The second tome of homilies of such matters as were promised, and entitled in…The second tome of homilees of such matters as were promised, and intituled in…

They abuse this power at their own pleasure, aswell in cursing the godly, with bell, book, and candles, as also in absolving the reprobate, which are known to be unworthy of any Christian society. Whereof he that lust to see examples, let them search their lives. To be short, look what our saviour Christ pronounced of the Scribes and Pharisees, in the Gospel, the same may we boldly and with safe conscience pronounce of the bishops of Rome, namely that they have forsaken, & daily do forsake the commandments of God, to erect & set up their own constitutions. Which thing being true, as all they which have any light of Gods word must needs confess, we may well conclude according to the rule of Augustine: That the bishops of Rome & their adherents, are not the true church of Christ, much less then to be taken as chief ¹heads and rulers of the same. Whosoever (saith he) do descent from the scriptures concerning the head, although they be found in all places where the Church is appointed, yet are they not in the Church. A plain place, concluding directly against the Church of Rome. Where is now the holy ghost which they so stoutly do claim to them selves? Where is now the spirit of trueth, that will not suffer them in any wise to err? If it ⟨p. 429⟩be possible to be there where the true Church is not, then is it at Rome: otherwise it is but a vain brag, and nothing else. Saint Paul (as ye have heard before) saith: If any man have not the spirit of Christ, the same is not his. And by turning the words, it may be as truly said: If any man be not of Christ, the same hath not his spirit. Now to discern who are truly his, and who not, we have this rule given us, that his sheep do always hear ²his voice. And saint John saith: He that is of God, heareth Gods word. Whereof it followeth, ³that the popes in not hearing Christs voice, as they ought to do, but preferring their own decrees before the express word of God, do plainly argue to the world, that they are not of Christ, nor yet possessed with his spirit. But here they will allege for them selves, that there are divers necessary points not expressed in holy scripture, which were left to the revelation of the holy ghost. Who being given to the Church, according to Christs promise, hath taught many things from time to time, which