Whole Works, Tracts 1 · Tract 2 · Body of tract · Part 10

Whole Works · Tracts 1 · Tract 2 · Body of tract · Part 10

p. 134Antichriſt.

ANtichriſt of an other maner hath ſent forth his diſciples, thoſe falſe annointed of which Chriſt warneth vsus Falſe annoynted.before, that they ſhould come & ſhewe miracles and wonders, euen to bring the very elect out of the way, if it were poſſible. He annointeth them after the Shauyng is borowed of the heathen, and oylyng of y^• Iewes.maner of y^• Iewes, and ſhaueth them & ſhoreth them after the maner of the Heathen Prieſtes, whiche ſerue the Idoles. Heſendeth them forth not with falſe oyle onelyonly, but with falſe names Falſe names.alſo. For compare their names vntounto their deedes, and thou ſhalt finde them falſe. He ſendeth them forth as Paule propheſied of them. ij. Theſſ. ij. wyth lying ſignes & wonders. What ſigne Lying ſignes.is the annointing? that they be full of the holy ghoſt. Compare them to the ſignes of the holy ghoſt which Paule reckoneth, and thou ſhalt fynde it a falſe ſigne. A Biſhop muſt be faultles, the huſband of one wyfe. Nay ſayth y^t No wife but …n whore.Pope, the huſband of no wife, but the holder of as many whores as he liſteth. God commaundeth all degrees, if they burne, and can not liue chaſt, to marry. The Pope ſaith, if thou burne take a diſpenſation for a Concubine, Take a diſpenſation.and put her away when thou art olde, or els as our Lawyers ſay, ſi non caſte tamen caute, that is, if ye liue not chaſte, Knaueate.ſee ye cary cleane, and play the knaue ſecretly. Harbarous, yea to whores and baudes, for a poore man ſhall as ſoone breake his necke as his faſt with them, but of the ſcraps and wyth the dogges, when dinner is done. Apt to teach, and as Peter ſayth. j. Pet. ij. ready alwayes to geue an anſwere to eueryevery man that axeth you a reaſon of the hope that ye hauehave, and that wyth meekenes. Which thing is ſignified by the bootes which doctours of diuinitie Bootes.are created in, becauſe they ſhould be ready alwayes to goe thorough thicke and thinne, to preach Gods worde, & by the Byſhoppes two horned miter, Miters.which betokeneth the abſolute & perfect knowledge that they ought to hauehave in the new Teſtamēt and the olde. Be not theſe falſe ſignes? For they beate onelyonly and teach not. Yea ſaith y^t Pope Cite them.if they will not be ruled, cite them to Poſe thē.appeare, and poſe them ſharply, what they hold of the Popes power, of hys Pardons, of his Bulles, of Purgatory, of ceremonies, of confeſſion and ſuch like creatures of our moſt holy fathers. If they miſſe in any point, make heretickes of them and burne them. If they be of mine annoynted and beare Make thē heretickes.my marke, diſgreſſe them, I would ſay diſgraduate them and (after the example Burne thēof noble Antiochus. ij. Mach. vij.) pare the crownes and the fingers of them, and tormēt them craftly, and for very payne make them deny the truth. But now ſay our Biſhops, becauſe the truth is come to farre abroad, and y^t lay people begyn to ſmell our wiles, it is beſt to oppreſſe them with craft ſecretly, & to tame them in priſon. Yea let vsus finde the meanes to hauehave them in the kyngs priſon, and to make treaſon of ſuch doctrine: Yea we muſt ſtyrre vp ſome warre one where or an other, to bryng the people into an other imagination. If they be Gentlemen abiure them ſecretly.

Curſe them iiij. times in the yeare. Curſe thē.Make them afrayde of eueryevery thyng and namely to touch mine annoynted, Feare thē.and make them to feare the ſentence of the Church, ſuſpentiōs, excōmunications and curſes. Be the right or wrōg, beare them in hand that they are to be feared yet. Preach me and mine authoritie, & how terrible a thyng my curſe is, and how blacke it maketh their ſoules. On the holydayes which were ordeined to preach Gods word, ſet vp long ceremonies, long Matines, long Maſſes, and lōg Euenſonges, and all in Latin that they vnderſtand not: and All in Latine.roule them in darkenes, that ye may lead them whether ye will. And leſt Rolle thē.ſuch thinges ſhould be to tedious, ſing Syng.ſome, ſay ſome, pype ſome, ryng the Ryng.belles and lulle them and rocke them a ſlepe. And yet Paul ij. Cor. xiiij. forbiddeth Lulle thē.to ſpeake in the church or congregatiō Rocke thē a ſlepe.ſaue in the toung that all vnderſtand. For the lay man thereby is not edified or taught. How ſhall the p. 135lay man ſay Amen (ſayth Paule) to thy bleſſing or thankes geuyng, when he woteth not what thou ſayſt? He wotted not whether thou bleſſe or curſe. What then ſayth the Pope, what care Pray in Latin.I for Paul. I commaunde by the vertue of obedience to read the Goſpell in Latine. Let them not pray but in Latine, Say them a Goſpell.no not there Pater noster. If any be ſicke, go alſo and ſay them a Goſpell and all in Latin: yea to the very corne and frutes of the field in the proceſſion weeke, preach the Goſpell in Latine. Make the people beleue, that it ſhall grow the better. It is verely as good to preach it to ſwyne as to men, if thou preach it in a toung they vnderſtand not. How ſhall I prepare my ſelfe to Gods commaundementes? How ſhal I be thankefull to Chriſt for his kindnes? How ſhall I beleue the truth and promiſes which GOD hath ſworne, while thou telleſt them vntounto me in a toung which I vnderſtand not?

What then ſaith me Lord of Caunterbury to a Prieſt that would hauehave What quod my Lord of Canterbury.had the new Teſtament gone forth in Engliſhe: What (ſayth he) wouldeſt thou that the lay people ſhould wete what we do?

No fighter, which I ſuppoſe is ſignified by the croſſe that is borne before Croſſe.the hye Prelates and borne before thē in proceſſion: Is that alſo not a falſe ſigne? What Realme can be in peace for ſuch turmoylers? What ſo litle a Turmoylers.Pariſhe is it, but they will picke one quarell or an other with them, either for ſome ſyrplis, creſome or mortuary, either for one trifle or other, and cyte them to the arches? Traytors they are to all creatures and hauehave a ſecret conſpiration betwene them ſelues. One The craft of the Prelates.craft they hauehave, to make many kyngdomes and ſmall, and to noriſh olde titles or quarels, that they may euer moue them to warre at their pleaſure. And if much landes by any chaunce, fall to one man, euer to caſt a bone in the way, that he ſhall neuer be able to obteine it, as we now ſee in y^e Empeperour. Why? For as lōg as the kyngs be ſmall, if God would open the eyes of any to ſet a reformation in his Realme, then ſhould the Pope interdict Interdicthis land, and ſend in other Princes to conquere it.

Not geuen to filthy lucre, but abhorryng couetouſnes. And as Peter ſayth. i. Pet. v. Takyng the ouerſight of them, not as though ye were compelled thereunto: but willingly.: Not for deſire of filthie lucre, but of a good minde: not as though ye were Lordes ouer the Pariſhes (ouer the Pariſhes quoth he) O Peter Peter thou waſt to Peter … neuer to ſchole at the arches.long a fiſher, thou waſt neuer brought vp at the arches, neither waſt maſter of the Rolles, nor yet Chaunceler of England. They are not content to raigne ouer kyng and Emperour and the whole earth: but chalenge authoritie alſo in heauen and in hell. It is not inough for them to raigne ouer all that are quicke, but hauehave created them a Purgatory, to raigne alſo ouer the dead, and to hauehave one kyngdome more The Pope hath one kyngdome more then God hymſelfe.then God him ſelfe hath. But that ye be an enſample to the flocke (ſayth Peter.) And whē the chief ſhepheard ſhal appeare ye ſhall receaue an incorruptible crowne of glory. This abhorring of coueteouſnes is ſignified as I ſuppoſe by ſhauyng and ſheryng of the Shering what it ſignifieth.of the heare, that they hauehave no ſuperfluitie. But is not this alſo a falſe ſigne? yea verely it is to them a remē braunce to ſhere and ſhaue, to heape benefice vponupon benefice, promotion vppon promotion, dignitie vponupon dignitie, Byſhopricke vppon Biſhopricke, with pluralities, vnions and Tot quots.Tot quot.

Firſt by the authoritie of the Goſpell they that preach the word of God in eueryevery Pariſh and other neceſſary miniſtreys, hauehave right to chalenge an honeſt liuyng like vntounto one of the brethren, and therewith ought to be content. Biſhops and prieſtes that preach Biſhops that preach not.not, or that preach, ought ſaue Gods word, are none of Chriſtes, nor of hys annoyntyng: but ſeruauntes of the beaſt whoſe marke they beare, whoſe worde they preache, whoſe law they mainteine cleane agaynſt Gods law, and with their falſe ſophiſtry geue him greater power then God euer gaue to his ſonne Chriſt.

BUt they as vnſatiable beaſtes not vnmindfull why they were ſhauen and ſhoren, becauſe they will ſtand at no mans grace, or bee in any mans daunger, hauehave gotten into their owne handes, firſt the tyth or tenth of all the Tithes.realme. Then I ſuppoſe with in a litle or all together the third foote of all the temporall landes.

Marke well how many perſonages Temporall landes.or vicarages are there in the Realme, which at the leaſt hauehave a plow land a peece. Then note the landes of Byſhoppes, Abbotes, Pryors, Nunnes, knyghtes of Saint Johns, Cathedrall Churches, Colleges, Chauntryes and p. 136Frechapels. For though the houſe fall Frechappell.in decay, and the ordinaunce of the foū der be loſt, yet will not they looſe the landes. What commeth once in, may neuer more out. They make a Frechapell of it, ſo that he which enioyeth it ſhall do nought therefore. Beſides all this, how many chaplaynes do Gentlemen finde at their owne coſt in their houſes. How many ſing for ſoules by teſtamentes. Then the prouing of Teſtamentes, Teſtamentes.the priſing of goodes, the Byſhop of Caunterburies prerogatiue. Is that not much thorough the Realme in a yeare? Foure offeryng Offering dayes. Priuy tythes.dayes and priuy tythes. There is no ſeruaunt, but that he ſhall paye ſomewhat of his wages. None ſhal receaue the body of Chriſt at Eaſter, be he neuer ſo poore a begger, or neuer ſo younge a lad or mayde, but they muſt paye ſomewhat for it. Then mortuaryes Mortuaries.for forgotten tythes (as they ſay) And yet what Parſon or Ʋicar is there that will forget to hauehave a Pygin houſe to pecke vp ſomewhat both at ſowing tyme, and at harueſt whē corne is ripe. They will forget nothing. No man ſhall die in their debt, or if any mā do, he ſhall pay it when he is dead. They will looſe no thing. Why? It is Gods, it is not theirs. It is Saint Cudberts rentes, Saint Albans landes, Saint Edmondes right, Saint Peters patrimony ſay they, and none of ours. Item if a man die in an other mans pariſhe, If he die frō home.beſides that he muſt pay at home a mortuary for forgotten tythes, he muſt there pay alſo y^• beſt that he there Thou muſt paye ere thou paſſe.hath. Whether it be an horſe of twenty pound, or how good ſo euer he be: eyther a chayne of golde of an hundreth marke, or fiue hundreth pounde, if it ſo chaunce. It is much verely for ſo little payne taking in confeſſion and in miniſtring the Sacraments. Then beadrolles. Item chryſome, Churchinges, banes, weddinges, offering at weddinges, offering at buriynges, offering to Images, offering of waxe & lightes, which come to their vauntage, Pety pillage.beſides the ſuperſtitious waſt of waxe in torches and tapers thoroughout the land. Then brotherhoodes and pardoners. What get they alſo by confeſſions? Yea, and many enioyne penāce Confeſſion.to geue a certayne for to hauehave ſo many Maſſes ſayde, and deſire to prouide a chappellayne themſelues. Soule maſſes, diriges, monethmyndes, yeare myndes, Alſoulday and trentals. The mother Church and the hie altar muſt hauehave ſome what in eueryevery Teſtament. Firſt Maſſe. Profeſſinges. Conturations.Offeringes at Prieſtes fyrſt Maſſes. Itē no mā is profeſſed, of what ſoeuer religion it be, but he muſt bring ſomewhat. The halowing or rather coniuring of Churches, chappels, altars, ſuperaltares, chalice, veſtimēts & belles. Then booke, bell, cādleſticke, organes, chalice, veſtimentes, copes, altere clothes, ſyrpleſes: towels, baſens, ewars, ſhepe, ſenſer and all maner ornaments muſt be founde them freely, they will not geue a myte thereunto. Laſt of all what ſwarmes of beggyng Friers are there. The Parſon ſhereth, the Ʋicare Parſon. Ʋicare. Pariſhe prieſt. Fryers.ſhaueth, the Pariſh Prieſt polleth, the Frier ſcrapeth, and the Pardoner pareth, we lacke but a butcher to pulle of the ſkinne.

What get they in their ſpirituall Spirituall lawe.law (as they call it) in a yeare, at the arches & in eueryevery dioces? what get the Cōmiſſaries, and Officials with their ſomners and apparitars by bawdery in a yeare? Shall ye not finde Curates A proper commoditie of confeſſion.inough which to flatter the Commiſſaries and Officials with all that they may go quite them ſelues, ſhall open vntounto them the confeſſiōs of the richeſt of their Pariſhes. Whom they cite priuely, and lay to their charges ſecretly. If they deſire to know their accuſers, nay ſay they, the matter is knowen well inough, and to more then ye are ware of. Come lay your hand on the Laye your hand on the booke.booke, if ye forſwere your ſelfe, we ſhal bring proues, we will handle you, we will make an example of you. Oh how terrible are they? Come and ſwere (ſay they) that ye wilbe obedient vntounto our iniunctions. And by that craft wryng they their purſes and make them drop as long as there is a peny in them. In three or foure yeares ſhall they in thoſe offices get ynough to pay for a Byſhops bulle. What other thyng are theſe in a Realme ſaue horſleches and euen very maggotes, cankres, & caterpillers, which deuour no more but all that is grene, and thoſe wolues which Paul propheſied ſhould come & ſhould not ſpare the flocke. Actes. xx. Chapter. And whiche Chriſt ſayd ſhould come in lambes ſkynnes, and bad vsus beware of them and iudge them by their workes.

THough as I before hauehave ſufficiētly No man may auēge ſaue the kyng▪ and he is bound by his office.proued, a Chriſten mā muſt ſuffer all thyng, be it neuer ſo great vnright, as long as it is not agaynſt Gods commaundement, neither is it lawfull for him to caſt any burthen of p. 137his backe by his owne authoritie, tyll God pull it of which layd it on for our deſeruinges, yet ought the kynges eueryevery where to defend their realmes frō ſuch oppreſſion, if they were Chriſten, which is ſeldom ſeene: and is an harde thyng verely, though not impoſſible. For alas they be captiues or euer they Kinges are in captiuitie.be kyngs, yea almoſt er they be borne. No man may be ſuffered about hym but flatterers, and ſuch as are fyrſt ſworne true vntounto our moſt holy fathers the Byſhops, that is to ſay, falſe to God and man.

If any of the nobles of the realme be true to the kyng, and ſo bolde that he dare councell him that which ſhould be to hys honour, and for the wealth of the realme. They will waite a ſeaſō for hym (as men ſay) They wyll prouide a ghoſtly father for hym. God bring their wickednes to light. There is no miſchiefe wherof they are not the roote, nor bloudſhedde, but thorough their cauſe, either by their counſell, or in that they preach not true obedience, and teach not the people to feare God. If any faythfull ſeruaunt be in all the courte, he ſhall hauehave twēty ſpies wayting vponupon him, he ſhalbe caſt out of the courte, or (as the ſaying is) conuayed to Callice, and made a captayne, or an Ambaſſadoure, he ſhalbe kepte farre inough from the kynges preſence.

The kinges ought I ſay to remember The dutie of kynges.that they are in Gods ſteede, & ordayned of God, not for themſelues, but for the wealth of their ſubiectes. Let them remember that their ſubiectes are their brethren, their fleſhe & bloud, members of their owne body, and euē their owne ſelues in Chriſt. Therefore ought they to pitie them, & to rid them from ſuch wylye tyrāny which encreaſeth more and more dayly. And though that the kynges by the falſhod of the Byſhops and Abbottes, be ſworne to defend ſuch liberties: yet ought they Vnlawfull othes ought to be broken, and may without diſpenſation.not to keepe their othes, but to breake them. For as much as they are vnright and cleane agaynſt Gods ordinaunce, and euen but cruell oppreſſion, contrary vntounto brotherly louelove and charitie. Moreouer the ſpirituall officer ought to puniſh no ſinne, but and if any ſinne The kyng only ought to puniſh ſinne: I meane that is broken forth, the hart muſt remaine to God.breake out the kyng is ordained to puniſhe it, and they not: but to preach & exhort thē to feare God, and that they ſinne not.

And let the kinges put downe ſome of theyr tyranny, and turne ſome vntounto a common wealth. If the tenth part of ſuch tyranny were geuen the kyng yearely, & laide vp in the ſhyre townes agaynſt the realme had neede, what would it grow to in certayne yeares? Moreouer one kyng, one lawe, is Gods ordinaunce in eueryevery realme. Therefore ought not the king to ſuffer them to hauehave a ſeuerall lawe by themſelues, and to draw hys ſubiectes thether. It is not mete will they ſay, that a ſpirituall man ſhould be iudged of a worldly or a temporall man. O abhomination: The ſprite perteineth vntounto the ſhauen onelyonly.ſee how they deuide and ſeparate themſelues? If the laye man be of the worlde, ſo is he not of God. If he beleue in Chriſt, then is he a mēber of Chriſt, Chriſtes brother, Chriſtes fleſhe, Chriſtes bloud, Chriſtes ſpouſe, coheyre wyth Chriſt, and hath his ſpirite in earneſt, and is alſo ſpirituall. If they woulde robbe vsus of the ſpirite of God, why ſhould they feare to robbe vsus of worldly goodes? Becauſe thou art put in office to preach Gods word, art thou therefore no more one of the brethren? is the Maior of London no more one of the Citie, becauſe he is the chiefe officer? Is the kyng no more of the realme becauſe he is head thereof? The king is in the roome of God, and The kings law is Gods law.hys lawe is Gods lawe, and nothyng but the lawe of nature and naturall equitie, which God graued in the harts of men. Yet Antichriſt is to good to be iudged by the lawe of God, he muſt hauehave a new of hys owne making. It were mete verely that they went to no lawe at all. No more needed they, if they woulde ſtudie to preach Gods worde truely, and be contented wyth ſufficient, and to be lyke one of theyr brethren.

If any queſtion aroſe about y^• fayth, How men ought to iudge, queſtions of the ſcripture.or of the ſcripture, that let them iudge by the manifeſt and open ſcriptures, not excluding the laye men. For there are many founde among the laye men, which are as wiſe as the officers. Or els when the officer dyeth, how coulde we put an other in hys roome? Wyl… thou ſo teach xx. xxx. xl. or fifty yeares, that no man ſhall hauehave knowledge or iudgement in Gods worde ſaue thou onelyonly? Is it not a ſhame that we We come oft to ſchole. But are neuer caught.Chriſtē come ſo oft to Church in vaine, whē he of foure ſcore yeare olde knoweth no more then he that was borne yeſterday.

Moreouer when the ſpirituall officers hauehave excommunicate any man, or hauehave condemned any opinion for hereſy: Let not the kyng nor temporall p. 138officers puniſh & ſley by & by at their Kinges ought to ſee what they doe and not to beleue the Byſhoppes, namely, ſeing their liuing is ſo ſore ſuſpects,commaundement. But let them looke on Gods worde, and compare theyr iudgement vntounto the ſcripture, and ſee whether it be right or no, and not beleue them at the fyrſt choppe, whatſoeuer they ſay, namely in thynges that pertayne vntounto their owne authorities and power. For no mā is a right iudge in his owne cauſe. Why doth Chriſt cō ma…de the Scripture to be preached vntounto all creatures, but that it pertaineth It perteineth vntounto all men to know the ſcriptures.vntounto all mē to know them? Chriſt referreth him ſelfe vntounto the ſcriptures Iohn. v. And in the. xj. Chapter of Mathew, vntounto the queſtion of Iohn Baptiſtes Diſciples hee aunſwered. The blind ſee, the lepers are clenſed, the dead ariſe againe &c. meanyng that if I do the workes which are propheſied that Chriſt ſhould do when he cō meth, why doubt ye whether I be hee or no, as who ſhould ſay, aſke y^• ſcripture whether I be Chriſt or no, & not my ſelfe. How happeneth it then that our Prelates wil not come to the light alſo that we may ſee whether their workes be wrought in GOD or no? Why feare they to let the …ay men ſee what they do? Why make they all their examinations in darkenes? Why examine ☞they not their cauſes of hereſie openly, as the lay men do their fellous and murtherers? Wherefore did Chriſt and his Apoſtles alſo warne vsus ſo diligently of Antichriſt, and of falſe Prophetes that ſhould come? Becauſe that we ſhould ſlomber or ſleepe careleſſe, or rather that we ſhould looke in the light of the Scripture with all diligēce to ſpie them when they came, and not to ſuffer our ſelues to be diſceaued and led out of y^• way? Iohn biddeth iudge the ſpirites. Whereby ſhall we iudge them but by the Scripture? How ſhalt thou know, whether the Prophet be true or falſe, or whether hee ſpeake Gods word of his owne head, if thou wilt not ſee the Scriptures? Why ſayd Dauid in the ſecond Pſalme be learned Be learned ye that iudge the earth.ye that iudge the earth, leſt the Lord be angry with you, and ye periſh frō the right way?

A terrible warnyng verely: yea and looke on the ſtories well, & thou ſhalt finde very few kinges ſence the beginning of the world that hauehave not periſhed from the right way, and that becauſe they would not be learned.

The Emperour and Kynges are The kings are become Antichriſts hangmen.nothyng now a dayes but euen hangmen vntounto the Pope and Byſhops, to kill whoſoeuer they condemne, without any more a do, as Pylate was vntounto the Scribes and Phariſeis and the hye Byſhops, to hang Chriſt. For as thoſe Prelates aunſwered Pylate (whē he aſked what he had done) if he were not an euill doer, we would not hauehave brought him vntounto thee. As who ſhould ſay, we are to holy to do any thyng amiſſe, y^u mayſt beleue vsus well inough: yea and his bloude on our heades, ſayd they, kill him hardly, we will beare the charge, our ſoules for thyne: we hauehave alſo a law by which he ought to dye, for he calleth him ſelfe Gods ſonne. Euen ſo ſay our Prelates, he ought to dye by our lawes, he ſpeaketh agaynſt the Church. And your grace is ſworne to defend the liberties and ordinaunces of the Church, and to maynteine our moſt holy fathers authoritie: our ſoules for yours, ye ſhall do a meritorious dede therin. Neuertheles as Pylate eſcaped not the iudgement of God, euen ſo is it to be feared leſt our temporall powers ſhall not. Wherfore be learned ye that iudge the Be learned ye that iudge the earth.earth leſt the Lord be angry with you and ye periſh from the right way.

Who ſlew the Prophetes? Who ſlew Who ſlew the prophetes.Chriſt? Who ſlew his Apoſtles? Who the martirs and all the righteous that euer were ſlayne? The kynges and the temporall ſword at the requeſt of the falſe Prophetes. They deſerued ſuch murther to do, and to hauehave their part with y^e hypocrites, becauſe they would not be learned, and ſee the truth them ſelues. Wherfore ſuffered y^• Prophets? Why were the prophetes ſlayne?becauſe they rebuked the hypocrites which beguiled the world, and namely Princes and rulers and taught them to put their truſt in thynges of vanitie and not in Gods word. And taught What deedes of mercy teach the hipocrited?them to do ſuch deedes of mercy as were profitable vntounto no man but vntounto the falſe Prophetes them ſelues onelyonly, makyng marchaūdiſe of Gods word. wherfore ſlew they Chriſt? euen for rebuking Why flew they chriſt?the hipocrites: becauſe he ſaid, wo be to you Scribes and Phariſeis hypocrites, for ye ſhut vp the kyngdome of heauē before men Math. xxiij. that is, as it is writtē. Luke. xj. ye hauehave taken away the keye of knowledge. The keyes.The law of God whiche is the keye wherewith men bynde, and the promiſes which are the keyes wherewith men looſe, hauehave our hypocrites alſo taken away. They will ſuffer no man to know Gods word, but burne it and make hereſie of it: yea and becauſe the p. 139people begyn to ſmell their falſehode they make it treaſon to the kyng and Chriſt is a traitor and a breaker of the kynges peace.breakyng of the kynges peace to hauehave ſo much as their Pater noſter in Engliſh. And in ſtede of Gods law, they bynde w^t their owne law. And in ſtede of Gods promiſes they loſe & iuſtifye How the hypocrites bynde and loſe. ☞with pardons and ceremonies, which they them ſelues hauehave imagined for their owne profite. They preach it were better for thee to eate fleſhe on good Friday then to hate thy neighbour: but let any man eate fleſh but on a Saterday or breake any other tradition of theirs, and he ſhalbe bounde & not loſed, till hee hauehave payd the vtter moſt farthing, either with ſhame moſt vyle, or death moſt cruell, but hate thy neighbour as much as thou wilt and thou ſhalt hauehave no rebuke of them, yea robbe him, murther him, and thē come to them and welcome. They hauehave a ſā ctuary for thee, to ſaue thee, yea and a neckuerſe, if thou canſt but read a litle Latinly, though it be neuer ſo ſoryly, ſo that y^• be ready to receaue y^• beaſtes marke. They care for no vnderſtandyng: it is inough, if thou canſt rowle vp a payre of Mattens or an Euenſong and mumble a few ceremonies. And becauſe they be rebuked, this they rage. Be learned therefore ye that Be learned ye that iudge the earth.iudge y^• world leſt God be angry with you, and ye periſh from the right way.

Wo be to you ſcribes, and phariſeis ypocrites, ſayth Chriſt, Math. xriij. for …or rebukyng this …. And for the ſame cauſe are we perſecutes.ye deudure widdowes houſes vnderunder a coulor of long prayer. Our hypocrites robbe not the widdowes onelyonly: but Knight, Squyre, Lord, Duke, Kyng, and Emperour, and euen the whole world vnderunder the ſame couloure: teaching the people to truſt in their prayers, and not in Chriſt, for whoſe ſake God hath forgeuen all the ſynne of the whole worlde, vntounto as many as repēt and beleue. They feare thē with purgatory, and promyſe to pray perpetually, They bee…Purgatory that make perpetu….leaſt the lādes ſhould euer returne home agayne vntounto the right heyres. What haſt thou bought with robbyng thy heyres, or wyth geuing the hypocrites that which thou robbeſt of other men? Perpetuall prayer? Yea perpetuall payne. For they appoint thee no tyme of deliueraunce, their prayers are ſo mighty. The Pope for money can Why it is … Pur gatory.empty purgatory when he will. It is verely purgatory. For it purgeth and maketh cleane riddaunce: yea it is hel. For it deuoureth all thynges. Hys fatherhode ſendeth them to heauen with ſcala coeli: that is, wyth a ladder to ſcale Scala C….the walles. For by the dore Chriſt, wil they not let them come in. That dore The doore is ſtopt vys ye muſt clyme and ſcale the walles.hauehave they ſtopped vp, and that becauſe ye ſhould buye ladders of them. For ſome they pray dayly which gaue thē perpetuities, and yet make Saintes of them, receauing offeringes in theyr Some are prayed for and prayed to alſo.names, and teaching other to pray to them. None of them alſo which taketh vponupon them to ſaue other wyth their prayers, truſteth to be ſaued thereby The craft that helpeth other helpeth not his owne maſter.themſelues, but hyre other to pray for them.

Moyſes taketh recorde of God that he tooke not of any of the people ſo much as an Aſſe, neither vexed any of Prayer was not ſold in the old tyms.them. Numeri. xvj. Samuell in y^t fyrſt booke of kynges the xij. chapter, aſked all Iſraell whether he had taken any mans Oxe, or Aſſe, or had vexed any man, or had taken any gift or rewarde of any man. And all the people teſtified nay, yet theſe two both taught the people, and alſo prayed for them as much as our prelates doe. Peter. j. Peter. v. exhorteth the elders to take the ouerſight of Chriſtes flocke, not for filthy lucre: but of a good will euen for louelove. Paul. Act. xx. taketh the Prieſtes or elders to recorde, that he had taught repentaunce and fayth, and all y^• councell of God. And yet had deſired no mans golde, ſiluer, or veſture: but fedde himſelfe with the labour of hys handes. And yet theſe two taught and prayed for the people as much as our Prelates doe, wyth whom it goeth after the common ſaying, no penny, no Pater noſter. Which Prelates yet as they teach not, but beate onelyonly, ſo wote they not what prayer meaneth.

Moreouer the lawe of louelove which Chriſt left among vsus, is to geue and not to receaue. What prayer is it then that thus robbeth all the world cōtrary Their prayer breaketh the great commaundement of God. It is tyme that they were tyed by therfore.to that great commaundemēt which is the ende of all commaundementes, and in which all other are conteyned. If men ſhould continue to buie prayer foure or fiue hundred yeares moe, as they hauehave done, there would not be a foote of grounde in Chriſtendome, neither any worldly thyng, which they y^• will be called ſpirituall onelyonly ſhoulde not poſſeſſe. And thus all ſhoulde be called ſpirituall.

Wo be to you Lawyers, for ye lade men wyth burdēs, which they are not able to beare, & ye yours ſelues touch not the packes wyth one of your fingers ſaith Chriſt Luke. xj. Our Lawyers p. 140verely hauehave laden vsus a thouſand The burdens of our ſpirituall lawyers.tymes more. What ſpirituall kynred hauehave they made in baptime, to let matrimonie, beſides that they hauehave added certaine degrees vntounto the law naturall for the ſame purpoſe. What an vnbearable burthen of chaſtitie do they violently thruſt on other mēs backes, and how eaſely beare they it themſelues? How ſore a burden? How cruell a hāgman? How greuous a torment? yea & Confeſſion tormenteth the conſcience: robbeth the purſe of money, and the ſoule of fayth.how paynefull an hell is this eare confeſſion vntounto mens conſciences. For the people are brought in beliefe, that with out that they can not be ſaued. In ſo much that ſome faſte certayne dayes in the yeare, and pray certayne ſuperſtitious prayers all their lyues longe, that they may not die without confeſſion. In perill of death, if the Prieſt be not by, the ſhippemen ſhriue themſelues vntounto the Maſt. If any be preſent, they runne then eueryevery mā into his eare, but to gods promiſes flye they not: for they know them not. If any man hauehave a deathes wounde, he cryeth immediatly for a Prieſt. If a man die without ſhrift many take it for a ſigne of damnation. Many by reaſon of that falſe beliefe die in deſperation. Many for ſhame keepe backe of their confeſſion xx. xxx. yeares, and thinke all the while that they be damned. I knew a poore woman with childe which longed, and being ouercomen of her paſſion, eate fleſhe on a Friday, which thing ſhe durſt not confeſſe in the ſpace of xviij. yeares, and thought all that while that ſhe had ben damned, and yet ſinned ſhe not at all. Is not this a ſore burden that ſo weyeth downe the ſoule vntounto the bottome of hell? What ſhoulde I ſay? A great booke were not ſufficient to rehearſe y^• ſnares which they hauehave layde to robbe men both of their goodes, and alſo of the truſt which they ſhoulde hauehave in Gods worde.

The Scribes and Phariſeis do all their workes to be ſene of men. They ſet abroade their Philacteries, & make long borders on their garmentes, and louelove to ſit vppermoſt at feaſtes, and to hauehave the chiefe ſeates in the ſynagoges, that, is in the congregations or councels, and to be called Rabby, that is to ſaye maiſters ſayth Chriſt. Math. xxiij. Beholde the deedes of our ſpiritualtie, and how many thouſand faſhions are among them to be knowen by? Which as none is like an other, ſo loueth none Bagges or bables to be knowen by.an other. For eueryevery one of them ſuppoſeth that all other polle to faſt and make to many captiues: yet to reſiſte Chriſt, are they all agreed leaſt they ſhoulde be all compeld to deliuer vp their priſoners to hym. Beholde the monſters how they are diſguiſed, with miters, croſes, and hatt…s, with croſſes, pillers, and pollaxes, and wyth thre crownes. What names hauehave they? my Lord Prior, my Lord Abbot, my Glorious names.Lord Byſhop, my Lord Archbiſhop, Cardinall and Legate: if it pleaſe your fatherhod, if it pleaſe your Lordſhip, if it pleaſe your grace, if it pleaſe your holines, and innumerable ſuch like. Beholde how they are eſteemed, and How are they eſtemed?how hie they be crept vp aboue all, not into worldly ſeates onelyonly: but into the ſeate of God, the hartes of men, where they ſit aboue God himſelfe. For both they & whatſoeuer they make of their owne heades is more feared and dread then God and his commaundements. In them and their deſeruinges put we more truſt, then in Chriſt and hys merites. To their promiſes geue we more fayth, then to the promiſes which God hath ſworne in Chriſtes bloud.

The hypocrites ſay vntounto the kings and Lordes, theſe heretickes would hauehave vsus downe firſt, and then you, to make of all cōmon. Nay ye hypocrites Kinges are down: they can not go lower.and right heretickes approued by open Scripture, the kinges and Lordes are downe already, & that ſo low that they can not go lower. Ye treade them vnderunder your feete, and lead thē captiue and hauehave made them your bonde ſeruaunts to waite on your filthy luſtes, and to auenge your malice on eueryevery man, contrary vntounto the right of Gods word. Ye hauehave not onelyonly robbed them of their lād, authoritie honour and due obediēce, which ye owe vntounto them, but alſo of their wittes, ſo that they are not without vnderſtādyng in Gods word onelyonly: but euē in worldly matters that pertaine vntounto their offices, they are more then children. Ye beare them in hand what ye will, and hauehave brought them euē in caſe like vntounto them which when they daunce naked in nettes, beleue they are inuiſible. We would hauehave them vp agayne, and reſtored vntounto the rowme and authoritie which GOD hath geuen them, and whereof ye hauehave robbed them. And your inward falſehode we do but vtter onelyonly with the light of Gods word, that your hypocriſie might be ſene. Be learned therfore ye that iudge the world, leſt God be angry with you, and ye periſh from the right way.

p. 141Wo be to you Scribes and Phariſeis, hypocrites. For ye make cleane y^t vtterſide of the cuppe and of the platter, but within they are full of brybry & exceſſe, ſaith Chriſt. Mat. xxiij. Is that Our hypocrites lyue by theft.which our hypocrites eate and drinke and all their riotous exceſſe any other thyng ſaue robbery, & that which they hauehave falſly gotten with their lying doctrine? Be learned therefore ye that iudge the world, and compell them to make reſtitution agayne.

Ye blinde guides ſayth Chriſt, ye ſtrayne out a gnat & ſwalow a camell. Math. xxiij. do not our blinde guides alſo ſtomble at a ſtraw, and lepe ouer a blocke, makyng narow conſciences at Conſciēces that are ſo narrow about traditions, hauehave wyde mouthes about gods cōmaundementes.trifles, and at matters of weight none at all? If any of them happen to ſwalow hys ſpitle or any of the water wherewith he waſheth his mouth, ere he goe to Maſſe: or touch the Sacramēt with his noſe, or if the Aſſe forget to breath on him, or happen to handle it with any of his fingers whiche are not annoynted, or ſay Alleluia in ſtede of Laus tibi Domine, or Ite Miſſa eſt in ſtede of Benedicamus Domino, or poure to much wine in the chalice, or read the Goſpell without light, or make not his croſſes a right, how trembleth he? how feareth he? what an horrible ſinne is committed? I cry God mercy, ſayth he, and you my Ghoſtly father. But to hold an whore or an other mans wife, to bye a benefice, to ſet one Realme at variaunce with an other, and to cauſe xx. thouſand mē to dye on a day is but a trifle and a paſtime with them.

The Iewes boaſteth them ſelues of As the Iewes are the childrē of Abrahā: ſo are the Byſhops the ſucceſſours of the Apoſtles.Abraham. And Chriſt ſayd vntounto them. Iohn. viij. If ye were Abrahams children, ye would do the deedes of Abraham. Our hypocrites boaſt them ſelues of the authoritie of Peter, and of Paul & the other Apoſtles, cleane contrary vntounto the deedes and doctrine of Peter, Paul and of all the other Apoſtles. Which both obeyed all worldly authoritie and power, vſurpyng none to them ſelues, and taught all other to feare the kynges and rulers, and to obey them in all things not contrary to the commaundement of God, and not to reſiſte them, though they tooke away life and goodes wrongfully, but paciently to abyde Gods vengeaunce. This did our ſpiritualtie neuer yet, The ſpiritualty hauehave taught to feare their traditions.nor taught it. They taught not to feare God in his commaundementes, but to feare them in their traditions. In ſo much that the euill people which feare not to reſiſt a good kyng and to riſe againſt him, dare not lay handes on one of them, neither for defilyng of wife daughter or very mother. When all They wynne ſomewhat alwayes.men loſe lyfe & landes, they remaine alwayes ſure and in ſafetie, and euer wynne ſomewhat. For who ſoeuer cō quereth other mens landes vnrightfully, euer geueth thē part with them. To them is all thyng lawfull. In all Councels and Parlamentes are they the chief. Without them may no kyng ☜be crowned, neither vntil he be ſworne to their liberties. All ſecretes know they, euen the very thoughtes of mens hartes. By them all thinges are miniſtred. No kyng nor Realme may thorough their falſehode liue in peace. To beleue they teach not in Chriſt, but in them and their diſguiſed hypocriſie. And of them compell they all men to buy redemptiō & forgeuenes of ſinnes. The peoples ſinne they eate & thereof waxe fat. The more wicked the people are, the more proſperous is their common wealth. If kinges and great men do amiſſe, they muſt builde Abbayes & Colledges, meane men builde chauntreis, poore finde trētals and brotherhodes and beggyng Friers. Their owne heyres do men diſherite to endote them. All kynges are compelled to ſubmitte them ſelues to them. Read the ſtory of kyng Iohn, and of other kynges. They will hauehave their cauſes auenged, though whole Realmes ſhould therefore periſhe. Take from them their deſguiſing, ſo are they not ſpirituall. Compare that they hauehave taught vsus vntounto the Scripture, ſo are we without fayth.

Chriſt ſayth Iohn. v. Chapter: how They that ſeke honor hauehave no fayth, neither can they do Gods meſſage.can ye beleue which receaue glory one of an other. If they that ſeke to be glorious, can hauehave no fayth, then are our Prelates faythleſſe verely. And Iohn. vij. he ſayth: he that ſpeaketh of hym ſelfe, ſeeketh his owne glory. If to ſeke glorie and honour be a ſure token, that a man ſpeaketh of his owne ſelfe, and doth his owne meſſage & not his maſters: then is the doctrine of our Prelates of them ſelues, and not of God. Be learned therefore ye that iudge the earth, leſt God be angry with you and ye periſh from the right way.

Be learned leſt the hypocrites bring Be learned.the wrath of God vppon your heades & compel you to ſhed innocent blould: as they hauehave compelled your predeceſſours to ſlay the Prophetes, to kill Chriſt & his Apoſtles and all the righteous p. 142y^• ſence were ſlayne. Gods word Gods wordought all men to know.pertaineth vntounto all men: as it perteineth vntounto all ſeruaunts to know their maſters will and pleaſure: and to all ſubiectes to know the lawes of theyr Prince. Let not the hypocrites do all thing ſecretly. What reaſon is it that They do all ſecretly. ☞myne enemy ſhould put me in priſon at his pleaſure and their diet me, and handle me, as he luſteth, and iudge me him ſelfe and that ſecretly, and condemne me by a law of his owne makyng, and then deliuer me to Pylate to murther me? Let Gods word try eueryevery Gods wordought ſo iudge.mans doctrine, and whom ſo euer Gods word proueth vncleane let him be taken for a leper. One Scripture …he right way to vnderſtād the ſcripture.will helpe to declare an other. And the circumſtaūces, that is to ſay, the places that go before and after, wil geue light vntounto the middle text. And the opē and manifeſt Scriptures will euer improue the falſe and wrong expoſition of the darker ſentences. Let the temporall power to whō God hath geuen the ſword to take vengeaunce, looke or euer that they leape, & ſee what they do. Let the cauſes be diſputed before them, and let him that is accuſed hauehave rowme to aunſwere for him ſelfe. The The kings hauehave a iudge before whom my ſoule for yours helpeth not.powers to whom God hath committed the ſword ſhall geue acountes for eueryevery droppe of bloud that is ſhed on the earth. Then ſhall their ignoraunce not excuſe them, nor the ſaying of the hypocrites helpe them, my ſoule for yours, your grace ſhall do a meritorious deede, your grace ought not to heare them, it is an old hereſy cōdemned by the Church. The king ought to looke in the Scripture, and ſee whether it were truly condemned or no, if he will puniſh it. If the king or his officer for him, will ſlay me, ſo ought the kyng or his officer to iudge me. The kyng can not, but vntounto his damnatiō, lend his ſword to kill whom he iudgeth not by his owne lawes. Let hym that is accuſed ſtand on the one ſyde and the accuſer on the other ſyde, and let the kynges iudge ſit and iudge the cauſe, if the kyng will kill and not be a murtherer before God.

Hereof may ye ſee, not onelyonly that Preach what thou wilt but rebuke nor hypocriſie.our perſecution is for the ſame cauſe that Chriſtes was, and that we ſay nothing that Chriſt ſayde not: but alſo that all perſecution is onelyonly for rebuking of hypocriſy, that is to ſay, of mās righteouſnes, and of holy dedes which man hath imagined to pleaſe God, & to be ſaued by, without Gods worde, and beſide the teſtamēt that God hath made in Chriſt. If Chriſt had not rebuked y^t Phareſeis becauſe they taught the people to beleue in their traditions and holynes, and in offeringes that came to their auantage, and that they taught the widowes and thē that had their frendes dead, to beleue in their prayers, & that through their prayers the dead ſhould be ſaued, and thorough that meanes robbed them both of their goodes, and alſo of the teſtament and promiſes that God had made, to all that repented, in Chriſt to come, he might hauehave bene vncrucified vntounto this day.

If Saint Paule alſo had not preached againſt circumciſion, that it iuſtified not: and that vowes, offeringes, and ceremonies iuſtified not: and that righteouſnes and forgeuenes of ſinnes came not by any deſeruing of our deedes, but by faith or beleuing y^e promiſes of God, and by the deſeruing & merites of Chriſt onelyonly, he might hauehave liued vntounto this houre. Likewiſe if we preached not againſt pride, couetouſnes, lechery, extorcion, vſury, ſymony, and againſt the euill lyuing both of the ſpiritualtie as well of the temporalitie, and againſt incloſings of parkes, reiſing of rent and fines, and of the carying out of wolle out of the realme, we might endure long enough. But toutch the ſcabbe of hipocriſie or popeholynes, and goe about to vtter their falſe doctrine wherewith they reigne as Gods in the hart and conſciences of men, and robbe them not of landes, goodes, and authoritie onelyonly, but alſo of the teſtament of God, and ſaluation that is in Chriſt: then helpeth thee neither Gods worde, nor yet if thou diddiſt miracles, but that thou art not an heretike onelyonly, and haſt the deuill within thee, but alſo a breaker of the kinges peace, and a traytor. But let vsus returne vntounto our lying ſygnes agayne.

WHat ſignifieth that the Prelates The Prelates are clothed in red.are ſo bloudy, and clothed in red? that they be ready eueryevery houre to ſuffer martyrdome for the teſtimony of Gods worde. Is that alſo not a falſe ſigne? When no man dare for them once open his mouth to aſke a queſtion of Gods worde, becauſe they are ready to burne him.

What ſignifieth the pollaxes that Pollaxe….are borne before hye Legates A Latere: What ſo euer falſe ſigne they make of them, I care not: but of this I am ſure, p. 143that as the olde hypocrites when they had ſlayne Chriſt, ſet pollaxes to keepe him in his ſ…pulcre that he ſhould not riſe againe: euē ſo hauehave our hypocrites buried the teſtament that God made vntounto vsus in Chriſtes bloud, and to kepe it downe, that it riſe not againe, is all their ſtudie: wherof theſe pollaxes are the very ſigne.

Is not that ſhepardes hoke the Biſhopes croſe a falſe ſigne? Is not that white rochette that the Byſhops and Chanons weare ſo like a Nunne, and ſo effeminatly, a falſe ſigne? What other thinges are their ſandals, gloues, myters, & all the whole pompe of their diſguiſing, then falſe ſignes in which Paule propheſied that they ſhoulde come? And as Chriſt warned vsus to beware of wolues in lambes ſkinnes, & bad vsus looke rather vntounto their fruites Iudge the free by hys fruite, and not by his leanes.and deedes, then to wonder at theyr diſguiſinges. Runne throughout all our holy religious, and thou ſhalt finde them likewiſe all clothed in falſhod.