Apostolical seat being presidentes therin hath appoynted decreed y t the next Session to come shalbe had celebrated the 〈◊〉 daye after the most holy feast of the Ascension of our Lorde whiche shall be the. 14. day of the moneth of May. These thinges agree with the Originals Angelus Massarellus Bishop of Thelesia Secretary vnto the sacred Counsell IN the begynnyng of this decree the Counsell maketh a preface y t it regardeth this thing onely y t y e doctrine of y e Catholike faith beyng defiled and obscured with the opinions of sundry men might be restored to his purenesse brightnesse But how wyll they aunswere vnto this promise to the expectation of the Churche I thinke it manifestly appeareth by those thinges which we haue before spoken Undoutedly this were a care mete for the CouÌ„sell whiche yet they in nothyng performe but rather go aboute with humane traditions to obscure and oppresse the doctrine of fayth beyng nowe many yeares by the labour of godly and learned men purged and clensed Farther we neither caÌ„ nor ought to deny but y t there are very many bookes extant not so much suspected as blasphemous and pernitious but the Romishe bull hath eye to very fewe of them especially to such as are of his court and faith but by his Censure he noteth those only as hereticall which contayne a healthful simple and playne explication of the truth as we maye see in the cataloge of the heretiques But in that the Counsell committeth that matter namely the examination of pernitious bookes vnto a certayne few friers it semeth therin to haue small regard or eye to the estimation of it selfe wheÌ„ as it putteth the iudgement of the doctrine of the Churche to the arbitrement of a fewe Sophisters But with what coÌ„science dareth the Counsell condeÌ„ne bokes wherin they neuer looked which they neuer reade nor neuer examined But if they stand to y e iudgemeÌ„t of a very fewe moÌ„kes why are not y e Censures vnto which y e authoritie of the CouÌ„cel is added as it were a viser published vnder theyr name and dauÌ„ger For wheÌ„ such bokes are condemned and prohibited by the authoritie of the bishop of Rome and of the Councell simple Christian men thinke y t all these writinges haue bene diligently examined of the fathers when as they are nothing ells but the peruerse iudgements of a fewe monks which either gape for a Cardinals hatte or otherwyse flatter the Byshop of Rome are most deadly enemies of our doctrine If they say time was so shorte y t they themselues coulde not examine them a goodly excuse I promise you which now being these two yeares gathered together haue published abrode fyue or sixe decrees This y t I haue nowe spoken they obserue not onely in the examining of bokes but also in the examining of all theyr Canons For the Monkes dispute and decree of the matter y t is put forth which Canons are afterward confyrmed by the authoritye of the byshops so y t fyrst the consent of y e bishop of Rome be ioyned vnto theÌ„ by whose spirit al thigs ar there done by messágers coÌ„ming betwene When as therfore the writyngs of Godly learned meÌ„ are condemned of the Monkes whose vngodly peruerse iudgements y e councell ratifyeth by hys authoritye confyrmeth we ought no more to be moued thaÌ„ 〈◊〉 we should rede here y t the doctrine of Christ being coÌ„prehended in y e writings of y e Apostles were condemned of y e Pharisees But in y t al meÌ„ vnto whoÌ„ this matter semeth principally to pertain are w t such clemeÌ„cy humanity if a maÌ„â—…oke vpoÌ„ y t bare words not only inuited to come to Trent vnto y e couÌ„cel but also promised saueconduite how this their good will ought to be taken by these thinges whiche we haue spokeÌ„ it is not obscure Forasmuch as almen are as yet bouÌ„d by an othe vnto y e bishop of Rome do acknowledge the authority of y e Byshop of Rome to be aboue the Councel vpon whose backe thei also depende if publique fayth and securitye geuen shoulde onely be the cause that our men would not come vnto the counsel all men maye see that there is no sufficient warrantise prouided for theÌ„ For the byshop of Rome hath not geuen saueconduyt but the councel and bicause the spirite wherwith they are gouerned is a lying spirite and a murtherer who would coÌ„mit hys lyfe and healthe vnto them whiche hitherto haue horribly persecuted our men omitting no kinde of crueltye and haue put to death great numbers of them But we will remit thys disputation vnto the Lawyers vnto whom the natures of publique fayth or saueconduit are better knowen And it is the destenye of Godly pastors y t for the most part they are not broughte to iudgemente to plead theyr cause but that vnder the coulour of right they mighte be put to death whiche though the examples of Christ of the Prophets of the Apostles and of y e Martirs do testifye This processe of the lawe as they cal it muste Godly teachers looke for in this world which wil not betray the doctrine of the truth vnto theyr enemyes of whoÌ„ thei are no more heard thaÌ„ was Christ of the high priests vnto whom when he answered he pleaded all our causes For being demaunded whether he were Christe he aunswered If I tell you ye will not beleue And if also I aske of you ye will not answere me neyther will ye let me go No otherwyse vndoubtedly semeth the councel of Trent to deale with vs. For if our deuines as they woulde haue theÌ„ should come vnto TreÌ„t to reÌ„der a reasoÌ„ of theyr faith and would expound y e verity of theyr doctrine eyther they shoulde not be heard at all as it came to passe in the yeare of our Lorde 1551. in the same place y e Bishop of Romes adherents being gathered together vnder Iulius y t third or elles there shoulde no credite be geuen vnto them wheÌ„ as they altogether are addicted vnto the byshop of Rome by the bonde of an othe and al things shoulde be done in preiudice of the truth whiche also shoulde be betrayed to the enemyes therof which hardening theyr eares theyr harts brought from home y t condemnation therof whiche dare not ouâ—…e hysse agaynst the byshop of Rome Wherfore there is now no disputation of the faith publique but of godly mete conditioÌ„s of the Counsel which hitherto could by no meanes be obtayned of the Bishops of Rome no not by the Romane Emperours In the meane time whilest the fathers of the Counsell of Trent are busied not in seking out the knowledge of the doctrine of the Gospell but in condemnyng it and in confirmyng their errors let vs both in prayeng and teachyng faithfully do our duety and be most assured y t God whiche is in heauen derideth their Counsels laugheth them to scorne will
do approue and coÌ„firme them with their assent and authoritie By these thinges as I thinke all Christendome maye easly vnderstand that the Cardinals Bishops Monkes Sacrificers called together at Trent by the consent of the Bishop of Rome Pius y e iiii not to cleÌ„se y e doctrine of the Churche froÌ„ errors whiche haue not once with their litle finger touched any one error of y â— Scholastical or Papisticall doctrine wherewith their bookes and decrees ouer flowe but they are asseÌ„bled together with this only purpose and entent to establishe and confirme the Popes tyranny in the Churche and also deuilishe Idolatrye and thorough out al ChristeÌ„dome to oppresse vtterly to ouer throwe sounde doctrine and the folowers therof Wherfore there is no cause why that any man should be deceaued w te these their most flatteryng wordes namely that they assembled together in this Counsell so the increase aduancement of faith ChristiaÌ„ religioÌ„ to asswage the calamities of these times to quiet y â— coÌ„trouersies of ReligioÌ„ to restraine disceatful tongues to correct the abuses of corrupt maners to restore y e true ecclesiasticall Christian peace For the sense of those wordes is y t the calamities of these times caÌ„ by no other meanes be asswaged or the coÌ„trouersies coÌ„cerning reli gioÌ„ quieted vnlesse the olde auÌ„cieÌ„t superstitioÌ„ idolatry be called agayne into the Churche y â— al godly teachers whom they in this place vnderstand by disceatful toÌ„ges shuld euerywhere be put to sileÌ„ce y t such which hithertâ—… being instructed w c y t word of God haue gayne sayd their impietie playnly coÌ„uinced them of manifest idolatry of infinitie superstitions abuses all kind of most pernitious errors yea and also of most great impietie should cruelly be put to death But as touching the correcting of corrupte maners they are so far of to be carefull y t they seme by all diligence to seke a greater liceÌ„ce for y â— maintenance therof wheÌ„ as it is not possible y â— there should be a greater dissolutioÌ„ of lyfe maners in all orders but especially in the Clergy And although as I suppose I haue hitherto sufficieÌ„tly pleÌ„tifully declared y t the CouÌ„sell of Trent in this firste decree hath most briefly coÌ„deÌ„ned y e souÌ„d doctrine of y e Gospell in a maner in al his partes articles so y â— I nede not to rehearse any mo things whereby to declare y t all godly meÌ„ ought to abstaine froÌ„ the amitie familiaritie therof as froÌ„ a most deadlyopeÌ„ enemie of y e eternal truth celesti all doctrine yet neuerthelesse bycause we would in other things also satisfie y â— desire of y e godly reder we will briefly also examine such things whiche they haue decreed of y e bookes of herctikes of y e sacrifice of y e Masse of y e coÌ„munioÌ„ vnder both kindes and of prebendes ¶ The first decree of the second Session of the sacred Counsel of Trent vnder Pope Pius the fourth the xxvi of February 1562. THe sacred oeconominall generall Sinode of Trent lawfully asseÌ„bled together in y e holy ghost the self same legares of the Apostolical seat being presideÌ„tes in it not trusting to humane strengthes but cleauing to the helpe aide of our Lord Iesus Christe who hath promised to geue mouth wisdome vnto his Church hath principally a regard vnto this to restore at the length to his purenesse â—…brightnesse the doctrine of the Catholike fayth beyng in many places corrupted and obscured by reason of the opinions of many whiche disagree among them selues and to reuoke the manners which haue declined from the olde institution vnto a better manner of lyfe and also to conuert the heart of the Fathers vnto the children and the heart of the children vnto the Fathers For as muche therefore as it firste of all considereth that at thys tyme the number of suspected and pernitious bookes wherein vnpure doctrine is coÌ„tayned and farre and wide spred abrode hath to muche increased whiche thyng in dede was the cause that many reformatioÌ„s were with a godly zeale made in sundry prouinces and especially in the hyghe Citie of Rome and yet coulde no healthfull medicine profite thys so greate and pernicious dysease It hath thought good y e the fathers which are ap pointed for this inquisition should diligently coÌ„sider what were nedefull to be done concernyng Censures bookes that they should also in due time make relation vnto the selfe same holy Synode that it may with more ease desseuer sundry straunge doctrines as it were tares from the wheat of ChristiaÌ„ verity and more commodiously deliberate and decree coÌ„cernyng those things whiche shall seme most opportune to the plucking out of doubtes out of the myndes of very many men and to the taking away of the causes of ma ny complayntes And all these thinges â–ª it desireth to be brought to the knowledge of all men what soeuer they be as also by thys present decree it geueth knowledge abrode that if any man shall thinke that by any meanes these things pertaine vnto hym touchyng the matter of these bookes and Censures or any other thynges whiche it hath declared to be handled in this generall CouÌ„ sell he should not doubt but that he shall w t much fauor be heard of the holy Synode But bycause y â— self same holy Synode wisheth euen from the heart earnestly desireth of God those thinges that are profitable to the peace of y e Church y t all we acknowledging our coÌ„mon mother vpon the earth whiche can not forget those whoÌ„ it hath brought forth may with one mynde with one mouth glorifie God the father of our Lorde Iesus Christ thorough the bowels of the mercy of the selfe same God and our Lord and al those whiche haue not communion with vs it allureth exhorteth vnto concorde and reconciliation that they would come vnto this holy Synode embrase charitie which is the bond of per fectioÌ„ preferre the peace of Christ which reioyseth in their harts into whiche they are called in one body Wherefore harkenyng vnto the voyce not of a maÌ„ but of the holy ghost let theÌ„ not hardeÌ„ their harts but not walking in their own seÌ„se nor pleasing theÌ„ selues let theÌ„ be stirred vp coÌ„uerted to so godly healthfull an admonition of their mother For the holy Sinode as it allureth them so also will it embrase them with all duties of Charitie Furthermore the self same holy Synode hath decreed that publique faith or saue conduite may be graunted in a generall congregation and shal haue the same force and be of the same strength and wayght as if it had bene geuen and decreed in a publicque Session The second Decree published in the selfe same ii Session THe selfe same sacred Sinode of Trent lawfully gathered together in the holy ghost the self same legates of the
care pertaineth onely to Bishops and Priestes that a Synode being assembled learned and modest men on eyther partye and suche as are addicted to nothing but vnto the truthe and healthe of the Churche should temperately conferre together of articles in controuersye For they thinke them selues farre inferiours than that they shoulde take vpon them to iudge of so great matters where disputacion is had of the saluation of soules Although these men which thus iudge touching matters of religion be in some part woorthye of pardon or rather compassion yet me thinketh they are gentlye and modestlye to be admonished of certayne thynges For first in that they iudge that it is profitable and necessarye that godly and learned prophetes for so the Apostle calleth the interpretours of holy scripture and Bishops shoulde assemble together in a Synode and conferre their sentences together concerning the articles proposed in this part they seme not to erre For we rede that not onely the successours of the Apostels did so but also the Apostles them selues as the Actes of the Apostels and Counsels doo testify So straight waye after the ascension of Christe into heauen when at Antioche there arose a question as touching the obseruation of the law of Moises as a thing necessary to the rightcousnes of mā which is auayleable before God Paule and Barnabas by the consent of the Church of Antioche went vp to Ierusalem to the Apostels and Elders that it might be manifestiye knowen vnto the Churches that they in al pointes agreed with the rest of the Apostels against the fained lye of the false Apostels For the false Apostles had euerye where abroade in the Churches accused Paule and Barnabas of this thing namely that they vnder the name of the Gospell deliuered an other and farre diuers doctrine vnto the Gentiles Lykewise also in the primitiue Church ▪ there wer by the authority of godly Emperours assembled the Counsels of Nice Constantinople Ephesus and Chalcedonia against Arrius Macedonius Nestorius and Eutiches to retayne styll a godlye consent in doctrine of the deuinity of Christ Of his two natures deuine and humane in one person Of the person and deuinity of the holy Ghost So also after that for the taking away of dissentions betwene the Clergy and offences out of the Church there wer Synodes had not onely in euery prouince but also there was a decree made that from that tyme for euer there shoulde with in ten yeares hee celebrated an vniuersall Counsell For that thyng is accustomed to happen in the Church which happeneth in houses which vnles they be with beasoms often made cleane they wil be couered with filthynes and dust So also vnles the Teachers of the Church doo with a perpetual care and diligence geue vigilant heede and continuallye institute godlye conferringes together of sentences easy is the fal of doctrine and maners except they be in tyme corrected they are accustomed to draw a wonderful great ruine vnto the Church But in this thing they seeme not to indge wel in that they think that the peace and tranquility of the Churche may by this meanes be recouered and preserued firme For although the disputacions and decrees of godly Counsels haue brought great vnity vnto the Churche of God in which the peruerse and vngodly opinions of heretiks haue bene by testimonies of the holye scripture vehement◅ye reproued yet the Ecclestastical history testifieth that no lesse contentions yea also sometimes greater contentions haue happened in the Church of God after the Counsels had bene celebrated Upon which occasion Gregorius Nazianzenus being moued with the euent of the Counsels writeth that from that tyme forward he determined to eschewe all Synodes of Bishops bicause he found that no Synode had a good ende or which rather brought not increases of euyls than an ende of them Although that this good man in this point seemed somewhat to erre for that he there for that cause iudged that Synodes are vtterly to be auoyded bicause he sawe that the peace of the Churche coulde not by Counsels be made firme For although it were to be wished that al men should rest in the explication of the truth which is in godly Synodes instituted by testimonies of the vndoubted holy scripture yet this is not the sole onely ende of Counsels For there alwaies haue bene are and shalbe contentious wits which endeuour them selues to perturbe the peace and concorde of the Churche But the principal end of Counsels is the explication and confirmation of sounde doctrine and the confutation of errours and peruers opinions Whych althoughe it satisfieth not all men yet it satisfieth al the godlye whose simplicitye is correspondent vnto a godly explication of the truth Therefore whether the peace of the Churche bee restored or whether it bee not restored yet a godlye conferring of sentences in godlye Synodes is both profitable and necessary And vnlesse suche a conferring were had it were to be feared least the multitude and variety of opinions should at the length bring no lesse cuyll and discommoditye vnto the Church of God than brought the superstition of tyme past And bicause some daunger commeth of disputations that are to vehement godly princes may by their authority easely remedye this euyl who of necessity must be present at them as we reade was done in the Counsell of Chalsidonia that by their authoritye contentions and wanton wyttes were restrayned wythin the bondes of Christian modesty For euen as it is trulye sayde that by to muche alteration the truth is lost so also semeth it no lesse to be truly said that by quiet disputing godly conferring of sentences the truth is brought forth whereunto the sonne of God hath promised that he wyl be present together with the father and the holy Ghost yea if there be but twoo or three gathered together in his name And it is better presently to entreate of matters with a modest conferring together being appointed than by mutual writing to inflame the hartes of either party Farther in this thyng also they iudge not ryghtlye for that they thinke that in suche Counsels are matters entreated of which vtterly and wholy passe the capacity of the laity For although al the Laity neither can neither are bound exactly to know the reasons and argumentes of al and singular controuersies yet no godly Counsell hath decreed of anye thing which of necessitye pertaineth vnto the saluation of al and singular men which also such as are but euen meanely instructed in the chiefe pointes of their Christian faith vnderstand not wel and as much as to them is sufficient is playne ynough The ten commaundementes are knowen the articles of fayth are knowen the forme of the Lordes praier is knowen the maner of baptisme and institution of the Lordes supper are knowen the ministerye also of remitting and retaining synnes in the name of Christe is knowen In which principal pointes are contayned almoste all maner of controuersies that the world hath in
Cuppe but also from the bread of the Supper than with so greate offence to God by theyr testimonye to allowe horrible Idolatrye and sacrilege For by it they are not grafted into the libertie wherinto they are deliuered by Christ but are caste into a greater bondage the conscience is not eased but oppressed with a greater burden I truste I haue briefelye and perspicuouslye shewed that the Counsell of Trent hath not onely allowed erroures that are repugnaunte vnto the holy Scripture but hath also confyrmed horrible impietie Iolatrye superstitions and abuses and that not in doctrine alone but also in the Sacramente deliuered of Christ vnto the Churche Euen as therefore for theyr sakes we haue muche cause to lamente for that the Fathers of thys Counsell in so manifeste a lyghte of the Gospell are enfected with so greate a blyndnesse that they will not acknowledge or abolyshe no not euen the leaste erroure so also agayne on the other syde oughte the Churche of GOD and all we euen from the hearte to reioyce that euen nowe at the laste by the decrees of thys Counsellâ—… we maye stay vppon some certainety of the will and meanyng of the pontificall Counselles For hytherto the Christians which are euery where dispersed abroade in the papacye haue hoped y â— it would haue come to passe that by some lawfull Counsell and publiquâ—… authority errors and abuses whiche thorough the negligence of Byshops and auarice of sacrificing priestes haue exept in into the church should be abrogated For thys office they thought to pertayne unto a counsel not to priuate men Neither also thought they it the office of a Magistrate to chaunge or abolysh any thing in doctrine or ecclesiasticall ceremonyes Whiche thyng for that many Kings and Princes Earles Barons Noble me and Imperiall cities haue done very many were offended bicause they taryed not for some lawfull knowledge of the cause and determination of a Counsel They confesse that they acknowledge that in the Catholyke Churche as they call it are very many errors but they affyrme ther withal that it pertayneth not to the Magistrate to take them awaye but that office belongeth vnto a Counsell And whereas many yeares and long tyme a ChristiaÌ„ generall and 〈◊〉 counsell hath bene required and promysed and euen vnto this yeare suspended nowe at the length the Counsell of Trent deliuereth vs from al doubt and farther expectation For as be in Terence sayth Nulla circuitione vsum est rem aperte prolocutum est that is It hath vsed no circuâ—…ution but hath opened the matter playnly that they wil not abolyshe the least abuse the leaste ceremonye or ryte but rather haue decreed to curse all those whiche eâ—…en in the least thyng accuse them of any errour So farre is it of that they thynke to abrogate and take awaye manifest Idolatrye Sacrifice for the quicke and the dead Carying aboute and worshipping of the breade Inuocation of Saints pilgrimages to the Images of the dead Doctrine of perpetuall doubting Doctrine of the merite of good workes Of purgatory and such lyke errors Nowe also shoulde we speake somewhat of the reformation of manuers whiche shoulde bee taken in hande and defyned by the Counsell whiche thyng the Embassadoures and Legates of the Emperoure of the Frenche Kyng and of other Princes requyred moste earenestly For not onely the Courte of Rome aboundeth with all kinde of vices and wickednesse as Ryot Simonye Auarice or couetousnesse and moste horrible fylthinesse but thys mischiefe is so farre and wyde spred abroade through oute Christendome that the Embassadoures and Oratours of certayne Princes were not ashamed to declare vnto the Counsell that the fylthinesse of the priestes in theyr prouinces was so greate that amongest a hundreth priestes coulde scarcely bee founde two whose helpe and industrye they myghte with honestye vse in any ciuile rusticall iudgementes so farre are they paste â—…l shame of moste horrible fylthynesse whoredome and such like wickednesse And the Fathers of the Counsel being ouercome with the truth testifyed that for theyr sakes thys garboyle and trouble is rysen in the Churche and that theyr wickednesse is the cause of so great euills But if we diligentlye weyghe the requestes of the Kynges and Princes we oughte euen from the bottome of the harte to lamente that in the Councell sit not suche Fathers whiche should be affected which the considerations of these thynges For although the aboue mentioned Kinges and Princes are still addicted vnto the Byshop of Romes kyngdome yet they see that vnlesse there be had a more seuere reformation of manners and especially in the Clergye the Popes kyngdome can not long continue safe and sounde Wherefore they vrge and requyre a reformation with as muche fayth diligence as they can But what doo they of the Papacye and the good holy Counsell of Trent They dooe euen as if a man shoulde go aboute to washe one hauing the leprosye or if a man should endeuour him selfe to ryd an olde scalde head from lyse which thing may manifestly be sene by the. xii Articles set forth of reformation and by the decrees confirmed by authority of the Counsell Twelue principal poyntes of reformation proposed the. xi day of March to be considered of the Fathers in the Counsel of Trent 1 LEt the Fathers consider what meanes may be had that Patriarches Archbishops bishops al those that haue cure ouer soules should be resident vpon their Churches and should not be absent from them but vpon causes iust honest necessary and profitable vnto the Church 2 Also whither it be expedient that none bee admitted vnto holy orders vnles it bee to some certayne tytle of a benefice For it is founde by experience that muche disceate is practised by reason that for the moste parte they are admitted by the tytle of Saltimonium 3 And that they whych geue orders receaue nothyng for the bestowyng of any orders whatsoeuer they be neyther also the Ministers nor Notaries 4 Whyther it may be graunted vnto them that of the Prebendes of suche as serue not they may distribute dayly distributions in those Churches in whyche are no distributions or els so slender distributions that they are not regarded 5 Whyther all Parishes whych for their greatnesse requyre many Priestes ought also to haue tytles to be instituted of the Ordinary 6 Benefices also that haue cure whych want a sufficient prouision of lyuyng for the Priest whither they be to be reformed so that of many by the Ordinarye may be made onely one 7 Forasmuche as Persons of Churches are for y â— most part very vnmâ—…ete so that eyther through ignorance or filthines of lyfe they destroy rather than edifye And somtymes they haue Uicars far woorse than them selues it is to bee consydered how thys euyll maye bee prouided for and whyther it should be expedient that vnto them should be geuen a meete fellowe helper wyth the assygnation of the fruites at the arbitrement of the Ordinary 8
of Priestes But what profyte I praye you redoundeth vnto the Churche of GOD whether the Byshoppes be resident here or in any other place when as they neither teache nor yet can teach the people of y e wil of God which thyng â—…et is the dewty and office of Byshoppes But they neglectyng that haue turned thys office into Princely gouernamentes and vnder the rytle and name of Byshops they inuade the kyngdomes of the worlde hauyng no regarde vnto soules whose saluation tey ought by teachyng diligently to prouide for 〈◊〉 â—…he when they are preseut they are more hurte than when they are absent Whiche thing the Byshops them selues vnderstaâ—… better than my pen is able to expresse If they of the Papacy mynde in the Counsell earnesssly to prosecute the matter of Reformation why do they not wayghe the griefes proposed by the Orders of the Empyre vnto the Legate of Adrian the Bishop of Rome in the Imperiall assemblies at Norimberge in the yeare of our Lord. 1523. Unto whiche vnlesse they as it is mete aunswere who will beleue that they haue any regarde of thys thyng But whilest I exactely consider and waygh with my selfe all singular these things I can not hold my selfe but that I muste talke a fewe wordes with the Fathers of the Counsell Ye remember as I suppose the moste seuere admonition of the Lorde made by Malachy vnto the Priestes of the olde Testament And nowe sayth he vnto you is this commaundement Dye Priestes It ye will not heare nor consider in yput heart to geue glorye vnto my name sayeth the Lorde of holles I will send vpon you pouerty and will curse your blessynges and I will curse them bycause ye haue not considered it in your heart Beholde I will corrupte your seede and will cast vpon your faces the dongue of your solemne feast dayes and it shall cleaue faste vnto you And ye shall knows that I haue sent thys commaundement vnto you that my couenaunt myght stande whiche I made with Leuy sayeth the Lord of hostes I made a couenaunt of lyfe and peace with hym and I gaue hym feare and he feared me and was afrayed before my name The lawe of trueth was in hys mouth and there was no wickednesse fouâ—… in hys lyppes he walked with me in peace and equitye and dyd turne many one awaye from their synnes For the Priestes lyppes shoulde preserue knowledge and they shoulde seâ—…e the lawe at hys mouth for he is the Aungell of the Lorde of hostes But ye are gone out of the waye and haue caused many to be offended at the lawe ye haue broken the couenaunt of Leuy sayeth the Lorde of hostes Therefore haue I also made you to he dispysed and vyle before all people bycause ye kepte not my wayes but haue bene parciall in the lawe but the Lorde shall destroye both the master and the scholer out of the tabernacle of Iacob with hym that offreth an offring vnto the Lorde of hosses Knowe ye that thys admonition pertayneth vnto you vpon whome ye haue turned all the eyes of whole Christendome For euen as the Lorde made a league with the tribe of Leuy whose office was to kepe knowledge that beyng demaunded concernyng the will of GOD they shoulde aunswere and instructe the people of GOD So also woulde he haue the Byshoppes to be diligent kepers of the Apostolicall doctrine and to be successors vnto the Apostles not so much in seate as in doctrine But alas that thyng hath happened in our tymes and in the tymes of oure Elders which the Prophet complayned of concerning the priestes of hys tyme. For in steade of knowledge and the lawe of God are kept humane traditions whiche are repugnaunte vnto the lawe and will of God Ye haue departed from the way of the Lorde and haue bene an offence vnto many in the lawe of the Lord which haue embraced these doctrines Christ sayd vnto the man that was sicke of the palsey Haue confidence my sonne thy sunnes are forgeuen thee But contrarily ye Fathers of the CouÌ„sell of Trent saye Doubt my sonne and appoynt not assuredly of the remission of thy synnes The Apostle sayth The holy ghost beareth witnesse vnto our spirite that we are the children of God Contrarily ye in your Counsel decree that we must perpetually doubt and y t we must haue more regarde vnto our own vnaptnesse and weakenesse then to thys testimony of the holy ghost Christ sayth concerning the cup of the supper Drinke ye al of this Ye contrarily say Let not all but the priestes onely drinke of the Cup. Iohn sayeth Christ is made a propitiation for the sinnes of the whole worlde And againe The bloud of Iesus Christ clenseth vs from al sinne Contrarily ye fathers of the Counsell say That not only the sacrifice of y e crosse but also the sacrifice of the masse is a propitiation for oure sinnes Also that not only the bloud of Christ but also the fire of Purgatorye clenseth vs from some sinnes Christ teacheth vs to call vpon God only Ye being gathered together in this Counsel teach coÌ„maund tocal vpoÌ„ Saints also Christ concerning y e bread of y e supper saith Take ye eate ye Ye coÌ„trary ordayne y e it must be kept til to morow included and earâ—…ed froÌ„ place to place Christ sayth That whiche entreth in through the mouth defileth not man The counsel sayth If any man at certaine times abstaine not from the eating of flesh let him be accursed S. Paul sayth Led a Bishop be y â— husband of one wife which hath obedient children The counsel sayth Let a Bishop haue neither wife nor children and let such as be ioyned in matrimony be put out and suspended from this so holy an office But who can recken vp all the thinges in whiche ye papistical priests haue departed from the law of the Lord This also was the cause why the Prophet sayde in thys place I haue made you to be despised vile to all people bicause ye haue not intended in your hart to geue glory to God Therfore also is your glory troden vnder foote as in an other place the Lorde of hostes speaketh vnto Eli the priest Whosoeuer shall glorifye me I will glorifye hym but they which contemne me shal be made vile To y â— end ye would establish the glory of the priestes ye violate and teare in peces the Testament and laste will of the Lordeâ—… namely y â— priestes should be had in honor and estimation let the lay men be spoyled with the vse of the cup as the Counsell of Constance hath decreed It greueth you very much that the glorye honâ—…ure and estimation of priestesis euery where decayed which sometymes were moste highlye esteemed of Kynges and Princes and of the people of God Inipute this contempt vnto your selues your owne sinne is the cause thereof for that ye haue forsaken the law of the Lord and haue departed