Wherefore this they ought first evidently and truly to have proved:1 that the Church of Rome is the true and the right believing Church of God, and that the same, according as it is governed by them at this day, doth agree with the primitive Church of Christ, of the Apostles, and of the holy fathers, which no man doubted to be the Catholic Church. True it is in deed, in case we could have believed that ignorance, error, superstition, worshipping of Idols, mans inventions, such as many times are contrary to the holy Scriptures, either pleased God, or were sufficient to the obtaining of everlasting salvation: or if we could have persuaded our selves, that the word of God was written only for a few years, and then to be put out of all authority: or that at any time the sayings and ordinances of God should stand at the discretion of the will of man, that whatsoever God said or commanded, onlesse the Bishop of Rome admitted and commanded the same, it ought to be taken as a thing vain, and as unsaid at all: if we could have found in our hearts to believe these things, we confess there had been no cause, why we should have forsaken their fellowship. But as touching that that we have now done, in going from that Church, whose errors are openly testified & ⟨image 34⟩manifest, and which hath it self most evidently gone back from the word of God, in as much I say, as we have departed rather from the errors thereof, then from it self, and that nether disorderly, nor stubbornly, but quietly and soberly, we have done nothing that disagreed other from Christ or from the Apostles. For the Church of God is not in that state, as that it may not be blemished with some spot, or that it shall not have need sometimes of reformation: for else what needed there so many assemblies and Councils,2 without which as Egidius saith, Christian faith can not stand? For as oft, saith he, as Councils are neglected, so oft is the Church forsaken of Christ. Or if there be no danger of any damage that may come unto the Church, what needeth, as the case standeth now amongest these men, the counterfeit names of Bishops? For why be they called Shepherds, if there be no sheep that may go astray? Why are they called Watchmen, if there be no City that may be betrayed? Why are they called Pillars, if there be nothing that can fall?
Wherfore this they ought first euidently and truely to haue proued:1 that the Church of Rome is ye true and the right beleuing Church of God, and that the same, according as it is gouerned by them at this day, doth agree with the primitiue Church of Christ, of the Apostles, and of the holy fathers, which no mā doubted to bee the Catholike Church. True it is in deede, in case we could haue beleued that ignorāce, error, superstition, worshipping of Idols, mans inuentions, such as many times are contrary to the holy Scriptures, either pleased God, or were sufficiēt to the obtaining of euerlasting saluation: or if we coulde haue perswaded our selues, that the worde of God was writē only for a fewe yeares, and then to be put out of all authoritie: or that at any time the saiynges and ordinances of God shoulde stande at the discretion of the will of mā, that whatsoeuer God sayde or commaunded, onlesse the Byshop of Rome admitted and commaunded the same, it ought to be taken as a thing vain, and as vnsaid at all: if wee coulde haue founde in our hartes to beleue these thinges, wee confesse there had bene no cause, why we should haue forsaken their fellowshipp. But as touching that yt we haue now done, in goyng from that Church, whose errors are openly testifyed & ⟨image 34⟩manifest, and which hath it selfe moste euidently gone backe from the worde of God, in as much I say, as we haue departed rather from the errors therof, then from it self, and yt nether disorderly, nor stubbernely, but quietly and soberly, we haue done nothing that disagreed other from Christ or frō the Apostles. For the Church of God is not in that state, as that it may not be blemmished with some spott, or that it shall not haue neede sometimes of reformation: for else what neded there so many assemblies and Councels,2 without which as Egidius saith, Christian faith can not stande? For as ofte, saith he, as Councelles are neglected, so oft is the Church forsaken of Christ. Or if ther be no daunger of any dammage that may come vnto the Church, what nedeth, as the case standeth now amongest these men, the counterfet names of Bysshops? For why be they called Shephardes, if there be no sheepe that may go astraye? Why are they called Watchmen, if there be no Citie yt may be betraide? Why are thei called Pillers, if there be nothing that can fall?
- 1Why we departed from the Church of Rome.Why we departed frō the Churche of Rome.
- 2In Lateranē. Concil. sub Julio.In Lateranē. Concil. sub Iulio.
