Seven godly and learned sermons preachedSeuen godly and learned sermons preached

Now then, let us take this rule of S. Pauls, and thereby let us try whether the Preachers in times past, the Popes, the Cardinals, the Bishops, were the true servants of God, Stewards and dispensers of his holy secrets. There are at this day some that be called Bishops, some that be called Cardinals, & they say that they carry up the Church of Christ, and are the props & pillars of the same: and therefore in token thereof they have always pillars borne before them. At this day the Bishop of Rome calleth himself a general Bishop, an universal Bishop, not over this part, or that part, but over all Christendom; yea, & he saith, he is the head of Christs Church: he saith that he hath power over Kings, over Princes, he hath power over purgatory, over Souls departed, over Devils, over Angels: he can pardon ⟨image 12⟩not only sins already done, but such also as shall be at any time hereafter committed: and that he can not mistake the Scriptures of God, that he can not err, and be deceived: what ever he doth, all is well done: no man can judge him and sit upon his doings. I speak not this of malice, I speak it not for any grudge or hatred I owe to his person, God is my witness, I neither know him that now is, nor any of them that have heretofore time been Bishops of Rome. But all these their doings are written, all these words which I have here spoken, are written I say, even in their own Laws and Decrees; the places may be alleged and brought forth. Alas, these are glorious titles, to be called universal Bishop, and head of Christs Church, to have dominion over Kings and Princes, to have power over Purgatory, over Souls departed, over Devils, over Angels, to have authority to pardon sins past, & sins hereafter to be committed, not to err, not to be deceived: all these are glorious ⟨image 12⟩and triumphant titles, as you well see. But let us now take Pauls rule, the rule I say that S. Paul hath here given us, and let us by the same try, whether the Bishops, the Cardinals, the Popes, have heretofore time, or at this time, do dispense unto us the mysteries of the Gospel, as Stewards of the secrets of God: whether they do preach & teach the Gospel of Christ, as the servants and Ministers of Christ. Alas, we see they do nothing less, they do, we see, nothing less than set forth the Gospel of God, & the glory of his holy name.

Now then, let vs take this rule of S. Pauls, and thereby let vs trie whether the Preachers in times past, the Popes, the Cardinals, the Bishops, were the true seruants of God, Stewards and dispensers of his holie secrets. There are at this day some that be called Bishops, some that be called Cardinals, & they say that they carry vp the Church of Christ, and are the props & pillers of the same: and therefore in token therof they haue alwaies pillers borne before them. At this day the Bishop of Rome calleth himselfe a generall Bishop, an vniuersal Bishop, not ouer this part, or that part, but ouer all Christendome; yea, & he saith, he is the head of Christs Church: he saith that he hath power ouer Kings, ouer Princes, he hath power ouer purgatorie, ouer Soules departed, ouer Deuils, ouer Angels: he can parden