Secondarily, that no determination of Councils nor man be admitted against the plain verity of God's word, nor against the determination of those four chief Councils, whose authority ⟨p. 46⟩hath been and is holden by them equal with the authority of the four Evangelists. And last, that to no doctor be given greater authority, then Augustine requireth to be given to his writings:1 to wit, if he plainly prove not his affirmation by Gods infallible word, that then his sentence be rejected and imputed to the error of a man. These things granted and admitted, I shall no more refuse the testimonies of Councils and doctors, then shall my adversaries. But and if they will justify those Councils, which maintain their pride, and usurped authority, and will reject those, which plainly have condemned all such tyranny, negligence, and wicked life, as bishops now do use: and if further they will snatch a doubtful sentence of a doctor, and refuse his mind, when he speaketh plainly, then will I say, that all man is a liar, that credit ought not to be given to an unconstant witness, and that no Councils ought to prevail, nor be admitted against the sentence, which God hath pronounced. And thus, my Lords, in few words to conclude I have offered unto you a trial of my innocency: I have declared unto you, what God requireth of you, being placed above his people, as rulers and princes: I have offered unto you, and to the inhabitants ⟨image 48⟩of the realm, the verity of Christ Jesus, and with the hazard of my life I presently offer to prove the religion, which amongest you is maintained by fire and sword, to be false, damnable and diabolical. Which things if ye refuse, defending tyrants in their tyranny, then dare I not flatter, but as it was commanded to Ezekiel boldly to proclaim,2 so must I cry to you, that you shall perish in your iniquity, that the Lord Jesus shall refuse so many of you, as maliciously withstand his eternal verity, and in the day of his apparition,3 when all flesh shall appear before him, that he shall repel you from his company and shall command you to the fire, which never shall be quenched,4 and then neither shall the multitude be able to resist,5 neither yet the counsels of man be able to prevail against that sentence, which he shall pronounce.
Secondarely, that no determination of Councils nor man be admitted against the plaine veritie of goddes word, nor against the determination of those foure chefe Councils, whose auctoritie ⟨p. 46⟩hath bene and is holden by them equal with the auctoritie of the foure Euangelistes. And last, that to no doctour be geuen greater auctoritie, then Augustine requireth to be geuen to his writinges:1 to witt, if he plainely proue not his affirmation by Gods infallible worde, that then his sentence be reiected and imputed to the errour of a mā. These thinges graunted and admitted, I shall no more refuse the testimonies of Councils and doctours, then shall my aduersaries. But and if they will iustifie those Councils, which mentaine theyr pride, ād vsurped auctoritie, and will reiect those, which plainly haue condemned all such tyrannie, negligence, and wicked life, as byshoppes now do vse: and if further they will snatche a doubtfull sentence of a doctour, and refuse his mynd, when he speaketh plainly, then will I say, that all man is a lyer, that credit oght not to be geuen to an vnconstant witnes, and that no Coūcils oght to preuaile, nor be admitted against the sentence, which God hath pronounced. And thus, my Lordes, in few wordes to cōclude I haue offred vnto you a triall of mie innocencie: I haue declared vnto you, what God requireth of you, being placed aboue his people, as rulers and princes: I haue offred vnto you, and to the inhabitātes ⟨image 48⟩of the realme, the veritie of Christ Iesus, and with the hasard of my life I presently offer to proue the religion, which amongest you is mentained by fier and sworde, to be fals, dānable and diabolicall. Which thinges if ye refuse, defending tyrantes in their tyrānie, then dar I not flatter, but as it was commaunded to Ezechiel boldly to proclaime,2 so must I crie to you, that you shall perishe in your iniquitie, that the Lord Iesus shall refuse so manie of you, as maliciously withstand his eternall veritie, and in the day of his apparition,3 when all flesh shall appear before hym, that he shall repell you from his compagnie and shall commaund you to the fier, whiche neuer shalbe quēched,4 and then neither shall the multitude be able to resist,5
- 1In prologo Retract.
- 2Eze. 33.
- 3Mat. 24 & 26.
- 4Dani. 12
- 5Mat. 25.
