Answer to the Devilish Detection of the Bishop of Winchester, Treatise · Part 12
The cōplaint of God againſt Idolatours
HEare the worde of the Lorde thou proud Babilon. Thou people of Sodome & ſpirituall Egipt: heare the word of the Lord? For aſmoche as the lord Ieſu Chriſt, is daily crucified, daily ſlayn, daily ſet forth in mocking ſacrifice: the bloud of the teſtamēt is trodē vnderunder fote and the arke of the couenāt is driuen awaye. He that deſpiſeth the lawe of Moyſes, ſayth the Lorde, is vnderunder. ij. or. iij. witneſſes condemned: and howe muche more ſhall he be puniſhed, that treadeth vnderunder fo…e the ſonne of god, deſpiſeth his word, and doeth vnhalow the bloude of the teſtament whereby he was ſāctified, and worketh cōtumeliouſly againſt the ſpirite of grace? It is God (O you prynces of Sodom) that geueth ſentence in thys matter. Before the hygh Iudge ſhall you be condemned (you ſeed of Babilon) becauſe it hath pleaſed God to admoniſhe you, fyrſt bi Moyſes and then by the prophetes, and laſt of al by his own ſonne to turne into the way of trueth. But you contrarie wiſe, do wyllingly folow the waye of wickednes. And wheras the Lord ſendeth daiely for the fruite of his vini…rd▪ you entreate his ſeruants at your pleaſure, Some of them you do beate ſome other you ſlea, and that more is, you do neither reuerence nor forbeare his onelyonly begotten ſonne, but rageynge like men in a furye, you hauehave with one whole conſent taken him, ſlain him, and caſt him out of the vyneyarde, which was his own enheritaunce.
Heare therfore thē wicked naciō, and know that he whom thou haſt caſte awaye: in the corner ſtone where vponupon whatſo euer buylding is ſtabliſſhed, it groweth vp to be a holi temple vntounto the Lord, and who ſo euer doeth fall vponupon this ſtone, he ſhalbe ſhakē in pieces which thynge the Iewes ſtōblyng vponupon his The ruine of the gentiles is at hande.humiliti, do ſhew vntounto the world to hauehave▪ ben truly ſpoken, euen lyke as the ru…n… of the gentyls ſhall ſhortly declare, vponupon whom … uer thys ſtone ſhall fal, for he ſhal moſt ſpedily be broken to powder that the whole world mai at lēgh lerne, how horible a thing it is to fall into the handes of the lyuynge God, whoſe vengaunce is ſore and greuouſe againſt his enemies, Lyke as his mercy is redie towarde the chyldren of mercy, the Niniuites for an example, who at the preachinge of Ionas onelyonly, dyd penaunce in aſhes and ſakclothe, and ſo eſcaped the aduengeynge hād of the almighti. But you that liue now in the later ende of the worlde, beynge admoniſhede by a thouſande oracles and warninges of the prophetes, threateninge battail, famine an peſtilence: do not chaunge your wycked purpoſe, but ſuffer all the wordes of Chryſt his prophetes and Apoſtles concernynge the wrath of God in the later dayes: to be ſpokē in vayn. No man, renueth his herte, no man chaungeth his maners. Ther is not one that Noman amē deth his maners.doeth good, no not one. But the more that your wyckedneſe is opened by the ſcripturs the more that Moyſes chaſteneth your malice: the more earneſtly that my true meſſengers (ſayeth the Lord) would drawe you frō your errours: ſo much the more fyerſly you reſiſte my ſpirite, boaſtyng forth your powre wyſdom, and counſels ſo filled wyth your owne …es and ſubtyl inuencions: that you reſiſt all ſpiritual knowledge, and nouriſhe euen agaynſte your conſcience theſe gros er rours and carnal blindneſſe, not much vnlike vntounto Cayn your forefather, whiche not beynge cōtented with the dignitie of the firſte birth, neither yet reſtrained bi the word of chaſtimēt: killed his brother Abel, deſeruyng no ſuche thing at his hande. I praye you what did Pharao and the Egiptians, when they were admoniſhed by Moyſes and Aaron: but in reſiſteing the opē wil of God, heap vp his diſpleaſure againſt thē? Herode alſo and the wicked phariſeis, alwaies perſecuteynge the Iuſt, and aſcribing the workes of the ſpirite to the powre of Belzebub or the deuyll with ſinneing againſt cōſcience, brought ven The worlde doeth alwaies ſtriue againſt the ſpiritegeaunce vponupon theyr heades. So doeth the world (ſaith the Lorde) alwaies ſtriue againſt the ſpirite. And this is the onelyonly ſinne that cō demneth the world, that I ſend forth the ligh of the ſpirite to driue awaie the darkeneſſe of vyce & errour: and men louelove darkeneſſe more thē lyght. It is my vſe (ſayeth the Lorde) allwayes to ſend forth my worde before I iudg the worlde, that they whych with braſen forheades and Irō neckes do obſtinatly oppreſe the trueth▪ ſhoulde hauehave nothynge to excuſe theyr ſynne. Thus dyd I ſend Noe and Loth before I deſtroyed the worlde wyth water and the. v. cyties wyth fier. Thus hauehave I ſēt my prophetes alſo to gyue warneynge vntounto Iſraell and Iuda of my wrath toward them And this ſame ordre do I obſerue cōtinually like as Iam the ſame god to dai & to morewo and for euermore. And now ſhortly I muſt go into Iudgmēt. Wherfore morne & houle Oh you wicked, vponupon the miſeries whyche ſhal chaunce vntounto you, you I ſay, whych are the inuēters of new Idols and the diſpiſers of me your euerlaſteing God. For your god (in whom your hope reſteth) ſhal periſh And whē you ſhal ſtrech forth your handes vntounto heauē, yet wil I not here you (ſaith the Lord) becauſe you hauehave made you Idols wyth the ſame handes that you lyft vp towarde me Your Idoles therfore ſhall be turned into ſparkes of fyre, & your ſelues into ſtubble, & your Idoles ſhalbe br…t.ther ſhalbe none to quentche it, Once I wyl awake, and not alwayes ſuffer ſo greate reproch as to be diſpiced, where a dead Idole whiche hath neither ſenſe, moueynge, lyfe nor breath ſhall be receyued and embraced.
It is I (I ſaye), that doeth gyue lyfe and breath to al creatures, it is I that lend ſtrēgh and all the natural powres, whyche you do miſpēd in making of your Idoles, vtterly for gettynge that I am the ſame that made your parent Adam vntounto myne owne likenes, I adourned and decked hym wyth no ſmal gyfts Reaſon and iudgemēt I gaue him, and ordeyned hym gouernour ouer al other creatures You hauehave forgotten alſo, that immediatly after this my great merciemercy ſhewed vntounto youre ſaid parent: He (deſpiſing the cōmaundemēt of me hys creatour choſe rather to be ſubiect vntounto the moſt vile creature of al foloyng the Idole of his owne herte, thā to cleaue firmely to my worde. Thys newfound God therfore, doeth vntounto thys daye dwell vnderunder my The newe found god is …ccurſed of God.curſſe, and ſhal do for euer, and ſhall crepe on his breaſte ſucking therth in ſteade of his breade. Yet hauehave I not vtterly for ſaken this your rebelliouſe kinde at diuers and ſundrie tymes. Firſte I called againe to my merciemercy, the ſame your forefather, who by the remorſſe of his cōſcience, fled my ſight. Againe after that man kinde was encreaſed and wickedneſſe dyd growe more and more, in ſo much that if I myght repent me of my works, I had euē thē iuſt occaſiō to hauehave ſorowed for the benifites that I had ſhewed vntounto your wicked kinde, the wickedneſſe wherof was ſo greate that I could not other wiſe expreſſe it to the worthyneſſe, then to ſaye that it repented me to hauehave made man. Idolatrie was then ſpred thorowe the whole earth, and fewe or none woulde call vponupon my name. For …embroth the ſtoute hunter rayſed Idoles in Babilon, and the Cha…ane…s worſhiped the fier. After that Belus with his cō plices builded a towre to withſtād my vengeaunce, Sodome and Gomore prouoked myne heauie diſpleaſure, wyth theyr manifolde The whole worlde foloweth Idole…enormities. To be ſhorte, all the whole world refuſed▪ me, the leueinge God, the wel of liuing waters, and digged them ciſternes which can holde no water. Euerie citie inuē …ed a ſtraung god. Saturnus, Iupiter, Iuno Mars, Mercurie, and ſuch othere mōſtrous Idoles are newelye inuented whylſe I deſtroie the olde. But Iſraell, whom I had choſen to be my people, to be my holy people, cōmaūding him to hauehave no maner of Image doeth (after ſo many my greate mercies ſhewed vntounto Aabraham, Iſaake, Iacob and the fathers: after ſuche wonderfull deliueraunce from Pharao) ſet vp a goldē calfe, the Idole of theire idle braine. They ren…e to Baall Pheger. They fill the holy lande (whyche I gaue them in heritage) full of moſt filthy Idoles. Worthily therfore, are thei deſtroied, wyth piſtelence famine and ſwerde.
But you that heare the name of my ſōne Chriſte, and are named Chriſtians, whom I hauehave by the death of the ſame myne onelyonly begottē ſonne made …e owne: you are much more blame worthy, and pour miſerable wa… wardneſſe is no longer to be ſufferred. For you hauehave theſe. xv. hundred yeres, prouoked my wrath vponupon you, renneing head long into al kindes of wickedneſſe. But to pas with ſilence al other thinges wherin you hauehave offended my maieſtie: ther is nothing ſo vile amongeſt al my creatures, but that you hauehave Man hath made him gods of the …eſt creaturesaſſaed to ſet vp the ſame as your God, diſpiceing therin, both my powre, and the rule that I gaue you ouer al other creatures, forgettinge clearelie that I hauehave exalted myne elect aboue the Angelles, and hauehave fent mine heauenly ſpirites io do ſeruice vntounto them. Al this notwithſtanding, hauehave not you worſhipped ſtockes and ſtones, dome and deade blockes, and geuen my glorie (whiche I do not wyllingely imparte vntounto anie other) ab…un dantly to ſuch monſters and I do les polluteinge your bodies with boweinge and beckeing, crowcheing … kneleing, kiſſeing and more filthily defiled your mindes and ſoules with worſhipeinge as goddes, ſuch inſenſible creatures, ſo that you leaue no place of dewe reuerence vntounto me (your creatur) nor to my ſon Chriſte whoe ſuffered moſte bitter death to bring you out of bondage. You do oftē crie, Lorde, Lorde. If I be your lord▪ where is my feare? where is the worſhip mete for a Lord? wherfore do you forſake me your lord? You do often times call me father: but I meruaile whither the childeli reuerence is baniſhed, or into what contrey al brotherly louelove is flede. Yea muche more do I meruaile, where you hauehave hyd the memorie of my ſōne Chriſte, of whom al fatherhod, brotherhode and kinred (frō me to you warde) taketh his beginning. For he is the firſte begotten of euerie creature of whō al kinred in heauen and in earth hath his original. Who ſuffering moſt cruel death for your ſinnes and moſt bitter tormē tes in his bodie: aſketh nothinge againe but that you wyll celebrate ſome thankefull memorie of hys name and not ſuffer his bountuouſe benifite to be forgotten by vnworthy ſcilence. For when he departed from the earth to come agayne to hys heauenlye manſion: what dyd he commaund to any of you but onelyonly this: that as he had after hys At his departing Chriſte commaunded his remembrāce to be celebrated.laſt ſupper miniſtred the bread and wyne in miſterie: ſo ſhoulde you, ſo ofte as you eate and drinke in the remembraunce of him. Certifiinge you that ſo ofte as you ſhoulde eate thys breade and drink of his cup: you ſhould ſhewe his death tyl he come agane vntounto you. The charge that he geueth you, is to do it in the remēbraunce of him, promiſeing you that he wyll not forget you wher he ſiteth at the ryght hand of me hys father, where he is a continuall mediatour and meane for you, neuer ceaſynge to opteyn for you what ſo euer you aſke of me in his name. But loe your ingratitud, you acquite vsus our mede. Me you do caſt cleane frome you, and to a ſtone do you ſay. Thou art my father, and to a bloke thou haſt begotten me. Agayne, to my ſonne you are ſo vnkynde and vngentle: that you hauehave pute awaye the memorie of hys death, wherby you lyue, not onlie forgetfull of the laboures whiche he ſuſfered for your …akes, but alſo if any of my ſeruantes wolde renew his memory among you, he ſhal with muche crueltie be put to ſilence. And you boaſt of a certayn vayne and conterfayte geſture and mumblynge called the maſſe, which you ſay A vaine …ūl…uge called the maſſeis more holie and more wiſely ſet forth, then Chriſt my ſonne could do it when he was in the worlde. Thus do you forſake his cōmaū dement of preachynge his death to your brethern and poſteritie: for the maintenaunce of popyſhe ceremonies, the ware of Antechriſte wher in you bable blaſphemouſe collectes, with blynde mumblinges, Yet pache you your matters wyth my ſcriptures, that you may deceyue ſo much the more craftelie, day lyinge ſo wyth the pore people in a tounge that they do not vnderſtande, nor know no… …ne worde what you ſaye, leaſt they ſhoulde chaunce to dreame any thynge at al of the death of my ſonne and hauehave him in any remembraunce at all. Yea and to kepe the matter more ſecrete, you are ryght well ware that when any mencion is made of hys bodie geuen for the worlde, you ſpeake not onelie in a A double c… ſionſtrange tonge, but alſo vnderunder ſuche, ſcilence that a man had nead to crepe verie nere you and har…en verie diligently if he ſhould vnderſtād any thinge, though he were learned in ye tong that you whiſper in. Yea you blow forth your words ſo cloſeli into your chalice as though you intended nought els but to deceiueth people. And they ſil…y ſoules, being al…o gether aſtooied through theyr own ignoraunce and your ſtrange geſtures: ceaſe not to renne about you lyke men amaſed. They fall down and worſhyp, they wonder at this newe and ſtrange… God in ſo little a piece of bread. They ſtriue who ſhaldo moſt honore and reuerence to this weake Idole. Yea they falone in a…others necke at the ſōne of the little bell. They kyſſe theyr fingers they parte pardō to their …ies and other partes of theyr bodies. They ſtrok their heades. What god, Yea what mortal man coulde abid to be worſhiped with ſuch mad geſtures? But I the lord of hoſt…s, for as muche as I am a ſpirite and the creatour of a… pure ſpirites, wyth bodily geſtur am I nothing delited, but in ſpirit and truth wil I be worſhiped. And ſuche worſhipers do I ſeke, as with pure mindes flye vp aboue the heauens, and wiſhe that myne impere and kingdome maye be delated and my name helowed and renow…ed, celebrated and praſed, in al & though al creatures. Such worſhipers, I ſaie, do I ſeke, as can cōprehend and perceiue, Chriſt ſitting▪ at my right hand: and wyll ſeke hym without the helpe of any creature. Theſe worſhipar wyll I regarde, and to their ſacrifices wil I hauehave reſpect. For their high biſhop hath an euerlaſting prieſthod, God recordeth thē that worſhip him in ſpiritewherbi he may fully ſaue al thē that wil com vntounto me by him, whom I hauehave made the gouernour of holy thynges and of the true ta bernacle which I my ſelfe (and not man) hauehave made, which muſt therfore be cōprehended & receiued without the help of any creature vponupon earth, neither muſt theſe worſhipers ſeke Chriſte here nor ther, nor renne after him in anie places vponupon earth, where any man ſhall name him to be. Muche leſſe ſhall theſe true worſhipers, ſeke me (the incomprehenſible God) tyed to any one place or creature, for heauen is mi ſeate and thearth my foteſtole, euen as my prophete Eſaie dyd witneſſe vntounto you when he demaunded what houſe you wold build vntounto me, or what place I woulde Eſai. lxvi. Act. xvii.reſte in, ſeinge that my hande hath made all. My ſeruaunt Paule alſo, hath ſayed vntounto you that I (the Lorde God) hauehave made the worlde and al that is therin, yea the heauens alſo hauehave I made howe ſhoulde it be thē that I might dwell in temples made with mans hande who is one of the creatures that I my ſelfe hauehave made? And euē as I dwell not in the temples made with mans hand: ſo am I not worſhiped wyth the workes of mans hād, as once ſtanding nede of any thinge. For I the Lord geue breath to al liuing thynges, and hauehave of one bloude, made al the kinde of man and hauehave cauſed hym to ſpread ouer the whole face of earth, appointinge preſcript tymes and limeting the borders of their dwellynges, that they maye ſeeke me theyr God and trye whether they can by gropeing find me. Yet not withſtandeinge I am not far frō euerye one of you. For through me you are, God is meri to euerie one of vsusdo lyue and are moued. So that ther is no ignoraunce canne excuſe you, becauſe you nede not …o ſecke my kyngedome farther then in your ſelues. And to reſſemble my Godly powre and worſhippe wyth golde, ſiluer, ſtone or ani other creatture, named and cōuerted into the ſtead of me the onelie and almightie your god you ſhall not be excuſed …i any ignoraunce, for by my workes you maie knowe me from my worckes and much more from your owne worckes. If you therfore can not be able reſemble my godlie powre by any of your Imaginacions? howe muche leſſe able ſhal you be to ſhet vp me (the immortal, immenſurable, and incomprehenſible God, whom the heauen of heauens is not able to conteine (in a little box of golde ſiluer or any other meatall? in breade wine, or any other creature, ſetteinge vp a newe and ſtrainge I dole, of the whiche neyther you nor your fathers hauehave hearde one worde of my mouth, imagineinge a ſtrange worſhip of your own Idle braines, not withſtandeinge that my ſonne Chriſte doeth crie agaynſt you ſayeinge. In vaine do you worſhipe me, teacheinge the doctrines and preceptes of men. His moſt fayethful ſeruauntes alſo ceaſed not to threaten ſharpe plages vntounto all them that ſhoulde adde to or take fro, chaunge or alter, any one worde of all that God is the father of ſpirites.theye had receiued of their Lorde, the father of ſpirites.
Wherfore, becauſe your fathers hauehave for ſaken me and folowed ſtrange gods, ſerued them and worſhiped them: they hauehave forſaken me▪ and my lawe hauehave they not kept. And you hauehave done worſſe thē your fathers. For eueryevery one of you walketh after the wickednes of his owne herte, ſtriuinge alwaies howe you maye ſtop your eares agaynſte my wordes and admonicions. Loo therfore, I wyl fyll all the inhabitauntes of the earth and the kynges, which ſit in their hygh thrones, the preiſtes and the Prophetes together with drunkennes. And I wyl ſcatter theym, one brother from another, and the father frō the chylde. I wil not ſpare them, nor hauehave pitie on them, but wil vtterly deſtroy them.
Harken and geue eare, and beware you do not rage, for the Lord hath ſpokē it. Geue glory vntounto the Lord your God, before it wax darke, and before your fete do ſtumble in the darke hilles, when you ſhal loke for lyghte, and lo, ther is nothynge but the ſhadowe of The Lorde ſpeaketh to the prelates.death, and deepe darkeneſſe. Oh Popes and Princes, and glorious Prelates (high coūterfait names) called byſhops: to you al I ſaye, whych holde the worlde in darkenes. If the Morian can chaunge his ſkinne, or the Leoparde her ſpottes: then can you alſo do well, ſuckyng wickednes with the mylke of your mothers. This ſhalbe your charge, therfore and the portion prepared for you. Becauſe you forget me and truſt vntounto lyes, I wil diſcloſe your thoughtes, and your ſhame ſhall appeare. Your luſtes, your lechery, your wiked fornication ſhall I diſoloſe. Let no man The obſtinate muſte not be prayed for.praye for thys ſorte of people. They ſynne vntounto death, and their plages are vncurable. If you faſte I wyll not heare your prayers. If you offre offerynges: I wyll not receyue them. For when you were corrected with famine: you dyd not regarde it. Whē you were chaſtened whyth the peſtilence and diſeaſes: you refuſed al diſcipline. Stormes, tēpeſtes, and earthquakes, flo…des and breaches of the ſea, you count not to be ſent by my hāde. One of you therefore, ſhal dygge in the bealy of an other: and you ſhall be conſumed with the ſworde of my furie. Lo I wyll ſende God hath his miniſters of vengeaunce.fiſhers whiche ſhall f…ſhe after you by the ſea: and hunters whiche ſhall hunte you in eueryevery hyll, mountayne and cragy rocke. For myne eyes are vponupon your wayes, and ſhortly I wyll ſende my ſpirites whiche I hauehave created for a vengeaunce, the fyre, the ſtormy hayle, famyne, death, the teeth of beaſtes, ſerpentes and the ſworde, whiche beinge readie in my wrathfull diſpleaſure, do torment all thynges at my commaundemente, and eſpecially death, bloude, debate, oppreſſion, tiranny and the ſworde: are create for the wicked, and therwyth I beate downe myne enemies, be they neuer ſo proude.
I the Lorde do create all theſe thynges, that my name maye be terrible vntounto the heathen, and my power knowne thorowout the earth. I demaunde of you (O Byſhoppes of my flocke) I wyll aſke you, ſtande vp and The biſhoppes are commaunded to ſtande vp and anſwere.gyue me anſwere of your wayes. Is there any of your newe founde Goddes that can gyue you rayne, or that can ſaue them ſelues from the tiranny if neede require: Is there any of theſe Goddes that can ſaue hym ſelfe and his worſhyppers furth of my hande, when I ſende fyre and the ſworde vponupon them?
Yea tell me thys rather. Hath either you or your parentes founde any wyckedneſſe in me, that you are departed from me and folowe vanities.
Coulde it neuer (in all the tyme that you hauehave founde out theſe groſſe & bodily gods) enter into your hertes to ſearche for me the lyuynge God: but accordynge to your owne groſſeneſſe, deuiynge in your wordes and de ſpiſynge in your doing, my prouidēce, graun tynge that I dwell in the heauens, nothynge careful of mans doinges? And therfore (euen lyke the olde Iſraelites) you wyl hauehave gods that ſhal go before you, whō you wyll ſalu… with a longe rabble of ſalutatiōs, with manifolde geſtures and curteſies, and with vayne imaginations of mans commaundementes. But, oh, ſo far as the heauē is from the earth ſo far as the eaſt is from the weſt: ſo far are my waies from your waies, and my thoughtes from your thoughtes. I the Lorde which trouble the ſeas and their floudes, do raigne The Lorde of hoſtes is my name. I am the ſelfe ſame that I am wont to be. Terrible vn to the kynges of the earth. Doth it nothynge moue you, that I daylye chaunge ſo manye kyngdomes. I drowne the proude Pharaos in the deape ſea. I ſubdue wyth worthy aduengeaunce: The Lorde plageth the tyrannouſe rulers.the cruell Adonibeſech I put to flight the blaſphemous Senacherib, & gaue hym the death that he deſerued. I paſſe wyth ſilence Nabuchodonoſor (a terrible example vntounto kinges) and his ſonne Balthaſer. I pas with ſilence, howe neyther wyth their bowe, nor ſword, but bi mi mighti arme, I ſubdued vntounto the Iſraelites. xxx. kynges. The Cananites, Heuites, Iebuſites, Amoriſtes, Herites Feriſites, and Gargaſites. And this people Iſrael, cheifely choſen, and moſt dearely beloued: I dyd clearly forſake, when they fell from me, the lyuyng God. I gaue them firſt to the Babilonians, and after to the Grekes and laſt of all to the Romaynes, to whom I gaue power to ſpoyle my people, and ſcatter theym throughoute all the worlde, as you ſe this day.
Now ſeyng that I am the ſame God and no changelyng: how chaunceth it that the poſterite folowyng, doth not feare like diſtruction: But the children fed with my benefites and filled therwyth: do leape frō me as their fathers did before, countyng their woul, flax oyle, and grayne, to be preſerued by theyr Idols, geuyng me thankes for nothynge, and Idols be thā ked for the benifites that God gyueth.yet do I miniſter all theſe thynges vntounto thē, aboundauntly, geuyng meat euen to the byrdes of the crowes. But becauſe this people doth not know that I hauehave geuen thē graine wyne, ſiluer, and golde, whych they hauehave offered vntounto Idols, abuſing my creatures, therfore wyl I turne, and take awaye my corne, and my graine in the time thei loke for it: and the wyne in hys tyme appoynted. I wil alſo deliuer my creature from the bondage of corruption vnderunder the wych it mourneth, ſubiect vntounto vanitie. And I ſhal cauſe all ioye, and ſolemne feaſtes to ſeaſe, and I wyl deſtroye the vinepard, and the figge trees, which you hauehave called the giftes of your Gods, whych you ſet vp to be your helpers and defenders Twyſe mad ye are therefore, bothe for that you forſake me, the fountaine of liuyng water, and alſo that you dygge broken ciſterns that holde no water. Hiterto hauehave I (the lord of hoſtes) made complaynt agaynſt al nacions for al kyndes of Idolatrie. But nowe gyue eare vntounto my wordes whiche I ſhall ſpeake agaynſte an Idoll, but weake in power and ſmall in ſubſtaunce, but yet notwithſtandynge, in the deluſion of the people he hath gotten great ſtrength, and thorowe feyned miracles is merueylouſly maynteyned, yea and that ſo ſtyfly wyth ſworde and fyre, that the blynde worlde knoweth none other God. Of thys Idoll it is wrytten. O prieſt hauehave not I created the and gyuen the power to create me? Whiche intollerable blaſphemie beinge ſo greate derogation vntounto my gloriouſe maieſtie, who onelyonly hauehave created all thynges of noughte) I can no longer ſuffre.
But before I take open vēgeaunce: I wyl gyue warnyng vntounto the maynteyners therof, God giueth …eth …ge….wyllynge them to hauehave recourſe vntounto the brute beaſtes, the oxe and the Aſſe, and learne at them to knowe their duties, towarde their Lorde and maiſter, their creatoure and maker. What madneſſe is it that cauſeth theſe madbraynes to compte thys newe made Idoll, their creatoure, or that it is poſſible for the creatoure to be created of mortall men and miſerable wretches? No I their creatour and maker hauehave made them but once, where they boaſte and bragge, that they hauehave made me thouſande milions of tymes, whereby God is far in dept to his makers.they brynge me ſo farre in their dept, that the reſidue of my benifites are not able to recompence and ſatiſfie.
But nowe they begynne to wax aſhamed of theſe open wordes, for my ſeruauntes hauehave of late layed them …ore to theyr charge. But yet they cloke the matti…r wyth newe founde blaſphemies. Nowe they ſaye. God This almōde is wel blanched.conſecrateth hym ſelfe into the fourme of breade and wyne. But yet (pretily) when the Byſhoppe gyueth his holy orders: then he gyueth power vntounto euerie ſhauelynge, to conſecrate thys chaungelynge. So that the yonge prieſt comynge home to the pariſhoners, telleth them ſtrayghte waye, that he is aboue Emperours and Kynges, and doeth farre excell the Angelles. For he can make that thynge whiche wyll be made of none other but of them only that be marked by the beaſt for the ſame purpoſe.
Thys wretche (be he neuer ſo abominable in liuing) thinketh that by the …bling of. iiij. wordes ouer a cake: he ſhal cauſe my ſonne (which is the expreſſe Image and liuely reſemblaunce of my ſubſtaunce, euen equall wyth me in power) to come downe at his call, and to be chaunged God and man into a vile wafer, whyche chaunge they hauehave wyth deceyueable termes named, the conſecratynge of hym into the fourme of breade.
But awaye wyth thys groſſe blyndeneſſe (O you ſophiſters) for all men may perceiue that you louelove to walke in darkeneſſe. Accordynge to your groſſe and carnall imaginations therefore, and after the dulneſſe of your capacities whiche can perceyue no ſpirituall thynges, becauſe you are not borne of the ſpirite: I wyll begynne to talke wyth you, to ſee whether a rude and fleſhly talke in matteir that ſhal be open vntounto the commune ſenſes and iudgement of all men, maye cauſe you to herken to my voice, and perceiue your owne blyndeneſſe.
Oh howe groſſe opinions hauehave you conceyued of me the Lorde God? Howe leudly do you eſteme my power infinite, whiche do thynke it poſſible that I the lyuynge God creatoure and maker of heauen and earth: ſhoulde be chaunged, or woulde be conſecrated into breade, wyne, ſtocke, ſtone or any other creature. Thys is not conſecration or holy makynge: but thys is contamination, polutinge and defilyng of the name of God wyth intollerable blaſphemies.
My ſacrate maieſtie (to brynge you out of doubte and erroure, O you miſerable men) can ſuffre no ſuche alteration nor chaunge, of God is not chaungeablefourmes inſenſible. Wherefore, if ye require in me (the God incomprehenſible) the poeticall chaunges of Iupiter: you are worſe thē mad. For I am foreign? I am, I hauehave bene, and ſhall be. I am God euermore and not chaunged. What compariſon can be betwixt me and your feyned goddes? I am that auncient in yeres that doeth feele▪ none age. For a thouſande yeres are but one daye in my ſyghte. For in the twynckelynge of an eye, do I beholde all thynges, be they preſente, paſte, or to come.
Your Saturne whom you hange vp in a corde as a wicked fellowe: had neede to hauehave Iupiter his ſonne ſought out to healpe to defende hym in his olde age, when his chaungable fleſhe and bones (whiche you feyne him to hauehave and defende the ſame wyth ſworde and fyre) begyn once to muſker and moulde, after he paſſeth once the age of one monethmonth. But who ſhal reuenge the litle gods whiche liue but the ſpace of one minute and ſo periſh cōtinually. Thei are takē ſtreighte from the wafer box to the chalice, and there are they deuoured. A wōderfull mattier, ſo ſone made God, and ſo ſone-brought to nought againe.
Olde Ariſtotle, your great maiſter coūpteth for a greate miracle, foreign that is in engliſhe beaſtes that …yue but one daye. But if he had knowen thys ſodeyne chaunge of ſo many Goddes in one minute: what myght he hauehave writtē to his poſteritie?
I appeale to your owne conſcience in this mattier, your conſcience (I ſay) that do make and marre ſo many Goddes in ſo litle ſpace, you (I ſaye) that do ſeeke out ſo ſtraunge ingines for the preſeruation of your Goddes. The feare of a mouſe cauſeth al this defence.You cloſe hym in a box of harder metal then myſe teeth can penetrate, you hange hym vp in a corde leſte the gredie myſe ſhoulde beſiege hym, you couer hym wyth a canopie, ſo that the myſe can not come at hym: and what meaneth all thys, but that you knowe by experiēce, that the myſe do nothinge feare hym, becauſe he is made but of breade, and hath no lyfe in hym nor hardineſſe to beate a mouſe? Let your owne cōſcience be Iudge in thys mattier.
But O wicked Idolatours. If thys were God that you do thys handle, he woulde ſomtyme breake open his priſon (wherein he is encloſed) by his power and ſtrength. How be it he can do nothinge. Or if he can do any thynge, crie vponupon him as dyd the prieſtes of the olde Idolatours that he wyll do ſo much as put one horne out of his ſhel & box wherin he is encloſed; to aſſray his enemies, or els to your great cōfuſion, he ſhall be leſſe ſet by then a creping ſnaple. Or if you dare make a profe of his power: leaue hym without but one night out of his box, and you ſhal ſee the litle miſe wyll not be much afrayed of hym, neither do the cattes, backes, owles, ſwallowes, and ſparowes greatly feare hym. Then tel me I praye you, why man ſhoulde be ſo mad as to ſtande in feare of the thynge whiche is of no reputation.
Feare him not therfore (O my litle flocke) Ferae not the bread God.for he can neither do good nor …uyll. No he hath neither life nor feeling. He felt not when he was baken into a cake, neither feeleth he whē the prieſt breaketh him, becauſe there is no ſpirite of lyfe in hym. Be you aſhamed therfore, al you that worſhippe him, for if by the negligence of the prieſtes he fall to the grounde: he can not aryſe alone, neither if he be rayſed can he ſtande. In vayne therfore do you worſhip ſuche a God as in no poynt can healpe hym ſelfe. Howe can you then deſyre his healpe in your aduerſitie.
The Goddes that you worſhyp are none other thynge, but as the baker that baketh them wyll hauehave them and the prieſt that maketh them. And neither of theſe two workemen is of longe continuaunce. Howe cā their workes be Goddes therfore.
Theſe gods of yours cā not deliuer them ſelues frō theues and robbers, whiche hauehave oftē times ſpoyled them of their boxes. And you hauehave of late ſeene in the ſuppreſſiō of the Abbayes (which I did ſende for a puniſhmēt The ſuppreſſion of Abbayes was for Idolatrie.of Idolaters) they were then left ſuccu…leſſe, turned out of their ſiluer boxes, and were not able to reſiſt. Therfore, whē you ſee the people worſhiping round about you: ſay in your hertes. O Lorde that haſt layed the foundations of the earth and the heauens, the muſte we worſhippe. And ſo doinge myne Angel is with you, and I wyll require your ſoules at the hande of the oppreſſours.
Oh hertes barraine of al heauēly doctrine. Oh myndes voied of al godlines. Howe can I (the true God) be knowen, whilſe the bread God and the cake vnſenſible, is in ſo high reputation? Yea what needeth it men to lifte vp their mindes vntounto heauen, ſeinge they hauehave hym in earth which can graūt their prayers? Howe can they worſhip in ſpirite and trueth, ſeing they worſhipe the thinge that hath neither ſpirite nor lyfe: Howe cā you vnderſtāde or cōprehēde my dreadful maieſtie, whilſe ye do take this for a god, whō a blaſt of wynde wyll klowe downe from his aultare and his ſuperaltare?
Al ſuch goddes therfore as hauehave not made the heauens, ſhall periſh frō the earth and frō vnderunder the heauē. Marke howe the breath of mā (a thinge of ſmal ſtrēgth againſte any other creature) is able to chaunge, alter & trāſfourme the breade, ſo ſone as he hath it in his mouth: and it ſhalbe ynough (to him that hath reaſon) to declare how ſhāful the chaūg is, from the moſt ſtrong to the moſte weake, frō the greateſt to the leaſt, from the beſt and moſt mightie: to the worſte & moſt impotent.
Oh miſerable and chaungeable nature of man. Oh twiſe miſerable God, whom The breade God is thriſe miſerable.this miſerable man maketh. Yea thriſe miſerable, for he muſt come downe into the chalice, at the call of eueryevery whoremonger and ſodomite, drunckarde and couetouſe caytyfe, and be ſtreight wayes ſwallowed into his filthy and vuſaciable paunch, that the firſte beginnynge and endynge of his godhead maye he lyke miſerable.
If the ſcripture do deſcribe you any ſuch. If Adā, Enoch, Noah,, Abrahā, Iſaac, Moyſes, Aarō, or Samuel: do knowe any ſuch. If Eſaie, Ieremias or Daniell, hauehave deſcribed him in their prophecies. If Math. Marke or Luke (whō you leudly alledge) had tolde you that there had ben any ſuch God on the erth. If Peter, Paule, Iames and Iohn (the faythful witneſſes of my ſonne Chriſte) and the openers of his ſecretes had taughte you thys cruſted cake myghte be chaunged into God or his ſonne Chriſte: ſhewe me one place.
But I knowe your crafte and ſubtiltie. Nothynge is impoſſible to God, you ſaye. Becauſe all thinges are poſſible to God: he can eſcape the prie…es iuglyng.What then? Shall God at your commaundement, be a ſtone, a tree, or breade? By the ſame poſſibilitie make hym your Aſſe. All mine therfore, ſhall anſwere you in this ſort, Becauſe all thynges are poſſible: vntounto oure God: he is able to eſcape your blynde iugelynge, and is of power ynough, to deſtroye you al together with your Idols. And what ſo euer he be that teacheth any God that I hauehave not opened to my ſeruauntes in the ſcriptures: the ſame I hauehave commaunded by my ſeruaunte Moyſes to be ſtoned to death. Which lawe I do nowe ratifie, and wil that all ſuch be put out from amonge my people.
And who ſo euer wilnot repēt this groſſe errour, beinge admoniſhed: be it knowen vntounto them, that they are not of my ſhepe. For my ſhepe do heare my voice. And being once rayſed wyth my voice: they wyll folowe no ſtraunger, but wil with open voice crie vntounto the ſtraunger and ſay. Oh Idole ſhepeherde.
Al this hauehave I ſpokē, becauſe I your god am ſo opēly cōtemned, and a weaks Idol embraced. Gyue eare nowe and herken what I ſhal ſaye for my ſonne whō I ſent to be your ſauiour, and the onelyonly ſacrifice that can take awaye ſynne in my ſight. You make hym of none effect, that ſo you maye eſtabliſhe your owne glorious workes and ſacrifices. I was and am fully cōtented and ſatiſfied wyth the offering of his body once done. What neede is there then of your lyeinge ſacrifice? If his onelyonly ſacrifice be ynough (as it is ynough & more then ynough to ſatiſfie for al) what nedeth you to ſacrifice and offer him vp again? Wyl you or cā you kyl him againe? For that which is ſacrificed, muſt needs be ſlayne, and wythout bloude can there be no remiſſion of That whiche is ſacrificed muſt nedes be ſlaine.ſinnes. I know your hertes (bloudy biſhops) by the betrayinge of him whē he was in the earth amonge you, & nowe by the brennyng of his worde, & by the tirānous deſtroyinge of his flocke, which wolde cal againe the memorie of his paſſiō, which you hauehave extinguiſhed wyth your ſacrifice for the quycke & the dead, making it a cloke for your couetouſnes and a buckler for the pompe and rigorous authoritie, you chalendge ouer my litle flocke.
I appointed him prieſt according to the ordre of Melchiſedech, without ſucceſſoure or felow. I anointed him with the ſpiritual oile of my ſpirite, that I mighte hauehave a biſhop to offre vntounto me ſacrifice which ſhould be pure and without ſpot, whiche ſhoulde not neede many times to offer or to be offered, but makinge al thynges perfecte, by one onelyonly offeringe of him ſelfe vntounto me his father, and by his bloude which all other ſacrifices (ſo oft iterated and repeted as thinges vnperfect) dyd onelie ſignifie. In this my dearly beloued ſonne, is my delyte. He is the greate biſhop whiche once for all, hath entered into the place moſt holie. And beinge founde lyke one of you in althings (ſinne only excepted) he hath now penetrated and paſſed throughe into the heauens, there to be your biſhop for euer, to offer hym ſelfe alwayes for you in my ſyghte, by whom you maye come to the throne of my grace, to hauehave healpe by tyme. If you wyl ſeeke any other biſhoppe to offre for yo…: I tell you he is poluted, and muſte Chriſt onelyonly muſt be oure biſhoppe.firſte offre for hym ſelfe. And becauſe of the imperfection that is in hym: he can not pleaſe me nor pacifie forhim ſelfe. Yea you may alſo perceiue that his offeryng is vnperfecte, or els ſhould he not neede to reiterate it ſo oftē. If you wil not be deceiued therfore, ſticke faſt vntounto the offering ofmy ſōne once for all made for you. And as I hauehave giuē him to the deth for your ſakes, ſo wyll I deny you nothinge that you aſke in his name be you ſure. Hōſe comethit that you be called chriſtiās, that Chriſt my ſonne was for your ſakes manifeſtly made man in the fleſh, was iuſtly declarede God by the ſpirite, and ſhewed vntounto the Angels, and after receyued into glorie. This muſt you beleue if you wyl be partakers of the ſame glorie. That he was verie man as one of you are, ſynne onelyonly excepted, conuerſant vponupon the earth in all humilitie, care and miſerie at my cōmaundemēt. wherby for his obedience toward me, he deſerued to be▪ crowned wyth a crown of glorie, wherfore I (ſendynge the holye goſt vntounto you at his deſyre whyche may teach you how you are become my chyldren by hym) dyd take him vntounto my ſelfe and raiſed him aboue al the heauēs, euen to ſitte at my ryght hand for euer, Wher you ſhal ſeke him if you intende to find hime But He that wyll finde Chriſte muſte ſeke hym at the right hande of the father.neither here nor ther in ani corner of the earth He tolde you that he muſt departe from you. And if you loke for my fauoure: you muſte not compt him a liar.
But wylt thou ſeke my ſonne? Lo, he hath offered one offerynge for ſinne, and ſytteth for euer at the ryght hande of me hys father, lokynge for that whiche remayneth. That is that hys enemies be made his fote ſtole. And thus doeth my ſpirite witnes vntounto you: that in this my newe teſtamēt (eſtabliſhed in hys death) your ſinnes ſhoulde be done awaye ſo that I woulde no more remembre them.
Then if you beleue them to be forgyuen how can you offer for them any more: It is a manifeſt token therfore that all you which wilbe ſtyll ſacrificeynge for your ſynnes: do not beleue that they beforgeuē by the death of my ſonne Chriſte.
You alſo whych wyll carnally and groſely eate hym and feade vponupon hym, as chaungeynge breade into hys fleſhe can not worthly beleue vponupon hym. For he departeyngefrō They that will ſede carnally vponupon Chriſt can not beleue in hymthe earth, dyd cōmaund you to eate the bread of this ſupper (which he louyngly called hys bodye) for your weake remēbraunce and for the declaracion of the benefite which he then ſhewed vntounto all the faythful beleuers in hys death and bloud ſhedeynge, For the declaracion and remēbraunce I ſaye of this benefite The cauſe why Chriſt ca…ed the bread hys bodye.he cōmaunded all his faythful folowers, brotherly to deuide amonge them? the bread and wyne ſo ofte as they woulde, eate or drynke in the remembraunce of hym, whom they ſhoulde not hauehave any longer preſently conuerſant amonge them. For he was then commynge vntounto me his father for your profyte, And therfore byddeth he you do this thynge in the remēbraunce of hym, wyll you then know what it is to do the worke that he commaundeth you: or to worke the meate that ne neuer periſheth, whiche meate he promiſed to geue vntounto you, and I hauehave ſēt him downe and appointed hym for the ſame purpoſe. If you wil knowe this worcke, reade in the. vi. of Iohn wher you ſhal learne that the worke of God is to belieue in hym whome he hath ſent. This is al that you can geue me. This is all that I require at your handes. I geue you therfore the breade of life, if you can receiue it by faieth vnfainedlie. That is to ſay truſteinge to my promiſe onelyonly in the death of my ſonne, and to none other creature. Yea my ſonne is this breade of lyfe, and he that cometh vntounto hym, ſhall not be hongry, he that beleueth in hym, ſhal not be thirſty. And thys he tolde you was my wyll and pleaſure, that who ſo euer doeth ſee him and beliue in hym: hath euerlaſteynge, lyfe. For thys is the lyfe euerlaſteynge to knowe me, and to knowe my ſonne whome I hauehave ſent Ieſu Chriſte.
By thys knoweledg do the Angelles and bleſſed ſpirites lyue, reioyce and take their The lyfe that is in all bleſſed ſpirits is the knoweledge of chriſtcomfort. Thys is the heauenlye fode. Thys is the Manna that comethe frome heauen. Therfore ſo muche haſte thou of euerlaſteinge lyfe: as thou haſte of the knoweledge and fealeinge of my grace and goodneſſe, why che chiefely and principally was openned vntounto the worlde, in the ſendeinge of my ſonne into the worlde to be made fleſhe, leſte al fleſh ſhould hauehave periſhed for wickedneſſe
Thys is the breade then that comethe from heauen wherof who ſo eateth ſhal not periſhe, but lyue for euer. And thys breade is the fleſh of my ſonne, as it was geuen for the lyfe of the worlde, for ſo was it a verye In that the fleſh of Chriſt was giuē for the life of the world it was heuēly bread other wyſe not.heauenly gifte and heauely breade comeinge frome heauen. Other wayes was it but an erthly thynge and nothinge profitable. For the phariſeis and all the wicked that do not compt thys onelyonly thynge (to knowe me the father and my onelyonly ſonne Chriſte geuen for the lyfe of the worlde) to be the onelyonly ſaluacion therof, but ſecke more helpe of ſaluacion at any creature in heauen or earth, be it man ſaincte or Angell, be it workes, ſacramē tes or any other thynge that man can imagyne (as they can not vnleſſe they compt ſome inſufficiencie and lacke in me) ſhall not hauehave any parte in my ſonne Chriſte whome they hauehave in ſo ſmall eſtimacion, howe groſſely ſo euer they imagine to eate hym. No to them that this ſlenderly and vilely eſteme the hilpeinge and ſaueing that I hauehave geuen him: he is the ſauour of death vntounto death and the ſtumblynge ſtone. But vntounto them that wholely and onelyonly do cleaue vntounto him feadeinge on hys bodye thus offered for the life of the worlde, and drinckeinge of his bloude geuen for the remiſſion of ſynnes: he is the breade of lyfe, hys fleſhe is verie meate and hys bloude verie drinke: ſo that you hauehave alwayes in mynde, that it is the ſpirite that geueth lyfe and that the fleſhe profiteth nothynge.
And take it for a generall leſſon to vnderunder ſtande the worde of godly doctrine, that the wordes which I and my ſonne do teache you are ſpirite and lyfe. And to beleue them, is to eate the meate of the ſoule, to worcke the worcke of God, and therfore to hauehave lyfe. For the ryghtuouſe lyueth by hys belyefe▪ And Abraham dyd beliue: wherfore it was Abrahā wa… accompted iuſt before … was certu… ſiſed.compted vntounto hym as ryghtuouſeneſſe before circumſicion or any other out warde ſacrament was geuen hym.
Yea thys Abrahame maye teache you, that without the regarde of any creature, yea contrarye to the workeinge of all creatures thou muſte belieue and be made ſure of my goodneſſe: that thou mayeſte (wyth▪ an vpryght face vp towordes the heauens) ſaie. O Lorde I hauehave belieued in the, I ſhall neuer be aſhamed. For thys is the nature of fayth to loke ſtrayght vp vntounto me your heauenly father, and to receyue at my hande, by the merite of my ſonne all grace, fauour and goodnes. Wher if you declyne aſyd and appoynt your ſelfe meanes, aydes and helpes of any creature otherwiſe thē I hauehave cōmaunded: you muſt be compted miſcreāts miſtruſtinge my goodnes, Here falleth the Iuſtice that you ſeke for by your workes and ſacramentes, and here ariſeth the Iuſtice God accep…eth none o…her iuſtice out onelye that whyche …s by fayeth.of fayeth, which is onelyonly acceptable in my ſight For Iſraell in the olde tyme folow ynge theyr lawes of righteouſnes, by their workes, ſacramentes and ceremoneis, coulde not come to ryghteouſneſſe, And wherfore I praye you? Becauſe they did not followe ther vponupon by faieth but onelie by workes of the lawe. They ſtombled at the ſtomblinge ſtone as it is written. Lo I will put in Sion a ſtombling ſtone, and a ſtone to fall vpō: & who ſo beleueth in him, ſhal not be aſhamed.
Becauſe they hauehave beleued, they hauehave attained this righteouſnes which is of faieth, of whiche if they will follow and not forſake: they ſhall neuer ſuffer ſhame. This faith one lie in the ſeede promiſed (and no ſigne or ſacrament) was it that refreſhed your firſt father Adain Neither was ther any other ſigne geuen vntounto Achas: but that a virgine ſhoulde cōceiue a child, whiche (by an holy and pure byrth of the holy gofle) myght take awaye and purifie the corrupt byrth of the olde Adaine, and deliuer the houſe of Iuda from the bloudie Sennacherib. VntoUnto the whyche ſigne you muſt alwayes loke: for you ſhall hauehave none other ſigne of ſaluacion, but the ſigne of Ionas the prophete.
All the Iſraelites drinckeinge of the ſame ſpirituall drincke, and eateinge of the ſame ſpirituall meate that you do (for it is all one fayeth that ſaueth you boeth, euen as I am all one God and no chauncelinge) dyd in their lambe vnſpotted, feade and take comfort of no ſigne or ſacramēt, but onelyonly of the The Iſraelites fed not on a ſigne or ſacramentbloude of our vnſpotted lambe whyche I had promiſed to ſende into the worlde. For by the ſtrayght commaundementes and ſon drye charges, whyche my ſeruant Moyſes dyd geue them for the choſeynge and eateynge of thys lambe: they dyd perceiue a thynge far more ſpirituall, then coulde be finiſhed in ſo groſſe a banket. Much more thē the Apoſtles of my ſonne beynge vſed to ſuche ſpirituall feadeinges: myght perceiue what my ſonne ment in aboliſheinge of the olde ceremonies of the lambe and cōmaundynge a newe memorie to be made of hys bodie geuen for them and hys bloude ſhed for the remiſſion of ſynnes and for to delyuer vsus frome the helly Pharao.
They dyd knowe that thys worde of the promiſe (whiche is geuen for you) ſhoulde be fulfylled vponupon the croſſe, and therfore ought not to be applyed vntounto any ſacramēt It is not the offering of ani ſigne or ſacramēt that I regarde but the oſferinge of my ſonne God regardeth not the offring of ſignes or ſacramentes.vponupon the croſſe, whiche you muſte by your ſacramentes ſhewe your ſelues to hauehave in perpetuall memorie as the onelyonly lyfe whereby your ſoules can liue. Lyke as they alſo had learned before of the Prophetes, that the Meſſias whome I ſhoulde ſende, ſhoulde be ſtriken for the ſynnes of the people, and then ſhoulde be exalted and ſende hys gyftes plentuouſlye from aboue ſpoyleinge all hys enimies wyth triumphe.
Thys dyd my ſonne beate in theyr eares. But he neuer tolde them of any ſuch chaunges of bread into his fleſh, & ſuch carnall conſecracions Chriſt neuer preached trāſ ſubſtāciaciō.as you do teach: wherin you wyll hauehave that (without any profite) my ſon chriſt ſhold come downe frō my boſome into your breade and Chalice blowen and bleſſed by your inuencion: and worke ſo great a miracle without eyther neceſſitie or profite. HaueHave you not inough that you hauehave euerlaſtinge life by hym▪ hathe not he humbled him ſelfe lowe inough that he hath become manne for your ſakes and died for your ſinnes?
What woulde you hauehave more of him: would you that he ſhoulde take the forme of breade for your ſakes: what are you the better if he ſo did: Yea how much the worſe ſhould you be: This is one thinge, you ſhoulde brynge the veritie of his bodie into ſuſpicion for that it ſhould go and come ſo like a ſpirite, which is no ſmall hinderaunce to the perfection of your kinde. For mine intēt was, whē I made my ſonne man, to hauehave iuſt occaſiō therby to God intended to hauehave iuſt occaſion▪ to exaltvs whē he made his ſon man.aduaunce your kind aboue the Angels. And now you wyl hauehave hym cowpled with your wrechede creatures, worſe then your ſelues, But he hath taken the forme of the children of Abraham, And for his elect ſeed was he cōtent to be come man, diſdayneing all other formes
Loke no more therfore for my ſon Chriſte vpō the earth in the bread, the box or the chalice. But heare in heauen ſhal you ſeke hym wher he reigneth at libertie with me his father, from whom he ſendeth down the holie goſt (the ſpirite of comforte) into the hertes of mine elect, to ſtrengthen them againſt all the aſſaultes of the ſerpent. I feade inwardly my ſhepe driuē from the paſture of my word Yea I geue life euerlaſting to ſo many as by him onelyonly wyll come to me his father.
Thus doeth he ſitte at my ryght hande, and fulfilleth al in al things, ſpiritually. Not beinge bodylie preſent in eueryevery place, where you wyll like charmers mūble foure words vponupon dombe creatures. Here in heauen you are ſure to hauehave him your aduocate. In the bread, you hauehave no ſuch promiſe. With what fayeth then can you ſeke him ther. He promiſed you that he woulde ſende the holie goſt after his going frō you: but he neuer taught that he was profitable to be chaunged into breade.
When he returned vntounto me frō the earth then did he ſend (in fyrie tonges viſibly) the ſpirite of our powre & wiſdom, which taught the cleare vnderſtandynge of the miſterie that he had wrought before in the earth.
This ſpirite taught the hope of your callinge, Ephe. i.and that our wonderful worke in you that beleue how that I rayſed my ſon Chriſt from death, and ſet him at my right hande in heauenly thinges. Whenſe you would moſt vilaniouſely pluck him down, turne him into bread, and ſwalowe him like fleſh into your Theſe fleſly ſacramentaries are eaters mans fleſhe as the Sithians are.bealies, which groſſe blindneſſe, and Sythiā crueltie, my flol…l abhor. My flocke ſhal learne nowe other …inge of the fleſh of my ſonne Chriſt▪ …ut that onelyonly which is by the knoweledg… and beleueing of my mercies in my ſonne …nd therfore ſhall they follow no tradicions of the world nor ſticke to any creatures, but ſay with mine olde ſeruāt Dauid I wl louelove the, O lord, my ſtrenth, the lord of Pſa. xvii.my ſuccour, my refuge, my ſauiour, my bu… lar, & the horne of my ſaluciō. Yea the more boldely becauſe of my newe teſtamēt. Sai… thus. O heauēly father, thoughe heauē and earth do periſh and all creatures tourne to naught: yet liueſt thou (O lordof heauē and earth) & in me thou liueſt, whoſe ſon I am bi adoption, thi ſpirite geueing witneſſe of this The ſpirite beareth witneſſe, that we are ſonnes by adoption.thing. Yea & Chriſte (the ſtrength might and powre of thi right hād liueth, & no mā is able to driue him frō the place whether thou haſt exalted him. Of this am I ſure, and ſo lōg as he is ſaulfe I am ſure to be ſaulfe: for I am partaker of his nature, ſubſtāce & powre, according to the gifte of Ieſu my ſauiour that dwelleth in me. Not carnally eatē: but ſpirituallye receiued by fayeth, wherby I knowe that he is my heade, and I one of hys members. Thus may you learne (O my little flocke) whan you hauehave for ſakē al creatures: to be aſſured of fauour and optaine the ſownde and ſure taſte of y… ſaluacion and euerlaſteynge lyfe and … and fele the hope of your calleinge …hall neuer ſuffer you to come to confu… and ſo reioyce as my ſon wilded you of no powre earthlye neither of carnall eatinge of Chriſt, nor … dynge vponupon ſerpentes: but that your names are written in the boke of lyfe in the heauenes.
VntoUnto the other ſorte which may worthely boaſte of their powre (if it be true that they ſaie) becauſe they cā make God, or cal down God into the chalice, for all is one matter in effecte: I will an ſwer as I did of olde by my prophet Eſaye. I abhor your Sabothes, your ſacrificies and all your ceremonies. Yea what do I care for your maſſe mūbling God regardeth none of oure inuencions.whiche baniſheth the memorie of my ſonne and ſetteth a newe Idole to prouoke my zelouſe indignacion againſt you? What care I for your gletteringe miters, ſeynge you baniſhe my word: What care I for your faſteyuge and prayeinge: ſeinge your handes are of full of bloude? your fingers full of▪ wickidnes? What care I for the ſwarme of your ceremonies, ye whole heap of your farthings where vpō your religion ſtādeth: ſei…g your lippes tell lies: Geue …are and tremble for the wickedneſſe of your handes, for the Lorde hath ſpoken it.