the canticles and fourth of Paule to the EphesiaÌ„s Corinthians are to be referred to the triuÌ„phant church do also now shew y t onlye the good in gods knowledg to be rewarded in glory are christê spouse not withstandinge here in the nomber amoÌ„ges christes people al are couÌ„ted oeÌ„s n. sunt de ecclesia numero sed noÌ„ merito y t be knit together in one faith one baptim c. Whether theâ— be good or bad So y t the vnitye agrement here in maketh y e church to be knoweÌ„ How be it if ye take or count all faithfull people which are sinners to be darkenes y e righteous onlye to be the light so no doubte y â— good bad do not al pertaine to one coÌ„panye but coÌ„sidering al faithful people as wel sinners as iust meÌ„ in that they be knit together iÌ„ one faith which is y e light of al faithful soules so they are al couÌ„ted to be w t in the cumpany of thunitie of the church militant w t out whiche be al scismatikes al heretikes al y t be excommunicat And here by appeareth y t only vnitye agremeÌ„t vnder one head iÌ„ one faith in one baptim in one order of sacrameÌ„tê sacrameÌ„talê ceremonies c. in one hope one charity in one spirit iÌ„ one reward to be receued of one head in heaueÌ„ doth make the churche of christ to be knoweÌ„ but al we both good or bad do depeÌ„d of thê vnity vnder one heade in one faith one baptim one hope one loue in one spirit al loking for one rewarde vnder one heade christ in heaueÌ„ therfore all we whether good or bad not erriÌ„g in y e faith are of thê church which theÌ„ coÌ„sequeÌ„tly herby appereth to be knowen Now for the profe of al these for y e first there is one christ ephe i whoÌ„ God the father ordeined to be head ouer al his church which is his bodi mistical Peter and his successours being immediate vicars therof as is fulli declared in this boke For the second we al are knit in thunity one faith i. co i saie al one thiÌ„g let ther be no scisme amoÌ„ges you for ye are al one gal iii y t is to say in y e faith of christ For y e third we al agre in thuniti of one bapti VnuÌ„ baptismacte eph 4 that coÌ„cerniÌ„g the matter of bap concerning y e maner forme of bap concerninge also the effect profyt of bap tiÌ„ For these .iii. ye rede Iohn y e third Mathue y e last Marke y e .xvi. excepte ye be regenerate of water tholy ghoste ye can not eÌ„ter iÌ„to y e kingdoÌ„ of god c Go and teache al nacions baptysing them in the name of the father the sonne and the holy ghost c. He that beleueth and is baptised shall be saued c. For the fourthe ye are all called Ephesians the .iiii. vnto one hope of your vocatioÌ„ Hoc est in vnaÌ„ reÌ„ sperataÌ„ que est effectus vocationis vestre For y e v kepe stil one charity phi ii being al of one minde as the apostels were Actes the .iiii. as we are al being the church counted as one lofe i. cor x or one bodye For as one lofe is made of manye graines one bodye of many members so is the church compacte of manye faithfull people knit together in charity For y e sixte i. cor xii the giftes of grace are many but al coÌ„meth of one holye spirite Be ye therfore carefull ephe iiii to kepe the vnitye of this spirit seing y t as one soule doth quickeÌ„ norishe al members of the natural bodye So doth one spirit quickeÌ„ norish al the faithfull meÌ„bres of christes bodi mistical For the last mat 20. We loke al for one peny to be geuen of god whyche is our onely one head Iohels i rewarder of all we being then all brought into one shepecote of hym our onelye one shepeherde and pastour By this aunswere ye maye fullye perceyue the palpable darkenesse wherein these heretikes blindlye do walke which obstinately holde that the church is vnknowen and that none be of it but such as be all pure without spotte and that the smaller number is euer the better concernyng beliefe RHomanê° pontifex est caput orbis vniuersi et hierarcha summus ac princeps omnium vbique perpetuo hoc Authoritate diuina necnon iudex summus a quo appellare noÌ„ licet sed eius semper est modo sitvere papa catholicus causas fidei ambiguitates omnes iudicio vltimato decidere ac determinare Verum toto tempore quo ignoratur quis sit verus pontifex sacrum concilium authoritatem habet a deo ad sedandum schisma ¶ The conclusion WE maye perceyue now hereby ientill reader howe weake feble all the obiectioÌ„s are which be commonlye made agaynst the Popes authoritye We may perceyue the long coÌ„tinuance of it euen from Peters time hitherto with sufficient profes of the same We may perceyue also that thonly occasion of all heresies and other mischiefes whiche haue bene here in Englande and caused miserable scismes amoÌ„gest vs in the late miserable yeres was the forsakynge of the heade of the churche and breakynge the vnity therof We perceyue moreouer that y e only cause of leauinge and forsakyng hym was sinne aduoutrye pride and auaryce but the cause being nought how could the effecte be good Yea howe nought euil and wicked the effect hath bene and what misery we haue both felt and suffered still worse and worse as wel bodily as ghostlye euerye good man doth playnly se We perceiue also by example now to speake that lyke as yf ye take a clue of yearne and let the top thred be fast knit tosse tipe and playe at the ball with it so longe as the toppe threde breaketh not all holdeth faste together but breake ones the toppe threede and then playe with it tosse it vp downe all will sone come to nought euen so it hath chaunsed here in England with christes true religioÌ„ after that we ones brake the toppe threde Experience hereby hathe taught vs that amonges christen meÌ„ nothing is so sore to be feared as to be deuided from the vnity of christes churche as all they be whyche forsake the head therof In vnity peace and concord all thynges do florysshe and prosper but through diuisyon and schisme what euell commeth not And that caused the holye emperour Theodosius so greatlye to laboure for vnytye amongest Christes flocke Which thinge nowe earnestly pondered and throughlye weped let vs with all dylygence wyth all studye and prayer endeuoure our selues to kepe vs in the vnitie of christes church and to kepe vp the charet that it fall no more to the grounde Let vs mooste humblye obey vnto Peter and his successors as vnto the heade and chieffe stone
kynges princes in christeÌ„doÌ„ ought not to be of lesse mighte power theÌ„ is the power and authoritie amonge the heatheÌ„ Emprours and kynges which be free from any suche subiection Hereunto my answere is that Seruire deo regnare est Seruitus enim dei summa libertas to serue God and to kepe his ordinaunces is not to be couÌ„ted seruyce but greatest fredoÌ„ it is no subiection but most libertie And yet furthermore here I speake not of a kynge as a kynge to be vnder the head of Christes churche but a kynge as a christen man a kynge as a member of Christe a Kynge as a shepe of Christes folde so muste he be vnder and obedient to Christes shepeherd For Christ made the law generall in geuynge to Peter full authoritie to lose and bynd withoute any restraynt or anye respecte or consideration had to kynge or Emperoure so that none of Christes flocke be exempte from this hyghe shepeherde but of necessitie compelled to obeye onles they wyll nedes wilfully breake oute of the folde and fle from Christ Herein thys place I myghte bringe in to serue my purpose that noble Emperour Theodosius whiche wyth all humble obedyence submitted hymselfe lyke a lambe to the shepherde vnto that holye father Ambrose hys Bushoppe beynge content to suffer what punishment it pleased tholy Byship to put vnto him for his offense And oughte not all men in lyke maner to obey their spirituall shepeherdes speciallye the heade shepeherde of al excepte they wil be exempted froÌ„ Christes flocke yea thoughe they be earles dukes or princes Haue we not a notable storie not longe ago of Henry the fourth emperour whiche with all submission suffringe that willingly al penaunce put vnto hym by the Popes holynes Grego the .vii. for hys former contempte was receyued agayne as a membre of Christes Churche beynge before for obstynacye iustelye cutte of would god that at these and many such like examples laft in stories for oure instruction kinges and princes now a daies would take occasion to acknowledge them selues to bee liuely membres of Christes ecclesiasticall body and with all humble submissioÌ„ to iudge theÌ„selues much inferiors as they be in dede vnto the chiefe and spiritual head Christes vicare their principall guide and shepherde ¶ The .vii. probacion It is euident that al the EuaÌ„gelistes which as it were with one month do iÌ„ al places geue preemineÌ„ce to Peter puttinge him euer in the fyrste place were at that tyme assured that Peter was heade and Prince of all the apostles He was not first called as it is writen in Iohn the fyrst chapter no nor the Euangelistes do obserue to recite them after their callyng but sometymes one in this place and contrarywyse the same in an other place but Peter is euer in the first place Andrew is put seconde in Mathewe .iiii. in Marke and in the Actes Iames is fifte in Mathie secoÌ„d in Marke third in Luke Iohn is the sixt in Matheu secoÌ„d in thactes in Mark the third and in Luke the .iiii. And likewise is the chauÌ„ginge in all other bycause they were all equall Yea. Luke himselfe in his gospel doeth vary from that he writeth in thactes for there he putteth Andrew y e secoÌ„d but here he couÌ„teth him the iiii but Peter in all places bycause christ apointed him to be chief head is of al named still the first yea that not only nuÌ„bring the Apostels but also in al places where Peter with anye other is recited as in healinge the woman that had the issue of bloud Luke xii And in the secoÌ„d and also .v. of thactes Peter is euer the first ¶ The .vii. probation The scriptures truly vnderstanded geue euer Peter y e preeminence so doth the whole coÌ„sent of al the holy fathers so doeth and euer hath done the vniuersall catholike churche of Iesus Christ whyche is the foundacion and pyller of all trueth Who can then stryâ—e against this and yet thinke him selfe to be a lyuely member in Christes churche ¶ The .ix. probation Ruling and obeinge being coniugata can neuer bee one with oute the other Therfore Christ bidding Peter rule and gouerne al his flocke as it is iÌ„ the second probation euen by the selfe same word commaunded all the flocke to obey him So that whether he be highe or lowe if he wilbe of Christes flocke he muste nedes obeyâ— the shepherd ¶ The .x. probation Both Nicen councell and moste parte of all the generall councels euer since haue established coÌ„firmed as a verity receiued froÌ„ christes time that appellations should be made to y e sea of Rome yea and that no couÌ„cels shuld be kept without the consent of the bishop of Rome and also that lyke as Peter was the chefe and head of all the Apostels so shoulde y e church of Rome in his name consecrate by christes appointmente be head and chiefe ouer all other churches whereunto euen as vnto the mother all other churches in al matters of contrauersie shoulde seke all causes there to be determined and ended Haec Iulius primus ¶ The .xi. probation Christ hath but one spowse Vna est columba mea vna est amica mea As it is in the caÌ„ticles his coote was withoute seame it can not be cutte his kingdome can not be deuided for then it would sone come to dissolucion which can not bee seinge the gates of hel shal not preuayle agaynst it There is but one shepeherd there is but one shepeâ—ote wherin the holy ghost set an ordre which ordre the deuill shall neuer breake though he shake at it neuer so sore He went about to breake this ordre first eueÌ„ in him selfe when he couâ—ted to be equall w t the highest as it is in Esai the .xiiii. And after wheÌ„ he caused our firste parentes to disobey goddes commaundement Yea euer since from time to time this hathe euer bene hys chiefe endeuor Thus he caused y e CorinthiaÌ„s ofte to striue againste this order first in the SacrameÌ„t of baptim preferriÌ„g the baptim of one minister to an others ego pauliego appollo c then in the sacrameÌ„t of matrimony despisinge that bicause Pauâ—e had preferred virginitie therunto After this in the Sacrament of y â— Alter vnreuerently receuinge it and puttinge no diuersitie saithe Paule betwene the bodye of christ and other meate More ouer where God appointed suÌ„dry giftes to suÌ„dry meÌ„ to some more to some lesse y â— deuel is euer redi to stirre moue one to enuy an other to coÌ„temne all to breake thorder set by the holy ghost Yea amonges all these breches of order y â— deuil is iÌ„ none so busy as he is to perswade y e people agaiÌ„st y â— vnitie of christes church against y e head of his mistical body sayiÌ„g y e church is vnknoweÌ„ here one there one but none knoweth where al this is
againste his preeminence to be ouer al. c. ¶ The answere A man might saye it was no more againste Peter then againste Christ him selfe King and Lorde of al which here of humilitye thus submitted him self for al our exaÌ„ples whether we be of the clergye or of the Laitye if we be his Disciples Christes wordes there biddinge Peter take fourth of the fishes mouth a pece of money c. were ful of high misteries How be it here for this matter it is sufficient to note that by Christes wordes their in the processe it plainlye apperethe that bothe Christe and Peter were free from painge any tribute mony by any law but yet to auoyde sclaunder offence for the time christ did permitte that it should be payed ¶ The .xxii. obiection When the disciples contended to gether aboute superioritye Christe sayde amonges the heathen their kinges haue rule ouer them c. but amonges you he that wil be gretest must be as seruaunte ¶ The answere By Christes wordes it plainelye appeareth that he would haue superioritye amonge his Disciples but yet it shoulde be with all humilitye and godlynes and that the superioritye or primacie should be without all ambicion or vaine glorye Christ said not here their shalbe amoÌ„g you none greter then other he saide not amonge my Disciples whyche professe me there shal be no ruler no Kinge or Prince c. but he plainlye describeth what maner of men they should be whych amonge christen people ought to beare rule office and authoritie whether thoffice and burden be ecclesiasticall or polytical they ought to rule to y e profite and commoditye of their subiectes not to their own luchre poÌ„pe or vain glorye For this to rule is counted mere tiraÌ„nye which heatheÌ„ Princes oft vse AmoÌ„g christen men it ought to be onlye to gods glorye honor remembring S. Ambrose saing to the Emperour Theodosius whiche was that his subiectes were ioined vnto him not only by kind and nature but also by the commen seruice of one god which is Master lorde ouer al both ouer y e Prince and his subiectes And here note that christ in y e former wordes saiÌ„g amoÌ„g y e heatheÌ„s their Kinges haue power c. but it shal not be so amoÌ„g you c. speaketh to al hê flocke as wel to y e laity as to y e clergie y t is to saye to all y t be subiectes members of his y t none of them should rule be he Prince or other after y e maner of the heatheÌ„ which saith OrigeÌ„ there vpoÌ„ only to their owne coÌ„modity vauÌ„tage yea and y t violeÌ„tly ofte w t spoyliÌ„g killiÌ„g not knowiÌ„g god do exercise great tiraÌ„ny ouer their subiectes But thus it shall not be saithe Christe amonge you nor anye that professe my name whiche know that there is one god aboue Lorde ouer king and subiect here in earth and y e both Maister seruauÌ„t must geue a count as seruauntes together vnto y t one lorde and god Ye therefore when you rule se it be with all humilitye euer loking to their commoditie ouer whom ye do rule to the honour glorye of god not to your owne pompe or vaineglorye to youre owne pride or couetousnes ¶ The .xxiii. obiection S. Peter forbiddeth any spiritual shepherd to beare anye lordelye rule ouer y e flocke but willeth to fede them with all dilygence c. ¶ The answere That which is in the laste respoÌ„sion wil serue to answere here vnto this obiection For neither Christe nor Peter forbiddeth rule gouernaunce or primacye so that it be accordinge to the right rule and order with al humilitie godlines and charitie Both Christ and Peter describe and appoint an order as wel to the ciuil ruler beinge a Disciple of our sauioure as to the ecclesiasticall notwithstandinge the ecclesiastical example in ruling being more perfite more high in dignitye and the eye of the bodye requireth a straiter examination with al perfection godlines he to gouerne the shepe subdue the wolfes he beinge in the churche of Christe the great priest y e highest Bushop the Prince of all ministers the very ayer to the Apostels Abel in primacye Noe in gouernaunce in patriarcship AbrahaÌ„ in order Melchisedech in dignitye Aaron in authoritye Moises in iudgemeÌ„t Samuel in power Peter in anoynting Christ one shepherd oboue al hauing power to lose binde Wherfore now to returne a christiaÌ„ ruler whether he be of the clergye or of the laytye can not nor ought to beare anye lordlye rule after the maner of the heatheÌ„ Princes which like tiraÌ„tes vse their subiectes onlye rigorouslye to their owne vauntage But a christiaÌ„s rule and gouernauÌ„ce ouer his subiectes is nothinge els but a charge and a solicitude or carefulnes ouer his brethren in Christe and a balishippe or stewardshippe ouer them that be seruauntes together wyth hym vnder god the commen lorde and Master of all ¶ The .xxiiii. obiection No man seruing almightye God ought to intermedel him selfe with seculer busines c. sayth the Apostell ¶ The answere Seinge al christen men in baptim do promisse and vowe to fight vnder Christe the forsayd text doth as wel bind the laitye as the cleregye beinge christen men so that no christeÌ„ man ought so to medel with seculer busines that he forgote his spirituall dutye whyche ought to be y e chiefest care of al christen men Moyses Iosue Dauid with all godlye rulers euer since haue had no impedimentes by their worldlye busines and earthlye substaunce but rather thereby great ayde and helpe vsinge them wel as they did to the furtherauÌ„ce of their spiritual cure charge ¶ The .xxv. obiection Let euerye soule be subiecte to y â— higher powers c. paying tribute and tolle to whome it is due c. ¶ The answere Thappostel here as wel commaundeth to obey spirituall rulers geuing them their dutyes as seculer He doeth not hereby bynde y e shepherd to be â—nder the shepe nor binde the shepeherde to pay any tribute to any membre of the misticall body he being the head therof I mighte here nowe declare how not onely among the christen flocke the priestes euer were and ought to be fre from al exactions tooles and tributes but also amonge the HeatheÌ„ people they were euer free as ye rede in the genesis in the time of famine in Egipt And likewise in the oration of Sun machus coÌ„sul of Rome to Valentinian Theodosius Arthadius emperours which he made agaynst the Christians So that Paule did binde no priestes by y t text being amoÌ„ge christeÌ„ men to pay any tribute or toole Howbeit if priestes or bishops of christeÌ„dome yea or the heade bishop the pope himselfe were in a HeatheÌ„ realme he or thei ought to be subiectes to the lawes there and pay tribute or toole For christes law taketh no right or duety froÌ„ any party And that is it
and no pleasure to here eueÌ„ so it is w t vs the membres of Christes misticall bodye If we rede these natural examples which moue to vnity and consider also beside these that euerye countrey hath a sundry gyfte of god whych other couÌ„tres doe lacke as some haue silkes and veluettes some spytes some wynes some leade woole tinne Irne wadde mather c. and all this for a ciuel vnitye and honest natural order to be had and kepte amongest the people whom god did creat to liue in one as associate together homo est sociale animal knowing y t as thethnicke affirmeth with concorde peace and vnitye all thinges florish and increase but with discorde striffe and contention al commeth sone to ruine and destruction Oh good Lorde when we rede or here these or suche lyke natural perswasions institute euen by god according to oure firste generation and birthe mouinge so greatlye to vnitye what shal we then coniecture or say to the supernatural vniti which ought to be obserued and kepte amonge vs now beinge regenerate and newly borne againe in Christ we beinge all of one religion all through one regeneracion grafte in Christ euerye one as a member of the same body hauing his peculier office to maintayne this vnitye with all we ought then all beinge of one mynde to be ioyned fast in one as members together hauing euery one his office vnder one head appoynted seing one baptime hathe regenerate vs all vnto god and that we haue al one father in heauen all brethren by profession of Christes true religion all appointed to receiue one rewarde of inmortalitye euerye one one penye for our daye laboringe in the vineyarde And for this the membres of these oure corruptible bodies doe succoure euerye one one another and in case anye thinge doe chaunce to one of them whether it be good or bad euerye one of the other taketh it as their owne What shall we saye then here in If euerye meÌ„ber haue nede of other if euerye member be member to all other and doe minister in his office to al if euerye membre do helpe other and neuer a meÌ„ber do grudge at others preeminence if thande do minister the mouth doe eate the stomake receiue the feete carye the woole c. Why should not we then being al membres of Christes bodye kepe the same coÌ„formity to the mayntenaunce of this vnitye wherof now I speke we se y t iÌ„ a material buyldyng one stone serueth in one place which can not serue in an other and will not we se that amonges the lyuelye stones of Christes spiritual house the same conformitye ought euer to be kept and al for the defeÌ„se of this vnitie knowing that there is but one hope one faith one baptim on lorde and one God rewarder of all that kepe the vnitye as they oughte to doe whyche thynge yf all Christen men stil had earnestlye obserued then no doubt the Turke and other infidels had not so preuayled agaynst christendome as they haue done within these few C. yeares Remember Scilurus roddes Remember Antisthenes saying Ciuium aut fratrum concordia quouis muro firmius munimentuÌ„ No wall or other defense can be so sure as the vnion and agremente of people together in one Let vs then pray for this moste earnestly that we may kepe this vnitye Which we can neuer do except we firmelye leyne to one heade onli immediate vicar here in earthe vnder Iesus christ To whom with the father and tholy ghoste be all laude honoure and glory for euer and euer Amen Memorare nouissima et in eternum non peccabis eccle vii HORATIVS Viue vale Si quid nouisti rectius istis Candidus imperti si non vis vte re mecum Made and composed by Iohn Standishe doctour in diuinitie ¶ Imprinted at London in Fletestrete nere to S. Dunstones church by Thomas Marshe Mense Iulii 1556. ¶ The fautes escaped in printyng Leafe side line  A. ij i. xxi iectes rede sectes A. iiii i xiiii vses rede vsed A. v ii iii exacted rede executed E. ii i. xxi to christes rede into christes F. iii. i v. reproued rede apê“ued G. viii ii xi patienter rede patientur I. i. i. xxii be as monstruous rede be monstruous L. vii ii xix is y t rede is it that N. viii ii xiii bishops rede bishop O. vii ii xiii my rede any O. viii i xviii vpoÌ„ y e app rede vpoÌ„ all thappo P. ii i iiii was the rede was then P. vi ii vi out a cause rede out cause Beside these some smale fawtes be escaped As cluod assenscion word faurth decareth desth ded whirhe 27. excominicate ab c. for cloude ascension world fourth declareth death dyd which 72. excommunicate ad c. with some textes in the margent lackyng some not well placed which all euery ientle reader mai easely correcte Oportet haereses 〈◊〉 Augâ— de syâ—â—â—o lo ad caâ— thech li. 4. ca. 10. Cyprianê° de simpl praelat Lu. 9. 8 Infirmos capiunt firmos fatiganâ— ac me diocres vaâ—ll lantes diâ—â—â—tunt Greg. naz Li. 1. tripert câ— 17. 19. li 2. ca. 25. li. 4. ca. 1â— 44 li 10. ca. 44. li. 6. â—ccl â—â—â—tor cap. 16. li. 3. tript ca. 2. li. 4. tript ca. 44. 3. li. 7 ca. 40. li. 5. ca. 25. li. 5. tript ca. 43. li. 2. eccl hist ca. 1. et 13. li. 12. trip ca â–ª 9. ca. 39. li. 9. tript li. 8. tript ca â–ª 3. li. 3. â—c ca. 3 â–ª liâ— 5. tripart cap. 30 li. 1. tripert ca. 20. 〈◊〉 1. trip ca. â— li. 4. eccl ca. â—1 li. 5. ca. 16. li. 1. trip ca. â—5 li 4. eccl ca. 15. li. 4. trip ca. 23. li. 1. trip ca. 15. li. 3. trip ca. 6 li. 8. tript ca. 13. li. 5. eccl ca. 16. Cause of our miseries li. 1. trip ca. 6 â–ª li. 10. eccl ca. 34. In epi. fun li. 3. ca. 3. Ioa. 18. li. 4. trip ca. 24. Cause of errours Epist ◠〈…〉 Lu. 22. * Christ prayed for Peter that after his assenscion his prayer was not for that time when Peter denied him thrise 〈◊〉 fayth might be sure and fyrme as it is stil and shall be to the worldes end 〈◊〉 Inuentes staterem illum sumens da cis pro me 〈…〉 Aug. li. 4. veâ— nouâ—â—est q. 75. in epist ad magnesia 1. reg 8. Exod. 15 Nu. 16. â— para â—â— 1. reg 15. heb 13. Luke 1â— Mat. 〈…〉 1. Pet. 2 â–ª Deut. 17. Annis post 〈◊〉 101. Anacl in episto ad vniuerses in toâ—o oâ—be 〈◊〉 sacerdotes 110. Euar in epi. qua â—dâ—t consultatioibê° epÌ„oruÌ„ vniuersae regionis aff 119. alex. in epi. ad orthodox os per diuersas prouinci as domino famulantibê° 129 In epi. ad totiê° orbis epi. 139. 147 19â— li. 9. tri ca. 38. 〈◊〉 ad Iac. dâ— excessu petri Councel of Nicen. Theo. li. 9. trip ca. 30. Hen. 4. emp. Iulii primi epi. ad
Christ to him and his successours to be aboue all other both spirituall and temporall and some do manifestlye shewe that no temporall magistrate kinge nor Emperour can be head of the churche ¶ The first Probation CHrist said to Peter beholde SathaÌ„ desired to sifte you as it were wheate but I praide for the that thy faith faile not and when thou arte conuerted strengthen thy brethren Christ assone as he had told them who should be greatest he said turning to Peter beholde Sathan desyred c. If Peter here by this text had not the burden laid vpon him beynge made chiefe of al then the question who was greatest is yet stil vnsolued which thinge were a great absurditie to graunt Theophilact therfore saieth here vpon lu xxii the sence herof is playne saith he bycause Christ toke Peter for Prince of the Apostels he sayd after thou hast wept and done penaunce for thy denyal confirme thou other not only the Appostels but al the faithfull whiche shalbe to the wordes ende Beside this the chauÌ„gynge of the plurel numbre in to the synguler is not without hyghe misterie euen to declare Peters preeminence hereby The pexell was vpon all and yet the prayer whiche Christ made was but for one alone to signifie that he as head should haue the chief cure and charge committed vnto him And therfore he bad hym strengtheÌ„ and confirme his brethren Againe it was not without high misterie that Christ thus prayed for him alone seing that in al places of christeÌ„dome which then in the primatiue church had receiued the faythe the same is now decayed both among the Corinthians the GalathiaÌ„s the Ephesians the Philippians the Collossians the Thessalonians and other onelye amonge the Romaynes where Peter was appoynted to bee and for whom onelye here Christe prayed the fayth styll doth continue and shall do for euer ¶ The second probation After that Christ â–ª had ended al hanginge vpon the Crosse and after his resurrection he most earnestly coÌ„mitted to Peter as to the chiefe the cure charge of al his flocke speakiÌ„g to him onely in y e singuler noÌ„bre and onelye biddynge him fede theÌ„ gouerne rule them for y t doeth signify the distinction of the two Greke wordes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 whereby appereth Peters preeminence principality Kinges in y e scripture be named pastors for y t purpose Dauid .ii. reg v. had said to him by god y â— shalt fede my people be price ouer theÌ„ And y e like ye rede eze 34. esa 44. 56. hie 2. 22. And psa 2. And euen so here is by thê coÌ„missioÌ„ now geueÌ„ to Peter y t he ought both to fede gouerne or rule al christê flocke as chiefe shepherde ouer theÌ„ But herof rede more iÌ„ y e aÌ„swer to y e .46 obiectioÌ„ ¶ The thirde probation WHen it was demaunded of the disciples whether theyr master woulde paye the tribute which was but one single pece of siluer named drachma in value a paise grote and it was paide only for the head of the house Christe then bad Peter paye two of those peces of syluer one for me saieth he another for thy selfe Whereby we may easelye perceaue that Christ would him to be y e head of a house euen his vicar after him that it was not in vaine that he had a name geuen vnto hym euen deriued fourth of Christes owne name that is to saye to be called Peter as Christe is called Petra bothe signifiynge one thynge but of this ye shall here more anone and this preeminence geuen to Peter the other dysciples yet then beyng some what carnal did partly perceyue and vnderstande whyche thynge caused them euen at that tyme to contende aboute the superioritye But Christ then mouing them to humilitie set a childe among theym shewynge howe they oughte to humble them selues and that he shoulde be hyghest in the kyngedome of heauen whiche woulde be moost lowlye in spirite And thys forsaid texte of payinge the tribute Sayncte Augu. declarynge sayeth thus when Christ bad â—aie .ii. peces of money one for hym and another for Peter he was thoughte to bydde paye for all as easely he myghte yf he would haue byd Peter pay xiii peces of money as two for lyke as all were counted to be in Christ as heade bycause of mastership rule authoritie euen so after Christe all be conteyned in Peter whom Christ ordeined to be their heade and ruler ouer all his flocke And note here well that the tribute was but payde onelye for the heade of the house Christ therfore saying paye two one for me and another for thy selfe did signifie that Peter shoulde be lafte head after him ouer al his familie and his house ¶ The .iiii. probation In al thinges order is euer to be kept No societie or companye can contynue withoute order But there is no order where there is no heade In euerye priuate house that is well gouerned there is one heade in euerye cytye or good towne one heade ruler or gouerner vnderneth that head euery other officer kepeth hys place and order As firste the Maiour as head theÌ„ shiriffes Aldermen Deputies Bayliffes Constables wyth other In euerye kyngedome one kynge the heade then Dukes Earles Barones Knyghtes c. Shal not theÌ„ a lyke seÌ„blable ordre be kept in the churche of Christ and in Christes house As one heade and chiefe Bisshop Peters successor by christ appoynted then Patriarches Cardinals Archbishops Bishops with many other offycers to kepe al the whole mistical body in godly ordre Yea and who dothe impugne this comely and godly ordre let vs trye what case he is in Let vs see what that glorious martyr Ignatius S. Iohns disciple doth say It is your duty saith he to obey your high Bishop and in nothing to impugne or contempne him for he that so dothe doth not contempne maÌ„ but God which geueth to him his aucthoritie RemeÌ„ber god sayde to Samuell they haue not despised the but me also Moyses sayde to the people your murmurynge is not agaynst me but agaynste god Dathan and Abiron murmuringe agaynst Goddes minister and contempning his commaundemeÌ„t were counted to blaspheme god and were therfore swalowed vp quicke into the earth And likewise Chore and his company for resisting Aaron were consumed with fire from heauen Ozias a kinge for vsurping the priestes office was strikeÌ„ with lepresye And kinge Saul for the same was depriued his kinglye dignitye Thus muche sayth S. Iohns disciple holy Ignatius What then are all our wicked and obstinate contempners of the hyghe and chiefe byshoppe worthie to haue Paule byddeth obey your spiritual gouerners and Christ saieth he that coÌ„teÌ„neth y e minister euen coÌ„teÌ„pneth him him selfe Yea he coÌ„mauÌ„deth to obey them though they be euell bycause they sitte in Moises seate But our men wil not obey them though they be neuer so
vertuous neuer so good and holy and sit neuer so lowe But what saieth the spirite of God He that is proude and will not obey the highe pristes commaundemeÌ„t for it is onelye one that is to saye the chief priest whom he speaketh of there let him die And be ye sure the death in hell is prepared for all suche at the ende ¶ The fifte probation Not onely Ireneus S. Ciprian and S. Augustine declaclare the preeminence of sainte Peter and his successors how the establyshement of our hole fayth doeth depende thereupon and all heresies do springe of the coÌ„trarie but also all and euerye one of Peter his successours in that seate haue confirmed and established y t hyghe Authoritie which thinge they would neuer haue done being so holy men many of them eueÌ„ martirs of Christ withoute anye spotte of ambition no nor could haue ben suffred to haue done if they had not had that verye preeminence by Christe hym selfe But now let vs here some of their testimonies ¶ Anacletus the Martyr disciple and successor to S. Peter in hys sea Let all harde causes which be of greate importaunce be brought before the apostolical sea of Rome as vnto the head there to be determined and defyned For so Christe hym selfe dyd ordeyne it and so woulde haue it For onelye he dyd appointe that the Apostolical sea of Rome shoulde be the chiefe and heade and euen the verye henge of all For as by the henge the doore is gouerned and ruled so by Christes appointment all churches muste be gouerned and ruled by the authoritie of the Apostolicall sea of Rome ¶ Euaristus hys successor in in the sea of Rome also a holy martyr Your wysedomes desyryng of vs to be instructed folowiÌ„g the ecclesiasticall rule haue referred al to the Apostolical sea as vnto the heade rather willyng in doutful thynges to be taught what to kepe theÌ„ rashlye by vsurpation to presume after your owne phancies ¶ Alexander martir and next successor to Euaristus in the sea of Rome Relation is made saith he vnto this holy sea whereunto the decisinge of all great ecclesiastical coÌ„trouersies by christe him selfe was geuen he saying to Peter the prince of the Apostels thou art Peter c. That certen enemies of christ do presume to accuse the Priestes of God before the publyke and comen iudges ¶ Sixtus martir and next successor in the sea of rome Sixtus Bushop of the vniuersall and apostolicall church vnto al bishoppes sendeth gretinge c. If any of you be iniured or wronged it shalbe lawfull for him to appeale to thys holy sea apostolyke to haue refuge here vnto as vnto the head For the holye aposteles willed bade that all Bishoppes should be defeÌ„ded and holpen in their right by the authoritye of this holy sea ¶ Thelespherus Igenius holy martires in the same sea apostolike next successoures vnto Sixtus the one after the other These .ii. holy martires iÌ„ their epistels haue euen the same 〈◊〉 effecte that their predecessour Sixtus did publishe Pius the next successouâ— This moste holye father about the obseruing the feast of Ester thus doth wryte vnto al places of christendome We by oure apostolike authoritie do institute decree that ye kepe the feaste of Ester as we receued of oure elders haue appointed vnto you RemeÌ„ber y t you the meÌ„bers by no meanes must disseÌ„t froÌ„ vs beyng youre head seynge Christe commanded thys oure Apostolicall sea to be the head of all seas c. ¶ Victor a holy Martyr and after successor in the same Thys holy martyr and Bisshoppe of Rome concernynge the breakers of the ordour taken for the sayd feast of Easter sendeth a sharpe excomunication agaynste all the transgressours ¶ The same Victor in a certen epistel vnto Theophilus and to all other in Alexandria The Ecclesiastical decree receyued eueÌ„ froÌ„ Peters tune coÌ„cerniÌ„g appellatioÌ„s to be made vnto y e appostolical sea of rome oughte to be obserued so that we wyll that you defyne nothynge therin wythout our authoritie seyng that Christ sayd only to Peter whose place we nowe kepe what so euer thou losest in earth c. Marke here now I besech you All these holy mens testimonyes and iudgementes concernynge thys oure matter of the primacy These meÌ„ sought not their own as Paule hath to the Philippians but that whiche was Iesus Christes These men receyued it by succession as ye haue hearde one euer of another goynge before euen receyued it as it were by hande And euer synce these holy fathers thus dyd beleue and thus dyd teache all christendoÌ„ hath and stil doeth beleue and teache the same doctrine As I coulde proue and trye froÌ„ thys holy martir Victors tyme eueÌ„ tyll this daye But no man I thynke will denye that for all y e difficultie as heretikes take the matter is to proue it in the begynnyng But that I trust in God is here now sufficiently proued And yet beside all these testimonies S. Clement saieth that S. Peter hymselfe with his owne mouth gaue hiÌ„ that highe authoritie aboue al other Symon Peter saieth he before his death toke me by the hande sayinge these wordes to all the people then present This man I leaue to be Bishoppe of this city of Rome I geue to hym the power that christ gaue to me to lose bind that whatsoeuer he decreth in earth the same shalbe decreed and approued in the heauens Nicen councel also in the .xviii. Canon commaundith all appellations to bee made to the sea of Rome Therefore here now I would wish y t the SwiÌ„glians Ecolampadians Lutherans withal y e whole rable which counte all equal would trye their doctrine w t this se howe they stande together in fygure They saye the Popes Authoritie was but a thynge inueÌ„ted of late daies that only by man but this proffe here trieth y t it was fouÌ„ded euen froÌ„ the beginning that by christ Se nowe who here in is to be beleued y e truth or falsed right or wrong God or the deuyl ¶ The sixt probation All which professe christ truly are membres of Christes ecclesiastical body vnder hym as head whether they be priestes or lay men Emperours kinges or byshoppes this no maÌ„ denieth I am sure but they caÌ„ not be couÌ„ted to be vnder christ as their cheif head which wilfully do breake the order that he toke when he was here in earth whiche order was that Peter should be lafte as head vnder him ouer all hys flocke as I haue and shall proue it sufficieÌ„tly in this smal boke by gods mercyful assistance whether they be of y e laitie or of the clergie If thou wilt be one of christes shepe whether thou be kiÌ„g or eÌ„peror y â— must be vnder his shepeherde It were a moÌ„struous â—yghte to se the shepe rule the shepherd Nowe yf ye say thautoritie of Emperours
to breke the order bicause thei would be vnder no head but al at lose liberti so many heades so many wittes euer sturriÌ„g to diuersity in opinioÌ„s mouiÌ„g theÌ„ to sedicioÌ„ euer causing y e priÌ„ces magistrates to leaue to their parte How be it al y e deuels indeuor hereiÌ„ is iÌ„ vaine For christ promissed as ye haue herd that y e gates of hel should neuer preuaile agaiÌ„st this Peters shipe neuer drowne though sometimê it be sore tossed Christ to Peter alone as to the heade shepeherd gaue charge ouer al his shepe biddinge him alone fede gouerne them appoyntiÌ„g him not ouer Rome alone saith Chrisostome but ouer the whole worlde which professe Christ when at his assenscion he goinge into the farre countrey mencioned in y e gospel gaue him that large commission So that who so euer obeieth not hereunto he is cut of and perteyneth no more to Christes churche then a roten bowe cut of the tree and cast a side parteyneth to the liuelye tree And this both the Greke church and the Latine playnly do teache Clement Anacletus Ireneus Tertulian Origen CipriaÌ„ Basil Ciril Chrisostom Athanasius Ambrose Hillari and Austine with all the rest euer since Whom shall we beleue then herein Al these with the consente of the whoâ—e churche or els shall we geue credit to Swinglius Ecolam podius and Luther whereof not one can agree with the other ¶ The .xii. probacion The cause why Christ chauÌ„ged Simons name and called him Peter was for y t ye he should be head after him And here first note y t rede of no chaunging of names in scripture but for some great benefite priuelege or high dignity as appeareth in AbrahaÌ„ Iacob and other And as for Peters name it was not geueÌ„ with out most high mistery and as a signe of greate priuelege For Peter is deriued of Christes own name a petra of the stone which was Christ So y t he had his name most like vnto Christes name euen deriued taken forthe of it not only thereby to signifye vnto vs that Peter shold haue Christes chiefe authoritie and office coÌ„mitted vnto him but also bicause christ did build his church here upoÌ„ when he sayd to Peter vpoÌ„ this stone I wil builde my churche What is y t S. Hierom Hilari theophe vpoÌ„ Mat. the .xvi. Tertul. also in li. de presc her And S. Aug. con 26. de san do plaiÌ„ly declare say y â— christ gaue to Peter an exceding great reward for his coÌ„fessioÌ„ in that he ded build his church vpon him he being named the stone of y e church to be builded Whereby appeareth y â— Peter was y e stone where vpoÌ„ the church was builded This is the ceÌ„sure herein of these auÌ„cient fathers and holye saintes But of thê matter ye haue more in the aunswere to y e .vii. obiection ¶ The .xiii. probation There was stil one chief head in y e olde law which christ as he saithe came not to breake Therfore one must nedes coÌ„tinue stil iÌ„ y e new If ye say christ is now y e head whereof y e other was the figure trueth is christ was and is the head euer as Paule sayth Christus heri et hodie c in thold as wel as in the new and yet as he had his vicare vnder him then so must he haue nowe as Aaron was then so was Peter nowe All chaunsed to them in figure Aaron diuerslye was a figure of Peter Aaron offended in the calfe Peter in denying his mayster Aarons highe office was confirmed with the death of Chore and his company so was Peters with the death of Ananye Saphire Aarons wyth buddynge of the rodde Peters with raysing TabithaÌ„ with healing the lame man with curing diseases eueÌ„ with his shadow c. ¶ The .xiiii. probation In the sinagoge there was one head bishop and diuerse degrees vnder him in the church triumphant Christe the heade with diuers degrees and ordres of aungels shall then the churche militaunt be without a head In al natural thinges there is euer one head In euery politike and comen wealth one heade one kynge in a realme as is in the faurthe probation one maior in a citye one shiriffe in a shire one head in euery house and shall there not be one head in the churche vpon whom and vpon whose aucthoritie all other must depende to desise all contrauerses shal Christes church be a monster either without a head or els hauinge many heades and euery one to do as he wil shal we graunt this confusioÌ„ Shal not theÌ„ euery one wrast scripture after his owne braiÌ„e but what shall we say further hath not the successioÌ„ in the sea of Rome continued froÌ„ the beginninge doeth not Ireneus declare this doth not S. Aug. say y â— the successioÌ„ of Bishopes in the see of Rome til this daye kepeth me saith he in the bosome and vnytie of Christes churche ¶ The .xv. probation If Christ had lafte Thappostels without a head yea or if siÌ„ce we could haue bene without one then must nedes haue chaunsed that which is spoken the last chapter of the boke of Iudges y t in those daies there was no ruler in Israell but euerie one dyd that whyche he thought good him selfe And this were an opeÌ„ way to al herisies as s CipriaÌ„ wytnesseth And therfore it is no meruell that y â— deuil is euer most busiest to bring christeÌ„ people froÌ„ y e vnitie froÌ„ hauing one head to make christes body a moÌ„struous body with manye heades For then throughe variaunce scisme contention he euer soweth heresies at hys pleasure So that ther is no more open waye to let in all heresies then to take awaye Peters primacye and authorytye frome the church wherfore let thautoriti of the church neuer go aboute to extincte other heresies tyll this great wound be healed we clerely restored to the vnitye agayne Where the bone within is perished to heale the flesh without nothiÌ„g helpeth ¶ The .xvi. probation Aaron was a figure of Peter like as Moyses was of Christe And as Aaron was vnder Moyses so Peter was vnder Christ al being priestes Moises et Aaron in sacerdotibê° eius And as Moises w t God and Aaron with y e people haÌ„dled all matters god sayinge to Moyses Aaron shall be thy mouth to the people and thou his to me euen so Christ was Peters mouth to god wheÌ„ he said I haue prayed for the. c. And Peter was Christes mouthe to the people when Christe sayde to him confirme thou and strengthen thy brethren And here obserue this sayth S. Aug. vpoÌ„ y e said text lu 20. y t Christe neither prayd for Iames nor Iohn but only for Peter in whom al the other were coÌ„teined he beinge y e head of the familie And therfore in paying the tribute money wherof is spokeÌ„ in the .iii.
partlye that the people mighte the rather geue eare to christes doctryne and lyâ—e more vertuously hauing him theyr heade shepeherde whome they loued and chose them selues What meruel was it then that themperours coÌ„sent y e chiefe of the comen people was desired in that electioÌ„ what maketh this agaynste our holye father the popes authoritie Surely nothiÌ„g at al. Howbeit in processe of time manye inconueniences rising herby as tiraÌ„ny sinister affectioÌ„ with diuerse other corruptions it was lafte to the election of the clergy agayne that euen by the consent of the holye emperours as ye maye rede in graciaÌ„ dist 63. in many other places mo Wherfore HildebraÌ„d which after was pope named Greg. y e .vii. answered vnto Otto Archb. of Colen coming froÌ„ Hen. the .iiii. emperour that neither emperoure nor any other but onely the clargye had any power or Authoritye in chosing the bishop of Rome that the permission or sufferaÌ„ce y t emperours for certayne causes had had therin was iustlye for more lawful more reasonable causes taken awaye ¶ The .xxxi. obiection At NiceÌ„ counsel y e bishop of Rome was not present c. The aunswere What then his authoritye was there as it euer was and is in all councels lawfully gethered by his legates Theyr names at that time were Victor Vincentius and Osius bishops of Corduba Yea there it was declared confirmed not instiTute for y t was done by Christe that no generall councel shoulde be kept without the consent authority of the bishop of Rome So y â— although ye bring neuer so many couÌ„cels wherein the bishop of Rome in his owne person was not present yet his authoritye and power was neuer abseÌ„t And here note further that in the .iiii. firste and chiefe general councels wherunto S. Gregory saide he gaue credite euen as to the .iiii. euaÌ„gelistes all the doinges were referred to be iudged and confirmed by the authoritie of the byshop of Rome At Nicen couÌ„sel which was the first of y e iiii they did send this epistle folowing Vnto the most blessed Siluester bishop of the citye of Rome Osius bishop of Corduba Victor and Vincentius priestes of Rome with the rest of y e bishops .318 sende greting in our lorde What so euer we haue ordeyned in this counsell of Nicen we desire that it may be confirmed by the agrement of youre mouth And in the second councel which was the first at Constantinople al that blessed coÌ„panye there gethered obeid vnto Damasus Byshope of RoÌ„e he geuing sentence against the heretikes MacedoniuÌ„ Sabellium EunomiuÌ„ Likewise at the thirde chiefe general councel which was holden at Ephesus Nestorius was coÌ„demned by Celestine then Bushope of Rome being chiefe iudge And finallye at Chalcedon the last of the .iiii. all the councel there gethered did write as in moste submission vnto the most holy Bushope of Rome Leo Byshope of thuniuersal church c. ¶ The .xxxii. obiection Ireneus bishop of Lyons did resiste Victor bishop of Rome eueÌ„ sone after y e apostels time concerning y e feast of Easter And Anicetê° bishop of Rome euen immediatly after thappostels gaue place to Policarpê° S. Iohns disciple ¶ The answere Anicetus then Pius after them Victor successours vnto peter made decrees coÌ„cerning easter And y e East church first did resist y e ordre bycause they hadde kepte an other custome whiche was after the Iewes fashion takeÌ„ of S. Iohn euaÌ„gelist Then Policarp bishop of Smirma in y e greke church yea being S. Iohns disclple also came to Rome to Anicetê° to aske councell of the matter And here marke y e al that they dyd was to edifye not to destroy and marke also that Policarpus acknowledged supirioritye when he came to holye Anicetus Byshope of Rome about the determinatioÌ„ of Easter notwithstanding he was S. Iohns disciple a Byshop yea that in the greke church Agayne after this when Victor that holy martir about the same mater would haue excominicate as heade of all the bushoppes of the greke church Ireneus exhorted him to the contrarye lest more trouble discorde and disquietnes thereby myght haue risen What maketh this obiectioÌ„ now against the popes authority Ireneus god knoweth acknowledged al to be subiecte to that highe authoritye as ye may rede in his worke li. 3. ca. 3. et 4. ¶ The .xxxiii. obiection Christ came in al pouertye not hauing as he saith where to hide his head his Disciples likewyse were called beinge pore fishers c. ¶ The answere Christ thereby did no more burtheÌ„ the Clergie then he did y e laitye yea then he did kinges or Princes being ones subiectes to y e ghospel It was mete that he and his then shoulde come without all worldlye honour riches or seculer authoritie bothe for our example and also that infidels should haue no occasion to saye that he had institute his religion by violence by tirannye by power earthlye goodes as no doubt they wold haue done if he had commen as he might if it had pleased him with all worldlye power he euen as man beinge kiÌ„g of al kinges Neuertheles in this pouerte it ought not to haue continued no nor coulde so haue done seinge Christe would haue but one body mistical in al christeÌ„dome and one head thereof his successour to gouerne al the rest must it not then nedes folow y t eueÌ„ in temporal substaunce bothe he and al other vnder him accordinge to their callinge ought to haue where with all to maintene defende their places would it not els sone come to passe that al the ministerye should come in conteÌ„pt or at the least waye smallye be regarded yea and would not all thereby shortlye come to confusion call to your remeÌ„brauÌ„ce I pray you how y â— Christ did send his Disciples twise forthe ones long before his passion and thother time after his resurrection At the first sending he bad them go al porely knowing that al necessaries then should be prouided for them to with drawe all men therby from Auarice and that nothing shuld be an hindraunce to the settinge fourthe of his Ghospel But at the seconde tyme of sendynge them fourth whyche was after his resurrection and ascension he byddynge them tarye tyl they had receiued tholy ghost they were charged to take all thinges necessarye yea and shortly after Saint Paule him selfe dyd appoint beinge euen led with the same spiryte of God that no mo pore ignoraunte fishers should be made Bishoppes or priestes but that they should be bothe doctours and men of good hospitalitye At the beginnynge all was rawe symple and rude yea and at that time when the Bushoppes were suche as hadde bene but poore ignoraunte fyshers then the verye Princes and rulers came and layde al their goodes at their fete If ye now wil nedes haue y e one ye must then nedes haue y e other How be it like as at the begynninge of the worlde the
saintes apoc y e vâ— reueÌ„g o lord our bloud soÌ„thiÌ„g serue to be applied to this oure purpose And moreouer might not the Popes holines iustlye haue geueÌ„ forth y e seÌ„teÌ„ce of excoÌ„municatioÌ„ or cursing agaiÌ„st al obstinate schismatikes heretikes in thê realme he beinge Gods chiefe minister here in earth yea or might he not iustlye haue inceÌ„sed christiaÌ„ Princes agaiÌ„st vs god biddeth y t al they which wil not here y e churche that is to say not obey thâ— chiefe rulers thereof shalbe taken as ethnikes publicans and as a canker or roten flesh shalbe cutte of saithe Saint Ambrose for feare of corrupting more of the body He that wil not obey y e high prieste by the sentence of the iudge shall dye for it y t wickednes florishe not in y e middest of the church the wolfe muste be driueÌ„ away or killed lest the flocke should be deuoured Yea and it shalbe the dutye and office of christiaÌ„ Princes saith S. Austin vpoÌ„ Iohn to vse the sworde agaiÌ„st heretikes knowinge y t Saint Paule wissheth that al such as with schisme or heresie trouble the flocke of Christe should be cutte of not saithe he that we should wisshe anye to perishe but be sory as Dauid was for Absalon if it might otherwise be remeded how be it quietnes wil not be gotten vnto y e house of Dauid but by the death of Absalon Therfore eueÌ„ as god biddeth let the blasphemer be brought forthe put to death so ought al christindome to say by all obstinate heretikes Yea and as it is in Hieremie cursed be he y t in this case witholdeth his sword from bloud sheding seing we haue so manye examples iÌ„ scripture to declare how god helped Abraham Moises Iosue and other euer to shede the bloud of the infidels bad by Samuel destroy Amalech shall not we then thinke y e like to be done to scismatikes and obstinate heretikes gods extreme enemies And therefore where ye say y e sterers to murther be the children of the deuil therby to bringe the Popes holines other in to contempt as murtherers or sekers of bloud who so doth seke bloud as to reuenge his owue cause is the child of y e deuil but who so seketh to haue gods enemies punished which be obstinate in infidelitye in heresy or in schismes he seketh not hê owne glory but gods glory he reueÌ„geth not his owne quarel but gods quarel To be remisse to be ful of lenity to be ientil colde in your owne cause iÌ„ your owne iniury wroÌ„g sufferiÌ„g is both godlie and vertuous but to be toÌ„ge tied in gods cause so to suffer hê glory to be diminished as it hath bene greatly in thê realme w tin these .xxii. yeres is both wicked damnable Also where ye say god abhorreth so wers of discord c. do ye thinke them to be sowers of discorde which being gods high officers do seke meanes to punish abhominable vices scismes heresies wel applied by my fay like a clerke The 64. obiectioÌ„ How can meÌ„ in this realme take or receiue againe y e pope seing al their othes haue bene to the contrarye shall plainlye wilful periurye be committed The answere Vnlawful othes are not to be kept And here note y t in othes makiÌ„g y e matter ought rather to be weyed regardyd then y â— maner or forme If ye sweare neuer so ofte y t thinge that ye ought not to do y e othe is to be broken An othe can not be the bond of wickednes No maÌ„ is bouÌ„d to perform an vnlawful othe seing an othe caÌ„ not bind a man to sinne The .65 obiection The church of christ is vnknowen and al they whych be of y t church be only knoweÌ„ to god For none be of that church but only the godly which are pure without spot thou art all faire saith god to his churche in the canticles w t out spotte or wrincle saith Paule eph v ye whiche were ones darkenes now are light in our lorde what agrement is there betwene the light and darknes ii cor vi with manye textes mo for the same purpose But if the bodye can not be knowen how shal y â— head be knoweÌ„ And if none be of the church but y e good who be then of the churche where be they Euerie man knoweth that y e smaler nomber is euer y e better in which nomber neither the Pope nor the infinite multitude iÌ„ christeÌ„dome which taketh his part can be couÌ„ted For their nomber is the greter and not the smaller The answere Amonges christenmen euer since y e name of christians Act. the .xi. firste begaÌ„ the greater number was alwaye counted the catholike sorte and such as ranne astraye beinge stil the lesse noÌ„ber were had euer for loste shepe as S. Iohn saithe i. Ioh. ii they weÌ„t froÌ„ vs but they were not of vs for if they had ben of vs thei would haue continued with vs of whyche sectes haue bene some at all times eueÌ„ from the beginning Nicholas y e DeacoÌ„ Himeneus Alexander Cherinthus Marcion Nouatus with other and now in our daies Swinglius Ecolumpadius Luther with diuers such Angels of darkenes but in verye dede amoÌ„ges infidels the lesse nouÌ„ber was euer the godly chrystyaÌ„s yea amoÌ„ges christen meÌ„ the fewer sorte are the elect according to christes testimonye but yet be christen meÌ„ and of the church which haue receyued the sacrameÌ„t of baptim though theyr lyuyng be not according to their professioÌ„ Neuertheles y e wycked do coÌ„teÌ„d to haue y e churche vnknowen a Mathematicall church to y e enteÌ„t they wold be free froÌ„ al ceÌ„sures ecclesiastical to liue as they would w tout any ordre where as iÌ„ dede christes church is manifestli knowen or els he wold not haue bid his people tel y e church 〈◊〉 y e rulers therof if thei knew not to whoÌ„ they shuld tel nor Paule would haue sayd act 20 y t bishops office had bene to guide y e coÌ„gregacioÌ„ nor would haue cald y e bishops eph 4. rulers of y e church if they had not knoweÌ„ where nor whoÌ„ to haue ruled Therfore we muste nedes coÌ„fesse y t al be of christes churche which be knit together iÌ„ one religioÌ„ haue receiued one baptiÌ„ w t al other sacrameÌ„tê sacrameÌ„tals ceremonies together vsed iÌ„ y e church whether they be siÌ„ners or not siÌ„nnersal is one iÌ„ thê point in y e state of grace or not iÌ„ vertue or in vice And to this do agre christes parables of y e net ful of fish good bad of y e corne tares together in one feld of y â— flock of shepe gotes of y e .x. virgins .v. wise .v folishe withoute oyle in their lampes that is to say they had faith with y e wise but no good workes Now as for the textes brought iÌ„ thobiectioÌ„ takeÌ„ forth of