Certain Sermons or Homilies (First Book of Homilies)

Let us all therefore fear the most detestable vice of rebellion, ever knowing and remembering, that he that resisteth common authority, resisteth God and his ordinance, as it may be proved by many other more places of holy Scripture. And here let us take heed, that we understand not these, or such other like places (which so strictly command obedience to superiors, and so strictly punisheth rebellion, and disobedience to the same) to be meant in any con diction of the pretensed power of the bishop of Rome. For truly the scripture of God alloweth no such usurped power, full of enormities, abusions & blasphemies. But the true meaning of these, and such places, be to extol and set forth, Gods true ordinance, and the authority of Gods anointed kings, and of their officers appointed under them.

Let vs al therfore feare the moste detestable vice of rebelliō, euer knowyng and remembring, that he that resisteth commō aucthoritie, resisteth God and his ordinaunce, as it may be proued by many other mo places of holy Scripture. And here let vs take hede, that we vnderstād not these, or suche other like places (whiche so streightly commaunde obedience to superiors, and so streightly punisheth rebellion, and disobedience to thesame) to be meant in any cō diciō of the pretensed power of the bishop of Rome. For truely the scripture of God alloweth no suche vsurped power, full of enormities, abusions & blasphemies. But the true meanyng of these, and suche places, be to extol and set furthe, Gods true ordinaunce, and ye aucthoritie of Gods anointed kynges, and of their officers appoynted vnder them.

And concerning the usurped power of the bishop of Rome, which he most wrongfully challengeth, as the successor of Christ, & Peter: we may easily perceive, how false, feigned, and forged it is, not only in that, it hath no sufficient ground in holy scripture, out also by the fruits and doctrine thereof. For our saviour Christ, & s. Peter teacheth most earnestly and agreeably obedience to kings, as to the chief, & supreme rulers in this world, next under God: but the bishop of Rome teacheth immunities, privileges, exemptions, and disobedience, most clearly against ⟨image 70⟩