Christ in his Gospel can in no wise digest them which say,1 Lo here is Christ, Lo there is Christ. And what else doth the Pope, if not in words, yet in very deeds? who commandeth all Christians in general to become subject too Peters chair: which chair may be placed no where but in Rome: as though Christ or Peter do make their abode no where but in the City of Rome, or at the least wise more readily there then else where. Like fable to this is that other, whereas all manner of worshipping God aright is not tied too any he•g•h of hills, or famousness of cities, & that the heavenly majesty is most rightly called upon in that place, wheresoever he is worshipped in spirit & truth. The Pope of Rome doth make a far other minglemangle of this spiritual worshipping god, not only with innumerable Idols & shapes of earthly creatures, but skatereth the same abroad into manifold & infinite seats of pilgrimages,2 stations, hills, temples, and places. As though the only authority of Christ could of it self avail very little, unless it were underpropped with ruinous pillars of ⟨image 75⟩Saints: or as though Christ were not able to minister help in all places indifferently being prayed unto with like affection of religion. Even so they which gad to Rome to visit the tomb of Peter and Paul, or range to Compostella to see S. James, or which do conceive in their minds that the Saints be more effectual in one place then in an other, what say they else, then lo here is Christ, lo there is Christ. If the heavenly father do require such worshippers which worship him in spirit and trueth, to what purpose serveth so special a prescription of stations, and holy Seas, so great and tedious chase & rechace hither and thither of pilgrims, for devotion sake.
Christe in his Gospel can in no wise disgest them which say,1 Loe heere is Christ, Loe there is Christ. And what els doth the Pope, if not in woordes, yet in very deeds? who commaundeth al Christians ingeneral to become subiect too Peters chaire: which chayre may bee placed no where but in Rome: as though Christ or Peter doo make their aboade no where but in the Citie of Rome, or at the least wyse more readyly there then else where. Lyke fable to this is that other, whereas all manner of woorshipping God aright is not tyed too any he•g•h of hils, or famousnes of ci•ies, & that the heauenly maiesty is most rightly called vpon in that place, wheresoeuer he is worshipped in spirit & truthe. The Pope of Rome doth make a far other minglemangle of this spiritual worshipping god, not only with in•umerable Idols & shapes of earthly creatures, but skat•ereth the same abroade into manifolde & infinite seates of pilgrimages,2 stations, hilles, temples, and places. As though the only authority of C•rist coulde of it selfe auaile very litle, vnlesse it were vnderpropped with ruinous pillers of ⟨image 75⟩Saincts: or as though Christ were not able to mynister helpe in al places indifferently being prayed vntoo with lyke affectiō of religiō. Euē so they which gadd to Rome to visit the tombe of Peter and Paul, or raunge to Compostella to see S. Iames, or which doo conceaue in their mindes that the Sainctes be more effectual in one place then in an other, what say they els, then loe here is Christ, loe there is Christ. If the heauenly father doo require such woorshippers which woorshippe him in spirite and trueth, to what purpose serueth so special a prescription of stations, and holy Seas, so greate and tediouse chace & rechace hither and thitherof pilgrims, for deuotion sake.
- 1Mat. 24.
- 2Idolatro•s pilgrimages.
