might be obteyned with al that the B. of R. is the head the vniuersall bishop of all the churche as he that being successour of Petre the prīce of the apostles Christes vicare hath his sea in the principall churche And bycause this so ambicious and lickepeny lieng glose shoulde not lacke his countrefait colour these arrogaunt sawcy helhoūdes haue brought furth places of scripture violentlye wretchedly wrasted for their purpose And where as we reade that Christe sayd to Petre whan he confessed him to be the sonne of God Thou art Petre and vpon this rocke will I buylde my churche They sayde Christes wordes are thus to be vnderstanden that Christ made Petre the foundacion of hys churche and that al churches are bounden therfore of duetie to be vnder the obedience of Petres successour the B. of Rome Againe wher the Lorde saithe Petre fede my shepe these men haue expounded this worde fede so that they wold nedes haue the autoritie and supremacie of all bishoppes and churches geuen to the B. of Rome as vnto Petres successour They haue also violently wrasted this vnto the same purpose the Christ speaking of the keyes sayth What so euer thow shalt bynde in earthe shal be boūden in heauen and what so euer thow shalt lose on earthe shal be losed in heauen For they saide whom so euer either the B. of Rome him self or any other sacrificeing priest being consecrated by the B. of Romes autoritie assoiled was losed and ridde from the bondes of synnes and contrary wise that vnto whom so euer that maner of absolucion was denyed he was bounden still in the cheynes of synne and in the state of damnacion These toyes I saye and infinite other haue the subtil sleighty marchauntes beaten in to the eares and heartes of the common simple sorte And as sone as these maters beganne once to growe in to credence men beganne also to taste of the B. of Romes power and tirannye For if any mā hade so good a stomacke that he durst set his fote either against the B. of Rome or his he was straightwaies knocked in the head with the thonderbolt of excommunicacion and reputed of all men for a damned and an vndone man and thus the mater growed so farre furthe that euen most mighty emperours began to be afraide of the B. of Romes power For they spared not emperours but shotte of their ordinaunce at them also and commaunded straitly vnder great paynes that no mā should obey those emperours that were excommunicate as it is to see in the chronicles of the greke emperours by the vnworthy falles of the emperours Hēry ye. 4 5. Lewis ye. 4. Friderike ye. 1. 2. And doubtles albeit they did with al diligēt forsight resiste the wicked tirānie of the bishoppes of Rome entred Italie sondry tymes with roiall strong armies droue their enemies the bishoppes of Rome out of the title set others in their rowmes yet all their trauailes were vayne to no purpose nother were they hable to twytche awaye so muche as one heare of the bishoppes cruel violēce nor to pul it vnder any whitte at all For as sone as their backs were once turned departed Italie the bishoppes of Rome came in to the citie again occupied their lost tirannye afreshe and with the thonderclappes of their curse they made the Emperours fayne to be obedient vnto them And the only cause of this mischief was that the B. of Rome was not yet dead in mennes consciences bicause they beleued that he was Christes vicare hade power to lose bynde yea power ouer heauē hel to Therfore the streinght power of emperours was neuer hable to preuaile or bring any thing to passe against the craftye doiges force of the bishoppes of Rome For although emperours thē selues other of their courtes householdes espied the romishe fraudes deceueable wiles wel ynough yet the vulgare people being ignoraūt of al that thought that the B. of Romes decrees ought to be honoured as the lawes of God and bicause they dradde the thonderclappes of his curse as though they hade ben the fearfull sentences of the iudgemēt of God they wold nother meddle nor be of counsail with suche as they sawe knocked downe with the laitbolte of excommunicacion And this the bishoppes of Rome could the easylier bring to passe bicause ther were bishoppes and doctours of churches scatred throughout al the coastes of christendom which set furthe the autoritie of the churche of Rome for apostolike and godly But now let vs speake also of such maters as haue chaūced in our tyme that we maye see how Paul the Apostles prophecie is fulfilled at this daye At such tyme as it pleased God our heauenly and mercifull boūteous father to set his people at libertie which had ben long holden in bondage and to brydle Antichristes tirānie he chosed the small vesselles and such as were of no reputaciō to cōfoūde by thē those thinges that semed most mightie inuincible For two or thre faithful doctours ministres of churches being enlumined with the spirit of God whan they were growne to more perfite knowlage of the scriptures vttred openly the breathe of the Lordes mouthe that is to saye the worde of God and weaponed many a one with the same sharpe strong sweord Thā whā men hade once goten that weapon in their handes to kepe their heades against the craftye wiles of the false prophetes they began to acknowlage Iesus Christ and to beleue that he is the only head of his churche the chief priest and king the sufficient sacrifice for the synnes of the worlde and the only mediatour and aduocate wyth the heauenly father yea and such a one that is neuer absent from his churche and nedeth not the seruice of any vicare in his rowme And in dede the knowlage of these maters dothe also reproue the lies and legier demayne of the B. of Rome to the intēt they might see on the other parte that he is nother the head of the churche nor the high priest and king muche lesse the vicare of Christ our saueour They haue moreouer learned that the Masse is no sacrifice for synnes nor the popishe absolucion is of any autoritie Furthermore those places of scripture which the bishoppes of Rome like most shameles helhoundes hade violētly wickedly and sawcely wrasted were plainly opened in their owne true meanyng whan the light of the truthe was laide to them And out of those places men learned that Petre is not the rocke it self but that he hade his denominacion of Petra that is the rocke whiche he confessed Christ is the Rocke and not Petre. and so they acknowlaged that Christ is the rocke which is the only foundacion of the churche wherupon the churche of faithfull people being surely buylt can not swarue 1. Cor. 3. Men haue learned also that the office of feding signifieth not an empire or a kingdome but
libertie In this behalfe therfore God the father of heauen seing their licenciousnesse to be bothe intolerable and incurable hathe chosen aparte some of the nombre of his ministres and hathe enlumined them wyth the lyght and shynyng beames of his spirite that knowyng the Popes tyrannye and wicked lordlynesse haue also throughlye perceaued the truthe of Goddes worde These men haue layed their haÌ„des to worke and brought light into the worlde that tuÌ„bleth in darkenesse haue reproued openly the cruel and horrible abominacions of the papacie admonishing euery body to beware of theÌ„ By meanes wherof that sea hath felt exceding great losse and where as no power of emperours was hable hitherto to dryue it to a downefall nowe beyng a great parte dyminished in it selfe and in his membres bothe in his honour and rychesse it beginneth euen already to come to nought For froÌ„ hencefurth the Germaines whome this light shone furst vnto wolde not renne gadding to Rome ther seke soule helth seing they knew Christ Iesus to be the true way of saluacion And they haue no mynde to buye Romishe pardones and bulles with money seyng they vnderstode that synnes are forgeuen by Christ that men are certified by faithe of the forgeuenesse therof What nede many wordes That most gayneful fornace of the popes pikepurce Purgatorie is quenched out with the lyuely waters of the Gospel amoÌ„g the Germaynes and al the battefowling tooles knackes of the sea of Rome are despeched quyte out of the waye Hereof those most holy fathers haue complayned in euery place And where as before they turned the deafe eare to other mennes complaintes nowe they beginne to coÌ„playne them selues with faire flattering wordes most large ê“mises and muche feyned holynesse they haue gone about to bring them that are instructed in the doctrine of the truthe and haue renounced papistrie vnder the yowke of their tyrannie agayne But whan they preuailed nothyng for all their craftes by and by they besought ayde of Emperours Kinges Princes cities and people they begonne to arme them agaynst the professours of the truthe whome they crye out on and saye they folowe a newe and an hereticall religion In this case therfore the Magistrates beyng stered vp by the popes incensementes begonne violently to rage with force of armes against the faithfull seruauntes of Christ And than a man myght haue sene them that confessed Christ to be the onlye waye of saluacion burned wyth cruell fyre hanged vpon galowes choked in waters slayne wyth sweorde and murthered wyth al kyndes of deathe Yea the mater came to so merciles a crueltie that they spared none nother man nor woman yonge nor olde And yet those noble rutterkines of the churche dyd more cruell feates than these for they enticed princes and people whome so euer they coulde for money to stere vp warres amonge them selues and to extinguishe the religion that is contrary to them wyth sweorde and fyre So that hangmen were sent out of these parties and raunged about here and there to murthre the ministers of the worde by what meane so euer they coulde And they founde and toke vp burners whom they hyred priuely to thrust vnder fyre so to spoile bothe the faythfull christianes and their cities and fieldes And yet this read purpled churche embrewed with the blood of sayntes not satisfied with all these as wicked cruell dedes as they were ceassed not before they perceaued these haynous and bloody warres brought vpon sely sorowful Germanye stered vp all them that they trusted to make batail against it Bring vs out here the frutes of charitie O you bishoppes Shewe here som special token of christen gentilnesse O you pope pleasing slaues Is it the office of charitie to murdre men whoÌ„ Christ hathe redemed with his blood to spoile cities to waste fieldes to marre corne to defile matrones and maideÌ„s and finally to renne rageing after al kyndes of iniuries and reproches with sweorde and fire vpon all ages man woman and childe But they are heretikes saye they and no true christen people that we persecute And the chaste spouse of Christ the churche is by these heretikes most impudently defiled and also the seameles coate of our saueour Iesu is by their rashenesse and false doctrines miserably torne and rent in pieces which we goo about to amende and repaire agayne Ha will you nedes be bothe most bloody tirannes and most shameles lyers to you cruell blood thirstye wolues what adoo haue you to speake of Christes coate For by you it was cutte in pieces and marred all ready a great while agoo yea and by most wicked loctecasting as it was before tyme among the souldiours of the Iewes it cam in to most filthie mennes handelinges Therfore you are not sory for tearing of Christes coate but it greueth you that the vaile of wickednesse and the clooke of impietie is through the preaching of the gospel cut in pieces which you being couered withal haue continually hitherto practiced al kynde of wickednesse and beasly lust without correction It greueth your hartes that the sackes are open and torne which you haue hitherto hidden the true Ioseph Iesus Christes cuppe and all other your church robberies in Now your sleightie shiftes are open your lies are open your false deceates are open nowe is your more than the Sicilianes tyrannye open and abhorred of all men Your tyrannye was the toole with the which you raged together by heapes not only against mennes bodies but against their soules also It is the commyng of this gaire to the open light that greueth you hereof cometh your lamenting this is the cause of your sorowe taking For as touching the horrible cryme of heresie which is alwaies in your mouthe which of our sorte is it I beseche you that you coulde coÌ„uince haue you yet hitherto proued any of them an heretike They are heretikes that make who is an heretike new articles of the faithe contrary to the truthe of the scripture and doo stiffely mayntene them This cryme is most farre from vs. For ther is none of the articles of the apostolike faithe and Crede that we denye And moreouer we deuise no newe ones we chaunge none wrongfullye we nother take from nor put to any thyng touchyng any of them But suche masking visours you hade nede of to bryng the doctrine of the truthe and of the true faythe in to hate and contempt wyth the simple and rude common people by meanes of this horrible and slaunderous reporte of vs to be heretikes But yf ye loued the churche of Christ so muche as you boaste in wordes to doo yf you cared so muche for the noble and most valeaunt nacion of the Germaynes truely you testifye this your loue and care wyth moste vniuste and most vnworthy behaueours in that you visite it wyth abominable force of armes and moste cruell haynous enemies procured out of euery countrey Did Christe our Lorde entreprise to trayne the worlde to his lore by
Senacherib king of the Assirianes and the most wofull ende of many suche tirannes as they were Now let these suffice to be spoken in the fourth place concernyng Antichristes workes and practices Wherby it appeareth most manifestly as it dothe by the other sayenges that are meÌ„cioned before that the B. of Rome is that notable and mightie houge Antichrist whom God wold haue reuealed in the oracles of his worde by Daniel and the rest of the prophetes Now therfore let vs passe ouer vnto the fifthe special poiÌ„t of that we 5. Antichristes weapones haue in hande that we maye considre with what weapones Antichrist shal obteyne enlarge mayntene his kingdom And these it is necessary for vs to haue skilful knowlage of that we maye the more handsomly beware of them and arme our selues the more strongly against his tirannie For as in feates of warre it is a good piece of the victorie if a man can knowe his enemies weapons put by the strokes euen so the same is specially requisite for vs in this sore fraye of Christ our king And as for the hole furniture and all the weapones wherwith Antichrist dothe bothe defende him self make batail against other the apostle Paule in his seconde epistle to the Thessalonianes comprehendeth them all in fewe wordes sayeng that Antichrist shall come after the working of sataÌ„ with all power and with lyeng signes and wondres and with all deceaueablenesse of vnrighteousnesse In these wordes we must note brethren that the apostle saithe all Antichristes power al his streynght and all his weapones shal be deuillishe so that he teacheth vs that Antichrist shall ordre all his affaires after the working of sathan Therfore if we marke what kynde a thing the what the power of Sathan is power of sathan is we shall also most perfitly perceaue what Antichristes streynght and weapones be And albeit Paules wordes might suffice to make this mater playne yet let vs hear Christ the eternal wisdoÌ„ of God the father speake which talketh thus of sathan the prince of the worlde He was a murtherour from the begynnyng Io. 8. and stode not in the truthe for the truthe is not in him Whan he speaketh a lye he speaketh of his owne for he is a lyer and the father of lies Christ here comprehendeth all the streynght and all the weapones of the deuile in two kyndes murther lyeng By this worde Lyes he vnderstandeth Lieng al that is contrarie to the truthe and also his sleightes his giles his false fraudes and deceaueablenesse aswell in wordes dedes as in miracles doctrine And this terme Murther coÌ„teyneth al wrongful violeÌ„ce Murther al temerarious atteÌ„ptates al the force al the tirannie and all the power that men are violeÌ„tly pressed withal And that these haue ben alwaies that deuilles tooles weapones it is manifest by many examples sence the begynnyng of the worlde For thus he deceaued our furst pareÌ„tes with false ê“mises robbed them of paradise of their blessed state asmuche as in him laye he spoiled theÌ„ also of euerlasting life And afterwarde through murther he made warre bi their furst begoteÌ„ soÌ„ne Cayn against true religioÌ„ the folowers therof euer sithence he hathe shewed him self such a one as his furst frutes hade shewed that he wolde be Now seing the holy goost reporteth that Antichrist shal be armed with the deuilles weapons LyeÌ„g and murther it standeth vs in hande to trye these also to be in the B. of Rome whom scripture they haue for their trinkettes they are not ashamed to saye that they lacke that but they rather heape lies vpon lies and bring out a certain new lyeÌ„g blasphemous glose Tushe saye they al is not coÌ„teined in that scriptures that is necessary for man to obteyne saluacion by As for the autoritie of the holy goost they are not afraide of it which making answer to their blasphemous sayeng speaketh by the apostle S. Paule in plaine wordes All scripture geuen by inspiracion 2. Timo. 3. of God is profitable to teache to reproue to amende and to informe in righteousnesse that the man of God may be hole or perfite prepared to all good workes What can be spoken more clearely more pithily more euideÌ„tly thaÌ„ these wordes be The apostle Paule the chosen instrument of God being endued with the spirit of Christ saieth that all the scripture is inspired of God and that therfore it is profitable and effectuall not only to teache to monishe and amende but to this vse that also the man of God may be hole perfite and fitte to doo all thing that God iudgeth to be good is good in dede Howbeit those most shameles and most lyeng deceauours without reuerence to the autoritie of these wordes wher they dare not denye but the scripture is inspired of God yet they saye it is vnperfite and prate that all thinges are not conteyned in the scripture that man hathe nede of to saluacion and to religion And is God vnperfite O shameles impudencie Shall we cal that vnperfite which is set furth by god through the spirit of truthe and thinke that perfite and absolute which was inueÌ„ted by the rashe reason of man But Note well Paules wordes teache vs a greater mater yet thaÌ„ al this For if the scriptures make a man perfite fitte vnto all good workes than can it not be a good worke that is required hauing Good workes non autoritie of the scriptures to beare it therfore they shall neuer worthily be called good workes which they require besides the autoritte of the scriptures Let these vayne helhoundes lose and ridde them selues out of this knotte if they can But they must nedes fight with lyes the very owne propre weapons of satan that in thus speaking they may both plucke the vnlearned rude coÌ„mon people from the truthe of the scriptures and also to tye them to the licke peny tradicions of mennes deuising Yet to vttre them selues more openly they doo not only set vp these kinde of lies but also they fight with false tokens and lyeng woÌ„ders wherof Paule maketh mencioÌ„ here Christ hath biddeÌ„ vs to beware of theÌ„ For who is it that knoweth not the endles heape of tokens that flyering friers muÌ„myng massepriestes were wont to prate openly of in the papacie For somtyme they feyne that soules appeare make mone vnto them somtyme they declare miracles wrought by ymages somtyme they preache of wonders wrought by the bread God of the aultare infinit suche other trickes they ymagine dayly wherby they maye the more easily cheoppe men downe into the kyngdome of darkenesse hold theÌ„ downe surely whaÌ„ they haue them once ther. Therfore brethren to thintent we be False tokens not begiled herein we must note that ther be false signes wonders that by two maner of false meanes For furst ther are oftentymes signes feyned that are false in dede
with hādes which are similitudes exāples of true thynges but is entred into very heauen for to appeare now in the syght of God for vs not to offre hym selfe often as the hygh Priest entred into the holy place euery yeare with straunge blood for than must he haue often suffred synce the worlde begāne But now in th ende of the worlde hath he appeared once to put synne to flight by the offring vp of him selfe All those sayenges belong also to this purpose wich the apostles speake of Christ Iesus in this meanyng as these be Christ is of God made vnto vs wisdome righteousnesse sanctification and redemption 1. Corin. 1. God forbidde that I shoulde reioyce but in the crosse of our Lorde Iesu Christ by whom the worlde is crucified to me and I to the worlde Gal. 6. Also Ther is one God and one mediatour betwene God and men the man Iesus Christ 1. Timo. 2. If any man synne we haue an aduocate with the father Iesus Christ the righteous And he it is that obteyneth mercie for our synnes not for our synnes only but also for the synnes of all the worlde 1. Ioh. 2. Ther is non other name geuē vnto men vnder the sunne wherin they maye be saued but only the name of Iesu Act. 4. To this same ende perteyneth the voice of God the heauenly father wherwith he sounded once and eftesones frome heauē sayeng This is my welbeloued sonne in whō I am pleased Math. 13. 17. chap. Hereunto must the sayeng be referred that the Lorde him self by his holy spirite speaketh in Esaye the prophet I the Lorde This is my name and I will not geue my glorie to any other But the glorie of Christ our Lorde is this that he alone with his raunsomyng blood hath set vs free frō the tirannye of synne deathe hell and sathan and is therfore the Lorde of vs all that is to wete whom he hathe redemed with his owne blood which was shead for vs and so ought to be acknowlaged of vs all Concerning this glory and honour he saithe and professeth that he will geue it to none elles Out of which wordes of Christ it shall appeare by euidēt and stedfast demonstration that he is Antichrist who is Antichrist who so euer gothe about to robbe our Lorde and saueour Christ of this glorie and honour and take it vpon him selfe Who so euer than taketh vpon him selfe to geue remissiō of synnes the benefites of the grace of God the giftes of saluacion the kyngdome of heauen is Antichrist Who so euer taketh vpon him selfe that honour of priesthode to saye that he sacrificeth for the synnes of the worlde is Antichrist Who so euer maketh him selfe an intercessour to God the father for the quicke and the dead by any other reason or maner than we are cōmaūded to pray mutually one for an other according to the trade of the scriptures is Antichrist Who so euer also declareth that these giftes of our saluaciō which we haue now rehearced either all together or singularly by them selues may be hade any wher elles than at our Lorde Iesus Christ only and teacheth men to seke them elles wher than at him alone which was offred for vs once for all now sitteth bodily in heauen he setteth out vnto vs a false Christ yea euen Antichrist and is of the nombre of those false prophetes whom Christ our Lord rekoneth vp here by name Wherupon this also shal euidently appeare vnto vs that Antichrist is not only one man by him selfe as we thought whan we wandred in the darknesse of popishe supersticion but that ther are many Antichristes as we shewed a litell before out of Iohn the apostle And yet ther is an head a certain chief ruler of this abominacion yea all these felowes haue a kingdome and a chief seate of their kingdome And he that occupieth it is that vndoubted very great chief Antichrist in whom the commō enemye of mankynde satā setteth furthe all his streynghtes all his might all his power and operacion yea and al his endeauours deceates fraudes subtilties and coūsailes to mennes vndoing and vtter destruction This mater we shall treate of in the thrid place so as we shall set furthe what is contayned in the scriptures hereof with the most playne demonstracion that we possiblie can But forasmuche as the holy sacred scripture in many places as we haue allready noted speaketh of this abominable busynesse of Antichrist it wolde be a worke of great labour and trouble and a worke that should bring in more darkenesse than light if we wolde studie to bring furth al the places of the prophetes apostles that are touching this mater Therfore out of al we wil chose only two which ypoūde vnto vs al this ado throughly al his misteries most plaīly painted out The furst is of Daniel whose writinges in this behalfe ought worthely to be hade in most highe credence and autoritie with vs inasmuche as we may see the same thinges rehearced of Christ our Lorde in this chaptre who also dothe moue vs to the diligēt reading and knowlage Math. 24 of it And that other shal be taken out of Paule the noble and excellēt apostle of Christ which also is called the electe vessell and instrument of Act. 9. God and being rapte in to the thrid heauen sawe secretes of the kingdome 2. Cor. 1◠of heauen wiche can not be expressed with tongue The prophet of God and desirous man Daniel being by diuine reuelaciō taught the ordre of the thinges that shoulde happen from his tyme to the last ende of the worlde and mynding to haue the same notified vnto them that shoulde com after him writeth on this sorte I sawe in my vision by Dan. 7. night and beholde the foure wyndes of the heauen stroue vpon the sea and foure great beastes came vp from the sea not one like an other The furst was like a Lyon and yet had he eagles winges I sawe that his winges were plucte from him and he taken awaye from the earthe that he stode vpon his fete as a man and that ther was geuen him a mannes hearte Beholde the seconde beast was like a Beare and stode vpon the one syde Among his tethe in his mouthe he had .iij. great long tethe it was saide vnto him Arise eate vp muche fleshe Thā I loked and behold ther was an other like vnto a Leoparde this had winges as a foule euē vpō the backe This beast hade foure heades ther was power geuen him After this I sawe in a vision by night beholde the fourthe beast was grymme and horrible and maruelous strong It hade great yron tethe it deuoured and destroyed and stamped the residue vnder his fete It was farre vnlike the other beastes that were before it for it hade ten hornes wherof I toke good hede And beholde ther cam vp among them an other litel horne before whom ther
his father wyth besieging him he enuyroned him toke him by treason he robbed him of his empire and so taking him prisoner suffreth him miserably and sorowfully to dye And these prankes were not played by the commaundement of any barbarous tyraÌ„ne nor by the inceÌ„semeÌ„t of any Phalaris but by the couÌ„sail of the Phalaris was a tyranne in Agrigentine most holy father in the deuilles name Reioyce nowe you Caligulaes be mery you Neroes as many as haue hade the famous reporte of crueltie For you haue one which though he lefte The. B. of Rome is more cruell than either Caligula Nero. Friderich the. 1. you a long space behinde him yet he acquieteth you froÌ„ the infamie remeÌ„braunce of a cruel name euen the bishop of Rome which commauÌ„deth the sonne to bathe his sweorde in the fathers blood And God wotteth the noble feates of Adriane the. 4. and Alexander the. 3. may be also coupled to these rehearsalles which they practiced with most high wickednesse against the very godly and most valeaunt prince Friderike whose sirname was Barbarousse For albeit he hade the vpper hande ouer al his enemies yet it was not in his power either to auoide or to breake the tyraÌ„nie of the popes but after haynous batailes most lameÌ„table flaughtres he was coÌ„pelled ê‘force to fall huÌ„bly to the popes fete to laye downe his necke for Antichristes filthie fete to treade vpon Now who is it that wolde seke any charitie at their handes which haue not learned so much as to beare fauourably with the dignitie of an Emperour After that about the yeare of our Lorde Friderike the. 2. MCCxx Friderichus the secoÌ„de suffred no lesse wickednesse false head of theÌ„ also For whan he made warres against the Turkes they with most spiteful vilany abominable force of armes resisted him and as he with luckie successe warred against the enemies of Christes crosse they with their false driftes droue him backe and layeng at him with their thonderboltes they depryued him also of the communioÌ„ of faithfull christen people and of his Empire and chosed other emperours agaiÌ„st him Which thing was in dede the cause of most greuous batailes engeÌ„dred innumerable muche bloodsheading Morouer in the year of our lorde M. CCC whan Albert the duke of Austrike was choseÌ„ emperour Pope Bonesace the. 8. of that name wold nother confirme him nor crowne Boniface the. 8. him except he wolde furst promise that he wolde make warre against Philippe the FreÌ„che king and dryue him out of his realme And the cause of that warre was this that Philippe whaÌ„ he espied the sleightie shiftes of the sea of Rome denyed the pope al his reuenues of the realme of Fraunce And for that cause that holy father hauing goodly in mynde the precept of charitie to thintent he might prouide for his owne priuate commoditie purposed to set twoo the mightiest naciones of christendome FrauÌ„ce and Germanye together to warre cruelly the one against the other and glad to geue the loking on him self of the destroyeng of cities wasting of fieldes slaughter of men and al the myschief besides that warre bringeth with it so that it turne to his owne aduauÌ„tage But the father of heauen prouydeth better for mennes maters For he put those kinges in suche mynde that they forgate the pope and layeng downe their weapones conuerted the lamentable warres in to a ioyous mariage And here it is not to be omitted that the bishopes of Rome being of the same spirite did vnto Ladislaus king of Vngarie and Polone He hade Ladislau ouercome with wonderfull luckie notable victorie Amurathes the most mightie prince of the Turkes and scatred the turkishe armye and obteyned perforce such condiciones of peace as were harde to be obteyned of the enemye But whan the Turkes hade the ouerthrowe in that skyrmyshe they were fayne perforce and bicause of the condicions of peace to medle no longer with inuading Vngarie and beganne to make new roades in to Italie to stere vp daungers against the pope Eugenius the bishop of Rome to deliuer him self and Italie from Eugenius pope all daungier sent Cardinal Iuliane to Laudislaus to condemne his league with the Turkes as wicked and vnworthy and to persuade with all that christianes are in no wise bounden to kepe promise with infideles And he gaue not ouer counsailing and prouoking till he hade persuaded the king compelled him to breake the league and so to become a promyse breaker Anon than by the forwardenesse of the most holy father and the legate Iuliane the apostatalike apostlelike I wold saye blowing to the fielde ther was most cruell batail renewed which hauing vnluckye successe king Ladislaus was slayne and Amurathes caried awaye a large and a gorgeous victorie This was done in the year of our Lorde M. CCCC xliiij Lo this is the most holy fathers charitie this is the loue that he beareth to the Lordes flocke by the couÌ„sail wherof he teacheth the Kyng rashly to violate his promise of peace and shamelesly to faile his fidelitie that he hade made and not that only but he also casteth both such as be very good to muche simple kinges the people ouerlight of belefe vpon the most cruel weapons of Christes enemies the Turkes so as he him selfe maye lyue safe and sure at Rome To be shorte least through aboundauÌ„ce of examples my tale growe out to ouer great a mater it semeth not necessarie that we should set furth with a busye paynted shewe of wordes the thinges that the Bishoppes of Rome haue in tymes past done against the lawe of charitie seyng that these our owne dayes can euidently ynoughe beare witnesse of the same For loke you dearly beloued brethreÌ„ in Christ vpoÌ„ these present hurly burlies warres of Germany at home wtin theÌ„ selues which is vndoubtedly occasioned by the trauaile deuise of pope Paule the iii. of his meÌ„bres And searche diligeÌ„tly Paule the 3. if it please you whether so much as one token or sparke of charitie be shewed in this dede doing For who knoweth not that the greater parte of christendome especially the hole flocke of them that are right wise and learned men haue allready complayned these many yeares of the tyrannye and intolerable yowke of popes And Emperours haue ben in the same thought which haue with most earnest faithfulnesse and godly aduise admonished them bothe to amende their owne maners and restrayne the ecclesiastical ministers and their lasciuious lyues and to exercice a worthye discipline among them to frame their hole life by But all is in vayne For they like most naughty me wold nother heare the coÌ„playntes of the congregacions nor doo after the admonishementes of emperours bicause they haue alwaies loued their owne lust more than all the discipline and honestie in the worlde Whervpon all thinges set aparte they haue vsed their owne lustes and vicious demeanour with al losenesse of
coÌ„trary purposes setteth his delyte to haue a do with them that be of the most wealthy the most myghty astates He playeth he baÌ„ketteth he kepeth all maner of voluptuous cheare with the most delicate companies of the most fyne meÌ„ Besydes this least his statelynesse rufflyng riote yea aboue the ryote of Siracuse should bring him into pouertie at any tyme his custome is either by false countrefaicte supersticion or elles by open force armes to get the rychesse of al nacions into his owne handes Christ whaÌ„ the people wolde haue geuen him the title crowne to haue Ioh. 19. ben a King fledde away mynding so to auoyd that honour said with plaine purposed wordes that his kingdom was not of this world But the b. of R. chaleÌ„geth to him selfe the title of a King wickedly coueteth the kingdome that is of this worlde and to that purpose he hathe alwaies applied him selfe with all his forcast and wyth al the powers bothe of his witte and of his bodie vntill he became not aboue kinges only but also aboue emperours and made them fayne perforce to fall downe like an houÌ„de kisse his fete Yea he boasteth him selfe to be heire of the empire if an emperour dye as ye shall fynde ClemeÌ„tines the 2. boke the 11. title and 2. chaptre Christ vsed a more diligent studie to excute his fathers will which he was seÌ„t for thaÌ„ to promote encreace such as were his kinsfolkes as coÌ„cerning the fleshe with worldly wealthe and honours But the B. of Rome studie forcaste for the most parte how they maye endue suche as be either their kinsfolkes or their alliauÌ„ce or elles their bastardes with greatest pleintie of richesse to aduauÌ„ce them to the most high honours And that they maye that more easily bring that to passe they vse many tymes to put awaye the treasures of the churche which they call with to muche shamelesnesse S. Petres patrimonie to bestowe them vpon their owne frendes Which thing like as many other haue in tymes past done eueÌ„ so is our Paule the thrid not afrayd also to do the like opeÌ„ly wtout blushing Christ was coÌ„tet to submitte hiÌ„ self to the autoritie lawes of the laufull magistrate payed with a good will the reuenues of the taxes tributes being asked of others he taught that those were due to theÌ„ Matth. 17. 22. But the B. of Rome thinking to ê“uide better for him al his hathe forged a certain immunitie for the churche which maketh al those that are marked with his marke free froÌ„ al lauful publike burtheÌ„s setteth theÌ„ in suche case that sence they owe naught to no maÌ„ they geue theÌ„selues to do what they lust serue their bely vicious carnalitie wherin the meane while al meÌ„ aswel magistrates as subiectes are occupied busy how they maye with their sweat substauÌ„ce vpholde mayntene those most holy fathers intentes Christ led a life al together geueÌ„ to the notable Matth. 11. studie of al peace softenesse coÌ„meÌ„ded the same vertues to vs also But the B. of Rome is fearre swelling rageing in malice desire of reueÌ„gemet He passeth not also to moue horrible batailes to set al folkes together by the eares amoÌ„g theÌ„ selues for light tryfling causes which thing they haue so shamelesly practiced these v. hundred yeares euen vnto our tymes that it nedeth no further declaracion Christ led an innoceÌ„t a blameles Io. 8. Matth 26 an vnreprouerable life so as his enemies could nother fynd nor ymagine any thing worthie of deathe in him for al the lies that the false witnesse made But the B. of Rome being most farre of froÌ„ this studie of innoceÌ„cie is the maÌ„ of synne drowned in synne geueÌ„ in al thiÌ„ges to al kynd of vicious liuing as I haue alredy declared Christ toke to be his disciples suche as were poore Matth. 4. 1. Cor. 1. vile of no reputacioÌ„ meÌ„ of simple witte But the childe of this world the B. of Rome mynding to seme wyser in his generacioÌ„ choseth men out of the most noble houses of Italie FrauÌ„ce Spayne other naciones to be Bishoppes Cardinalles to thinteÌ„t being afterwarde supported by their autoritie fauour he might not nede to passe vpoÌ„ his enemies threattes and mightie powers Christ seÌ„t out his disciples to preache the Gospell But the Matth. 10 28. B. of Rome suffreth none of his to go any whidre froÌ„ him but loueth to be waited vpoÌ„ with their preseÌ„ce rufling or if he send out any he biddeth them not preache the gospell nor teache faith to wynne some to Christ but with their false wyles fraudes lyes deceates to begyle princes the people to stere vp hurly burlies ciuile mocions of warres Christ was diligeÌ„t to care for his shepe vsed the office of a most Io. 10. faithfull shepeherde in that he fedde theÌ„ taught theÌ„ continually But the B. of Rome being geueÌ„ to the wealthe of richesse delicacies pilleth of the shepes wolle yea the skynnes the fleshe to as for fediÌ„g of theÌ„ he maketh litel mater Christ neuer enforced any man vnwillingly to cleaue either to him or to Luce. 9. Matth. 26 his doctrine nor coÌ„pelled euer any maÌ„ by violeÌ„ce to grauÌ„t on his syde but with freÌ„dely faithful teaching he studied to moue the heartes of meÌ„ But the B. of Rome as a right warlike emperour yea like a yong Salmoneus rather and as a newe countrefaicte Iupiter shaketh the thondre of excomunicacion the thonderbolt of cursing externe gonneshote also and weapones at all men as many as goo about to slyppe from his doctrine and supersticion as the horrible vproare of this present warring dothe most euidently proue it Christ sent out such Apostles to preache the gospel as were most readyly Act. 2. instructe in the ample large giftes of the holy goost in the vnderstanding of tongues in the knowlage of the scriptures But the B. of Rome not caring for the prouision of Christes shepe but mynding to gratifie his owne secte folowers committeth the cure of the congregacions almost to none but to his Curtisanes bawdes cokes huÌ„tors and mule dryuers which though they be cleane voide of all maner of learning bothe diuine prophane yet they are connyngly skilled in abominable sciences lecherous lustes corrupt filthye maners Christ hauing coÌ„flicte with sathan his enemie wonne not the victorie with the Matth. 4. weapones of this worlde but with the sweord of the spirite the worde of God But the Bishop of Rome mystrusting Christ setteth vpoÌ„ his enemies wyth worldly weapones conspiracies treasones robberies poysonynges also wyth sweorde and fire Christ our Lorde oftentymes seing Matth. 6. Luc. 19. the dispersed shepe of the house of Israel and pitieng them euen from the botome of his heart wepte ouer their
of christian purenesse consisteth in outwarde eating and hath also brought in a great deale greater rable of ceremonies bothe in these maters many other than the Iewes were bounden in tymes past to obserue lyuing vnder the bondage of the lawe Christ confirmed with the autoritie Math. 19. Hebr. 13. of his doctrine the state of mariage ordayned of his heauenly father And the apostles being instrucce by his spirite taught that wedlocke is honourable among al meÌ„ and the mariage bedde vndefiled Whervpon they And yet he maketh more bolde entrâ—prises gothe about to dryue Christ our Lord out of his church and kingdome in that he calleth him self Christes vicare For if the B. of Rome be Christes vicare it must nedes be that Christ is not preseÌ„t with his churche The false boast of the B. of Rome to be christes Vicare For he that any where occupieth an office and kepeth residence presently vpoÌ„ it as apperteyneth hathe no nede of any vicare But Christ Iesus inasmuche as he is the head of his owne churche can in no wise be disseuered from his body which is the churche but is inseperably present with his churche spiritually contynually to the worldes ende Therfore the B. of Rome is not moued by any warrauÌ„t of the truthe but of a wicked lust to blaspheme to boast him self to be Christes vicare Hitherto therfore I suppose it be sufficiently ynough declared that the B. of Rome deserueth this thrid title wherwith Paule painteth him out after such sorte that he may by al meanes be called An aduersarie that is to saye coÌ„trary and against Christ in all thinges inasmucheas all his conuersacioÌ„ his doctrine are cleane contraryly repugnaunt against the doctrine and conuersacion of Christ Now remayneth the fourthe title wherwith Paule decketh Antichrist Exalted aboue God whom he dothe not comprehende in one only worde but describeth it in moo For he saithe he shal be stately prowde and exalte him self with notable arrogauncie aboue all that is either called or worshipped by the name of God Yea his folie shall procede so farre saith he that he shal place his seate in the Temple of God as God and shewe him self as though he were a God To these wordes of Paule the desirous man Daniel consenteth who speaking of Antichristes misteries saith that the litel horne by whoÌ„ Antichrist is figured hade a mouthe wherwith he spake certain presumptuous thinges that is to saye in talking of diuine maters of chaungeing of lawes and tymes of other maters infinite which it is plaine are in the power of none but God alone And again in the. 11. chap. Dauiel speaking of the same saithe thus And the king shall do what he lusteth and exalte and enlarge him self aboue all Goddes and shal speake maruelous thinges against the most high God And a litel after He shall not also care for the Goddes of his forefathers no he shall care for no God at all for he shall preferre him felf aboue all Now if we compare all these thinges which are spoken by the apostle Paule and Daniel the prophet together the vnderstaÌ„ding of this fourthe title which is attributed vnto Antichrist shal appeare manifest vnto vs. For this is the will of the spirite to saye that Antichrist shal be a man of most high arrogauncie and swelling folishe insolencie which with prowde bolde enterprise shall take vpon him self those offices which are mete to be attributed to none but to God alone and are to be applyed to none but only God This is not ment by Paules wordes and the literall sense of the same Noman at all can make him self a God nor also ther is none other God but that one only eternall God al though any man hauyng autoritie to persuade ioyned with arrogauncie come to so highe a pride and statelynesse as to be honored worshipped of a sorte of leude persons fooles as we reade that Caligula and Domicianus were We must therfore marke well the B. of Romes maters whether we can be hable to fynde any suche as take vpon them selues this most arrogaunt title also to the intent the hole perfite descripcion of Antichristes persone may be euidently manifest vnto vs. And that ther are suche in The B. of R. taketh vpon him the honour of God head what God is dede it shall appeare of their owne sayenges and writinges And furst of al God is naturally he that is the essence and life of al thinges of whoÌ„ also al thinges haue receaued haue life to be that they are And therof it is that our Lorde Iesus Christ the sonne of God the father of the virgine Mary very God maÌ„ is coÌ„monly called in the scriptures the head of his churche bicause they that are endued with faithe in him obteyne life of him not teÌ„poral life only but the life also that neuer shall ende For like as out of a maÌ„nes head as it were out of the pype of a fouÌ„tayne the nourishemet of life floweth downe in to the hole bodie and all the meÌ„bres froÌ„ thence is distrubuted as it is nedefull to euery membre euen so out of Iesu Christ all the meÌ„bres of his bodie that is to saye all faithfull people receaue the spirite of life and that streinght of faithe by whose mocion and instincte they ordre their life according to the heaueÌ„ly fathers will and whan they are departed this temporall life they lyue wyth him euerlastingly This is the plaine vndoubted office of the head Christ the head of his churche ê‘fourmeth the same abundauntly Than if we marke well the B. of Rome whom we cal Antichrist it shal appeare more cleare than the daye light that this arrogauÌ„cie is in him by that which be openly boasteth him self to be the head of all the hole churche And if he as he is a most insoleÌ„t man glorie of the title of the head surely he saithe that the body of the church euery of the meÌ„bres receaue the spirites of life very life it self of him this he can not saye except he clayme Goddes offices to him self so shewe him self proudly in name as though he were God In this mater we passe not greatly vpoÌ„ the papistes obiectiones that thinke they can auoide the note of so great an infamie with this one refuge in the they saye we expounde to subtillie the B. of Romes title wherby he braggeth him self to be the head of the churche that we sucke out therof ouer much mater to argue vpoÌ„ For the B. of Ro. saye they teacheth not that he is the head of the churche to that ende as though he wolde take vpon him ouer muche insoleÌ„tly either the spirite of life or life it self but that he might like the most highe shepehearde of the christiaÌ„ flocke beare witnesse of his autoritie ouer Christes shepe O vayne defense eueÌ„like the figge tree For like as Christes churche hathe no nede
of this Romishe head euen so dothe it not knowe him to be his shepehearde inasmuche as Christ Iesus which is the head of the church is also the best shepehearde of his flocke Ephe. 5. Io. 10. But let vs loke a littel nerer vpon your wares O you right valeauÌ„t defendours of the popes dignitie For how shall this stande together if you will affirme the B. of Rome to be the head of Christes churche yet wil not saye that he either conteyneth wtin him self the spirites of life very life it self â—e yet that he distributeth them in to the bodye of the churche and the membres therof Shall not the head than be a dead head if it want the spirite power of life And what shall we than say of his church o you good gentilmen Woo is vnto that feble weake body wo vnto those membres halte out of ioynt whose head lacketh life spirite For how shall we saye that churche is alyue and lustye whose head you your selues confesse wanteth spirite of life to be distributed in to the rest of the meÌ„bres Will you not now reknowlage your errours you very folishe dotypolles Do you not now vnderstande you folyshe sophisters blynder than any molle to what purpose these your wares teÌ„de whan ye saye that the B. of Rome is the head of the hole vniuersal churche For in thus sayeng you either make him a God so by this meanes you set him furthe to be Antichrist or if you fayne him to be a certain head out of whom no spirite of life stilleth downe in to the other membres you knowlage your selues to be a churche feble sickly that hathe no whitte of the spirite of life in it at all And if you haue not the spirite of life truly you shal not be the churche of Christ For the churche of Christ hathe in possession bothe the spirite of Christ life in him But the B. of Ro. will neuer acknowlage him self to be a dead head therfore as long as he like a right folishe insolent man is prowde of that title he sitteth in the temple of God boasteth him self to be God Now ther foloweth an other mater wherin the B. of Rome boasteth him self no lesse than in the other before to be God and exalteth him self aboue the only true God For he reioyceth to be called holy father yet not conteÌ„ted with this to muche arrogauÌ„t title he taketh vpoÌ„ him also to be called holynesse In this case we wil be reported to as many as be the most deuoute reuereÌ„cers of that sea who whaÌ„ they talke of him name the popes holynesse with a woÌ„derful aduised grauitie thinkiÌ„g it nother good maner nor godly done if they call him but playne pope But if he be holynesse as they call him as he wil be called it behoueth of necessite that he maye sanctifie or make other holy yea as many as are and be called holy shal be saÌ„ctified or made holy of him But we be taught a farre contrary iudgement froÌ„ theÌ„ out of the holy scriptures O brethreÌ„ For the scriptures teache that the one only God is proprely by him self and of him self holye and very holynesse it self and also that as many as are called holy for faithes sake are not sanctified that is are not pourged froÌ„ the filthynesse of synnes and consecrated vnto God of them selues nor of their owne power but of Christ Iesus by the holy goost And in this mater ther maye many thinges be brought out of the bokes of the holy scripture which most euidently reporte the same For in dede Christ as Iohan maketh mencion coÌ„monyng Io. 3. wyth Nicodemus concernyng the mysterie of regeneracion wherby we must nedes be borne a newe sanctified saithe that we must necessarily be borne of water and the spirite And that ther is nothing elles vnderstanden therby but the grace of God and the operacion of the holy goost it is more euidently knowen than nedeth long demoÌ„stration Of this same sentence and argument be the sayenges that S. Paule in his furst Epistle to the Corinthianes writeth in these wordes You are washed you are sanctified you are iustified by the name of the Lorde Iesu and by the spirite of our God What can be spoken more briefly thaÌ„ these wordes are What thing also can be spoken more openly plainly concernyng our sanctificacioÌ„ For he taketh quyte awaye all maner reason of sanctificacion that can be ymagined of meÌ„ to coÌ„ by any other meanes elles and teacheth that we are washed iustified and sanctified of non other but of our Lorde saueour Iesus Christ alone and that by the holy spirite of our God which also is very God him selfe And hereof it cometh that the holy goost is often tymes in the scriptures coÌ„pared to water bicause in dede like as water washeth awaye the filthinesse of the body euen so dothe the holy goost scowre and clense the soule For the same cause sake the holy goost is compared also vnto fyre because he enlumineth not only our coÌ„sciences with his power but also coÌ„sumeth what soeuer earthly carnal or other thing is in vs disposed to sinne And as this is the power of none but of the holy goost alone so is ther none other saÌ„ctificatour meÌ„cioned vnto vs in any place of the hole scripture but he alone which is also very God him selfe and of one selfe same substauÌ„ce power with God the father and the sonne In asmuche than as the B. of Rome being a man most impure and the very slaue of al lecherous lustes and wickednesse taketh vpoÌ„ him the name of Holynesse he doth also therw t take vpon him and vsurpe the power and operation of the holi gost by the same arrogauncie so sheweth him selfe to be God as Paule saythe This also beloÌ„geth to the same title that he taketh vpon him the grace to blesse and geue benediction it selfe with no lesse shamelesse foly than the other before and setteth it out galauÌ„tly in al his lettres whaÌ„ he vseth with great grauitie to wishe vnto his wel beloued childreÌ„ Health benedictioÌ„ But the autoritie of the holy scriptures maketh reporte of non other blessing Gen. 3. 2â— Gala. 3. of healthe but of that one only blessing which is set out bothe vnto theÌ„ of olde tyme and vnto vs in the promised sede Iesus Christ And therfore wher the B. of Rome prowdely aduauÌ„ceth his blessiÌ„g he taketh vpoÌ„ him the glorie of Christ Iesu also in this case so with the statelynesse of his intolerable shameles folye he exalteth him self against the very true only God To this title ther maketh an other mater also that is to saye forgeuing of synnes which is so euideÌ„tly proued in al the hole scriptures to be the worke of non other but of the only grace mercy of God that the very scribes priestes of the Iewes as blynde as stubburne as they were were
be hable to persiste manfully in the truthe that we haue receaued and finally to be saued in Christ To him be honour glorie and praise for ouer and euer Amen Thus endeth the fourthe Homilie The .v. Homilie In this .v. Homilie is described the ende and final destruction of Antichriste and what christen faithfull peoples duety is to doo in the rage of Antichristes tyrannye IN these other foure Homilies louing brethren in Christ I haue hitherto playnly declared those scriptures that serue to knowe the feate the springing vp the persone the workes and the weapones of Antichrist by which if they be compared with the seate starting vp persone workes and weapones of the bishop of Rome we must nedes confesse that what so euer is spoken of Antichrist by the prophet Daniel and the apostle S. Paule agreeth rightly with the B. of Rome in euery condicion And therfore this must of necessitie folowe that the B. of Rome which delyteth to be named the head of the churche Christes vicare the portour of heauen gate yea and holynesse it self is that vndoubted and mightie houge enemie of our saueour Christ that is to saye Antichrist the manne of synne the sonne of perdicion that highe abominacion whiche nestleth his seate in the tēple of God and exalteth him selfe aboue al that is named God in that he to muche sawcely taketh that vpon him selfe which belongeth to none but to the only grace and power of God Nowe remayneth the last mater which maketh mencion of the fal and destructiō of Antichrist which also is to be knowen by the places before rehearsed wherof we may sucke not only excellent good learnyng but also exceadyng muche comforte But the Apostle Paule speaking of the ende destruction of this vngracious The ende and destructiō of Antichrist wicked monstre sayeth The Lorde shal destroy him with the breathe of his mouthe shall despeche him with the brightnesse glorie of his cōming that is to saye at his bright glorious cōming Two thinges therfore the apostle wold haue vs to note cōcerning the destructiō of Antichrist Furst he sayeth that he must be destroyed and slayne with the breath of the Lordes mouth which saieng is takē out of Esay as I sayd a litel before For Esay speaking of Christ our Lorde of his workes reporteth the self same mater in the very same wordes And ther we must more depely marke the meanyng of that wordes Antichrist is destroyed with the breathe of the Lordes mouthe wherby we maye the more easely vnderstande that these are also fulfilled The breathe of the Lordes mouthe is that eternall almightie worde of God by the which it is manifest that al creatures were made at the beginnyng of the worlde are conserued euē vnto this daye And this worde the Apostle sayeth shal be the sweorde wherwith Antichrist must nedes be destroyed And in dede the same Apostle calleth the worde of God a swcorde writyng thus to the Hebrewes in the. 4. Chap. The worde of God is quicke and mightie in operacion sharper than any two edged sweorde and pearceth through euen vnto the diuiding asondre of the soule and the spirite and of the ioyntes and the marye and iudgeth the thoughtes and intentes of the hearte Surely they that haue their synnes opened reproued by this worde perceaue by experience that it is suche a maner of sweorde in dede Furthermore whan the same apostle armeth vs and trymmeth vs against our cōmon enemye he reacheth vs the sweorde of the spirite which is the worde of God wherwith Christ our saueour him self hathe taught vs to fight by his owne example For whā sathā that wicked temptour came to him being as he was very man in dede Christ dothe warde and stryke by all Satanes blowes with this one only sweorde holding out against euery assault of temptacion suche fitte textes of goddes worde as he might put him to flight and breake his weapones withall Wherfore seing we see the deuil him self ouercomen with Goddes worde long agoo we shall thinke that Paule hade good mater to saye teache vs that Antichrist the chosen instrument of the deuill shall also be ouercome and destroyed with the breathe of Goddes mouthe that is by the worde of God But the mysterie of this sentence we must more depely searche out Paule in the same place treating of Antichristes weapones and workes said that his power and working shal be deuillishe that being trymlye furnished in false wyles and lies he shall doo all that the prophetes reporte of him yea that he shall reigne like a king in mennes consciēces through the power of lies For ther wolde neuer a man in all the worlde receaue so haynous an abominacion that knewe perfitly what it were But forasmuche as he crepeth in to mennes consciences with wylie craftes and false sleightes he dissēbleth him self to be an other maner a felowe thā he is in dede Yea by the reason of false citing and expounding of places of the scriptures he knoweth the cast howe to couer his monstrous face Anone after they whome with his false doinges he hathe made tame fooles haue once receaued him he reigneth ruleth the rost in their cōsciences after suche sorte that they geue credence to him and doo what so euer he biddeth them and refuse what so euer he forbiddeth them yea they passe their tyme being all together addicte to hym Now seing all Antichristes tirannie and emperious kingdome hathe none other sure foundacion but only lyes and false craftes it must nedes haue a downefall also assone as the lyght of Goddes worde that is the lyght of eternall truthe shyneth into mennes consciences and reproueth craftye sleyghtes and lyes For it is not possible for men to geue credence to lyes any more which knowe them to be lyes but it maketh them rather to be abashed to be so shamefully deceaued and to beare a deadly hate vnto them that made thē to do amysse by their deceauyng Than therfore Antichrist hathe lost bothe his lyfe his royaltie through the sweorde of Goddes worde albeit he lyue yet still in bodye and reigne still in very many of his membres But that we maye perceaue this gayre more certainly we must note the mater it self that is how it dothe fittlye accorde to the condicion of the B. of Rome Whan the bishop of Rome began to be desirous to beare the bell he set out himself al his purposes for men to see not to be suche as they were in dede but painted florished ouer with sondry countrefait colours For at the furst that simple rude cōmō people must nedes be persuaded that Petre had the supremacie yea the principalitie among Christes Apostles at leynght was brought to Rome and there preached the Gospel and that he was the furst bishop of the church of Rome By this reason the supremacie of other churches myght be translated to the churche of Rome this
than in heauen cursed be they and let them not be beleued how gaye felowes so euer they be how fynely so euer they cā tell their tale and of how high autoritie so euer they are But if sō be so wilfully stubburne and blinde that they will rather beleue them thā Christ our saueour geuing vs so faithfull monicion we must nedes let them alone to doo after their owne lust They shall fele like wretches one day to their owne great payne what a guyde it is that they haue folowed Secondarily the Lorde warneth Goo not furthe vs that we goo not out if they either teache a false Christ or shewe Christ any wher elles thā in heauē Which wordes although they may be expoūded to meane concerning the bodie that the Lorde forbiddeth all stacions and pilgrimages that are done for saluacion and religion yet they ought chiefly to be applied to our soule mynde so that the soule goo not out from Christ our Lorde and saueour nor seke saluation any wher elles but sattle it self in him wyth an assured and vndoubting faithe And herein verily are all thinges closed that make vnto our saluacion For like as a man may fynde the fauour of God the father the remission of synnes and saluacion in Christ alone euē so as many as go out frō Christ thīke scorne to beleue stedfastly in him can not chose but goo out quyte from life and saluacion Therfore it is very muche profitable for vs to knowe louing brethren in Christ after what sorte we may abide in the Lorde and tary with him still vnto the ende specially seing we heare him saye Not euery one that saithe Lorde Lorde shall Math. 7. entre into the kingdome of heauen but he that dothe the will of my father which is in heauē These same wordes teache men what becometh them to doo that are desirous to abide in Christ and entre wyth him in to the kingdome of heauen We must nedes doo God the the heauenly fathers wil Mary what that is we may knowe by the wordes of Christ him self and the Apostles And furst in dede the Lorde him self speaketh of the will of the father Io. 6. chap. and saithe This is the wil The will of God is that we beleue in his Sonne of him that sent me that al that see the sonne and beleue in him haue euerlasting life Therfore the will of God is good holsom vnto vs which hathe this appointed ende that we shall haue euerlasting saluacion but with this condicion that we should knowe the sōne and beleue in him whom he vouchedsafe to sende in to the worlde for our sakes Thā the furst point of Goddes wil requireth of vs a very a certain a perfite and an vnwauering faithe in Christ our Lorde saueour to cleaue fast vnto him withall and to seke in him alone for those thinges that are necessary to com to eternal saluacion And this faithe requireth a certain a perfite knowlage of Christ to thintent that least while we make boast of our faithe we carye in our hearte nothing but as it were a bare and a vayne fātastical opiniō but we must beleue faithfully and without al doubting those thinges that are set furthe vnto vs in the worde of euerlasting truthe by Christ our Lorde This worde describeth our saueour How the scriptures describe Christ vnto vs after this sorte Iesus Christ is the true and natural sonne of God the father of all one substaūce nature maiestie with the father frō euerlasting And at the tyme appointed he became mā for our sakes not by layēg awaye his godhead but by receauing of Māhead so that he which was God from euerlasting is now bothe very God very mā in one inseperable persone And forasmuche as he became man he suffred all thinges that a man may do synne only except For he was borne as man growed waxed strong in body streynght processe of age He was weary with trauailīg he rested he suffred bothe hongre thyrst he also wept for sorowe of hearte Yea he was afrayde of deathe of the paynes of deathe yet he abode them paciētly strongly for our sakes But before the tyme of his deathe approched his will was to haue his diuinitie knowen to men not only by miracles wonderous signes but also opening the wil of his father he gaue vs a certain and an absolute doctrine of saluacion and blessednesse He chosed disciples also that after he had instructed them with his spirite in the doctrine of the truthe he might at his ascēding in to heauē sende them furthe in to all the wyde worlde And whan he dyed he satisfyed his fathers righteousnesse by his deathe and offring him selfe for vs once for all he made a sufficient sacrifice for the clensyng of the synnes of the worlde For by his deathe he brake the olde serpentes head all to clattred his power and toke his streynght from hym and than by his glorious resurrection he ouercame deathe it self At last whan he went vp in to heauen he set heauē gates wyde open for vs again the which synne hade locked vs out of and wolde haue the fleshe which he toke of vs to be the earnest peny and pledge of our resurrection and saluacion in heauen And now he sitteth in heauen and is our only and supreme bishop which as he offred his body a sacrifice for our synnes euen so dothe he make intercessiō for vs continually before our heauēly father so as we as muche endaungered with synne as we are may safely approche to the throne of grace Such a maner Christ I saye and suche a maner saueour the oracles of the scripture purporte vnto vs and the will of God the father is that we stedfastly beleue him to be such a one and that we goo not about to seke any wher elles those thinges that are geuen vs in him Now the faythe that we talke of is not a certaine bare and a vayne fantastical opiniō that consisteth in bare wordes and in nothing elles but in the speche of the mouthe but it is a quicke lyuely strong power whiche beyng by the spirite of God graffed in mennes consciences conteyneth all the hole mater of saluacion and religiō For it is necessary for vs also to know God the father that we maye be truly and faythfully grounded in Iesus Christ Goddes owne sonne If we acknowlage him rightly to be suche a one as he is we shall feare him also and not that only but also we shall loue him aboue all other thinges beyng boūden to him with suche feare and loue as children owe to their natural parentes we shal willingly obeye him in al thinges Out of the spowte of the same foūtayne shall spring what so euer can be required also vnto externall religion For in this faythe we shall not heare the ymaginacions of our owne reason but haue respecte onlye vnto
his glorious cōming we may be able to stande surely before his righteous and dredeful iudgement For we shal haue him to be our iudge that can nother be frayde with the glorie and power of the worlde nor be entreated by any noble blood nother yet brybed with worldly richesse But the thing that he only regardeth and rewardeth is faithe working by charitie Gal. 5. The seconde thing that the Lorde speaketh of in this last chief point of his admonicion is that he teacheth The state of the faithful at the Lordes commyng vs what the condicion or state of his people shal be at this his cōmyng and glorious iudgement For it semeth a harde and a fearfull mater to the fleshe whan it heareth that al the pleasures of this worlde wherin it only delyteth shall perishe once and that all we shal be presented before so mighty a iudge But it is full of comforte that the Lorde speaketh here For where so euer saithe he the carcasse is ther also shal the eagles resorte or be gathered together Here he compareth the faithfull people vnto eagles and him self vnto that meate wherunto they flye For like as the eagles with their high flyeng moūte vp to the cloudes with great delyte beholde the brightenesse of the sunne the shyning beames wherof non other lyuing creature is hable to loke directly vpon euen so those that be faithfull people being caried with the wynges of faithe aboue all the cares of this worlde lifte vp their heartes to heauen wher their cōuersacion is and their right citie that euer shall endure so with the eyes of their mynde they beholde the sunne of righteousnesse Iesus Christ which is our righteousnesse and the only quickenyng meate of the faithfull For he is the bread of life which being eaten by faithe fedeth vs vnto life euerlasting And Christ saithe that these eagles that is the faithful people shal resorte vnto him so that they shal be gathered to him as it were in one moment aswell those that were departed afore in the true faithe as those whō the Lorde at his commyng shall fynde prepared and ready in faith For thus dothe Paule 1 Thessa 4. expounde Christes wordes This we saye vnto you in the worde of the Lorde that we which lyue and are remayning in the commyng of the Lorde shall not com ere they which slepe For the Lorde him selfe shall descende from heauen wyth a showte and the voice of the archangel and trompe of God And the dead in Christ shall aryse furst than shall we which lyue and remayne be caught vp with them also in the clowdes to mete the Lorde in the ayer And so shal we euer be with the Lorde Wherfore comforte your selues one an other with these wordes Marke louing brethren how ioyfull howe pleasaunt and howe comfortable those sayenges be that are specified in the scriptures concerning the glorious comming of Christ vnto iudgement But if we lust to hearken to the papistes in this behalfe they will tell vs such tales as are hable not only to dryue mennes consciences in to feare and drede but also in to flatte desperacion For they haue forged horrible and cruell tokens by the rehearsal wherof they haue spoiled the rude people of all comfortable reioyceing and haue fraide thē most pitifully But the spirite of our saueour Christ speaking by the apostles maketh so playne menciō of the mater as that which made vs afraide whan we wandred in the darkenesse of popery is now ioye myrthe vnto vs so that with cōtinual prayers and feruent desires we loke for the Lorde and wold fayne haue his commyng to drawe nere For how great how honourable shal the sayntes glorie be whan those that were dead and resolued in to earthe and duste shall ryse again with clarified bodies and shall lyue and be transformed in one moment and al the nature of corrupcion and what so euer hade ben corruptible and mortal infirme and subiecte to sorowes in them they shall put of and by and by they shal be coupled with their spouse Christ and be caried with him vnto the eternall glorie of true blessednesse Than I saye the faithfull eagles shall continually beholde their sunne of righteousnes for euer and shal be fedde with the meate of eternal life so that they shall neuer fele hongre And contrary wise that bloody and cruel cursed generacion of rauēs and grypes I meane the wicked tirānes enemies of his churche which in this worlde persecuted the Lordes saintes with fire sweorde with al kinde of merciles crueltie all beastly bely cheare myniones men geuē to their paunche and hoorishe lustes shal be gathered also vnto their carion carcasse to that houge and stinking beast and her head Antichrist that they may be tyed vp with him and cast in to the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone and thā shall they fele who it is that they haue done after and who it is that they hated whā they lyued in this worlde Now for asmuche as I shal treate more largely of these maters whā I shal haue more oportunitie to entreat of them let it suffice that I haue presently touched thē now in fewe wordes Hitherto we haue heard in these fyue homilies all the mysterye of Antichristes tirannie and therwithall we haue also knowne the faithful counsail of our saueour Christ which he coummaundeth men to folowe in the last seasone of the worlde Let vs therfore rendre deuout and humble heartie thankes to our heauenly father which hathe vouchedsafe to reueale this weighty daūgter vnto vs and to arme vs with his counsailes against it And let vs endeauour our selues to take hede to our Lordes admoniciōs so as we may doo after thē that he thinke not his admonicions lost vpō vs. Moreouer wher it is manifest out of the apostle Paules wordes that Antichrist must be destroied with non other weapō but with the sweorde of the spirite that is the worde of God for he cā not otherwise be destroyed let vs frame our consciences brethrē after such wise as the worde may be hade in autoritie much price amōg vs that all men may aduaunce the studie of it that we may endeauour our selues to reade heare and knowe it with suche diligence that by the power of it Antichrist maye be slayne dye in our consciences and that Christ our Lorde may lyue in our heartes least at the dredefull daye of dome we be cast with that houge stinking beast in to the fyre of damnacion so perishe euerlastingly but that we maye like true membres faithful eagles be filled with euerlasting fode be gathered vnto the meate that shal neuer waste and to the sunne of righteousnesse that neuer shall fade Amen Thus endeth the. 5. Homilie Apoca. 18. BAbilon is fallen great Babilon is fallen and is become the habitacion of Deuilles and the holde of all fowle spirites and a cage of all vncleane and hatefull birdes for all nacions haue dronken of the wyne of the wrathe of her fornicacion And the kinges of the earth haue cōmitted fornication with her and her marchaūtes are waxed riche of the abundaunce of her pleasures