Conference Between Rainolds and Hart, Conclusions 2
CONCLVSIONS HANDLED AT THE ACT▪ IN S. MARIES CHVRCH. THE XIII. O… IVLY. 1579.
1 The holy scripture teacheth the Church all thinges necessarie to saluation.
WHen Moses went by Sinai mount toward the holy land:
Frō Gods owne mouth the law he wrote, ye Lord did guid his hand.
The Prophets next with sacred …en did bolde that heauenly …ce:
Whom the almightie from aboue indued with his grace▪
The wisdome of his father high, the sonne of virgin pure,
Anointed with the spirit of God mens sinfull soules to cure,
The word of the eternall Lord, with flesh of man yclad,
Brought them the treasures rich of life, of peace the tidings glad.
Th'Apostles with this doctrine swéete of Christ their master fedde,
By preaching first by wryting then to nations all if spred.
And these bookes hath the holy Ghost set foorth for mortall wights.
That we in course of faith and life might folow them as lights.
Auant all ye, who brain-sick toies and fansies vaine defend:
Who on humane traditions and Fathers sawes depend.
The holy written word of God doth shew the perfit way,
Whereby from death to life arise, from curse to blisse we may.
2 The militant Church may erre, both in maners, and in doctrine.
TO warfare eueryevery one dooth goe that serueth Christ in field:
To warfare all their names are billed who doo Gods armour wéelde.
And doost thou man in warfare serue, and art thou frée from blowes?
And may no dart thy body pearce, assaulted by the foes?
The citie of Ierusalem with holy Church was dight:
That holy Church kept not her course at all assaies aright.
Corinthus godly was, and pure; Philippi shone full bright:
The faith of Thessalonians was spred in glorious plight.
Corinthus pure is stayned now; Philippi lyes defaced:
Your praise, O Thessalonians, is by the Turke disgraced.
And thou O Rome, the Q…éene of pride, which swell'st on mountaines seuen
Thy hart is pearst wt deadly wound, thou fall'st to hell from heauen.
While that the Church doth make abode on earth in seats of clay,
Am I deceiued? or may she féele the dint of errours sway?
3 The holy scripture is of greater autoritie then the Church.
THe godlesse rowt inflam'd with lust of holding scepter hie,
Dooth lift the stately throne of Rome vntounto the golden skie▪
Unto the skie▪ that pride were …inall, nay fa…re aboue the skie:
Subduing Christ his scepter great to Romish royaltie.
Men say that Giants did attempt the heauenly powers to quell.
What? doo they raise new warres againe from grisly gulfe of hell?
The holy church may for it selfe claime worthy gifts of right.
Tis great, I graunt: but lesse, I trust, then is the Lord of might.
Let mortall things geue place to God, let men to Christ accord,
The wife to man, the earth to heauen, the subiect to the Lord.