Christe will all menne to searche the Scriptures and to leane vnto them in all matters of controuersie as faithfull witnesses of the Lordes truthe Antichriste commaundeth that when any question arise aboute matters of Religion menne should haue recourse vnto the Canons and generall Councels but spicially vnto the See of Roome where all doubtfull matters are to bee decided As for the Scripture it hath no more aucthoritie then it pleaseth the Churche that is to faie the Pope and his adherentes to giue vnto it 4 Christe teacheth that all mennes traditions oughte to giue place vnto the woorde of God and that whatsoeuer is decreed of menne although of neuer so greate ancthoritie and wisedome contrary to the woorde of God is vtterly to bee neglected reiected and caste awaie Antichriste teacheth plainely that all suche constitutions and ordinaunces of men as bee decreed and set forthe by the aucthoritie of Counselles and holie Fathers whiche are alwaies gathered together by the instincte and consent of the holy ghost although thei are not nor can not bee grounded on Goddes worde are notwithstādyng good and profitable and menne are bounde vnder paine of deadly synne to obtaine and keepe them For the Churche can not erre 5 Christe teacheth that there is but one onely true liuyng and euerlastyng God whiche alone is to be honoured worship ped and called vpon by whose name also alone we ought to sweare Antichriste also after a certaine sorte confessed also one God with vs and that he is to be honoured and called vpon but not alone For he teacheth that the sainctes in heauen bothe maie and ought to be honoured and called vpō yea and that we maie also sweare by their names 6 Christe in his holie Lawe bothe by Moses the Prophetes and Apostles forbiddeth to make sette forthe or kepe any Image to bee worshipped But aboue all thinges he forbiddeth vs to make any Image of God. Antichrist saieth it is lawfull not onely to haue images and to sette them vp in Temples Chapels Oratories c. but also to worshippe theim to kneele before theim to kisse them to praie before them yea to them to knele before them to set candels before them to decke and trimme them to offer vnto them to sense them to put of our cappes vnto them and at the laste what not Antichriste also diggeth out of the ground the olde rotten bones or reliques of sainctes translateth them encloseth them in Golde keepeth them in precious shrynes and costly Clausures and setteth them forth to the people to be kissed and worshipped Moreouer he is not ashamed contrarie too the manifeste woorde of God to make the Image of the blessed Trinitie He formeth and frameth God the father like an old broken backed man with a white head winckled forehed holow eied slender cheeked sharpe nosed tothlesse wide mouthed hangyng doune lipped crooke chinned graye bearded small necked leane handed and in fine altogether monstrous GOD the Sonne Antichrist setteth forth as a lusty younge younker with his yelow lockes and God the holy Ghost he maketh like a yong lustie White flickeryng Doue But this blasphemous image causeth hee to be set in Churches and in all other places not onely to be considered but also to be worshipped vnto the greate dishonour of god the slaunder of the Christen religion the offence of all good men and vnto the glorie of all Gods ennemies But what dareth not Antichrist doe 7 Christ teacheth that the true worshippers muste worshippe God in spirite and trueth againe that they worship God in vaine whiche honour hym after the traditions of men Antichrist affirmeth that it is lawfull to worship God any maner of waie so it commeth of a good entent good mynde good zeale good deuotion c. For God casteth awaie the good intent of no man Antichrist therefore teacheth vs to worship God with Golde Siluer precious stones sumpteous vestures candels palmes Ashes bread water Salt c. With long patteryng curious singyng pleasaunt pipyng loude ringyng c. With Surplesses Copes Uestimentes Caps Coules c. with Massyng with Pilgrimage goyng with Pardons biyng with Beades saiyng c. And all these thinges he taught to be more precious and acceptable in the sight of GOD than to helpe the poore or to doe any worke of mercie For that is done but to manne the other vnto God. 8 Christ in his sweete Sermon that hee made in the mount saieth that he came to fulfill the Lawe that is to saie to accomplishe whatsoeuer was prefigured of him in the ceremonies of the olde Testament so that by his comming he hath put away and vtterlie abolished all Ceremonies euen as the shadow is remoued by the entrance of the light For as the Apostle saieth The lawe he meaneth the ceremoniall law was nothyng els than a shadow of good thinges to come The good thinges are come and geuen therfore the shadow ceaseth wherby we euidently learne that the Christians are nowe free from suche cloudy lawes darke ceremonies Antichrist teacheth that although the Ceremonies of the olde law be abolished by the commyng of Christ yet that hindreth nothing but that the Church which is the spouse of Christ may appoint what Ceremonies she wil without any offence of her husband Christ whiche delighteth in her and in her doynges as in himselfe yea and that so muche the more bicause among the christians there are many rude grosse and thei must be rudely and grossely handled and brought by little and little vnto perfection thorowe suche Ceremonies and outward obseruaunces whiche Ceremonies and Ordinaunces of Christes spouse the Churche are with no lesse reuerences to bee obserued than if they had beene commaunded of Christe her husbande 9 Christ Iesus in his doctrine teacheth that he alone is our Sauiour our Redeemer our Bishop or Pastour our head our reconciliatour our peacemaker and in fine all our hope and comfort in so muche that whosoeuer beleueth in hym shall not perishe but haue euerlastyng life Antichriste in his doctrine teacheth that saluation and remission of synnes is to bee obtained also at his handes at his Pardons Indulgences yeres of Iubile Masses Coules Pilgrimages c. Againe that he is heade of the vniuersall Churche of Christendome Christes Uicare Peters Successour the higheste Bishop the greatest Priest the moste holie and moste blessed Father to whom aboue all other the keyes of the kyngdom of heauē are committed fo that whatsoeuer he bindeth in yearth is also bounde in heauen and whatsoeuer he looseth in yearth is in like maner loosed in heauen so that whosoeuer cleaueth vnto hym can not perishe but haue life euerlastyng 10 Christe taught vs that whensoeuer wee will desire any thyng of God the Father wee should aske it in his name For no manne commeth to the Father but by hym And in the writynges of the Apostles wee reade that Christe alone is our
and haue their consciences marked with an hotte yron forbiddyng to Marrie c. And as he forbiddeth certaine degrees of menne to Marrie so doeth he forbidde at certaine tymes of the yere to celebrate Matrimonie in somuche that whosoeuer presumeth in those forbidden tymes to Marrie is not onely accursed but his Marriage also is not lawfull Notwithstandyng if any man will bryng money and purchase a licence to Marrie he shall easely obtaine it though it were on good Fridaie so deare and tenderly beloued is that greate God Mammon in Antichristes courtes But if it bee lawfull at these tymes to Marrie for money Is it not lawfull to marrie without money Doth money make a thyng either lawfull or vnlawfull God destroye thy kyngdome O Antichriste Thy money perishe with thee For thy harte is not right in the sight of God. 72 Christe in his holie Gospell commaundeth vs to praie but he prescribeth no certaine tyme of Praier Antichriste appoincteth certaine tymes to Praie whiche tymes whosoeuer doeth not obserue he is coumpted grecuosly to offende 73 Christe by his blessed Apostle sainct Paule giueth vs libertie to praie in euerie place liftyng vp pure handes without wrathe or doubtyng And he hym self in the Gospel saied to the woman of Samaria Woman beleue me the hower cōmeth and now is when the true worshippers shall worshippe the Father in Spirite and in the truthe For suche also the Father requireth to worshippe him God is a Spirite and thei that worship hym must worshippe hym in spirite and in the truthe Antichrist teacheth that though wee maie praie to GOD in all places yet ought wee moste chiefly to praie in suche places as his Bishoppes and Prelates haue consecrated and hallowed for money as Oratories worthie for their vertue and holinesse wherein our Praiers maie the soner bee hearde and the better accepted And yet in these places appointed of hym for Praier one is counted more holie then an other and more meritorious to praie in as the Churche is holier then the Chappell the Chancell holier then theim bothe and yet the Chauncell holier then them both and yet the Cathedrall Church otherwise called the mother Church more holy than them all three But to praie at the Shrynes of his canoniced Sainctes or in places of Pilgrimage where the Deuill worketh stiracles I would saie miracles but namely at Rome at Compostella at Ierusalem c. this passeth all Praiers made in those places with this confidence that they be the sooner hearde and the better accepted by the reason of the places flye to heauen as it were a polde henne 74 Christ appointed a certaine forme of praier after the whiche we should directe our Praiers vnto our Heauenly Father wherein also he declareth what thinges wee shoulde specially aske of GOD the Father Antichrist appointeth diuers and many formes of praiyng not to God but to this he Sainct and to that she Sainct yea and that for manie and sundry causes to euery sainct for a contrary thing And thus are men taught to worship the creature in steede of the creator robbing God of his glory and committyng moste wicked and damnable idolatrie 75 Christ saieth when thou praiest thou shalte not bee as the Hipocrites are For they vse to stande praiyng in the Sinagoges and in the corners of the stretes that they may be seene of men Antichrist saieth I will that my Chaplaines and my quire men shall pray sing and saie in none other places then in the Sinagoges that is to saie in Churches and Chappelles and suche other Oratories yea and specially when the people are moste of all gathered together although they vnderstande not one worde what is either song or said or on the Organs plaid And bicause they may be seen of men and haue the greater assembly of people at their praiers he commaundeth that now one Bell shal be rong now two now three now all the belles in the steple by the which diuersitie of ringing menne maye the better knowe not onely when Antichristes Chaplaines and their complices may be sene to praie but also when it is Festum simplex or Festum duplex or Festum principale that is to saie single feast or double feast or principall feast 76 Christ saith when ye praie bable not much as the heathen doe For thei thinke it will come to passe that they shall bee hearde for their much babling Be ye not therefore like vnto them Antichrist doth so lade and burden hys captiues with innumerable multitudes of praiers that they haue almost no tyme to breath They haue Mattens of the day and Mattens of oure Ladie with Prime and howres They haue long Nocturns They haue long Letanies long Seuen Psalmes long fiftene Psalmes with many and diuers Orisons They haue long Masses and long commemoration They haue long Diriges and long commendations They haue Euensong of the daie with Euensong of our Lady and Complin to them both And all these thinges must be saied or song vnder paine of deadly synne But how thei be mumbled and iumbled vp all the world may see Uerely without all godly affection of the minde The hearte goeth one waie and the voice an other way so that they agree together as Harpe and Harow and come one to an other as iuste as Iermyns lippes Of such kinde of beadmen speaketh our Sauiour Christ on this maner This people draweth nighe and honoureth mee with their lippes but their heart is farre from mee Uerely they worship mee in vaine teachyng doctrines euen the commaundementes of men 77 Christ would haue suche loue among vs that bee his Disciples that we should gladly willingly and freely without money pray one for an other Antichrist willeth his Chaplaines to praye for none excepte they haue money accordyng to the common prouerbe No peny no Pater noster If money come they will be ready at all times to sing and say If there bee no money then here is the doore and there is the waye Farewell gentle Geffray and as the Porters crye in Sturbridge Fayre a newe Maister a newe and hang vp the olde They will no longer sing or saye than ye haue Money for to paie Bring money and ye shal haue Masse of Scala celi Masse of Requiem Masse of Recordare Masse of Si iniquitates with an hundred kind of Masses besides for whatsoeuer purpose ye will. For our Massemongers haue Masses in store for all kynde of thinges good or badde Onely bryng Money and ye shall wante nothyng so desirous are Antichristes men of money O Mammonistes 78 Christ by his Apostles commaundeth that euery congregation should haue his pastour or preacher to feede the Christen flock with the most holsome fode of Gods worde so that euery spirituall Minister should attende vppon his owne cure and not bee distracte with the care of diuers congregations Antichrist can not away with this that one man should haue but one benefice and
the aucthour of all mischief and abhomination so that whatsoeuer followeth hym and his Antichristian doctrine may be sure to come vnto damnation 102 Christ praied to his heauenly father that Peters faith might not fayle Antichrist praieth that Peters patrimony as they call it may neuer fayle 103 Christ refuseth no paine to doe good to his congregation Antichrist refuseth no payne so that he may haue lucre and gaine 104 Christ went vp willingly to Ierusalem to suffer death for the elect people of God. Antichrist hateth nothyng more then the crosse As for Gods people he regardeth them not except they bring money 105 Christ when he might haue escaped and gone awaie from his enemies freely gaue himselfe into their handes to be crucified for the saluation of other Antichriste resisteth his enemies with tothe and nayle with hande and Sword and with all that euer he is able to make neither suffereth he gladly any aduersity except it be for the maintainaunce of hys owne pompe and glory and for the enrichement of Saint Peters patrimonie 106 Christ was striped out of his clothes and was all to beaten and scourged and false witnes brought in against hym Antichrist is well clothed with precious garments and hath chaunge for euery day and commaundeth other to be beaten and sore puished and false witnesse to be brought in to testifie whatsoeuer hee will haue against the poore innocent christen people 107 Christ being most vniustly wrongfully accused and hauyng many vntruthes obiected againste hym as a Lambe dum before his shearer opened not his mouth When he was reuiled he reuiled not againe when he suffred â–ª he threatned not but committed the vengeance to him that iudgeth righteously Antichrist being iustly accused both of false doctrine and corrupt manners and admonished to amend will by no meanes geue eare but seeketh al meaâ—es possible to bee reuenged He will bee iudge of all menne but iudged of none He will condemne whom he lust and he will not once be touched His doctrine although neuer so vnpure he defendeth with fyre and fagot with sworde and halter Whosoeuer disdaine to embrace and maintaine it all theim hee excommunicateth cut of from the body of Christ appointeth them vnto euerlastyng damnation interditeth their Landes Realmes and countreys wheresoeuer they dwell as experience in these our daies teacheth aboundantly As concernyng hys life and maners although neuer so wicked and detestable no man may once reproue except he will feele the bitter boltes of the most bitter curse 108 Christ had a crowne of sharpe thornes set vpon his head with so great violence that the bloud runne doune ouer all his amiable face and boystrous nayles driuen thorowe his precious handes Antichrist weareth vpon his head three crownes of gold richly set with precious stones and hath his handes and finger all royally decked with owches and ringes He passeth poore Christe farre farre 109 Christ tooke the crosse of painefull affliction vpon hymselfe and commaunded his Disciples likewise to follow him saiyng He that will not take his Crosse and folow me is not meete for mee Antichrist taketh the Crosse of pryde and hath it borne before hym well gilte and ameled to sette forthe his pride and pompe before the worlde like vnto Lucifer As for other crosse he knoweth none 110 Christ praied his Father to forgiue them that trespassed against hym yea he praied for them that put him to death Antichrist commaundeth both kynges and princes and Emperours to auenge his quarell and to slea all them that resist his mynde promisyng theÌ„ that if thei die in his quarel thei shall die glorious martyrs in the sight of God straight waies come vnto heauen yea before their bloud bee colde As touchyng forgeuenesse he hath none acquaintaunce therewith 111 Christ aproued his Lawe and confirmed it with his owne death Antichrist is full busy to destroye the law of Christ and to maintaine his owne decrees and that with the death of all them that will say the contrary 112 Christ was buried in a poore monument Sepulchre or graue without any funerall pompe Antichrist is buried in a glorious toÌ„be well gilt and very gorgious set out with many torches and greate solemnitie and with Angelles gloriously portured that beare his soule to heauen when notwithstandyng it is to be feared that hee goeth to suppe with the Diuell whom he hath so diligeÌ„tly serued al the daies of his life 113 Christ suffred death for our sinnes rose againe for our iustification or els al we should haue perished and been damned Antichrist for the forgeuenesse of oure sinnes and of our iustification sendeth vs to his Pardons and Bulles to his yeres of Iubile and Masses of Scala celi yea he sendeth vs to a Grayefryers Coule and willeth vs to be buried in that promising vs by that meanes both remission of synnes and euerlastyng life Is not this too treade vnder foote the sonne of God and to count the bloud of the Testament as an vnholy thing yea and to doe dishonour to the Spirite of grace Is not this that beast whiche opened his mouth to speake blasphemies againste the moste highest God against his most glorious name Is not this that sinnefull man that sonne of perdition that aduersary whiche exalteth hymself aboue all that is called God or that is worshipped so that he doth sit in the Temple of God boastyng hymselfe to be God O Antichrist 114 Christ after his resurrection appeared to his Disciples and brought vnto them peace and greate ioy Antichriste when hee commeth abroad and sheweth himselfe vnto men commeth like a game player in his Papalibus full gloriously and gorgiously and bringeth to the beholders blessynges that is crossinges and wagginges of fingers with suche other vaine and triflyng toyes 115 Christ reproued in his Disciples vnfaithfulnesse and hardnesse of hearte Antichrist findeth faulte with his captiues if they be vnfaithfull and disobedient to his decrees and slacke in paiyng of money 116 Christ sought all meanes possible to confirme the faithe of his disciples in the article of his resurrection Antichrist seketh all maner of waies to plant confirme and stablishe in the hartes of men his authority and primacie aboue not only all Bishops but also all kinges Princes and Emperours 117 Christ so talked with certaine of hys Disciples by the waie that their heartes burned within them so swetely and louingly did he open vnto theim the true right vnderstandyng of the Scriptures Antichrist doeth so talke and vttereth suche doctrine that it enflameth not but apalleth the heartes of the hearers it quickeneth not but rather dismaieth For it is not the word of the spirite but of the fleshe not of light but of darkenesse not of life but of death and in fine not of conuersion and saluation but of desperation and eternall damnation 118 Christe
Mediatour Aduocate and Intercessour by whom alone wee haue free and gracious accesse vnto God the Father and easely obtaine of hym all good thynges Antichriste setteth forthe vnto vs other Mediatours Aduocates and Intercessours euen the soules and spirites of them that are departed and commaundeth vs to call vpon them to make intercession vnto theim that thei for vs maye call vpon God praie vnto hym and make Intercession vnto hym that by this meanes our praiers maie be the soner heard and our petitions the more easely graunted Thus Antichrist goth about to make Christ Iacke out of office 11 Christe hangyng on the Crosse and ready to giue vp his Spirite into the hādes of his heauenly Father saied It is finished signifiyng hereby that by the one and alone Sacrifice of his Passion and death al thyng is wrought and perfectly doen whatsoeuer appertaineth vnto the saluation of mankinde so that now there remaineth no more any Sacrifice or oblation for synne as the Apostle saieth With one onely Oblation hath Christe made perfect for euer them that are sanctified Againe We are sanctified by the offeryng vp of Christes bodie doen once for all Antichriste hath sette vp diuerse Sacrifices for synnes but namely the vile and abhominable sacrifice of the Masse whiche he calleth a propiciatorie expiatorie and satisfactorie Sacrifice for the synnes of the quicke and the deade necessary Ad salutem This Sacrifice he braggeth to bee of like dignitie and of equall price with that Sacrifice whiche Christ the high and euerlastyng Bishop offered on the Altar of the Crosse yea to bee the verie same againe that he and his Chaplens in that Sacrifice of the Idolatrous Masse doe daiely offer vp the Soonne of God to the Father of heauen for the daily synnes of the people Antichrist moreouer is not ashamed to saie that Christe by the Sacrifice of his death doen on the Altare of the Crosse did onely put awaie originall synne but he and his shauelynges by the Sacrifice of their Masse putteth awaie all other synnes at all tymes bothe actuall veniall mortall c. 12 Christe in his blessed Testament teacheth that wee are purged cleansed and made pure from all synne by his bloud Antichriste for the mainteinaunce of his idle Cleargie that thei might liue of the laboure and sweate of other mennes hands and browes hath deuised an other Purgatorie after this life wherein the soules of them that haue not doen due satisfaction for their sinnes in this worlde muste bee moste miserably tormented vntill either thei by sufferyng moste greeuous paines haue satisfied the iustice of God or els thei bee deliuered by the Sacrifice of the Masse offered for theim or by some other charitable deedes of mercie Is not this to counte the bloud of the Testamente as an vnholie thyng and to doe dishonour to the Spirite of grace 13 Christe teacheth that the Churche whiche is the felowship of Sainctes and companie of faithfull people is built vppon hym self whiche is the true rocke is gouerned by his Spirite heareth his voice and is ruled by the same Antichrist saieth that the Churche is not builte on Christe alone but also on Peter and his successours againe that it is not onely gouerned by the woorde of GOD but also by the Decrees of the Churche of Rome 14 Christe saieth that thei whiche are his Shepe and belong vnto his Shepefold that is vnto his holy congregation heare not the voice of straungers but flee frō them giuyng eare onely to the voice of their owne Shepehearde Antichrist saieth that thei whiche are of the Churche maie not onely heare the voice of Christe but also the woordes of the Bishop of Rome whiche is Christes Uicare and knowledge hym to bee the vniuersall Bishoppe whose voice to heare and whose decrees to obey we are bound vnder paine of euerlastyng damnation 15 Christe ordained in his Churche to sette forthe the Gospell of our saluation and to gouerne his flocke Apostles Prophetes Euangelistes Pastoures teachers c. Antichrist appointed in his Churche Monkes Friers Chanons Nonnes Ankers Ankresses Recluses Priestes Sacrificers Soulecariers Purgatorie rakers Pardonners Proctours Somners Apparitours Commissaries Officialles c. 16 Christe in his holie Lawe freely per mitteth all spirituall Ministers Bishops Deacons c. to marrie Antichriste in his Deuilishe decrees forbiddeth and condemneth the mariage of spirituall Ministers 17 Christe by his holie Apostle calleth Mariage honourable and the bedde vndefiled yea that emongest all men none excepted Antichrist shameth not to call the mariage of the Spirituall Ministers an vncleane filthie and fleshly kinde of liuyng 18 Christe gaue equall power to all the Ministers of his Churche Antichriste denieth that and saieth that the Bishoppe hath more aucthoritie then the Prieste and the Archebishoppe more then Bishoppe and the Pope more then thei all 19 Christe in his blessed Newe Testamente appointeth Deacons to be Ministers vnto the poore and to see that thei lacke no good thyng And the Bishoppes or Spirituall Ouersears he ordained them to preach the worde to enstruct the people to minister the Sacramentes c. Antichrist ordaineth Deacons to saie mattens of the daie to reade the Gospell at Masse to stande on the Priestes right hand to helpe hym in all thinges to haue a shauen crowne to liue vnmaried c. Archdeacons he hath also appointed certaine tymes in the yere to visite the churches to see if the church and churchyarde be in good state if the Uestmentes Alter clothes Copes Banner clothes Crosse clothes Curteines Towels Boxes Pyxes Chrismatories Fontes holy water bucket holy bread basket Bels Candelstickes Sensers Crosses Cruettes and suche like ornamentes of the Churche be well and sufficiently repared againe if the Hosts be well kept of the Curate that they be not moulde fustie euill sauoured cankered worme eaten c. As for prouision makyng for poore and needie people there is no mention That ought to bee collected of the Archdeacons among the mercifull Christians for the ayde and reliefe of the poore members of Christe in their visitation is nowe vnfrutefully deuoured spent and consumed of the Archdeacons themselues and of their Officers so that the office of an Archedeacon at this time in the kingdome of the Pope is now come altogether vnprofitable and to muche chargeable to the Churche of God. 20 Christ appointed his Apostles to bee the ministers and seruauntes of his holy Churche Antichrist ordaineth his Priestes and Prelates to be Lordes and Masters ouer Gods people yea he maketh them to be of greater authoritie and power thā Emperours Kinges Princes c. of higher dignitie than all the Angelles in heauen or than the blessed Uirgin Mary Moreouer he doeth so greatlie aduaunce the dignitie of his smered shauelynges that he calleth them the maker of their maker And to set forthe their royall and kingly priesthode he maketh