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.…

¹For why should they so do? is it because you may grant them salvation, and bless them? But their salvation is already plentiful, sufficient and everlasting for them in our only Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Is it because you may give them remission of sins? but the same is also given them freely in the faith of the Gospel, without any other aid. What is it then? Because you may preach the word of God to Gods people? or is it rather because ye may, as ye have hitherto accustomed, thrust upon them mens traditions, pelting glosses, and old wives tales in stead of Christs Gospel? that ye may rob the lay people of the word of God, with holding it fast locked from them, in an unknown and barbarous tongue? That ye may scatter abroad the doctrine of Devils? But the Lord be highly thanked for it, there lacketh no store of godly personages amongst them, which are able too execute that holy function of preaching Gods word, and do execute it indeed without aid of the Lateran Bishop freely, and with good success: yea so much the more freely, by how much they be severed from your tyranny by distance of place. What is the cause then? that ye may determine their causes and controversies? But where may controversies be more happily decided, and more speedily ended, then where the special circumstances of the grievances began first, and are best known? Here of came that sacred decree of those godly Fathers in the African Council as Cyprian doth testify:² That every mans cause should be pleaded in the same province where the offence was committed, where also might be both accusers and witnesses of the crime. And for this cause it was decreed further: That to every pastor some particular ⟨p. 9⟩portion of the flock should be appointed, which every of them should rule and direct, rendering account of his proceedings therein to the Lord &c. In their English affairs therefore what interest may the Romish Inquisition challenge, sithens the States of his own Nation of Africa have utterly renounced it?

¹For why shoulde they so do? is it because you may graunt them saluation, and blesse them? But their saluation is already plentifull, sufficient and euerlasting for them in our onely Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ. Is it because you may geue them remission of sinnes? but the same is also geuen them freely in the faith of the Gospell, without any other ayde. What is it then? Because you may preach the woorde of God to Gods people? or is it rather because ye may, as ye haue hitherto accustomed, thrust vpon them mens traditions, pelting gloses, and olde wiues tales in steede of Christes Gospell? that yee may rob the lay people of the woorde of God, with holding it fast lockt from them, in an vnknowne and barbarous tongue? That yee may scatter abroade the doctrine of Diuelles? But the Lorde be highly thanked for it, there lacketh no store of godly personages amongst them, which are able too execute that holy function of preaching Gods woorde, and do execute it indeede without ayde of the Laterane Bishopp freely, and with good successe: yea so muche the more freely, by howe muche they bee seuered from your tyranny by distaunce of place. What is the cause thē? that ye may determin their causes and controuersies? But where may controuersies bee more happily decided, and more speedily ended, then where the speciall circumstances of the greeuances began first, and are best knowne? Heere of came that sacred decree of those godly Fathers in the Africane Councell as Cyprian doth testifie: