In Boheme God by Ioh. Hus. his decreed prouideÌ„ce stered vp Iohn Hus a singular famous maÌ„ bothe of learning and of godly life which whan he hade diligently searched the mysteries of the holy scripture sone espied also the B. of Romes tyrannie and abominable ambicioÌ„ in the church and disclosed it vnto many meÌ„ of his tyme. But assone as he like a godly a blessed man begonne to attempte this mater these purpled fathers and ambicious ruffliÌ„g lusty guttes being afraide least their power dignitie wolde decaye neuer ceassed layeng baites to catche him till they hade throughe false flatring promises brought him wtin their clowches at the counsail of Constaunce ther contrarie to their open fidelitie yea contrary to the emperours faithfull promise also they burned him and for non other cause but for the truthes sake And yet not being content with that haynous crueltie vniust doing and falsehead they also moued muche cruell warres against the Bohemies stered vp the force and power of the hole empire sondry tymes against them But what nede we to rehearse olde exaÌ„ples Let vs marke their doinges in our dayes and we shal sone knowe the batailes that Antichrist maketh against the Lordes sayntes For euery man knoweth that his tyraÌ„nie hathe ben so cruell now for these 20. yeares and more that no man lyuing might so hardye fynde fault at their abominable popishe supersticion no maÌ„ might also affirme that Christ our Lorde is the only king the only priest and the only saueour of the worlde but he should be had by the backe for it For assone as any man confessed Christ to be the only head of the churche and the only saueour of the worlde he was hade straightwaies to prison and laden wyth as many fetters as he could beare and either he died ther miserably wyth the stynke of the prison or elles he was hanged or slayne or elles burned and suffred as muche torment as could be deuised so that the lightest punyshement was to be banished And if any prince abhorriÌ„g suche horrible crueltie wold not be their slaughterman vpon his owne subiectes by and by he began also to be suspecte of heresye and was layde watche for by these gaye goostly fathers In this behalf I reporte me to those faithfull christianes that lye yet still in prison I reporte me to the swordes to the halters and ryuers wherwyth they were murthered most cruelly I reporte me to the galowes stakes in euery place wher their dead bodies heng I reporte me to the feldes and grouÌ„des wher an infinite nombre of them were slayne for they are moo than any true christian man can thinke vpoÌ„ wtout weping teares And yet for all this the cruell beast not contenting him self to be filled with so bocherly a slaughter of sayntes whan he perceaueth that the doctrine and faithe of Christ is stroÌ„ger than all his tormeÌ„tes punyshementes thought good to stere vp the most cruell people in all the worlde the most deadly foes of the name of Germanie to destroye with fire sweorde theÌ„ that take Christ for their only saueour wil not be conteÌ„t to worship the B. of Rome nor his God Mayzim In this place we ought also to Antichrist shall preuaile against the Sayntes marke this well most louyng brethreÌ„ in Christ that the prophet Daniel saithe that Antichrist shall not only make batail against the Lordes sayntes but also that he shal haue the vpperhande of them For he speaketh not thus to thintent we shoulde be afraide cast downe our heartes al together but he vttreth meaneth by these his wordes after the sorte that Christ our Lorde speaketh of in Iohn The time shal com that who so euer killeth you shal thinke he dothe God seruice Io. 16 Io. 16. For what so euer is spokeÌ„ coÌ„cernyng Antichristes successe and victories it must be vnderstandeÌ„ but of the bodies and externall goodes of the sayntes or faithfull people For God our heauenly father dothe somtymes permyt either Antichrist or other aduersaries of his name and of his people to haue som power and to spoile his flocke of life and goodes bicause wher they which ought to haue serued him were geueÌ„ to muche vnto the worlde and neclected those thinges that are diuine heaueÌ„ly And this we reade hathe ben the principal cause almost of all persecucioÌ„s Howbeit the Lorde dothe not neclecte to saue those that his be for all that but defendeth theÌ„ vnder his owne fatherly protection most safely And whan his people be tried with the crosse and blustring stormes of persecucious as Gold and siluer are tried in the fire they are â— Pe. 1. scowred cleane from all drosse of maÌ„nes infirmitie and of fleshly desires so that their soules departe not only without any harme but also more holy and muche the perfiter Wherfore it is conuenient for vs not to be afraide in any wise of this present ê‘secucion which we see raised by Antichristes drift and false fetches But as it becometh hearty souldiours let vs rather reioyce that ther is occasione offred vs to shewe a specialtie and a perfite lesson of our faithe and with lusty courages to beate Antichrist backe by the aide of so noble a captain Christ our most victorious king but not with outward marcial weapones which Antichrist is smally afraide of but with true repentauÌ„ce with the amendement of life with constaunt faithe with pacience and with continual feruent prayers for as these be most acceptable vnto god euen so their custom is to burst asondre all the violent force that satan beÌ„deth against vs and also to ouerthrowe the couÌ„sailes of Christes enemies For these are the weapones that the Lord hath deliuered vnto his churche and he hathe promised to be present him self to assiste it Therfore brethren Christ seeth the daungers that his churche is in he beholdeth the painfull labours of his people he seeth the cruell and horrible deuises and doinges of Antichristian meÌ„ he seeth his enemies and the wolues that vexe his churche yea he not only seeth them but he also brydleth theÌ„ ruleth theÌ„ nother dothe he suffre theÌ„ to rauine any farther thaÌ„ he seeth it profittable for vs al his faithfull flocke Necligent forgetfull childreÌ„ must nedes taste of the rodde and the rebellious stubburne fleshe must nedes be walked with a good cudgell in a staues ende The Lordes rodde staffe is the crosse of persecucioÌ„ which he sendeth by the cruell enemies of his name As for them they folowe theyr owne lust and are geuen al together to the seruing of the filthie fleshe and euen theÌ„ the Lorde vseth as a meane to chastise our fleshe wtall And in case God fynde that in vs by their meanes that he is desirous to doo he is hable in a moment bothe to deliuer vs to tame their tirannie surely ynough This mater is witnessed by the vngracious ende of Pharao the shamefull deathe of
Emperour Mauricius blood But what maner men they should become our Lordes wil was to shewe by thys tokē that they should be most diligent folowers of theyr founder and through conspiracie treason warres hyndre the godly and holy endeauours of Emperours Which thing we shall a litell after shewe by more euident profe Nowe then the litel horne which in Daniel is a figure of Antichrist was growen out and wyth an exceding proude gay glisteryng title was named the head of the churche Howbeit he florished not al this while with so great streynghtes nor atchieued so mightie highe power as the forcast of so weightie a mater did necessarily require For wher the bishops being chosen of the cleargie people of Rome must nedes be confirmed either of the Emperour him selfe or elles of his lieutenaunt the Exarche of Rauenna the bishoppes by them confirmed were not hable to obteyne any power against the emperours of Rome and therfore they durst not for their eares ymagine any thing that might be in any condicion derogatorious either against the power or honour of the emperours So that the bishoppes thought it not good for them to rest vntill about the year of our saueour Cōstātine the. 4. Benedicte the. 2. DClxx the mater was brought to that passe that Constantine the fourthe emperour of that name endued bishop Benedicte the seconde with this priuilege that whom so euer thensfurth the cleargie and people of Rome should haue made bishop the same should also be acknowlaged of al mē as the head of the churche and Christ our saueours vicare wythout any meane confirmaciō either of the Emperour him self or of his lieutenaunt the Exarche of Rauenna But anon as the prowde ambicious Bishoppes of Rome hade obteyned this their maters begāne to succede euen after their owne purpose by this meanes so great streynght might and autoritie happened to that litell horne which yet hitherto appeared in all mennes sight to be but vile weake and naught set by that afterwarde it became intolerable euen to the Emperours them selues by whose counsailes and helpe it was promoted so high that it made batail and preuailed euen against them their selues And ther wanted not at that tyme signes and wondres wherby the heauenly father admonished wretched mortal folkes of the periles which shoulde be brought in by Antichrist For as Platina who out of all paraduenture was bothe the Bishoppes owne secretarie and also their trusty Oratour beareth record a fearfull and an vnwont blasing starre appeared and so vehement a fyre brake out of Vesuuius a mount Vesuuius of Compaigne that the places roūde about were brent vp By these tokens it was vndoubtedly the father of heauens will to shewe vnto all men that Antichristes fire began allready to burne in Italie which wyth a sore burnyng flame should consume and disquiete the consciences of many men For euen at the furst whan the Bishop of Rome was aduaunced to so highe power ther past scarcely fourtie yeares but he beganne to set out all his streinghtes and autoritie against the very Emperours them selues not wythout their greuous sore damage and perile For in the yeare of our saueour Christes birthe DCCxij Philippicus the Emperour of the Monothelites was infecte wyth the heresie of them which holde opinion that ther is but one only wil in Christ Iesu By reasō wherof pope Constantine stryketh him wyth the Striuing about ymages thonderbolt of his curse and maketh this decree and statute wythall that the ymages of the holy fathers which were present at the sixe furst and general counsailes should be painted in S. Petres porche But this mater bredde newe stryfe and newe hurly burlies For vpō that the bishop hade also occasion geuen him wherby he might throwe downe and ouerwhelme the three hornes or kingdomes that Daniel maketh mencion of For the bishoppes of the greke churches set their fote with most eagre stomackes against the bishoppes decree For in asmuche as they sawe God hade by his owne mouthe forbidden the vse of ymages in tēples with so earnest and so perfite a commaundemēt they affirmed that no ymages at all ought either to be hade or suffred in christen mennes temples But wher as the most parte folowed the Monothelites heresie they were also ouercome and ouerthrowen from this godly and holy sentence of abolishing of ymages so that vse of ymages being confirmed by the bishop Emperour Leo the third banished ymages of Romes autoritie brought a newe parte of supersticiō in to the churche Than foure yeares after that in that year of our saueour Christes birthe DCCxvi the emperour Leo that thrid of that name begāne his reigne which being instructe in that knowlage of God des lawe caused al the ymages stāding in the tēples through out all the coastes of the empire to be abolished taken awaye and sent lettres to the bishop of Rome Gregorie the seconde commaunding Gregorie the. 2. him that he should also do the same But ther was kyndled a great greuous cōtenciō a sore fraie For the Pope that most holy father in the wanyaūt had wyth so great studie diligēce dronkē of the cōmaūdemētes wherw t the Lorde condēneth forbiddeth ymages that he was so sawcy as to call Leo thēperour by a most odious name wicked ymage quellour yea also set him in so deadly an hate with the people of Italie bringeth him in suche a contēpt with al men that som wold haue gone about to chose a new Emperour And albeit ther purpose toke none effect for euen Gregorie him self could not allowe it the cause why was that the bishops ambicion could not awaye with any Emperour in Italie seing they wolde be lordes of al thinges thē selues yet the people of Rauenna stered vp a great mightie sedicion wherin the emperours lieutenaunt Paule the Exarche and his sonne were bothe slayne of the sedicious multitude of the commōs But forasmuche as that vproare coulde not moue Leo his mynde but he wold most constauntly goo on forewarde wyth his purposed intent he was at leynght strikē wyth the curse of pope Gregorie the thrid of that name and depryued bothe of the communion of Gregorie the. 3. the churche and of his empire Besides this whā he hade purposed to haue sent an other Exarche to Rauenna to ordre the maters of Italie the Pope also resisted him and wythstode him that he coulde not by reason of the Lumbardes whom he hade drawne on his parte against the Emperour For they wyth a strong power besieged Rauenna bette it and at leynght toke it and therwythall depryued the Emperour of al his iurisdicciō in Italie Here now we see the furst horne throwen downe For al the Emperours power which he hade yet vnto The greke Emperours this tyme holden in Italie was opprest at the popes settyng on by force of armes of the Lumbardes and the dryuē out of Italie Emperour him selfe was all
the doctrine and example of Christ and depende holly of it And whan we see that he hathe ê“uided so for his church that he wolde not burthen it with an vnprofitable pompe of ceremonies but contenting him self with a fewe hath appointed only those that myght be sufficient vnto saluacioÌ„ as these almost are the preaching of the worde baptisme the token of regeneracion and the Lordes supper that acceptable remembraunce of the Lordes deathe and of our redempcion And so we contenting our selues also with those same wil thinke that nothing is to be added besydes these nother will we searche any deper yf we wil beleue in him acknowlage him to be our saueour kyng priest and the faythful scholemaister of maÌ„kinde As many therfore as diligently folowe this simple playne doctrine of Christ and the oracles of Goddes worde suffre not them selues to be drawen awaye with other meÌ„nes vaine ymaginacions vnto them this faythfull admonicion of Christ is both holsome and profitable But as many as will not haue their faythe and religion hedged within these bondes but leape ouer the hedge lyke a wylde beast and iudge otherwyse of Christ than is taught in the scriptures and seke saluacion and life elles wher thaÌ„ in Christ our only saueour and also lade the churche with newe ceremonies and with a newe forme of religion they forgette this faithfull admonicion and doo contrary to Christes commaundement goo out and suffre them selues to be seduced not without the present dauÌ„ger bothe of their owne soules and other folkes And therfore I thinke al men may plainly see what the causes are that let vs holde vs backe at this daye that we can not for sake either the knowne truthe and Christ our Lorde or becom papistes and submitte our selues to the B. of Romes doctrine and religion For the commaundement of Christ holdeth vs backe which it wer not only abominable for vs to transgresse but also it is tyed vnto vs with that extreme perile of our soules And I thinke ther is no man so blynde but he seeth that the B of Romes doctrine is such a one that he pulleth awaye suche as folowe his trace with it maketh them to goo out from Christ our only saueour For he speaketh not of Christ as the scriptures purporte For his woÌ„ted maner is to shewe those thiÌ„ges which ar frely geueÌ„ vnto maÌ„kind by Christ alone elles wher yea in other places iÌ„numerable besides christ The B. of Rome reasoneth of religion aswell inwarde as outwarde farre otherwise than Christ did in tymes past He sendeth men to sayntes and pulleth them awaye from the maker of all He hathe brought a coÌ„fused muckeheape and burthen of ceremonies in to the churche a great deale heauier than the leuitical priesthood was wherwith the vnlearned coÌ„mon peoples coÌ„sciences are miserably tormented Moreouer he teacheth meÌ„ to buy those thinges out with golde and siluer that are frely geueÌ„ vs by Christ and that ought to be hade by only faith What nede many wordes he sheweth Christ and the saluacion that Christ hathe wrought in such places as nother Christ nor saluacion is Wyth what heart than and with what conscience shal we be hable to folowe the B. of R. trade seing we heare Christ with plaine wordes an open lowde voice bidde Goo not out Shal we be so hardy than as to passe the bondes of the faithe and religion that Christ hathe prefixed vnto vs God defende vs from that wicked temeritie brethren Though the prince of the worlde rage though his vicare and minister the B. of Rome stampe and stare though princes that are stered vp by their driftes playe the deuil though Cardinalles patriarkes bishoppes prelates abbottes prouostes deanes suffraganes monkes chanones friers and all the hole rable of sacrificeing massemongers and religious persones of bothe sexes renne out of their wittes for angre and though men crye euery where CouÌ„sailes Counsailes yea though the couÌ„sailes blowe and blustre lighten and thondre neuer so thicke yet that one only sayeng ought to be of more autoritie with vs than that we should be afraide of al the mennes streinghtes power and policie in all the wide worlde and for drede of them to goo out from Christ contrary to Christes commaundement For Christ is that king of glorie the most victorious triumphaunt Emperour that holy sacred Maiestie that is mightie in dede in whose sight all knees ought to bowe For he shall beate his prowde scornefull stubburne enemies in pieces with his yron rodde make theÌ„ a fotestole for hym to treade vpoÌ„ vnder his fete Let vs now steppe ouer vnto the other The wil of God is our Sanctificacion chief point of Goddes will which Paule in his 1. Thessa 4. expoundeth on this wyse This is the will of God euen your sanctificacion or holynesse that you should absteine froÌ„ hooredome that euery one of you should knowe howe to possesse his vessell wyth holynesse and honour not wyth the luste of concupiscence as the heatheÌ„ do whiche knowe not God Here O you Romishe rufflers and moste shameles papistes lende me your eares a litel You I saye that go about to bring the faythe in Christ and the holy sacred doctrine of the gospelles truthe into slaunder hatred vnder pretense as though it neuer required good workes but reiected and forbade them as vnprofitable and superfluous For where we ascribe all the glorie of our redempcion and saluacion to Christ alone and attribute nothing vnto your workes and merites by and by ye burst out in a great rage and crye that we damne al good workes and open a wyndowe for meÌ„ to committe al wickednesse But how falsely how wickedly how vnaduisedly how shamelessi ye doo this learne it not of vs whom ye hate already before hande but of Paule the Apostle that chosen instrument of Christ our saueour For albeit he dothe euery where harpe and beate vpon this one thing that men shoulde knowe they are saued by Iesus Christ and confesseth also with playne wordes that he knoweth nothing elles saue Iesus Christ that he was crucified yet he saieth not that good worckes are eyther vnprofitable or suê‘fluous nor biddeth men folowe the lust the synful affections of their owne fleshe nother doth he appoynt suche a faythe as maye make men to synne carelesly as these wicked blasphemous antichristian Papistes coÌ„clude But this sayeth he is the wyl of God euen your holynesse For seyng Christ Iesus hathe washed vs wyth his owne blood and saÌ„ctified vs and made vs the temples of his spirite the apostle wold haue vs to be after such sorte that we contynue stil in this sanctificacion or holynesse and not defile our selues wyth the filthinesse of synnes And for that cause he maketh mencion of hooredome most chiefly in this place bicause the hooremonger vnhaloweth that holy sacred temple most specially in synnyng against his owne body yet vnder the name of hooredome he will
suffre them to rushe in and to haue his churche somwhat exerciced therwithall For that cause the Lorde calleth the Kyng of Assiria the rodde of his furie Esa 10. Psal 17. and Dauid calleth the wicked Goddes hande and Goddes sweorde where as nother the Kyng of Assiria hade any respect vnto the wil of God nother do the wicked regarde the couÌ„sail of Goddes prouidence But thys louing brethren is ful of comforte that nother the aduersaries haue of them selues any power against vs nor that any thing befalleth vs without the wil of God For seyng the holye scriptures declare vnto vs that Psal 11. 2. Corin. 1. God is not only a ryghteous Lorde but that he is also a most merciful father certainly what aduersitie so euer chauÌ„ceth vnto vs through his couÌ„sail it threatteneth not to destroy or vndo vs but promiseth vs saluacion For how can he mynde the vndoing of meÌ„ which is the maker of maÌ„kynd wold a father haue his owne children destroyed wolde he be content to haue them vtterly destroyed slayne No. But forasmuche as that propertie is most farre froÌ„ the nature of a mortal maÌ„ that is a father doubtles we may Luce. 11. not thinke God which is the fountayne of mercie and grace to be more vngentil and harder harted than a mortall man Why than saye they suffreth he most merciles enemies to fall vpon vs by heapes so why dothe he cast vs in to their handes and vpon their we apones than But what are you good folkes that grunt at this gaire Thinke ye it a wondre or neuer hearde you that a father shaketh the rodde at his children yea Hebre. 12. and that he clappeth them on the buttockes to for their correction Let vs rather loke vpon our selues and we shall sone see the causes of all this gayre For where we being Psal 51. conceaued and borne in synne coulde not chose but be lyke our owne original state and therfore shoulde be the slaues of deathe and damnation the father of heauen tendring vs wyth mercie by his owne sonne hathe takeÌ„ awaye our sinnes choseÌ„ vs to be his childreÌ„ hathe made vs heires of his grace kingdome This ioyfull gracious prouideÌ„â— of our saluatioÌ„ euen the doctrine of the gospell bringeth vs worde of And that is it that telleth vs how we are endetted to god again therfore It enformeth vs how we must beleue it teacheth vs howe to frame our life and it correcteth our naughtie corrupte maners Howbeit forasmuche as our fleshe can not abide to be corrected nourtured it wolde not in this case be monished rebuked corrected nor founde fault at no it abuseth the doctrins of the gospell to clooke his licencious libertie and lust wythall the more careles securitie and libertie it hathe to liue at pleasure so muche the more it foloweth his owne affections and renneth wilde wythout bridling Than therfore it standeth wyth the heauenly fathers iustice that they which wolde not amende wyth courteous warnyng of wordes must be corrected with stripes And yet he sendeth not them for any cause but that we shoulde cast awaye our careles necligeÌ„ce turne in to the right way again As for examples or testimonies of scripture ther nedeth none in this case seing euery one of vs fâ—leth in our selues this corrupt disposicioÌ„ of our owne nature Neuertheles I thinke it not amysse to note suche thinges as haue fallen in our tyme. The worde of the gospell hathe by the fauourable grace of God ben reuealed and preached to the people of Germanye now about fyue twentie yeares and more Ther hathe ben disclosed the fraudes the false sleightes subtil wiles and blasphemous deuises of Antichristes tyrannye All darkenesse hathe ben scowred awaye by the light of the truthe The endles knottes that befor tyme were indissoluble and the most sorowfull boÌ„des Hebre. 4. of deathe were let lose and cutte in pieces wyth this most kene two edged sweorde the Gospell And whan this gaire was ones losed all that euer Antichrist hade buylded in mennes consciences fell sodaynly downe and the vayne dredes of conscience vanished away like smoke That made the Bishop of Rome sory for it straight at the furst begynnyng And right myghty Emperours Kinges Princes and people were greued at that Yea they laide their heades together at sondry counsailes wherby they wolde fayne haue troden downe the corne of the gospell which was than but grene newly sprongen vp But al wolde not serue No. we haue sene theÌ„ fall out among them selues and horribly torne and arayed wyth making warres one against an other which intended to make warre against Christ And now euen the same are at hande ready to cheoppe of our neckes now they set vpon vs wyth fyre and sweorde now they make hauocke of euery thing wyth murthering and smothering But what is the cause Is Christ more weake and lesse skilfull in his science than he hathe ben before tyme Is it bicause he is not hable to restrayne that he hathe restrayned and kepte of all this while vnto these dayes No That is not the mater But we haue deserued this miserie through our owne synnes We haue prouoked him vnto wrathe through our vnthankefulnesse Our aduersaries are weaponed wyth our owne wickednesses and therwith they make batail against vs. And bicause we haue synned in that we haue shamefully abused the quiete rest that God hathe geuen vs now a great while he loketh vpoÌ„ vs his necligeÌ„t naughty children wyth this his present sharp rodde Howbeit this we maye comforte our selues in that seing he is our father he desireth not the destruccioÌ„ nor the death nother the vndoing of vs his childreÌ„ but wold haue vs to ameÌ„de to be saued and to lyue And the very cause of the warres and persecutioÌ„ which the Bishop of Rome him selfe preteÌ„deth in euery place by his bulles is an vndeniable proofe of this mater For he crieth out to haue vs burned bicause he saithe we are heretikes But what heresie is it Mary Sir this bicause we will none of the Romishe supersticion we trust not to what is heresy wyth the Papistes our owne merites we layne to none but only Christ Him we acknowlage to be our head our king our Bishop our only sufficieÌ„t sacrifice bicause we accordingly as the Apostle Paule did knowe nothing sauing Christ Iesus and that he was crucified And although by reasoÌ„ of our wickednesses which forasmuche as we are infected wtall we frame not our selues according to the ê“fession of our faith our heauenly father suffreth vs to be plagued yet that is not the mater that they which are a great deale wickeder thaÌ„ we are angrye with vs for but for this only cause they are horne woode against vs that we holde vs to Christ alone are gone quite froÌ„ their filthy faithles God seruice For where som fynde fault at vs for a disobedience I wotte not what it is a most
and shal make him handsom to deuillishe seruices But as sone as he shall com through to Ierusalem his seate shal be set in the teÌ„ple of God and as many of the nombre of christianes and faithful people as he coulde not begyle with his lies and wylie deceates he shal torment with horrible kyndes of punishemeÌ„t suche as hathe not ben hearde of and than put them to deathe For they write that Salomons temple must be builded vp again by him so as he shall sytte in it and set furthe him selfe in the title of the true Messias and sonne of God And he shall also sende furthe his apostles in to al the world by wose ministerie and trauaile he shall drawe away vnto his syde furst the princes myndes and than the coÌ„mon people of whom som beyng corrupt with rewardes and desyre of rychesse som beyng frayde with threatnynges and feare of daungers and the reste beyng begyled wyth newe facions of miracles and with innumerable deceates shall applye vnto him But as many as will not beleue in his forged lyes he shall slea and destroy them with cruel paines among whom bothe Helias and Enoch the foreruÌ„ners of the last iudgemeÌ„t shal necessarily be put to death And at leinght whaÌ„ these tyraÌ„nous persecucions shal haue endured the space of two yeares an halfe the last day of the Lorde shall come vpon him and make an ende of miseries These I saye welbeloued brethreÌ„ in Christ are Satanes forged fables of Antichrist which that wicked craftes maister of lyes hath decked garnished euen with testimonies of scriptures to thinteÌ„t vndoubtedly that whaÌ„ we haue coÌ„ceaued a false ymaginacioÌ„ loke an other way he myght be hable in the meane tyme to stere vp the tyraÌ„ny of the right Antichrist with myghtie power to coÌ„firme it to mennes destruction vndoyng For thys same cause therfore his drift was to declare him to be among the infortunate people of Iewes and to sende abroade the ymaginacions of our wittes out to Babilon and than to make muche pryttle pratle of SalomoÌ„s teÌ„ple which after the vndeniable sentence of Christ our Lorde shall neuer be possible to be buylded vp agayne to the intent in the meane while he shoulde not once come in our remembrauÌ„ce that hath exalted his heade at Rome in the coÌ„gregacioÌ„ of the faythfull beyng with suche abominable saucy entreprise exalted euen against the Lorde hymselfe hathe infected the simple rude mennes myndes wyth most greuous errours We had nede therfore to be in this case so muche the more carefull and studiously diliget as it is coÌ„uenieÌ„t for vs to marke more narowly this worde Anrichrist and more diligently to boult out the meaning of it so as it maye most fully appeare vnto vs to what maner man that name ought to be imputed Antichristus is a Greke worde and being compounded of Anti which signifieth contrarietie and ouerthwartenesse and Christus wherof we haue spoken before betokeneth him that is contrarie against the Lorde Christ and chalengeth to him selfe by vniuste title and wicked arrogauncie the honour glorie and al offices elles whiche are due to none but to Christ our saueour Wherupon Paule respecting the mater rather than the name calleth him Antikeimenon bicause he sytteth in the temple of God and exalteth him selfe aboue all that is worshipped in the stede of God And by the same compounde figure also the Antichristian men call him Antipapam that is either vnlaufully chosen of others or beyng moued of hys owne folye obiecteth him self against the laufully chosen Pope and wrongfully vexeth or elles occupieth that seate of abominacion To be brief inasmuche as the name of Antichrist soundeth contrarie and against Christ it behoueth vs furst of al to know acknowlage our lorde saueour Christ with al those thinges that ê“prely beloÌ„g vnto him For therby we shal openly see who is the right Antichrist who ought to be rightely called Antichrist Now than as touching Christ Iesus the holy scriptures paynt and set him out vnto vs of such sorte as him that being from euerlasting verye God and of all one essence and substaunce with his heauenly father toke vpon him for our sakes at the tymes appointed the very fleshe and nature of man being like vnto ours in all thinges synne excepte to thinteÌ„t he might be our chief hygh bishop Whose office he hathe so accomplished that in offring him selfe on the altare of the crosse he made oblation vnto God the heauenly father with a perfite and a sufficient sacrifice for the synnes of al the worlde And whaÌ„ he hade fynished the busynesse of our redeÌ„pcioÌ„ on the altare of the crosse he was buried by his owne diuine power he raised vp froÌ„ deathe his body that is to wete the very manhead which he hade taken to thintent he might breake put quyte awaye the power of deathe which it hade ouer vs. Than after warde he caried his body in to the heauens that he might set open vnto vs again the gates of heaueÌ„ which the transgression of our furst parent and the synnes of vs all hade shutte vp before and that he might there appeare before God the father a faithful aduocate and mediatour for vs and might also be in stede of a pledge and a gage wherby our faithe shoulde be confirmed wherby also we beleue that our bodies shall through faithe haue possession in the very same kyngdome of heauens euerlasting blessednesse For which causes sake the holy scripture is accustomed to name the self same Christ our head our highe priest our kyng our saueour our redemour our mediatour and euen the one only waye of life and euerlasting saluacion which the scripture also dothe make good with most abundaunt testimonies as muche as we haue now spoken of For Paule the apostle writing to his Philippianes in the 2. Chap. saithe thus Christ Iesus whan he was in the shape of God that is to saye very God thought it no robberie to be equall with God neuertheles he made him self of no reputacion taking on him the shape of a seruaunt and became like vnto men and was founde in his apparail as a man that is to saye a very man made like vnto vs in all thinges synne except he humbled him self and became obedient vnto deathe euen the deathe of the crosse Again in his furst epistle to Timothee the. 1. Chap. Christ Iesus quam he came in to the worlde to saue synners of whom I am chief c. And in an other place Hebr. 9. he writeth on this wise As it is appointed vnto all men that they shall once dye and than cometh iudgement euen so was Christ once offred to take away the synnes of many vnto them that loke for him shall he appeare againe without synne vnto saluacion And a lytel before these wordes we reade that the same Apostle wrote on this maner For Christ is not entred into the holy places that are made
his father wyth besieging him he enuyroned him toke him by treason he robbed him of his empire and so taking him prisoner suffreth him miserably and sorowfully to dye And these prankes were not played by the commaundement of any barbarous tyraÌ„ne nor by the inceÌ„semeÌ„t of any Phalaris but by the couÌ„sail of the Phalaris was a tyranne in Agrigentine most holy father in the deuilles name Reioyce nowe you Caligulaes be mery you Neroes as many as haue hade the famous reporte of crueltie For you haue one which though he lefte The. B. of Rome is more cruell than either Caligula Nero. Friderich the. 1. you a long space behinde him yet he acquieteth you froÌ„ the infamie remeÌ„braunce of a cruel name euen the bishop of Rome which commauÌ„deth the sonne to bathe his sweorde in the fathers blood And God wotteth the noble feates of Adriane the. 4. and Alexander the. 3. may be also coupled to these rehearsalles which they practiced with most high wickednesse against the very godly and most valeaunt prince Friderike whose sirname was Barbarousse For albeit he hade the vpper hande ouer al his enemies yet it was not in his power either to auoide or to breake the tyraÌ„nie of the popes but after haynous batailes most lameÌ„table flaughtres he was coÌ„pelled ê‘force to fall huÌ„bly to the popes fete to laye downe his necke for Antichristes filthie fete to treade vpon Now who is it that wolde seke any charitie at their handes which haue not learned so much as to beare fauourably with the dignitie of an Emperour After that about the yeare of our Lorde Friderike the. 2. MCCxx Friderichus the secoÌ„de suffred no lesse wickednesse false head of theÌ„ also For whan he made warres against the Turkes they with most spiteful vilany abominable force of armes resisted him and as he with luckie successe warred against the enemies of Christes crosse they with their false driftes droue him backe and layeng at him with their thonderboltes they depryued him also of the communioÌ„ of faithfull christen people and of his Empire and chosed other emperours agaiÌ„st him Which thing was in dede the cause of most greuous batailes engeÌ„dred innumerable muche bloodsheading Morouer in the year of our lorde M. CCC whan Albert the duke of Austrike was choseÌ„ emperour Pope Bonesace the. 8. of that name wold nother confirme him nor crowne Boniface the. 8. him except he wolde furst promise that he wolde make warre against Philippe the FreÌ„che king and dryue him out of his realme And the cause of that warre was this that Philippe whaÌ„ he espied the sleightie shiftes of the sea of Rome denyed the pope al his reuenues of the realme of Fraunce And for that cause that holy father hauing goodly in mynde the precept of charitie to thintent he might prouide for his owne priuate commoditie purposed to set twoo the mightiest naciones of christendome FrauÌ„ce and Germanye together to warre cruelly the one against the other and glad to geue the loking on him self of the destroyeng of cities wasting of fieldes slaughter of men and al the myschief besides that warre bringeth with it so that it turne to his owne aduauÌ„tage But the father of heauen prouydeth better for mennes maters For he put those kinges in suche mynde that they forgate the pope and layeng downe their weapones conuerted the lamentable warres in to a ioyous mariage And here it is not to be omitted that the bishopes of Rome being of the same spirite did vnto Ladislaus king of Vngarie and Polone He hade Ladislau ouercome with wonderfull luckie notable victorie Amurathes the most mightie prince of the Turkes and scatred the turkishe armye and obteyned perforce such condiciones of peace as were harde to be obteyned of the enemye But whan the Turkes hade the ouerthrowe in that skyrmyshe they were fayne perforce and bicause of the condicions of peace to medle no longer with inuading Vngarie and beganne to make new roades in to Italie to stere vp daungers against the pope Eugenius the bishop of Rome to deliuer him self and Italie from Eugenius pope all daungier sent Cardinal Iuliane to Laudislaus to condemne his league with the Turkes as wicked and vnworthy and to persuade with all that christianes are in no wise bounden to kepe promise with infideles And he gaue not ouer counsailing and prouoking till he hade persuaded the king compelled him to breake the league and so to become a promyse breaker Anon than by the forwardenesse of the most holy father and the legate Iuliane the apostatalike apostlelike I wold saye blowing to the fielde ther was most cruell batail renewed which hauing vnluckye successe king Ladislaus was slayne and Amurathes caried awaye a large and a gorgeous victorie This was done in the year of our Lorde M. CCCC xliiij Lo this is the most holy fathers charitie this is the loue that he beareth to the Lordes flocke by the couÌ„sail wherof he teacheth the Kyng rashly to violate his promise of peace and shamelesly to faile his fidelitie that he hade made and not that only but he also casteth both such as be very good to muche simple kinges the people ouerlight of belefe vpon the most cruel weapons of Christes enemies the Turkes so as he him selfe maye lyue safe and sure at Rome To be shorte least through aboundauÌ„ce of examples my tale growe out to ouer great a mater it semeth not necessarie that we should set furth with a busye paynted shewe of wordes the thinges that the Bishoppes of Rome haue in tymes past done against the lawe of charitie seyng that these our owne dayes can euidently ynoughe beare witnesse of the same For loke you dearly beloued brethreÌ„ in Christ vpoÌ„ these present hurly burlies warres of Germany at home wtin theÌ„ selues which is vndoubtedly occasioned by the trauaile deuise of pope Paule the iii. of his meÌ„bres And searche diligeÌ„tly Paule the 3. if it please you whether so much as one token or sparke of charitie be shewed in this dede doing For who knoweth not that the greater parte of christendome especially the hole flocke of them that are right wise and learned men haue allready complayned these many yeares of the tyrannye and intolerable yowke of popes And Emperours haue ben in the same thought which haue with most earnest faithfulnesse and godly aduise admonished them bothe to amende their owne maners and restrayne the ecclesiastical ministers and their lasciuious lyues and to exercice a worthye discipline among them to frame their hole life by But all is in vayne For they like most naughty me wold nother heare the coÌ„playntes of the congregacions nor doo after the admonishementes of emperours bicause they haue alwaies loued their owne lust more than all the discipline and honestie in the worlde Whervpon all thinges set aparte they haue vsed their owne lustes and vicious demeanour with al losenesse of
to al his Canones and statutes We nede not to make long rehearsal of thīges done lōg agoo but let vs beholde the state of thinges that are presently in al mennes eies in all mennes handes Almightie God our most merciful father tedring the treason ruinous state that we haue suffred hathe vouchedsafe in these our dayes to reueale vnto vs through the light of his worde al that is necessary vnto saluacion And yet here a man may fynd an infinite multitud of mē whiche being geuē to the affectiō of their owne fleshely fantasie hade rather be gouerned guyded by lies false doctrine thā by the light of the truthe yea Hearke my gentilmen Iackes on bothe sides to this saing mary to thintēt they may frely folowe their owne affectiones filthy fleshely lustes and serue all vicious wickednesse their trade is not only to be haters of the truthe which they embraced before but also as muche as in thē lieth to psecute oppresse it But if we loke vpō the life behaueours religiō of those same mē we shal see more clearely thā the daye light that it is the iust iudgement of God which Paule maketh mēciō of in this place For the wicked helhoundes are dropped in to so great a folishe fōdenesse are so farre past thē selues that now they haue reiected dephied the true preachers of God the trade of Goddes holy worde they The praise of Maidē priestes heare those mē obey their doctrine whom they see most shameful hooremōgers cuckold makers dycers drōkerdes ful of al kynde of vices yea they require to be pourged of their sines at those mēnes hādes whō they knowe to be the very bonde slaues of al wicked synnes mischief They also wil be taught by those mē whom they them selues confesse to haue lesse learnyng than an asse And yet they are not cōtēt to be thus fōdly madde but now in this daūgerous peril that al Germanie stādeth p̄sētly in they holde with those mēnes entreprises and further their intētes with al their diligēce power yea with their prayers bothe priuately and openly who as al mē may Italiane◠Spanyardes Antichristes garde see are the most deadly enemyes of the common wealthe of our coūtrey For shall we thinke any man to be so folishe and ignoraunt that he can not perceaue what malicious heartes the Italianes and Spanyardes beare to all Germanie Is ther any man so deafe and doltishe that he neuer hearde how they raile against vs They thinke it not ynough to call vs barbarous rude beastes lowtes fooles and dogges but their maner is to burthen vs also wyth the horrible cryme of heresye yea they thinke it laufull for thē to exercice all kynde of wickednesse tyrannie and merciles So they are welcome in to England also to traitourous popishe priestes to hoores bawdes cuckoldes c. crueltie vpon the Germaynes as though they thought the Germaynes not worthy to be coūted among the nombre of men And yet we see these men the most welcome gestes that hearte can thinke vnto many in Germany yea ther be sō that beleue they shal be defended and haue a mery worlde by these mennes marcial powers which haue alwaies hitherto by so many euidēt tokēs vttred their malicious heartes against all Germanes But this is the very iust iudgement of God that they which hate the light of the truthe shall not only be blynde but being robbed also of their commō witte they shall not be hable to see that they see with their open eies nor heare that they heare wyth their owne eares Now must we diligently obserue in this place louīg brethrē in Christ what is our office to doo if we be desirous to escape this greuous hurt of so pernicious a blindenesse That is we must beware that we be not so vnthankefull we must arme our selues also wyth such faithe and diligence as maye worthily receaue the light of Goddes worde and truthe whā God offreth it vs. Wherin aboue all thinges we must beware of this brethrē that we geue not our myndes to our owne priuate affections nor set more by them than by the knowlage of the truthe For who so euer hathe mynde to folowe his owne pleasur shall neuer com to the true faithe Therfore it standeth vs in hande to tame our affectiones and to bring thē vnder the obedience of the spirite And among other thinges this also dothe muche hurt for folkes to hunt gredily after the pleasures of carnalitie and present prosperitie of worldly thinges for that we see is the cause of the greatest wickednesse that can be the vndoing to many a one at this daye For ther be some that coulde be well content to beare the gospell and the glad tydinges of saluacion purchaced by Christ if it wanted the crosse and stormes of persecuciō But whan they see them once com they not only let the most holsom doctrine of the gospell god and greuously blaspheme it but also they dare raile most deuillishlye against Christ our Lorde him selfe But let the inuincible heartie māful constauncie of the most holy men that were our auncettours make vs heartie in this behalfe brethren For with how glad an hearte and with what thankes to God shal we thinke that they wold haue receaued that doctrine of the gospell if any man hade preached it vnto them in the dayes of the emperour Lewis the. 4. Whan they abode the thōderclappe and most heauy burthen of Antichristes curse eightene yeares space like right hartie true men to the emperour And shall we than being perfitly instructed by the lighte of the truthe be more cowheardly afraide of this enemye the B. of Rome than they were Shall it be sene that we are more colde and faynter hearted to Christ our king and saueour than they were to their emperour that was but a mortal man And shall we passe lesse of our faithe that we haue promised to Christ than they did of their fidelitie that they promysed to a mortal man Deliuer your selues brethren from the slaunderous infamye of so great a wickednesse Thinke it a goodly thing for you to folowe the vertuous heartynesse of your elders Thinke it well done to bring mennes soules out of bondage in to libertie though you should sheade your heart blood for it Take it for a goodly mater a ioyous for you to suffre deathe for the loue of your countrey for your wyues your children and for the sauing of mennes soules and for the glorye of our saueour Christ Ther are the fotestepppes of so many martires that are gone before vs and the example of Christ him self that it is not possible for vs to shrinke without to muche shame But aboue all thinges it shal be necessary for vs to pray heartily and continually that he wolde vouchesafe to deliuer vs from the tyrannye of Antichrist and to instructe vs with his spirite and faithe that we may