him nothing at all vnlesse hee canne prooue that Peter had suche large power and authoritie as hee pretendeth by these keies These thynges if eyther hee or a nye of his whelpes can prooue vnto mee than wyll I say more vnto them in the meane time I rest perswaded that hee is so farre from hauing any power in or ouer the Churche of God vppon earth by reason of these keyes or any thing els that hee is not so muche as a member of the same But notwythstandinge I confesse that Peter receyued the Spirituall Keyes of the kingdome of heauen that is the power of bindyng and loosing of sins togeather with the power and gyfte of expoundinge interpretynge and explaning of the holy Scriptures to the people And not onely did Peter receiue these keyes but also all the reste of the Apostles wythe hym and in them all other faithfull Preachers Pastours Doctours and Ministers of the Gospell as effectually as fully and as amplie as the Apostles themselues Phile. What is meant by these keies Stupe A key yee knowe is an instrument that men vse to open and to shut withall Therefore is this Metaphor borrowed thereof by which keyes is meant potestas soluendi ligandi the power of bynding and loosing as I tolde you before in the Page precedent Phile. How is binding loocing perfourmed Stupe By preaching of the lawe and the Gospel as for example When the lawe is preached and the fearefull threates and comminations therof thundred foorth against any impenitent sinner then may hee bee saide to be bounden and his sinnes to bee retained And when the glad tidings of the Gospel is preached too the penitent and contrite sinner then may he be saide to be loosed and his sinnes to be remitted Again when any one ariseth against the Maiestie of GOD and rebelleth against his lawes and commaundements without eyther remorse of conscience feare of God intention of amendement or repentaunce at all this man is bounden and his sinnes retayned But vpon the other side if hee sinne of frailtie and afterwarde truelie repenteth amendeth and turneth too the Lorde wythall hys hearte wyth an intention neuer to committe the same offence againe and constantly beléeuing in Iesus Christe trusting too bee saued and pardoned by his death then is hee loosed and hys sinnes cleerely put away and remitted In this sorte and in this case hath euerie faithfull Pastour and Preacher of the Gospell full absolute and Plenarie power too binde the impenitent sinner that is to pronounce hym by the warraunt of Gods worde to be bound and to loose him agayne that is to pronounce hym by the woorde of God too bee loosed when hee repenteth and turneth to the Lorde with all his hearte as I haue saide Thus ye see the power of the keies that is of bynding and loosing is restrayned within the Pale and wall of Gods woorde and not in suche a lauish maner and raunging sorte as pleasethe Magister noster our greate Master the Pope too determine For if it were true or coulde bee prooued that the Pope hadde this Plenarie power too bynde and loose whome hee would wythout the warraunt of the woorde of GOD then woulde I not blame them yf all the worlde wente after him and not onely worshypped hym as a manne but as a GOD vppon earthe Is it any maruaile though hee hath withe thys Sweete Bayte and venemous Hooke drawen vntoo hym selfe the moste Kingdomes and Nations of the woorlde But nowe GOD bee thanked they beeing better instructed in the woorde of GOD and seeynge hys horrible Blasphemie Superstition Idolatrie and euen Diuelrie it selfe haue the most of them made Defection and shrunke from hym And dayly doe they fall from his Antichristian kingdom and the Lord graunt that more and more may fall from hym euery day and houre tyll there be none left with him that God may be glorified and they eternally saued in the daye of the Lord Iesus Phile. Mee thinke that menne might easily spie out his doings being so detestable as they bee and hauing spied them out myght then eschewe them might they not Stupe Yes And God bee praysed so they doe dayly Englande hathe spied out his knaueries and therefore hath spewed hym out Scotlande hath done the like Fraunce hath abandoned hym Germanie hath vtterly forsaken hym Yea and part of his owne countrie of Italie seeing hys abhominations haue and doe dayly fall from hym with infinite other places Countries and Nations which for breuities sake I omit Phil. It cānot otherwise be but hauing the woorde of God amongest them they must needes finde out his knaueries being so grosse that a man with halfe an eye as they vse to say may easily perceiue them Stupe You saye the trueth But if the worde of God shoulde once bee set a broch and come to light then he knoweth it verye well his kingdome of ignoraunce and darknesse woulde soone decay and come to naught And therefore to the end that he may the better maynteine his kingdome of ignoraunce hee clappeth vppe the Byble forbidding all men whatsoeuer to reade it or once to looke one worde vpon it and that vppon payne of damnation saying further that none ought to looke vpon it but he and his rabbynes or such others as he shal license and authorize therto by his bulles of dispensation This is cleane contrary to the doctrine of our sauiour Christ who biddeth vs searche the Scriptures saying Scrutamini Scripturas eae sunt enim qui testificantur de me Whiche is Searche the scriptures for those are they that beare witnesse of me In an other place he saith Scrutamini scripturas in eis enim speratis vitam eternam habere That is search the scriptures for in them you hope to haue eternal life This is contrary to the example of the Birreans in the Actes of the Apostles who searched the scriptures dayly to see whether the things preached by the Apostles were true or not Nowe whether it bee better to obeye Christe who commandeth vs to search the scriptures or the Pope who forbiddeth vs the sight of them iudge you And to the ende that he may bee sure to keepe the worlde in Cymmeriis tenebris in palpable darknesse grosse ignoraunce stil for ignorance he calleth the mother of deuotion whereas indeede it may well bee called the mother of damnatiō he not only locketh vp the byble vnder strong lockes keyes but also turneth it into a straunge tongue contrary to the doctrine both of our sauiour Christe his blessed Apostle Paul who commandeth that al thinges be done in the Church to edification in a knowen tongue also to the example of the Prymitiue and Apostolicall Church who euer vsed to haue the bible and other diuine bookes in the mother tongue which they vnderstoode And as though this restraint were not badde ynough he giueth in charge that
signer foure Counsellers learned in the Lawe hee had diuers Officers of the Chauncery also waytynge vppon him y t is to say the clearke of the crown a ryding clearke a clearke of the hamper and a chafer of the ware then a clearke of the checke he had also foure footmeÌ„ garnished in rich ruÌ„ning coats when he rode in any iourney he had an herrauld of armes and a Sergeaunt of armes a Phisition an Apothicary four minstrels a keeper of his tenâ—es an armorer an instructer of his waâ—des two peâ—â—en of the warderobe of his robes and a keeper of his chamber continually in the court He had also the Surueyer of Yorke and a Clearke of the greenâ— cloth in his house All these with others moâ— were vp rysing and downe lying at bed and aâ—boorde in his house Besides this euery Gentleman Officer or worthie person had one drâ—wn or mo allowed them to attend vpon them whiche grewe to a woonderfull companye Thus hast thou â—â—arde the stately porte and lusty countenaunce that these Cardinals do beare And looke what a one thou seest this Cardinall Wolsey too haue been euen suche are all the reste of the Cardinals at this day Iudge thou now whether they passe not any eyther king prince or Emperour in all kind of excesse whatsoeuer and whether there be any thing in them woorthie of commendation or sauouring of Christ Iesus or his Apostles And thus muche briefly concerning Cardinals and their pryde Of popish Bishops their office superstition and pride Philemon VVHat manner of Bishops hath the Pope for I am sure they are not the leaste pillers of this his whoorish and Adulterous Church Stupe Such as his Cardinals are such are his Bishoppes sauing that they carry not such a great port and statelye sway as the other doe els they are like them in all kynd of wickednesse Fyrste of all they take vpon them names and tytles proper to kings princes Lords They be stowt proud and disdainefull looking not onely for capp and knee of euerye man but euen for kneeling and crowchyng downe to the ground They haue great Bishoprickes worth by estymation two or three thousand pounds by yeere wherto belong both castles towers wyâ—h cities countries and townes They haue also the rule gouernment of Abbies granges nunneries priories personages vicarages all other kynd of Ecclesiasticall benefices spirituall promotions wherof they feed theÌ„selues for chaÌ„ge of pasture is good for theÌ„ w t the daintiest morsels Being thus furnished with abundance of all things commonly they lye in some stroÌ„g castle sytuat in a solitary place wher they preach as strawberies vse to grow that is once a yere nay happily not once in 7. yeres And to say truth as they say it needeth not for they haue their blincking Syr Iohns their begging Friers Monks cloysterers that do it for theÌ„ These blind buzzards and Assye peisants being sent forth by their Bishops set abroach with all their might the popes decrees ceremonies orders in the meane time not forgetting to declaim against heretikes that is against such as put their confidence and trust in Christ Iesus alone his sacred trueth But aboue all things they take greate care least anye of them might at vnawares preach any truth out of the woord of God for that were Heresie to God and treason to the Popes person For if they shoulde preache the trueth beeing sworne to maintaine the pope against Christ Iesus his woord then might they be attainted of periury and besides accused of heresie Thus neither Bishoppe nor prelate sworne to the pope dares preach Christ Iesus aright for that were too destroye theyr proude Antichristian kingdom which consisteth only of lies falshood murther treason vsurpatioÌ„ rebellion Insomuch that a good bishop of Coleyne seing what wickednes vnder the visard and pretence of of godlines was daily coÌ„mitted begaÌ„ to discouer lay opeÌ„ their impieties blasphemies trecheries but he was resisted of al euery barking frier whetted his peÌ„ against him like serpeÌ„tine vipers stuÌ„g him eueÌ„ to the death Wel report hereof coÌ„ming to Rome y e pope asseÌ„bled a couÌ„cel cited this good old father to appere before him Who seeyng their wycked intentions against him gaue ouer his bishopricke rather choosing wythout it to preach Christ Iesus truly then wyth it to dishonour him euery waye as they did These blockheaded popish byshops as blinde as blynd bayardes thinke yea and shame not say that preaching is not necessary and that the people doe learne more by their dumb ceremonies imageries and other bableries then they do by hearing the word of God preached And indeede I think no lesse for whereas by the worde of God preached they learne the way to saluation and life eternal by imageries and other popish ceremonies they learn the pathway to hell and euerlasting damnation And therefore they learn more by the one than by the other But more what more wickednesse and sin But notwithstanding their seldome preaching yet when they doe preache it shalbe commonly vpon some popish holiday or festiual day of their own inuention which is alwayes of greater estimation amoÌ„gst them then the Lords day to wit the Sabboth day is In this their Pope holy day what Idolatrye is committed what superstition is practysed and what grosse blasphemies filthy absurdities are permitted and exercised of them it is almost vnspeakeable Then euen then is there such censing and singing such masking and rynging such chaunting and roaryng in the quyre wyth Orgayns playing and musicke soundyng that thou wouldest rather thynke it a Satyricall stage playe of fooles consecrated to the Diuel than a sober seruice of wisemen instituted to Gâ—d Phile How be the bishops attired in these solemn holy daies how do they behaue themselues amoÌ„gest the rest in this goodly stately Pageant of theyrs Stupe The Bishoppes are attyred with 14. sundry fortes of garments vpoÌ„ their backes at once without the which they caÌ„not sacrifice nor maske I shuld say masse well And some haue fifteene seueral kinds of garments besides their pall which maketh sixteene First of al he puts on his sandalles eythes of silke or veluet his amias his albe as white as snow hanging down to his shoe About his loynes he gyrdeth himself with a gyrdle of silke About his neck is there a stoale wrought for the greatest part of very good silk which hauing a crosse ouerlaid vppon it is ouâ—vnderneath hys gyrdle so buckled to him TheÌ„ he putteth on his tunicle of purple colour and ouer that his Dalmatike a short sleeued garment next â—e pulles on his sweete gloues vpon his delicate hands his fingers being thwacke with rings precious stones The ouer al these he puts â—n his cope with crosses thereon both behind and before he hath also his braue wrought napkins haÌ„dkerchers bedecked with gold
vppon the earth the wicked reprobats which are departed hence which last may bee called the Church infernall Phile. Why cal you it militant Stupe Because it fighteth warreth against God against Christ Iesus his worde against his glorye and sacred trueth in al things yea and agaynst all godlinesse and vertue in general Phile. Why cal you it the Church infernal Stupe Because it beeing dissolued liueth in eternal paines suffering in the iustice of God the punishment of euerlasting damnation And euē as the mylitant triumphant Church of God doe make but one body so these Churches of the diuel both which do liue here whiare departed hēce do make but one bodie also the Diuel being the head thereof Philemon What doe you call the Church of God Stupe I cal the Church of God the vniuersal number society of al Christian people dispearsed throughout the whole worlde agreeing together in one trueth one faith and one hope of eternal life by Iesus Christ. Phile. What be the marks and tokens wherby this church is knowen and discerned from the Church malignant and sinagogue of sathan Stu. They bee many but especially these The true preaching of the worde of God the due administration of the sacramentes the execution of Ecclesiasticall discipline according to the prescript rule of Gods woorde and the like So that where thou seest these things duely truely practised know thou that there is the vndoubted church of God Upon the other side where thou seest all these things neglected as it is in the papacie nay cleane impugned knowe thou that there is not so muche as the face of the true visible Church of God but the coūterfeit church of Sathan where the Diuel maketh his continual residence Phile. Seeing that the Lorde hath his Churche his beloued spouse and chosen congregation in this worlde whō hath he constituted the supreme head and gouernour of the same Stupe Christ Iesus whose the bodie is muste needes bee the heade of the Churche according to the saying of the Apostle I will that you knowe that Christ is the heade of euery manne Agayne God hath made al things subiect vnder his feete and hath appointed him ouer al things to be head ouer y e church In another place he saith But let vs folowe the truth in loue and in all things grow vp in him which is the head that is Christ. And to the Collossians he saith plainly thus And hee meaning Christ is the head of the bodie of the Churche Againe in the second chapter following he sayth And yee are complete in him which is the hear of all principalitie and power And further in the booke of Samuel he saith Thou hast deliuered mee from the contentions of my people thou hast preserued me to bee head ouer nations c. By all which places besides infinite the like which fearing least I might seeme tedious I omit it appeareth that Christ Iesus onely is the sole true only head of his body the church and not anye other power or principalitie vpō earth whatsoeuer And althogh that Christ bee the onelie vniuersall peremptorie head of his Church yet my meaning is not to denie Christian Princes that lawefull power and authoritie which y e word of god doth alow thē that is to be the chief heads ouer euery seuerall Church or congregation and ouer euery particular person and member of the same within theyr kingdomes and dominions as his Lieuetenaunts and Uicegerents vnder hym to rule and gouerne the people of God by the rule and scepter of his worde Phile. But I haue harde that no christian prince can be head ouer the Church of God but the pope onlie what is your opinion in that Stupe In deede the Pope I will not denie is Supreame head ouer the vniuersall Church vpon the earth but of what vniuersall Church Of the Catholike or vniuersal church of satā acording to my former diuisiō Of this malignant church I confes he is the only Supreme head But ouer the church of God the Spouse of Christe Iesus hee is so farre from beeing head that hee is not so much as a perfect member of the same For proofe whereof doe marke but thys one reason he that impugneth the worde of God and the doctrine of Christ Iesus wittyngly and willynglie is no true member of Christe Iesus But the Pope as the worlde beareth witnesse in all his Actes Dooinges and Proceedynges generally impugneche the woorde of GOD both wittinglye and willingly ergo neither hee nor any of hys Adherents are the true members of the mysticall bodie of Christe Iesus And notwythstandinge that hee is conuinced both by the worde of GOD the testimonie of his owne conscience the common verdict of all the woorlde that he is so farre frō being the supreme heade ouer the Uniuersall Churche of Christe vppon the earth that hee is not any true member thereof yet hee beareth or woulde beare the worlde in hande that hee is the onely Supreame head ouer the Churche of GOD that Christe Iesus hath made and constitute hym his Uicare and Lieuetenaunt generall to rule and reigne according too hys owne corrupt humour But howe falsly hee arrogateth this superioritye to hymselfe euery manne except wilfullie blynde maye perceyue For is not the Church of GOD the wyfe and Spouse of Christe Iesus Than howe dareth he challendge to be head ouer another mans wife Is he not a verlet that will require it and is not the wife a harlot that will permit it And is not that a monstrous bodye whiche hath moe heads then one Therefore co conclude Christ Iesus is the only Supreme head of the Churche and not the Pope The Pope hath his Churche to wit the malignant church Sinagogue of Satan whereouer he is head And as for the Church of God hee may let it alone for he hath no part nor fellowship therein except hee repent and conuert in time Phile. Who was the first of those lustie bruites that challendged this Supremacie before all others Stupe It is saide that Iohn Patriarch of Constantinople beganne to take vpon him to bee called the supreme head or vniuersall Bishop ouer all christendome Then Bonifacius the thirde Bishop of Rome seeing that to bee called head ouer all the worlde was a glorious title obteined of Phocas the Emperour to be called head ouer al the world in the yeere of our Lord .680 And thus was the egge laid that hatched this Cokatrice with all his filthie pewling brood Phile. There hath bin is great controuersie amongst many concerning the Pope of whom yet hitherto I could neuer heare a perfect description I pray you therefore what is the Pope Stupe Are you such a simple foole that you knowe not what the Pope is Hee is a manne as others are but in all kinde of mischiefe farre surpassing any who by blood