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
vaine tittle tattle euen the bishop of Rome him selfe ê“ueth theÌ„ lyers by his owne Bulles Let vs behold therfore the exceding Da. 3. 9. goodnes of God in this behalf we hade deserued to be destroyed for our synnes that are bothe haynous many for coÌ„teÌ„ning the worde of God for our vnthaÌ„kfulnes bycause we haue lyued carelesly we hade nede to be scourged but yet the Lorde wil not haue our payne slauÌ„dred with that title Act. 5. but reputeth vs worthye of this honour that his pleasure is to haue vs put in perile for his names sake for the true faithe for religion which is a mater of most excelleÌ„cie and of most high honour so to compt vs among the company of his holy martires O what a fatherly louiÌ„g kiÌ„dnes is this O most abundauÌ„t pleynteous mercy O most riche treasures of goddes gratious fauour he is coÌ„tent to make vs vessels of his grace which had alredy Ro. 9. made our selues vesselles of his wrathe and he voucheth safe to haue his glory set vp the vineyarde of his churche watred and his faithe and truthe testified in that blood of ours which deserued to be sheadde for our owne exceding great synnes Who is it therfore that coulde be weary of this crosse who caÌ„ be sory to suffre afflictioÌ„s In dede our most cruel blood thirstye enemies are not ware of this glorie of our persecutioÌ„ and therfore it is meate and drinke to them whaÌ„ our bodies are destroyed murthered They knowe not that iudgemeÌ„t abydeth them that whan our Lorde God hathe chastifed vs ynough wyth theyr furious madnesse they must be cast into euerlasting fyre lyke an vnfruteful rodde that is good for no vse any more But as for vs it is our parte to saye nowe with the Apostle Paule who shall separate vs from the loue of God shal affliction shal straite Rom. 8. keping shal persecutioÌ„ shal hoÌ„gre shal nakednesse shall perile shall sweorde naye in all these thinges we haue the victorie by him that hathe loued vs. Yea Christ the sonne of God hathe loued vs and like as he gaue him selfe vnto deathe for our sakes euen so dothe he loue vs and putteth vs to honour now at the last caste after suche wise that he turneth the infamie of the payne which we hade deserued in to the most glorious honour of the crosse which we must beare for his sake NotwithstaÌ„ding his mynde â—s not that we shoulde be so tormeÌ„ted and afflicted that al must perishe in his persecucioÌ„ suffring but he requiâ—eth this that we shoulde abandon fleshely securitie expresse that faithe in our conuersacion that we professe in our communicacion And as sone as we doo so he receaueth vs which are now vnthriftie children and clippeth vs harde in his armes and so he maketh his wordes to be ê“ued true which he spake long agoo As surely as I doo lyue I wolde not the deathe Ezech. 18. of a synner but that he shoulde repent and lyue These thinges therfore it is coÌ„uenient for vs to warne and teache the â—ongregations committed vnto our charge that the weake be not afrayde of persecucion that they be not offended whaÌ„ any thing chauÌ„ceth amysse and that they esteme not our faithe and religion therby but let them remeÌ„bre them selues of those thinges that they haue deserued the wrathe of God by amende them that they being turned to the Lorde God maye see him also turne vnto them Let the wordes sounde in mennes eares yea let them sounde continually that the Lorde speaketh by the prophete O that my people wolde haue harkened vnto me for yf Israel hade Psal 81. walked in my wayes I shoulde sone haue put downe their enemies and turned my haÌ„de against their aduersaries The haters of the Lorde shoulde haue fallen like slaues vnto their fete but their tyme shoulde haue endured for euer If men wolde take hede to these sayenges with atteÌ„tyue godly hartes they shoulde not be offended at persecucioÌ„ but should haue most preseÌ„t redresse of al their miseries But what want ther is euery where in this behalfe I thinke you see it not without greuous sorowes of your hartes louing brethren and felowe ministers MeÌ„ haue not yet layde awaye their pernicious securitie of synfull life We are not yet weary of our wickednesse we are not yet sory for our synnes And lyke as wicked obstinate meÌ„ haue not suffred them selues as yet to take curteous warning by the worde euen so it is not possible for them to be afrayde whan plagues come vpon them And forasmuche as we se perforce that kynde of vnbrydled licenciousnesse in our people we se also our aduersaries waxe dayly stronger and stroÌ„ger our selues shrinke become weaker and weaker But seyng the worlde is in this case that we shoulde Esa 1. vtterly despere of it yf the Lorde hade not reserued his remnauntes of chosen people it shal be our partes to applie our diligeÌ„t endeauour that none be cast awaye through our slouthfulnesse or necligence Let vs therfore exercice the talent that the Lorde hathe geuen vs. Let vs wynne as muche as lieth in our possible power The Lorde wyll not fayle them that applye theyr dueties godlye But lyke as he alone geueth the 1. Cor. 3. Math. 3. encreace euen so is he hable of stones to make children of Abraham Let the dauÌ„gerous vsing of our office constrayne vs to haue it alwayes in our mynde and to take hede to our selues and to the hole flocke that the churche susteyne no losse either by false doctrine or by grief of persecucion Let vs not spare any paynes taking let vs not spare for any labours for any watchiÌ„ges no nor yet for our owne life for it is rather to be called a deathe Let vs not spare our bodie for it can not be better spent thaÌ„ about the husbandrye of the Lordes vineyorde that at the later day in the dredful iudgemeÌ„t we be not fouÌ„de companiones of that slouthfull seruaunt but that we maye heare that pleasaunt and most comfortable sayeng Well fare you good and faithfull Math. 25. seruauntes you haue ben faithfull ouer a fewe thinges I will put you in autoritie ouer many thynges Entre into your Maisters ioye Amen Farewel brethren and reuerende felowe ministers At Zuirike the xii daye of DeceÌ„bre 1546. The furst of the fyue Homilies of Rodulphe Gualter concernyng the latter tymes and Antichrist In this furst Homilie are contayned two specialties Furst it proueth by Christes wordes in the. 24. of Matthieu that Antichrist is Seconde it coÌ„futeth the false gloses of certain men and teacheth what Antichrist is and bringeth furthe two places of scripture wherby Antichrist may be certaynly and truly perceaued knowen THan if any man saye vnto you lo here is Christ or ther Math. 24 beleue it not For ther shall aryse false Christes and false Prophetes and shall shewe great miracles and wonders in so muche
that if it were possible the very electe shoulde be brought in to errour Beholde I haue tolde you before Wherfore if they saye vnto you Beholde he is in the deserte goo not you furthe Beholde he is in the secrete places beleue it not c. Our Lorde saueour Iesus Christ as his disciples behelde the mightie noble building of the temple of Ierusalem saide vnto them See you all these thinges verily I saye vnto you ther shall not one stone be left vpon another that shall not be destroyde And wyth these wordes of Christ his disciples were excedingly amased And where as according to the custome of their auncettours and of their owne tyme they hade as yet the busye and glistering gaye ceremonies of outwarde worishipping that in tymes past were set furthe by Moses lawe in great price and euen so estemed them worthy to be honoured and obserued wyth a certain deuocion of coÌ„science they were muche afraide at this so greuous and sharpe senteÌ„ce of their Lorde and maister Christ concernyng the temple WhervpoÌ„ at the tyme that they came al one vnto him whan he taried alone in the mountayne they desyred him to solute vnto them three questiones which they propounded vnto him Furst they asked him whaÌ„ the Temple and citie of IerusaleÌ„ shoulde be takeÌ„ destroyed Secondarily wher in the ende of the 23. Chaptre after he hade so sore quereled wyth the scribes chief rulers of the Iewes he made meÌ„cion of his last commyng they questioned therof wyth him also and of the despeching of all the hole worlde whan it shoulde be Thirdely they required tokens wherby they might discerne aswell whan the destruction of the citie and temple as also the finalle ende of all the hole worlde and his commyng again shoulde drawe nere and be at hande To these three questiones therfore the Lorde maketh answere in this chaptre And wher as he being a trusty teacher of those that his are dothe truly teache those thinges that only serue vnto our saluacion he talketh nothing in this place of the appointment of the tymes ne yet sheweth what yeare moneth or daye these thinges shall chaunce that is to wete bicause the certainly perceaued knowlage therof shoulde make nothing at al to the furtheraunce of our saluation or to thamendement of life but shoulde most specially prouoke vs vnto careles slouthfulnesse and necligent leauing vndone of good workes and vertuous dedes But he instructeth them wyth euident and vnfailing signes by token wherof they might clearely discerne that these thinges shall assuredly com to passe and also he teaceth them whether they shall shortly com to passe And forasmuche as Christ the Lorde is the vniuersall teacher of all the worlde vniuersally we shall not reckeÌ„ that these tokens were geuen to non other but to the Apostles alone for it is manifest that they were geuen no lesse to vs than vnto theÌ„ to thintent vndoubtedly that we shoulde be diligently occupied in the consideration of them and that whan we see them happen we shoulde shake of all drowsinesse of our myndes and like faithfull hearty seruauntes loke for the commyng of our Lorde For this conclusion of his doctrine the Lorde him selfe dothe most diligeÌ„tly treate vpoÌ„ in this Chaptre and in the Chaptre folowing Finally wheras the disciples desired to be instructed not as touching the destruccion of the citie and temple only but also concerning the final despeche of all the worlde and the last coÌ„myng of Christ and required for that purpose tokeÌ„s of sondry kyndes wher by they might be hable to discerne the truthe and the tyme of bothe those maters the Lorde setteth furthe such maner of tokens vnto them wherof the most parte of them maye ought to be applied to bothe the questiones on either parte For like as the Lorde God in tymes past chosed the people of Israel to him selfe peculiarly out of all other naciones and people and coupled them to him self with a most holy sacred couenaunt euen so was it his will that the same people shoulde be an example to al other wher into as in a certain coÌ„mon glasse all people shoulde loke And therfore that haynous and horrible destruccioÌ„ of that same people ought to be a figure of the last coÌ„myng of Christ the saueour and thending of all the worlde which indede to all wicked persones shal be bothe haynous and horrible But in this present place which I haue now out of Christes wordes rehearced before the eleuenth token is set furthe vnto vs not wythout exceading holsom commaundement and faithfull admonicion wherwith we are informed by our saueour what is to be done of vs in this behalfe Ther shall ryse ê™ he / false Christes and false Prophetes and shall shewe great myracles and wonders in so muche that if it were possible the very electe should be brought in to errour Therfore beleue not their false promises and feyned tradicions Herein furst of al welbeloued brethren in the Lorde this is our parte to searche out that we maye knowe fully what this worde Christe is what the meanyng of it is in the scriptures and what it signifieth For therby it shall also euidently appeare vnto vs without doubte who is a false Christ who be false Prophetes that coÌ„moÌ„ly set furthe vnto vs a false Christ This worde Christ is taken out of Greke signifieth the same that the Hebrues vnderstaÌ„de by their worde Meschia soundeth in Englishe anoynted And the maner of anointing amoÌ„g the people of Israel was this that the chief Bishoppes kinges should be anoynted wyth holy oile so dedicated to their offices in so muche that as coÌ„cerning kinges anoynting was the same amoÌ„g theÌ„ that the custome of CoronacioÌ„ is among vs. Here vnto the places of scripture do bear record as Exo. 29. Leui. 7. and. 8. and also 1. Re. 10. 16. Chap. wher the anoynting of Saul Dauid is treated of And of this maner custome of anoynting of Bishoppes kinges that sede that was promysed from the furst begynnyng of the worlde euen the saueour of all maÌ„kinde is called in Hebrue Meschia in greeke Christus in Latine Vnctus in Englishe Anoynted for this cause sake that he is anoynted wyth the oile of gladnesse that is to saye wyth the spirite of God euen he that very chief Byshop and most victorious King which came in to the worlde was made man and in offring him selfe vp for our sakes toke awaye the synnes of the worlde by his deathe and deliuered vs quite from the cruel tyranny of the deuil deathe and hell and so by this meanes he is become our most mightie valeauÌ„t king that proclaymeth the lawes of euerlastyng saluacion and defendeth and reuengeth vs from al the crafty wyles and assaultes of our enemy the deuil Finally lyke as he is the onlye sonne of God that for vs was made man and is the one only redemer saueour of vs all euen
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
what so euer is committed what Synne is against the will of God the heaueÌ„ly father and the autoritie of his holy worde either concerning faithe and religion or concerning the office of charitie either yet concerning the innocencie and purenesse of life For in these three specialties the hole life of a faithfull christen man and what so euer be customly required therunto are comprehended And if we wold a litel more diligently more narowly marke the hole papacie wyth his head membres we shall fynde them to be suche as ought worthyly to be called most filthyly polluted men wyth synnes and euen the very right Men of synne For as touching the faithe and religion which is obserued and set furthe in the papacie it is euidently apparent to be cleane contrary vnto the true and right faithe and religioÌ„ seing it was not taken out of the regestre of the holy sacred scripture wherout the doctrine of all faithe and religion ought to be taken of which mater we shal more fully treate whaÌ„ we com to the exposicion of the thrid title To be brief albeit we wold graunt them in this behalfe that coÌ„cerning the doctrine of their faithe religion all thinges were pure and set furthe according to the sentence of Goddes worde yet it can in no wise be denyed that the popes and their complices doo greuously offende coÌ„cerning the same if we doo considre the abominable sinne of Symonie by Symony the which they do so many robberies one vpoÌ„ an other wyth suche shamelesnesse gredinesse in those maters of God For we se theÌ„ come at lenght to so highe wickednesse by the shameles practise of symonie that they bestowe not only benefices and the rentes of Colleges and Monasteries and other suche like goodes of the church to the possessioÌ„ of most vnworthy persones that is to wete of suche as be of counsail of theyr viciousnesse messagiers coll cariers bawdes horse kepers mule dryuers cokes infinite others beyng nother of honest coÌ„uersacion nor good learnyng and all for money or elles for priuate fauour or auauÌ„tage but also set a sale and offre to be bought for euery mannes money the holy sacred gyftes of the holy Goost remission of synnes the grace of God the heauenly father the communion of the sacramentes the lauer of Baptisme yea and their owne God made of bread wyth the kingdome of heauens and euerlasting blesse and that with suche shamelesnesse that their owne most gredy chapmen brokers are not ashamed with a loud a shoutig voice to praise their wares and to require for the same al maner of money whether it were goteÌ„ in warres or by thefte or by rauine or yet by bloodsheading For they haue called the pelfe goten wyth these craftes no lesse holy than other is if they be all shuffled together Yet all men knowe euen as many as are madded wyth their supersticion and haue thought good to buye their wares that I feyne not these maters either of enuye or malice but euen the truthe of the mater it selfe is more cleare than nedeth any further declaracion in this bebalfe What shall we thaÌ„ saye in this case welbeloued brethren in Christ Must we not nedes confesse that they which haue done suche thinges were in that chief and principal point of al the hole life touching faithe and religion very wretches in all thinges playnly blynded men of synne For furst wyth most arrogaunt temeritie they haue taken vpon them selues the thinges that they neuer hade nor were deliuered to them of Christ Iesu that is to saye remission of sinnes the grace of God the kingdome of heauens and euerlastyng lyfe and blessednesse All which thynges the hole scripture teacheth were redemed with nothing elles but with the precious blood of Iesu Christ alone ThaÌ„ making sale of the giftes of the holy goost they made of the temple of God not the house of prayer but a certayn marte yea euen a tauerne of cheopping and chaunging Thirdely they haue made all religion to be a cloke of naughtynesse and iniquitie vnder which cloke euery body might frely entreprise and doo what so euer he wolde For might not a man vnder this false shewe of religion not only wythout punyshement but also no maÌ„ sayeng wrong he did be an horemongre breake wedlocke be a rybaulde haunt naughty games sportes be dronkeÌ„ fight robbe steale oppresse Christes poore seruauntes sheade innoceÌ„t blood finally to doo all mychief with sweorde and fyre Might not a man that were burthened ouerlayde with all these vices be made free clensed out of hande assone as a sacrificeing hyred priest hade saide masse for him or hade goteÌ„ him assoiled for money The sayeng therfore of Christ our king and priest ought rightefully and according to their owne desertes to be thondred in their eares My house shal be called a house of prayer but you haue made it a denne of theues Among these we Math. 21. maye recken the pilling and rauine that they vse openlye wyth to muche shamelesnesse For the moste rauenyng marchauntes are not content to haue spoiled men of their goodes while they were alyue but they go about to robbe and pille mennes heires their wyues and children also whan they are deade and in another lyfe For to this ende they haue ymagined trentalles sacrifices of Massing for the dead anniuersaries and infinite suche like and vnto them men must nedes either bequeath perpetuall rentes and reuenues in their testament vpon their death bedde or elles their heires must prouide and geue them And what a thing is this elles but the same that Christ obiecteth to the Scribes and Pharisees of the Iewes where he sayeth that they deuoured and robbed poore folkes and wydowes houses vnder pretence of long prayer And who is it that shal in this case acquite them from synne and trespace seyng they bewray them selues by their owne dedes yea and euen by the testimonye of their owne mouthe to be theues and sacrileges For yf the pardon bulles which they offre to sell for large money to men whaÌ„ they were yet lyuyng were sufficient for remission of synnes as they make boast of what nede is it to buye it dayly afreshe wyth newe sacrifices for them whaÌ„ they be dead And forasmuche as they saye men haue nede of this ware that dead mennes soules can not be delyuered wythout them they doo verily shewe themselues to be deceauours in that they deceatfully fraudulently wyped their money from them whaÌ„ they were alyue promisyng perfite remission of synnes whych they them selues saye afterwarde is vnperfite and hath nede of moo and that newe wares To be shorte the B. of Rome is the autor and inuentour of al this gaire with his mysterie workers of his owne religion which haue plaÌ„ted the sedes of suê‘sticioÌ„ that he hath sowed after a woÌ„derful ymaginacion of feynyng and lyeng And therfore we will saye that this furst title that Paule decketh
haue vs vnderstande all vncleanesse that man is spotted wythall For he saith moreouer That euery one of you knowe how to possesse his vessell that is his bodye with holynesse and honour I meane so as the name of God may be sanctified and halowed in vs and in our conuersaciō and not to lyue like the heathens which are most farre from the knowlage of God But this sanctificacion or holynesse is the frute of faithe yea such a frute that faithe can not possibly be wythout it For yf thow doest beleue that thow art redemed from the tirānye of synne and from the fire of damnaciō by the bitter deathe most painfull sorowes of Christ and haste this only hope of thy saluacion life suerly thow wilt not cast awaye nor set so light by this thy saluaciō which is redemed with so deare a price by the sōne of God that thow wilt lose it for that pleasures of thy carnall affectiones which shal vanishe away euē in a moment Besides this if thow hast put on Iesus Christ truly by faithe thow wilt not soile him that is so noble a garmēt of more value thā al the treasures of golde precious stones with the filthie workes of synnes but though thow be ouercomē fall through the frailtie of mannes nature yet thow wilt vp agayne quickly bewaile thy fall bitterly And for that cause the scriptures saye that faithe is the good tree that can not bring furthe euil frutes For inasmuche as faithe is the worke of the holy spirit of God it must nedes also bring furthe the frutes of the spirite double loue that is of God and a mānes neighbour hope cōforte iustice innocencie purenesse pacience all the company of other vertues Therfore we learne by this brethren furst that they are most principal blasphemers against the true faithe and religion that is buylded vpon Christ alone as many as saye that the doctrine of the gospel is an enemie to good workes secondly that they truly abyde in Christ and cleaue cōstaūtly vnto him that boaste of their faithe not only in their wordes and bragge not in the only speaking of faithe but geue them selues vnto holynesse of life and applye them selues to this ende only that they may kepe their vessell which is washed with the precious blood of Christ pure cleane For he can not be called a membre or a disciple of Christ which forgetteth christian purenesse and holinesse and maketh him self the bonde slaue of synne and an instrument for the deuil to pype in Therfore in this admonicion and coūsail of our saueour Christ is secretly comprised that true eternall lawe and vnfailing rule that he wolde haue common to al his disciples and with singular forsight requireth them to frame their life and religion according to this rule Mary it is a prety shorte rule a plain rule easie to be perceaued For he cōman̄deth vs not to beleue them that either shewe a false Christ or teache vs to seke Christ him self and the thinges that are geuen vs by his merite in any place elles but to sticke fast to the scriptures and not to starte frō them one ynche but in all thinges that perteyne either to God him self or to the seruice of God he biddeth vs haunt those thinges with a constaūt and vnwauering faithe in charitie and in purenesse and innocencie of life that we be taught in the holy scriptures to doo Vnto this rule it is necessary that al the constitucions and rules of mōkes chanones friers and nonnes geue place which they are toto proude of in the papacie For who so euer they be that walke according to this rule as Paule saithe peace and mercie be Gal. 6. vpon them and vpon the Israel of God And contrary wise they shal one daye fele that they haue gone to farre out of the waye as many as considre not so faithfull a monicionar and deuise an other rule of life and faithe for them selues to folowe Now are we come to the thrid Of the lordes last cōming and last speciall point of this admonicion wher in Christ maketh playne mencion of his last commyng Furst he teacheth vs in what sorte forme facion and glorious royaltie he shall come and than he expoundeth the condicion and state of the sayntes and faithfull people which they shall receaue at the tyme of the last iudgement Concerning the furst he speaketh these wordes As the lightenyng gothe from the east and shyneth to the west so shal the commyng of the sonne of man be Here we are taught brethrē that the Lorde shall com at a sodayn cheoppe like lightenyng and at such a tyme as men shall thinke that of all other tymes they are like than to haue most peace securitie and worldly wealthe For so dothe Paule in his furst epistle to the Thessalonianes expoūde Christes wordes sayeng Concerning the tymes and seasones brethren I nede not to write vnto you For you knowe plainly that the daye of the Lorde shal come like a thefe in the night For whan they shall saye peace and all thing is cocke sure than hengeth ouer them sodayn destruction like the trauaile of a woman labouring of childe and they shall not escape it These wordes are spoken and written to this ende brethren to stere vs vp to watche and prepare our selues that we may be foūde ready like thriftye seruauntes at the Lordes cōmyng Moreouer the Lorde vseth also the similitude of lightenyng to shewe the maner and facion of his commyng And therby he geueth warnyng that he wil not cōme in a poore estate bassely nor as a cōtemned persone or like a cast awaye as he was whan he lyued in the fleshe whan he spake these wordes but with a mightie trayne in great shynyng brightenesse glorie power and maiestie so as all his enemies shall trēble and shake for feare at the sight of it Hereunto serue Danieles wordes also that I rehearsed before but they are worthy to be rehearsed and rehearsed agayn wherwyth he dedescribeth the Lordes last iudgement on this wise I loked till the seates were prepared and till the olde aged sate Daniel 7. him downe his clothing was as white as snowe the heares of his head like the pure wolle His throne was like the fyrie flame and his wheles as the burnyng fire Ther drewe furthe a fyrie streame and went out from him A thousaunt tymes a M. serued him ten thousaunt times X. M. stode before him c. And the Lorde speaketh like vnto these wordes Matth. 25. Whan the sonne of man shall come in his glorie al his angels with him thā shal he sitte vpō the seate of his glorie al nacions shal be gathered together before hī c. Howbeit these are written brethren not as though the Lorde wold make vs afraide like a tyranne but that we should print these wordes in our myndes and frame all our life after such sorte that at the same