Here in the stead of this word devorare they do read devotare, to the intent that so (if god be pleased) the authority of saints should be established. But the true text, & as the Author left it, is this Laqueus est homini exprobrare rem sacrā et post ea vota q̄rere. That is to say it is a stumbling stock & sure & undoubted destruccy on to a man to corrupt & pollute holy things and holy words, and than ⟨image 36⟩afterwards to desire to be accounted holy because of his ceremonies, sacrifices, & works. As for example, the Papists, which when they do persecute the word of god, & what soever thing else is holy in very deed: yet nevertheless they do in the mean season say masses, & do many good deeds, thinking nothing at all to change their wicked state of living, & ones to make an end to destroy and devour holy things. But now when they are brought to that point that they can not by the authority of scripture in any wise prove ye saints are to be prayed unto, or to be accounted for mediators, but clean contrary the scripture doth prove & fortify that there is none other mediator or intercessor, than that only mediator & intercessor ⟨image 36⟩Christ Jesus, 1as Paul doth teach in many other places, but spiritually in the .iii. & .v. chapi. to the Romans, & in the .ii. chap. of the first epistle to Timothy, they yet (as becometh valiant men) do not give over their hold, but do seek some way, by which they may escape out, & put by the scriptures from them selves. For this word mediator (say they) is taken two manner ways / one way it is taken for a satisfactory mediator / or a satisfactor. Another way it is taken for an intercessory mediator or an intercessor. Now to speak of a satisfactory mediator or mean, there is but only one / that is to wit Christ, which hath satisfied for us / but the saints (after their minds) shall be accounted intercessory mediators. Now if ⟨image 37⟩any man do ask of them, where these things are had in the scriptures, than forthwith they lay against us the authority of holy church, 2that is to wit of their own selves, whom the holy ghost doth not suffer to err any thing at all. These men (say they) are of this opinion and do think thus, ergo it is thus:
HEre in ye stede of this worde deuorare they do rede deuotare, to thentent that so (yf god be pleased) ye auctoryte of sayntes shulde be establysshed. But the true texte, & as the Authour left it, is this Laqueus est homini exprobrare rem sacrā et post ea vota q̄rere. That is to saye it is a stumbelynge stocke & sure & vndoubted destruccy on to a mā to corrupte & pollute holye thynges and holye wordes, and than ⟨image 36⟩afterwardꝭ to desyre to be accōpted holye because of his ceremonyes, sacryfyces, & workꝭ. As for exāple, ye Papistes, whiche whan they do psecute ye worde of god, & what soeuer thynge els is holy ī very dede: yet neuertheles they do in ye meane season say masses, & do many good dedꝭ, thynkyng nothyng at all to chaunge theyr wycked state of lyuynge, & ones to make an ende to destroye and deuoure holy thyngꝭ. But nowe whan they are broughte to that poynte that they can not by the auctoryte of scripture ī any wyse proue ye sayntes are to be prayed vnto, or to be accompted for medyatours, but cleane cōtrary the scrypture dothe proue & fortyfye that there is none other medyatour or intercessoure, than that onely medyatour & intercessoure ⟨image 36⟩Chryst Iesu, 1as Paule doth teache ī many other places, but spirytually in ye .iii. & .v. chapi. to the Romanes, & in the .ii. chap. of the fyrst epystell to Timothe, they yet (as becōmeth valyaūte men) do not gyue ouer theyr hold, but do sech some way, by which they may escape out, & put by ye scriptures frō thē selfꝭ. For this word mediator (say they) is taken two maner wayes / one waye it is taken for a satysfactory mediator / or a satisfactor. Another waye it is taken for an intercessorye medyatour or an intercessor. Nowe to speake of a satysfactory mediator or meane, there is but onely one / that is to wytte Chryste, whiche hathe satisfyed for vs / but the sayntes (after theyr myndes) shall be accompted intercessorye mediatours. Nowe yf ⟨image 37⟩any man do aske of them, where these thynges are had in ye scryptures, than forthwith they lay agaynst vs the auctoryte of holye churche, 2that is to wytte of theyr owne selfꝭ, whome ye holy ghoste doth not suffre to erre any thyng at all. These men (saye they) are of this opynyon and do thynke thus, ergo it is thus:
- 1Christ.Chryste.
- 2The church.The churche.
