Christs Victory over Satans Tyranny, Book 5 · Part 5
The Answeres of IOHN HVS, written with his own hand.
I Iohn Hus, vnworthy Minister of Iesus Christ, Master of Art, and Bacheler of Diuinitie, doe confesse I writ a Booke intituled, of the Church: in reproofe whereof there are diuers Articles drawne out of the said Treatise, deliuered vntounto me.
1 The first Article: there is but one holy vniuersall Church, which is the vniuersall company of all the predestinate. Answere. I confesse this proposition is mine, and confirmed by the saying of Saint Augustine, vponupon S. Iohn.
2 Saint Paul was neuer a member of the Diuell, though he did many things like the malignant Church: nor Saint Peter, though he horribly sinned in periury, and denying his Master. Answere. It was by Gods permission, that they might more stedfastly rise againe and be confirmed: I answere according to S. Augustine, that it is expedient that the Elect should offend: there be two separations from the Church; the Elect are diuided from the Church, but not to perdition: the second is to perdition, by the which certaine Heretieks are through there deadly sinne diuided from the Church.
3 No member of the Church doth at any time fall away from the body, because the Charitie of Predestination, which is the bond of the same, doth neuer fall: Answere this is proued by 1. Cor. 13. Rom. 8. All things turne to good to them that louelove God: Also I am certaine that neither death nor life can seperate vsus from the louelove of God, &c.
4 The Pr…destinate although he be not in the state of Grace, according to present Iustice: yet he is alwaies a member of the Church. Answere. I declared in my booke that there be diuers manners of being in the Church: there be some in the Church according to a mishapen Faith, and some according to Predestination, which are now in sinne, but shall returne to grace.
5 No degree of dignitie, nor election of man, nor any sensible signe can make a man a member of the Church. Answere. I say Predestination maketh vsus members of the Church, and prepareth for vsus grace heere, and glory in the world to come; and not degree of dignitie, nor the election of a man, nor sensible signe: for Iudas, though Christ elected him an Apostle, and gaue him Temporall Graces, and that he was so reputed of men, yet was he a Woolfe in a sheeps-skin, as Saint Augustine saith.
6 A Reprobate man is neuer no member of the Church. Answere. It is in my Booke with sufficient long probation of the Psalme 26. and the 5. Ephes. and by Saint Bernards saying; the Church of Christ is more plainely his body, then the body that was crucified: the Church is the flower of the Lord in which is corne and chaffe: the Elect and Reprobate.
7 Iudas was no true Disciple of Christ: Answere. This I confesse, S. Augustine in his Booke of penance where he expounds 1. Iohn 2. They came out from vsus, but were not of vsus: Christ knew from the beginning who should beleeue, and him that should betray him: and said, none commeth to mee except it be giuen him of my Father, from that time many departed from him, though they were called by the Gospell, they were no true Disciples, because they did not continue in the word of Christ, as it is said, if you remaine in my word you bee my Disciples: it is euident, that Iudas could not be the Disciple of Christ, by meanes of his couetousnes: For Christ saith, except a man forsake that hee hath, he cannot be my Disciple: therefore because Iudas was a Theefe Iohn 12. and a Diuell, Iohn 6. It is euident that Iudas was no true but a fained Disciple. Saint Augustine vponupon Saint Iohn, that Christs sheepe heare his voice, saith, what manner of hearers were his sheepe; Iudas heard him but was a Woolfe, yet he followed the shepheard, but being clothed in a sheep-skin he laid waite for the shepheard.
8 The predestinate whether they bee in the state of grace, or no, according to there present Iustice, is the same Church which hath neither wrinkle nor spot, but is holy and vndefiled, which Christ calleth his owne. Answer. In the fift to the Ephesians, Christ so loued his Church that he offered himselfe for it. I pray you then, is there any faithfull man that doubteth that the Church doth not signifie all the Elect: the glorious spouse of Christ, holy and without spot: This is an Article of faith which we ought firmely to beleeue.
9 Peter neuer was, nor is the vniuersall head of the Church. Answere. All men agree, that Peter receiued of Christ, which is the Rock of the Church, humility, stedfastnesse, and blessednes: When Christ said vponupon this Rock I will build my church, he did not meane that he would build eueryevery Militant Church vponupon Peter, but vponupon Christ which is the Rock: from whom Peter receiued his Faith, for he is the head and foundation of eueryevery Church, and not Peter.
10 If he that is called the Uicar of Christ, follow Christ in his life, then he is his true Uicar; otherwise he is the messenger of Antichrist, the enemy of Peter and Christ, and the Uicar of Iudas: Answere. For this cause Saint Bernard in his fourth Booke did write vntounto Pope E…genius, thou delightest to walke in great pride, being gorgeously arrayed, what fruit doth the flooke receiue by thee▪ If I durst say it these be rather the pastures of the Diuels then of sheepe: Saint Peter, and Saint Paul did not so, thou séemest to succéede Constantine, and not Peter. It followeth in my Booke, if thy life be contrary to Peters, or giuen to auarice, then he is the Uicar of Iudas, which loued the reward of iniquity, and sold the Lord: As soone as they reade the same, the Rulers of the Councell looked one vponupon another, and making mockes and moes, nodded their heads at him.
11 Priests that vse Symony, and liue desolutely, hauehave an vntrue opinion of seuen Sacraments, as Bastards and not Children, not knowing the O…ice of the Keyes of Censures, neither of the rights of Cerimonies and seruice of the Church, nor of worship of Relikes, nor of Orders of the Church, nor of indulgences and pardons. Answere. It is in this manner in my Booke, the authoritie is abused by such as sell Orders, and get riches by Symony, making markets of holy Sacraments, liuing voluptuously, desolutely, a filthy villanous kind of life. They pollute the Ecclesiasticall estate, and though they professe they know God, they deny him indéede, and beléeue not in him, but as vnbeléeuing Bastards hold a contrary opinion, as aforesaid, to whom Malachy in his first Chapter saith, VntoUnto you Priests be it spoken, which despise my name.
12 The papall dignity hath his originall from the Emperors of Rome. Answer. This is proued by the 96. distinction, for Constantine granted this priuiledge to the Byshop of Rome, and others after confirmed the same; that as Augustus is counted the most high King aboue all others, so the Bishop of Rome shall be called the principall Father aboue other Bishops: then a Cardinall said in Constantines time, there was a generall councell at Nice, in which the highest place in the Church was giuen to the Byshop of Rome, why did you not then say it tooke his dignity rather from the Councell?
13 No Man with reason, without reuelation can affirme, that hee or any other is head of any particular Church. Answere. I confesse it, but it followeth, that he ought to hope through his good liuing, that he is a member of the Spouse of Christ.
14 No man ought to beleeue that the Pope is head of any Church. Answere▪ confesse it, for the Church was deceiued by Agnes, a Woman Pope, as it app…areth by Saint Augustine, and it so being deceiued, Christian Faith should bee depraued.
15 The Popes power, as Uicar, is nothing worth, if he liue not according to Christ, and follow the manners of Peter. Iohn Hus confessed this, and said before the Councell, I vnderstand, the power of such a Pope as doth not represent the manners of Christ, is void.
16 The Pope is most holy, not because he supplieth the place of Peter, but because he hath great reuenues, my words be mutilated. Thus it is written, he is not holie because he is Uicar of Peter, nor for his great possessions, but if he follow Christ in humilit…, patience, labour, and perfect louelove.
17 The Cardinals are not the true Successors of the Apostles, if they liue not after the fashion of the Apostles, keeping the ordinances of Christ. Answere. I confesse it, for if they enter not in at the doore which is Christ, they be Theeues and Robbers.
18 An Hereticke ought not to be committed to the secular power to be put to death, it is sufficient that he suffer the Ecclesiasticall censure. Answer. These are my words, that they might be ashamed of their false iudgement, for Christ would not condemne such to bodily death: The first point appeareth in the 12. of Luke: The second, by the Woman taken in Adultery, and in the 18. Chapter of Mathew, If thy Brother hauehave offended thee, &c. therefore an Hereticke ought first to be instructed with Christian louelove, by reasons drawne out of holy Scriptures, as Saint Augustine and others hauehave done, disputing against Heretickes; but if for all this they will not leaue their errors, they ought to suffer corporall punishments. The Iudges had read in Iohn Husses Booke, where hee greeuously inueyed against them which deliuered an Heretike vntounto the Secular power, not being conuicted of Heresie, and compared them vntounto the High-Priests, Scribes, and Pharises, which told Pilate it was not lawfull for them to put any man to death, and deliuered Christ vntounto him, but Christ told Pilate they were greater murderers then he which deliuered him vntounto him, then the Cardinals and Bishops made a great noyse, saying; Who are they that thou dost asimule vntounto the Pharisies? And he said, All that deliuer any that is innocent vntounto the ciuill sword.
19 The Nobles of the World ought to compell the Ministers of the Church to kéepe the Commaundements of Christ. Answere. These be my words, the Militant Church consisteth of these parts; Ministers of the Church, which should kéepe purely the Ordinances of Christ; and the Nobles of the World, which should compell them to keepe his Commaundements, and of the common people seruing to both parties.
20 The Ecclesiasticall obedience, as the Priests and Monkes hauehave deuised, it hath no authority in the Scripture. Answer. I confesse it, there be three obediences, the Spirituall, Secular, and Ecclesiasticall: the Spirituall, which is onelyonly according to the ordinances of God▪ in which Christ and his Apostles liued, and all Christians ought to liue in: the Secular obedience, is due according to ciuill ordinance: the Ecclesiasticall obedience is such as the Priests hauehave inuented, without any expresse authority of Scripture.
21 He that is excommunicate of the Pope, and apealeth vntounto Christ, the curses of the Pope cannot annoy him. Answere. I acknowledge not this, but I did make complaint in my Booke, that they had done mee, and such as fauoured mee, great wrong, and they would not heare me in the Popes Court: and after the death of one Pope, I apealed to his successors, and it profited not, and to apeals to the Councell, it were to long; therfore at la… I apealed to the head of the Church Christ Iesus. Then said a Cardinall, wilt thou presume aboue Saint Paul, who apealed to the Emperor, and not to Iesus, and they mocked him: the tenor of his apeale, was nothing but an earnest Prayer to Christ, to be his refuge and helpe when all kel…es fayled, and that he did appeale before God, for his greefe, from the wicked sentence and excommunication determined by the By…ops, Scribes, and Pharisies, as Iohn Chrysostome did twice from the Councel of the Bishops; And Andrew Bishop of Prage, and Robert Bishop of Lincolne, apealed vntounto Christ, who is not defiled with cruelty, nor corrupted with gifts, nor deceiued by false witnesses.
22 A vitious man liueth naughtily, and a vertuous man liueth godly. Answere. My words are these: All humane workes are deuided into two parts, they be either vertuous or vit…aus; therefore if a man bee vertuous, that he doth, he doth vertuously, and if a man be naught, that which he doth is naught: for as vice infecteth all the deeds of the Subiect, so vertue quickens all the doings of the vertuous, whi…h is proued by many places in the Scriptures.
23 The Minister of Christ liuing according to his Lawes and hauing knowledge of the Scriptures, and an earnest desire to edifie the people, ought to preach, notwithstanding the excommunication of the Pope: and such a Minister ought not to obay any forbidding of him to preach. I Answer. We ought rather to obay God th…n man, for a Minister to preach, and a rich man to giuegive Almes, are duties commaunded of God: and if the Pope or any other commaund a Minister not to preach, and a rich man not to giuegive Almes, they ought not to obay him. I cal that an vniust excommunication, which is giuen contrary to Gods law, for such a one a Preacher ought not to leaue preaching, nor feare damnation: then they obi…cted that he had said that such excommunications were blessings: euen so say I now againe as the Prophet saith, They shall curse, but thou O Lord shalt blesse.
24 EueryEvery man admitted to the Ministry, hath thereby authority to preach, and ought so to do…, notwithstanding the excommunication or forbidding of the Pope, or any other. Answere. I doe confesse this, and that no Christian ought to doubt, but he that is sufficientlie instructed in learning, to instruct the ignorant, and to tell the vnruly of their sinnes, then for to do any other worke of mercy.
25 Ecclesiastical Censures, are Antichristian, such as the Cleargy hath inuented for their owne preferment, to defend their malice, and multiply their couetousnesse: It is not thus in my Booke, but I confesse it in substance.
26 There ought to be no interdictment vntounto the people. Answer. For Christ the High Bishop, neither for the iniury done vntounto Iohn Baptist, nor for any other iniurie did make any interdictment. I complained that for one mans fault, a whole Land shall be interdicted, and all the good cease to praise God, but Christ notwithstanding, Iohn Baptist was imprisoned, then whom there was no greater amongst the Children of men, did not giuegive any curse, no not when Herod beheaded him, neither when himselfe was spoyled, beaten, and blasphemed; he did not curse, but praied for them, and taught his Disciples to do the same: and Peter exhorteth to follow Christ. Who when he was cursed, cursed not againe. And S. Paul saith in the 12. to the Romanes, Blesse them that persecute you. These are the Articles which are alleadged out of his Booke of the Church.