours that were excommunicate as it is to see in the chronicles of the greke emperours by the vnworthy falles of the emperours Hēry ye. 4 5. Lewis ye. 4. Friderike ye. 1. 2. And doubtles albeit they did with al diligēt forsight resiste the wicked tirānie of the bishoppes of Rome entred Italie sondry tymes with roiall strong armies droue their enemies the bishoppes of Rome out of the title set others in their rowmes yet all their trauailes were vayne to no purpose nother were they hable to twytche awaye so muche as one heare of the bishoppes cruel violēce nor to pul it vnder any whitte at all For as sone as their backs were once turned departed Italie the bishoppes of Rome came in to the citie again occupied their lost tirannye afreshe and with the thonderclappes of their curse they made the Emperours fayne to be obedient vnto them And the only cause of this mischief was that the B. of Rome was not yet dead in mennes consciences bicause they beleued that he was Christes vicare hade power to lose bynde yea power ouer heauē hel to Therfore the streinght power of emperours was neuer hable to preuaile or bring any thing to passe against the craftye doiges force of the bishoppes of Rome For although emperours thē selues other of their courtes householdes espied the romishe fraudes deceueable wiles wel ynough yet the vulgare people being ignoraūt of al that thought that the B. of Romes decrees ought to be honoured as the lawes of God and bicause they dradde the thonderclappes of his curse as though they hade ben the fearfull sentences of the iudgemēt of God they wold nother meddle nor be of counsail with suche as they sawe knocked downe with the laitbolte of excommunicacion And this the bishoppes of Rome could the easylier bring to passe bicause ther were bishoppes and doctours of churches scatred throughout al the coastes of christendom which set furthe the autoritie of the churche of Rome for apostolike and godly But now let vs speake also of such maters as haue chaūced in our tyme that we maye see how Paul the Apostles prophecie is fulfilled at this daye At such tyme as it pleased God our heauenly and mercifull boūteous father to set his people at libertie which had ben long holden in bondage and to brydle Antichristes tirānie he chosed the small vesselles and such as were of no reputaciō to cōfoūde by thē those thinges that semed most mightie inuincible For two or thre faithful doctours ministres of churches being enlumined with the spirit of God whan they were growne to more perfite knowlage of the scriptures vttred openly the breathe of the Lordes mouthe that is to saye the worde of God and weaponed many a one with the same sharpe strong sweord Thā whā men hade once goten that weapon in their handes to kepe their heades against the craftye wiles of the false prophetes they began to acknowlage Iesus Christ and to beleue that he is the only head of his churche the chief priest and king the sufficient sacrifice for the synnes of the worlde and the only mediatour and aduocate wyth the heauenly father yea and such a one that is neuer absent from his churche and nedeth not the seruice of any vicare in his rowme And in dede the knowlage of these maters dothe also reproue the lies and legier demayne of the B. of Rome to the intēt they might see on the other parte that he is nother the head of the churche nor the high priest and king muche lesse the vicare of Christ our saueour They haue moreouer learned that the Masse is no sacrifice for synnes nor the popishe absolucion is of any autoritie Furthermore those places of scripture which the bishoppes of Rome like most shameles helhoundes hade violētly wickedly and sawcely wrasted were plainly opened in their owne true meanyng whan the light of the truthe was laide to them And out of those places men learned that Petre is not the rocke it self but that he hade his denominacion of Petra that is the rocke whiche he confessed Christ is the Rocke and not Petre. and so they acknowlaged that Christ is the rocke which is the only foundacion of the churche wherupon the churche of faithfull people being surely buylt can not swarue 1. Cor. 3. Men haue learned also that the office of feding signifieth not an empire or a kingdome but
at this daye committed vnto vs by lawful vocacion we shall thinke them also spoken vnto vs yea vnto vs most specially whome the last seasons of the worlde 1. Cor. 10. are come vpon whyche not only the prophetes but also Christ and the Apostles haue tolde before hande certainly shal be of al others the most perilous seasons by reason of rauenyng wolues false greasye anointed ones and false prophetes It standeth vs therfore necessarily in hande to pondre this gaire diligently that we may knowe what an office it is that the Lorde hath committed vnto our charge what care studie and diligence we ought to vse in the same For yf it be the maner of suche men as are geuen vnto the worlde to priuate pleasures to applie theyr diligece vnto those thynges that earthye princes coÌ„mitte vnto their charge it shal become vs with muche more studious endeauour to geue attendaunce vpoÌ„ that office which the most highe Kyng of Kinges and Lorde of Lordes Iesus Christ hath layde vpon our shoulders and shall one daye require a reconyng of it at our handes Math. 24 and. 25. whaÌ„ he shal come in his glorie wyth all his Angels vnto iudgement But now thapostle Paule sayeth that we are ordeyned Bishoppes or ouerseers not promisyng vs a certain Empire or realme as we se almost al the Bishoppes of our tyme chalenge to them selues by the autoritie of this title but admonishing vs of our office For asmuche as the Greke worde Episcopus which is englished a Bishop signifieth in latine Speculator that is in englishe a Watcheman And where Paule sayeth we are ordayned to be Episcopi Bishoppes that is to say watchmen he vseth the same maner of speache that God dyd whaÌ„ he ordeyned Ezechiel to be a watcheman ouer the Ezech. 33. house of Israel chargeyng him most diligently to warne the people before hande of the sweorde that shoulde come for their sinnes wickednesses with his faythful preaching to saue the wretched synful people from destruction And in dede me thinkes that Paule espied the proude abuse of this name Bishoppe before hande wher he sayeth Take hede to your selues and to the hole flocke For like as he coÌ„mitteth the Lordes flocke that is to saye the congregacion or churche to the ministers charge euen so biddeth he him also to beware and take hede to him selfe that he set not his mynde vpoÌ„ priuate honours and pastimes neclecting them that he hathe taken charge of and so worke his owne destruction Yea Paule thoÌ„dreth at him also with the Lordes owne sayeng vnto Ezechiel Except thou speake plainly and dissuade the wicked from his wicked Ezech. 33. waye that he maye lyue the wicked indede shall dye in his wickednesse but his blood I wil require at thy haÌ„des The Apostle byddeth vs also take hede vnto the hole florke allowyng here no respect of persones for vs either not to regarde any persone for basenesse pouertie or to beare with any for his estate or wealthes sake But he byddeth vs gouerne or rather fede not contrarieng Christes wordes whiche forbadde his disciples to rule and reigne as earthy princes do but chargeyng vs to ministre the worde faythfully whych prescribeth the waye and the vnfailyng rule of saluacion and ther withal carieth meÌ„ into the pleasauÌ„t pastures of the soule wherin they fynd that meate whiche Psal 23. Ioh. 6. only fedeth and filleth vnto eternall lyfe after suche sorte that it is not possible for them after the digesting of it to fele either hungre or thurste any more And least we should for any cause recken the office committed vnto vs a smal trifling mater he teacheth vs how chargeable a flocke it is that we are bounden to gouerne and fede euen the selfe same flocke that the sonne of God hathe vouchedsafe to deliuer froÌ„ destructioÌ„ with his owne blood And that one reason yf ther were non but it is of so highe autorite brethreÌ„ that it were hable alone to dryue all lustlesnesse sluggish drowsynes out of our myndes For who knoweth not that in safe keping of a worldlye thing that a maÌ„ is put in trust withall ther is speciall great fidelitie and diligence required Than how muche more faithful and diligent ought meÌ„ to be in Goddes maters and namely in safekeping of that flocke which the Lorde hath rauÌ„somed with his owne blood and layde vp in stoare in our custodye Nother maye we saye that oure office is out of daunger by reason of the presence and ayde of him that is the chiefe good shepehearde in dede and vnder that preteÌ„se we to take the lesse hede trauaile For Paule speaketh before haÌ„de of horrible and sore daungiers For I knowe this ê™ he that after my departure ther shall greuous wolues come in amoÌ„g you which shall not spare the flocke He saithe wolues shall com and that sore greuous ones whiche will not spare so worthie a flocke so dearely a bought flocke so noble a flocke And in an other place wher he painteth them out with more circuÌ„staunces of wordes he saithe The spirite speaketh euidently that in the later daies 1. Tim. 4. som shall departe froÌ„ the faithe and geue eare to deceaueable spirites and doctrines of Deuilles ThaÌ„ ther shall deceauours rise vp yea such ones as shall disquiete and make hauocke of this flocke not only with mennes lyeng commentaries but also with doctrines of very deuilles bothe false and pernicious The same mater also hathe Christ testified who like as he sendeth out his disciples as shepe among wolues so dothe he tell vs that false anoynted greasye ones and false prophetes shal starte vp to the vndoing of a great meanye their studie shal be to peruerte and corrupte the doctrine of the truthe He warneth vs also that warres Math. 24. Luc. 19. shal be stered vp by their procurement to assault and destroye faithfull mennes bodies withall Moreouer the heade and prince of 2. Thes 2. all this rable is in an other place declared euen the great Antichrist him selfe whiche shall geue the onsette vpon this sely flocke of Christ thicke and three folde bothe with false forged lyes and open tyraÌ„nye of cruel weapon All whych sayenges if we compare them with those thinges that haue happened in our tyme and doo daily happen still we shall confesse Christ to be true in his sayeng that Paule also spake out of the spirite of truthe yea it shall furthermore manifestly appeare who be those false anoynted ones and false prophetes and who that myghtie houge Antichrist is whome our flocke ought to beware of Now to thintent we maye set our myndes considerately vpoÌ„ our office and aswel take hede to our selues as to se to and asmuche as lyeth in our weake nature to prouide for the flock committed vnto our charge we must nedes haue a rype knowlage of the perilles that are woÌ„t to be most troublous most noysome to the churche Which albeit they
so must al they nedes be false Christes that set out who is a false Christ them selues for redemers and saueours of men And than also they are false prophetes shewe a false Christ as many as teache men to seke saluacion and redempcion forgeuenesse of synnes the waye of lyfe the grace of God and the true eternall blessednesse any wher elles than at the fole and only sonne of God our redemer and saueour Iesus Christ Wherof it is in this place to be noted that this worde Christ is vsed for redemer saueour and reuenger so that the meanyng of our Lordes wordes is this Whan the destruction of the temple citie begynneth to drawe nere O brethren ther shall ryse many that shall boast them selues to be saueours of the people shall wythdrawe many of the people vnto their partes for asmuche as they also shal haue Apostles Prophetes of their owne that shall praise theÌ„ vnto the symple rude people And in like case ther shall not a fewe in the later tymes goo before my glorious commyng which shall boldely take vpon them to be that thing that none is but only I that is to saye they shall crepingly insinuate them selues in mennes consciences to be suche through false setting furthe and wicked arrogauncie as thoughe they hade in their handes the grace of saluacion redempcion forgeuenesse of synnes euerlasting life Beleue not these maner of men yea although they sende furthe preachers of their name and doctrine neueâ— so many to praise them most highly wyth wordes and studious diligence yea and though they do miracles and suche wonders as haue hitherto ben scarcely sene or knoweÌ„ of For they are deceauours most falselyeng seducers of the simple rude coÌ„mon people Beholde therfore I haue tolde you before and forewarned you Learne you this lesson at least waye to remembre my warninges and to beware and to escape so great a mischief Now thaÌ„ like as Christ faithfully admonished those that his were of these thinges euen so the mater it self beareth recorde that he was a true prophet the veritie of the dedes afterwarde proued hys sayeng true For if a man coÌ„sidre the destruccion of the citie and temple and the thinges that went before it he maye fynde that ther were many of this kynde of guydes and rulers connyngly sene in craftie deceates that is to wete a sorte of magical philosophers coÌ„nyng in deuillishe sciences other wicked knackehardye felowes amoÌ„g the nombre of whom a certain Egipcian is chiefly reckoned than Caphedon Theodas and others which like as through their false ê“mises allured the people that were of them selues to muche inclined to sedicioÌ„ eueÌ„ so were they Autors vnto many of most depe miseries and extreme sorowes Loke for these maters in Iosephus the 20 boke of antiquities the 11. 1â— and 14. chap. Furthermore in case False Christes in the primatiue churche we marke respectiuely the apostles tymes and the thinges that chauÌ„ced about the primatiue churche it shall euidently appeare that euen at that tyme also many rose which partly toke vpon them the office to geue the grace of God and the giftes of saluacion and partly which declared that they must be hade som wher elles thaÌ„ at our sole and only redemour Iesus Christ For to this meanyng the texte ought to be applied that we reade in Act. 8. the actes of Symon magus which was so sawcye as to name him selfe the mightie power of God To this sayeng also the swarmes of heretikes are to be accoÌ„pted which by by euen in the apostles tymes or sone after arose withdrewe meÌ„nes myndes from Christ Iesus miserably disquieted mennes consciences with their doctrine Herevnto shal worthily be referred the blaspemous helhouÌ„d the deuilles owne mynion that deceauour Mahomet Mahomet who as he is the autor of a new lawe hath with his abominable entreprise feined also a new kingdome of heaueÌ„s not hearde of before newe blessednesse newe waye of saluacion and a newe secte To be short vnto this purpose belong they that from the lippes forewarde as touchyng the title aduaunce the religion and faith of Christ and for al that they commonly set furthe remission of synnes the grace of God the father eternall lyfe and saluacion not in the only merite of our saueour Iesu Christ but trayne awaye mennes simple rude myndes to other purposes Of this sorte we saye that all the Popishe doctours are which in dede Teachers of Popery professe Christ wyth their mouthe but yet the maner of theÌ„ is to teache the folowers of their doctrine religion to put their trust partly in their owne workes and merites partly to trayne them vnto Saintes merites vnto Saintes intercession vnto Popes pardones vnto Saintes ymages and finally vnto many suche sortes of trifles and fantasies of maÌ„nes brayne or rather supersticion and also to seke comforte of mynde peace and quietnesse of coÌ„sciences in suche gaire For it shal appeare more clear than the daye lyght that euen these sortes of men are no lesse ment by Christes wordes than the other sortes are in case the thinges that are spoken of in this place be compared with their tradicions For they are not afrayde to declare not only that remission of synnes and saluacion of soules must be atteyned by som other meanes than at our saueour Christ but also to set furth eueÌ„ that same our Lorde him selfe in sondry places contrary to the autoritie of the scriptures and of the worde of God For as concerning Christ which was hanged on the crosse and dyed and after that whan he was raised vp agayne from deathe caried his very owne true bodye into the heauens in the sight of his disciples they teache contrary besydes the plaine articles of our catholyke faithe and besydes the truthe of the holy scriptures that he is conteyned without all doubte in the sacrameÌ„t of the aultare corporally also in the same substauÌ„ce as he was hanged on the crosse and offred vp him selfe for vs and that he lieth enclosed in the churches or boxes as they call them that are consecrate to that ende and so they shewe him in those same places to the sely rude people whom they haue wyth their tradiciones faÌ„tasies brought in to suche a madnesse that they forgette the faithful admonicion of this our Lorde Iesu Christ and put their confidence in these mennes tryfling toyes a great parte of meÌ„ folowing these deceauours goo about to seke the Lorde Christ the saueour of the worlde in breade in boxes in the aultare in other soÌ„dry sortes of places And how great and how farre out of square this errour of the world is it shal be declared in other places more plenteously God so willing And forasmuche than as we heare that the Lorde Christ him self in this place nameth false Christes And seing that mencion is made of suche maner of deceauours which by theyr false prophetes
greater parte of this vision in the later Epistle to his Thessalonians in the secoÌ„de chaptre For where as the Thessalonians beyng disquieted through false doctrines of certain deceauours thought that the last daye of iudgement and the coÌ„myng of our Lorde Iesu Christ drewe nere and was than already at hande Paule a faythfull doctour of those that were his confuteth the falsely conceaued opinion touching that mater with these maner of wordes reasones Let no man deceaue you by any meanes For the Lorde shall not come except ther com a departiÌ„g furst and that the man of synne be opened the sonne of perdicion which is an aduersarie and is exalted aboue all that is called God or is wourshipped so that he dothe sytte in the temple of God as God boasting him selfe to be God Remembre ye not that whan I was yet wyth you I tolde you these thinges And now ye knowe what wythholdeth euen that he might be vttred at his tyme For the mysterie of the iniquitie dothe allready worke till he which now only letteth be taken out of the waye And thaÌ„ shall that wicked one be vttred whom the Lorde shall consume wyth the spirite of his mouthe and shall destroye wyth the appearaunce of his coÌ„myng euen him whose commyng is after the working of sathan wyth all lyeng power signes and wondres and wyth all deceaueablenesse of vnrighteousnesse among them that perishe bicause they receaued not the loue of the truthe that they might be saued And therfore God shall sende them strong delusion that they shoulde beleue lyes that all they might be demned which beleued not the truthe but hade pleasure in vnrighteousnesse Thus farre haue I rehearsed Paule thapostles wordes which coÌ„teyne the ful perfyt descripcioÌ„ of al this adoo and of the mysteries of Antichrist also the playne interpretacion of the vision that is recorded in Daniel the Prophete And after what sorte these two places agree betwene them selues and what is the true vnderstandyng of them boche it shal be declared in the Homilies folowyng by the fauour and helpe of God But out of these maters which are thus farre already sayde welbeloued brethreÌ„ in Christ this we must marke that accordyng to the oracles of goddes worde and of Iesu Christ Antichrist shall surely come which by his false prophetes shal seduce an infinite multitude of people We must therfore brethren endeauour our selues with most earnest studie and diligence that furst of all we maye be throughly perfyte in the certain true knowlage of our Lorde only saueour Iesu Christ wherin beyng instructed we must than also learne to knowe the false Christes and that great Anttchrist him selfe to thintent least we be made foles hereafter as we haue ben all ready heretofore by the most false wylye deuyses of Satan for than we shal be hable nother to knowe him ne yet to beware of him Therfore we hade nede diligently to consider the wordes of God and to call vpon him also diligently with continuall prayers that he wolde vouchesafe to open vnto vs the true vnderstaÌ„ding of his worde to leade vs in to the true knowlage of his sonne our redemour and that we be not deceaued with Antichristes lyes but continue stedfastly in Christ our saueour which is the euerlasting veritie To him be honour praise and glorie euerlastingly worlde without ende Amen Thus endeth the furst Homilie Antichrist The .ij. Homilie In this seconde Homilie we are taught what the original beginning of Antichrist is where it shal be and by what meanes and shyftes he shall attayne his so great streinghtes and so mighty power of his tyrannye OVr Lorde Iesus Christ the eternal sonne of God the only redemour and vndeniable Doctour of the world talking with his disciples concerning the later tymes and the periles of the same amoÌ„g other thinges telleth them before hande that false Christes and false Prophetes shal rise vp to the destruction and marring of many men And we are also taught by the hole mynde and consent of all the scriptures bothe of the olde testament newe that among them ther shal be a certayne peculiar head ryngleader and a most ranke aduersary of Christ our kyng and priest whom after the common custome of the faythfulles and by the apostles autoritie we doo vse to name Antichrist like as in the Homilie before it is sufficieÌ„tly declared Neuertheles these thinges are not spoken to th ende welbeloued brethreÌ„ in Christ that we should only heare knowe what shoulde be hereafter hauing in the meane tyme no larger consideracion of thinges that shall come but the Lorde dothe rather require by his faithful admonicion geuing that we should learne to knowe this chief and notable enemie of our saluacioÌ„ and to beware of his wiles least we be seduced therwith and so be made partakers with hym of eternall damnacion And therfore it is necessarily requisite for vs to marke to coÌ„ferre other places of the scriptures together also that caÌ„ with more certayntie euidence informe vs of al those maters which are as it were but in a fewe wordes set expressely furthe in this place In consideracion whereof I lately brought forth two places of scripture touching this mater the one of the olde testameÌ„t out of Daniel that ê“phetes vii chap. the other out of Paule the later to the Thessa Whiche albeit by and by at the furst syght they myght seme not to agree together in all thinges but somwhat to varie yet ther is no differeÌ„ce nor dissimilitude betwene them at al. Ther is also no contradiction nor any other varietie but that thapostle Paule wyth more playne light of wordes and sentences dothe expouÌ„de that which Daniel set furthe after the maner of a prophet vnder the mysterie of a vision like as the thinges that folowe shall more clearely beare euidence And to thintent this hole mater of Antichrist maye the more openly appeare vnto vs it shal be all throughly comprehended and assoiled in sixe questiones or proposiciones For furst inasmuche as it is euident that Antichrist is we shall inquire of his originall begynnyng that is to wete in what place he must spring out and where we must seke for him in case we intende throughly to come to the certain knowlage of him SecoÌ„darily by what meanes deuises craftes he shall atteyne suche mighty power and so highe autoritie Thirdly we shall make searche of his persone that is to saye which a one it shal be and by what markes and propreties it ought to be knowen Fourthly we must considre his workes that he shal set his studie vpoÌ„ Which consideracion euen it self dothe bring a certain and an vnfailing playne knowlage of him Fifthely it is conuenient to knowe his weapones wherwyth he shall wyth suche luckie successe fight to attayne enlarge defende and mayntene his kingdome and power wythall Sixthely how farre the limites of his wicked autoritie must be extended and vpoÌ„ what sortes of men our Lorde
what so euer is committed what Synne is against the will of God the heaueÌ„ly father and the autoritie of his holy worde either concerning faithe and religion or concerning the office of charitie either yet concerning the innocencie and purenesse of life For in these three specialties the hole life of a faithfull christen man and what so euer be customly required therunto are comprehended And if we wold a litel more diligently more narowly marke the hole papacie wyth his head membres we shall fynde them to be suche as ought worthyly to be called most filthyly polluted men wyth synnes and euen the very right Men of synne For as touching the faithe and religion which is obserued and set furthe in the papacie it is euidently apparent to be cleane contrary vnto the true and right faithe and religioÌ„ seing it was not taken out of the regestre of the holy sacred scripture wherout the doctrine of all faithe and religion ought to be taken of which mater we shal more fully treate whaÌ„ we com to the exposicion of the thrid title To be brief albeit we wold graunt them in this behalfe that coÌ„cerning the doctrine of their faithe religion all thinges were pure and set furthe according to the sentence of Goddes worde yet it can in no wise be denyed that the popes and their complices doo greuously offende coÌ„cerning the same if we doo considre the abominable sinne of Symonie by Symony the which they do so many robberies one vpoÌ„ an other wyth suche shamelesnesse gredinesse in those maters of God For we se theÌ„ come at lenght to so highe wickednesse by the shameles practise of symonie that they bestowe not only benefices and the rentes of Colleges and Monasteries and other suche like goodes of the church to the possessioÌ„ of most vnworthy persones that is to wete of suche as be of counsail of theyr viciousnesse messagiers coll cariers bawdes horse kepers mule dryuers cokes infinite others beyng nother of honest coÌ„uersacion nor good learnyng and all for money or elles for priuate fauour or auauÌ„tage but also set a sale and offre to be bought for euery mannes money the holy sacred gyftes of the holy Goost remission of synnes the grace of God the heauenly father the communion of the sacramentes the lauer of Baptisme yea and their owne God made of bread wyth the kingdome of heauens and euerlasting blesse and that with suche shamelesnesse that their owne most gredy chapmen brokers are not ashamed with a loud a shoutig voice to praise their wares and to require for the same al maner of money whether it were goteÌ„ in warres or by thefte or by rauine or yet by bloodsheading For they haue called the pelfe goten wyth these craftes no lesse holy than other is if they be all shuffled together Yet all men knowe euen as many as are madded wyth their supersticion and haue thought good to buye their wares that I feyne not these maters either of enuye or malice but euen the truthe of the mater it selfe is more cleare than nedeth any further declaracion in this bebalfe What shall we thaÌ„ saye in this case welbeloued brethren in Christ Must we not nedes confesse that they which haue done suche thinges were in that chief and principal point of al the hole life touching faithe and religion very wretches in all thinges playnly blynded men of synne For furst wyth most arrogaunt temeritie they haue taken vpon them selues the thinges that they neuer hade nor were deliuered to them of Christ Iesu that is to saye remission of sinnes the grace of God the kingdome of heauens and euerlastyng lyfe and blessednesse All which thynges the hole scripture teacheth were redemed with nothing elles but with the precious blood of Iesu Christ alone ThaÌ„ making sale of the giftes of the holy goost they made of the temple of God not the house of prayer but a certayn marte yea euen a tauerne of cheopping and chaunging Thirdely they haue made all religion to be a cloke of naughtynesse and iniquitie vnder which cloke euery body might frely entreprise and doo what so euer he wolde For might not a man vnder this false shewe of religion not only wythout punyshement but also no maÌ„ sayeng wrong he did be an horemongre breake wedlocke be a rybaulde haunt naughty games sportes be dronkeÌ„ fight robbe steale oppresse Christes poore seruauntes sheade innoceÌ„t blood finally to doo all mychief with sweorde and fyre Might not a man that were burthened ouerlayde with all these vices be made free clensed out of hande assone as a sacrificeing hyred priest hade saide masse for him or hade goteÌ„ him assoiled for money The sayeng therfore of Christ our king and priest ought rightefully and according to their owne desertes to be thondred in their eares My house shal be called a house of prayer but you haue made it a denne of theues Among these we Math. 21. maye recken the pilling and rauine that they vse openlye wyth to muche shamelesnesse For the moste rauenyng marchauntes are not content to haue spoiled men of their goodes while they were alyue but they go about to robbe and pille mennes heires their wyues and children also whan they are deade and in another lyfe For to this ende they haue ymagined trentalles sacrifices of Massing for the dead anniuersaries and infinite suche like and vnto them men must nedes either bequeath perpetuall rentes and reuenues in their testament vpon their death bedde or elles their heires must prouide and geue them And what a thing is this elles but the same that Christ obiecteth to the Scribes and Pharisees of the Iewes where he sayeth that they deuoured and robbed poore folkes and wydowes houses vnder pretence of long prayer And who is it that shal in this case acquite them from synne and trespace seyng they bewray them selues by their owne dedes yea and euen by the testimonye of their owne mouthe to be theues and sacrileges For yf the pardon bulles which they offre to sell for large money to men whaÌ„ they were yet lyuyng were sufficient for remission of synnes as they make boast of what nede is it to buye it dayly afreshe wyth newe sacrifices for them whaÌ„ they be dead And forasmuche as they saye men haue nede of this ware that dead mennes soules can not be delyuered wythout them they doo verily shewe themselues to be deceauours in that they deceatfully fraudulently wyped their money from them whaÌ„ they were alyue promisyng perfite remission of synnes whych they them selues saye afterwarde is vnperfite and hath nede of moo and that newe wares To be shorte the B. of Rome is the autor and inuentour of al this gaire with his mysterie workers of his owne religion which haue plaÌ„ted the sedes of suê‘sticioÌ„ that he hath sowed after a woÌ„derful ymaginacion of feynyng and lyeng And therfore we will saye that this furst title that Paule decketh
head of the sayntes and faithfull people Who will cal him holy father yea rather holynesse it selfe Finally who can saye that he is the leader vnto saluacion and the portour of heauen gate whan by the example of his owne life and preceptes and decrees of his wicked doctrine he bewrayeth him self according to the apostle Paules sentence to be bothe Antichrist and the sonne of perdiciō Hereof also that other mater is gathered that like as he him self is lost euen so dothe he make all the disples of his religion and secte boūde slaues to perdicion and euerlasting deathe For how cā it possibly be that they shal be hable to com to the heauēly hal of blessednesse which folowe a guyde that gothe with straight and stedfast steppes the hye waye to hell How shall we also saye it maye be that they should be vnited to Iesu Christ the only redemour of vs all which haue chosen suche a one to be their guyde that is against Christ in al thinges and robbeth him of his honour and shamelesly attributeth the same to other In this case therfore it is necessary to vse most diligent circūspection In this behalfe it standeth vs in hande strongly to sharpen oure wittes Herein it behoueth vs to open the eyes of our minde most dearly beloued brethren in Christ For it is no flyrting mater as many men thinke to sticke stil in the B. of R. wayes so to holde harde the popishe religion to the naile The saluacion of soules is in hasarde dearly beloued For either we must be vnited to the heauēly father by the intercessiō and benefite of one only Christ so lyue for euer or elles be drawen awaye from him perishe with Antichrist for euer And ther is so much the more greuous presēt daūgier henging ouer our soules that the Lorde wold haue the knowlage of his worde to be opened vnto vs. For inasmuche as the lyght of Goddes worde hathe discussed and wyped away those greuous and horrible darkenesses of Antichristianitie so as the health geuing face of Christ and also the compasse of this cruell beastes mouthe and the seate of abominacions is shewed openly before our eyes we maye neuer from hensfurthe eyther pretende ignoraunce to clooke our vnbelefe or excuse it wyth the godlynesse and feruencie of our zele or good intent For God hathe prescribed the rule of his worde vnto vs for this ende that we shoulde honour hym according to his owne commaundement and that we shoulde not folowe that folishe carnall zele of ours which is wythout knowlage of all truthe The stubburnesse of suche men is muche lamentably therfore to be bewailed brethren which whā they heare Goddes worde wyth their eares and are conuicte with the truthe therof in their consciences so as they may see their errours and fele the intolerable burthen of suche exceding tyrānie yet had rather sticke stiffely to their knowen supersticion than to folowe Christ the only waye of saluacion But whā men most myserably become to that poīt that a mā may warne exhorte them all but lost labour we must permitte them to their owne appetite For they shal surely fele that their stubbernesse shal-be ones a great deale to their cost Now are we come to the thrid title An aduersary wherwyth Paule painteth out the persone of Antichrist which conteyneth the self same propretie and the disposiciō of so mightie abominablenesse the certain sure marke for the which he is called Antichrist For he calleth him an aduersary that is he myndeth to set him out to be-suche a one that shoulde be against cōtrary and in al thinges as it were vtterly sette foranempst Christ of whose name title he only braggeth The right vnderstanding of this worde Aduersary It is plaine that he glorieth in the name of Christ Wherupon euen the right vnderstanding of this worde teacheth this that he shal be an aduersary to Christ our Lorde and gayne-saye all those thinges that are set out by Christ either in doctrine or in example of life wyth the statutes of his doctrine and wyth the example of his life Than if we can geue the bishop of Rome this title also wyth sufficient demonstracion as his owne propre good as in dede we haue ouercome all that we toke in hande to proue yet hitherto it shall also manifestly appeare that the B. of Rome is necessarily that very right and great Antichrist altough the autoritie of all the worlde crye out against it which if it wolde contrary the worde of God were non autoritie at all And forasmuche as all thinges that are in Christ our saueour maye be comprehended in his life doctrine as in two most general chaptres it behoueth that we considre them bothe that it maye therby euidently appeare that the B. of Rome dothe contrarie to Christ both in life and in doctrine and therfore is his aduersarie and very Antichrist And furst of all we will speake of bothe their lyues that is to saye of Christ and Antichrist Christ Iesus ordred his life so as The difference betwene Christes life and Antichristes the B. of Rome most lowe humilitie proceding from the hearte might appeare most clearly in all his sayenges and doinges For we reade that he vsed so muche lowlynesse and modestie that he was cōuersaunt among his disciples not like a maistre or a Doctour but as a seruaunt and a waitour As it is proued in that he serued their cōmodities not in teaching them only in refreshing and defēding them and in other thinges innumerable but also in that solemne last supper whiche he hade with thē he washed al their fete But from this spirite of christian humilitie the B. of Rome is so farre of that lyke the most cruel tyrannes the mencion of whom euen the gentiles take for hainous and filthie he setteth out his fete to be kissed not of the cōmon rascal sorte of people only but also of very princes kinges and emperours yea is not ashamed to treade the Lordes anointed neckes vnder his abominable fete which insolent foile the right valeaunt Emperour Friderichus Barbarossa was compelled per force to susteyne Christ was the most studious seker of his fathers glorie wēt about Ioh. 5. and. 12. only to aduaunce it But the B. of Rome neclecting that in al thinges setteth his studie vpō his priuate glorie his owne propre honour after suche sorte that he thinketh he must not spare extreme force of armes yf any man offende him in any condicion Christ spent the better parte or tyme of his lyfe among the cōpanies of the poore nedy sicke afflicted he him selfe also was borne in extreme pouertie became poore for our sakes in so muche that he hade not wher he myght hyde his head susteined the greuous burthē of pouertie paciently to make vs ryche with the benefites treasures of euerlasting blessednes But the B. of Rome folowing farre wyde other
vnluckie fortune But the B. of Rome taketh no care nor is moued wyth any louing compassion although he heare all the hole flocke of Christ miserably scattred through the wicked wilde wildernesse of mennes tradicions seke after the pastours of Goddes worde wyth continuall crienges wepinges and gronynges and desire to haue their soules fedde therwyth so that by the famyshing of Christes shepe the bishoppes haue to mayntene their voluptuous pleasure wythall Christ bare the crosse that he was Matth. 27. nailed on for vs for our synnes vpon his owne shoulders But the B. of Rome is vsed to be borne easyly softly vpō their shoulders whom Christ hathe redemed with his deathe Christ suffred him self to be crowned wyth a crowne Matth. 27. cast buyers sellers out of the tēple in his teaching he saide that they made the house of God which should haue ben the house of prayer a dēne of thefes But the B. of Rome catcheth them in bothe his armes and bringeth thē again in to the temple of God and restoreth thē to their olde seates that they occupie by force and crafty conueyaunce yea lyke the chiefest of all marchauntes and as a most famous marchaunt venterour he hathe deuised newe wares that with so great lucke that he can sell leade ware perchement and other such kynde of trifles for a great deale more than the Iewishe priestes coulde in tymes past sel their bulles lambes rammes and bullockes Christ forbad his disciples to beare Math. 20 Mar. 10. Luc. 22. secular autoritie and to reigne like princes of this worlde But it is euident that the B. of Romes chief and principal studie is that vnder the false pretense of the churche he claymeth hothe to him self and to his cardinalles all the kingdomes of the worlde and the title of the same Christ gaue vs a perfite and a full perfice absolute doctrine to instructe Math. 28. 2. Tim 3. men sufficiently in all thinges perteynyng to euerlasting life and saluacion But the B. of Rome seing that it hyndreth his markettes saieth it is vnperfite and that all thinges perteynyng to the declaracion of faithe to the affaires of religiō and instruction of life are not fully conteyned in it and for that cause he addeth vnto the same to helpe it with all the canones of the Counsailes and the tradicions of certain fathers that serue to his couetous purpose and appetite Christ expresseth him selfe to be our Ioh. 4. Rom. 8. only righteousnesse wherwith we must be clothed that we maye be hable to appeare before his heauenly father and abyde his iudgement But the B. of Rome sheweth an other farre wyde rightousnesse in his tradiciones which he teacheth to consiste in our owne workes and in our owne powers and in sayntes merites also Christ teacheth that he him selfe is our only mediatour patrone and intercessour and the apostles inspired 1. Timo. 2 1. Ioh. 2. with the spirite of Christ confesse the very same But we see that by the B. of Romes doctrine a certain thousaūt of patrones and mediatours be set out vnto vs yea and newe mediatours maye be created dayly by their canonizacions Christ teacheth that remission of synnes is frely geuē that we be partinars therof through only faithe with Esai 55. Ioh. 6. 7. Math. 11. 28. out any meriting mediacion of our workes But the B. of Rome mynding to hunt out most plenteous gayne by remitting of sinnes hauing it to sel teacheth vs to redeme it with money Christ is described by the doctrine of the gospel as the only heade of the churche But the B. of Rome chalenging Ephe. 5. that honour to him self sayeth that he is the head of the church And in thus sayeng he either robbeth the churche of her head Christ or elles in making himselfe the head he maketh the church a double faced church and a most vggly mōstre Christes doctrine setteth out but one only Priest that is to wete Hebre. 4. 5. 9. 10. Christ the very sonne of God which beyng made mā for our sakes offred him selfe vpō the aultare of the crosse for the synnes of the hole world once for al with his sacrificeing he founde eternal sufficient remission of synnes But the B. of Ro. not contēted with this so excellēt a priest chalengeth the title of the high priesthode to him self cōmonly consecrateth newe priestes dayly to offre vp Christ Iesus euery daye for the synnes of the quicke and also of the dead Christ hath prescribed a true forme of penaūce an acceptable to God according whervnto Act. 2. we confesse our synnes to God vnto whom we haue offended frō hensfurthe we ceasse frō synne amende our lyfe but as for remissiō of sinnes we seke it no wher elles than at God alone But the B. of Ro. teacheth a farre contrary penaūce frō this which biddeth vs confesse our synnes to one massemonging priest or other to desire forgeuenesse of sinnes at him yea though the same priest were drowned in hoordō drōkenesse glotonie dyceing other vices innumerable ther with he geueth such occasiō to the wicked lycēciously to sīne that assone as the massemonging priest hathe once receaued the money I meane the hyre of absoluciō whā that vayne hipocritical satisfactiō that he enioineth be accōplished they maye returne to their vomite as dogges are wōt to do walow thē selues in the olde puddle of wickednesse Christ sayed it is more godly to Act. 20. geue thā to take But the B. of Rome perceauing the sentence of Christes wordes to be against his ruffling estate and lecherous lust turneth the meanyng and ordre of the wordes ersye versye and sayeth it is better to take than to geue And so in dede he confirmeth the ordres of beggyng frieres with his decrees and hathe set out a certain pouertye which is suche a mater that nothing is either more delectable or pleasaunt as though it were the most perfite rule of christiā faithe and conuersaciō Hereof spring the most shameles rablementes of begging friers and other monkishe ordres besides which by their impudent prowde popishe begging haue gone through all cities haue strayed through all villages and ferme places and thus being a greuous burthen to all mē aswel of the towne as of the countrey haue scraped euery waye by hooke and by crooke and eaten vp all feldes and townes like most deuouring locustes and yet led a life most filthily spotted with all riotous ruffionyng and lecherous losenesse Christ saythe That that entreth in Math. 15. 1. Timo. 4. to the mouthe defileth not the man Vpon the autoritie of which wordes the apostle Paule taking his groūde teacheth that it is lawfull for vs to eate all meates that God made with thankes geuing without remorse or conscience of any maner synne But the B. of Rome hathe forged differences of meates persuaded the simple people that a great parte
of christian purenesse consisteth in outwarde eating and hath also brought in a great deale greater rable of ceremonies bothe in these maters many other than the Iewes were bounden in tymes past to obserue lyuing vnder the bondage of the lawe Christ confirmed with the autoritie Math. 19. Hebr. 13. of his doctrine the state of mariage ordayned of his heauenly father And the apostles being instrucce by his spirite taught that wedlocke is honourable among al meÌ„ and the mariage bedde vndefiled Whervpon they And yet he maketh more bolde entrâ—prises gothe about to dryue Christ our Lord out of his church and kingdome in that he calleth him self Christes vicare For if the B. of Rome be Christes vicare it must nedes be that Christ is not preseÌ„t with his churche The false boast of the B. of Rome to be christes Vicare For he that any where occupieth an office and kepeth residence presently vpoÌ„ it as apperteyneth hathe no nede of any vicare But Christ Iesus inasmuche as he is the head of his owne churche can in no wise be disseuered from his body which is the churche but is inseperably present with his churche spiritually contynually to the worldes ende Therfore the B. of Rome is not moued by any warrauÌ„t of the truthe but of a wicked lust to blaspheme to boast him self to be Christes vicare Hitherto therfore I suppose it be sufficiently ynough declared that the B. of Rome deserueth this thrid title wherwith Paule painteth him out after such sorte that he may by al meanes be called An aduersarie that is to saye coÌ„trary and against Christ in all thinges inasmucheas all his conuersacioÌ„ his doctrine are cleane contraryly repugnaunt against the doctrine and conuersacion of Christ Now remayneth the fourthe title wherwith Paule decketh Antichrist Exalted aboue God whom he dothe not comprehende in one only worde but describeth it in moo For he saithe he shal be stately prowde and exalte him self with notable arrogauncie aboue all that is either called or worshipped by the name of God Yea his folie shall procede so farre saith he that he shal place his seate in the Temple of God as God and shewe him self as though he were a God To these wordes of Paule the desirous man Daniel consenteth who speaking of Antichristes misteries saith that the litel horne by whoÌ„ Antichrist is figured hade a mouthe wherwith he spake certain presumptuous thinges that is to saye in talking of diuine maters of chaungeing of lawes and tymes of other maters infinite which it is plaine are in the power of none but God alone And again in the. 11. chap. Dauiel speaking of the same saithe thus And the king shall do what he lusteth and exalte and enlarge him self aboue all Goddes and shal speake maruelous thinges against the most high God And a litel after He shall not also care for the Goddes of his forefathers no he shall care for no God at all for he shall preferre him felf aboue all Now if we compare all these thinges which are spoken by the apostle Paule and Daniel the prophet together the vnderstaÌ„ding of this fourthe title which is attributed vnto Antichrist shal appeare manifest vnto vs. For this is the will of the spirite to saye that Antichrist shal be a man of most high arrogauncie and swelling folishe insolencie which with prowde bolde enterprise shall take vpon him self those offices which are mete to be attributed to none but to God alone and are to be applyed to none but only God This is not ment by Paules wordes and the literall sense of the same Noman at all can make him self a God nor also ther is none other God but that one only eternall God al though any man hauyng autoritie to persuade ioyned with arrogauncie come to so highe a pride and statelynesse as to be honored worshipped of a sorte of leude persons fooles as we reade that Caligula and Domicianus were We must therfore marke well the B. of Romes maters whether we can be hable to fynde any suche as take vpon them selues this most arrogaunt title also to the intent the hole perfite descripcion of Antichristes persone may be euidently manifest vnto vs. And that ther are suche in The B. of R. taketh vpon him the honour of God head what God is dede it shall appeare of their owne sayenges and writinges And furst of al God is naturally he that is the essence and life of al thinges of whoÌ„ also al thinges haue receaued haue life to be that they are And therof it is that our Lorde Iesus Christ the sonne of God the father of the virgine Mary very God maÌ„ is coÌ„monly called in the scriptures the head of his churche bicause they that are endued with faithe in him obteyne life of him not teÌ„poral life only but the life also that neuer shall ende For like as out of a maÌ„nes head as it were out of the pype of a fouÌ„tayne the nourishemet of life floweth downe in to the hole bodie and all the meÌ„bres froÌ„ thence is distrubuted as it is nedefull to euery membre euen so out of Iesu Christ all the meÌ„bres of his bodie that is to saye all faithfull people receaue the spirite of life and that streinght of faithe by whose mocion and instincte they ordre their life according to the heaueÌ„ly fathers will and whan they are departed this temporall life they lyue wyth him euerlastingly This is the plaine vndoubted office of the head Christ the head of his churche ê‘fourmeth the same abundauntly Than if we marke well the B. of Rome whom we cal Antichrist it shal appeare more cleare than the daye light that this arrogauÌ„cie is in him by that which be openly boasteth him self to be the head of all the hole churche And if he as he is a most insoleÌ„t man glorie of the title of the head surely he saithe that the body of the church euery of the meÌ„bres receaue the spirites of life very life it self of him this he can not saye except he clayme Goddes offices to him self so shewe him self proudly in name as though he were God In this mater we passe not greatly vpoÌ„ the papistes obiectiones that thinke they can auoide the note of so great an infamie with this one refuge in the they saye we expounde to subtillie the B. of Romes title wherby he braggeth him self to be the head of the churche that we sucke out therof ouer much mater to argue vpoÌ„ For the B. of Ro. saye they teacheth not that he is the head of the churche to that ende as though he wolde take vpon him ouer muche insoleÌ„tly either the spirite of life or life it self but that he might like the most highe shepehearde of the christiaÌ„ flocke beare witnesse of his autoritie ouer Christes shepe O vayne defense eueÌ„like the figge tree For like as Christes churche hathe no nede
him self aboue all In his iurisdicion shall he worshippe the God Mayzim and the God whom his fathers knewe not shall he honour with golde and siluer and precious stones and other costly gaires And he shal conuerte them in to the stroÌ„g fences of the God Mayzim with his straunge God and he that will acknowlage him he shall aduaunce him vnto honour and shall make him Lorde of many people and distribute the laÌ„de vnto him wyth rewardes And a litell after He shall also haue dominion ouer the treasures of golde and siluer ouer all precious Iewelles c. These are the vndoubted wordes of that prophet Daniel wherin sixe principall Daniel â—â—â—scribeth 7. workes of Antichrist workes of Antichrist are described vnto them we shall afterwarde knytte the seuenth also out of thafore mencioned seuenth chap. of the same Daniel These shal we marke in ordre and coÌ„sidre wtall how they are put in bre in the papacie of the bishoppes of Rome 1. Antichrist maketh men couenaunt breakers The furst worke that the prophet Daniel attributeth to Antichrist is that he shall bring in men to forsake the couenaunt shrynke froÌ„ it wickedly But he speaketh here of that great no table excellent and sauing couenauÌ„t that the eternal almightie heauenly father hathe vouchedsafe to make with vs wretched meÌ„ which by nature are the children of wrathe and damnacioÌ„ This is made plaine by Moses in the 17. of Genesis by the prophet Iere. the 31. chap. is coÌ„prehended in two chap. or articles For furst God which is the most highe euerlasting goodnesse what the couenaunt is eueÌ„ the only fouÌ„tayne of al goodnesse calleth him self our God our full feding the perfite sufficieÌ„ce of al thinges promiseth wtall that bothe he him self all that he hathe shal be ours Secondarily euen he the same God requireth this of vs again that we be his people his catail that we walke before him as it becometh his people to doo that we obey serue him not as the frowardenesse of our owne reason enueagleth but as he commaundeth by the autoritie of his worde And his coÌ„maundement is that we should acknowlage him alone to be our only God that we shoulde not haue seke nor worship any other Goddes but him that we should make no Idoles grauen ymages nor any maner of similitudes that we should not worship suche as were made of other meÌ„ nother with semelinesse nor reuereÌ„t behaueour of the bodye and muche lesse wyth the deuocion of the hearte but that we should be most farre of froÌ„ al maner of Idolatrie bothe inward outwarde that we should also nother defile nor blemishe his holy name but that in all our doinges sayenges in all our hole life we should halowe it honour it to the best of our possible powers and that we should not defyle any of the tyme which he wold haue halowed to be appointed to serue him to the considerate meditacion of his benefites workes with no prophane vses but that we should also kepe continual holy daye froÌ„ wicked workes studies Finally that we should applye our selues in al those thinges that we owe bothe vnto him to our neighbour according to the offices of faithe lawes of Charitie after such sorte that we maye be an holy people as he is holy Leui. 19. 20. But albeit through the deceaueablenesse of our owne infirmitie corrupt nature of our fleshe we do neuer accoÌ„plishe the chief poiÌ„tes of that couenauÌ„t which belong vnto vs as we ought to do nother yet are hable to accomplishe them yet that gentil harted and merciful father wil not cast vs away nor dryue vs out of the inheritaunce of his kingdome but like as he furst offred the couenaunt vnto vs euen so mynding also to succour our infirmitie he gaue his only begoten sonne Iesus Christ which being very man and made like vnto vs in all thinges synne only except perfourmed in his owne persone al that which God the father according to his iustice required and satisfieng the lawe in al thinges at leynght he suffred also deathe for vs and hauyng shedde his blood for vs he confirmed most fully that couenaunt of God and testament of our saluacion like as in his last supper that he kept with his disciples he him self recorded This I saye is the couenauÌ„t wherof Daniel in this place maketh mencion and saithe that Anti-Christ shall drawe men awaye from this couenauÌ„t so as whan they haue forsaken it they shall also be spoiled of the benefites that are promised theÌ„ in it But that the B. of Rome dothe this same thing plainly in his doctrine in the decrees of his religion it may be shewed wtout any businesse easily perceaued of any man For as touching the furst point of that couenaunt and promise of God which is geuen vnto vs the B. of Rome propouÌ„deth a farre other maner of God by his doctrine and religion than the wordes of the couenaunt make mencion of For they promise that God shal be ours in all thinges so that being knytte and ioyned vnto him we may sucke out of him most pleynteously what so euer is necessarie vnto saluacioÌ„ But the pope feyneth vs such a God that were like vnto a highe stately and an earthy prince yea rather like a tyranne that wold receaue no mannes sutes nor billes of suplicacioÌ„ nother wold allowe any man to com to his speche ne yet wold heare any mannes cause except he either obteyned his fauour with bribes or elles with muche sute makiÌ„g giftes he bought frendship of courtyours to speake for him And in dede thus hathe the pope beÌ„ the autor of extreme desperacion vnto sely wretched people For this hathe ben the constaunt opinion almost of al men that they beleued no man being infected with the spotte of synnes could com to the sight of God yea that it was not laufull for a wretched synner to be bolde to flee vnto the succour of the righteous God By reason wherof as sone as they haue forsakeÌ„ God the only omnisufficieÌ„t fulnesse of mankynde they turned theÌ„ vnto Idoles worshipped theÌ„ with gold and siluer they honoured theÌ„ being desirous to obteyne the intercessions of sayntes they brought al the money they hade theyr clothes theyr corne yea their catail to that they might haue theÌ„ that more fauourable that than hauyng their waye made sure by the meane of saintes helpe intercessioÌ„ they might preace forewarde into the sight of God What other thing shal we cal this but the most grosse vnknowing of God through the which meÌ„ being blynded haue not acknowlaged that God any more which in his couenauÌ„t making ê“miseth that he wil not only be beneficial mercifull vnto vs but also that he al the goodes he hathe shal be altogether ours Moreouer they haue opeÌ„ly set this out in their religioÌ„ that they
dedes with these external maters he shall see them countrefaict al that they ê“fesse so goodly that lady Hipocrisie her self could not handle that mater more fittly They saye they haue forsaken the world whan no maÌ„ in all the worlde lyueth more drowned Their wilful Pouertie with the worlde the forcastes of the worlde than they doo For they doo not only flowe in all kyndes of voluptuous pleasure but also they set al their hole myndes studies vpoÌ„ al thinges that this worlde desireth or dothe I wold fayne haue theÌ„ answer me whether they caÌ„ shewe me in al the wyde worlde wher is more enuye more hatred more euill will more pride more contencion ambicioÌ„ bralling stryuing than in monasteries which as they saye are disseuered from the worlde But what is their pouertie want of propretie Forsothe this that they walowe in most pleynteous habundaunce of wealthe and like most mightie princes haue al the worlde to welde at coÌ„maundement nother fele they any pynching of pouertie ne yet want of thinges necessarie Yea a maÌ„ maye fynde of them which wher they had either a very small or elles no lyuyng of enheritaunce nor substaunce at al thrust them selues in to one monastery or other and professe wilfull pouertie but there hauing habundaunce of al thinges they leade a lyfe without wante of any thing and at leynght beyng made eyther Abbotes or Priours or Prouincialles either Bishoppes and Cardinalles yea and Popes to they clymbe to the most highe These holy men can clymbe no higher except they chauÌ„ce to clymbe to the galowes estate of wealthe pleasure and empire And yet for al that they saye they vowe pouertie where as they catche holde of suche maner of occasiones that they maye be made superiours to the most mightie princes kinges vpon earthe Therfore are they most subtil sleightie Siomedes which whaÌ„ Glaucus that is to saye the rude coÌ„mon people taketh no hede chaunge copper for golde And a maÌ„ shal fynde no great differeÌ„ce froÌ„ this gaire yf he marke their obedieÌ„ce that they vowe For by reason of that obedience they loke aloft euen against all Magistrates Cloistre obedience and gouernours openly bicause they boast them selues to be exempte that no man in al the worlde hathe ought to do to meddle with them If the lauful Magistrate that is ordayned of God demaunde any thing of them they laye for theÌ„ selues streight wayes their exempcion priuilege of the churche which setteth them fre froÌ„ al charges that the coÌ„mon people and publike state are burthened wtal But in case any man wolde go about to coÌ„straine them to frame theÌ„ in to an ordre by by they make warre agaiÌ„st him laye at him with cursing thoÌ„dre boltes of Romishe excoÌ„municacions wherw t euen emperours them selues haue ben so ofteÌ„ so shreudly haÌ„pred that they are taught to their cost to be afraid of it yet stil to this day Therfore what shall we cal their obedience elles but that for asmuche as they are lordes ouer all men they passe not a pynne of the Magistrates they make all people their seruauntes and lyke Penelopes wowers and an vnprofitable burthen of the common wealthe they deuoure and coÌ„sume in loytring idlenesse those thinges that can scarcely be earned and goten together with the toyle and trauaile of a great sorte of sore labouring meÌ„ And after the same rate if we wil speak Cloistre Chastitie the truthe we must speake of their Continence and chastitie which will not suffre theÌ„ in any wise to be called fathers without a cause For with their chastitie they are wont to fill all the worlde ful of bastardes to laye baites to deflowre honest maydens in euery place and to entice all other women of what place ordre or condicion so euer they were vnto hooredome and that with suche shamelesnesse that they will not let to play the hooremoÌ„gres partes euen at their holy seruice tyme. For to this vse serue so many drinkes and sibber sawces that they charme by the deuilles connyng in their masses to make women madde vpon their loue To this ende are so many maidens and matrones entired in their whispering eare shrifte To this purpose serue som mennes feyned sickenesses that haue geuen masse priestes friers and cloisterers occasion to rauishe both maydeÌ„s and maried women And doubtles this rule is so notablye knowne to al meÌ„ that a man can scarce fynde any so beggerly a suburbe or so pelting a village which hathe not ben garnished with som example of horedome by these kynde of men I talke not here of their filthier and more abominable trickes which we shal speake somwhat of in their owne place But who is that brethreÌ„ that hath brought in these sortesof men Who is he that hathe layde suche a burtheÌ„ and heauy weight vpon sely wretche people Euen the B. of Rome which hathe not only coÌ„firmed their ordres rules with the autoritie of his testimonie and priuilege but also bicause no quicke spurre Magistrate maye correcte theÌ„ nor robbe him of this his so honourable a baudie barne teame he nameth them in al his wrytinges most deare children Than the B. of Rome is euen he that according to Danieles sayeng hathe made right stowte and notable mightie hipocrites which haue done all thinges concerning faithe religion and outwarde conuersacion of life by subtile fleightes with false colour able pÌ„teÌ„ces Hereunto perteyneth not only the life and behaueours of them that are called spirituall persones which in euery thing are like to the state of MoÌ„kerye as the right childreÌ„ of al one father but all the hole religioÌ„ of al maner of folkes lyuing vnder the papacie ought also to be referred hereunto For it is nothing elles but a certain mere hipocrisie as to let many other thinges passe the only forme of their popishe penauÌ„ce if ther were nothing elles is hable to proue to be true For although a maÌ„ were soiled in the synke of al the synnes that are in the worlde and ledde a life full of al myschief and wickednesse all the hole yeare long yet the only tyme of lent though a man contynue still in synnes were hable to make him holy righteous For if a man faste from fleshe that space assone as he hathe goten him a massemonging priest to be his goostly father as verteous a man as him selfe Nay his goostly enemye and therfore the more gentil hathe ones whispered out all the raggemanrolle of his synnes in his care and greased his fiste with some peÌ„ce and bought a masse or twoo by by he hathe full forgeuenesse of al his synnes and may fall again to the same trade of life and geue him self to the same vices and filthye synnes that he did before Besydes this it is more cleare than the sunne light that ther can non so outrageous none so cruel non so haynous non so abominable a synne be committed
our heartes diligētly and neuer forget that in any case which he vouchedsafe to warne vs of with such earnest fidelitie Moreouer whan he should expoūde in his holy sacred reuelaciō which it was his pleasure to shewe vnto his entierly beloued disciple Iohn̄ the sore and dredefull payne of Antichristianitie which he wold haue figured in the name of Babilon among other thinges he speaketh thus in great sadnesse Get you our from her my people be not partakers of her synnes that Apo. 18. you be not partakers also of her plagues Christ our faithfull schole maister biddeth vs get out frō thence that we be not made partakers of her wickednesse idolatrie and supersticion Yea and onles we doo so he threatteneth the payne to heng ouer our neckes Wold to God those men wolde pōdre and thinke vpō this in their heartes which for feare of losing of a litel paltring pelfe or elles for a muckering vile aduauntage sake hade rather he vnder the tirannie of Antichrist than to abyde stil in the feloweship of Christ and of his churche Yea and they also which witting and willing and with circumspecte aduisement deliberate for sight put their children in subiection to the churches of the popishe religion wher they are compelled to worship Idoles yea and though they knowe the true faithe yet dare they not confesse it I knowe what many will obiecte against me in this behalf if thow Note well make all them damned say they that folowe the trade of Antichrist that is of the B. of Rome thā must our fathers auncetours nedes be damned also In dede this is the cōmon querel of the papistes which they are alwaies prating and beating in to the rude vnlearned common peoples heades and trouble many folkes myndes therwithall which thinke it were a most vnworthye mater for them to beleue that their elders were the children of damnacion And this their meanyng is to gather hereof that if our auncettours which lyued vnder the popishe religion were saued than they may be saued by the same meanes also As for me I will speake somwhat sobrely of these maters nother will I searche nor rippe the iudgementes of God to depely For to what purpose were it to searche what maner of iudgemēt almightie God vsed towardes our auncettours which departed this life befor the truthe came to light Howbeit touching his grace and mercie we will not hope but the best in euery cōdicion namely seing it were not impossible for him to lighten them that erred and were deceaued with a common ignoraunce euen at the last breathe of their life that they might acknowlage receaue the true faithe in Christ and so be saued But in the meane space this we are sure of that if they were saued as we trust they were they were saued by non other reason nor waye but by the merite of Christ and not by the helpe of popishe supersticion Ther is no cause therfore why you should goo about to clooke your errours and supersticion with the exāples of our elders O you most shameles protectours of the Romishe abominacion For ther is no like comparison nor agrement in them Our elders could not see the light of the truthe which shyneth most brightly at this daye although they were men otherwise nother wilfully stubburne nor opēly wicked Besides this Christ our Lorde calleth them dāned lost which whan they hearde the worde of the gospel disdayne to be leue it or to heare it whā it is brought to them Wherfore seing our elders nother hearde nor could heare the gospell you shall neuer be hable to nōbre them among the rable of you which synne against the holy goost him self in that you wil nother heare the truthe whā it is offred you nor geue credēce to it whan it is playnly knowne And this so manifest a wickednesse dothe presse you so heauily that we may truly frely saye by the autoritie of Goddes worde that as many as at this daye in so great a light of the truthe doo folowe and defende the tirannie of Antichrist contrary wise doo wickedly persecute the health geuing worde of the gospell and the faithe that men haue in Christ shall at leynght be tormented with their head the Romishe Antichrist in the payne of euerlastīg damnacion except they learne to renounce their wickednesse in tyme turne their heartes to God with a true faithe And that they may so do spedily by the light of Goddes grace it shal be our partes continually to praye Let these now suffice to be spoken cōcerning the abominable cruel perilous tyrannye of Antichrist Secondely this is to be noted louing brethren in Christ that by Paules sayeng Antichrist shall endure til the last cōmyng of Christ vnto iudgemēt reigne by one maner or other For albeit he be dead flayne by the breathe of Goddes mouthe and with the sweord of Goddes worde in many folkes cōsciences yet he lyueth through his sleightes false wiles in many Antichrist abideth til the Lord's commyng peoples heartes yet still and bicause he abuseth their power against faithfull christianes he stereth vp batail continually Therfore we shall neuer be quyte ridde of him for good all as long as the worlde abideth in this state but he shal alwaies haue seruauntes and complices of his owne to rage playe the tyranne against vs withall So that it standeth vs in hande to watche cōtinually and fight like tal felowes night and daye that he ouercome vs not and pull vs vnder his fete Now brethren we haue sene the hole mysterie of that mighty houge Antichrist We haue sene that the B. of Rome is only worthy of this name and title and ought to be taken for Antichrist We haue sene how great haynous his abominacion is and how perilous a thing his religion is We shall therfore geue thankes vnto God from the botom of our heartes in that he hath vouchedsafe to reueale vnto vs so great an enemye to open his false snares vnto vs. And we shall pray vnto God also that it will please him to defende vs wyth the protectiō of his grace from all this enemies tiranny Now remayneth the last faithfull admoniciō of Christ wherby he teacheth vs diligently what we ought to doo in this last tyme of Antichrist For wher he hathe declared that periles shall aryse hereof he warneth vs to beware of them in these wordes Than if they shall saye vnto you Lo Matth. 24 he meanyng Christ is in the deserte goo not furthe Lo he is in closettes or secrete places beleue them not For like as the lightenyng cometh from the caste and shyneth in to the west euen so shall the commyng of the sonne of man be For wher so euer the dead carcasse is ther also shall the eagles resorte In these wordes most louing brethren in Christ we are taught three thinges which it is conuenient for vs during the reigne of
Antichrist not only to knowe but also to folowe And furst he repeteth the same that he hade spoken before and biddeth vs beleue Beleue thē not them not that saye Christ is here or there that is to saye that goo about to shewe vs a false Christ or tel vs that the giftes of God which are geuen vs by non but by only Christ are to be hade elles where Now that we may vnderstande folowe this warnyng as we should doo it is necessary for vs to call to remembraunce that sayenges that are spoken in the Homilies before bothe of the true Christ I meane the only saueour of this worlde also of the false Christes He is the true Christ whom the autoritie of the holy scripture describeth to be very God and very mā the only saueour of the worlde the only priest the only sacrifice for the synnes of the worlde yea the only head of the churche and mennes intercessour in heauen As many thā as shewe this Christ any wher elles than in heauen as many as appoint other heades of the churche other redemers of the worlde other sacrifices for the synnes of the worlde and other aduocates intercessours and mediatours are comprehēded in these wordes of Christ and those be euen they whom it is not laufull for vs to beleue or to geue credence vnto And this is so openly done in the papacie of the pope him self and his membres that no man can say naye to it For furst they are not wont to shewe Christ our Lorde in heauen which was crucified for vs and died which rose again and ascended in to heauen according to the articles of the apostles Crede but to tell folkes that he is either conteyned in a prety litel white cake or in churches consecrated for that purpose which they are not afraide to dresse with these written wordes Hic Deum adora Here worship God Are not these they than that shewe Christ our Lorde in closettes or secret places as he hī self told before hāde As we will speake nothing how their vse is to teach vs a farre other Christ thā is purported in the holy scriptures for the scriptures beare recorde that he was only incarnate made very mā for our sakes But these men not contenting them selues with that feyne him also to be impanate or embreaded Yea and they ymagine him to be such a one that he may be called euery daye in to a piece of breade by the priestes enchauntementes as though he were a certain new Elicius Iupiter Furthermore if they purpose to speake of those thinges that Christ our Lorde hathe purchaced with the merite of his owne death as of remission of synnes the grace of God the father iustice right of adopcion and the possession of euerlasting blessednesse than their maner is with such open wickednesse shamelesnesse to shewe them elles where thā in Christ alone that they can not denie it though they wolde neuer so fayne The Apostle Paule sayeth that Christ is made of 1. Cor. 1. and. 2. God vnto vs wysedō righteousnes sanctificacion redempcion that he knewe nothing els but Iesus Christ euen him that was crucified And in an other place declaring the certaintie of his doctrine he sayeth Although we Gal 1. or an Angel from heauen shall preache vnto you any other gospel than that we haue preached vnto you cursed be he But we heare the popishe shauelinges greasye doctours preache a farre other maner of Gospell than the Apostles haue sent vnto vs in their writynges For they teache righteousnes to be in mennes owne workes merites They teache folkes to seke forgeuenesse of synnes at the handes of wicked and hooremonging yea most filthie rakehell masse priestes As for the grace and fauour of god they ascribe it against Goddes commaundement vnto ymages that they set vp and therfore they vse to name them gracious as Our lady of grace such other Tushe yf a mā wold recken vp al the hole dong hil of popishe religiō vnto these he shal see that they ascribe al that is necessary vnto saluation to externall toyes and trifles And wher the scriptures shewe vs one only patron mediatour euē Iesus Christ very God very man they haue deuised as many mediatours patrones and intercessours besides him as they beleue ther be sayntes soules in heauē Therfore wil we nyl we we must nedes saye that they be the same that the redemour vndenyable scholemaister of the worlde maketh mencion of in this place What must we doo now in this behalfe you mē and brethren Christ saithe Beleue them not Lo our saueour geueth a shorte symple playne commaundement which is a present medicine against all the obiectiones that man can deuise Thow shalt take them to be deceauours as many as goo about to bring in this maner of doctrine and therfore thow shalt not beleue their sayenges Here therfore lieth all the autoritie The B. of Rome of the bishoppes of Rome of fathers and of the counsailes in the Dust which they holde them most chiefly by For if they wolde obiecte the B. of Rome as though men must nedes beleue him bicause he is with to ambicious a name and title called the head of the churche yet ther is no cause why we should be afrayd of hys autoritie For here we do heare the true and supreme head of the church and our chief priest saye Beleue them not Nother is ther any cause why they Counsailes fathers should vaunt of the canones of counsailes and decrees of fathers For the autoritie of them is spoken against by this counsaile which is the holiest counsaill that maye be hade or deuised and the presidēt and head of this counsail is the only begoten sonne of God and the eternal truthe of God who hauing communicacion in the presence of his welbeloued apostles of the deceauours that should com in the later age of the worlde commaūdeth them not to beleue them Now let them hearken to the decrees of fathers let them beholde the Canones of counsailes and make thē selues subiectes vnto the ymaginacions of most shameles vile men which sermore by lyes thā by the truth and hade rather be dāned than saued For wherto doo we passe vpon them any more Wherto doo we wretches take hede to the autoritie of coūsailes Cā not the autoritie of Christ deserue credence at our handes onles it be approued by the consent of mē Nay let vs rather heare Christ him self him that Christ ordayned to be the doctour of the gentiles If an angel from heauen preache any gospel besides that we haue preached cursed be he And If they saye vnto you Lo here is Christ or ther is Christ beleue them not Who so euer therfore dare be so sawcye as to declare forgeuenesse of synnes righteousnesse the grace of God and saluacion any wher elles than in Iesus Christ alone and to shewe him any wher elles