The practise of prelates. CompiledThe practyse of prelates. Compyled

¶Howe the pope corrupteth the scripture and why.

Moreover lest these his lies should be spied & least haply the emperors following / might say, our predecessors had no power to bind us, nor to minish our might: And least kings following, should say after the same manner / that the sword & full power to punish evil doers indifferently is given of God to every king for his time, and therefore that their • decessour could not bind them contrary unto the ordinance of God: but rather yea it was unto their damnation to make such grants / & that they did not execute their office. And therefore the foul & misshapen mom stre, gate him to the scripture & corrupted it with false expositions / to prove y• such authority was given him of God / & challenged it by the authority of Peter▪ saying / that peter was the head of Christs church and that Christ had made him lord over the apostles his fellows, in that he bad hī fe• de hys shepe & lambs John y• last / as who should say the paul which came long after, was not commanded to feed as specially as peter, which yet would take no authority ⟨image 35⟩over the bodies or over the faiths of them which he fed, but was their servant for Christs sake, Christ ever the lord and head. And as though the other apostles were not likewise as specially commanded as Peter: And as though we now and all that here after shall love christ, were not commanded to •eade christs flock, every man in his measure, as well as Peter. Are not we commanded to love our neighbours as our selves, as well as Peter? Why then are we not commanded to care for his flock as well as Peter?

MOreouer lest these his lyes shuld be spyed & least happly the emperours following / myght saye, our predecessours had no power to bynde vs, nor to minish our might: And least kinges following, shuld say after the same maner / that the swerd & full power to punish euel doers indifferētly is geuē of God to euery kynge for hys tyme, and therfore yt theyr • decessour coulde not bynde them contrarye vnto the ordynaunce of God: but rather ye it was vnto theyr dāpnation to make such graūtes / & yt they dyd not execute theyr office. And therfore ye foule & mysshapē mō stre, gate hym to the scrypture & corrupted it wyth false exposytions / to proue y• such aucthoritie was geuen hym of God / & calenged it by ye aucthoritie of Peter▪ saying / that peter was the head of Christs church and that Chryst had made hym lorde ouer the apostles hys fellowes, in yt he bad hī fe• de hys shepe & lābes Iohn y• last / as who shuld saye ye paule which came longe after, was not commaunded to feade as specyally as peter, which yet wold take no aucthoritie ⟨image 35⟩ouer the bodyes or ouer ye faythes of them whych he fed, but was theyr seruaūt for Chrystes sake, Christ euer the lord and head. And as though ye other apostles were not lykewyse as specially commaunded as Peter: And as though we now and all that here after shall loue chryst, were not cō maunded to •eade chrysts flocke, euery mā in his measure, as well as Peter. Are not we commaunded to loue our neyghbours as our selues, as well as Peter? Why then are we not cōmaūded to care for his flocke as well as Peter?

Moreover if to feed Christs sheep is to be greatest (as no doubt to feed christs flock is to be great and most to feed▪ is to be greatest (in which office though peter was great, yet paul was greater) how cometh that the pope by that authority challengeth to be greatest, and yet this .viij. hum dread years feedeth not at all: but poisoneth their pasture with the venomous leaven of his traditions & with wresting the text unto a contrary sense?

Moreouer if to feade Chrystes shepe is to be greatest (as no doubt to feade christs flocke is to be greate and moste to feade▪ is to be greatest (in wc office thogh peter was greate, yet paule was greater) howe commeth that the pope by that aucthorytie chalengeth to be greatest, and yet thys .viij. hū dred yeres feadeth not at al: but poysoneth their pasture with the venamous leuen of his tradicions & wyth wrestynge the texte vnto a contrary sence?

1. 1Faith is ye root whereon Christs church is built.Faith is ye roote wherō Chrysts churche is bylte.

Then he goeth forth unto that which followeth: Unto the I will give the keys of the kingdom of heaven / and what soever thou bindest in earth, it shall be bound in heaven ▪ &c. Lo•, saith he, in that he saith what soever thou bindest in earth, he excepteth nothing, therefore I may make laws & bind both king and emperor. When christ / as he had no worldly kingdom, even so he spake of no worldly binding, but of binding of sinners.¹ Christ gave his disciples the key of the knowledge of the law of God, to bind all sinners / and the key of the promises to louse all that repent and to let them into ⟨image 36⟩the mercy that is made up for us in christ.

Then he goeth forth vnto that which foloweth: Unto the I wyl geue the keyes of the kingdome of heauen / and what soeuer thou bindest in earth, it shalbe bound in heauē ▪ &c. Lo•, sayth he, in yt he sayth what soeuer thou biodest in erth, he excepteth nothī ge, therfore I may make lawes & bīd both king and emperoure. When christ / as he had no worldly kīgdom, euē so he spake of no worldly binding, but of binding of synners.¹ Chryst gaue his disciples the keye of the knowlege of the law of God, to bind all synners / and the keye of the promyses to louse all that repent ād to let them into ⟨image 36⟩the mercy that is made vp for vs in christ.

1. 1The keysThe keies

Then cometh he unto an other text which Christ rehearseth Mathe. la••, saying: Al power is given men in heaven & earth▪ go ye therefore, and teach all nations, b• prising them in the name of the father, and the sonn•, and of the holy ghost, teaching them to keep all that I commanded you: And behold I am with you unto the worlds end: Lo saith the pope, Christ hath all power in heaven and earth, without exception, and I am christs vicar, wherefore all power is mine / and I am above all kings and Emperors in temporal jurisdiction and they but my servants to kiss on• my feet only but my. N. also if I list not to have them stoop so low. When christ as I said because he had no temporal kingdom,¹ even so he meant of no temporal power, but of power to save sins / which they profess of, the text declareth by that he saith, goo ye therefore, and teach and baptise: that is preach this power to all nations / and wash of their sins through faith in the promises made in my blood.²

Then cōmeth he vnto an other text whiche Christ rehearseth Mathe. la••, sayeng: Al power is geuen men in heauen & earth▪ go ye therfore, and teach al nacions, b• prysyng them in the name of the father, and ye sonn•, and of the holy gost, teachinge them to kepe all that I commaunded you: And behold I am with you vnto the worldes ende: Loo sayth the pope, Chryst hath all power in heauen and earth, without excepcyon, and I am christes vicar, wherfore all power is mine / and I am aboue all kinges and Emperours in temporall iurisdictyō ād they but my seruauntes to kisse on• my fete only but my. N. also if I list not to haue thē stoupe so low. Whē christ as I said because he had no temporal kingdom,¹ euen so he ment of no tēporall power, but of power to saue sinnes / which they professe of, the text declareth by that he sayth, goo ye therfore, and teach and baptyse: th•t is preach this power to all nacions / ād wash of their sīnes thorow fayth in the promisses made in my bloude.²

1. 1Christs pour is to save sinnersChristes powr is to saue sīners
2. 2o• this man•r •••lech he with texts.o• this man•r •••lech he with textes.

Then he cometh unto an other text Hebr. vij. which is. The priesthood b•ing tram slated, the law must needs be translated also. ⟨image 37⟩Now saith the pope, the priesthood is translated unto me, wherefore it pertaineth unto me to make laws and to bind every man. And the pistle meaneth no such thing / but proveth to evidently that the ceremonies of Moses must cease. For the priests of the old testament must needs have been of the tribe of Levi as Aaron was▪ whose duty for ever was the offering of sacrifices. Wherefore when that priesthood ceased, the sacrifices and ceremonies ceased also. Now that priesthood ceased in Christ, which was a priest of the order of Melchiscde• and not of the order of Aaron· for them he must have been of the tribe of Judah & of the seed of David. Wherefore they that are under Christs priesthood are under no sacrifices or ceremonies. And of this manner juggle they with all the scripture, which falsehood lest the lay men should perceive with reading the process of the Text / is all their fear what soever they pretend.

Then he cōmeth vnto an other text Hebre. vij. which is. The presthode b•ing trā slated, the law must nedes be translated also. ⟨image 37⟩Now sayth the pope, the priesthode is trāslated vnto me, wherfore it perteyneth vnto me to make lawes and to bind euery man. And the pistle meaneth no such thinge / but proueth to euydently yt the ceremo•i•s of Moises must cease. For the prye••es of the old testament must nedes haue bene of the tribe of Leui as Aaron was▪ whose dutye for euer was the offeryng of sacrifices. Wherfore when that priesthode ceased, the sacrifices and ceremonies ceased also. Now that priesthode ceased in Christ, which was a priest of the ordre of Melchiscde• ād not of the ordre of Aaron· for thē he must haue bene of the tribe of Iuda & of the sede of Dauid. Wherfore they that are vnder Christs priesthod are vnder no sacrifices or ceremonies. And of this maner iugle they wyth all the scriptur, whyche falshed lest the lay men shuld perceaue wyth readinge the processe of the Texte / is all their feare what soeuer they pretende.

Moreover y• thou mayst perceive the popes falsehood, mark: Christ said unto p• ter, I will give and not I give, nether said he I will give unto the only: Therefore ⟨image 37⟩•oke in the .xx. chapter of John where he gave them the keys after his resurrection / & thou shalt see that he gave them unto all indifferently saying:¹ As my father sent me so send I you. Whether sent he them? in to all the world / and unto all nations. What to do? to preach the law that the people might repent, & the promises that they might believe in Christ for the remission of sins▪ saying: receive the holy ghost, who so evers sin ye forgive, they shall be forgiven▪ by which holy ghost he gave them understanding of the scripture and of all that they should preach: as thou mayest see Luk last, where he opened their wits to understā de the scrypture and said, that repentance and forgiveness of since must be preached in his name to all Nations, and that they were witnesses to preach it. Whereby thou seest that to Bind and to Loose is but to preach and tell the people their faults,² and to preach mercy in christ to all that repent.

Moreouer y• thou mayst perceaue the popes falshed, marke: Christ sayd vnto p• ter, I wyl geue and not I giue, nether sayde he I wyll giue vnto the only: Therfor ⟨image 37⟩•oke in the .xx. chaptre of Ihō where he gaue them the keyes after hys resurrectiō / & thou shalt se that he gaue them vnto all indyfferentlye sayeinge:¹ As my father sente me so send I you. Whether sent he them? in to all the worlde / and vnto all nations. What to do? to preach ye law that ye people might repēt, & the promyses yt they might beleue in Chryst for ye remyssyon of sinnes▪ sayeng: receaue the holie gost, who so euers synne ye forgeue, they shalbe forgeuen▪ by which holy gost he gaue them vnderstandynge of the scrypture and of all that they shuld preache: as thou mayest see Luk last, where he opened theyr wittes to vnderstā de the scrypture and sayd, that repentaunce and forgeuenes of synnes muste be preached in hys name to all Natyons, and that they were wytnesses to preache it. Wherby thou seyste yt to Bynd and to Loose is but to preache and tell the people theyr fautes,² and to preache mercye in chryste to all that repent.

1. 1Christ gave all his Apostles like aucthor• tie.Chryst gaue all hys Apostles like aucthor• tye.
2. 2To bind & louse is to preach.To bynde & louse is to preache.

And when he sayeth / all power is given me: he sayeth not go thou Peter and preach but sayeth unto all indifferently / go ye & preach this power given me of my father •o save all that repent, and to damn them ⟨image 38⟩that repent not but follow the lusts of their flesh, with full desire to live beastly being enemies unto the law of god.

And when he sayeth / all power is geuen me: he saieth not go thou Peter and preach but sayeth vnto all indifferentlye / go ye & preach thys power geuen me of my father •o saue al that repent, and to dampne them ⟨image 38⟩that repent not but folow ye lustes of their flesh, wyth full desire to lyue beastlie beyng ennymyes vnto the lawe of god.

And Math. xviij. Peter axed christ how oft he should for give his brother / whether seven times.¹ And christ said / seventy times seven times. As who should say / as oft as he repenteth and axeth forgiveness.

And Math. xviij. Peter axed chryst how oft he shuld for gyue hys brother / whether seuen tymes.¹ And chryste sayed / seuentye tymes seuen tymes. As who shuld saye / as ofte as he repenteth and axeth forgeuenesse.

1. 1Nota.

Now though this were spoken unto Peter only, because Peter only moved the question / yet it appertaineth not unto us all as well as unto Peter? Are not we as much bound to forgive our neighbours that repent and axe forgiveness, as Peter▪ Yes verily. But because Peter only axed the question, therefore did Christ teach us by Peter. If an other had axed / he would have taught us by that other. And in like manner when christ axed who say ye that I am: if any other of the Apostles which believed it as well as Peter, had said as Peter did, thou art christ, the Son of the living go• / which art come in to the world of sinners, to save them: unto him would Christ have answered / as he did to Peter / that upon the rock of that his confession he would have built his church, and would ⟨image 38⟩have Promised him keys as well as he did Peter. Yea and in the .xviij. chapter of Matthew, Christ saith to all the Apostles / yea / and to all congregations where sinners be,¹ that what soever they bound should be bound & what soever they loosed should be loosed.

Now though this were spoken vnto Peter only, because Peter onlye moued the question / yet it apertayneth not vnto vs all as well as vnto Peter? Are not we as muche bounde to forgeue oure neyghboures that repent and axe forgeuenes, as Peter▪ Yes verelye. But because Peter onlye axed ye questiō, therfore did Chryste teache vs by Peter. Yf an other had axed / he wolde haue taught vs by that other. And in lyke maner when chryst axed who saye ye that I am: yf any other of the Apostles whiche beleued it as well as Peter, had sayde as Peter did, thou arte chryste, the sone of the lyuinge go• / which arte come in to the worlde of synners, to saue them: vnto him wold Chryst haue answered / as he dyd to Peter / that vppon the rocke of that his confession he wolde haue bylt hys church, and wolde ⟨image 38⟩haue Promysed hym keyes as well as he dyd Peter. Yea and in the .xviij. chapter of Mathew, Chryst saith to al the Apostles / yea / and to all congregatyons where synners be,¹ that what soeuer they bound shulde be boūde & what soeuer they loosed shulde be loosed.

1. 1A woman hath pour to bind.A woman hath powr to bynde.

Moreover every man and woman that know Christ and his doctrine, have the keys and power to bind and loose: in an order yet and in their measure, as time place and occasion giveth and privately. May not a wife, if her husband sin against God and her, and take another woman / tell him his taut between him and her secretly, and in good manner humbly, and bind his conscience with the law of god? And if he repent may she not for give him and loose him as well as the Pope? Yea, and better to, as long as the sin is secret, in as much as he sin the specially against hy• ▪ and not against the pope.

Moreouer euerye man and woman that knowe Chryst and hys doctrine, haue the keyes and power to bynde and loose: in an ordre yet and in their measure, as tyme place and occasion geueth and pryuatelye. Maye not a wyfe, yf hyr husband synne agaynste God and hyr, and take a nother woman / tell hym hys taute betwene hym and hyr secretelye, and in good maner humblye, and bynd hys concyence with the law of god? And yf he repente may she not for geue hym ād loose hym as well as the Pope? Yea, and better to, as longe as the synne is secret, in as muche as he synne the specially against hy• ▪ and not against the pope.

And so may the son do to the father / and a servant to the master / and every man to his neighbour, as thou seest in y• said .xviij. chapter of Matthew. How be it to bind and loose in the conscience by ⟨image 39⟩open preaching pertaineth unto the officers that are appointed thereto. And to bind and loose open Sinners, and them that will not repent till they be complained on unto the congregation, pertaineth unto the congregation.

And so maye the sōne do to the father / and a seruaunte to the master / and euerye man to hys neyghboure, as thou seyst in y• sayde .xviij. chaptre of Mathew. How be it to bynde and loose in the concience by ⟨image 39⟩open preaching perteyneth vnto the offycers that are apoynted therto. And to bynde ād loose open Synners, and them that wyll not repēt tyll they be complayned on vnto the congregacion, perteyneth vnto the congregacion.

Finally there were many that preached christ at Rome,¹ yet Peter cam thither if he cam ever thither: as Paul and many other. Had they not authority to bind and loose? Or else how did they convert the people? Peter was also an Apostle and went from place to place as Paul did, and as Paul ordained Bishops in every place to teach the people, so no doubt did Peter. Why then might not those Bishops challenge authority by Peter as well as they of Rome? they say also in their own legends that Peter had his seat at Antioch first. Did he run to Rome living no man behind him to teach the people at Antioch? God forbid. Why then might not that Bishop challenge Peters authority? They will haply say sooner then prove it, that Peter dyed at Rome, and therefore his authority is greatest there. Then by that rule christs power is no where so full as at Jerusalem. But what hath Christs ⟨image 39⟩invisible kingdom to do with places: Where Christs Gospel is,² their is his power full and all his authority as well in one place as in an other.

Finally there were many that preached christ at Rome,¹ yet Peter cam thither if he cam euer thyther: as Paule and many other. Had they not auctoritie to bynd and loose? Or els how did they conuerte the people? Peter was also an Apostle and went from place to place as Paule did, ād as Paule ordeyned Bysshopes in euerye place to teach the people, so no doubte dyd Peter. Why then might not those Bysshopes calenge auctoritie by Peter as well as they of Rome? they saye also in their owne legēdes that Peter had his seate ot Antioch first. Did he runne to Rome lyuyng no man behinde him to teach the people at Antioch? God forbyd. Why then myght not that Bysshop calenge Peters aucthoritie? They wyll haply say soner then proue it, that Peter dyed at Rome, ād therfore his auctoritie is greatest ther. Then by that rule christs power is no where so ful as at Hierusalem. But what hath Chrystes ⟨image 39⟩inuisible kyngdom to do with places: Where Chrystes Gospell is,² their is his power full and all hys auctroite as well ī one place as in an other.

1. 1Reasons ye peter was not ye greatest by any authority given him of Christ.R••sōs ye peter was not ye greatest by any aucthoritie geuen hī of Chryste.
2. 2Chryst•• pour is in the gospelChryst•• powr is in the gospell

Finally to get authority whence so ever, they can snatch it, they join Paul with Peter in their own laws Distinctio. xxij saying: By the authority of peter and Paul. Which is clean against them selves.¹ For they say in their own law in the presence of the superior, the power of the inferior ceaseth, and is none at all. Now if Peter be greater then Paul, then by that rule / where Peter is present their Paul is but a subject and without authority: As where Christ is present bodily and preacheth him self, there the apostles give up their authority / and hold their peace and sit down at his feet, and become scholars and hearken to.

Fynallye to gett auctoritie whence so euer, they can snatch it, they ioyne Paule wt Peter in their awne lawes Distinctio. xxij sayinge: By the auctorytie of peter and Paule. Whych is clene agaynst thē selues.¹ For they say in their awne lawe in the presence of the superior, the power of the inferior ceaseth, and is none at all. Nowe if Peter be greater then Paule, then by that rule / where Peter is present theire Paule is but a subiecte and wythoute auctorytie: As where Christ is present bodil•e ād preacheth hī selfe, there ye apostles geue vp their auctorytie / ād hold their peace ād sitt doune at hys fete, and become scolers and herken to.

1. 1paul is called to helppaull is called to help

Wherefore in that they join Paul with Peter, and challenge their superiority as well by the authority of Paul as of Peter, there they make Paul fellow and equal with peter. And thus it is false that Peter was •eater then his fellows, but the blind owls care not what they howl, seeing it is night ⟨image 40⟩and the day light of gods word, shut up that no man can spy them.

Wherfore in that they ioyne Paule with Peter, and chalēge their superioritie as wel by ye auctoritie of Paule as of Peter, there they make Paule felow ād equall with peter. And thus it is false that Peter was •eater then hys fellowes, but the blynd onles care not what they houle, seyng it is night ⟨image 40⟩and the daye lyght of gods worde, shut vp that no man can spye them.