So that these mens part had ben first to have clearly and truly proved that the Romish church is the true and right instructed Church of God, & that the same, as they do order it at this day, doth agree with the primitive church of Christ, of the Apostles, and of the holy Fathers, which we doubt not but was in deed the true catholic Church. For our parts if we, could have judged ignorance, error, superstition, Idolatry, mens Inventions, and the same commonly disagreeing with the holy Scriptures, either pleased God, or to be sufficient for the obtaining everlasting salvation, or if we could ascertain our selves that the word of God was written but for a time only, and afterward again ought to be abrogated and put away, or else that the sayings and commandments of God ought to be subject to mans will, that whatsoever God sayeth ⟨image 64⟩and commandeth, except the Bishop of Rome willeth and commandeth the same, it must be taken as void an unspoken. If we could have brought our selves to believe these things, we grant there had ben no cause at all why we should have left these mens company. As touching that we have now den, to depart from that Church, whose errors were proved & made manifest to the world, which Church also had already evidently departed from Gods word, & yet not to depart so much from it self, as from the errors thereof, & not to do this disorderly or wickedly, but quietly and soberly, we have don nothing herein against the doctrine either of Christ or of his Apostles. For neither is the Church of God such as it may not be dusked with some spot, or asketh not sometime reparation: else what needeth there so many assembles and Councils, without the which, as saith Egidius, the Christian saith is not able to stand? For look saith ⟨image 65⟩he,1 how often Councils are discontinued, so often is the Church destitute of Christ. Or if there be no peril that harm may come to the church, what need is there to retain to no purpose the names of Bishops, as is now commonly used among them? For if there be no sheep that may stray, why be they called shepherds? if there be no City that may be betrayed, why be they called watchmen? if there be nothing that may run to ruin, why be they called Pillars?
So that these mens parte had ben first to haue clearely and truely proued that the Romishe churche is the true and right instructed Churche of God, & that the same, as they do order it at this day, dothe agre with ye primatiue church of Christ, of the Apostles, and of the holye Fathers, whiche we doubt not but was in dede ye true catholique Church. For our partes yf we, could haue iudged ignoraunce, errour, superstition, Idolatrie, mennes Inuentions, and the same cōmōlie disagreinge with ye holy Scriptures, eyther pleased God, or to be sufficient for thobtainige euerlastyng saluation, or yf we could assertaine our selues that the worde of God was written but for a time only, and afterwarde againe ought to be abrogated and put awaye, or els that the sayinges and commaundementes of God ought to be subiecte to mans will, that whatsoeuer God sayeth ⟨image 64⟩and commaundeth, except the Byshopp of Rome willeth and commaundeth the same, it must be taken as void an vnspoken. Yf we coulde haue brought our selues to beleue these thinges, we graunt there had ben no cause at all why wee should haue lefte these mennes cōpanie. As touching that we haue now den, to departe from that Churche, whose errours were proued & made manifest to ye world, which Church also had alredy euidētly departed from Gods worde, & yet not to departe somuche from it selfe, as from therrours therof, & not to do this disorderlye or wickedly, but quietlie and sobrelye, we haue don nothing herein against the doctrine eyther of Christ or of his Apostles. For neyther is the Church of God suche as it may not be dusked wt some spot, or asketh not sometime reparation: els what nedith there so many assembles and Councelles, without the which, as saith Egidius, the Christian saith is not hable to stand? For loke saith ⟨image 65⟩he,1 howe often Councelles are discontinued, so often is the Church destitute of Christ. Or yf there be no peryle that harme maye come to the church, what nede is there to reteyne to no purpose ye names of Byshops, as is now commenlye vsed amonge them? For yf there be no shepe that may strey, whye be they called shepardes? yf there be no Citie that may be betraied, why be they called watchemen? yf there be nothing that may ronne to ruyne, why be thei called Pillers?
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