The Pope confuted The holy and apostolic Church confuting the Pope. The first action.…The Pope confuted The holy and apostolique Church confuting the Pope. The first action.…

But as concerning the Church it self, let them understand & persuade themselves thus: That wheresoever the true church of Christ is resiant, there we do plead in possession, & justify our true and undoubted tenure therein. Of which church, they be called tenants in deed by name, but have utterly lost their whole interest and right thereof. To make the same more plainly discernible, let us with due consideration make a proportion of both the churches of Rome: to wit, the ancient & first church there, and this new upstart synagogue that is now:¹ and compare together our popish massemongers that be now, with those ancient ministers & doctors of that first age, by line & by level as they say. So will it appear easily how much they differ each from other. For how carefully & reverently did those ancient fathers behave themselves in the old time in that holy function of ministry, which by lawful calling was committed unto them?² whose only delight and endeavour consisted wholly in instructing them that went astray, in convincing the stifnecked with the pow•r of the word, in curing the canker of them that were wounded. To this painful travail in teaching, was annexed no less carefulness to lead a blameless life, as that they might not only vaunt them of an undefiled conscience which might ⟨image 54⟩boldly appear before God, but also that no such blemish might be found in their conversation, as might be offensive to man: whose whole trade of life was employed not in idleness, & pleasurable delights, but in the earnest study of holy scriptures & in the enlargement of the kingdom of Christ. They were shepherds of the flock, & nevertheless sheep of the flock also themselves not wolves amongst the sheep: they were not guarded with train of soldiers, but in mightiness of faith, in soundness of doctrine, in exercise of holiness, in sincerity of love, not so lofty in glory, as affable and friendly in speech, finally endued with such a sweetness of manners, and mildness of mind, as that they would not willingly endamage their enemies. They executed nothing with violence, their only weapon was the sword of the spirit, & power of the word:

But as concerning the Churche it self, let them vnderstand & persuade themselues thus: That wheresoeuer the true church of Christ is resiaunt, there we do plead in possession, & iustifie our true and vndoubted tenure therein. Of which church, they be called tenaūts in deed by name, but haue vtterly lost their whole interest and right therof. To make the same more plainly discernable, let vs with due consideration make a proportion of both the churches of Rome: to wit, the auncient & first church there, and this new vpstart synagogue that is nowe: