sonne he hath suffered and bene willing that this true religion should be by his most iust iudgement obscured and hidden from men so as they might not discerne it according to any outwarde appearaunce neither that it could bee redressed by the good doctours yea the trueth was so darkened that to the view and outward iudgement of the worldly there coulde be seene no tracke or steppe of God in the Church and that according to worlde mens fantasie it seemed that God had forsaken his Church and giuen it vtterly to the spoyle seeing that all was turned to ydolatrie and superstition which God in his word sheweth that he misliketh most villy abhorreth yet euen thē he had reserued some in his Church that had neuer bowed the knee before the idoll Ball before this Antichrist for to consent vnto or beleeue his doctrine being directly against the pure worde of God as came to passe in the time of Elias when the confusion and vngodlinesse of the people was such that there was no semblance of the Church seene in-in so much that this holy Prophete thought that all had beene vtterly giuen ouer vnto the worshipping of images and to idolatrie but he was deceiued for God hath reserued seauen thousandes which neuer had bowed the knee vnto Baal And in like manner if after the time of the primitiue Church the like also proued that for the wickednesse and vnthankfulnesse of the people GOD suffered the like confusion and idolatrie to raigne yet we muste vnderstande that forasmuch as God is one and the selfe same God aswell nowe as he was in the time of the Apostles that hee hath reserued vnto himselfe through all ages seauen thousande yea an infinite number which neuer bowed their knees before this stately ydoll before this man of sinne this sonne of perdition who sitteth in the temple of God The faithfull I say haue not sought for saluation in his doctrine but rather forsaking and renouncing that haue beene assured in their heart by the spirite of God to obtaine redemption by the alone meane and merites of Iesus Christ our onely sauiour They therefore be of a wrong opinion whiche iudge and esteeme the Church of God according to their fantasie not to haue continued alwayes If the doctours who were verie godly and righteous haue not wel discerned the ministerie and true religion of his Church and moreouer if that this excellent Prophet who was filled with the spirit of God so aboundantly was so much deceiued when hee woulde according to humaine iudgement recken the people of GOD what may wee thinke shal happen vnto vs whose iudgement for the moste parte is altogether vnperfecte They are also deceiued and doe foolishly and presumptuously which iudge the number of the electe acording to the capacitie of their senses for God hath a meane to him nothing difficult but to vs vnknowne by the which he may conserue his elect marueilously then when all seemeth turned vpside downe and spoyled Well may the elect then be persecuted but neuer confounded nor the Church extinct insomuch as it hath God for the founder and defendour and the elect haue God the creatour of heauen and earth for their gardein and protector like as he hath neuer fayled to helpe his at all seasons with the assistance of his holy spirite making euen seene and knowne to the worlde his greate loue and care towarde them throughout all ages as hath beene euidently seene Let vs not doubt therefore of the trueth of him who hath promised to abide with vs vntill the ende of the worlde of which his promise we see and feele daily effectes albeit that we are vnworthie thereof Thus much haue I thought good to speake concerning the continuance of the true Church whose founder is Christ Nowe will I shew briefely the order of the discourse following which is this That all the gouernement of the Church which hath beene from the beginning of the worlde vntill this present is comprised in fiue orders the first this present is comprised in fiue orders the first of which contayneth the first fathers to wit from Adam who was instructed by the son of God c. The second of the Patriarches and beginneth at Abraham The third of the Prophets and beginneth at Samuel The fourth the high priestes and gouernours and beginneth at Iosue otherwise called Iesus and at the conductour Zorobabell The fift and last beginneth at Iohn Baptist and our Lorde Iesus Christ and at his Apostles and their disciples Bishops Pastours that succeeded after them and euen vnto the Bishops whom God hath raised vp also in these last times for the mainteinance of his Church and for to correct the errours and abhominable traditions of men which doe infect the true and pure doctrin of God the which he hath conferued and will conserue for euer for the true instruction of his Church For the which also O Lorde I beseech thee that thou wilt nowe dayly more and more sende good and faithfull doctours true setters foorth of thy worde thorough out all the real mes and prouinces to the ruine and destruction of the kingdome of this man of sinne Antichrist and to the establishing of the kingdome of thy sonne Iesus Christ our onely sauiour and Lord Amen A TESTIMONIE OF the true Church of God Confirmed as wel by the doctrine as liues of sundrie holie men both Patriarches and Prophets and also by the Apostles and their true successours THE ARGVMENT Here is first declared howe that man was created in all perfection of beautie righteousnesse and puritie and that he hath despised the commaundement of God and his trueth through the persuasion of sathan to whome he with all his posteritie became seruant and slaue and was spoyled both of his vnderstanding and al beatitude and therefore he had neede to be instructed to the end he might discerne and be fully assured of the meane of his deliuerance and perfect restauration the which the eternall sonne of God hath manifested vnto him and hath vpholden perpetually his Church GOD after that he had created Heauen and Earth and all things comprehended in them created last of all man according to his owne semblance and likenesse that is to say wholy good pure full of perfection without sinne in all equitie of heart of iustice and vnderstanding and placed him with Eua his wife in earthly Paradise for to liue there in a blessed estate Then the occasiō which might make them abide in this estate was that they should in humblenesse submit them selues daily before the maiestie of God magnifying him with giuing of thankes and that in them selues they should not séeke their owne proper glory but considering that all thinges procéeded from aboue they should therefore haue their affections fixed on high for to glorifie God alone vnto whom al praise and glory is due But immediatly after when they had cast the commaundement of God behinde their backes and despised it in eating through the persuasion of the
the same spirite of him whose voyce they vnderstoode who for as much as he would teach them knewe also very wel that all should be said in vaine if they were not inspired with this spirite of knowledge and beléeuing And thus this eternall word the sonne of GOD hath from the beginning taught the first mā Adam Whereby we must marke that God hath continually assisted and doth assist his Church and instructeth it and maintayneth it and gouerneth it as is euidently to be proued and manifest experience declareth that the Church and his doctrine could not haue had power to continue so long time against such horrible assaultes of sathan of tyrants and of wicked men if the Church had not had these guarders and defenders Which alwayes were accounted the Fathers and Patriarches Abraham Isaac and Iacob which Iacob being gouernour of the Church of GOD in his time hath made plaine demonstration of the true Messias so many times afore promised to be his guarder And therefore he saith in the 48. of Genesis in the 16. verse The Angel that hath guarded me from all euill blesse these children Thus we may sée in this place and in many others how he calleth the Messias that is to say the sonne of God Angel calling him his guarder or kéeper attributing vnto him the power and authoritie for to be able to blesse him That which he vnderstoode only of an Angel he hath not so fully spoken being as it were plucked back with the spirite of God bicause he had attributed that vnto an Angel which was due vnto God vnto whom alone Iacob continually ascribed all power blessing honour and glory as vnto God alone it doth belong And in like sort Esaie being moued by the same spirite that Iacob was said in the 63. chapter verse 9. The Angel of his face hath saued them the same hath redéemed them through his loue and mercy hath holden them vp and exalted them continually Also for to giue likewise to vnderstand that in this diuine essence the holy spirite is resident that he wil alwayes thereby assist his Church in the 59. chapter verse 21. he saith Behold mine aliance with them saith the Lord. My spirite which is in thée and my wordes that I haue put in thy mouth shall not slide out of thy mouth nor out of the mouth of thy séede for euer And infinite places be there where is giuen to vnderstand that God hath always assisted his Church as wel by his holy spirit as also promising all fauour comfort and blessing by the mediation of him through whom he had made all things whome he had promised to send at his appointed time to the end that by him he might purchase vnto him selfe a holy people being by him sanctified which should be cloathed with his holinesse as he promised that all such shall be as do beléeue and put their trust in him and that they shall remaine so eternally through him And for this purpose also bicause it is not in our facultie and power to beléeue he promised and doth promise as hath bene afore declared in Esaye the assistance of his spirite without which the preaching of the word is vnprofitable And thus we must vnderstand that all the Fathers and Patriarches haue infallibly knowne and beléeued who were instructed through visions or Oracles and also were somwhat taught from hand to hande as were consequently the true faithfull people their successors hauing had by the operation of Gods spirit unprinted in their hearts such an assurance of doctrine Neither is it to be doubted but that God hath alwayes ratified this holy instruction the which for that it might the better continue in strength from age to age for to helpe better the memory of men he hath willed to be put in writing by Moses who was for to write these matters called elected and that he shuld set them foorth before their eyes like as he had vnderstood and truely knowen through the spirite of God who created man in such puritie and when man had sinned called him to repentance by this same word by which he had made him promising and assuring him of satisfaction for his sinne And for this cause the auncient Doctours saide that the sonne of God is called the word for as much as it hath spoken to the Fathers Beholde what Tertullian saith in his booke against the Iewes in the first chapter Then Iesus said vnto Cain where is Abel thy brother And Iraeneus writing against heresies in the 14. chapter saith The sonne from the beginning assisting and helping his handie worke maketh manifest the father to all them that he will and when he will and how he will To conclude we sée howe that from the beginning of the world God by his sonne and spirit was made knowne to the first man giuing him vnderstanding of his good will the which he made more and more to vnderstand and knowe thereof to all them of his Church of the which Church ensued the chiefe and principall Doctours After that Adam had bene taught of the Sonne of God 1 Adam was ordeined a Bishop and Doctor by the promise made of the séede of the woman he hath instructed his posterity of al the articles of the doctrine of the time that he liued in He liued 930. yeares And vndoubtedly Adam had good abilitie to teach what the excellency and worthines of man was before that he had transgressed what sinne is and how horrible a thing it is and how greate the wrath of God is how that his mercy is excellent that he would by the meanes of his sonne redéeme mankind from eternal death wherein it was plunged through their owne proper fault He then taught others to the end that beeing warned by his example they might take héede that they did not fal into sinne and the through faith they might lay holde vpon the promise made of the séede of the woman by which séede mankinde being lost of it selfe might be forthwith restored againe vnto life vnto blessednes to euerlasting righteousnes From this Doctor all good sciences and all humane wisedome is issued as out of a fountaine this is he that appointed names to all the beastes and birdes of the ayre and to all liuing creatures in the fielde gaue them names agréeing to their nature With Adam was his Sonne 2 Abel a true and faithfull seruitour in the Church offered vnto God of the first borne of his flockes Gen. Chap. 4. vers 4. This doth sufficiently declare that father Adam instructed his sonnes in the true seruice of God But Caine was an hypocrite presenting vnto God outwarde sacrifice and nothing inwardly in spirite wherin doth consist the true seruice of God wherefore he displeased God so as he regarded not his oblations Then Caine beeing inflamed with anger rose vp against his brother and béeing led with a diuelish enuie slewe him In this place began the persecution of holy personages and this is a dreadful
shewe for this murder happeneth for no other cause then for the seruice of God which when it is done purely the deuil can in no wise abide it and for this occasion he pricked Caine forward to put his brother to death to the end that by that meanes the word of God and his pure doctrine might be extinguished And this déede sheweth sufficiently howe vehement the ire anger and rage of this subtil Sathan is howe great enuie it is that he hath borne to our first parents so that Caine béeing moued by him conceiued the same anger against his brother Now here God giueth vs alwayes to note what care he hath of those that be his which although he séemeth to giue ouer into the hands and will of the wicked and that whilest there is no body bringeth euidence or accusations against the wicked for their misdealinges yet he worketh so that by one meane or other the reuenge of his seruants is wrought 3 Seth was substituted in Abel his roome vnto the ministerie and had a sonne whom he called Enos and then did men begin to cal vpon the name of the euerlasting Whereby we haue to vnderstand that this word D'inuoquer to inuocate or call vpon doth comprehend all the true seruice of God Then is it very true that God was before that time called vpon honored and serued but the true religion went to wracke through the Cainish Church and there was then no more any semblance of the true Church the which was redressed in the time of Enos Seth was borne in the yeare of Adam and Eue 130. And liued with Adam his father 800. yeares and Seth liued 912. yeares Gene. 5. 4 Enos was borne in the yeare of his Father Seth 105. He liued 905. yeares Adam his grandfather liued with him 695. yeares Cainan was born in the yeare of Enos 90. He liued 910. yeares and Adam liued with him 605. yeares Malalehel was borne in the yeare of Cainan or kenan 70. He liued 895. yeares and Adam with him 535. yeares Iared was borne in the yeare of Malalehel 65. He liued 962. yeares And Adam with him 470. yeares 5 Henoch was borne in the yeare of Iared 162. He liued 365. yeares and was transported by God out of this miserable life to an euerlasting life God would that the faithful should learne hereby to waite for another life wherevnto they shal be translated The scriptures do beare witnesse that this man was one of the most exellent Doctors of the Church amongst the fathers and that he published with great feruencie a farre of the promise of the séede of the woman and that he sustained great combats against the mischieuous doctrine of the Cainishe Church and against the superstitions and idolatries then vsed in as much as they doe giue him great praise and do beare of him one excellent testimony aboue others the fathers where as it is said he walked before God and was no more séene Likewise the Epistle of Saint Iude doth shewe well with what vehement zeale and ardent affection he exhorted men in his time vnto repentaunce and reproued the sinnes of the wicked for marke what S. Iude saith Enoch the seuenth man after Adam prophecied two yeares saying Beholde the Lord wil come with his Saints which are by millions to execute iudgement vpon al men and to reproue all the vngodly for all the workes of wickednesse that they haue wrought vnfaithfully and for all the filthy wordes that the vnbeléeuing sinners haue vttered forth against God Adam liued with this Henoch 308. yeares 6 Mathusalem was borne in the yeare of Henoch his father 65. He liued 969. yeres There was no man that liued so long as he since the creation of the world He dyed in the yere of the vniuersal floud Adam liued with him 243. yeares 7 Lamech was borne in the yeare of Mathusalem 187. Gen. 5. He liued 777. yeares Adam liued with him 55. yeares These before named great and excellent personages were in the time of Adam and helped him in the workes of the Church and to set foorth and publish the doctrine of the promise made of the séede of the woman and to instruct the true seruants of God Thus Adam gouerned the Church of God together with his newe workfellowes the space of 930. yeares After them succeeded in the gouernement of the Church 8 Noe was borne in the yeare of his father Lamech 182. Gen. 5. This man ought of right to be named amongst the principall Doctours and Bishops of the Church of God It is easie to be considered what disdaine what iniuries and persecutions he hath abidden for to maintaine the doctrine of God for at that time men did greatly begin to be multiplyed vpon earth and to waxe froward and to excel in all manner of sinnes and iniquities And as it is saide in Genesis chap. 6. vers 5. That God sawe the malice of man that it was very great vpon earth and that al the imaginations of his heart was at al times none other but euill By this thē is declared that they liued dissolutely in dishonest manners in despising the worde of God and his seruice applying themselues vnto leacherie adulterie and tyrannie and to all sortes of wickednesse For this cause did the Lorde God threaten the world and purposed to confound and destroy it by a deluge of waters And one hundreth yeres before this thing came to passe Noe preached vnto them to the end that they might conuert and be saued Nowe when Noe with his wife and his thrée sonnes Sem Cham and Iaphet and their wiues were entred as God had cōmanded them into the Arke with some of al sortes of liuing creatures the inundation or floud came and slue and destroyed the residue both of men and beastes And there were after the creation of the world vntill the floud one thousand sixe hundred fiftie and sixe yeares What man is there able to expresse the bitter dolours that this good and mightie personage hath endured when he sawe before his eyes all mankind to perish through the deluge of waters and howe that onely he with a fewe moe was saued and further after that this so horible and dreadfull a punishment men forgetting all the euils that were passed fell againe into all impietie and into all maner of mischiefes and abhominable beastlines For he liued after the floud 350. yeares Thus we may sée that these Fathers were greatly martyred and haue suffered grieuous torments through the impietie of the wicked 9 Sem was borne in the yeare of Noe his father 500. Like as Noe was a true Doctour of the Church of God so there is no doubt but that Sem his sonne was also a true Doctour in his roome for that he had instructed his children in the true doctrine of God of the promise already made from the beginning of the world concerning the Messias to come And moreouer he hath bene able to declare also that which he had séene before
at one onely battaile 58. thousand men as Nicephorus saith Anselme speaketh of 50. thousand and of fifty fortresses that were taken and 985. Villages destroyed both by famine and fire and bloudsheade And all the rest of the Iewes were driuen away from Ierusalem and solde into all partes of the worlde So terrible a destruction as they had by Titus might sufficiently teach them that the kingdome was taken away from them like as the Prophets had foretolde them but it came so to passe that they felt almost as great a punishment at the seconde time as they had at the first Then many Christians of the Gentyles gathering themselues together elected as before I was telling Marke for their Bishop who was the 16. Cassianus the 17. Publius the 18. Maximius the 19. Gayan the 21. Symmache the 22. Caius the 23. Iulian secundus the 24. Capito the 25. This is recorded of Eusebius lib. 5. Chap. 12. For asmuch as the Church of the Gentyles had then their habitation there the Lorde woulde declare that the true Messias was alreadie come and that they ought to looke for none other 72 In the time of Marcus Aurelius Antonius about the yeare 160. after the natiuitie of Iesus Christ Melito borne in Asia was Bishop of Sardis he wrote to the Emperour Marcus Aurelius concerning the Christian faith Theophilus bishoppe of Antioche wrote against Marcion Apollinaire Denis bishop of Corinth Iustus bishop of Vienna wer Martyrs for the faith There were also Philip bishoppe of Créete or Candie Egesippus Iustin the Philosopher Modestus Musan and certaine others of whose bookes we haue but fewe Eusebius doth partely and Hierome partely rehearse the bookes written by them 73 Eleutherius borne at Nicopolis in Gréece gouerned the Church of Rome 15. yeare and more in the time of Marcus Aurelius the 17. Emperour in the yeare of Christ 179. he gaue commaundement against the Seueriens herisie that then raigned Also that no Christian for any ceremong should forsake any kinde of meates accustomed to bee eaten 1. volume of councells 74 Ireneus the scholar of Polycarpus was ordeyned byshop of Lions after that Photin bishop of the said Church had suffered Martyrdome when he was 90. yeares old and with him a greate many moe Frenchmen Hee was in the time of Prince Commodus about 170. or a 180. yeares after the natiuitie of our Lorde Iesus It is saide that hée was put to death in the citie of Smyrna vnder the raigne of Maximine Hée lyued aboue fourescore yeares There was great persecution in the Church about that time and it lasted very long For the Paganes were offended because that the Christians reproued and sought to abolysh their olde accustomed manners of worshipping and the Religion of their auncestours And for this cause a great multitude of Christians were put to death all abroade in dyuers countryes and regions especially aboue all others the Doctours Bishops and Pastours of the Churches Nowe during these venemous rages and horible crueltie of the Deuil God preserued some faithfull Doctours and prolonged the liues of some others to the ende that by them the pure doctrine might be conserued and publyshed abroad amongst whiche were Polycarpus Ireneus and others 75 About this time or shortly after lyued Theodotion bishoppe of Ephesus of Alexandria Pautene Miltiades Appollonius Serapion and Policrates of whose liues Eusebius and S. Hierome make larger demonstration and of their bookes also All the which sustayned sundrie combattes against many heretykes to wit Marcion Montanus Valentinian and the Hermogenians and diuers others 76 Victor bishop of Rome gouerned the church 10. yeares in the time of Didius Iulianus Milancius Emperours Hée ordeyned that those which woulde not reconcile themselues shoulde be depriued of the table of the Lorde 77 About 200. yeares after the natiuitie of our Lorde Iesus in the raigne of Seuerus Pertinax Antonius Carcalla Emperours was Tertullian of Affrica of the citie of Carthage His bookes be nowe extant in which Cyprian tooke so great pleasure as saint Hierome wryteth that he woulde not passe ouer one day without reading some of his workes It is written of him that he lyued vntill the last age 78 Leonides the father of Origene was martyred for the faith he had his head cut off in the persecutions stirred vp against the Christians by the Emperour Seuerus in the tenth yeare of his Empyre Origene his sonne being then young of 17. yeares of age saide my father take héede that in no wise you change and swarue from the trueth you haue begon This Origene after that the goods of his Father were confiscate for the faith kept and mainteined his mother and brethren with teaching schole and being but eightéene yeares olde he was called by the Bishop of Alexandria in Egypte to the office of a Catechiser for to instructe children and straungers Out of his schoole came many Martyrs If any woulde sée what was his life his manners exercises writinges and bookes let him haue recourse to Eusebius in the ecclesiasticall historie in the sixt booke He lyued vntill the time of Gallus that is vntill the 70. yeare of his age Amonius the philosopher was his maister who perseuered in the Christian faith vntill he died Origene was 255. yeares after the natiuitie of our Lorde Suidas saith that he was buried in the citie of Cyr. In that time was also Tryphon Minutius Felix that was a Romain Berillus Hippolitus Alexander bishop of Cappadocia Iulius Affricanus Gregorie bishop of Pontus in Nercesarea Dionise bishop of the citie of Alexandria all which for the most part had béene the scholers of Origene 79 Vrbane a Romaine Bishop of Rome gouerned the Church 8. or 9. yeares in the time of the Emperour Heliogabalus Damasus saith that he was of a holy life so as he drewe certeine Gentlemen as Tyburtius and Valerian the husbande of S. Cecil to the Christian faith Moreouer Damasus saith that he ordeined that the Churches shoulde possesse landes farmes and other possessions and that the saide goods should be common and distributed for the sustenance of the mynisters the poore and the notaries called the protonotaryes who wrote the actes of the martyrs 80 Cyprian of the country of Affrica bishop of Carthage suffered martyrdom vnder the empyre of Valerian and Galerien in the yeare after the natiuitie of our Lord Iesus 260. Nowe in that time that is to say in the reigne of Dionisius the Emperour arose great persecution and thereof Nicephorus saith in his fifth booke and twenty Chapter that it is as easie to number the multitude of those that suffered in this persecution as it is to number the sande of the sea Alexander bishop of Ierusalem honourable because of his pietie and age was brought before the seat iudiciall in Cesarea and after that he had made confession of his faith he died in prison Babyle byshop of Nicomedie Asclepiades of Antioche Germane Theophilus Cesarius Vital Polichronius bishop of Babylon Serapion Apolline the
knowe his true pathes by which this man retyreth out of darkenesse and endeuoureth to leaue off his wicked labours And that the vine which the right hande of GOD hath planted shal be filled with good braunches That he ought to take héede vnto the worde of God and to the Prophetie of Ieremie chap. 22. for to withstande such interprises who saith thus Thou O pastour which hast dispersed my people and hast cast them out of their habitations behold I wil visit vpon thée the malyce of thy enterprises and there shall not be a man of thy séede which shall sit vppon the seat of Dauid nor shall haue any more power in Iuda so that thy nest shal be a desert and ruinous as Sodome and Gomorra Also that if it happen he be not dreaded by these words nor leaue off from his enterprises nor make restitution of that which he hath taken that they finge for him that is so wickedly hardened the hundreth and eight Psalme As for vs wee will singe dayly prayses openly through Iesus Christ to him vnto whome all thinges do obey For to sée the course thereof more narrowely worde for word looke the saide Epistle the whiche hath beene writen out transtated out of an old booke founde in Englande in the Church of S. Alban He that woulde sée it perfectly let him reade the liues of the Bishoppes and Popes of Rome taken out of the great Catalogue of the writinges of England set forth by Iohn Bale 131 In the yeare 1314. or thereaboutes there was a man named Dulcin of Nauarre who blamed the vices of Churchmen and was executed with his wife Those that bee called Dulcins tooke their name of this Dulcin Naucl. They saide that the authority which Iesus Christ hath giuen to the Church was expyred because of the wickednesse of the Prelates and that the Church of Rome was reproued because it was become a whore Also that they were the Church and followed the rule of the Apostles That al the prelates since Pope Syluester haue bene preuaricatours because they lyued not in true humilitie and that therfore they ought to haue no tythes payed them Many of the adherents of Dulcin were taken about 144. persons dwelling in the mountaynes of Piemount 132 In the same time to wit 1315. and in the raigne of the Emperour Henry the seuenth of that name was a good and faithfull man Arnoldus de villa noua an expert Phisition and an excellent Mathematitian Some say that hee was of Chalons others of Narbonna He was at that time iudged an heretike because he saide that sathan had caused all Christian people to erre out of the right way That the faith of Christians then was none other but such a faith as deuils had That those which bee in the cloysters be out of charitie and doe condemne themselues in falsifying the doctrine of Iesus Christ and leading Christians vnto hell That the diuines haue maliciously and wickedly mingled the songes of Philosophers with the holy scriptures That in the sacrifice of the altar the Priest offereth nothing vnto God and that masses do neither profite the lyuing nor the deade He proued by Daniel and by Sybilla Erithrea that Antichrist in full tyrannie did persecute the faithfull Furthermore in his bookes which hee made of medicine hee wrote against the Iacopins that it was lawfull to eate fleshe A cutting sworde against the Thomistes an admonition of Iesus Christ vnto the Christians Of the craftinesse of false Prophets Of miserie of the Cymbals of the Church Of the consummation of the world other bookes He was iudged an heretyke by the Iacopins of Tarracon Lastly being sent vnto the Pope by Fredericke king of Sicilia he dyed in the way and was buried at Genes being a true champion of our Lord. In the yeare 1328. or there abouts Pope Iohn the 23. wrote vnto the gréekes that there was but one onely Church ouer which he was the head and vicar of Iesus Christ To whom the Gréekes aunswered in fewe wordes thus We doe verely beleue that thy power is very great ouer thy subiectes we cannot abide thy extreame pride nor satisfie thine auarice The deuill be with thée for GOD is with vs. By which breuitie of words they declared what was al the maner of the Popes liuing his estate looke thou Maundeuile lib. 7. Marsilius Patauinus compiled and exhibited vnto the Emperour Ludouike a worthy worke intituled Defensor Pacis written in the Emperours behalfe against the Pope Wherin both Godly and learnedly disputing against the Pope he proueth al bishops and Priests to be equal and that the Pope hath no superioritie aboue other Bishoppes much lesse aboue the Emperour That the worde of God ought to be onely the chiefe iudge in deciding and determining causes ecclesiasticall That not onely spirituall persons but lay men also being Godly learned ought to be admitted into generall councels That the Clergie and the Pope ought to be subiect vnto magistrates That the Church is the vniuersitie of the faithfull and that the foundation and heade of the Church is Christ and that he neuer appointed any vicar or Pope ouer his vniuersall Church That Bishops ought to be chosen euery one by their owne Church and Clergie that the marriage of priestes may lawfully bee permitted That S. Peter was neuer at Rome That the Cleargie and Synagoge of the Pope is a denne of théeues That the doctrine of the Pope is not to be followed because it leadeth to eternall destruction And the corrupte manners of the Christians doe spring and flow out of the wickednes of the churchmen c. he disputeth moreouer in an other worke of frée iustification by grace and extenuateth merites saying that they are no efficient causes of our saluation but onely fine qua non that is to say that workes be no cause of our iustification but yet our iustification goeth not without them for which his doctrine most sounde and Catholicke he was condemned by the Pope Anno. 1324. by the Popes decree extrauagant Chap. Licet intra Doctrinam Concerning the which man and his doctrine I thought good thus much to commit to writing to the intent men may sée that they which charge this doctrine nowe taught in the Church with the note of noueltie or newenesse how ignorant and vnskilfull they bee in the hystories and order of times forepast Iacobus Misnensis who wrote of the comming of Antichrist In the same hee maketh mention of a certeine learned man whose name was Militzius saith he which was a famous and worthy preacher in Perga He lyued about the yeare 1366. long before Hus before Wicklieffe also In the same his writing hee declareth howe the same good man Militzius was constrayned by the spirite of God to goe to Rome and there publikely to preach that afterwarde before the inquisitour he affirmed the same That the same mightie and great Antichrist the which the scriptures make mention of was alredie come He affirmed
prelats and became odious so as they could in no wise abide him Finally this seignieur Acton was taken condēned by the saide edict of the kinge and hanged and burned There was executed also with him a gentleman one M. Browne And M. Iohn Beuerlai a minister and preacher of the word of God And that was in the yeare 1413. Iohn Maior witnesseth in his Scottish historie lib. 6. chap. 9. that about this time many others to the number of 36 and all of a noble stocke were condemned as heretikes by the bishop were burned according to that cruell edict This was in the very same yeare There were also two others of whome Fabius in his Chronicles speaketh to wit Iohn Claydon cordwayner and Richard Turmin Baker who also according to the seueritie of the ordinance were condemned and put to death To conclude we sée that there is neither estate neither order nor condition whereof God is not skilfull enough to drawe some for to stande in defence and to crie out against the superstitions false traditions of prelates 135 In the yeare 1405. or thereabout the Lord raised vp Iohn Hus of Bohemia who hauing studied in the vniuersitie of Oxeforde in England and hauing reade certeine bookes of Wicklief beganne to publishe that which hee had receiued concerning the trueth in a Temple of the Bohemians whereas he was chosen for the preacher and Preached both of festiuall dayes and holy dayes There he commended the doctrine of Wicklief vnto the people In the ende the Bohemians being instructed with this doctrine beganne to iudge of the Pope as he deserued not estéeming him the most excellent any longer nor of any higher degree then other bishops and therevpon they went about to reforme their doctrine by conclusions and articles following That the dignitie made not the minister or bishop the more honourable but the holines of life and good doctrine That the soules separated from the bodies goe streight way eyther to eternall blessednesse or else to euerlasting paines That there is no testimonie in all the holy scriptures by which it can be proued that there is any purgatorie after this life For to make oblations and sacrifices for trespasses is the inuention of couetous Priestes That the images of God or of sainctes the blessing of waters and other like thinges bee forged by men contrarie to the word of God That the order of begging friers were inuented by diuels That baptisme ought to bee administred with water without adding of oyle spittle or such filthi That the Temple of God is the worlde That those which build Temples Monasteries and oratories for to cloase him in doe goe about to locke vp his maiestie which is incomprehensible That the ornaments of Priestes as the chasubles corporals chalices platters c. are but vanity That in vaine do men séeke for helpe at the handes of sainctes and that it is but lost time to singe houres canonicall That fasting doeth merite nothing That the eucharistie ought to bee ministred vnder both kindes They reiected the Masse and kept only the communion of the supper the worde and the prayer and many other articles drawen out of the holye scripture Thus as the most parte of the schollers of the vniuersitie of Prague did followe Iohn Hus with many moe renoumed in knowledge and so did the most part of the nobilitie the Pope hauing assembled a councell at Constance caused the Emperour Sigismonde to fende for him who sent him his safe conducte And being there he was gretly sollicited to leaue off his opinion but he was constant vpholding his propositions and reasons to wit those which were grounded vppon the trueth of the holy scriptures Saying that the end principal scope of his doctrine was for to teache men repentance and remission of sinnes according to the trueth of the sonne of God the exposition of the holy doctours That if any were able to proue that he did the contrarie he was ready to acknowledge his faultes otherwise rather to suffer death then leane vnto mens traditions repugning to the doctrine of the Gospell After many disputations forasmuch as hee allowed not all that them liked he was at the laste condemned to be burned being beset with woode rounde aboute as the fire beganne he cryed thrise with a loude voyce O Iesus Christ the sonne of the liuing God haue pitie on me and thus he yelded vp the Ghost His ashes were caste by commaundement into Rhein to the intent that nothinge of him might be left vppon the earth neuerthelesse his memory can neuer be defaced in the hearts of the faithfull neyther by fire nor water nor anye manner of tormentes Whoso woulde se thereof more at large let him reade Iohn Crespin his booke of martyres 136 In the yeare after the natiuitie of our Lorde Iesus Christ 1415. Hierom of Prague a Bohemiā beinge maruelously troubled for that he had heard that his countrie was oppressed by houshoulde enimies and neighboures by many false slaunders and that Iohn Hus was vilanously vsed by the said councell he went to Constance and there being ad uertised that the people went about to entrap him he retyred backe for certaine daies vnto a place not farre off for that he might not séeme to intrude him selfe wilfully into daungers He requested of the Emperour a safe conducte for to enter into the cittie and there to answere vnto such crimes and misdéedes as shoulde be brought against him and séeinge that he coulde get no safe conduit he was going home againe and was taken by the way by treason carried to Constance wheras in the presence of the Bishopes and prelates he made open confession of his faith True it is that he hauing béen altogeather pined away with longe kéepinge in prison and throughe many horrible threatnings he was vanquished by the weakenes of the flesh partly dreadinge the horrour of the torments and partly hoping to escape out of their vilanous and cruell handes he recited publikely before them all an abiuration which they had giuen him in writing Moreouer he was enioyned to say that Iohn Hus had ben worthily burned but for all this he escaped not but hee returned agayne to the same stincking and infectuous pryson where he was afore being there no better handled then before tyme. Then did the lord who neuer forsaketh his cause him to seale in his conscience his vile misdeed And therefore desiring to be brought agayne in to the whole assembly he first affirmed that he héeld with the Catholike and vniuersal Church al things the it holdeth which church abhorreth all errours an heresies Lastly he addeth this that of all the sinnes where with he euer had offended Gods diuine maiestie there was none that so much charged and gréeued his conscience as did this offence that hee had committed in the chaire of pestilence and execration whether he being fallen by infirmitie and by the horrour of death he was was constrained to goe back and
S. Paul to the Romaines and to the Hebrewes vppon the Gospell of S. Iohn and vpon the Canonicall epistle He departed out of this life at the end of Nouēber in the yeare 1531. Whoso wil read more largely of his life let him read Simon Gryneus Wolfgangus the booke of Martyrs Bucer a learned man was also in the time of Luther and Zuinglius hee gaue also greate light throughout all Christendome not only by pure doctrine but also by holinesse of life Iohn Caluin in the preface of his comentaries vppon the Epistle of S. Paul to the Romaines speaking of certaine good deuines of that time and naming expresly Bucer saith of him in these wordes This man besides the profounde and excellent knowledge that he had in many matters besids the fine wit and that he had read much and besids many and sundrie vertues that he had in which none at this present doth excell him yea few comparable to him had this prayse proper and particular that none of his time applyed himselfe more to the interpretation of the holy scripturs and that with greater diligence then he He was sent for from Strausbourg to refourme the Churches of Colloine He preached to the godly being in great daunger amongest the Spaniards at that time the Emperour came down through Rhein who by his ambassadours did earnestly intreate the Archbishop to giue him libertie He for religion fled into England whereas hee was courteously intreated and had the charge of interpreting the holy scriptures in the vniuersitie Hee was diligent in writing Comentaries and sundrie workes And amongest other towarde his latter yeares he composed a booke of the kingdome of Iesus Christ our Sauiour which hee gaue to the worthie kinge of Englande shewing the way how the reformation of true Christian religion must be had and howe a Realme and Christian common weale ought to be gouerned according to the will of God A booke worthie to bee read of kinges princes and Lords The seauen and tweentith day of Februarie in the yeare 1551. Bucer departed this life at Cambridge and was honourably buried and praysed by Epitaphes of learned men Looke Sleidan in his historie of religion and of the common weale in the booke of Martyrs 145 Phillip Melancthon an excellent man in doctrine prudence and pietie was borne in the yere 1497. in a citie called in latine Bretta appertayning to the Prince Palatine He was a doctour in the Church and vniuersitie of Wittemberge He disputed against the aduersaries of the puritie of Gods true seruice diuers times with liuely infallible argumēts by which he shewed what good true foundation he had vppon the holy scriptures whereby he confounded all the aduersaries He made and composed diuers bookes aswell of humanitie as also Commentaries and common places vppon the holy scripture which be extante at this present He liued 63. yeares and died in the yeare 1560. and was honourably buried Peter martyr a Florentine a doctour and professour in diuinity in a Church of Zurich in Suisse wrote the Cathechisme in Italian that is the exposition of the principall articles of Christian religion He made a treatise of the sacrament of the Eucharistie and many Commentaries both on the Epistle of S. Paul to the Romaines and to the Corinthians and also vppon the Iudges and Samuel with others Augustine Marlorate hauing a certaine time exercised the function of a good and faithful pastour in the seignieuries of Berne was at the last elected minister of the Church of Rouan in which he faithfully discharged his duetie and therefore was taken and hanged he dyed constantly yelding vp his spirite to the Lorde in the yeare 1569. He had a great dexteritie in collecting the opinions of the Doctours aswell olde as newe vpon Esay Genesis and the Psalmes and on the new Testament also wherevnto he added his own he made certaine pretie treatises and amongst others one of sinne against holy the Ghost Musculus a Germaine a Doctour in the Church of Berne made diuers good and large commun places vpon the holy scripture and also good commentaries that be founde til this present He dyed in the said citie of Berne was honorably buryed 1563. 147 Amongst al others the bookes of Iohn Caluin minister of the word of God at Geneua can sufficiently testifie with what faithfulnesse singular giftes graces God had adorned him according to the necessitie of the time And what constancie he had in mainteyning the Lords quarell To be short in as much as his works be yet extant and his memoriall rife I will make of him no further discourse referring the reader to his works that he hath written Nowe yée may sée by this discourse howe God hath from the first creation of Adam and Eue had and conserued his Church and hath thorough all ages raised some vp and giuen them knowledge of his trueth and hath by weaklings of the worlde ouerthrowen whole garrisōs of the wicked worldlings to the end that all men might know that the Lorde alone is almightie that his light is vnquenchable his power infinite his mercy towards his vnspeakable and that although he suffereth wickednesse to florish for a time yet he wil whē he séeth time make his kingdome triumph ouer all To which God thrée persons and one eternall deitie be all praise honour and glorie for euer and euer Amen FINIS A Table containing the dinumeration or catalogue of the Doctours of the Church of God of whom mention is made in the discourse following GOd by his sonne and spirite instructed Adam and Eue and from time to time made him to haue vnderstanding in his church Adam was ordeyned a Bishop and Doctour thorough the promise that was made of the seed of the woman 1. Of the sonnes of Adam were Doctours of the Church Abel 2. Seth was substituted vnto the ministerie 3. Enos Cainam Malaleel Iared 4. He noch an excellent doctour amongst the fathers who also was transported vnto God out of this miserable life to an euerlasting life 5 Mathusalem 6 Lamech These nine before named being excellent personages were helpers vnto Adam in the Doctrine and worke of the Church for to teach and instruct the true seruants of God 7 After them succeeded in the gouernment of the Church Noe. 8 Sem the sonne of Noe a Doctour of the Church of God 9 Arphaxad the sonne of Sem. Sale Heber Phaleg Reu. Sarug Nachor Thare the father of Abraham This is the first order of the doctors of the church of God to wit the order of the fathers whose gouernance endured about the space of 2023. yeares The second order of the gouernours of the Church of God is of the Patriarches Abraham with his posteritie bare rule and guided the Church of God and Isaac succeeded him 11 Iacob a bishoppe of the church of God for his time And afterwarde did succede the twelue Patriarches and Cahat the sonne of Leui. Amram the sonne of Cahat and father vnto
of the supper the accidents be not without the subiect that is to say that the whitenesse and roundnesse of the breade be not without the bread to wit that contrary to transubstantion which the priests haue forged the breade abideth bread and the wine contynueth in the proper substance Moreouer the conclusions proposed by him at the towne of Lambeth be these If that any Princes or Lordes or any others haue made any donations vnto the mynisters of the Church there is therin a secreate condition to wit that God shoulde be honoured and that the faithfull should be edified And if this condition ceasse then they may take away from wicked pastours that which they had giuen them any excommunication or other whatsoeuer to the contrary notwithstanding That if these dealinges of men were let alone the cleargie which were of couetous persons will bring all the world into their hands Also that the Pope may lawfully be reproued by those whom he kéepeth in obedience vnder him and that for the vtilitie of the Church he may be accused both of the clearks and lay people That the Pope as great a Lord as he reporteth himselfe to be must thinke that he is a brother vnto others and that if he sinne he ought to be brotherly corrected and heare corrections brotherly And when as by the holy scripture his heresie or errour is shewed him he ought not to be obstinate And by many other conclusions he shewed euidently the abuse of the Pope and of the cleargy and how that their possessions of so great reuenewes be vniust To conclude he was assaulted by many and amongest others the begging monkes who rose against him by greate flockes But the Lorde gaue him for a protectour the Kinge Edwarde vnder whose raigne he had some lybertie to speake the truth Richarde the successour of the said Edwarde persecuted and banished him Within a while after he was called again from banishment and returned vnto the parrishe of whiche he was pastour and there like a lustie champion of the Lorde he aboade alwayes constant euen vntill the death he died in the yeare of our Lorde 1388. fortie and one yeares after his death he was digged vp againe by the commandement of the Pope and his bones were burned and the ashes thereof cast into the water but Iesus Christ dieth not in his faithful ones vse the tyrants what cruelty they can He composed many bookes the which were burned in the citie of Oxenford in the yere 1410. there be certaine notwithstanding reserued still for to declare that God hath alwayes some faithfull seruantes who doe resist the errours of the world Amongest his writinges there is an Epistle which he sent to Pope Vrbane He that woulde sée more at large of him and of his historie let him looke in the booke of Martyrs 134 In the persecution raysed vp against Wiclief and in the yere 1400. Sautree a priest imbraced with zeale of true pure religion craued and requested in the ful Parliament the audience might be granted him for the cōmon profit of all the Realme Then albeit that his request was honest and ciuill and that he gaue to vnderstande that he coulde bring great profite yet he was not hearde for the bishops perceiuing that he came caused him to be attached of heresie and for the seauen articles condemned disgraded and burned him Looke Fabius in his Chronicles and Iohn Crespin in the booke of martyrs William Thorpe an Englishman was also a valiant martyre of our Lorde Iesus Christ He sustayned great assaultes of many prelats of of the Church of Rome without forsaking his vocation which was to instruct the people according to the pure word of God And therefore he woulde not agrée to preach the superstitions and humaine inuentions which he declared to be contrarie to the institution of the holy scriptures he was condemned hauing yeelded a testimonie of his faith Nowe of many pointes well worth the noting vpon the interrogations propounded to him I will recite for to auoyde great prolixitie one onely that is that he being demaunded of the Archbishop of Canterburie primate of Englande and Chauncelour of the whole Realme what the Church did signifie he answered that it is Iesus Christe and the companie of saincts Which thing the said Archbishop confessed to be true in respect of heauen but he demaunded further what the Church was here below on earth It is deuided into two partes answered the said Williā Thorp the one of the two parts which is the better hath obtained victorie ouer the enemies and triumpheth nowe with Christe in great ioy the other part fighteth here still on earth by the sworde of faith against the continuall bulwarkes of Sathan of the fleshe and of the worlde There is no strength so violent no pompe so proud no fire of afflictions and persecutions so burning no tyrannie so cruel no reasons of Doctours so discording nor opinions so diuerse which can withdrawe them from the right rule of faith and of the holy scriptures For they be fortyfied by the worde of God in Christ and firmely stablished as vppon a sure rocke that can not be remoued Looke Iohn Crespin in his booke of martyrs Within a while after the death of Iohn Wiclief there arose greate persecution in Englande against the faithfull for the truth of the Gospell which then began to take déepe rooting The worthiest men in the Realme were not then spared the lord Cobham a knight of the order one of the peeres of England was there apprehended but he was executed after these that we nowe speake off And therefore according to the order of time we will hereafter speake of him more at large for he was an excellent martyr of our Lorde Iesus Christ King Henrie then by publike ordinaunce made an edicte and set foorth through the persuasions of the bishoppes and prelates terrible punishmentes for all them that should follow the doctrine of Wicliefe vsing so great seueritie against them that he helde them not onely for heretikes but also as guiltie of treason And for this cause it was ordeined that they should be punished with two sortes of punishmentes that is that they should be both hanged and burned and there was neither fréedome nor any priuiledge whereby they coulde enioye profite so maliciously were they bente againste the faithfull séeking all meanes againste them and in that time they called al them Wicleffians who read the scriptures in the vulgar tongue and which made their assemblies in secrete places in the darke preaching in woodes and bushes Then the Bishops being armed with this edicte of the king exercised great tyrannie against manie good people and many poore innocentes and amongest other against Roger Acton a knight of the order and a true nobleman adorned with great vertues he abhorred the wicked traditions of the Pope had his affections withdrawen from him and from all his assistants For that cause it is reported that he was hated amongest the
rather shut it as the Pharisees did Cōcerning vowes he disputeth that such as be foolishe and impossible ought to be broken That the hearers ought to discerne and iudge of the doctrine of their prelates and not to receiue euery thing that they say without due examination 141 In these latter times many errours haue bene corrected in the Church and the pure doctrine of the true seruice of God hath beene restored again by Martine Luther and by other good and true seruantes of God And concerning Luther who was borne of honest and renoumed parentes in the yere 1483. and he was called Martin because he was baptised on the day which many do call S. Martins day He after that he had spent some time in studie of the ciuill lawe went contrarie to the opinion of his parentes and friendes to a conuent of Augustins In that monasterie he with fastings and praiers applyed himselfe to the studie of holy scripturs And within a while after he was called to reade diuinitie in the vniuersitie of Wittenberge Then while he was in this course He in the yeare 1517. withstoode the bull published by Pope Leo promising absolution from all sinnes and the kingdome of heauen for a certaine summe of monie that they should giue For to handle his purpose the better and with the more edification he wrote to the Archibishop of Mayence giuing him to vnderstande what these questours ment and complayned greatly that the people steedfastly beléeued the after they had bought these pardons they coulde not choose but be saued as though there were no sinne howe great soeuer it were but the vertue of those pardons could blot out and as though the soules formented in the fire of purgatorie shoulde then haue bene out of paine should flie streight away into Paradice as soone as the monie was put into the chest He declared that the commaundement of Christ was to teach the Gospell and that the proper office of Bishoppes is to instruct the people praying the Archbishop that according to his dutie hee woulde vse his authoritie in prohibiting certaine bookes the some had published in defence of the foresaide facte and that those preachers might followe a better kinde of doctrine He sent also with those letters 95. propositions the which he had not long afore published at Wittenberg for to dispute on in which he treated largely of purgatory of true repentance of the office and dutie of charitie and of indulgences and pardons impugning the vnreasonable sermons of the bribers and that they did all for to séeke again the pure veritie The Archbishop aunswered nothing thereto Also he resisted and spake against a Iacobin named Tekel who caused indulgences pardons to be carried and soulde al abroade in that countrie He wrote also to Pope Leo setting before him the follies that the bribers taught and the extortion they vsed in vsing or rather abusing his authoritie Loe here the beginninges in which Luther did not meane nor regarde any chaunge of ceremonies neither did hee then wholly reiecte indulgences but onely requested that they woulde obserue a meane But after that through vnderstanding of the holy scriptures he had further profited by the grace of God euerie day more and more and had perceiued that the doctrine which he had begon to teache was agreing with the holy scriptures he sustained with a valiant courage all the assaultes of the enemies and al the hatred of the worlde abiding as vmnoueable as a brasse wall and caring for no danger He hauing had marueilous assaultes and disputations and hauing writen many bookes and receiued commaundement and safe conduct from the Emperour Charles the fifth he refused not to appeare before his maiestie at Wormes and before al the princes electours all the estates of the Empyre although many woulde haue diswaded him because that his bookes had béen there burned afore hande alleaging also what had happened to Iohn Hus. He aunswered worthely in that excellent assembly yéelding a good reason for the bookes that he had composed he prayed and besought thē that if there were any man that had ought to say against the doctrine whereof he made profession that he would not dissimule it but that he woulde vtter shewe forth his fault by testimonies of the holy scripture that he woulde be no Schismatike but woulde rather be the first that shoulde set his bookes on fire He shewed that the trueth is cause of troubles And that our Lorde Iesus Christ said that it is natural for the Gospel to moue great debates and alterations amongest such as sticke ouer much to parentes and to their kinsefolkes Moreouer he there warned the Emperour and all the princes to thinke grauely and with aduisemente howe they ought to deale and foresee least in condemning the doctrine offered them through a singular benefite of God they shoulde cause a great plague to hapen vnto all Germanie After many aduertisementes and being demanded whither he would mainteine his bookes or not he aunswered by and by that he woulde not reuoke any thing of that whiche hee had either written or taught except he were vanquished by testimonie of the scripture The sentence of the Emperour was against him and so were the assembly of princes saying that his auncestours had obeyed the Church of Rome and so woulde he and yet in the meane while he kepte his promise made vnto Luther so he sent him agayne safe and sounde to the place where he abode Luther was kept secret by certaine of the worthiest princes He was accused that his bookes raised great troubles He was threatened that if he stoode stiffe in his opinions he coulde not soiourne in any place of Germaine but he feared not any of their meaninges nor for all the hurtes and offences that they sayde might by his meanes happen submitting himselfe to endure death rather then to forsake the worde of God so apparant Then he pronounced openly that he had not reproued all the councels as some reported but onely the councell of Constance because that it condēned the worde of God as appeareth in the article of Iohn Hus which was condemned that is that the Church of Iesus Christe is the communion of the predestinate The councell of Constance condemned this article and so by consequence condemned this article of our faith I beléeue the holy vniuersall Church protesting then that hee refused not to spend his life bloud so as he might not be brought to this necessitie for to denie the manifest worde of God for in mainteining thereof he must rather obey God then men Concerning offence he answered that is double to wit of charitie and of faith The offence of charitie consisteth in manners and in life and is vtterly to be shunned That of faith or of doctrine it lieth in the worde of God and it ought not to be feared séeing that the trueth and will of the heauenly father in that he hath commaunded ought not to be dissanulled although the
conference and a diligent collection of the holy scriptures and by vnderstanding of the spirite the which he hoped to obtaine by praying hartely vnto God Moreouer it is reported of him that hee kept a very good order in preaching and that the simple might as well profite thereby as the best learned so as the hearer coulde hardely goe away but being more wise and enriched with knowledg of the Lord then he had afore And like as hee taught the trueth openly with great diligence so was he hardie and earnest to reproue vices crying against the oppressions of the poore against idle persons dronkards gluttons and others liuing in pleasures and vaine delights and superfluities Shortly after was sent thither from the Pope a preacher of pardons named Sampsō Millanois for to bribe and poll against whom Zuinglius stoode stoutly proued him a deceiuer naughtie fellow Zuinglius was menaced and the ill will of the enemies of the trueth inuenimed dayly more and more that many as wel in the citie as in the countrie in their sermons diffamed his doctrine as being wicked and not catholike And amongst others the Iacobins were the chiefe Zuinglius contrariwise mainteined it conformed to the holy scripturs and went about to set it forth And therefore the Senate of Zurich sent about the yeare 1523. to all the ministers of the Churches within the iurisdiction to appeare at the saide cytie the 29. of Ianuarie for to accorde of certeine dissentions about religion promising the euery man should be heard so much and so long as should be requisite Also the saide Senate did friendly intreat by letters the bishoppe of Constance to come thither or els to sende some of his people After that a great multitude of people were gathered together at the day appointed and also Iohn Faber the Bishops great Vicar come The Consull carued vp the matter saying that the assemblie had bene cyted because of the great dissention of doctrin that was raysed vp to the intent that if any bodie woulde say any thing against the doctrine of Zuinglius he should willingly vtter it forth And ye must note the before this time Zuinglius had cōprehēded his doctrine in 70. seuen articles had published thē to the intent the they might al come wel fortified to this assēbly disputation The consul for cōcluding of his purpose bad them confer dispute together Then the saide Faber after that he had declared wherfore he was sent laboured to perswade them the there was no place to decide those matters but the it shuld be done in the coūcel which shuld be kept there Zuinglius on the contrary pressed them on that they should make no delaye if he had any thinge to lay against him To whom he answered the he would refute his opinions by writing And after much adoe on both sids when as none wold offer to beginne the disputations they left the assembly and then the Senat caused to be proclaymed thorough al that countrie that forsaking mans traditions they shoulde preach sincerely thegospell the old and newe testament Then were great contentions amongst the Suisses about religion hatred burned then euery day more more in such sort that the other partes sent to Zurich by ambassage giuing thē to vnderstand of their ill case The men of Zurich made answere shewing thē the inestimable benefits and graces that God did amongest other people bestowe vppon them And that séeing they had the worde of God granted them they shoulde not feare any threatenings They gaue commandement that throughout all the precincte of their iurisdiction all the images should be taken away and burned which thing was done without anie tumult the 13. day of Iune in the yeare 1524. Within a certaine while after those that be called Chanons made certaine partes or couenantes with the Senate and it was consulted howe the goods reuenewes of the chapiter should be imployed And about the 13. of Aprill in the yeare 1525. by the commaundement of the councell the masse was vtterly abolished at Zurich through all that seignieurie and in stéed thereof the Lordes supper was instituted Ceremonies also were chaunged to reading of the prophets to prayer and to the preaching of the word Whoredome and adultrie was forbidden and iudges deputed for to know she affaires of mariage The priestes and monkes c. were cast out of the dores many laboured by sundrie meanes to put Zuinglius to death his house was besette in the night time for to haue taken him He was assaulted on all sids as well by writing as otherwise He withstoode the opinions of the Anabaptistes the which in his time began to spring vp He composed many bookes and commentaries vpon the holy scripture He died in the battaile that was raysed vp because of linings betwixt the fiue smal coastes the people of Zurich For the custome of the inhabitants of Zurich is such that when they march to battaile the chiefe minister must be in the troupe Look Sleidan and Oswald Micorinis who haue written hys life and actes at large 141 Oecolampadius of Germaine being of a conuent of Monkes of the order of S. Bridgide and demaunding libertie for his studie and faith besides certaine sermons that he wrot he published also a booke of confession very christian like and therefore intollerable amongst themarchants of ceremonies For because of this booke one that was a confessour of the Emperour brought him into greate daunger when as the estates of the Empire were assembled at Wormes He departed out of that cloyster and went vnto a noble worthie man Francis de Sickingen he began to amend againe the abuse of the masse and translated certain fragments out of Chrisostom Afterward he was at Basile thinking to haue put in print that he had composed There by the wil of the Senat councel of the citie notwithstanding the clamoures of Sophisters he began to read I saie publikelie and shortly after at the requeste of the Curate of S. Martins he toke in hand the charge of a preacher in his roume not without great despyte of those that mainteined the traditions of the Pope He preached the holy Gospell of our Lorde Iesus Christ fiue yeares without wage either of Curate or preacher He had great knowledge in diuers languages as the workes of Theophilactus Cyrillus and Chrisostom vpon Genesis do witnes There happened in that time a disputation about the eucharistie and being requested to say his opinion thereof he did it modestly according to the iudgement of the Elders whom he alleadged faithfully wherevppon grewe a great debate by meane that others did not take that which he had written in such sort as he ment Faber Eclzius and others appointed a disputation against the Suisses to be holdē at Bade wheras he alone susteined the cause of the trueth against the aduersaries He made many good commentaries vpon Esay Ieremie Agge Zacharie Malachie Daniell Iob Ezechiel vpon the Epistles of