The Right Way from Danger of Sin and Vengeance, Chapter 7
CHAP. VII.
The euill and daungerous abuses of the good creatures and workes of God.
GOd is al truthe and all goodnesse, therefore eueryevery thing of gods creation, ordinance or institution, is true & good. All men be liers, and all the imagination of mannes hearte is nothing but euill: therfore man presuming to counterfait the creature, and to contrary or amende the ordinaunce and institution of God, can deuise and imagine nothing, but that which is fained and fantasticall, euill and abhominable. Some say that they doe not otherwise imagine & honor God there, but as they be taught and commaunded by their priestes and suche as hauehave highest authoritie ouer them. So mighte the Idolaters in wildernesse with Aaron, & in Dan and Bethel vnderunder Ieroboam hauehave answered. For Aaron and Ieroboam did teache and commaund the people to do reuerence ther, not as vntounto Images or Idols, but vntounto the God that broughte them out of the land of Egipt. Howbeit for all that euer the priest could teach, or the king commaund, those Images were Idols, and all they abhominable Idolatrers, which did beléeue that Doctrine of the priest, or obey that cō maundement of the king.
Wherfore it is not the teaching of prelates, nor the commaundement of princes which cā cause Christ to be bodily present after suche sort in any thing, as may there be honored as God, or that shall excuse any person beléeuing or honouring that, which is taughte and commaunded according vntounto mannes imagination against the worde of God.
They say that Christ said, This is my body, and Christes saying is Gods worde, and not mannes imagination. I graūt that Christes saying is gods worde, and that he so saide of the bread which he toke, and after thankes geuing, brake, and gaue vntounto his Disciples to be eaten in remembrance of him. But how agreeth that saying vntounto such bread as the prieste taketh, and after brethings, and blessings lifteth vp, and sheweth vntounto the people to be honoured, and reuerenced in the steade of him? The word of God wrongly wrested, and not rightly applied, is at some times abused to teache Deuilish lies in steade of godly truth. The woord written by the spirit of God, to raise a man from vnderunder danger of despaire, vntounto hope of Goddes helpe vpwardes, was wrongly wrested by the Deuill, to moue Christ standing vponupon the pinacle, wilfully to fall downewardes. So like wise the woords spoken of Christ vntounto his disciples, to raise vp their mindes in comfortable remembrance of him glorified in heauen, be euil abused of priestes, to bring downe his bodily presence amongste them to be sacrificed vponupon earth.
Surely this same saying, He shall geue his Angels charge ouer thee, &c. Which is the woorde of God spoken and applied to raise vp a man frō daungerous sorowes in miseries, vntounto a comfortable trust in Gods grace and mercies, may be abused by the deuil, to make a man of presumption in refusing the euident ordinance of God, to fall into the danger of tempting God. And so such woordes as be good and godly, spoken with suche circumstances of Christes supper, as teacheth men to keepe a comfortable remembrance of Christes death, according vntoo Christes institution, may be Diuelishly whispered in suche sorte by the priest at the aulter, as shuld séeme to make a bodily presence of Christ to be sacrificed and honored according vntounto mannes imagination. There is nothing more perillous than to take the woorde, or any good gifte of God, and to abuse it contrary vntounto the will and commaundement of God. The vnprofitable seruant, which said vp to kéepe safely, the talent, or treasure of his Lord, which was deliuered vntounto him to hauehave bene béestowed in vsurie, was by the woorde of his owne mouthe condemned, when as he did confesse that he did otherwise keepe the Lords treasure, than as the Lord had commaunded. And if any man thinke that he may say vntounto Christe, Lord I knowe that thou did say of the bread and the wine, this is my body, this is my bloud, take, eat, and drinke in remembrance of mée: and therefore hauehave I euer with suche reuerence honoured them, as was due vntounto thée: surely vntounto such a man, Christe in conscience wil at some times answer, O wicked seruant, by these woordes of thine owne mouthe, do I condemne thée. For thou doest confesse that I bad thée take, eate, drinke this, in remembrance of me, why diddest thou then contrary vntounto my commaundement, imagine this to be kept, honored, and sacrificed as the bodily presence of me? The woordes of Christ be moste true: but when as they be pronounced with such circumstances as be moste contrary vntounto the custome of the christians, then they hauehave a meaning most contrary vntounto the doctrine and commaundement of Christe.
The giftes of God in all things, and especially his sacraments, be good and godly, but the abuse of them contrary vntounto Gods commaundement, is diuelish and abhominable. The preacher, and the coniurer vse bothe, the name, and the word of God, and good praiers, howbeit not in like manner, nor for one purpose, for in beléef, behauior, and purpose, they be cleane cōtrary the one vntounto the other.
There was neuer séene in the world, two things so muche contrary the one vntounto the other, as is the masse & the Lordes supper. Therefore whatsoeuer is well vsed in the one is euill abused in the other. And truely that fault of abuse is no smal offence, albeit that which is abused, séemeth sometime to be but a little thing. For it is a great sin to delight or be occupied in little trifles, neglecting or refusing Gods great giftes and benefits in waightie matters.
So do Priests in their masse abuse gaie garments, neglecting the seemely simplicitie of the Lordes supper: and therein commit no small sinne, preferring their owne imagination vntounto Christes institution.
So Adam in Paradise by the abuse of the fruite of one trée, contrary vntounto Gods commaundement, shewed suche a sinfull minde, as was disobedient vntounto God, paysoned by the Diuell, to preferre a fantasie of false persuasion, vntounto all the profits and pleasures in Paradise of Gods gracious gifte and prouision.
So commonly in all realmes and countries: and notably in England, they whiche receiue great honours, possessiōs, dignities and offices, to be well vsed vntounto the honor of God, and to the profite of all men. Yet for the imagination of priuate pleasure or profit in the abuse of some little things doe deserue death and damnation vntounto themselues, with losse of al things that is theirs, The Israelites placed by Gods prouision in the Lande of promisse, by their owne craft and crueltie plucking some parts and parcels one from an other, did at lengthe deserue the losse of all together, both lands and goodes, and themselues to bée taken of strangers and vsed as captiues. For the vncharitable getting and kéeping one from an other, is the iuste cause of cruell spoyle and losse of all together. So Achab in getting a vineyard, did lose a kingdome: when as he negligently abusing the policie of Iesabel did abhominably sinne in sheading Nabothes bloud.
Take héede O England: for no man can vse more gentle words and liberall promises vntounto thée, for the inheritaunce of thy croune, thā Achab did vntounto Naboth for his vineyard, and yet by the policie of Iesabel, with the consent of the rulers and elders of Iezrael was Naboth spoiled cruelly, bothe of his life, and of his enheritance: and so Achab ioyned the vnrighteous possession of a vineyarde vntounto his kingdome, not of malice willing the crueltie of Naboths death, but of couetousnesse taking the profite of Iesabels policie, which was a woman rather encouraged than corrected & chastised by the King & the countrey, to expulse and persecute Gods Prophets, for the fauoure shée bare vntounto Baals priests.
And these things then neglected of the king, the rulers, the cōmons, and the countrey as small trifles, were soone after rewarded, and plagued of God with greate and gréeuous vengeance. O Lorde, when, and with what, wilte thou rewarde them, that hauehave more vncharitable gaines, than righteous possessions? that hauehave conueyed by couetousnesse, pretie portions of a kingdome, vntounto little or nothing of their owne enheritance: that can be content to take profite of other mennes euill policies, and also themselues to deuise and practise craftie cruelnesse, that hauehave burned and banished the preachers of the gospel of Christ to receiue and set vp sayers and singers of a ceremonious masse? I write not these things to stirre vp cankred stomakes vntounto enuie against other, but to moue charitable men of pitie to pray vntounto God for their countrey.
O England, if that thou dost think that superstitious ceremonies, worldly vanities and craftily cloked couetousnesse and ambition, be but smal trifles, yet shouldest thou be well assured that God will sometimes remember such smal trifles, and not long delay the ful reward of more abhominable abuses in greater matters.
It is a great mater when as any things of great goodnesse either by Gods creation or institutiō, be in any wise abused through mannes imagination. So was woman created and commended of God vntounto mā, as a helper vntounto comfort, and natural séede giuen to the increase of mankinde, being both together sanctified in matrimony, vntounto Gods glory, and vntounto mannes continuance, comforte, and commoditie. But the floude in Noes time whiche drouned the whole worlde: and fire with Brimstone which destroyed Sodome and Gomor, did witnesse by vengeance how great and greuous a matter the abhominable sin of thē was, whiche did mistake vntounto themselues wiues for bodily beautie onelyonly, or otherwise misuse themselues in satisfying of their filthy lasts vnnaturally. Also the Israelites in the lande of promisse did louelove, and take in mariage many straunge women, hating and forsaking their own lawfull wiues, yea they did offer their séede vntounto Moloch, sacrifising their children vntounto Idols, and with these euill abuses of these good things, they so infected and poysoned the lande, that it did euen vomit and spue out them, as most vile filthinesse afore the face of God and man.
Let all men take héede, whiche knowe that God hath created man and woman, and sanctified wedlocke vntounto their necessary and comfortable felowship: that they do nothing contrary vntounto Gods ordinance, either refusing suche comfortable helpe, as they need of one wife, or else abusing many women, or worse wayes deuised & taught by the Deuil, to satisfie their filthy lusts: & that vnderunder pretence of honest louelove to make godly matrimonie, there be no craftely couered couetousnesse, to commit abhominable ivolatrie. Take héede all parentes, and you that hauehave Wardes, that yee offer not your séede vntounto Moloch, that ye sacrifice not your children vntounto Idols, ioyning them togither by your couetousnesse, which is Idolatrie, when as there is none suche louelove in them, as may make godly matrimony. Yea & all men ought to beware that they cloke not their gréedie couetousnesse, and filthie lustes, vnderunder the pretence of any godly purpose. For when as Sichem Emors sonne, being the head man of the citie of Sichem, sought to satisfy his carnal lust with Dina Iacobs daughter, & persuaded the citizēs of Sichem, through couetousnesse of gains to be had of other mens goods, to take circumcision, & appéere in outward profession like vntounto the Israelites in religion, then that deuilishe purpose, couered vnderunder that godly pretence, prouoked vengeance to the vtter destruction of Sichem and all those citizēs. Matrimony of gods institution, & circumcision, as a sacrament to seale the profession of gods pure religion, were good things according vntounto gods ordinance: but the abuse of them was a greate euill and a hainous sinne contrary vntounto Gods commaundement: and therfore is the plage and vengeance which fell vponupon them, written to be a warning, that vengeance from God will fall vppon all Cities and countreys, in the which suche hypocrites, by suche abuses of Gods ordinances and sacraments, do sore slander the true profession of Gods pure religion.
O England, beware least that thou be found still to kéepe and flatter filthie lecherie, couetousnesse, and ambition, cloked vnderunder the pretence of honestie, religion, and godlinesse. Beware also of the false hearts of such flatterers, as easily gaue any honor or authoritie from Christ and the king vntounto the Pope: to kéepe lands and goods from the crowne, the Churche, and the common wealth vntounto themselues. Englande, demaunde of them that hauehave graunted vntounto the Pope all authoritie, why they do denie him his purgatorie? and if they thinke that there is purgatorie, wheras séely soules lie to be reléeued by saying masse, why do not they restore and bestow al their lands and goods to maintein many masses, for to ease and deliuer séely soules out of so great forments and miseries? And if they do know that there can be no purgation for sinneful soules, but onelyonly Christes bloud, clensing liuing mennes hearts by faith hearing and beleeuing the gospell, why do they suffer any priestes in saying masses so dangerously and damnably to abuse the word of god, and the churche and spouse of Christe, contrary vntounto the gospell of Christe? yée that know, that gods word is abused, if it be not so plainly red, preached, or pronounced, as may make men to vnderstand, knowe, and beleeue gods truth, and that the séely soules and simple persones, hated and contemned héer liuing in this world, be the church and spouse which Christ hath purchased, purified, & sanctified vntounto him selfe by his owne bloud: I beséeche you beware of those procters of purgatorie, whiche by their masse bring themselues and all theirs, into suche a madde mase, as too imagine that their woords which cannot be heard and vnderstand to comforte the consciences of the liuing, may in any wise serue to saue or deliuer the soules of the deade: or that those landes and goods which be bestowed to replenish their temples with their owne idle bellies, and with carued and painted images, be any other things, than the open and abhominable spoile & robbery of the liuely stones, members, and ministers of the holie Churche, and mysticall bodie of Iesus Christ.
This sinfull abuse, is like to cause England to be sore plaged, especially bicause of suche men, as did pretende a louelove vntounto Christes gospell to gette abbay Landes, and churche goodes into their handes, and nowe consent, to expell and persecute the gospell, to kepe the same in their hands, and in the meane time neither be ashamed nor afraid of their manifest and manifold periurie in suche solemne othes, for the purchase and possession of their lands & goodes, for the inheritance of the Crowne, for the iuste authoritie of the king, for the vsurped primacie of the pope, for the profession both of godly religion, and of vngodly Idolatrie and Superstition, as by the woords of their owne mouthes, taking God to witnesse, they hauehave shewed them selues afore all the worlde, periurers, theeues, and traitoures vntounto their countrey, vntounto their king, vntounto GOD, and vntounto man: vndoutedly these euill abuses, bée sure tokens of sore vengeaunce.
Likewise all abused oblations and sacrifices do rather prouoke, than appease the anger and wrathe of God towardes man: as was wel séene in the sacrifice of Caine, lacking faith: and in the multitude of sacrifices offered of the Israelites, with bloudie hāds of vncharitable gotten goods. Wherfore the lord crieth, saying, that he is ouerburdened, sore greeued, and wearied with many sacrifices. He sayth, the hands of the offerers be bloudy, he hateth al burnt offerings of spoile and robberie, eueryevery thing is spoile and robberie afore God, that is gotten or kept vncharitably amongst men. O howe vncharitably did the Pharisies catch and kéepe vntounto themselues by their traditions, the riches and releefe which yong men did owe vnsoo their olde impotent parentes by Gods commaundement, They did pretend such a seruice towards god the father & the church their moother, as though al oblations cōming vntounto their hands for ye mayntenance thereof, should best hauehave pleased god, and most profited the people and their parents when as in déed by teaching such their traditions, so contrary vntounto Gods cō maundements they did rob God of his honor, the churche of holinesse, the people of their riches, and poore parentes of due and necessarie releefe and reuerence. And much like or farre worsse is the manner of them which to maintaine masse as dayly sacrifice for the séely soules in Purgatorie, according vntounto mans imagination, contrarie vntounto Gods word do robbe the liuely members of Christ vponupon earth, …f the comfortable light of the Gospell, and of charitable reléefe of men, pretending nothing to be so much vntounto gods glory, and all mennes profite, as the masse, which in deede maketh gods house of prayer, a dē of theeues too rob God of his honor, and gods people of much riches, and of all godlinesse. For pretending to honor God vponupon the altare, and to releeue soules in purgatorie by the sacrifice of the masse, they dishonor God in heauen, and dangerously blinde the mind, and cumber the consciences of mē vponupon earth with such doctrine and déeds, according vntounto the fantasie of man, contrarie vntounto the cōmandement of God, as bée indéede afore God a stinking sacrifice of vile abhomination, bycause they be vncharitable and vnfaithfull. Nothing can be acceptable vntounto god without fayth, that worketh by charitie. Fayth commeth by hearing of the worde of God. So whosoeuer doth not learn by the worde of God to beléeue in God, and liue in charitie, but will presume vppon his owne ymagination to offer vntounto God the sacrifice of his seruice, according as hée seeth in the fashion of this world commonly, hée cā not attaine v…to sa…uation by fayth in Chryste, as Abel did, but deserue damnation for his owne doings, as Cain did. He that liueth in idlenesse vponupon other mennes labours, or that is much occupied in anie other than in his owne office, cannot offer his own body in diligent doin… of his owne dutie, as a sacrifice holie, liuelie, and acceptable vntounto God, for hee hath no faith working by charitie according vntounto Gods worde: but some such wittie and worldly policie as by couetousnesse and ambition is framed alwayes according vntounto the fashion of the worlde. Such were the priestes pastors in Israell, féeding thēselues, & not ye flock. Such were the prelates in Ierusalem voyde of humble diligence in godly doctrin, & full of arrogant businesse in ciuill matters. Suche were the carnall Gospellers, and couetous worldlings, and painted prelates in England, euer pretending such religion and reformation as best pleased the King, the Quéene, or highest in authoritie: and neuer ceassing in shifting and séeking for their owne safetie, profite and vainglorie, to turne many things frō euill vntounto worse, vntounto the great slaunder of godly religion, & vtter abolishment of all reformation. Suche hauing no liuely faith in Christes merits, desired and deserued the shadow of death, vnderunder diuellishe abuses in a solemne Masse.
The grosse vices in manifest abuses afore, were neuer so euill and abhominable, as was in Christes time the fine coloured hipocrisy of those, which once caused Christ to bée crucified at Hierusalem, or of suche as yet take vppon them dayly to sacrifice Christ in all places.
Adā in Paradise abused an apple, a small trifle, neglecting many good gifts of God: they in Hierusalem, & in al places, teache & kéepe mens traditiōs, neglecting & making of no force the cōmaundementes of God.
Many men at other times abhominably sinned concerning godly Matrimonie, and natural séed, moued only by couetousnesse or carnall beautie, to take wiues, and kéepe whoores, or otherwise vnnaturally to satisfie their filthie lusts: these Priests through couetousnesse and ambition, with vsurped authoritie, did then in the Iewishe Synagoge, and do nowe in the Romish churche, abuse the amiable daughters of the holy citie, the consciences of deuoute men in the spiritual Hierusalem: & also vnkindly conuey and corruptly abuse the immortall séed of the woorde of the liuing God. Naturall séede is ordeined of God to continue succession vntounto men vppon earth: and the séede of Gods woorde to serue in regeneration of Gods children vntounto Gods kyngdome. And what good fruite can spring of suche good séede amongest them that condemne and forsweare godly matrimonie? and that wilfully spill by Massing, suche séede as should be well sowen in preaching?
Aaron in wildernesse, of the golde that was brought out of Egypte made a Calfe, so to bée honoured, as caused God to bée offended and the people plagued: The Priestes in Hierusalem of the law that was giuen by Moses to lead men vntounto Chryst, did set vp such an Idol in mens hearts at Hierusalem, as caused men to kil Chryste: And nowe priests of the supper at the Lords table, wheras Christe should be remembred, make a Masse at their altare there to hauehave him daylie sacrificed.
Ieroboam knowing that God had ordayned for his glory, that al Israel should yearly appeare afore his face only in Hierusalem, yet to drawe and keepe the ten tribes from God vnderunder his dominion, did set vp two golden calues, the one in Dan, and the other in Bethel, saying: this is my GOD which brought thée out of Egipt to Israell.
The chéefe priestes and the elders, being certified by the Souldiers whiche watched the sepulchre, that Chryst was risen with maiestie and glorie, yet to keep themselues in estimation and authoritie, did giuegive mony to set forth not a figure of a golden calfe, but a diuelish face of a forged lie.
And now when as the holie Ghost with preachers of the Gospell, witnesseth that Christcs body is glorified in heauē in forme of man: yet to drawe and kéepe mens mindes from heauen, and to continue a pretenced priesthoode in estimation vppon earth, they hauehave pretended a presence and sacrifice of Christes bodie, voyd of all glory, vnderunder the forme of bread and wine.
Christes bodie was once for all sacrificed, and then, for euer so glorified: that as he was once in forme of man seen and conuersant amongst men vponupon earth, so is hee nowe taken from amongst men, and glorified in Heauen. Wherefore he can not bée cloked or shewed heere or there vnderunder anie forme of fishe, or soule, man, or beast, bread, or wine, or of any bodily creature, vntill he appeare in maiesty and glorie, as the lightning most clearely shining from the Easte vntounto the Weast openly vntounto all men: Euen so comming as he was séene ascending and departing, that is, euen in the same forme of man glorified, in the which he suffered and died. He did not die in the forme of man, to be sacrificed & offered vnderunder the forme of bread, he is not glorified God and man in heauē, to be consecrated or coniured vnderunder the form of bread & wine vpō earth.