A07146:48
The relics of Rome containing all such matters of religion, as have in times…The reliques of Rome contayning all such matters of religion, as haue in times…
The relics of Rome containing all such matters of religion, as have in times past been brought into the Church by the Pope and his adherents: faithfully gathered out of the most faithful writers of chronicles and histories, and now newly both diligently corrected & greatly augmented, to the singular profit of the readers, by Thomas Becon. 1563.The reliques of Rome contayning all such matters of religion, as haue in times past bene brought into the Church by the Pope and his adherentes: faithfully gathered out of the moste faithful writers of chronicles and histories, and nowe newly both diligently corrected & greatly augmented, to the singuler profit of the readers, by Thomas Becon. 1563.
London: printed by John Day, 1563London: printed by Iohn Day, 1563
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Now as touching the spiritual benefits and heavenly gifts of the mind as the knowledge of the holy scriptures, the understanding of the Lords blessed will, the preaching of the Gospel, the true administration of the Sacraments, the abolishment of all false worshippings & superstitions, &c. wherewith God in this our age hath most mercifully blessed us▪ far passing many other nations that be under the heavens: as these wise wicked worldlings knowledge not the benefits of the body, nor yet are thankful to God for them: so likewise are they altogether unthankful for the gifts of the mind, which do so far excel the other, as gold surmounteth coper, or silver, tin. For like as Owls can not abide the golden and glistering beams of the Sun nor the light of the day: so in like manner can not these bellygods and Antichrists slaves suffer the glorious and pleasant light of Christs most glorious and pleasant Gospel. They cry out with the wicked, of whom the Prophet maketh mention, on this manner: See not. Look not out right things for us: but speak fair words unto us. Look out errors. Get you out of this way: Depart out of this path, and turn the holy one of Israel from us. In the trifling traditions▪ crooked constitutions, idle inventions, drowsy dreams devilish decrees, false fables, ⟨image 11⟩& fond fantasies of men is their whole delight: as for the sincere & pure religion of God, that they utterly neglect, set at nought contemn & despise. And if for shame they seem to approve & allow any part thereof: yet they do so mangle it, & bring it in captivity to the traditions of men, that it looseth the sincere simplicity & simple sincerity, which it received of the holy Ghost. Some of them are not ashamed so to diminish the authority of Gods sacred scriptures, that they affirm the word of God to be so far the word of God,1 as the Church doth allow it, meaning the pope & his spiritual shavelings: as though God gave us in his holy Scriptures an unperfect doctrine, and not sufficiently authorised of him without the consent of Antichrist & of his brood. Is not this to set God to school, and to make him a Novice? So should it follow, that the word of God is grounded on the Church & not the Church on the word of God. Is not this right Antichrist, that should turn the roots of trees upward? Christ saith speaking of his Church: