how contrary your bishops be to Christe and how contrarie they be to his doctrine and to the doctrine of his Apostles and also how wicked your law lately by your consētes reuyued is contrary to Gods worde But good my lordes thinke not that you can gather grapes vpon thornes This their mortheringe of their brethern for their faith declareth vnto all men whose vnderstandinge is not takē awaye by God that they be the theues of which Christe speaketh Ioh. 8. of whome cā not come any good frute For morther is a worke that proueth them to be the deuels seruātes who was a mortherer from the beginninge sayeth Christ that lyeth not But as Abraham had two children one borne after the fleshe called Ismael Gal. 4. and an other after the spirite called Isaac As then he that was borne carnally persecuted him that was borne spirituallye euē so is it now sayeth Sainte Paul Did Christ my good lordes compel any mā to come to his religion with imprisonemente or with fyre Did Christe kill the Iewes scribes pharisees that hearinge his doctrine and seinge also his wonderous miracles not withstandinge both wold not beleue in him Ys not faith honorable lordes the only gifte of God liberally geuen to whome it pleaseth him Can any man by his awne industry studie and laboure obteyne faith If you will suffer youre byteshepes so cruelly to morther men for wante of soch faith as it hath pleased them to deuyse by lyke equitie and Reason maye you suffer them to morther all them that haue not the lyberall gifte of God to make whole the sicke And also with moare equitie you your selfes maye hange vp the bishop of London and all youre other bisshops preistes as theues and mortherers that take charge of soules receaue the profites of their benefices which haue not the gifte of God to preach the gospell to the flocke accordinge to Christes commaundemente And by no lesse equitie all they must suffer deeth that haue not the gift of chastitie allthough to deceaue the people they saye they haue auowed it And although your lordships as ye thinke do not any violence against soch as now suffer by force of that wicked law that by youre consentes is reuiued because your lordships haue referred al the determinatiō iudgemēte of heresie vnto your byteshepes Yet be your lordships and all they that haue consented to the reuiuinge and makinge in force strēgth of the sayd law gyltie of the blood and deeth of all thē that haue suffered deeth shall suffer or do suffer by force s trēgth of the said law For not only all they that committe do euill be worthy deeth sayeth Paul but also all they that consente therto Rom. 1. Not only because the law by force wherof many suffer deeth was reuyued by your consētes But also bycause the same law is manifest wicked vnrightuous because it is contrary to the worde of God Wherfore it cā not be but wicked And therfore the same law wherby all they suffer vniustlie and the blood of thē that suffer deeth shal be a witnes before God against you of their tormentes and deeth And then good my lordes remember the sētence of God pronounced against al them that shede innocēte blood vnrightuously not only that they be mortherers who shal neuer inheret the kingedome of heauen 1. Cor. 5. Gene. 9 But also the holy goost sayeth he that shedeth innocente blood of men his blood shal be shed againe by men If your lordships do not thinke God false in his promises loke most certēly for your blood if ye do not vnfaynedly spedely repente to be shed of men againe And although you wold not beleue the promises of God to be true Yet way you the late experience of that trueth verefied in the late dukes of Somerset and Northumberlande whose doinges to al them that did know them do manifestlie prooue the sayed promises of God to be most certenly and truely verefied in them As they can not be otherwise in all men And now I trust your lordships do well vnderstande and perceaue that this law by your consentes lately reuiued made a law in force and stength is contrary both to the doctrine and example of Christe and of his Apostles and Prophetes Wherfore it can not be but a wicked law Esai 10. Woo therfore be vnto you that make wicked lawes sayeth God by his prophe Esaias And if a nother magistrate shuld by the prouision of God be called to reigne oue vs who iudgeth the forme of religion last receaued of vs to be contrary to Gods worde and therfore to be worthely abolished then maye he persecute all youre bishops and thē that now haue consented to morther christen men for their fayth but nor because he perceaueth that they haue no perfite faith or els a wicked faith for then should he commit lyke iniquitie but because the worde of God sayeth The same measure that you haue measured to other the same shal be measured to you againe By this sentence that is no wicked law al youre mortheringe bishops maye iustly be handles as they haue handled them This law of late by youre consentes reuyued and made in force and strength as a perfite law doeth not only reproue youre lordships of youre inconstauncie who not longe tyme before vpon reasonable and godly causes wel wayed frely disputed and reasoned did dysanull make frustrate voyed the same as a wicked law but also this youre sodeine reinuinge of the same declareth that you care not what you do be it neuer so wicked contrary to God so that you maye auoyde the displeasure of the magistrate and supreme eyuill gouernour Wherby it appereth manifestlie that you regarde more the displeasure of man then the displeasure of God Doeth nor your lordships consider that God saith by the prophere Psal 5. The lorde shall breake the bones of them that do studie to please men Halas right honorable lordes who har◠so be witched you now that you so sodenly aye fled from Gods trueth Gal. 3. Your awne cōnsciēces so longe tyme approuīg the same Before whose eyes Iesus Christ was so lyuely preached and so faithfully set forth And neuertheles now not only his doctrine and the true and profitable vse of the sacramentes be by your consētes repelled for heresie but also Christ him self in his holy membres and misticall body most truelly tormented and slayn Halas that foreyne nations shal obsecre this inconstantie to your dishonours namely to be so in constante and ◅inge in the principall pointes concerninge a Christen mans religion and faith consideringe that by your owne consentes the same religion now by you repelled as heresye was by your commandemes set forth and commaunded thorough all the Realme and dominions of Englāde to be taught and also to be receaued of the people To what trueth and to what religion maye the subiectes of this realme here
a misterie and office perteininge to a misticall bodie wherof the principall minister is called the chief Antichriste as all the other membres of the same faction misterie and office be also Antichristes All which receaue power autoritie and office from their heed Antichriste that in al his doctrines maners and lyuinge is mere contrary to Christ For euen as that congregation is the misticall body of Christe wherof he is the supreme heed that hath receaued the true and sincere preachinge of the law and of the gospel and lyue accordinge to the preachinge of the same and also haue the sacramentes duely administred vnto them accordinge to Christes institution of the same The description of Antichriste Euen so is that malignaunt church and congregation the misticall bodie of Antichriste that hath not amongest them the true and sincere preaching of the Law and of the Gospel ne yet the sacramentes dulie administred vnto them accordinge to Christes institution of them ne yet accordinge to the practise of the Apostles nor of the primatiue church nor the same can be content to lyue according to the rule and doctrine of Gods heauenly worde nor suffer any other to lyue accordinge to the same but will compell theÌ„ with tormentes to receaue a new religion that must consiste other in vayne thinges which be of no commoditie or profit to any man ether spirituall or temporal or els it is manifest wicked and repugnauÌ„t to Gods holy worde And first touchinge their vaine thinges and deed ceremonies of their religion that be of no commoditie or profite to any man excepte onlye to the sluttishe secte of perdition I note all their popishe traditions of confirmacion of yonge children with oyntinge of oyle and creame and with a ragge knitte aboute the necke of the yonge babe the christeninge of belles the halowinge of oyle and creame the halowinge of churches of churchyardes of chalices of vestimeÌ„tes of aultares of aultare clothes of salte of bread of fiere of asshes of water of candles of palme stickes Iudas bels with candels bloweÌ„ out at the ende of euery Psalme and lesson crepinge to the crosse with egges and apples dispelinge with a white rodde wasshinge of aultares Of all which thinges the holy scriptures commaunde not one to be done although in this churche of Antichrist they be straytly coÌ„mauÌ„ded to be vsed And yet I know no wise man that wil or can prayse the comoditie or profite that cometh therof to any man but only to the priest that hath the caÌ„dles egges c. that be offred vnto hym And although ther riseth not any coÌ„moditie or profite other spiritual or teÌ„poral to any man yet as I haue said they be straytly coÌ„mauÌ„ded to be obserued / coÌ„trary to Gods coÌ„maunÌ„demeÌ„t that sayeth Deut. 12 That which I commauÌ„de you that only take hede do to the Lorde Putth on nought therto Not withstandinge which commaundemente / because Antichriste wold partly set forth his awne nature and propertie that is to be contrary and disobedieÌ„t to God and Christ he hath erected these new holy thinges neuer of God commaunded And therfore as they be not of God so be they of no commoditie or profite to any of the people of God why Antichrist commauÌ„deth vanities But yet ther is some consideration wherfore Antichriste hath commaunded these vayne thinges to be done One is that he wold haue his filthy generation to be had in estimation of the worldly babes because that they haue receaued soch holines from his holy fatherhood that they maye sanctifie and make holy that God hath halowed allready lyke as the thinges of Gods creation were not sufficientlye halowed thorowe his eternall worde wherby he created them Exalteth not he himself aboue God honorable lordes that taketh vpoÌ„ hym to adde holynes to that which God hath sufficiently halowed Be not these his halowinges of Gods creatures a necessary point perteininge to the vocation of a spirituall pastoure / that hath cure and charge of soules Or be they not necessary thinges to be done of a Christen man / towchinge his vocation and dutie to be done towardes God and towardes his neighbour And although they be worthy rather to be laghed at and mocked / yet by these his vanities he occupieth the tyme hat shuld be spente in the instruction teachinge the people in the lawe and the Gospell Moreouer by these as also by many other their doinges / they declare their diligente cure and studye that they haue to obeye Gods commaundement geuen to them to instructe and to teach the people Gods worde that leaue the gospell vnpreached and occupie the heartes and mindes of the people with soch trifles and vanities But because these vayne thinges do not sufficiently reuele this wicked Antichriste and his secte That he may be knowen of all men I will commende to youre memories honorable lordes some of his false doctrines Not soch as I of myne awne brayne call false doctrines and the doctrines of deuels and of soch as departe from the fayth and be lyeng masters and geue eare to the spirites of erroure But soch doctrines as Christe and his Apostles note to be the doctrines of deuels and of soch as by the same doctrines shal deceaue 〈◊〉 and shall cause many to folow the spâ—…tes of erroure So that euery man that heareth soch doctrines preached maye boldlye saye that the preachers therof be false preachers and sectes of perdition that they be the adulterouse generation of Antichrist that these many yeres haue deceaued and bewitched the world And although Christ and his Apostles haue manifestlie declared and euidently set forth to the world the sayd doctrines to be the doctrines of deuels and of them that departe from the faith and the very selfe same doctrines wherby Antichriste and his filthy secte shulde deceaue many Yet soch hath ben the blindnes of the worlde that they can not vnderstande nor perceaue those doctrines to be the same wicked doctrines wherof Christ and his Apostles admonished theÌ„ al men to beware not only because he coloureth his doctrines with false paynted gloses Ioan. 3. but also because the world loueth darkenes moare theÌ„ the lighte And also to verifie Christes wordes of prophesie to be truely fulfilled in them saying I am come in my fathers name and you receaue me not Iaon 5. But yf a nother shal come in his awne name him wil you receaue Now touchinge the false doctrines of Antichriste Sainte Paul sayeth 1. Tim. 4 The spirite manifestly sheweth that in the last tymes certen men shal departe or go awaye from the faith attending or geuing eare to the spirites of erroure and doctrines of deuels prohibitinge to mary and commaunding to absteyne from meates that God hath created to be receaued of them that beleue and know the trueth with thankes geuinge By this doctrine of sainte Paul manifestlye appereth honorable Lordes that the forbiddinge of mariage is the doctrine of
in their whorish confessions nor yet know they what is a gospel moch lesse caÌ„ they preach the gospell Halas by what meanes do these beastes of the bely geue remission of synnes to the people when they speake not one worde of Christe that the confessed doeth vnderstande or perceaue But in their absolutions they geue penaunce to the confessed fastinge certen dayes lyplabour in sayenge of thinges they vnderstande not masses to be sayed and almes to be geuen for the satisfaction of their sinnes Thus burye they Christes passion and deeth and bloodshedinge which only be oure satisfaction for oure synnes And no nother can be And although God by his prophete Esai commaundeth all pastours that haue the spirituall charge of soules Esai 43. to shew vnto his people their synnes sayenge Crie and cease not Lyft vp thy voyce as a trumpet Esai 58. shew my people their synnes Notwithstandinge this commaundemente of God geuen to all them that haue spirituall charge of soules Antichriste myndinge to shew to the world that he thinketh him selfe wiser theÌ„ God and that he can make more godly and holsome prouision for soule health then God hath made a law that all people of euery kinde once in the yere at the leest shal confesse and shew their synnes to their awne Pastour or curate God commaundeth that the pastoure shall shew to the people theyr synnes But Antichriste commaundeth cleane contrary that the people shall shew their synnes to their curates By these meanes the people for the most parte beleue that they haue remission of their synnes because they haue nombred their synnes in to the eares of their confessoure Or els for what cause shulde we confesse theÌ„ to our curates For euery man knoweth what is synne that he shal be damned yf he forsake not his synne yf the priestes execute the commaundemente of God geueÌ„ by Esai Esai 58. But the simple people thinke verely that when the curate pronounceth a certen sownde and voyce of wordes ouer their beedes which they thinke is an absolutioÌ„ froÌ„ their sinnes although they vnderstande not one worde what he sayeth yet beleue they that the wordes that he speaketh hauinge his hande vpon their heedes haue vertue and power to forgeue to them their synnes euen because the priest sitting in Gods stede as they thinke and as the priestes boaste them selfes to do pronounceth and speaketh them Wherin all be deceaued lamentablye Assured meanes wherby euery man maye haue remission of sinnes But doutles he that earnestly repenteth his sinfull life fully mynded neuer after to returne to the same theÌ„ trusteth coÌ„stantly to Gods promise made of remissioÌ„ of sinnes to hym for the passion deeth of oure sauioure Christe / the same hath remissioÌ„ of his synne althouth he neuer nombre them in to the eare of any preist And then yf he fealinge and perceauinge true repentaunce and faith in his hearte will resorte to any prieste to receaue absolution and remission of his synnes wherof he is assured by Gods promise the same declareth hymself to mistrust Gods promise made to hym of remission of his synnes and then is he an infidele that by no meanes can haue remission of his synnes And if he be not fully mynded to forsake his former euill lyfe and neuer to retorne to the same againe then can he not haue any trust to haue remission of his synnes because that is promised to them only that for euer forsake their synnes And therfore if he mindeth not to forsake his synnes he goeth in vayne to his curate to haue remissioÌ„ of his synnes And if he repenteth his synnes and beleueth as I haue said then doeth he euyll to fatch remission of his synnes wherof he is assured already by Gods promise to be forgeuen And therfore his goinge to his curate to be confessed is veraye vayne and a poynte of infidelitie Oh that the curates of EnglaÌ„de wold theye and obserue Gods commaundemente geuen to them by the mouth of his prophete Esaia But that will they neuer 〈◊〉 But their master Antichristes coÌ„maundementes wyll they deligently obeye although they bringe no commoditie spirituall or temporall to any man sauinge to their fylthie paunches Euery man maye well perceaue wherfore they be so gready to holde and to maynteyne this whorish confession Th causes why the clergie so earnestlie maynteyne auriculer confession and authoritie to heare testamentary causes c. Ouer besydes that they prouide for them selfes in their confessions where they maye be sped of a whore or two all the yere after Yet by these their coÌ„fessioÌ„s the chiefe Antichrist kepeth his sluttish secte of perdition in estimation with the comen people in whose coÌ„scieÌ„ces they sitte as God and execute Antichristes office that is to fill hell with soules And so in their confessions be euer ready to worke sedition and treason against both Emperoure kinge and al other gouernours of that Empire realme and dominion that ether coÌ„tendeth or striueth with their holy father Antichriste or speaketh against his vsurped power his false and craftie deceated wicked doctrines wherby he seduceth begyleth all men for the most parte leading them with a false confidence and fayth to haue remission of their synnes because they declare them to his filthy generatioÌ„ of serpentes And by these meanes innumerable soules be leâ—… 〈◊〉 to hell And moch sedition and treason is wroughte wherby moch bloodshedinge and murther is broughte to passe to the vtter subuersion and destruction of many Realmes As the last sedicion stirred vp in the North in Somerset shire Deuonshire and in other partes of this Realme be most miserable monimeÌ„tes and witnesses And this is not their only comen practise practised with vs in EnglaÌ„de but also the like practise was practised with the Princes of Germany that will neuer suffer their treasoÌ„s to be out of maÌ„s memory Wherfore this whorish confession wherof procedeth so moch euyll and mischefe to all realmes which also bringeth no profite with it but seduceth and begyleth many ought to be banished and abolished although they saye that they caÌ„not well gyue medicine or plaister that shal be holesome or profitable excepte they also know the particuler disease and grief Which answere oure holy father hymself desproueth For he geueth cleane remission a prenaet a culpa that is from peyne and synne to theÌ„ that neuer shewed their offences to hym and healeth all sickenesses and sores with this one plaister that is all that be truly sory and penitente for their synnes and be confessed to a priest haue cleane remission As for faith in our sauioure Iesus Christe it forceth not so thou be confessed it maketh no matter whether thou beleue in Christe or no. And yet without Christ are we all for euer remidiles damned Why do ye right honorable lordes / admit this blasphemous doctrine of remission of synnes without faith in Christ All that be truly sorry for their synnes
can not erre nor commaūde any vnrightuousnes Sainte Paul right honorable lordes setteth forth a nother doctrine of deuels the abstinence from meates in certen tymes and dayes and for conscience sake supposinge the meate to be prophane and vngodly and againste Gods wil and pleasure to be eaten Soch abstinence from meates Paul calleth the doctrine of deuels because it is mere contrary to Christes wordes and the holy scriptures For meate sayeth Paul commendeth vs not to God 1. Cor. 8. nether yf we eate be we the better nether yf we eate not be we the worse Math. 15. For that which entreth in to the mouth defileth not the man but that which procedeth out of the hearte sayeth Christe Also Sainte Paul exhorteth all men that they regarde not soch ordinaunces made by men lyke as the ordinaunces made by God sayenge Collo 2. Let no man trouble youre conscience aboute meate and drinke Wherfore if you be deed with Christe sayeth he from the ordinaunces of the world whic as though ye yet lyued in the world are ye leed with man traditions Touche not tast not handle not All which perishe thorow the veraye abuse after the commaundement doctrines of men Which thinges outwardlye haue a similitude of wysedome by superstitiō humblenes by hurting of the body in that they do the fleshe no worship to the nede therof S. Peter also thought it not meete for hym to eate certen meates that were forbidden in Moses law to be eaten as thinges that were vncleane Act. 10. To whome in a vision was answer geuen that he should not saye that thinge to be comen and vncleane that God had purified thorow his eternall worde Hebr. 13. It is therfore good sayeth Paul to stablish oure heartes in grace and not in meates which profited not them that walked therin 1. Cor. 10. Doutles honorable lordes Sainte Paul wold not haue commaunded generally that we shuld eate of all kinde of meates that come to be solde in the shambles askinge no thinge what they be for conscience sake yf it had not ben lawfull by Gods lawes to eate of all kindes of meates and that in all tymes and dayes so that they be eaten temperatly for the necessitie of the bodie and not for wanton lust to please the flesh and also eatē with out offence of the weake brethrē eatē with thākes geuyng for the same to God that feadeth al thinges But who right honorable lordes hath forbodē these flesh meates and whit meates to be eaten in Lent other prescript tymes Euen he that hath vsurped power to make offences synne of that which God nor his Apostles taught to be synne or offence Of whōe S. Paul warneth you to beware to marke them decline frō them For soch sayeth Paul Rom. 13. sserue not our Lorde but their belies And by pleasaūt wordes blessinges they seduce begyle the heartes of innocentes But wherfore hath our holy father made restraint of meates to be eaten in certayne tymes for conscience sake so manifest contrary to the doctrine of them that he bosteth to be his predecessours Verely that he might set forth his vsurped power And also that as S. Peter sayeth he might make marchaundise ouer vs in couetousnes 2. Pet. 2. For money he will geue licence to eate what you wil to do what you will And therfore all his lawes made of restrainte forbiddyng of those thinges that God lefte free are but a playne arte and crafte deuyse made to begyle the people of their money This moste honorable Lordes I haue sette forth two of Antichristes false doctrines not after myne awne fātesie but as Paul nameth them the doctrine of deuels that you might not be any furder deceaued by the preachers of them And also that you maye assuredly certifie youre consciēces that al they that preache and defende the same doctrines ben vnfaynedly Antichristes disciples which be spirites of erroure that haue departed from the faith or els the Apostles doctrine is erronious and false But that cā not be true Also oure master Christe admonisheth vs to beware lest any mand deceaue vs. For many shall come sayeth Christe in my name sayenge Mat. 24 I am Christe shall deceaue many Who is he that cometh in Christes name sayeng I am Christe None doutles who be they that saye they be Christ but he that vsurpeth to hym Christes office power holynes which no man doeth but the Romish Antichrist and his sluttish secte Euen they that vsurpe absolute power geuen to them to remitte and to forgeue synnes to the people Against thē that vsurpe Christes power and place whiche is the onlye power grace and office of Christe and not of any man Wherfore that man that vsurpeth vpon hym that office of Christe is the very same that sayeth I am Christe that is so anoynted and authorised of God that I haue absolute power geuen me from God to forgeue synnes as Christe hath For euē in soch maner of speaking all his filthy secte sittinge in their whorish confessions boost them selfes that they sit in Gods stydde and rowme to forgeue the synnes of soch as confesse their sinnes to them sayenge in their false absolutions in a tonge that the confessed vnderstandeth not By the authoritie of Peter and Paul and by the authoritie to me committed I forgeue the thy synnes to me confessed But nether Peter ne yet Paul did forgeue synnes by their awne authoritie grace or power but only by the preaching of the gospel Act. 4. As Peter sayeth ther is no nother name vnder heauen geuen vnto men nether is ther any other by whom we must be saued Act. 10 but the name of Iesu Christe For to hym all the prophetes beare witnes sayeth Peter remission of synne to be had thorowe his name Also sayeth Paul be it knowen vnto you men and bretherne Act. 13. that thorow this mā meaning Christe remission of synnes is preached and that by hym all that beleue are iustified from all thinges from the which ye could not be iustified by the law of Moses For he is the lambe of God that taketh awaye the synnes of the people / sayeth Ioan baptiste Ioh. 1. And euē so sayeth the Angell to our lady Math. 1. that he shall saue his people from their synnes Wherfore nether by the authoritie of Peter / nor of Paul ne yet by any absolute autoritie to them committed excepte by the autoritie of preachinge of the gospel to the people that trulie repente beleuinge constantly to haue remission of their synnes by the deeth and bloodshedinge of Iesu Christ hath other bisshop or priest any autoritie to forgeue synne Lamente therfore my Lordes the miserable state of this realme consideringe that there can be no remission of synnes geuen but onlye thorow the preaching of the gospell which none of oure priestes thorow all the realme do practise
his Apostles so plainly spokē that they be nether obscure darke nor hard to be vnderstāde Who also haue cōmaunded all mē to beware of them of the teachers of thē Rom. 16. so to departe decline frō them I haue also set forth his tyrāny his sedition his treason his crafty and false deceates wherwith he hath circumuented oppressed and deceaued many Emperours kinges and other noble rulers to whome Christ commaunded hym to obeye Mat. 17. and gaue him also a manifeste and playne example when he payed tribute for himselfe and Peter And by his owne obedience vsed and practised vnto the higher powers vnto their lawes He neuer gaue him exēple authoritie or power to depose other Emperoure kinge or any other cyuil rules And therfore for this his disobedience towardes God and for all his other iniquities he is iustly called the man of sinne a child of eternal perditiō So that he is worse thē a beast or the most frātike madde man that euer was madde that ether wil saye or thinke that he is other Christes vicare or successoure to the Apostle But rather the deuels vicar and successoure or clothe deuel himselfe For as by the frute the tree is most certenly knowen euen so 〈◊〉 your lordships by these his false doctrines al other his wickednes assuredly knowē him to 〈◊〉 man of synne veraye Antichriste himselfe And all his wicked generation to be the sectes of perdition the wicked brood of Antichriste most contrary to God and Christe Wherfore he most falsly vsurpeth to him the title and name of holy father or of Christes vicar in earth or successoure of the Apostles But moch more worthely and truly is called Antichrist the most malitious enemie and hatefull aduersarie of Christ as both his doctrines his decrees wicked lawes his pride exaltinge him selfe aboue al Emperours kinges his dispensational for sinne to be vsed in the church of God his vanities where with he deludeth and bewytcheth the people ▪ all his forged and fayned holynes his hypocrisis dissimulation sedition treason most seuere crueltie and all other his wickednes and most detestable lyst of both hym and all his fluttish generation of serpentes and filthy secte of infideles do manifestly proue and testifie before all men So that doubtles the◠can not be any thinge more contrary to God and Christe then he himself and his wicked broede do in all thinges Consideringe that youre lordshipe be not now ignoraunce as my trust is what thinge Antichrist is but that you wel vnderstande and knowe that all they that be come in to the church to occupie an misterie office or vocation contrary to Gods worde and Christes ordinaunce and appointementes or abuse his sacramentes contrarye to his ordinaunces or that teach any false doctrine or that take vpon them any of Christes honoure or power be veraye Antichristes which is as moch to saye as againste Christe Wherfore right honorable lordes I hope that God will open the eyes of your heartes that you maye nowe at the last see and well perceaue by what crafte falseed and subtile deuyses you haue ben deceaued entised to serue Antichrist in the stede of Christe the deuel in the stede of God to folowe false superstition in the stede of Christes true religion hypocrisie and vanitie in the stede of the christen veritie And in conclusion that you maye well vnderstande that you of al mē haue ben most blinded in your iudgemētes most fylthilie corrupted and your vnderstandinge and senses most shamfully deluded begyled and bewitched Therfore my good Lordes nowe renewe youre wits and vnderstandinges And knowe you certenly that all your lordly lorde bisshops be of the naturall broede of Antichriste Who with all subtiltie policie and falsheed studie and labour to obscure the light of Gods worde why they make the nobles partakers and to subuerte the ordenaunces of Christ and of his Apostles and obstinatly defēde their errours and euill doinges and make you their ministers to murther your brethern for their faith against your conscience to wrappe you and your posteritie in Gods displeasure with them And because your lordships shall not be deceaued in them I haue geuen you the comon token signe and marke wherby you al men can not but know them to be against Christ and his worde Where Christe sayde to Peter feede feede feede Which is to saye teach teach teach They take teachinge for no parte of their office but only to multiplie a sorte of blinde ceremonies to bringe the people from knowleage of Christe and to kepe them vnder in ignorance with crueltie And that they maye bringe that to passe they laboure to be lordes and to haue temporal offices contrary to Gods worde sayenge The kinges of the nations reigne ouer them Luc. 22 and they that beare rule ouer them be called gratious lordes But you shall not be so That is you shall not take upon you to haue ciuill gouernaunce and rule ouer the people ne yet to be called gratious lordes S. Peter commaundeth all bishops and soch as haue spirituall charge of soules committed to them to feede the flocke of Christe willingly as Christe commaunded him and not to be lordes ouer the parishes but euen as they were one of the flocke Yet your lordships well perceaue that oure bishops not only take to them selfes the name of lorde and gratious lorde but also procure to haue both cyuell gouernaunce and rule ouer the people as to be Lorde chaunceloure Lorde presidente and to haue the hearinge of testamentary causes of whoredōe of dyuorses of slaūders which be no spirituall matters Except a man will so call them bycause that they that boast to be spirituall only do most vse them And as for preachinge where with Christe chiefly chargeth his ministers is the least poynte of their charge But they must attēde vpō bysshoppinge of childern christeninge of belles of churches churchyardes altares and soch other baggage and abominations as were neuer commaunded of Christe nor yet practised not knowen of his Apostles Wherby they maye easlye be knowen not to be of Christ but against Christ and very Antichristes In lyke maner the persones vicars and curates that are admitted by them to haue enioye and occupie the commoditie and profite of any spiritual benefice wherunto perteyneth cure and charge of soules do not diligently reache the Lawe the Gospell but nosell the people with longe Matenses Masses and Euen songes in a straūge tonge And where ryche parisshes be they rocke them with mirrye singinge and pipinge with soch guegawes to please them withall cleane contrarie to Gods worde and Christes commaundement which sayeth As my Father sent me 〈◊〉 20. euen so do I sende you But his Father dyd sende him to preache as it is playne Esaye 61. Mark 1. Luke 4. with the whiche comaūdemēt of Christ geuen to all that haue charge of soules nother Emperoure Kinge nor Quene maye lawfully
after cleaue assuredly without waueringe folow which do perceaue that your lordships contrary to youre owne◠commaundementes before made and directed to them do flie and retiere from the doctrine and true vse of the Sacramētes that you in so litle tyme past did most worthely approue to be most Godly and necessarie to be taughte and folowed God graunte that the comēs of this Realme that now murmur and grudge at this inconstancie and other your euil doinges do not hereafter burden you with the same And especiallye for your flieng from the true religiō which you did before all men approue to be most godly ▪ From the which ye be now fled to the great dishonoure of God Wherfore God by his Prophete threatneth you to bring you to dishonoure sayenge I will geue them honour that honoure me And they that dishonoure me 1. Reg. 2. them will I bringe to dishonoure This promise will God kepe with you God therfore graūt you grace truly to repente in season Amen Hieremi 5. Horrible and greuouse thinges be done in the lande The preachers teache falsly and the priestes folow them and my people haue pleasure therin What will come therof at the last Hieremi 7. From the least to the most they hange all vpon couetousnes And from the prophete vnto the priest they go all about which falsheed and lye and besydes that they heale the hurte of my people with swete wordes sayenge peace peace when ther is no peace at al. Therfore they must be ashamed for they haue committed abomination Hieremie 23. Heare not the wordes of the prophetes that preache vnto you and deceaue you For they speake the meaninge of their awne heartes and not out of the mouth of the Lorde Hieremie 23. Yea the waye that men take is wicked and theyr gouernaunce is nothinge lyke the worde of the Lorde For the preachers and the pristes them selfes are polluted ypocrytes and their wickednesse haue I founde in my howse sayeth the Lorde Hiere 51. Babilō hath benin the Lordes hādes a golden cuppe that maketh all landes dronkē of hyr wyne haue al people dronken therfore are they out of their wittes Hier. 51. Oh my people come out of Babilon that euery man may saue his lyfe frō the fear ful wrath of the Lorde Esaias ca. 10. Woo be to Assur that is a staffe of my wrath in whose hande is the rod of my punishmente for I shal sēde him amōge these ypocrites amōge the people that haue deserued my displeasure shall I sēde him That he maye vtterly robbe them spoyle them and treade thē downe lyke the myre in the strete How be it his pretēce is not so nother thinketh his hearte in his fashion But he ymagineth only how to ouerthrow and to destroye moch people For he sayth be not my princes all kinges The contentes of this treatise 1 Ther is no thinge moare perilous harte to christen faith then a corrupte iudgemente 2 The multitude of people serue Antichriste nor vnderstādinge nor knowinge him to be Antichriste 3 Antichrist cometh in vnder the pretence to condemne errours and hersye wherof he his sworen secte wil be iudges and therfore condemeneth veritiein the siede of heresie 4 A description of Christ and of his office 5 The reuelation of Antichrist and of his condicion 6 The vayne thinges that Antichrist hath ordened 7 Antichriste erecteth a new religion wherin he breaketh Gods commaundement 8 The world receaueth Antichrist rather then Christe and what is the cause 9 Christe and his Apostles call certen doctrines the doctrines of deuels 10 Nether bishop nor priest hath any authoritie to forgyue synnes but by preaching the gospell 11. Anriculer confession is contrary to the doctrine of Esai 12. The priestes absolution spoken in a spech not knowen of the confessed can̄ not profite them 13. Certen causes wherfore bishops priestes do mayntayne whorish confessiō 14. A token geuen by Christ of the tyme when Antichrist shal come 15. Diuers abominations stande now in the temple of God And what is the temple of God 16. The causes wherfore Paul nameth Antichrist rather the man of sinne then a synner 17. How the Quenes maiestie is circumuented to make a law to stablish the Popes vsurped power 18. What bishops be theues mortherers and destroyers 19. No man shuld dye for his faith 20. Who be gyltie of the deeth of all them that haue suffred deeth by the wicked lawe lately reuyued made in force
al heretikes by crafte gyle and falsheed seduced and begyled the Emperours and kinges and robbed them of their dominions and powers wherby the hath exalted him selfe not only aboue them but also aboue God And then became he a most cruell tyrant and made lawes of death for all soch as he and his fylthy secte did adiuge heretikes Therby colourably to morther and destroye all soch as did ones speake or preach against his vsurped power or by any meanes reueyle his iniquitie for that calleth he and all his filthye generation of infideles heresie Which exemple of makinge of lyke lawes oure english bishops did compasse and bringe to passe about the yere of oure Lorde 1420. then beinge a bishop Lorde Chaunceloure and a nother lorde priuey Seale wherby being in great authoritie high estimation amongest the nobles and counselours thorow flattery circuÌ„uented the kinge and his counsaill and other of the nobles to make a law in Englande to suppresse heresie spronge vp in this realme But what that heresie was that must only be adiudged by the Antichristes lawes and by his sworen secte the generation of infideles the enemyes of God aduersaries of Christe For as it is reported by cronicles it was the reuelation of Antichristes iniquitie that he calleth heresye Forther to colour their cruel tiraÌ„nie they sayed with their forfathers the Bishops Priestes Scribes and Phariseys and the rest of the Iewish clergie It is not lawfull to vs for to sley any man And as for vs ye may trust well inough we be to holy to deceaue you You maye frely wtout scrupulositie of conscieÌ„ce crucifie whome so euer we committe in to voure handes For if he be not an euill doer we wil neuer deliuer him vnto you You re honours neade neuer to examine the cause but boldly burne him Oure soules for youres His blood vpon oure heades And by soch subtile meanes made all Kinges and Officers of EnglaÌ„de that haue bin synce their tourmentours and hange meÌ„ A goodly office that they haue sett all kinges and you right honorable lordes in They haue made the kinge and you their hange men not a whit better And yet for al their warrantyse puttiÌ„ge their soules for youres though ye wash neuer so cleane your haÌ„de with Pylate wheÌ„ ye thus morther the innocentes for their saith in Iesu Christe be assured that Gods curse will not departe from you youre howses excepce ye spedelye repente But how that law agreeth with Gods worde it shal appere Euen as God the deuel Christ and Antichrist light and darkenes First God by his Prophet Esai sayeth Esai 11. they shal not hurte nor shall they kil in all my holy hyll By this holy hil meaniÌ„g this his church Wherfore yf youre lordly Lorde bishops were true ministres in this church they wold not morther any man for his faith / or for want of a good faith which he can not haue of his awne power and studie The Prophet Hieremie sayeth also Iere. 7. Behold these men saye vnto me where is the worde of the Lorde Let it come Where as I neuer the lesse leading the flocke in thy wayes haue compelled no man by violence for I neuer desired mans deeth This knowest thou well Here Hieremie sayeth that he leading the flocke in the Lordes wayes compelled none by violence to walke therin This doctrine and exemple geuen by Hieremie agreeth but sclenderlye with Antichristes canons decrees lawes nor with the law newly reuyued by your lordships consentes and laste of all with youre bishops mortheringe and tormentinge of your lerned men Also when Christe going vnto Hierusalem Ioan and Iames entered in to a citie of the Samaritanes to make prouision for Christe But the citesins wold not receaue Christ Wherfore Ioan and Iames retourned to Christ and shewed to him the vnkindnes of the citesins sayeng vnto him Master will thou that we commaundye fyre to come from heauen and consume them Iesus turned to theÌ„ / and rebuked them sayenge You know not of what spirit ye be The sonne of man is not come to destroye meÌ„s lyues but to saue them If your lordly lorde bisshops were Christes true seruaÌ„tes then wold they folow his doctrine and example As Christ sayeth He that serueth me let him folow me Ioh. 18. Ioan. 12. And he that foloweth me walketh not in darknes But all men maye perceaue that this their mortheriÌ„ge is mere contrary to both Christes doctrine and example and vtterly bewrayeth them to be the seruantes of Antichriste As Paul sayeth 1. Tim. 5. Good deades be manifeste and they that be euyll can not be hid The parable of Christe of the tares sowed by the enemie vpon the good seed which the master wold not haue draweÌ„ vp vntill harueste leste drawinge vp the tares Math. 3. the good wheate shuld also haue ben drawen vp declareth manifestlie that Christe wold not any man of an euil faith to be killed for his euill faith For if Paul had byn tormented to deeth for waÌ„te of a good faith wheÌ„ he was a persequuter of Christes church He theÌ„ had neuer bin the Apostle of the gentiles ne yet the most laborious worke man that euer wrought in Christes vinyard And if Sainte Augustine had fouÌ„de so cruell tyraÌ„tes to haue persequuted him to deeth before he was coÌ„uerted by God at the preachinge of S. Ambrose theÌ„ the church had waÌ„â—ed at this daye as godly a doctor wryter as euer wrote in Christes church sence the Apostles But ouer besides Christes doctrine and exmple which be not any errours or vperfite doctrines the Apostles doctrine is that the seruante of God shulde not stryue 2. Tim. 2 but to be geÌ„tle to al men apte to teach and one that can suffer the euill with mekenes and can enforme them that resiste the trueth He sayeth not can kill them that resiste the trueth but can enforme them For neither he nor nay maÌ„ can know when it shall please God to open the eyes of his heart and to geue vnto him a perfite faith which now ys holdeÌ„ captiue in vnbelefe at the wil of the Lorde This doctine of the Apostle although you wil not geue credite therto yet proueth it manifestly before all men that your lordly lorde bishops be not the seruauntes of God that shuld suffer the euill accordinge to Christes doctrine and example And also this doctrine of the Apostle proueth that youre law reuyued is against the doctrine of Christe and of his Apostle And therfore is a wicked law inuented by Antichriste and his filthy genratioÌ„ and sluttish secte of infideles to subuert extinguish al godly knowleage faith Also the Apostle sayethrif ther be any that obeyeth not oure teachinges 2. Thes 3 sende vs worde of him by a letter and haue no company with him that he may be ashamed And counte him not as an enemie but warne him as a brother Perceaue ye not honorable lordes