geue backe admitte euen as the whoremoÌ„ger will haue it But she is sayeth S. Paul i. Ti. iij. a pyller ground of the trueth She standeth sure sayth he is a sure grounde And not a false or deceyuable grounde But a grounde of trueth which neither lyeth nor deceyueth neither gothe aboute with any lyes But whatsoeuer wauereth or doubteth the same can not be truth And whereto were a Churche of God profitable and necessary in the worlde yf she woulde wauer and be vnstable of her wordes Or institute euery daye some newe knacke nowe geue this and nowe take awaye that yea where vnto were such a God profitable that woulde teache vs so to wayuer and to doubte Theologyes of the Papistes as the Theologie of the Papistes teachet that men muste doubte of mercy Vvhereof is writteÌ„ ynough besydes For all though the Papistes in all other causes had ouercome yet be they condeÌ„ned in this Chyef Article that they teache That we muste doubte of the grace of God yf we be not worthy ynough before through oure oune satisfaction or merites intercession of saynctes There be their Bookes writtinges seales Cloysters Mynsters also yet their bayly shauen Crounes and masses to beare witnes And for as muche as they teache this Article that they stoude vpon their owne workes and doubtes as they can none other So is it euident that they muste nedes be the Churche of the deuill Wayes vnto saluation For there can be no more wayes than these two The one whiche trusteth vnto Goddes mercy The other that buyldeth vpon oure owne merites and workes The fyrst is the waye of the olde Churche and of all the Patriarkes Prophetes and Apostles as the scripture witnesseth The other is the waye of the Roomyshe Bysshop and of his Churche This can noman denye no not H.M. and all the deuills them selues There standeth as often hath ben sayde recorde Bookes Bullus Sealles Vvrittinges Mynsters Cloysters so that it may be testifyed by all the worlde And there is S. Pet. Act. iiij There is none other name geueÌ„ whereby we may be saued but onely Iesus Christ Act. iiij Agaynst this sayeth the kyng of Rattes at Rome No not so But there are many other names wherby the people muste be saued specially Myne name after that all such as I will S. Frauncys Dominyke and all propre workes that bryng in mony vnto me And lay kyng Emperour vnder fote Here is holynes saluation Christ is no more necessarye nor profitable c. Church of christ suffereth no lyes nor false doctrine But to come agayn to oure matter That the Churche of Christ dothe not lye nor deceyue must they confesse them selues in despite of their hartes Where woulde they elles become They must saye That she is a rocke Matth xvi agaynst the which hell gates can not preuayle Math. xvi Or as S. Paule gloseth the same a piller and grounde of truth i. Ti. iij. This I saye to graunte we thanke them not Euen so sayeth also the Crede of the children that she is a holy Catholyke church And S. Paull i. Cor. iij. The tempel of God is holy whiche ye are i. Co. iij But whosoeuer defyleth the temple of God hym shal God destroye Therfore can may the holy church a byde no lyes nor false doctrine But she must teache nothinge but mere holynes and truthe that is onely the worde of God And yf she teache any lye then is she cleane Idolatriouse and the whorys church of the deuill Goddes seruice of the kynges of Israel What did it profite vnto the kynges of Israel to boaste that they serued the God of Israel whiche had brought them oute of Egypte There with named and meaned they The very God of their fathers And did also obserue the whole lawe of Moyses But for as much as they besydes that did also honour Calues or Baal or at the least there with of mannes imagination Did institute newe Goddes seruice to the honour of the very true God So was it all lost For agaynste the same was Goddes coÌ„maundemeÌ„t Thou shalt haue none other God besydes me And Moyses Deu. iiij and xij had coÌ„maunded Deut. iiij xij that they shoulde not pretende any newenes or alteration or of their owne imaginatioÌ„ sayeng What soeuer I commaunde the that shalt thou do Thou shalt take nothinge from it nor put any thinge there vnto Thou shalt not tourne from it to the lefte hande nor to the righte hand That is Thou shalt neither make it better nor worse neither diminyshe nor alter any thinge Vvhereof we reade in the Prophetes in dyuers places howe that they rebuked kynges Priestes and the people because they inuented dayly newe wayes and did not abyde in the righte waye and onely pathe Onely the way vnto saluatioÌ„ is the word of God For whatsoeuer steppeth a syde froÌ„ the worde of God whiche onely is the waye as he sayeth I am the waye the truthe and the lyfe Io. xiiij appeare it as good and fayre as it maye So is it notwhitstanding doubtles errour lyes and death For it is without the word of God that is withoute the waye truthe and lyfe And what nede shoulde we haue of the worde yf we withoute the same coulde fynde wayes for oure selues Psal xxix For the worde is onely the lanterne of oure fete and the lyght of oure pathes which lighteth in the darke places of the worde as S. Peter sayeth ij Pet. i As that kepeth not the same alwayes before his eyes whither can he go elles than in darkenes So that light is in darkenes to thintent that we shoulde guyde oure selues therafter in darkenes New articles in the new papisticall churche Nowe let vs behold the newe Articles one after another which are come vp in the newe church of the Romyshe Bysshop So do we fynde that they be al withoute Goddes worde that is withoute waye truthe and lyfe onely of mannes deuotion or good semynge or of the Popes iniquite inueÌ„ted Therfore as the Papisticall churche is full of Pardons propre merites Fraternities worshippinges of saynctes monkerye masses satisfaction and suche lyke of the aboue named percelles as Goddes seruices Euen so is she therwith full of Errours lyes Idolatrye vnbeleue Murther and summa full of all deuils churches For they can not saye that the worde of God teacheth suche pointes Church can not erre But nowe that they muste confesse that the holy Catholyke Church muste be holy and a grounde of truthe withoute errour and lyes Quia Ecclesia non potest errare So muste they lykewyse confesse that they are not nor yet caÌ„ be the same holy church seynge they be full of suche abhominable errours lyes and Idolatrye But they are the very runne awaye depaâ—tinge wycked harlott of the deuill whome she followeth and serueth in suche horrible lyes But myght some simple harted soule as men calle
them saye What myght it hurte that men kept the worde of God and did suffre besydes that all these peeces or at the leaste some of them that myght be suffered lykewyse also to remayne To this I make answer They maye be called goodherted people But they be euill harted and deceyuable hartes or people For thou hearest that it can not be To teache any other thinge besydes the worde of God To serue any other besydes God besydes the lyght of God ordeyned in darkenes to lyght another It is doubteles and erronious wysshe and an errour yea although it were but one clause only For the church shoulde nor can not teache any lye or erroure No not in any poynte Yf she teache one lye then is it al false as Christe sayeth Luce. xi Luc. xi Take hede therfore that the lyght be not darkenes in the yf nowe thy body be thorouly lyghte so that it haue no part of darkenes than shal it be whole lyghte that is it must be lyght altogether and no part of darkenes there remayuynge Onely Goddes worde or trueth and no errour nor lye must the Churche teache and howe were it also possible to be otherwyse seyâ—ge Goddes mouth is the Churches mouthe And agayne God can not lye no more can the churche also ⧠Distinction betwene the doctryne and the lyfe TRuth it is to speake after the lyfe that the holy church is not withoute synne accordyng as she knowelegeth in the Pater noster forgene vs our trespasses Mat. vi And i. Iohn i. yf we saye that we haue no synne we lye and make God a lyar whiche calleth vs all synners i. Ion. i Roma iij. Psalm .xiiij. and .li. But the doctryne may not be synne nor repronable neyther is she comprehended in the Pater noster where we saye forgeue vs oure trespasses for she is not of oure doynge but euen Gods owne word which can not synne nor do vnryghtuousely Rom. iij psa xiiij Psal li. For a preacher ought not to praye the Pater noster nor to seke forgeuenes of synnes when he hath preached yf he be a ryghte preacher But he oughte to saye and boaste with Ieremye Lorde thou knowest that whatsoeuer is gone oute of my mouthe is ryghte and pleasaunt vnto the. Ier. xvij Yea he muste boldely saye with Saynte Paul and with all the Apostles and Prophetes Hec dixit dominus Hec dixit Dominus Thys hath God spoken hym selfe Et iteruÌ„ I haue ben an Apostle and a prophete of Iesu Christe in thys sermon Here is it not necessary yea not good to aske forgeuenes of synnes as though he had taught vntrewely For it is Gods word not my worde which God may or can not forgeue me but must coÌ„firme it laude it croun it saye Thou hast taught the truth for I haue spokeÌ„ by the and the word is myne Whosoeuer can not boaste thys of hys preachyng let hym ceasse from preachyng for he lyeth vndoubtedly and blasphemeth God Yf the word should be syn or vntrew where after should or could theÌ„ the lyfe be directed there should surely the one blynd leade the other fal bothe in the pitte yf the leadlyne or square rule shoulde be false what shoulde or coulde the mayster then frame thereafter There shoulde the one croked make the other without ende or measure Euen so here also can the lyfe wel be synne and vnryghteous yea alas it is to vnryghteous but the doctryne must be lyue ryght and sure withoute al synne Church teacheth onely Gods worde Therfore muste in the churche nothynge but onely the sure pure and onely worde of God be preached Yf thesame fayle then is it no more the church but the scoolehouse of the deuyl Lyke as an honest womaÌ„ as the Prophetes vse suche illusyons euermore ought to heare no more but her husbandes word within the house and to be dwarde for yf she heare any other mannes worde whiche perteyneth not to her husbandes bedde then is she surely a harlot Al these thinges are spoken to that ende that the church must onely teache Goddes worde and be sure of thesame whereby she is called the grounde and piller of trueth and buylded vpoÌ„ the rocke holy and vnrebukeable Church can not erre that is as we saye ryght and truely The church can not erre for Goddes word whiche she teacheth can not erre But whatsoâ—uer is taught otherwyse or doubted whether it be Goddes word or not thatsame can not be the churches doctryne but muste be the deuils doctryne lyes and Idolatrye For the deuyl can not saye seyng he is a lyar and the father of lyes thys sayth the Lorde But as Christ Ioh. viij sayeth Iohn viij Er proprijs Oute and of hym selfe must he speake that is lye Euen so must also al hys chyldren withoute Goddes worde speake of them selues that is lye Nowe beholde my deare frende what a wonderful thyng is it that we so surely teache Goddes worde yet be so weake and for great humilite so fearful that we do not gladly boaste oure selues That we be the churche witnesses ministers and preachers of God and that God speaketh through vs c. Notwithstandyng that we be the same vndoubtedly for so muche as we surely haue and teache hys word Thys lowelynes and fearfulnes cometh thereby that we do earnestly beleue Gods worde to be suche a glorious and excellent thyng that we knowelege oure selues to vnworthy that throughe vs suche a greate thynge shoulde be spoken and done which lyue yet in flesshe and bloude Nature of false Prophetes But oure aduersaryes deuyl Papiltes seetes and al the worlde they be bolde and vnshamefast and dare folyshely proclayme for great holynes here is God we are Gods church Ministers Prophetes and Apostles lyke as al false Prophetes haue done alwayes But lowlynes and feare in Goddes worde hath alwayes ben the ryght token of true holy church boldnes presumptuousnes in maÌ„s imagnation hath ben the ryght token of the deuyl as it may also playnely be perceyued in the papistical decrees Thys is spokeÌ„ of the doctryne whithe must be pure syncere namely the deare blessed holy and onely word of God withoute any addition But the lyfe which dayly must frame purifye sanctifyed it selfe after the doctrine is not yet al pure or holy whilest this wormes bagge flesshe and bloude lyueth Samaritane Luce. x Neuertheles whilest he is a purifyenge or sanctifyeng and stil furth suffereth hymselfe to be healed by the Samaritane and dothe not destroye hymselfe further more and more in vnclenlynes It shal be graciously for the wordes sake through the whiche he suffereth hym selfe to be clensed remitted freely and clearly forgeuen and not imputed vnto hym and muste be called cleane For thereby becommeth not the holy catholyke churche a harlot or vnholy whylest she cleaueth purely and surely to the word which is her holynes and abydeth in thesame Ye are cleane saith Christ Ioh. xv
yet of vs at this tyme inuented but it is eueÌ„ the same olde baptisme that Christe hath instituted wherein the Apostles and the primitiue church and all christians thereafter hitherto are baptised Haue we nowe thesame baptisme the first olde and as in Simbole standeth Catholice that is the hole christen church and are euen baptised in the same then belonge we surely in thesame old and hole christen church which with vs together we with her together come of one maner of baptisme is concernyng baptisme no difference Baptisme is the chiefe first sacrameÌ„t without the which al other be nothinge as thei must coÌ„fesse theÌ„ selues Therfore caÌ„ not the papistes with the trueth cal vs a new church or heretikes sence we be children of the old baptisme as wel as the Apostles theÌ„ selues the hole Christianite Eph. iiij One maner of baptisme Supper of the Lorde Secondarely wil nomaÌ„ denye this That we haue the blessed Supper of the Lorde lyke and euen as Christe hym self hath instituted And the Apostles there after and the hole Christianite hath vsed So that we eate and drynke with the vniuersall Christianite of on borde and receyue with them one maner of olde sacrament and haue therein nothing renewed nor channged Wherefore we be with them one maner of Church or as S. Paull saith i. Cor .xi. one body whiche eate of one breade drynke of one drynk i. Cor. xi Vvherfore the Papistes can not call vs heretikes or newe Churche excepte they muste call Christe the Apostles and the vniuersall Christianite heretykes before euen as they do in dede For we be with the olde Churche one Church in one Sacrament Kayes Thyrdely can noman denye That we haue the right olde kayes and vse them none otherwyse then to bynde to lose synnes that be all agaynste Goddes commaundement as Christe hath instituted them as the Apostles and the vniuersall Christianite haue vsed them hetherto And haue also one kaye vse with the olde Church wherfore we be the same olde Church or at the least in it For we make no newe keye nether make we newe lawes nether do we there with exclude kynges Princes and their teÌ„porall powers But onely shutte the synners out into the kyngdome of heauen like as the olde Churche hath done by the commaundement of the Lord where in the Papistes do falsely belye vs yea blaspheme the olde churche the Apostles and Christe hym selfe in vs. Office of preachynge Fourthely can noman denye That we haue the office of Preachinge the word of God syncerely rychely earnestly teachinge dryuynge the same without any maner of addicioÌ„s of new propre maÌ„nes tradicioÌ„s EueÌ„ as Christ hath coÌ„maunded And as the Apostles the vniuersal christianite haue done we inueÌ„te no newelties But we hold vs abyde by the olde worde of God as the old church hath hadde it Therfore be we with the same the right old Churche as one Church that teacheth beleueth one Goddes word Vvherfore the Papistes agayne blaspheme Christ hym self the Apostles And the vniuersal Christianite wheÌ„ they calle vs new heretikes For they fynd nothinge by vs but the olde fasshion of the olde Church that we be lyke vnto the same and be with her one Church Symbolum or Cred of thapostles Fyfthely caÌ„ nomaÌ„ denye That we hold beleue syng coÌ„fesse The Crede or Symbolum of the Apostles the old faith of the olde Church in al thinges lyke with her not makyng or addynge any new thinge there vnto Vvherby we perteyne in the old Church and be one with her Therfore let not this pece also be imputed vnto vs of the Papistes with the trueth as heresie and newe Church For he that beleueh and holdeth with the old Church the same is of the olde Church Prayeâ— Sixtely nomaÌ„ can denye this That we haue one lyke prayer with the old church the same Pater noster not inuentinge any new or other And synge eueÌ„ the same Psalmes with one accord of mouthe hart laudinge thaÌ„kyng God lyke as Christe hath taught the same and as the Apostles and the old Church haue vsed the same And commaunded vs to followe the same exaÌ„ple So that the Papistes agayne for this can not call vs heretikes or newe Church but they must fyrst of all blaspheme Christ hym selfe with his deare olde Churche Worldly power Seuently can noman denye That we with the olde Church bothe teache and affirme That men ought to honoure the temporall Powers and not to curse them nor yet compell them to kysse the fete of the bysshoppe of Rome Whiche also we haue not inuented of newe For S. Peter .ij. Pet. ij curseth those that should newly inueÌ„te and craâ—tely do suche thinges ij Pet. ij And S. Paull Roma xiij is on oure syde Ro. xiij And also the olde and vninersall Christianite So that in this thynge also we may not be called newe as the Papistes blaspheme God hym selfe in vs But we be perteyne in the olde holy Apostolike Churche as the right chyldreÌ„ and membres of the same For we haue taught tru obedieÌ„ce allwayes to be done vnto oure hyer powers whether it be to Emperour or Prince whiche also we haue done oureselues and haue prayed for them hartely Matrimony Eyghtely can noman denye That we â—aude and prâ—yse Matrimony as a Godly blessed and acceptable creation and ordinaunce for the frute of the body and agaynst the fylthynes of the flesshe And haue not of newe inueteÌ„ted the same by oure selues neither is the vse there of newly by vs imagined muche lesse as of newe teathers forbidden But euen as God from the beginnynge hath created and Christe confirmed The Apostles and the olde Churche haue honoured and taught the same euen in the same olde rule of Goddes institutynge haue we abyden And be therein agreable with the olde Churche yea and right kynd membres of the same So that men may see howe the Papistes agayn carnally laye vnto vs ne we fanglednes Persecution for the wordes sake Nynthly can noman denye That we haue euen the same sufferinge as S. Peter sayeth whiche oure brethren haue in the worlde we be persecuted in al parties yea slayne drowned haÌ„ged all maner of tormentes is layde vnto vs for the wordes sake it gothe with vs euen as with the olde church And be in this point aboue measure lyke vnto the same So that we may well saye Vve be the right old church or at the least her comparteners lyke fellowes in sufferinge For we do not inuente suche thinges of newe but we fele it well ynough Yea we be eueÌ„ as the olde churche is also lyke vnto the Lord Christ hym self vppon the crosse There staÌ„d before the crosse Annas and Caiphas with the Priestes and blaspheme the Lord. Also besydes that they haue crucified hym Euen lyke as the bysshoppe of Rome Cardinalles and monkes
xij Vvho hath nowe the newe offallynge Churche haue it the olde we whiche do abyde by the ryght old heade and abhorre the newe deuelysshe heade Or haue they it That worshippe the newe deuelysshe heade kysse hys fete and receyâ—e blessyng of hys two fyngers that exalte hys doctrine aboue the worde of God and honoure not the old ryght heâ—de with one knelyng yea also not oâ—es remeÌ„bre hym and hys blessynge vhich he hath purchased for vs with â—ys hole body and bloude But thys desolation is so â—…homynable and horryble Abhomination in Popery that to speake of it a littel helpeth nothynge And yet no Angels longe is able to declare it sufficiently That thynge which Goddes owne monthe nameth abhomination must nedes be a greater abhomination than all tonges can expresse Vvorshyppyng of sainctes Tenthly who hathe commaunded you to sette vp thys newe Idolatryer That ye do institute worshippyng of saynctes Canonyse saynctes ordeyne fastynges and holy dayes to honoure them euen as though they were goddes themselues that men do put theyr trust and confidence in their merites more then in Christ hymselfe and in hys bloude and merites whome you haue set forth and declared vnto vs as a iudge whome we must pacifye obteyne grace of hym by hys mother and by the intercession and merites of all saynctes with our holy seruice Churches of the heathen In so muche that youre churche in thys article is become nothynge elles then the churches of the heathen whiche worshypped Iupiter Iuno Venus Diatra and other dead persons And lyke as the Romayns in theyr citie of Rome dyd edificate a Pantheon Euen so haue ye also buylded a Pantheon that is a churche of al the deuyls Thys shal ye not fynde in the writtynges of the Apostles nor in the yonge Churches after them which in tymes past also would not suffer the Images of fayncies so that muche bloude was shed for it I omitte that they shoulde worshyppe pray to the saynctes which onely is dew to god Matrimony coÌ„deÌ„ned Eleuently who hathe coÌ„maunded you to make hys newe ioye That ye condemne and sclaunder matrimony and iudge it vncleane vncomely for goddes seruice haue ye that of the Apostles or of the primatiue old church Yes truely for S. Paul saith .i. tim iiij That ye should come vnder hypocrisye and departe and steppe a syde froÌ„ the faith old church as a very harlot of the deuyl whiche shoulde receyue suche doctryne of the deuyl and preache agaynst matrimony and yet lyue youre selues in dissemblyng chastite that is in al maner of vnclenlynes i. tim iiij Thys neweltie sewe with her noble frutes that the grounde wyl beare you no longer And God with hys iudgement hath begoÌ„ne to preasse into it to hallowe thys newe holy church euen into hel fyre And wil not be intreated to the contrary Thys knowe we Thanked be God Abuse of the teÌ„porall swoord in the papacye Twelftly who hath commaunded you to make this newnes That ye rule and warre with the worldly sweard and vse the same for the mooste parte for to shede innocent bloude Haue ye sene ye sharp eyed flitter myse that the Apostles or old churche subdued the worlde with the sworde or augmeÌ„ted the churche by battayl whence come ye then I praye you that boaste your selues successours of the old church cal vs the newe waueryng Churche which notwithstandyng holde with the olde churche and came of the same But ye came of that runne away the deuyls harlott your new murtherysh and lyenge Church Purgatorye reliques There are yet many more of those newe knackes as purgatory reliques hallowynge of churches and of suche swarmynges the hole decrees and decretall with other innumerable bokes full of cleane newe inuentions whereof the olde Churche and the Apostles neuer knewe But who is able to recyte al the multitude of this fond or duste yea poyson and deuelysshe lyes Thys shal suffise at thys preseÌ„t to shewe howe shamefully the Papipistes by theyr H. M. lye when they cal vs to newe runne away Heretical churche But that theyr broken edged sworde gothe throught theyr owne harte appeareth euideÌ„tly that they haue forsaken theyr olde Church and her olde brydegrome and are runne away from her as an archedeuils harlot whiche is not onely heretycal for that worde is to littel and to honeste for suche shameful knauerye but the Antichristishe harlot and goddes enemye yea that exalteth her selfe aboue God euen as her brydegrome would do also in heauen the deupls laste and most shamefull spouuse ij Th. ij But we for as much as we eschewe and abhorre suche deuelysshenes and newnes and holde oure selues agayn to the ryghte olde churche the virgyn and pure spouÌ„se of Christ Are we vndoubtedly the very old Church withoute all hooredome and newnes whiche remayneth hitherto vnto vs and we come of the same yea be regenerate of her as the Galathians were of S. Paul For we dyd also of late sticke earnestly in the hynder part of the hellysshe hoore the Popes newe churche which we lamente that we haue so shamefully spente so muche tyme paynes in the same denne But thankes and prayse be to God whiche of that reade blasphemous harlot hath delyuered vs. Yf yet suche newnes in the Papacye were but slyghte newne or coulde be then were they after some forte for tranquillities sake to be suffered lyke as one weareth and suffereth his newe coate But nowe cleaueth this deuelysshe poyson and infernall murther ther on The bysshop of Rome wyl haue his mennes tradicyons to be taken for goddes seruice c. That the coÌ„maundement of the churche muste be called holye Goddes seruice good lyfe spirituall conuersatioÌ„ wherein a man deserueth grace and lyfe yf he obserue it either wrath and death yf he do not obserue it This is of lyes to make trueth of the deuyl God and of hel to make heauen And contrary wyse Therfore is the popysshe church so ful of lyes deuyls Idolatrye hel murther and of all mischief that it swarmeth And it is here tyme to heare the voyce of the Angel Apo. xviij Come away from Babylon my people that ye be not partakers in her synnes that ye receaue not of her plages for her synnes are gone vp to heauen c. Apocal. xviij Image of the later iugement In tymes past where as the paynters paynted the later iudgement Payntyng of the popyshe churche thei fayned hel a great dragoÌ„s heade with a very wyde mouth wherein in the myddes of the flame stode the Pope Cardinals Bysshoppes priestes moÌ„kes Emperour Kynges Prynces all maner of men and women but no yonge chyldren I coulde not deuyse of a trueth howe the Popysshe church myght or coulde be more goodly compendiously and playnelyer paynted or descrybed for doubteles she is the deuourynge of hel where vnto she abydeth the Pope hymself and deuoureth al the world in the botomeles pit
vs against them For thus sayde Duke George of vnworthy memorye That he knewe very well that there is muche abusyon crepte into the Churche But that a lowsy freer oute of a Caue shoulde take in hande suche reformation were not to be suffered wel he confesseth doubtles not he alone that your churche is ful of abuses that is as muche as it is not the pure ryghte Churche For that shoulde be holye and pure withoute al additions I omitte withoute any abuse as the Crede sayeth I beleue one holy Catholyke Church ij So haue ye for your part altogether in the conuocation at Auspurgh desyred the Emperour to handle with the Romyshe Bysshoppe that he woulde sende no more Pardons in Douchelande seynge it is despysed Pardon Here do ye confesse your selues that youre Pardon is a despysed thynge that is an abuse and Idolatrye for yf ye dyd counte it ryght and good as a pure Goddes seruyce ye coulde not with good coÌ„science despise it despre to haue it abolished There witnesseth your conscience by your owne worde That youre church be an Idols house and vnpure whiche hath serued and yet doth serue the deuil and not God with false vyle and beggerlye Pardons iij. Thyrdly dyd euen there the Cardinal of Mentâ— say what wyl we muche dispute They haue one Article whiche we knowe and can not denye but that it is ryghte namely Matrimony and yet we can not accept the-same And though he of MeÌ„tz should neuer saye it yet are ye youre selues more so ouercome in it that many of you which wyl be the beste such thinges openly confesse Nowe tel me Thinkest thou that it is a smal deuyls whore that hathe kepte instituted taught honoured and maynteyned suche a terryble Article that is Idolatrye in her Churche that men shoulde counte Gods creatioÌ„ work ordinaunce and blessynge damnable accursed and the greatest synne What euyll more abhominable coulde the deuyll Goddes enemy hym selfe institute yf he woulde institute any thing agaynst God Howe coulde youre Church be holy by suche abhomination yea though ye alltogether hadd lyued chaste virgyns and yet hadd serued suche Idoles For God did forbidde it you as a doctrine of the deuill .i. Timo. iiij i. Ti. iiij And what frute and holynes such Idol and his Idoll seruice hath wrought in your Churches must ye your selues lament For there is Rome the Bysshoprykes the hole spiritualtie which beare witnesse yea theyr synnes haue filled heauen and earthe with abhomination and bloude shedinge Vvhere is here your holy Churche Vvhich with such abhomination so detestably is made a whore by the deuill Consilium And what haue ye done your selues that nowe ye desyre a Counsayll nowe promyse it nowe delaye it and nowe agayne saye it Is your Church holy Vvhy is the then afrayde for a CouÌ„sayll Vvhat nedeth she a reformation or Counsayll hath she nede of a Counsayll why is she holy Will ye also refourme youre holynes We for oure parte did neuer desyre a Counsayll for to refourme oure Churche For God the holy Ghoost hath by his huly worde halowed oure Churche Longe a god yea rather swepte away from it all Popysshe whoredome and Idolatrie that we haue all thinges praysed be God pure and holy The worde pure the Baptisme pure the Sacrament pure the â—eyes pure and all what soeuer belongeth to the church haue we pure and holy without all mans tradition addition and fylthynes The lyfe as aboue declared goeth not fully thereafter as we would fayne see and wys she where vpon the Prophetes and Apostles them selues also complayne But that perteyneth yonder wher as we shall be lyke vnto the Aungels How be it we desyre a counsayll for this intent That our Churche myght be hearde that oure doctrine myght come abroad freely to the light wherwith your whoredome in the Papacye myght be spyed and condemned and that euery man that there by is seduced myght be with vs conuerted to the holy Churche and increased with vs in the same But here haue ye not the pose wyth your God the deuill But ye Flyttermyse Molles Night-rauens and nyght Owles whiche can not abyde the lyght lette defende with al power crafte that it come not there to that the truth myght come to light be heard and handled Notwithstanding God goeth forwarde still and bryngeth the light as broade yea to more ye lette it to more it doth increase That at the laste ye shal be fayne to suffer it with al shame and damage And howe muche that such your fugitiue astonyed desperat eschewinge of the light doth feare vs or animate you let your owne coÌ„scieÌ„ce and hert declare vnto you For as much now I saye ye knowledge your selfe must confesse what a fylthy Churche ye haue I speake not nowe of the lyfe But of the doctrine that ye haue so manye horrible lyes and false doctrines and besydes that ye wil not leaue it So must ye consequently confesse also that ye are not the holy Churche But the deuills Curche specially suche as holde there on and compelle there to For they worshippe the deuil willingly in his lyes whylest they know that they be false Articles But suche thinges do ye euen froÌ„ the hyest the Romyshe Bysshopp downe vnto the loweste Prieste or freer This is the right kernel of the best sorte whiche ye in especiall call youre Church and what soeuer is more of your adherentes amoÌ„ge the layte For suche as be sory for it perteyne not in youre deuelysshe church But in our that is In the olde right holy churche Furthermore for so moche as we haue such your owne witnesse iudgement so can ye not calle vs heretikes or fugitiues But must geue vs right as vnto the right church whiche forsaketh suche youre knowen abhominatioÌ„ false articles And agayne knowledge youre selues as the right deuills church for so muche as of youre selfe ye fortifie and kepe knowen abhominable and false Articles and compelle there vnto That ye ought not to clay me the churches Goodes to be reÌ„dred vnto you as a spoyle But that ye are bounde all such goodes aâ—ye yet haue in your custodye as Goddes theues and church robbers to forsake And to restore and reÌ„dre them vnto the right churche And thoughe youre forehead were neuer so harde and shameles as the Prophetes saye which can not be ashamed muste ye neuertheles saye youre selues here in that such iugemeÌ„t is right For at the last shoulde also woode stones myre and donge crye oute agaynst you Whylest it can be none otherwyse But that an arraunt whore can not be on honest vertuous virgyn Therfore ought she also to be no churche rule no churche and haue no churches goodes This is the summe thereof That which is Goddes maye not be gegeuen vnto Themperour THat they more our do cal vs disobedient and causers of insurrections because that oure Prynces do not obeye TheÌ„perours Edicte or coÌ„maundemeÌ„t where in
oure Churches and doctrines are condemned There do we boaste and thanke God whiche gratiousely hath kept vs that we are not founde with you in such damnable obedience For there standeth God which forbiddeth vs saynge Eeue vnto Cesare that which is Cesares and geue vnto God that which is goddes Psal .cxv. he hath geuen the heauen vnto the Lorde But the earthe vnto the Chyldren of men heaueÌ„ or the kyngdom of heaueÌ„ goeth not to loue of the Emperour And god can not be themperours loâ—e maÌ„ But themperour ought and must be called goddes lonemaÌ„ And as Sprach sayth also God hath ordeyned to the laudes Dominions But in Israel is he Lord hym selfe God will alone hym selfe rule in the church Suche rule did he neuer geue froÌ„ hym or oute of his haÌ„d as the lx Psal witnesseth God speaketh in his holynes Therfore must ye Papistes fyghte oute this Article of Obedience with God hym selfe and not with vs and make vs certeyn and sure before that we as ye do maye geue vnto themperour that which is Goddes Or elles we will not do it But take youre sklaundrynge lyenge for great ioye where with ye beare vs witnes and knowledge that we take not froÌ„ God that which is his and geue it to themperour and so ye helpe vs with youre pestiferous lyes to boaste this trueth that we lyue not in youre accursed obedience For God hath coÌ„mauÌ„ded theÌ„perour ye all his augels and creatures that they shall teache none other worde in his kyngdome that is in his church as S. Paul Gal. i. shuteth a terrible thonderbolt sayinge yf an Angell froÌ„ heauen teache you any other thinge theÌ„ that ye haue receyued hold hym accursed Galat. i Nowe haue we aboue recyted retteyn of the innumerable newelties of other doctrine that is as S. Paull dothe here cal it Anathema accursing damnation malediction wherewith youre Popysshe newe whore and deuills church is filled Therfore can not the Emperour nor any other creatur compell vs to suche accursed obedience yea he ought to kepe hym selfe with vs from it yf he will not with S. Paules thunderbolt be accursed and strykeÌ„ into the pitte of hell God hath committed vnto themperour ynough more than he is able to execute namely the kyngedome of the earthe that is body and Goodes ther hath his office an ende Yf he aboue that layeth hande on the kyngdome of God then dothe he robbe God of his owne whiche is called Sacrelegium Sacrilege or Goddes thefte Or as S. Paul Phil ij doth name it Phil. ij RapinaÌ„ diuinitatis Yf a maÌ„ be lyke vnto God whiche he can not be the same must he inteÌ„de to robbe it For it can not be geuen vnto hym here to is an onely heyr alone he hath not robbed it nor willed to robbe it as the deuill in heauen and AdaÌ„ did in Paradys But it is geuen vnto hym froÌ„ the father euerlastingly and borne vnto hym by nature They that now do entice the good Emperour Charlles to this or do such thinge vnder his Seall be euen as holy Creatures as the Serpent in Paradys The Emperour shoulde continue vnder God And attende to the office vnto hym appoynted as wel as all Creatures For God will here that is in the churche speake alone and suffer none other Lyke that I may declare it playnely as a maryed man or a brydegrome may wil distribute many maner of offices in his house he maye call the one seruaunte Emperoure and the other kynge and committe vnto them al his goodes to this his landes to the other his vynearde Cattell fysshes raymeÌ„t money and Goodes But in the ChaÌ„ber or in the Brydes bedde maye no seruauÌ„t be found whether he be called Emperour or kynge For that is death sayeth Salo. Prouer. vi for that perteyneth onely to the brydegrom And here ought the bryde to hear nor know none other worde but onely her Brydegromes As Iohn the Baptist sayeth he that hath the bryde the same is the Brydegrome Iohn iij Euen so can wil God suffer none other besydes hym in the church There should nothinge but he hym selfe or his worde be hearde or elles shoulde she be a whore and not his Bryde By this may men will vnderstande what ye Popysshe asshes make whan ye calle vs Stirrers of Sedition because we doo not obeye with you the Emperours commaundementes Namely this doo ye make ye knowledge that we leaue the spouse of Christe immaculate to her Lorde Christe and also his bedde vndefiled 〈…〉 trewe obedient Iosephes Gene. xxxix and minister besydes in oure appointed Offices Contrary wyse that ye as the burnynge whoremongers and aduoutrers that is damnable robbers of God or heuenly Sedicioners do breake into the Lordes Bryde chamber will make of his spouse a harlott But he stryketh you with blyndnes euen as the Sodomites that ye can not fynd the dore and permitteth you therfore to fynd whores and Aduoutrers lyke vnto your selues Whiche obeye vnto you and goo to the deuill with you And SuÌ„ma as is aforesayd Fyght it oute before with God that we may heare and learne somwhat elles in the Churche contrary to Goddes worde Item that youre aboue reherserd new percels be Goddes worde And that ye are the holy Churche Then shall ye haue righte and we shall gladly be obedient what doth it preuayle I praye you That ye crye the Consequente so loude and lette the Antecedente alone For the stryâ—… is not aboute the Consequente as ye madde foules do crye But aboute the Antecedent Ponatur Ecclesia cer to et obedientia sequetur necessario E contra Non posita Ecclesia Nulla sequitur obedientia Ex natura relatiuorum Yf there be elles yet a sparkle of logyke with in you This be at this time sayde of the Churche agaynste the sclaunderous mouthe of the Papistes ⧠The thre Symboles or Confessions of the Fayth of Christe vsed in the Churche vnifourmely The Symbole of the Apostles THe fyrst Symbolum or ConfessioÌ„ of the Apostles is truely the prettyest which briefly and rightly comprehendeth the Articles of oure Faythe very goodly and is also easy to learne for the children and the symple and soundeth thus I beleue in God the father almightie maker of heauen and earthe And in Iesu Christe his onely sonne oure Lorde whyche was conceyued by the holy Ghoste borne of the virgyn Mary Suffered vnder Ponce Pilate was crucifyed dead buried And descended into hell And the thyrde daye he rose agayn from death he ascended into heauen and sitteth on the righte hande of God the father almyghtie From thence he shall come to iudge the quicke and the deade I beleue in the holy Ghoost The holy Catholyke Churche The communion of saynctes The forgeuenes of synnes The resurrection of the body And the lyfe euerlastinge Amen Symbolum Athanasij THe secoÌ„d Symbolum of Athanasius is longer settethoute more rychely and plenteously the one Article because of the ArriaÌ„s namely that Iesus