A Cloud of Witnesses, Part L · Section 2
Lambert.
Fox, Vol. 2. pag. 396.The first Article against him was, Whether he was suspect or infamed of heresie? Unto your first Demand (said he) I answer,Pag. 398. That I am not certain what all persons at all seasons have deemed or suspected of me; peradventure some better, some worse. The opinion of the people was never one, but thought diversly of all the famous Prophets, and of the Apostles, yea and of Christ himself: some saying that he was a very good man; others said nay, and called him a Seducer, &c. Seeing therefore that all men did not say well by Christ, the Author of Verity and Truth, yea Truth it self, &c. what should I need to regard, if at some time some person for a little cause should suspect of me amiss, and evil report of me? &c. Woe be unto you, when all men speak well of you; for so did their Fathers to the false Prophets. —
In his Answer to their second Demand.— Our Prelates have sent out commandments, that if any person shall adventure to keep any of Luther's Books, they shall be excommunicated, &c. But this is no novelty; for so did their fore-fathers the Prelates in Christs time, &c. When Christ went about preaching, the Scribes and Pharisees, who were Prelates then, gave a general command, That whosoever confessed him to be Christ, should be put out of the Synagogue, &c. The Apostles were in like manner served. In the Old Testament they procured of one, that was a temporal Ruler at that season, to have the Prophecy of Ieremy (for he of all other is most vehement against the dissimulation of Priests) to be burned.Pag. 399. — If they had the Spirit of Christ, which they claim and pretend to, they would follow the counsel of the Apostles, 1 Thes. 5.To prove all things, and to retain that onelyonly which is good, refraining from all that hath semblance of evil; and to try the spirits of them that should speak,1 Iohn 4. whether they were of God, or no. — The Priests (saith Chrysostome on Matthew) that were Pharisees in Christs time, made a… Ordinance, That whosoever should acknowledge I…s… to be Christ, should be excommunicate. If the Ph…risees or Priests, that now do occupy their rooms, should make a like Ordinance, because they would not have Christs Doctrine professed for hindring their lucre, should we leave off to seek after the knowledge of Christs Doctrine? No verily. — When it was objected against Hierom, that he retained by him the Works of Eusebius and Origen, he bringeth to prove, That it was lawful for him that passage of the Apostle, Prove all things, &c. — These things prove, that I and others may safely (no good Law inhibiting, but Constitutions Pharisaical) read the Works of Luther, &c.
Pag. 401.In his Answer to their fifth Demand. — It is evident from Christs words, When you have done all things commanded, say yet you be unprofitable Servants, &c. That he would not have us esteem our merits, when we have done what is commanded by God, but reckon our selves to be servants unprofitable to God, forasmuch as he hath no need of our well doing for his own advancement, &c. and if we ought not to attend our merits in doing the Commandment of God, much less in observing our own Inventions, or Traditions of men, unto which there is no benefit in all Scripture, which Paul calleth the Word of Truth and Faith, promised.
Pag. 402.In his Answer to the sixth Demand. — That they will not suffer Marriage to be solemnized at all times of the year; I think it standeth not with Christs Rule, but rather is against the same. — It ought also freely to be administred, and without mony.— In the Primitive Church (as ancient Doctors deem, and the Scripture in mine opinion recordeth the same) there were no more Officers in the Churches of God then Bishops and Deacons. Hierome in his Com. on the Epistles of Paul saith, That those whom we call Priests were none other then Bishops, and the Bishops none other then Priests, &c. Neither were they chosen, as they be now adayes, &c. But they were chosen not onelyonly of the Bishop, but with the consent of the people, among whom they should have their Living, as sheweth Cyprian, and the people ought to have power (as he saith) to chuse Priests, &c. But alas! such Elections are now banished, and new Fashions brought in.
In his Answer to the thirteenth Demand.Pag. 404, 405. — I say that there is a Purgatory in this world, the Fire of Tribulation, through which all Christians shall pass,2 Tim. 2. as testifies Paul, whose testimony is full, notable, and true, albeit that few do know it, and fewer will believe it, That all that will live godly in Christ Iesus shall suffer persecution. In this Purgatory do I now reckon my self to stand; God send me well to persevere unto his honour.1 Pet. 3. Of this speaketh St. Peter, — For a season ye are sundry wayes afflicted and tormented, that the trial of your Faith, &c. though it be tried with fire, might be found unto laud, glory, and honour, at the appearing of Iesus Christ, &c. other Purgatory know I none. —
In his Answer to the seventeenth Demand.Pag. 409. — Forsomuch as no positive law of man, made without foundation of Scripture, may bind any person, so that in breaking of such he shall therefore sin deadly, and of this sort made by man is the Fast of Lent, and other dayes ordained in your laws without authority of Scripture, &c. —
In his Answer to the one and twentieth Demand.Pag. 410. — Men may be wrongfully suspected of heresie, as the Bishops and Priests, with their Oratour Tertullus suspected Paul, Acts 24.&c. And their Predecessors spake of the Prophets, yea, and of Christ himself, calling him a Seducer and Preacher of heresie. Men being thus suspected, ought in no wise therefore to cease preaching, as is evident in the instance of Peter and Iohn, Acts 4.5, 6.&c. which is written without doubt for our instruction, so that thereby you may see when men be wrongfully suspected or in…amed of heresie, Pag. 411.and so prohibited by Bishops to preach the Word of God, that they ought for no mans commandment to leave or stop, &c. —
In his Answer to the two and twentieth Demand. — Priests have two names in Scripture, Pres…yteri & Sacerdo…es. They are most usually called Presbyteri, who are set to be Prelates in the Church, to guide the same by his blessed Word. And Priests thus called Presbyteri in the Primitive Church (what time were but few Traditions and Ordinances to let us from the strait institution made by Christ and his Apostles) were the very same and none other but Bishops. Titus 1.— As many as are in this wise Priests, ought to preach freely the Word of God in all places and times convenient, &c. Others be called Priests by this word Sacerdotes, Pag. 512. …ev. 1. 1 Pet. 2.and thus be all Christians, &c. These ought not all to preach openl… in general Assemblies, &c. yet privately are they bound for instruction of their Servants, Children, Kinsfolk, &c. to speak that should be for the destruction of vice,…phes. 6. and upholding and increase of vertue, &c. — Notwithstanding this I say, both by supportation of Gods Law, and also of Laws written in the D…crees, that in time of great necessity Lay people may preach, &c. —
P…g. 413.In his Answer to the four and twentieth Demand. — Excommunication bindeth before God, if it be lawfully denounced, if the persons be guilty, and if it be done with the consent of others gathered with the Bishop in Christs Name for the behoof of Christs Church; for so used St. Paul in excommunicating the incestuous Corinthian, 1 Cor. 5. Mat. 18.and Christ requireth, &c. So that excommunication ought to be done (as methinketh) by the Congregation assembled together with their Pastour, whose advice they ought principally to esteem and follow, if it be vertuous and godly.
In his Answer to the thirtieth Demand.Pag. 417. — Where you speak of Prelates Deputies, I think such be little behoveful to Christs flock. It were right and necessary, that as the Prelates themselves will have the Revenues, &c. they should themselves labour and teach diligently the Word of God, and not shift the labour from one to another, till (pity it is) all be left undone. Such doth Saint Iohn call thieves and murtherers, &c. — God would have every man get his living by the sweat of his own face, i. e. by his labour, according to his estate and calling. —
In his Answer to the five and thirtieth Demand.Pag. 418. — That one singular person may judge more rightly, then a great multitude assembled in a Council, appeareth by Gods Law, and by the Law of man.Iohn 11. Acts 5. Caiaphas is one instance; A whole Council did submit to his Sentence. Gamaliel is another. Agreeable to this we find in the Decrees, Dist. 31. the whole Council of Nice commending the Sentence of Paphnutius, and upon this, that Paphnutius did resist and prevail against the whole Council; the Gloss notes, that one singular person may gain-say an universal generality, having a reasonable cause on his side. Panormitane also gives his suffrage. I would (saith he) rather believe one Lay person, bringing in for him authority of Scripture, then universal Council, that ordaineth a thing without Scripture.
Pag. 422.In his Answer to the five and fortieth Demand. — Concerning opinions or conclusions I can tell you of none other then I have shewed: The sum whereof I think concluded in these two Scripture Propositions,Acts 4. (1) Christ is the Head corner-stone of our faith, whereupon it should be grounded, neither is there salvation in any other, &c. (2) Men do worship God in vain,Isa. 29. teaching doctrines and precept or laws humane. Thus I certifie you of all the opinions and conclusions which I intend or have intended to sustain, and not to decline from, neither for fear, nor yet for love of man or men. —
These Answers of Mr. Lambert the five and forty Articles against him were directed and delivered to Dr. Warham Arch Bishop of Canterbury, about the year 1532.
From the danger he was in at that time he was delivered by the death of Dr. Warham;Fuller's Eccles H…st. Cent. 16. l. 5. pog. 229. but falling into fresh Troubles through the indiscretion of Dr. Tailor and Dr. Barnes, to make the quicker work (following the precedent of St. Paul, appealing to Caesar) he appeals to the King: who having lately taken upon him the Title of the Supreme Head of the Church of England, would shew that Head had a Tongue could speak in matters of Divinity. In Whitehall the place and day is appointed, where an Act-Royal was kept, the King himself being Opponent, and Lambert the Answerer.
Fox, Vol. 2. pag. 424.When the King commanded him to declare his mind, &c. He gave God thanks, which had so inclined the heart of the King, that he himself would not disdain to hear, and understand the controversies of Religion; for that it hapneth oftentimes, through the cruelty of the Bishops, that many good and innocent men in many places are privily murthered and put to death without the Kings knowledge. But now forasmuch as that High and Eternal King of Kings, in whose hands are the hearts of all Princes, hath stirred up the Kings mind, that he himself will be present to understand the Causes of his Subjects. I do not doubt, but that God will bring some great thing to pass through him, to the setting forth of the glory of his Name.
When the King was worsted and wearied, Arch Bishop Cranmer supplied his place, arguing though civilly, shrewdly against the truth; and (saith Dr. Fuller) his own private judgement:See his Eccles. Hist Cent. 16. l. 5. pag. 229. which was worse (saith the same Author) then keeping the clothes of those who killed Stephen, seeing this Arch Bishop did actually cast stones at this Martyr in the Arguments he urged against him.See his Worthies of England pag. 319. Yet after his whole body was reduced to ashes, his heart was found entire and untouched; an argument of his cordial integrity to the Truth, though fear too much prevailed, and too often on him.
After the Dispute was ended,Fox, Vol. 2. pag. 426. the King said unto him, What sayest thou now? Art thou yet satisfied? Wilt thou live or die? what sayest thou? Thou hast yet free choice. Mr. L…mbert answered, I commend my soul unto the hands of God, but my body I wholly yield and submit to your clemency.
The King notwithstanding commanded the Lord Cromwell to re…d the Sentence of Condemnation against him. And it is very observable, that through the pestiferous and crafty counsel of Gardiner, Satan (who oftentimes raiseth up one Brother to destroy another) brought about the death of this Martyr by such, viz. Tailor, Barnes, Cranmer, and Cromwell, who afterwards suffered the like for the Gospels sake.
Pag. 427.After his legs were consumed and burned to the stumps, he lifting up such hands as he had, and his fingers ends flaming with fire, cried unto the people in these words, None but Christ, none but Christ.
See None but Christ.Mr. Clement Cotton in his Epistle to the Reader, before his None but Christ notes, that these words were uttered by Mr. Lambert, as the triumphant voice of Faith, after that he had through the power of Christ put to flight the fear of Hell, Sin, and Death, &c. as by doubling of them may appear: and that by way of imitation (not tying any to syllables) they well beseem the thoughts and speeches also of every Christian, upon sure and safe grounds, as in their daily, so even in their last conflicts to be taken up and used.