also that charitie is the Parent or Mother of faith so that in the matter of iustification charitie goeth before faithe Is not this that Antichriste that shoulde tourne the rootes of Trees upwarde 35 Christe saieth either make the Tree good and his fruit good also or els make the Tree nought and his fruite nought also meanyng that the Tree shoulde bee 〈◊〉 good and thā bring forth good fruit The fruite maketh not the Tree good but the Tree doth make the fruite good although we can not know that the Tree is good but by his fruites For we can iudge nothyng but by his outwarde operation yet God seeth the quickenesse that is in the roote whiche in the tyme that GOD hath appointed hym shall bryng forth his fruite and approueth the Tree to be good although it seemeth dead vnto vs The Tree is faithe whiche is the mother of al good workes and euer worketh by charitie whensoeuer occasion is offered And for this cause is a faithfull man in the Psalmes compared to a Tree planted by the riuers syde which yeldeth and bringeth forth her fruite in her time 36 Christe comaundeth that the poore should bee bidde too dinner and that wee should geue to the needy and so laye vp treasure for our selues in heauen Antichrist sommoneth and citeth them bee they neuer so poore not regardyng their lette and aduersitie but he curseth them if they come not at the time appointed and if they come they go away sorier and sicker both in Soule and Purse then they came 37 Christe teacheth that wee should not sweare at al but that we should vse in our communication to affirme yea and to deny naye For whatsoeuer is more commeth of euill Antichrist saieth if any man will receaue any Office vnder vs hee shall bee sworne before that he will be true faithfull and iuste vnto vs If any manne also haue any thyng to doe in his Courtes he must first of all sweare by God and by the holy Gospell that this or that is true againe that hee shall truely and faithfully aunswere to all suche thynges as shall be required of hym 38 Christ commaunded his Disciples to knowe his Lawe and badde the Iewes searche the Scriptures And Moses exhorted the Israelites to teache the Lawe of God to their young children and that they should haue it bounde as a signe in their handes that it might be euer before their eyes he caused them also to write it on the postes and doores of their houses Antichrist saith it is not meete for the lewde people to knowe the Misteries of Gods woorde but to beleue as Mother holy churche teacheth them without any further inquisition yea he maketh it Heresie and Treason againste Kynges and Princes to knowe Christe or his Lawes He hath digged Cesternes of his owne traditions and hath stopped vp the pure fountaynes of Christes doctrine He can not abyde that the Laity should reade the Scripture least they should perceaue his iuglyng neither can hee suffer that the Scriptures should bee painted either in publique Temples or in priuate houses The blinder the people be the warmer is his Kitchin. 39 Christe taught his disciples on this wise if thy brother trespasse against thee goe and tell hym his faulte betwene hym and thee alone If he heare thee thou hast wonne thy brother But if he heare thee not then take yet with thee one or twoo that in the mouthe of twoo or three witnesses euery matter maie bee stablished If he heare not them tell it vnto the congregation If he heare not the congregation let hym be vnto thee as an Heathen man and as a Publicane Antichriste vseth an other kynde of doctrine For if any offende and displease hym he will straight waies suche is his burnyng charitie caste them into prison there to remaine in hard and cold yrons to make theim to reuoke the truthe contrary to the truthe and contrary to their owne conscience and so at the laste too graunte to his will. But if he bee strong through the Spirite of GOD without whom no man is able to stande in suche a case and will not forsake the truthe then after long and many moste greuous tormentes secretely ministered to those constant and faithfull Martyrs of Christ at the laste he bryngeth foorthe accuseth iudgeth condemneth and in fine deliuereth to the temporall officers as to their Butchers and hangmen to bee burnte at a stake vnto ashes As for that charitable reconciliation that our Sauiour Christ gaue in commaundemente vnto as many as take vpon them to bee his Ministers he vtterly refuseth and will none of it 40 Christe saieth If thou wilte bee perfecte goe and sell all that thou haste and giue it to the poore and thou shalte haue treasure in heauen Antichriste saieth If thou wilte bee perfecte giue me thy money and I will giue thee a Pardon by the vertue whereof thou shalte bee absolued a paena culpa and make thee as cleane as that daie thou were borne Yea I will for thy money giue thee the keyes of heauen gates so that thou shalt enter in without any stop 41 Christ saieth Ye are my freendes if ye do those thinges that I cōmande you Antichriste saieth Ye shall dooe as I commaunde you For I haue power and authoritie to make lawes and after them shall ye liue 42 Christ saieth When ye haue doen al thynges that I haue cōmaunded you yet saie that ye are vnprofitable seruauntes Antichrist saieth Doe those thinges that I commaunde you and take a sure cōscience vnto you that ye are righteous in the sight of God haue deserued heauen yea if you doe all that I commaunde you ye shall not onely haue good workes enough wherewith to saue your selues but also to saue other And these woorkes are called Opera supererogationis As for myself though I doe neuer so wickedly so that through my wicked and leude behauiour I bryng many thousandes with me into damnation yet maie no man rebuke me but call me the mooste holieste Father 43 Christe saieth Whosoeuer breaketh one of the leaste of my commaundementes he shal be called the least in the kyngdome of heauen Antichriste roareth out and saieth What haue I to doe with Christes lawe I am subiecte to no lawes but all lawes are obedient to me and to my power By this meanes Antichrist doeth but seldom right but is alwaie against the right yea and against his owne lawe also as often as menne bryng him money For that loueth he aboue all thynges 44 Christe saieth Blessed are the peace-makers for thei shall bee called the sonnes of God. Antichriste saieth Blessed are they that fight and goe together by the eares for the defence of sainct Peters patrimonie for thei shall bee called the children of our Mother holie Churche 45 Christe saieth Woe bee to you that laugh now for ye shall
I sent them not and they ran 13 Christe although called of God vnto the office of preachyng and annointed with the Oyle of gladnesse that is to say the holy ghost aboue his fellowes fel not streight waies vnto preaching but sequestyng himselfe from the company of all men gaue himselfe by the space of fortie daies and forty nightes to fastyng and praier that he might be the more able to fulfill that worke wherunto God had called hym vnto the glory of gods most glorious name and vnto the profit of his holy congregation Antichrist after he hath thruste hymself into the ministerie rashly and without any aduisement vnworthely and without any due preparation vnto so worthy mysteries as a filthy Sowe and vomityng dogge taketh in hand the diuine offices geuyng hymself neither to praier nor yet to fastyng but rather to carnall pleasure and beastly belly chere nothyng caryng for the glory of God nor for the profit of his people so that he may liue wealthily and accordyng to the lustes of the fleshe 41 Christe in the tyme of his fastyng and praier was greuously tempted of Sathan and of the infernall army whom all hee mightely and valeauntlie ouercame with the moste mightie and valeaunt armoures of Gods worde Antichrist as he neuer fasteth and prayeth a right so is he neuer tempted of sathan for the probation and triall of hys faith and constancie as one that is already in Sathans nettes and in his possession as a moste miserable slaue and vile paysaunt And if at any tyme he will defende himselfe against Sathan and suche like wicked spirits he fleeth not vnto the worde of God but vnto holy water holy Bread holy palmes holy candels holy fyre c. 15 Christe when he beganne to preache preached repentaunce and faith Antichrist preacheth penance and faith in his Pardons and bulles for the remission of sinnes 16 Christ by his preachyng brought the people out of darkenes into light Antichrist through his sermons bringeth his hearers out of the light of gods woorde into the damnable darkenes of mens trifelyng tradicions 17 Christe confirmed his doctrine with true and most certaine miracles Antichrist ascertaineth his teachyng with false signes and fained wonders â–ª 18 Christe painefully trauailed into many diuers countreyes to preache Gods worde sekyng the saluation of all men Antichrist sitteth at home in his palace vpon his fine Cushins and Carpets both gorgiously and gloriously not seekyng other mennes saluation but his owne ease and promotion 19 Christe that the moe with the more expedition might be conuerted and turned vnto the faith of GOD and vnto his holy Religion did chose vnto him twelue Disciples Antichrist to enlarge his kingdome taketh vnto hym innumerable swarmes of Hipocrites as Cardinals Patriarches Archebishops Bishops Priestes Deacons Subdeacons Monkes Friers Chanons Heremites Anckers Archedeacons Commissaries Officials Pardoners Proctours Doctours Scribes Lawyers Sonmners Apparitours Inquisitours Accusatours Persecutours Traitours Condemners false Prophetes liyng preachers relique sellers soule cariers purgatory rakers Massemongers sainct worshippers workselles pilgrimage goers Idolatours Transubstantiatours Breadhonorers Traditionaries Papistes c. 20 Christ did choose such to be his Disciples and Preachers of his heauenly fathers will as were maried and had wiues and children Antichriste admitteth none vnto his priestishe orders but suche ars are wiuelesse and professe for euer after to leade a single and vnmaried life 21 Christe chosed Disciples to this end that they should be Preachers Antichrist chooseth his shauelynges to be Massemongers Sacrificers Purgatory rakers charmers and Coniurers of vncleane spirites of Deuils of Salt of water of bread of waxe of palmes c. 22 Christ would haue his disciples knowen by the fruites of the holy Ghost Antichrist hath his Chaplens knowen by docking and douking by smering and shauyng by massyng and mattensyng by tippetyng and gownyng c. 23 Christ commaunded hys Disciples to preache repentaunce and remission of sinnes in his name to all nations Antichrist commaundeth his Shauelinges to saye Mattens Masse and euensong to sing for soules in purgatory to heare confessions to enioyne penaunce to giue absolutions to halow the font c. 24 Christ confirmed the doctrine of his disciples with workyng of miracles Antichrist stablisheth the teachyng of his Chaplens with the terrible and greuous thunderbolt of excommunication with imprisonmente with persecution with sworde fagot fyre halter c. 25 Christe sendyng forth his disciples to preache commaunded theim to doe their office freely that is to say to preache and to heale the sicke for nothyng saiyng vnto them Freely ye haue receaued freely giue Antichrist and his birdes are like vnto Iudas For they all doe so well loue the purse that without money a man can get nothyng of them They blesse they curse they sing they say they patter they praie they mumble they rumble they tumble they iumble they talke they walke they bleare they bleat they fast they eate they talke they walke and what not And all for money according to the common prouerbe no peny no Pater noster 26 Christ when he sent forth his Disciples to preache said vnto them Beholde I send you forth as shepe among wolues For in the world ye shall haue trouble Antichrist sendeth forth his Trumpet blowers as wolues among shepe readie to kill flea and murder if any withstand their Antichristian doctrine The world hateth them not but loueth them derely bicause they are of the world and speake of the world 27 Christ pronounced them blessed that are poore and he himselfe was so poore that he had not where to rest his head beyng in this behalfe much inferiour to the birdes of the ayre whiche haue their nestes and to the foxes of the earth whiche haue their holes Antichrist whiche calleth hymself christes vicare and Peters successour agreyng with theim in doctrine and maners as Beliall with Christ and Sathan with God hateth and abhorreth suche as are poore and without money as people nothyng meete to bye his merchandise Antichrist himselfe is so riche and hath such abundance that he is able to compare in substaunce with worldlye Princes and earthly potestates He shameth not to say Rome is myne Cecilia is myne Corcia is myne The whole empire is mine And in his lousy lawes and deuelishe decrees he commaundeth that if any man either of lowe or high degree presume to take any of the Churche goods he should be withstanded not onely with the spirituall but also with the temporall sword And if any chaunce to dye for the defence of mother holy Church goods he affirmeth plainly that they dye a blessed death and shall obtaine life euerlasting O Antichrist This Antichriste had rather haue the bloud of many thousandes both moste cruelly and vniustly shed than he would loose one of his worldly
breathed vpon his disciples and gaue theim the holy ghoste saiyng Take ye the holy ghoste that they beyng endued with his Spirite might brynge forth the fruites of the same and be therby knowen to his Apostles Antichrist doth breath the spirit of Sathan into his shauelinges and will that they shall be knowen to be his chaplaines by their long gownes shauen crownes horned cappes flaryng tippets c. 119 Christ sent forthe his disciples for to preache vnto all nations Antichrist sendeth forth his chaplaines to be Massemongers soule cariers Purgatory rakers Godmakers coniurers of salte water bread fyre c. 120 Christ commaunded his disciples to preache not mennes traditions but the Gospell that is to say repentaunce and remission of sinnes in his name to all creatures Antichrist commaundeth his praters to set forthe to the people his lawes and decrees and to entermedle them with tales out of Legenda aurea and narrations out of Festiuall Martyrologe c. He sendeth forth also his Pardoners to publike fables and lyes vnto the people and therto graunteth he Letters and Seales and many daies of Pardon and all for money 121 Christ willed his disciples to say vnto their hearers that whosoeuer beleueth and is Baptised he shall be saued But he that beleueth not shall be damned Antichrist commaundeth his Trompetters too blowe abroad into the eares of the people that whosoeuer will buye his pardons shall be absolued a paena culpa toties quoties and then must he needes be saued And he that teacheth otherwise is an heretike This his Bulles and Pardons do plainly testifie 122 Christe charged his Disciples diligently to teach the people to obserue and kepe those thynges that he commaunded theim and so doyng he promised to bee with thē vnto the very ende of the world meanyng not bodily but ghostly Antichrist giueth a great charge to his Chapelaines to inculcke and beate into the peoples heades vnder paine of deadly synne and euerlastyng damnation the keepyng of his Canons and Lawes and in so dooyng he promiseth to assiste them continually with the Spirite of Errour and falshode 123 Christe a little before his Ascension into the Kyngdome of his Father gaue a greate charge to Peter and his fellowe Apostles that thei with al diligēce should feede his Lambes and Sheepe with the moste wholsome pasture of his most swete woorde saiyng Pasce pasce pasce Feede feede feede Antichriste giueth straight commaundemente to his Captiues that thei shall poison the people with the Pharisaicall Leauen of his Lawe and by no meanes teache them the truthe of Gods woorde least thei should spie out his falsehod and aboue all thynges plaie Tolle Tolle Tolle Poll Poll Poll pill pill 124 Christe commaunded his Apostles not to departe from Ierusalem but to waite for the promes of the Father Antichrist thrusteth forthe into the ministerie his Greaslynges and Shauelinges without any consideration or motiō of Goddes Spirite If thei can Masse it or Mattens it he careth for no more 125 Christe when he should departe and goe vp into Heauen lifted vp his hande and blessed his Apostes that is to say wished well vnto them Antichrist lifteth also vp his hāde and blesseth the people that is to saie waggeth his fingers ouer them But whether he curseth or blesseth that is vncertaine 126 Christe by the power of his Deitie Ascenden into heauen perfecte God and perfect man. Antichrist through the multitude of his moste detestable synnes and vile wickednesse descendeth into hell bothe body and soule and hath his portion with Idolatours Witches Theefes Adulterers Whoremongers cursed speakers c. in that Lake that burneth with Fire and Brimstone where he and all his shall bee tormented with moste intollerable paines worldes without ende Hetherto of the life of Christe and of Antichriste ¶ Of the doctrine of Christe and of Antichrist FIrste Christe saieth that he came for this purpose into the worlde euen to testifie beare witnesse of the truth and that his woorde is the Truthe Againe that the holie Ghoste shall leade vs into all Truthe hereby manifestly declaryng that in his holie woorde is contained sufficiente doctrine for our saluation as saincte Paule saieth All Scripture giuen by inspiration of GOD is profitable to teache to improue to amende and to instructe in righteousnesse that the manne of GOD maie bee perfecte and prepared vnto all good woorkes Likewise saied the woman of Samarie to Christe I knowe that Messias shall come whiche is called Christ When he is come he shall tell vs all thynges And the Apostle in his exhortation to the Elders of Ephesus said I haue kepte nothyng backe that was profitable vnto you c. Againe I haue shewed you all thynges Antichriste saieth that though it bee truthe that is contained in the Bible yet all truthe necessarie to saluation is not there to bee founde but there are other truthes as necessarie to bee beleued vnder paine of damnation as those that bee contained in the holie scripture and thei bee called vnwritten verities He saieth moreouer that his Decrees and Lawes are necessarily to bee kepte as the Commaundementes of God and addeth moreouer that thei bee of equall aucthoritie with the worde of God. 2 Christe saieth that no man can come vnto hym except his Father drawe hym Againe that all shall bee taught of God Signifiyng hereby that no man can vnderstand and perceiue the misteries contained in the woorde of God excepte thei bee reueled and opened vnto hym by the Spirite of God whiche alone is the aucthour thereof for asmuche as a naturall manne can not come vnto the vnderstandyng of those thynges that belong vnto the Spirite of God. And as sainct Peter saith that the Scripture is not a priuate interpretation that is to saie not to bee expounded after the iudgemente of reason and as euery man of his owne braine fantaketh but as GOD is the alone aucthour of the worde so is the true vnderstandyng thereof to bee begged of God alone by feruent praier and by diligente conference of the scriptures Dauid consideryng this praied to God on this maner Open thou myne eyes that I maye see the wonderous thynges of thy lawe Make me to vnderstande the waie of thy Commaundementes and so shall I talke of thy wonderous woorkes O learne me true vnderstandyng and knowledge O giue me vnderstādyng that I may learne thy commaundementes c. And Sainct Paule writyng to Timothe saieth God giue thee vnderstandyng in all thynges Antichriste saieth that the interpretation of the Scripture hangeth of the iudgement of the Fathers and old auncient writers and of the aucthoritie and consente of the Churche of Rome whiche is the true Churche and mother of all churches and can by no meanes erre without the approbation of the whiche no interpretation of the Scripture can bee good and catholike 3
wepe and lament Antichrist saieth Blessed are thei that make mery and take no thought for thei are sure to haue a good and ioyfull portion in this worlde 46 Christe saieth My kyngdome is not of this worlde Antichriste saieth My kyngdome is of this worlde The Emperour with his Empire the Kyng with his kyngdome the Duke with his Ducherie and all other with al that euer thei haue are mine and at my commaundemente Yea my kyngdome is not onely in this worlde but also in Heauen and in Purgatorie yea and in Hell also For euen out of Hell doe I deliuer damned soules by the vertue of my Masses and the paines of diuerse there also doe I mitigate by thynges doen at myne appointemente Thus am I lorde of Heauen of Hell of Yearth of Purgatorie 47 Christe saieth that no man can come to hym that is to saie beleue in hym excepte his heauenly Father by his holie Spirite drawe hym Antichrist saieth If any will not beleue Fire Fagotte Sworde and Halter shall make hym to beleue 48 Christe by his holy Apostle teacheth that a Bishoppe whiche ought to bee the seruaunte of the Lorde Christe muste bee quiet and gentle no fighter nor tyraunte but suche one as is readie to enfourme suche as doe erre and with wholsome doctrine to reduce theim vnto the waye of truthe Antichriste commaundeth that suche as are Bishoppes should bee stoute and sturdie and couragious in the defence of his doctrine If any bee stubborne and will not relente his will is not that they should refourme hym by the woorde of GOD wherof the greatest part of them hath no knowledge at al but handle them accordyng to the Decree of his Lawe whiche is to burne them It maie not be considered whether the matter be right or not Nos habemus legem secundum legem nostram debet mori 49 Christ commaunded in his doctrine that the Tares whiche grow emong the Wheate should not bee plucked vp but suffered to grow vntil the Haruest come when the Wheate shall bee gathered of the Reapers into the barne and the Tares shall bee burnte with vnquencheable fire Antichriste cleane contrary behaueth hymself For the good Wheate he plucketh vp and burneth and the Tares he suffereth still to growe By the good wheate I vnderstande the true and faithfull Preachers of Goddes worde and so many as vnfeignedly embrace and professe the sincere pure religion of christ These as his moste extreame enemies Antichrist persecuteth apprehendeth accuseth iudgeth condemneth and giueth ouer to the Seculare power with fire to bee consumed vnto ashes By the Tares I meane Tyrauntes Persecutours of Goddes truthe commonly called Inquisitours Canonistes Scotistes Hypocrites Monkes Friers Chanons Nonnes Arkers Ankresses Uotories Uowesses Pardonners Proctours Promotours Purgatorie rakers Massemongers Pilgrimage gadders and all other supersticious and vngodlie people These as his moste deare and tender freÌ„des he kisseth and culleth he promoteth and auaunceth vnto high dignities promotions Bishoprickes Cardinalshippes Archedeaconries Prebendes Parsonages c. and diligentely watcheth as a moste diligente watcher and Pastour ouer his flock that no crosse no aduersitie no misfortune no trouble chaunce vnto them but all game and glee all sporte and comforte all ioye and solace c. 50 Christe taught not his owne but his Fathers doctrine and what he receiued of his heauenly Father that taught he to the people Antichriste setteth naughte by the worde of GOD excepte it bee to colour his wicked tyrannie withall He teacheth his owne deuilishe Decrees and triflyng Traditions and enforceth the peoplâ— euen with violence to followe them 51 Christe would haue his doctrine no further beleued then it did consente and agree with Moses the Psalmes and the Prophetes Antichrist will haue his Traditions and Constitutions beleued and obeyed though Moses and the Prophets Christ and his Apostles should saie naie For thei bee of no further aucthoritie then it shall please hym to limite and appointe 52 Christe saieth Learne of me â–ª For I am humble and meeke Antichrist saieth ye that belong vnto me muste bee stoute and lustie For I your Lorde am lustie and stoute in all quarters rounde aboute neither will I loute or stoupe either to Kyng or Kesar Yea whom it pleaseth me I will exalte and aduaunce and at my pleasure will I hym againe depose All without exception yea the verie Angelles also in heauen shall obeye me and accomplishe my commaundement 53 Christe entreatyng of Fastyng appointeth no certaine daies or tymes but leaueth it free to all that professe his holy Lawe that thei maie faste when occasion is offered and when the Spirite of God moueth theim yea and that after suche sorte as thei bee taught in the woorde of God that is to saie to mortifie their carnall affectes to subdue the bodie to the spirite and to spare out of our owne beallies that wee maie haue the more liberally to giue vnto the poore accordyng to this commaundemente of GOD by the Prophete Breake thy breade to the hungrie and leade the needy waifaryng man into thy house When thou seest a naked man couer hym and despise not thy flesh Antichriste prescribeth certain daies to bee fasted yea and that vnder paine of euerlastyng damnation as the tyme of Aduent Lent Embryng daies Saincts euens c. All these daies must bee fasted of all maner of people that bee twelue yere olde and vpwarde 54 Christe saieth My house is the house of Praier Antichriste saieth My house is the house of money He that bryngeth not money commeth not in there neither is there any place for hym 55 Christe saieth The Kyngdome of God commeth not with waityng for that is to saie with outwarde obseruaunces and externall ordinauÌ„ces at the appointment of men For beholde the kyngâ—â—me of God is within you Antichrist saieth Weare this cappe or that Caule this graie habite or that white habite Professe this rule or that rule Faste this day or that daye Bye this Pardon or that PardoÌ„ c. and thou shalt be saued 56 Christ saieth If any man saye vnto you Loe here is Christ or there beleue it not For there shall arise false Christes and false Prophetes and shall shew great wonders and miracles insomuche that if it were possible the verie electe should be deceaued Beholde I haue tolde you before Wherefore if they saye vnto you Beholde he is in the deserte goe not ye forthe Beholde he is in the secrete places beleue it not Antichrist saieth Loe here is Christe at this Altare and at that Altare in this Priestes hande and that Priestes hande in this Pixe and that Pixe in this Boxe and that Boxe Come and see thy Maker Worshippe hym meekely kneelyng vppon thy knees Holde vp thy handes vnto hym This is he that killed thy father This is the Aplemaker of Kente If thou wilte not beleue that this is thy Maker thou shalt burne for it without redemption