euyll lyfe bryngeth to the euyll lyuer eternal death beleue he neuer so wel As S. Paule wituesseth in the. v. chapyter of his Epi stle to the Galathians where he sayth Walk af ter the spirite and fulfyll not the lustes of that fleshe For the flesh lusteth contrary to the spirit and the spirit contrary to the flesh These are cōtrary one to another so that you do not what ye would But and yf ye beled of the spirit then are ye not vnder the law The de des of the fleshe ar manifest which are these aduoutry fornicatiō vnclennes wātonnes ydolatry witchcrafte hatred variaūce 〈◊〉 wrath stryfe sedition sectes enuye murder dronkēnes glotteny and such like of which I tel you before as I haue told you in time past that they which commit suche thinges shal not inherit the kingdō of heuē Thus you perceaue that to the enioying of the death and passion of Chryst these two poyntes are requisit of our behalfe the one to beleue rightlye that other to lyue vpryghtly whych two poyntes no man is able otherwyse to know except it be by speciall reuelation from God but onely by the catholike churche which catholike church oure sauioure Chryste hath appoynted to be the onely scoole for al men to come and repayre vnto to learne such truth as is mete for them to know for the attayning of euerla styng life This catholike church and no other company hath that true vnderstanding of scripture the knowledge of all thinges necessary to saluatiō To this churche Christ maketh promis in that xvi of Thō saying Whē that spirit of truth shal come he shal teache you al truth To this church also he maketh that other promis written in the xxviii of Mathewe where he sayth Behold I am with you to the ende of the world This Catholike church thus gouerned by the holy Ghost assured alwayes of Chryst him selfe neuer yet fayled frō that time of the Apostles hitherto ne shal fail to the worl des ende nether can it be deceued in any necessary truth 〈◊〉 as Chryst promyseth in the. xvi of Mathe we saying That hel gates shal not pre uayle agaynst the churche where by hel gates he meaneth errour as yf he had sayd that the catho lyke churche shall neuer be ouercome with erroure For this cause S. Paule in the third chapter of his first epistle to Timothe calleth the catholike church the piller and ground of truth This catholike churche must in al ages nedes be an open knowen churche and such a companye as among which the trueth is openly preached ells Chryste woulde not haue sayde as it is wrytten in the. v of Mathew A citie that is seton a hyl can not be hid ne ther do men light a candle and putit vnder a bushel but on all cādelsticke and it geueth lyght vnto al that are in the house Wherfore they do great iniury to Chryst which saye that the catholyke church is an vnknowen church seinge it is that citie which our sauiour there mente that candell of which he there speaketh So manye as deuyde them selues frō this open knowen Churche of Chryst and refuse the doctrine thereof thoughe they be neuer so diligent in reading ofscripture yet shall they neuer truely vnderstande scrypture but runne continually farther and farther into errour and ignoraunce cuē as a mā that is once out of his way the farther and faster he goeth furth the more he loseth his labour Saynt Peter therefore in the fyrst Chapter of his secōd epystle geueth vs a most certayne an sure rule which if we folow we shall not fayle ryghtly to vnderstand scripture his rule is thys We haue sayth he A ryght sure word of prophecie wherevnto yf ye take 〈◊〉 as vnto a light that shineth in a darke place you doo wel vntil the day dawne and the daye starre arise in your harts So that you first knowe this that no prophecy in the scripture hath any priuate interpretation For that scrip ture came neuer by the wil of man butholy men of God spake as they were moued by the holy ghost Here you se howe S. Peter willeth euery man fyrst of all to knowe that scripture must be vnderstanded after the generall meaning of Chrystes church and not after the priuate interpretation of any seuerall man or company And in the thyrde chapyter of the same Epystle he sayeth further that in S. Paules epistles are manye thinges harde to he vnderstanded whyche they that are vnlearned vnstable do peruerte as they do also the other scriptures to theyr own destruction ye therefore beloued seing you be 〈◊〉 afore hand beware leaste ye with other men be also plucked a waye through the erroure of the wicked fal from your owne stedfastnesse Lo here S Peter telleth the 〈◊〉 cause why men my svnderstand scrypture which is lacke of knowledge and lacke of constancie when men ether thorowe ignotaunce or thoroughe inconstancie swerue from the catholyke meanyng and folowe priuate interpretation Such men he sayeth do peruerte the scryptures to theyr owne destruction Saynte Paule also wrytynge to Tymothe and willing hym to be earnest in the study of scripture geueth him withal this foresayd rule saying in the very ende of his fyrst epistle O Limothie kepe sure that whiche is committed to thy custody auoide newe fangled termes and bosting of science falsely so called which science whyle some dyd professe they haue erred from the fayth The thinge which S. Paule sayeth was committed to 〈◊〉 custodye was the truth of the catholyk fayth which he sayth some fell from by reasonne of new fangeled termes and by reson aiso that they tooke vpon them knowledg beynge in dede ignoraunte And in the thyrde chapter of hys seconde epistle to Timothie he farther sayeth Contynue thou in that thinges which thou hast learned which also were commytted vnto the. S. I reneus also a blessed martyr and very nyghe to the tyme of the Apostles a man of greate learning and no lesse vertue and such a one as by the consente of all men had the perfyt knowledge and vnderstandynge of scryptures in his third boke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the arche heretyke and in the fowrth chapter of the same boke sayeth touchyng the catholyke churche in this maner We must not seke the trueth among other seing we may easely take it of the church for as much as the Apostels haue fully lefte with it as in a rich tresury all truth the who so listeth may thence take the drinkes of life for this is the entre to life All other are theues and robbers wherfore them must we auoyd that doctryne that the church teacheth we muste loue with great diligence embrace the tradition of the truth For what yf a controuersy shoulde happen to ryse vpon neuer so 〈◊〉 a questiō ought not men in that case to haue recourse to the most auncient churches in which the
iustification and al other benefites which Chryst by hys passion hath meryted and deserued for vs yet neuerthelesse the same be also the workes of the hole Trynitie and be not to be seperated in any wyse although Scripture commonly doth attribute them vnto the holy Ghost For in lyke 〈◊〉 dothe Scrypture artribute power vnto the father and wysdome vnto the sonne whyche neuerthelesse be common vnto all three FINALLY ye shall note the maner of the speache here in thys article where it is not sayde I beleue the Ghost or spirite but it is sayd I beleue in the holy Ghost and so holy is adioined vnto the Gost whiche is done not onely to declare that here is not mente of euery thynge that is or maye be called a spyryte or a Ghost but here is onely ment of that spyryte whyche by excellencye and by peculyer name in Scrypture bothe is and so also called the holy spyryte or Ghoste which is the thyrd person in Trynytie and therefore thoughe manye tymes in Scrypture an incorporall thing is called a spyryte and also both Angels and the myndes of men dyuerse tymes haue that appellation or name yet here aswell for the sayde peculier name as by a certen excellency the sayd thyrd person in trinytie is called the holy spyryte or holy Ghost for he it is that doth make holye or sanctifye all creatures that are called holye ¶ Thexposition or declaration of the ninthe Article of the Crede which is The holy Catholyke Church IN these fewe wordes of this nynthe Article foure thynges are to be considered fyrste what heare is ment by thys worde Churche Secondely whye or for what cause the same Churche is called Holye Thirdely why it is called Catholyke And forthely what it is To beleue the holi Catholike Churche Concernyng the fyrste ye must vnderstande that thoughe in oure Englyshe tonge we by thys worde Churche sometymes do meane the place wherein the word of GOD is commonlye preached and the sacramentes mynistred and vsed yet in this present article it dothe sygnyfye the hole multitude of people which being called of GOD do come to one fayth one doctryne the selfe same Sacramentes accordyng to the Apostolyke and catholyke tradition in an indiui sible bonde or knotte of concorde and vnytie whether the sayde multytude be of the cleargye or of the laytie Concernyng the seconde ye shall consyder that albeit in the sayd church or multitude of people there be many euyll men many synners many that tourne by true penaunce to grace and sometymes yet do fall agayne some after theyr tourne by true penaunce styll perseuer and contynue in goodnes manye also that fall and neuer ryse agayne so that spottes blots and imperfections doo appeare 〈◊〉 in thys Churche and manye tymes in the more parte thereof yet neuerthelesse because the callyng is of it selfe holy the caller also most holy and the ende of callynge holynes it selfe with this 〈◊〉 that the people soo called do prosesse holynes aud make a bodye where of the cheife headde our Sauiour Chryste is mooste holye or rather holynes it selfe by the merytes of whose 〈◊〉 the sayde people are releued and nouryshed with the seuen holy sacramentes and be in theyr callyng endued with moste speciall holy gyftes and gra ces of almyghtye God beynge authoure thereof and fynally by hys holy spyryte are directed and gouerned in the saine so longe as they by folowyng theyr concupyscence the Deuyll or the worlde do not fall from that state For these causes I say the Church is called Holye takyng this name Holye of that that Chryste the highe headde thereof is Holye God the caller Holye The profession and callynge Holye the ende Holynes whych of very dewty ought to be in all them that be called and is in dede ' in suche members as doo continue and perseuer in that holye callyng Touchynge the thyrde ye must vnderstande that thys worde Catholyke being orygynally taken out of the Greke toungue and nowe vsed in oure Englyshe tongue is asmuche to saye as vnyuersall or whole And forasmuch as God of hys goodnes dothe call al people as is afore withoute all acceptyon of 〈◊〉 or acception of Countrye therefore thys Churche is called Catholyke in asmuch as all people of all maner of estates of all places and countryes throughout the hole worlde may professyng the foresayd one fayth one doctrine and the selfe same sacramentes accordyng to the sayd Apostolique and catho lyke tradition be of thys Catholyke churche and cōtynue in the same excepte they wyllyngly by heresy scysme do goo out of it or for other theyr offences be cut of and cast oute thereof And here by the waye is to be noted that althoughe in the worlde ther be manye particuler Churches and seuerall multytudes of people hauing the sayd fayth the sayd doctryne and the selfe same Sacramentes accordynge to the sayde tradition and therefore are commonlye called euerye one of them catholyke yet they all together make but one catholyke vniuersall Churche of whyche one catholyke vniuersall Churche al the rest be called catholyke as beynge partakers and members of the sayd one catholyke vniuersall Church and fully agreing in al necessary poyntes with the same And nowe as concernyng the fourth whyche is What it is To beleue the Catholyke Churche Ye shal vnderstand that to beleue the Catholyke Churche is not onelye to beleue that here in earthe is and shal be continually to th end of the worlde such a holy catholyke Churche as before is declared commonly called the Church Mylytante but also to gyue credyte and beleife vnto the whole Doctryne fayth and religyon of the sayd Church And for the farther vnderstanding of thys whole article here maye moost frutefully and verye well to the purpose be brought in one most notable place of S Augustyne wryten vpon this same article of the Crede in his clxxxi sermon de tempore where he sayeth in thys maner Sciendum est quod Ecclcsiam credere non tamen in Ecclesiam credere debemus qui Ecclesia non Deus sed domus dei est Catholicam dicit toto orbe diffusam quia diuer sorūhaereticorum ecclesic idio catholicae non dicuntur quio per loca atque per suas quasque prouincias cantinentur Haec uero a solis ortu usque adoccasum unius fidei splendore diffūditur Nullasunt maiores diuitiae nulli the sauri nulli honores nullae huius mundi maior substantia quam est cacholicafides quae peccatores homines saluat saecos illuminat infirmos curat Cate chuminos baptizat fideles iustificat poenitentis reparat iustos augmentat martyris coronat clericos ordinat sacerdotes consecrat regnis celestibus preparat in aeterna haereditate cum Angelis sanctis communicat Quisquis ille est 〈◊〉 ille est Cristianus nonest qui in Christi Ecclesia non est Solaquippe est perquam sacrificium dominus libentur accipiat sola quae pro errantibus fiducia
liter intercedat Vnde etiam de agni hostia dominus praecepit dicens 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Domo commeditls necefferetis de carnibus eius 〈◊〉 In unanāque domo agnus come ditur quia in una Catholica ecclesia uera hostia redēptoris immo latur De cuius carnibus diuinaiussio efferriforas prehibet quia dari sanctū canibus uetat Sola est in qua opus bonum fructuose peragitur unde merre dē de narū non nisi qui intra uine ā laborauerūt acceperūt Sola est quae in ra se positos uaelid a charitatis cōpage custodit unde aqua diluuii arcā quidē ad sublimiora sustulie omnes autem quos extro arcam inuenit extinxit Sola est in qua mysteria superna ueraciter contemplemur Vnde ad Moyses Dominus dicit Estlocus apud me stabis suprapetram 〈◊〉 Paulo post tol lammanum mean uidebit posteriora mea Quia enim cx sola catholica Ecclesia ucritas conspicitur apud se esse locum Dominus perbibet de quo ui 〈◊〉 in petra Moyses ponitur ut Deispeciē contempletur quia nisi quii fidei soliditatem tenuerit 〈◊〉 presentam non agnoscit Auelle inquit radium solis a corpore diuisionem lucis unitas non capit Frange 〈◊〉 ab arbore fractus germinare non poterit A fonte praecide riuum praecisus as rescit In his Cipriani uerbis intelligimus lucem non capere diuisionem nisi in sanctis regno Dei praedestinatis qui diuidi ab Ecclesia nullo modo possunt 〈◊〉 non germinare ramum sructum salutis 〈◊〉 germine accipimus Ariditatem uero riui a fonte praecisi in co quod spiritu sancto 〈◊〉 qui 〈◊〉 unitate seperantur 〈◊〉 That is to say We ought to beleue the churche and not in the churche for the churche is not God but the house of god Thys churche he calleth catholyke that is to saye spredde thoroughout the whole worlde because the churches of sundrye heretikes be ynge but in perticuler places and prouinces can in no wyse be called catholyke But thys church from the East to the West glyttereth and 〈◊〉 with the brightnes of one fayth No greater ryches no greater treasures no higher honours no greater substance can be in thys worlde that is the catholyke faythe which saueth synners gyueth syghte to the blynd doth heal the sycke maketh yonglinges to be baptised iustifyeth the faythfull restoreth penitent synners encreseth righteous men crowneth martyres doeth admitte clerkes to orders doth consecrat preistes maketh preparation to the kyngdome of heauen and makethe men partakers of the euerlastynge enheritaunce with the holye Angels Who so euer he be and of what qualitie or condytion soeuer he be he that is not in thys churche of Christ is no Chrysten man for this church is she onely by whome our Lorde willingly receyueth sacrifice she onely it is whyche maye confidently make intercession for suche as do erre Wherefore oure Lorde speakynge of the sacrifyce of the lambe did commaund 〈◊〉 In one house shall ye eate and of the fleshe thereof ye shall cary nothyng out of the dores forsoth in one house is this lambe eaten for asmuche as in one catholyke churche the true sacrifice of oure redemer is offered Of whose fleshe the commoundemēt of God forbiddeth any thing to be caried oute for that he forbid deth that whych is holye to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 dogges She onelye it is in whome a good worke is done frutefullye for whiche cause onely they that laboured wythin the vyne yarde hadde the rewarde of the pennye She only it is that al such as ar once placed in her doth kepe together with a stronge ioynte or knotte of charitie Wherefore the water of the floude bare vppe the arke to the 〈◊〉 but all suche as were founde withoute the same arcke it drowned She onely it is in whome we do beholde truely the heauenly misteries Wherefore oure Lorde sayeth vnto Moyses Exod .xxxiii. There is a place with or byme and thou shalt stand vpon the rocke c. and by and by after he saieth I will take awaye my hande and thou shalt se my backe part And because in dede out of this catholyke church alone the truth is sene our Lorde sayeth a place to be wyth him frō whych he may be sene Moyses is sette vpon the rocke that he maye beholde the forme of God for onles a man haue and hold the stedy substanciales of faith he knoweth not the dyuine presence Take away sayth he meanyng S. Cyprian the beame of the sonne from the body of the sonne the vnitie of the lyght can not suffer no diuision breake a boughe from the tree the bough so broken can florishe and budde no more cut of the riuer frō the spring the ryuer so cut of dryeth vp In these wordes of Cypryan we perceyue that lyght doth not admytte any diuision in the sayntes predestinate to the Kyngedome of God which can by no meanes be deuided frome the Churche and that the bough broken of can not budde with a budde of euerlastyng saluation And fynally we knowe the drying vp of the riuer beinge cutte of from the sprynge or heade in that they are made voyde of the holye ghoste whych are seperate frō the vnitie Thus muche sayeth S. Augustyne wherby it appeareth that though we muste beleue in God the father in God the sonne and in God the holy Ghost as was declared here afore vnto you in the expositiō of the first artycle of this crede yet concernynge the Catholique Churche we must beleue it That is to saye geue credite to it but not to beleue in it for to beleue in it were to make it God as more at large shal be declared in some Homelies hereafter specially to be made thervpon also by what sygnes tokens the true Catholyke churche is continually knowen And forasmuch as this catholyke militant church of which this article entreateth hath for the preseruation of the vnitie thereof by the ordinaunce and appoyntment of our sauiour Chryst one principall head or cheife gouernour here vpon earth whiche beynge the chief vycar and substitute of Chryst in hys sayde church doth and ought with other ministers vnder him attende and geue heade to the good order and rule of the said militant churche S. Peter the Apostle being the firste generall vycar aud gouernoure therein and hauing to hym and to all his lawful successours iu the Apostolique see the gouernaunce rule and charge thereof cheifelye committed and geuen whych in very dede both he and they by the continuall helpe and assistaunce of the holye spyryte of God from tyme to tyme in theyr succession alwaies hither to haue done and thereby haue preserued and kepte the vnitie of the sayde churche therefore all they whiche haue or do refuse to acknowledge the said gouernoure gouernement and aucthoritie can not in anye wyse be accompted or taken for catholyke persones but for suche as in dede
dyd kepe in fygure for then shal be our true rest when the resurrection shall be done and perfecte rewarde in bodye and soule together therefore brethren lette vs obserue or kepe the sondaye or daye of our Lorde and let vs sanctifye it as it was commaunded vnto thē of the olde tyme concernynge the Sabbot the lawe maker saying Exodi 20 From euenyng to euenynge you shall celebrate youre Sabbottes Let vs marke or see that oure reste by not vayne or frutlesse but that we beinge fequestred or separated frome all rurall workes and frome all busynes doo from the euenynge of the Saturdaye vntill the eueninge of the Sondaye gyue our selues to dyuyne seruyce onelye and after such sorte we do duly or well satysfye the Sabbote of oure Lorde Oure lorde saying Ye shall do no worke in it Therefore let euery one to whome it is possible come to the euensonge and noctunall seruyce and let hym there in the assemblye of the churche praye to God for hys synnes and he that canne not thys do let hym at the leaste praye in hys house and let hym not neglecte to perfourme hys vow and to yelde the dew or taske of hys seruyce vnto God And in the daye lette none separate or absente hymselfe from the holy celebration of Masses nor let any remayne idle at home whē other doo go to the churches nor occupye 〈◊〉 in huntynge and be bounden or thrall to a 〈◊〉 she offyce wanderynge or goyng about the fylde woddes lyftynge vp or exalting wyth hys mouth crieng or shotynge and 〈◊〉 loude laughynge and not vtterynge from 〈◊〉 bottome of his harte vnto God sighinge and wordes of prayer Moreouer yet some whych is more detestable comminge to the churche doo not occupye or gyue them selues to contynuall prayer nor wyth silence do tary out the holye celebra tion of Masses but whyle dyuyne lessones are redde within the churche they than withoute doo applye or set theyr myndes to pleade causes or with sondrye false accusatyōs or sclaunderes to pycke quareles or forsoth at the dice or vnprofytable games or sportes to sweare lustlye And some tymes also which yet is worse wyth ouermuch wrath are set on fyre most bytterly doo chide or braule insomuch that they assault or lay at one an other with weapōs or clubbes And often tymes doo commytte murther And thys thing is moste of all commytted or done of those who beyng replenyshed with enuy and hatred the 〈◊〉 beyng there guyde do goo to the assembly of the churche not for to helpe thē selues but to hurte or endamage other Suche in dede yf they by murder ther do peryshe or be taken awaye by sodayne deathe whyther do they goo els but with hym whose stepes they haue folow ed into euerlastyng tormentes Do ye not these thynges my brether doo not deceiue youre selues do not in youre assembly or commyng together gyue place vnto the deuyll but rathere prepare youre selues to be a ledginge or dwellynge place to Chryste do not you therefore gyue youre selues wythout the church to 〈◊〉 but wtin it geue your selues to psalmody prayers Doo not bable or talke to gither in the churche but be ye styll or quyet for there are verye manye and speciallye many women which doo so chatte in the churche and doo so bable that neyther they them selues doo heare the dyuyne lessones or seruyce nor yet suffer other to heare Ought such commyng together with such an order be in the house of God Or is it so decente to stande or be present in the syghte of God and holye Aungeles Besydes thys also whych is greatly to be lamented I wyl with you cōplayne that there are some and specially the great or myghty men of thys worlde Who whan they come to the churche they are not deuoute or gyuen to celebrate the prayses of God but constraine the preyst to make shorte the masse and to synge accordynge to theyr luste or pleasure neyther can he followe the ecclesyasticall maner or trade for theyr glotteny and couetuousnes that one moment of the daye myght vnto the seruyce of God and al the reste of the daye wyth the nyght be appoynted to theyr pleasures Doo not these thinges my most derely beloued bretherē do not consente to the doers of the same for not ouelye they that do these thynges but they also whych consent to the doers shall peryshe Wherefore aboue all other thynges Do you not vpon the festiuall dayes pleade nor here causes but at an other tyme and that wyth iustyce nor do you not wyth receyuyng gyftes subuerte iuste iudgementes for accordyng vnto the saying of our lorde with what iudgmēt ye shall iudge other shal be iudged of you Let none of you drynke hym selfe drounkē for the dronkard is most lyke to the mad man do you not by drinkyng among men put youre names out of heauen There are verylye many whych is worse who not onelye doo drynke them selues dronke but also constrayne and adiure other to drynke more than is expediente and thereof manye tymes emongest them doo ryse brawlynges and manslaughter Doo you not consyder brethren whose wyll these men herein do folowe for dronkardes and manquel lers sayeth the apostle in the fyrste epystle to the Corinthians the sirt chapiter shall not possesse the kyngedome of heauen I beseche you moste derelye beloued fathers and Mothers Brethren and Systeres by the name of oure Lorde Iesus Chryste and by hys kingdome and iudgemente to come that you wyll withdrawe yourselues from euerye man walkynge mordinatelye and that you walke worthy of the vocation with which you are called and that you neg lecte not your honor nor litle esteme the redemptyon whych is in Chryste Iesus Ye are called the children of God because the true sonne of God hath delyuered you Study you to please with good maner soo great or myghtye aparent that he doo not delyuer you as moste wicked seruauntes to perpetual payne but as moste derely beloued chyldren do brynge you to the heauenlye countrye aboue that ye may be coheritours with his sonne Iesus Chryst wyth whom he lyueth and reigneth God in the 〈◊〉 of the holye Ghoste for euer and euer Amen Nowe leauynge here Saynt Augustyne who of trouth in thys matter doth almost twelue hundreth yeare ago speake of suche sorte that he maye be sene eyther to haue had as noughtye ordered persones in hys tyme as we haue nowe in our dayes eyther ells by spyryte of prophecye to haue sene oure tymes and doynges Let vs retourne agayne to oure processe and let vs by scrypture declare howe the. vii daye of the weke is peculyar and specially appoynted vnto rest therefore called the Sabbote for profe wherof ye shall fyrste haue the seconde chapyter of 〈◊〉 where it is euident that God dyd blysse the seuenth daye and sanctyfye it Secondlye ye shall haue for thys purpose the. xvi chapyter of Exodus where we doorede that the rest or quyetnes of oure Sabbotte is sanctyfyed
euerye one hath deliuered the fayth that they from the Apostles haue receaued and so euen from Chryste to this presente daye one fayth hath euer stande stedfaste Whiche thoughe it hath sundry tymes bene assayde and sore pynched yet euer hath it preuailed at the last and had the vp per hande accordynge to Christes promise neyther ought anye man lesse to credyt the catholike church because there are in the same dyuers euyll wicked synners For Christ him selfe doth compare the churche to a nette cast into the sea whiche taketh both good and bad fyshes but at th ende the good shal be reserued and the euyll cast awaye Was not twelue chosen by Christe yet one of them he calleth a deuyll Doth not Christe allo saye that Scribes and Phariseis doo syt in Moyses chayre neuerthelesse he wuld the people should obey theyr lessones Euen so though some members of Christes catholyke churche doo not lyue accordynge to theyr vocatyon yet ought no man therefore the lesse to regarde the fayth and doctryne of the same churche These thynges good people thoughe they are suffi cient to declare the holye Churche what it is and how it may be knowen yet I besech you most diligently to note and cary awaye one rule which shall neuer deceaue you but is a sure tryall of the ca tholyke churche and the fayth thereof This rule is not myne but taken out of a learned auncient and ryght godly father in Chrystes Churche He sayeth There are thre meanes to trye a churche or doctrine the first is antiquitie the second is vniuersalitie the third is vnitie By the fyrste we are taught that a true doctrine must be knowē by that it is not lately spronge vp or rysen but commeth from Chryst and his apostles and hath cōtynued styll in the churche By the seconde we maye vnderstande that a true faythe or doctryne of the churche is that onelye whiche vniuersallye in all countryes hath ben taught beleued By the thyrde we ought to learne that a true doctryne or faith of the church doth always agree and is alwaies one Nowe those three thinges wel noted may instruct and teach any Christian man to knowe the catholyke churche whiche euersynce the Apostles tyme and in all countryes with one consent in al things concerning our faith hath shewed her selfe the wor thy spouse of Chryst. Contrary wise false doctryne and heresye euerhath doone and shall doo to the worldes ende 〈◊〉 arise 〈◊〉 in priuate cor ners neuer agre with it selfe Which thyngs I myghte easely at large proue and open to you by playne and manifest demonstratiō But because 〈◊〉 the next homelie I intende to speake of the auctho citie of the churche and also of the commoditie and profite that we haue by the same here I wil make an ende besechyng al you good and godly people to geue your bodyes and soules an humble holy sacrifyce to almyghtye God prayinge euermore that we maye be altogether lyuely members of our sauioure Iesus Chryst and of hys catholike church here vpon earth and after this life partakers of the ioyfull kyngdome of heauen through the same our 〈◊〉 Iesus Christ to whom with the father and the holy ghost be all honour and glory world without ende Amen H Pendilton sacrae theologiae professoris ¶ An homely of the aucthoritie of the chutche declaryng what commoditie and profyt we haue thereby LYkewise as in the last homelye it was declared to you good chrysten people what the church is and how it maye be knowen soo nowe ye shall learne the aucthoritie of the same catholike church and the commoditie or profyt that ensueth to vs all beyng members of the same churche Fyrste whan our sauioure Iesus Chryst did send forth the twelue apostles to preach who were and are the cheite and principal pyllers of this catholyke church he dyd geue to them great power and aucthoritie as saynt Mathew beareth wytnes saying Iesus dyd call together the twelue disciples and gaue to them power ouer vncleane spirites that they should cast them out and shoulde heale al maner of diseases and infirmities And sundry tymes we do rede in the holy Gospell that our Sauiour Chryst doth speke to his Apostles after this maner Qui uos 〈◊〉 me audit qui uos spernit me 〈◊〉 That is to say He that heareth you hereth me and he that dispiseth you doth dispise me Meanyng and wyllyng thereby that all the worlde should knowe and confesse the aucthoritie of the catholike church which Christ him selfe dyd buyld in and vpon these hys holy Apostles And to the same purpose he sayd to thē I am non dicam uos seruus sed amicos c. That is to sai Nowe I wyll no more call you seruaunts but frendes for al thinges that I haue herd of my father I haue declared to you And agayne he sayeth As my father sente me euen so I send you By these and many such other places we maye see that our louyng 〈◊〉 did giue greate aucthoritie to his apostles But nowe it is expedient and nedefull to declare in what specyall poyntes this aucthoritie doth consist and that the same aucthoritie was not onely geuen to the Apostles of Chryst but also to theyr 〈◊〉 in the catholyke churche euer to endure Which aucthoritie though it be greate and manyfolde yet these are the chefest partes thereof that 〈◊〉 doo folowe Fyrste almyghtye God hath geuen power and aucthoritie to the catholike church to haue the true sense and vnderstandyng of the holy Scrypture yea and to approue also or reproue al writing as Scripture or no Scripture Whiche thynge good christen people you may well vnderstande to be moost true yf ye call to remembraunce who is the guyde and gouernour of the church that is to wit the holy Ghost as Chryst dyd promyse saying Ego rogabo patrem et alium paraclitum dabit vobis vt maneat 〈◊〉 ineternum that is to saye I wyll aske my father and he wyll giue to you an other comforter that he maye a byde with you for euer And after that our lorde and sauiour had rysen frō death he dyd breathe vpon hys Apostles and sayde A ccipite spiritum sanctum Take you the holy ghost and also after hys ascention into heauen accordynge to hys merciful promise he did send downe the holy Ghost vpon his Apostles as sayncte Luke writeth Nowe that the holy ghoste was not geuen to the Apostles onely but also to the catholyke churche to the worldes ende it is manifest forasmuche as Chryste dyd promyse the conforter vt maneat uobiscum ineternum That he should abyde sayeth he with you for euer Nowe we are moost 〈◊〉 that the Apostles of Chryste dyd suffer deathe for the faythe of Chryste and that within fewe yeres after they thus had receyued the holy ghoste Neuertheles Christ sending furthe hys Apostles to preache and baptyze