A book made by a certain great clerk, against the new idol, and old…A boke made by a certayne great clerke, agaynst the newe idole, and olde…

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⟩