and vanities If it be true that a fire is in Purgatorie and soules must passe through the same tarying therein a certaine time to suffer the torments of spirituall frying for satisfaction of their sinnes it should then follow that there is no Sauiour or els the satisfaction of our Sauiour God man is imperfect and of no power Now so it is that we learne in the Scripture how Iesus is the Sauiour that the father gaue his sonne to be Sauiour of the world this is the subiect this is the marke whereat the Prophets aymed this is the Gospell this haue the Apostles witnessed by wordes writings miracles and sufferings how that we are ransomed by his death and passion that the purging and remission of our sinnes is made by his bloud that the satisfaction he hath made for vs is whole perfect Meb 7. yea ouer-abounding and exceeding the debt he is able perfectly to saue them saith S. Paul that come vnto God by him for it pleased the father that in him should all fulnes dwell Col. 1. and he is the reconciliation for our sinnes and not for ours onely but also for the sinnes of the whole world If he be the reconciliation for the sinnes of all the world with greater reason is he the reconciliation for the sinnes of his chosen for many are called but few are chosen On the other side seeing Iesus Christ is God we may not doubt of the perfection of his deedes and thereupon we know the satisfaction he made for vs is complete and performed Furthermore the holy Scripture to remoue all imagination of the paines and torments of purgatorie after this life warranteth vs that there is no accuser against the faithfull nor any accusation iudgement nor condemnation against the chosen Isay 50. He is neere that iustifieth me who will contend with me the Lord God will help me who is he that can condemne me Apoc. 12. saith Isay Th'accuser of our brethren which accused them before our God day and night is cast downe saith S. Iohn And S. Paul asketh Row 8. who shall bring any accusation against Gods chosen it is God that iustifieth who shal condemne it is Christ which is dead yea or rather which is risen againe who is also at the right hand of God and maketh request also for vs is it possible to heare or reade a word more comfortable and more expresse to deliuer vs from the feare of Purgatory But marke yet further how the Lord himself by othe assureth vs that after this life there is no paine of Purgatorie verily verily I say vnto you he that heareth my word and beleeueth in him that hath sent me Iohn 5. hath life euerlasting and shall not come to condemnation but hath passed from death vnto life and other where he that beleeueth in me is not condemned but he that beleeueth not is condemned alredy If there be no accuser no accusation nor condemnation against them that are in Christ and if we passe immediatly from death to life why do we imagine the paines and torments of Purgatorie fire Dauid assuring himselfe that the Lord iudgeth not his elect prayeth ordinarily that he enter not into iudgement with him and so pray woe dayly that hee graunt vs his peace and that he enter not into iudgement with vs as it is written Col. 1. that the good pleasure of God was to reconcile all things to him by the bloud of Iesus Christ pacifying by himselfe the things that are aswell in earth as in heauen that being iustified by faith we haue peace with God by our Lord Iesus Christ and in another place Rom. 5. God setteth out his loue towardes vs seeing that while we were yet sinners Christ died for vs much more then being now iustified by his bloud we shal be saued from wrath through him If God is reconciled and pacified if we haue peace with him if he is not prouoked against vs why feare we the condemnation of Purgatorie Rom. 10. He that beleeueth in Christ shall not be confounded the Lord redeemeth the soules of all his seruants all such as hope in him Psal 32. shall not be confounded Sith there is no more cōfusion for them that beleeue in God why will we beleeue dread the condēnation of Purgatorie where no cōfusion is no condēnation by iustice can be S. Paul assureth vs Rom. 5. that by the iustifying of one he meaneth Christ the benefite abounded toward all men to the iustificatiō of life but after iustification followeth no condēnation Againe he saith that forgeuenes of sins is purchased for vs by the bloud of Iesus Christ that where forgeuenes is there is no more oblatiō for sinne if there is no more oblation for sinne it followeth that sin is imputed no more els we should be for euer in sinne so for euer excluded out of our masters ioy out of his paradise seing no oblation for sin should remaine which vtterly cōtrarieth the purpose of th'Apostle but if sinne is imputed no more as the scripture in this text many mo teacheth most euidētly why should the Lord cōdēne vs in any penalty satisfactiō In the gospel is declared that the soules of the dāned incōtinent after their departure frō this world do passe into hell as the soules of the iustified in Christ are incontinent borne into Paradise Euen so Luke 16. the Euangelist rehearseth how the soule of the wicked Richman was cast headlong into hell by and by after his death and that of poore Lazarus caried vp to Paradise into Abrahams bosome Luk. 23. And so said our Lord to the theefe that hung on the Crosse by him I tell thee verily this day shalt thou be with me in Paradisetifthere be a Purgatory indeed out of this world through which all soules must passe perferce for satisfaction of sinnes the likelihood is great that this Theefe of euill life condemned to die for his sinnes who had not beleeued in the Lord but for a moment afore he gaue vp the ghost ought to haue passed and tarried there for a while and yet the selfe same day was receyued into Paradise It behoueth vs heedfully to consider wherefore the Lord saith Mar. 13. Luke 12. Math. 24. watch and pray while ye are in this world wayting for the masters comming the comming of the Lord he shall come as a theefe in the night the houre of his comming is vncertaine Math. 25. ye know not when the Bride-grome should come haue alwaies your lamps in a readinesse for when the Bride-grome is passed by and gone into his chamber ye may enter in by no meane All these words are spoken to instruct vs not onely touching the maner of the second comming of our Lord but principally that repentance after departure out of this life is all too late and because the houre is vncertaine we must alway keepe vs in readinesse and verely this our
earth with the rod of my mouth and will slay the wicked with the breath of my lips Esdras reporteth in his vision 4. Esd 13. that our Lord seing all nations arising against him lifted not his hand held no sword nor warlike instrument but cast out of his mouth as it were a flash of fire which finally consumed all nations This is the stone cut without hands Dan. 2. that must bruise the iron the copper the earth Apoc 19. the siluer and the gold The sword that must confound heretiks procedeth from the mouth of God Iesus Christ accepted this sword reiected forbad th' other Th'Apostles neither had nor sought any other 2. Pet. 3. It is the word that made and preserueth the world as S. Peter saith The word of grace is mighty to edifie 1. Cor. 4. hath begotten the faithfull to Iesus Christ by the Gospell saith S. Paul Our weapons saith he are not carnall materiall 2. Cor. 10. but spirituall The Lord cleanseth washeth his Church by his word Ephes 5. When he reckneth vp the workemen and instruments of the Church weapons of Christen mē he makes no mention of robbers murtherers massacrers men of warre and their materiall armes 1. Cor. 12. but he remembreth Apostles Prophets and Doctors vertues healings knowledge of tongs administration of Sacraments Ephes 6. truth iustice peace faith hope charitic saluation the spirite the word of God and prayer When he speaketh of the workmanship of the Church he vseth these termes to plant 1. Cor. 3. to water to geue increase c. Such wordes are in no wise sutable to warlike violence For somuch then as we neither ought nor may build in the house of God with armes and that we must build with the word of God which is all sufficient necessary and commaunded let vs not dissobey th'auctoritie of the sacred Scripture the commaundements of our soueraigne God the conduct of his holy spirite according to th' example of of our Lord of his Apostles and of his Church arme we our selues with the word of God the sword of the spirite with humilitie patience and holines of life build we the Church euery one of vs to th'vttermost extent of his abilitie with these instruments And if any gainstand this our trauail with intent to frustrate our hope purpose to reuerse our worke or to build by vs and not with vs let vs pray and continue with increase of earnest desire But now me thinks I heare you say what neede more wordes these two cases are now cleare and vndoubted the one that we should not enterprise to force mens consciences the other that Clergie men should not seeke the preseruation of the Church otherwise than by spirituall armes but by this discourse or any other I cannot conceiue that the Magistrate is prohibited to destroy the body of an heretike or schismatike and consequently that our king is not permitted to employ his armes and armies against the Reformed which are reputed such I graunt you in some sort that the text of the Euangelist afore cited to this purpose seemeth more to bind the Ecclesiastical person than the Magistrate But that which I haue discoursed to you how the Church from Adam to Christ neuer vsed the force of flesh and bloud and of material armes for to multiplie and augment it selfe and for to ruine the infidels in detestation of their naughtie religion makes directlie aswel against the Magistrate as the Churchman For so much as Adam Seth Enos Noe Abraham Isaac and Iacob were not onelie Patriarkes but also were kings Gouernors and Magistrates of peoples Iosua the Iudges and kings of Israel who absteyned from such violence in behalfe of their borderers had the right of magistracie ouer them as alredie hath bene noted Notwithstanding it shall not be amisse to treate more particularly touching this power of the Magistrate ouer heretikes and infidels But first I take it for confessed that our Ecclesiasticall persons are guiltie of great error and enormitie at this instant in that they manage and imploy materiall armes inioyne and sweare euery one to put on armour for the ruine of the Reformed setting sorth and leading in their owne persons the bands of men of warre yea whole armies About whose heads ye may cōmonly see their weapons flourish with as much pride hatred and furie as the most barbarous Seculars can shew Proceed we then to the power of the Magistrate First the reformed wil answere you for their bookes actions approue that such is their doctrine and discipline how the Magistrate hath a iust lawfull vocation from God to condemne and put to death the heretike and schismatike and that if he neglect or refuse to execute this his duetie being able to performe the same he then misregardeth and offendeth the law of God and his owne calling and deserueth blame and punishment But withall they affirme and mainteine that before the magistrate proceedeth to such executions he must patiently heare them that are suspected of heresie or schisme they must cause them to be conuinced by the word of God in holy assured and free assemblies perswade them pray for them with patience awaite Gods pleasure for their conuersion and after if they persist still then is it not onely lawfull but also necessarie to deliuer them ouer to death they affirme also that as for themselues they were neuer called nor heard in a Counsel free and assured for them they haue not bene conuinced by holy Scripture that when ye called them it was onely to heare their condemnation the Iudges to whom ye sent them were deafe and trusted rather to loude clamors than sound arguments Againe that when yee haue conferred with them ye haue made exception to th'authoritic of Gods word according to which word they haue got th'upper hand in all that hath bene propounded that ye haue delayd crost the disputations conferences as fearing to be vtterly conuinced and being required ye would not returne it seemeth say they that ye could not abide the light of the trueth which was set before your eyes that therefore ye shrunke aside and hid your heads not daring to appeare but with playne or priuie force All which allegations they offer to verifie by the vnpartiall histories and autentike records of this time concerning the affaires of religiō as wel in Germanie as in this Realm and elswhere throughout Europe Now for my part touching this power of the Magistrate I pray you consider that the Gospel commaunds not the death of heretikes and infidels so expresly as the law According to the law they must not be suffered to liue til the morow but by the Gospel patience long tarying is chieflie prescribed in such pursuites as appeareth by the places aboue cited and speciallie by the answere of Iesus Christ to th'Apostles S. Iames and S. Iohn and by the doctrine of S. Paul Luke 9. 2. Tim. 2. Ye
shall hardly finde in the Gospel one commaundement to condemne the heretike to death but ye shall finde there as it were qualifications restraints vpon that commādement of the Law It is written in S. Matthew if he hearkeneth not to thee Mat. 18. tell it the Church and if he hearkeneth not to the Church let him be to thee as an Ethnik and Publican it is not written deliuer him into the hands of the Iustice or of th'Executioner it is lesse written massacre him S. Paul saith in the times of heresies watch trauaile doo the worke of an Euangelist he saith not make leagues and conspiracies commaund and mustre armies dispatch al with th' edge of the sword The number of peruerse heretikes was great in the Apostles time their writings are full of complaints against them But what Did they therefore runne to these extremities of raysing powers to roote them out No they punished a fewe to restraine the rest not by the sword which was forbidden them but by the wonderfull power of the word These extraordinarie actes are lessons for our ordinarie Magistrates whensoeuer they meet with multitudes infected with heresie first to vse lenitie leasure and labour to winne them all if it may be than to punish the Arch-heretikes by death to the terror of the residue and euermore to beware that he make no generall executions For so shal he imitate th'Apostles administration of iustice in cases of religiō nay he shal imitate his Lord God who if he sometimes send sodain vēgeāce on a few for their wickednes misbeleef yet doth he long time patiently abide the conuersion of innumerable others Again how know we the time of Gods calling the election belongeth not peculiarly now a dayes to any certain natiō the gate lies open to all he brings into his vineyard some in the morning others at noone and some at night If the people of God had in old time destroyed all the Gentils they had withall destroyed so many Churches which since haue bene gathered of Gentils How know we whether he that is at this day an heretike or schismatike shall be so an yeare hence How know we whether God will call his children neuewes or his neuewes children He that had consumed with fire the townes of Europe infected with Arianisme for certaine hundred yeeres how much had he hindered the kingdome of our Sauiour the fulfilling of the number of the faithfull seing that out of those Townes the Lord hath taken daily doth take some to finish his accompt If ye tell me that all lewd persons guilty and conuict of other crimes may stand on those pretences to auoyd or make blunt the Magistrates sword I will answere you that betweene heresie and other common crimes th'ods is very great For the heretike put to death without pause seemeth to die in a harde case and few there are of them that make shew of repentance while breath is in their bodie and no maruaile For their hearts are so hardened that they had rather leaue their life then their opinion And can ye persuade them to repent who will acknowledge no offence As for other malefactors their crimes are open to their conscience their faults proceeded not of error in saith but of frailty in flesh That they acknowledge them is one good step to repentance that they are sory for them is another as good that they haue faith they professe in wordes that they die true Christians charitie willeth vs to presume and leaue the rest to God Behold therefore the cause why the greatest penalty allotted heretikes except a very few in the primitiue Church was banishment till the time of pope Pelagius that fate in the Pontificall sea about the yeare of grace 557 who was the first that ordeined they should from thenceforth be punished with death and till that time though most heresies had already made their inrodes and inuasions yet among them were few heretikes condemned to death And to say the truth this maner of dealing of the primitiue Church well weighed shall appeare founded on manifold reasons and auctorities which I let passe at this present Now this discourse importeth at least that ye should not proceede so hastily in such pursuites as ye are wont and yet will not I conclude that heretiks must be left vnpunished But contrariwise do affirme that the Magistrate ought with his sword to smite the heretike duely conuinced Howbeit my former caueat must alwaies be remembred that the Magistrate is not to attempt any such exemplary punishment when it may bring the Church Estate to confusion hauok and ruine in which occurrent our Sauiours doctrine is to be practized that is to leaue the darnell in the field till the day of haruest and not seeke to roote it out for feare of plucking vp or spoiling the good corne that growes among And that conformably to the histories cited as well of th' Emperours Maximian Galerius Constantius Constantine the great Iouinian Valentinian Valens and others as of Charles the fifth Maximilian and Rodolph now reigning conformably also to the proceedings of the most part of our neighbors agreeably moreouer to the maturest and most deliberate Arrestes of all our soueraigne courts geuen in the beginning of these ciuill warres all which histories I need not repeat It were good that the Church and Magistrate agree to iudge and represse heretikes it is true but it behoues the word of God to be receiued into their company and be president among them as being chiefe of the three Crownes that are in the world and to iudge according to the same for somuch as to it onely belongeth to decide all differences of religion for sith it is the seruice of God and his glory which in true religion is sought we must be directed by his cōmaundement and not by mans where they be contrary Most seemely it is that Iustice should mainteyne the Church that Moses and Aaron should be brethren but yet Iustice must not vniustly fauour the Church Exod. 32. Moses must not blush to rebuke his brother Aaron sharply if he forsaketh Gods commaundements to assist th'importunities of mens fansies it must not be that through their mutuall support euill counterpeized the one of them should ouerthrow the other and the whole common-wealth with all it is expedient that Moses and Aaron viz. Iustice and the Church should linke themselues against heretikes in such wise that the Church incurre no daunger For in case of euident perill men must attend the extraordinary hand of God Num. 16. as they did in behalfe of the great multitude which fauoured the strife about the Priesthood For had they vndiscretly put hand to weapon they should haue greatly troubled and hazarded the whole body of the Church they had buried many of the faithfull vnder the heapes of th' other and therefore they addressed their prayers to the Lord and cōmitted the cause to him To be short our loue to the Church as is
made Israell to sinne Micheas and Elias accompanied Achab and Ochosiah both Idolaters Our Sauiour Christ visited the countreys of the Iewes and soiourned among them euen when they were most corrupt and swarmed with sectes heresies as is sayd he communed with Saduces that denied the Resurrection he eat and disputed with Pharisies he liued with Publicanes he gratified and honored the Gentiles with his presence preaching and miracles Th'Apostles bestowed most part of their care paine power and knowledge to conferre and communicat with the Gentiles they built founded Churches among the Gentiles they left the faithfull in the same countrey the same towne the same house with the Gentiles they permitted to the Christen woman the mariage already made 1. Cor. 7. to abide with her infidell husband saying what knowest thou ô woman whether thou shalt saue thy husband or what knowest ô husband whether thou shalt saue thy wife Shall we be so hardie as to pronounce that all these holy exāples be so many faults which we ought not to folow shal we so arrogātly ouerweene our selues after so many holy precedēts as to force the sacred Scripture to speake that which it doth not deliuer vs a doctrine not onely contradictorie to it selfe but also contrary to possibilitie For if it teacheth that we ought not abide in the same countrey and towne with Pagans and heretikes the holy Scripture bindeth vs to a cōdition impossible Into what parcell of the world may we goe where are not Pagans insidels heretikes and schismatikes Th' East and South swarme with Heathnish Idolaters the West North haue so many sects as families In what town in what company shall we hope to find one cōmon vniforme and assured consent of the truth seing among the twelue Apostles visibly taught by our Lord by words miracles conuersation example of life one was found that durst doubt of the Gospell and attempt the abolishing and ouerthrow thereof that banded himselfe against the truth bountie and power of God endeuouring not onely to gainstand God like the Geants but also to put him to death How shall a man sort him selfe with a company well assured in truth rightnes of doctrine faith sith he can not discouer nor discerne the knowledge wills and beleef of men bycause of their hypocrisie and false semblant at this day in all dealings but principally in case of Religion Mar. 13. 2. Cor. 10. we liue in the time that wolues disguise themselues in sheepes clothing and Sathan trasformes himselfe into an Angell of light false Prophets borrow the cognisance of good and true Disciples they that know the truth and dare not speake confesse it are cōstrained to stāmer with the cōmon sort Behold how none but the holy Ghost can touch to the quick or truly reproue thē of sinne John 16. that beleeue not in God as S. Iohn writeth therfore it passeth mās power to discerne the faithfull from the infidell The Lord doth not say that at his cōming he shall finde all his elect gathered in one cōpany but that he will gather them frō all parts of th' earth Luke 17. that two shal be in one bed th' one takē th' other refused two shal be grinding in a mill th' one takē th' other refused Morcouer the holy Scripture assureth vs that the Lordes field can not be without darnell that the visible Church cā not be without corruption schismes without enemies within without that while she is in this world she cā not enioy the title of Triumphant that she is named Militāt so she is in deede for she hath continually to sight against innumerable enemies domestical forrein So saith Iesus Christ that his doctrine shal bring a great cōfusion of miscōceiuing Mat. 10. enmities cōtrarieties between Potētats dominions Marke 13. between the neerest kinred frends Luke 12. within priuat houses families for religion sake S. Paul saith 1 Cor. 11. there must be heresies amōgst vs to th' end that they which are approued may be made manifest Let vs thē leaue these delicacies dainty tendernes for another world and in the meane while apply submit our selues to the necessity of the prophesies whose accōplishmēt cannot be auoided let the exāple of the whole church cōfort vs let vs resolue our selues on that which cannot be otherwise during the tune we shal inhabit this earth Let this counsell of S. 2. Tim. 4. Paul to Timothie sound in our ears euermore They shall after their owne lustes get them an heape of teachers and shal turne their eares from the trueth and shall be geuen vnto fables but watch thou in all things suffer aduersitie doo the worke of an Euangelist and elswhere hold not the disobedient person as an enemie but admonish him as a brother He saith not despaire of him leaue the Church she abandon all but watch and trauaile admonish him brotherlie to the end the let be not in thee that the worke is vnperfect Although th' enemy hath forced our trēches baricados so that he is with vs pell mell that he is come to cope hand to hand we must not flie we must determine on the combat we must r'ally and stand strong to the Corps du gard hard by our chiefetaine within the shadow of our colours Seing then we cannot choose but be intermedled with heretikes we must watch ward and trauaile for our own defence against them we must geue th'onset with spirituall armes their presence must stirre vp and whet our carefulnes Seing the Church is militant it must not geue ground but abide where th' enemie is Who so flieth from his enemie and hath withdrawen himselfe so farre that he can not smite heare nor see him may not be termed militant or one that maketh warre We must keepe so close to our enemies that they see our fires heare the sound of our drummes and trumpets that they see heare and feele the glittering the noyse weight of our weapons Euen so the Church militāt ought to approach nigh the heretikes namelie by charitie that they heare and vnderstand the sound of Gods worde that they feele the vertue thereof to their confusion condemnation or conuersion If we should not draw nigh to infidels and heretikes after some sort or other God would not call so many as he doth daihe by the efficacie of his word which he makes them vnderstand publikly by exhortations sermons and seruices and priuatly by particular studies and conferences Let vs not be afraide of them the spirit of God is not a spirit of feare 2. Tim 1. the word of God is mightier than all things the primitiue Church required not to haue the Pagans banished but onely to be heard of them the vertue of the Gospel was not enfeebled by their speaking dealing and dwelling among them otherwise the combat is not appointed for the decay of the elect but for their
personall succession of Bishops succeeding th'Apostles he hath reteyned the name of Christian and yet neuerthelesse is returned and also turneth those that are his to the vomit and filthines of the Gentils It is written by Daniel S. Matthew and S. Paul Dan. 9. Math. 24.2 Thess 2. that Antichrist shall sit in the holy place in the temple and Church of God the Pope holdeth his See in the hart of Christendome in the Church prepared by th'Apostles he is Lord and President ouer all Christendome which is the temple of God It is written in Daniell Dan. 9. that the Lord shortly after his comming shal be slaine and shall haue nothing 4. Es 5.6 in Esdras that the places which were sowen shall soudainely appeare as they were not sowen the way of truth shal be hidden and the region shal be barren of faith and vnrighteousnesse shal be multiplied on that countrey thou seest and on that which at other times thou hast heard of vnrighteousnes with fornication shall be multiplied in the land Luke 21. Iesus Christ saith that after his visible conuersation with men the time of Antichrist should draw neere that his end should not come so soone 2. Thess 2. It is written by S. Paul that euen in his time Sathan wrought the mistery of iniquitie the beginnings of Antichrist by S. Iohn 1. Iohn 2. that there are many Antichrists already which from thence forth should be to the last tymes Also from th'age of th'Apostles there was couertly brought into the Church the doctrine and glory of men and a litle while after their decease the Bishop of Rome began openly to pretend clayme and plead for the Primacie Presidencie and power ouer all other Bishops not long after he obteined vsurped and declared himselfe chief of the Church and for to manifest publish settle mainteine and augment his power he made many decrees preiudiciall and contrary to the Gospell to the doctrine and policie of the primitiue Church for to cause his power and doctrine to appeare and preuaile euery where he smothered and abolished on earth the power doctrine of the Lord he withdrew the keyes of knowledge like as he would not enter himselfe so he forbad them to enter that would Thus is vnderstanding sled away ignorance and vice come in place hauing regained the dominion ouer vs. Behold againe how it is no straunge thing that the Pope hath reigned so long sith Antichrist ought to begin shortly after the first comming of our Lord and endure long till a time and many times and halfe a time Dan. 7.2 Thess 2. as Daniel saith It is written that Antichrist the sonne of perdition shall list himselfe aboue all that which is called God or is worshipped so farre as to sit in the temple of God as God shewing himselfe that he is God The Pope doth name himselfe God in earth onely but in effect doth behaue himselfe as God ouer all he geueth altereth and repealeth lawes he geueth priuileges goods estats fauours he geueth good seasons and bad by his power by his blessings cursings he threateneth kings punisheth summoneth chaungeth and supplanteth them and that which belongeth to God the king of kings he wil be adored on earth so is he God in earth He saith he hath power ouer the deuill he can take soules out of hell out of the company and dominion of the deuill which can not apperteine but to Iesus Christ and so is he God in hell He assureth vs that he can send soules into Paradise whatsoeuer infidelitie is in them whatsoeuer sinne they committed in this world by his great Iubiles by certeine beadrols of prayers and ceremonies by money therefore nameth himselfe ghostly Father of soules It is God that is our father who by his grace exceeding bountie and mercy hath called chosen vs to be in his Paradise it is our Lord Iesus who by the great loue he beareth vs by his death and passion hath purchased for vs opened vs the gate guideth and bringeth vs thither through the faith we haue in him and which he geueth vs by his holy spirite Thus the Pope is God in Paradise is God ouer all He sitteth in the Temple of God as we haue said for that he ruleth ouer all Christendome being the Temple of God He aduaunceth himselfe aboue all that is called God aboue Iudges and Magistrats which are called Gods in Scripture they can not be Iudges without vndertaking his mark allowing well testifying of it and without swearing fealtie to him lawes and Iudgements depend on him Kings and Emperours are likewise called Gods in Scripture yet he exalteth himselfe aboue them the maner is to kisse the Kings hand th' Emperours knee and the Popes foote he crowneth and blesseth them he maks them promise and sweare fealtie that they will yeld him all reuerence obedience and seruice Lewes of Bauaria th'Emperour was excommunicated for hauing taken on him the gouernance of th' Empire before he had performed th'othe of subiection or as some history writers say for not hauing auowed the Pope for soueraigne Iudge of the variance touching th' Empire betweene him and Frederik of Austrich Frederik the second was excōmunicated for presuming to iourney into Asia without taking leaue of the Pope And to knit vp all in a word there are no Kings nor Emperours but by him for he deliuereth their Realmes in pray at his pleasure he depriueth and restoreth them their subiects at his lust He exalts him selfe aboue Angels he commaunds them peremptorily He exalts him selfe aboue th'Apostles and other Saincts in Paradise at his bidding they must runne trot and sollicite euen as he will as though their Saincting honour and saluation depended on him He racketh gloseth interpreteth chaungeth choppeth and defaceth the word of God as best fitteth his fansie he repealeth the law he disguiseth correcteth enlargeth and despenceth against the lawes and commaundements of God God must not be obeyed but as pleaseth the Pope He abolisheth the Gospell the merite of our Lords death and passion he ascribeth to the workes of men and to the obedience they beare him and his foolish inuentions and ceremonies Th' election of the faithfull belongeth to God no more the Pope hath vsurped and limited the same He Saincteth whom he please he hath arrogated to himselfe the office of sanctifier aboue the holy Ghost He maketh or thinks to make the like stirres and alterations in Heauen as he doeth here below he carieth at his girdle the seuen keyes and seuen seales of the seuen Churches saying it is his ofsice to shut and open the Churches Lo how he lifteth vp himselfe aboue all that is called God Thus the markes which as S. Paule teacheth should be in Antichrist 4. Esdr 8. are found in the Pope See here also the Prophesie of Esdras verisied that the miseries of the last times should happen by occasion of great pride It is written in Daniel Dan.
not what sensualitie concupiscence enuie and infidelitie that steyneth our workes So that if all our actions should be examined by the word of God not one of them should be found able to stand before his iustice But if we iudge not nor confesse them now delay of time wil not amend or abolish their guilt the presence of the Lord how late soeuer he commeth will force vs to confesse for he can well discouer and iudge them Herevpon we may conclude that in our nature is no goodnes that the vnderstanding and good we haue descendeth from on high is brought by the holy spirite that the measure of the same spirit which we enioy in this world is as nothing in comparison of that we hope for is but a skantling a glimse a surface or smattring and as it were a smacke to make vs seeke hope and ardently long for that fulnesse of perfection which abideth vs in the world to come It sufficeth not the Pope to teach that man of himselfe may do some good thing Whether a man by his works may merit ought at Gods hand but he will haue vs further to beleeue that man may do good works inow to saue himselfe to satisfie the iustice of God to repaire and wipe away the sins and steines of his soule of his flesh and of his predecessors to merit not only for himself but also for many mo that vnmeafureable blisse and glory euerlasting which the wit of ma is vnable to copreliend Lo here a flatte contrarietic of the Pope to Christ lo here a doctrine bearing the right stampe of Antichrist lo here the diuinitie that brings the traffike of Church-men in request who keepe shop for open sale of mens saluation and make marchandise of their soules through couetousnes by fayned words as S. 2. Pes. 2. Peter hath foreshewed We did sufficiently deface this doctrine when we proued afore that man could doe no good that for the little good which commeth from man it is God that doeth it in him and by him Howbeit the holy Scripture informeth vs how God gaue his law to men not for to geue life iustifie and saue them by the same Gal. 2.3 but to make them know the vnablenes frailtic and corruption of their nature and to force them to acknowledge it impossible for man to performe his obedience to the maiestie of God to satisfie his debt to the iustice of God and to escape eternal death which should compel them with all humblenes to crie and craue forgeuenes grace and mercie Obedience to the law was inioyned vpon paine of death Iac. 2. it is said that whosoeuer shall keepe the whole law and yet fayleth in one poynt he is guilty of all Now there is not one man found be he Prophet or Apostle Gal. 3. which hath not disobeyed many commandements of the law and therefore th'Apostle saith that the Scripture hath shut vp all vnder sin that the promise by faith in Christ Iesus might be geuen to them that beleeue There is none iust no not one all are vnder sin Rom. 3. 1. Iohn 1. Isay 43. we deceiue our selues we make God a lyer if we say we haue no sinne Let vs be iudged together saith the Lord in Isay count thou that thou mayst be iustified thy first father hath sinned and thy teachers haue transgressed against me or bettayed my cause The Prophets and Apostles haue all frankly acknowledged themselues sinners they could neither accomplish the law nor be saued thereby This acknowledgement of himselfe his corruption sinne weakenes hath prouoked and enforced man to cry for mercie to the Lord and say with Dauid and Paul Psal 32. Rom. 4. blessed are they whose iniquities are forgeuen and wose sinnes are couered blessed is the man to whom the Lord imputeth not sinne Againe haue mercy on me haue mercy on me Psalm 52. for my soul trusteth in thee with Esdras there is no man among them that be borne but he hath done wickedly 4. Esd 8. nor any that doeth confesse thee which hath not done amisse for in this ô Lord thy righteousnes and thy goodnes shal be praysed if thou be mercifull vntothem which haue not the substance of good workes 4. Esd 7. and elswhere if God were not aboundant in his mercies the world could not contime nor they that haue the possession thereof No man can humble himselfe enough before God no man can too basely esteeme himselfe before his most glorious maiestie pride did put the Pharifee farre from God humilitie brought the Publican neere him pride caried our first Father out of the most honourable subiection of the Lord. Pride is the originall and cause of Antichrist and of backsliding as saith Esdras 6. Esd 8. Our Lord God hath fought so openly and with so great care against this opinion of merite by workes that I am astonied with wonder that men who say they are Christians durst thinke decree publish and receiue the same He hath aduertised vs that if we should accomplish the whole law yet could we not merit any thing at his hand After he had declared in S. Luke Luc. 17. that the master will not thanke that seruant nor thinke himselfe beholding to him because he did that which was commaunded him he addeth so likewise ye when ye haue done all those things which are commaunded you say we are vnprofitable scruants wee haue done that which was our ductie to doe Luc. 18. What made the Pharisie reiected but the confidence he had in his workes The most praise-worthie and allowable works are martyrdomes and sufferings Rom. 8. now th'Apostle teacheth vs that those sufferings are not worthie of the glorie to come Gal. 2. Gal. 5. agayne that no flesh shal be iustified by the works of the law that whosoeuer will be iustified by the law are abolished from Christ and are fallen from grace that they despise the spirite of grace Heb. 10. that if righteousnes is by the law Iesus Christ died in vaine Gal. 2. Hee seemeth angry with a most vehement zele against the Galatians who busied their mindes about merits of workes he calleth them foolish in that they would leaue the spirit to walke after the flesh he vrgeth them he threateneth them by infinite arguments he concludeth that no man is iustified towards God by workes This is the doctrine published also with so great earnestnes in all th'epistle to the Hebrewes Then let vs condemne this doctrine of the Pope it exalteth the flesh it placeth the power of flesh and bloud in place where God should be it disanulleth and maketh voyde the loue the comming the word the death and passion and merite thereof the grace mercie of Christ Iesus It is scornefully to abase spitefully to defie the election and councels the iustice and mercie of the Lord it is to despise the spirite of grace it is to goe about to assaile
are one bread and one body because we all are partakers of one bread He saith not that the bread and wine are the body and bloud but that they are the communion of the body and bloud these wordes can none otherwise be interpreted but that the bread and wine signifie the communion of the body and bloud seing that the bread wine can not be the communion for the communion is a thing spirituall hath no being but in the spirite and consideration of man which can not agree with the bread Againe if we must ground this doctrine on the letter the wine is not the communion of the bloud that which is the bloud as you say is the chalice The same Apostle saith in another place I haue receiued of the Lord that which I also haue deliuered to you to wit that the Lord Iesus in the same night that he was betrayed tooke bread whē he had giuen thanks he brake it said take eat this is my body which is broken for you this doo ye in remembrance of me After the same maner also he tooke the cup when he had supped saying this cup is the new Testament in my bloud this do as oft as ye drinke it in remembrance of me for as often as ye shall eate this bread and drinke this cup ye shew the Lords death til he come Wherefore whosoeuer shall eate this bread and drinke the cup of the Lord vnworthily shal be guilty of the body and bloud of the Lord. Let a man therefore examine himselfe and so let him eate of this bread and drinke of this cup for he that eateth and drinketh vnworthily eateth and drinketh his owne damnation because he discerneth not the Lords body See here againe how the Lord commaundeth by th'Apostle that the holy supper be made in remembrance of him likewise he saith not wine he saith the cup. See here also how the cup or the wine is not the bloud but the new Testament in the bloud of the Lord. Further the bread and the cup are there named still the bread and the cup before and after the blessing distributing eating and drinking which sheweth vs that albeit the bread and wine signifie the body and bloud of our Sauiour they remayn notwithstanding in their true and natural substance they remaine bread and wine halowed neuertheles for the vse sake but no way varied altred for the substance Had they bene transubstātiated into the body bloud th'Apostle after the celebration after the participating had not said as often as ye shal eate this bread drink this cup whosoeuer shall eate this bread drink this cup he would haue said as oftē as ye shall eat this body drink this bloud whosoeuer shal eat this body and drinke this bloud True it is that he saith he that shall eat and drinke vnworthily shal be guilty of the body and bloud of the Lord but that is to shew how this eating and drinking is holy and sacred representing to vs the death and passion of the Lord th' oblation and suffering of the body the sheading of the bloud of Iesus Christ the nourishment of the soule This teacheth vs our dutie to take this bread and this wine with an holy and religious reuerence for the question in this sacrament standeth vpon the body and bloud of our Sauiour and not so much on bread wine which are not but signes And here behold why the holy Ghost saith freely that bread and wine are the body and bloud of the Lord. But now commeth a place very notable and vnanswereable a most expresse and pregnant place to them which are acquainted with the Lords voyce In S. Iohn ye may read Iohn 6. how Iesus Christ preching in the synagogue at Capernaū hauing said I am the liuing bread the bread that I wil giue is my flesh then the Iewes stroue amōgst thēselues saying how can this mā giue vs his flesh to eate then Iesus sayd vnto thē except ye eate the flesh of the sonne of man and drinke his bloud ye haue no life in you whosoeuer eateth my flesh drinketh my bloud hath life euerlasting and I will raise him vp at the last day for my flesh is meat indeed my bloud is drinke indeed many therefore of his disciples when they heard this said this is an hard saying who can heare it But Iesus knowing within himselfe that his disciples murmured at this said vnto thē doth this offend you what if ye shall see the Sonne of man ascend where he was afore it is the spirit that quickneth the flesh profiteth nothing the wordes that I speake to you are spirit and life but there are some among you which beleeue not Thus we can not doubt but that this manner of speaking to eat and drinke the body and bloud of the Lord is spirituall seeing the Lord doeth ascertaine it by name Ye are astonished saieth he at this saying of mine ye must eat and drinke my body and my bloud ye will find these wordes much more strange when I shall ascend into heauen with my body for then will it seeme to you a great deale harder to eat my body being so farre distant from you Ye must not conceiue my words so it is not my body that ye must eat it is the merit of the death and passion of my body it is my iustifying grace that ye must eat and receyue by faith and spiritually Iohn 6. wherewith ye must be quickened My words are spirit and life it is the spirit that quickeneth the flesh profiteth nothing We may moreouer out of this place draw many other arguments to establish our beliefe that the words of eating and drinking the body and bloud of Iesus Christ ought not to be taken but spiritually were it needfull to confirme that which himselfe hath so cleerely expounded he saith if ye eate not the flesh of the Sonne of man and drinke his bloud ye shal haue no life in you now to stay on the letter of these termes not take them spiritually would cause a great blasphemy to ensue for how many men are there in the world which neuer eat the body of Iesus Christ and yet haue life in them but our Sauiour in plaine termes saith they haue no life chuse then either to giue him the lye which were blasphemous or els confesse that he speaketh spiritually and that by life he meaneth spirituall life Which being so why do we not also acknowledge that these wordes of eating and drinking the body and bloud of the Lord are spirituall and ought to be vnderstood of th'eating and drinking which the soule doeth by faith specially seing he interpreteth himselfe both for th' one and th' other according to this sense for after he had spoken simplie of life he addeth he that eateth my flesh and drinketh my bloud hath life euerlasting likewise after he had said fimplie that wee must eat and drinke his flesh and his
bloud he addeth ye shal not eate my body being the bread descended from heauen as your fathers did eat Manna that is to say ye shall not eat it with carnall teeth as your fathers did eat Manna for they did eat that carnally but ye shall eat this spiritually Moreouer to shew that this speach is spirituall and that his body and bloud should be taken spiritually and by faith he saith I am the bread of life he that commeth to me shall haue no hunger and he that beleeueth in me shall haue no thirst for there he speaketh of spirituall hunger and thirst and referreth all to faith On th' other side if we take the body and bloud of our Sauiour carnally with the mouth it should folow that S. Paul is contrary to Christ For he saith 2. Cor. 7. that by eating and drinking we profit nothing to Christ that meate maketh vs not acceptable to God if wee eate sayth hee it aduantageth vs not and if we doo not eate wee haue neuer the lesse and yet in S. Iohn Christ sayth Iohn 6. that if wee eate not his flesh wee shall not haue life euerlasting In like sort S. Paul saith 1. Cor. 11. that whosoeuer shall eate vnworthily the bread of the supper he shal be guiltie of the Lords body and yet Christ teacheth vs. that whatsoeuer entreth by the mouth Math. 15. defileth not the man We cannot agree S. Paul with Christ the holy Ghost with himselfe if we affirme not that the Lord and S. Paul doo speake in the one place to wit concerning the supper of spirituall eating and in the other of corporall eating In such wise that S. Paules doctrine remayneth true where he saith that by eating and drinking we profit nothing towarde Christ albeit that we must eate and drinke the body and bloud of our Sauiour as himselfe saith for it is spiritually that we must eate and drinke of which maner of eating drinking the Apostle purposed not to speake at all in this place the doctrine of Christ also abideth sure that whatsoeuer entreth by the mouth defileth not the soule albeit th'Apostle saith that whosoeuer receiueth the bread of the supper vnworthely maketh himselfe guilty of the Lords body for the abuse which is committed in receiuing the bread of the supper is principally considered in the soule conscience and faith Lo this speech of the holy supper is like to that of Iesus to Nicodemus Iohn 3. truely I say to thee that he which is not borne againe cannot see the kingdom of God How may a mā saith Nicodernus be born whē he is old can he enter againe into his mothers wombe be borne Iesus answereth truely truly I say vnto thee that whosoeuer is not borne of water and of the spirite he cannot enter into the kingdome of God that which is borne of flesh is flesh and that which is borne of the spirit is spirit Maruell not at that which I haue told thee we must be borne from aboue the winde bloweth where it will and thou hearest the voice but knowest not from whence it commeth nor whither it goeth euen so is euery man that is borne of the spirit We all agree that this maner of being borne againe is spirituall for otherwise it should be against nature Now so it is that we haue many mo reasons and considerations which enforce vs to beleeue that this maner of eating and drinking the body and bloud of Iesus Christ is spirituall For besides that the holy Ghost hath declared the one and the other forme of speech to be spirituall it is altogether impossible in nature that one body should be turned into another diuers in kind by words and in a moment This cannot be in nature that a liuing body should become of the substance of any other body without death or corruption it cannot haue change from substance into substance without corruptiō without being not that which it was afore Ioh. 12. the Lord himself saith it is a thing impossible The Pope saith not that by this transubstantiation the body of Christ dieth and corrupteth that were to heape vp too many blasphemies and heresies one vpon another and were it so Christ were to die and suffer infinite times Heb. 9.10 which is flat against the scripture For it is written that he died once for all that he made one onely oblation of his body that there remaineth no more sacrifice for sinne that he liueth for euer at the right hand of God His body is glorified it is no more subiect to suffering and corruption Againe we see not the bread corrupt it appeareth after the breaking and blessing as faire and vnaltred bread as afore On the other part it is impossible in nature that a body such as we ought to beleeue that of Iesus Christ hath bene and is to wit a true body can at the selfe same time be in diuers places If the body of Christ is in the bread of the supper it is in places innumerable at the same time it is in heauen it is in earth in sundry infinit parts thereof This properly is to deny Iesus Christ to become in the flesh 2. Ioh. 4. which is a marke of Antichrist as saith S. Iohn Is there any thing more contrarie to sense to reason to charitie to godlines to the feare honor loue which we by duetie must beare towards God is there any thing more impossible tha to breake chew and swalow the body of our Lord his glorified body to breake teare rend it in peeces to make him die whom the Apostles assure vs eternally doth liue at the right hād of God the curse of God hath bene yet is on them that did put him once to death think ye Ioh. 19. that put him to death euery day so much as in you lieth to escape the curse of God If Christ his body is in the bread the prophesie cited by S. Iohn ye shall not breake a bone of him is in great ieoperdie for the Priestes vndiscretly breake the bread without looking where the bones be It appeareth of old that in the law of Moses Leuis 4.5 they did not eat of the beast which was sacrificed for sinne to foreshew that the true sacrifice for sinne should be made by Iesus Christ of whose body we should not eate hereupon S. Paul Heb. 13. after the recitall of this auncient sacrifice saith we haue an altar whereof they may not eate which serue in the tabernacle Let vs consider withall that the corporall presence of Iesus Christ in the bread and wine of the holy supper here below is contrary to th'articles of the faith for we beleeue that Iesus Christ is ascended into heauen that he sitteth on the right hand of the father Act. 3. that he shall come to iudge the quick and the dead Let vs confider how S. Peter saith that the heauen must conteine Iesus Christ vntill the time
that all things be restored S. Paul saith Col. 3. seeke the things that are on high where Iesus Christ sitteth at the hand of God for himselfe had said to his Apostles Iohn 16. I go to my father and ye shall see me no more yet a litle while and ye shall see me for I go to my father and elswhere Math. 23. I say vnto you that from hence-forth ye shall not see me vntill ye say blessed is he that commeth in the name of the Lord Acts. 1. and in another place this Iesus which is taken vp from you into heauen shall so come as ye haue seen him go into heauen if the Lord is corporally present in the bread and wine of the supper if he is here below within the Priests pixe or betweene their hands why beleeue we that he is at the right hand of the father why do we looke for his comming from heauen to iudge the quicke and dead why say th'Apostles that heauen must conteine Iesus Christ vntill the time that all things be restored why say they that he is sitting at the right hand of God if he appeareth continually why should they affirme that the second time of his appearing shal be for iudgement why doth he say himselfe yet a litle while and you shall see me no more for I go to the father when is that time among the Papistes wherein they see him not why do the Angels say this Iesus which is taken vp from you to heauen shall come euen so as ye haue seen him go vp to heauen who hath seen him come downe from heauen to shut himselfe within the bread as he was seen go vp to heauen The Pope putteth his onely trust in this aunswere the Lord saith he can make his body be in the bread ergò he is there Behold a very proper meane to proue readily all kinds of heresies phantasies and mockeries and in deed if we were sure that his will is to haue his body here below in the bread in places innumerable aboue at his fathets right hand and so to haue his body to be spirituall we would not doubt of his power to performe it but we can find no-where this wil of his contrari-wise he teacheth vs that his body is in heauen that in the supper we must lift vp our soules on high to the right hand of God there to eate spiritually and by faith as hath benesaid he teacheth vs that his body is a true body 2. Iohn 4. euery spirit saith S. Iohn which confesseth not that Iesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God such a spirit is the spirit of Antichrist thus let vs ensue his will without enquiring of his power Furthermore if we might certeinely see the body or the'effects of the presence of the body and bloud of our Lord in the holy supper in the bread and wine thereof we would not argue at all either of his power or of his will but we see nothing saue bread like to bread both within and without in and throughout euery part in colour other qualities of nature nourishable and corruptible the host of the Masse nourisheth man nourisheth wormes as bread doth corrupteth and putrifieth as bread which we may not beleeue of our Sauiours glorified body Withall if the body of the Lord were in the bread so many miracles should daily and hourely ensue Luke 8. as would make it past doubt they that touched his garments onely felt his wonderfull vertue with farre more likelihood should they that touch his body feele it but we can see no such effects the Popes Bishops and Priests haue assayed to deriue from it oracles and miracles but still they found it nothing els saue bread they haue chafed thereat so farre-forth as to cast the host into the fire Finally I see no such necessitie for the celebration of the supper that the body should be here below really within the bread no more then in old time Christ was in the labe or at this day the bloud of Christ is in the water of baptisme The faithfull doe effectually receiue in baptisme the washing of the bloud of Christ by faith although nothing but water be administred in the name of the father of the sonne and of the holy Ghost euen so the faithfull may partake in the grace iustification death passion in the body bloud of the Lord by spirituall eating through faith as well yea more cōmodiously then by the reall eating of the body For in this behalfe it behoueth the Spirit by his miraculous operatiō not onely to transubstantiate the body and make it present at the same time in places infinit but also to turne this corporall food into spirit for the spirituall sustenance of the spirit of man which is the principall end of the supper of the death passion of the Lord. It is more agreable to the order established by God in the nature of all things and more consonant to his counsels reueled in his word to lift vp our soules by faith to nourish them with his body and bloud to fill them with his grace and merite of his death and passion to notifie such inward actions by the outward signes of bread and wine then to confound the properties of both natures to make him a body euerywhere present which to be onely pertaineth to his diuinitie to abase his glorious body and subiect it to a world of phantasies profanations and iniuries to haue it broken and torne chewed and swalowed and further to change that body into spirit for the nourishment of the spirit Behold here how the Pope with too-much boldnes and no necessitie aduentureth to commit idolatrie himselfe and to make them grose idolaters which follow him in his doctrine in that he adoreth the bread of the supper euen as the body of Iesus Christ More safe it is to adore it at the right hand of God seing the Scripture assureth vs most certainely that he is there Idolatrie is a sinne too horrible that any man should so freely giue ouer himselfe to the same In such ventrous cases when there is any suspition of idolatrie feare to sinne ought aboue all to ouer-rule our worldly wisdome Away then with this doctrine of the Pope so contrary to th'articles of the Christiā beliefe and all the holy Scripture away with this doctrine that destroyeth the veritie of our Lords body and is suspected ye conuinced of Idolatrie The Pope willeth vs to haue images of Angels Whether we ought to haue images for deuotion sake Saincts and of God himselfe within our Churches vpon our altars within our chappels and priuat closets for prayer He willeth vs to honour and serue these images with such deuotion ceremonies as in effect differeth not from adoration or diuine-honour We find no iote in the Scripture conformable to this doctrine but we find there commaundements ynow most flatly forbidding vs to receiue it Leuit.