any note or spot of suspition noised of him but in his Answering Reading Preaching and Determining he behaved himself laudably and as a stout and valiant Champion of the Faith vanquishing by the force of the Scriptures all such who by their wilful beggery blasphemed and slandered Christs Religion neither was this said Doctor Convict of any Heresie God forbid that our Prelates should have condemned a man of such honesty for a Heretick who amongst all the rest of the Vniversity had written in Logick Philosophy Divinity Morality and the Speculative Art without Peer the knowledge of which all and singular things we do desire to testify and deliver forth to the intent that the Fame and Renown of this said Doctor may be the more evident and had in reputation amongst them unto whose hands these present Letters testimonial shall come Here is to be seen that this Vniversity of Oxford did also maintain the truth of Doctor John Wickliffe's Articles That Kings Princes and Lords Temporal may lawfully take away Temporalities and Tythes from the Clergy In witness whereof we have caused our Letters Testimonial to be Sealed with our common Seal Dated at Oxford in our Congregation-House the 5th day of October in the Year 1406. Edmond King of England King Edmond of England about the Year 940. made a Law that every man should pay Tythes for Churches Fees and Almes Fees Thus here you see that Tythes were then given as well for the relief of the Poor as the Church He made a Law also that every Bishop should of his own proper charge see that Churches were repaired Bishop of Canterbury About the same time the Bishop of Canterbury in a Letter to the Prelates and Clergy said If it were or could be so that all the Riches of the World were laid before me so that I were Emperour and had all things universally under my subjection all these things would I gladly give and offer my self willingly for the health of Souls And thus he exhorted the Clergy to their duty lest the Lord should say of them The Shepherds fed themselves but did not feed my flock they have raigned but not by me they have made themselves Princes of my flock and I knew it not that is he knew it not so as to approve of their doings But where is there a Prelate now that hath such a zeal for the good of Souls King Edgar King Edgar in an Oration to the Clergy about the year 959. What negligence saith he is in Gods Service I will speak with sorrow they be Riotous in Banquetring in Chambring and Drunkenness And now saith he the Clerks houses are thought to be Stewes of Harlots Thus the Goods of Kings and Alms of Princes is mispent have our Fathers spent their Treasurie for this purpose Have the Kings liberalities in giving Lands and Possessions been for this intent that Clerks Harlots should be deck'd with the same And for riotous feasts Hauks and Hounds and other Toyes to consume it Soldiers cry out the people grudge but ye regard not c. King Hen. 2d Among other antient Laws of England in the reign of King Henry the second this was one That if any Clergy man did hold any Lay Fee in his hands he should therefore do the Kings service that belonged thereunto as upon Juries Assises of Lands and Judgements and that no Lands should be given to the Church nor to any House of Religion without the Kings License And that the Peter-pence which was used to be gathered for the Pope should be paied to the King and that all the Possessions Goods and Chattels of such as favoured the Pope or Thomas a Becket to be Seized and Confiscate to the King And that all such of the Clergy as were absent from their Charge out of the Realm and had Rents and Profits in the Land and did not repair home in three months their Rents and Goods to return to the King c. If it were lawful for the King then in the time of Popery to seize upon the Rents Profits and Possessions of the Pope Cardinal and others it is much more lawful now for our King and Nobles to cize upon such Goodss aâ—d Possessions as were given by Papists in the time of Popery and are now wrongfully possessed and abusively used by others King Edward 3. In a Parliament holden the twentieth year of the raign of King Edward the third It was propounded that all Alien Monks should depart England whose Livings the King took into his hands It was also concluded by the Parliament That the Livings of all others Strangers and Cardinals during their lives the profits should be brought into the Kings hand The Commons also denyed to pay any payments to Cardinals in France c. besides the King took order by two of his Clergy viz. John Stocks and John Norton to take into their hands all the Temporalities of all the Deanaries Prebends Dignities and Benefices being then vacant in England and to answer the profits thereof unto the King King William Rufus King William Rufus took certain Lands and Possessions from Canterbury and disposed of them to secular uses King Henry 4. In the eighth year of the raign of King Henry the fourth it was petitioned to the Parliament That the King might enjoy halfe the profits of every Parsons Benefice who was not resident thereon But in the eleventh year of his raign the Commons put up a Bill unto the King to take the Temporal Lands from the Clegie mens hands or Possessions in which Bill it was declared that the Temporalities disorderly wasted by men of the Clergy might suffice to find to the King with maintenance 15. Earles 1500. Knights 6200. Esquires and 100. Almes houses To every Earl 3000. Mark a year to every Knight 100. Mark and four plough lands and to every Esquire 40 Mark a year and two plough lands and to every Almes house 100. Mark a year which lands is now no doubt worth double if not treble to what they were then For I have credibly informed by a Yorkshire Esquire That when his Majestie was restored to the Crown one Bishoprick that is the Bishoprick of Durham If it had been set upon the rack rent it was worth above fifty thousand pounds a year This story above you may read in Mr Fox his Acts and monuments of the Church in the story of King Hen. 4. King Henry 8. It is there also to be seen in the History of King Hen. 8. That the King did injoyn every Vicar Clerk or Benefic'd man that had one hundred pounds a year that he should find a Scholar at the University and he that had two hundred pounds a year should find two Scholars at the University Also in his raign it was complained of by the Commons against the Prelates and Clergie for their cruel proceeding Ex Officio And for the remedy it was enacted That whosoever did or speak any thing against either their usurped power or their Laws
Prelates in the 23 question and 7. If we possess any thing privately but that which doth suffice us it is not ours but the goods of the Poor whose stewards we are except we challenge to our selves a property by some damnable usurpation the glâ—ss upon that part of the question saith that Prelates are but only Stewards of the Church goods and not Lords thereof â—mbrose And St. Ambrose upon Luke 16.2 Give an account of thy Stewardship c. hereby saith he We learn that Prelates are not Lords but Steward or Bailliffs of others mens substance â—ierom And St. Hierom in an Epistle quest 16. and 2. chap. Quisquid saith whatsoever the Clergy hath it is the goods of the Poor and writing unto Nepolianus he saith how can they be of the Clergy who are commanded to contemn and despise their own substance for to take away from a Friend it is theft but to deceive the Church and take away that which should be given to the Poor it is sacralidge â—arnard And St. Barnard upon these words Simon Peter said unto Jesus c. Truly said he the goods of the Church are the patrimony of the Poor whatsoever thing the Ministers Stewards thereof not Lords or Possessors thereof do take unto themselves more then sufficient for a competent living the same is taken away from the Poor by a sacralidgious cruelty â—usebeus Eusebeus in his Treatise upon the pilgrimage of St. Hierom saith If thou dost possessed garment or any other thing more then extream necessity doth require and dost not help the needy thou art a Thief and a Robber wherefore dearly beloved Children let us be Stewards of temporallities and not possessors thereof And Isidor in his Treatise de summo bono ch 24. Let the Bishop know that he is the Servant of the people and not Lords over them aâ— also in the 5. book oâ— Decraeâ—als extra â—e donationibus sub athoâ—itate Alixandrii Tartii Episcopi Paritienses he saith We believe that it is noâ— unknown unto your Brotherhood that a Bishop and every other Prelate is buâ— Stewards of the Church goods and not Lords thereof both Lands and Tythes saith he are pure Alms which after the necessity of the Clergy is satisfied noâ— according to their pride and covetousness but in comely â—cent manner ofteâ— the example of Christ and his Apostles the rest bâ—longeâ—â—o the Poor and thosâ— that withhold it from them they are Thieves Robbers 〈◊〉 Sacralidgious persons saith he William Wroughton Thus it is manifest by what is already said besides what is said here after that Kings and Princes and Lords Temporall by taking the temporallities c. from the Prelates and disposing of them for the use anâ— benefit of the true Church the believing m mbers of Christ and the poor and the benefit and safety of the Kingdom the uses for which they werâ— first given they will in so doing be so far from committing sacraledge that they will do a work pleasing and acceptable both to God and all good men to their everlasting honour by putting a stop to the pride wantoâ— and luxurious riotous lives of some which is occasioned by the uperfluity of worldly wealth and riches which they wrongfully possess and detain from the right owners thereof having forsaken the right way and followed the way of Baalim who loved the wages of unrighteousness 2 Pet. 2.15 By with holding good from them to whom it is due Pro. 3.27 and as William Wroughton writ to King Henry the eight so long as ye maintain Antichâ—ist the Popes Knights that is Bishops in such inordinate riches you shall never saith he banish that monstrous beasâ— the Pope out of England When we say that such and such Lands were given to the Church wâ— cannot imagine that they were given to such a building of lime and stone and timber nor to such a parish and so to him that should usurp authority of Rule and Government there from age to age whether he be good oâ— bad holy or prophane for such are not to be accounted the Church noâ— so much as particular members of the true Church which is the mâ—stâ—caâ— body of Christ except they believe and all that do believe truly withouâ— hypocrisie rich and poor they are interested in the Church Lands and Goods all the poor in general are objects of Charity to do good unto all but especially to such as are of the huoshold of Faith Gal. 6.10 In the time of the Law when Tythes was paid by a divine institution unto the Levites for their service in the Tabernacle and Temple because â—hey had no inheritance of temporal Land among their Brethren yet even â—hen the strangers fatherless and widdows had an interest in the Tythes â—s you may see in Deut. 14.28 29. and Chap. 26.12 13 and since that service ceased for which tythes were paid there is no new institution in â—he Gospel for the payment of tythes and yet our Prelates and Priests as â—hey will be called will have both temporal Lands and tythes and keep â—ll to themselves neither widdows nor fatherless have any thing and â—herefore it can be no sacralidge but a work of Charity for Kings and Princes and Lords Temporal to take the temporallities from them for â—he benefit of the Kingdom and tythes also or at least to cause them to â—llow some part thereof unto the poor The with holding of tythes c. From such to whom they are due as to â—he beleiving Church the poor the Fatherless and widdows God calls â—t a Robbing of him in tythes and offerings Mal. 3.8 9. For Christ saith â—hatsoever good or evil is done to one of the least of those little ones that beâ—ieve on him it is taken as done to himself Mat. 25.40 and 45. yea even â—hose of the Clergy who are not true believers they have no right nor tiâ—le from God to the Church goods and God will charge them as having â—he spoil of the poor in their Houses Isaiah 3.14 Suppose the Prelates should plead for themselves that temporallities â—nd tythes have been setled upon them by many Acts of Parliament to â—hat it may be answered that no Act of Parliament on Earth can make â—oid the Law of God inacted in Heaven viz. That when tythes were â—aid by a divine institution yet the Stranger Fatherless and Widdows â—ad by divine appointment a right and interest in them how then dare â—y now receive tythes not by divine but by humain institution and yet â—ye no part thereof unto the poor the Stranger Fatherless nor Widdow â—e may rationably imagine that it was because of the hardness of the â—arts of Prelates and Priests in keeping that to themselves which belongâ—d to the poor which caused that Noble King Carrolous Magnus to have it â—ecreed in a counsel that in wealthy places two parts of the Church â—ods should be given to the poor and the third part to the Clergy and 〈◊〉 poorer places that there should be an
equal division between the poor â—d the Clergy and if by the covetous unsatiable desires of the Prelates â—d Clergy they have gotten the Church Lands and tythes setled upon them by many Acts of Parliament yet another Parliament upon better information and better consideration of the Kingdoms necessity and daily charge and the necessity of the poor and the unlawful spending of the Church goods by them which have no right unto them but spend them quite contrary to the intent and meaning of the Donors why may not the King Princes and Lords temporal take again into their hands the Church goods which was given by their Predecessors from them which so sacreligiously abuse and usurp them and imploy them for the benefit of the Church and Kingdom and the relief of the poor If the King commit a power into any mans hand and find that he or they do abuse that power he may not only lawfully but he ought to take that power from them again the whole Popish Clergy of Bishops Prelates Abbots Priors and Monks in England had once their priviledges and temporalities setled upon them by act of Parliament and yet the King and Councel seeing the inconvenience thereof by another Parliament took those priviledges temporallities and tithes from them and so may this or another Parliament do by our Prelates for the benefit of the Church and Kingdom and the relief of the poor For Bishops and Prelates are useless in the Church of Christ because they are none of those Church Officers which Christ gave to the Church at his assention Ephe. 5.11 he gave some Apostles and some Prophets and some Evangelists and some Pastors and Teachers for the perfecting of the Saints for the work of the Ministry for the edifying of the body of Christ till we all come in the unity of the Faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God their is aâ—ed in 1 Co. 12.28 helps that is Deacons to minister to the poor and goverments that is ruling Elders now ruling Elders are inferior to teaching Elders as Paul saith 1 Ti. 5.17 Let the Elders that rule well bâ— counted worthy of double honour especially they who labour in the word and doctrine they who labour in the word and doctrine they especially are worthy of double honour rather then the ruling Elders in Pauls judgement and he had the Spirit of God to teach him now if Christ who is the alone Law-giver to his Church saw these Church Officers sufficient for these four ends for which he ordained them as first for the perfecting of thâ— the Saints 2ly For the work of the ministry 3ly For the edifying oâ— the Church which is the body of Christ 4ly For the time till we alâ— come in the unity of the Faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God Then all other pretended Church Officers are superfluous and useless besides St. Paul saith that he shuned not to declare unto the Church the whole counsell of God and that he kept nothing back that was profitable for the Church but taught them publickly and from House to House Acts. 20.20.27 And yet in all his Epistles he hath not made mention of any Lord Primot or Metropolitant or Prelate or the like as any of Christs Church officers or of their dignities or jurisdictions as being profitable to the Church but only those Church Officers mentioned above in Eph. 4.11.12 and 1 Cor. 12.28 Therefore all other are strange Creatures which neither Christ nor Paul nor the Scriptures of the New Testament makes any mention off unless those that Paul speaks of verse 29. that after his departure grievous Wolves would enter not sparing the Flock yea the Papists themselves say that there is but three sacred orders in the Church all the rest by their own confession is of human devising Again as Bishops and Prelates are useless in the Church so also they are usurpers of the Kings royal prerogatives in making out their prossess sitations suspentions sensors and excommunications and the liâ—e in their own names and by making Printing and publishing in their own Names New Visitation Oaths Articles Injunctions Cannons Rites and Ceremonies and inforcing them upon Ministers Scoolmasters Church-Wardens and others and have excommunicated suspended Silenced fined imprisoned and persecuted his Majesties faithful Subjects for not submitting to their usurped power as though they were Kings and Governours both of Church and State contrary to several Statutes and to Magna Charta and the Petition of right as Mr. Prinne saith in his Book of the Exorbitances Treasons Seditions and Conspirecies of Bishops c. Your Majesties most humble and obedient Subject and Servant E. K. The General and Vnanimous consent of Antient and Modern Writers against Prelates and Priests their possessing of Temporalities and Tythes HIstories do relate that when Bishops began to be possessed of Temporal Lands then an Angel was heard to cry in the Aâ—re Woe VVoe VVoe This day is Poyson begun to come into the Church and so it proved for many striving for Lordship and Dominion and could not prevail turned Hereticks in malice to be revenged on them that were preferred before them as Donatus who because Cecilianus was preferred before him to the Bishoprick of Carthage Donatus turned Heretick from whom his followers took the name of Donatists and he accused Cecilianus and all the Bishops that Ordeyned him to be Traditories This VVoe and Poyson of Prelates possessing of Temporalities hath made the Possessors thereof in all Ages to maligne and hate even unto death all sorts and degrees of men that have spoken against their worldly gain and profits and admonisheth them to follow the Example of Christ and his Apostles and the Priests of the Levitical Law who had no Possessions of Temporal Lands Yea the Prelates have manifestly declared their malice against such even after death as the Council of Constance who condemned John Wickliffe and his 45. Articles and by a Decree caused his bones to be digged up and burnt one and forty yeas after he was dead which Condemnation the University of Prague would not receive but defended them by Arguments from Scripture and Reason which was about the year 1418. I shall mention two or three of the Articles and some few of the Universities Arguments in defence of them The ARTICLES Item Kings Princes and Lords Temporal may at their own will and pleasure take away the temporal goods from the Clergy if they do offend and therein continue Item It is against the Scripture that Ecclesiastical Ministers should have any temporal Possessions Item That Tenths are pure Alms and that the Parishio ner may for the offence of their Ministers deteyn and keep them back and bestow them upon others at their own will and pleasure c. That Kings and Lords Temporal may take Temporalities from Prelates the Universitie proves thus Kings in the Old-Testament took temporal goods from the Clergy c. Therefore Kings of the New Testament may do the like 1
the Temporalities so abused as it were by way of Physick to withstand and put a stop to sins saith the University for so much as they are not endowed but with Conditions the which Conditions are broken and the Title of the Gift lost and they that gave the Alms or their Successors ought to correct the offences for as in a just War it is lawful to take away the goods of the outward Enemies so also it is lawful to take away the goods of the Clergy being the inward Enemy by their evil Example they not walking according to the Rules of Christ for inward Enemies are more hurtful than outward and it is said in the 12th Article That there is no greater Heretick nor Antichrist than those Clerks which teach that it is lawful for Priests now under the Law of Grace to be endowed with Temporal Possessions and if there be any Hereticks Apostates or Blasphemers these Clerks be such A Supplication to K. Hen. 8. If it were thought unmeet by the Apostles that they should leave the word of God and serve Tables Acts 6.2 which yet was a work of mercy to serve the Poor can any man be so ignorant as to think it meet and fit that the Prelates should leave the word of God to deal in Temporal matters to keep Courts to set Leases and receive Rents and keep books of Accompts and Rent-Rols c. the Apostles did no such things therefore they cannot be the Successors of the Apostles It was said in a Supplication to King Henry the eighth about the year 1544. That the only infection and pestilent poyson of the Prelates is their great Lordships and Dominion which hath fashioned them with proud Countenances and worldly behaviour more like Heathen Princes than Christ and his Apostles and Christ said to his Apostles the Princes of the Gentiles exercise Dominion c. but it shall not be so among you Mat. 20.26 For Bishops so love their worldly honour that they will not preach the Truth for displeasing of men lest they lose their great Possessions Riches and worldly Offices which is the cause of their sins Thus this pestilent poyson of worldy riches being taken from them the word of God shall flourish faith shall be increased and sin decreased and true obedience shall be observed with all humble obedience to your Majesty 13 It is lawful for the Clergy by their power to take away the Sacrament from the Laity customably offending It is by the like reason lawful for the Secular power to take away the Temporalities from the Clergy they offending customably in not performing the conditions for which the Temporalities were given besides other offences for say they the true and easiest way for directing the Clergy unto Conformity to the life of Christ and his Apostles and most profitable for the Laity the Church is that the Clergy should not be suffered to live contrary unto Christs Institutions to which I shall adde that the Clergy who make such a bussling about Conformity are themselves the greatest and most obstinate Non-conformists in the world The Prelates are the greatest Non-conformists to the Gospel Commandements and Institution of Christ for Christ hath not Instituted that any Gospel Minister should have any Temporalities or Tythes nor to live in such glorious Pomp and State in the world nor to have such Dignities nor exercise such Jurisdictions c. Therefore it belongs to Christian Magistrates to take those Superfluities from them which occasion their sinful revolt and disobedience to the Laws of Christ for by the abundance of Temporalities say they the Worm or Serpent of Pride is sprang up whereupon unsatiable desire and lust is inflamed and thereby proceedeth all kind of Gluttony and Leachery but the Temporalities being taken away every one of these sins will either utterly be taken away or at the least diminished by the contrary virtue induced and brought in The Prophesie of Hildegardis This that is said of taking away the Temporalities from the Clergy seems to be prophesied of by Hildegardis the Virgin whieh Prophecie was approved of in the Council of Trevers by many Bishops of France Italy and Almain St. Bernard being there present she spake on this manner The Kings and other Rulers of the World being stirred up by the just Judgement of God shall set themselves against them and run upon them saying We will not have these men to rule over us with their rich Houses and great Possessions and other worldly Riches over which we are ordained to be Lords and Rulers wherefore let us take away from them that which they do not justly but wrongfully possess c. for the Spirituality should not possess more then necessity doth require that where there is more it should be taken away and given to the needy This spake that Virgin Prophetess plainly foreshewing the taking away the Temporalities from the Clergy by the secular Power 14 Gregory St. Gregory writ to the Emperour Mauritius when he persecuted him I do believe saith he that you please God the better in so persecuting me which have been so evil a servant unto him And Pope Leo Pope Leo. submitted himself unto Lodovicus the Emperour as in 2. quest 7. If we have done any thing incompetently or that we have not observed the upright path and way of Equity amongst Subjects we will amend the same either by your own judgement or by the advice and judgement of those which you shall appoint for that purpose for if we which ought to correct and punish other mens faults do commit more grievous our selves we are not then the Disciples of the Truth but as with sorrow we speak it we shall be above all others the Masters of Error Thus much concerning the Arguments of the University of Prague And to confirm the Writings and Opinion of John Wickliffe the Vice Chancellor of the University of Oxford with the whole Congregation of the Masters with one consent gave this Testimony of him and said The Testimony of the University of Oxford in behalf of John Wickliffe For the special good will and care which we bear unto John Wickliffe sometime Child of this Vniversity and Professor of Divinity moving and stirring our minds as his manners and conditions required no less with one mind voice and testimony we do witness all his conditions and doings throughout his whole life to have been most sincere and commendable whose honest manners and conditions profoundness of Learning and most redolent Renown and Fame we desire the more earnestly to be notified and known unto all the Faithful for that we understand the maturity and ripeness of his Conversation his diligent Labours and Travels to tend to the praise of God the help and safegard of others and the profit of the Church Wherefore wee signifie unto you by these Presents That his Conversation from his youth upward unto the time of his death was so praise worthy and honest that never at any time was there
Decrees or Constitutions which is not grounded upon the Holy Scripture they should therefore stand in no danger nor be impeached King Richard 2. King Richard the second propounded to John Wickliffe Whether the Kingdom of England might lawfully detain the Treasure of the Kingdome from the Pope He demanded the Church goods under pain of Censure Mr. Wickliffe setting a part the Common Laws of England and the Civiâ— Law It rests saith he to prove the affirmitive part by the Principles of Chists Law thus Every natural body hath power given of God to resist against the contrary and to preserve it self in due estate inasmuch as Bodies without life are indued with such a kind of power as hardness to resist those things that would break it and coldness to withstand heat that would dissolve it forasmuch then as the Kingdom of England after the manner of phrase of Scripture ought to be one Body of which the King is head and the Commonalty are the members thereof It seemeth the same Kingdom head and members hath such power given to them of God and so much the more apparent by how much the same body is more precious unto God adorned with virtue and knowledge for so much then as there is no power given of God unto any Creature for any end or purpose but that he may lawfully use the same to that end and purpose It followeth That our Kingdom may lawfully keep back and detain their Treasure of Temporalities and Tythes c. for the defence of it self in what case soever necessity doth require the same Secondly the same is proved by the Law of the Gospel for the Pope cannot challenge the Treasure of this Kingdom no more can the Prelates challenge Temporalities or Tythes but under the title of Almes and consequently under the pretence of works of mercy according to the rule of Charity But in the case aforesaid the title of Alms ought utterly to cease ergo the right title of challenging the Treasure of this Kingdom ought to cease also in the presupposed necessity and the Prelates and Clergie challenging Temporalities and Tythes ought to cease also by the same reason Forasmuch as all Charity hath its beginning of it self it were no work of Charity but of meer madness to send away the Treasure of the Realm unto other Nations whereby the Realm it self may fall into ruine under the pretence of such a Charity and is it not as much madness to suffer so many idle Drones to usurp the Kingdomes the Churches and the Poors goods of temporalities and tythes to spend on Coaches and Horses Hawks Dogs and Hounds I will not say Whores Taverns Cards and Dice Why should not such unfaithful Stewards give an account of their Stewardship It appears also saith he by this That Christ the Head of the Church whom all Prelates and Priests ought to follow he lived by the Alms of devout women as in Luke 8.2 3. he hungred and thirsted was a stranger and sustained many other miseries not only in his members but also in his own body He was poor that ye through his poverty might be rich 2 Cor. 8.9 Wherefore in the first endowing of the Church with Alms whatsoever he were of the Clergy that had any temporal possessions he had the same by way of Almes as several Writings and Chronicles do witness For saith he the Temporal Lords have power to take away their Alms when they see their Alms abused to riot and excess by some and others who are interested therein suffer penury and want by the Prelates and Clergy their unfaithfulness in their Stewardships Carolus Magnus Carolus Magnus that famous French King had decreed in a Council that only the Canonical Books of Scripture should be read in Churches and commanded the Bishops that they should not suffer any other to be read nor Preach themselves any thing that did not agree with the word of God And besides he ordered the goods given to the Church to be disposed of so That in wealthy places two parts of the Church goods should be given to the poor and the third part to the Clergy and that in poorer places there should be an equal division between the poor and the Clergy The good Lord if it be his good will and pleasure put it into the hearts of all Christian Kings and Princes to do the like Isidor Mr. Fox saith that Isidor hath these words Let Temporal Kings know that they must give an account to God for the Church which they have at the hands of God to govern and if so then it lies as a duty incumbent upon them so that to free themselves from the guilt of other mens sins there is an absolute necessity That seeing the Church goods are abused and not disposed of as they ought to be as it is proved above Therefore Kings and Nobles may not only lawfully but are bound in duty to God to take care to have such abuses reformed Charles the sixth Charles the sixth the French King made a Law That the fruits and rents of Benefices and other Pensions and Bishops goods that departed from their charges should be brought in to the Kings use King Philip About the year 1303. King Philip of France summoned a Parliament where all the Bishops were required within eight dayes after notice given to appear or else all their Temporal goods should be seized into the Kings hand By this it appears That upon their disobedience the King might take their Temporalities from them if he so pleased In which Parliament it was declared by Sir Will. Negareta Sir VVilliam Negareta in behalf of the King That for his Oaths sake that he made for defence of the Church and because the King was the Patron of the Church Therefore he was bound not only to defend the Church observe this well he was bound not only to defend the Church but to call in the goods of the Church which was wasted by the Pope and Prelates means And four years after the Lord Peter de Cugneriis in a Parliament Lord Peter de Cugneriis exhibited 65 Articles in the Kings behalf against the Bishops and Prelates of France and the misdemeanours of them and their Officers and Courts Mr. Fox Such goods as were given to the Church by our Ancestors saith Mr. Fox was neither so given nor so taken as to serve the private use of Church men but to serve the publick use of the poor and needy as is to be seen by the Canonical Institution of the Emperour Lodovicus Pius set forth in the year 830. in these words Lodovicus Pius The goods of the Church be the Vows and bequests of the faithful to ransom such as be in captivity or prison and the Patrimony to succour them with Hospitality that be needy c. Whereas now the Hospitality that is used is to feast such as need not such as are able to feast the Prelates again and the poor and needy if they get any
thing it is such scraps as they give to their Hounds and Spanniels Prosper To this purpose is the testimony of Prosper Good men saith he took the goods of the Church not as their own but to distribute them as bequeathed to the poor For whatsoever saith he the Church hath it hath in common with such as have nothing c. The Testimony of 54. of the Nobles of Bohemia and Moravia There was four and fifty of the Nobles of Bohemia and Moravia Confederate together who in an Exhortation to Kings and Princes to stir them up to the Zeal of the Gospel they said That the Devil as he tempted Christ by shewing him all the Kingdoms of the World and the glory thereof but did not prevail But the Devil hath prevailed and deceived the Pope and all Prelates and Priest with the Riches of the World and worldly power and they stir up Kings and Princes to make Warre against us not that the Christian faith shâ—uld thereby be defended but for fear their secret vices and heresies should be discovered Whereby for reward they pretend that they have power by Prayers and Masses to deliver Souls out of Purgatory Thus they become Merchants of Prayers and Masses for money and every one that taketh rewards to Redeem Souls out of Purgatory do therewithall cast their own Souls down to Hell they that give any thing to that end do altogether lose their gift and with such divellish subtilties as these the Pope with all his Prelates and Priests have deceived spoiled and disinherited Kings Princes Lords and Knights and good Householders and many others of their lawful Inheritances because their Ancestors and Progenitors gave their Lands to Colledges Monasteries and Churches that they might make Memorials of them and to sing Prayers and Masses for their Souls that they might be redeemed out of Purgatory and with such ill gotten goods the Bishops and Prelates and the rest of the Clergie are made so rich that so long as they have such Goods and Lands they will never teach you the true foundation of true Religion which is against their holding or enjoying such temporal Estates So that now except our Prelates could prove that there is a Purgatory and that for the Lands they hold they both have done and can deliver Souls out of Purgatory what claim or title can they lay to those Lands that were given upon that account or what reason can they shew why the King and Temporal Lords may not lawfully take their own again for the uses formerly named Now therefore say they Ye Nobles Kings Princes Lords and all ye Commonalty rich and poor if you have been a sleep yet now awake and behold the subtilty of the Divel how he hath blinded the Prelates for Lucre sake and take again that which is yours and not theirs and they also receive Tythes and say that men are bound to give them and yet cannot prove that Christ the Apostles or the seventy Disciples received any but their Example Prelates will not follow They say by Prayers and Masses they can redeem souls out of Purgatory and yet by all their Prayers and Masses they cannot redeem a man out of an Earthly Prison Having hitherto shewed the Opinion and Practise of twenty Kings and of the Vniversities of Prague and Oxford and of fifty four of the Nobles of Bohemia and Moravia I shall now produce other Authors Mr Latimer MR. Latimer in a Letter to King Henry the eighth against the Bishops who pretend to be guides and leaders of others saith he and yet will neither preach the Truth themselves as they are bound to do nor suffer others that would do it to whom is due that Woe pronounced Mat. 23.13 for they will not only saith he debar the word of God from men but also by their subtile Wileness the instruct move and provoke in a manner all Kings in Christendom to aid succour and help them in their mischiefs and especially in this your Realm as far as in them lyeth they blind the Kings leige people with their Laws and Customs and Ceremonies in stead of teaching them the word of God Therefore he exhorteth his Majestie above all things to consider the life and proceedings of Christ and his Apostles and to compare these mens doings with theirs and alwayes to have in his mind this golden rule The Tree is known by his fruit for by this you may truly know and discern who are the true follows ers of Christ and his Apostles in preaching and living and who are pretenders only for by their fruits you may know them whether they imitate Christ and his Apostles in preaching in poverty and humility Your Grace may consider what craft the Spiritualty as they will be called imagin to break and withstand the Acts made in your last Parliament against their Superfluities Whhrefore they that so do your Grace may know them not to be the followers of Christ for Christ doth not promise true and faithful Preachers worldly promotion and dignity but tribulation John 16.33 for where the word of God is truly preached there is persecution Therefore pleaseth it your Grace to return to this golden rule By their fruits you shall know them for where you see persecution there is the Gospel and there is the all Truth and they that do persecute are void of Grace and without Truth they will not abide the light because their deeds are evil John 3.20 the riches of the world hath blinded the eyes of their hearts that they see not the clear light of the Scripture though they bable of it never so much Wherefore good King saith he seeing God hath sent his servants true Ministers and Preachers of his word set not these worldly men make your Grace believe that their preaching will cause Insurrection Heresie or Mischief as they imagin in their mad brains lest God be avenged upon you and your Realm as he hath ever been upon them who hath withstood his word My purpose is saith he for the love I have to God and the true alleagiance â—ow unto your Grace not to hide my Talent but to chaffer with it that it may increase to the pleasure of God to exhort your Gace to avoid and beware of those mischeivous Flatterers and their abominable wayes and Counsels for there are some that for fear of losing their worldly worship honour will not be convinced to leave their opinion But let these men remember that Paul as well as they both thought and called Truth Heresie before his Conversion but after he spent his strength and life to defend that which before he persecuted and I am sure saith he Paul before his Conversion was as holy and perfect in the outward works of the Law as any of these Bishops are now Wherefore Gracious King take heed of them and do nothing pleasing in your own sight without Gods word remember your self and pity your own Soul and think that the day is even at hand when you
shall give an account of your Office at which day that you may stand stedfast and have your Quietus est Sealed with the blood of Christ is my daily prayer to him that suffered death for our sins to whom be all honour and praise for ever Amen Thus much of Mr. Latimer his Letter to King Hen. 8. Eneas Silvius Eneas Silvius before he was Pope in a Letter to the Rector of the University of Collin he said To a true Christian indeed nothing ought to be more desired than the sincerity and pureness of Faith given us of Christ be kept of all men immaculate and if at any time any thing be attempted against the true Doctrine of the Gospel the people ought with one consent to provide lawful remedy and every man to bring with him some water to quench the general fire neither must we fear saith he how we be hated or envyed so we bring the truth with us we must resist every man to his face whether he be Paul or Peter if he walk not directly to the rule of the Gospel This is part of Eneas his Letter which I think with Mr. Latimer's Letter above is sufficient to justifie my Innocency in what I have done in collecting of so many reverend Authors to shew what their judgement and practise hath been according to the word of God though it be not according to the practise of our Prelates now Julian Palmer As all good works are wonderful saith Julian Palmer so this in particular That God hath in all ages stirred up some to bear witness to the Truth against those Usurpers who have and do rob and spoile both Kings and Kingdoms by unjust deteyning Lands and Possessions c. in their hands to which they have no right and do buy false Glosses Excommunications Imprisonments Banishments Scourging Pilloring Persecuting by open violence and secret practises abuse the simple sheep of Christ that do endeavour to serve God and to discover their false usurped wayes rather then they will depart with their dishonest gain and have their Kitchin cooled their Coffers emptied or their Rents and Revenues abated The Protestant Church at Paris The fourth of September 1558. Three or four hundred Christians being assembled in Paris in France to worship God in a private meeting they were seised upon and some escaped and some were taken and imprisoned Who wrote a Letter to the King declaring out of divers Histories what afflictions and calamities from time to time had befallen the Enemies and hinderers of Gods worship for their resisting the free passage of the Gospel Shewing also that when the King did by his Edict hinder the free worship and service of God then did God send War and other Calamities upon him and his Kingdom and when he ceased the execution of such Edicts then he prospered according to his own desires as long as the true worship of God and his Ordinances took place And in the Primative Church while Prelates and Ministers were of small Wealth and sought not their own profit but the glory of God and his Ordinances so long the Truth prospered and prevailed but since the Pope and Prelates began to be Prince like and to usurp Dominion over the Emperour and Kings they have turned the Scripture from the true sence and have attributed the service to themselves which we ow unto God framing a worship according to their own fancy for their private advantage to maintain their usurped Dignities Jurisdictions and Possessions Wherefore your Majaesty may with good and safe Conscience seize upon all their Temporalities and Benefices and imploy them to to their right use which is for your own affairs for the safety of the Kingdom and the easement of your poor Subjects which alone bear the burthen and for the relief of the poor whereas now there is an infinite number in your Kingdom which occupie the greatest and chiefest benefices which never deserved any part of them And consider that alwayes those Emperours and Kings have the best prospered that imbraced the true Christian Faith for the Kings Throne is established in Righteousness Prov. 16.20 28. Anne du Burg. Loys du Farr The true and only way Sir say they to remedy and redress these grievances is that you call a general Councel in your Kingdom your self being the chief in which every thing tending to the worship and service of God may be tried by the word of God in which Council men of parts and faithfulness to God should be heard for God and those that enjoy such Dignities and Possessions be heard how they can prove their holding them by the Scripture to be lawful or else to part with them And your Majesty or some whom you may appoint not corrupted nor interested to either party but indifferunt may report to your Majesty the true sence of the Scripture without partiality and after according to the example of David Solomon Jehoshaphat Hezekiah and Josiah you may remove out of the Church all Idolatry Superstition Will-worship and humane Inventions which is contrary to holy Scripture for God will not own any Plant in his Church that is not of his own planting Here was good Council if it had taken place but mark what followed Anne du Burg a Councellor at Law Loys du Farr a Councellor also who did solicite and intercede in the behalf of those imprisoned Christians were both apprehended and cast into prison the King in a rage threatning du Burg that he with his own eyes would see him burnt but God prevented him for the same day that he so threatned the King in his Justing and breaking their Spears the King received his Deaths wound and it was reported that the King said he was striken for casting the poor Christians wrongfully in prison This was Henry the second French King Origen saith Origen That Princes will not beleive that others have fallen by such means until they fall themselves And they said further If the Emperour Antonius a Pagan and an Idolator seeing himself wrapt with Wars ceased the Persecution which was against the Christians and determined to hear their Causes and Reasons how much more ought you that bear the name of most Chistian King to be careful and diligent to cease the Persecution against poor Christians for until you have heard and lawfully debated our Reasons taken out of Scripture how can your Majesty judge us worthy of such punishments for while we are governed by the word of God neither Fire nor Sword nor the cruelest torments can make us afraid Observe these Expressions Christians may learn good Instructions from some of the heathen I will name some Christian-like expressions of this Pagan Antonius he wrot twelve Books in the first Book he said Let it be thy incessant care as a Roman as a man to perform whatsoever it is that thou art about with true and unfeigned gravity natural affection freedom and justice and go about every action as thy last action free from
the whole Foundation hangeth on the Prelates and Clergies beards for divers of your Predecessors and Nobles have given Lands to have a certain sum of Money given yearly to the poor whereof for the antiquity of the time the conditions are forgotten so that they give not one penny they likewise gave them to have certain Masses said for them daily whereof they say never a one If the Abbots of Westminster should sing every day as many Masses as they are bound to do by the Founders a thousand Monks were too few Wherefore if your Grace will build a sure Hospital never to fail to relieve your poor Beads-men then take from them all these things this with much more to this purpose was in that Supplication Pope Innocent Pope Innocent 4th required that all Beneficed men in England which were resident should pay to the Pope a third part of their goods or Profits and Non-residents the one half for three years together And it is most certain that our King and Nobles within his Majesties Dominions have a thousand times more right to receive these profits than either Pope or Prelate for Popes and Prelates are Usurpers their Predecessors having possessed themselves thereof by deceitful Delusion therefore our King and Nobles may justly require their own Temporalities again which their Predecessors were so deluded of the Prelates having been such unfaithful Stewards it is but just that the King Princes and Lords do require them to give account of their Stewardship that they may be no longer Stewards The testimony of 21 Bishops 8 Arch-deacons and 17 Doctors In the Year 1537. or thereabout Thomas Archbishop of Canterbury and Edmond Bishop of York and to the number of one and twenty Bishops and eight Arch-deacons and seventeen Doctors of Divinity and of the Common and Civil Law they did all assert and sign with their hands to King Hen. the 8th the which was ratified by the Statute of the 32. of Hen. 8. That there is not in the New Testament any mention made of the Calling Jurisdiction Lordliness or secular employment of Lord Bishops But the New Testament speaks only of Deacons and of Ministers alias Priests or Bishops and of these two only that is Priests or Ministers and Deacons the Scripture makes express mention And that Christ did never institute any distinction or difference or preheminence of power order or Jurisdiction among the Apostles themselves but that they were all equal in power authority and jurisdiction and that there hath been any difference since it is by the invention of men and not by the institution of Jesus Christ and therefore no Bishop by the Law of God may take upon him any Jurisdiction in secular Courts for God did constitute Kings to defend the Faith of Christ and true Religion and to cause Bishops or Ministers to execute their Pastoral office truly and faithfully or for neglect thereof to put others in their room and place and not to suffer the Clergy to meddle in secular affairs for the Kingdom of Christ is a spiritual and not a carnal Kingdom as Christ said No man can serve two masters so I say No man can faithfully discharge his Ministerial office in Christs Kingdom which is his Church if he be entangled in secular affairs in the worldly Kingdom You cannot serve God and Mammon Mat. 6.27 Mr Elmer Mr. Elmer in his Harborow for faithful Subjects Printed at Strasburg writes thus on the 12 of Luke Who made me a Judge c. As if Christ should say It belongs not to my office to determine in matters of policy but to the Civil Magistrate And if it did not belong to Christ how dare Prelates take it upon them to do it for if it had been within the compass of Christs Function he could not in conscience have refused it to set them at one which were at strife if he might do it and would not he lacked Charity and did not his duty which were blasphemy to say of Christ and if it belonged not to him neither did it belong to his Apostles nor their successors Had he not as large a Commission as he gave His Kingdome is not of this world therefore Bishops by his example cannot give themselves so large a scope in temporal matters therefore by their fruits you may know them whether they have their Commission from Christ or I had like to have said from Antichrist for saith he if these two offices Ecclesiastical and Civil be jumbled together in one Function there can be no quiet nor well-ordered Commonwealth Richard Armacanus Richard Armacanus about the year 1350. in de questionibus Armenorum book 11. chap. 1. saith that neither the Dominion nor Ministry of temporal things belongeth to Ecclesiastical Dignity but rather diminisheth it for Christ prohibited the Apostles of temporal Dominion saying It shall not be so among you And again Possess neither gold nor silver nor brass in your purses nor scrip for your journey nor two coats neither shooes nor staves Math. 10.9 10. If thou wilt be perfect go sell all that thou hast and give to the poor He saith in chap. 2. that the states and degree of Patriarch Primate Archbishop Bishop c. were invented by men and not instituted by Christ nor his Apostles and that no Prelate of the Church how great soever hath any greater degree of the power of order than a simple Priest But how do Prelates observe Christs rule who commanded that they should possess neither gold nor silver and as if they would strive to do as contrary as they can devise they possess thousands of gold and silver coaches and horses and what not Is it not high time therefore for Kings and Nobles to take these temporalities from them which they thus abuse as if they would set Christ at defiance and bid him command what he will they will do what they will do not their actions tend to this end the good Lord direct the King Princes and Lords c. that by connivance they partake not with the Prelates in these sins lest they which God forbid should partake with them in their punishments Cyprian Cyprian in his fourth Book Epist 4. saith Our Lord Christ observed the will of his Father but we speaking of Prelates observe not the will of the Lord as appears above having all our minds set upon Lucre and Possessions given to pride full of Emulation and Dissention void of Simplicity and faithful dealing renouncing the world only in word but nothing in Deed every one pleasing himself and displeasing all others John Huss John Huss in the Council of Constance did affirm that the Clergie ought to have no temporal possessions and that Temporal Lords may justly without any offence take them away from the Clergy and that Kings and Nobles ought to compel the Clergy to observe and keep the Law and Rules of Christ He also saith that Tythes and Oblations given to the Church are publick and common Alms and that the Clergy
living wickedly ought to be reproved by the Laity by taking away their Tythes and other Temporal Profits from them and give them to others c. Mr. Tindal Mr. Tindall in his Book of Obedience of a Christian page 114 115. saith That the Sword is put into the Kings hand to execute vengeance upon all evil dooers But now saith he the Bishops minister the Temporal Sword and the Office of Preaching they lay aside and will neither preach themselves nor suffer others that would to preach but slay them with the temporal sword and as none saith he can preach Christ except they preach against Antichrist and as none can heal a disease unless he begin at the root so canst thou not preach against any mischief except thou begin at the Bishops And in page 124. he saith Those that are sworn to be true to the Pope Cardinals and Bishops it is as if they should swear to be false to Christ to the King and to the Realm for such Prelates that will revenge themselves of men for speaking the truth and for every trifle they are not fit to preach the patience of Christ Henry Stalbridge To the same purpose writeth Henry Stalbridge in his Exhortative Epistle to his dear Countreymen of England he saith that what blood hath been shed between Emperor and Emperor Kingdom and Kingdom Constantinople Almain England France Italy and Spain who seeth not that the pride of bloody Bishops is the ground and original foundation of all Controversies Schismes Variances and Wars between Realm and Realm see the fift and sixth part of the Homily of Whitsunday And to confirm the truth of this consider whether the carriage and practice of Prelates and their Doctrines such as Godfrey Goodman Bishop of Glocester who in one Sermon at White-Hall before his Majesty delivered five points of flat Popery and did follow many Popish practises And at another time in the year 1636. he said that the Church of Rome and our Church are both as one for we said he and he said not much amiss have both the same Hierarchy and Government the same Liturgie Holy-dayes Fasts Ceremonies Sacraments c. so as those who affirm that Papists are damned do but through the sides of the Church of Rome give a deadly blow to the Church of England and deny that we are saved with more the like And also Bishop Laud's silencing and suspending of Ministers and sending a new book of Common Prayer differing from ours into Scotland consider whether these and the like were not the cause of our late unhappy Warrs in England Bernard Bernard as touching Bishops having Conusance in their Courts of Tythes c. writes thus For Tythes Testaments Administrations Servitude Legitimations and such like saith he to Pope Eugenius you went beyond your bounds when you restrained them to your Courts and without Caesar made Laws for things that did belong to Caesar for the Goods Lands Livings Estates of Lay-men and Clerks also are Caesars Charge and not yours nor the Prelates My Kingdom saith Christ is not of this world If then the Pope Prelates and Priests will be the servants of Christ saith Ambrose they must not challenge any worldly Kingdom Ambrose the servant is not above his Master and if the Master deny it the servant may not affirm it and usurp it Souldiers of Christ must not entangle themselves with the affairs of this world much less to make themselves Lords and Judges of earthly matters William Ocham William Ocham a famous Schoolman writ a book about the year 1330. which was printed in London in which he saith that Clergie men are liable to pay tribute unto Princes and that Princes may take away their Lands and Possessions when they abuse them to Luxury Pomp and other private uses and they may imploy them for the defence and peace of the Realm And after he adds That all the Revenue of Clergie men but that which is sufficient to provide them Food and Rayment with which they ought to be content as Paul saith 1 Tim. 6.8 Having Food and Rayment let us be therewith content and the rest ought to be spent in pious uses and in feeding the poor which if they be not employed in this sort Kings ought to take care of them to set some to see it done William Prynne In the second part of Mr. William Prynne's book of the Antipathy of the English Lord Prelates both the Regal Monarchy and Civil Unity page 311 he saith that the endowing of the Prelates with great temporel Revenues was the very bane and poyson of Religion and one principal cause of Bishops Rebellions Treasons and Exorbitances he had fore-mentioned and therefore they may both with good Conscience and reason be subtracted from them and put to better uses and they like other Ministers be confined to one competent living with Cure there constantly to reside and instruct the People like Bishops in the Primitive Church for so long as our Lordly Prelates continue there will not only be a possibility but a probability of bringing in Popery and the Pope again amongst us since their Lordly Hierarchy is supported by Popish Doctrine Canons Ceremonies Liturgie Godfry Goodman Holy dayes c. as Godfry Goodman Bishop of Glocester said a little above which they are ingaged to maintain to preserve their tottering Thrones from ruine John Salisbury John Salisbury our Country man flourished about the year of Christ 1140. de nugis Curialium lib. 8. cap. 17 23. writ thus of the pride and sedition of the Bishops Thou maist admire to see the various Houshold stuff and Riches as they say of Craesus amonst them that preach poor Christ they live of the Gospel without preaching the Gospel and it is well if they live only so as they do not also riot they so gape after gain that they contem the things of Jesus Christ and are neither worthy the honour nor name either of Pastor or Hireling they do that which makes them to be feared of all and to be beloved of none they preach Peace yet make Division they make a shew and counterfeit Humility that they may challenge Pride in fulness they dispute of Fasting and what they build up with words they pull down with deeds the works they do bear witness of them you may know them by their Fruits they do not only contend but fight for a Bishoprick the Antients were dragged against their wills to a Bishoprick but went willingly to Martyrdome they feared the chief Chains worse then a Prison or Cross Ex Catal. Illyr There is a Story that about the year 1228. at Paris in a Synode or Convocation of the Clergie one that was appointed to preach was much troubled in his minde what to say the Devil came unto him and asked him why he was so careful what to Preach say thus quoth the Devil the Princes of Hell salute you O ye Princes of the Church and gladly give you thanks because that through your
Apostles which yet I would deny him yet it followeth not saith he that with this primacy he had also a Kingdom given him and though the Lord bid him confirm his Brethren yet was he not bid to exercise an Empire over his Brethren for so they should not be his Brethren but his Subjects Richard Feurus Richard Feurus a Martyr about the year 1554. in the Province of Dolphine in his disputing against his Adversaries he affirmed That the word of God ought to be our Rule and that nothing is left to Doctors or Councils to be devised without the word of God and that all things necessary either for government of the Church off or the Salvation of man are expressed and prescribed in the word of God for Paul saith That he durst not utter any thing but what the Lord had wrought in him and shewed unto him Rom. 15.18 John willeth us to receive no man unless he bring the same Doctrine that we have received from Christ and his Apostles Let him be accursed Christs Sheep hear his voice and know his voice but they know not the voice of a Stranger and all manner of worship and service that is not prescribed in the word of God is the voice of Strangers Hence it will follow that such Strangers that both command and practice such Ceremonial service of God as is not prescribed in the Word of God in the New Testament Kings and Princes c. may lawfully take away their Temporalities and Tythes and dispose of them to better uses as hath been said above Richard Lovingham in the reign of King Hen. 4. gathered out of a Book of John Purvey that the Temporalities of the Clergie in England at that time in the hands of such as did no duty for it belonging their office to do besides other Temporalities he said That the King Lords and Commons might without any other Charge but these Temporalities maintain fifteen Garrisons with fifteen thousand Souldiers having sufficient Lands and Revenues to live upon and also maintain fifteen thousand Priests and Clerks and fifteen Colledges more and an hundred Hospitals and every house an hundred Marks a year and bring in besides above twenty thousand Pounds a year into the Kings Coffers He said also that the Kings and Lords ought to banish the Pope and his Factors out of their Lands and all Bishops and their Factors that say it appertaineth not to Kings and secular Lords but to them and their Officials to punish Adultery and Fornication they do fall into manifest Treason against the King and Heresie against the Scripture and that it doth appertain to the King to have the ordering of Priests and Bishops as Solomon and Jehosaphat and others had saith Mr. Fox Acts and Monuments pag 502. Now if the temporalities at that time would have done so much in England what will the temporalities and tythes of three Kingdoms do now that Lands are at so high a rate to what they then were Augustin Huldrick Bishop of Ausburg in an Epistle to Pope Nicholas the first about the year 867 said that good correction proceeding from the lesser to the greater is not to be refused nor disdained when he that is corrected is found to strive against the truth to please men and he mentions Augustin writing to Boniface that the disputations of all men be they never so Catholick or approved persons yet ought not to be received instead of Canonical Scripture Gregory so that we may saith he disprove or refuse any thing that is in their writings contrary to truth to which he adds a saying of St. Gregory What shall become of the Sheep when the Pastors themselves become Wolves Panarmetanus Mr. Rogers in his Answer to the Bishop of Winchester said that all the Laws of men might not nor could not rule the word of God but that all things should be discussed and judged thereby and obedience given thereunto and that no Christian mans Conscience could be satisfied without Laws that agree not with Gods word and he quotes Panarmetanus which said That unto a simple lay man that brings the word of God with him there ought more credit to be given than to a whole Council and to what they concluded without or beside the word of God Walter Mill. Walter Mill a Martyr in Scotland said that these which we call Bishops do not the work of Bishops nor the Office of Bishops as Paul biddeth Timothy but live after their own sensuality and pleasure and take no care of the Flock nor yet regard the word of God to do thereafter but desire to be called Lords c. And Luther saith that neither Pope nor Prelate can make Articles of Faith nor Laws of good works and manners and that we may withstand their doings and Judg upon their Decrees by the word of God though their Decrees be approved by a General Council Doctor Molius Doctor Johannes Molius sometime a gray Fryer disputed three days together at Rome against Bishops and Cardinals by Pope Paul the third his appointment of Original Sin of Justification by Faith and of Free-will and Purgatory and they all not being able to refell his Arguments at last they answered him That what he affirmed was truth nevertheless it was not meet for that present time for that it could not be taught nor published without detriment to the Apostolick See wherefore he should refrain from preaching the Epistles of St. Paul and return to Bononie and there profess Philosophy By this it appears That Popes and Prelates Act against their Conscience and will not suffer the truth to take place least they should lose their honor and wealth for here they confess that what Doctor Molius said was truth but they might not suffer it at that time no nor never since to be taught their reason was it would be detriment to the Apostolick See but what detriment the truth received and the soul of men by hiding the truth from them these Prelates cared not for they silenced him from preaching the truth to profess Philosophy And thus Prelates in this age Silence Ministrs from preaching the truth lest they should come to dishonour thereby and lose their sweet Morsells for if all Christian Kings Princes and Nobles were rightly informed in the truths of the Gospel and of the unlawfulness of Popes Bishops and Prelates of their standing in the Church with their titles dignities and jurisdictions which Papists themselves have confessed is but from men and not from God why then should Kings and Princes by suffering them in such ways become guilty of their Sins but rather rouse up themselves and take from them that which is not theirs but by usurpation that is the temporalities and tithes which they unjustly possess as is shewed above Neither need they fear the Popes nor Bishops Excommunications for they have no more Authority from God to Excommunicate for such things than the poorest Shepherd or Swineherd hath that keeps Sheep or Swine upon