for that hath been done both of the Western Bishops not a few times, and of the Greeks very oft. Thus had Charles the great a provincial council in Germany, touching the taking away of images, against the second council of Nice. Neither is this way of proceeding utterly unheard of, or new amongest us. For we have had in times paste here in England provincial assemblies, and with our own laws we have ordered our Churches. What needeth many words? Truly, even those same councils that were the fullest and greatest, and whereof these men are wont so much to make their avaunt, if they be compared with all the other Churches, which through out the world do acknowledge and confess the name of Christ: what other thing I pray you they seem to be, then certain private councils of a few Bishops, & provincial assemblies? For although peradventure Italy, France, Spain, England, Germany, Denmark and Scotland should assemble themselves together and yet all Asia, Greece, Armenia, Persia, Media, Mesopotamia, Egypt, Ethiop, Inde, Mauritania should be absent, in all which places there be both many Christian ⟨p. 63⟩men and also Bishops: how might it appear to any sober man, that such a council were general? Or when so many parts of the world are absent, how can they say truly, that they have the consent of the whole world? or what manner of council was this last holden at Trent? or how might it be called general, when that out of all Christian kingdoms and countries there came unto it but forty Bishops, and of them some that were so eloquent, that they seemed more mete to be sent to the Grammar school: but so well learned, that they never read over the holy Scriptures? Howe so ever it is, the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ, doth not depend upon councils, or as Paul saith, upon the day of man. But in case they, who ought to be careful over the Church of God, will not become wise, but will abā don their duty, and harden their hearts against God and his anointed Christ, and continue still in perverting the straight ways of the Lord: God will raise up the very stones, and make little babes eloquent, that always there may be some, by whom the lies of these men may be confuted. For God is able not only without councils, but also maugre the councils, both to defend and to increase his kingdom.
for that hath bene done both of the Westerne Byshoppes not a fewe times, and of the Grekes very oft. Thus had Charles the great a prouinciall councell in Germany, touchyng the taking away of images, agaynst the seconde councell of Nice. Neyther is this way of proceding vtterly vnhearde of, or newe amongest vs. For we haue had in times paste here in Englande prouinciall assemblies, and with our own lawes we haue ordered our Churches. What needeth many wordes? Truely, euen those same councels that were the fullest and greatest, and whereof these men ar wonte so much to make theyr auaunt, if thei be compared with al the other Churches, which through out the world doe acknowlege and confesse the name of Christe: what other thyng I pray you they seeme to be, then certaine priuate coūcels of a fewe Byshops, & prouincial assemblies? For althoe peraduēture Italy, Fraunce, Spayne, Englande, Germany, Denmarke and Scotlande should assemble thēselues together and yet all Asia, Grece, Armenia, Persia, Media, Mesopotamia, Egypte, Ethiope, Inde, Mauritania should be absent, in all which places there be both many Christiā ⟨p. 63⟩men and also Byshoppes: how might it appere to any sobre manne, that suche a councell were generall? Or when so many partes of the world ar absent, how can they saye truely, that they haue the cōsent of the whole worlde? or what maner of councell was this laste holden at Trente? or how might it be called general, when that out of all Christian kingdomes and coūtries there came vnto it but forty Bysshoppes, and of them some that were so eloquent, that they seemed more mete to be sent to the Grāmer schole: but so well learned, that they neuer redde ouer the holy Scriptures? Howe so euer it is, the truthe of the gospell of Iesus Christe, dothe not depende upō councels, or as Paule sayth, vpon the daye of man. But in case they, who ought to be careful ouer the Church of God, wil not become wise, but will abā don their dutie, and harden their hartes agaynste God and his anoynted Christe, and continew still in peruertyng the streyght wayes of the Lorde: God will rayse vp the very stones, and make litel babes eloquent, that alwaies there may be some, by whome the lies of these men maye be confuted. For God is able not only without councels, but also maugre the councels, both to defende and to encrease his kyngdome.
