his Apostles so plainly spokē that they be nether obscure darke nor hard to be vnderstāde Who also haue cōmaunded all mē to beware of them of the teachers of thē Rom. 16. so to departe decline frō them I haue also set forth his tyrāny his sedition his treason his crafty and false deceates wherwith he hath circumuented oppressed and deceaued many Emperours kinges and other noble rulers to whome Christ commaunded hym to obeye Mat. 17. and gaue him also a manifeste and playne example when he payed tribute for himselfe and Peter And by his owne obedience vsed and practised vnto the higher powers vnto their lawes He neuer gaue him exēple authoritie or power to depose other Emperoure kinge or any other cyuil rules And therfore for this his disobedience towardes God and for all his other iniquities he is iustly called the man of sinne a child of eternal perditiō So that he is worse thē a beast or the most frātike madde man that euer was madde that ether wil saye or thinke that he is other Christes vicare or successoure to the Apostle But rather the deuels vicar and successoure or clothe deuel himselfe For as by the frute the tree is most certenly knowen euen so 〈◊〉 your lordships by these his false doctrines al other his wickednes assuredly knowē him to 〈◊〉 man of synne veraye Antichriste himselfe And all his wicked generation to be the sectes of perdition the wicked brood of Antichriste most contrary to God and Christe Wherfore he most falsly vsurpeth to him the title and name of holy father or of Christes vicar in earth or successoure of the Apostles But moch more worthely and truly is called Antichrist the most malitious enemie and hatefull aduersarie of Christ as both his doctrines his decrees wicked lawes his pride exaltinge him selfe aboue al Emperours kinges his dispensational for sinne to be vsed in the church of God his vanities where with he deludeth and bewytcheth the people ▪ all his forged and fayned holynes his hypocrisis dissimulation sedition treason most seuere crueltie and all other his wickednes and most detestable lyst of both hym and all his fluttish generation of serpentes and filthy secte of infideles do manifestly proue and testifie before all men So that doubtles the◠can not be any thinge more contrary to God and Christe then he himself and his wicked broede do in all thinges Consideringe that youre lordshipe be not now ignoraunce as my trust is what thinge Antichrist is but that you wel vnderstande and knowe that all they that be come in to the church to occupie an misterie office or vocation contrary to Gods worde and Christes ordinaunce and appointementes or abuse his sacramentes contrarye to his ordinaunces or that teach any false doctrine or that take vpon them any of Christes honoure or power be veraye Antichristes which is as moch to saye as againste Christe Wherfore right honorable lordes I hope that God will open the eyes of your heartes that you maye nowe at the last see and well perceaue by what crafte falseed and subtile deuyses you haue ben deceaued entised to serue Antichrist in the stede of Christe the deuel in the stede of God to folowe false superstition in the stede of Christes true religion hypocrisie and vanitie in the stede of the christen veritie And in conclusion that you maye well vnderstande that you of al mē haue ben most blinded in your iudgemētes most fylthilie corrupted and your vnderstandinge and senses most shamfully deluded begyled and bewitched Therfore my good Lordes nowe renewe youre wits and vnderstandinges And knowe you certenly that all your lordly lorde bisshops be of the naturall broede of Antichriste Who with all subtiltie policie and falsheed studie and labour to obscure the light of Gods worde why they make the nobles partakers and to subuerte the ordenaunces of Christ and of his Apostles and obstinatly defēde their errours and euill doinges and make you their ministers to murther your brethern for their faith against your conscience to wrappe you and your posteritie in Gods displeasure with them And because your lordships shall not be deceaued in them I haue geuen you the comon token signe and marke wherby you al men can not but know them to be against Christ and his worde Where Christe sayde to Peter feede feede feede Which is to saye teach teach teach They take teachinge for no parte of their office but only to multiplie a sorte of blinde ceremonies to bringe the people from knowleage of Christe and to kepe them vnder in ignorance with crueltie And that they maye bringe that to passe they laboure to be lordes and to haue temporal offices contrary to Gods worde sayenge The kinges of the nations reigne ouer them Luc. 22 and they that beare rule ouer them be called gratious lordes But you shall not be so That is you shall not take upon you to haue ciuill gouernaunce and rule ouer the people ne yet to be called gratious lordes S. Peter commaundeth all bishops and soch as haue spirituall charge of soules committed to them to feede the flocke of Christe willingly as Christe commaunded him and not to be lordes ouer the parishes but euen as they were one of the flocke Yet your lordships well perceaue that oure bishops not only take to them selfes the name of lorde and gratious lorde but also procure to haue both cyuell gouernaunce and rule ouer the people as to be Lorde chaunceloure Lorde presidente and to haue the hearinge of testamentary causes of whoredōe of dyuorses of slaūders which be no spirituall matters Except a man will so call them bycause that they that boast to be spirituall only do most vse them And as for preachinge where with Christe chiefly chargeth his ministers is the least poynte of their charge But they must attēde vpō bysshoppinge of childern christeninge of belles of churches churchyardes altares and soch other baggage and abominations as were neuer commaunded of Christe nor yet practised not knowen of his Apostles Wherby they maye easlye be knowen not to be of Christ but against Christ and very Antichristes In lyke maner the persones vicars and curates that are admitted by them to haue enioye and occupie the commoditie and profite of any spiritual benefice wherunto perteyneth cure and charge of soules do not diligently reache the Lawe the Gospell but nosell the people with longe Matenses Masses and Euen songes in a straūge tonge And where ryche parisshes be they rocke them with mirrye singinge and pipinge with soch guegawes to please them withall cleane contrarie to Gods worde and Christes commaundement which sayeth As my Father sent me 〈◊〉 20. euen so do I sende you But his Father dyd sende him to preache as it is playne Esaye 61. Mark 1. Luke 4. with the whiche comaūdemēt of Christ geuen to all that haue charge of soules nother Emperoure Kinge nor Quene maye lawfully
and false religion And a nother doctrine and religion receaued to the former religion and doctrine directe and manifest contrary some mē therfore wil doubte whether the first doctrine and religiō be godly or the later doctrine and religion receaued be the truer and better to be folowed I will commende vnto youre godly remembraunces right honorable lordes not such doctrines as any new writers call of their awne heedes false doctrines and doctrines of deuyls or the doctrines of lyenge masters But the same doctrines that Christ and his Apostles expresly call false doctrines and the doctrines of Deuyls So that your lordships nor any other shall haue any iust cause to be ignorante what be the doctrines of deuyls and who be wycked preachers and lyenge masters the wicked secte of Antichrist who also is the heed Antichrist The people serue Antichrist and yet do not knowe hym Although doubtles righte honorable lordes I well perceaue the multitude of the worldly people so plaged of God with blindnes and hardnes of hearte that all though they with all dyligence studie and obedience dayly do serue Antichriste the greatest aduersary of God and of Christe yet do they not knowe nor vnderstande hym to be Antichriste christ nor do perceaue his crafty illusiōs his hypocrisie and disguysed fashons So that except a man consider beholde hym assuredlye by the light of Gods worde he shal neuer vnderstande espie nor perceaue hym although he had a subtyle and pregnant witte as clere and wel seyng eyes and as craftye a brayne as euer had man He cōmeth in so disguysed vnder the colour of holynes Yea and that in the name of Christ vnder the pretence to condemne al false and erronious doctrines and heresies Which thing all Christen princes and all other good men wil be most diligent and glad to do But herin he most subtilie and shamefully begileth al men For he and his adulterouse generation will chalenge to him and to them autoritie power only geuen to determe discerne and to iudge what is heresie errour Antichrist in the name of heresie condēneth the trueth what is false doctrine And by that meanes be the doctrine neuer so true and godly yf it soūde any thinge against his vsurped power his pryde his profite his vngodlye decrees and lawes made in generall Counseils and other his false and wicked determinations and iudgementes he will condemne it for heresie And he that preacheth it hym will he accurse callyng him the enemie of God and of al the holy church a seditious person not worthye to dwell in any comen wealth But yf Emperours Kynges other ciuill gouernours rulers wolde examin his doctrines and trye them by the light of Gods heauenly worde and proue all his other procedinges how they agree with the same They should then sone perceaue vnderstāde knowe that he himselfe although he calleth him selfe the head of the church and Christes vicar vpon earth the successour of the Apostles yet should they fynde and proue hym to be the head Antichrist the Arch-heretique the man of Synne and childe of perdition And al his sectes to be the sectes of perdition that departe from the fayth that also attende to the spirites of errour denyeng the Lorde that bought them But for as moch right honorable lordes as no man can wel put any diuersitie betwixt two extreme cōtraries except he perfitly vnderstande and knowe bothe the contraries I will first describe and set forth vnto your good lordships Christ who is contrarye to that wicked Antichrist according as the holy scriptures Ioh. 5. which as Christ sayeth beare true witnesse of hym And then I will also paynt in his lyuely colours that Arch heretike Antichriste that extreame contrarye to Christe But no nother wyse then Christ and his Apostles in the holy scriptures haue reueled and euidētly expressed and declared hym So that the one contrarye compared and set nere to the other contrarie shall expresse declare and set forth the other more euidently playnlye and more aparauntly Fyrst Christe is as muche to saye Christ as annoynted as Iesues Christe was of God the father not with oyle creame coniured of our Bishoppes but with the holy Ghoste who in the holy scriptures Psal 44 and. 88. is called the oyle of gladnes by whome God enlighteneth enstructeth and teacheth his holy Churche of the which he hath appointed and authorised Christe to be the Supreme head Kinge Phil. 2. Hyghbisshop and euerlasting Priest Who beyng equall with God his father dyd vouchsafe of his mere mercy good wil to descende from heauen toke on hym our vile nature not forsaking his diuine nature but ioyning them together both natures remayning not diminished hurt or altered became a perfite man in all natural miseries like vnto vs excepte only synne Ro. 5.8 Col. 2. And euen then when we were his enemies he reuyued vs and offered hymself to God his father vpon the crosse as a sacrifice to be slayne for the redēption of oure sinnes Heb. 10 By which this his only one sacrifice ones performed for vs not for a litle season but for euer he hath made holy and perfite them that be and shal be made holy and perfite And by this meanes he hath reconcyled vs to God his father Eph. 2. pacifienge his fathers wrath that then was against vs thorough his bloodshedinge and paynfull death And he that was without synne became a ful 2. Cor. 5. iust and perfite satisfaction for oure synnes Eph. 2. Col. 2. And hath taken awaye the curse and condemnation of the lawe delyueringe vs from the cruell curse and iudgemente therof And after thorow his awne power he ouercame death and ascended to heauen where he continueth oure aduocate mediatoure and only sauioure from oure synnes Ioan. 10. Oure onely waye and doore by the which we must enter into eternall ioyes To whom only we be boūde to geue the honoure and thankes for our redemption from synne hell Ezech. 43 Luk. 2. and death euerlastinge And therfore to obeye and serue hym all the dayes of oure life in holines and righteousnes accordinge to oure callinge Herin haue I described and declared to your honorable lordships oure redemer and only sauioure Iesu Christe and his only office and benefites most mercifully exhibeted and done to vs. By the which description your Lordships maye / with moch more facilitie ease haue certayne sure vnderstanding knowlege of Antichrist the other extreme contrary to Christe This Antichriste must not be vnderstanded and taken righte honorable Lordes for one naturall man what is Antichrist that by nature is as all other be a miserable synner or that he shuld be a certen wicked persone that shuld be begotten betwixt a Freere and a Nonne or betwixt a Monk and a Nonne according to olde wiues fables and winter tales But this name Antichriste is the name of
a misterie and office perteininge to a misticall bodie wherof the principall minister is called the chief Antichriste as all the other membres of the same faction misterie and office be also Antichristes All which receaue power autoritie and office from their heed Antichriste that in al his doctrines maners and lyuinge is mere contrary to Christ For euen as that congregation is the misticall body of Christe wherof he is the supreme heed that hath receaued the true and sincere preachinge of the law and of the gospel and lyue accordinge to the preachinge of the same and also haue the sacramentes duely administred vnto them accordinge to Christes institution of the same The description of Antichriste Euen so is that malignaunt church and congregation the misticall bodie of Antichriste that hath not amongest them the true and sincere preaching of the Law and of the Gospel ne yet the sacramentes dulie administred vnto them accordinge to Christes institution of them ne yet accordinge to the practise of the Apostles nor of the primatiue church nor the same can be content to lyue according to the rule and doctrine of Gods heauenly worde nor suffer any other to lyue accordinge to the same but will compell theÌ„ with tormentes to receaue a new religion that must consiste other in vayne thinges which be of no commoditie or profit to any man ether spirituall or temporal or els it is manifest wicked and repugnauÌ„t to Gods holy worde And first touchinge their vaine thinges and deed ceremonies of their religion that be of no commoditie or profite to any man excepte onlye to the sluttishe secte of perdition I note all their popishe traditions of confirmacion of yonge children with oyntinge of oyle and creame and with a ragge knitte aboute the necke of the yonge babe the christeninge of belles the halowinge of oyle and creame the halowinge of churches of churchyardes of chalices of vestimeÌ„tes of aultares of aultare clothes of salte of bread of fiere of asshes of water of candles of palme stickes Iudas bels with candels bloweÌ„ out at the ende of euery Psalme and lesson crepinge to the crosse with egges and apples dispelinge with a white rodde wasshinge of aultares Of all which thinges the holy scriptures commaunde not one to be done although in this churche of Antichrist they be straytly coÌ„mauÌ„ded to be vsed And yet I know no wise man that wil or can prayse the comoditie or profite that cometh therof to any man but only to the priest that hath the caÌ„dles egges c. that be offred vnto hym And although ther riseth not any coÌ„moditie or profite other spiritual or teÌ„poral to any man yet as I haue said they be straytly coÌ„mauÌ„ded to be obserued / coÌ„trary to Gods coÌ„maunÌ„demeÌ„t that sayeth Deut. 12 That which I commauÌ„de you that only take hede do to the Lorde Putth on nought therto Not withstandinge which commaundemente / because Antichriste wold partly set forth his awne nature and propertie that is to be contrary and disobedieÌ„t to God and Christ he hath erected these new holy thinges neuer of God commaunded And therfore as they be not of God so be they of no commoditie or profite to any of the people of God why Antichrist commauÌ„deth vanities But yet ther is some consideration wherfore Antichriste hath commaunded these vayne thinges to be done One is that he wold haue his filthy generation to be had in estimation of the worldly babes because that they haue receaued soch holines from his holy fatherhood that they maye sanctifie and make holy that God hath halowed allready lyke as the thinges of Gods creation were not sufficientlye halowed thorowe his eternall worde wherby he created them Exalteth not he himself aboue God honorable lordes that taketh vpoÌ„ hym to adde holynes to that which God hath sufficiently halowed Be not these his halowinges of Gods creatures a necessary point perteininge to the vocation of a spirituall pastoure / that hath cure and charge of soules Or be they not necessary thinges to be done of a Christen man / towchinge his vocation and dutie to be done towardes God and towardes his neighbour And although they be worthy rather to be laghed at and mocked / yet by these his vanities he occupieth the tyme hat shuld be spente in the instruction teachinge the people in the lawe and the Gospell Moreouer by these as also by many other their doinges / they declare their diligente cure and studye that they haue to obeye Gods commaundement geuen to them to instructe and to teach the people Gods worde that leaue the gospell vnpreached and occupie the heartes and mindes of the people with soch trifles and vanities But because these vayne thinges do not sufficiently reuele this wicked Antichriste and his secte That he may be knowen of all men I will commende to youre memories honorable lordes some of his false doctrines Not soch as I of myne awne brayne call false doctrines and the doctrines of deuels and of soch as departe from the fayth and be lyeng masters and geue eare to the spirites of erroure But soch doctrines as Christe and his Apostles note to be the doctrines of deuels and of soch as by the same doctrines shal deceaue 〈◊〉 and shall cause many to folow the spâ—…tes of erroure So that euery man that heareth soch doctrines preached maye boldlye saye that the preachers therof be false preachers and sectes of perdition that they be the adulterouse generation of Antichrist that these many yeres haue deceaued and bewitched the world And although Christ and his Apostles haue manifestlie declared and euidently set forth to the world the sayd doctrines to be the doctrines of deuels and of them that departe from the faith and the very selfe same doctrines wherby Antichriste and his filthy secte shulde deceaue many Yet soch hath ben the blindnes of the worlde that they can not vnderstande nor perceaue those doctrines to be the same wicked doctrines wherof Christ and his Apostles admonished theÌ„ al men to beware not only because he coloureth his doctrines with false paynted gloses Ioan. 3. but also because the world loueth darkenes moare theÌ„ the lighte And also to verifie Christes wordes of prophesie to be truely fulfilled in them saying I am come in my fathers name and you receaue me not Iaon 5. But yf a nother shal come in his awne name him wil you receaue Now touchinge the false doctrines of Antichriste Sainte Paul sayeth 1. Tim. 4 The spirite manifestly sheweth that in the last tymes certen men shal departe or go awaye from the faith attending or geuing eare to the spirites of erroure and doctrines of deuels prohibitinge to mary and commaunding to absteyne from meates that God hath created to be receaued of them that beleue and know the trueth with thankes geuinge By this doctrine of sainte Paul manifestlye appereth honorable Lordes that the forbiddinge of mariage is the doctrine of
false and wicked doctrines Yet a false doctrine inuented only therby to maynteyne a nomber of ydle harlottes and to lead innumerable soules thorow a false fayeth and vayne trust in to hell This is his doctrine of purgatorie the pyke purse of all Christendome And although the holy gooste sayeth / that by mercy and sayth synnes be purged Yet Yet hath this Antichrist fouÌ„de out a prison Purgatorye which he calleth Purgatorie therin to punysh soules vntill other he or some of his marke must make a sacrifice for his soule in his ydolotrous masse But it were no good policie to trust to moch to their sacrifice because ther is no mention therof made in any place of the holy scripture Nor yet is it wisdome to trust moch to their prayers because the prophete sayth that the prayer of the wicked is not wel hearde of God Psa 108. but rather to synne Wherfore it is beste for a christen man to trust vnto Gods mercy and not to popish sacrifices nor prayers which be nother mercy nor faith And we be sure that nother the mercy of God nor faith in Christe be in the Popes haÌ„des to distribute where it pleaseth him Wherfore he can not purge soules neither of their sinnes nor of the peynes dew for the same by Gods iudgemente It belongeth only to God to purge soules froÌ„ their sinnes As the prophete sayeth Psal 48. No maÌ„ can delyuer his brother nor make agreamente for him to God for it costeth more to redeme their soules so that ye must let that alone for euer Ioan. 3. Ioan. 1. Ro. 8. Christe sayeth he that beleueth hath now eternal lyfe is the sonne of God coheire with Christe to whome God hath promised remission of synnes frely for Christes sake Therfore the Pope shall do him to moch wronge to ponish him for his sinnes to whoÌ„ God hath forgeueÌ„ theÌ„ And if he were a true vicar to God Christe he wold not so cruelly ponish his masters childern nor louinge seruantes But that we maye not trust vnto this popish purgatory wherof ther is no mention made in the scriptures Let vs resorte vnto the holy scriptures wherin we may heue a sure hope of a true purgation of oure sinnes S. IoaÌ„ sayeth 1. Ioh. 1. If we walke in the lighte eueÌ„ as he is in the light theÌ„ haue we felowship with him And the blood of Iesu Christe his sonne clenseth vs froÌ„ al sinne Here maye all ChristeÌ„ meÌ„ haue sure coÌ„fideÌ„ce that if they walke in the lighte of Gods worde that theÌ„ Christes blood purgeth theÌ„ froÌ„ al their sinnes But many persons the more it is to be lamented so walck in the darkenesse of sinne trust to haue helpe thorow sacrifices made masses that they can neuer come to Purgatory but go assuredly to hel wher no purgatioÌ„ of sinne can be because Christes senteÌ„ce iudgement is geueÌ„ that he that beleueth not is alredy coÌ„deÌ„ned And the holy scriptures saye where the tree falleth there he shal lye whether it be at East west North or South Eccle. 11. Be not therfore deceaued honorable lordes nor trust to this false doctrine of purgatorie that sinnes shuld be purged with fyre A Christen man wold not put fyre in the stede of Christes blood where with oure sinnes be purged only As Paul sayeth Hebr. 1. Christe is the brightnes of the glorie of his father and veray ymage of his substaunce bearinge vp all thinges with the worde of his power that hath in his awne person purged oure sinnes Excepte therfore oure holy father will proue himselfe to be the natural sonne of God euen Christe hymselfe he purgeth not oure sinnes Apo. 1. It is Christe that so loued vs that he washed vs in his hearte blood sayeth Sainte Iohn Considering right honorable lordes that I haue called to youre memories certen of Antichristes false doctrines which I of myne awne herd do not name to be doctrines of deuels doctrines of lyenge masters and of subtile deceauers and of them that departe from the faith but out master Christ and his apostles to whom all christen men 〈…〉 geue credit calleth them so the preachers of the same false Apostles and soch as with their false doctrines shall deceaue many Of whoÌ„ Christe admonisheth you to beware Mat. 24. and the Apostle desireth you to marke well to take hede of them and to decline or departe from them For they serue not Christ the Lorde but their belly Ro. 16. And yet notwithstandinge these louinge admonitions and warninges geuen vnto you not by lighte preachers but by Christe hymselfe and by his Apostles thesame doctrines be dayly taughte preached / alowed and malitiouslye defended with you Therfore haue I accordinge to my boundeÌ„ dutie set theÌ„ forth that you might beware of them and of the preachers of them So that ye maye auoyde the plage of God that hangeth ouer vs for oure departinge from Christe and from his true doctrines vnto the seruice and obedience of Antichriste and of his false doctrines / which be mere and plaine contrary to Christe and his doctrines By the which condition and sure marke youre lordships maye well knowe them euer And bycause I haue rehersed so many of Antichristes false doctrines that al men maye wel discerne and iudge the residue of his false doctrines by them that I haue here written I will now directe my penne to expresse and declare a certen assured signe and token geuen by Daniel and also by Christe of the tyme wherin Antichrist shuld come and rage againste Christe Mat. 24. Christe warneth vs to loke for him when we shall se abhomination of desolation stande in the holy place For the true declaration of the which texte it is to be noted honorable lordes that the Apostle calleth vs the temple of God sayenge 1. Cor. 3. The temple of God is holy which be you Consideringe that we be the temple of God and the holy place What more abhomination of desolation can ther be in the holy place then to exile God out of his temple and holy place not only by the workinge of manifolde sinnes fylthynes and detestable wickednes wherof was neuer moare plentie vsed but also in the stede of God to receaue Antichriste the men of synne and childe of perdition as Paul nameth hym Is not this to put man in Gods stede wheÌ„ we trust to receaue remission of sinnes and eternall lyfe of the Romish Antichriste and that in perchmeyne sâ—â—â—nes coÌ„sideringe that we heare not him preach any gospell to vs wherby oure sinnes shuld be forgeuen vs nor yet knoweth he any of our sinnes If he can forgeue vs oure sinnes without hearinge oure sinnes nombred vnto him and without speakinge with vs wherfore wyl not our priestes forgeue vs oure sinnes excepte they must heare them tolde in to their eares Is not this abomination of desolation standinge in the holy place To geue ouer
the holy scriptures written vpon the church walles in a speach that the people do vnderstande and perceaue be erected and set vp â—erued ymages accursed of God with the makers of them So that in the stede of lighte and knowlege is brought in and traded darknes and ignorancie which he the greatest policies and subtile craftes practised by Antichrifle and by all his filthy secte wherby he and they maye bringe soules to hell Now it resteth to be noted right honorable lordes wherfore the Apostle nameth Antichrist the man of sinne rather then a sinner as al men be conceiued and borne in sinne Paul nameth him the man of sinne because from him as from a founteyne and heed well springe floweth and springeth all notable and greate sinnes and wickednes as false doctrines wicked lawes and decrees dispeÌ„sations for buggery fornication and all kinde of lust and lechery for Symony and vsury Wherby all men be drawen and leade from their faith in God and in Christe in to a false faith and trust in most vayne tryfles and vanities wherby he practiseth to bringe innumarable soules to hell Also right honorable lordes where as God hath commaunded all men to be obediente to the higher powers Rom. 12. 1. Petr. 2 as to kinges most excellente or to soch as be set in authoritie Notwithstanding soch coÌ„maundement geuen from God yet Antichriste myndinge to declare himselfe and his secte to be aduersaries to God and Christe hath resisted and circumuented many Emperours also kinges whome thorow most detestable treason sedition and intestine warre in their Empires Realmes and dominions he hath deposed and depriued of their Empires and kingedomes to the great dishonour and disoledieÌ„ce of God to the effusioÌ„ of moch christen blood the lameÌ„table desolation of many wydowes and miserable orbatinge of many Orphanes and fatherles childerne As the deposition of Chelpericus beinge French kynge from his kingdome who was naturally borne and descended from the noble lynage and house of the kinges of Fraunce and in his stede the erectinge and makinge kinge Pipinus which was not borne of any noble house nor of the lynage of kinges of Fraunce The deposition and putting downe the Emperours Frederike from his Empire The deposition also of Otho kinge of the Longebardes and of many other do manifestly beare wytnes Amongest the which I will coÌ„meÌ„de vnto your lordships memories one lameÌ„table historie that is this When Henrich the fourth Emperour of that name attempted to haue the electioÌ„ of the Romish bishop as his noble progenitours before him had One HyldibraÌ„de a moÌ„ke beinge then the Romish bishop and named him selfe Gregory the seuenth bisshop ther of that name did fearsly withstande the said Henrich stered vp soch intestine sedition and warres in his dominion that his people did seke meanes to chose a new Emperoure / which treasoÌ„ beinge forsene of the said Emperoure and of his counsaill his enimies could not bring their wicked enterprise and purpose to effecte Then the said MoÌ„kish pope Gregorie whose couetousnes ambition and pride all the Italian writers can worthelie testifie Amongest whom Beno the cardinal most earnestlie plainly paynteth and setteth forth the same excomunicated the said Henrich and as many as did either ayde him with power riches or vitailes And did forther absolue and discharge al the subiectes of the said Henrich of their obedience towardes him which they by Gods lawes did owe vnto the said Emperoure And then in open proclamations made in all the dominions of the said Henrich he burdened and sclauÌ„dered the said Henrich with the most odious and greuous title and name Heretike â–ª and schismatike enemie to God and to all holy church wherby many of his frendes and subiectes euen al they in whose consciences did sitte Antichriste occupienge Gods holy place did flie and departe from the said Emperoure Wherby the power of the said Emperoure was greatlye decayed and minished And theÌ„ Hildibrande the monkish Pope bestered him busylie and caused one Rodulph duke of Sweuclande to be elected Emperour Who after great bloodshedinge lost his lyfe and Empire After him by Gregories commaundemente one Herman Earle of Lucenburge was chosen Emperour who after great maÌ„slaghter was sleyne in the warres and lost his life and Empire And thridly thorow treason wrought by Gregorie was one Marchio Echerte chosen to be Emperour who after greate slaghter of christen meÌ„ lost not only his Empire but also his lyfe which cruell warres finished with no litle bloodsheding gaue occasion to other princes to feare to fyght againste the said Henrich because of the great murther and deeth of these thre noble princes But yet the malice and cruell ambition of the hearte of that monkish pope Gregory coulde not be pacified but that for his priuate lucre honour he wolde maynteyne so blody warres neuer beinge moued to mercye nor pitie with the destruction of so many cities and townes set a fyre and myserably wasted nor with the destruction treadinge downe and vtter waste made of so many feldes of corne and grasse nor yet with the shedinge of so moch christen blood nor with the lamentacion and mourninge of so many widowes for their husbandes sleyne nor with the greuous outerye of Orphanes that dyed for lacke of bodylye foode nor for anye euill that ensueth the furious warres wold this holy father leaue of his workinge of sedition and treason Oh horrible monster Againste nature he stered vp Henrich the only sonne of Henrich the fourth to gather a great army against his owne naturall father who nether for publike nor priuate wroÌ„ge done by his father to him noe any other euil was prouoked therto Neuerthelesse he did not only vnnaturally forsake his father wtdraw his ayde froÌ„ his father in the time of neade but thorowe the treason wroughte by Gregorie by his helpe he circuÌ„uented his father and oppressed him with power did take him prisoner in the warres and leed him captiue to prison where he put his awne father myserablye to death Behold right honorable Lordes a tragedie moare then cruell and bloody Behold the charitie of oure holy fathers of Rome By this facte they haue setforth soch exemple of wickednes as neuer was before seene or hearde of If their sedition treason oppression craftes and subtelties be well wayed and pondered of all wicked men they maye most iustlie be called not only a wicked synner but also the man of sinne From whome all the detestable and great sinnes of the world procede although there shuld not be had in remembrance all their dispensations for the stewes of whorish womeÌ„ and of fylthy and abhominable Sodomitical lustes for Symonye vsurye and all other vices to regne in the worlde Now righte honorable lordes I trust that I haue sufficiently set forth this monstrus furious beast Antichrist as well by his false doctrines that I haue not fayned to be false of myne owne brayne and phantesye but of the manifest sayeÌ„ge of Christe
A short description of Antichrist vnto the Nobilitie of Englande and to all my brethren and contreymen borne and dwelling therin with a warnynge to see to that they be not deceaued by the hypocrisie and crafty conueyaunce of the Clergie Ioh. 10. He that is of God heareth the worde of God OH Lorde God / although suche lordes haue dominiō ouer vs / as knowe the not / yet graunt that we may hope only in the / and kepe thy name in remembraūce For beholde the Lorde will go out of his habitation and visite the wickednes of them that dwell vpon the earth Esa 26. He wil discouer the blood that she hath deuoured / she shall neuer hyde them that she hath murthered Muster you and gather you / muster you and gather you Take your counsaill together Yet muste your counsaill come to nought Go in hande withal / yet shall it it not prosper / except Emanuel / Esa 8. that is / God be wyth vs. For ther is no prudence / ther is no wysdome / ther is no counsaill against the LORDE ☞ ☜ THere is nothing more perilouse right honourable Lordes ne yet more pernitious and euell to the Christē mans religion then so to be corrupted poysoned and blinded in his vnderstanding and iudgement that he estemeth iudgeth euel in the stede of good errour in the stede of veritie cloked superstition in the stede of Christes true religion painted hypocrisie in the stede of godly vertue manifest and open ydolatry in the stede of true worshipping of God mens dreames and traditions in the stede of Gods most holy lawes ordinaunces a cōmen custome long tyme vsed of our forfathers in stede of a sure grounde and firme foundation of our christen faith And finally to accepte and take Antichrist the Man of synne and childe of perditiō as Paul nameth him in the stede of God and of Christ Who neuerthelesse is moste contrary to God and moste hatefull enemye to Christe in all his doctrines workes and conditiōs Such erronious blinde and corrupte iudgementes God by his Prophete Esay pronounces accursed sayeng Esa 5. Wo be to you that saye good is euil and euill is good light is darkenesse and darkenesse is light c. Also the Apostle S. Paul fearing like errour and corruptiō in iudgement to come to the Corinthes thorough the wicked doctrine of subtile and false preachers 2. Cor. 11. exorteth the Corinthes to beware of deceauers sayeng I feare that it come to passe that as the serpente deceaued Eua thorough his subtiltie euen so your wittes shoulde be corrupted frō the singlenesse that you had towarde Christ For false Apostles sayeth he are deceatfull workers and fashion them selues lyke vnto the Apostles of Christ And no merueil for Sathan him selfe is chaūged into the fashiō of an Angel of light Therfore it is no great thing though his ministres fashion them selues lyke as they were the ministers of rightuousnes Whose ende shal be accordinge to their workes Euen so right honorable lordes I can not but feare lest your vnderstandinges and iudgementes be now corrupted drawen and caryed awaye from the simplicitie and purenes of sincere vnderstandinge and godly iudgemente which late you had of Christe thorow the crafty persuasions deceatefull and false illusions of Antichrist that hath transfigured hym selfe in to the fashion of an Angell of lighte For I am not ignorante that now the monstrouse beaste Antichriste Sathās vicar general in earth and all his adulterous generation of vipers that be his false Apostles most subtile and crafty deceauours and the most malitious enemies of God and Christe cease not daye nor night with false lyes colored with cloked hypocrisie and deceatfull and flatteringe persuasions to deceaue the Quenes magestie and all you my lordes of hyr most honorable counsaill wherby they might draw hyr highnes all you from the godly and most pure knowleage which you had in litle tyme past receaued of Christe in to their fylthy Puddels and vayne inuētions that they of their owne braynes without any authoritie of holy scriptures haue inuented to reuiue and to stablish the vsurped power and bloody kyngedome of Antichrist in this realme By whose false doctrines all the people of this realme shall be drawen from God and from our sauiour Christe to trust in most vayne and deceatefull vanitie But if your lordships wolde both waye and ponder that not only God by his holy prophetes and Apostles but also Christ hymself admonisheth and warneth you and all men to beware of false preachers and of craftye and subtile deceauers your Lordships wold be moch more circumspecte and well ware because that not only the Prophetes and Apostles but also Christ him self to whō you ought to gyue credence hath warned you to beware of soch deceauers And namely because this deceate ys not a manifeste and playne deceate easely to be perceaued and knowen of al men but so craftly coloured and subtylie painted with dessebled persuasions and of soch as shall come euen in the name of Christe and of his holy church And therfore they shal deceaue many sayeth Christe Sainte Paul also sayeth 1. Tim. 4. In the later tymes some shall departe from the faith geuinge eare to the spirites of erroure and doctrines of deuylles 1. Cor. 11. And the same sayeth that heresies must neades be that the proued and godly maye be knowen Sainte Peter also sayeth that there were wicked Prophetes 2. Pet. 2 as there shal be false masters amonge you that shall bringe in sectes of perdition that shal denie the Lorde that hath boughte them Also S. Iohan sayeth 2. Ioh. 4 Antichriste is come and that ther be many Antichristes Consideringe that the Prophetes of God Christe and his Apostles haue this certenly-and diligently admonisshed and warned you and all men of false preachers and of leenge masters that departe from the fayth / and bringe in sectes of perdicion / and of soch that will come in the name of Christe / Math. 24 lyke as they did preach his true doctrine / which neuertheles preach their awne dreames and the doctrines of deuils denyeng the lorde that brought them / and in all thinges folowe the spirites of errour 1. Tim. 4. It behoueth your Lordships and it is the parte and most bounden dutie of euery Christen man diligently to search out these false Prophetes lyenge masters and to laboure studiously to knowe which be the doctrines of deuils and spirites of errour accordinge to the admonition and warninge of the Prophetes of Christe / and of the Apostles geuen to them that they maye circumspectly eschew and auoyde them that they be not deceaued by them and their doctrines And because in the reigne of Edwarde the sixte of famose memory by the cōsent of his honorable counsel ther was a doctrine preached and religion receaued in this realme of Englande which now is reiected and banisshed as a doctrine of the deuyll and as heresye
can not erre nor commaūde any vnrightuousnes Sainte Paul right honorable lordes setteth forth a nother doctrine of deuels the abstinence from meates in certen tymes and dayes and for conscience sake supposinge the meate to be prophane and vngodly and againste Gods wil and pleasure to be eaten Soch abstinence from meates Paul calleth the doctrine of deuels because it is mere contrary to Christes wordes and the holy scriptures For meate sayeth Paul commendeth vs not to God 1. Cor. 8. nether yf we eate be we the better nether yf we eate not be we the worse Math. 15. For that which entreth in to the mouth defileth not the man but that which procedeth out of the hearte sayeth Christe Also Sainte Paul exhorteth all men that they regarde not soch ordinaunces made by men lyke as the ordinaunces made by God sayenge Collo 2. Let no man trouble youre conscience aboute meate and drinke Wherfore if you be deed with Christe sayeth he from the ordinaunces of the world whic as though ye yet lyued in the world are ye leed with man traditions Touche not tast not handle not All which perishe thorow the veraye abuse after the commaundement doctrines of men Which thinges outwardlye haue a similitude of wysedome by superstitiō humblenes by hurting of the body in that they do the fleshe no worship to the nede therof S. Peter also thought it not meete for hym to eate certen meates that were forbidden in Moses law to be eaten as thinges that were vncleane Act. 10. To whome in a vision was answer geuen that he should not saye that thinge to be comen and vncleane that God had purified thorow his eternall worde Hebr. 13. It is therfore good sayeth Paul to stablish oure heartes in grace and not in meates which profited not them that walked therin 1. Cor. 10. Doutles honorable lordes Sainte Paul wold not haue commaunded generally that we shuld eate of all kinde of meates that come to be solde in the shambles askinge no thinge what they be for conscience sake yf it had not ben lawfull by Gods lawes to eate of all kindes of meates and that in all tymes and dayes so that they be eaten temperatly for the necessitie of the bodie and not for wanton lust to please the flesh and also eatē with out offence of the weake brethrē eatē with thākes geuyng for the same to God that feadeth al thinges But who right honorable lordes hath forbodē these flesh meates and whit meates to be eaten in Lent other prescript tymes Euen he that hath vsurped power to make offences synne of that which God nor his Apostles taught to be synne or offence Of whōe S. Paul warneth you to beware to marke them decline frō them For soch sayeth Paul Rom. 13. sserue not our Lorde but their belies And by pleasaūt wordes blessinges they seduce begyle the heartes of innocentes But wherfore hath our holy father made restraint of meates to be eaten in certayne tymes for conscience sake so manifest contrary to the doctrine of them that he bosteth to be his predecessours Verely that he might set forth his vsurped power And also that as S. Peter sayeth he might make marchaundise ouer vs in couetousnes 2. Pet. 2. For money he will geue licence to eate what you wil to do what you will And therfore all his lawes made of restrainte forbiddyng of those thinges that God lefte free are but a playne arte and crafte deuyse made to begyle the people of their money This moste honorable Lordes I haue sette forth two of Antichristes false doctrines not after myne awne fātesie but as Paul nameth them the doctrine of deuels that you might not be any furder deceaued by the preachers of them And also that you maye assuredly certifie youre consciēces that al they that preache and defende the same doctrines ben vnfaynedly Antichristes disciples which be spirites of erroure that haue departed from the faith or els the Apostles doctrine is erronious and false But that cā not be true Also oure master Christe admonisheth vs to beware lest any mand deceaue vs. For many shall come sayeth Christe in my name sayenge Mat. 24 I am Christe shall deceaue many Who is he that cometh in Christes name sayeng I am Christe None doutles who be they that saye they be Christ but he that vsurpeth to hym Christes office power holynes which no man doeth but the Romish Antichrist and his sluttish secte Euen they that vsurpe absolute power geuen to them to remitte and to forgeue synnes to the people Against thē that vsurpe Christes power and place whiche is the onlye power grace and office of Christe and not of any man Wherfore that man that vsurpeth vpon hym that office of Christe is the very same that sayeth I am Christe that is so anoynted and authorised of God that I haue absolute power geuen me from God to forgeue synnes as Christe hath For euē in soch maner of speaking all his filthy secte sittinge in their whorish confessions boost them selfes that they sit in Gods stydde and rowme to forgeue the synnes of soch as confesse their sinnes to them sayenge in their false absolutions in a tonge that the confessed vnderstandeth not By the authoritie of Peter and Paul and by the authoritie to me committed I forgeue the thy synnes to me confessed But nether Peter ne yet Paul did forgeue synnes by their awne authoritie grace or power but only by the preaching of the gospel Act. 4. As Peter sayeth ther is no nother name vnder heauen geuen vnto men nether is ther any other by whom we must be saued Act. 10 but the name of Iesu Christe For to hym all the prophetes beare witnes sayeth Peter remission of synne to be had thorowe his name Also sayeth Paul be it knowen vnto you men and bretherne Act. 13. that thorow this mā meaning Christe remission of synnes is preached and that by hym all that beleue are iustified from all thinges from the which ye could not be iustified by the law of Moses For he is the lambe of God that taketh awaye the synnes of the people / sayeth Ioan baptiste Ioh. 1. And euē so sayeth the Angell to our lady Math. 1. that he shall saue his people from their synnes Wherfore nether by the authoritie of Peter / nor of Paul ne yet by any absolute autoritie to them committed excepte by the autoritie of preachinge of the gospel to the people that trulie repente beleuinge constantly to haue remission of their synnes by the deeth and bloodshedinge of Iesu Christ hath other bisshop or priest any autoritie to forgeue synne Lamente therfore my Lordes the miserable state of this realme consideringe that there can be no remission of synnes geuen but onlye thorow the preaching of the gospell which none of oure priestes thorow all the realme do practise
oure trust and confidence that we oughe to haue of remissioÌ„ of oure sinnes at Gods handes for Christes sake only and now to haue confidence to haue it at Antichristes handes for a litle money that is most contrary to God to Christe in all thinges Oh most abomination of desolation staÌ„dinge in mans coÌ„scieÌ„ce that shulde be the teÌ„ple of God and the dwellinge place of the holy goost Is it not a foule abomination of desolation staÌ„dinge in the holy place In the stede of Christes only one sacrifice which he made of himselfe to God his father for vs vpon the crosse now to set vp a new sacrifice to be made to God for vs of a pece of bread and a cuppe of wyne and to lyfte vp them to be shewed to the people to be gased vpon and to be worshipped and not to be receaued and to be eaten droÌ„ken accordinge to Christes institution and commaundemente Is it not abhomination of deÌ„solation staÌ„dinge in the holy church of God in the stede of the gospell to be preached and declared vnto the people in soch maner that they mighte receaue comforte and hope therby to haue the gospell and other partes of the holy scriptures / to be read songe in a speache nether vnderstanded not knowen of the hearers of them Rom. 15. Sainte Paul sayeth / what so euer was written was written for our doctrine and learninge that thorow patience and consolatioÌ„ of the holy scriptures we mighte receaue hope But Antichrist hath ordeyned a payne sownde to occupie the eares of the people callinge it the gospell although therbe no interpretation or declaration therof made to the people Ephe. 5. For he his filthie secte well knowe that the Apostle sayeth that all thinges that be declared opened bringe lighte Which Antichriste his filthy generation maye not suffer nor abydes because their workes Ioan. 3. which be al wycked and done in darkenes shuld by the lighte he made manifest and openly knoweÌ„ to the world For euen as Christe came an to the world to geue light to the world Euen so is Antichriste came in to the world to take awaye from the people the light that Christ broughte in to the world 1. Cor. 14. The Apostle commaundeth that what so euer be done in the church that it should be done to the instruction and edificatioÌ„ of the congregation For sayeth he yf any man speake with tonges let it be by two or thre at the moste and that by order let one interpretate or declare And yf ther be no man there to let him kepe sileÌ„ce and speake not to the congregacion Do not your lordships perceaue plainly how Antichriste his filthy generation study and laboure with policy to subuerte all godly and profitable ordinaunces made by Christ and by his Apostles Wherfore coÌ„trary to Paules doctrine and the godly ordinaunces receaued do ye suffer our priestes to reade a synge the holy scriptures dayly in the churches to the people in a tonge that they vnderstande not nor perceaue that is spoken calling it Gods seruice coÌ„pelling the people to come to heare it Who vnderstaÌ„deth or is taught any thinge therby They mocke the people with a vayne souÌ„de wherby they haue no lust nor commoditie nor profite Is not this Antichristes ordinaunce of the holy scriptures to be reade in a tonge or speche nor vnderstande nor perceaued of the people Collos â—â— coÌ„trary to the scripture that commaundeth that the worde of God shuld dwel in vs abundauntly that we mighte teach the one the other A woÌ„derfull crafty abomination of desolation standing in the holy place depriuinge the people of the vnderstandinge of holy scriptures And where Christe hath ordened certen Apostles certen prophetes some Euangelistes and doctours to fynish a nomber of the electe and to buylde the misticall body of Christe In the stede of which ministers of Christe by Antichriste are entred in theues that receaue and take greate reuenuwes and profites of the benefices but they do no thinge the office that Christe appointed and assigned vnto the office to be done Euen raueninge wolfes that nether spare nor fauoure the flocke of Christe And no meruayl it is for in that they take the profites of their benefices and do not the office ther vnto belonginge by Christes senteÌ„ce they be theues by daye and by nighte Ioan. 10. Whose office and cominge is not to feede and to fauoure the flocke sayeth Christ but to steale to kyll and destroye as your lordships haue therof to moch experience and most certen profe Is it not therfore abomination of desolation standinge in the holy place to see a thefe and a murtherer stande in the church of God in the steade of a true and diligente pastoure and godly feader or bisshop Is it not abomination of deslation standinge in the chief cytie of Englande to sea franked fat Boore sittinge at euery sermoÌ„ preached at Pauls crosse and thesame not be founde ones in the yere in the same pulpet feadinge the flocke committed to his spirituall charge Is it not abominatioÌ„ of desolation staÌ„dinge in the holy place to se the holy scriptures in oure natiue English tonge writteÌ„ vpon euery wall in the churches now to be by commaundemente blotted out and in the stede therof erected kerued ymages of wood and of stone by Gods owne sentence accursed and all they that make the same And how they that cause theÌ„ to be set vp shall escape the same curse I know not They also vpon palmes sondaye lifte vp a cloth and saye hayle oure kynge to a Roode made of a wooden blocke Doutles a worthy kinge for soch a people Now right honorable Lordes I trust ye be not ignorante of the tyme wherin Antichriste shall come regne and rage againste God and Christe Euen verely now when there was neuer moare abomination of desolation standing in maÌ„s conscience and erected and set vp in the temple and church of God Where as in the stede of a constante fayth in Christ is planted a most wicked faith trust in the man of sinne And in the place of Christes only one sacrifice made vnto for vs for euer sufficiently is erected and set vp a sacrifice made of bread and wyne daylye to be made a sacrifice for vs. And in the stede of the holy scriptures to be declared that the people might vnderstaÌ„de the sence and meaninge therof is erected and ordeyned the gospels and holy scriptures to be read and spoken in a tonge and speache that the people which heare the voyce â—aâ—e no profite or comforte therby By this pointe of abhomination of Desolation all the clergie for forth them selfes that they abhorre no thinge moare then the lighte of Gods worde Ioan. 3. Which no man doeth but he that doeth euill sayeth Christe that lyeth not In the stede of pastours and spiritual teachers be entred in theues and most cruel murtherers And in the stede of
al heretikes by crafte gyle and falsheed seduced and begyled the Emperours and kinges and robbed them of their dominions and powers wherby the hath exalted him selfe not only aboue them but also aboue God And then became he a most cruell tyrant and made lawes of death for all soch as he and his fylthy secte did adiuge heretikes Therby colourably to morther and destroye all soch as did ones speake or preach against his vsurped power or by any meanes reueyle his iniquitie for that calleth he and all his filthye generation of infideles heresie Which exemple of makinge of lyke lawes oure english bishops did compasse and bringe to passe about the yere of oure Lorde 1420. then beinge a bishop Lorde Chaunceloure and a nother lorde priuey Seale wherby being in great authoritie high estimation amongest the nobles and counselours thorow flattery circuÌ„uented the kinge and his counsaill and other of the nobles to make a law in Englande to suppresse heresie spronge vp in this realme But what that heresie was that must only be adiudged by the Antichristes lawes and by his sworen secte the generation of infideles the enemyes of God aduersaries of Christe For as it is reported by cronicles it was the reuelation of Antichristes iniquitie that he calleth heresye Forther to colour their cruel tiraÌ„nie they sayed with their forfathers the Bishops Priestes Scribes and Phariseys and the rest of the Iewish clergie It is not lawfull to vs for to sley any man And as for vs ye may trust well inough we be to holy to deceaue you You maye frely wtout scrupulositie of conscieÌ„ce crucifie whome so euer we committe in to voure handes For if he be not an euill doer we wil neuer deliuer him vnto you You re honours neade neuer to examine the cause but boldly burne him Oure soules for youres His blood vpon oure heades And by soch subtile meanes made all Kinges and Officers of EnglaÌ„de that haue bin synce their tourmentours and hange meÌ„ A goodly office that they haue sett all kinges and you right honorable lordes in They haue made the kinge and you their hange men not a whit better And yet for al their warrantyse puttiÌ„ge their soules for youres though ye wash neuer so cleane your haÌ„de with Pylate wheÌ„ ye thus morther the innocentes for their saith in Iesu Christe be assured that Gods curse will not departe from you youre howses excepce ye spedelye repente But how that law agreeth with Gods worde it shal appere Euen as God the deuel Christ and Antichrist light and darkenes First God by his Prophet Esai sayeth Esai 11. they shal not hurte nor shall they kil in all my holy hyll By this holy hil meaniÌ„g this his church Wherfore yf youre lordly Lorde bishops were true ministres in this church they wold not morther any man for his faith / or for want of a good faith which he can not haue of his awne power and studie The Prophet Hieremie sayeth also Iere. 7. Behold these men saye vnto me where is the worde of the Lorde Let it come Where as I neuer the lesse leading the flocke in thy wayes haue compelled no man by violence for I neuer desired mans deeth This knowest thou well Here Hieremie sayeth that he leading the flocke in the Lordes wayes compelled none by violence to walke therin This doctrine and exemple geuen by Hieremie agreeth but sclenderlye with Antichristes canons decrees lawes nor with the law newly reuyued by your lordships consentes and laste of all with youre bishops mortheringe and tormentinge of your lerned men Also when Christe going vnto Hierusalem Ioan and Iames entered in to a citie of the Samaritanes to make prouision for Christe But the citesins wold not receaue Christ Wherfore Ioan and Iames retourned to Christ and shewed to him the vnkindnes of the citesins sayeng vnto him Master will thou that we commaundye fyre to come from heauen and consume them Iesus turned to theÌ„ / and rebuked them sayenge You know not of what spirit ye be The sonne of man is not come to destroye meÌ„s lyues but to saue them If your lordly lorde bisshops were Christes true seruaÌ„tes then wold they folow his doctrine and example As Christ sayeth He that serueth me let him folow me Ioh. 18. Ioan. 12. And he that foloweth me walketh not in darknes But all men maye perceaue that this their mortheriÌ„ge is mere contrary to both Christes doctrine and example and vtterly bewrayeth them to be the seruantes of Antichriste As Paul sayeth 1. Tim. 5. Good deades be manifeste and they that be euyll can not be hid The parable of Christe of the tares sowed by the enemie vpon the good seed which the master wold not haue draweÌ„ vp vntill harueste leste drawinge vp the tares Math. 3. the good wheate shuld also haue ben drawen vp declareth manifestlie that Christe wold not any man of an euil faith to be killed for his euill faith For if Paul had byn tormented to deeth for waÌ„te of a good faith wheÌ„ he was a persequuter of Christes church He theÌ„ had neuer bin the Apostle of the gentiles ne yet the most laborious worke man that euer wrought in Christes vinyard And if Sainte Augustine had fouÌ„de so cruell tyraÌ„tes to haue persequuted him to deeth before he was coÌ„uerted by God at the preachinge of S. Ambrose theÌ„ the church had waÌ„â—ed at this daye as godly a doctor wryter as euer wrote in Christes church sence the Apostles But ouer besides Christes doctrine and exmple which be not any errours or vperfite doctrines the Apostles doctrine is that the seruante of God shulde not stryue 2. Tim. 2 but to be geÌ„tle to al men apte to teach and one that can suffer the euill with mekenes and can enforme them that resiste the trueth He sayeth not can kill them that resiste the trueth but can enforme them For neither he nor nay maÌ„ can know when it shall please God to open the eyes of his heart and to geue vnto him a perfite faith which now ys holdeÌ„ captiue in vnbelefe at the wil of the Lorde This doctine of the Apostle although you wil not geue credite therto yet proueth it manifestly before all men that your lordly lorde bishops be not the seruauntes of God that shuld suffer the euill accordinge to Christes doctrine and example And also this doctrine of the Apostle proueth that youre law reuyued is against the doctrine of Christe and of his Apostle And therfore is a wicked law inuented by Antichriste and his filthy genratioÌ„ and sluttish secte of infideles to subuert extinguish al godly knowleage faith Also the Apostle sayethrif ther be any that obeyeth not oure teachinges 2. Thes 3 sende vs worde of him by a letter and haue no company with him that he may be ashamed And counte him not as an enemie but warne him as a brother Perceaue ye not honorable lordes
after cleaue assuredly without waueringe folow which do perceaue that your lordships contrary to youre owne◠commaundementes before made and directed to them do flie and retiere from the doctrine and true vse of the Sacramētes that you in so litle tyme past did most worthely approue to be most Godly and necessarie to be taughte and folowed God graunte that the comēs of this Realme that now murmur and grudge at this inconstancie and other your euil doinges do not hereafter burden you with the same And especiallye for your flieng from the true religiō which you did before all men approue to be most godly ▪ From the which ye be now fled to the great dishonoure of God Wherfore God by his Prophete threatneth you to bring you to dishonoure sayenge I will geue them honour that honoure me And they that dishonoure me 1. Reg. 2. them will I bringe to dishonoure This promise will God kepe with you God therfore graūt you grace truly to repente in season Amen Hieremi 5. Horrible and greuouse thinges be done in the lande The preachers teache falsly and the priestes folow them and my people haue pleasure therin What will come therof at the last Hieremi 7. From the least to the most they hange all vpon couetousnes And from the prophete vnto the priest they go all about which falsheed and lye and besydes that they heale the hurte of my people with swete wordes sayenge peace peace when ther is no peace at al. Therfore they must be ashamed for they haue committed abomination Hieremie 23. Heare not the wordes of the prophetes that preache vnto you and deceaue you For they speake the meaninge of their awne heartes and not out of the mouth of the Lorde Hieremie 23. Yea the waye that men take is wicked and theyr gouernaunce is nothinge lyke the worde of the Lorde For the preachers and the pristes them selfes are polluted ypocrytes and their wickednesse haue I founde in my howse sayeth the Lorde Hiere 51. Babilō hath benin the Lordes hādes a golden cuppe that maketh all landes dronkē of hyr wyne haue al people dronken therfore are they out of their wittes Hier. 51. Oh my people come out of Babilon that euery man may saue his lyfe frō the fear ful wrath of the Lorde Esaias ca. 10. Woo be to Assur that is a staffe of my wrath in whose hande is the rod of my punishmente for I shal sēde him amōge these ypocrites amōge the people that haue deserued my displeasure shall I sēde him That he maye vtterly robbe them spoyle them and treade thē downe lyke the myre in the strete How be it his pretēce is not so nother thinketh his hearte in his fashion But he ymagineth only how to ouerthrow and to destroye moch people For he sayth be not my princes all kinges The contentes of this treatise 1 Ther is no thinge moare perilous harte to christen faith then a corrupte iudgemente 2 The multitude of people serue Antichriste nor vnderstādinge nor knowinge him to be Antichriste 3 Antichrist cometh in vnder the pretence to condemne errours and hersye wherof he his sworen secte wil be iudges and therfore condemeneth veritiein the siede of heresie 4 A description of Christ and of his office 5 The reuelation of Antichrist and of his condicion 6 The vayne thinges that Antichrist hath ordened 7 Antichriste erecteth a new religion wherin he breaketh Gods commaundement 8 The world receaueth Antichrist rather then Christe and what is the cause 9 Christe and his Apostles call certen doctrines the doctrines of deuels 10 Nether bishop nor priest hath any authoritie to forgyue synnes but by preaching the gospell 11. Anriculer confession is contrary to the doctrine of Esai 12. The priestes absolution spoken in a spech not knowen of the confessed can̄ not profite them 13. Certen causes wherfore bishops priestes do mayntayne whorish confessiō 14. A token geuen by Christ of the tyme when Antichrist shal come 15. Diuers abominations stande now in the temple of God And what is the temple of God 16. The causes wherfore Paul nameth Antichrist rather the man of sinne then a synner 17. How the Quenes maiestie is circumuented to make a law to stablish the Popes vsurped power 18. What bishops be theues mortherers and destroyers 19. No man shuld dye for his faith 20. Who be gyltie of the deeth of all them that haue suffred deeth by the wicked lawe lately reuyued made in force