the people of the Iewes were grieuously formented with continuall warres 48 Whilest these great mischiefes continued these sectes were begonne and confusions bread when there were but a very fewe that kept still the heauenly doctrine loe then came Mathan the grandfather of the Virgine Marie who was borne about 100. yeares before Christ And after him Ioachim which is also named Elie the father of the Virgine Marie who was borne 60. yeares before the Lord Iesus which was the same yere that Pompei conquered Ierusalem and that Iewrie was made tributarie to the Romaines and brought into the maner of a Prouince to the end that men might knowe assuredly howe that the time of the Messias was at hand of whome the Patriarch Iacob had prophecied saying The scepter shall not be taken away from Iuda nor a Lawgiuer from his féete vntill that Silo come and to him shall the nations be gathered Gen. 49. 49 About this time were ayding to the conseruation and kéeping of the Church Simeon Anna the prophetisse Zacharie Elizabeth with others and the Virgine Marie the mother of the sonne of God our Lord. The gouernement in the Church of this fourth range or order of the high priestes and gouernours after their returne from captiuitie lasted about 500 yeares The fift and last order of the Doctours of the Church of God is that which we begin at Iohn Baptist and our Lord Iesus Christ 50 Iohn Baptist the sonne of Zacharie the priest beganne to preach in the 15. yeare of the Empire of Tiberius Cesar when as Pontius Pylate was gouernour in Iewrie and when Herode was Tetrarch in Galilée and he preached baptisme and repentance that is to say that euery one should repent and amend that they might receiue remission of sinnes through Iesus Christ which thing he confirmed by the signe of baptisme He taught the people of all estates howe they ought to liue He bare witnesse of the Lord Iesus And baptizing the people he baptized Iesus also vpon whome the holy Ghost descended in bodily shape God declared from heauen that he was his sonne Iohn hauing reproued Herode the Tetrarch bicause of Herodias his brother Phillips wife and for all the other euils that he had done was cast in prison and at length beheaded 51 In the 24. yeare of the reigne of Augustus the eternall sonne of God was borne hauing taken vpon him humane flesh of the Virgine Marie in Bethlehem a towne of Iewrie This is that séede which hath broken the head of the serpent and hath deliuered vs from his deadly sting This is the souereigne head of the Church without which the body can haue no due proportion and shape he hath a speciall care thereof and wil make it féele effectually of his presence and he will be in the middest thereof called vppon serued honoured and glorified Nowe as soone as Christ the true annoynted of God was borne and made knowne vnto the world Herode stirred vp great persecutions the occasion thereof beganne for bicause that the wise men came from the East who brought newes of the Messias vnto the people of Ierusalem He caused all the children within the precinct of Bethlehem to be slaine as many as were two yeares olde and vnder His execrable dealings abode not long time vnpunished And it shall be necessarie that we consider somewhat of the worthie end of this tyrant Ioseph in the eight booke of his Antiquities Cha. 17. writeth thus The sicknesse of the king did rage more and more and God shewed openly that he punished him for his vngodlynesse for he was burned with a pining heate and this heate could not be perceiued outwardly but he felt it wtin his body in as much as it gnawed and tormented his bowels He was so hungrie that he tooke no laysure to chawe his foode but swallowed vp gréedily that entred into his mouth and was at all times casting meate into his mouth His bowels were corrupted full of vlcers he was also tormented with the colica passio His féete were swelled with flegmatike humours his priuie partes were rotten full of wormes His breath was so stinking that no body durst come neare him And in the 21. chapter of the first booke of the Iewes warre the saide historiographer wrate this which followeth All his body was intangled with diseases and he was vexed with sundrie dolours he had a burning intollerable gnawing wtin him The colicke tormented him incessantly and the and his féete were swollen in the skinne and flesh He addeth moreouer that he assayed to shorten his life and calling for a knife he lifted vp his right hande for to haue killed him selfe which thing Archicab his cosin germaine perceiuing ranne and stayed his hand He dyed fiue yeares after that he had put Antipater his sonne to death when he had enioyed the kingdome by the space of 34. yeares after he had put Antigonus to death and 37. yeares after that he was declared king by the Romanes Iesus Christ the souereigne Bishop Doctour and Pastour of his Church was 30. yeares olde when he was baptised and then beganne he to preach vnto the people of the Iewes the word of the Gospell which he had brought from his father according to the promises that had bene made afore time and he wrought miracles After thrée yeares then following he was offered vp a sacrifice for to redéeme mākinde he suffered his death and passion in the eightéenth yeare of Tyberius the Emperour He rose againe from death the third day after his passion a vanquisher and triumphant and shewed himselfe vnto his Apostles and to many other men and women with great approbations being séene by them by the space of of 40. dayes speaking of the kingdome of God Actes 1. And after that he had giuen commandement to his Apostles that they should goe throughout all the world for to teach the doctrine to all nations and to baptise them in the name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the holy Ghost instructing them to kéepe al what so euer he had commaunded them promising to continue with his Church vntill the end of the world He ascended vp into heauen sitting at the right hand of his father and hath sent downe his holy spirite vpon the Apostles the which went forth all abroad for to kindle and spread foorth the light of the Gospell Nowe we must set in this fift order the Apostles and Euangelistes the Bishops Pastors and Doctours whome the sonne of GOD hath raised from time to time in all ages for the conseruation and maintenance of the ministerie The Apostles be the first in the fift order Nowe here we must marke in what places and howe farre the word of the Gospell hath bene spread through al partes and countries of the whole earth and what Pastours and Doctours haue succéeded and in what places 52 Peter the Apostle declared the Gospell in many places as may be at large séene by the history of the
S. Paul to the Romaines and to the Hebrewes vppon the Gospell of S. Iohn and vpon the Canonicall epistle He departed out of this life at the end of Nouēber in the yeare 1531. Whoso wil read more largely of his life let him read Simon Gryneus Wolfgangus the booke of Martyrs Bucer a learned man was also in the time of Luther and Zuinglius hee gaue also greate light throughout all Christendome not only by pure doctrine but also by holinesse of life Iohn Caluin in the preface of his comentaries vppon the Epistle of S. Paul to the Romaines speaking of certaine good deuines of that time and naming expresly Bucer saith of him in these wordes This man besides the profounde and excellent knowledge that he had in many matters besids the fine wit and that he had read much and besids many and sundrie vertues that he had in which none at this present doth excell him yea few comparable to him had this prayse proper and particular that none of his time applyed himselfe more to the interpretation of the holy scripturs and that with greater diligence then he He was sent for from Strausbourg to refourme the Churches of Colloine He preached to the godly being in great daunger amongest the Spaniards at that time the Emperour came down through Rhein who by his ambassadours did earnestly intreate the Archbishop to giue him libertie He for religion fled into England whereas hee was courteously intreated and had the charge of interpreting the holy scriptures in the vniuersitie Hee was diligent in writing Comentaries and sundrie workes And amongest other towarde his latter yeares he composed a booke of the kingdome of Iesus Christ our Sauiour which hee gaue to the worthie kinge of Englande shewing the way how the reformation of true Christian religion must be had and howe a Realme and Christian common weale ought to be gouerned according to the will of God A booke worthie to bee read of kinges princes and Lords The seauen and tweentith day of Februarie in the yeare 1551. Bucer departed this life at Cambridge and was honourably buried and praysed by Epitaphes of learned men Looke Sleidan in his historie of religion and of the common weale in the booke of Martyrs 145 Phillip Melancthon an excellent man in doctrine prudence and pietie was borne in the yere 1497. in a citie called in latine Bretta appertayning to the Prince Palatine He was a doctour in the Church and vniuersitie of Wittemberge He disputed against the aduersaries of the puritie of Gods true seruice diuers times with liuely infallible argumēts by which he shewed what good true foundation he had vppon the holy scriptures whereby he confounded all the aduersaries He made and composed diuers bookes aswell of humanitie as also Commentaries and common places vppon the holy scripture which be extante at this present He liued 63. yeares and died in the yeare 1560. and was honourably buried Peter martyr a Florentine a doctour and professour in diuinity in a Church of Zurich in Suisse wrote the Cathechisme in Italian that is the exposition of the principall articles of Christian religion He made a treatise of the sacrament of the Eucharistie and many Commentaries both on the Epistle of S. Paul to the Romaines and to the Corinthians and also vppon the Iudges and Samuel with others Augustine Marlorate hauing a certaine time exercised the function of a good and faithful pastour in the seignieuries of Berne was at the last elected minister of the Church of Rouan in which he faithfully discharged his duetie and therefore was taken and hanged he dyed constantly yelding vp his spirite to the Lorde in the yeare 1569. He had a great dexteritie in collecting the opinions of the Doctours aswell olde as newe vpon Esay Genesis and the Psalmes and on the new Testament also wherevnto he added his own he made certaine pretie treatises and amongst others one of sinne against holy the Ghost Musculus a Germaine a Doctour in the Church of Berne made diuers good and large commun places vpon the holy scripture and also good commentaries that be founde til this present He dyed in the said citie of Berne was honorably buryed 1563. 147 Amongst al others the bookes of Iohn Caluin minister of the word of God at Geneua can sufficiently testifie with what faithfulnesse singular giftes graces God had adorned him according to the necessitie of the time And what constancie he had in mainteyning the Lords quarell To be short in as much as his works be yet extant and his memoriall rife I will make of him no further discourse referring the reader to his works that he hath written Nowe yée may sée by this discourse howe God hath from the first creation of Adam and Eue had and conserued his Church and hath thorough all ages raised some vp and giuen them knowledge of his trueth and hath by weaklings of the worlde ouerthrowen whole garrisōs of the wicked worldlings to the end that all men might know that the Lorde alone is almightie that his light is vnquenchable his power infinite his mercy towards his vnspeakable and that although he suffereth wickednesse to florish for a time yet he wil whē he séeth time make his kingdome triumph ouer all To which God thrée persons and one eternall deitie be all praise honour and glorie for euer and euer Amen FINIS A Table containing the dinumeration or catalogue of the Doctours of the Church of God of whom mention is made in the discourse following GOd by his sonne and spirite instructed Adam and Eue and from time to time made him to haue vnderstanding in his church Adam was ordeyned a Bishop and Doctour thorough the promise that was made of the seed of the woman 1. Of the sonnes of Adam were Doctours of the Church Abel 2. Seth was substituted vnto the ministerie 3. Enos Cainam Malaleel Iared 4. He noch an excellent doctour amongst the fathers who also was transported vnto God out of this miserable life to an euerlasting life 5 Mathusalem 6 Lamech These nine before named being excellent personages were helpers vnto Adam in the Doctrine and worke of the Church for to teach and instruct the true seruants of God 7 After them succeeded in the gouernment of the Church Noe. 8 Sem the sonne of Noe a Doctour of the Church of God 9 Arphaxad the sonne of Sem. Sale Heber Phaleg Reu. Sarug Nachor Thare the father of Abraham This is the first order of the doctors of the church of God to wit the order of the fathers whose gouernance endured about the space of 2023. yeares The second order of the gouernours of the Church of God is of the Patriarches Abraham with his posteritie bare rule and guided the Church of God and Isaac succeeded him 11 Iacob a bishoppe of the church of God for his time And afterwarde did succede the twelue Patriarches and Cahat the sonne of Leui. Amram the sonne of Cahat and father vnto
his eyes to wit the iust iudgementes that God had wrought-vpon the whole face of the earth washing men from their hortible and abhomible sinnes the which they had vnreasonably committed He also was able to shew foorth the great goodnesse and mercy of God in that he would not that all mankinde should be drowned and destroyed All the time that Sem liued was 600. yeares Gen. 11. 10 Arphaxad was borne the second yeare after the floud in the yeare of his father Sem 100 Gen. 11. He liued 438. yeares Sale was borne in the yeare of his father Arphaxad 35. He liued 433. yeares Gen. 11. Heber was borne in the yere of his father Sale 30. Gen. 11. He liued 464. yeares Phaleg was borne in the yere of his father Heber 34. He liued 239. yeares Reu was borne in the yeare of his father Phaleg 30. He liued 302. yeares Sarug was borne in the yeare of his father Reu 30. He liued 230. yeares Nachor was borne in the yeare of his father Sarug 30. He liued 148. yeares Thare was borne in the yeare of his father Nachor 29. And when he was seuentie yeares olde he begat Abraham He liued 205. yeares Gen. 11.32 Nowe these be here recited by Moses as being the chiefest of those that were in their time whereas we may vnderstand that although the world was filled with all impietie yet notwithstanding God still hath wonderfully conserued some the haue kept the instruction of the true heauenly doctrine to the end that the Church and the promise made thereto should not be wholy extinguished which doctrine was also immediately renued vnto Abraham their successour This is the first order of the Doctours of the Church of God that is to say of the Fathers whose gouernement endured about the space of 2023. yeres The second order of the gouernours of the Church of God is of the Patriarches 11 Abraham was borne in the yeare of his father Thare 70. Gen. 11. He went from his countrie and from his kinsfolke in the yeare after the floud 367. and in the yeare of the world 2023. He with his posteritie bare rule and gouerned the Church In his time was the promise of the séede of the woman renued which is the redéemer and deliuerer of mankinde and it was declared by manifest promises that this deliuerer or redéemer ought to be looked for of his posteritie Furthermore Abraham being of the age of 99. yeares Gen. 17. receiued Circumcision the signe of the aliance betwixt God and him which signe representeth to the Church two things to wit that al what so euer is of man is vicious and must be cut away and that saluation must procéede from the roote of Abraham He liued 175. yeares Gen. 25. Isaac was borne in the yeare of Abraham his father 100. Gen. 21. of whose séede is borne our Lord Iesus Christ Isaar liued 180. yeares 12 Iacob was borne when his father was 60. yeares of age Gen. 25. This man was a Prophete of the Church of GOO and he tooke that heauenly doctrine from his predecessors and of his father Isaac at whose handes also he obtained the blessing of God he was surnamed Israel Gen. 32. And for this cause they that descended of him were called the people of Israel Iacob being 130. yeares olde went downe into Egypt Gen. 47. whereas he might teach the true doctrine of God He liued 147. yeares After this the twelue Patriarches with their children and successors gouerned the church of God in Egypt by the space of 215. yeares Leui was borne but a few yeares before Ioseph He liued 137. yeares After his death the children of Israel were in Egypt 121. yeares And after the death of Leui vntill the natiuitie of Moses was 41. yeares In which time Cahat the sonne of Leui and Amram the sonne of Cahat and father of Moses did gouerne the Church 13 Vnder the guyding of Moses the sonne of Amram of the house of Leui the people was brought out of Egypt Exod. 12. Then was the Lawe giuen published diuinely great miracles wrought yea such as the like had not bene séene nor heard of before amongst the people The lawes also of cere monies were giuen them by God by the hand of Moses so were all sortes of oblations sacrifices and burnt offerings Whereby is to note that the Ceremonies appointed by God to the Fathers were as a preaching and secret kinde of doctrine for to instruct them into what condemnation they were fallen by reason of their sinne and howe that there was no hope of deliuerance and blessing except they had alwayes in their heartes a certaine regarde vnto the mercy of GOD declared in the promise of the séede of the woman promised aforetime to the first parentes and shortly after renued to the Fathers their successors that by the saide séede all the nations of the earth shall be blessed as it is written in the 12. chap. of Genesis And thus the mercy of God was more and more manifested vnto them by meane of the Messias whose office was figured and represented in the saide ceremonies with the whole mysterie of our redemption Moses then with his brother Aaron who was older then he gouerned the Church And God in many sortes and by diuers meanes declared howe greatly he liked the ministerie charge to them committed For as it is written in the 16. chapter of Numbers After that Corah Dathan Abiron and 250. men of the children of Israel had murmured against Moses refusing to be gouerned by him they were all swallowed vp quicke Likewise the people beginning to murmur against Moses and Aaron as though they had bene cause of the punishment sent vpon them GOO reuenged the outragious grudging of them by fire sent from heauen wherewith a great number were deuoured to wit aboue fouretéene thousand This is an example worthie to be remembred of the wrath of GOD against rebels and seditious persons which enuyed and grudged at not so much Gods seruants as against God him selfe Aaron liued 123. yeares and Moses 120. yeares he being inspired by the spirite of God composed fiue Bookes the which be called vntil this day The fiue Bookes of Moses 14 Iosue was borne in the yeare of Moses his age 42. He liued 110. yeares and after the death of Moses he was ordained guide of the people through whose conduct they entred into the land of Canaan the inhabitants whereof he vanquished and put to foyle and lastly he deuided the lande amongest the tribes of Israel He gouerned the people by the space hath heard neither could the vnderstanding of man at any time comprehend to wit the full possession and enioying of glory in the triumphant kingdome of our Lord Iesus the euerlasting Priest and King of whome may be séene in his Psalmes many good and excellent propheties Vnder this King and Prophet as well the ecclesiasticall gouernement as the ciuill was most worthily guided and ordered Loe those that were with him committed
and deputed for the gouernance Ecclesiasticall were these to wit the Prophetes Nathan and Gad and the high Priest Sadoc and Abimelech with them a great companie of holy and wise personages of whome is witnessed in the bookes of the Psalmes as Asaph the sonne of Chore Haman Ethan and others 19 Salomon the sonne of Dauid succéeded his father by whome he had left him a great deale of costly stuffe wherewith he beganne to build in the fourth yeare of his reigne a Temple for the Lorde the which in seuen yeares after was finished He wrote the bookes of the Prouerbes of Ecclesiastes and the booke called Cantica canticorum he kept the gouernement by the space of 40. yeares lastly the kingdome was deuided and brought to confusion bicause of his adulteries and such other wickednes Then albeit that the true doctrine of God and his right seruice were darkened and polluted and that abhominable idolatries were brought in by Salomon being nowe olde and corrupted through the entisements of women which abhominations were afterward maintained also and augmented by the wicked and vnfaithfull Kinges of Israel as Ieroboam Nadab Baasa Ella Simri Amri and Achab and furthermore by the wicked Kinges of Iuda as Roboam and Abias yet notwithstanding the Lord did not suffer his Church to be vnprouided for for he raysed vp still some good men as in the kingdome of Roboam was the Prophet Semeia who instructed both him and the Princes of Iuda of the will of the Lord. The Prophet Ado was also in that time 1. Kings 12.2 Chron. 12. Ieroboam offering sacrifice vnto the golden Calues 1. Kings 13. Was reproued by the prophet Iadi of whome is made mention 2. Chron. 9. chap. vers 29. In the same time was also the prophet Ahias who speaking vnto the wife of Ieroboam told her that the king her husband did prouoke the Lord vnto anger with his idolatries he shewed also of the vengeance that would light vpon him for his sinnes 1. Kings 14. Azarias the prophet exhorted Asa the King of Iuda to put idolatrie away out of his realme which thing the King did in déede 2. Chron. 15. Hanani séeing this reproued the saide Asa for bicause he did put his trust in the king of Syria and not in God 2. Chron. 16. Iehu the prophet by the word of the Lord threatened Baasa the king of Israel bicause he walked in the way of Ieroboam causing the people to sinne 1. Kings 16. To conclude other good prophets were raised vp by GOD for to conserue and mainteine his true seruice for to rebuke also the Kings and people for their idolatries and abhominable misdoings as were Elie the Thesbite and Iosue the sonne of Nun of whom mention is made in the fift booke of Kings chap. 16. at the end of the chapter 20 Elie the Thesbite was in the time of Achab the King of Israel and was diuinely raised vp for to purge againe the doctrine and to kindle againe the light thereof This man sustained terrible combats and battels against king Achab a man full of hypocrisie and vnfaithfulnesse and against the cruell Quéene Iezabel and against the priestes of Baal He wrought great myracles he through his prayers shut vp and opened againe the heauens he also raysed againe men from death and lastly after that he had gouerned the Church more then 40. yeares and had sustained many and great dangers was diuinely caried vp into heauen with a whirlewinde This nowe was done in the middle age of the world for Elias was raised vp when the world had continued 3000. yeares after the creation By this God would haue vs to vnderstande that he hath reserued an other life for his faithfull seruants wherevnto they must be translated 21 Eliseus was substituted in the roome of Elias who sustained great and maruellous dangers wrought myracles discouered the ambushments of the king of Syria 2. Kings 6. Hauing gouerned the Church almost 70. yeares He dyed in the time of Ioas king of Israel The prophetes of his time were Micheas which was before him whose prophecie we haue amongst vs vntill this present time after him was Zacharie the sonne of Ioiada the priest in the time of king Ioas. 22 Isaias or Esay succéeded immediatly after who beganne to prophecie in the dayes of Ozias Ioathan Achas and Ezechias teaching purely the trueth of God with admonitions reproofes threatnings consolations applying the doctrine as a soueraine medicine according as he sawe the people haue néede He set foorth faithfully many good prophecies and reuelations which he had receiued of God concerning the promise of Christ his office and kingdome the fauour of the Lord toward his Church the calling of the Gentiles and the felowship of them with the Iewes like as is sufficiently set foorth and declared in his booke the which is a collection extracted of the Sermons that he made vnto the people euen as be the bookes of the other prophets for the custome was amongest the prophets after that they had expounded and declared vnto the people the doctrine and will of God to compile a briefe summarie of their preachings and to set them vp on the gates which were afterward laide vp and reserued for a perpetuall memorie like as may be gathered out of the second chapter of Abacuc and out of the eight of his booke Thus the Lorde through his prouidence hath conserued in his Church by the meanes of his ministers of the Temple the doctrine that at appointed times was put in the mouthes of his prophetes to the intent that as he hath alwaies bene and is alwayes one and the very same God alwaies one and the same spirit constant and vnchangeable so one and the very same doctrine being pure and stedfast should continue in his Church for euer The prophetes which were in his time are Ionas Amos Micheas Osée Nowe Esay after that he had done great things he gouerned the Church about 80. yeres In his time the kingdom of Israell was destroyed bicause of the vngodlinesse they were caried away captiue by Salmanazar king of Assyria It is found by writings that the king Manasses caused Esay to be cut asunder in the middest 23 Ieremie endued with the spirite of God for to prophecie beginning by the commandement of the Lord in the 13. yeare of Iosias continued ten yeres vnder his reigne afterward he abode thrée monthes vnder Ioachaz 11. yeres vnder Eliacim surnamed Ioacim other thrée monethes vnder Ioacim and lastly vnder Zedekias 11. yeares euen vntill the carying away vnto Babylon and the deliuerance of him 70. yeares after He also foreshewed the destruction and ouerthrowe of many kingdomes and nations and howe they should be brought vnder the power and obedience of the Babylonians and finally he foretolde of the decay and bringing to confusion of proud Babylon with all the tyrannie there vsed and that this should by brought to passe by the handes of the Medes and of the Persians their
neare neighbors Moreouer the saide prophet vsed very good exhortations and instructions amongest the people in setting before their eyes the threatenings of the Lorde and the execution of his iustice which drewe neare bicause of the obstinacie and stubbornesse in their iniquitie he ministred also cōsolation in shewing their deliuerance and comfort that the Lorde would send them after their afflictions and this did he for to strengthen the faith and confidence of the faithfull the which he sent principally vnto Christe as vnto the fountaine of all deliuerance and to the felicitie of his kingdome and comming of whom he also made mention in many places of his booke He gouerned the Church more then 40. yeares and liued after the desolation of Ierusalem He then séeing this desolation and abiding many troubles and persecutions he had foretolde thereof and afterward sawe it with great anguish of heart when he was olde He was led away into Egypt wheras he rebuked boldly the people and their principal gouernours He was afterward stoned by Tahaphnes and died The prophets that were in his time were Sophonie Abacuc Abdias 24 Daniel being but young was in the time when Ieremie was olde and was instructed vnder him He was caried away to Babylon with the king Ioacim in the third yeare of his reigne and in the yeare since the creation of the world 33 44. The Lorde who had defended him from danger willing to haue him serue for the profit of his Church adorned him with many graces and excellent gifts and amongst other giftes with the spirit of prophecie as appeareth by that that is contained in his booke whereas he declareth the reuelations which he had receiued of GOD touching the estate of the world vnder the foure Monarchies vntill the end thereof He foreshewed also the time of Christes cōming the excellencie of his kingdome the power giuen vnto Antichrist for to annoy the faithfull children of GOD and the time howe long this power shall continue lastly the iudgement that shal be executed by Christ a King triumphant for the exaltation and glory of his faithfull seruants and for the ruine and destruction of the wicked Now after that this Daniel had wrought great things in Babylon as well concerning the order of the Church as the ciuill policie and gouernement and hauing giuen a great light to the true doctrine of God amongest his people He gouerned about 90. yeares 25 Ezechiel beganne to prophecie in the time of king Ioacim surnamed Iechonias shewing him the danger that he was in in declaring to him that which the Lorde had determined to doe concerning the destruction and ruine of Ierusalem bicause of the sinnes of the people that had prouoked the wrath and iudgement of GOD against the same citie the which Nabuchodonozor the king of Babylon did at that time besiege and forced the people afterwards to yelde them selues captiues He foretolde also and declared what was to come as well to the Iewes as to other nations thereaboutes 26 Osée the sonne of Beeri beganne to prophecie in the times of Ozias Ioas Achas kings of Iuda and in the time of Ieroboam the sonne of Ioas king of Israel and as a true prophete he shewed vnto his people which was the kingdome of the ten tribes their sinnes and iniquities and he reproued them euery one of their execrable idolatrie wherby they heaped vp against them selues the wrath and vengeance of God shewing vnto them that the rod of his iustice was stretched out against them and exhorting them to repentance and a true conuersiō He foretolde them of their captiuitie into Assyria Afterward he added a consolation for the faithfull assuring them of their deliuerance by the meane of the deliuerer promised by the Lord vnto his Church 27 Of Ioel the Hebrues be vncertaine in what time he was a prophet Some iudge that he was in the time of Manasses But we néede not be so curious in séeking out that matter for if it had bene so necessarie it should not haue bene omitted by the holy Ghost which inspired this prophet to exhort the people vnto a conuersion and true repentance and incited them to haue recourse to the grace and mercy of God in contemplation of the only bountie and frée liberalitie grounded vpon the Messias and true annoynted of the Lorde of whose kingdome he made demonstratiō with the excellent riches thereof which bee the giftes and graces of the spirite of god the which he hath foreshewed that they must be bestowed and distributed vnto faithful seruants whom God shal haue appointed for the dispensation of the ministery of the saide kingdome as S. Peter expoundeth Actes 2. 28 Amos being a shepheard and a simple man was wonderfully instructed by the Lorde and moued by his spirit in the time of Ozias king of Iuda and of Ieroboam the sonne of Ioas king of Israel He declared and shewed vnto the Church of GOD the mysteries touching the displaying of sinnes and exhortation to repent and amend and a sure hope of saluation by the meane of the Messias whose comming and kingdome he spake of before He prophecied first against the vnfaithfull nations which dwelt neare to the people of Israel afterward against the kingdome of Israel to wit of the tenne tribes and then consequently against the kingdome of Iuda and the Temple of the Lorde foretelling of the afflictions that would happen vnto them bicause of their iniquities 29 Of Addias the prophet some do iudge that it was he who in the time of the persecution caused by Achab Iezabel did hide in a caue an hundred prophets 1. Kings 18.3 Others thinke that he was an Idumean and that he gaue wholy him self vnto the Lord in receiuing his lawe In this matter we néede not be greatly scrupulous but rather in the doctrine and prophecie that he had receiued of the holy Ghost the which in as much as he in his booke threateneth the Idumeans doth teach vs of the vengeance and iudgements of God against the aduersaries of his Church and of the deliuerance and conseruation therof of the which he prophecied and of the kingdome of Christ 30 In Ionas may be séene the doctrine set forth in the Church concerning the death and resurrection of Christe and the publishing of the Gospel the which must be wrought among the Gentiles after the saide resurrection euen as Ionas shewed and declared after that he came out of the whales belly publishing the word of the Lord in Niniuie the chiefe citie of the Monarchie of the Assyrians And like as Ionas profiting not amongest his owne people was sent vnto strangers and Infidels the people of Israel continuing blinde so the Lord hath transported his Gospell from his owne peculiar people who contemned it and hath giuen it to the Gentiles leauing that people in blindnesse and obstinacie bicause of their contempt It appeareth by that which is written in the first of the Kings 14.15 what Ionas was and in what time he
sonne he hath suffered and bene willing that this true religion should be by his most iust iudgement obscured and hidden from men so as they might not discerne it according to any outwarde appearaunce neither that it could bee redressed by the good doctours yea the trueth was so darkened that to the view and outward iudgement of the worldly there coulde be seene no tracke or steppe of God in the Church and that according to worlde mens fantasie it seemed that God had forsaken his Church and giuen it vtterly to the spoyle seeing that all was turned to ydolatrie and superstition which God in his word sheweth that he misliketh most villy abhorreth yet euen thē he had reserued some in his Church that had neuer bowed the knee before the idoll Ball before this Antichrist for to consent vnto or beleeue his doctrine being directly against the pure worde of God as came to passe in the time of Elias when the confusion and vngodlinesse of the people was such that there was no semblance of the Church seene in-in so much that this holy Prophete thought that all had beene vtterly giuen ouer vnto the worshipping of images and to idolatrie but he was deceiued for God hath reserued seauen thousandes which neuer had bowed the knee vnto Baal And in like manner if after the time of the primitiue Church the like also proued that for the wickednesse and vnthankfulnesse of the people GOD suffered the like confusion and idolatrie to raigne yet we muste vnderstande that forasmuch as God is one and the selfe same God aswell nowe as he was in the time of the Apostles that hee hath reserued vnto himselfe through all ages seauen thousande yea an infinite number which neuer bowed their knees before this stately ydoll before this man of sinne this sonne of perdition who sitteth in the temple of God The faithfull I say haue not sought for saluation in his doctrine but rather forsaking and renouncing that haue beene assured in their heart by the spirite of God to obtaine redemption by the alone meane and merites of Iesus Christ our onely sauiour They therefore be of a wrong opinion whiche iudge and esteeme the Church of God according to their fantasie not to haue continued alwayes If the doctours who were verie godly and righteous haue not wel discerned the ministerie and true religion of his Church and moreouer if that this excellent Prophet who was filled with the spirit of God so aboundantly was so much deceiued when hee woulde according to humaine iudgement recken the people of GOD what may wee thinke shal happen vnto vs whose iudgement for the moste parte is altogether vnperfecte They are also deceiued and doe foolishly and presumptuously which iudge the number of the electe acording to the capacitie of their senses for God hath a meane to him nothing difficult but to vs vnknowne by the which he may conserue his elect marueilously then when all seemeth turned vpside downe and spoyled Well may the elect then be persecuted but neuer confounded nor the Church extinct insomuch as it hath God for the founder and defendour and the elect haue God the creatour of heauen and earth for their gardein and protector like as he hath neuer fayled to helpe his at all seasons with the assistance of his holy spirite making euen seene and knowne to the worlde his greate loue and care towarde them throughout all ages as hath beene euidently seene Let vs not doubt therefore of the trueth of him who hath promised to abide with vs vntill the ende of the worlde of which his promise we see and feele daily effectes albeit that we are vnworthie thereof Thus much haue I thought good to speake concerning the continuance of the true Church whose founder is Christ Nowe will I shew briefely the order of the discourse following which is this That all the gouernement of the Church which hath beene from the beginning of the worlde vntill this present is comprised in fiue orders the first this present is comprised in fiue orders the first of which contayneth the first fathers to wit from Adam who was instructed by the son of God c. The second of the Patriarches and beginneth at Abraham The third of the Prophets and beginneth at Samuel The fourth the high priestes and gouernours and beginneth at Iosue otherwise called Iesus and at the conductour Zorobabell The fift and last beginneth at Iohn Baptist and our Lorde Iesus Christ and at his Apostles and their disciples Bishops Pastours that succeeded after them and euen vnto the Bishops whom God hath raised vp also in these last times for the mainteinance of his Church and for to correct the errours and abhominable traditions of men which doe infect the true and pure doctrin of God the which he hath conferued and will conserue for euer for the true instruction of his Church For the which also O Lorde I beseech thee that thou wilt nowe dayly more and more sende good and faithfull doctours true setters foorth of thy worde thorough out all the real mes and prouinces to the ruine and destruction of the kingdome of this man of sinne Antichrist and to the establishing of the kingdome of thy sonne Iesus Christ our onely sauiour and Lord Amen A TESTIMONIE OF the true Church of God Confirmed as wel by the doctrine as liues of sundrie holie men both Patriarches and Prophets and also by the Apostles and their true successours THE ARGVMENT Here is first declared howe that man was created in all perfection of beautie righteousnesse and puritie and that he hath despised the commaundement of God and his trueth through the persuasion of sathan to whome he with all his posteritie became seruant and slaue and was spoyled both of his vnderstanding and al beatitude and therefore he had neede to be instructed to the end he might discerne and be fully assured of the meane of his deliuerance and perfect restauration the which the eternall sonne of God hath manifested vnto him and hath vpholden perpetually his Church GOD after that he had created Heauen and Earth and all things comprehended in them created last of all man according to his owne semblance and likenesse that is to say wholy good pure full of perfection without sinne in all equitie of heart of iustice and vnderstanding and placed him with Eua his wife in earthly Paradise for to liue there in a blessed estate Then the occasiō which might make them abide in this estate was that they should in humblenesse submit them selues daily before the maiestie of God magnifying him with giuing of thankes and that in them selues they should not séeke their owne proper glory but considering that all thinges procéeded from aboue they should therefore haue their affections fixed on high for to glorifie God alone vnto whom al praise and glory is due But immediatly after when they had cast the commaundement of God behinde their backes and despised it in eating through the persuasion of the
prophecied to wit in the time of Ieroboam the sonne of Ioas king of Israel in whose time were Osée Amos Ioel in Israel and Isaie in Iuda So as he hath set foorth before other prophecies the which be not manifested and that which we haue in his booke amongst the prophecies is only kept still for the profite edifying of the Church 31 The propket Micheas beganne to prophecie in the time of Ioathan Achaz and Ezechias kings of Iuda The which prophete was an instrument of the spirit of God like as were also the other prophets for to reproue the people of their sinnes and to exhort them vnto repentance and for the consolation of the faithful that were astonied at the iudgment of God Micheas the prophet applyed his prophecie vnto the two kingdomes of his people foretelling the destructiō both of the one also of the other bicause of their iniquities and especially for their idolatrie He reproued the crueltie of the people the tyrannie of princes and of the great men and the abuses of false prophets He published before hand a very good and manifest prophecie touching the comming of Christe his kingdome and the happinesse of his Church This Micheas is not he of whome mention is made 2. Kings 22. which was in the time of Achab king of Israel and Iosaphat king of Iuda 32 Of the prophet Nahum there is no certaintie in what time he was some suppose that he was in the time of Manasses king of Iuda The doctrine that he published in his time by the inspiration of the holy Ghost containeth that the Lord did pardon the people of Niniuie when they by repentance cōuerted at the preaching of Ionas but they returned againe afterward to their vomit prouoking the wrath of God against them bicause of their sinnes Wherefore the Lord hath destroyed both that citie and all the whole Empire of the Assyrians whereof Niniuie was the chiefest citie and this was done by the handes of Nabuchodonozor king of Babylon Of which destruction and ruine was made the prophecie of Nahum instructing the Church thereby for as much as he shewed that the prouidence of the Lorde is extended ouer all realmes and seigniories and that he is a iust iudge bringing all men to the ballance of iustice 33 Abacuc being amazed at that which the most holy and faithfull seruants of God haue bene sometimes that is to say bicause they sawe the wicked and vngodly flourish in this world in all ioy and prosperitie And on the contrarie part the innocent to be abused by them and to endure all kinde of miserie as though God suffering it to be so had taken pleasure in iniquitie Nowe Habacuc being in this dismay receiued a reuelation by the secret iudgement of God through a vision in which was represented to him the exaltation and magnificence of the Monarchie of the Babylonians to come and the captiuitie of his people vnder their yoke but so that in the end the elect should be oppressed and all the vngodly destroyed On the contrarie part those which had bene iust and righteous should be deliuered comforted Which thing is intreated of in the prophecie of his booke of the destruction of Babylon and of their Monarchie in the deliuerance of the people out of captiuitie when they should returne againe into the lande of their rest It is vncertaine in what time this prophet was like as it is of Nahum 34 Sophonie before séeing the arme of the Lord stretched out his wrath ready bent against Iuda bicause of their sinnes declared vnto them their iudgement and condemnation the destruction of the citie and of the kingdome and of the transmigratiō of the people into Babylon Wherefore he exhorted them vnto repentance and amendment of life and comforted the faithfull by a certaine hope of their deliuerance declaring and setting foorth vnto them the great mercy and louing kindenesse which the Lord vsed toward his Church by frée remission of sinnes in Iesus Christ who he saide was sitting in the middest thereof for to be the protectour and defendour against ruine and destruction and against the persecutours and aduersaries thereof of which he prophecied especially against the Philistines the Moabites Ammonites Ethiopians and Assyrians He prophecied in the time of Iosias when Ieremie prophecied publiquely and in the synagogues and assemblies 35 In the second yeare of king Darius the prophet Agge moued by the spirite of the Lord rose vp and willed the people for to take in hand againe and go forward with the worke of the Temple rebuking them for their negligence and bicause that they had no more regard to the worke and seruice of God whereby they prouoked his anger and therefore were compelled to suffer great euills and mishappes of which mention is made in his first chapter He prophecied also of the comming of Christe vnder the person of Zorobabel and of the calling of the Gentiles 36 Zacharie was in the same time that Agge was as it is written in the first of Esdras and he vsed the very same argument in his booke that he did in exhorting and persuading the people being at that time returned from captiuitie for to reedifie and builde vp againe that that the enimies had destroyed but Agge incited them more to the building againe of the Temple and Zacharie of the citie whose prophecie may be séene more largely in his booke By which he teacheth vs vnder the name of earthly Ierusalem which was a figure of the Church of the Lord and his people what diligence the Pastours Ministers Masters and Architectes of this building ought to vse and bestowe to the edifying of this citie which is a permanent citie holy and peaceable scituated and founded vpon a sure rocke which no force can preuaile against He foreshewed also the restoring againe of this citie which should happen by the handes of the Apostles the aboundance of riches and the great spirituall and euerlasting treasures thereof the comming of Christ and the mysteries of his kingdome vnder the name of Zorobabel and of Iosue the high priest for that time Also of the comming of Antichrist the aduersarie of the Church and of the last iudgement which shall be executed by Christe against the enimies and persecutours of his Church to the ioy and perpetuall consolation of the faithfull 37 Of the prophets among the Iewes Malachie was the last of all before the comming of our Lord Iesus Christ And as Aggée had persuaded the people to the building againe of the Temple and Zacharias to the building of the citie so did Malachie applye his doctrine to the restauration of the priestes office he reproued the faultes and iniquities of the high priestes and to set foorth an instruction for to leade the people vnto the pure true high priest only pleasing to the lord who alone is fit to make intercession for his people to wit Iesus Christe whose comming he foreshewed in his Church with aboundance of treasures
so great a slaughter were bent and they wholy wearied so that the Christians with ioyfulnesse of heart singing psalmes offered themselues vnto the death Sulpitius in his diuine historie lib. 2. saith that the Christians did then earnely craue for martyrdome that the ambition of the Cleargie did not afterward craue for any Bishops Looke Beda de temp rat and Drosius lib. 7. Chap. 25. 84 In the same time that is to say in the time of Dioclesian and Maximian Emperours There were also these good and holy personages Arnobius Pierius a minister of the Church of Alexādria Melitius Lucian minister of the Church of Antioche Phigeas an Egyptian excellent men Doctours of the Church and this was about 302. yeares after the natiuitie of our Lorde Iesus amongest the which Phileas and Lucian were martyred during the persecutiō of Dioclesian At that time also flourished Lactantius Firmiauus the disciple of Arnobius Constantius the father of Constantin the great as Eutropius maketh description of him was verie excellent ciuill méeke gentle liberall and desirous to be good to those that had any priuate authoritie vnder him This man had not the desire of great and mightie dominion and therefore parted he the Empire with Galerius and woulde rule but in France Brittaine and Spaine refusing the other kingdomes for the troublesome and difficulte gouernment of the same He was a great supporter and mainteiner of the Christians He was the first that gaue thē licence to liue after their accustomed manner This wonderfull act of his following besides other doth shew that he was a sincere worshipper of GOD and of the Christian religion Those which bare the chiefe offices among the Ethnikes draue out of the Emperours courte all the godly Christians wherevpon this ensued that the Emperours them selues at the last were destitute of helpe when such were driuen away which dwelling in their courtes and liuing a godly life powred out their prayers vnto God for the prosperous health both of the Empire and Emperour Cōstantius therfore minding at a certaine time to trie what sincere and good christians he had in his court called together al his officers seruants in the same faining himselfe to choose out such as would doe sacrifice to Deuils and that those onely shoulde dwell there and kéepe their offices and that those which woulde refuse to doe the same shoulde be thrust out and banished the court At this appointment all the courtiers deuided them selues in companies The Emperour marked which were the cōstantest and godliest from the rest and when some of them saide that they would willingly doe sacrifice and other some openly and boldly denied to do the same Then the Emperour sharply rebuked those which were so readie to doe sacrifice and iudged them as falfe traytours to God accounting them vnworthie to be in his court which were such traytours to God and forthwith commaunded that they onely shoulde be banished for the same But greatly he commended them which refused to doe sacrifice and confessed God affirming that they onely were worthie to be about a prince foorth with commaunding them that thence foorth they should be faithfull coūsellours and defendours both of his person kingdome and that he ment to haue them in more estimation then all the substance he had in his treasurie Eusebius in vita Constant Constantinus was sonne of Constantius the Emperour a good and vertuous Childe of a good vertuous father borne in Britaine whose mother was named Helena Daughter to king Coilus He was a most bountifull and gratious prince hauing a desire to nourish learning and good artes did oftentimes vse to read write studie himselfe he had maruelous good successe and prosperous atcheiuing of all thinges he tooke in hand which then was as truely supposed to procéede of this for that hee was so great a fauourer of the Christian faith which faith when he had once imbraced he did euer after most deuoutly and religiously reuerence and commaunded by especiall commissions and proclamations that euery man shoulde professe the same religion throughout all the Romaine Monarchie He first entred into the Empire by the mercifulnesse of GOD minding after long waues of dolful persecution to restore his Church vnto tranquilitie and peace Au. 311. Eusebius accompteth in his Chronicle his raigne continued as Eutropius affirmeth 31. yeares and two monethes great peace tranquilitie enoiyed the Church vnder the reigne of this good Emperour which tooke payne and trauell for the preseruation thereof First yea and that before he had subdued Licinius he set foorth many edictes for the restitution of the goods of the Church for the reuoking of the Christians out of exile for taking away the discension of the doctors out of the church for the setting of them frée from publike charges and such like 85 In the time of Constantine the great about the yere 320. after the natiuitie of our Lord Iesus there were excellent Doctours in the Church to wit Eusebius bishop of Cesarea in Palestine of whose doing we haue very worthy books Rhetius bishop of Austun Methodius disciple of Origene who afterwarde was a bishop Athanasius bishop of the citie of Alexandria the which did confute the errours of Arrius Athanasius after that he had procured the benefite of the Church 46. yeares and abidden sundry persecutions in greate constancie and patience dyed about the yeare 367. After his death persecution was raysed vp in Alexandria by Valentius Hist tripart lib 8. Chap. 7. 86 In the yeare 326. after the natiuitie of Iesus in the 14. yeare of Constantine there was holden a councell at Nice against Arrius whereunto were called 318. Bishops amongst the which these were the principal Eustache Bishop of Antioch Paphnutius of Egypt and Maximus these had their eyes boared out for the faith Macarius Bishop of Ierusalem and many other personages that suffered persecution vnder cruell tyrants There was also Spiridion bishop of Tremith in Cyprus Nicholas bishop of Mirrha in Lycia a very auncient mā Also Athanase then Deacon of the Church of Alexandria Theophilus bishop of Alexandria Spiridion was he that in Lent offered fleshmeat vnto a pilgrime going in his iourney whereof hée himselfe did eate and caused him to eate saying that vnto cleane Christians all thinges are cleane Hist tripart lib. 1. Chap. 10. In the said councel there was a very sharpe and earnest contention on two sides the which the Emperour Constantine gaue eare vnto with great patience but at the last the Arrians fearing that they shoulde bee banished they made a countenance as though they woulde renounce their errour and to subscribe to the determination of the fathers excepting some as Athanasius declareth in the decrées of the Synode of Nice but the bishops after that they had perceiued their fraude and how they disguysed and wrested the trueth by words began to vse the worde of Essence 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is to say of the selfsame substance Then the Arrians
At Constantinople was assembled a councell by the aforenamed Emperour in the fourteneth yeare of his Empyre whereas were 300. and thirtie bishops there was commaundement giuen that all the images of sainctes shoulde be taken away and burned Also the Emperour made his subiects to sweare that they shoulde no more worshippe any image of God nor of sainctes but condemned to the death al those that shoulde call vppon the virgin Marie for helpe and those that should haue in their houses any reliques of sainctes He commaunded the Monkes to marry and the Nonnes to follow the estate of marriage Sig. Afterwards he sent to the Pope the conclusions of this councell commaunding him to cast the images out of Churches Sabin king of Bulgarie caused all the images in his kingdome to be beaten downe after the example of Constantine wherupon he gat fauour with the Emperour Naucl. 112 In the yeare 782. or thereaboutes after the natiuitie of our Lorde Iesus Christ wās Alcuin otherwise called Albin the disciple of worthie Beda a monke and afterwardes Abbot of S. Martins in Tours maister to Charlemaigne he composed thrée bookes of the trinitie and many other bookes At that time raigned Constātine the sixte of that name the 76. Emperour of Constantinople the son of Leo the fourth who against the will of his mother Hierene caused the images of the temples to be beaten downe about the which not long before she had assēbled a councel at Nice at the request of Pope Adrian and of Therasius Archebishop of Constantinople as Sig. In this councel there were 325. bishops Naucl. And there it was decréed not onely that they should haue images but also that they shoulde of right be worshipped and that all the gainsayers shoulde be excomunicated But this decrée was shortly abolished by Constantine as is afore saide Chron. Euseb Moreouer within a while after that is to say in the yeare 792. was holden a Synode in Spaine in a citie called Elyberis or Granato whereas did assemble ninetene bishops thirtie and sixe priestes or ministers Felix Bishoppe of Aquitaine was there president There it was concluded especially amongst other poynts that that there should not be in Churches any images or payntings 113 During the raigne of Charlemaigne king of Fraunce who was Emperour though that hee had not gotten the imperiall crowne in the yeare of our Lord Iesus Christ 801. was Ansegisus the Abbot who made foure bookes of the decrées of Charlemaigne of Lewis his sonne Amongst all other things and aboue al things hee would that the Bishopps shoulde preache vnto the people the true doctrine gathered out of the holy scriptures and no otherwise alleaging therefore the saying of Gregorie That a minister who is without the sunne of preaching kindleth against himselfe the wrath of the hidden iudge He also ordeined that no person shoulde make profession of Monachisme without lycence of the king for to shunne many deceypts He would that there should be but a fewe feasts ordeyned he repressed the superfluitie of ministers ordeyning that they shoulde be nourished with the reuenewes of the Church with the poore Furthermore in the time of Charlemaigne and in the meane time whilest he passed his Winter at Francfort vpon the Meine a Councell was holden of a great multitude of Bishops in which the decrée of the councell of Nice concerning worshipping of images holden by Hierene as is aforesaide was pronounced false and condemned of all men c. Charlemaigne caused to be published a booke in his name against images the which agréed with the articles of the saide Councell Furthermore hée made aunswere to two bookes which were founde to haue bene written by Adrian the Pope to Therasius the Patriarch and to the Emperour of Constantinople By this writing Charlemaigne taxed and secreatly condemned Adrian without naming of idolatrie There was also one councell holden at Cauaillon vnder Charlemaigne in which amongst other superstitions that were there condemned the going of Pilgrimage for religions sake was sharpely repressed in the 45. Canon alleaging the saying of S. Hierome No man ought to be praysed for that hée hath séene Ierusalem but for that hee hath lyued well c. It is saide of Charlemaigne that he reproued the Archbishoppe of Mayence named Boniface because hée had a crosse all couered with golde beset with pretious stones for occasion so offering hee checked him and saide that it was rather the furniture of an Emperour then of a pastour 114 Haymo Byshop of Albastat scholler of Alcuinus did write vpon all the bookes aswell of the olde as of the newe Testament as is euident yet at this present He dyed in the raigne of the Emperour Lewis the sonne of Charlemaigne in the yere of Christ 834. In his time was also Rabanus who was first a Monke of the order of S. Benit and Abbot of Fulden afterward he was archbishop of Mayence who was also a disciple of Alcuinus he also made commentaries vpon all the bookes of the Byble He dyed in the yeare of our Lorde 855. Strabus was his scholler of whom it is founde written that he was the first that collected the ordinary glose of the writings of the fathers and doctours the which glose was afterwarde augmented by many others who added sentences therto 115 Bertrand a Priest a learned man well instructed in the true Godlynesse flourished in the time of the Emperour Lotharie in the yeare 840. He wrote many good workes of which it is saide that they did not come all to our hands He wrote a very commendable worke to King Charles the brother of Lotharie that is one booke of predestination and one other of the bodie bloud of our Lorde Iesus Christ The cause why he composed that booke wherein he writeth very learnedly of the supper of the Lorde was by the aduise and commaundement of King Charles le chauue that he might bring the people into one and the true opinion who were then deuided touching the said misterie So that one sort saide that Christ was therein taken and eaten in misterie and was figured vnder the Elements of breade and wine some saide on the contrarie that all that which was séene in the saide misterie was chaunged and conuerted and as many doe say vnto this day transubstantiated into the body and bloud of Christ Some said that it was figuratiuely or euidētly this was the proper bodie of Christ which he tooke of the wombe of the virgin Mary with the which he is ascended into heauen others saide that it was the spirituall bodie that is the misterie representation figure vnderstanding and spirituall apprehension of the proper bodie and bloude of Christ deliuered to the death for our sinnes and risen againe for our iustification All which opinions are founde remayning till this present for some holde still transubstantiation others impanatiō others a metaphore but somewhat reall Others there were who acknowledged nothing els but méere breade and wyne all which doubtes be
a fained thing as which neither did stande with any lawe or righte For which he he was taken of many for an heretike He complained moreouer very much the preaching of Gods worde to be omitted and in stede thereof the the vaine fables of monkes and friers to be preached and beléeued of the people and so the flocke of Christ to be fed not with the foode of the Gospell but with winde The pope saith he of a pastor is made a wolfe to wast the Church of Christ and to procure with his cleargie not the worde of God to bee preached but his owne decrées In his canticle of purgatorie he declareth the Pope to be the whore of Babylon And to their ministers to some hee applyeth two hornes to some fower As to the Patriarches whome he noteth to be the tower of the said whore Babilonicall Ex libris Dantis Italicè 130 In the yeare of our Lorde Iesus Christ 1306 was Peter Cassiodorus an Italian a noble man and well instructed in the worde of God who wrote an Epistle to the Englishmen whereof because of the aduertisment and instruction contained therein I iudge it best I write it here downe by articles as it were for to giue vnderstanding the better vnto the simple sort of that that is contained therein First he sheweth that the Romaine princes to wit the Pope and Cardinals bee enemies to the Church calling them Scribes and Pharisees that sit in Moyses chaire destroying the Church lading it with sorrow making their philacteries larg desiring to enrich themselues with the Maribones thereof laying thereon importable charges bringing it into all manner seruitude which hath beene alwayes frée That the Pope did often call to remembraunce this sentence of the Prophet against the sence wherof he applyed himselfe to robberie Isay 8. Take thée a great volume and write therein after the fashion of men make hast to spoyle dispatch and be nimble in filching and pilling That it doth nothing lesse belong to the Pope then the saying of the Apostle to the Hebrewes chap. 5. that is that the high prieste being taken of men is constituted by men for the thinges that belonge vnto God That such a high priest was not ordeyned for to apply himselfe to spoyles rapine for to lay tributes and yearely rentes vpon men nor yet for to kill men That it is not profitable to vse the ministerie of the Church in the synister part as the Pope and his doe but in the right part by which ministerie the diuel is vanquished and a greate many soules led vnto Iesus Christ That none can serue both God and Mammon togither and to please his will cleaue to the reuelations of the fleshe and the bloud and offer to Christ giftes and presentes such as are due vnto him And without doubt that pastour that watcheth not for the edifying of the flocke doeth on the contrarie prepare a way for the roaring Lyon who seketh to deuour euery one That the Pope taketh away from the flockes the good pastours and that in the roume of them he setteth his nephewes and kinsefolkes and other ignorant persons that are deafe and dumbe who vnderstande not the bleating of the sheepe and that doe not regarde the byting wolfes that they deale like hirelinges reaping other mens haruestes whose handes are fit to tosse the potte their backs do they turne away from burthens Also that it doth appeare euidently that the office of Elders which they call priestes is left and that the seruice due vnto God is withholden and that the custome of giuing almes is abolished by which the holy deuotion of kinges princes and other Christians is brought to naught Also that the Pope standeth in contention against Iesus Christ For in steade that hee commaunded to pay tribute vnto kinges for himselfe and for Peter he contrarie to his will whose vicar he sayth he is hath neglected kingdomes and the iudgementes of the worlde laboureth to bring vnder his subiection kinges and princes vnder title of hys style That he taketh away from the Church al what soeuer him lusteth and notwithstanding he is not content to take the tenth part of the lands therof but he will haue the first fruites of the benefits at the ministers handes to the intent that aswell for himselfe as for those that be of his bloude he may constitute a newe patrimonie of the good willes of foūders Also that he enioyeth his lakeyes whome he sendeth into Englande that they shall bring not onely the liuinges and rayment of the Church but also that they shall teare their skinnes and fleshe like dogges Also that the Pope may bee iustly compared to Nabuchodonosor who destroyed the temple and robbed it of the vessels of gold For looke as hethen dealt euen so doth he also He afore named spoyled the ministers of the house of GOD and depriued them of that which was necessarie for the seruice this doth euen as much That there is no sorrowe like vnto that that is in the Church For already because of the great dolour thereof and for the teares that it hath spread the face is become more blacke then coales so as in some places it is no more knowen That the Pope who saith that he is the father of the Church hath brought it into dreadful darkenes and that he hath made it dronken with wormwood and gall After this the saide Cassiodorus made an outcrie vnto God and saide O Lorde looke vppon the affliction of thy people and heare their mourning and come downe for the heart of this man is more hardened then was the hart of Pharao who would not suffer the people to depart in libertie but onely by thy power Also that the saide Pope doth afflicte not onlye on earth but also after death for that after death he deuoureth the goods of all Christians generally vnder colour that they be deceased without making testament Also that the conspiracie of this man shall bee cause of a newe enemie against Englande and that because by his meanes the treasures doe decrease That it is expedient for the health of the church least it shoulde fall into a further miserie that the king and nobilitie of the realme who haue bestowed verie liberally vppon the Church would be diligent to maintaine the Church and to withstand the coniurations conspiracies of the pride and arrogāeie of this man who hath no regard vnto God but for the thinges aforesaide and for to enrich himselfe and his kinsefolke and for his neast labouring to set it vp as high as the Egle by such and other like cosening trickes he heapeth vp by a newe domination all the money of England Also that the simplicitie of the world dissembling in this place is no cause of the ruine of the Church and of the Realme and that there is no great remedie added That God taketh away the vaile from the heart of this man and giueth him an humble and contrit heart and maketh him to