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 you will say perhaps out of this free and unpunished liberty of doctrine, what will you bring to pass else, but make an open road to sin: but withdraw honest and well bent dispositions of the godly from ensuing virtue, and discourage them altogether from godly industry too recklessness and careless security? and by the same utterly root• out withal the precepts & •ules of all godly laws, all honour and renown, of justice and civill society,¹ and all force and vigour of Christian discipline? For who is ignorant that hope of escape from punishment (as one hath written) is the greatest bait and provocation to sin?² To answer hereto at a word, this their objection may in some respect carry a show of some substance, if in proclaiming this faith in Christ (whereof we speak) we were so wholly affected thereunto, as that we should not withal apply worthy & serious exhortations too the practise of most virtuous life, and the necessary duties of Christian society. When ⟨image 70⟩we can not, neither ought we be unmindful of the words of the Apostle, which saith,³ That for such things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Wherefore when we do so much advance those everlasting riches of Christ & the high magnificence of the divine grace by the prescript rule of the Gospel, & do spread the same abroad so discernible to the view of the world, as that we abridge no jot of our duty and obsequious obedience to be busily employed in that other part of the law: what cause of just quarrel have our adversaries to expostulate with us, except they will exact this at our hands, that in proclaiming the Gospel of grace, we should so enforce the promise of everlasting life to be dew unto works (as they say,) that in the mean time no mention at all be made of faith, of Christ, of grace, or of free promise. For this seemeth the very butte whereat these delicate fine doctors do shoot so busily. For proof whereof behold the whole form of the doctrine which they do profess, and all the preachings of their monks, and you shall find that not only the doctrine, but their life & whole course of their proceedings make no mention at all of faith.