Whole Works, Tract 5
What the Church is: and who bee therof: and whereby men may know her.
THe name of the holy church, hauehave thoſe mē of long tyme vſurped preſumptuouſlye and The Pope and hys Churche agreeth no more with the maners of holy Churche, then darkenes & light.wt out all ſhame, they were the greateſt enemyes that holy church could hauehave in earth. For they did no more agrée wt the maners of holy church, then darknes and light, then God and yt deuyll. For where holy church hard no man but Chriſt onelyonly: They would heare all manner of men ſauing Chriſt, and neuer heare him, except it weare to to their profit or glory.
Where as holy church was ruled in this world, they would rule all the world, & where as holy church would bée holy by Chriſt onelyonly, they would bée holy by their owne helpe.
And where as holy church was allwayes deſpiſed, and perſecuted of the world, They would bée honored of yt The Pope is a perſecutor of holy Church.world and perſecuters of all men.
And where as holy church was inwardly decked with ſpiritual vertues, they would bée outwardly ſhinyng in ſpirituall araye. And where as holy church would bée chaſte in ſpryte they would with their mouthes vow chaſtite, and ſpend all their liues in whore dome.
And where as holy church dyd allwayes ſhew méekenes in the worlde, they would bée ſo proude, yt hart could deuiſe no more.
Breifely whatſoeuer thing ye was How farre the Pope doth differ with his Churche from the true holy Church.agreable with the church, of that had they neuer a crumme, but allonely by violence vſurped the name of holy church, So that if a man had had a crowne or a long goune and a white ſmock ouer his gowne, thē was there no remedy but hée muſt nedes bée of the church, yea and holy church her ſelf. So ye if a Barber had made a Bul a crowne, & a Taylor Iack napes a lōg gowne, & brought an Aſſe forth in The foule and greate abuſe of the Pope in takyng vpō hym, that hee and his were ye holy Church.a white rochet, thē no mā might dout but ye there were holy church, & euerye man muſt fall downe to receyue clene remiſſion a poena and a oulpa, toties quoties, for there came the ſucceſſours of Peter & Paule: and they that hauehave the deſpenſatiō of Chriſtes bloud, and the merites of holy ſaints, and ye ſuffrages of holy church to diſtribute, and the key bearers of heauē and hell. Who can denye but this is truth?
It is to opē to néede an probation, for wee ſée it dayly before our eyes. So that if a man will compare our M Chriſt yt is ye very head of holy church vntounto theſe Prelates (that call them ſelues his viccars) hée ſhall finde but ſmale agréement, betwéene the perſon and the vicar: and hée that will conſider. S. Peter and S. Paule, withall other Apoſtels ſhall think, that eyther they were none of holy Church, or els our prelals: for they agrée in nothing. Yea & hée may reckē that S. Peter & S. Paule were ſtarke fooles & ryght mad men that liued ſo deſpectuous a lyfe. What néede me to make many wordes, or to tell their names that I ſpeake of, There is no doubt but that galde horſe will béewray hym ſelfe. But ſhortly, if the deuyll would come in his owne perſon diſguiſed, tell me how it were impoſſible that hée could bée more contrary to Chriſt and hys apoſtels, then thoſe men that call thē ſelues ye holy church: yea take away the name of the church, and ſet in her ſtéede the name of the deuyll, & how will you then know a byſhop frō the deuyll? By their workes? nay trewly What difference is betweene a Byſhop & the deuill.for they bée all one: And yet will you bée the heades of Chriſtes church, yea the holy church her ſelfe: not ſo yée wicked, not ſo.
Wherefore that this bleſſed ſpouſe of Chriſt may bée knowen from thée open and abhominable whores and harlotes, therefore will I (by gods grace) ſet out what holy Church is and where by men ſhall know her,
This worde Eccleſia both in ye new teſtament and the olde, is taken oftē tymes for the whole congregatiō and and the whole multitude of yt people both good and bad, as it is in the booke of Numeri? Why hauehave you brought Nume. 20.the congregation or Church of God into wildernes.
Alſo in an other place, The king 3. King. 8.turned his face and bleſſed the whole congregation or Church of Iſraell, and all the Church of Iſraell ſtoode. Likewiſe in the new teſtamēt Saint Paule to the Corinthians, I hauehave ſēt 1. Cor. 4.vntounto you Tymothy the which ſhall learne you my wayes, ye bée in Chriſt Ieſu, as I doe learne eueryevery where in all congregations.
Alſo in an other place: doe you deſpiſe 1. Cor. 11.the congregation of God? and ſhame thē that hauehave not? In all theſe places & in many moe, is it open that this greke word Eccleſia is taken for the whole congregation both of good & bad. Wherfore this is not ye church that we will greatly ſpeake of: for in this church are Iewes and Saraſens Murtherers, and Theeues, Baudes, and Harlots, though we know them not.
But there is an other holy Church of the which S. Paule ſpeaketh: you Ephe. 5.men louelove your your wiues, as Chriſt hath loued the Church, and hath geuē him ſelfe for her, that hée might ſanctifie her, and clenſe her in the fountaine of water through the worde of life, to make her to him ſelfe a glorious The holy Churche truely defined.Church without ſpot or wrincle, or any ſuch thyng, but that ſhe might bée holy & without blame. Here hauehave you the very true Churche of Chriſt, that is ſo pure and ſo cleane without ſpotte.
But wherby is ſhée pure & cleane: not by her owne merites nor by her owne might, not by exteriour araye, not by gold nor ſiluer, nor yet by precious ſtones, neither by myters nor croſeſtaues, nor by pillers nor pollaxes. But wherby then? by Chriſt onelyonly which hath geuen him ſelfe for that intēt that hée would make her cleane and therefore ſayth S. Paule: Hée gaue him ſelfe that hée might ſanctifie The true holy church is that which is ſanctified & made holy by Chriſt.her, that hée might clenſe her, and make her to him ſelfe a glorious Church.
Alſo in an other place: you are waſhed, you are ſanctified, you are iuſtified in the name of Ieſus Chriſt, and in the ſpirite of God. Sée my Lordes, how the Church is waſhed by Chriſt 1. Cor. 1.& by his holy ſpirite, and not by your bleſſynges, not by your ſpirituall ornamentes, nor by your ſpirituall holy water, for theſe thynges cannot helpe the holy Church: for ſhe is holy in ſpirite and not in outwarde hypocriſie: ſhe is alſo clenſed by Chriſtes bleſſed bloud, & not by outward diſguiſinges.
This doth S. Auguſtine wel proue, ſaying, Of Chriſt is the church made fayre? firſt was ſhe filthie in ſinnes, afterward by pardon and by grace was Auguſtinus de verbis domini ſer. so.ſhe made fayre &c. Here S. Auguſtine ſayth yt Chriſt hath made his Church fayre, and that by his grace & his pardon, and not by your pardons, nor by your grace. For this Church, ſtādeth by Chriſtes election, & not by yours. And if Chriſt hauehave not waſhed you & choſen you then bée you none of this Church, though you ride with a thouſand ſpiritual horſes, and hauehave all the ſpirituall tokēs on earth. For and if ye ſonne of God hauehave deliuered you, thē Iohn. 6.are you truely deliuered. Ye can not make by all your power and holynes that we ſhall alwayes finde good ale or wyne where there hangeth out a gréene ſigne: and will you with your ſpirituall ſignes and tokens make the Churche of God to folow you, or by them aſſigne out where the Churche ſhall bée? Nay, nay, my Lords, it will not bée: but they that beléeue ye Chriſt The faithful beleuers in Chriſtes merites, are yt ryght holy church of God.hath waſhed them from their ſinnes, and ſticke faſt vntounto his merites, and to the promiſe made to them in hym onelyonly, they bée the Church of God, & ſo pure and ſo cleane that it ſhall not bée lawfull, no not for Peter, to ſay that they bée vncleane: but whether they bée Iew or Gréeke, kyng or ſubiect, carter or Cardinall, butcher or Byſhop, tancardbearer or cannelrater, frée or bounde, Frier or fidler, Monke or miller: if they beléeue in Chriſtes word, & ſticke faſt to his bleſſed promiſes, and truſt onelyonly in the merites of his bleſſed bloud, they bée the holy Church of God, yea and the very true church afore God. And you with all your ſpiritual tokens, & with all your exteriour cleannes, remaine in your filthynes of ſinne: from the which all your bleſſings, all your pardons, all your ſpirituallitie, all your holynes, can not clenſe you, nor bring you into this Churche. Boaſt, crake, blaſt, bleſſe, curſe till your holy eyes ſtart out of your head, it wil not helpe you, for Chriſt chooſeth his church, at his iudgement and not at yours. The holy ghoſt is frée, & inſpireth where hée will, hée will neither bée bound, to God is not to bee ruled by any ſtate or degree of perſon.Pope nor Cardinall, Archbiſhop nor Byſhop, Abbot nor Prior, Deacon nor Archdeacon, Parſon nor Ʋicare, Nunne nor Frier.
Briefly come all the whole rabble of you togither that call your ſelues ye holy Churche, and exclude all other: yea and take ſunne, moone, & ſtarres to helpe you with all the frendes you hauehave in heauē and earth: and yet ſhall you not bée of holy church, except that you hauehave yt ſpirite of Chriſt, & bée waſhed in his bleſſed bloud. For ye holy Churche of Chriſt is nothyng els but that congregation, that is ſanctified in ſpirite, redéemed with Chriſtes bloud, and ſticketh faſt and ſure alonely to the promiſes that hée made therein.
So that the Church is a ſpirituall The holy Churche which is yt true church of God is to ye worlde inuiſible.thyng, and no exterior thyng, but inuiſible from carnall eyes (I ſay not that they bee inuiſible that bée of the Church, but that holy Church in her ſelfe is inuiſible) as fayth is, and her purenes and cleanes is before Chriſt onelyonly, and not before the worlde, for the worlde hath no iudgement nor knowledge of her: but all her honour and cleanes is before Chriſt ſure and faſt. And if there appeare any of her goodnes vntounto the worlde, of that ſhée maketh no reckenyng, nor thinketh her ſelfe any thyng thyng the better, that the worlde iudgeth well of her: for all her truſt is in Chriſt onelyonly. She ſuffereth the worlde to rage and blaſpheme both agaynſt her and agaynſt Chriſt her maker. Shée ſtandeth faſt and beléeueth ſted faſtly, that, that ſhal hauehave a ſhamefull ende, and euerlaſting damnation to rewarde. Briefly, her meditations and her thoughtes are heauenly, and all that ſhée doth is ſpirituall. For ſhée can not erre, ſhée cleaueth ſo faſt to the worde of God that is the veritie.
And for this cauſe S. Paule calleth The true holy church is the piller and ground of trueth.her the piller and grounde of truth, not that ſhée is ſo ſure of, and in her owne ſtrength, but that ſhée ſticketh ſo faſt to the lyuyng God, and to hys bleſſed worde, that is the very true Church, that is ſcattered thorow all the worlde, and is neyther bounde to perſon by the reaſon of dignitie, nor yet to any place by the reaſon of fayned holynes, but ſhée is a frée thynge thorow all the worlde, as S. Auguſtine doth witneſſe in theſe wordes. The holy Church are wée, but I doe Auguſt. ſer. …. de tempore.not ſay, as one ſhould ſay, wée that bée here alonely, that heare mée now, but as many as be here faythfull Chriſtened mē in this Church, that is to ſay, in thys Citye, as many as bée in thys region, as many as bée beyonde the ſea, as many as bée in all the worlde (for from the ryſing of the ſunne, till the goyng down, is the name of God prayſed) ſo is the holy Church our mother. &c.
Here hauehave you playnely, that the The holy Church is the congregation of faythfull men where ſoeuer they bee in the world.holy Church is the congregation of faythfull men, whereſoeuer they bée in the worlde. And neyther the Pope, nor yet hys Cardinalles bée more this Church or of thys Church then the pooreſt man in earth. For this church ſtandeth alonely in the ſpirituall faith of Chriſt Ieſus, and not in dignities nor honours of the worlde, as Liranus doth declare in theſe wordes. Lyra in mat. ca. 19.The Church doth not ſtand in men by reaſon of ſpirituall power, or ſecular dignities: For many Princes and many Popes, and other inferiour perſons hauehave ſwerned frō the fayth. Wherfore that Church doth ſtand in thoſe perſons in whome is the true knowledge and confeſſion of fayth, and of veritie. &c.
O my Lordes, what will you ſay to Lyra? I hauehave great maruayle that you burne hym not. It is hye tyme to condemne hym for an heretike, for hée ſpeaketh agaynſt your lawe xxiiij. q. 1. Quodcun que . Where as your gloſe declareth that God ſuffereth not, the church of Rome for to erre. And Lyra ſayth playnely that many popes hauehave erred, and alſo that the Church ſtandeth not in dignitie, but in confeſſion of Chriſt and of hys bleſſed veritie.
But now here wyll bée obiected that I fayne ſuch a Church, as our Logitions doe intentionem ſecundam, that is a thyng yt is no where. Where ſhall a man finde a Church that is ſo pure and ſo cleane that hath neyther ſpot nor wrinckle in her, and that is wythout all ſinne, ſéeyng that all men muſt of trueth ſaye, forgéeue vsus our treſpaſſe? And if any man ſay (bée hée neuer ſo righteous) that hée hath no Math. 6. 1. Iohn. 1.ſinne, thē is hee a lyer, and there is no veritie in hym. To thys I aunſwere, Ephe. 5.that thys holy Church hath ſin in her yet is ſhée pure and cleane. Marke S. Paules wordes: Chriſte hath geuen hymſelfe for her, that hée might make her glorious. So that the cleannes of The holy Churche how it is made pure and cleane without ſpotte or wrinkle.this holy church is the mercy of God toward her thorow Chriſt: for whoſe ſake, he layeth nothing to her charge: yea and if any other perſon woulde, hée is ready to géeue her his cleanes, and to let her by fayth clayme of right hys purenes for her owne. For betwéene them, all is common, as betwéene man and wyfe. So that if the Church looke on her owne merites and of her owne workes, ſhée is full of ſinne, and muſt néedes ſay, demitte mihi debita. The which ſhée néeded not to ſay if ſhée had none.
But if ſhée referre her ſelfe vntounto the merites of her bleſſed huſbande Chriſt Ieſus, and to the cleanes that ſhée hath in hys bloud, thē is ſhée without ſpotte. For by the reaſon that ſhée ſticketh by fayth ſo faſt vntounto her huſband Chriſt, and doth abyde in confeſſion of her ſinne, & requireth mercy for them, therfore is there nothing layde to her charge, but all thyng is forgéeuen her. And therefore ſayth S. Paule, there is no damnation vntounto them that bée in Chriſt Ieſu. And that this may bée the playner, I wyll bryng you S. Auguſtines wordes, the Auguſtinus de verbis Apoſtoli. ſ. ….which was vexed of the Donatiſtes wyth thys ſame reaſon that is layd agaynſt mée, hys wordes bée theſe. The whole Church ſayth, forgéeue vsus our ſinnes, wherefore ſhée hath ſpottes and wrinckles, but by knowledging of them, her wrinckles bée extended and ſtretched out, by knowledging, her ſpottes are waſhed away.
The church abydeth in prayer that ſhée myght bée clēſed by knowledging of her ſinnes. As lōg as we liue hereſo ſtandeth it, and when wée ſhall departe out of thys bodye, all ſuch thynges bée forgéeuen to eueryevery mā, wherfore The church of God is the treaſures of God without ſpotte or wrinkle.by thys meane y• church of God, is in the treaſures of God, wythout ſpotte and wrinckles: and therefore here doe wée not lyue wythout ſinne, but wee ſhall paſſe from hence wythout ſinne. &c. Here hauehave you clearely that the church of God is clenſed and purified by Chriſt for knowledgyng of her ſinnes, and not by her owne purenes. Wherefore ſuch a church there muſt néedes bée, though that ye carnall eye can not ſée her, nor fleſhly reaſon can iudge of her. Wherefore wée beléeue thys article by fayth, that holy church is a communion or felow ſhyp of holy men, and know it not by ſéeyng or féelyng, as wée doe the felowſhyp of Drapers or mercers, for then were it none article of the faith.
And it is playne, that all your exterior That which is of fayth can neither bee ſeene nor felt.ſignes, wyth all your holy ornamentes, as your holy myters, your holy croſſeſtaues, your holy pyllers, polaxis, your holy red gloues, your holy ouches, and your holy rynges, your holy annoynted fingers, your holy veſtmentes, your holy challices, and your holy golden ſhowes, yea, & take alſo to helpe you S. Thomas of Canterburyes holy ſhowe, wyth all the holy bootes of holy Monkes, and all theſe togither can not make one crumme of holynes in you, nor helpe you one pricke forward, that you may bée wythin thys church. For if theſe thynges coulde helpe, then were it no maſtery to make an Aſſe to bée of the church of God.
But our holy mother the Church The true holynes that is of our right holye mother the Church.hath an other holynes, that commeth from God the father thorough the ſwéete bloud of his bleſſed ſonne Ieſus Chriſt, in whom is all her confidence and truſt. Ʋnto whom ſhe ſticketh onelyonly by ſted faſt fayth, by whoſe purenes ſhee is alſo pure in that, that ſhe doth confeſſe her vnclennes, for ſhee beléeueth ſtedfaſtly that ſhe hath an aduocate for her ſinne to ye father of heauen, which is Chriſt Ieſus, and hée is the ſatiſfaction for her ſinnes: & 1. Iohn 2.hée of his mercy & not of her merites hath choſen her for to bée his, and becauſe ſhe is his, therfore muſt ſhe bée cleane ſo long as ſhe abideth in him.
This is well declared in S. Iohn Iohn. 15.where our maſter Chriſte is compared to the vyne and all the members of holy Churche to the branches, that as the braunches, can bring foorth no frute of them ſelues, ſo cā holy church of her ſelfe bring foorth no goodnes except ſhee remaine in Chriſt by perſite fayth.
This is wel proued by your owne law whoſe wordes bée theſe, therfore is the Church holy, becauſe ſhe beléeueth righteouſly in God. &c. Here you De con. D. D. 4. c. prima igitur.not the cauſe wherfore the Church is holy? becauſe ſhe beléeueth righteouſly in God, that is ſhe beléeueth in nothyng but in him, and ſhe beléeueth nor heareth no worde but his, as our maſter Chriſte beareth witneſſe, my ſhéepe heare my voyce, and an other mans voyce doe they not know. Alſo in an other place, hée that is of God heareth the wordes of God. How cō meth this, that ye Church of God hath ſo ſure a iudgemēt, that ſhe knoweth the voyce of Chriſt frō other voyces, & can not erre in her iudgement? Becauſe that Chriſt hath choſen her, and becauſe ſhe is learned of God as our maſter Chriſt ſayth, and becauſe ſhe hath (as S. Iohn ſayth) the inwarde 1. Iohn. 2.oyntmēt of God, y• teacheth his all maner of verity, ſo that ſhe can not erre. But why can ſhee not erre? becauſe ſhe may doe what ſhe will? Becauſe that all thing that ſhe doth, is well done? becauſe ſhe may make new rules and newe lawes at her pleaſure? Becauſe ſhe may inuent a newe ſeruice of God that is not in Scripture at her wil? Nay nay my Lordes. For ſhe is but a woman and muſt bée ruled by her huſbande, yea ſhe is but a ſhéepe and muſt heare ye voyce of her ſhepheard, and ſo long as ſhe doth, ſo long cā ſhe not erre becauſe the voyce of her ſhepheard can not bée falſe.
This may be proued by your own De p…ne. Diſ. 2. Si in gloſſa. 24. q. 1. Arecta & in Gloſſa.law whoſe wordes bée theſe, ye whole Church can not erre. Alſo in an other place, the congregation of faythfull men muſt néedes bée, which alſo can not erre. &c. Theſe wordes bée playne what Church it is that can not erre: The faythfull congregation can not erre.that is the congregation of faythfull men that bée gathered in Chriſtes name, whiche hauehave Chriſtes ſpirite, whiche hauehave the holy oyntement of God, whiche abyde faſt by Chriſtes word, and heare no other mās voyce but his. Now my Lordes gather you all togither with all the lawes that you cā make, and all the holynes, that you can deuiſe and crye, the Church, the Churche, and the Councels, the Councels that were lawfully gathered in the power of the holy ghoſt (all this may you ſay & yet lye) and if you hauehave not in déede the holy ghoſt with in you, and if you doe heare any other voyce then Chriſtes, then are you not of the Churche, but of the deuill, and théenes & murtherers as Chriſt ſaith. For you come into the fold of Chriſt without him, you bring not his voice, but you come with your owne voyce, with your owne ſtatutes, with your owne word, & your owne mandamus, The voyce of murtherers and theeues.mandamus, precipimus, precipimus, excommunicamus, excommunicamus.
Theſe bée the voyces of murtherers and Théeues, and not of Chriſt, therfore you can not but erre, for you bée not taught of God, you hauehave not the holy oyntment, you hauehave not the worde of God for you, you heare not the voyce of the true ſhepheard, therfore muſt you néedes erre in all your counſells. This is an other maner of rule then my Lorde of Rocheſter doth aſſigne to examine your counſels by, A rule that Rocheſter teacheth to know the difference betweene y• Pope and Councell.for hée ſayth, where that the Pope and the counſell doth not agrée all in one, there will hée ſuſpect the counſell not to bée right.
Who did euer heare ſuch a rule of a Chriſtean man? yea and of a biſhop? yea and of a doctor of Diuinite, where hath hée learned this Diuinite? to recken a counſell to bée trew, becauſe ye the Pope and ſo many men doe agree in one, yea and that ſuch men as hauehave ſo often tymes erred in their coūcels, as hée doth declare hym ſelf rekening The Councell erreth if the Pope agree not to their do. ynges.the counſell of Conſtantinople that had. 330. Byſhops and yet did erre, and hée knew no other cauſe, but bée, cauſe the Pope did not agrée to them. Is not this a reſonable cauſe? cā not the Pope erre? let hym read his own lawe. Diſtinctio. 19. Anaſtaſius, & Popes hauehave erred.Diſtinctio. 40. Si Papa and alſo. 24. q 1. Arecta in the gloſe, and there ſhall hée fynde that the Pope hath erred. Wherefore then ſhould the matter ſtande in his iudgment? Now how Popes condemned for heretickes.will hée by thys rule ſaue the counſels of conſtance, and of Baſell where in both counſels, the Popes were condemned for heretykes? As the ſame counſels make mencion, alſo that the councels hauehave erred, that graūted hée hymſelfe, but peraduenture hée will ſaye, that they were not full Councels.
Now is it well amended, what diſtinction is (as conſcernyng the veritie in a counſell that hath a thowſand byſhops and in an other that hath fyve thowſand, can the multitude helpe to the veritie? Then had the Turke the veritie and we the falſed, then had the Prophet Micheas the worſſe part for 3. King. 2. 3. King. 18.hée was alone againſt. iiij. hundred ſo was ye verytie by ye Prophets of Ball, and not by Elyas, for they were foure hundred and fyftye & hee was but one man. Briefely Chriſtes flocke is alwayes The litle flocke is ye flocke of Chriſt.ye ſmalleſt nūber in this world but yet it is the beſt, not the ſmalleſt number maketh Chriſtes flocke, but that Chriſtes Church ſtādeth neyther by the greateſt number nor yet by the ſmalleſt, nor by the iudgmēt or numbring of man, but by the callyng and eleccion of God. Wherefore let my Lorde bring forth what counſell that hée will, and if they hauehave not the word of God, I will not all onelyonly ſay they may erre, but alſo that they doe erre in verye déede. And that will I proue by the greateſt lawyer that they hauehave called Panormitanus whoſe wordes De electio. c. ſignifica.bée theſe, that Councels may erre as they hauehave erred, as concernyng that contract of matrimony, inter raptorem & raptam, and the ſaying of Saint Hierome was afterward preferred a The Councell of Meldelci dyd erre.boue the ſtatute of the counſel as it is proued. 36. q. 2. Tria, for in thinges concerning the fayth is the ſaying of a priuat perſon to bee preferred afore the ſaying of the pope, if hée hauehave better reaſōs and ſcriptures of the new, and of the olde teſtamēt for him then the Pope: nor it can not helpe, to ſay that the counſell can not erre, becauſe that Chriſt did pray for his Church ye her fayth ſhould not fayle. For I aū ſwere to this, that though ye generall coūcell doe repreſent ye whole vniuerſall church: neuertheles in very déede there is not ye very vniuerſall church, but repreſentatiue. For the vniuerſal A generall Councell is, not the vniuerſall Churche.church ſtādeth in ye election of all fayth full men: & all faithfull mē of y• world make that vniuerſall Church, whoſe head and ſpouſe is Chriſt Ieſus, & the Pope is but the vicar of Chriſt and not the very head of the Church, this is the Church that can not erre. &c.
Here it is open that the counſell may erre, and that a priuate perſon hauing ſcriptures for hym is to bée heard before the Pope and alſo ye coū ſell, hauing no ſcriptures for them, you hauehave alſo what is the very trew Church which can not erre, which thing can not bée veryfyed of your counſels for they bée neyther without errour, nor yet the holy Church, but that they doe repreſēt the Church as a legate repreſenteth a kings perſon: but of that followeth not that hée is ye king, or hath as much power as the king, or is aboue. The king or that he may rule the king, this may alſo bée proued by. S. Auguſtine whoſe words Auguſtinus de bap li. 2. c. 3 contra Donatiſtas.bée theſe, thoſe counſelles that bée gathered in eueryevery Prouince muſt without doubt geue place to the auctoritie of the ful counſels which bée gathered of all Chriſtendom: and alſo thoſe full counſels oft tymes muſt bée amended by the full counſels that come after: if any thyng bée opened by any experience that was a fore ſhut, and if any thing bée knowen that was hydden. And this may bee done without any Councels hauehave erred and many erre.ſhadowe of ſuperſticious pride, without any boaſted Arrogancy, with out any contentiō of malicious enuy, but with holy méekenes, with holy peace and with Chriſten charitye. &c.
Here it is playne that your full coū ſels may bée amended and reformed: ye which thing néede not, if they could not erre: yea and if they did not erre in déede. Moreouer you muſt néedes graunt that there is a rule where by your counſels muſt bée exammined; & where by ſentence muſt bée geuen which of your councels bée true and which falſe, by the which rule if your counſels bée not ordered, they muſt néedes erre and bée falſe, and of the deuill. Wherfore gather all your coū ſels togither, and yet of them can you not make holy church.
But peraduenture there may bée many in your coūſels good and perfite men and of holy Churche: but they and you togither make not the vnyuerſall holy church that can not erre: neither hauehave you any anctoritie ouer The holy ſcriptures are the iudges of the Councels doingsholy Church, further then the holy ſcripture of God: but as ſoone as you forſake Chriſt and his holy worde, ſo ſoone are you the congregation of the deuyll, and théeues and murtherers: and yet for all this, there muſt néedes bée an holy church of Chriſt in earth, that is neyther bounde to Ieruſalem nor to Conſtantinople, nor yet to Rome, as though ſhée were lyke vntounto the Aſſe and the fole.
But now wyll there bée obiected, that our Mayſter Chriſt commaundeth, Math. 10.if my brother offende mée, that I ſhoulde complayne to the church. Now is this church that I hauehave ſet out ſpirituall, and no man knoweth her but God onelyonly, ſhée is alſo ſcattered thorow out the worlde, wherfore how can a man complayne to that church? I aunſwere, our M. Chriſt doth playnely ſpeake of a man that hath wronge, the which muſt néedes bée a perticuler and a certayne man: and therefore likewyſe hée biddeth There are perticular Churches to whome wee may complayne.hym complayne not to the vniuerſall church, but to the perticular church.
Now this particular church, if ſhée bée of God, and a true member of the vniuerſal church, ſhée will iudge righteouſly after Chriſtes worde, and after the probations brought afore her. Neuertheleſſe, oftētymes cōmeth it to paſſe, y• this particular church doth fully and wholy erre, and iudgeth vnryght, and excommunicateth him that is bleſſed of god, as it is open in your owne lawe, whoſe wordes bée theſe: oftētymes hée that is caſt out is within, 24. q. 3. Si. quis et c. cū aliquis.and hée that is within is kept without. &c.
Here hauehave you playnely ye the particular church may erre. Wherefore that church that can not erre is all only the vniuerſall church which is caulled the communion and the felowſhip The communion & felowſhip of Saintes is the vniuerſall Church.of Saintes, the which addition was made by holy fathers (for in Ciprians time was there no mention of it) by all likelyhode to declare the preſumption of certayne men, and of certayne congregations that reckened themſelues to bée holy church. Wherfore my Lordes ſée well to it, leaſt the holy Ghoſt hauehave pricked you wyth thys addition, for you hauehave alwayes made your ſelfe holy church, yea and that wythout any holines. Now hauehave I declared vntounto you, what is holy church, that is, the congregation of faithfull men thorowout all ye world: and whereby ſhée is holy, that is, by Chriſtes holyneſſe and by Chriſtes bloud: and alſo what is the cauſe that ſhée can not erre: becauſe that ſhée kepeth her ſelfe ſo faſt to the worde of God, whiche is a perfite & a true rule.
Nowe muſt we declare by what ſignes and tokēs, that we may know How a mā may know the church.that in this place or in that place there bée certeine members of this holye church. For though ſhée bée in her ſelf ſpirituall▪ and can not bée perfitely knowen, by our exteriour ſenſes, yet neuertheleſſe we may hauehave certeine tokens, of her ſpirituall preſence, whereby we may recken that in this place and in that place bee certeine of her members. As by a naturall example, An example teaching how ye true church may be knowne.though the ſoule of man in her ſelfe bée ſpirituall & inuiſible: yet may we hauehave ſure tokens of her preſence, as hearyng mouyng, ſpeakyng, ſmellyng, with ſuch other. So likewiſe, where the word of God is truely and perfitely preached without the damnable dreames of men, and where it is well of the hearers receiued, & alſo where we ſée good woorkes that doe openly agrée with the doctrine of the Goſpell, theſe bée good and ſure tokēs whereby we may iudge, that there bée ſome men of holy Church.
As to the firſt, whereas the Goſpell is truely preached it muſt néedes light in ſome mens hartes, as the prophete witneſſeth, my word, ſhall not returne agayne to me fruſtrate, but it Eſay. 55.ſhall doe all thyng that I will, and it ſhall proſper, in thoſe thynges, vntounto the which I did ſend it.
Alſo S. Paule ſayth, fayth cōmeth by hearyng, and hearyng commeth by Roma. 10.the word of God: and therfore it is open in holy Scripture that when Peter Actes. 10.ſpake the wordes of God, the holy ghoſt fell downe on them all. Wherfore it is open that Gods worde can neuer bée preached in vayne, but ſome men muſt néedes receiue it, and thereby bée made of holy Churche, though that men doe not know them neither by their names nor yet by their faces, for this word is receiued into their hartes.
The ſecond token is, that the receiuers of this woord doe worke well thereafter as S. Paule declareth of 1. Theſſ 2.his hearers: when you receiued of vsus the word wherewith God was preached, you receiued it not as the word of men, but euen (as it was in déede) the word of God, whiche worketh in you that beléeue. So that if men doe Good workes are the fruite of good fayth.worke after the worde of God, it is a good token that there bée men of the Churche, though that we (hypocriſie is ſo ſubtile and ſo ſecret) may bée oftentymes deceiued by theſe outward workes, but neuertheles charitie iudgeth well of all thinges that hauehave a good outward ſhowe, and bée not opē ly agaynſt the word of God. But it is Charitie may be deceaued, but fayth can neuer bee deceaued.no ieoperdy though charitie bée deceiued, for it is opē to all ieoperdies: but fayth is neuer deceiued.
Now to our purpoſe, that where the worde of God is preached truely, it is a good & a perfite token that there bée ſome mē of Chriſtes church. This may bée prooued by Chriſoſtomes wordes: they that bée in Iudea let thē flée vp into the mountaines, that is to ſay they that bée in Chriſtendome, let them geue thē ſelues to Scriptures. Wherfore commaundeth hée that all Chriſtened men in that tyme ſhould flye vntounto Scriptures, for in that tyme in the which hereſies hauehave crept into the Church, there can bée no true probation of Chriſtendome, nor no other refuge vntounto Chriſten men, willyng to know the veritie of fayth, but ye Scriptures of God. Afore by many wayes was it ſhewed which was the Church of Chriſt, and which was the congregation of Gentiles: but now there is no other way to them that will know whiche is the very true Churche of Chriſt, but alonely by ſcriptures. By workes firſt was the church of Chriſt knowen when the conuerſation of Chriſten men, either of all or of many were holy, the which holynes had not the wicked men, but nowe Chriſten men, bée as euill or worſſe then heretickes or Gentiles, yea & greater continencie is founde among them, then among Chriſten men.
Wherefore hée that will knowe which is ye very church of chriſt, how A ſaying of Chriſoſtome.ſhall hée knowe it but by Scriptures onelyonly. Wherfore our Lord cōſidering that ſo greate confuſion of thynges ſhould come in the latter dayes, therfore commaundeth hée that Chriſten men which bée in Chriſtendome willing to reſerue the ſtedfaſtnes of true fayth, ſhould flye vntounto no other thyng but vntounto Scriptures, for if they hauehave reſpect vntounto other thynges they ſhall bée ſclaundered and ſhall periſhe, not vnderſtandyng whiche is the true Church. &c.
Theſe wordes néede no expoſition they bée plaine inough: they doe alſo exclude all maner of learning ſauing holy ſcripture. Wherefore ſée how you can with honeſtie ſaue your holy lawes, and defend them againſt Chriſoſtome ſendeth vsus to ſcriptures to learne which is the holy Church, & not vntounto them that call themſelues ye holy church.Chriſoſtome. Moreouer if Chriſoſtome complayne of the incontenency that was in his dayes, how would hée complaine if hée now liued & ſawe the baudry and fornication, that is in the Church? And alſo he ſendeth men to ſcriptures that will know the holy Church, and not vntounto ye holy Church for in the Church were hereſyes, but not in ſcripture.
Alſo. S. Paule witneſeth the ſame Ephe. 2.ſaying, you are built vponupon the foundacion of the Apoſtles and Prophets, heare hauehave you playnely that the very trewe Church is grounded, yea and The holy Church is builte and founded vponupon the Apoſtles & Prophets.founded of holy ſcripture, and therefore whereſoeuer that the worde of God is preached, that is a good token that there bée ſome men of Chriſtes Church. But now as to the fruites and workes of this Church, ſhe doth all onelyonly fetch out her maner of lyuing and all her good workes out of ye holy word of God, and ſhe fayneth not, nor dreameth any other new holines, or new inuented works that be not in ſcripture, but ſhe is content wt Chriſtes learning and beléeueth, that Chriſt hath ſufficiently taught her all manner of good workes that bée to the honour of our heauēly father. Therfore inuenteth ſhée no other way to heauen but followeth Chriſt onelyonly, in ſuffering oppreſſions, and perſecutions, blaſpheminges, & al other things that may bée layd vntounto her, which as S. Aguſtine ſayth ſhe learned of our M. Chriſt. Our holy mother yt church Auguſtinus.throughout all the world ſcattered far and long, in her trew head Chriſt Ieſus taught, hath learned not to feare The true Church is a ſufferer, and no perſecutor.the contumelys of the Croſſe nor yet of death: but more and more is ſhée ſtrengthed not in reſiſting but in ſuffering. &c.
Now my Lordes compare your ſelfe to this rule of S. Aguſtine, and let vsus ſée how you can bring your ſelf into the Church? or els to proue your ſelf to bée holy? The Church ſuffereth perſecutions (for as S. Paule ſayth, they that will liue deuoutly in Chriſt 2. Tim. 3.muſt ſuffer perſecution) and you with ſtand all thinges and ſuffer nothing. You oppreſſe eueryevery mā, and you will bée oppreſſed of no mā. You perſecute eueryevery man, and no man may ſpeake a worde agaynſt you, no though it bée neuer ſo true. You caſt eueryevery mā in priſon, & no mā may touch you, but he ſhal bée curſed. You compell eueryevery mā to ſay as you ſay, & you will not once ſay as Chriſte ſayth. And as for your holynes all the worlde knoweth what it is: for it ſtandeth in clothing and in decking, in watching and ſléeping, in The Popes church are perſecutors but no ſufferers.eating and drinking this meate or ye meate, this drynke or that drinke, in pattering and mumbling theſe Pſalmes or thoſe Pſalmes, without deuotion.
Bréefly all your holines is in books Bels, Cādels, Challeces, oyle creme The glory of the Popes churche is in traſh.water, horſes, houndes, pallaces, & all that is mighty and gloryous in the world, there on hange you, there in glory you, there on crake you, there on boaſt you, there vponupon builde you. Is this ye natures of ye church? is this holines? Of whome hauehave you learned theſe maners? You can not deny but theſe bée true, and if you would denye it, all the world is witneſſe agaynſt you: yea and alſo your owne factes & déedes. Of whom hauehave you learned this holynes? not of Chriſt nor yet of his holy Church: but you hauehave learned it of the Arians, ye were the ſeruauntes of the deuyll. Hilarius Hilarius cont. Arianos.wryteth in theſe wordes, the Church doth threaten, with banyſhmentes & pryſonmentes, and ſhée compelleth men to beléeue her, which was exciled and caſt in priſon, now hangeth ſhée on the dignitye of her fellowſhip, the which was conſecrated, by the threateuinges of perſecutors: ſhée cauſeth prieſtes to flye that was encreaſed & by the chaſing away of prieſtes, ſhée gloryeth that ſhée is loued of ye world, ye which could neuer bée Chriſtes except the worlde did hate her.
How thynke you my Lordes, doe not you all theſe thinges, that bée layd to the Arians charge? Your owne frendes, yea your owne conſciences muſt néedes accuſe you of all theſe thinges, and yet will you bée called Chriſtes children, I lay nothyng to you, but that holy Doctours lay vntounto you.
But let vsus ſée what S. Barnarde Barnardus ſuper can. ſ. 33.ſayth on you: they call themſelues the miniſters of Chriſt, but they ſerue Antichriſt: they goe gorgiouſly arayed of our Lordes goods, vntounto whome they géeue none honour, and of theſe goods commeth the harlottes decking Note here the ſaying of Saint Barnard.that thou ſéeſt dayly, the game players diſguiſing, and kynges apparell: of thys cōmeth golde in their bridles, in their ſaddles, and in their ſpurres, ſo that their ſpurres bée bryghter thē the aulters: of thys commeth theyr plenteous wine preſſes and their full ſellers, bolkyng from thys vntounto that: of thys cōmeth their tunnes of ſwéete wynes: of thys bée their bagges ſo filled, for ſuch thinges as theſe bée, will they bée rulers of the church, as Deacons, Archdeacons, Byſhoppes, and Archbyſhops. &c.
My Lordes I had thought to hauehave added Cardinalles and Legates, Abbottes and Pryors, to hauehave made the company more holy, but I ourſt not. How thinke you, of whom doth hée ſpeake when hée fayth Byſhops and Archbyſhops? what holynes doth hée reprooue, when hée ſpraketh of gorgious araye, of harlottes deckyng, of game players diſguiſing, of goulden ſpurres, ſaddelles & bridles? If there were an C. that did vſe it more then you, yet muſt you néedes graunt that S. Barnard greatly reproueth the inſaciable pride of the Popes Church.hée ſpeaketh of you. Hée paſſeth mée ſore in condemning of your holy ornamentes, for hee caulleth you the ſeruauntes of Antichriſt, and your holy ornamentes harlottes decking, and game players diſguiſing, and hée ſaith that you are neyther the church nor of the church, but the ſeruauntes of Antichriſt, how thinke you by S. Barnarde, it is tyme to condemne hym, for hée ſpeaketh agaynſt holy church and all her holy ornamentes, thys dare I well ſay, that if the beſt Chriſten man within the Realme ſhould preach theſe wordes of Saint Barnarde, you woulde not ſticke to condemne hym for an beretike, but you were wonte to call hym ſwéete Barnarde, but mée thynketh that hée is ſoure inough in thys thynge. Wherefore diſpute the matter wyth hym that you may come into the Church, and not wyth mée.
FINIS.