A Golden Chain

For one Jesus Christ, in all thing• like unto us in his Humanity, sin only excepted; they have framed a Christ, to whom they ascribed two kinds of existing: one natural, whereby he is visible, touchable, and circumscribed in heaven: the other not only above, but also against nature; by which, he is substantially according to his flesh in the hands of every priest, in every host, and in the mouth of every communicant, invisible, untouchable, uncircumscribed. And thus in effect they abolish his manhood. Yea they disgrade him of his offices. For one Jesus Christ, the only king, lawgiver, and head of the Church; they join unto him the Pope not only as a Vicar but also as a fellow: in that they give unto him power to make laws binding conscience, to resolve and determine unfallibly the sense of holy scripture, properly to pardon sin both in respect of fault and temporal punishment, to have authority over the whole earth and a part of hell: to depose kings, to whom under Christ every soul is to be subject, to absolve subjects from the oath of allegiance, &c. For one Jesus Christ the only real priest of the new testament, they join many secondary priests unto him, which offer Christ daily in the mass for the sins of the quick and the dead. For one Jesus Christ the all-sufficient Mediator of intercession, they have added many fellows unto him to make request for us, namely as many Saints as be in the Popes Calendar. Lastly, for the only merits of Christ, in whom alone, the Father is well pleased, they have devised a treasury of the Church containing beside the merits of Christ, the overplus of the merits of Saints to be dispensed to men, at the discretion of the Pope. And thus we see, that Christ, and consequently God himself to be worshipped in Christ, is transformed into a fantasy or idol of mans conceit. Again there is always a proportion between the worship of God, & our persuasion of him: and men in giving unto God any worship, have respect to his nature, that both may be suitable, and he well pleased. Let us then see what manner of worship the Roman religion affordeth. It is for the greatest part mere will-worship, without any allowance or commandment from God, as Durande in his Rationale in effect acknowledgeth.

For one Iesus Christ, in al thing• like vnto vs in his Humanitie, sinne onely excepted; they haue framed a Christ, to whome they ascribed two kindes of existing: one naturall, whereby he is visible, touchable, and circumscribed in heauen: the other not onely aboue, but also against nature; by which, he is substantially according to his flesh in the handes of euery priest, in euery host, and in the mouth of euery communicant, inuisible, vntouchable, vncircumscribed. And thus in effect they abolish his manhood. Yea they disgrade him of his offices. For one Iesus Christ, the onely king, lawgiuer, and head of the Church; they ioyne vnto him the Pope not onely as a Vicar but also as a fellowe: in that they giue vnto him power to make lawes binding conscience, to resolue and determine vnfallibly the sense of holy scripture, properly to pardon sin both in respect of fault and temporall punishment, to haue authoritie ouer the whole earth and a part of hell: to depose kings, to whome vnder Christ euery soule is to be subiect, to absolue subiects from the oath of allegiance, &c. For one Iesus Christ the onely reall priest of the new testament, they ioyne many secondary priests vnto him, which offer Christ daiely in the masse for the sinnes of the quicke and the dead. For one Iesus Christ the al-sufficient Mediatour of intercession, they haue added many fellowes vnto him to make request for vs, namely as many Saints as be in the Popes Kalender. Lastly, for the onely merits of Christ, in whome alone, the Father is well pleased, they haue deuised a treasurie of the Church containing beside the merits of Christ, the ouerplus of the merits of Saints to be dispensed to men, at the discretion of the Pope. And thus wee see, that Christ, and cosequently God himselfe to bee worshipped in Christ, is transformed into a phantasie or idol of mans conceit. Againe there is alwaies a proportion betweene the worship of God, & our perswasion of him: and men in giuing vnto God any worshippe, haue respect to his nature, that both may be sutable, and he well pleased. Let vs then see what manner of worship the Romane religion affoardeth. It is for the greatest part meere wil-worship, without any allowance or commandement from God, as Durande in his Rationale in effect acknowledgeth.