Answer to the Devilish Detection of the Bishop of Winchester, Treatise · Part 3
¶ A declaracion of the true churche, what, ſorte of people hauehave bene the ſame church euen from the beginninge.
TO trie therfore, thys true churche, which hath cōtinued in the doctrine (not of the fleſhe) but of the ſpirite euen frō the the beginninge Who, alſo did not knowe any other waye to heauen then Chriſte: not eaten (fleſhe, bloud and bones) but hoped for and beleaued vponupon to be the light of the heathen, the glorie of Iſraell, and the ſaluacion of the whole worlde. That like as by fleſhe and by man (euen the firſte man Adam) all the worlde was loſte and deade: ſo by Chriſte, takinge the fleſh of man (named the ſecound Adame) all ſhoulde be ſaued and hauehave life.
Vnderſtande, that the true church hath alwayes had this belife of Chriſte. Firſte that he was to come, and nowe that he is come in the fourme of mā, & in none other fourme of any other creature. And thys church, though it were alwaies a little flocke, as Chriſt our heade calleth it: yet was it neuer deſtitute either of thys ſpiritual knoweledge, or yet of trwe teachers and maintainers of the ſame.
But God, allwaies of his goodnes, hath God hath neuer forſaken his church.continually ſtirred vp his faithful witneſſes of his trueth, to the cōdēnacion of the world, whiche canne go no farther then the fleſhe leadeth.
Firſte had we Adame, who liued many yeres after Abel was ſlaine, and taught hys poſteritie of this ſede promiſed by God. For he perceiued by the death of thys innocent, that▪ a lambe ſhould be ſlaine (as Iohn ſayth he was Nain euen from the beginuing of the worlde) and dyd firmely belieue, becauſe of the promiſe made, that by the ſede of the womā, and none other creature, the heade of the ſerpent ſhould be broken. After theſe we had Seth, Enoch, Mathuſalem, Noe and Sem.
After them, or rather in the time of Sem, ſo ſone as wickednes did beginne to ſpringe againe: God ſent faithful Abraham & taught him the ſacrifice of his ſōne Chriſt. In whom (taking the nature of man, and ſo offred a ſacrifice vntounto his father, leſt we ſhould ſeke any other ſacrifice but Chriſt comeyng in the fleſh, and dieyng for vsus in the ſame) the true faith, hath this only foundacion.
Than folowed Iſac, Iacobe and Ioſephe Men taken forth of their own kinredes and Marke how God prouided his churche of true preachers…ontries, and but a fewe and ſmal numbre in regarde of the greate multitude that myght be laied againſt thē, if any multitude might appres the truth, yet did they ſpread & leaue behinde them the true trade of the ſpirituall worſhip of God and full truſt in him onelyonly vntounto the worldes foloweinge. Than whan Ioſeph was almoſt forgottē (not of the faith full but of the Egiptians) God ſtirred vp Moyſes, and he teacheth plainely, that the lorde ſhal raiſe vp a man, euen like him, and he that wyll not heare hym, ſhall dye.
Thus teacheth he lyfe by the ſpiritual▪ eating of Chriſte, that is to ſaye, by the hearinge of his worde and receiueinge hym into oure hertes by ſaieth, acknoweledgeing, that by the deathe of hys fleſhe, all fleſhe liueth. Yet for all the wonderfull worckes that this Moſes wroughte, for al the plain teacheinges that he taughte, ſo that he was worthyly called the faithfull miniſter of the houſe of God: onelyonly Ioſue, and Caleb, are alowed of God, amonge the greate nombre of manye thouſandes that Moyſes led, that it maye clearely appeare, that many are called, and fewe founde fayethfull witneſſes of Fewe are found faythfull.the trueth to his choſen churche, which hangeth onelyonly on the hande of the liueinge God not regardeing fleſhe or any outward thing but onelyonly the worcke of the ſpirite and the promiſe to be perfourmed bi Chriſt (GOD and manne) in all thynges.
After all theſe, God ſterred vp Gedeon, (the beater downe of Idolatrie) and other ſuch iudges vntounto the time of Samuel, Dauid and Elias, who made hys complainte ſayeinge, Lorde, they hauehave deſtroyed thine altares, and ſlayne thy Prophetes, and I am lefte alone, and they ſeke my life. In this mannes ſteade was Eliſeus taken from the … low, to be an erneſt witneſſe. After him folowed Eſaias, and ſtreighte after him Hiere…ias. Than Daniell and after hym Zacharias, Onias, and the faythfull wittneſſes of the Machabees. Than Simion, Zacharias, and Iohn Baptiſte, who alwayes called vppon the liuing God, and truſted vponupon hym: ſo that no manne can deny me but that thys your God impanate, is your God onelyonly, whom our fathers knewe not at any time Worthy therfore, is he to be ſtoned to death that teacheth anye ſuche newe God to the poſterietie.
All theſe had the ſame ſpirituall meate and the ſame ſpirituall drincke for the refreſhing of their ſoules, that we nowe hauehave: becauſe they were of the true church whereof Chriſt is the heade, of whom (as of the firſt begotten) all ſpirituall kinreddes hauehave theyr begin ninge, who commynge downe from oure heauenlye father dyd declare hym ſelfe to be the hed corner ſtone of the true church, thoughe the byſhoppes refuſed hym in their buildeinge.
And when he aſcended vp agayn, leading capteyue wyth hym, captiuitie hyrſelfe: he Eph. iiii.gaue gyftes vntounto menne, makynge one ſorte Apoſtles, an other ſorte Prophetes, ſome other Euangeliſtes, ſome Shepeherdes, and …eachers. Theſe onelyonly be appointed to be the miniſters of his church in the new teſtament that they ſhoulde all together in ſpirite and trueth, boeth worſhip him and cauſe other to do the ſame, for the ſpirite is the worcker of al, diuiding to eueri one as pleaſeth him.i. Corh. xii.
The bodye of thys churche then, is not one membre, as of long tyme you hauehave named your ſelues onelyonly to be the church, but it is many membres, as the Apoſtle witneſſeth, amonge the whyche membres, I feare me you ſhall not bee worthy to be numbred onles you do amende your life, ſo contrarie to Chriſt the heade of this churche. For thys churche hath he begotten vntounto hym ſelfe by his worde, as the parent and onelyonly mother therof: that it ſhould be without ſpot or wrinkle, gloriouſe, holy, and without blame, and eſpecially, ſaithe, Paul, the biſſhope muſte be i. Corh. iiii, Eph. v. i. Tunoth. iii. iiii. T…tus. i.ſuch a one that no man ſholde find, any faute with him. Thus writethe he to his dearely beloued Timothe and Titus: makinge it moſte euident and playne vntounto vsus, that you biſhopes & preſtes, teachinge for your gaine ſake, or els teachinge nothinge at all: are not the true byſhopes and members of the true churche, but the hierlinges and hypocrites, that hauehave no parte in the Kyngdom of God and his Chriſte, who dyd come▪ pore, not hauinge wher to laie his heade, and dyd chuſe pore ſheperdes to be his firſt witneſſes, and after them fiſhers, toulers, and tentmakers, And the words that he ſpake to his diſciples are far ouer harde for you byſhopes to bear Who ſo doeth not (ſaieth he) for ſake father Mathe. x. Luke. xiiii.mother, goodes, lyfe, and al together for my ſake and the Goſpell: can not be my diſciple
Moreouer, wher as the biſhops of the Iewes Iereme. vii. Mathe. xx.and chife prieſtes doe crie Tēplum domini, Templum domini, As thoughe they them ſelues and none other were the true church: Chriſte anſwereth that the ſonne of man ſhalbe betraied to the chief prieſtes and they ſhall condemne hym vntounto the death, ſo that they were none of the trwe churche, thoughe they were of the ſeéde of Leui, to whome the gouernance▪ of the churche was promiſed and performed. In like maner you, ſo longe as you perſecute Chriſte hys members and burne his worde: crie you holie church neuer ſo much, you ſhalbe no more of the true churche then▪ they were For ther is all one worcke and purpoſe in you boeth, that is to ſaye, to miantayne your pompe and eſtimacion, your powre and your holyneſſe before the people. But now is the time come that the thing which▪ was moſt holy in the ſight of the world (as you & your iewels Luke. xvi.hauehave bene) ſhalbe abominable▪ vntounto God.
Yet one other thing, nothinge pleaſaunte to your lordlike ſtomakes. He that wilbe the cheife in this church muſt be the ſeruante of al, Like as the ſonne of manne did come, not that he ſhulde hauehave ſeruice done vntounto hym: Luke. xx.but that he him ſelfe ſhuld ſerue, and giuegive his ſoule for many.Learne to knowe the membres of chriſtes churche, A…to. …i.
As many therfore, as we finde agreable withe this heade Chriſt, as were the. xij. Apoſtles and all the true diſciples, who continued together in the breaking of breade and praier, acceptinge none of the poſſeſſions of this worlde as their owne, but makinge all that was theirs commune to the neceſſitie of their brothers: we eſteme to be the true and faiethful membres of this church. Paule alſo, geueinge him ſelfe (for the Goſpell) to be impriſoned, ſtoned and ſlayne: was of thys churche. Stephane alſo, ſtoned for the defence of GOD his glorie, and Antipas, the true and fayethfull witneſſe of Chriſt, ſlaine at Pergamis, Ignatius the ſcholar of Iohn, who ſuffred for the Goſpel. Ignatius I ſaié, Who ſo erneſtly deſired the breade of God the heauēly bread of life, whiche is the fleſh of Ieſu Chriſt, the ſonne of the liuing God who was borne in the laſt ende of the world of the ſeede of Dauid and Abraham, and deſyred to drincke the bloude of hym that is wythout corruption, and the life euerlaſting All theſe, I ſaye we knowe to be the lyuelye membres of Chriſtes true churche, but not theſe onelye whiche ſufferred vnderunder the Romiſhe tirantes: but theim alſo the whiche in al countreis and at al tymes hauehave witneſſed and ſuffered for the trueth▪ of God his word for all are created for hys glorye, and God hath not at any tyme or in any place ben altogether without hys witneſſes, if the world woulde receiue theim. He ſente into oure na…ion, Ioſephe of Aramathia. He ſtirred vp Gildas, he enſtructed the plowemen o… kent and other contries of whome we hauehave the monumentes.
After warde dyd he ſende Robert Groſheade, who boeth by worde and by writinge dyd rebuke the worlde of blynde iudgement Then came the greate clarke, that wrate ſo mani godli bokes, Iohn Wicklife, of whoſe Fire can not preuaile againſt God.workes though Subincolepus the biſhop of Prage, did bren to the uombre of two hundred: yet are ther manie of them reſerued vn to thys daye, by the prouiſion of God, to the cōfuſion of the kingdome of Antichriſt, & cleare teſtimonie that the worlde before vsus, hath not ben vtterly deſtituted of true know ledge, thoughe frome tyme▪ to tyme whan the lyghtte hath come into the worlde, the kingdome of darckenes, the children of prid… hauehave loued darkeneſſe better then light, and therfore hauehave laboured to extinguiſhe it and hauehave prohibited theſe bright, ſterres to geu… lighte, ſaue onelye to a fewe whome he had choſen and longe a fore appoynted, euen to the weake abiectes and caſte awaies in the ſight of the world, of the whyche ſorte, parte were ſlaine, and part liued vnknowne to the worlde, for this litle flocke euen from the beginninge, hath not bene of the wife and ſtout worldely men: and therefore ſayeth Chriſt I thanke the father that thou haſte hid theſe Luke. x.thynges frome the wyſe and prudent, and haſte ſhewed the ſame to littleones ſmallye regarded. And Eſaie ſaieth, I wyll deſtroie the wiſedome of the wiſe, and the vnderſtā ding Eſai. xxix.of the prudent wyl I caſte awaye. And agayne. Where is the wiſe: Where is the ſcribe and interpreter of the law? wher is the Eſai. xxxiii.diſputer of this worlde? Hath not the Lorde made folyſhe the wiſdome of this worlde? For after that the worlde by hir wyſedome, could not know God, in his wiſdom: it pleaſed god by the foliſheneſſe of preachinge, to i. Corh. i.make ſalfe them that beleue.
This preachinge, of the liuing god (whiche ſent his ſonne, an euerlaſting ſacrifice for the lyfe of the worlde) cauſed the ſacrifices to waxe colde, and that was it that cauſed the prieſtes of the Iewes, to perſecute the chriſtians ſo ſore, that not onlie the Apoſtles, were ſcaterid among the heathen, but alſo Ioſeph of Arimathia (a capitain that buried Chriſt) did fle, as our olde cronicles do report bi the prouidēc of & god brought the faith into this realme of Englande, then called Bretan.
This perſecutiō of the true churche (whiche Marke who hauehave ben the cōtinuars of perſecucion.was the flocke diſpiced) was ſtil encreaſed by the biſſhopes of the Iewes, criynge that the diſciples of Chriſte were diſceyuers teaching a newe faieth, errours and heriſies goynge aboute to withdrawe from the lawe of Moyſes as aperithe throughout the boke of the Actes of the Apoſtles, And this endured xlii. yeres, vntil the Iewes were cōpellid to forſake their owne contrey, being vanquiſhide and ouercome, and by the greate and iuſt puniſhemēt of god, diſtroyed by Titus and veſpaſianus.
The diſciples alſo, being ſcatered thorow the heathen, but fewe in numbre, and as yt were a ſede for harueſt apointyd, did ſo preache the onelyonly and euerlaſtynge god and his ſone Chriſte ſent in the fleſhe to gyne light vntounto the world: that Idoles began to decay, ſo that the prieſtes of the Idoles ād the work men and makers of al ſuche Idoles, yea and their owne brethern the Iewes, did in al places moue and ſterre perſecution. Thus was this pore churche, beynge but here and there an hanfull to gether, caried before kynges & Emperowres, ſcourged, impriſoned, ſtoned, beheaded, but in all this did they ouer come through their head Chriſt, who gaue thē ſuche ſpirite and wyſedom that no man coulde reſiſt. So that the more chriſtiā men wer put to deathe, by fore and cruell tormentes: the more boldli and māfulli did newe ſouldiours ariſe in their ſtedes.
Nowe when the helly powre can not preuayle by this way of open tyranny, agaynſt Chriſtes true churche: then dothe the deuille ſend forthe the diſciples and ſhcolars of the The ſophiſters are the deuilles meſſengers.preiſtes of theſe Idols, whiche were the ſubtyle philoſophers and eſpecially the Grekes of Athens who bringgynge forth reaſones of Ariſtotle and ſuche other: did ſubtilly diſpute agaynſte the reſurrection. In ſo muche that in his time Paule ſayd. we do preache Chriſt crucified, to the Iewes an occaſion of falling and to the grekes, foliſhnes.
The Romaines alſo, were at that tyme, bothe enſtructed withe the Grekes ſciences and puffed vp ſo proudely, wyth their great conqueſtes…: that they accompted all other menne barbarouſe and foleyſhe in regarde of them ſelues. So that thei ſmalli regarded this weake and weariſh company of Chriſt and his ſcholares, that the ſaying of Chriſte myght be true, the worlde loueth his own, and though the ſound of their voice wente thorowe the world, and they did continually growe and encreaſe: yet did the world perſecute them for the ſpace of. iii. hundred yeares And at that time wer they moſt cruelly handled, bi Maxentius, the tirant. Then god ſtirred vp Conſtantine who ſhewed greate fauoure Maxentius the tirant.to chriſtian men, ſuffered them frely to preache, gaue them leue to builde churches, and at the later ende of his life was chriſtened in Nicomedia. Now perſecution of the church began to ceaſe and than ſtreight began the name of chriſten men and Chriſtes churche to be cōmune to many, but ſo many hereſies, ſectes, and diſſentions did ariſe vp by ſubtelite of the deuill, and by this crafte ſtopped the truthe in ſuche ſorte that the true church was but in fewe. Euen then the chief of your doctours (menne ſuerly whom I neuer do diſpiſe, but when you do bringe them as witneſſes agaynſt the truthe) the beſt lerned I ſai, of al your doetours, partli blinded by the greke philoſophy, wherin they were noſelled euen from their infancie, and partly driuen therunto by the ſubtill arguments of the crafti heretickes. Arius, Macedonius Neſtorius, Eurites and ſuche other. were cō pelled to write many ſuche thinges, as they did afterwarde retracte and recante (as their own workes do ſufficiently witnes) teſtifyinge of them ſelues that they were fa…e to take ſuche weapons in hande, ſome time, as had but ſmal grounde in holie ſcripture.
But to go forthe withe our purpoſe, thus was the church of Chriſt in the time of Conſtantinus (euen in the diſpite of the wicked) groune vp into eſtimation, and made ſo generall of ſo ſmall beginning: that al the children of god might openly beholde, that the folyſhenes of god is wiſer then men, and the weakenes of god is ſtronger then men. But ſuch is the eſtate & condicion of men agayne (by the prouidence of God) that nothinge The churche of chriſt ſhall not continne …onge in the proſperite of thys worldeſholde longe continewe in proſperite. And if at any tyme it chaunce ſo to doe: we waxe ouer proude, and ſo forget, who is the geuer therof.
Yet did the churche floriſh ſo long as the biſhopes did preache the goſpell of Chriſte in pouertie, ſo longe as the biſhope of Rome was not lord ouer the empier, but a feder of Chriſtes flocke, ſo long as al other biſhopes were no lordes, but paſtours and herde men watching carefully vp on their folde, not de ſirynge dominion, rule, and worldlye gouernaunce, neyther ſekyng theyr owne honoure and gayne? But teachinge their britherne the kingdome of God. Suche good biſſhoppes were Athanaſius and Epiphanius.
Such good biſſhopes were the membres of the true church, for yet wer they not ſo proud to name them ſelues God makers, but miniſters of God, ſeruantes apointed to beſtow his treaſures. And as they wer begotten children of the churche of Chriſt by the worde of truthe: ſo did thei liue and growe vp by the ſame word and by no mans doctrine.
Thus continued they in chriſtian pouertie, to the yere of our Lorde. ccccc. xix. When Behold how God ſtriketh and healeth a gayne.Iuſtinius the Emperour of Conſtantinople did call them forth agayne, beinge longe diſquietid and ſore oppreſſed by the continuall warres of all realmes and prouinces, and boeth he and Iuſtinianus hys ſiſters ſonne, dyd ſhewe vntounto thē greate be…euolence and fauour. He gaue them greate giftes and appointed them ſalares and wages. Thē was Agapitus byſhop of Rome ſent to the emperour by Theodocius, to bring al thinges vn to a chriſtian vnitie. This Agapitus was ſo holy a man, that as he entred the gates of Cō ſtātinople, a certayn blind man receiued hys ſight. Then folowed Gregorius magnus, after whome we reade of no true preachinge of the worde of god by any biſhoppes. And therfore dyd the biſhopes and their ſcholars (from that daye forward) growe into a S… nagoge of ſathā, firſte gounded in pride and ambicion (as appeareth by their owne hiſtories) Bonifacius the thirde optaiueinge of Phocas to be byſhoppe of all biſhopes, and to be the ſpirituall heade of the churche, puttinge Chriſt from his office, whom onelyonly al chriſtiā mē muſt acknolege the ſpiritual head Bonifacius putteth chriſt out of offyce.of his church, though all Kinges and gouernours be by god appointed the ciuile heades of the bodye politicke. This dyd he growe vp by little and little, he I ſaye and hys ſucceſſours, euen to the higheſt eſtate of Antichriſt, baniſheinge Chriſte, hys worde, and his fourme of liueinge, ſeting him ſelfe in the hertes and conſciences of men (the uerie true churche of God) nameing hym ſelfe an erthly God, that coulde not erre …deceiued, yea offerring his ſhoes to be ki… kinges and Emperours.
Thus, I ſaye, thys Romeiſh church changed frome pouertie to pride, creepeinge vp, like the Iuie by the rootes of the great trees be gan to ouer renne and ſubdue kingedōes and empieres, yea to put downe kinges and Emperours.
For the mainteners of this diuelliſhe life and doctrine, they had tāken ſuch awaie and order: that if we take theym and their adherentes, that is to ſaye all theyr ſworne doctours, anointed byſhoppes, and ſhauen prieſtes for the true church: we muſte neades by theyr learning, lyuinge and all their workes cōdemne Chriſt and his membres. The true churche remayneth ſtill pore, perſecuted and ſore oppreſſed all the time of their tyrannie, whiche coulde neuer beriefe Chriſte of hys witneſſes, for in al times and ages ther hauehave Perſc…uſion can not ſpoil Chriſt of his witneſſes.ben faitheful witneſſes of the truthe, though their names and doctrine hauehave alwaies bene obſcured and ſclaundered by theſe papiſtes who were allwaies bothe the Iudges and accuſers, the ſcribes and reporters of their doeynges.
This churche as it was alwaie ruled by the ſpirite of Chriſte: ſo did it vnderſtande the ſcripture ſpiritually by the ſpirite of god and worſhip him in ſpirite and truthe.
Like as amonge the fathers of the old teſtamēt, the ambitiouſe ſcribes and phariſeis and the fleaſhly minded bothe prieſtes and people: did knowe non other holmeſſe by the circumciſion of the fleſhe and the bodily ſacrifices (where contrary wife. Moyſes and Dauid and the little choſen flocke, led bi th… ſpirite of god, did knowe circumciſion of the fleaſhe to be nothing… wythout the circumciſion of the hert, and the ſacrifices to be but ſhadowes of our Chriſte vponupon whom all waies they did feade and ſ…tt their delyght knowyng him to be the vnſpoted lambe and red heyfer offred for the finnes of the people euen ſo the hole popeyſhe churche (cleane cō trarie to the doctrine of the ſpirite) hathe fol lowed fleaſhely Imaginations of their own brayne in all their doctrine, and ſete up their own workes and ſacriſices to take awai ſinnes (as did the old phariſeis) wherby it commethe to paſſe that al Idolatrie i… ſtabliſhed their own doctours and decres ſtrōgly mainteined, and the word of god …alli regarded
The pore ſhepe of Chriſte, fiſſhers and Mi Lord wil ha… no…e but gentlemēſhepherdes, plowemen, and all vnderunder the degre of gentilmen, are (by your decrees) baniſhed frō the ſwete paſtours and fode of they… ſoules. And yf it chaunce any of thē to break in to the pleaſaunt bankes of Chriſte his doe trin, and fead on the hilles of ſaluatiō: the popyſh biſhops can ſmel hym. xl. myles frō thē and then ſhall the innocent lambe be burned and ſuffer death, for the reding of this word for the whiche Chriſte his ſhepeherde and heade died, for the eſtabliſheynge therof by the ſh…adynge of hys herte bloude.
Iudge nowe who is the true churche. for Chriſte did not cheuſe the wiſe, nor the men of powre, nor many menne of noble birth. But the eternall wiſdome of god choſe that whiche was foleiſhe before the worlde, that he might ſhame the wiſe, And thoſe that are weake in the worlde: did he cheuſe to ſhame the mighty and ſtrōg powrs. And thoſe that are vile and diſpiſed and of no reputacion.