no no, the negligence of bishops shall no less be required of the hands of magistrates (because they foster and maintain them in •y•anny, them shall the oppression of false judges, which kings maintain and defend. I doubt not, but your grace doeth wonder, how that the religion, that is universal•• received, can be so damnable and so corrupted. But if your grace shall consider that ever from the beginning the multitude hath declined from God: yea, cuē ⟨image 7⟩in the people, to whom he spake by his law and prophets: if ye shall consider the complaint of the holy Ghost complaining that nations, people, princes and kings1 of the earth have raged, made conspiracies, and holden counsels against the Lord, and against his anointed Christ Jesus. Further, if ye shall consider the question, which Christ Jesus him2 self doeth move in these words: when the son of man shall come, shall he find faith in the earth? And last, if your g. shall consider the manifest contempt of God, & of all his holy precepts, which this day reigneth without punishment upon the face of the hole earth. For as O seas complaineth3 there is •overitie, there is no mercy, there is no knowledge of God in the earth, but lies perjury, mur there, theft and adultery overflow ⟨image 8⟩all, and blood hath touched blood that is, every iniquity is joined to an other. If deeply I say your grace shall consider, & contemplate the universal corruption, that this day reigneth in all estates: then shall your g. cease to wonder that many are called & few are chosen. And ye shall begin to tremble to4 follow the multitude to perdition. The universal defection, whereof saint Paul did prophesy, is easy to be •s••ed aswell in religion as in manners. The corruption of life is evident. • religion is not measured with the plain word of God, but by custom, cons•etude, will, consent and determinations of men But shall he, who hath pronounced all cogitations of mans ha•• to be vain at all time, accept the councils and consents of men for a religion pleasing & acceptable before him? Let not ⟨image 8⟩your grace be deceived: God5 can not deny him self, he hath witnessed from the beginning, that no religion pleaseth him, except that, which he by his own word hath commanded & established. The verity it •elf pronounceth this sentence: In vain do6 they worship me, teaching doctrines, the precepts of men.
no no, the negligēce of bisshoppes shall no lesse be requyred of ye handes of magistrates (because they foster and maintein them in •y•anny, them shall the oppression of fals iudges, whiche kynges mainteyn and defend. I doubte not, but your grace doeth wōder, howe that the religiō, that is vniuersal•• receyued, can be so damnable and so corrupted. But if youre grace shall cōsider that euer from the beginning the multitude hath declined from God: yea, cuē ⟨image 7⟩in the people, to whome he spake by his lawe and prophetes: if ye shall consider the complaynte of ye holy Ghoste complayninge that nations, people, princes and kynges1 of the earth haue raged, made conspiracies, and holden counsailes against the Lord, and against his anointed Christe Iesus. Further, if ye shall consider the question, whiche Christe Iesus hym2 selfe doeth moue in these wordes: when the sonne of man shal come, shall he fynde fayth in the earth? And last, if youre g. shall cōsider the manifest contempt of God, & of all his holy preceptes, whiche this day raygneth withoute punishment vpon the face of ye hole earth. For as O seas complayneth3 there is •overitie, there is no mercy, there is no knowledge of God in the earth, but lyes periury, mur ther, theft and adultery ouerflow ⟨image 8⟩al, and bloud hath touched bloud that is, euery iniquitie is ioyned to an other. If depely I say youre grace shall consider, & contēplate the vniuersal corruptiō, that thys day reygneth in al estates: then shal youre g. cease to wonder that many are called & few are chosen. And ye shall begyn to tremble to4 folowe the multitude to perditiō. The uniuersall defection, whereof sainct Paule did prophesy, is easy to be •s••ed aswell in religion as in manners. The corrupciō of lyfe is euident. • religion is not measured with the playne worde of God, but by custome, cōs•etude, will, consent and determinations of men But shal he, who hath pronced all cogitations of mans ha to be vayn at all tyme, accept the counsaylles and consentes of men for a religion pleasnge & acceptable before hym? Let not
- 1Psalm. •; Acto. 4.
- 2Luc. 16.
- 3O see. 4▪ • ▪O se. 4▪ • ▪
- 4Math. 20. Math. •. •. Thes. •,
- 5Deu. 4. 12.
- 6Math. 15.
