The first part of the Christian instruction, and general so[m]me of the doctrine, contained…The firste parte of the Christian instruction, and generall so[m]me of the doctrine, conteyned…

¶ What profit the Church of God may receive of Councils, and of their issue.

¶ VVhat profite the Churche of God may receaue of Councelles, and of theyr issue.

D. The Synods & lawful Councils, is one of the best remedies that men may have, to take away controversies in religion, ⟨p. 71⟩it is the remedy whereunto in like cases yt Apostles & their true successors, & all yt ancient church, have oftentimes had their recourse: for albeit that the Councils, have no authority nor power to give unto the church any new doctrine nor yet to forge any new articles of faith, but only to hold & maintain y• doctrine, which is revealed by the holy Scriptures, & yet notwithstanding they serve to great purpose, in so much that they be as public witnesses unto it, to succour the infirmity of the simple & weak, & also such as shall come after us, by the confession which is made of the same by them, & by the public testification y• there is declared, by the perpetual consent of the Church, of the doctrine of the Prophets & Apostles. But although the Councils be ordained to this end, & that the ancients have had more rule of them selves & better means, much more meet for such a purpose, then we have at this present: yet notwithstanding they could never obtain that in their Councils, which they desired. And such untowardness was there, that they did alway not only not appease the differences, & abolish schisms, & heresies which troubled the Church, but oftentimes even there right many new did spring, & have ben afterward from time to time increased: if it were needful to prove it by examples, it were easy to do, but we will not now enter into such matter. I will content me for this time, to allege only touching this matter, that testimony ye Gregory Nazianzen (which was Master to S. Hierom) did give, writing to Procopius of the Councils of his time, which were nothing so corrupted as are those of our time: if I must needs, saith he, write the truth, I have determined to refuse all the Councils of Bishops. For I have found the issue of no one Synod good, or rather that they have more increased the evil, then quenched it. Here is the judgement of Nazianzene, touching this matter.

D. THe Sinodes & lawfull Coūcels, is one of ye best remedies yt mē may haue, to take away cōtrouersies in religiō, ⟨p. 71⟩it is ye remedi wherunto in like cases yt Apostles & their true successors, & al yt aūciēt church, haue oftētimes had their recourse: for albeit that the Coūcels, haue no authority nor power to giue vnto ye churche any newe doctrine nor yet to forge ani new articles of faith, but only to hold & maintain y• doctrine, which is reueled by ye holy Scriptures, & yet notwithstāding they serue to great purpose, in so much yt they be as publike witnesses vnto it, to succor ye infirmitie of the simple & weake, & also such as shall come after vs, by ye confessiō which is made of ye same by thē, & by the publike testificatiō y• there is declared, by ye perpetual cōsent of ye Church, of ye doctrine of the Prophetes & Apostles. But although the Councels be ordeyned to this end, & that ye aūciēts haue had more rule of thē selues & better meanes, much more meete for such a purpose, then we haue at this presēt: yet notwithstāding they could neuer obtaine yt in their Coūcels, which they desired. And such vntowardnes was there, yt they did alway not onely not apease ye differences, & abolish scismes, & heresies which troubled ye Church, but oftētimes euē there right many new did spring, & haue ben afterward frō tyme to tyme encreased: if it were nedefull to proue it by exāples, it were easy to do, but we will not now enter into such matter. I will cōtent me for this time, to alledge onely touching this matter, yt testimonie ye Gregory Nazianzen (which was Master to S. Hierom) did giue, writting to Procopius of ye Coūcels of his tyme, whiche were nothyng so corrupted as ar those of our time: if I must nedes, sayth he, write ye truth, I haue determined to refuse al the Coūcels of Bishops. For I haue foūd the issue of no one Synode good, or rather that they haue more encreased the euil, then quenched it. Here is the iudgemēt of Nazianzene, touching this matter.

¶ Of the hope that men may have of the Council, in these days, and of those that there shall assemble, and of the issue thereof.

¶ Of the hope that men may haue of the Councell, in these dayes, and of those that there shal assemble, and of the issue thereof.

D. Now if Councils had such issue in those days, that Nazianzene had just occasion to make such complaint: what hope may we have in these days, of such like remedy? For, first of all, what hope may we have to assemble a Council only? yea and if it might so come to pass, that one might be assembled, what goodness might we hope for of it? For who shall assemble it? who be they that shall be there assembled? Who shall there preside? Who shall make the determinations and conclusions of it? and who shall execute them? If a man would reform or suppress a stews, to whom wouldest thou give such a charge? Wouldest thou give it to the master of the stews? and wouldest thou, that he should have the chief authority in that reformation, and that his bawds and ruffians, whoremasters and whores should give their voice and sentence, and that all should be done, according to their will and mind? Might not men have great hope, to have some good resolution and reformation in such a case, of such a Council? T. It should be a great mockery, even like as to make the wolf to be keeper of the sheep. D. Doubtless no more is there any likelihood, considering the state of things at this day in Christendom, to have any Council much more honourable. For if the Pope and his ministers, have their authority, which they have had in time past, even sith they have usurped that tyranny, which they now exercise over the Church, & that ⟨p. 73⟩they pretend to have there, thou mayest easily understand what success men may look for. For it is a thing most certain, that such men will never agree to have a council holden, unless they know it to be for their profit, and that they may there rule at their pleasure, even as they now pretend to do in their Council of Trent. For if they did not think to reign & rule there at their pleasure, it would have been a hard matter ever to agree them thereupon, or to have drawn them thither. And if they may obtain this, it shall not be a Council, but a conjuration & conspiracy against God, as was the council of Annas and Caiaphas, of the Scribes and Pharisees, and of the priests of the law, and of the council of Jerusalem against our Lord Jesus Christ.

D. NOw if Councels had such issue in those dayes, that Nazianzene had iust occasion to make such complainte: what hope may wee haue in these dayes, of suche lyke remedie? For, first of all, what hope may we haue to assemble a Coūcel onely? yea and if it might so come to passe, that one might be assembled, what goodnes might we hope for of it? For whoe shall assemble it? who bee they that shalbe there assembled? Who shall there preside? Who shall make the determinacions and conclusions of it? and who shall execute them? Yf a man would reforme or suppresse a stewes, to whom wouldest thou gyue such a charge? Wouldest thou gyue it to the master of the stewes? and wouldest thou, that he should haue the chief auctoritie in that reformation, and that his bawdes and ruffiēs, whoremasters and whores should gyue their voyce and sentence, and that all should be done, accordyng to their will and minde? Might not mē haue great hope, to haue some good resolucion and reformation in such a case, of such a Councell? T. It should be a greate mockerie, euen lyke as to make the wolfe to be keper of the shepe. D. Doubtles no more is there any likelyhode, considering the state of thinges at this day in Christendome, to haue any Councel much more honorable. For if the Pope and his ministers, haue their auctoritie, whiche they haue had in time past, euen sith they haue vsurped that tyranny, whiche they now exercise ouer the Church, & that

This shall be a Council to establish more strongly the seat of Antichrist, and his tyranny against the Church, and wholly to abolish the course of the Gospel, and to fill the whole earth with the blood of the innocents & Martyrs, which shall sustain the truth, and rather die, then to renounce Jesus Christ. T. Certainly for my part I think it to be the only mark whereat they shoot. For what may we look for at the hands of him, & of all his race, which hath been a murderer and homicide from the beginning of the world, we need not to doubt whether the Antichrist the son of perdition and all his generation which make wars against the truth, be the very natural and lawful children of this great murderer & father of lies. Wherefore it must needs come to pass: that they work the works of their father, and that they put in practise those arts and sciences: which they have learned in his school.

This shal be a Councel to establishe more stronglye the seate of Antichrist, and his tyrannie agaynst the Church, and wholy to abolishe the course of the Gospel, and to fill the whole earth with the bloude of the innocentes & Martyrs, which shall susteine the truth, and rather die, then to renounce Iesus Christ. T. Certaynly for my part I thinke it to be the onely mark wherat they shoote. For what may we looke for at the handes of him, & of all his race, which hath bene a murtherer and homicide from the beginning of the worlde, we nede not to doubte whether the Antichrist the sonne of perdition and all his generation which make warres againste the truth, be the very naturall and lawful children of thys great murtherer & father of lies. Wherefore it must needes come to passe: that they worke the workes of their father, and that they put in practise those artes and sciences: which they haue learned in his schole.

¶ Of the means that the enemies of the truth do use for the maintenance of their kingdom, and their false religion, and of the hope which they have given by their Council of Trent for the reformation of the Christian church.

¶ Of the meanes that the enemyes of the truth doe vse for the maintenaunce of their kingdome, and their false religion, and of the hope which they haue geuen by their Councel of Trent for the reformation of the Christian church.

D. AT the least they do declare right well by their threatenings how well they are inclined to follow that §5occupation. For in deed what could they do without that? in so much as the sword of the word of GOD is not to maintain their cause and devilish estate, they can not find one more meet then is the material sword, and the fire and fagots. There is the Bible which they have for their defence, with the which the tyrants and executioners furnish them. T. Their library is even meet for their study. D. By these means the Christianity shall be in worse estate then now it is, and there shall be less hope of reformation of it, than before was. And without passing any further, and without going from their council of Trent, they have already given us a fair testimony of the good will that they bear to a true Christian reformation: by those goodly determinations which have been concluded not long since, in their sessions of that worthy conjuration and conspiracy of Trent. T. The matter is plain, and therefore doest thou no wrong to such a council rather to call it a conspiracy to resist the truth, then a council to maintain it.

D. AT the least they do declare right well by their threatninges howe well they are inclined to followe that §5occupation. For in dede what coulde they do without that? in so muche as the sworde of the worde of GOD is not to maintayne their cause and deuelyshe estate, they can not finde one more meete then is the materiall sworde, and the fire and fagots. There is the Bible which they haue for their defence, with the which the tyrantes and executioners furnyshe them. T. Their librarie is euen meete for their studie. D. By these meanes ye Christianitie shall be in worse estate then now it is, and there shall bee lesse hope of reformation of it, thē before was. And without passing any further, and without going from their councell of Trent, they haue already geuen vs a fayre testimonye of the good will that they beare to a true Christian reformation: by those goodlye determinations which haue beene concluded not long since, in their sessions of that worthy coniuration and conspiracie of Trent. T. The matter is plaine, and therfore doest thou no wrong to such a councel rather to cal it a conspiracie to resiste the truth, then a councell to maintaine it.

¶ Of the danger into the which they put them selves that attend only upon the council, without seeking any other reformation, both in them selves and in the church.

¶ Of the daunger into the vvhich they put them selues that attend onely vpon the councell, without seeking any other reformation, both in them selues and in the church.

D. ON the contrary, if they should know that their tyranny might have no place, then would they find all the means possible to invent how to let it, that there should be no council at all holden: or if there must needs be one, to hinder in all matters all the good that might otherwise proceed. And in this sort, what shall become of them this mean while that depend only upon the council without having any other care of religion, or of the reformation of the same? And if they had none other care at all, they should die in their ignorance, and doubt where in they are: and so should go to hold a council in hell, where I doubt not but that they should ⟨p. 75⟩find Popes enough to proceed there, & Cardinals, Bishops, Priests and Monks, to hold there a goodly general council, better furnished of such personages, then any that a man might now find in Christendom, if they hold it in such sort as they have already begun, & that such personages do there rule, if these men which attend for a council be already in error: they shall there be more confirmed therein, and shall be in worse state then before. If they have received any light of the word of God, it is greatly to be feared least it should be clearly put out in them, being blinded with the appearance of the authority which men give to councils.

D. ON the contrary, if they should know yt their tirannie mighte haue no place, then woulde they finde all the meanes possible to inuent how to let it, yt there should bée no councell at all holden: or if there muste nedes be one, to hinder in all matters all the good that might otherwise procede. And in this sort, what shall become of thē this meane while that depend onely vpon the councell without hauing anye other care of religion, or of the reformatiō of the same? And if they had none other care at all, they should die in their ignoraunce, and doubt where in they are: and so should go to holde a councel in hell, where I doubt not but yt they should ⟨p. 75⟩finde Popes inough to procede ther, & Cardinals, Bishops, Priestes and Monkes, to hold there a goodly generall councell, better furnished of such personages, then any that a mā might now finde in Christendome, if they holde it in suche sort as they haue alreadye begonne, & that such personages do there rule, if these men which attend for a councell be alreadie in errour: they shall there be more confirmed therin, and shalbe in worse state then before. If they haue receaued any light of the word of God, it is greatly to be feared least it should be clerely put out in them, being blinded with the apparence of the authoritie which men geue to councells.

¶ Of the hope that men may have of those Christian princes which do reign at this present for to reform the church by the mean of a general council: and of the negligence and want that is in that behalf, even in those churches which glory of the Gospel.

¶ Of the hope that men may haue of those Christian princes vvhich do reigne at this present for to reforme the church by the meane of a generall councell: and of the negligence and vvante that is in that behalfe, euen in those churches vvhich glory of the Gospell.

T. Yet is there hope to remedy these things by the help of the Christian princes. D. I see no great hope in that behalf. For who be the Christian princes that may give order in this? if they be seduced by the Pope and his, that Antichrist will be served of them for to make him continually more strong: if they be well instructed in the doctrine of the Lord, and that they have a desire to reform the church according to the rule of his word, that Antichrist forthwith endeavoureth to stir up all those princes and nations that are abused by him to hinder so godly an enterprise. And when one prince will, an other will not. Wherefore, it will be a very long time before men may cause all the princes and other estates of the world, by whose means such assemblies ought to be made: to agree in one opinion, and to come together and to consent in one so holy a work. For we shall find in all these estates those same difficulties, lets and excuses, whereof we have already spoken. For there is ⟨p. 76⟩so great contempt of God and of his word, and so great negligence and carelessness in all estates, concerning those things that touch the honour of God, & the health of souls, and so great a burden of their own glory, and private profit, and their hearts so rooted in the earth, that they forget heaven, and can find at no time any leisure to labour in the work of the Lords house. T. That is a very great evil. D. We may easily judge what hope we shall have of a general reformation, by means of a general council, by the experience of those things which we daily see, in those places where God hath already given of his grace to princes & Magistrates: to lay their hands to his works: to begin some manner of reformation in his church. Let us begin with the best reformed church that may be found in christendom, and let us compare the form and order of it with that that was in the ancient church: I mean not of the most perfect that ever was, as of that of the Apostles, but of that church that was long after the Apostles time, what difference shall we find? T. I think we shall find very great difference. D. So great as we shall be ashamed to call a reformation, the reformation that we shall therein find, seeing the deformity that there yet doth rest: whereof every man complaineth, and yet no man can remedy it.

T. YEt is there hope to remedie these thinges by the helpe of the Christian princes. D. I see no greate hope in that behalfe. For who be the Christian princes that maye geue order in this? if they be seduced by the Pope and hys, that Antichrist will be serued of them for to make him continuallye more stronge: if they be well instructed in the doctrine of the Lord, and that they haue a desire to reforme the church according to the rule of his worde, that Antichrist forthwith endeuoureth to sturre vp al those princes and nations yt are abused by him to hinder so godlye an enterprise. And when one prince wil, an other will not. Wherefore, it will be a very long time before mē may cause all ye princes and other estates of ye world, by whose meanes such assemblies ought to be made: to agrée in one opinion, and to come together and to consente in one so holye a worke. For we shall finde in all these estates those same difficulties, lettes and excuses, whereof we haue already spoken. For there is

¶ Of the negligence and want that is in the ministers of the church, and generally in all other estates, whereby the reformation of the church is hindered.

¶ Of the negligence and vvante that is in the ministers of the church, and generally in all other estates, wherby the reformation of the church is hindred.

T. What is the cause thereof? D. Every man in his calling, for oftentimes it is seen that the Ministers are negligent in their ministry, and do not call upon the magistrates and people, exhorting them to execute their offices uprightly and sincerely, as they ought to do: for often times it is seen that they them selves do as much or more fear a reformation, then others do. And if there be default and negligence in those men, which should be a light unto ⟨p. 77⟩others, let us then well weigh what may be found in the magistrates and people. For there are very few which on their part fear not a reformation, and desire not at all to frame it according to the rule of the word of God, to direct their lives and manners according to the same: but rather to make the word of God subject to them, and to have a reformation according to their own will & pleasure. And from whence cometh all this: but only from an evil conscience and of a disordinate desire that is in men, of a carnal liberty, and of a manifest rebellion against God? For they will not have God to reign over them, but they will live and reign at their pleasure. They can not endure to have their naughty affections, and dissolute manners to be bridled, and the abuse of their estates corrected, and their tyranny suppressed by the word of God. They bestir them on every side by all means possible, and employ all their forces to caste of: the yoke of the Lord, to the end they will not be subject to him: and consider not in the mean time that in refusing to yield unto God that obedience which they owe unto him: they rest subjects to the devil, and become daily more and more his slaves: for they had rather to reign by the devil, and the devil to reign in them, than to live and reign by God, and God to reign in them and over them. Wherefore we may well say of them altogether, that which S. Paul did of the ministers of his time, at which time the word of God did give fruit in other sort then now it doth. Every one sayeth ¹he is about his own business and careth but for himself, and not for Jesus Christ. It cometh sometime to pass that there are good ministers, and that on their part do acquit some piece of their duty in this behalf: but those which are joined in the same ministry with them, & should help them, and draw with them in the same yoke that they draw:

T. WHat is the cause thereof? D. Euery man in his calling, for oftentimes it is seene that the Ministers are negligent in their ministerye, and doe not call vpon the magistrates and people, exhorting them to execute their offices vprightly and sincerely, as they ought to doe: for often tymes it is seene that they them selues do as much or more feare a reformation, then others do. And if there be defaulte and negligence in those men, which shoulde be a lyght vnto

are oft times those that hinder them more then any others. T. When this happeneth the hindrance is not small, for one only horse that draweth backward, doth hinder more ⟨p. 78⟩then six horses which draw forward are able to overcome.

are oft tymes those that hinder them more then any others. T. When this happeneth the hindraunce is not small, for one onely horse that draweth backewarde, doth hinder more ⟨p. 78⟩then sixe horses which draw forward are able to ouercome.