Christs Victory over Satans Tyranny, Book 11 · Part 57 – Part 59
IOHN PHILPOT.
HEe was Sir Peter Philpots sonne in Hampshire, brought vp in new Colledge in Oxford: going from Oxford into Italy, comming from Uenice to Padua he was in danger through a Franciscan Frier accompanying him in his iourney, who comming to Padua accused him of heresie. In King Edwards time he had diuers conflicts with Gardner Bishop of Winchester: after he was made Archdeacon of Winchester, where he continued during King Edwards time, to no small profit of those parts: in Quéen Maries time he being one of the Conuocation, with a few other sustained the cause of the Gospell manfully against the aduersary part, as is before recited, wherefore he was called to account before Gardner, and examined by him, and then hée was remoued to Bonner and other Commissioners, with whom he had diuers conflicts, as in his examinations hereafter following may appeare, when he had lien a yeere and a halfe in the Marshalsey, being twice examined, but no point of Religion handled: then hee was committed to the Bishop of Londons Cole-house, where he found a married Priest of Essex named Thomas Whittle, This Minister greatly lamented his owne infirmitie, for that through imprisonment hee was constrained by writing to yeelde to the Bishop of London, and was set at liberty, and after felt such an hell in his conscience that hee could scarce refraine from destroying himselfe, and could not bee at quiet vntill he hauing got the Bishops register to see his Bill, hee tore it in peeces, and after he was as ioifull a man as any could be: When Boner heard thereof be sent for him, and buffeted him, and plucked off a peece of his Beard, but now he is ioyfull vnderunder the crosse.
He was thirtéene or fourtéene times in priuate and publikely examined, his answeres that concerne any point of Religion heere follow.
The third examination.
Boner.
YOu must be of the Church for there is but one Church.
Phil.
I am sure I am in the Church, & I know by the Scriptures that there is but one Doue, one Spouse, one beloued congregation, out of the which there is no saluation: This Church is builded vponupon the word of God.
Bon.
You are not in the same Faith, in which you were baptized.
Phil.
I was baptized into the Faith of Christ, which I now hold.
Bon.
You were twenty yeares agone of another Faith.
Phil.
I was then of no Faith, a wicked liuer, neither hote nor cold.
Bon.
Doe you not think we are of a true Faith?
Phil.
I am sure Gods word throughly, with the primitiue Church, and all ancient writers doe agree with this Faith that I am …ff.
Bon.
I maruell you are so merry in prison, singing and reioycing in your naughtines, you should rather lament.
Phil.
The mirth we make is but singing of Psalmes, as S. Paul willeth vsus to be merry in the Lord, singing together in Hymnes, and Psalmes, wee are in a darke comfortles place, therefore it becommeth vsus to be merry, as Salomon saith, least sorrowfulnes eate vp our hearts: Then I was carried to the Cole-house: where I with my six fellowes rouse together in the straw as cheerefully we thank God as others doe in their Doune beds.
The fourth Examination.
Worcest.
BEfore he beginneth to speak, it is best for him to call to God for grace to open his heart that he may conceaue the truth.
Phil.
Then I fell vponupon my knees, and said, Almighty God, the giuer of wisedom, I beséech thée of thine infinit goodnes in Christ, to giuegive me, most vile sinner, the spirit of wisedome, to speake and make answer in thy cause, to the content of the hearers, and to my better vnderstanding, if I be deceiued in any thing.
Boner.
May my Lord of VVorcester, you did not well to exhort him to prayer, for they hauehave a singular pride heerein: they are heerein like certaine hereticks that Pliny maketh mention off: they did …ing dayly praises to God, before the dawning of the day.
Phil.
God make me and you such hereticks, for they were right Christians, with whom the tyrants of the world were offended for their well doing.
Col.
Where can you proue that the Church of Rome hath erred at any time: Eusebius saith, the Church was established at Rome by Peter, and Paul, and Peter was Bishop there 25. yeares.
Phil.
I know Eusebius saith so, but if you compare him with Saint Paul to the Galathians, it will appeare manifestly to the contrarie: He liued not past fiue and thirty yeares after he was called to be an Apostle: and S. Paul maketh mention of his abiding aboue eighteene yeares, and I am able to proue by Eusebius and others, that the Church of Rome hath manifestly erred, because shee agreeth not with that which the primitiue Church did vse according to the Gospel in their time as they write, there need no other proofe, but compare the one with the other.
Bon.
Ought we to dispute with you of our Faith: Iustinian in the Law hath a Title, De fide Catholica to the contrarie.
Phil.
That is true, but our Faith must not depend vponupon the ciuill Law: Ambrose saith, not the Law, but the Gospell hath gathered the Church together.
Worcest.
You are to blame, you cannot be content to be of the Church, which hath euer been of that Faith full of Antiquitie.
Phil.
I hauehave been at Rome, where I saw your Lordship.
Worcest.
I am sory you hauehave been there, for the wickednes which you saw there peraduenture causeth you to doe as you doe.
Phil.
I am taught otherwise by the Gospell, not altogether to refuse the Minister for his euill liuing, so that hee bring forth Doctrine according to Gods word.
Worcest,
Doe you thinke the vniuersall Church may be deceiued?
Phil.
Saint Paul prophesieth that there shall be an vniuersall falling away from the Faith in the later times.
Col.
That is not ment of Faith but of th'empire, the Greeke word foreign so signifieth.
Phil.
The word foreign is properly a departing from the Faith, and thereof commeth Apostata, which signifieth one that departeth from the Faith.
Worcest.
I am sory you should be against the Christian world.
Phil.
The world commonly and such as be called Christians (for the multitude) hated the truth and be enemies vntounto the same.
Worcest.
Doe you thinke the vniuersall Church hath erred, and you onelyonly to be of the truth.
Phil.
The Church that you bee of was neuer vniuersall: for two parts of the world, Asia, and Africa, neuer consented to the supremacie of the Bishop of Rome, not to this day, neither follow his Decrees.
Glo.
Yes in Florentines Councell they did agree.
Phil.
It was so said by false report, after they were gone home, it was not so indeed, as the sequell of them all hitherto doth proue the contrary.
Glo.
By whom will you bee iudged in matters of controuersie, which happen dayly.
Phil.
By the Word of God: For Christ saith in S. Iohn, the word that hee spoke shall be Iudge in the latter day.
Glo.
What if you take the word one way, and I another way, who shall bee Iudge.
Phil.
The Doctors of the Primitiue Church.
Glo.
What if you take the Doctors in one sence, and I in another.
Phil.
Then let that be taken which most agreeth to Gods Word.
Worcest.
It is wonder how he standeth with a few against a great number.
Phil.
We hauehave almost as many as you: We hauehave Asia, Africa, Germany, Denmarke, and a great part of France, & dayly the number of the Gospel doth increase, and a multitude doth dayly come out of France through persecution, that the cities of Germany are scarce able to receiue them: Therefore your Lordship may be sure the word of God will one day take place, doe what you can to the contrarie.