reste and conseruation of the holle in a naturall tranquillite so vice reygning in mans lyfe for a tyme ye open warre and sedition his goodnes cōuerteth to the settyng forthe of vertue and to his honour and glory For such is the nature of that infinite goodnes that nothinge it wyll suffre vtterly to be yll but out of al imperfection and vicious effectes or more truly to say vicious defectes his goodnes pyketh out euer some good As by example this thinge to declare this dyuelyshe nature of the dyuell who aboue al other thinges is moste pestilent and pernicious the goodnes of god vseth to good as to driue man by fere at the lest to flee from synne and wretchednes and his crueltie and malyce he vseth also to declare his iustyce and ryghtwysenes as by the miserye of vice he driueth man oft to the loue of vertue and to conceyue the felicitie therof lyke as he dothe many tymes by sycknes of body and aduersitie brynge man to helth and prosperitie and by the tyranny and wretchednes therof he induceth mā to perceyue the nature of good polycie and of al quietnes and tranquillitie restynge in the same Euen lyke as by blynde and folyshe superstition he styreth ofte tymes man to folowe syncere and trewe religyon And thus all thyng whiche appereth in mās lyfe to be playn yll viciouse his infinite goodnes turneth to good and out of all thing he pyketh som good For if there were any thing which by nature were yl than were not he infinyte goodnes the which without cōtradiction can suffre no ylle Wherfore playnely to saye euen as I thynke these thynges whiche to the worlde and to the common iugement of manne seme ylle and moste pestylent of the goodnes of god and of his highe prouidence minister vnto men most sure argument The whiche thyng I haue here nowe touched to this purpose ende that where as many men nowe adayes consideryng the state of the Christen polycie vexed with so moche sedition and heresie feare moche to see shortly therof great ruine and decaye I wolde haue them to alter that opinion And to stande fully in this perswasion that this diuysion by sectes and contrary opinion reignynge amonge christen nations the goodnes of god shall turne to his honour and glorie and to the setting forth of his true religion the whiche longe and many a day hath ben by simple superstition moche obscured and hydde ye and though it were so that in folyshely fleinge this superstition we shuld a whyle slyppe into the contrary that is to say the contempte of religion yet I doubte not but the goodnes of god in tyme conuenient wolde reduce vs at the laste to the meane and bring vnto lyght the knowlege of his true religion as he hath done in al tymes from the beginning of the world vnto this day by lyttel and lytell euer drawyng mans wekenes to the true waye And this maner with vs I dout not but that his goodnes wyll vse nowe in these dayes and so inspire and gyue lyght to the hartis of his christē flock that they all with concorde and vnitie shal to his wyl be obedient moste mekely This hope and truste I haue fyxed in my harte wherwith I moche comforte my selfe And though there be here in our nation growynge in a certayne diuision by corrupt iugement and false opynion yet I trust we shall not so farre slyppe from gooddis prouidence that it may take among vs any such rote whereby shall sprynge any sedition or of good and ciuile order any ruine or distruction but cōtrary if we as membres of one body runne all togyther after one fashion I trust at lēgth surely it shall minister a great occasion to the setting forthe of Christis trewe religion For the which cause nowe I haue conceyued this lyttel instruction exhortynge our people to vnitie and obedience the lacke wherof in the state of Christendome hath bene a great cause of moche diuision and specially in the coūtrey of Germany where as by the folyshe auoydyng of superstition they haue slipped into greatte discorde and sedition whose example I trust shall be to vs a spectacle ministringe vnto vs no small instruction specicially if we consyder groundly the cause and fūdation of all their controuersie and sedition the whiche doutles rose of thinges in no poynt necessary to mās saluation but about ceremonies and traditions to the which many men blynded by superstition leaned none other wyse thanne to Christis worde and gospel they dydde not discerne with ryght iugement betwixt thinges of themself good necessary other which ar only for the time conuenient to a certayne policie but all thinges of longe tyme receyued by custome generall decree some of them toke as goodis lawe indifferently som all turned vp so downe vndiscretely Wherfore suche persons as by the examination of them to goddis worde founde therin moche abusion fyrste the reste coude not well beare but noted them of herisie and as mouers of sedition by the reson wherof sprange y ◠great diuision wherby the coūtrey was deuided into many dyuers sectes but now by the prouidence of god eche one spyeng the foly of other they begynne to fall vnto the meane that is to say to Christis true religion gyuinge to goddis worde the full authoritie that preachinge without abrogation And as for ceremonies and traditions they suffre as thynges conueniente to maynteyne vnitie where as they repugne nother to goddis worde nor to good ciuilitie the which thyng if they had done at the begynning they shulde not by their blyndnes haue fallen to suche confusion nor by their folyshe correction of the abuses of the churche haue brought in suche a diuision Howe be it I doubt not but that the prouidence of god hath suffered this thinge for the institution of other for we may as I ofte reherse take example of that foly and runne to gyther in one course with obedience and vnitie the whiche if we do we shall doubtles shortly se the prouidence of god so worke that out of our church congregation we shal se plucked vp al superstitious abusions as contrary if we procede in our corrupt iugement and lately growen in diuision we shall without fayle slippe to like confusion For the auoydynge wherof I haue directed to the people this rude instruction mouynge them to obedience and vnitie whose nature nowe sommewhat to touche remayneth in the seconde place ¶ Wherin brefely to say this you shall vnderstande that obedience in all tymes and with all nations hath euer ben reputed the chiefe bonde and knotte of all vertue and good ciuilitie and not onely amonge vs whiche be of the chrysten flocke lighted with the spirite of god but also amonge the gentyl philosophers ladde onely by the course and power of nature with whome obedience was euer noted to be as the mother of al vertue and honestie For whan the affectes
vertuous And of this ê‘auenture here after in his place bicause I iudge it moche to you at this tyme expedient and necessary I shall somwhat say concernyng the difference betwyxt the good preacher and the euyll and howe you shall knowe one frome the other whiche shall be no small helpe to delyuer vs from this blyndnes that we nowe be in wrapped mysiudgyng one an other wherof nowe in some parte the causes you see whiche is in dede nothynge harde to perceyue and I wold to god it were no lesse harde to fynd and apply remedy but euen as it is in the body of man to fynde the disese and the cause therof though it be not easy nor lyght nor to euery man open and playne yet it is not soo harde as it appereth to me as with prudent experieÌ„ce to apply remedyes to the same in tyme and place conuenient And so here lykewyse in this our purpose nowe to note these causes of our blyndnes as prechers obstinacie and leuitie of mynde was no greatte difficultie but open to euery mans eye but to fynde out remedies conuenient now to the same applying them to the restitution of this desyred vnitie this is not lyght this is not in my power this is not of my wytte nor capacitie Wherfore a great parte of this thinge commyttinge to the prouidence of god whose order and gouernaunce to lacke I trust yet our synnes haue not deserued a great parte to the hye policie of our most noble prince whose cares studyes and thoughtes lye holly therin I shall nowe in the reste moue exhorte instruct you most christeÌ„ people with certayn thinges the which for the most parte lye in your owne diligeÌ„ce be put in your own power wher by you may yf you wyll endeuour your selfe as I doubt not but ye wyll greatly sette forwarde bothe the restorynge and the quiete conseruing of this so moche of all men desired and praysed vnitie For though it be so that out warde remedyes by foreyn causes adhihyte may to this purpose gyue moch preferment greatly promoting and settynge forwarde the same yet this can not be douted but that in your selfes stoÌ„deth a great parte of the hole matter as in whom the grouÌ„de and foundation therof holly doth lye none other wyse than it dothe in them whiche labour in bodily disease in whom you see that all be it phisitions by medicines and other out ward remedies moche do conferre to the helth of their pacientes by good experience ministrynge the same yet a great parte of their restitution lyeth in them selfes by good diet quiet order and other good gouernaunce temperynge their affectes without the whiche all crafte of phisyke lyttell dothe auayle And yet here in this purpose dere frendes we are in moche better case than they be whiche are vexed and labour of bodyly disease for as moche as we haue the presence of our phisition the heuenly spirite and diuyne power euer attehande more redy at all tymes to minister vs remedies than we by our owne blyndnes and negligent foly lette be therof desyrous Wherfore as I sayd moche lyeth in our selues bothe to restore and conserue this heuenly vnite we muste dispose our selfes with hart wyl vtterly to cast away this blynde superstition and arrogaÌ„t foly and with diligent indeuour and cure forme our iudgementes with ryght knowlege and conuenient obedience that we maye therby the better auoydynge the dissolution of the vnitie spiritual without al confusion of policie annexed therto as membres of one body knytte to one heed here in this lyfe inioye common quietues and hereafter eternal felicite wherof you al most christen people by nature are feruently desyrous the whiche desyre I trust in you shal neuer be fouÌ„de vayne but bringe forthe at the last suche fruite and perfection as to suche ardent desire noble affecte is due and conuenient For of this be you certayne and sure that the infinite goodnes of the diuine power neuer leueth such hartes desert without succour and helpe whiche with feruent desyre and sure affiaunce faithe and truste annexed therto diligently seke and inserche therby to haue the knowledge of truthe and honestie And lette this be a sure grounde stabled in your hartes of the which you shal neuer be deceyued for god neuer suffreth them by any meanes to be deluded whiche put their affiance and truste in hym as I doubte not but you doo Wherfore I wyll nowe procede vnto my purpose All though it be so mooste christen people that som of vs by blyndnes as I haue shewed before haue our iugementes corrupte the which thing dayely also openly to the worlde we testifie yet excepte affection to wyn owne countrey vtterly blynd me also this I thinke I may boldly truly affirme that for the mooste parte vniuersally there is amonge vs as true christen simplicitie good religion as there is in any other christian nation or at the least this I may saye that to haue the same stabled amonge vs in wylle and desyre we gyue place to none other And of this we haue euer had the fame syth Christis doctrin was fyrst amonge vs preched and taugth wherfore at the leest this wyll as presupposed I take to be in vs and take it also as no small grounde to the rest whiche I shall say for as wyse men write he hath nowe halfe atteyned vertue honestie that of him selfe bryngeth good wyll and desyre to the attaynynge therof And our master Christ also this euer as chiefe ground requireth in vs the reste by his spirite in our hartes euer fourmyng Therfore nowe this presupposynge I shal procede to prescribe and declare vnto you certayne generall groundes wherby you maye concernyng some such thinges as nowe in these dayes be in great contention and so of the brack of this spirituall vnitie a great occasion so form your iugementes with conuenteÌ„t knowlege and obedience that you may be in some parte better delyuered both from vayne and fals superstitioÌ„ and also from lyght and arrogaÌ„t opinion wherin suche iugement as by longe redynge of scripture it hath pleased god to giue vnto me and suche as I thinke al christen hartes to be fourmed with all bothe by conuenience and necessitie suche iudgement I say I shall as it were in a lytel table brefely to you propose besechinge you all with the same hartes therin to loke and with the same affectes the same to rede that I write hit withal the whiche I testifie god who only seeth the harte and priuie thought of man is the very same wherwith I haue instruct myn own mynd and conscieÌ„ce Requiryng you also that if I shal appere vnto any of you in any parte to erre and corruptly to iudge that it wylle please you with the same mynde to admonyshe me therof that I wryte to you with all For euer I wyl be to hyer iugement conformable And for bycause
scripture storye nor good reason dryueth vs to confesse this superioritie that tyme taken as of Scripture necessarye for than his decree hadde bene ryghte foolysshe by lawe to stablyshe that whiche of the gospelle doctrine shuld be so necessary But to the purpose he thenne was made heed but not by authoritie of the generall counselle but onely of the emperour who by his prudence and policie thoughte it expedient to stablysshe one heed to order suche thinges and putte in effecte at all tymes whiche were by generall counsell conceyued and decreed concernynge the interpretation of scripture the controuersie wherof at the fyrst begynnyng was onely there intreated and no other thynge perteynynge to polycye Suche thynges were euer lefte to the iudgement of Princis and of euery commynaltie and there the dyuersitie of opinyons in scripture were euer brought to a certayne vnitie and concorde This Authoritie only had the bysshoppe of Rome at the fyrste begynnyng of his superioritie as it apperethe by generalle counsaylles and with this he contynued manye yeres neuer attentynge farther vntylle at the laste by longe warres and moche greatte dyuision amonge princys the Empyre of Rome fell in moche ruyne and decaye the whyche gaue the fyrste occasyon to this greatte heddy power and authoritie of Rome For as the Emperour decayed by prowde dyuysyon so the pope increased by symple superstytion For to that authorytie whiche firste he had of Constantyne his successours in the empire added moche more gyuynge theym priuiledge and possession with moche worldely authoritie and iurysdyction thynking therby moch to honour god whose vicar in erth he soone after beganne to call hym selfe For as soone as this authoritie by emperours was stablyshed than he of hym selfe beganne to call generall counsayle and there many other thynges to decree besyde scripture whiche were iudged partely to be good for the conseruation of Christis doctryne as dyuers decrees and ecclesiasticalle lawes and partely for the mayntenance of this vnitie of heed which then appered for the auoyding of schisme and diuision to the world almost necessary and specially after that purgatorie after a newe facion was inuented and surely iudged to be for therby chiefelye beganne his reygne thenne came in pardones and reseruation to his owne see than crope in the difinition of thynges by his hye authoritie than entred excommunication and interdytes vpon all princis and christen nations for after that the emperours by symple superstition came to that poynt that to the popes they iudged theym selfes to be subiectes and not to be in full authoritie tyll before his presence they were intronised and crowned what other prince coulde there be whiche shuld not iuge him selfe inferior to the power of him which by him selfe was almost able to make an emperour So that brefely to say not ouer For there is one vnite spiritual and an other politicalle vppon the whiche as vppon the chiefe groundes is stablyshed al polycy bothe spiritually and worldly wherof you shulde nothynge meruayle at all if ye coulde conceiue the woÌ„derfull nature of this vnitie whervppon is founde the hole ingyn of this sensible worlde as in the whiche all the partes therof both in the heuenlye bodyes and in the erthely creatures are as in a chayne coupled and knytte and yet ferther the very nature of goddes diuinite as ferre as man may therof any thynge affirme as grounded in the same For god is no thyng but vnitie vnite is god ye and this incompreheÌ„sible nature of the mooste meruailous trinitie in vnite is founded but this as a thynge passynge our capacite we wyll sette a syde and meruayll no thynge at all that in this vnitie wherof not without cause so moche mention we make resteth as in the grouÌ„d al good vertuouse policy is thend to y â— which al good lawes and ordynaunces euer must loke And as in the spiritual lyfe we must euer moste regarde this vnitie spirituall so in the worldlye muste be had respecte of the polyticall the which brefely to deseribe is nothing els but a concorde agrement and a consent of all them whiche be in one polyce to the receyuynge and puttynge in vse suche lawes constitutions and ordynances as by polityke wyttes are deuysed to the conseruation of the worldly quietnes and tranquillyte to the whiche as to the chiefe ende onely euer loked they whiche without the lyghte of Christe haue in any couÌ„treys stablyshed any polycie For to this ende loked Plato where as in his deuysed common weale with the communitie of thinges he pourposed aboue all thynge to grounde therin this vnitie To this ende loked the aunciente Grekes and the wyse Romaynes with all theyr ciuyle constitutions stablyshyng good order in their cities and townes The other vnitie spirituall is of an other sorte and bringeth man to an higher consyderation whiche is this all obedience presupposed and taken to all ciuile and polytike rule a certayne consente of spirite and mynde and as it were with one harte a heuenlye conspiracye to the attaynynge of heuenly thynges whiche by god are to manne puttynge his onely truste by fayth in him promysed appoynted by the hope wherof he treadynge vnder fote all worldly vanities euer lyueth in desyre of heuenly thynges and celestiall the sure trust wherof gyueth to mans harte inestymable quietnes and maketh him to be obedient to al worldly policye and thoughe hit be not good yet paciently it to beare this hope and trust giueth man suche courage that all worldly thynges he easily hath in conteÌ„pte vsinge them onely in this lyfe as in a pylgremage where as we haue as saynte Paule sayth no dwellyng place This spirituall vnitie was stablyd in his flocke by our maister Christe good polycie Howe be it this in fewe wordes I shall declare that this heed with suche power as hath of many yeres ben therto attribute is in no poynt conuenieÌ„t to the coÌ„seruation of this vnite but rather a great occasion of the breche of good christyan ciuylitie This remayneth in the laste place now to be declared wherin I shal not nede long to stond For who so euer consydereth with hym selfe the vsurped authoritie in dispensynge with the good and catholyke groundes and canonyke propowned by generall counselles and the sellynge of the same the interditynge of couÌ„treys and nations vpon worldly causes with excommunications chiefely sente out for the same vpon the good christen flocke I thynke he shall fynd shortly se that this superioritie as it hath ben vsed is lyttell conuenieÌ„t to christen ciuilitie specially if he ioyn to this the authorite by ê‘dons abused plucking soules out of purgatory with the reseruyng of causes to his own power definitioÌ„ of causes by apellatioÌ„ referrid to his popely authorite These thiÌ„ges who so coÌ„siderith he shal shortly ê‘ceiue what incoÌ„uenieÌ„ces among al christeÌ„ nations doth rise of this heedy authorite and what blynd superstition is therby grouÌ„ded in all
Christis religion For though in euery ê‘ticular church prouiÌ„ce it be conuenieÌ„t to haue one heed to gouerne for the auoyding of confusion wherfore byshops were institute aboue all priestes in euery church cathedral as testifieth al antiquite yet by lyke example therof to induce the same to be so conuenient in the hole body as it is in euery parte is playne foly and not without manifeste lacke of iudgemeÌ„t For where as in the hole body of Christis churche be so many sondry nations and therin besyde the diuersities of tongues and maners so diuers polycies and ordynaunces of lawes that one maÌ„ therof to haue knowlege and experience which is required to the ryght iudgement of causes it semeth impossible How shuld it be thought conuenient in suche a body to constitute one heed with suche authoritie to whose iudgement in all causes to hym deuolued and brought all the reste of christian nations shulde stonde and be obedient For thoughe he were a man of mooste hye perfection and of wysedome mooste polytyke seynge that the administration of Iustice and equitie standeth a greate parte in the knowledge of the particular circumstaunces of causes howe shuld he to so many nations of whom he hath no knowlege nor experience giue iustice with truth equitie For it can none other wyse be but that one man and one hede so ignoraunt of thynges not hauyng particuler instruction therof shal be impotent and lacke power be he neuer so good to satisfie all suche persons and causes whiche by appellation out of diuers countreis and nations shuld thither be referred by the reason wherof shuld succede many iniust wronge iudgemeÌ„tes as we both by olde story to whose gouernance he coÌ„mytted his church as to his very vicar in dede euer faythefullye haue trusted vpon him with sure fayth and confideÌ„ce Wherfore frendes if we with louinge harte one to an other hange vppon hym as vppon the hed and onely fountayne of all good passing this lyfe in the vse of these thynges traunsitorye and vayne as in a pylgremage euer desyrynge to come to our home there to enioye thynges stable and sure doubte ye not but we then gouerned by his spirite his onely vicar in erthe thoughe we neuer knewe pope nor cardinall shall kepe his trewe vnitie whiche is conserued as by the chief grounde by faithful loue in hym and louing charitie one to an other euery one gladde to succour other euery one gladde to instructe other as his christian brother This we maye doo withoute mention of the bysshoppe of Rome and knowlege of that heed and so conseruynge the groundes of scripture and of the gospell of god which are but fewe in nombre easye to be kepte in memory wherby liuynge in christen ciuilytie with obedience to our prince and to all suche thynges as be stablyshed by comon authoritie here in our nation we may at the laste attayne to our felicitie though we neuer here worde of this superioritie whiche is a thyng of nature indifferent by the reson wherof it taketh his power strength of the common consente of man and agrement and so som christian nations may it receyue and maynteyne and some hit reiecte without offence of anye groundes of Scripture necessarye to mannes saluation and withoute anye breche of the christian vnitie by schysme or heresie to the whiche shoulde insue euerlastynge dampnation For heresye and schysme are not iustely to be ascrybed to anye nation excepte they slyppe from the manyfeste groundes of scripture in the gospel expressed or in generall counsayle receiued by interpretation where as of the wordes of scripture was gathered diuerse sentence and variable concernynge suche thinges as of necessite perteyne to mans saluation of the whiche sorte this superioritie of the byshoppe of Rome which he hath by the pacience of christen prynces longe abused is none as I thynke now is open clerely to you all Wherfore dere frendes I doute not nowe at all but that ye consyderynge the nature of this thynge as hit is in it selfe whiche is not of necessitie to mans saluation but a thynge indifferent whiche may be receyued and maye be reiecte by common consent I doubte not I say but that ye wyll without scrupule of conscyence of harte therto be obedient ye to al other thing which by common authorite here in our contrey hereafter shalbe decreed concernynge the reformatioÌ„ of al suche thingis as perteine to religioÌ„ and to the purgynge of vayne suê‘sticion I dout not but that the redresse of all ceremonies in the church customs rites ecclesiastical ye wil gladly we ought rather to gyue obedience in such thinges to princely authoritie here in our nation thaÌ„ to suche thinges as be propouned by general assemble and congregation where as is no power of commaundement in thinges indifferente but only instructioÌ„ and brotherly exhortation wherof Christis doctrine taketh all his grounde and foundation without any ciuile punyshement or compulsion For Christ requireth the hart to his worde frankely and frely gyuinge obedience ye and the ende and perfection of his doctrine and commandment is to induce man by loue to vertue causynge alway his disciples that thyng to do by loue onely moued which other obserue for feare of punyshement For the which cause as I thynke suche thinges as were propowned in the fyrste counsels longe many a day were not called lawes byndynge maÌ„ with authorite but only canons and certayne rules wherwith man frely customing him self might be gentilly induced to folow the trade of vertue honestie And this to be true declareth a lawe made of the emperour Iustinian wherby to suche rytes and customes ecclesiastical as from the see of Rome and general assemble were deriued to many other natioÌ„s he gyueth power and strength of lawes settyng them in ful authoritie the whiche before bounde no man but were receyued at libertie Wherfore it appereth that suche thinges as by generalle counsell are propowned and to christen polycye thought conuenient be of no strengthe power nor laufull authoritie and oblygatorie vntylle they be of euery nation receyued by coÌ„mon assâ—t by the vertue wherof they may ageyn be dissolued and vtterly abrogate as tyme and place prudently considered the same shall requyre This you muste thinke and this you muste doo with mekenes and obedience moste christen people if you wyll be of the christian flocke And soo after this maner frendes formyng your iugementes and fleing from al superstition you shall among your selfe moche sette forwarde the truthe of the gospell and of all good religion and soo consequently lyuing to gether in brotherly loue euery man in his offyce doinge his duetie we shall at laste by concorde and vnitie attayne to our ende and perfyte felicite ¶ And thus I truste moste christen people that you nowe after this consideration had with your selfes as well of the spirituall lyfe with the power therin of Christe gyuen to all them whiche by