autoritie to rule as kynges No said I if ye wil be iudged by the worde the Greke worde must be iudge in this case For in Greke it was first written and spoken there wil appeare an other kind of gouernement far diuers from that whyche belonges to Princes the Greke worde in that place is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Which signifies to fede as the sheperde fedes his sheepe and yet not without all gouernment or autority but only such a simple kinde of rule and autoritye as shepeherdes haue ouer their flocke If ye wil conferre one place of the scripture with another where this word is red or found which is the best kinde of interpretinge the Scripture rightlye as S. Austin teaches and see what kind of gouernment it signifies there than this place shall more easely be vnderstand Fede the flocke that is among you sais Saint Peter Fede my shepe sais our sauiour Christ to Peter Where in other like places also the same Greke worde that is commenly translated in the Actes regere to rule is put and signifies as ye â—s to feede The same word is aplied also to our sauiour Christ in the Gospel where is declared plainly what kind of autority it signifies Thou Bethleem in the land of Iuda thou art not the lest of the Prynces of Iuda for oute of thee shal there come to mee a Prynce that shall rule or feede my people Israel Also I am the good shepeherd sais Chryste where likewise is the same Greke word placed Than if Christ our Lorde had any temporall iurisdiction or these other places vsing the same Greke worde conteine any such thing they might haue some appearaunce to clame their vsurped autority elles it is not probable to giue the same word in that place alone that meaning contrarye to so manye other places hauing the selfe same word Nay further to say did not our Lord and Maister Iesus Christ refuse this wordlye autoritye himselfe when it was offered vnto him and the one brother desired hym to deuide the enheritaunce betwixt hym and his other brother he would not but said who apointed me a deuider betwixt you as though he shoulde saye It is not my callinge nor belonges to me his kyngdome was not of this worlde but he came to teache his fathers will likewise he taught his Appostles not to chalenge this superiority sayinge the Princes of the people haue rule ouer theym but it shall not be so amonge you but he that woulde be the greatest shalbe the least that they might folow his steppes truly But the manyfest place where the proper signification of this word appeares is in Paule Where he reckens what officers God hais set in his Church and sais Firste he sette some Apostles other Prophetes some Euangelystes other shepeherdes and teachers These shepeherdes whiche are noted there by the same word that they clayme their autority by are placed by S. Paul almost the lowest officers in Goddes Church than much more they can not haue the highest rowme in the common welth and Churche both I knowe the Greke Poetes attribute this word to kynges but I trust they build not on heathen mennes writinges and yet that name there is geuen theym for their fatherlye loue towarde their Subiectes rather then their royall autority But compare them with shepeherdes that keepe oure sheepe in dede of whom they haue their name and easely their nature property office and autority shalbe spied Gods people are cald oft in the Scripture sheepe as we thy people the shepe of thy pasture will praise thee and their teachers are called shepeherdes because the one should in liuyng followe the simplicitye and obedience of shepe and the other the carefull paines and diligence of shepeherdes in fedynge healynge releuinge guydynge correctynge c. Looke than what temporall autoritye the sheepeherde hais ouer his sheepe and the same spirituall power haue the Byshoppes ouer the Churche The good shepeherde will not lette hys shepe feede in hurtful and roating pastures but wil remoue them to good feding grouÌ„des No more wil Gods good shepeherbes let Gods people and his brethren be poisoned wyth false doctrines but by his autority roote out and confute them The true shepeherd if he see the wolfe or foxe come to deuoure the flocke he will watche and defende the folde so shoulde the good Bishop by his office The good shepeherde will saue the scabbed sheepe bring home the stray and fede the weaks and hungry so wil the good Byshop according to his duty The good shepeherde if his shepe be vnrulye wil set his dogge to pul him downe and tame him yf any can not be healed he will cutte it of and kil it for infecting the rest so wil Gods good Byshop with the threatninges of Gods vengeaunce pul downe the vnbridled stomaches of the people make them to tremble and quake at Gods iudgementes and if anye can not be reclaymed he wil cut him of by excomunication seperate hym from the felowshyp of gods people not suffer him to communicate the Lordes Supper whyche is the bande of brotherly loue and forbidde all good folke his company y â— through suche shame he may be brought to knowledge his faut amend that he may ioifully be receaued as a brother in the companye and felowship of Gods people agayne and communicate with them in prayer doctrine discipline and sacramentes as afore In these pointes the autoritye of Byshops is so great that it extendes to Prince pope prelate none is exempt but as they be subiect to Gods word sacraments and doctrine so must they obey Gods true minister and discipline As for example the good Byshop Ambrose dyd sharplye correct and excommunicate the Emperour Theodosius for a rashe murther done by his commaundement and whether he is more praise worthye that would or durst rebuke and excommunicate so mightye a Prince or the good Emperor that willingly submitted him self and obeyed his correction it may be doubted the power and autority than of Bishoppes is spirituall belonginge to mans soule as their office and ministery is and it standes cheiflye in these twoo pointes in doctrine and disciplyne As the temporall officer in the comen welth hais not the swearde committed to hym in vaine but to defend the good and punishe the euill to smite the ennemy and saue the subiect to prison the frowarde and loose the giltles so hais gods minister in his Church full power and autority to teache sound doctrine and confut the false to beate downe hawty mindes and raise the weake to bind loose the conscience by vertue of Gods worde to throw into hell the obstinate or lift into heauen the penitent to cast out of Gods Church and receiue agayne suche as he rightlye iudges by the Scriptures mete for mercy or iustice And as Saint Peter calles Christ our lord the shepeherd and Bishop of oure soules so those Bishops that folow
true Thinges necessary to be beleued are writen onelye in the scriptures so be thinges to be worshipt to be feared as godly or counted holy are taught there onlye Than he that beleues more than the holy Byble teaches or worshyppes feares other Gods than the onely liuing God or does any thing for the seruice of God or countes holye that which is not taught there generallye he is supersticious and the vse of the thynge it selfe is supersticion The Englyshe worde is the harder because we vse the Latin worde supersticion and makes it Englishe But the Greke woorde makes the nature of it and the things afore rehersed playner by much There be ii Greke wordes signifyinge this supersticion Ethelothresceia and deisidaemonia the further word signifies as the interpretacion of it declares all suche relygyous woorshyppinge of God as manne dcuises on hys owne heade and is not taught in the holye Scrypture So sais the glosse Colloss ii whan mannes tradicion is taken for religion than it is supersticion As eyther to worshyppe anye other God than the onelye true liuinge God or to worshyppe the onelye Godde other wayes than he hais appointed vs in his word as with Ladye Psaltars trentals pilgrimages c. And because the chefe part of godly worshippe standes in prayinge to God and callynge on him in our necessities with a stedstast beliefe of hys holye worde and promise He that cals on anye creature but Godde alone for helpe or beleues other doctrine necessary to saluation than Gods boke alone he is well called supersticious The latter word signifies that godly feare in their opinion whiche is due to Godde alone whiche who so euer gyues to anye other creature besyde the true God he is supersticious also As they that to knowe thynges to come wyll counsell wyth spirits or in their sicknes or trouble seke helpe at their hands hang vpon the sterres for lucky or unlucky dates or feare any creature more then the lord creator Al the popes creatures therfore be supersticious puttinge their holines and religion in their â—owles cloisters order inueÌ„ted of men and fearing more to breake the rule of Austin Dominie Benet than of anye Appostle Euangelyste or Chryste hymselfe They also be superstycious that put holinesse in meates dayes times places beades holy water palme crosse pardons S. Agathes letters for burninge houses thorne bushes for lightnings c. Lerne therfore to put difference betwix religion and supersticion and than ye shall easely knowe how we disalow no prayer but the supersticious The Scribes and Pharises prayed at euery corner of the stretes and fasted oft yet our Sauioure Christ rebuked them not condemninge prayer but their misusinge of it So we will euery manne to praye in euery time and place yet supersticion we abhorre in all sortes of menne prayer time and place What wicked blindenes is this than to thinke that bearing prayers written in rolles aboute wyth theym as S. Iohns Gospell the length of our lord the measure of our Lady or other like thei shal die no sodain death â—ot he hanged or yf he be hanged he shall not die There is to manye suche though ye laugh and beleue it not and not hard to shewe them with a wet finger Prayer than is of ii sorts either in begging that that we want or geuing thankes for that which we haue receyued and it is the earnest liftinge vp of a mans minde to God or a familiar and reuerent talke and complainte to oure heauenly father of oure miseries with a â—rauinge of his mercies and trusting tâ— obtayne of his mercye that whiche shall be necessarye or els an humble thankes geuinge for hys liberall benefytes so plenteouslye bestowed on vs vndeserued These stande in depe sighes and groninges wyth a ful consideration of our miserable state and Goddes maiestye in the heart and not in ynke or paper not in hangyng written scrolles about the necke but lamentinge vnfeynedlye oure sinnes from the hart accusinge aud condemninge our selues and beggynge pardon for them not in speakynge a number of woordes wyth the lippes vnconsideratlye be they neuer so holy but with bitter teares weiyng froÌ„ the heart euery syllable that he thinkes or speakes Thus prayed Anna to haue a son i. kin i. so sorowfullye pouringe out her grefes afore God in her mynde that the Priest seinge her lyppes moue and hearynge not her wordes thought she had bene dronken Thus earnestlye called Moyses on Godde in his sorowfull meditacion That the Lorde sayde to him why cries thou so to me and yet we reade not that he spake anye worde at all The other is lyplabour in speakynge much or saying a great number of their owne deuised prayers or elles a charminge thinkinge that in certayne wordes speaking they could make thinges come to passe as they lust These with suche other as popery is ful of we say be supersticious Lastlye be burdens vs with breaking al lawes of the church ciuil canon and the Realme in that we say mariage of Priestes is lawfull This is that which may not be borne this is thought so hanâ—us that Christen men should not suffer it If he were learned he could neuer haue heaped so many lyes together Al writers confesse that the greke churche in the east part of the worlde which is the greater part of christendome neuer forbade their Priestes mariage nor doe at this daye For the west and Latin Churche nowe will I trie a little whether anye suche haue bene borne by lawe or no. Hildebrand commenlye called Gregorye vii who for his deedes might be turned and cald a hell brand was the first that euer brought aboute but with muche a doe that Priestes should not marye and the maried shuld lose eyther their wiues or liuinges but the Priestes of Spane withstode him by their Byshop Some afore attemted it but neuer one coulde compasse it This Pope lyued aboute the conquest v. C. yeare sins and syns the begynnynge of the worlde vnto hys tyme it was not brought to passe There is a great difference in continuaunce of time than that mariage was alowed and a small that they were forbidden In Moyses law it was not forbidden two thousand yeare afore Christ Peter Thapostle and Philip Theuangelist were maried and had daughters Gregory Bishop of Naâ—anâ—um was Byshoppe there as hys father was afore him Polychrates Byshop of Ephesus says that vii of his cosins and auncetours had bene Byshoppes afore him Whan Phileas Bishop of Chinnâ— was ledde to martirdome the greatest reason they had to perswade him to recant was that he woulde haue pitye on his wife Eustathius and his scholers are blamed bicause they despised maried priestes These amonge the Grecians I trust proue that the Church hais had maried Priestes of olde time The. l. Canon of The Appostles says If anye Byshoppe Priest Diacon or any of the Clergye forbeare mariage fleshe and wyne not for that his mynde
as the succession of good kinges standes not onely in enioyinge the landes goodes possessions and pleasures of the Realme but in the painefull ministrynge of iustyce defendinge hys subiects from straungers maintaining the good and punishinge the euill by holsome and godly lawes so standes the succession of the Church not in miters palaces landes or lordships but in teachinge true doctrine and roting out the contrarye by sharpe discipline to correct thoffendours and godly exhortacion to stirre vp the slouthfull and encourage the good to raise them that be fallen by comfortable promises to strengthen them that stande and bring home them that runne astraye He that does these is the true successour of the Prophetes and Apostles though he liue in wildernes as Elias did Or be tied in cheanes as Peter and Paule He that does not is not their successour in dede but in name onlye though he haue the Popes blessinge cruche and miter landes and palaces halowinges and blessinges or all that the Pope hais deuised for hys Prelates To be a Byshop is to be an officer a ruler a guide a teacher of Gods flocke in Gods Church and to be a true successour in a Bishopricke is to succede in like paines care and diligent regarde of Gods people Is he an officer that does not his office nay surelye but onelye in name for he is a thefe in his office and an vsurrer that takes the profet and not the paine An office standes properlye in doynge the duty of it and not in talkinge of it settinge in deputies bearinge a shewe bragge and face of a Byshop Whan they can bring Thapostles doctrine or life for example to be like their life and teachinge they maye say they folowe Thapostles but because they seeke to be Lordes ouer the flocke contrary to Peters doctrine and be enemies to the Gospell and murtherers of the professours of it they be traitours to their lorde God What does Tertul. make for his pourpose If he walk not in his fathers steppes sais he he is a bastard Content who be the fathers surely Thapostles for in his time the Pope had no such autority nor ther were any such horned cattell of the Popes made Bishoppes Proue than that the Pope walkes in Thapostles steps and we will reuerence him Surelye he is like no Apostle except Iudas these Popish Prelates so as the father is suche is the sonne Iudas solde and betrayed his maister for xxx pieces of syluâ—r and our Papistes sel their purgatory for xxx grotes the price of a trental Or â—ls for their pleasure I will graunt theym some thing The Pope maye be like to Peter in suche case as christ our lord said to him go after me Satan for thou vnderstandes not the thynges of god Peter was ambitious and therfore our Lorde cald him deuill and bade him go backe so the Pope desiringe to be aboue all folowes the deuill his father and therefore we maye iustlye saye to them with Christ â–ª come after me thou deuill But I put case a manne shoulde graunt that the fathers which Tertul. speakes of be the popes in dede of Ro. what thaÌ„ what makes it for this mans purpose Tertul. liued within C. lxxvii yeres after christs death why thaÌ„ proue that any of these popes and their trashe whiche he esteames so highlye to be of that autoritie and auncientye that he woulde and than lette him beginne to crake some thing He is not able to do it XXX of the first popes which liued almost iii. C. yeres after Christ were persecuted sufferd death for their religion liued in caues and had none of the rialtie of the worlde but were subiectes to princes accordinge to their dutye than these latter proude popes that woulde rule bothe God and the world by Tertullians saying be bastardes and folow not their auncient fathers the first popes And thus he hais brought a good reason agaynst hym selfe Does Cyprian make anye more for his purpose Marke his woordes and iudge They that be made Byshoppes sayes he oute the order of the Churche and not by tradicion of Thappostles by succession are not Bishops but theues c. I am content to be iudged by these wordes I proued afore by Paule and Timothe by Dyonise c. that the order by whiche oure Byshops and Priestes are made nowe is more agreeing to the order of the churche in Ciprians time and tradition of Thapostles than that misorder wherby the Popish prelates order their clergy Let theÌ„ proue by good writers that their oiling shauing vowing sacrificinge apparel c. was vsed in the Churche in Cyprians time and I submitte my selfe Ciprian was liuinge more than ii C. l. yeare after Christ in whiche time was no suche proud Pope nor Popishe order vsed in the Churche as he requires of vs but onelye suche a simplicitye as I spake of afore Thus like a tolyshe boye he hais gotten a rod to beat him selfe withall God send him more wit Where the sayde Preacher does affyrme greater matters than the burnyng of Paules to haue chaunced in the time of supersticion and ignoraunce as the church of Paules was brent in the first yeare of Steuen and the steple of Paules sette on fyre by lighthing in the tyme of kynge Henrye the vi they that count that to be the time of superstycyon and ignoraunce whan god was serued deuoutly nyght day the people lyued in the feare of god euery one in his own vocation wythout reasonynge and contention of matters of relygion but referred all suche thynges to learned menne in generall counsels and vnyuersyties there to be disputed than was the commaundementes of god and vertue expressed in lyuyng now all is in talke and nothyng in liuing than was prayer now is praytyng than was vertue now is vice than was bildyng vp of Churches houses of religion Hospitals where prayer was had night and daye hospitalitye kept and the poore releued now is pullyng downe and destroyinge such houses where god shoulde be serued hospitality kept and the poore releued By meanes wherof gods glory is destroyed and the commen wealth impoueryshed than was plenty of all thinges nowe is scarcenes Therefore Operibus credite If I shoulde fall into a comparison of the plagues in the time of popecye and the Gospell although both were great yet in supersticious times were the greater Many did not beleue that these other brennynges of Paules were true which the Byshoppe declared whan he spake it openlye there but it was eyther for ignoraunce or malice or both for all these were true as appeares in recordes many mo In the yere of our lorde M. lxxxvii and the vii day of Iuly the Church of Paules and all that was in it with a great part of the City were burned Maurice than beinge byshop of London and the. xxi yeare of Willyam Conquerour In the yeare M. C. xxxii the moste parte of the Citye of London was burned by the fire of Gilbert Beket and in
yet so god blessed the Quenes maiestye that she not onelye delyuered vs but theym from their enemies handes what relese in France the poore oppressed haue had at her highnes handes the blynde sce all her louinge subiectes reioise though the enuious Papist murmure grudge God graunt her hyghnesse grace to be thankefull to gods maiestye who does so past all mannes expectacion prosper her doinges that he onelye maye haue the praise UUhat cause we haue to prayse god for restoring religioÌ„ through the Quenes trauaile all menne of god do see praise him for it thoughe blind papists be sory therfore UUhat â—ost her highnes hais susteined in restoringe vs a fine coine from so base wise men reioise though this malicious foole say we be in great pouerty Looke howe fewe taxes she hais taken to doe this withal and howe manye and howe great were leuied afore Howe was this Realme pesterd with straunge rulers straunge Goddes straunge languages straunge religion straunge coines and howe is it nowe peaceablye ridde of theym all to the greate glorye of God that hais wroughte so manye wonderful straunge greate thinges in so shorte a time in a weake vessell which he neuer did by anye her noble progenitors whiche haue bene so manye and so worthy Coulde anye be so blinde but that malyce hays bewytched to not see or not praise Godde for these worthye dedes â–ª I woulde haue wanted the suspicyon of flatterye in rehearsinge these thinges but that I would the vnthankful world shoulde see the disdainefull blinde malice of popery which can not say well by Gods good blessinges The foolishe lynking and clouting of y â— scriptures together which folowes declares what wit he hais They may be applied all against himselfe and such as he is rather than against the professors of Gods trueth what blasphemye is it to lay all kinde of wickednes on Gods worde what euil so euer raignes in the world it is to be imputed to man not to God to mans frailnes not to gods trueth and goodnes God and his holye worde punish and condemne al false doctrine and filthines therfore God wil confounde all suche filthye mouthes as blaspheme hym or his holye woorde to be the cause of anye kynde of naughtinesse All liberty is now vsed he sais where in dede iustyce was not better ministred these manye yeares euen as the wiser and indifferenter sorte of Papistes doe graunte Call to remembraunce howe sharplye buggerye coniuringe witchcraftes sorcery c. were punished wyth death by lawe in the Gospell tyme of blessed king Edw. Whan were these lawes repealed but in the late dayes of Popery than iudge whether there was greater liberty to sinne vnder the christian kinge or vnder supersticious poperye But the sodomiticall papistes thinke these to be no sinnes and therefore beastly doe misuse them selues defilinge theym selues bothe with spiritual and Sodomitical vncleanes whether is there more libertye gyuen to sin whan such sinnes be made deathe by order of lawe or whan the lawes apoint no punishment for theym Surelye thegospel is vniustly blamed in geuing carnal liberty popery rightfully condemned in taking away the pain opening a doore to al mischefe Who liues more licentiously than the pope himself w tout al feare of god good order gods law doing what he wil so be al his scholers folowing their owne fathers steps In these my sayinges I go not about to proue vs Aungels yet surely not suche deuilles as he woulde make vs but in comparison of them we be saintes therfore let vs both amend that God maye be mercifull to bothe and glorified in both And as thexamples in his beginninge were good if they had bene well applied so is his conclusion I wil conclude with him therefore in the ryght sense and meaninge of it saiynge with him Returne to the steppes of the good fathers the Prophets and Apostles framinge your selues to folowe their doctrine be not caried away with straunge and diuerse doctrine of Popes contrary to Gods holy worde and inuented of late by men Imbrace the religion and faith taught from the beginninge in christes Church from time to time continually Flee this new fangled Popish supersticion whiche hais crept into the Church of late yeares and beleue that onelye whiche Christ hais taught and his Appostles and Martirs haue confirmed and frame your liues accordingly or elles Goddes vengeaunce hanges ouer your heades ready sodenlye to fall vppon you and let this token of brenninge of Paules be an example and token of a greater plague to folowe except ye amend whiche god graunt vs al to doe Amen A Prayer MOste ryghteouse and wise iudge eternall god and merciful father which of thy secret iudgement haste suffered false Prophetes in al ages to rise for the trial of thine elect that the worlde might knowe who woulde stedfastly sticke vnto thy vndoubted and infallible trueth and who woulde be caried awaye with euerye vayne doctrine and yet by the might of thy holye spirite hais confounded theym all to thy great glorye and comfort of thy people haue mercy vpon vs we besech thee and strengthen oure weakenes against all assaultes of our enemies confounde all Popery as thou did the doctrine of the Pharises strengthen y â— louers of thy truth to the confusion of all supersticioÌ„ and hipocrisy giue vs due loue and reuerence of thy holye worde defende vs from mannes tradicions encrease oure fayth graunte vs grace neuer to fall from thee but vprightlye to walke accordynge as thou hais taught vs swaruing neyther to the right hand nor the life neyther adding nor taking any thinge awaye from thy writen worde but submitting oure selues hollye to thy good wil and pleasure may so passe this transitorye life that through thy goodnes we may lyue euerlastinglye wyth thee in thy glory through Christ our lord who with thee and the holye Ghoste lyues and reignes one god and our Sauiour for euer and euer Haue not I hated theym O Lorde that hate thee and euen â—ined awaye because of thine ennemies Psal. Cxxxix I will giue you a mouth and wisdome whiche all your enemies can not gainsaye and wythstande Luke xxi FINIS ¶ Here folowe also certaine questions propounded by him whiche are fullye althoughe shortly aunswered whiche is the catholycke Church SAint Augustine and S. Hieroâ— do saye The Church is a visible companye of people gathered of christ our lord and the Apostles and continued vnto this day by a perpetual succession liuing in one faith Apostolicall vnder Christe the heade and his vicar in earth being the pastor and high Byshop Out of this catholicke and apostolicall church is no trust of saluation Saint Augustine sais who so euer shalbe out of this church althoughe his lyfe be esteamed to be very good and laudable by this only faut that he is disioyned and seperated from the vnitye of Christ and his Church he can haue no lyfe but the wrath of God