But where as they have commanded that those Decrees should be void as things now waxen to old, & that have lost their grace, perhaps they have provided in their stead certain other better things, and more profitable for the people. For it is a common saying with them, that if Christ himself or the Apostles were alive again, they could not better nor godlier govern God's Church, then it is at this present governed by them. They have put in their stead in deed, butte it is chaste in stead of wheat, as Jeremiah ⟨image 87⟩saith, and such things as according to Isaiah's words, God never required at ••eir hands. They have stopped up saith he, all the veins of clear springing water, and have digged up for the people ••ceivable and puddle-like pits full of •yre and filth, which neither have nor […] able to hold pure water. They have plucked away from the people the holy Communion, the word of God, from whence all comfort should be taken, the true worshipping of God also, and the right use of sacraments and prayer, and have given us of their own to play withal in the mean while, salt, water, oil boxes, spittle, palms, bulls, jubilees, pardons, crosses, sensinges, and an endless rabble of ceremonies (and as a man might term with Plautus) pretty games to make sport withal. In these things have they set all their religion, teaching the people that by these God may be duly pacified, spirits be driven away and mens consciences well quieted. For ⟨image 88⟩these •o, be the orient colours and precious savours of Christian religion: these things doth God look upon, & accepteth them thankfully: these must come in place to be honoured and put quite away, the institutions of Christ and of his Apostles. And like as in times past when wicked king Jeroboam had taken from the people the right serving of God, & brought them to worship golden calves, least perchance they might afterwards change their mind and slip away, getting them again to Jerusalem to the Temple of God there, he exhorted them with a long tale to be steadfast, saying thus unto them: O Israel, these Calves be thy Gods. In this sort commanded your God you should worship him. For it should be wearisome and troublous for you to take upon you a journey so far of, and yearly to go up to Jerusalem, there to serve and honour your God.
But where as they haue commaunded that those Decrees shoulde be voyde as things now waxen to olde, & yt haue loste their grace, perhappes they haue prouided in their steede certaine other better thinges, and more profitable for the people. For it is a common sayenge with them, that if Christe himselfe or the Apostles were aliue againe, they coulde not better nor godlyer gouerne Goddes Churche, then it is at this presente gouerned by them. They haue put in their steede in deede, butte it is chaste in steede of wheate, as Hieremie ⟨image 87⟩saithe, and suche thinges as accordinge to Esayes words, God neuer required at ••eir handes. Thei haue stopped vp saith he, al the vaines of cleere springing water, and haue digged vp for the people ••ceiuable and puddlelike pyttes full of •yre and filth, whiche neither haue nor 〈…〉 able to hold pure water. They haue plucked away from the people the holie Communion, the worde of God, fromwhence all comforte shoulde bee taken, the true worshippinge of God also, and the right vse of sacramentes and prayer, and haue geuen vs of their owne to play withall in the meane whyle, salt, water, oyle boxes, spittle, palmes, bulles, iubilies, pardons, crosses, sensinges, and an indelesse rabble of ceremonies (and as a man might tearm with Plautus) pretie games to make sporte withall. In these things haue they set al their religiō, teachinge ye people that by these God may be duely pacified, spirits be driuen away and mens consciences well quieted. For ⟨image 88⟩these •o, be the orient colours and precious sauours of Christian religion: these thinges doth God looke vpon, & accepteth them thankfully: these must come in place to be honored and put quite away, the institutiōs of Christ and of his Apostls. And like as in times past when wicked kinge Ieroboam had takē from the people ye right seruing of God, & brought them to worship golden calues, least perchaūce they might afterwards chaunge their minde and slippe awaye, gettinge them again to Ierusalem to the Temple of God there, hee exhorted them with a long tale to be stedfast, saying thus vnto them: O Israell, these Calues be thy Gods. In this sorte commaunded your God you should worshippe him. For it shoulde be wearisome and troublous for you to take vpō you a iorney so farre of, and yearly to go vp to Ierusalem, there to serue and honour your God.
