in thee and that they also may be one in vs that the vvorld may beleeue that thou hast sent me Iesus Christ knewe right well that the greater number would not enter this gate by faith and therefore he said I pray not for the world He would haue all saued and come to the knowledge of his trueth but they will not beleeue the trueth but hate and persecute the trueth And therefore he knowing the great danger that his smal slock were in and should be in amongest the wicked and their small strength also in sauing themselues from their tyrannie prayed for them that they might be one in faith and loue hauing the spirit of trueth dwelling in them Whereby they euer haue in possession that pretious pearle and hidden treasure that the worlde can neyther taste nor finde because hee that will haue and taste it must in finding it therewith renounce and giue for it all that hee hath or else hee looseth it Whiche thing onely the electe that haue the Spirite of trueth whome the worlde cannot haue doe and none else And thereby they haue yea and feele in theyr great afflictions that peace of conscience that Christ gaue vnto them saying Peace I leaue vvith you my peace I giue vnto you not as the world giueth giue I vnto you Let not your hearts be grieued neither feare From the which neither losse of friends and goods neither losse of good name and fame nor shame of the world neither threatnings nor prisonment nor scourginges and tormentes nor yet death it selfe could separate them that had once entred felt and tasted how sweete the Lord is This made Peter Andrew Iohn Iames and the other apostles to forsake all things esteeming it to be more woorth then goodes friendes or life in this world Paul being in this gate and tasting the sweetnesse thereof with a vehement spirit sayth Who shal separate vs frō the loue of God Shal tribulation or anguish or persecution either hunger either nakednes either peril either sword Who saith I am sure that neither death nor life neither angels nor rule nor povver neither thinges present nor things to come neither high nor lovv nor any other creature shalbe able to separate vs from the loue of God which is in Christ Iesu our Lord For this the holy Catholike Church suffereth and euer shall suffer all kindes of torments vntill Christ commeth againe to deliuer her as euer hitherto they haue suffered whereof some were mocked some scourged some prisoned some hamshed some drowned some sawen some hewen in pieces some burned some racked and some stened to death Which holy Catholike Church may well say according to the scriptures Thou O God makest vs to be rebuked of our neighbours to be laughed to scorne and had in derision of them that be round about vs. And For thy sake are vve killed all day long and are counted as sheepe appointed to be slaine These be the few that do finde the narrow gate these be the righteous that doe finde and enter the same these be they that Christ so louingly prayed for whose prayer without faile because of his reuerence was heard these be they that be one in faith and loue euen of one heart and one minde in one house the holy catholike church vnite and knit together with one spirit the spirit of trueth that cannot erre Moreouer euery one that is of this holy Catholike church may say with the Prophet Thy vvord O Lord is a lanthorne vnto my feet and a light vnto my paths For they stablish theyr faith by the word of God and study to forme theyr life to fashion theyr maners by the same who he knowen by three notable signes by faith by loue and by the spirit of God He that lacketh any one of these is not in the strait gate but wide gate he walketh not in the narrow way but broad way he is not of the church of Iesus Christ but of the church of Antichrist Faith is a sure confidence of things vvhich are hoped for and a certaintie of thinges vvhich are not seene This faith bringeth vs the knowledge of God and maketh vs to vnderstand our owne sinfull nature and weakenesse for Paule sath Through faith we vnderstand that the world was ordained by the word of God and that thinges which are seene are made of thinges which are not seene c. Of our owne infirmitie by sinne we haue example in him that brought his sonne vnto Iesus to be healed which with teares sayd Lord I beleue helpe thou my vnbeliefe This man vndoubtedly saw by faith great imperfections in himselfe euen his sinne as it were ouerwhelming his faith and therefore he wept and sayd Lord helpe thou my vnbeliefe Likewise the Apostles considering theyr great burden of sinne and frailenesse said vnto the Lord Increase our faith This is the first thing that faith worketh in vs it bringeth vs the knowledge of our sinne and vilenesse of the same and maketh vs to crie to God for helpe and seeke remedie for our sinne which is Iesus Christ that gaue himselfe to death vpon the crosse for our sinne as is aforesaid Thus wrought faith in the penitent publican that thought himselfe vnworthy to lift vp his eyes vnto heauen but smote himselfe vpon the brest saying God be mercifull to me a sinner Thus fayth wrought in the Centurien or petie captaine which iudged himselfe vnworthy of Christes presence saying Lord I am not worthie that thou shouldest enter vnder my roufe wherefore I thought not my selfe vvorthy to come vnto thee but say thou the word and my seruant shal be whole c. Such a lowe estimation did faith worke in Peter when he said Lord goe from me for I am a sinfull man And least anie man should contend herein y t this faith which thus bringeth vs knowledge of God of our owne sinful nature weaknesse should be a fayned faith a dead faith or a deuils faith heare y e praise therof by him y t cannot flatter nor lie y e truth who saith of the same I say vnto you haue not found so great a faith no not in Israel Note Christ calleth this a great faith Verily it so great that it bringeth vs our iustification and peace with God which is the second thing that faith worketh in vs. That faith bringeth vs the righteousnesse of Christ our iustification is already plainely prooued by the scriptures and writings of Paule who goeth further and saith Because therfore that we are iustified by faith wee are at peace with God And to declare the very gate dore and way wherby we enter into this peace and fauour of God hee addeth saying Through our Lord Iesus Christ by whom also it chanced vnto vs to be brought in through faith vnto this grace wherein we stand and reioyce in the hope of the glory of the children of God
The Epiphanie of the Church GATHERED OVT OF THE HOLY Scriptures declaring and plainly shevving both the Church that cannot but erre and also the Church that cannot erre VVITH SO EVIDENT NOTES and manifest signes of either of them that no man reading it needeth be in doubt which he should beleue Written by R. P. in the yeare of our Lord God 1550. And now published in this yeare 1590. for the benefite of all such as desire the trueth concerning the church LONDON Printed by Roger Ward dvvelling at the signe of the Pâ—â—sse in the Little Old-baily 1590. VNTO THE REVEREND FATHER in God and honourable Lord Nicholas Ridley bishop of London his humble Richard Phinch the vnworthie minister to the small congregation of â—astham wisheth grace peace and health with increase of godlinesse in Iesu the onely health and peace-maker c. AFter I perceiued very reuerend father that your good trauell amongest vs had not so good successe as the vnfaithfull superfluous doinges of other sometimes doe obtaine I not onely mused with my selfe what should be the cause but also studied with my whole indeuour to do that lay in me though not able to helpe good affaires forward yet at the least not to hinder them For certaine ouerthwart persons preteÌ„ding to cleaue earnestly vnto the faith of the church when in very deed they do nothing els but sticke vnto their owne wils in folowing euill custome coueted diuers wayes to obscure the praise of your diligent labor Being moued thereto partly because you examined theÌ„ by the scriptures and partly for that you gaue in your visitation iniunctions to take away the principall monuments of superstitions euen the altars of the popish masse Ah God helpe to be tried by the Gospel vvas a strange matter vnto them that were occupied onely in their pye portuase and ordinalles but more strange vnto them that were woont to heare of nothing at visitations but of paying of mony and most strange vnto them that were neuer examined before not so much as whether they beleeued in God or no. This vnwont maner strangenesse made your godly indeuors of some not to be so thankfully receiued albeit of the honest most thankfully taken as they woorthely deserued of all insomuch that for my part I hearkened for nothing but for some congratulation of my brethren toward you and the people looked for reformation of enormities for the open punishment of great crime and for the plaine setting forth of Gods word preaching of the same after your visitation But as I haue heard nothing of the one honest persons excepted so do the people vvait stil for the other Wherfore to speake simply I thinke God recompenseth the omission of the one vvith the losse of the other for praise hath beene vvont to follovv vertue as the shadovv doth the body Furthermore that noble king of famous memory no lesse prudent then godly minded king Henry the 8. put forth vnto vs in the yere of our Lord 1536 a booke of articles vvherein the signification of certaine ceremonies vvhich before vvere done he plâ—â—â—…ly declared sensing kneeling offering to images vvorshiping of the same vvere forbid and also the name of purgitory vvas cleane taken avvay But hovv thankefully those things vvere then of some receiued their setting forth teaching of the same plainly shevved I do vvell remember that many vvere as loth then to forgoe theyr purgatory as they be novv vnvvilling to take dovvne their altars the monuments of the same that it was as strange a thing to say on Ashvvednesday Memento homo c. in English notvvithstanding the said booke of articles vvilling the same as it is novv to be examined in the Nevv testament by a godly bishop In the same yere also came forth godly iniunctions commanding parents and gouernours to teach their youth the Lords prayer the Articles of the faith the coÌ„mandements of almighty God in English vvhich themselues had not learned therfore the curats vvere charged to recite one clause or article one day another on another day of the same vntill the vvhole vvere learned This yere likevvise by the authority of the same iniunctions the Bible Gods booke vvas set vp in the quiere to be read both in Latine and English vvhich thither vvas so vvell vvelcome so much regarded and so diligently studied that he had good leaue to depart from thence into the body of the church For in the yeare of our Lord God 1538. the magistrates were faine to renew the same iniunctions and speake more plainely who commanded the said Gods booke to bee set vp in some conuenient place in the Church and no man to be discouraged from reading of the same in English They charged all curates againe to teach the Lordes praier the articles of the faith and the commandementes of God and that they shoulde examine euerie person comming to auriculer confession in the same and heare them say the Lordes praier the articles c. particularly And also make or cause to be made one sermon euerie quarter in euerie one of their cures O Lord God what an eye sore torment of minde was this vnto them that were obstinate and wayward but what a sweete comforte to the simple that were willing to disburden their conscience If god had then as he hath now sent vs some godly learned Bishops that vvoulde haue taken paines to visite their cures and to haue examined howe these matters had gone forward they should haue perceaued many a false cast to haue bin plaied vnder the couerlet in the shifting houses And some simple folke woulde haue saide that their ghostles fathers had giuen them counsell to stick vnto their old primer and to beware of the newe and specially of the testament Diuers proclamations about this time were also set forth concerning Gods matters but alas they were so vnwillingly handled and so vnthankfully receaued that God had almost taken his word from vs againe At the length about the yeare of our Lord God 1544. the suffrages were put forth in english which likewise were so wel welcome to some that the kings maiestie then was constrained to write vnto certaine prelates concerning the same whome he aduertised not to be so slacke in putting the said praiers in practise as they were inserting forth his former articles iniunctions Thus God hath wrought among vs by a little and a litle to bring vs to knowledge that at the leÌ„gth vve might willingly embrace his holy word Againe forsomuch as of late Gods booke was in some places almost forgot in some places runne out of the church into the chancel to hide himselfe amongest the popish bookes and of some so safely laid vp that a man might wright vpon him with his finger Ecce nunc in puluere dormio Therefore almightie God moued the heart of our moste naturall liege Lord and dearely beloued mayden king to lift vp the same Gods booke once again out of the dust Who
in the yeare of our Lord God 1547. set foorth by hys royall visitation godly homilies the paraphrase of that learned father Erasmus to the great comfort of the simple that be willing to learne also godly iniunctions meaning thereby to root vp all superstition abuse and idolatry to set vp gods word in their place Wherein he commanded not onely to take awaie all superstition and idolatrie but to take away and vtterly to extinguish and destroy all monuments of superstition idolatrie cap. 28. But how diligently putoffes haue practised their pollicie to hinder this his godly purpose it is better to lament it with teares then to rehearse it in letters Last of all to put all out of doubt and to make a perfect concord we haue a booke of cōmon praier with an order in the same for reading of Gods booke set forth in English by the same aucthoritie and stablished by act of parliament And least anie person would be so foolish mad to looke for the romish ragges againe one statute at the last parliament abolisheth and condemneth for euer all other popish bookes of the old seruice Notwithstanding some people be yet dased in those Gods matters that they know not vvhat to doe Maruaile not therefore deare father though the vngodly sorte doe misconster and euill interpret your godly trauaile For they crie for a law they must haue a law to lead them from euerie superstition by name els they vvill not obey But if they loued obedience quietnesse and had but one sparke of reuerend feare either toward God or their prince or anie desire of godly knovvledge there hath inough and inough againe bin said cōcerning matters of religion and also set forth both by order and law There be articles inough iniunctions inough proclamations inough commandements inough exhortations inough lessons inough and lavves inough if they vvere vnderstoode vvillingly embraced reuerently obeyed Albeit for them that be self vvilled frovvard contentious obstinat dul harted nothing vvil serue Therfore to none may be better applied this prophecy of Esay then vnto these Who saith They that be such must haue after one lesson another lesson after one commandement another commandement after one rule another rule after one instruction another instruction there a litle there a litle For he that speaketh vnto this people is euen as one that vseth rudenesse of speeche a strange language If anie man say vnto them loe this is the rest wherwith ye may ease hym that is wearie this is the refreshing they will not harken Therfore the word of the Lord lesson vpon lesson commandement vppon commandement rule vpon rule instruction vpon instruction there a little and there a litle shalbe vnto them an occasion of stumbling that they may goe on and fal backward be brused tangled and snared Wherefore heare the worde of the Lord yee mockers ye that haue rule of this people O vvould God I might haue ouerleapt this sentēce that goeth before that iustly novv it might not besaid They are out of the way by reason of wyne yea farre out of the way are they by reason of strong drinke These things my moste reuerend father haue inforced me to presume to doe that vvhich is aboue the strength both of my vvit and learning but not aboue my good vvill that is to collect out of Gods scriptures a simple and plaine manifestation of the Church in English or a manifest opening or shevving of the Church naming it the Epiphanie because that vvord albeit borrovved of the Grecians is frequented already among vs english men in the same signification The obscuritie misunderstanding and ignorance onely of this argument article hath bene and also is the cause of much obstinacie contention and disobedience For vntill it pleased almightie God to open vnto me by his holy spirit and vvorde this article credo ecclesiam c. vvith the right meaning of the same according to the scriptures I vvas as stiffe in the popish traditions taking them for good customes and ceremonies of the fathers as I am now earnest in Gods booke and taught them vvith so good a zeale but not according to knovvledge as I doe novv the Gospell Wherefore taking of the same remedy vvherof I tooke hurt euen of Credo ecclesiam as they that be hurt of scorpions be vvoont to do I can do no lesse but vvrite and set forth the same vnto and for such as be stoong vvith the same sting and venomed vvith the same poison Whose nature is not to hurt but vvhere it findeth bloud No more Credo ecclesiam hurteth but suche as cleaue too much to humaine reason and naturall vvit I trust they vvill not mislike that thing that loue constraineth me to doe for their sakes If they doe they shall find me as readie to defend the same by the word of god against all popish bablinges as I haue bene to vvrite it So that your godly learning misliketh it not vnto vvhome vvith all other godly learned I humbly submit the same beseeching you to accept in good part my small industrie as the first fruites of my pen and iudge thereof as god shall put in your minde to vvhome be all thanke praise and glory Amen Your humble Richard Phinch ¶ THE EPIPHANIE OF THE CHVRCH BEcause I couet rather to profite with homely and playn speech then to please with sweete faire words I will speake liberally but yet simply of the Church for their sakes and vnto them that be deceaued with euill custome bewitched with popish iuglings charmed with mens inuentions and beguiled with their owne wittes which resist the trueth of Gods holy word kicke against the pricke and grope at noone and cannot see the light for the sunne In whose mouth is euer Churche Church whose feete are dayly wandring vnto the church and their eyes gasing continually vpon the Church yet can they neyther finde nor see the Church because themselues be none of the Church What is so much alleadged of the babling papistes what so oft frequented of the common people and so manifest in all mens eyes as the Church Notwithanding for want of teachers of the Scriptures few doe know the Church Such is the knowledge among the silly people in verie manie Churches now a dayes Church in the English Bible is commonly called congregation For ecclesia a worde borrowed of the Greeke toonge which may be translated into Englishe eyther Church or congregation Church with vs is a common worde signifiyng the place as well as congregation whereunto the same assembleth for some honest or godly purpose It is written that all the people were gathered togither which made their prayers all the night long in the Church Our common places appoynted for prayer preaching and administration of the sacraments be so well knowne by this name Church that there needeth no example hereof Other whiles Church signifieth the whole multitude of people both of good and bad
then golde or pretious stone and sweeter then honie and honie combe The embassage of great ioy Ioyfull tidinges of peace tidinges of good things The poure of God vnto saluation to euerie one that beleeueth and able to saue their soules that imbrace it Wherefore lay apart sayth the Apostle Iames all filthinesse and superfluitie of maliciousnesse and receaue with meekenesse the worde that is grafted in you which is able to saue your soules Thus it appeareth manifestly vnto all them that be willing to see the trueth that God the father appoynteth vs vnto the worde of his sonne Iesus Christ our Lord. Christ referreth vs vnto his holy spirite and trueth The holy Ghost also taught nothing else but the same trueth and word Therefore the holy Apostle durst not to appoint vs to anie other but straightly commendeth vs to the same trueth that cannot erre and vnto the word of grace which is the selfe same and still one trueth according to the infallible word of God that saith Thy righteousnesse O Lord is an euerlasting righteousnesse and thy lawe is the trueth So that we haue now in this time iust cause ioyfully to say with the prophet O praise ye the Lord all ye heathen praise him all ye people For his mercie is stablished vpon vs and the trueth of the Lord endureth for euer Then the which trueth there can be no surer stay guide and rule for the beliefe life and doctrine of mortall men in this mortall life and world of tribulation The Church of Antichrist hath no such stay guide nor rule but they are like the chaffe which the winde scattereth awaie from the face of the earth as the prophet Dauid witnesseth who also calleth them the councell of the vngodly the way of sinners and the chaire of pestilence or the seate of the scornful workers of iniquitie wicked men bloud-thirstie men the euil man the wicked man the wilde boare the cruell beast the slaunderer blasphemer enemie and persecutor the enemie in the holy place and aduersary whose mouth is full of cursing and bitternesse their throat is an open sepulcher with their toonges they haue deceiued the poyson of aspes is vnder their lippes their feete are swift to shed bloud destruction and vnhappinesse is in their waies and the way of peace haue they not knowne there is no feare of God before their eies There were they brought in great feare euen where no feare was Vaine persons and deceiptfull lippes whom euer all good men abhorred and hated after the example of the holy prophet who saith I haue hated the Church of the vvicked and will not sit among the vngodly Loe you see the wicked and vngodly haue the name of Church yea they haue got the name of holy Catholicke Church How else haue they put on sheepes clothing How haue they fashioned themselues like the ministers of righteousnesse And howe hath the deuill transformed himselfe into the angel of light Truely in this that his church hath got the titles of holy and Catholicke and his ministers the names of true shepheardes Catholicke be the right clothing of the sheepe of Christes fold Antichrist therefore hath robbed Christes fold of their right title holy and catholicke and thereby bleared the eyes of the simple vnlearned multitude which doe seeke no further for saluation then they haue bene taught they say by the holy Catholicke Church Their common sayinges be these We be not wiser then our fathers before vs We will doe as our fathers haue done Such thinges they doe affirme because they know not Sathan from the angell of light the wolues from the sheepe the lyes from the word of God neyther Church of Antichrist falsly called holy and catholicke from the Church of Iesus Christ which indeede is both holy and catholicke But in stead of the holy Catholick church they doe beleeue the Church of the wicked in whose dregs of detestable traditions and ceremonies they haue bene ousted from their youth Verely if they would ponder their wordes with halfe indifferent iudgement and behold them but with one of their eyes I thinke they would keepe silence or else blushe for shame For to say they will doe as their elders and fathers haue done before them is nothing but to confesse thēselues to walke wilfully in errour and blindnesse when their fathers wandered vnawares And where they say they be no wiser then their fathers they shew themselues to be blinde followers of the blinde But if the blinde follow the blinde they both fall into the ditch Their fathers tooke Antichrist the bishop of Rome for head of the Church they made images and worshipped them they gadded on pilgrimage and trusted in workes pardons absolutions dirges trentalles masses c. wherein they erred increased in error and walked ignorantly into perdition The cause whereof was the lack of the word of God which word is euer a rule vnto the holy catholicke church Therefore their fathers learned not these thinges of the holy Catholicke Church but of the Church of Rome vsurping the name of the holy Catholicke Church which abhorred and trode vnder feete the word of God without the which their fathers doctrine was nothing els but olde errour against whome God giueth a speciall commandement saying Keepe my commandementes doe not those thinges that other haue done before you be not defiled in them I am your Lord your God Wherefore addeth God these words I am your Lord your God but to the end he would haue his words regarded for euer and not his aduersaries the man of sinne and childe of perdition as Paul nameth him who deceaued their fathers Whose coming is after the vvorking of Sathan vvith al lying povvers signes vvonders with al deceiuablenesse of vnrighteousnesse amongest them that perish because they receaued not the loue of the trueth that they might be saued And therefore God shal send them strong delusion that they might beleue lyes that all they might be damned which beleeued not the trueth but had pleasure in vnrighteousnesse In these wordes hath the holy Ghost plainly shewed the fashion and comming of the man of sinne sonne of perdition Church of the wicked and kingdome of Antichrist The Church or kingdome of Antichrist is called the man of sinne because it is builded vpon a sinnefull man gouerned by a sinfull man instructed by euill sinfull workmen and their doctrine defended by the lawes and power of sinnefull men Which tooke authoritie neyther of God nor of his worde but of a monstrous beast with many heades euen of the people that departed from the faith whereof the same holy spirite of God speaketh and prophecieth more plainely by the mouth of Paul saying The spirite speaketh euidently that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith and shall giue heede vnto the spirites of error and deuilish doctrines of them which speake
contrarie both to the kinges maiesties statutes and iniunctions and also contrary vnto his maiesties proclaimation made the xxvii day of December in the first yeare of his moste gratious raigne Wherein the name of masse is plainly forbidden if y e same proclaimation be truly constured notwithstanding in y e booke of cōmon praier his maiestie somewhat yet beareth with the weake learning of the multitude which commonly calleth the Lords supper by the name of masse after their olde woont which thing me thinketh should giue no man occasion to sticke stiffely to euill custome In a statute made the fourth day of Nouember of the same first yeare of his maiesties raigne and in the xiiii Chapter the offering of the sacrament for the dead which is there called masses satisfactory to be done for them is plainly condemned as a vaine thing tending to the derogation of Christes death Also by his maiesties iniunctions chap. 28. the altar of the same sacrifice for the dead is taken away for so much as it is a monument of the superstition of the popish masse So that for anie thing I can perceaue they that so fayne would holde vp their altars against them that goe about to put them downe both by law and order meane none other thing but to maintain a monument of superstition and idolatrie in spight both of the kinges lawes and iniunctions To the ende I meane to allure the people the more to their monie sacrifice and to make them beleeue the better in the God that they doe make vppon their altar or altar-stone Without the which they I wote can make no God Ah where was this their God before the altar and altar-stone was made This may well be that God vnto whome they thinke to doe good seruice in breaking of wedlock and rayling against marriage but sure I am that this is not that God that made both heauen and earth and all thinges in them because the altar and the altar-stone be some thinges Albeit least perhappes they should thinke that I would onely answere them with scoffes though theyr shamelesse obstinacie deserueth none other I will rehearse a few wordes out of Gods booke to stoppe their mouthes withall And when they haue answered and truely confuted them I will forsake Gods booke and the christian faith as truely as I haue forsaken them and all their iugling castes In the 7. Chapter to the Hebrues it is written The Lord sware and will not repent Thou art a priest for euer after the order of Melchisedech And for that cause was Iesus a stablisher of a better testament These words doe proue that Iesus Christ our euerlasting Priest and mediatour hath stablished a better testament then the testament of the olde law The priestes in the olde law offered vp sacrifice first for their owne sinnes and then for the sinnes of the people But whereon did they offer their sacrifice verily Vpon an altar Iesus Christ vnto whome God the father sware Thou art a priest for euer c. Offered vp himselfe once by hys own bloud suffering death for our sinnes and with that his owne oblation hee hath made perfect for euer them that are sanctified This is the better testament that Iesus Christ hath stablished for vs not by often offering of himself by the hands of sinners for then must hee haue often suffered since the world began But as it is appoynted vnto all men that they should once die and then commeth the iudgement euen so was Christ once offered For as touching that he died he died once saith Paul to take away the sinnes of manie By these Scriptures wee may conclude that Iesus Christ offering himselfe by death vppon the crosse once for our redemption made a full perfite and sufficient sacrifice oblation and satisfaction for the sinnes of all them that beleue in him And that this oblation was done vppon the crosse and not vpon anie altar witnesse Math. 27. Marke 15 Luke 23. Iohn 19. and Peter in the second of his first Epistle saying Christ suffered for vs leauing vs an example that we should follow his steppes which did no sinne neither was there guile foūd in his mouth which when he was reuiled reuiled not againe when he suffered he threatned not but committeth the vengeance to him that iudgeth righteously Which his owne selfe bare our sinnes in his body on the tree that wee being deliuered from sinne should liue vnto righteousnesse Howbeit he onely saith Esay chap. 53. Hath taken on him our infirmities and borne our paines hee was wounded for our offences and smitten for our wickednesse for the chastisement of our peace was layd vpon him with his stripes wee are healed What is it to be healed with his stripes but that by his death and resurrection he hath obtained for vs righteousnesse euen forgiuenesse of our sinnes euen forgiuenesse of our sinnes according to the sayinges of the Apostle Peter that by him all that beleeue are iustified from all thinges And vnto him giue all the prophetes witnesse that thorow his name whosoeuer beleeueth in him shall receaue remission of sinnes This is the couenant that is betweene God vs now euen that we beleeue in his sonne Iesus Christ to haue remission of sinnes in his name thorowe hys death and resurrection This article hath the holy ghost so surely graued in our heartes and written in our minds that wee cannot but say We beleue the remission of sinnes Which also is surely grounded vppon Gods holy word that sayth This is the testament that I will make vnto them after those daies saith the Lord I will put my lawes in their hearts and in their mindes will I write them and their sinnes and iniquities will I remember no more And where remission of these things is there is no more offering for sin So long as the sacrifice and offering for sinnes tooke not away sinnes neither brought perfect remission of sins there remained in the Church of God altars and continuall sacrifice or oblation for sinnes But when Christ had once offered himselfe vppon the crosse by death and by that his one oblation once offered had obtained remissiō of sinnes and finished all things that was due for man to pay saying It is finished giuing vp the Ghost thorough the which eternall spirite hee gaue himselfe to God without spot in a sweet sauour Then was finished according to his owne saying a perfect sacrifice for sinne and all things due for the same And also all sacrifice and oblations for sinnes totally ended as it is aforesaid Where remission of sinnes and iniquities is there is no more offering for sinne if no offering for sinnes then no altar to offer vpon Therefore either let them prooue Gods word to be false that saith Where remission of c. the Holy ghost a liar that promised to write the same in
our hearts c. and take away this article of our faith I beleeue the remission of sinnes or else away with their altars and oblations vpon the same I meane their mony sacrifice the masse Which altar and sacrifice be nothing else but witnesses of their infidelitie idolatrie and Iewish hearts Of their infidelitie in that they do not beleeue remission of sinnes through the onely oblation of Christ once offered vpon the crosse Of their idolatrie in that they set vp another sacrifice and propitiation for sinnes then God hath appoynted Wherein surely they shewe themselues to bee more than Iewish For in their sacrificing and massing they denie Christes death and reproue God of periurie The prophesie of Christes death is this With his stripes we are healed By his paines and merites our paines are taken away as touching damnation and our sinnes couered Or by his death wee are healed from eternall death By hys oblation our sinnes are healed for hee hath purchased vs perfect remission of the same But this hath he not done if there be anie sinnes taken away by the masse The which sinnes at the least he left vnhealed And therefore hee hath not if this be true as yet suffered For heauen and earth shall faile before these wordes be false With his stripes we are healed Or by his death our sinnes are forgiuen Ergo he hath suffered and we wholly healed Or els if we be not wholly healed he hath not yet suffered Againe almightie God promised with an othe vnto hys sonne Iesus Christ saying Thou art a priest for euer That is to say Iesus Christ hath offered himselfe vppon the crosse by death vnto God the father once And by that one oblation once offered hee hath made perfect for euer them that are sanctified as it is before by the scriptures euidently proued For this one oblation once offered perfect for euer Iesus Christ is called and is indeede a Priest for euer Whose sweet oblation remaineth in the bosome of God to our great comfort for euer But he himself now offereth no more for he denieth no more but liueth for euer on the right hand of God the father making intercession for vs. Seeing then his oblation is perfect for euer serueth for euer and hee himselfe making intercession for vs liueth for euer He is therefore according to the othe of God Priest for euer But this hee were not if it could bee proued that his oblation were vnperfect as it must needes be if monie sacrifice the masse obtaineth remission of sinnes or anie part thereof By these fewe Scriptures and sayings grounded vpon the same it madifestly appeareth howe blasphemous the money sacrifice the masse is Namely it robbeth vs of our most comfortable articles of our faith which is I beleeue the remission of sinnes it taketh away the veritie of Gods Scriptures which doe proue Christs oblation vpon the Crosse to bee perfect whole and sufficient it maketh Christ a lyer when he sayd It is finished It adnihillateth his merites and taketh away his passion from vs and it condemneth God of periurie If there can bee any great blasphemous and more abominable heresies then these let all the world iudge Of all the which the popish altar is a monument and as it were an hand to leade the people vnto from Christ and his merites wherefore all good men hauing but one sparke of grace with knowledge will not onely be content with the taking downe of them but also will I trowe helpe the best they can euery one according to his vocation to the same Moreouer if the money sacrifice the masse had bene so necessarie and vnto God so acceptable as the people haue beleeued it to be woulde Christ haue giuen no commandement thereof no example of it no word concerning it what not one word Of preaching he gaue a special commandement saying Feede Feede feede my lambes And againe Goe ye in to all the world and preach the Gospel to al creatures Yet this office of preaching is counted amongst many scant necessarie and the messengers thereof so well looked to that they may studie their breake fast pray yea beg for their dinner and weepe out their supper as many other poore soules doe which thing God will shortly plague if speedie remedie bee not prouided or else his worde is not true which saith For the miserable calamitie of the poore oppressed and for the sighing and weeping of the poore that doe lacke I will vp saith the Lord. Many are sore offended thorough the outragiousnesse of vice slime and iniquitie increasing on euery side a fewe I meane doe studie for amendement and some wonder what should be the cause thereof At whome I doe not a litle maruaile For if the plough man fallowing his ground turneth it vp and letteth it lye and neither stirreth haroweth nor soweth it what marueile is it though it bring him no corne but weedes England is but yet fallowed with the plough of Gods word yet scant fallowed what marueile is it then that weedes growe faster then the corne It must needes be so vnlesse Gods worde be better sowne For manie that shoulde will not A fewe would and cannot and some that can may not because they that should will not To remedie it albeit I know I cannot but this I know and am sure of Where the worde of God is not preached the people perish Of masse we haue not so much as one tote or title of God Christ or his Apostles giuen vs. Notwithstanding how haue the people cared for Masse Masse Masse onely with Masse they haue bene satisfied Why doe they not cry now as much for preaching of the worde of God without the which they perish Nay why doe they crie so much against it Oh what murmuringes and complaininges haue they made since their masse decayed what lyes haue these idle braines inuented what slanders haue they imagined and what false rumours haue they sprinckled abroad in the worlde against them that haue sincerely preached the Gospell How conspire they against good Christian ministers whiche according to their vocation attend their flockes What tumultes vprores and rebellions haue they raysed against their superiours to the great hinderance of Gods holy worde May not a man manifestly beholde in them the monstrous beast that fighteth against the lambe and word of God No doubt as the deuill brought vp his Church at the beginning and increased it So would he now if he could vphold maintaine and defend the same That is not by preaching but by massing not by feeding but by loytering not by the regall authority that proceedeth from God but by tyranny by authority vsurped euen by a monstrous beast I call it a monstrous beast that is either without an head or else hath many heads Subiects vsurping the sword of iustice and executing vengeance vpon theyr superiours be a body without an head or else with many heads and therefore
a monstrous beast This monstrous beast hath lift vp borne and mainteined the whore of Babylon which is the church of antichrist This monstrous beast hath put vp her hornes heere in England against the word of God and faine would rule the same againe if the deuill could bring it to passe whose labour is in vaine for we know the trueth of Gods word proceedeth euer from God and therefore hath God set it forth amongst vs by his owne vicegerent a mayden king our liege lord and supreme head in his dominions next vnder Christ and that by act of parlement with the consent of the nobility of the realme and the lordes spirituall and temporall and the commons of the same Let Sathan therefore leaue off with all his wicked instrumēts which go about to perswade the silly people that Gods booke and this new learning as they call it is heresie whereby they slander theyr godly magistrates and speake euill of them that be in authority Which theyr customable so doing auaileth them nothing for when they haue prooued it heresie which thing they shall as easily bring to passe as to prooue light darkenesse and darkenesse light then must they also compell all them that haue set it forth and all them that willingly receiued the same to do open penance for theyr manifest heresie as they say Thus to speake euill of them that be in authority is one of their proper markes whereby they be knowen to be of Antichrists brood which hath by conspiracy caused rebellion euer against such gouernors as haue done any thing against theyr tyranny and excommunicated cursed and deposed emperours and kings that haue displeased theyr hypocrisie whose authority as it is next vnto God so hath God left the correction thereof vnto himselfe and neither vnto priest nor people God commandeth saying Touch not mine anointed and do my prophets no harme If it be not lawfull to touch Gods anoynted kings Gods officers Gods lieutenants Gods vicegerents that be appoynted by God to rule in his sted let them take heed that do vsurpe theyr sword for vndoubtedly Gods vengeance will fall vpon them Example hereof we haue in Chorah Dathan and Abiram which rose vp against Moses with other men of the children of Israel euen two hundreth and fiftie that were captaines of the multitude great famous men in the congregation but Gods vengeance fell vpon them for the earth opened and swallowed them downe aliue Yet these rebels were not of the base and lower sort of the people but captaines and famous men Consider then if God cannot abide this rebellion and vsurping of the sword of iustice in a captaine surely he will not suffer it in a souldiour If not in a famous or noble man verely he will not leaue it vnplagued in one of the lower subiects no he will not let it escape vnpunished in whom whensoeuer it be because it is high treason against himselfe Though they worke craftily and secretly yet will theyr false traitourous hearts bewray themselues before they be ware if Gods word as needes it must be true Be not thou so bold as once to thinke or imagine euill against the king or that thou wilt reprehend the prince although thou be alone in thy priuie chamber for it will come out if not otherwise surely the birds that flye in the ayre will not suffer it to be hid Heereby it appeareth that the word of God reproueth yea condemneth all maner of persons of what state condition or degree soeuer they be that in word or thought do arise vp rebell or resist the kings authority specially in setting foorth Gods worde For there is no power but of God the powers that be are ordeined of God whosoeuer therefore resisteth power resisteth the ordinance of God but they that resist shall get vnto themselues damnation These are Gods words and not mine Againe as almighty God would that we should neither hurt nor harme his true prophets preachers of his word so Iesus Christ the sonne of God giueth vs a speciall commandement to beware of antichrists prelats calling them false prophets saying Beware of false prophets which come to you in sheeps clothing but inwardly they are rauening wolues Wolues are wrapped in sheepes clothing when tyrants rule in the place of shepheards vnder the titles of holy fathers worshipfull doctours honourable prelats c. These Christ painteth vnto vs by the names of Blinde guides Froward generation Adulterous generatiō Pharises Sadduces Hypocrites Generation of vipers Serpents Adders brood Painted sepulchres Painted wall c. who saith he do binde together heauie burdens and grieuous to be borne and lay them on mens shoulders but they themselues will not heaue at them with one of their fingers All their workes do they for the intent that they may be seene of men Also they goe in long religious apparell they must be had in reuerence and saluted with names and titles of dignity they shut vp the kingdome of heauen before men both by their example and doctrine condemning the iustifying faith for heresie They vse long prayers with lippe labor for lucres sake they be very curious in ceremonies and trifles but in great matters as iudgement mercy and fayth they haue little regard they see quickly a moat in another mans eye but will not looke on the beame in their owne they are great intanglers of mens consciences with meates drinkes holy dayes and mens traditions finally they haue as before hath beene said theyr consciences marked with the hoat yron of burning malice enuy and hatred against all them that loue Gods word forbidding to marry and commanding to abstaine from meats which God hath created to be receiued with giuing thanks of them that beleeue know the trueth These and such like be theyr fruites these be theyr workes ye shall know them sayth Christ by theyr works That those should enter into the Church after that the Gospell was preached by the apostles Paul playnly sheweth saying I am sure of this that after my departing shal grieuous wolues enter in among you not sparing the flocke This is the Church that cannot erre Furthermore that you may the better perceiue know the Church that cannot erre from the Church that cannot but erre you shall vnderstand there be but two wayes The way of the Spirits of truth Faithfull Godly Children of God Members of Christ Holy Catholike Church The way of the Spirits of error Vnfaithfull Vngodly Children of the deuill Members of the deuill Wicked Church of Antichrist Call them by what names you will Christ calleth the one The broad way and the other The narrow vvay saying Enter in at the strait gate for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction and many there be which goe in thereat But strait is the gate and narrovv is
Trulie Trulie as the shadowe followeth the bodie so Christes crosse followeth the holy Catslolique church And as the greater the height of the sunne is the more is the shadow seene so the greater the height of the gospel shinneth by preaching the more manifest is the crosie of Christ who sayth He that loueth father or mother more then me is not worthie of me and hee that loueth sonne or or daughter more then me is not vvorthie of me And he that taketh not his crosse and follovveth me is not vvorthie of me Also if anie man vvill come after me let him deny himselfe and take vp his crosse dayly and follovv mee For vvhosoeuer vvill saue his lyfe shall lose it But vvhosoeuer doth lose his life sot my sake the same shall saue it For vvhosoeuer is ashamed of me and my vvords of him shall the sonne of man be ashamed vvhen he commeth in his maiestie and the maiestie of his father It is vnpossible to sticke vnto the Gospel without the cross without trouble or persecution Paul being witnesse saying All they that vvill liue godly in Christ Iesu shall suffer persecution Of the which crosse and persecution Christ prophecied saying ye shall be hated of all men for my names sake But vnto this in another place he giueth a better coÌ„fort saying If the vvorld hate you you knovve it hated me before it hated you If ye vvere of the vvorld the vvorlde vvould loue hys ovvne Hovvbeit because yee are not of the vvorlde but I haue chose you out of the vvorlde therefore the vvorlde hateth you Remember the vvord that I saide vnto you The seruaunt is not greater them his Lorde if they haue persecuted me they vvill persecute you Seeing the trueth hath spoken these thinges they must needes come to passe Wherefore it now remaineth that all louers of the Gospel and trueth doe patiently sticke vnto the trueth in all their tribulations and call to memorie their maisters first promise and blessing which is written Where he saith Blessed are they that suffer persecution for righteousnes sake for theirs is the kingdome of heauen To suffer for righteousnesse and truthes sake me thinketh must be a signe of the elect of God For they verily y t do liue immofluely in the world and charitably with their neighbours and notwithstanding be hated euill spoken of standered and persecuted of the wicked onely for speaking against sinne and iniquitie and for the Gospels sake haue great cause to ioy in their trouble and persecution as it solloweth Blessed are yee vvhen men shal speake euil of you and persecute you and shal speake all euil against you lying for my sake Reioyce yee and be glad for plenteous is your revvarde in heauen Loe this is the Churche that cannot erre Thus I haue described before your eies both the church of Antichrist which cannot but erre and also the Church of Iesus Christ that cannot erre plainly with their signes and notes Note them therefore circumspectly The church of Antichrist is not stablished vppon the veritie of Gods worde and spirite which is the sure foundation of the holy catholicke Church but vpon a sinful man quia omnis homo mendax because euerieman is a lyer Christes Churche hath one iustifiyng faith which worketh by loue for the which Antichristes Church hath manie faithes as a little faith a smale faith an vnperfect faith a deceiuing fayth a sick faith and a dead faith Dominikes faith Basils fayth Austens faith Bennets faith Bernardes faith Frances faith and Deuils faith All which may enter the wide gates and be admitted into the popes Church and pertaker of his mony sacrifices Where note they be the greater number which thing maketh them bolde to persecute the few and small flocke that entreth the straite gate of fayth and walketh the narrow way of the Gospel which small flock neuer persecuteth For it is against the nature of a lambe to sucke the bloud of a Woolfe It is the propertie of the Woolfe to sucke bloud deuour and persecute The church of Iesus Christ euer suffereth loueth and prayeth for enemies and persecutours Antichriste brood do murmure hate persecute with a filthy conscience Vnto the church of Iesus Christ onely Gods booke is a perfect rule of beliefe life and doctrine in stead whereof Antichrists generation hath many books and rules as holy decrees and decretals fathers coumels holy doctours Festiuale Legenda aurea Austens rule Benets rule Basils rule Bernards rule Dominiks rule Francis rule and now last of all Canterbury tales with a dung-cart sul also of vnwritten verites These haue beene brought in and taught by the spirits of errour the very guides stayes of Antichrists church therfore they could not but erre But the church of Iesus Chrâ—st euery member of the same is gouerned with one spirit of trueth that cannot lie therefore cannot they erre euen with the spirit of Christ the holy ghost vnto whom with the father and the some be all thanks laud praise and glorie Amen Written the eleuenth day of the moneth of Iulie Anno Domini 1550. Esay 28. Church hath diuers significations Church signifieth the place of praier Iudith 6. Church signifiyng the companie of good and bad Numb 20. Church signifiyng the elect of God onely Eccles 3. Ephes 5. Ecclesia signifiyng the mulitiude of the wicked Psalm 26. Esay 3. Math. 21. Iohn 5. Iob. 34. 2. Thess 2. Churche of Antichrist Church of Iesus Christ 2. Cor. 11. Math. 7. 2. Cor. 12. Act. 20. Iohn 14. Iohn 15 16. Luke 24. Act. 2. Iohn 15. Math. 3 17. Deut. 18. Acts. 3. 2. Cor. 6. Gospel Act. 20. Psal 18. Psal 119. Psal 11. Psal 18. Psal 119. Luke 2. Rom. 10. Rom. 1. 1. Cor. 1. Iames. 1. Psal 119. Psal 17. 1. 2. The Church that cannot Futeâ—re Psal 1. Psal 58. Psal 140. Psal 59. Psal 140. salm 81. Psal 4 Psal 6. Psal 14. Psal 26. Luke 6. Leuit. 18. Exod. 20. 2. Thess 2. The man of sinne 1. Tim. 4. The cause why God suffered error to raigne and the wicked to rule The greatest plague of God By lyes the wicked haue entered into the Church By false miracles lying powers the wicked haue increased By force the wicked haue withstood the trueth and set forth their owne doctrine 1. Tim. 4. 2. Tim. 3. 2. Pet. 2. Hipocrisie Hindeth the sillie multitude Math. 24. Sure notes of Antichristes generation Iude 1. The first note of Antichrist The second note of antichrist The third note of antichrist Antichristes badges The finall end of Antichrists iuglinges The fourth note of Antichrist 2. Pet. 2. The thing that blinded the people most The cause why Antichristes prelates will not permit the mariages of priestes If marriage be not a cleane life God is the author of vncleannesse and Christ a bawd Gen. 2. Math. 19. Iohn 2. Vnto God matrimonie is sweete But vnto Antichrist whoredome is holy 1. Cor. 7. Antichristes prelates