care is for the lucre gaynes coÌ„modities of their churche which they se euery day to lose moch profyt For the more do come to the true knowledge of christe and beleue in hym thee greater the church is though no Pope at all or mytred Bysshoppe or hyghe pryeste or patriarch were founde in al thee whole world But that that they complayne vpon doeth get vnto them no small fauour and why it hathe no small shew of godlinesse for they wil be coumpted such as care for the shepe wheras they seke the wolle wold rather be clippers and sherers than Pastours or shepeherdes For the crafty subtyl men knew ryght wel that thee churche of god or shepe or people of god ought to be brought into none other pastoure The papistes yf thei were trew pastours haue more cause to be glad than to be sory but that the true and onely fode of gods word ought to be mynystred vnto them Sythe then that thee faithful pastours do euery where minister lyberally this wholsom healthful fode of the gospel it is mete that they shuld make no complaynte of the deuisyon of thee churche but rather oughte to reioyce and bee gladde that they se thee pastoures of saluacyon to sprynge vp and florysshe so goodly euery where Here against theÌ„ the wil haue the fathers to be obserued folowed in the exposition of the scriptures I do not greatlye passe vppon theyr obiectyon wher they do commauÌ„de that the preachyng of the gospel shulde be ruled guyded moderated after or accordyng to the exposityon of the fathers For christe our sauyour did not assubiectize or make subiect thys worde wherof he speaketh Math iiii saying Man doth not liue with bread only but with euery word that cometh out of gods mouth vnto the Iudgemente of the fathers that they shuld pronouÌ„ce or geue senteÌ„ce vpoÌ„ it but he wil haue the worde to be vnderstaÌ„ded which cometh out of Gods mouth as we may se Deut. viii But that these thiÌ„ges may be more plain easyer to be vnderstaÌ„ded of euery maÌ„ Let these felowes tell Let the papâ—stes aunswere to these I praye what was the condicioÌ„ of the christian faith how the gospel EuaÌ„gelical doctrine could be preached afore that these fathers were borne into the world Howe shall we say that the Apostles did preache the gospell or after what maner dyd they it Now therfore their deceateful craftes ar detected wherby they dyd go about to deceaue the simple witted meÌ„ vnder the name of the fathers to include with in certaine limities bouÌ„des the libertie of gods worde For thys we maye boldely affirme say that the christiaÌ„ people did neuer liue a more innoceÌ„t godly lyfe thaÌ„ wheÌ„ ther were no humaine tradityoÌ„s at al the prescriptyon teachynge of the Euangelycall doctryne being then admixsted with simplicitie They are waÌ„t therfore to speake these other lyke wordes about the begynnyng of their oracyoÌ„ or this one cause that they may deceaue the symple and ygnoraÌ„t people But praysed be god that they begynne theyr tale after this maner fashyoÌ„ For two or tri actes haue ben set forth by these meÌ„ wher they seme that thei haue forgotteÌ„ to coÌ„meÌ„d at the fyrst beginning the faithful dyligent preachiÌ„g of the gospel vnto al meÌ„ which we haue most nede of of al thinges How beit they makiÌ„g a very cold meÌ„tioÌ„ of the gospel almost about the ende of their Actes be woÌ„t to say And yet for al the we ought not to be coumpted enemies of the gospel For we wyll that it be preached c. Now thaÌ„kes be vnto god thee matter is come to that that they be fayne at leÌ„gth to speake make meÌ„tioÌ„ of the gospel to coÌ„mauÌ„de the pastours to preach it dilygeÌ„tly but by by lest thei shuld seme to haue grauÌ„ted to much they do bryng the meaniÌ„g expositioÌ„ iudgemeÌ„t or seÌ„teÌ„ce of the fathers the coÌ„mune mynd or agreemeÌ„t of all the faythful by them wyl they haue the preachiÌ„g of gods word to be ruled In good south a maÌ„ might thynke sarcasmus that in to say a playne mocke the god hath a very good turne that these doctours and fathers ar come for onelesse these fathers had ben it had ben laweful for no maÌ„ to preach his word For let vs faigne the none of al the fathers did expound or went aboute to expounde the worde of god and thee scryptures with theyr wrytynges and coÌ„mentaryes lett theym tell I praye wyll they suffre then goddes worde to bee preached or not Yf then goddes worde can bee preached and sette forthe purelye and syncerely wythout the exposityoÌ„ and labour of the fathers what shame and impudencye is thys that they be not a shamed to alligate and bynde goddes worde to thautorytye of thee fathers Wheras theyr decrees do teach plainely that booke I haue already traÌ„slated in to English is called a short path-way to come thee ryghte vnderstaÌ„ding of Gods word that the fathers must gue place geue place vnto gods worde and not the worde vnto the fathers as we maye fynde Distin viii a. .ix. a. from whome the true syncere vndertaÌ„diÌ„g of gods word doth come wher it ought to be sought I haue sufficiently declared in a booke which is intituled De claritate verbi dei that is to say of the playnelynesse or lyghtsomnes of gods word It is euident playne theÌ„ by this that hath ben said hetherto that al they that ar woÌ„t to haue alwayes our lorde Iesus christ in theyr mouthes The hipocrisi of the papistes of the woues therby to commed set forth colour their hypochrytical coÌ„plaintes wherew t now that the gospel begiÌ„neth to florish thei do tragically fyl that whole world whereas in the meane season they haue not in theÌ„ a croÌ„me of the christian fayth wherby they may be knowen do seke none other thing by this theyr hipocrisye but that they may be taken for true pastours for yf thou doest loke vpon consyder beholde them froÌ„ the top to the toes thou shalt alwayes see woluish clawes to appeare out whiche they can neuer hyde We wyll not haue thys thing to be vnderstanded only of those hyghe Prelates mytred Bishops but it ought to be referred to all the ministers of the church by whose sermons any man may easely espye perceaue whether that they doo seke in their doctryne the health saluation of thee shepe or rather theyr owne â—ryuate profyte The fruytes whereby false pastrous are knowen Soch are they that do defend the papistical church saying opeÌ„ly that the coÌ„stitutions of it statutes and traditions ought to be no lesse accepted thaÌ„ the sacred holy scriptures And what greater blasphemye can be agaynste God What greater apostasye or rebellioÌ„ can be agaynste our heauenly Kynge For by what reason can we make the creature equall wyth the creator Soch
vnderstand of what Prophetes the Lorde doth speake truely of dreamers lyers tale tellers But what rewarde doeth he promyse vnto theym Wherefore sayth he theyr waye shal be slyppery in the darckenesse wherin they may stacker and fall c. And a lyttle after I wyll fede them wyth wormewood make theÌ„ drinke the water of gall Behold how he doth denaunce tell forth theyr slyppery waye greuouse fall of ignorauÌ„ce also theyr exceading great bitternesse whych as it doeth dayly encrease so at length theyr greuous and peryllous tuyne or fall as the broken walles shall ensue and folowe Esaye xxx The scriptures are full of such Testimonies whereby we may knowe and espye out false Prophetes but they are most lyuely depicted and set forth Ezechiel xxxiiii Chapter Which place the shortenes of oure matter wyll not suffre vs nor admytte to wryte oute here Yet the ende of theym is shewed euery where of thee LORDE Thee ende of false prophetes that they oughte wythoute remedye to be rooted out of the earth How by whoÌ„ false pastours must be taken away and roted froÌ„ the earth But now it is doubtfull by whom they ought to be roted out of the earth For there bee some that are desyrous to kyll them where soeuer they fynd theÌ„ But it is playne that it is lawfull for no pryuate person to kyll any man wtout the law a iudgemeÌ„t geueÌ„ vpoÌ„ him or without a speciall coÌ„mandement of god Wherefore certayn hote and fierce Christians do greatly erre whyche as sone as thâ—i se a faile prophet do thinke that any man may kyl hym for so they stycke to the letter of gods lawe seeke or searche out no deper sence or vnderstandinge We must beware then that we geue not to much the brydell to our affections For al this whole matter and busynesse ought to be coÌ„mitted to god who yf he wyll haue theÌ„ to be taken away shal casely bring it to passe by hys mynisters that is to saye by the Magistrates In the meane season be thou of a good comfort thinking within thy self of whose spirite thou arte submit thy self obediently to the meke iudgemeÌ„t of our most mercyfull master and sauyour Iesus Christ which sayeth Math. vii Euery tree that bringeth forth noo good frute shal be hewed downe caste into the fyer Yf his craftes deceyptfull subtilties were knowe of the whole church he ought to be deposed and put from the office of teaching by the commune assent agreement of all the congregation But yf the churche hath no soch auctorytye nor may do it lette no man herken vnto hym but rather suffre death than ye shulde hearken vnto a raueninge wolfe who wyth his doctryne and traditions goeth aboute too plucke you awaye from the one onelye God and heauenly father All these thinges are manyfeste playne by the plages of the scriptures afore alledged so that they haue no neade of any more demonstratioÌ„ Besydes that the Lord him selfe Math .v. bydeth vs to plucke out and cast awaye from vs Mathe .v. our ryght eye yf it doeth offend vs. Therfore it is our part duetye to pluck out that wicked eye that is to say the false pastour whiche leadeth not to the true pastures and to pulle vp by the rootes the rotten and vnfruytefull tree but after that it is done let vs commit the iudgement vnto the Lord who wil cast it into the fyre when he shal thinke beste when he is remoued put froÌ„ the office of teaching we shall reken hym amonge the tares Mat. xlii whyche oughte not be pulled vp tyll the tyme of the haruest be come as our sauiour him self sayth After the same maner â—â—et xxxiiii the Lord speaketh Ezech xxxiiii I my self wyl vpon the shepehardes requyre my shepe from theyr handes make them ceasse from fedinge of my shepe Yea the shepehardes shal fede theÌ„ selfes no more By whoÌ„ the senteÌ„ce of Lorde Deut. .xiii oughte to be executed Wherefore lette theym that beare the swearde of iustye delyuered vnto theym by God put too execution that sentence of the Lord which is expressed Deu. xiii For they shal easely vnderstand what they ought to do for the glorye of god when they must punish extremely those false prophetes And yf they beyng of that mynde that the false pastours are wyl neyther punishe them nor kepe theÌ„ shorte we must patiently beare thys yoke layde vpon vs as yf it were another captâ—uitie of Babylon tyll the Lord hym self vouchsafe to delyuer vs wyth hys myghtye hand For this that we suffre in the meane season is no losse nor harme vnto vs but an exercyse and tryall wherby our faith being exercised Psalm â— xxxviii shal shyne afterwardes with greater glorye The lord is geÌ„tyl meke of moch mercy in many thinges also he doeth spare is wont to differre loÌ„ge the plage punishmeÌ„t for no maÌ„ is able to escape his haÌ„d Besydes that no soch example of crudelitie is set forth to vs in Christ or in hys Apostels which neuer punished no maÌ„ with death sheding of bloud In dede it is lawful for al churches to put awaye reiecte the false pastour that he do not teache And yf they begin obstinately stubburnly to perseuere coÌ„tinne nor wyll cease to pluck away from god it is the parte and duetye of thee Magistrates to kyll them vp with the sweared But thou that art a pryuate maÌ„ do not raye and defyle thyne handes wyth bloude For the Lord shal not fayle yf these rauening wolues can not peasibly or wtout tumulte and insurrection be expelled out awaye he wyl wythout fayle rayse vp some Helias iii. re xviii which shall at one clappe kyll vp iiii hundreth and .l. priestes of Baal and .iiii. hundreth prelates of groues hyll aulters He shall not fayle I saye take the onely in good worth this differringe and delayinge Christ wolde not coÌ„dempne to death the wycked woman as we may sie Iohn viii which was takeÌ„ in adulterye and whom the lawe dyd coÌ„dempne But agayne what great calamities and miseries hoe horrible a destruction dyd he bringe vpon the whole people Reade ye Iosephus Sabellicus vpoÌ„ that wheÌ„ Titus both gotte the towne and subdued all the whole countreye We must therfore folow the leuge sufferaunce of our moste bounteous father In the meane season as moche as in vs lieth we must take hede that rauenynge wolues doo not occupye the towmes of Pastours whych thynge yf we can not lette we muste paciently abyde the delyueringe hande of the Lorde for the geÌ„tyll meke and mercyful example of christ doethe moue me more thaÌ„ that seuere cruel sentence or punishmeÌ„t of Moses How be it in the meane seasoÌ„ I know that the dreadeful iudge Christ wyll come whyche wyl arme eyther the Prynces or the people theym selues to vengeaunce ¶ The Epilogus or
The ymage of bothe Pastoures / sette forth by that mooste famouse Clerck Huldrych zwinglius now trāslated out of Latin into Englishe By Iohn Veron Sinonoys A most fruitefull necessary Boke to be had redde in all Churches ther wyth to enarme all symple ignorant folckes agaynst the raueninge wolues and false prophetes M.D.L. Cum Priuilegio ad Imprimendum Solum Actu xx Chap. ¶ Take hede to your selfes and to the whole flocke whervpon thee holye ghoste hath appoynted you Byshops to gouerne the Church of God whych he hath purchased wyth hys bloude Math vii Chap. ¶ Beware of false Prophetes that come vnto you in shepes clothinge but inwardely they are rauening wolues ¶ To the Most mighty Prince Edwarde Duke of Somerset Earle of Harforde Vycount of Beaw Champe Vncle to our most souerayn Lord the King Iohn Veron wysheth peace grace health of soule body encreace of diuine knowledge and godly honour frō God the father through our Lorde sauiour Iesus Christ COnsydering wtin my self moste redoubted Prince the vnspeakeable exceding great mercy of our mooste boūteous heauēly father whych so plēteously hath now at this present sente amōg vs the most pleasaūt ioyful light of his holy sacred woorde that sens the byrth natiuitie of oure Lorde sauiour Iesus Christ it was neuer in thys illustre florishing realme so purely sincerely preached as it is now in our tyme set forth to the great cōfort cōsolatiō of our poore wretched cōsciences which so lōge haue bē detēted holdē captiues in the thicke darknes of mēs traditiōs I haue a good cause to wonder meruail at the īgratitude vnthākfulnesse of manye and sundrye folkes whyche in thys moste gracyous tyme that saluatyon is so frely in the word of God and holye scryptures offered euerye where vnto them yet to theyr vtter vndoynge and destructyon haue rather to stycke to the dregges of mennes dreames and deuyllysshe inuencyous of Antichriste than to embrace the ioyfull tydynges of thee Gospel where onely they maye fynde reste too theyr poore wearye soules Chryste the euerlastynge wysedome of the father doeth crye oure there sayinge Math. xi Come vnto me all ye that laboure and are laden and I wyll ease you And yet these madde and bewytched persons wyll in noo wyse harken vnto hym but moste wretchedly labouryng and sweatynge vnder the intollerable burden of Antichriste tradycions do wyttynglye and of all obstynate purpose and mynde renne head longe into perdytyon folowynge in it theyr blynde guydes whyche doo yet at thys presente contrarye bothe to gods worde and the kynges moste godlye procedinges leade them into all kyndes of deuelysshe erroure One of the princypall causes of the blyndenesse that yet now a dayes raygneth amōge the people These blynde guydes I saye are the◠that poysone the symple and ygnoraunt people and are causes of their vtter vndoyng and destruction Then wyl they not suffre to come into thee ryght way and to folow the for goinge lyght of the gospell of oure sauyoure Iesus Christe whose doctryne and worde they perswade these poore ygnoraunte and blynde folckes to bee playne heresye and that they whych now preache set forthe and bryng vnto theym the gladde and comfortable newes of saluatyon are moste pernytyous heretykes whyche goo aboute to bryng all men from thee olde and auncyent relygyon that was sette vp alowed and establysshed by the holye fathers of the prymatiue churche in to a newe kynde of relygion that they inuented them selfes out of their own braynes thereby too take awaye and banyshe from amonge men thee true worshyppynge of the lyuing God The vngodly perswasyons of the papistes Are not wyll these Antychristes say thoroughe thys newe learnynge all lamable ceremonyes dryuen out of the churches where bee nowe thee holye Saynctes become that ye in al youre afflyctyons and trouble were wonte too flye vnto As for thee holye and blessed Sacramente of thee Aultare they haue moste vngodlye plucked it downe Within a while syth that they haue also put downe that most holy sacred Masse they wyll leaue no God at all vnto vs. Beware take hede too your selfes good folkes herken not vnto them We waraunt you they shall not continue longe Wythin there two or thre yeares and lesse ye shall see all thinges clene altered and chaunged Those and many other lyke thinges doo these rauenynge wolues and false Prophetes not only whysper in mens eares but also most boldely as though they feare nether God nor King blow out abroade among the louing subiectes of thys Realme I tell the truth I lye not god shall beare me recorde of the same Not longe a goo I was in communication wyth one of the chiefest ringe leaders of that vnlucky companye whose name I do here wittingly passe ouer whych is a man of great learnynge and in the Philosophie and doctrine of Aristoteles moste conninge and experte Thys man after that we hadde reasonned a whyle in matters of Relygyon sodeynlye brake forthe wythe these wordes No no sayde he and called me by my name sette your harte at reste I doo not doubte but that wythin these two or thre yeares al these felowes that now are busyest and mooste earnest in settinge forthe of thys heresye for so dyd he cal the preachinge of the gospell that is nowe vsed amonge vs shall be gladde to recante euery one of them as faste to cal backe theyr erroniouse opinions and to saye tongue thou dyddest lye Now moste myghtye Prince yf thys man not wythstandinge the Kynges proceadinges and other godly actes set forth by the Kinges moste honourable counsayll to thee vtter subuersyon of false doctryne vngodly traditions and Idolatrye and agayne to the mayntenaūce of true relygyon durste be so bolde too haue soche talcke and communication wyth me whom he knewe ryght well though that I haue but very smal learninge and knowledge how beit I do moste hyghely thancke god that he of hys goodnes dyd vouchesafe to directe that lyttle that I haue to his glory yet to be most earnest in the defence of this true doctrine religion What wil both he and other of the vngodly fact do among thē whō they know to be both vnlearned weake Truely they wyl vtterly subuerte thē They wyl make thē that whē thei heare of christ of his gospel they shall stoppe theyr eares crye out wyth the vngodlye multytude of thee Iewes sayinge Awaye wythe hym crucyfye hym Marke ye thys o ye Christyan Magystrates whose parte and duetye it is to beware and take heede that thee people commytted vnto you doo not fall agayne into darkenesse and ygnoraunce math xxi Luke xix marke xi When oure Sauyoure Iesus chryste Kynge of all Kynges and Lorde of all lordes made hys solempne entrye into Hierusalem howe ioyfully with songes and hymnes was he receaued of thee commune people Blessed be the kyng sayde they that cometh
cal the preaching of the gospel grace because that the gospell is the ioyful tyding of that most sure infallible grace What the knowledg of synne doth worke in vs. which of god is grauÌ„ted geueÌ„ vnto vs. The knowledge of synne which we do nede here most of al bringeth vs to the poynte that we doo vtterly dispayre of oure owne selfes wherfore it coÌ„pelleth dryueth forceth vs to flye vnto the gratuite and free mercy of god of the whych we are most sure syth the god the father dyd geue his only begotteÌ„ soÌ„ne for vs. Wherfore christ as it is sayd before dyd vouchsaue to call the hole misery of our saluatioÌ„ a medicine And in an other place as Luk. xxiiii he doth ioyne both togeather â–ª that is to saye repeÌ„taunce forgeuenes of synnes saying So it behoueth that christ shuld suffer rise agayn froÌ„ death the thyrd daye that repentauÌ„ce remission of synnes shulde be preached among all natioÌ„s in my name Beholde how he hath here ioyned both together setteth forth vnto vs both repeÌ„taÌ„ce forgeuenes of synnes For no man can worthely delight in the preachinge of the gospel no maÌ„ can worthely receaue it with a full ioye excepte he hathe afore a full knowledge of his syckenesse disease that is to saye of hys synnes The secoÌ„d care of a pastour is to take hede â–ª that they which doo repent perish not agayne But now as soone as the wretched miserable maÌ„ doeth know his sicknes infirmitie disease seing the filthines of his synnes doth also espye depreheÌ„d and fynde a sure knowledge hope of saluation in Iesus Christ he oughte in no wyse afterwardes to lyue in synne For sith that in christ Iesus we are al dead to synne we can not afterwardes lyue in synne as the holy Apostle S. Paule doth largely copiously declare shew Roma vi This shal therfore be one of the chiefest and greatest care of a Pastour and true shepeherde to watche diligently and as nyghe as he can to take hede beware that the shepe which are already washed clensed do not voyltre theÌ„ selfes agayne in the stinking myre and puddell of synne For after that the faythfull are ones come into the knowledge of theyr saluacion and haue tasted of the gratuite free mercy of god which the heauenly father doth most liberally graunt gyue vnto vs it is most coÌ„uenient that they do leade an innocent lyfe and pure from all contagiouse fyl thynesse of synne least parchaunce they dye agayne For as Christ beyng ones rysen from death dyeth nomore death hath nomore power ouer hym so they doyng or putting of the olde man shal put on the new whych is created after the lykenes of god that is to saye oure Lorde Iesus Christ hym self what it is to putt on Christ They do sayth the scripture put on christ that walke and lyue as Christ him self dyd lyue here in the earth Therfore he doth byd and commaund his disciples after the same maner mat xxviii Go ye therfore and teache all nations and baptise them in the name of the father the sonne the holy ghost teachinge them to obserue kepe what soeuer I haue commauÌ„ded you For who soeuer doth not thincke euery day vpoÌ„ the ameÌ„demeÌ„t of his lyfe after that he feleth him self to be redemed by Christ renewed doth coÌ„tempne the name of christ abusing the same most shamefully yea rather he is thee cause that the holye name of christ is euyll spoken of and blasphemed among the infidels and vngodly We do reade therfore that the holye Apostle S. Peter doth not wythout a good cause say i. Pet. ii.l. for as moch then as Christ hath suffred for vs in the fleshe arme ye your selues lykewyse wyth the same mynde for he which suffreth in the fleshe ceasseth froÌ„ synne that hence forward he shuld lyue as moche tyme as remayneth in thee flesshe not after the lustes of men but after wyll of God For it is sufficiente for vs that we haue spent thee tyme that is past of our lyfe after the wyl of the BeÌ„tils walking in waÌ„tounes lustes in excesse of wyne in excesse of eatinge in excesse of drinking or droÌ„kenes in abhominable Idolatrie By the whyche wordes we maye easely see perceyue or vnderstand that we haue not yet fulfylled nor done fully our duety yf we shewe and declare the saluation which is pourchased by Christ for we haue most nede too beware and take hede that we do not lose agayne the saluation which is gotten and purchased vnto vs therby as most vnfaythfull Apostates Traytours most vngodly blasphemyng the holye and blessed name of thee lyuinge God It is the dutâ—e of a pastour to lyue accordiÌ„ge too hys doctryne that he teacheth Which thing that it may be coÌ„modiously brought to passe done ther is none other way more coÌ„modiouse redy thaÌ„ yf the honestye of the pastour be soche that he shal with his workes dayly example of lyuing expresse the thing that he doth teache wyth his mouth and wordes Which thing Christ doeth highlye requyre mathew v Who soeuer sayeth he shall breake the least of these coÌ„maundementes teache men to do so he shal be called lesse in the kingdom of heaueÌ„ But who soeuer shal both do teach he shal be called great in the kingdoÌ„ of heaueÌ„ For this is most sure no man is able to denye this but that it is a playne payntinge and hypocrysye to speake gaylye of god and in the meane season to lyue nothing after the rule prescript of his word Which thing S. Paul doth manifestly declare wryting to Titus Titum i. wheÌ„ he sayeth They confesse that they knowe god whoÌ„ with their dedes they do vtterly denye syth that they be abhominable disobedient vnapte to euery good worcke And again Roman ii he writeth after this maner Which teachest another and doeste not teache thy self which preachest that a man shuld not steale thou stealest whiche sayest that a man shuld not commit adultery and thou breakest wedlock why the abhorrest ydols robbest god of his glory which boastest in the lawe by the breakiÌ„ge of the law doest dishonor god for the name of god is yll reported and spoken of among the BeÌ„tyls for your sakes Therfore the pastour shall wyth all care and study beware take hede that he do not destroye with his fylthyelyuyng coÌ„uersation the thinge that he doeth buyld set vp with his doctrine and traditioÌ„s for the nature of mans wit is soche that the weaker persons are sore offended with this thing they wyl not suffre theÌ„ selfes lightely to be won drawen allured with gods worde yf they see that the lyfe and conditions of the pastoure do not agree with the doctryne whych is pure holy and sounde The pastour oughte diligentâ—ie to shuÌ„ne the hypocritycal faynynge of
set forth with suche power vertue lyuelynesse as we do se before our owne eyeÌ„ to be done now a dayes and that euerye where almost it maye easely be gathered therby that thys is done by the deuyne prouidence and not wythout our great good that we beyng instructed wyth the knowledg of our saluation shuld rather rote out thys deceateful hypocrysye of humayne tradytyons Wo be to the pastour which hydeth the lyghte of gods worde vnder a bushel Wo therfore be vnto the pastour which now in this our time the children fooles can speake is not ashamed to hold his peace which hidiÌ„g the lyghte of gods word vnder a busshel doth the worke of the lord fraudulently or deceatfully nor endeuoureth him self al that he can that the people of the lord may be delyuered God with expressed plaine wordes reueled by Samuel The example of Saul and Samuel .i. Regum xv had in tymes past coÌ„maunded Saul the fyrst king of the Israelites that he shuld make warre against the Amalechites destroy theÌ„ al and kil with the sweard all liuing soules that he shulde saue either to him self or to hys soldiours no maner of thing of the ryches spotles of those vngodlye men But Saul breaking the coÌ„maundemeÌ„te of god dyd bring aliue Agag the Kyng of the Amalechites also he doubted not to reserue saue a great nuÌ„bre of catel for to offre vnto the lord with the most precious costely garmeÌ„tes and many other thinges This proude presumptioÌ„ of Saul that faithful prophet Samuel could not suffre nor abide which fearinge him nothinge that both was lately made a kinge also was not a lyttle pufte vp with the prosperous vâ—ctory that the lord had geueÌ„ him doth boldly wyth such wordes blame rebuke his disobedieÌ„ce Wherfore hast yâ— not harkened vnto the voice of the lorde Soche are oure good intentes that ar not groÌ„ded vppon gods worde but hast turned to the pray hast done that which is wycked in the syght of thee lorde But Saul excusing him self aunswered that he had performed fulfylled the worde of thee lorde sayinge I haue gone the way which the lord hath sente me vnto and haue broughte Agag thee kyng of Amaleke haue vtterlye destroyed the Aamalechites But the people toke of the spoile shepe oxen the chefest of the thinges which shulde haue beÌ„ destroied to offre vnto the lord thy god in Gilgal Maâ—â—ke ye this that wil may ataine good intentes Which thinges being hearde Samuel dyd agayne blame rebuke hym very sharpely saying Hath the lord as great pleasure in burnt sacryfices offringes as when the voice of the lord is obeyed Behold to obeye is better than sacryfyce to herken is better than the fat of Rammes For rebellyon is as the synne of wytchecrafte and stubbernesse is as the wyckednesse of Idolatryr Because thou hast cast awaye the word of the Lorde therefore hath the lord cast away the from beynge kynge A good pastour ought to folow the exaÌ„ple of Samuâ—ll Howbeit these thynges being thus paste after that Samuell had executed done the coÌ„maundement of god he dyd hewe in peces Agag the king of Amaleke which was brought too hym prysoner Thys dede then of that most holye and stronge prophete Samuel doth suffycyently teache vs that it is the office and duety of a pastor to spare neither kinges nor myghtye magistrates but as sone as he shall perceaue them to be deceaued and too go out of the way by by he shal rebuke their errour that they may learne both to acknowledge theyr faultes and also to amende Therfore against theÌ„ the will not haue siÌ„nes to be rebuked by the Pastours a certayn of those hygh prelates of the Romisshe churche whose name I wil wittingly passe ouer was not all togeather folyshe whych when he dyd coÌ„mitte the cure administratioÌ„ of a parishe whych dyd belonge to hys Diocesys vnto a certayn minister or pastour he dyd bynd hym to these conditions that he shoulde in no wyse rebuke or touche sharpely his order yea not as moche as wyth a word Agayne that he shoulde so tempere and moderate thee preachinge of the gospell that he shuld in hys sermons blame and rebuke noman What shall then thys poore wretched Pastour beinge thus bounde entreate vpon in hys publyke sermons Behold the whole world doth lye buried in the stinking puddel of synne is all togeather drowned in vyces and yet it shall not be lawefull too rebuke or blame it What nede haue theÌ„ the poore shepe of a Pastour In the meane season I knowe ryghte well what thys good and wyse father dyd saye when he gaue thys commaundement forsoth that the condition nature of the gospell was to rebuke no man to sharpely But o reuerende father open your eyes a lyttle and loke diligently vpoÌ„ Math. iii. xiii Item Ioh. iii. .viii. other innumerable places of the Euangelicall scripture that ye maye vnderstande what wordes and maner of speaking Christe and Iohn dyd vse in rebukinge mens synnes I know that he wyll geue thys aunswere Forsouth that it is thee duetye of a pastour to rebuke thee synnes of the commune rascall people and to bringe theÌ„ of the basest sorte from theyr accoâ—umed vyces maner of lyuinge For in thys one thyng that holy and reuerende father dyd not a little shewe and declare hys godlynes sayinge that he dyd in no wyse gayn saye or contrarye the Euangelicall doctrine but rather that he dyd fauoure it wyth all hys harte Beholde then howe these men do bewray theyr owne nature and mynde Heâ—e here a snake lurketh in the grasse For the myghty Princes and rulers of this world â—he worldliÌ„ges coulde wel â—â—â—de the preaching of the gospell yf it shuld not rebuke their vicious liuing coulde well abyde or beare the preaching and doctrine of the trueth yf they shulde not feele and perceaue that therby theyr tyraÌ„ny is brought to lyght rebuked or yf they were not afrayed to lose theyr temporall commodities and profytes Another thing shal also the faythful pastour learne in thee example of Samuell that he oughte in no wyse to spare the Princes and gouernours but blame and rebuke sharpely theyr faultes Which thing yf they can not abyde Actuum v he heareth what Saynte Peter sayth Better it is to obeye God than man But because the annoynted sorte of the Papystes are not ashamed Of the true obedyeÌ„ce â— disobedieÌ„ce agaynst the papistes to affyrme strengthen and establyshe that obedience that they doo requyre of al kyndes of men by thys example of Samuell we muste better looke vpon it and also speake more largelye of it When Saule in hys factes and dedes had rather folowed and obserued hys intente and mynde than thee playne decree of Goddes worde he dyd commyt a great synne of disobedience Wherfore Samuel sayth that it is playne Idolatrie