the Iudge became first an accuser of others Semblably and with no lesse shamelesse impudencie this Laterane not Terentian Phormio accuseth them for Heretiques Apostataes And why so I pray you because they haue reuoulted from Christe at any time denyed or shronke cowardly from faith No not so but because they haue forsaken that sacred Sea of Romishe Churche wherein they were once settled Yea is it so Shall there bee no Church then but that only Churche of Rome Shal they bee all accounted to be without the body of Christe which doe acknowledge Christe for their supreme head What is it of more emportance to be slaues vnto the Pope then to bee souldiers vnto Chrisâ— No But they affirme that there is no Churche where the Pope is not head What Church then I pray you was that in Asia and Palestine before Peter euer sawe Rome Yea put the case Peter had neuer seene Rome in all his life shoulde there therefore haue beene no Churche at all Doth the state of Bishops make the Churche of Christe to be a Churche or doth the authoritie of the Churche make Bishops But they say there is no hope of saluation without the church I do heare it and confesse it to be true yet this is no good argument to prooue that there is no Church at al except it be subiect to the Pope I adde moreouer That where they say that there is no hope of saluation without the Church that this saying is to be construed to apperteine to that church only which is the very vndoubted spouse of Christe and which is also married vnto Christe her husbande not because saluation is so necessarily tyed to the Churche as though the Churche bestowed it of her owne meere liberalitie and bountie but for the mutuall immutable coupling together of the head with y e body Whereby it commeth to passe that whosoeuer is made partaker of sauing health in Christ being the head the same can in no wise bee a straunger from the socieâ—ie of the Church And againe neither can such a one be an outcast from the Church vnlesse hee bee first cast off by Christ the heade and prince of the Church Which beeing concluded vpon with what arguments nowe doth this counterfeyte successour of Peter conuince vs for outcasts and Apostataes from partaking with the bodie who through fayth bee engraffed into Christ Who bee not seuered from the true and Catholike fayth of Christ For if nothing else make an vtter separation from Christ but obstinate rebellion from Christian fayth and Christian conuersation what treacherous rebellion eyther in our doctrine or in our maners can these Romanistes espie in vs so blame worthie which may not much more iustly be rebounded vpon their owne backes Forsooth say they bycause wee holde not the Catholike fayth Go to then Sith they standâ— so nicely vppon this poynt let vs faythfully discusse what maner of fayth that is which they call Catholike If the same be the Catholike fayth which Athanasius dooth sette out in his Creede or which the Councell of Nyce did determine vppon for inuiolableâ— From which article of the Creede can you shewe that they haue reuolted But here againe some iangling Iay of this Sea will vrge that bycause they holde not the Catholike fayth of the Romaine Church therefore they holde not the true Catholike fayth Well sayde Hereby then I do perceyue that it auayleth no whitte to bee accounted Christians and Catholikes vnlesse they be Romanistes also Let vs learne therefore of these Romanistes what it meaneth to be a Romanist Truly I beleeue it is thiâ— That the Pope of Rome must of necessitie be accounted for the very and vndoubted vniuersal Bishop of Bishops the Pope of Rome must be esteemed chiefe head generall Lorde of the whole Catholike Churche vnto whom and vnto all whose commaundementes statutes and decrees all people and nations must bee buxam and bonnaire vpon paine of damnation Is it so in deede whosoeuer reteigne not this fayth though he holde fast and firmely mâ—inâ—eyne all other thinges agreeable with the holie ordinaunces of God and all the Articles of the Creede and fayth of the Church shall not the same bee adiudged for Catholike No Sir I trowe But if this be true surely neyther the Churches of Alexandria of Antyoche â— of â—erusalem of Constantinople of Affricke nor yet that auncient Church of little Brytaine shall be reckoned for Catholike To what purpose then spake Basil these woordes where making mention of the Church in his Epistles hee sayeth The Catholike and Apostolical Church abandoneth c. When as yet notwithstanding in that Church of Greece which hee auoweth to bee Catholike and Apostolike the stately loftinesse of Rome had not so highly aduaunced it selfe And therefore wee must needes scrape out of the Kaleâ—der of Catholikes Basil Athanasius Nazianzen Tertullian Augustine Cyprian Eusebius Theodorete and all 〈◊〉 the most famous Bishoppes of the Greeke and Latine Churches all which though doubted nothing but that they were true Catholikes yet did no one of them professe himselfe to bee a Romanist after this rule Neither can the grosse ignorance of manie learned Fathers be any wise excused who first framed the Articles of our Creede vnto vs. For if no Church ought to be reputed for Christian or Catholike but that which is of Rome then were those auncient Fathers much to blame who in setting downe the Articles of the Creede did neglect and so lightly passe ouer this vpstart Article of the Romish Sea that where we bee commaunded to beleeue one holy Catholike and Apostolike Church they did not in like maner commaund vs to beleeue the Romaine Church withal Hereby you perceiue well ynough holie Father into what combersome straightes and absâ—rdities you haue whirled your selfe by your blinde vnaduised rashnesse For firstâ— if no certaintie of saluation bee to bee hoped for out of the Church which Church must be without all question that same verie Church of Rome as you frame your arguments and that the Church of Rome be none other but the same which is â—trayned and streighted to the vniuersal commaundes and decrees of the Bishop of Rome now then you do exempt out of the priuiledge of the Church not that one English Nation alone foreclosing them all passable way to saluation but togither with them also you do exclude out of the number of the Catholikes infinit other famous learned Clearkes of the auncient and pure age of the Church Doctours Patriarches and Bishops yea amongest these also all the Bishoppes of Rome as many as were Gregories pâ—edecessors But what neede manie prooues in a matter of it selfe so manifest and well knowne Undoubtedly sithence Christ woulde vouchsafe to lay the first foundation yea and to builde vp that beautifull and euerlasting buylding of his owne houâ—e vppon none other groundwoorke than vpon that corâ—er stone of Christian fayth and Christian confession And if Paul doubted
17. Gregâ—ry in his 4 booke the 38 Epiâ—tlâ— to Luâ—oâ— Peter was neither head of the Church nor vniuersall Apoâ—â—lâ— Galat. 2. Chrysâ—st vpon Paules Epâ—stle to the Romanâ—s The vniuersall Iurisdiction of the Pope confuted Iohn .6 Luke .14 Iohn .13 Matth. 23. Luke .16 Matth. 5. In what sense Peter was calleâ— prince of the Apostles Peter called prince of the Apostles as Cicero was called prince of eloquence in reâ—pect of eâ—cellencie not of superâ—oritie Mat. 4. Luke 5. Iohn 21. Peter made fisher of men not prince of men Actes .8 Pope Alexander the 3. Hâ—stiensis Extrauagan dâ— eâ—ectâ— electi poâ—â—state Hadriâ—n Clâ—mâ—nt 5â— Honâ—rius 3. Gregory 9. Vrbanus 4. Innocent 4. Clement 4. All the French in Sicile yong and olde were slaine at the sound of a bell Martin 4â— Honorius 4. Nicholâ—s 4. Boniface 8. Clement .5 Iohn .22 Vrbane .6 Clement Martine .5 Pius .2 Sixtus .4 Iulius .2 Paulus .3 The succession of the Pope discouered and confuted 2. Quest. 7. Omnes Dist. 40. â—erome writing to Helyodore The councel of Constance The ordinary succession prefiteth nothing in the sight of God Maâ—asses Caiaphas The Iâ—wes Iohn .9 Mat. 3. Luâ—e 2. Mat. 23. Iames .1 Ephe. 5. No resemblaÌ„ce betwixt Peter and the Pope The state of the chayre of the Romish Monarchyâ— Betwixt the Pope and Peter Esay 5. 2. Ezechiel .34 It is not the chayre but the good life that maketh a man Apostolical Neanthus sonnâ— of Pittacus The continuance of succeeding Bishops in the Church is no sufficient cloke to coulor error The ordinary succession of popeâ— hath bin discontinued broken of The light of doctrine and trueth restoreâ— The Popâ—s Bullâ—s against the faithfâ—l sâ—ruants of Christâ— The slaunders of the Pope against the Queene of Englandâ— The Oration of Queene Elizabeth to the Pope Matth. 5. Lâ—â—ius The cause of the Popes malice against Elâ—zabeâ—h Queene of England How this saying without the Churche is no hope of saluation must be conâ—trued The Câ—tholâ—kâ— fayâ—h Athanasius Creede The Nycene Creede The Romish fayth Bâ—â—â—â— in his 78. Epiâ—â—le The Catholike church amongst the Grecians eâ—empt from the Church of Rome We read in our Creeâ— the holy and Catholike Church but not the Romain Church The onely faiâ—h and doâ—trine of Christ doth vnite Câ—ristiâ—â—s to the Câ—uâ—châ— Three Tabernacles â— Thessal 2. Luke â—2â— Matâ— 20. 2â—â— Luke 18. A compaâ—ison betwixt the auncieÌ„t church of Rome and the Romish prelates nowe The life and conuâ—rsation of the auncient aâ—d Apostolical â—hurche Great differeÌ„ce betwixt the biâ—hops of the ancâ—ent and the new churche of Rome Bernard in his Epistle to Eâ—genius â— The life of the Bishoppes of Rome may seeme lesse Apostolike then Apostatique The Popes doctrine conninced in nouelty The nouâ—lâ—y of the Popes docâ—ryne was in many things vnknown to the auncieÌ„t fathers In howe many how weighty matters the Apostolicke doctryne varyeth from the popes Tertullianusâ— Apocal. 2. Apoca. â—3 Cicero in his Tusculanes the 3. booke Apoc. 13. Though the Pope with his crew be part of the church yet be they not the vniuersall church The Popes arguments deducted from the vniuersalitie The Papiâ—â—â—â— obiection Two sortes of men in the visible Church A disagreement not a departure bâ—twiâ—t the protestantes and the Papistes Osâ—c â— The errours filthines of the Popes doctryâ—e A comparison betwixt the Iewes and the Romish catholikes The persecution of Christians by the pope and his papâ—sts The ceremonies of the Iewes and the Papistes compared together The superstitioÌ„ of the Romanists in defending their traditions is more than Iewish As the Iewes do looke for a worldly Messiâ—as so the Papists doe expect a worldly vicar Like Pope like Church The very pattâ—â—â—e â—â—â—â—age of the Romish Church The Papists do play the Iewes in establishing the doctrine of rightuousnesse by workes â—om 9 10â— How fayth is esteemed with the Papistes Only faith with out works â—oâ—h accomplish the whole worke of our iusâ—iâ—icatioâ— Oâ—orâ— agaynst Haddon pagâ— 94. Oâ—or in his Epistle to the Queene of England pag. 27. 32. Tridâ—â—â—in Conc. Ses. 6. cap. 7. How fayth dotâ— beget good workes Faith as oportunitie is offred can neuer cease from doing good working alwayes throâ—â— loue Fayth in iustification is onely and alone but in working is not alone Tridentin Conc. Ses. 6. cap. 16. The infallible doâ—trine of the Tridâ—ntine Councâ—ll Sâ—ssiâ— 6 Cap. 7 Ephesians 2. Iohn .6 Iohn .11 Euerlasting life promised to the beleeuers The diffeâ—ence betwixt the law and the Gospel The vse and duetie of the lawe Wherein the vse of the law consisteth properly The Euangelicall faith The preaching of faith * 2. Cor 3. Who hath made vs able ministâ—rs of tâ—e new Testament not of the letter but of the spirite The fruite and prayse of good workes Psalm â—5 In what respect good workes be auayleable and what they bring to passe Ianuensis is his booke called Cathoâ—ico Psal. 1â—â— From whence ariseth the welâ—spring of eternal life Iustificaâ—ion is proper to faith only Mark .9 Good woorkes do not procure a man to be iustâ—fiâ—d but bee fruites and effectes of him that is iustified alâ—eady August de graâ—ia 〈◊〉 Cap. 3. Romans 4â— Titus .3 Obiection The answeres of the Apostle Howe faith and good woorkes doe agree and disagree ech with other Tully in his orâ—tion for Milo The obiectioâ— is confuted Eâ—he 5. A brief Catalogue of the popish doctrine Osor. in his 7. booke de Iustitia â—ala 3. A comparison betwixt the preachers of the lawe and the Gospel and betwixt theÌ„ which plod vpon nothing els then the rightâ—ousnes of the lawe and workes The supremacâ— of the Pâ—pe confuted Luke 22.26 Inuocation of saintes confuted Hebr. 7. Pictures and images of saintes Uowes of vâ—maried life Masses and sâ—â—rifices Satisfactions â—or â—iâ—nes 1. Iohn 2â— Actes 1â— Osor. In his Epistle to the Queene of Englande Rightuousnes by faith Iustification free One only oblation The Papistes suppâ—r without wyne The holy ghost the vicar of Christ. Tertullian de praescrip aduersus Haereticos Being taken hence into heauen to the right hande of the father hee sent his vicar power of the holy Ghoste which might comfort the faithful Christ the ende of the lawe The ende and mark of romish doctryne Iohn .5 An vnknowne toung doth not edifie Mat. 24. Idolatroâ—s pilgrimages Peter the Apostle is denied to haue beene bishop of Rome The functions of Apostles and Bishoppes bee diuerse The Pope of Rome is falsely supposed to bee Peteâ—s successor How much the popes doctryne is swarued froÌ„ the disciplyne Apostolique 1. Peter .2 Of the sacramentes The abhominable corruptions of the papists in the Lordes supâ—er * Aug. ad Infantes is cyted by Bedâ— 1. Cor. 10. That which you see is bread and wine which also your eyes do declare maniâ—eâ—â—ly * Augustâ— de trinitate 3. booke cap. â— Myracles are properly applyed too declare to our senses some supernatural and heauenly power In the sacrament nothing
THE POPE CONFVTED The holy and Apostolique Church confuting the Pope The first Action Translated out of Latine into English by Iames Bell. PSAL. 27. Dominus illuminatio mea salus mea quem timebo Imprinted at London by Thomas Dawson for Richard Sergier 1580. The Translator to the Reader THe Authour who coÌ„piled this litle booke contented with the testimonie of a good conscience hath by an honest veyle made the concealement of his name excusable with all such as bee indued with like mildnesse of spirit And it becommeth his modesty very wel whosoeuer he be Whose example I purposed once to haue imitated and had in deed deliuered my simple labours herein without notice of name likewise had I not by good chaâ—nce whâ—les I was yet trauailing in my translation chaunced vpon an enemie of the truth whereof there be to many lurking in corners if it might please God otherwise a friend of the Pope who vpon conference vpon some matters confuted in this tâ—eatie charged me with my falling from them I meane from their common errours in this behalfe adding withal that it was not thought credible amongst many of the like stragglers that I had slipped the coller and become as he tearmed me an Apostata Whom after I had assured of my calling with some circumstances of the maner of mine escape out of that Laâ—erane Laberinth not without some earnâ—st praiers for his like reclaime though to no purpose I began to bethinke my self that I could do no better than to manifest my name in this place yeelding most heartie and humble thanks to the Lord that I happened vpoÌ„ so good an occasion to wipe away my blemish In deed I wandered long in the selfe same mizmaze nooseled therin by the gray headed of that schoole whose countenance caried mee from my Christ to the Swinstie of Sorbone which had swalowed me vp if the Lord had not preuented me with his mercie betimes I was I say as they are I am now as I am Christ Iesus be thanked a conuert I confesse The Lord graunt I may stand fast to the glorie of his name and the good example of others whose like conuersion I do hartily wish in the Lord. And so desiring thy good praiers to Iesus Christ gentle Reader to assist me with his grace that I may perseuer in this his gracious calling to the ende I wil no longer abuse thy pacience The Lord Iesus gouerne and guide thee in the true obedience of his glorious Gospel to the glorie of his name Amen Thy louing fellow seruant in the Lord Iames Bell. ¶ The Athour to the freendly Reader WHEREas this little treatise offereth it selfe to the viewe without the Authors name herein whosoeuer he be that compiled it whether hee bee Dutch French or English desireth to hold him excused Hee thought it more conuenient to produce the holy vniuersall and Apostolique Churche it selfe speaking in her owne person name and voyce that so she might debate her owne cause being publique not priuat against her aduersary the Pope with greater grauitie and maiestie For as the Lorde hath not geuen equabilitie of estate to all persons alike as one and the selfe same maner of speache accordeth not with all sortes of men So was it not seemely to depende the generall greeuaunce of all nations the vniuersall complaint of all people vpon the mouth of any one priuate person as neither woulde one maner of pleading in so weightie a matter become any one priuate Aduocate With another maner of couÌ„tenaÌ„ce speaketh Cicero as a Consul and Iudge then when as a priuate Orator hee pleadeth at the common barre Certes our lot hath beene so vnluckie to light vppon these dayes nowe all matters being so on all parts enuenimed with poyson and so on all sides waxen cankred and incurable that neither indeuoure nor petition praier nor wholsome admonition of any priuate person were able in any respect to auaile For this Romane rufler maketh not so slender an accompt of his Peacockes plummes as to vouchsafe any priuate counsale or correction This hydeous Hydre requireth too be matched with mightier countenances and powers of greater estate whether the Lord Christ himself wyl vouchsafe to destroy this monster with the breath of his mouth froÌ„ out of heaueÌ„ or whether the excellent maiestie of mightie Potentates and Monarches of the earth vniting all theyr Councelles in one wyl not disdaine of their authorities royal to become publique Vmpieres here yeeld their princely assistaÌ„ce to the suppressing of this insoleÌ„t outrage Wherfore if ought in this treatie may seeme gentle Reader to haue byn vttered with ouermuch bitternesse of speach Imagine in thy minde of this discourse as though it proceeded not from any one particular member of the Churche alone but from the whole Church it selfe or from Peter or Paul or else froÌ„ the whole parliament of the Apostles proclaiming their generall consentes voyces and mutuall agreements by their authoritie Apostolique who as did in times past with incredible trauaile and industrie plant and enlarge the boundes of Christs Church so if they were liuing now and beheld with their eyes the merueilous misdemeanors and disorders of the Churche without all peraduenture they woulde thunder out far more bitter and sharper stormes of reproouing speaches against this horrible aduersarie of Christe The Lorde Iesu blesse thee Christian Reader Faultes escaped in the printing Fol. 5. a. for least reade last fol. 6. a. so not for not so fol. 8. b for insolencie reade influence fol. 11. a. for soueraigne reade soueraigntie fol. 14. a for vvhereas reade vvhenas fol 21. a for death reade the death fol. 21. b for be prooued reade ye prooued folâ— 22. a fâ—r your mightie maiâ—stie reade the mightie maiestie fol. eodem b for neither kingâ— reade vvhether king fol. 28. b for heare therefore reade heere â—herefore fol. 24. b for vvill iustifie reade vvill I iustifie fol. 37 a for light of the vvoâ—rde reade light of the vvorld fol. 42. for VVith reade VVhich fol. 59 b for byhange reade Byhanger fol. 60 reade causes linked vviâ—h fol. 62. a for of the supercelest reade but of the supercelestiall fol. eodem a reade to the great fol. 95. a for elsevvhere in reade elsevvhere then fol. 65. b for hope revvarde reade hope of â—evvarde fol. 69. a for righteously reade righteous by fol. 71. b. for in any our reade in any one thing fol 75. b. for our selfe same reade one selfe same folâ— 76 a for eare reade â—aâ—e Fol. 83. b. for this maner reade his maner A DEFENCE OF THE holy and Apostolyke Church against the Bishop of Rome THE FIRST ACTION HOwe long at the length wil you abuse our gentle suffâ—raunce ye Pope of Rome Howe long shall your fury and counterfeyte hypocrisie delude vs What kynde of inordinate licentiousnes is this that so much disteâ—â—pereth you What doeth your outragious insolencie import what doeth it practize whether will iâ— raâ—ngeâ— what measure
them vnderstand persuade themselues thus That wheresoeuer the true church of Christ is resiaunt there we do plead in possession iustifie our true and vndoubted tenure therein Of which church they be called tenauÌ„ts in deed by name but haue vtterly lost their whole interest and right therof To make the same more plainly discernable let vs with due consideration make a proportion of both the churches of Rome to wit the auncient first church there and this new vpstart synagogue that is nowe and compare togither our popishe massemongers that bee nowe with those auncient ministers doctors of that first age by line by leuel as they say So wil it appeare easily how much they differ eche from other For how carefully reuerently did those auncient fathers behaue themselues in the old tyme in that holy fuÌ„ction of mynistery which by lawful calling was committed vnto them whose only delight and endeuor consisted wholy in instructing them that went astray in conuincing the stifnecked with the powâ—r of the word in curing the canker of them that were wounded To this painful trauail in teaching was annexed no lesse carefulnesse to leade a blamelesse life as that they might not only vaunte them of an vndefiled conscience which might boldly appeare before God but also that no such blemish might be found in their conuersation as might bee offensiue to man whose whole trade of life was employed not in idlenes pleasurable delights but in the earnest study of holy scriptures in the enlargement of the kingdom of Christ. They were shepherds of the flock neuerthelesse sheepe of the flock also themselues not woolues amongst the sheep they were not garded with train of souldiours but in mightines of faith in soundnes of doctrine in exercise of holines in sincerity of loue not so lofty in glory as affable and friendly in speeche finally endued with such a sweetnes of maners and mildnes of minde as that they would not willingly endamage their enemies They â—xecuted nothing with violence their only weapon was the sword of the spirit power of the word they threw none into prison they drew none to the stake they polled none of their possessions or goods they sauored not of warres nor breathed out bloodthirstines nor teazed meÌ„ to armes ne set Princes togither by the eares at any time as they were themseluâ—s peacemakers messengers of peace so did they allure al men to peace by al meanes possible They neuer groaped after tiâ—les of vniuersality nor trusted at any time in the confederacy of treachorâ— in seditiouse factions in conspiracies nor in crafâ—y couÌ„cels They neuer haled scepters from out princes possessions nor tread euer vpon Princes neckes but liued quietly vnder Ethnicke magistrates with an especial foresight prouiding alwaies that they mynistred no occasion of sedition yelding honor humbly to whome honor was dew paying taxe tribute where taxe tribute was payeable They vsed continual exhortation to the nouices in Christ to huÌ„ble themselues duetifully euen too al Idolatrous magistrates and too pray dayly for their good preseruation to God On this wise did those ancient Apostles Apostolicke fathers traine the world at the first therby enlarged the Churche dayly To the furtherance whereof it is skarse credible to be spoken how much auailed not only the force of their miracles butâ— with aâ— the sweetnes of their demeanor vprightnes of life their cheerful courage in afflictions their lenity in suffring iniuries of minde milde and gentle imagining no hurt to any and endeuouring to deserue wel of al raysing it self aboue wordly poÌ„pe making no accompt of this life exempt from al encombrance of wordly affaires to the end they might the more freely attend the preaching of the word So also were the bishops of that most happy age mainteined with the only beneuolence of the people contented with the basenes of their own estate In the meane time if there remained any surplus beyond dayly necessities the same was deliuered back to the poore At what tyme palaces of prelats were nought els but treasuries of the poore For as yet the royalties of S. Peter rolled on no mans toung what shal we say to this that of that beadrol of bishops many liued so beggerly that at the time of their death skarse one penny could be fouÌ„d to pay for their graue as we reade recorded of Theodoret But this kind of men are loÌ„g sithence dead and rotten yea there remaineth skarse at this day any sparckles of their manners The Catte is so altogither tourned in the panne amongst these Romishe reuellers that whoso wil now compare these present prelates with the first proportionally and enter into dewe consideration of the licentiousnes of these shauelinges of their cruelty ambition tyraÌ„ny fraudes coÌ„spiracies loftines delicacy idlenes riches brauery troupes of attendants pallaces lauishnes of life greedines of reuenge shal finde theÌ„ more like lordings then bishops rather monarches theÌ„ muÌ„cks shal skarsely discerne whether a maÌ„ may rightly cal theÌ„ preachers or treachors Teachers or deceauers prelates or Pylaâ—es as Bernard did And yet after al this howe they blush nothing at al to bee deemed their successors from whome they haue so degendred in al actions of their liues as that not so much as any memorial at al of that primitiue auncient integrity may be fouÌ„d to shine in theÌ„ And yet might this somewhat bee borne withal if they woulde permitte vs quietly to enioye the same doctrine at the least which those auncient elders and Apostolical founders left behind thâ—m to be receaued of Christian congregations But as nowe euen on this behalfe al things are so vnlike that any may wel doubt whether their life seeme lesse Apostolike or their doctrine more agreeable with Apostasie The nature and nouelty of which doctrine being altogither so newfangled as that it carieth no resemblaunce of Apostolical spirit no likenes of auÌ„cient antiquitie it is a wonder to see how these fyne fellows wil not cease in the meane time to accuse vs of nouelty as though al antiquitie both of the scriptures of the Apostles and most learned fathers did not by all maner of meanes cry open warres against them If this bee not true let them discouer vnto vs from what antiâ—uitie this Laterane transubstantiation and confession as they tearme it auricular receaued to bee publiquely authorised at the first both which Pope Innocent the 3. did in that barbarons age thrust vpon the church by force and power without any probable reason of the scriptures but enacted by the coÌ„spiring decrees of certeine euil disposed persons Again out of what progeny peeped priuate masses first Trentals yerely obites that dayly sacriâ—ice of the Altar ordeined for the clensing of sinnes the one parte of the coÌ„munion cut of by the ruÌ„pâ— pilgrimages prayers for the dead prayers in an vnknoweÌ„ barbarous louÌ„g muÌ„bled in a bâ—adrol by roat Or
be found which being famous raysed aloft as a citie builded vpon an high hill may bee seene of al people a farre of and ought to bee credited of all the Nations of the earth And bicause this shape of a Church can not be seene any where at this present but amongst that people and nation onely ouer whom the Bishop of Rome must be acknowledged for chief head hereof must it follow of necessitie That there is no true and glorious Church of Christ except this onely Romish Church and that al other Churches besides be foreiners infamous and no Churches at al as the which being not able to deriue any certenâ—ie of their discent and antiquity ought not in any respect beare the name of Christian Churches but must be accounted rather for dennes and conuenticles of heretiques And thus much nowe by the way touching the Church the treatie whereof God willing shall bee sette forth with larger discourse in other bokes hereafter This lesson in the meane â—pace will not bee amisse to bee foretolde That if it bee true that Christ himselfe did plainly pronounce that his kingdome was not of this worlde and this also as true which hee doth else where affirme that the things which doe seeme mightie and glorious to the iudgement of men are accounted for vile drosse and abhomination in the sight of God finally if the estate of the most holy Apostles and Martyrs of Christ was alwayes such as it became rather odious to the worlde then accepted or of any estimation that such as applied neerest to Christ were alwayes despised most and that the Disciple cannot bee greater than his maister certes it can not possibly bee that this Churche of the Pope so mightie and glorious in the worlde so renowmed and famous in worldly pompe and excâ—sse so magnified and fawned vpon with the wel likings and alliances of Princes should haue any affâ—nitie or alliance at all with Christ the onely head of the Church or any fellowship with the Apostles I come nowe to other partes of the Romish doctrine in the which the Papists do seeme no lesse Iewish then in the shaping and fashioning of their Church as I sayd before For if the doctrine of Paule bee most true where discoursing of the reiection of the Iewes that sought their iustification by the lawe he rendered a reason wherefore they could not attaine thereto Bycause sayth he they sought to be come righâ—eous not by faith but by workes Lâ—t vs see I pray you what else doth the Romish religion proclaime at this day then that wee oughâ— to make our way passable to heaueÌ„ by industrious works precepts of good life reposing the whole shoote anker of assured affiance trust in the same not bycause we beleue on him that doth iustifie the sinner but in doing workes of this life which do exclude all impietie How shall we say that the great Clearkes and Doctours which teach this such like doctrine do differ from naturall Iewishnesse If the Iewes seeking to be iustiâ—ied by woorkes were for this only cause cleane cut of from true rightuousnesse according to the testimonie of Paule what hope may they conceyâ—e at the length to attaine true rightuousnesse which thrusting faith into a corner do raise vppe the whole building of their iustification vpon that tickle and sandle foundation of workes But thou wilt say these men doe not so altogether abrogate fayth but that they couple her together with works by a necessarie and an inseparable coniunction I do know indeede that fayth is peraduenture in some estimation amongst them yet such an estimation this is as that they will in no wise yeeld vnto her her true dignitie and due place of estate For whereas no one thing is resiant in vs nor giueÌ„ vnto vs miserable wretches fâ—oÌ„ aboue that may make vs acceptable vnto God may obteine his fauour may cure our diseases may deliuer from the fetters and chaines of sinne may turne away wrath and vengeance may ouercome the worlde may crush in peeces the horrible tyrannie of death and the deuill may stande boldely and vnuanquishable in the face â—f hell gates finally which may ouerspreade vs poore forlorne caâ—â—iues drowned in the doung and durt of the earth with the gladsome sunneshine of heauenly life and vnspeakeable glorie of immortalitie besides this onely inestimable Iewel namely fayth in Christ in the which all our hope and riches togither with all the promises of God are fast locked vp as it were in a certaine Arke of couenant when as also the selfe same fayth linked and vnited togither with other vertues doth not onely farre surmount al those vertues in her singular excellencie and power but also of her owne force onely and alone satisfie and accomplish all the partes of our redemption yea and so accomplishe the same as that where she leadeth alwaies whole troups of most excellent vertues with her needeth not neuerthelesse any their helpe at al towards the procuring of Gods fauour I beseech you for the loue you beare to Christ what peruerse peuishnâ—sse and I know not whether more malicious or shamelesse impudencie of men is this I say of the false docâ—ors of Rome which being addicted to the Romish ragges seeme by a certaine destinie as it were borne of purpose for the vtter ouerthrowe of Christes Church so to embase this same faith in Christ euen vnder al other vertues as a very naked bare fruitlesse thing of it selfe as that they scarcely can finde in their heartes to graunt her any commendation in heauen or any place of acceptance in earth For what else doe these wordes of theirs import wherewith they tearme this fayth onely onely rashnesse yea and no fayth at al but impudencie temeritie and arrogancie Where they affirme the Gospel whereof we make mention to be sediâ—ious full of fraude and deceyte Moreouer where in all their bookes and writings they doe so vtterly suppresse this fayth of Christ as that they dare presume to say that there is no passable way to heauen but that which is purchased with holy workes and most excellent integritie of life I will couple herewith though not out of the foresayd Authour but out of the publike instrument and decree of the late Tridentine Councell In which Councell whereas those gay iolly gallants did most filthily erre in many thinges yet played they not the Philosophers in any one decree more perilously then where they vttered their Stoicall opinion in the doctrine of Iustification by Christ. Which being proclaymed vnto vs throughout the whole tenour of the Scriptures to bee freely giuen without all mediation of any other thing besides the onely promise of God through fayth in Iesus Christ our Lorde contrariwise those gracious fathers do so iumble and wrappe vp this grace of God full of sauing health and freely offered wholy replenished with most comfortable consolation and safety in one hotchpot mingled as it were with
be preserued from the bloody butchery and broyling of Christians wheresoeuer the Pope is receiued neither can I discerne any end of all â—hese mischieues any where vnlesse these proude Prelates will content them selues within their owne limites and listes yelde ouer the royalties and all their authoritie of soueraintie to Monarches and kinges and them selues resume againe that which is their owne namely the function of preaching teaching not the things that are of men but which are of God seeking not the thinges which are their own but which are of Iesu Christe If this could be obteyned of them with their good willes nothing could be more honourable But for as much as we may not so much as hope for any such thing at their handes the remedy hereof reboundeth back vnto you chiefly and aboue others to you that are princes that euery of you according to your auncient generositie authoritie and pietie doe first pacifie this troubled estate of religion within your owne dominions restore that which is crazed and ruinous and reforme that which is defiled and corrupte Next it toucheth you that be Bishops and Pastours that euery of you direct your particular flock carefully soundly and godly towardes the kingdome of God Last of all it concerneth you that be subiectes that euery of you doe dutifully acknowledge your humble obedience to your owne Princes and Magistrates in the Lorde Heere then you see that you be forewarned and admonished who neuerthelesse for your singular and most excellent wisdomes neede not any our admonition Therefore I make an ende here both of speaking and admonishing if I may be so bolde to adde hereto this our protestation If any man be able to produce one word so much out of the authoritie Euangelicall whereby the Lorde Iesus did yelde any maner of soueraintie or preeminence to his disciples I do not gainsay but they may yelde theÌ„ seluâ—s to the Popes authoritie whosoeuer will But if there be nothing in the whole scriptures that the Lorde him selfe doth either more carefully aduise or more earnestly forbidde then that any of his disciples by seeking any preeminence at all should raise him selfe aboue any his fellowes restraining theÌ„ by all maner of meanes froÌ„ all maner of superioritie whatsoeuer prouoking them to the humble example of his owne humilitie Do you then deliberatly and maturely determine in your heartes now whether you will rather march vnder the standard of the Lambe him selfe your grand captaine to the goale of euerlasting felicitie or receiuing the marke of the beast throwe your selues headlong into vnrecouerable perdition together with this most arrogant popish Prelate The Lord Iesus euen the same supercelestiall peacemaker of heauen and earth enspire your hearts and mindes with the spirite of his grace in the things that belong to his peace vnto the glory of his name the preseruation of his church the same Lorde Iesus also encrease your honourable estates and preserue you in all the waye of truth for euer and euer Amen FINIS IMPRINTED AT LONDON AT THE three Cranes in the Vintree by Thomas Dawson for Richard Sergier 1580. The vniuersall Churche dooth complainâ— or expoâ—â—ulate with the Bishopp of Rome The beast mentioned in the Apocalipse the 13â— 14. Chap The pompe of the Pope Ciâ—eâ—o against Catilinâ— A defence of the Church of England against the seditious Bulles of the Pope Pope Pius â—â—e fifâ—h raging against Elizabeâ—h Queen of Englande Pope Gregoâ—ie 13. enflamed against England and the Queene of Englande A complaint against the Popes of Rome 2. Cor. 1â—â— What the power of the Church is and how farre it stretcheth The Pope cruelly raging against the godly without all cause or reason Philip. 1. Ioâ—â— .1 Luke â—â— Christ can not be receaued vnlesse the Pope be banished Iohn .3 Chap. Epâ—e 4. 2. Câ—r 1. 1. â—eter 1. Sauâ—ders in his Ierarchical Monarchyâ— How the charge of a Sheapeheardâ— is limited and howe it ought to be discharged Rom. 13. One onely vniuerâ—all head of the vniuersall Church The vniuersall Ierarchie of the Pope serueth to no vse in the Church of Chrâ—sâ—e Cyprian the first booke the third Epistle The Church in respect of soueraigntie is aboue Apostles and Ministers 1. Cor. 3. 〈◊〉 1â— â—â—th 5. Deut. â—2 Roma 12. Actes 3. How great anâ— incomparable the state of the Romish sea was by the space of 500. yeares Domitian a moÌ„struous tyraâ—t The happie inuenâ—ion of the â—rt of printing The proppes aâ—d â—ilâ—ers of the Romish religion It is proouâ—d by plaine demoÌ„stratioâ—s that the ouerthrowe of the pâ—pishe Sea came not of mâ—n but froÌ„ God the vâ—â—ye author thereof William conquerour Henry the fâ—â—ste king of EnglaÌ„d Henry the 2. king of EnglaÌ„d Iohn king of England Henry the 3. Mathevv of Pâ—ris a chroniclâ—â— Diuines put to silâ—nce As many as gâ—â—â— saide the Pope were mâ—râ—yred with â—â—râ— or tortures Out of the chronicles of Henry of Euforde The Chronicle of Iohn Auenâ—â—â—e 7. booke Iohn Hus. Iâ—â—oâ—â— â—â— â—rage â— The decay of Romishe Sea to bee imputâ—d not to men but God only 2. Thes. 2. The prophesie of Iohn Hus against the pope In the yeere of our Lord 141â— Iâ— the yeeâ—â— of our Lord 1517 The Prophetical dreame of Iohn Hus concerning the Romish Sea The Art of printing beganne in the yere 1440 By what meanes and occasions the Churche of Christe waâ—re couered Errors and confusion in the popes doctrine The meanes that God vsed to ouerthrowe the Pope By what meanes the noblest science began to be reuealed in this later age The champioÌ„s of the christian warfare were â—aised vp by God The first appeâ—â—ng of Luther The Pope being the scourge of the Gospell setteth himselfe against Christe and his â—ospel Iohn .15 God himselfe fighteth against the outrage of the Pope The Popâ—s vproares in France aâ—d Flaunders The popâ—s practises against EnglaÌ„d Ioâ—nâ— 16. Apoca. 17. The lambe a â—onquerour The double conquest of Câ—riâ—â— One in his own person alrâ—adie past the other in the Saintes yet to come Henry the freÌ„ch king being hurt in the eye with a shiuer of a launce died Queene Mary of England The Pope procureâ— warre agaâ—â—â—t 〈…〉 Eâ—pâ—rour Iuâ—ian the Cardinall Cisca Capteine of the Bohemyans The example oâ—â—odâ—â—â—ngeaâ—â—ce 〈◊〉 Iulian the Caâ—dinall The Councell of â—asâ—â— The state of 〈◊〉 oftentymâ—â—â—eliuerâ—d frâ—m â—he â—oâ—es trecheâ—â—â—â— The siege of Rochel The Citizens of Rochel defeÌ„ded Rochel defending it self was for the kings behoofe not against the kâ—ng Apoca. 17. Martine Luther Acts .12 Cocleus In the historie of the Hussians 11â— booke Ex Tomo 14. Conc. pag. 66â— The Popeâ— pride â—â— Quest. ◠〈◊〉 De Maâ—â—ritaâ—e â—na Ex Tomo Concil in oratione Stephan Patraâ—â—â—â—â—â—is Luke 1â—â— The ancient fathers agaynst the Popes suâ—remacie Gregories testimony against the Popes supremacie Gregory in his seuenth booke the 30. Epistle to Eulogius Gregorie in the same place Gregorie in the 4. booke the 38 Epistle to the Bishop of Constantinople Pro.
their Christian Brethren seeyng in outwarde semblaunce and behauiour they doe so courâ—giously braue them selues vpon the meekenesse of Christe vpon the Faith of Peter and the spirit of Paule Wee doe reade in the Scriptures that the moste holy Apostle S. Paule him selfe doth in the mightie power of the spirit thunder out That the weapons of our warrefare be not carnal but mightie in spirite to the subdewing of strong holdes wherewith we doe suppresse euil thoughtes and doe subdewe all power extolling it selfe against the wil of God and leade captiue all thoughts and imaginations to yeelde dewe obedience vnto Christ c. First you see weapons named heere not of one Paule nor of one Peeter but our owne weapons saith he that is to say general weapons common with the vniuersall Church of Christ which are then at the leaste to be exercised not rashly against all persons nor vpon euery light occasion but euen when necessitie vrgeth against those if any shall happen to beeâ— which doe waxe insolent and stifnecked against the knowledge of God and their dewe obedience vnto Christ. Of which sorte if any may be founde faultie in that Realme that may preiudice the grace of Christ surely I will not in any respect abridgâ— condigne correction according to the censure Apostolique But nowe whereas that whole nation to the vttermoste of their power doth indeuour to become the Seruants of Christ whereas there is not one so much that doth not prostrate him selfe to the maiestie of the Sonne of God and to his diuine Godheade that doth not worship him in Spirit and trueth yea and worship him there where the Scriptures haue enthronized him that doth not thankfully acknowledge his Heauenly benefites that doth not yeelde dewe reuerence to his Sacraments that doth not onely professe all obedience linked togither with faith to be dewe vnto him but also repose all their affiaunce and confidence in him Finally whereas in their churches all matters are so orderly administred by them as that no defect may be founde of any thing apperteining too the duetie of true christianitie wherein nothing is admitted that is not consonant to the sacred authoritie of the Euangelicall institution I beseech you Syr Pope of Rome what woulde you desire more What seemeth it not sufficient in your conceite that Christ who alone preserueth the estate of his church be glorified in his owne Church vnlesse the pompe of the Pope be enterlaced with the glory of Christ reuerenced with semblable obedience And from whence els come these tumultes these flashes of lightening and stormes of of thunderboltes raysed vpp Is it bicause they doe yeelde their obedience too Christe as it behooueth them to doe or bicause they humble not theÌ„ selues to the Pope If the glory of Christ be your glory as of right it ought to be what needeth any contention then why doe you noâ— cast downe your proud Peacockes tayle and call your selfe backe againe into the societie of generall obedience But if ye thinke it not sufficient that the sonne of GOD may be magnified without the Romish Bishop why then surcease from hencefoorth to be taken for the seruaunt of Iesu and the heire of Peter For what other thing did Peter or Paule vaunt vpon but the onely glory of Iesu Christ Whether by occasion sayth he or in truth so that Christ be preached herein do I reioyce and will reioyce What say you to this That Christ himselfe whiles hee dwelte here vpon earth would haue a speciall testimonie lefte behinde him howe farre he was both in woordes and deedes estraunged from crauing or groping after glorie who embasing him selfe of his owne freewill euen to the ignominie of the Crosse by howe much he disclaimed from the title of glory so much the more ouerflowing aboundance of glorie did ouerspreade him by onely despising of glory I do not seeke saith he myne owne glory but there is one that seeketh and iudgeth Agayne the same Christ being on a time despised and cast out from that most churlish city did not so attempt any matter of reuenge therefore as that hee seemed very greuously offended with them which did prouoke him to take vengeaunce O heauenly mildenesse of a meeke spirit woorthie of all reuerence and honour You knowe not sayeth hee of what spirite you bee The Sonne of man came not for too destroy but to saue mens liues Now let vs compare the one with the other to witte the Uicar with his head You haue heard how the Lord being not entertayned vpon the way what he did and what answere he gaue But what the Pope woulde haue done in this case if he had beene present furnished with like power to be auenged I doe not here discusse Truely how he behaueth him selfe at this present little England alone may be a sufficient testimonie which hauing now ouer many yeares beene plagued with that Romish ruffler and worne out euen to the bare stumpes with much adoe shaking from her shoulders that yoake of intollerable thraldome durst prâ—sume at the last to cast from out her territories this Tâ—oian horse and reduce her estate to the auncient iberties Hereof springeth that Canker hereof arise these Tragicall furies wherewith he woulde seeme ready to deuoure not the bodies of menne onely but the very soules also if hee were able Goe to nowe and what cause can this â—remshapeâ— Uicar vouch at the length why hee shoulde thus mingle heauen and earth together and rake vpp from the deepe those swallowing Sandes of gaping gulfe Let vs nowe see what the mater is The Pope of Rome is banished out of English soyle in that hee woulde be a Ruler I confesse but as a soiourner he is not excluded But Christ notwithstanding is receiued him doe they imbrace as their Lorde his voice they doe acknowledge and bee obedient vnto but because they knowe not you Sir Pope if they receiue you not why should you storme at it You require pardie that they shoulde couple you with Christ in their worshipping But put the case that Christ can in no wise bee receiued into England vnlesse the Pope be banished neither the Pope haue any possible footing there except they thruste Christe cleane out of their Coastes Whether of these two thinke you conuenient to bee obeyed by them since they can not possibly serue bothe at once Iohn the most worthy Prophet of all Prophets yea more then a Prophet doth cry out in the Desert It behoueth that he increase and that I doe diminish And will you not permit the glory of Christ to growe forwarde in his owne Temple vnlesse your pompe be made copemate of his glory Who bâ—eing his humble seruant faithful freend in deede as in outwarde apparance and words you doe professe to beâ— why then indeuour as seruiceably and faithfully to aduaunce the honor of your Lordâ—â—â—d Maister and withall accept as louingly of your followe seruauntes who dutifully serue the same Lorde
and maister whome your selues doe professe I beseech you Sir is not our request agreeable with equitie But if the matter go otherwise and that you wil be exempt from the place of a seruaunt as no fit member of our Church but doe require rather to bee enstalled a Lorde ouer our fayth then knowe ye for certaintie that your banishment from our Kingdomes is not procured by our onely meanes but authorised by the very sacred Scriptures wherein we finde moste euidently one onely Lord to be attended vponâ— and one onely fayth to be directed by Euen as wee reade in the same Apostle else where Not bycause we are Lordes of your fayth sayth he So also neither Peter himselfe farre vnlike to an Imperious Apostle câ—ulde not at any time permit in the Clergie the name of Lordly estate neither did euer presume to chalenge any such title to himselfe as the which he reproued verie sharpely in others For he right wel remembred what Lorde hee was disciple vnto namely the same Lord who being alwayes the greatest despiser of worldly pompe would neuer contende for honour and seignorie but in al lowlinesse rather would yeelde humble seruice to all persones without respect But loe a replie forthwith of some of this crew What say they do we not call them Lordes commonly who as Gods Ministers do exercise princely authoritie and regiment ouer the earth Yes truely and therefore let euerie prouince haue his peculiar seignior who according to Gods appointment may exercise this function of bearing gouernement and rule But what is this to Peter What is this to the Apostles and Apostolique Ministers who be called to this function to this onely ende to profite the congregation of Christ and not ouerrule them as Princes and Potentates to nourishe and feede the flocke of their Lord not Lordly and loftily to ouercrowe them as Lordes of the flocke For their estate is not an estate of stately domination and tyrannical superioritie but an office a charge and a shepeherdes estate And as it is a charge so ought the same charge be stretched no further than for whose sake properly it is vndertaken so also neither ought it be applied otherwise in any respect then as it shall apperteine to the proper and peculiar benefite of the flocke For neither the Scholemaister may therefore take vpon him to ouerrule his pupilles as Parents do their children or as Princes their subiectes bycause his office is to instruct theÌ„ in learning neither is he otherwise worthie the place of a Schoolemaister then in that respect that he may teach good and wholesome doctrine In like maner whereas the office of a godly pastor consisteth in this onely to direct the consciences of Christians to employ all his studie and trauel to the enlargement of Christes kingdome he ought for this cause abide vnremoueable within the bounds of his charge therein behaue himselfe as a shepeheard not as a Lorde as a seruant not as a maister It is one thing to beare soueraintie by publike and Christian authoritie an other thing to be a seruant in feeding the flocke and to be subiect to the state And yet neither doeth this kinde of seruice want his proper and peculiar dignitie As in all common weales the most renowmed famous actions do of their owne nature allure the wel liking and laudable commendation of the godly So Ministers of the Church also such as being endued with heauenly giftes of spiritual blessing and the mightie power of Christ Iesus though they groape not greedily for promotion shall neuer yet bee destitute of their due honour and reuerence which of it owne nature doth alwayes attend vpon and accompanie godly and famous personages I meane not any such dignity notw tstanding as should raise theÌ„ to the state of princes nor make them Lordes of the earth ne yet aduaunce them to Monarchies nor so much as priuiledge them froÌ„ due obedience to the state nor to the Lawes and Statutes of the higher powers Therefore as concerning the prerogatiue of Princes sithens there is so great a number of Regions Nations and people such a varietie of Lawes and tongues nothing can be more seemely nor more consonant for the ordinance of God then that in al societies and estates of Nations a special preeminence and singular superiority should be yeelded to some one personage as to a certaine chiefe gouernour and heade by whose authoritie and soueraigntie al others may be trayned vnder whom also seueral offices and charges may be seuerally distributed as shal seeme necessarie and commodious for the well ordering of euery weale publike Hereof is it That the higher powers do of right beare a necessarie preeminence directly vnder God as the Apostle witnesseth And yet euen the selfe same powers are empaleâ— compassed in within their prescripts listes limits boundes according to Gods ordinance But as to that vniuersalitie and Ierarchie ouer the whole Church of Christ or to be onely and entier Lord and ruler ouer our fayth besides Christ onely we acknowledge neither king nor keyser whatsoeuer And what was he then that at any time hath authorised you yee Prelate of Rome to bee chiefe gouernour and Lorde ouer the vniuersall Church of Christ so farre and wide ouerstretched ouer the face of the whole earth Or who euer besides you hath beene heard of that durst presume vpon so prowde a Title of superioritie eyther in the Apostles tyme or in the whole succeeding age vntill this your chalenge without great reproche and greeuous controulement of euerie good man Or with what face at the length dare your selfe so arrogantly rayse vppe your crest so Luciferlyke as to bee magnified for the onely and principall Bishoppe and Monarchie of the whole state of Christianitie vnlesse ye were Antichrist him selfe In this case therefore aduise and bethinke your selfe well yee Romish Prelate what ye nowe doe or rather what ye ought to doe If yee thinke that the credite of your Maiestie is crackt by them bycause they haue banished you out of theyr Coasts I pray you heartely when it commeth to your minde to make a true account howe much they haue bene beneficial vnto you others of your crew whiles they were your vassals tel vs now this one thing what secrete insolencie lurketh in that authoritie of your maiestie that may by an vnauoidable necessitie enforce them to the lyke superfluous pillage any longer For why shoulde they so do is it because you may graunt them saluation and blesse them But their saluation is already plentifull sufficient and euerlasting for them in our onely Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ. Is it because you may geue them remission of sinnes but the same is also geuen them freely in the faith of the Gospell without any other ayde What is it then Because you may preach the woorde of God to Gods people or is it rather because ye may as ye haue hitherto accustomed thrust
vpon them mens traditions pelting gloses and olde wiues tales in steede of Christes Gospell that yee may rob the lay people of the woorde of God with holding it fast lockt from them in an vnknowne and barbarous tongue That yee may scatter abroade the doctrine of Diuelles But the Lorde be highly thanked for it there lacketh no store of godly personages amongst them which are able too execute that holy function of preaching Gods woorde and do execute it indeede without ayde of the Laterane Bishopp freely and with good successe yea so muche the more freely by howe muche they bee seuered from your tyranny by distaunce of place What is the cause theÌ„ that ye may determin their causes and controuersies But where may controuersies bee more happily decided and more speedily ended then where the speciall circumstances of the greeuances began first and are best knowne Heere of came that sacred decree of those godly Fathers in the Africane Councell as Cyprian doth testifie That euery mans cause should bee pleaded in the same prouince where the offence was coÌ„mitted wher also might be both accusers and witnesses of the cryme And for this cause it was decreed further That to euery pastor some particular portion of the flocke shoulde bee appoynted which euery of them shoulde rule and direct rendering accounte of his proceedings therein to the Lorde c. In their Englishe affayres therefore what interest may the Romishe Inquisition challenge sithens the States of his owne Nation of Affricke haue vtterly renounced it But happily the authoritie of the Pope is holden verie necessarie to choose Byshoppes and to dispose other orders Ecclesiastical for this they mainteyne for inuiolable that all maner election of Bishops is vtterly vnlawfull except they bee consecrated by the Romishe Sea But what is this else then to robbe the Churche of her lawfull right and interest in her free election and to yeeld ouer the Church her selfe which ought to be the Spouse of Christ a seruile bondmayde to the Pope and not the Pope to the Church when as notwithstanding the Apostle Paule writing to the Corinthians doubted nothing at all to make the Apostles themselues subiect to the Church speaking on this wise All thinges are yours sayeth he whether it bee Paule or Cephas or Apollo whether they be thinges present or things to come but you are Christes hee doth not say you are the Popes and Christ is God Briefely as concerning that laying on of handes which the Papistes account altogither vnlawfull without the Popes annoynting why shoulde it bee lesse lawfull for vs to put the same in execution in our Churches in ecclesiasticall elections and ordering our owne Ministers and Pastours then the Cardinalles of Rome in the choise of their Pope For sithens in Rome it selfe is no such necessarie succession of personages or Palles but that which is purchased for the penie and sithens no consecration almost doeth passe there that is not rather besmeared with Oyle of money then with any Oyle else I beseech youâ— what should be the cause why the proceedings of our Churches may not bee adiudged more legitimaâ—e and canoâ—icall being exeâ—uted according to the prescript ordinaunces of the Canons not without due trial of learning good consideration of conuersation common consent and voyces oâ— the Congregation namely for as much as the Lorde hath promised wheresoeuer two or three doe agree together in any one thing in his name that the Father will graunte them theyr requestes Which being agreed vppon I demaunde what cause of iuste complaint you can alleadge against vs ye Romane Bishop or what iniury haue you susteyned at our handes If none at all why doe ye fret and fume wherefore doth your choler boyle so monstrously to what ende are those thunder clappes of bulles and warlike wild sier scattered abroade wherewith like a most vnmercifull Caligula ye seeme ready bent to scorch and cut all our heads from our shoulders at one blow if you were able The stay wherof surely proceded not of any relent of your crueltie nor of any your fearefulnesse too commit the facte but from Gods onely merciful benignitie which doth for the most part rebounde back malitious attemptes either vpon the wicked authours themselues or as vapours and clowdes scatter them to naught But goe to let vs graunt vnto you that by this excluding of you some particular Churche haue beene iniurioâ—s to your maiestie which being neuerthelesse most vntrue yet let vs imagine it to be euen so It behooued you notwithstanding to call to your remembrance of what spirite ye were ofâ— if at the least ye belong to Christe whose vicar you doe challenge your self to be Of whom if you haue not yet learned the lesson which ought to haue bin first chiefly learned too wit To pray for your enimies ye should at the least not haue forgotten the lesson next vnto the same That whatsoeuer iniury had bene offred you against equitie right yee may not be iudge yet of your own priuate grieuauÌ„ce but haue committed the same wholy to be auenged of the Lorde For so you reade commaunded by Gods owne mouth Vengeaunce is myne and I wil rewarde saith the Lord. So might you not in any wyse haue misdoughted but that he vpon some good liking of your cause vndertaking the defence thereof woulde of his sincere Iustice both more orderly more mightely haue repulsed the iniury then your self were able too doo For proofe wherof as there be sundry examples in the scripture so amongst al other that counsel of Gamaliel wherewith he appeased the outragious insolency of the Pharisees from sleing the Apostles ought to haue bin remembred agreeing with Gamaliel in counsel If that which these men do be of men or the counsel of men it will come too nought of it self But if this couÌ„sel be of God theÌ„ shall I as wickedly as in vayne striue against it as one not only rebellious against men but against God himselfe Al which I do hither too debate with you in such sorte as if you had iust cause of complaint were it neuer so litle against vs for empayring your dignity which if it were true yet doth not the Apostolique grauitie vsually let loose the reynes of priuate reuenge so grieuously nor any of the scripture enstruct therevnto The milde lenytie of the Gospel wold rather allure too deale more fauourably with the brethren yea though they were faulty who albeit they be not Romaines yet bicause wee bee Christians behooued you euen for Christes sake whom we do woorshippe though wee woorshippe not you to haue had dewe consideration of the mutual amytie and necessary bondes that ought too bee betwixt Christians if at leste yee bee a true Christian your selfe Certes this rayling and slaunderous reproches wherewith yee doo practize and procure vs too bee hated of all and our common weales and kingdomes to bee rent asunder withall and brought to vtter confusion doeth iâ— no
respecte beseeme the profession whereinto you are entred But to come neare to the purpose nowe and to deteyne you more strongly within my warde I doe argue with you on this wise as that I may throughly conuince not onely the whole substaunce of your challenâ—e agaynst vs to bee most voyde of reason and fraught full of follie and pride but also to make it appeare by most euident demonstration that all this so mightie a confederacie of Nations and people conspiring in generall agaynst your destruction which you do see with your eyes is not onely cleare of all blemish of rancour but also conceyued and raysed vp in one vpon most vrgent and necessarie causes and vndertaken with no lesse feare of God in respect of true pietie is not so much procured by men or by mans Counsel as directed altogither by the onely outstretched arme of the Lorde of Hostes and so directed as that without his godly assistance so manie and so maruellous enterprises could neuer haue beene possibly atchiued in so short space and with so good successe And to the ende you and the complyces of your conspiracie may bee made more assured of the proofe hereof open the eyes of your remembraunce at the last and beholde on euerie part the manner and maruellous frame of the proceedinges therein First I suppose no man is ignoraunt into what amazed admiration all Nations were caryed with that your notorious state of Empire with that woonderfull masse of Maiestie and loftinesse of seate so richly enstalled so gloriously enthronized with so manie and so magnificent fortifications enuironed yea as it seemed established with scriptures countenanced with the authoritie of Peter and Paule as long as it held soueraigne ouer the whole worlde in assured securitie All which so wonderfull power so puyssant maiestie so large outstretched dominion of popish Ierarchie which stoode so long by the space of fiue hundred yeares continually in so vndiscontinued and empâ—ired a possession who coulde â—uer haue suspected or conceyued by any neuer so light imagination shoulde not also enioyed vnremoueable continuance euen to the worldes ende For better confirmation of which Empire seuere and sharpe lawes were enacted dreadfull decrees yea most horrible torments prouided for the punishment of such whosoeuer would but once hisse agaynst the Popes holinesse though he playeâ— the ruffian neâ—er so rudely A sweete and plausible title of the Catholike and Apostolike Church was pretended the power of the keyes was chopt in among the vndoubted succession of Peter not without the authoriâ—ie of Paule capemarchant withall insomuch that whosoeuer should but loâ—ke awrie vpoÌ„ the Pâ—pe might â—eeme not so much to preiudice his holinesse as to be openly iniurioâ—s to Peter and Paule themselues Moreouer there wanted not to this mightie Domitian his feareful lightnings wherewith he might out of his heauenly Capitol amaze the timâ—rous soules of weake princes finally that nothing might lacke to braue out his power as to colour his crafty iugling there were annexed to the premisses a sweete and amiable countenance of hypocritical holinesse a counterfeit sinceritie of vnspotted life yea outwarde resemblance of true religion thereby to dazel more easily the eyes and heartes of the vnlettered And for this cause to garnishe this pageant to the full whole skulles and droanes of Monkes Friers and Massemongers did swarme togither busied busily in fasting in almes giuing in Psalmes singing in prayers and Masse mumbling in their vnmaried life resembling Angelical puritie surpassing all humaine condition In the Churches how religiously were al things solemnised too reclaime men to their luâ—e But amongst all the rest no one thing was more forcible to the establishing of the power and continuaunce of this kingdome then the ignorance of that blinde age and the penurie of learning and iudgement For in the Schooles was nothing â—aught but colde and friuolous suttleties In the Councels nothing decreed but by the prescript rule of the Pope alone neither was any sounde heard in the Temples of any thing almost besides stage-like ceremonies and mens traditions And what maruel then if the pure and eloquent sciences both sacred and prophane being vtterly extiâ—ct barbarous blindnesse had ouerwhelmed all things with groâ—se ignoraunce whereby no man coulde become either more expert in learning or more vertuous in manners when as neither bookes nor authours were extant out of the which anie such supplie might be furnished For as yet came not to light that most happie and heauenly Iewel to witte the Arte of Printing bookes all thinges were certifieâ— by the industrie of wrytingâ— and hyred trauaile of wryters yea the same also not obteyned without greate charges and costes Whereby it came to passe that the poorer sorte being vtterly barred of atteyning learning scarce anie vse of Bookes or good litterature was in vre except amongest a fewe Monkes onely yea those also not verie manie with whome likewise the verie same written bookes remayned rather in Libraries fast chayned a rotting than worne out with any theyâ— handling In the meane space the common people did neither reade nor heare what the Euangelicall and Apostolicall wrytiâ—ges did proclayme touching Christ nor touching his grace and benefites onely they were commaunded to beleeue that which the holy mother Church did beleeue Which was not altogither amisse if they had concluded vppon a true Church according to the right patterne thereof Nowe these learned and great wise men woulde haue this Church to bee none other but the Sea of Rome pardie and that crew of Cloysterers amongst whom that triple holy Pope must needs be acknowledged for heade and Lorde ouer all whose decrees all and euerie person what soeuer must be of necessitie constrayned to obey as so manie holie oracles proclaymed from heauen whatsoeuer this Gentleman shoulde clogge the Christians withal must with like necessitie be vndertaken and borne without grudging This ympe they iustified to be the only Priest of the Leuitical raâ—e yea the verie bonde of Christian societie besides whome they affirmed was no fayth no hope no nor any Church at all Who so shoulde depart from this Church as much to say from the Pope might not otherwise hope for eternal saluation by anie meanes whatsoeuer the Pope should speake or doe could be no errour neither ought he bee iudged of anie person And that Christ did reigne in heauen the Pope must reigne in earth And albeit Christ did promise that hee woulde bee alwayes present with his Church yet must this bee an infallible rule That hee coulde not dispose the riches of his grace in the gouernement of his Church otherwise than by the dispensation of this Gentleman his onely Uicar In this calamitie of state and time I pray you what other knowledge could the rude and vnlettered multitude attaine vnto but that which others taught them And then also what other thing was beaten into the eares of the people then that which by all maner of meanes might auaile to amplifie the
maiestie of that popish kingdome The brauerie whereof whoso could blaze out witâ— most loftie titles stateliest style was adiudged the most profound and delicate diuine And then these notable and inuincible oracles were finely sifted out not of any light trash but coonned out of the verie bowels of diuine Philosophie Thou art Peter and vpon this Rocke will I build my Church I haue prayed for thee Peter that thy faith should not faint Feede my sheepe Ergo the most holy father the Pope of Rome is enthronized the vniuersal Prince of the Romish Sea vnto whom onely are giuen the keyes of al maner iurisdiction The Romish Church hath taught thus Thâ—s hath it seemed good to the vniuersall Bishop who carieth about with him the holie Ghost within the cubbard of his breast These be the traditions of the holie fathers Ergo this is the Catholike Church In good fellowship gentle Reader what â—tronger force of illusion coulde possibly bee seene at any tyme In so maruelous a confusion of thicke and darkened clowdes what coulde bee more easie than for the vnlettered and vnskilful multitude to wander vppe and downe by whole heapes into any amazed errour whatsoeuer euen as a man hauing first pyked an others eyes out of his heade might easily leade him then to breake his necke where him lyâ—ted Herein vnlesse the most mightie Lorde Creator of all thinges and gouernoâ—r of all thinges looking downe from aboue had put to his helping hanâ—e in time what coulde all the Counsels of men agreeing togither in one all their forces and powers conspiring togither preuayle agaynst that so mightily forâ—ifyed force of popishe Monarchie by such a continuall course of succeeding yeares established the proofe whereof manie greate and probable argumentes haue heretofore declared For how often hath attemptes beeâ—e giuen euen of the most puissant Monarchies Kinges and Potentaâ—es of the worlde to snaffle this intollerable ambition of popane arrogancie yet voyd of al successe notwithstanding For immediatly vpon an assay made princes being sâ—aâ—ed eytâ—er through feare of further perill or lead on â—he blinde side by craâ—ty collusion or zeale of Religion or circumuented by trayterous reâ—cuâ—tyng of theyr Subiectes at home haue surceassed all the sorte of them â—rom further exploites Examples whereof albeit in number infinite may easily and readily â—ee vouched if out of Fraunce Germanie Cicilie Austriche â—e wâ—ulde reckon vp all and euery particular King and Emperâ—urâ— bearing the names of Phillip Lewes Otto Henry Fredericke as wee might yet passing ouer for this present forâ—aigne princes we wil coâ—tent ourselues with a brief Catologâ—e taken out of our natiâ—e Countrey Moâ—umâ—ntes suche as shal suâ—â—ice for this present purpose William of NormaÌ„die wearing the Croâ—n of this land .500 yeres agoe or very neere theraboutes this Romishe tyrannicall Ierarchie whereof I spake before began too growe somewhat more lofâ—ie then before against whose hauty arrogancy Henry the first of that name a learned and puissant Prince of courage beganne somewhat to bende his browes After whose death his successour Henry the second did set himself against the Pope in more forcible maâ—er But Pandolâ— the Popes Legate forthwith qualified the king Not long after succeeded Iohn king of Englande who was much more eagerly sharpened aâ—gaynst the Pope but this force preuailed nothing at al. After them reigned Henry the thirde of that name who mightâ—ly laboured to stay the Romishe money markettes exceeding all measure and meane within his owne kingdomes This was a woorthie enterprise certes well beseeming the noblenesse of a most worthie king But the inâ—atiable pride of the Pope gate the vpper hande notwithstanding King Henry hath his counsels quoth the Pope so haue I my councel also What shal we say to this that the same hath beene earnestly impugned by learned and graue diuines as wee finde recorded in Histories to call backe that moste insolent tyranny of that proude Peacocke to some meane and reasonable order wherein these also did but beate the ayre and loose their labour for either they were pricke foorthwith to prison or raked to recant or tormenâ—ed with tortures compelled to bee mute Amongest whom innumerable names of godly Martyres besides the Valdenses Albingenses Merindolanes Bohemias be registred of recorde What other cause procured the death of that godly martyr Ierome Sauouarolla whose worthie sermons published in the Italian tongue and printed at Uenice Italy it selfe to this day yet can in no wise digest What else was the destruction of those two Moonks burnt at Auynyon vnder Pope Innocent the sixth What other cause did consume to ashes WilliaÌ„ Sawtreâ— Swinderbie Thorpe Gâ—alter Bruite a very learned young man Iohn Badbie Lorde Cobham right honorable of parentage and infiniâ— others partakers of the same persecution What other matter raked out of graue Iohn Wicklife being buried long before In which Catalogue let bee numbred also whom for reuerence due vntoo them I may not forget Tauler Wesel Groningensis Hilton Isenua William de Sancto amore Nicholas Oremmus William LaudiueÌ„sis Iohn Poliacensis Armacan Peter de Vineis the Archbishoppe of Tullensis of whom Auentine maketh mention But I passe ouer these as being ouer auncient whom if I shuld rehearse by particularitiesâ— mine OratioÌ„ wold scarce find an end I wil draw neare to these yeeres wher with we be better acquainted in the which I knowe not by what meanes the impietie of this Romishe fury waxyng more rype in riot rusht abrode into the worlde but euen then chiefly whereas by your trayterous treacherie and mercilesse crueltie you haled too the sâ—ake the most worthie Father Iohn Hus and Ierome of Prage â— partakers of the same Martyrdome vnder colour of SuÌ„mons to the Councell by the Emperors safe conduit with trayterous practice yee Romane Popes cannot deny to bee procured by your meanes If I demauÌ„d the cause of this tyranny what aunsweare wyll you make wherein had they offended what was theyr crime did they any way blasphemously abuse them selues agaynst the name of Christe nothing lesse But for that the good men moued in conscience in discharge of theyr faith and dutie durste aduenture to pinche the pride of the Pope To suche an vnspeakable outrage coupled with insatiable sauagenes was the vntreatable insolency of this Babylonicall struÌ„pet crawled vp at that season that neyther it might bee lawâ—ull for any person whatsoeuer once too dare quacke against her yea though he did so yet shoulde hee little preuaile Wherefore if that so mightie power and outstretched Dominion of your stately state the like whereof was neuer hearde of to beare sway on earth by any memory of man fortified and established with so great authoritie suche huge Hostes Armies Treasures Munitions Aliances Confederates wherof you were seased in so long continued a possession vnuanquishable almoste against all attemptes whatsoeuer hitherto seeme somewhat crazed nowe brought on knee I suppose by
times seuen He was accounted the only fountaine of all iurisdictions from whose fulnesse behooued all Bishops to drawe their authoritie without all question What needeth any long processe Assoone as the Church began to chaunge his head and the Pope ganne too take vppon hym the place of Christe foorthwith came to passe that togeather with this newe heade vpstart suche a femshapen visour of religion as scarse any one iotte of the auncient discipline remained vnpolluted For the Scriptures beeyng now commaunded too silence nothing coulde be heard nothing coulde bee deliuered too feede the humours of suche as woulde haue beene learned but Canons Lawes Decrees and Decretalles of the Pope vppon these were the nymblest and finest wittes employed By these were all causes Politikeâ— Ciuill and Ecclesiasticall both publique and priuate determined in churches in Iudgementes in Consistories common pleadings Councels Godlines which tofore was enstalled in the spirituall enstruction of the minde and in the true conuersation of Christe was nowe posted ouer too other gewgawes which should hold mens senses captiue and not edifie theyr consciences whereby neglecting the thyngs which only auayled to the obteining of saluation the vnlettered multitude was carried away into I know not what newfangled mysteries too Oyle too Waxe Salte Water to the Moone shining in the water to Cowles to Belles to Chaliâ—es Temples and Aultars coÌ„secrated with the Popes blessing to Iubiles Immunities to Graces to Expectaâ—ioÌ„s to PreuentioÌ„s yeerely Pentionsâ— Palles Indulgeâ—ces Bulles Pardons and to surceasse heere too reckon vpp the infinite rabble of the remayning ragges wherewith they had peruerted all things cleane contrary to Chriâ—tes institution Sacraments gelded newe chopt in place one parte of the Sacrament craftily conueied from the vse of the Layitie praiers pattered and mumbled in an vnknown language priuate Masses in steede of the holy Communion iumbled vp in all corners of Churches where the Priest not imparting any portion to the people but vttering it too the gaze to bee tooted vpon and worshipped first lifteth it aboue his Crowne then swalowes it downe alone not in remembraunce of the Lordes death and passion but whole Christe fleshe blood and bone to the saluation of body and soule For this Article was the very sinowes bones and marrow of most absolute religion couple here with satisfactions Purgatorie pickpurse the vnblooddy sacrifice of the Masse assurednesse of saluation not depending vpon Christe only and faith in him but to bee purchased with righteousnesse of workes redeeminges of merites and pardons for siluer and coyne For reformation therefore of these so many and so horrible outrages seeing they seemed nowe in no case tollerable it seemed good to the Almightie Maiestie too yeelde his mercifull countenance at the length For albeit Antichriste must of necessitie haue his time to play his Pageant in yet coulde not the mercy of the father deny y e gracious coÌ„solatioÌ„ to his church vnto y â— which it had obliged it selfe with an euerlasting couenant but that it must releeue her necessities beyng surprised now with suche miserable and almost vnrecouerable calamities And to the ende he might bring the same too passe most commodiously without any vproare hee stirred not vp Princes to armes neyther prouoked he to blooddy battell but as I sayde before sent downe from aboue this inestimable Iewell of Printing intoo the earth which shoulde first disclose the liuely welspringes of purest doctrine and publishe abroade too the worlde the auncient authours of learned antiquitie and withall shoulde deliuer at large to the open viewe of all men the bookes of holy Scriptures and the purest and grauest Fathers of the Primitiue Churche and those also in suche great abundaunce and at so reasonable prices as that no man coulde be of so poore abilitie not to bee able too buye for a fewe pence whatsoeuer booke him listed and to peruse them for his instruction By this meanes Maugre the Pope and his Cardinalles began Christe by little and little too bee made familiar to the worlde the Prophetes and Euangelisâ—es sounded into mens eares euery where Paule Peter and other Doctours Expositours of soundest and purest Diuinitie were conuersaunt dayly in the eyes and handes of the people which beeyng aduisedly read ouer and growne at length to some acquaintaunce is almost incredible to beleeue howe woonderfull a light of doctrine howe vnsatiable a greedinesse to learne and to reade what a sodaine enterchange of maners what a beautifull countenance of all thinges ensued and floorished euen vppon the sodaine Heere loe that infinite number of Painters whereof I made mention before out of the dreame of Iohn Hus. Heere loâ— those painted Images in the temple of God spoken of before ingrauen nowe in the mindes and harts of Christians being not of any new inuention notw tstanding neither forged vpon any newe Anvyle as you are wont to slaunder vs but euen the selfe same which were by you yea by your owne selues scraped and blotted out were nowe restored againe to theyr former integritie against the which from hencefoorth all the whole broode of Papistes shall neuer bee able too preuaile againe Moreouer after these Painters before rehearsed sprange vp many others the number whereof encreaseth dayly which yeelde most commendable trauayle with as good successe partly too restore the auncietie sinceritie and puritie of good literature partly too reedifie the derayed crazes and ruines of the aunciente Churche of Christe On this wise new sound sciences cowpled with pure religion merueâ—lously floorishing in dayly encreasinges in very fit time and place stept foorth Martine Luther into the worlde and yet not hee onely and alone but a great number of worthie personages together with him excellent men both in faith and learning all which associated in one and vndertakiug so rightfull and necessary a patronage of the distressed Gospell where as they taught nothing else therein either to themselues or to othersâ— but the only glory of Christe iustifâ—yng theyr doctrine by the vndoubted and most pure fountaines of gods woorde There was no cause nowe why you shoulde so furiously rage against your own brethren the Christians yea and that without all deserte and like to troublesome Dauus in Terence turning and turmoyling all thinges vpside downe rayse vp suche monstrous tempestes and scorching whirlewindes of hot persecutions Nay rather it behooued you to haue yeelded most hartie thankes too the Lorde beeyng the husband of his most deare spouse the Churche and haue inforced all your aide helpe power and pollicie withall to the enlarging of his glory according to pietie and as the duetie of your function did exact and bind you vnto But what helhounde nowe what Beelzebub prince of darkenesse hath so bewitched you with madde frensie that you shoulde so monstruously with so horrible ouâ—rage rushe vpon the godly seruantes of Christe contrary to the expresse woorde of your God yea without all regard of charitie or shame and in steede of a christian
whereat I may woonder sâ—fficienâ—ly whether at the prodigious insolencie of the Popes or the too much drowsie carelessenesse of the other Bishoppes who contrarie to all equitie and right contrarie to all authoritie of most sacred Scriptures contrarie to the approued custome of their ancient predecessours and prescript orders of the Primitiue Church woulde so wilfully admit this so manifest an iniurie agaynst themselues and so perâ—icious a plague agaynst Christes Church And but that our Sauiour himselfe not onely by most plaine president of his owne life but also by expresse commaundement had restrayned his Apostles from this profaâ—e desire of Lordlinesse and had called them backe to an vtter detestation of this worldly pompe and most humble abacement of minde with incredible loathsomnesse alwayes abhorring the things which were accounted mightie and gloriouse in this worlde Certes I should lesse haue wondered at this your greedy grasping you men of Rome afâ—er this vniuersal title of vniuersal regiment But now what is there I pray you vnder the Sunne more repugnant to the rules and preâ—eptes of Euangelicall doctrine more coÌ„trarie to the perpetual couâ—se of Chriâ—ts meaning and directorie leuell of Christes Religion more odious to the mildenesse of the spiriâ—e whose voyce vttered in the most holy Bookes of the Gospel if may not obtaine any credite and authoritie with you let vs at the least â—rie tâ—e matter by the testimonie and iudgement of the graue Fathers and learned Docâ—ours of the primitiâ—e Churche Amongeâ—t al the which what one did euer eâ—dewe you Sir Pope of Rome with this aâ—hominable I woulâ—e say honourable tytle of the vniuersall heade of all Christians wheresoeuer vpon earth who euer did yeeld vnto you the iurisâ—iction of both sâ—ordes who euer graunted vnto you that speciall prerogatiue of summoning Councels who euer limitted all the worâ—de to bee your peculiar Diocesse who euer subscribed to that fulnes of your absolute power ouer al other Bishops who did euer pronounce or so much as dreame that you shoulde not onely be greater and better than all other Patriarches and Kings and all and euerie humane creature but also farre aboue all councels who euer so much as in woorde hath vttered that the higher powers of all Emperours kings vnto whom the heauenly Oracle hath commaunded all and euerie soule to bee subiect should begge their estate to be authorised at your handes who assigned you to be arbiters iudges of purgatorie who hath euer at any time loâ—ked fast within the cubbard of your breast all maner of iurisdiction or euer admitted you only expositor of Scripture and Lord of our fayth From amongest the whole antiquitie of those reuerende fathers before mentioned if you can vouche one credible person besides them that eyther haue beene Bishoppes of Rome or such as bee mates of your owne marke ye shall winne the garlande But if you cannot as hitherto you haue not then eyther must you of necessitie relent of your claime or wholy relinquishe that tiâ—le and vtterly disclaime from this chalenge of antiquitie And bycause I will not ouerwhelme you with multitude of testimonies which I might lawfully vrge agaynst you one after another let it not bee yrkesome vnto you Romanes from amongest a great number to hearken vnto one to witte your owne onely Bishoppe of Rome Gregorie for I suppose none of you to bee ignoraunt of that which hee wrote vnto Iohn Bishop of Constantinople and to other Bishoppes concerning the same matter whereof you mainteyne so hoate a contention and if I be not deceyued you contende about the onely and vniuersall prerogatiue of ecclesiasticall iurisâ—iction which you doe so vnseparably glew fast to that Romish Chaire that whosoeuer sit therein must of necessitie beare soueraigâ—tie ouer all other Bishops and must be reputed and taken for the highest heade of the vniuersall Churche Wherein I pray you beholde yee gentle companions howe iniuriously and vnhonestly you abuse both the name of Christ and the simplicitie of Christians when as you require vs to that which we can neither with safe conscience yelde vnto you nor if wee did so you could accept without great iniury to others and your farre greater infamy and shame as shall appeare by this one wytnesse whome I haue cyted to wytte Pope Gregorye Who beyng on a tyme in a Letter sent vnto him from Eulogius Archbishopp saluted by the name of vniuersall Pope with great iâ—dignation reiecting that glorious greetyng of proude Prelacy dyd so not accept of that which was offred as that he woulde not admyt the worde of commaundyng very earnestly requiryng him that from thencefoorth hee shoulde neuer vse any suche voyce of commaunde nor any other surname of glorious vniuersalitie in any his wrytings Because sayth hee I knowe what I am and what you bee for in function you bee my brethren in conuersation my fathers And so lykewyse annexeth this sentence touchyng the title on this wyse which I doe in this place more willingly set downe because not only the proceâ—dyng of Gregory herein might appeare but also the cause and consideration that mooued him theretoo Because sayeth hee so much is derogated from your dignitie as is more then reasonably yelded to any other I doe not desire to bee honoured in wordes but in good lyfe neyther doe I accompt that to be honour wherein I doe knowe my brethren to bee any iotte abridged of their honour c. I would wishe therfore all such as with so gaye a countenaunce of religion doe striue so lustely about the prerogatiue of the Romish Sea to haue an especiall regard and consideration of the wordes of Gregory in this place My honour sayth he is the honour of the vniuersal Church my honour is the flourishing honour of my brethren then am I honoured aright when due honour is not denied to euerie particular brother For if your holinesse do cal me vniuersall Pope you renounce your sâ—lues to be the selfe same which you yeeld vnto me in name of vniuâ—rsalitie But God forbid Let speeches that puffe vp to arrogancie and empaire Christian chaâ—itie be abandoned c. And againe in another place writing to the Bishop of Constantinople requireth him to be well aduised what he enter vpon bycause in that presumptuous rashnesse the vnitie of the whole Church is peruerted vpside downe and thereby aryseth a flat denyall of the generall grace powred vpon all indifferently And forthwith after For what else be your Bishoppes of the vniuersall Church but the Starres of heauen aboue whome whilest thou presumest to exalt thy selfe by prowde title of stately souereigntie what emplie these woordes else but that I will ascende into heauen and will exalt my Seate aboue the Starres of heauen c. Adding moreouer in the same epistle no lesse wisely then considerately an admonition both to himselfe and the other Bishoppes Let vs bee afrayed sayeth hee to bee recounted of that number which prowle for the highest Seates
his owne mouth be true As the liuing Father sent me euen so do I also send you Then must this also bee most true that sithens by this speache hee noted no one particularly therefore ought no person challendge any such prerogatiue as to execute heere his office as his onely Uicar on earth And yet I alleadge not this to the ende I woulde perswade to disanull or roote out of Gods Churche receiued and approoued degrees estates and orders of the Churche nor those degrees of superiour placing in holy Churches discretely deliuered from the auncient Fathers namely That in euery Diocesse shoulde bee some one superintendent ouer the inferiour Churches vnto whom the reste might resorte for Counsell and for auoyding of schismes But what is this too that maiesticall royalltie of Sainâ— Peter or too that prerogatiue of Uniuersalitie too bee resiaunt in one only Sea which the Romane Prelate pruneth vpon of the whole vniuersall Churche we gaynesay no decent nor necessarie orders in execution of Ecclesiastical discipline But these proude peacockes plumes and Luciferlike loftie loâ—kes of this Uniuersall Iâ—rarchie neyther dyd Christ bring into the Churche nor the Apostles vsurpe at any time What meaneth this that our Lorde himselfe in his Gospell dyd vrge no one commaundement more precisely and more earnestly amongst all other preceptes and documentes then too drawe the mindes of his Disciples from al desire of glory and ambition vnto most humble abacement lowlinesse and humilitie as when hee willeth them too bee contented with the lowest places at feastes and banquettes when as in his owne person hee washeth their feete alluring them thereby to followe his example and againe where hee exhorteth them to bee as mildly minded as little children and when as hee commaundeth them too shunne the first places in the Sinagogues and stately salutations in the Streates when as hee calleth them backe so busily to abandon the pride and hautinesse of this worlde too eschewe the mightie thinges of this worlde to imbrace the basenesse of the Spirite and paciently to susteyne all iniuries of aduersaries When as Peter also forbad so expresly That yee become not Lords ouer the Cleargie and Paule likewise not too frame their life according to the fashioÌ„ of this world I haue now declared sufficiently howe that the very meaning of Christe and the continuall course of his discipline in the holy Scriptures coulde neuer digest that vniuersall and more then kingly ambitious seeking of superiorite of this Sea Now would I faine learn what you ean replie against it what answere yee can make sir Pope what ye haue to alleadge yea what can yee imagine to colour this glorious title withal what was not Peter wil ye say prince of the apostles what a ieast is this As though the apostles were not al of one spirit all of one callyng or as though ye can vouch any one place in all the Scriptures to iustifie that Peter was inuested in any superioritie of power aboue the rest which either he receiued at any time or which Christe euer gaue him Or as though the times were suche in theyr dayes as woulde permit the holy Apostles to be so idlely disposed as once to think or to dreame vpoÌ„ any principalitie being as then in hurly burly turmoyled and broyled with daily feares and continuall perrils Yet I wyl not denie but Peter hath byn sundry times blazed out with that braue name of Prince of Apostles in many mens writings and Commentaries wherein I doe not altogether condemne the godly affections of those writers but I note heerein theyr phrase of speache which in my iudgement seemeth to bee none otherwise then as the vsuall and dayly speach importeth wherein we customably call him a Prince of his Arte that excelleth in the facultie which he professeth singularly aboue others The Grecians doe say theÌ„ Too beare the bell which do surpasse all others in any maner of science As if a question be mooued who is the chiefe or Captaine of the schoole some one or other is noted foorthwith yet is hee not therefore a Prince ouer his fellowes nor his fellowes subiect vnto him After the same maner of speach vsually and dayly in vre wee call Cicero the Father of eloquence and prince of the Latine excellencie Homer the Captaine of Poeticall finnesse vnto whom notwithstanding wee attribute not for that cause any preheminence or state of gouernment in common weales where they were coÌ„uersant aboue that which was peculiar vnto them And yet too returne againe vnto Peter where dyd Christe at any time euer dignifie Peter with anye suche Title of honour as to name him prince of the Apostles when before what auditorie in what Chapter with what proofes and argumentes can you fortifie it too bee true I will make thee sayth Christe a fiâ—her of men hee dooth not say I will make thee a prince of men or a Lorde of Fishers neither was this spoken so precisely to Peter alone but was also in the plural number vttered to the rest ioyning them in one I will make you fishers of men And although afterwardes poweâ— were giuen to Peter by name to become a fisher and a feeder yet doeth this make him neuer a deale the rather a prince ouer menâ— then transforme men themselues into fiâ—hes and sheepe If the Lorde had vttered these woordes in that sense meaning thereby to aduaunce Peter to chaire of estate why did hee not also geue him togeather with that vniuersall principalitie riches and power meete for the dignitie and renowme of so mightie maiestie But O most famous Prince of princes Peter who beeing so poore a Peter was not able to blesse a poore begger with one crosse of coyne when hee craued his almes Nay rather O singâ—lar man of God who as neuer gaped after any worldly riches promotion or pompe refusing them vtterly as baggage and pelfe so hee neuer affected anye Titles of singular preheminence but despised them alwayes We speake not this as though we were willyng to haue any iotte of Peters due authoritie empayred who doubtles was one of the chiefest Apostles but because you do so blockishly patche vp that mootheaten beggerly cloake of beeing Prince of Apostles too couler that disguised visor of your pretensed fulnesse of absolute power and there withall make the whole Churche of Christe your bond maiden and thrall For this cause thought I good too beate vppon this point so muche not against Peter but against you for him on his behalfe Which Peter if were nowe in Rome euen at this instaunte woulde so nothing at all acquaint himselfe with any those braueries wherewithall you now blaze forth his armes as that he woulde more bitterly and chidingly inueigh against you then hee did once agaynst Simon Magus Whom as he condemned with his money and merchandize so woulde he much eagerly curse you all in the same bitâ—ernesse of speache Thy money be with thee to thy
peace on earth And yet after all those your abhominations and cruelties dare you be so presumptuously arrogant as to take once the name of Christ in your mouth holding al others in subiection and chalenge to your selfe onely the keyes and authoritie of lieutenantship by him whom you doe persecute in all your actions of life with fier sword And why do ye so at the length sir I beseeche you is it because like a lazy lurdeine ye loiter in the chayre where Peter once sate A trimme and skilfull shift of lieger de mayne I promise you as though it maketh ought at all to the matter in what place a man sit so that he sit in Christ that is to saye so that he teache sounde doctrine Or as though bicause in politique gouernements the ciuil law hath ordeined that a king should succeede a king in his throane as he is neerest of blood the same course ought to be reteined in ecclesiasticall gouernement by like title of succession It is not dignitie sayth one nor the place of the godly that maketh a bishop but the good life nor is euery one to be accepted for a Doue that can say peace be vnto you The grace of God is promised to true holinesse and true faith not to any chaire or succession for the chaires do not make the churche but be subiect to the ordinance of the church Wherein consideration must be had not of the continuance of the place but of the sinceritie of the successor For as Chrysostome teacheth The chaire dignifieth not the prieste but the priest dignifieth the chaire The place doth not sanctifie the man but the man doth sanctifie the place He that sitteâ—h worthely in the chaire doth receiue the honor of the chaire but hee that sitteth vnworthily doth commit an heinous iniury against the chaire c. Ierome also vtâ—ering the like wordes almost They bee not sonnes of saintes which sit in saintes places but such as do practise the maners and liues of saintes And therefore their grossenes is worthely to be scorned which as is vsually accustomed in state politique so in the spirituall kingdome of Christ do entangle the church of Christe by humaine constitutions to a carnall necessitie of externall succession and enforce all iurisdiction so vnauoydeably to Peters chaire onely as that whosoeuer sit not therein be he otherwise neuer so godly a pastor may not be accompted Peters successor in any wise and that whosoeuer sit therein be he neuer so barbarous a brothell neuer so swinish a pigge altogether vnlike Peter in his whole course of conuersation must yet of necessitie be suppreame head of the church the true and vndouted successor of Peter as it was concluded by that detestable decree of the couÌ„cell of Constance then the which what can bee vttered more blockish or brutish As though the wisdom of God whose propertie is and alwayes hath byn most free to worke where it pleased might be possâ—bly empaled or hedged in by any ordinaÌ„ce of man or limited to any certentie of place as the which by extraordinarie meanes vtterly breaking or inuerting ordinary courses of things doth many times dispose the riches of his grace after a certein preposterous maner and waye beyond all â—ope contrary to the opinion of man namely in things apperteining to God not after the appointement of man but according to his owne good will and pleasure On this wise in times past refusing Cayn Ismael Esau and others to whom the honor of priesthood promised seed appertained by right of ordinary succession he made choyse of Abel Isaac Iaacob to whom the ordinarie succession was not dewe So also reiecting the family of Saul he translated the kingdome into the ofspring of Dauid In like maner supplanting the synagogue of the Iewes he planted the Gentâ—les in order contrary to order displacing the naturall oliues and placing in the wilde And will you so strictly vrge and choake vp as it were within so narrowe a pinfolde the incomprehensible farre outstretched grace of Christ to one place and to one chaire That where all other churches may erre the onely Romishe Churche may in no wise slippe her foote which also may moreouer so replenishe that one Romishe vicar with al her absolute fulnesse that she may not emparte any parcel thereof to any other pastours be they neuer so godly and true worshippers of Christ. If the case bee such that this ordinary antiquity of dayly succession do auayle so much before God to the obteining of grace Manasses did long sithence succeede Dauid Caiphas succeeded Aaron Certes the Iewes can conâ—ey vnto themselues far more auncient pedigrees and the same also neuer discontinued from Abraham theÌ„ you can fetch from Peter Yea the Iewes blushed nothing at al to vrge Christ with the very same argumeÌ„t crying out with open mouth we be the seede of AbrahaÌ„ Abraham is our father c. But what couÌ„ter buffe did the scripture giue them for this God is of power out of these stones to rayse vp childreÌ„ to Abraham And so he did indeed And is not God as mighty nowe and as powerable to rayse vp successors of Peter whome he wil and where he will yes no doubt and so he doth continually What say they did not the Scribes and Pharisees sitte in Mâ—yses chaire whom Christe commaunded to hearken vnto He doth so commande in deede but when they teache the truthe neither doth he commaunde so in respect of the chayre but in respect of the doctrine Moreouer why did Christe and his Apostles sequester them selues from the selfe same Iewes Scribes and Pharisees if that succession could not erre What saye yâ—u to this that Christe him selfe being reiected of the ordinary priestes who enforced the selfe same argument ought not to be hearkened vnto if your Romishe Pharisees may be credited in their lustie vaunte of succession Goe to and what shal be sayde of the Apostles then who hauing no maner of right in ordinary succession were the first founders of the churche of Christe and renounced vtterly the ordinary priesthood To be briefe If to sitte in a place bee of such efficacie and force I suppose the temple of God be farre more honourable then the chayre of Peter And yet in this very temple of God Antichriste must haue his chayre according to the testimony of the propheticall scriptures Shall Antichrist be therefore called holy Antichriste in respecte of his seate To conclude Let it be as forcible as it may for the church to haue what seate or what foundation it will so that it holde fast the liuely spirite of Christe his holy worde and sacramentes by the which it is begotten sanctified and made holy But you will saye Peter taught at Rome I heare you well but taught hee no where els then in Rome Moreouer too confesse that hee taught at Rome did hee teache there as
so vnmannerly rage against vs persecuting vs so vnciuilly with his bulles not so muche for any our deserte as for the defence of Christe and his Gospel which we do profâ—sse In which kinde of crosse whereas two things occurre to be duely considered of eche godly Christian not onely what iniury is offered but also by whom and for what cause it is susteyned Then as often as we haue recourse to this last poynt we are not a little recomforted against your cholericke curses by the sweete speeches of the gladsome Gospel Blessed are they that suffer persecution for righteousnesse sake and when men curse you speaking al euill against you belying you for my sakeâ— c. With which kinde of persecution sithens yee are now purposed to proceedâ— against vs you could not by any meanes haue vttered any one more manyfest a token of true consolation and certaine assurance of infallible comfort then by this grosse rankor of minde conceiued against vs which doeth assure vs of Christes vndoubted benignitie high fauour grace powred foorth vpon vs for the same For if to be euil spoken of for doing good vnto others be accounted for a princely ornament euen with the most reâ—owmed Princes and if there can bee no greater prayse attributed too any person then to be slaundered and reproched of the wicked then questionles to bee maliciously vndeseruedly maligned of this Antichristian Atheist we think it not so much a coÌ„mendation meet for a Princesse as a renowme rather wel beseeming an Empresse which also we do plainly confesse to be one of the fayrest flowers of our floorishing garland Wel then ye Prelate of Rome forasmuch as ye shame nothing after your woÌ„ted want of discretioÌ„ so vnaduisedly to scatter abroad all slanderous reproches against kings and queenes tel vs I beseeche you what that so great haynousnes may be that causeth you to bray out so vndiscretly against vs. Wee heere say yee haue called vs in your Bulles Bondmaiden of all wickednesse and accuse our kingdome too bee the refuge of all Heretiques Good God what strange and monstrous shamelesnes is this Dare this Babylonicall Strumpet bee so voide of shame as to condemne others of wicked life which when shee hath throwne out all maner of cursed speaches and slaunders that her lying choler can imagine shall yet neuer bee able too discharge one halfe of her vgly abhominations wherewith she swarmeth on all partes most horrible and euidently apparant For what common Channel or Sincke can be more vnsauery then your life and Court But as concerning your owne loathsome filthinesse wee referre you ouer to answere for your selfe before the high Iudge In the meane time too speake somewhat for our selfe in fewe woordes be ye thus satisfied First that neither it is nor euer hath beene any our nature or qualitie to make boast of our good life before God as the Pharisees vse too do for wee dare not presume vppon any suche innocencie And yet on the other side wee wyll not so condemne our conuersation before men as we think it when it is at the worst to be in any respect so stained or blame worthie as yours is Now when we name you we meane not one particular person only not Pius the 5. nor Gregory the 13 but we comprehend therein the whole rabble of that rebellions Gallantes altogether neither do we simply condemne the whole Sea or succession of Romane bishop namely that Sea which in the sweete nurcery of the pure and primitiue Church was euer highly commended praysed by sundry mens writinges and iudgementes suche a one as the Poet Ennius maketh mention of Autentike lawes and sages gray Keepe Rome in state and ciuill stay But we speake of this Rome which ruleth the roast aâ— this present so fouly fallen from the aunâ—ient steppes of her auncestours from faith from grauitie from religious life not that other auncient Rome long sithens buried raked in graue and worne out of memory but a certayne chaungeling frâ—mshapen Rome nowe of late start vp so altogeather vnlike too that former by howe much that first florished in grauâ—ty discipline vertue and trueth and this other wallowing weltring in vanitie riotte riches pride ambition extortion licentiousnesse and filthie delightes of this worlde seemeth vtterly forlorne hauing no sparke of remembraunce or countenance almost of the auncient intâ—gritie no partaking with Christe nor any maner of affinitie with Christes Apostles In which Sea I meane the Sea of this present age wee may easily discerne the vsual practises of that Romishe Antichriste not vnknowne too the whole worlde Neither doth this holy father therefore rayle vpon vs so barbarously because he thinketh vs to be so licentious in deede as he slaundereth vs maliciously in words neither would he reprooue vs one iotâ— the more for that cause though we were in very deede much worse then wee are nay rather wee shoulde bee so muche the more dearely be loued of him by howe muche wee resembled him neerest in leawdnesse and loosenesse of life But there lurketh an other snake in the greene grasse which bicause he neither discloseth in his Bulles nor the simplicitie of the godlye can easily discerne we wil franckly make knowne to the whole worlde And this it is If wee woulde yeeld our person and our kingdome to the Romish Halter and suffer the marke of the beast to be sealed vpon our forehead afâ—er the maner of some Princes and with as great affection as they doe Certes no kinde of inordinate licenciousnesse were it neuer so abhominable might be any such estoppel to barre vs out of the number Beadroll of his dearest Sonnes Daughters but shoulde bee beautified with as much of the Apostolike blessing as the dearest dearling of all the crue Now because wee haue shaken of these peeuish Papane feâ—â—ers and betaken our selues to that Emperiall standarde of true religion vnder the which wee haue chosen to aduenture our life for Christes glory and honour rather then to remaine in thraldom vnder the Pope Heerof commeth it that we be reproched with this foule name to wit a Bondmaide of all treachery this is it that makes him to boyle with so hotte hart-burning against vs. And thus muche hytherto nowe of that which you may conceiue either vttered already against you by the renowmed Queene of Englande or at the least as muche as her highnesse might iustly speake vnto you which neuerthelesse if had beene set downe by her owne penne woulde haue beene muche more artificially and princely deliuered if her highnesse woulde haue vouchsafed so much to haue embased her Maiestie as too deale with such a monster Nowe I returne vnto my selfe and the publique defence of that little Ilande which with cursed mouth you doe slaunder too bee the kingdome of Heretiques expressing heerein the very shape and conditions of that frowarde Phormio in Terence who alone marring the whole Action and for the same cause apprehended too cleare him selfe before
nothing to recompte the same fayth to bee the onelie and infallible shoote anker of saluation by what lawe then will he adiudge them as outcastes worthie to be banished from the Catholike and Apostolike Church which professe the self same fayth of Christ that the Apostles and other Catholike Churches did profeâ—â—e But the Pope I suppose will denie That to beleeue in Christ and to worship him in heauen as our onely heade sufficeth to true fayth and saluation vnlesse we doe withall professe the Pope of Rome to be chiefe heade of the Church here on earth and our selues generally all to be members of the same Church If it be so that the fayth of Christ be not suffâ—cient ynough for the faythfull vnto saluation except the pompe of the Pope bee propt vp togither with the Maiestie of God what can bee more agreeable with reason then to make vs here three Tabernacles one to Christ an other to the Pope and the thirde and good will to the Cardinals To conclude This also ministreth no small cause of maruelling why the Pope doth not require vs likewise to correct the fourme and wordes of our Baptisme for as much as the fayth which we haue vowed to Christ in our Baptisme auayleth nothing to enfranchise vs nor to make vs free denezens of the Catholike Church except to this necessitie of fayth be tyed withall an other tagge of humble obedience to the Pope of Rome That wee correct I say the wordes of our Baptisme That whosoeuer bee baptized in the name of the Father of the Sonne and of the holy Ghost be baptized also in the name of our most holy Lorde the Pope But if this bee true the cerâ—entie whereof cannot be denied That wee were neuer admitted into the participation of holy Churche in the Popes name and that the want thereof is no maner of Estoppell to barre vs any way from being vnited vnto Christ as members of his bodie howe dare that lying mouâ—h be so monstruously impudent as to condemne the seruaunts of Christ for Heretiques to exclaime agaynst vs as Apostataes and runnagates from the Church to accuse kinges and Queeâ—es to bee supporters of Heretikes Nay rather by what reason or Scripture will he defenâ—e himselfe so that all the worlde may not plainly perceyue him to bee the verie selfe same whome Saint Paule in his Epistle to the Thessalonians doth by most euident demonstration forewarne them shoulde come who sitting in the Temple of God shoulde keepe a sturre not as a minister of Christe but most arrogantly vaunt himselfe to be as a God Which woordes sithence doe so in all pointes accorde with the life and manners of the Pope as that they can not seeme to signifie any other Let the Pope bee throughly well aduised first howe hee may bee able to cleare himselfe before God before he accuse others before men But an other time shal serue more fit for this treaty hereafter more at large God willing THE POPE CONFVTED THE HOLY AND APOSTOLICAL CHVRCHE CONFVTING THE ERROVRS OF THE POPES DOCTRINE THE SECOND ACTION IT appeareth manifesâ—ly ynough I suppose by the former discourse that wee haue not departed from out the Church of Christ in that we haue sequestreâ— our selues from the Romish Sinagogue In this present action therefore nowe it may seeme conuenient that we render the reason that moued vs to renouÌ„ce that Romish route and set downe as briefly as we may the verie pointes withall wherein we swarue from them Wherein neuerthelesse shal not bee altogither amisse to aduertise the gentle Readers hereof chiefly That we entred into this controuersie agaynst the aduersaries not of anie set purpose to rayse contention and debate in the Church nor of any desire to quarell and contende nor yet of any euill affection that wee beare to the persons themselues agaynst whome wee maintaine argument nâ— yet for that we woulde not much more willingly bee coupled with them in one lincke of Christian vnitie and concord if the vnitie which they offered vnto vs were such as we might by any meanes yeeld vnto without preiudice of the fayth and glorie of Christ without staine of conscience without manifest treachery and Apostasie or without vnauoydable daunger of the safetie of our soule But the matter being now growne to this poynt that we can by no possible meanes be at vnitie with Christ if we partake with them what remaineth then at the length wherin they may eyther iustify agaynst vs or alledge for further defence in their owne behalfe If they accuse vs of Apostasie or falling from them let them then first by plaine demonstration make manifest the verie nature of right Apostasie Surely if those that haue seuered themselues from the Primitiue and true Catholilike Church and be reuolted from the first founders of Christian faith from the auncient Fathers from the Apostles from the infallible principles of the Euangelical doctrine to an other doctrine to mens traditions to forreine forged nouelties of Religion to worshipping of Idols to a strange Gospel altogether vnknowne to the Apostles to patter praiers in vnknowne and barbarous speeches may rightly be called plaine runnagates no men in the worlde deserue to be called Apostataes in my iudgement more properly and truly than this generation of Papists broode But here againe will some one of them replie that they stande vpon a good grounde of possession not able to be gainesayde which they holde of the holy and Catholike Church neuer discontinued since the verie age and time of the Apostles themselues from the which they say that wee being but fewe in number hedgecreepers as it were in corners through treacherous backsliding haue as it were abandoning our natiue Country shrowding our selues in the hil Auentine withdraweÌ„ our selues like rebels To stoppe those slaunders againe let this answere suffice First as concerning the number whether we bâ—e many or fewe it maketh little to purpose In the Church of Christ sayeth Augustine consideration must bee had of the grauitie of the matter and not of the number of voyces and it happeneth oftentimes that the greater number preuayleth agaynst the better by number of polles rather than by trial of trueth yea Christ himselfe viewing the number of his flocke pronounceth it to be very smal so also when hee confesseth that many bee called yet hee addeth foorthwith that the elect be not many but fewe in number in so much that he seemeth to doubt whether the same sonne of man shall finde fayth in the earth when hee shal come Yet for al this if a true computation may be yeelded of men of nations and people by the poll it self of al such as with al their hartes do detest the fraudes and contagion of the Romishe false religion there wil not so small a number appeare in their eyes as happly either they coniecture themselues or at lest ought to make so slender accompt of But as concerning the Churche it self let
froÌ„ what auÌ„cieÌ„t brood were broached at y â— first their absoluâ—ions pardons â—â—pish buls romish stations continual gaddings to the apostles toÌ„bs dedication of temples shryâ—ing of saincts conâ—uringâ— of salt water of coâ—ps bowgâ—s that endles consecration of such like trumperies couple heerewith also mâ—â—kishe vowes rules shauings plates myters attires besmearings palls iubiles and I maruel that circumcision and the sacrifices of the olde lawe were not likewyse chopt in amongst the rest But when the Apostolique doctrine displayed his bright beames to the world first as it was heauenly and auaileable for the sauety of the world so did they proclaim nothing else but that which they sawe with their eyes heard with their eares they published nothing but what was foreshadowed before by many waies figures foretold agreable with the oracles of the Prophets And where I pray you at the leÌ„gth haue these meÌ„ euer heard with eares which they debate so lustely of purgatory of satisfactorie merites of choise of meates not to be receaued with thanksgiuing of matrimony not free nor grauÌ„ted indifferently to al men of ymages setvp to bee woorshipped or out of what puddle were plumped first their proude crakes of the absolute power of the vniuersal bishop of the Apostolique succession of the Romish Sea of the keye that neuer erred of the absolute authoritie therof which ought to be esteemed better then al councelles not to be comptrolled of any person The Apostles which established the principal part of our saluation in the power of faith taught vs long ago on this wise namely that Christ was our rightuousnes our wisdom sanctification redemption And from whence then receaued these men this which they wil enforce vs to beleue that man of his own power worketh works meritorious that wee meritte euerlasting life euen by due desert That the blessed virgin may commaund her sonne reigning with the father to graunt this or that mans petitions In the Apostles tyâ—ne it was decreed by publique authoritie and by inspiration of the holy ghoste that it should not be lawful for any man to charge the Gentiles with grieuous tradiâ—ions neither did any man wheÌ„ Paul preached grieâ—e his brother for eating fleshe so that it were priuately and without offence to the weak brother And from whence now haue â—ssued these so great fluddes of mâ—ns traditionsâ— wâ—erewith consciences are clâ—gged both publiquely and priuately far more rigorous then the state of the Iewes so that he shal be in daunger of losse of life as an heretique whosoeuer shal dare touch an egge in the lent or oughâ— else then that which the Pope authoriseth yea though sicknes or necessitie require him therto Is any man so madde as to think these burdeins and clogges proceeded froâ— the holy ghost whom sithence it pleased to make churches free in the time of the holy Apostles surely it is not likely that he would now alter his good pleasure and charge the churches w t more grieuous burdeins then before In like manner in times past Bishops were created by the voices of the people not without the consent of Princes Emperours this also vpon due examination of learning life according to the institution of the old Canons Now to passe ouer many other things at the naming wherof godly hartes may tremble for feare fain would I haue them aunswere me how this canonical election without al examination whithout the peoples voices without allowaunce of the prince hath bene poasted ouer to a fewe Cardinales or peraduenture solde to the faâ—test in purse where this tooke thâ— original of antiquitie or when it first sprang vp Therfore to conclude this discourse of antiquitie if according to Tertulâ— iudgement that which is most auÌ„cient must be deemed most true again whatsoeuer is crept vp of lâ—te must be taken for couÌ„terfait if Irene combatâ—ng against the heretiques of his time bee adiudged to haue don wel in that he appealed to the most auÌ„cieÌ„t churches as the w t drawing neerest vnto christ were beleued to erre lest finally if we ought to holde that for autentick w t was established by the authority of the Nicene câ—uÌ„cel Lâ—t the ancient determinaâ—ioÌ„ stand if likewise we following tâ—eir â—xaÌ„ple be willing to returne to that purest pateâ—ne of the most ancient Church which you haue forsaken wil cal backe our selues al our acâ—ions to the direction therof wil any maÌ„ accompt this in vs to be a departure from the Church or an accesse rather to the primitiue Church But much matter is vsually obiected heere touching the visible church wherin for as much as both good and bad be conuersaunt they say that the good ought to be receaued and the ill neuerthelesse not to be reiected for the churches sake wherin they abide We deny not that in y e visible church be alway resideÌ„t both good euil so also as we do embrace the good we do not cast out the euil rashly for the churches sake And yet foloweth no good coÌ„sequenâ— herevpon that they w t do shunne the coÌ„pany of the wicked in the church do therfore reiect the church it self For although in the church the wicked are mixed togither w t the good yet be not these euil persoÌ„s the church of christ It behoueth therfore to make euideÌ„t now which be those good ones which be those wicked ones of whome weâ— speke here now an â—stimaâ— must be made not in respect of their conuersation but in respect of their religion that so as oâ— the one side we may deeme theÌ„ properly good w t teach purely sincerely Iesus Christ the sacrameÌ„ts so on the other side we cal theÌ„ euil which defile the sinceritie of Christian faith depraue his sacramentes vnder colour of the church do persecute the true churche of Christ. Such to haue bene in al Churches and in al ages of the Churche euen from the first age of the Patriarches Prophetes and Aposâ—les alwaies vntil this prâ—sent is more then manifest which hauing no sparke of true religion but a false vysor of counterfaicte holynes haue abused the name and title of pietie chiefly to ouerthrow true pietie Of this number were Ismael and Esau in the tyme of Isaac and Iacob â— in the tyme of Ioseph his owne naturall brethren who lyke treacherous traytoures conspireâ— the murthering of their innoceÌ„t brother Those also that ioyned in confederacy against Moyses with Dathan and Abyron and many other times likewyse they that ioyned traiterously in armes against Dauid their liege Lorde and king Such were the false prophets that withstood Elias Michea Esaias and the true prophets of God such were they who when Ieremy did prophecy exclamed against him The teÌ„ple of the Lord The temple of the Lord when as in deede their speech was nought else but very lyes like as the scribes pharisees vpbraided Christ himself that they were the generation of Abraham when
as in very deed they were the broode of the deuil Neither wanâ—ed such like busibodies in the Apostles tyme whome S. Paul worthely reprouing spared not to cal false Apostles false brethren dogs euil workmen enemies of Christes crosse The Angel in the Apocalipse speaketh of theÌ„ on this wise they would be accompted Iewes but in very deede they be the synagogue of Sathan To conclude with what sort of people hath not only Christes churche but al commoÌ„ weales also bene pestered more at any time then with such kinde of naughtipackes which when either can not or wil not walke the right way to true renowme do foorthwith not only seeke pilladge of the people but procure also the hassard of their soules health couÌ„terfait hypocrites gloasing flattering the vulgar sort of people entraping the simple The like crafty colour vsed the sect of Mahomet who bicause would not seeme to be Agarenes coyned theÌ„ selues the name of Saracenes as though they were generation of Sara so deceaued the people And the beast mentioned in the Apocalips beeing nothing lesse then a Lambe did wonderfully bewitche men vnder the counterfaict face and hornes of a lambe But here again happly wil some friend of the Romish Churche take me vp for stumbling saying what a matter is this do ye on this wise compare so sacred a Sea to the Agarenes and Saracenes seeing that these do carry no shewe or any resemblance at all of the visible churche neither ought to be named by the name of ChristiaÌ„s On the other side though the Patriarke of Rome be not allowed amongst you as head of the church yet can he not be denied to bee a member of the visible churche and to haue a place amoÌ„gst the Christian congregation For as much then as this bishop hath his place of a Christian in the Christian church for this cause surely it doth not beseeme Christians to sâ—quester them â—elues from Christians What needeth longer answere hereto then at one worâ—e to answere with Cicero Why should I hearken to speeches when I see deedes Certes if he bee a Christian byshop as he requireth to be accompted his offence is so much the more haynous in this that vnder the visor of a Christian he executeth such outrage so furiously and so sauadgly breathing out slaughter vtter destruction of Christians as that no man may doute but that this Abadon hath murthered burnte and oppressed greater heapes of Christian carcasses then any one of all the heathenish sauadge which proclayme them selues to bee open enemies of Christianitie Yea by so much the more is he to be detested then the Saracenes by how much lesse an open enemy hurteâ—h in respect of the priuie lurking and domesticall Scorpion whereof the one may somewhat be preuented by foresight but this other doth â—urther at vnawares before any notice or warning giuen Moreouer to admitte also to be true that this same prelate hath the place of greatest preeminence not onely amongest the Christians but also in the very bosome of the visible churche howe farre forth I pray you will this aâ—ayle for as much as Antichriâ—t him selfe must plante his seate in the chiefest temple of God garded with so great a guarrison of humble attendauntes the multitude whereof is described vnto vs by the prophetical scripture in these woordes And hee made all bothe small and great ryche and poore free and bonde to receiue a marke in their right hande or their foreheades And that no man might buye or sell but hee that had the marke of the name of the beast or the number of his name c. Nowe therefore if a man doe shunne and flee from this poyson and venimous contagion though it be enshrined neuer so gloriously in the visible churche it foloweth not therefore hereupon necessarily that the same doth vtterly renounce the visible church of Christe No more is this true likewyse though the Pope with his shauelings and Cardinals be some part and portion of a visible church that therefore the state of the vâ—â—uersall churche consisteth wholy in them But they proceede neuerthelesse too their suttle â—ophismes What say they doth not the vniuersal church of Christe embrace the faith of Rome euery where Go to and what then I praye you Ergo he that seâ—ludeth him selfe from the faith of Rome can not choose but renounce the vniuersall church of Christe What answere shall I frame better too this suttle sophisme but too deny both partes thereof both the assumption and conclusion For the church did neither heretofore alwayes confesse the Romish faith that is now to be vniuersall neither doth the vniuersall churche of the whole worlde confesse the same at this present as the which groundeth her ankerholde vpon the Apostolike faith and not vpon the Romishe faith Neither we though we do not allowe but abrogate vtterly all singuler the assertions of the Romish religion being now in vre haue therefore renounced the vniuersal church Ouer besides to yelde thus much also y â— a great yart of the vnlettered multitude do at this preseâ—â— receiue the Romish ragges yet behoueth vs to haue consideration not of that which the common people do affectionate but what may be iustifiable by the touchstone of truth So neither must we regarde what the Romish faith is at this present rather we must be wel aduised what the first faith thereof was and what it ought to be now also That person surely which withdraweth him selfe from erroneous doctrine chopt into the churche through the ignorance and treacherie of some teachers doth not fall away from the church but rather â—oth seeke to salue the soares of the church If the Pope of Rome such as professe them selues to be pillers of the Romishe churche will make proofe vntoo vs that their Romishe church swarueth nothing from the Apostolike churche that their faith withal is not defiled with many filthy vnsauery dregges errors then let them condemne vs of Apostasy for our departure from them But if they be not able to do soâ— yea if they theÌ„ selues haue not by much more probable arguments renouncing the doctrine of the Apostles the discipline of the best approued church transfourmed them selues into a certein newfangled doctrine let the indiffereÌ„t reader iudge hereof whether they or we desâ—rue most iustly to be condemned of Apostasie But you were sometime militant in the same churche where we be now will they say from whence you are nowe fallen awaye and departed from vs. It is true in deede So did your predecessours agree once well and godly wiâ—h Christ with his Apostles with the ancient and godly fathers why haue you abandoned them and changed your tippeâ—tes theâ— If you may thinke it lawfull for you to raunge at randon out of â—he true track of religion wherein you did treade sometime a right and to suffer your sâ—lues to be carried away through rockâ—s and â—ragges
why may it not be as lawfull for vs to call our selues back into the true way of saâ—uatioÌ„ after so many our waÌ„drings maskings renouÌ„cing al by pathes of errors Now therfore beâ—hink your selues welâ— whether it staÌ„d w t more reason for vs that we should retourne into the right way or raunge at randon still with you Wee do assure our selues that it is not lawefull for vs to doe any other thing nor treade any other path then wee doe now by any meanes for as much as the authoritie of the scripture the truth of Christes Gospell doth binde vs hereto with a necessitie vnauoidable We were once of the same minde that you bee I confesse it stragglers I meane together in the selfe same couples of errours What theÌ„ If bicause we wandred in errours being yong men shall we not therefore bee refourmed beeing growen to more iudgemeÌ„t But so was Moses conuersant once in the familie of Pharao AbrahaÌ„ in Chaldea Loth amongst the Sodomites The children of Israel in Egipt Daniel the Prophets in Babylon Christ amongst the Iewes Paul with the Pharisees Peter amongest fishermen Augustine a Manychean All maner of departures therefore neither the departures of all persones ne yet from all societie of companies ought to bee accompted blameworthy Although wee forsake to be ioyned in the felloweship of some that are named Christians now yet are we not therefore fallen from the visible church But for as much as in the visible church be two sortes of men the one part of theÌ„ which occupie the functioÌ„ of teachers preachers the other of them which with the vnlettered multitude be hearers and learners We therefore do reproue certen assertions opinioÌ„s in some false teachers from whom we sequester our selues of very necessitie yet in such wise as we depart not at al froÌ„ the visible church in the which we haue our being and resiancie as well as they yea we be many times conuersant as Christians euen with our very aduersaries within one citie many â—imes also vnder one roofe And although we dissent froÌ„ the errors of certen particular persons yet doe we not otherwise but wisâ— will the best that may be to the persons them selues and recompt our selues rather forsaken of them then them forsaken of vs and are enforced to deparâ— from them rather by violeÌ„ce plaine thrusting out then of any our voluÌ„tary willingnesse so that to set down the matter in plaine termes it may be saide more properly that we do disagree and dissent from them rather then depart from them In which disagreement notwithstanding we do not so altogether reâ—de in pieces all the articles of their popes and deuines nor so altogether condemne them as though nothing were sound amongst thâ—m neither do we contend with al that church so as though there remained no shape of a visible church in all that citie of Rome for they haue baptisme there wherein they make a profession of the name of the Father the Sonne the holy Ghost They haue also the law of God the Gospel yea they reteine the woâ—shipping of Christ professe the same articles of the Crede that we doe They retaine also after a certen sort the sacraments though they abuse them after a filthy maner All which do carry some prety shewe of Christianitie amongst men not much vnlike as the olde Iewes in times past whilest Christ liued were in possession of the holy citie wherin the most holy name of God was magnified in the which they obserued the worship of God together with the lawes ordinances after a certen outward resemblance wherein also those that sate in Moyses chaire taught many things peradueâ—ture not altogether amisse Whenas neuertheâ—esse vnder this coÌ„terfaite visor of religion lurked most abhominable hypocrisie treacherous treason against God him selfe Of whome spake God him selfe by the mouth of his Prophet You be not my people Semblably if eiâ—her the Romishe church or any other church whatsoeuer do obserue orderly and teache sincerely truely therein doe we not deâ—â— to partake with them But bicause the churche of Rome treading the track of the olde Synagogue hath yelded to be lead awaye blyndefolded into strange vnknowen by-pathes of doctrine into most horrible contagion of errors detestable absurdities idolatrous worshippings blasphemies impieties sectes and heresies from the platfourme of most true and infallible doctrine from the pure and sincere worshipping of God and the vndouted squarier of Christian religion from the principles of their owne profession from the practise meaning of the Aposâ—les from the examples and steppes of their predâ—cessourâ— and haue chalenged vnto it selfe câ—ief only and most absolute soueraintie ouer all other churches of Chrisâ—e fully fraught with crueltie bloodsheadings pillages heâ—ein if we do farre awaye seuer our selues from their societie who can be so senslesse or endewed with no conscience at all who seeing so many and so iust causes of departure wil not thinke that wee haue rather departed away too late then without good occasion namely sithence we are not whirled theretoo of any gyddy lightnesse as it wâ—re with a puffe of winde but enforced of very conscience not of any desire of nouelty but of meere necessitie not so much of any our voluntary affection as warranted to departe from amongst them by special commaundement of Gods owne mouth But some one wil make a question heere demaunde what kind of filthines what coÌ„tagiouse errors do remain in the popes doctrine Surely if the matter of it self were such as that it were altogither in couert and not openly manifest in the eyes of al men I wold think that I ought to bestow some large discourse for the better demonstration therof Yet somwhat to relieue the ignoraunce â—f the vnlettered let vs if we may apply somewhat in that behalâ— For I do see very many that being bewitched with a certain blind admiratioÌ„ of the popes popeholy religioÌ„ are caried away captiue into his erroures for none other cause but for that they wil not looke into the truth when they may see it Therefore remouing away those disguisings visours let vs prye somewhat narrowely into the things them selues and let vs throughly beholde this whole Romish Troiane horse not what it emporteth outwardly but what it crowdeth couertly and shrowdeth in the very closets thereof I am not ignorant that the name of the churche is a very plausible name that the names of Christe Peter and Paule be honorable that the remembraunce of ancient antiquitie is wonderfully well liked of that the authoritie of the fathers is much esteemed that the vniâ—ie Apostolique and catholique consent is of great valoure and that the keyes of the churche be of no small authoritie in deede if they bee true keyes but if they be not true nothing is more forcible to deceiue Therefore may not the Romish churche thinke it enough to vouche bare and fruitlesse titles it
manifestly of the bread and wyne The bread sayeth hee and wyne is an exemplar of his â—â—eshe and his blood and they that communicate of the apparaunt bread doo eate the flesh of the lordâ— spiritually Let vs nowe heare Irene speakâ—ng of the bread not beeing cast out but sanctified The elemental bread saith hee taking denomination of the word of God is no more common bread but is made the Euchariste which consisteth of twoo things earthly and heauenly and immediatly after in the same place what is vnderstood by the heauenly thing but sanctificatioÌ„ which commeth by inuocating the name of God And by the earthly thing which commeth foorth of the earth but natural bread which also feedeth our bodies aswel as any vsual bread And againe in his 9. booke When the wyne powred forth into the cuppe and the bread being broken doth receaue the worde of GOD it is made the Euchariste of the body and blood of Christ from the which the substaunce of our flesh receaueth repast and nourishment Of the same iudgemeâ—t is Iustine the holy martyr liuing in the very tyme and age of Irene who wryteth on this wise The Deacons do distribute to al that be present to make them partakers of bread wine water ouer the which thanksgiuing hath bene pronounced or els they carry it to those that be absent Nowe this nourrishement is called amongest vs the Euchariste of the which may no man bee made partaker vnlesse hee bee ioyned with vs in one and the same fayth and baptisme and liue after the example of Christe For wee doo not receaue this as common bread or common wyne but as Iesus tooke vppon him fleshe and blood for our saluation sake after the same maner we also receauing this Sacramentall foode by the which our fleshe and blood is nourished by concoction are taught that it is the flesh blood of Christ that â—ookâ— flesh vpon him for our sakes I coulde alleadge many sentences besides these out of Athanasius and more out of Cyril some out of Epiphanius Dydimus and others many more al which iâ— I shoulde reâ—ken vp particularly I shoulde skarse make an ende of vouching testimonies I meane the â—estimonies of that auncient and primitiue purer age By the which may bee seene plaine without all ambiguity that those visible formes and byhangers of bread without any manner of subâ—â—aunce was neuer hearde of as yet and that the body and blood of Christ was so distributedâ— in the communion as that both bread and wyne did neuerthelesse remayne alwayes in this sacrament amongest them finally that the body and blood of Christe was so conteyned vnder the denomination of meate and drinke that the Churche had alwayes a sacrament of the body but not alwayes the body without the sacrâ—ment if therefore wee haue not the body alwayes without a sacrament then may any man easily perceaue by the very denomination of a sacrament what hee ought too conceaue of the selfe same body for as much as the sacrament of the body is one thing and the very body of the sacrament is an other thing the one whereof may bee called by the others name but can not possibly bee one and the selfe same in substaunce For as his most blessed mother hauing deliuered Christe out of her wombe is sayde properly and truely too haue brought foorth the very natural body of Christe naturally not the sacrament of his body euen so likewyse this holy sacrament of Christes body which is produced and made by the only woorde of GOD without mother at al is called a body by a spiritual construction onely but can not rightely bee called the substantial and natural body which issued foorth of the virgin and in the natural sense therof For although Christ be one and the selfsame in person wheresoeuer hee bee yet is hee not euery where according to the natural substaunce which he receiued of his mother neither is he eaten as he was borne for hee was borne a natural man in deede but hee is eaten not otherwyse then by a mystery significant In mysteries similitudes of thinges are conteined but not the substauÌ„ce themselues properly In the mother the woorde was made fleshe In the Euchariste the flesh of the woorde is made our foode I say our foode not of the mawe nor of the belly but of the minde Wherevppon this meate is called euery where by the auncient ecclesiasticall fathers and that not without cause by spirituall meate as the which is not applyed too the foode of the bodies but which dooth satisfie the hunger of the inwarde man For as the hunger which hungreth after Christe is not the hunger of the outwarde body but of the inwarde man euen so the fleshe of Christe auaileth nothing too the ease of belly hunger but all the commoditie thereof serueth for the nourishement of a better life Otherwyse why woulde the Apostle Paul haue sent backe the hungry belly communicantes to their owne house where they might feede at ful except hee had supposed that in that holy assembly some higher mystery had beene handled besides feeding the belly Which beeing true in deede verified with so many proofes so many manifest euidences of witnâ—sses what wil these Romish counterfaâ—cts bring foorth to shadowe their frenâ—y and to defend their drousy heresy of transubstantiation For if they do so stricktly restraine the sacred body of Christ which without all question sitteth nowe in heauen into and within the sacrament that there shal remaine no place nor any substauÌ„ce at al of bread sweeâ—e nor leauened besides a thing of nought onely and shadowes of accidentes what shal that be then which the auncient fathers doo with so general agreâ—ment call a signe a Sacrament a mystery a type an exemplar an ymage a seale a similitude and a figure of the Lordes body and blood What is that wherewith our bodies bee fedde and nourished as Iustine reporteth Are wee nourished with formes and bare byhangers of accidentes What is that the fragmentes whereof the Deacons did in olde tyme carry vntoo others and the broken pieces wherof if any remained after the communion the priests did giue to boyes that went too schoole too eate too their breakfaste which custome was frequented in the church in the of â—yme Iustinian as Nycephorus reporteth If in that firste age of the Churche those auncient fathers had but ymagined in their mindes that they did eate the natural body of Christe altogither without bread really may any man thinke with him selfe that they would haue yeelded so litle reuerence to Christ their sauiour as that the Priestes shoulde haue beene permitteâ— not onely too deuoure the body of our Lord so broken in pieces but also too deliuer boyes gooing too schoole the crustes and cromines of the leauinges for their breakefastes By the which you see holy father of Rome vnlesse you haue lost your eyes see nothing what
the doctrine and opinion touching the substaunce and fayth of this sacrament was then in that olde auncient age amongest those Catholike and godly auncient fathers and howe farre this your newe vpstart chaungeling of â—raÌ„substantiation doth differre not only from al auncient antiquity but also from the trueth of the scripture it selfe which many of your own frateâ—ny Impes of this later age did not onely very wisely forsee but very frankely confesse as your selfe do know wel ynough For I suppose the name of the Author or the wordes of the Author at the least bee not vnknowen vnto you who albeit neuer durst deny transubstantiation himselfe yet feared nothing â—o vâ—ter his iudgement thereof freely The Churche saieth hee did but very lately set down the determination touching transubstantiation for before that it was thought sufficient that the true body of Christ was conteined really either vnder consecrated bread or by any meanes els but afterwardes when the churche began to looke more narrowly into the substaunce of the matter and to enter into more exact consideration therof it gaue foorth a more resolute determinatioÌ„ of the same c. To the same effect almost writeth also Iohn Fisher bishop of Rochester not the least Apostle of the Romish church who in his booke entituled A Defeâ—ce for the King of England discoursing vppon transubstantiation and the vse of the sacrament commeth at the last to this conclusion to wit that TraÌ„substantiation is grouÌ„ded more vpoÌ„ the authoritie aud determination of the church then can be iustifiable by the scriptures of God the Gospel Wherein he did not amisse For who doth not know that in that first nourcery of the Primitiue Churche yea and many hundred yeeres after whenas Bede Bertram and Rabanus Maurus were liuing in the world euen vnto that vnlucky hatching of Hildebrande and Innocent the thiâ—de not so much as this name Transubstantiation was euer hearde of vntill at the length in a Councell holdâ—n at Laterane in Rome the solemne edicte was established of banishing the substaunce of bread quytâ— out of the sacrament For if at any tyme before that councel the church had defyned any certain and grounded docâ—rine touching the same how falleth it out theÌ„ that there is such a continual falling â—ut amongest theÌ„ that folowed after in diuersities of opinion and iudgement about that transubstantiatiâ—n which some of them do stoutly maintaine some do vtterly deny it some do by coniecture think that others wil not graunt vnto some others haue supposed some doo so deliuer out that the substaunce of bread wyne doth remaine Lombarde himselfe doth think that there is a certain enterchaunge but what manner of enterchanuge that is whether formal or substantial or of some other fashion hee dareth not of himselfe determine any certainty Likewyse Gabriel Biel sticking fast in the same quauemyre vnable too vnwelde him selfe cleane from out the same is faine at the length too set downe by a plaine denial that in the whole Canonical scriptures can not possibly be founde in expresse woordes whether this transubstantiation dooth beginne by enterchaunging of any somwhat into the body or do without enterchaunging beginne too bee the body with the bread the substaunce and accidentes of bread remaining still What shall wee say to this that euen by the testimony of Pope Innocent the thirde his owne mouth were some persons knowen that did affirme that as the very accidentes of bread did remaine after consecration so also did the very substaunce of bread remaine withal Whereby appeareth manifestly that before that late councel of Laterane was no certaine doctryne established touching transubstantiation To the lyke effect wryteth Nicholas Cusanus Some of the auncient fathers saieth hee are founde too haue beene of this minde that the bread is not transubstantiated but is inuested with a certain substauÌ„â—e of more high valour O notable groundwoorke of transubstantiation perdy builded vppon none other platte fourme then vppon so brittle a fundation as that ridiculous decree of the Romish Church being so late an vpstarte as the which was not so much as by name onely euer hearde of or knowen which neuer peeped abroade into the worlde before Satan being let loose out of Hell after the thousande yeeres of his captiuitie was permitted too raunge openly abroade and too defile all thinges with abhominable stenche and corruption For on this wyse dyd Satan after hee was let loose beginne his first practises very neere the tyme wherein Hildebrande or not long after him Innocent the thyrd began too prop vp theyr Ierarchie ouer the worlde O Sacred and Catholike doctrine of Transubstantiation issuing from so gracious a stocke forsooth and grafted in suche an holy and seasonable a time O neate and fine forgers of fraude of whom notwithstanding if any man will demaunde for the firste Originall of y â— theyr doctrine they wyll not be ashamed to fetche the pedigree thereof euen from the very Apostles themselues and too deduce the auncientie of this theyr transubstantiation euen vnto Melchisedech not much vnlike too theyr neere Cozens the Gebaonites which too colour theyr falshoode shewed foorth theyr olde shoes so do these Romanists make a shew of the auctoritie of theyr owne Churche and the same aduaunce alofâ— as it were Gorgones heade before the eyes and eares of the vnlettered multitude with very solemne protestations Wherein theyr fraudulent guâ—le had not beene altogeather amisse if that the holy Scriptures had not long before discouered vntoo vs that same gracious Church of theirs which they glorifie with the title of Catholike to bee none other then that abhominable strumpet of Babylon And yet for all this these Gentlemen spare not too claime holde of Christe himselfe also as an especiall Patrone of theyr error but not muche vnlike their owne great graundsire Satan who long sithens gaue assaulte vpon the same Christ in his owne person with the words of Scripture synisterly wrest after the bare sense of the letter and as the Iewes doe at this present hacke the Propheticall Scriptures of the old Testament of whom Ierome maketh mention Who following the bare construction of the letter sayeth hee slew the sonne of God The selfe same almost may seeme very aptly appliable vnto them who following the bare letter of the newe Testament doe change the Sacramentes into Idolles doe extinguishe the spirite of the Scripture and doe crucifie Christe with the Iewes a frâ—she in his members againe besides this also because they doe not perceiue sufficient sauetie enough set downe for them in the scriptures they runne by heapes to the chiefe Fortresse of Gods omnipotent power What say they did not Christe affirme in plaine woordes This is my body shall wee doubt that hee was not able to perfourme that which hee spake If Christe woulde vouchsafe vpon his departure from hence to leaue behind him too his dearely beloued Spouse some speciall token or remembrance of him selfe
notably magnified with the blood of glorious martyrs most aboundantly flourishing with godly and learned Bishops who employed all their industrie and endeuour to none other ende then to the publique peace and tranquilitie of the Church Restore againe this peace vnto vs holy father if you may and this you may easily doe if yee wil depart from that proude primacie which you nowe stande vpon altogether agaynst all Gods lawe agaynst all mans lawe and quite contrarie to the example of all the auncient fathers Lay downe that peruerse imperious obstinacie vaile lowe your stately topgallant and shake off that vnweldie clogge of Lordlinesse which you haue vndertaken the weight whereof is able to ouerpeyse I say not your shoulders but the strongest shoulders of the stoutest man in the worlde Let errours giue place to truth Let humaine glorie assubiect it selfe to the glorie of Christ. Let the Romishe Broker call backe againe his Romish counterfeyt trash which he hath foysted into the Church without any warrant of the Scriptures I meane Masses Sacrifices Satisfactions Pylgrimages Image-worshippers false doctrine Monkish vowes Purgatorie merits Routes of Regulars combersome clogges of consciences Let him pâ—â—mit Kings and Monarches to inioy their owne soueraintie ouer their Kingdomes and territories and to amende their errours Let him restore general Councels to their auncient liberties without the which can no sure meanes bee founde for establishing the truth For what can bee more auayleable for the maintenaunce of the trueth then that where Religion is free there also shoulde all voyces bee free and such Councels summoned which shoulde bee lawfull not a stolne Councell where matters might bee decided by free voyces not by extort speeches by vpright and sincere and freer determinatioÌ„s of the learned not by procured affections not by practises of confederates nor by the foreiudgements of men but by the onely authoritie of God and where the best approued and auncient orders of the fathers might bee obserued that it might bee lawfull for euerie person to vtter freely what hee thought without feare without peril not where all must bee measured after the lust of one person alone But nowe where all men are enforced to sweare vnto the woordes of one man and all voyces rackâ—e to satisfie the appetite of one person which person so ruleth the rost that no man shall bee admitted to bee present but suche as shall thinke as hee thinketh and that it shall not bee lawfull lykewise for anie to determine ought but which shall bee consonant to his will What successe I beseeche you may anie man surmise to bee hoped for in such Councels but such as shal tende to the breach and dissolution of the libertie of the Churche And shall seeme not to aduaunce the glorie of Christ but to enhaunce the onely tyrannous loftinesse of mans ambicious Lordlinesse to the vtter ruine ouerthrowe and rooting out of all sincere and most pure Religion By reason whereof it behooueth you holy father of Romeâ— to take so much the more especiall regarde that veyling that proude bonnet of greedinesse to beare soueraintie and altogether abandoning this straunge neuer heard of noueltie of heathenish ambicion yee reclayme your selfe wholy to that auncient and more moderate humilitie of the most auncient most true Catholike and Apostolique Church Examples bee extant euerie where whiche may endure you to bee better resolued Whether you enter into dewe consideration of the life of Christ what can bee more milde or whether yee beholde the platte formes and proceedings of the Apostles what can bee more contrarie more repugnant and more vnlike the course of your Court Let vs come one degree lower to the next succeeding age after the Apostles what shall a man finde in those graue fathers of the Primitiue church that is not altogither discrepant to these your outragies and disorders But to make no long rehearsal we will for examples sake put you in remembrance of one man alone a verie godly person namely that notable ornament of the Church Cyprian whom I thought good to vouch by name at this present not so much bycause you should read his wordes as that by him you might learne the maner of the auncient discipline and the most excellent integritie of that age For in his Epistle written to Iubaianus he maketh this report Wee sayeth Cyprian as much as in vs lyeth doe not contenâ—e with our companions and our fellow Bishops with whom wee doe ioyne in godly concorde and Christes peace especially for that the Apostle saith If any maÌ„ amongst you be thought to be contentious wee haue no such custome nor yet the Church of God The loue and charitie of the minde the honour of mutual societie the bonde of fayth and the vniforme agreeablenesse of Priesthoode is preserued amongest vs in pacience and lenitie Moreouer the same Cyprian in his Preface which hee prefixed before the councel of Carthage It remaineth nowe that euery of vs particularly pronounce what we think foreiudging no man neither reiecting any man though hee thinke otherwyse then we do For neyther hath any of vs taken vppon him too bee a Bishoppe ouer Bishoppes nor hath enforced any of our fellowe Bishoppes too any necessitie of obedience by any tyrannous constraint for as much as euery bishoppe is endued with his proper peculiar iudgement according too the freedome of his owne liberty and power as that hee may not bee iudged of an other howe then may him selfe iudge any other person But let vs all depende vppon the iudgement of our Lorde Iesu Christ who onely and alone is of power both too appoint vs superintendentes in the gouernement of his Church and to iudge vs according to our vsage proceedinges therein c. Heere nowe haue you set downe before your eyes a president yf I bee not deceaued not vnfit and a commendable ymage of auncient Apostolique modesty which floorished long sithence amongest our graundesyres the first and principal guides and capteynes of Christes Churche Untoo the which rule of humilitie if you coulde addresse that your intollerable hawty courage which you might easily doo if yee woulde and woâ—lde frame your selfe too marche in order amongest your other felowe Bishops certes these troublesome commotions and disordered factions of most pernitious vproares wherewith the peace and concorde of Christians is so lamentably shaken and rent asunder at this present woulde easily be quailed or for the more parte woulde surely growe much more calme But these thicke clowdes cease not as yet too threaten dayly farre more daungerous tempestes and from whence they proceede I know not except they grow froÌ„ out these stinking bogges of that Romishe ryot onely and those pestilent drugges of Papisticall doctrine which woulde once content it selfe too bee refourmed and reduced to the rule of Euangelical simplicity there woulde bee no hurly burly in the worlde nowe no outragious factions woulde molest oppressed common weales at this present Al which enormities woulde easily at
counsell wee suspende our vnderstanding vppon the wordes of the Lorde and not imagine that to be written which our selues haue taken holde of before we reade it with our owne eyes nor that wee attributâ— so highly to the imaginations of our owne fansies as that with toothe and nayle wee defende that which wee haue once entred vpon but that we search first by carefull inqâ—isition those thinges which we do holde And therefore wee be commaunded to search the scriptures vnto the which it behoueth to assubiect al our determinations altogether not to wrest the scriptures to the fansies of our owne imaginations There may be many and sundrie persons so grossely blockishe and so bluntishe of iudgement who wil allowe of nothing at all but that which they haue receiued of their forefathers and which by olde custome hath beene frequented as though the forefathers coulde not possibly erre or as though truth were wont to be the mother and not the daughter of time Which order if we shal be enforced to obserue to wit that wee accept of nothing to bee safe and sounde in matters of religion but that which hath beene priuiledged by custome of elder yeeres after this rule surely neither Paul nor Peter neither any one of the Apostles at all should euer haue beene a Christian neither shall any the Turkes hereafter bee conuerted into our faith being so many yeeres enured nooseled vp in their owne errors Go to nowe I woulde faine learne of these felowes that doo so stoutly stande vpon the imitation of their forefathers what aunswere they will yelde touching Antichriste whether he is yet to come or when hee commeth where they will saye his kingdome shall bee planted If they will affirme that it shall bee in the Churche what seasons of that churche whyles Antichrist beareth swaye will they describe vnto mee whether it shal be the churche of truthe or of errour And howe can it otherwyse bee but that as long as Antichrist reigneth and possesseth the heartes of men the truth must bee suppressed for a season and errour must possesse the greater part of the churche And where will these men place the churche of Christ then Whether mounted aloft vpon the toppe of a hill which shal be famous and glorious in all mens eyes or shrowding close in some corner rather when as persecution surrounding al places with horror the woman cloathed with the sunne shal be faine to flee into the wildernes when the saintes must be ouercome when the strumpet being drunken with the blood of the saintes shall triumphe in her maiestie where shall nowe become this publique I saye this publique euerlasting victory of truth which many persuade them selues to enioy in the church What shall become of that churche which can not erre when the sainctes shal be slayne in the churche when that false Prophet shall rule the roste euery where when he shall defyle all places with the blood of the holy ones when as also the very elect shall be in great hasard to be seduced finally when as so merciles a gulf shall swallowe vp the godly that the very horrour of the perill shall procure the ende of all euils long before the determined tyme when as the childe of perdition shall be shryned in the temple of the Lorde all which if we see plainely accomplished alrâ—ady and that it can not bee denyed but that Antichrist hath sitten long sithence in the Temple of God and with all is reuealed what mad men are they nowe that goe about to persuade vs toothe vsages of the fathers and custome of the tymes which were subiect vnto the tyranny of Antichriste which also bragge so lustely vppoâ— their pontificall Papane succession neuer empayred nor vndiscontinued since the very age of the Apostles in as much as Antichriste hath reigned so many yeeres nowe in the Churche of God But if they wyl deny that this enemy of Christe is not as yet come O miserable and to much forlorne estate of seely Christians For if within these fewe yeeres synce the tyme that Crosses were fastened first vppon the garmentes of Christians namely in the tyme of Maximilian the Emperour so incredible hauocke hath beene made of Christian martyrs by the onely butchery of the Pope of Rome as is skarse credible too bee beleeued Certes if soo many thousandes of Christians haue beene swallowed vpp and deuoured with soo manye and soo monstruouse tortures heretofore for Christe and the Gospels sake in these peacible and calme regimentes of Christian princes what shall poore Christians expect to befall them hereafter vnder the tyranny of Antichriste Which beeing as you see more manifest then the sunneshine in midday plucke vp your heartes therefore you men and brethren and fellowe souldiours in Christe and according to your wisdomes atchieue an enterprise worthy your wisedomes not whereuÌ„to vnaduised custome doth entise you but which truth it self doth sweetely perswade you haue regarde vnto not that whereunto better and more considerat times doe prouoke you that yee may not seeme to be more willing to wander in the wayward course of their errours then with these to be endued with sounder vnderstanding and knowledge For here is matter of no smal emportaÌ„ce peril beleue me haÌ„dling in hande yea so much the more daungerous by howe much the more your insufficiency to attaine the knoweâ—â—dge of the truth is supported by great abundance of supply and helpe For albeit your forefathers did erre in olde time yet is their excuse more colourable then yours If they being at any time carried away by suttle practises of their Popes were affectionated to fables according to the barbarous grossenesse of those dayes either bicause they were not instructed more soundly or bicause those helpes and aydes of bookes and good literature was not as yet extant from out the Printers shoppes or els bicause that childe of perdition was not yet reuealed this may be lesse cause to maruell of your forefathers ignorance yet them selues also bee in that respect somewhat the more pardonable But now in this so cleare and orient a glasse of discouering all thinges so many helpes and aydes of speaking and hearing beeing already prepared for your behoofe sithence nowe the spirite of the mouth of Christ hath discouered displayed abroade and portrayed out this Antichrisâ—e in his very liniamentes and liuely colours as it were so that the eyes of all men may plainely discerne him and that there can not be any man so blinde except such a one as will of set purpose close his eyes fast but that hee must needes manifestly discerne this horrible traitour of Chrisâ—e Certes no man can possibly beare any zeale or fauour towardes him but he that will be a notorious creaâ—hour in deede and will likewyse partake with him in the selfe lake of perdiâ—ion And for this cause the Angell in the Apocalipse doth with so terrible a threatening call vs away from him denouncing the cup of Gods wrath and
of eternall destruction to all them whosoeuer did receiue the marke of the beast in their forehead or hande By reason whereof behoueth vs to bee so much the more earnestly industrious to attaine by diligent search First what and what maner of beast this is next to shunne all his acquaintaÌ„ce familiaritie with our whole bodies soules whereby no man may â—out or bee ignoraunt hereof to wit in howe perillous a case they stande who cleaue so obstinately to their predecessors sâ—eppes that they allowe that thing onely not which is true in it selfe but which hath bene embraced by the well liking and custome of men Which sorte of men if any remaine amongst vs I doe most hartely desire that if they will not vouchsafe to heare or reade our wrytinges bookes they wil yet at least hearken vnto Cyprian Who speaking of custome sayeth on this wise that where truth is absent custome is nought els but an olde age of error Or at least let them hearken vnto Aâ—gustine who preferring truth before custome WheÌ„ truth is reuealed saieth he Let custome giue place let no man preferre câ—stome before reason and truth bicause reason and truth doth alwayes exclude custome Finally let them hearken vnto Christe him selfe who onely is to bee harkened vnto who hath saied I am the waye the truth and the life but neuer saied I am custome Therefore we may not respect what hath vsually byn accustomed but what ought to bee done not what hath beene done of olde but what is well done Neither ought truth of religion bee measured by continuance of time not by number of yeeres but by substance of arguments nor by Chronologie but by sâ—unde diuinitie not by computation arithmetical but by weight of reason substantiall And therefore Augustine saied very wel namely that in the stablishing of faith and authoritie of doctrine in the churche ought no accompt to bee made what men saye but what the Lorde him selfe onely sayeth in his worde Which when Ambrose likewise agreeing calleth all thinges newe whatsoeuer the Lorde Christ hath not taught and affirmeth that the same ought of right to bee condemned bicause sayeth he Christe is the waye to the faithfull Whereupon Cyprian doth admonish not vnfitly Let vs not regard what any of our forefathers thought good to do before time but what Christ hath done first who is before and aboue all others But bicause here commeth place to treate of antiquitie vpon the which the Romish religioÌ„ doth vaunt it selfe so gloriously let these honest men therefore bring foorth their bookes that they may by good proofe iustifie once at the length in deede y â— which they magnifie so mightily in wordes For I do heare what they braye abroade with open mouthes to wit that the boundes prefixed by our forefathers in olde time ought not be remoued and that their church is such a one as beeing established by the space of many yeeres now by ancieÌ„t custome of the forefathers by allowed authoritie of continuall custome and consent of most auncient fathers euen from the first beginning of the primitiue churche hath euer hitherto enioyed vndiscontinued possession Go to and what fathers be they a Gods name whose boundes they â—rie out ought not be remoued Surely if vnder the name of fathers they meane these first fathers the Prophetes Christ him selfe the Apostles we do reteine the same their bouÌ„des inuiolable as well as they if they vnderstand the order of fathers next vnto them namely Origen Tertullian Cyprian Augustine and others of the same sorâ— truly this may not be denied that very many things which be deliuered by vs are ratified with their agreable consentesâ— But bicause these same fathers did as men faile in some pointes we do by their own commaundemeÌ„t referre our selues ouer to the sacred â—ountaines of holy scriptures which must be beleeued without all exception But if vnder that name of fathers they will point vs to their popes skulles of shauelings muÌ„kes we make no reckoning of theÌ„ at al. For it is out of all ambiguitie by whose instruction most of theÌ„ did speake Amongst the number of whom if any happened to be of sounder iudgement yet coulde they not pearce into the bowels of the truth either through the vnlucky darkenesse of that age or through the cruel tyranny of other But if they meane the fathers to wit the grandfathers and great grandfathers of this later age I doe aunswere that there neuer wanted in this age some sithence this Romishe Anâ—ichriste began first to crawle alofte that did both write speake and set them selues againsâ— those wolues but being either surprised by violence or seduced by general errour could not vnâ—wyne them selues out of thaâ— laberinâ—h of darkenesse You haue heard now good men and brethren most faithful citizens of the churche and inhabitauntes of the Christian common weale as much as I thought good at this present to speake and necessarily too aduertise you touching the Pope of Rome and his imperiall lordlines And I dout not but it is apparaunt inough vnto you how the toppe gallant of this See hath climbed vp to all her stately power and lofâ—â—nesse at the first without all warrant of Gods lawe without any iust reason or grounde but cleane contrary to the expresse wordes of Christ contrary to the naturall and liuely purport of the Gospell contrary to the most auncient canons and contrary to the publique libertie and freedome of the church You do vnderstand if you wil make a iust coÌ„putation of the yeeres what â—ime and by whose practise this notorious Monarchie was erected at the first by what pollicies and driftes by what craftie kinde of deceiuablenes and hypocrisie by how manifolde flippery deuises it crawled vp vnto so monstruous a masse by litle and litle and being mounted aloft and by processe of time enthronized in state into howe incredible a mountaine of soueraintie it hath swollen and pufte it selfe vp You doe see how wickedly and treacherously the Pope of Rome his deere dearlinges the Cardinalles haue not only raked vp that kingdome which they doe most iniuriously deteigne but also to what end and with what affection they maintein the same at this present not that truth may raigne but that true religion may be brought to nought You do see that as long as this Monarchie may beare vniuersall controllership there is no place of refuge left for sincere religion for freedome of consciences nor yet for free couÌ„cell and sounde aduise in Churches You doe see that from the very first time that this detestable and deadly ambition of bearing rule burst out an open Roade into the churche with howe many and howe merciles â—laughters Christendome hath beene rent in peeces and into what narrowe straightes it is penâ— vp at this present with howe many and manifold conquestes with continuall successe almost the sauadgenesse of the Turke hath preuailed against vs. You doe see that nothing can