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.…

And thus much now by the way touching the Church: the treaty whereof, God willing, shall be set forth with larger discourse in other books hereafter. This lesson in the mean •pace will not be amiss to be foretold: That if it be true that Christ himself did plainly pronounce, that his kingdom was not of this world: and this also as true, which he doth else where affirm, that the things which do seem mighty and glorious to the judgement of men, are accounted for vile dross, and abomination in the sight of God: finally if the estate of the most holy Apostles and Martyrs of Christ, was always such, as it became rather odious to the world, then accepted, or of any estimation, & that such as ⟨image 63⟩applied nearest to Christ were always despised most: and that the Disciple cannot be greater than his master: certes it can not possibly be, that this Church of the Pope, so mighty, and glorious in the world, so renowned and famous in worldly pomp, and exc•sse, so magnified and fawned upon with the well likings and alliances of Princes, should have any affinity or alliance at all with Christ, the only head of the Church, or any fellowship with the Apostles.

And thus much nowe by the way touching the Church: the treatie whereof, God willing, shall bee sette forth with larger discourse in other bokes hereafter. This lesson in the meane •pace will not bee amisse to bee foretolde: That if it bee true that Christ himselfe did plainly pronounce, that his kingdome was not of this worlde: and this also as true, which hee doth else where affirme, that the things which doe seeme mightie and glorious to the iudgement of men, are accounted for vile drosse, and abhomination in the sight of God: finally if the estate of the most holy Apostles and Martyrs of Christ, was alwayes such, as it became rather odious to the worlde, then accepted, or of any estimation, & that such as ⟨image 63⟩applied neerest to Christ were alwayes despised most: and that the Disciple cannot bee greater than his maister: certes it can not possibly bee, that this Churche of the Pope, so mightie, and glorious in the worlde, so renowmed and famous in worldly pompe, and exc•sse, so magnified and fawned vpon with the wel likings and alliances of Princes, should haue any affnitie or alliance at all with Christ, the onely head of the Church, or any fellowship with the Apostles.