Christs Victory over Satans Tyranny, Book 6 · Part 30 – Part 31
Sir Iohn Bortrucke, a540. Scotish Knight, his confutation, of certaine Arcicles vponupon which hee was condemned by the Cardinall and most of the Nobles and chiefe of Scotland.
FIrst touching the Popes Supremacy, these holy ones magnisse their Lord as common the…ues pre…erre their Captaines, calling them eueryevery where most honest men, for it is euident that none in the whole world is giuen to more ryot, no… séeketh more gréedily to all kind of delicates and wantonnesse, and aboundeth with al vices: as treason, murther, rapine, and all kind of such euills as He.
And where they affirme him to bee Christ Uicar on earth, it shall appeare, that he cannot exercise more power then other Bishops: for whereas they say Peter had power ouer the Apost…es, and consequently ouer the whole Church, the which power succéeds to the Bishop of Rome, but by the Scriptures wee may easily sée how … they lie in the Councell: in the 15. of the Acts Peter heard them speake thei… minds, receaued their Iudgment, and followed their decree, is this to hauehave pow…r ouer others, and in his first Epistle, writting to the Bishops and Pas…ors: he saith, … beséech the Bishops and Pastors which are amongst you, for so much as I my selfe … also a Bishop and witnesse of the afflitions of Christ & partaker of the glory which shall be reuealed, that they diligently feed the flocke committed vntounto them: why then doe they challenge the authority of S. Peter which he neuer acknowledged in himselfe? I doubt not but it Peter were here he would rebuke their madnes, as Moses did Iosua which was so zealous towards him.
And in the eight of the Acts he is commanded by his fellowes, To goe with Iohn to Samaria, he refused not so to doe: and being the Apostles send him, they declare that they doe not …ount him as their superiour; and by his obedience he confesseth a fellowship with them, but no Emperour ouer them. But the Epistle to the Galathians putteth vsus sufficiently out of all doubt, whereas S. Paul proueth himselfe to bee equall with him, and how when Peter did not faithfully execute his office, hee was by him rebuked, and not obedient to his correction, all doth euidently proue, that there was equality betwixt Paul & Peter, and also that he had no mor… power euer the residue of the Apostles then ouer him, the which Paul doth purposely intreat of, least any should prefer Peter or Iohn before him: wherefore I cann…t acknowledge Peter head of the Apostles, nor the Pope ouer other Bishops, but I acknowledge Christ the onelyonly head of the Church; And I say with S. Gregory, that whosoeuer calleth himselfe an vniuersall Bishop, he is the fore-rider of Antichrist. And whereas they alledge the high priesthood of the old law, I say the right of that high priesthood is onelyonly transported vntounto Christ, for this Priest-hood doth not onelyonly consist in learning but in the propitiation and mercy of God, which Christ hath fulfilled by his death, & in the intercession by the which he doth now intreat for vsus vntounto his father.
Whereas they alledge out of the 16. Chapter of Mathew, Thou art Peter, and vponupon this rock, &c. If they do thinke that this was particularly spoken vntounto Peter, S. Cyprian and S. Augustine shall sufficiently answer them, that Christ did it not to preferre one man aboue the residue, but that he might set forth the vnity of the Church, hee saith: if this were spoken onelyonly vntounto Peter, the Church hath not the Keyes, and if the Church hauehave them, then Peter when he receiued the Keyes did figurate the whole Church.
Touching their Arguments, that these words were spoken to none but Peter, this will easily be dissolued, if we know why Christ gaue this name Peter to him, whose name was Simon, hauing respect onelyonly to the constant profession which hee made of Christ, as God changed the name of Abraham from Abram, which tooke the name of the multitude, which should come forth of his seede: so Peter took his name of the constant confession of Christ, which indeede is the true Rocks vponupon which the Church is builded, and not Peter, no otherwise then Abraham was not the multitude himselfe, whereof he tooke his name: and the Church if it had béene builded vponupon Peter, should hauehave béene builded but vponupon a weake foundation, who was ouercome with the words of a litle wench, so constantly to deny Christ, so any man may vnderstand how these Romish builders doe wrest the scriptures to their pleasures. And when they alledge out of the 20. chapter of S. Iohn, feed my sheep, it is a childish Argument, for to feed shéep, is not to beare dominion ouer the whole Church: and Peter exhorts all Byshops, to feed their flocks; therefore there was no authority giuen vntounto Peter more then to others, or that Peter did equally communicate the authority which he had receiued vntounto others, and did not reserue it to himselfe, to be transported to the Bishops of Rome.
2 Touching pardons or indulgences: they say, that the merits of Chirst, and of the Saints, Apostles and Martyrs, which they impudently affirme to hauehave merited more at Gods hands, then was néedfull for themselues, and there did so much superabound, that might redound vntounto the helpe of others: and they affirme, that their blood was mixed with the blood of Christ, and the treasure of the Church was compounded of them both, for the remission of sinnes, and that the kéeping of this treasure is wholy committed to the Pope, and in his power consisteth the dispensation thereof, and that he himselfe may bestow these treasures, and giuegive power to others so to do.
Hereupon riseth the pleanary indulgences and pardons, granted by the Pope, for as many yeares as he will by Cardinals for 100. daies, they hauehave such power, and bishops but for forty daies, and no body but Satan taught this doctrin, who would vtterly extinguish the merits of Christ, which he knoweth to be the only remedy of saluation. Christ in the 17. of Luke saith; When you hauehave done all that you are cō manded, count your selues but improfitable seruants. And the 46. of Esay. All the merits of mans righteousnesse is compared to menstruous cloth: by the Scripture the corruption of our nature is so manifest, that in our most perfect workes there lacketh not imperfection. The Parable of the ten Uirgines in the twentie fiue of Mathew, putteth this out of all controuersie, where the wise virgins said, They had not sufficient oyle for themselues and others.
This they ground vponupon the Epistle of S. Paul to the Collossians, I fulfill the afflictions of Christ which were wanting in my flesh, for his body which is the church: But Paul referreth to those afflictions wherewith the members are and shall be afflicted, so long as they liue in this world, euen as Christ was afflicted: and wheras S. Iames addeth this word, for the Church: he doth not meane for the Redemption of it, but for the edifying of the same, as in the 2. to Timothy, he saith; He suffereth for the elect sake, for by his constancy and stedfastnes in troubles, he sheweth he contemneth this life, in hope of a better life: whereby he doth confirme and establish the faith of the Church for great fruit, by the afflictions and martirdome of the faithfull, ariseth to the glory of God, in that they subscribe and beare witnesse vntounto the truth by their blood, and being the Popes pardons are nothing else then such as he faineth, he is a manifest deceiuer, and a Simonist in selling such marchandise as can in no place help.
Touching the marriage of Priests, it is against the word of God, & against Iustice to forbid Priests to marry in the 13. to the Hebrewes, The band of marriage is vndefiled and honorable amongst all men: And in the 1. Cor. 7. chap. For auoiding of whoredome, let eueryevery men hauehave his owne wife: and in that they say, this is meant of others, and not of Ministers: That is disproued by the 1. Tim. 3. Chapt. Bishops and Deacons ought to be the husbands of one wife. And what can be more spoken against them herein, then in the fourth Chapter of the said Epistle; In the latter daies shall come deceiuers, and wicked spirits, which shall forbid to marry; they excuse themselues, that this was fulfilled in the hereticks cald Tatians, which did condemne matrimony, but we do onelyonly forbid Church-men to marry, but this, notwithstanding this prophesie of the holy Ghost, redoundeth vponupon them. They interpret S. Pauls saying, that a Bishop shall hauehave but one Wife: That a Bishop ought not to bee chosen that hath married the second Wife; but this interpretation appeareth to be false: in that he presently declareth what manner of women Bishops wiues ought to be. S. Paul reckoneth matrimony amongst the principall vertues of a Priest, and these men call it in the Canons, the poluting of the fl…sh: God instituted matrimony, Christ sanctified it with his presence, and the turning water into wine, and would hauehave it the Image of his louelove to the Church. They aleadge the Leuiticall Priests, which as often as they came to minister, were bound to be apart from their wiues, & being our sacraments be more excellent then theirs, and daily vsed, it would be very vncomely that they should be handled by married men. The Priests of the old Law were forbidden all outward vncleannesse of the fl…sh when they ministred, to signifie the holines of Christ whom they did prefigure, but our holines cons…steth of the inward cleannesse of the spirit: and S. Paul is witnesse, that the Apostles did both keep their wiues, & carry them about with them.
3 Touching that he should say that the Scottish nation and their Cleargy be altogether blinded, no man will deny that people to be blind that neither heare Christ nor his Apostles, such is the people of Scotland, in that they cal the Pope supreme head of the Church, whith belongeth onelyonly to Christ, and contrary to the word, they forbid Priests to marry in the tenth of Iohn, Christ is the doore, they affirme they must enter by the Uirgine Mary and S. Peter, Christ would hauehave vsus worship him in Spirit and truth: The Scots build Temples and Chappels for Idols, in which they commit Fornication: In the tenth to the Hebrews, Christ, By one sacrifice, hath made those perfect for euer which are sanctified: And to this effect Christ said on the Crosse, It is finished, shewing that by his death all Sacrifices for sinne ended; yet the Scottish Church-men daily offer Christ for sins, both of them aliue, and them that be dead: God commaundeth not to worship any Grauen Images, the Scots fall flat to them, and offer them: Incense. Paul teacheth, that Christ is our wisdome, righteousnes, satisfaction, and redemption: the Scots prefer the traditions of men before the law of God, they stablish righteousnes in their own works, and Sanctification in holy water, and other outward things, and Redemption in péeces of Lead, which they buy of their great Antichrist.
Touching the possessions temporall, and iurisdiction in temporalities, in the 18. Chapter of Numbers, God said to Aaron, Thou shalt hauehave no portion amongst thē, I am thy portion and heritage, thou and the Leuits shall hauehave all the tithes of Israell for their ministry; but what heritage is pr…uided for them I doe not say but they may possesse, but all temporall iurisdiction should be taken from them: when twice there rose a contention, which of Christs disciples should be greatest: he told them they should not hauehave dominion one ouer another, like the Kings of the Nations, & Christ in the 12. of Luke, answered him that desired him to deuide his Brothers inheritance vntounto him, Who made me a Iudge. And in the 8. of Iohn, he refused to giuegive iudgement vponupon the Adulteresse: whereby it appeareth, Christ reiected the office of a Iudge, as a thing not agréeable to his office. When Moses tooke vponupon him the ciuill gouernment and the priest-hood, he was commaunded to resigne the Priest-hood to Aaron, for it was against nature one man should suffice both charges, and as long as the face of the true Church did continue, no Priest did vsurpe the right of the sword. S. Ambrose saith, Emperors rather desired the Office of Priest-hood, then Priests any Empire, then sumptuous Palaces belonged to Emperors, and Churches to Priests. And S. Barnard saith, Peter could not giuegive that which he had not, but he gaue to his successors that which he had, carefulnesse ouer the Congregation, for this cause the kingdom of heauen is giuen vntounto you, why do you inuade other mens bounds?
They were ignorant of all iudgement that did fat with their possessions these belly-beasts, all they which do indow such filthy sinkes with their reuenues, they follow the steps of Iezabell, for what do they daily but bleat and bow before their Images, burning Incense, aud falling flat before the altars, as the Prophets of Baall did, and if Daniell and Elias were Hereticks, when they would destroy the Priests of Baall, so am I: We do but desire, that their riches wickedly bestowed vponupon them, might be taken from them, but Elias was more rigorous, for he cast the Prophets of Baall into the brooke Kidron.
The Pope cannot make lawes according to his owne mind and will, and say they are spirituall, and pertaine to the soule, and are necessary to eternall life: for the word of God giueth them no such authority, in the 23. of Iosua, Thou shalt not swarue from my law to the right hand, nor to the left: And in the 12. of Deuteronomy, Thou shalt neither adde to, nor take from my Commaundements: Therefore in the second of Malachy; The Priest shall maintaine wisdome, and the law shal they require at his hands. And where he speaketh of hearing them, he putteth this condition, that they answere according to the Law of the Lord, then these are couenant-breakers, that binde the consciences of men with new lawes: And in the 33. of Ezekiell, Thou shalt heare the word out of my mouth, and declare it vntounto my people, So he could not speake any thing of himselfe, and God by Ieremie, calleth it Chaffe, whatsoeuer doth not procéede from himselfe: The Prophets speake nothing but the words of God, therefore they so often vsed these wordes; The word of the Lord, the burden of the Lord, the vision of the Lord, thus saith the Lord: The Apostles must not teach their owne deuises, but that which God commaunded them. Paul in the second to the Collosians, denieth he hath any dominion ouer their Faith, though their Apostle. And in the …nth to the Romains, Faith commeth by hearing the word of God, and not by hearing the dreames of the Pope: & Christ himselfe saith for our example, My doctrin is not mine, but his that sent me; to teach Ministers what to do: The power of the Church is not such, that it may teach new Doctrines, frame new Articles of Faith, and new lawes, but is subiect to the word of the Lord included in the same.
They defended their Constitutions by these reasons, if it were lawfull to the Apostles to make a decree besides the commaundement of Christ, that the people should abstain frō things offered to Idols & blood, it is lawful for their successors as oft as néede requireth to do the same: but the Apostles made no new decree, but to warne them how to rule themselues amongst their Brethren, least they should abuse their liberty to the offence of others: and contrary, Peter in the same councel pronounceth God to be tempted, if any yoake be laid vponupon the necke of the Disciples: and S. Iames saith, the Gentiles that are conuerted vntounto God, are not to be troubled with externe decrées, and outward Elements.
And by the 23. of Mathew, The Scribes and Pharises sit in Moses Chaire, whatsoeuer they command to obserue, keep; but do not after their doings. Christ taught his Disciples, that he saw nothing in the doing of the Scribes and Pharises to be followed, yet they should not refuse to do those things which they did teach by the word, but not what they taught of their owne head.
Being accused for hauing the New Testament, and other Books of heresie, he called them blasphemers and Romish Swine, and their stomacks rankered, and tongues most venomous, which durst note the New Testament of heresie, as they were the greatest murderers that murdered Christ, so these men filled the measure of all other Heretickes and blasphemies: how shall these Serpents and s…cke of Uipers escape the iudgement of eternall fire.
And being accused that he was so obstinate, that none of his friends could perswade him: he said he knew not why he should call them friends, which so greatly laboured to conuert him, nor will more estéeme of them then of the Madianits, which called the Children of Israell to do sacrifices to their Idols.
Then they condemned him for an Hereticke, and his goods to be forfeited, and because they could not appr…hend him, they made a picture of him and burned it, & cursed eueryevery one that should shew any intertainment, fauour, or helpe towards him, and their goods likewise to be confiscated.
The sixe Articles agreed vponupon in the Parliament-house.
1 THe blessed Sacrament of the Altar,1540 by the efficacy of Christs words being spoken by the Priest, is present really vnderunder the forme of Bread and Wine, the naturall body and blood of Christ, conceiued of the Uirgine Mary, and that there remaineth no substance of bread and wine, but onelyonly the substance of Christ, God, and Man.
2 Secondly, that the Communion in both kinds are not necessary, ad salutem vntounto all persons: and it is to be beléeued, that in the flesh, vnderunder forme of Bread, is the very blood; and with the blood, vnderunder forme of wine, is the very flesh, aswell apart as both together.
3 That Priests after orders, may not marry by the Law of God.
4 That vowes of Chastity or widdowhood, by man or woman made to God, aduisedly ought to bee obserued by the Law of God, and that it exempteth them from other liberties of Christian people which without that they might enioy.
5 That it is méete that priuate masses be continued, as whereby good people ordering themselues accordingly, doe receiue both godly and goodly consolations and benefits, and it is agréeable to Gods Law.
6 That auriculer confession is necessary to be retained and vsed in the Church of God.
Then they caused it to be enacted, that if any the Kings Subiects, after the 12. of Iuly next comming, by word, writing, or any otherwise, preach, argue, or h…ld any opinion against the reall presence as aforesaid, or against the Sacrament vnderunder one kind as aforesaid: they and their assistants to be condemned for hereticks, and to be burned without any abiuration, and Clergy of Sanctuary to be allowed them, and all their goods and lands forfeited vntounto the King, as in case of high treaso: The like offence against any of the other Articles to be fellony.