Commentary on Peter and Jude — Martin Luther

Commentary on Peter and Jude · Martin Luther

¶The ſecond Chapter.

BVT there were falſe Prophetes alſo among the people, euen as there ſhalbee falſe teachers among you: which priuily ſhall bryng in dānable hereſies, euen denying the Lorde, that hath bought them, and bryng vponupon themſelues ſwift damnation.

And many ſhall followe their damnable waies, by whō the waie of truth ſhalbe euill ſpoken of,

And through couetouſneſſe ſhall they with fained wordes make marchandiſe of you, whoſe iudgement lōg agone is not farre of, and their damnation ſleepeth not.

For if God ſpared not the Angels that had ſinned, but caſt them downe into hell and deliuered them into chaines of darkneſſe, to be kept vntounto damnation:

Neither hath ſpared the olde world, but ſaued Noah the eight perſon, a preacher of righteouſneſſe, and brought in the flood vponupon the worlde of the vngodly,

And turned the Cities of Sodom and Gomorrhe into aſhes, condemned them and ouerthrewe them, and made them an enſample vntounto them that after ſhould liue vngodly.

And deliuered iuſt Lot vexed with the vncleanly conuerſation of the wicked,

(For he being righteous, and dwellyng among them, in ſeeyng and hearyng, vexed his righteous ſoule from daie to daie with their vnlawfull deedes.)

The Lorde k…oweth to deliuer the godly out of tentation, and to reſerue the vniuſt vntounto the day of iudgement to be puniſhed:

And chiefely them that walke after the fleſhe, in the luſt of vncleannes, and deſpiſe the Gouernement, which are preſumptuous and ſtande in their owne conceit, and feare not to ſpeake euill of them that are in dignitie.

Whereas the Angels which are greater both in power and might, giuegive not railyng iudgement againſt them before the Lorde.

But theſe, as brute beaſts, led with ſenſualitie and made to bee taken and deſtroyed, ſpeake euill of thoſe thinges whiche they know not, and ſhall periſh through their owne corruption.

And ſhall receiue the wages of vnrighteouſnes, as they which count it pleaſure to liue deliciouſly for a ſeaſon. Spots thei are and blottes, delyting themſelues in their deceiuings, in feaſtyng with you,

Hauyng eyes full of adulterie, and that can not ceaſe to ſinne, be guilyng vnſtable ſoules: they hauehave hartes exerciſed with couetouſneſſe, thei are curſed children,

Whiche forſakyng the right waie, hauehave gone aſtraye, following the waie of Balaam, the ſonne of Boſor, which loued the wages of vnrighteouſneſſe.

But he was rebuked for his iniquitie: for the dumme Aſſe ſpeakyng with mans voyce, forbade the fooliſhneſſe of the Prophete.

Theſe are Welles without water, and Cloudes caried about wi…h a tempeſt, to whom the blacke darkneſſe is reſerued for euer.

For in ſpeakyng ſwelling wordes of vanitie, they beguile with wantonnes through the luſtes of the fleſhe them that were cleane eſcaped from them whiche are wrapped in errour,

Promiſing vntounto them libertie, and are themſelues the ſeruauntes of corruption: for of whom ſoeuer a man is ouercome, euen vntounto the ſame is he in bondage.

For if they after they hauehave eſcaped from the filthineſſe of the worlde, through the knowledge of the Lorde, and of the Sauiour Ieſus Chriſt, are yet tangled againe therein, and ouercome, the latter ende is worſe with them then the beginnyng.

For it had been better for them, not to hauehave knowen the waye of righteouſneſſe, then after they hauehave knowen it, to turne from the holy commaundement giuen vntounto them.

But it is come vntounto them, accordyng to the true prouerbe, The dogge is returned to his owne vomit: and, The ſowe that was waſhed, to the wallowyng in the myer.

But there were falſe Prophetes alſo amōg the people, euen as there ſhalbe falſe teachers among you:

ALL true Prophecie hath his proceedyng from the holie Ghoſt, and ſo hath had frō the beginnyng of the worlde, and ſhall hauehave till the ende of the ſame: ſo that nothyng is to be preached, but the ſound and ſincere Worde of God. Howbeit it hath alwaies béen ſeen, that as there hauehave been true Prophetes, ſincerely vtteryng the pure Woorde of the Lorde, ſo hauehave there ſtill been falſe Teachers, and malicious Seducers: And ſhall ſo hencefoorthe continue till the ende of the Worlde. When ye therfore hauehave the true Worde of God, thinke none otherwiſe, but y^t ye alſo ſhall hauehave falſe Teachers. This admonition maie ſtand for a generall and infallibe rule: that whereſoeuer the Worde of GOD is ſincerely preached and taught, there alſo by and by ariſe falſe Teacher's, and diſſemblyng Hypocrites. The reaſon is, becauſe although the Worde bee preached to all, yet doe not all embrace and beleeue it. Thei that beleeue it, doe followe it, and conforme their liues thereafter. But the greater number, whiche bee thei that beleeue not, dooe conſtrue and take the ſame Woorde in a falſe ſenſe, contrary to the true meanyng of the holie Ghoſte, and thereof it commeth to paſſe, that there ſpryng and growe vp ſo many falſe Teachers. But ful ſlenderly hauehave we heretofore harkened vntounto this admonitiō: For what dreames ſoeuer hauehave been obtruded and preached vntounto vsus, wee raſhely and without iudgement hauehave been readie to accept, embrace and allowe the ſame. And by this meanes wee hauehave ruſhed headlong into ſuche a brainſicke doltiſheneſſe, that wee hauehave verily thought the Pope, with the rable of his Chapleins and Mūkiſhe Clergie could not erre. And thei whiche ſhould and ought to hauehave kept vsus from errour, were the firſte, that taught this doctrine vntounto vsus. Here wee learne, that wee are vnexcuſable, if wee beleue amiſſe, or followe and allow any falſe and erroneous doctrines: ignoraunce ſhall not excuſe vsus, ſeeyng wee hauehave been ſo diligently warned aforehande. And God hath expreſſely charged, that eueryevery one ſhould bee able to iudge of that whiche is preached, and to giuegive a reaſon of the doctrine, whiche he hath receiued: if wee neglecte or make ſmall accoumpt thereof, wee are in a forlorne caſe, it ſhal not auaile vsus (I ſaie) to plead ignoraunce. The daunger is no leſſe, then the hazarde and loſſe of the ſaluation of our own Soules. And therefore it behooueth eche one to knowe whiche is the true Woorde of God, that he maie adhere and cleaue vntounto it: and whiche is falſe doctrine, that he maie flee and eſchue it.

Of ſuche kinde of admonitions, that we ſhould take heede of falſe doctrines, wee hauehave in many places of the Scriptures greate ſtore. Sainct Paule in the laſte Sermon that he made to the Epheſians, when he tooke his leaue of theim, and was now readie to departe toward Hieruſalem, forewarned theim of theſe thynges, ſaiyng: I knowe, that after my departyng▪ greeuous Woolues ſhall enter in among you, not ſparyng the flocke: And of your owne ſelues ſhall menne ariſe, ſpeakyng peruers thinges, to drawe Diſciples after them. Act. xx. Chriſt alſo foreſheweth no leſſe to his Diſciples. Math. xxiiij. When any ſhall ſaie to you, Loe, here is Chriſt, or there, beleeue it not. For there ſhall ariſe falſe Chriſtes and falſe Prophetes, and ſhall ſhewe greate ſignes and wonders, ſo that if it were poſſible, thei ſhould deceiue the verie electe. Againe S. Paule j. Timo. iiij. hath theſe woordes: The Spirite ſpeaketh euidentlie, that in the latter tymes ſome ſhall departe from the Faithe, and ſhall giuegive heede vntounto Spirites of errour, and doctrines of Deuilles, whiche ſpeake lyes through hipocriſie, and hauehave their Conſciences burned with an hote yron, forbiddyng to marie, and commaundyng to abſtaine from meates, whiche God hath created to be receiued with giuyng thankes, &c. As theſe premonitions were bothe vehemently and ſeriouſly vttered, ſo ought we to hauehave taken more heede, and to hauehave been the wiſer in looking to our ſelues. But we hauehave had no regard to theim, thei hauehave little or nothyng auailed vsus: yea, we hauehave ſuffred our ſelues ſtill to be wilfully ſeduced and nozzeled in errour. Let vsus now ſee, who theſe falſe Teachers are, of whom S. Peter here ſpeaketh. Truely I doe thinke it was not without the ſinguler and hidden councell of God, that our Popiſhe Prelacie were called and tearmed by the name and title of Teachers and Maiſters, to the ende eueryevery one might plainly ſee who thei were, whō S. Peter meant. For he vſeth here the ſame verie woorde, Falſe Teachers, or falſe Doctours and Maiſters: he ſaieth not, falſe Prophetes or falſe Apoſtles.

Whiche priuilie ſhall bryng in damnable hereſies.

HEreſies, Sectes, vowed Orders, and Profeſſions of life, he therefore calleth damnable, for that, who ſoeuer haltereth hym ſelf into any of the ſame, is in a damnable caſe, and in the ſtate of perdition. Thei ſhall priuillie (ſaith he) bring in Hereſies and Sectes. For thei ſhall not openly detecte the Goſpell and Scripture of falſhood, nor directly charge it with vntruthe, for that were a cleane contrary courſe, and would flatly & altogether marre the drift of their malicious plat: but thei ſhall vnderunder pretence of greate cloked holineſſe, ſtill retain the names of God, Chriſt, Faithe, Churche, Baptiſme, Sacramentes, and ſuche like: and ſhall bee contente to ſuffer the ſame to bee honoured and reuerenced: But vnderunder theſe names thei ſhall ſ…ilie creepe in, and priuilie foiſte in doctrines of their owne forgyng and ſtampe, altogether diſcrepant and derogatorie from the right honour and worſhip that is due vntounto God. And therefore there is greate difference, betweene preachyng directly againſt Chriſte, and preachyng couertly and hypocriticallie vnderunder colour of truely worſhippyng Chriſte. As for example, if I ſhould thus preache: Chriſte is the Soonne of God, perfect God and perfect manne, and he that beleeueth in hym, ſhalbee ſaued: this preachyng is true and aduouchable by the Goſpell and Scriptures. Now, if another ſhould come and preache thus: Chriſte is not the Sonne of GOD, neither was he euer incarnate, and Faithe doeth not Iuſtifie: this maner of preachyng were moſte falſe, and moſte directly contrarie vntounto all truthe. But of ſuche plaine and palpable godleſſe doctrine, S. Peter doeth not in this place ſpeake, neither dooe our Papiſtes and Munkiſhe Mawmettes ſo groſſelie deale: but thei priuilie coigne a counterfaicte kinde of doctrine, and foiſte it in among vsus, in ſteede of true and ſounde religion. As when thei ſaie thus: It is true that Chriſte is bothe perfecte God, and perfecte Manne, and that he ſuffred death for our ſinnes, in whom whoſoeuer beleeueth not, cā not be ſaued. Theſe and ſuche like Articles, as thei affirme to bee true, ſo doe thei holde, that thei appertaine and ſerue for the vulgare and common ſorte of people. Lett vsus therefore (ſaie thei) inſtitute ſome perfecter waie and preciſer trade of Life. Let vsus binde men by Vowe to Chaſtitie, to Pouertie, and to an Obedience to their profeſſed Rules, let vsus teache them to builde Abbaies, Monaſteries, Celles, and Hermitages, and lette vsus flatly perſwade them, that if thei zelouſly and deuoutly doe the ſame, thei ſhalbe ſure, aſſone as the breathe is out of their bodies, to goe ſtraight to Heauen. When theſe and ſuche like dotages are preached, and colorablie inſtilled into mennes myndes, that there is nothing more excellent & bleſſed then Virginitie: nothing more meritorious then counterfaite & feigned Obedience: that Mū kes and Freers liue a farre better and perfecter life then others. Here in theſe poinctes there is no open defiaunce in flat woordes, made againſt the ſinceritie of Chriſtian doctrine: herein is neither Faithe nor Baptiſme expreſſelie denied, neither yet doe thei renounce or denie Chriſte to bee the Sauiour of the Worlde: but yet (neuertheleſſe) the doctrine of truthe is here couertly impugned, and clouded with deuiſes of mannes owne inuention: and menne are thereby drawen and ſeduced from the right waie, and are brought to an ouerweenyng and ſelflikyng of theimſelues, truſtyng in their owne Merites, Woorkes, and rotten Ceremonies. Thei beleeue that Chriſt the Sonne of God, in his humanitie ſuffred death, and roſe againe the third daie, & that he is the Sauiour of the worlde, &c. but thei doe not firmely and onelyonly truſt in hym: for if thei did, thei would not ſo ſcrupulouſly bee tied to their owne Lowſie traſhe, and beggerly Traditions.

After the ſame maner, did thei beare the Laitie in hande, that they could not attaine to ſaluation, except they did after their directions. Ye are Chriſtians (ſaie thei, we confeſſe) but this is not enough: ye muſt doe ſuche and ſuche good workes: ye muſt build Churches in the honor of this and that Sainct: ye muſt erect and founde Monaſteries and Abbayes: ye muſt buie certaine Trentalles of Maſſes to be ſaied or ſong for you: ye muſt pyue awaie your ſelues with faſtyng and ſuche like. Thus hauehave the ſéely poore people been beguiled, and thus hauehave thei been perſwaded and brought to ſhew themſelues as well likers of theſe trumperies, thinkyng it to be the Kynges high waie to heauen: and theſe rotten workes of blinde deuotion to be of all workes the beſt, becauſe they ſawe them which caried the tytle of the Church, to allowe and followe the ſame: ſo that in proceſſe of tyme, there grewe to bee as many Factions, Sectes and Religions as there were Cities, yea, almoſte as there were Men. Whereas they ſhould rather hauehave taught them thus: Ye are Chriſtians, aſwell as thei that bee an hundred myles diſtant from you: ye hauehave all one Chriſt, one Baptiſme, one Faith, one Spirite, one Worde, one God: there is no worke that ye of your ſelues are able to doe towarde your ſaluation, or able to bring you to the perfection of a right Chriſtian. If this Doctrine might generally bee preached, men ſhould be kept in the fellowſhippe and vnitie of one Common Faith, neither would there bee any difference at all in thinges appertainyng to God, but all would be alike: and one the ſame that an other is. This Communion and vnitie thei hauehave broken and diſioynted, in that thei ſeduce and miſleade vsus, in teachyng vsus that wee muſt merite heauen by our Workes: drawyng vsus thereby from Faith to our own Phariſ…icall deedes. S. Peters wordes therefore if he bee well marked, ca…ie this meanyng: There ſhall ariſe among you, Sophiſticall Scholemen, Doctors, Teachers, Prieſtes, Munkes, and ſuche like, beyng the very offall and Skumme of the Worlde, who ſhall bryng in pernicious ſectes, odible orders, damnable hereſies, and ſeduce the Worlde with their lying and falſe Doctrines. Theſe, theſe, (doubtleſſe) are thei of whom the Apoſtle here ſpeaketh. For thei are all thus perſwaded and verely beleeue, that their willfully Profeſſed Orders are meritorious to thē, and ſhall bryng them to ſaluation: and perſwade others alſo to put confidence and truſt in them. If this were not their opinion, who would thinke but thei would rather liue free abroade, then (as thei do (cage and empound themſelues in their Cloyſters, as it were in Priſons.

Euen denying the Lorde that hath bought them.

THei are readie to ſaie, that thei doe not denye the Lord: but if this queſtion be demaunded of them: what thei meane or what they ſeeke to get through theſe their vowed Profeſſiōs, if thei beleeue (as thei ſaie thei doe) that they are redéemed by Chriſt, and that their ſinnes are waſhed awaie by his bloud: Thei will quickly aunſwere, that (forſooth) Faith alone is not ſufficient, and therefore they muſt hauehave the helpe of good Workes. Thus with mouth they confeſſe God, and in harte flatly renounce hym.

Conſider alſo what pithie and vehement words S. Peter here vſeth. They denye (ſaieth he (the Lord that hath bought them. Thei ought to bee ſubiect vntounto hym, as vntounto their ſupreme Souereigne Lord, whoſe inheritaunce thei are. Now, they dooe beleeue that he is the Lorde, and that he redeemed the worlde by the ſheadyng of his precious bloud: but that he redeemed them, thei cannot nor doe not beleeus, neither dooe thei acknowledge and take hym for their Lorde: for thei ſaye and confeſſe, that he hath bought and redeemed them, but yet thei are not perſwaded that that is enough and ſufficient: becauſe thei muſt (thei ſaie) diſcharge and ſatiſfie for their ſinnes by their Works. To whom, this anſwere maie wel be made: If thou canſt doe any worke to take awaie thy Synnes, what good hath Chriſte by his death doen vntounto thee? For there can not bee twoo Chriſtes to take awaie Synnes. Hee (as good right it is) muſt bee acknowledged to be the onelyonly Redeemer and taker awaie of Sinnes. Whiche beeyng graunted to bee true (as it is moſte true) thou thy ſelf canſt dooe no maner of worke to take away thy ſinnes. If thou do goe about or think any whit by thy works to merite Heauen, thou canſt not truly ſaie, thou beleeueſt that he taketh awaie thy Sinnes. And this is flatly to denye Chriſte. For although theſe fellowes doe acknowledge Chriſte to bee the Lorde, yet doe they denye that he bought them. Thei beleeue that he ſitteth in heauen, and is Lorde: but the takyng awaie of Sinnes, whiche is his proper and peculier office, thei nippe and take quite from hym, and attribute it vntounto their owne woorkes: and by that meanes, leaue nothyng to hym but the bare name and tytle: aſcribyng his power, woorke, vertue and office vntounto themſelues. And therefore Chriſt moſte truely foretolde, that there ſhould come many in his name and ſaie, I am Chriſt, and ſhal deceiue many. Math. xxiiij. Mar. xiij. For theſe Iuſticiaries and Meritemongers thus tying Saluation to Woorkes, ſhewe foorth in their ſo doyng (as though they ſhould ſaie) not I am [called] Chriſte, but I [am] Chriſt. Whereby thei ſnatch and applye vntounto themſelues that office, whiche is onelyonly proper and peculier vntounto Chriſt: and ſo thruſt Chriſt out of his ſeate, and place themſelues therein.

This is ſo euidently knowen, that no man can truely denye it. And therefore worthily doeth S. Peter tearme them damnable & pernicious Hereſies, for thei leade a man ſtraight to Hell, inſomuche that I greatly feare, leaſt in a thouſande of them, there is ſcarcely one ſaued. For whoſoeuer of them wilbee ſaued, muſt quight abandon himſelf and all that of himſelf he hath or can doe: yea he muſt franckly confeſſe and from the harte pronounce theſe wordes: The rules of my vowed Obedience are nothyng worth, my Chaſtitie can not ſaue me, my workes can not take awaie any parte of my Sinnes &c.

And bryng vponupon themſelues ſwift damnation.

THeir damnation ſhall come vppon them ſooner then thei thinke: although God ſeeme to deferre his commyng, and to tarie long, yet will he haſten his iudgment, and come tyme enough to their coſt. But this ſhall not bee corporallie and viſiblie to the eye, but ſo and in ſuche ſorte as it is ſett downe in the l.v. Pſalme. They ſhall not liue out halfe their dayes: that is, Death ſhall catch holde of them ſooner then thei think, ſo that thei ſhalbe driuen to ſaie as Ezechias did: Eſay. xxxviij. I ſaied in the middeſt of my daies, I ſhall goe to the gates of the graue. As if he ſhould ſaie: O Lorde God, is Death come vppon mee ſo ſodainly? For thei that liue without faithe, are loath to dye: the longer they liue, the more they deſire to liue: and the more of this painted holineſſe that hath appeared in them, the terribler and dreadfuller is Death vntounto them, namely to thoſe that hauehave ſuch tender & ſpiced conſciences, & exerciſe and afflict themſelues in theſe woorkes of their owne, whiche they take to be meritorious. For it is vnpoſſible, that any man ſhould ouercome Death by any humaine ſtrength. Whereſoeuer Faithe is not, there muſt the conſcience needes tremble and diſpaire. But where Faith is, there Death ſeemeth many times to tary too long ere he come: whereas to the Faithleſſe and vnbeleeuyng, it alwaies commeth ſooner then thei would hauehave it.

Sainct Peters meanyng therefore is, that thei whiche ſet abroache ſuche Sectes and Hereſies, and conſequently denye Chriſt, dye moſte vnwillingly, and that with horrour and deſperation. For it can not otherwiſe bee, ſeyng thei ſtand doubtfull of their ſaluation, vſing theſe or ſuche like tearmes: Who can tell whether God wilbee mercifull vntounto mee and forgiue me my Sinnes or no? And thus while thei ſtande in doubte, with theſe wordes, [Who can tell? and who knoweth] their conſciences can neuer be merie nor quiet. And the longer that thei continue plunged in this waueryng doubte, the more terribler ſtill will Death bee vntounto them: whiche can neuer bee ouercome, vnleſſe ſynne and guiltineſſe of conſcience be firſt taken awaie. Sodaine Death therfore, deſtruction and damnation ſhall come vppon them, ſo that thei ſhall alwaies remaine in perpetuall death.

And many ſhall followe their damnable waies,

THat this hath come to paſſe accordyng to Peters prediction, all men well knowe. For there were almoſte no Parents, but thei deſired and were willyng, to make ſome one of their Children either a Prieſt, or a Munke, a Nunne, or ſome like ydle Votarie. Therefore fooliſhe Fathers made fooliſher Children: while they miſlikyng and beeyng wearie of the troubles, diſquietnes and diſcommodities of Matrimonie, meant hereby to eaſe and ridde their children from the ſame, by tying them thus to a vowed Profeſſion, thinkyng thereby to make them liue both quietly, ydlie and delicately. Wherein thei ſhewed themſelues merely ignoraunt, what an holy thing Mariage is, and how bleſſed the troubles and greeues thereof are. Sainct Peter therfore in theſe wordes foretolde, how the worlde ſhould bee peſtered with Prieſtes, Munkes, Nunnes and Votaries. To whiche Profeſſion moſt of the Youth of the worlde betooke themſelues, euen as if it had bin into the clutches and clawes of the Deuill: ſo that (alas) too truely hath S. Peter foreſhewed, that theſe damnable waies ſhould bee followed of many.

By whom the waie of truth ſhalbe euill ſpoken of,

AND this alſo wee both hauehave ſeen, and at this daie in many places of the Worlde dooe ſee to come to paſſe. For, he that feareth GOD, and ſtudieth to leade a Chriſtian life, is ſure to bee euill reported of, rahated and deteſted: and the true ſyncere profeſſion of the Goſpell ſhal not eſcape the rancorous note of ſpightfull reprehenſion, but hee ſpurned againſt and ill thought of, as though it were Hereſie and Errour. If any man in zeale of truthe ſhould preache and tell them, that their Sectes bee contrarie to the doctrine laied downe in the Goſpell, for that, thei carie men awaie from Faithe to Workes, thei ſtraightwaies with open mouth crye out againſt him, and ſaie: Accurſed art thou, for thou ſeduceſt the worlde. They heinouſlie alſo blaſpheme God, toſſyng and turnyng the wordes of Chriſte which waie thei liſt, to ſerue their owne turnes: of expreſſe Commaundementes, makyng Conſultations, Counſailes, deliberations, and diſpenſations: forbiddyng that whiche Chriſte plainly allowed, and did: and makyng that to bee as Sinne, which is no Sinne: yea whoſoeuer he bee that ſpeaketh againſt theſe their blaſphemous treacheries and enormious prankes, ſhalbe ſure to bee condemned and burned to aſhes. For the waie of truthe is a right vertuous life and ſyncere conuerſation without any halting or hypocriſie. This truth beeyng onelyonly ſett downe in the Worde of God, and by faith firmely beleeued, is that waie wherein all true Chriſtians ought to walke. Which waie and truth, theſe fellowes can not in any wiſe abide, but blaſpheme, reuile, ſlaunder and condemne it, to the ende they maie eſtabliſhe, extoll, magnifie and mainteine the peeuiſhe pedlarie of their owne ſhameleſſe Sectes.

And through couetouſneſſe ſhall they with fained wordes make marchandiſe of you,

COuetouſneſſe for the moſte parte is the companion of Hereſie: Theſe ſowers of fa…e doctrine generally hauehave chiefeſt reſpect vntounto their bellie, as in our daies hath been manifeſtly ſeen. For none of them would either patter up a Maſſe of mumble vp their Vigiles (as thei called them) without money. Among them, no peine, no Pa…er …oſter▪ No … nor Colledge, no Monaſterie nor Freerie was erected and peopled, till order was taken for their maintenaunce, and that euen riotouſly and abundantly: neither was there any of theſe Houſes, that for Gods ſake onelyonly, would doe any thyng for any man. Money muſt be had, without it there was no dealing, if purſe were penileſſe, there was nothyng to bee gotten at the handes of theſe pitifull Lurdaines, and holie Maiſters. But where true Faith beginneth to be preached, there is very little money ſtirryng, it bryngeth no ſtoare of pence at all: for then downe goe Pilgrimages: Bulles and Pardons will not bee bought of any man, Abbayes and Nunneries are not eſteemed: vponupon all whiche (notwithſtandyng,) more then halfe the wealth of Chriſtendome was beſtowed: and no profite at all redoundyng or commyng thereof to any man, ſauyng onelyonly to theſe greaſie Prieſts, Munkes, Freers and Nunnes. But by what waies and meanes doe thei thus ſcrape together and rake to themſelues, ſo muche money? With fained woordes (ſaieth S. Peter) ſhall they make marchandiſe of you. For they hauehave coigned certaine ſmooth ſpeeches to ſerue their turnes, whereby to cozen men of their money: as when thei ſaie: If thou wilt beſtowe ſo many hundreth Crounes vppon our bleſſed Ladie, or vponupon this or that Sainct, thou ſhalt therein doe a merueilous meritorious woorke: thou ſhalt buye therewith ſo many Pardons: and for ſo many thouſande yeres: thou ſhalt hauehave cleare remiſſion of all thy Sinnes: and finally thou ſhalt deliuer ſo many of thy Freendes Soules out of Purgatorie &c. Theſe and ſuche like wordes are deuiſed and feigned for none other purpoſe, but to picke mens purſes, and gleane their money from them. For in all theſe triflyng traſhe, which thei ſell ſo deare, and where withall thei ſcratch together ſuche huige Summes of money, there is not a mite of merite grace or remiſſion of Sinnes, how muche ſoeuer they boaſt & wreſt the holie and precious Worde of God, to bleare the eyes of the Worlde, and to ſerue their auaritious appetites. So alſo of the Sacrament of the bleſſed bodie and bloud of Chriſte, what other thyng practized they, but a ſhameleſſe marchandyzing? for they vſed the ſame in a maner to none other purpoſe, but as a baite to catche men, and to wryng money from them. Iudge and conſider now (good Reader) whether ſainct Peter many hundreth yeeres agoe, hath not notably and liuely ſet forthe and deſcribed our holie Romiſhe Clergie with their vſuall properties.

Whoſe iudgement long agone is not farre of, and their damnation ſleepeth not.

THeir iugglyng & paltrie (for that is S. Peters meaning) ſhal not alwayes cōtinue in ſuch iolitie, neither ſhal thei choppe and chaunge and vſe marchandize of you euer: when thei are come to their higheſt ruffe and ſtatelineſſe, then ſhall they hauehave a ſodaine downefall, and a heauie iudgement and deſtruction ſhall quicklie light vponupon them. It is euen now at hande, they ſhall not eſcape. As S. Paule alſo ſaieth ij. Tim. iij. Their madneſſe ſhalbee euident to all men, that thei maie be confounded. God open their eyes and graunt thē grace to turne vntounto hym by true and earneſt repentaunce, and to forſake and deteſt theſe their wicked and fruictleſſe Sectes: ſith they here maie learne, that they are nothyng els then Sectes of perdition and condemnation. For albeit there bee ſome, not altogether peruerted and deſperatelie ſeduced in theſe Sectes, yet are the Sectes themſelues nothyng els then vndoubted and certein Sects of damnable perdition. After this ſorte therefore hath S. Peter here deſcribed the filthie and wicked life of theſe Popiſh Monſters, which he ſawe would come to paſſe, after the ſyncere Doctrine of the Goſpel preached by y^t Apoſtles. Now, laieth he before our eyes three ſtraunge and terrible examples of them whom God hath condemned and in his iuſtice puniſhed: to wit, the Aungelles, the whole Worlde, and the Cities of Sodome and Gomorrhe.

For if God ſpared not the Angels that had ſinned, but caſt them downe into hell and deliuered them into chaines of darknes, to be kept vntounto dānation:

IN theſe words S. Peter terrifieth thē that liue in ſecuritie, and wilfully wallowe in their wickedneſſe: as we ſee in thē whiche bee the Popes ſworne Suppliantes, and are deepely drowned in the dregges of his filthy Traditions: for thei looke ſo bigge, and vaunt thēſelues ſo impudentlie, as though thei would treade whom thei liſte, vnderunder their feete. S. Peter therefore in this place ſpeaketh to this purpoſe, as if hee ſhould ſay: Is it not a meruailous malapert ſaucineſſe, and preſumptuous boldneſſe in them, thus impudently to ſeeke to eſtabliſhe and maintaine by force and violence, their Heiliſhe impietie? as though thei thought that GOD were in awe to theim, and that he would ſpare and winke at theim, who ſpared not the Aungelles. As if he ſhould ſaie: The verie Sainctes and holie ones are wonderfullie afraied to ſee ſo ſeuere a Iudgemente, namely in that, GOD ſpared not his excellent Spirites, and moſte noble Creatures, which were farre perfecter and wiſer then wee, but bindyng theim in Chaines of darkeneſſe, caſte them into Hell. This is that ſeuere Iudgement and dreadfull damnation, wherein the priſoners appoincted to the ſame, are kept in Chaines, and can not by any meanes eſcape out of the handes of God, but are kept in holde, to bee throwne into vtter darkeneſſe, whereof Chriſt ſpeaketh in the Goſpell. Math. viij.xxij. and xxv. Here alſo doeth S. Peter ſhewe, that the deuilles hauehave not yet that puniſhement laied vponupon them, wherevnto thei are condemned. but remaine and continue in obſtinacie and deſperation, lookyng eueryevery minute and momente for their Iudgement: euen as a Felon or other malefactour that is condemned to die, and deſpairyng of any releaſſe, hardeneth hymſelf in obſtinacie, and groweth ſtill worſe and worſe. The puniſhement wherevnto thei are iudged, is not yet laied vponupon them, but thei are kept for it, in chaines of darkeneſſe, that is, in their malicious obſtinacie of miſchief and deſperation.

Neither hath ſpared the olde Worlde, but ſaued Noah, the eight perſon, a Preacher of righteouſnes, and brought in the floud vponupon the worlde of the vngodlie.

THis example alſo is ſo terrible, and ſo full of horror, as none in the whole Scripture more: beeyng able to appall and ſhake the conſcience euen of him that is right ſtrong in Faithe. For when this and ſuche like places of Scripture, and ſuche ſharpe Iudgemētes of God, come into a mannes minde that is diyng, who in his harte deepely conſidereth theim, how can hee but tremble and ſhake, and be brought to the verie brinke of deſperation, vnleſſe his Faithe be moſte ſtrong and conſtant? For what man is he in all the worlde, that would not be merueilouſly daunted and diſmaied, to conſider how that emong ſo many thouſandes of men, as were then in the worlde, no mo ſhould be ſaued aliue but eight perſones? And what had thei committed, thinke ye, why God ſhould ſo in his ſeuere iudgemente at once deſtroye the whole worlde in the floud, drounyng bothe Men and Women, Maiſters, and Seruauntes, Yong and Old, Beaſtes of the field, and Birdes of the Aire? Forſoothe, the cauſe of ſo generall a deſtruction, was their wicked and abhominable life. Noah was a iuſte manne, and a preacher of righteouſneſſe, he liued fiue hundreth yeres before the floud, what tyme GOD commaunded hym to builde the Arke, whiche he made within the ſpace of an hundred yeres after, and liued alwaies an holie and godlie life. Wherein wee are to note and conſider, what a Croſſe this good man bare, in what perilles, daūgers, and extremities he was lapped, when as he muſt in worde and deede openly profeſſe hymſelf a Chriſtian, that it, one that truely and vnfeinedly truſted in God. For it is not poſſible, that Faithe ſhould be Idle or lye hidde, without ſhewyng it ſelf openly to the Worlde before menne, aſwell in preachyng, as in ſinceritie and integritie of life. It is therefore verie like, that long before he was commaunded to builde the Arke, hee executed the office of Preachyng, and francklie vttered the Worde of God, and that not in one place and Region onelyonly, but (doubtleſſe) in many other and ſundrie Countries. And therefore it could not be choſen, but that he ſuffred many, and the ſame verie greuous perſecutions: In ſo muche that S. Peter here ſaieth) it had neede to be a ſpeciall priuiledged protection, and a peculiar and Spirituall aſſiſtaunce from aboue, that ſhould in ſuche a deſperate and forlorne tyme, relieue and helpe hym: els had he been quickly diſpatched, and no waie could hee hauehave eſcaped death: For he that ſincerely and zelouſly preacheth the Worde of GOD, can not eſcape the enuious onſettes, and bitter battries of many, and that of them whiche cary the countenaunce of wiſedome, modeſt life and ſanctimonie. But when this holy manne had ſo long tyme in vaine continued his preachyng to the men of that Age, and thei neuer a whit repentyng their lewde life, but ſtill contemnyng the Word of God, and growyng worſe and worſe: GOD ſaied at length, after that hee ſawe their obſtinate perſeueraunce in Sinne, My Spirite ſhall not alwaies ſtriue with Manne, becauſe he is but fleſhe: his daies ſhalbe an hundreth and twentie yeres. Geneſ. vj. And a little after in the ſame Chapter. I will deſtroye from the Earth the Man, whom I hauehave created, from Man to Beaſt, to the creepyng thyng, and to the Foule of the Heauen, &c. Theſe wordes did Noah in his daiely Sermons preache, and beate into their heades: withall alſo buildyng the Arke, accordyng as God had commaunded hym, and that in the full ſpace of an hundreth yeres. But thei were ſo ſenſeleſſe of their eſtate, and ſo frozen in the dregges of their accuſtomed Synnes, that thei laughed him to ſkorne, and grewe ſtill more and more obſtinate and rebellious. The Sinnes wherefore God brought the Floud vppon the Worlde, as it appeareth in the ſame ſixte Chapter of Geneſis, were, that the Soonnes of God, that is, the Children of the holie Fathers, degenerated from the Faith and knowledge wherein thei had been trained & taught, For, ſeing the daughters of Mē that thei were faire, thei tooke them wiues of all that thei liked. Of whom were borne mightie Gyantes, and lawleſſe Tyrantes, whiche did all thynges accordyng to their owne luſtes, and as beſte liked themſelues. This was the cauſe, why God puniſhing their ſinnes, drouned the whole Worlde.

And tourned the Cities of Sodom and Gomorrhe into aſhes, condemned them and ouerthrewe thē, and made theim an enſample vntounto them that after ſhould liue vngodly.

THis third example is of the fiue Cities, whiche God deſtroied, as we read Geneſ. xix. Ezechiel alſo in his xvj. Chapter, ſpeakyng hereof in the perſone of God, and appliyng his woordes by waie of vpbraidyng to Hieruſalem, ſaieth: This was the iniquitio of thy Siſter Sodom: Pride, fulneſſe of Bread, & abundaūce of Idleneſſe, both in her and in her daughters: neither did ſhe ſtrengthen the hande of the poore and needie: but thei were hautie and committed abhomination before me, therefore I tooke theim awaie, as pleaſed me. Sodome and Gomorrha and the Territories thereof, till the Lorde deſtroyed them, were as Moſes witneſſeth Geneſ. xiij. as the Paradiſe or gardein of the Lorde, aboundyng and flowyng with plentie of Wine and Oile: in theim all thynges that to the life of man were either neceſſarie, delightfull, or commodious, were in moſte aboundaunce to bee had, in ſo muche that the common ſorte beleeued, that God hymſelf had choſen it for his owne peculier habitation and dwellyng. And therefore as Moſes in the ſame Chapter ſaith, the people thereof were wicked, and exceeding ſinners againſt the Lorde, leadyng their liues accordyng to the leuell of their owne leude luſtes. Whiche inordinate, beaſtly, and wicked luſtes, their owne vaine curioſitie and the greate plentifull aboundaunce and Idleneſſe whiche thei enioyed, procured and brought vntounto them. As wee at this daie by experience doe ſet, that the wealthier a…y Cities be, the wantoner and diſſoluter life the people therein lead: but where Famine, Penurie, or other extremities pinche, there the Citezeins are nothyng ſo muche giuen to looſeneſſe and Sinne. And therefore God vſeth to exerciſe, and enure thoſe that be his, and whom he loueth with hard cheere and ſlender pittaunces becauſe they maie the better walke in integritie of life.

Theſe therefore are the three dreadfull Examples, wherewith S. Peter threateneth the vngodlie: whiche he here aptly alledgeth and bringeth in, as fitlie hittyng the perſones of whō he here ſpeaketh: who (he ſaieth) liued euen as theſe Sodomites and Gomorrheans did: whoſe greeuous puniſhement is heere laied before them, for their greater terrour. And therefore theſe thynges agree in eche reſpect: and verie fittly are to be applied namely and ſpecially vntounto the Pope, with his Cardinalles, Biſſhoppes, Munkes, Friers, Nunnes, and all the reſt of his filthie Spiritualtie, and rumpwood retinue. For thei beyng appoincted to be as it were Angels, & in the places of Apoſtles, truely to preache and expounde the Woorde of God, in ſteade of beyng ſuche Angelles (for the name Angell is a worde of Office, and not of Nature, ſignifiyng a Meſſenger, or an Embaſſadour: wherevppon all Preachers of the Truthe, who are the Meſſengers of GOD, are called in the Scriptures, Mala. ij. & j. Cor. xj. by y^e name of Angels) thei do cary vsus headlong with themſelues, into the dungeon of error, and quite reuolte from their loyall allegiaunce to GOD, by mere Pride and Apoſtacie, like theſe of whom S. Peter here ſpeaketh: aduauncyng theimſelues aboue God, and will hauehave no Lorde ouer them, but bee Lordes themſelues and of them ſelues. And yet will thei bee called Apoſtolicall, hauyng nothyng in theim, but onelyonly a vaine braggyng ſhewe of the bare name and title: as heere afore in this Chapter, thei are named by the name Angelles, who properly are not ſo. This blaſphemous route therefore of Pope and Popelynges, for that thei hauehave conſpired with the Deuill againſt God, and denied hym that is their Creatour, are kepte faſte fettered in Chaines of darkeneſſe vntounto damnation, whoſe Iudgement (as he ſaied afore) ceaſſeth not, neither dooeth their damnation ſleepe, although as yet it bee not fullie and completly come vponupon them.

Againe, thei bee herein alſo like vntounto the old Worlde, who although thei hauehave the Prophetes, and the Woorde of GOD preached vntounto them, yet did thei blaſpheme and (as it were) defy hym: and as Moſes writeth of them, tooke to theim ſelues Wiues, accordyng to their owne luſtes and likynges, and became mightie Tyrauntes and Gyantes in the earth. Gen. vj. Now a little let vsus ſee, whether all the properties and dealynges, reported by Moſes, to be in thoſe men of the old World, bee not nowe moſte manifeſtly reſiaunte and inueſted in our Popiſhe Clergie. For thei now be greate, mightie, and dreadfull Tyrauntes, thei liue of all menne moſte delicately, moſte riotouſlie, and euen as thei liſte theimſelues, thei hauehave moſte aboundaunt ſtore and plentie of all thynges, thei oppreſſe the Worlde, and with their tyrannous exactions, and bloodie cruelties ouercrowe all Chriſtendome: and yet maie no manne ſpeake one woorde, or once open his mouthe againſt them, no not Kynges and Princes. Againe, if thei bee diſpoſed to take a waie a mannes Wife, or his daughter from hym, thei maie with ſuche impunitie dooe it, that no man maie dare ſo muche as complaine of their violence: and if any doe complaine, yet are thei themſelues, the iudges of the matter, and ſo it ſhall be euen as good to ſaie nothyng at all: for amendes hee ſhall hauehave none at all. Finallie, by all the ſhiftes and driftes, by all the waies and meanes that thei can poſſibly deuiſe to pill and poll, robbe and ſpoile, rake and ſcrape, by coſonage, pillage, exaction, tribute, commaundementes, licenſes, depredations, and al other ſuttle trickes whatſoeuer, thei hale and pull, thei catche and ſnatche vntounto theim, without hoe, without meaſure, without conſcience, without ſhame. And if any manne in any ſorte laye his lawfull claime, or touche any thyng, whiche thei pretende to be theirs, and whiche thei hauehave in theirs poſſeſſions, by and by thei bawle and barke, howle and crie againſt hym that the ſame thing ſo claimed is Spirituall liuelihoode, Spirituall patrimonie, & the goods of the Church, which hath and ought to hauehave and enioye a free immunitie, ſo that no manne may or ought ſo much as once to touche them. But thoſe, that ſincerely preach the worde of God, and charitable reprehende their looſe and diſſolute life, denouncyng and declaryng vntounto them the iudgementes of God, that tarieth them ſuche: preachers of Iuſtice (I ſaie) can thei not abide to heare, but mocke and ſkorne them: and not onelyonly ſo, but alſo cruelly perſecute, impriſon, baniſh, kill and murther them. But their Style and Tytle [to bee called Spirituall fathers] as theſe others in the daies of Noah were called the Sonnes of God, thei holde faſt with toothe and naile: and needes will they rule all the roſte with mere violence, force and power, euen as thei liſt themſelues. But in the ende (notwithſtandyng) they ſhall periſhe and bee deſtroyed, whereas the true Preachers of the Woorde of God (who are reſembled to Noah) are ſaued, kept and preſerued.

Thirdly, as the Countrey wherein the Cities of Sodome and Gamorrhe ſtoode, flowed moſte abundantly with ſtoare of all thinges that the Earth yeelded, ſo that the Inhabitants thereof liued ydlie, giuyng themſelues to nothing but banquetyng, drunkenneſſe and belly cheere, without lendyng any reliefe to the poore: ſo alſo fareth it with the ſtate of this pompous Clergie. The beſte landes, the fatteſt ſoyles and fruictfulleſt groundes in eueryevery Countrey hauehave thei gotten to their ſhares: the beſt Cities, the goodlieſt Caſtles, the richeſt reuenues, and cleareſt rentes hauehave thei catched into their poſſeſſiō: ſo that thei maie lye downe and ſleepe, ſhort, tipple, ſurphett and cramme, as long as thei liſt, and that of freecoſt: and as for eaſe, there is no kinde of people in the World ſo loytering and ydle, ſo ſlothfull and ſecure, as thei be, or that fareth more deliciouſly and daintilie without takyng any maner of paines, but liuing altogether by the ſweate of other mēs browes. And what commoditie is engendred of ſloth and ydlenes (ſpecially when it is ſo rooted in lazineſſe) wee can not bee ignoraunt. The Pope forbiddeth his forked Stalions to marie: and if any of them keepe a breedyng whore or twaine, that bryngeth foorth children, the Biſſhoppes then (forſooth) becauſe they maie not ſéeme altogether to winke at ſuch notorious crimes, aſſeſſe ſome pecuniarie puniſhment vppon them, and ſo for a little money they are not onelyonly for this fact releaſed, but alſo permitted ſtill to keepe their Concubines as afore: as though this were a ſufficient remedie againſt the ſinne of fleſhly luſte. I will not here ſpeake any thyng of other their ſecrete, enormious and ſhameleſſe pranckes, whiche no modeſt and chaft mynded man can almoſte without bluſſhyng ſo muche as either heare or name.

To conclude: wee here ſee how S. Peter accoumpteth the ſtate of theſe Shauelinges no better, nor any otherwiſe then theirs of Sodome and Gomorrhe. For ſuch be the diſpoſitiōs and dealinges of al y^t whole table of that viperous broode, that no good groweth from them to any: but catche and get all that thei can to themſelues, vnderunder a pretence and colour that what ſoeuer is giuen to them, is giuen to God: whom they hauehave alwaies in their mouth, the eaſilier to beguile the Worlde. And therefore as Sodome and Gomorrhe were burned to Aſhes, ſo ſhall they in the laſt daie bee conſumed and brought to nothyng.

And deliuered iuſt Lot vexed with the vncleanly conuerſation of the wicked,

WAS not this a merueilous abhomination in them, that they not onelyonly committed all kindes of fornications and Adulteries, but other horrible factes and enormities alſo, whiche are not to bee named, and that openly, boldly, preſumptuouſlie and without all ſhame: inſomuch that thei forbare not the Angels that came to Lot: into whiche madneſſe thei ranne all hedlong together with one mynde and conſent, both young and olde, in eueryevery corner and quarter of the Citie. Againſt theſe their diſordered dealinges the godly man Lot did daily preache, and reprehended them, but all in vaine. The more he exhorted them to amendment and repentaunce, the more they hardened themſelues in diſſolute life and deſperate demeanor, ſo that not findyng in them any hope of recouerie, he ſawe he might aſwell holde his peace as ſpeake. In the like deſperate caſe are we nowadaies: in whom (alas) there is no hope of better amendment: wee ſo turne the deafe eare to all good exhortations, and make ſo ſmall accoumpt of theim that giuegive vsus good and godly counſaile out of the infallible Booke of God.

(For he beeyng righteous, and dwellyng among them, in ſeeyng and hearyng, vexed his righteous ſoule frō daie to daie with their vnlawfull deedes.)

HEre S. Peter deſcribeth what Croſſe this holie man was forced to beare, preachyng vntounto ſuche deſperate and forlorne perſons, and bringyng vp his daughters in the Faithe of Chriſt and nurture of the Lorde: in whiche office, vocation and trade he zelouſly and inceſſantlie continuyng and liuyng there among them, was ſaued and preſerued from the deſtruction of the reſte, by the mercifull hande of Almightie God. Finallie, S. Peter concludeth and knitteth vp the matter, that he beganne withall: namely, how that the wicked are kept vntounto damnation and torment at the daie of Iudgement.

The Lorde knoweth to deliuer the godly out of tentation, and to reſerue the vniuſt vntounto the day of iudgement to be puniſhed:

IF God ſpared not the young World, when it was but newe, how muche more ſeuerely and ſharpelie will he now puniſh it, ſéeyng the Goſpell hath been ſo long tyme manifeſted and ſo openly preached? For there was neuer aforetyme ſuche light, as wee hauehave now ſince the propagation of the Goſpell enioyed, as Chriſte hymſelf ſaieth, Matth. xj. Woe be to thee Capernaum, which art lifted vp vntounto heauen, but thou ſhalt be brought downe to hell: for if the greate workes which hauehave been done in thee, had been done among them of Sodom, they had remained to this daie. But I ſaie vntounto you, that it ſhalbe eaſier for them of the Lande of Sodom in the daie of Iudgement, then for thee. But theſe comminations and threatninges maketh a greate ſorte at this daie neuer awhitt the warier and godlier after ſo muche and ſo long preachyng and teachyng. The wicked ſtil perſiſt in their rebellious waies, and vtterly contemne and care not for theſe or any the like reprehenſions.

And chiefely them that walke after the fleſhe, in the luſte of vncleanneſſe: and deſpiſe the Gouernemente: whiche are preſumptuous, and ſtande in their owne conceit, and feare not to ſpeake euill of them that are in dignitie.

Whereas the Angells whiche are greater bothe in power and might, giuegive not railyng Iudgemente againſt them before the Lorde.

TO walke after the Fleſhe in the luſtes of vncleanneſſe, is to liue like vntounto Beaſts accordyng to the likyng of ſenſuall appetite, and ſelfwill. As in the Popes Decretalles, wee ſee how all thynges be ſet doune, as it pleaſeth the Pope to appoincte: eche thing muſt …oupe and bee determinable by the doome of his lawleſſe Tyrannie: he and his adherentes hauehave wrinched, wreſted, and expounded all thynges, as beſte pleaſed theimſelues. And now loſte of all thei hauehave boldly pronounced, that the holie See of Roome can not erre. Not one of theim taught any thyng of Faithe or Charitie, but of dreames and dotages of their owne braineleſſe deuiſyng.

By Gouernemente and Dignitie, he meaneth Kynges, Princes, Lordes, and all Ciuile Magiſtrates, not the Pope with his Cardinalles and Biſhoppes, who ought to bee nothyng leſſe then Lordes: For Chriſte in the newe Teſtament appoincted none to be any otherwiſe then Seruauntes, & that one Chriſtian ſhould ſerue and helpe to benefite an other, and one to reuerence and honour an other. Saincte Peters meanyng therefore, is, that thei whiche boaſte themſelues to be of Chriſt, ſhould in all thynges be Subiecte and obedient to the Ciuile and externall Magiſtrate, and ſhould ſtande in awe of the power of the Sweard, beeyng Gods Inſtitution and Ordinaunce. Contrarie wherevnto, theſe Shauelynges in eche reſpecte dooe deale: who hauehave exempted themſelues from their due obedience to Ciuile Magiſtrates, and affirmed themſelues not to be ſubiect vntounto them: yea, thei hauehave not onelyonly exempted themſelues from this their due ſubiection, and lawfull obedience vntounto the Magiſtrate, but thei alſo moſte arrogantlie hauehave made the Ciuile Magiſtracie ſubiect vntounto thē, and hauehave trodden it vnderunder foote: And withall moſte impudently ſuffer theimſelues to bee called Lordes, ouer Kynges and Princes. The Pope alſo calleth hymſelf Lorde bothe of Heauen and Earth, and braggeth that hee hath in his handes bothe the Sweardes, the Spiritual and the Temporal, & that eueryevery one ſhould fall doune before hym, and kiſſe his feete. Alſo ſaieth S. Peter, Thei feare not to ſpeake euill of theim that bee in dignitie. For it hath hitherto been but a plaiyng matter, and a tricke of ſmall regarde with the Pope, at his pleaſure to curſe Kynges and Princes, and to depoſe theim from their Regall crounes and aucthorities. And this to all Popes hath been a thing vſual and familier, to ſet Princes together by the eares, and to ſowe inextricable diſcorde, warre, and diſſenſion betweene them.

If any reſiſted or withſtoode this bloudie Tyrannie of theirs, hym thei ſhortly ſuppreſſed and ſnatched vp: not as one that had committed any thyng repugnainte or contrarie to Chriſtian Charitie, but as a rebellious Childe, and wicked member, that would not enthrall & ſubiect himſelf to the See of Rome, and kiſſe the feete of that Italian Prieſte the Pope: whoſe power thei affirme ſo farre to ſurmounte and excell the dignitie of any earthly Kyng or Ciuile Magiſtrate, as the Sunne in brightneſſe of light exceedeth the Moone, and as farre as the Heauen is higher then the Earth. Beholde howegregiouſly thei blaſpheme, and how impiouſlie thei lye. For thei which ought to be ſubiect, and to ſhewe all humble obedience vntounto Kinges & Magiſtrates, to bleſſe thē and to praie for them (as Chriſte ſhewed obedience to Pilate, and paied Tribute vntounto Caeſar) ſhake of the yoke of all obedience, and bee the aucthours and Seedemen of al Obſtinacie, Rebellion, Contempt, and Diſorder. Thei ought at the hearyng of any euill ſpoken againſt Princes and Magiſtrates, beyng placed in ſoueraigne dignitie, to tremble: But thei are ſo ſhameleſſe, ſo graceleſſe, ſo voide of reuerent awe and duetifull feare, that thei moſte ſaw…ily and malapertlie theimſelues without all feare, blapheme and ſpeake euill of theim. Not waighyng and conſideryng, that if the Angels whiche be of greate power and might, can not abide the heauie iudgement of GOD againſt theim, how muche leſſe then ſhall thei (wretched caitifes) be able to abide it, whiche boldly reſiſte and blaſphemouſly ſpeake euill againſt them?

But theſe, as brute beaſtes, led with ſenſualitie and made to bee taken and deſtroyed, ſpeake euill of thoſe thynges whiche thei know not, and ſhall periſhe through their owne corruption.

And ſhall receiue the wages of vnrighteouſneſſe,

HE calleth them brute and vnreaſonable Beaſtes, for that thei hauehave not in them any ſparke of the ſpirite of God, neither giuegive themſelues to that ſpirituall function whereunto they are charged, but liue like filthie Swine, altogether ſwallowed vp in the beaſtly pleaſures of the fleſhe. Whereas he ſaieth, Thei are made to bee taken and deſtroyed, it maye bee vnderſtoode after two ſortes: either that they doe deuoure and deſtroye that whiche they hauehave taken, as the maner of Lyons, Beares, Hawkes, Egles and Vultures is (for after the maner of theſe Beaſtes, dooe our Polleſhorne Prelates take and catche to themſelues all wealth, honour, promotion, dignitie and preeminence that poſſibie thei can) Or els becauſe thei ſhalbe taken, caught, enſnared and made a praie to others, to bee deſtroyed, and (as it were) ſlaughtered in iudgement at the laſt daie.

As they which count it pleaſure to liue deliciouſly for a ſeaſon.

BEholde how angrie S. Peter ſheweth hymſelf to be with theſe Bellygods. They thinke, if thei maie liue delicately & ydly, and fare deliciouſlie, that then they are throughly happie, and hauehave raught to the tippe of their wiſhed deſires. This euidently appeareth in their owne Decretalles, wherein they pronounce hym the Sonne of the Deuill and an accurſed perſon, that dare preſume to touch or meddle with their pompous wealth and reuell, or with their pampered paunches and embolned bellyes. Wherein they ſo manifeſtly, ſo apparauntly, and in ſo good earneſt handle the cauſe of their Belly, that thei can not themſelues denye, but that their whole Canons and Lawes, and the whole pollicie of their Churche is purpoſelie directed to this ende, that they maie lye ſnortyng in eaſe and careleſſe ſecuritie, and liue in moſt abundant ſtoare of all thinges without either paine or labour, makyng others to labour in the meane while for them. And other cauſe to pretende and alledge for themſelues why thei ſhould thus dea…e, hauehave they none, ſauyng that (forſooth) thei muſt chaunt, ſing and pipe God a daunce in the Churche, or pray. But God hath expreſly commaunded all men without exception, that thei ſhould eate their breade in the ſweate of their owne browes, and vppon eueryevery one hath he laied ſome burdens and troubleſome charges to exerciſe themſelues in from which; theſe our Lordly Rabbines and Maiſters would bee exempted, and by their good willes would do nothing but leane on their pillowes. And this is the greateſt blindneſſe and blockiſhnes that can be, to think that ſuche a beaſtly and ſhamefull life, is either good or worthie to be any waie dignified or had in any honor or eſtimatiō.

Spottes thei are, and blottes,

THeſe Drones and Humblebees in their own conceites thinke themſelues the Pillers and Ornamentes of the Churche, euen as the Sunne and the Moone are the beautie and ornamentes of the Heauen: they looke to bee accoumpted of all others the beſt, the nobleſt and the excellenteſt: euen as in the Worlde, Golde and precious Stones are of greateſt price and higheſt eſtimation. But S. Peter here in plaine tearmes calleth them foule Spottes, filthie Blottes and opprobrious Staines. For a true and ſincere Chriſtian life conſiſteth wholly in Faith, it ſerueth all men by louelove, and beareth his Croſſe. This is the right colour and true beautie of the Chriſtian Churche: this is her ornament, glorie & renowne. But theſe Shauelings in ſteede of bearyng the Croſſe hauehave betaken themſelues to pleaſure: in ſteede of louelove to their Neighbours, thei hauehave choſen delicacie, nyceneſſe, louelove of themſelues, deſire of ſelf gaine and priuate commoditie: rakyng all thinges to themſelues, and not hauyng any regard or remorſe to ſerue any other bodies turne or benefite. And as for Faithe, thei knowe thereof nothing at all. They are therefore nothyng but Spottes and Blottes, of whom the Churche hath iuſt cauſe to bée aſhamed: becauſe for their ſakes ſhe is euil ſpoken of, and pitifully ſlaundered. Hereby me thinkes theſe our ſpirituall Tyrauntes are wel enough diſcouered, and ſufficiently reprooued.

Delytyng themſelues in their deceiuynges, in feaſtyng with you,

THE reliefe and ſuſtentation whiche at the firſte was giuen by charitable & deuout perſons, of mere Chriſtian louelove, to bee as publique Almes, for the vſe of poore Widowes, fatherleſſe, and other ſeelie poore mēbers of Chriſt, becauſe there might bee no Beggers or any diſtreſſed with pinching penurie: all this whatſoeuer being giuen to this good ende, hath been ſince, conuerted into Freeries and Monaſteries: ſo that now theſe Shauelings doe there with crāme and pamper their owne paunches, and fare moſte deliciouſlie and liue moſte pleaſurablie: finallie thei affirme that all theſe doe properly appertaine vntounto them, and that it is lawfull for no mā to reprehend or finde fault with them for it. But doubtleſſe, the holie Ghoſt can not abide, that the true Miniſters of the Churche ſhould liue in delicacie and ydleneſſe, vppon the gaine of other mens labours, or vponupon that which is appointed for the ſuſtentation, ſuccour and reliefe of the poore, needie, impotent, and weaklyng.

Hauyng eyes full of adulterie,

FOR, this vicious effect can not chooſe but needes followe, when the bodie is ingluuiouſlie crammed and gurmandized with exceſſe of meates & drinks, and walloweth in eaſe and ſlothfull ydleneſſe. But what is the cauſe, that S. Peter here ſaieth not, that they bee Adulterours, but that thei hauehave eyes full of Adulterie. Truelie, his very meaning is this: Al their cogitations & thoughtes are ſtil vponupon Whordom & Adulteries: their fleſhly deſires and inordinate luſtes can neuer with the diſſolute haunt of ſinne be ſatiſfied, glutted or wearied. And the cauſe is, for that thei are continually giuen to ryot, and bellicheere. To conclude, they boldly and impunely doe what thei liſt.

And that can not ceaſſe to ſinne,

FOR the Pope hath cōmaunded, that neither Prince nor other ciuile Magiſtrate preſume to controll or chaſtice that Romiſhe Clergie: whiche if thei ſhould attempt to dooe, he ſtraightwaies excommunicated them. The cenſure ouer them, muſt bee referred to their Ordinaries and Biſſhoppes: who beeyng lewde and vicious themſelues, winke at the ſhameleſſe and enormious villanies of others. In this ſorte therefore, they hauehave exempted themſelues from vnderunder the power of the temporall Sword, ſo that no man dare withſtande or againſaie their lawleſſe luſtes and wicked proceedinges: thei liue ſo abhominablie, and ſo ſenſually, euen as the Gyantes and Tyrauntes did before the Floud.

Beguilyng vnſtable ſoules:

VNderUnder this gaie & glorious ſhewe, which thei pretende in the whole courſe of their wicked life (as mumbling of Maſſes, chattering and chaunting, praiyng and ſinging) thei beguile and deceiue light and vnſtable ſoules, that want Faithe. And herehence it grewe that all men ſo deſired and wiſſhed to beecome Prieſtes, becauſe they liked that ſtate better then any other: and therefore the greateſt ſorte of Parentes thought themſelues happie, if they could traine and bryng vp their children to that profeſſion: ſo that within awhile this opinion was commonly receiued, that in this kinde of life, there wanted nothyng (nay rather al thinges moſte plentifully abounded) whereby they might bothe in this preſent Worlde liue commodiouſly and delicately: and againe, becauſe thereby thei were fully perſwaded in their conſciences that this was the very right high waie and ſtraight paſſage vntounto Heuen.

But he that would ſomewhat more neerely ſifte the truth and founde the depth of this matter, ſhall (doubtleſſe) finde, that therein they ſought none other thyng, but how to fill the belly with delicious fare, and pamper this filthie ſacke of the fleſhe with exceſſiue ſuperfluitie and choyſe of the daintieſt Iunkettes.

They hauehave hartes exerciſed with couetouſneſſe,

AND this vice alſo is among theſe Shau…lynges ſo groſſely and openly c…mitted, that none almoſte euen of the blunteſt … common people, but both ſeeth and complaineth of it. He doeth not ſaie (They are couetous) but they hauehave a harte exerciſed with couetouſnes, and through practiſe notablie enured and acquainted therewith. Whiche hereby euidently appeareth, in that they hauehave deuiſed ſuche a number of ſuttle ſhiftes and craftie conueighaunces, whereby they hauehave catched and gotten into their handes the wealth and richeſſe almoſt of the whole Worlde. Yea, whatſoeuer this rable of Monſters goeth aboute or taketh in hande, is nothing els but curſed couetyſe: it muſt bring money to their purſes, or els thei will not meddle with it. But their liues, behauiours, dealinges, practiſes and conuerſations be ſo generally to all the Worlde manifeſted, and eueryevery man ſeeth them ſo readily bent to the fingeryng of money, and to catche by hooke or crooke, all that commeth to hande, that S. Peter needeth not to feare to bee herein reprooued, as though he had herein ſpoken vntruly of them.

Thei are curſed children,

BY this Trope or figure of the Hebrewe tongue, is aſmuche meant as if he had ſaied, They bee accurſed perſons, and vnderunder the malediction of God: ſo that with God they hauehave no ioye, nor conſolation, but become eueryevery daie worſe and worſe, and encreaſe dailie in blaſphemie and hatred of God, bringyng the full meaſure of Gods heauie wrath vponupon them. Theſe be very ſharpe and terrible ſaiynges. Whereby wee learne that it is more then high tyme for them to be diſpatched out of this horrible and execrable life. For if they bee tearmed and called by this moſt dreadfull tytle of the children of curſe, their caſe is moſt miſerable. When the high Maieſtie of GOD doeth thus greeuouſly reprooue, curſe and condemne, who is he that is able to abide it?

Whiche forſakyng the right waie, hauehave gone aſtraye,

THey ought to preache and teache the right waie, how wee ſhould by faithe cleaue vntounto Chriſte, and by hym hauehave acceſſe vntounto God: how by louelove we are to help and further our Neighbours, and afterwarde how to beare the Croſſe, and paciently ſuffer whatſoeuer for this cauſe is layed vponupon vsus: whereas thei teach nothing els, but bidd and enioyne vsus to gadde on Pilgrimage to this place and to that place, to profeſſe our ſelues Mūkes & to weare a Friers Weede: to become ſacrificyng Prieſts, to build Churches, & to giuegive exhibition and maintenaunce for Maſſes &c. By theſe meanes they drawe men from Faith, to Workes of their owne appoynctment, no maner of way auaileable or profitable to our Neighbour.

Following the waie of Balaam, the ſonne of Boſor, whiche loued the wages of vnrighteouſneſſe.

But he was rebuked for his iniquitie: for the dūme Aſſe ſpeakyng with mannes voyce, forbadde the fooliſhneſſe of the Prophete.

THis ſtorie is taken out of the xxij.xxiij. & xxiiij. Chapters of the Booke of Nombers. Wherein is mentioned how the children of Iſraell commyng out of Egypt, into the lande of the Moabites, Balak the King thereof ſent meſſengers into Syria to Balaam, to requeſt hym to come and curſe the people of Iſraell, whereby hee might bee able to ſmite theim with the Sword, and driue them out of his lande. Then came GOD vntounto Balaam, and commaunded hym, not to curſe the people: wherevppon Balaam ſent awaie the Kynges meſſengers, and denied to goe with theim. But when the kyng ſente to hym the ſeconde tyme, and promiſed to giuegive hym greate wealthe, and to promote hym to greate honour, God permitted the Prophete to goe with them, but withall he commaunded hym to ſpeake nothyng, but what he ſhould direct and appoinct him to ſpeake. Then ſaddled he his Aſſe and went. And in the waie, the Angell of the Lorde ſtoode againſt hym, with a naked Sworde in his hande, whiche when the Aſſe eſpied, ſhe turned out of the waie, ſo that Balaam ſmote her, to turne her into the waie againe. Then the Angell of the Lorde wente further and ſtoode in a narrowe place, where was no waie to turne, either to the right hande, or to the lefte: where the Aſſe ſeeyng the Angell, with his Sworde ſtill drawen, thruſte her ſelf vntounto the wall, and daſſhed Balaams foote againſt it: whervpon he ſmote her again· And at laſt, ſhe laie doune vnderunder Balaam: Wherefore Balaam was verie wrothe, and in a greate rage cudgelled his Aſſe with his ſtaffe. Then God opened the mouthe of the Aſſe, that ſhe ſpake in the voice of a manne, and ſaied: what hauehave I dooen vntounto thee, that thou thus beateſt and bounſeſt me? To whom Balaam anſwered: If I had a ſword in myne hande, I would ſurely kill thee. The Aſſe ſaied again to her Maiſter, am not I thyne Aſſe, whiche thou haſte ridden vponupon, ſince the firſte tyme vntill this daie? Was I euer wont to doe thus vntounto thee before? Then the Lorde opened the eyes of Balaam, that he ſawe the Angell of GOD, ſtandyng afore hym in the waie, with a naked Sworde in his hande: Wherewith he beeyng greatly agaſt, would hauehave gone backe againe, but the Angell commaunded hym to goe foreward: but withall, he gaue hym in charge, that hee ſhould ſaie nothyng, but that whiche he ſhould appoincte and tell hym. So when Balaam was come to Kyng Balak, the Kyng brought hym into an high place, from whence he might deſcrie, and take a full viewe and ſight of the whole people of Iſrael. In which place, Balaam commaunded ſeuen Altars to bee made, and Sacrifice for eueryevery Altar. Then wente he to aſke counſell of the Lorde what he ſhould ſpeake: to whom the Lorde deliuered his woordes: ſo that he in excellente Parables and Sentences, in ſteede of curſyng, did bleſſe the people of Iſraell, and that thrée tymes one after an other. Then the Kyng beeyng exceedyngly angrie, ſaied: I ſent for thee to curſe myne enemies, and behold, thou haſte bleſſed them now three tymes. I thought to hauehave promoted thee vntounto honour, but loe, the Lorde hath kept thee backe from honor. To whom Balaam anſwering, ſaied: Tolde I thee not by thy meſſengers, which thou ſenteſt vntounto mee, that if thou wouldeſt giuegive me thy houſe full of ſiluer & gold, I could ſpeake none other thyng, thē what God ſhould put in my mouth? Notwithſtandyng, afterward Balaam gaue counſell to Balak, how hee ſhould deale with the people of Iſraell, to make them to ſynne againſt their God, becauſe he hymſelf was neither able to curſe theim, neither the Kyng by force able to vanquiſhe and ſubdue theim. Then the Kyng erected and ſett vp an Idoll, whiche had to name Baal Peor, and cauſed the chiefeſt of the Madianitiſhe women, and the daughters of the Princes and Nobles, to drawe and allure the people of Iſraell to the ſacrifice of their Gods: who anone with them beganne to commit Idolatrie, to banquet, to feaſte, yea, to commit whoredome with them. Wherefore the Lorde beyng angrie, commaunded that all the chief heades of the people ſhould be hanged vp in the Sunne, that the indignation of the Lordes wrathe might bee tourned from Iſraell: and there died in one daie of the people xxiiij. thouſande perſones. All this miſchief was brought in among theim, by Balaam, for the couetouſneſſe of money.

Of this matter doeth ſainct Peter now here ſpeake, meanyng that our greaſed Popelynges and Romiſhe route, with all their Diſciples, Fauourers, Abetters, and Sectaries, are the verie children of this Balaam. For as hee gaue Peſtilente counſell to erecte and ſet vp an Idoll to be worſhipped, whereby the Iſraelites beeyng drawen to ſynne, prouoked the vengeaunce and wrathe of God againſt them, and were greeuouſly puniſhed for theſame, with the death of ſo many thouſandes: euen ſo in like maner our Biſſhoply Balaamites hauehave erected an Idoll, vnderunder the name of God, to witte, their owne peeuiſhe Traditions and lowſie Inuentions, Doctrines of Merites and Iuſtifiyng Woorkes, excludyng and baniſhyng Fatther and thus thei ſteale awaie mennes conſciences, and cauſe them to leaue the true and liuyng God, and to goe a whoryng vntounto ſtraunge Idolles. Whiche rebellion and diſobedience hath ſo prouoked Gods wrathe and indignation, that he hath long puniſhed the worlde with ſuche greate blindneſſe and obſtinacie, wherein many a Soule hath periſhed. For al whiche miſeries and miſchiefes, wee maie thanke none but theſe our graunde Spirituall Lordynges.

Saincte Peter therefore peculiarly and properly reſembleth and likeneth theſe falſe Teachers, vntounto Balaam the Prophete: becauſe like as he, ſo dooe thei, for money ſake, bryng in moſte abhominable Id…latrie, and deſtroie infinite numbers of Soules. The verie interpretation of the name of this Prophete, maketh ſomewhat to the better openyng of this matter. For Bileam or Balaam, in the Hebrue tongue ſignifieth a Deuourer, or a Sweepeſtake, or a Supper vp, who with open mouthe deuoureth and gulleth vp all that cōmeth to hand. He had this beaſtly and odious name therfore giuē vntounto hym, becauſe he allured, and was the cauſe that ſo many men ſinned, whereby thei were brought to their deathes and deſtruction. Suche maner of fellowes be our Balaamites, the Clergie of the Romiſhe Sinagogue now a daies, who with their wide opē throates, are verie Deuilles, dououryng and ſwallowyng vp innumerable Soules. The Sirname of this Prophete, is the Sonne of Boſor, whiche ſignifith Fleſhe, or as Moſes calleth hym Beor, whiche ſignifieth Fooliſhe. So likewiſe are our Polleſhorne Doltes, blinde, blockiſh and fooliſhe: who ſeekyng to beare rule ouer others, hauehave moſte neede themſelues to be ruled and gouerned by others. For ſuche bee the menne, that are begotten of Fleſhe: the Spirite beegetteth other maner of perſones. Thus hath God in his Scriptures very properly and aptly tearmed, and ſette them out in liuely colours: namely, thereby to giuegive vsus to vnderſtande and knowe, what is to bee thought of them.

The Aſſe beeyng a dumme beaſte, and daiely accuſtomed to the yoke and burdēs, ſignifieth the People, whiche muſt bee content bothe to bee ſnaffled, brideled, ſadled, ridden vponupon, and to goe whiche waie thei are bidden. And as this Aſſe was violently dealt withall, and greeuouſly beaten, when ſhe went out of the waie, and was forced to goe ſtill forwarde, till ſhe came into ſuche a ſtraite Lane, where ſhee could not any waie either ſtarte aſide for the narowneſſe of the place, nor goe on, for the Angell that withſtoode and ſtopped her, ſo that ſhe was driuen to fall doune: So, the poore people, ſo often as thei feele theim ſelues to be hardly dealt withall, and to be caried into vnſuffe…able errours, and faine would goe aſide out of that wicked waie, ſtraighwaies theſe ſeducyng Balaamites were readie with rigour and violence, to bryng them into their erring waie againe, and therein compelled and enforced them to goe, till it pleaſed God to open our mouthes, and to putte his Woordes therein, ſo that now (his name be praiſed) euen young children doe talke of it. Whereby their brainſicke madneſſe, is ſo notoriouſly detected, that though thei be moſte ſhameleſſe and impudent, yet can thei not chooſe, but bluſhe thereat.

And here, out of this place, our Balaamites maie very fitly bee anſwered, when as thei bragge and crie out, accordyng to their wonted order, that it is not meete for the Laie people (as thei call thē) to read the Scriptures, nor to talke and conferre of the ſame one with an other: but rather to giuegive eare and hearken what the Generall Councelles doe decree: and what ſoeuer thei agree vponupon, that onelyonly to bee beleeued and embraced. Maie we not thus anſwere them? That GOD ſpeaking by a poore Aſſe, reprooued the Prophete whiche ſatte on her backe, of madneſſe. Thei now therefore beeyng infatuated, and their harte whollie poſſeſſed with couetouſneſſe, what marueile is it, though God ſtirre vp the poore common people, to declare and ſhewe foorthe his truthe, whom thei hitherto hauehave ſurcharged with heauie burdeins, and driuen whiche waie thei lifte, none otherwiſe then a dumme ſeelie Aſſe, ſeruyng onelyonly to carie burdens. This is therefore the ſimilitude that ſainct Peter ſheweth betweene Balaam, and our blinde Popiſhe Guides.

Theſe are Welles without water, and Cloudes caried about with a tempeſt,

SOlomon in the xxv. of his Prouerbes vſeth a ſimilitude, ſaiyng: A manne that boaſteth of falſe liberalitie, is like Cloudes and Winde without Raine. So ſaieth ſainct Peter here in this place: Thei are Welles without water, and Cloudes caried about with a tempeſt, that is: they boaſte of great things, but thei performe nothyng: thei are like Welles that are ſtopped and dried vp, hauyng in them no water at all, and yet thei beare theimſelues highly vppon that title, and boſte themſelues to bee the true Welles. But the Scripture calleth theim, Welles, whiche teache, and from whom doeth flowe and iſſue good and wholeſome doctrine, wherewith the Soules of men maie be refreſhed. This is the office that thei ought to doe, and for this are thei appointed. But alas, ſauyng onelyonly the name, there is no ſuche thyng in theim: as likewiſe thei call theimſelues Shepeheardes, whereas in verie deede thei be rather rauenyng Wolues.

Againe, thei be as Cloudes, caried hither and thither with the winde: Not as the thicke and blacke Cloudes, that deſtill and droppe doune Raine vponupon the earth: but as the thinne and light fleetyng Cloudes in the Aire, whiche are toſſed and caried about hither and thither, out of whom there commeth no Raine at all. Euen ſo likewiſe doe theſe Pompous Prelates vaunt and bragge, and carie loftie and high countenaunces in the Churche, ſeducyng the worlde with their owne vaint guegawes and Traditions: beyng like to light windetoſſed Cloudes, and are contented to ſwaie whiche waie ſoeuer Sathan lifteth to carie them, and to preache what ſoeuer maie be to his likyng: but not ſo much as one Worde of the pure and ſincere Goſpell of God. Which Goſpell & Word▪ becauſe none preacheth but thei that be true Preachers and Teachers, therefore are thei in the v. of Eſaie, and other places of the Scriptures tearmed Cloudes, becauſe thei doe deſtill and lette fall into the hartes of their Auditorie, the ſweete and comfortable Water of Gods truthe and merciemercy.

To whom the blacke darkneſſe is reſerued for euer.

THey liue now euen at their own pleaſures: eueryevery thing accordyng to their owne hartes deſires proſpereth and hath good ſucceſſe: but there is a glommie daie toward them, there ſhall come vponupon them euerlaſtyng darkeneſſe, although now thei neither beleeue it nor feele it.

For in ſpeakyng ſwelling wordes of vanitie, they beguile with wantonnes through the luſtes of the fleſhe, them that were cleane eſcaped from them whiche are wrapped in errour,

IF ye aſke, how they can bee called Welles without water and Cloudes without raine, ſith thei preache very much eueryevery where, S. Peter maketh you this anſwere: thei preach (in deede) and rayne enough and enough: but their preachynges are nothyng els then ſwellyng and proude woordes, wherewith they accloye and fill the eares of the poore ſeelie people, whom thei make to beleeue, that what thei ſpeake, is right good and Catholike, whereas indeede there is nothyng more vaine, fonde, and childiſhe. Thus are our lubberly Monkes wont with braue and plauſible words, to boaſte and vaunt their Obedience, Pouertie, and Chaſtitie, and all becauſe thei would be thought of the common people, to be of all menne the holieſt: whereas all their doings and preachinges, are nothyng but mere iugglynges, deceites, and colluſions, not hauyng in theim, either Faithe or Charitie. And ſo is alſo this loftie vaine bragge of theirs, that the ſtate and office of a Biſhoppe, is an eſtate of perfection: whereas thei that bee in that mitred ſtate, dooe nothyng but Pompouſly ieſte the ſtreates, awaited vppon with a greate retinue of Suiters and Seruauntes, as though their were great Lordes: and fare like Princes, riding vponupon braue horſes like gallant Caualieres: Without any regard had to their Paſtorall charge, ſauyng that now and then thei hallowe a Churche, or conſecrate an Altar, or Baptize Belles: for with theſe and ſuche like ſwellyng and vaine wordes, their whole Pontificiall Law is full thwackte & peſtred.

Thei beguile with wantonneſſe through the luſtes of the Fleſhe, them that were cleane eſcaped from them whiche are wrapped in errour.

THE drifte of theſe Welles and theſe Teachers is none other, but to entangle and catche in their ſnares, the ſelie Soules that had ſcarcely afore eſcaped. As namelie, children lately Baptized, and newly receiued into the Church, and waſhed from their ſynnes, deliuered from Adam, and engraffed into Chriſt: them I ſaie, waxyng ſomwhat bigge, thei lye in awaite to enſnare, and drawe into errour. Whom thei ought rather to teache the principles and groundes of Faithe and Charitie, and how to beare the Croſſe of Chriſt: but alas thei inſtill nothyng into their tender myndes, but praiſes of their Hypocriticall Woorkes: whereby it commeth to paſſe, that thei (ſeelie younglynges) are caried backe againe into errour, although afore thei had eſcape out thence. But how doe thei thus beguile men with wantonneſſe, to the luſtes of the Fleſhe, and what baites dooe thei vſe for the accompliſhyng thereof? Forſooth, theſe holie Prieſtes, Monkes, Freers, Nū nes, and the reſte of thoſe marked mates dooe ſaie and teache theim, that thei ought not to Marie, but to liue in ſingle life, vntounto the whiche thei binde theim faſte by Vowes and preceptes: In whiche dooyng thei clogge and beguile menne, incenſyng and incityng theim to the luſtes of the Fleſhe: wherein thei ſuffer theim miſerably to burne, without allowyng vntounto theim that lawfull remedie, whiche God hath ordeined. Here wee ſée that S. Peter ſpeaketh of none other, but of thoſe falſe Teachers and Buſſardly guides whiche are aflote, and raigne like Princes in the Churche of God, ouer poore Baptized and beleeuyng Chriſtians.

Promiſyng vntounto them libertie, and are themſelues the ſeruauntes of corruption: for of whom ſoeuer a manne is ouercome, euen vntounto the ſame is hee in bondage.

THei extoll, praiſe, and vaunte their holie Orders, their religious Sectes, and ſinneleſſe profeſſions: into the whiche, who ſoeuer doeth enter, ſhall bee ſaued, as that moſte Swiniſh and impudent Dominicane Thomas writeth: affirming that who ſoeuer profeſſeth hymſelf a Mōke is in that ſtate of perfection wherein he was at the tyme, whē he was newlie Baptized, and that thereby he ſhall aſſuredlie merite the ioyes of heauen, and hauehave full remiſſion of his Sinnes, through his owne Workes. Theſe and ſuche like blaſphemies of them, muſt wee liſten and giuegive eare vntounto: beeyng nothyng at all aſhamed, to compare their owne dirtie dreames and triflyng toyes, vntounto Faithe and Baptiſme, whiche bee Gods owne proper Woorkes and inſtitution. Who hauyng the Spirite of GOD in hym, and hearyng theſe horrible blaſphemies, can ſuffer them and holde his peace? Now, theſe and ſuche like madde concluſions, and impious Sentences, our Monkes doe traine vp Youth withall. Finallie, whiche is not the leaſt poinct to be meruailed at, theim that be the aucthours of theſe deteſtable errours, thei hauehave canonized and Saincted: whereas theim that bee the true Sainctes in deede, thei hauehave murthered and burnt to aſhes.

For if they, after they hauehave eſcaped from the filthineſſe of the worlde, through the knowledge of the Lorde, and of the Sauiour Ieſus Chriſte, are yet entangled againe therein, and ouercome, the latter ende is worſe with them then the beginnyng.

SAinct Peter heere proueth and ſheweth reaſons why thei be the Seruauntes of corruption. For to knowe Chriſte throughly and truely, is to knowe what he is: to wit, our onelyonly Sauiour and Redeemer, who of his owne mere goodneſſe and grace hath freelie pardoned and forgiuen vsus our Sinnes. Through this knowledge wee eſcape iniquitie, and are deliuered from the filthineſſe of the Worlde. Whiche corruption and filth they hauing in their baptiſme, renounced and put of: are againe myered and throwne hedlong into the ſame, whenſoeuer they departe and ſtart from Faith, to truſt in their owne vile Works. For, where Faith faileth and is abſent, there is not the Spirit preſent: and where the Spirite is wantyng, there is nothing but fleſhe, and there can no cleanneſſe bee. And after this ſort, hath it fallen out hitherto in the Churche. Rome at the firſt hearkened vntounto, & embraced the pure Goſpell: but afterward it declined and turned aſide into bypathes of mās deuiſed doctrines, ſo that now it ſwarmeth with al maner of abhominations, and is become the common Synke of all blaſphemous impietie. The latter ende thereof is therefore farre worſe then the beginnyng, becauſe they are now become farre more deſperate and forlorne Ethnikes, then euer they were, before they heard the Worde of God.

For it had been better for them, not to hauehave knowen the waye of righteouſneſſe, then after they hauehave knowen it, to turne from the holy Commaundement giuen vntounto them.

But it is come vntounto them, accordyng to the true prouerbe, The dogge is returned to his owne vomit: and, The ſowe that was waſhed, to the wallowyng in the myer.

THis Prouerbe hath S. Peter taken out of the Booke of the Prouerbes, where Solomō hath theſe words: As the dogge turneth againe to his owne vomite: ſo a foole turneth to his fooliſhneſſe, Prou. xxvj. And ſo alſo by the m… when as in Baptiſme thei hauehave forſaken all wickedneſſe & are waſhed cleane from their filthie life, and hauehave be taken themſelues co…re conuerſation of Faithe and Charitie, and afterwarde fall backe and infidelitie, and a truſt in their owne Workes, they …myere and deraye themſelues againe in the filthineſſe of their formed …. This place therefore ought not in any wiſe to bee applyed to Workes: as theſe Papiſtes vſe was to doe, who after auriculer confeſſion and ſhrift, were wont thus to enioyne thē whoſe confeſſion thei heard: Take heede that from hencefoorth thou bee chaſt, milde, gentle, pacient &c. But thei ought rather thus to enſtruct and teache them: If thou hauehave a deſire to become vertuous and godlie, humbly praie vntounto GOD by hartie and earneſt praier, that it would pleaſe hym to graunt vntounto thee a true and ſincere Faith: and thence beginne to liue godlie, and to departe from wickedneſſe and impietie. For when thou art poſſeſſed of a true & ſincere Faith, good Works will ſtraightwaies followe and iſſue from it: then ſhalt thou liue chaſt and pure: other remedie is there none, to ridde thee from the daunger of ſynne. For although for a whyle thou mayeſt hide and reſtraine wickedneſſe and impietie in thyne harte, yet will it burſt out in open flames at length.

This is now the ſeconde Chapter of this his ſeconde Epiſtle, wherein the Apoſtle hath forewarned and foretolde vsus, what maner of Teachers & falſe Seducers ſhould afterward come among vsus, and miſerablie miſleade vsus. We can pretend no excuſe, but that we hauehave had ſufficient warnyng aforehand, howbeit wee hauehave little regarded it: and therefore our fault is the greater in that wee hauehave thus ſleightly eſteemed the Goſpell, and ſwerued from the ſweete doctrine comprized in the ſame: whereby wee hauehave through our lewde liues prouoked the heauier wrath of God againſt vsus. Wee are all not vnwillyng to heare the Pope with his lubberly Drones to bee inueighed againſte, and for their monſtruous marchandize of Chriſtian Soules to bee condignely taunted and reproued: but few of vsus taketh any occaſion thereby to amende his owne life, or to refourme his former conuerſation. For it is no tryfling matter, or laughyng toye, but a ſerious caſe and of greate importaunce, & ſuche whereat our hartes ought to trē ble and quake for feare. Theſe thinges therefore are moſt earneſtly, and diligētly to be bothe ſpoken and heard: and God is moſte humbly to bee deſired and praied vntounto, to turne his heauie wrath and plague from vsus. For this calamitie and wretchedneſſe commeth not vponupon vsus by chaunce or blinde fortune, but it is ſent vntounto vsus from God, as a plague for our wickedneſſe and impietie, as S. Paule witneſſeth ij. Theſ. ij. Becauſe (ſaieth he) they receiued not the LoueLove of the truth, that they might bee ſaued, therefore ſhall God ſende them ſtrong deluſion, that they ſhould beleeue lyes. For if this puniſhment and reuenge of God had extended no further, but to the periſhing onelyonly of theſe falſe, counterfaite, and ſeducing Teachers thēſelues, it might hauehave ſeemed very tollerable: but now they hauyng maiſtered and ouerruled the whole Worlde at their own pleaſures, they hauehave caried with them to hell whole multitudes of people, that hauehave beene bewitched and enchaunte… with their ſpirituall ſorceries. There is no remedie therefore for vsus to recure this miſchiefe, but to proſtrate our ſelues before the merciemercy ſeate of almightie God, in all feare and humilitie, moſte penitently confeſſyng our faultes, and ſuppliauntlie imploryng his diuine grace and aſſiſtaunce…, that it might pleaſe him to vouchſafe to remoue and take awaie this plague from vsus. It is earneſt and hartie praier, wherewith wee muſt impugne and withſtande theſe falſe and deceiptfull Teachers: for Sathan our Aduerſarie the Deuill will not bee driuen awaie with any other weapons.

Commentary on Peter and Jude, Peter 2 · Commentary · Chapter 2

p. 132¶The ſecond Chapter.

¶The ſecond Chapter.