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…

¶ Howe there is no hope that the Christians, shall ever have any lawful Council, and reformation in the Church, by the means of the Pope, or of any of his, if they bear any authority there.

¶ Hovve there is no hope that the Christians, shall euer haue any lavvfull Councell, and reformation in the Churche, by the meanes of the Pope, or of any of his, if they beare any authoritie there.

D. And if there should be holden y• best Council y• were possible to be assembled in all the whole world, there is no doubt but that the Pope & his would condemn it. If it were not to their mind. For it is an impossibility, that it should both please them, and yet be a lawful Council. And to wait, that the Pope & his should provide for it, according as it is mete, this should be a great folly: we see the experience of their doings at this day in such matters, to be even wholly such as was that of the ancient heretics in time passed. For it is certain that the Pope will do nothing but for his own commodity, as it hath ben already right well seen in all that ever hath ben done by him & his, in these affairs. T. Show me wherein. D. Let us see if he have not always chosen apt & meat places to hold a Christian general Council, frank & free for all nations. Let us see what worthy Council there hath ben holden even to this day, at Mantua, at Vicenza, at Trent, at Bologna. The Almains have desired a Council, & that an assemble might be had, they have presented the confession of their faith, they have offered to maintain their doctrine by the word of God: ⟨p. 137⟩yet for all that they were never but alway condemned and holden for heretics and schismatics with all their reason, diets, and Councils, because they were not allowed by the holy Apostolic sea, nor signed with the mark of the beast. What is there then to be done? If there be a Council holden by the one sort, the other will condemn it. And on the other side: to tarry till all the contrary parties be agreed, as it were needful, that should be as far out of reason as to tarry until Herod and Pilate, Annas and Caiaphas, the Scribes and Pharisees, the Sadducees and Herodians, with all their whole Synagogues should agree with the Apostles and the church of christ, whom they persecuted and followed to the death. Shall we tarry till this great king of Babylon the Romish Antichrist, which beareth the three crowns in token that he is king of kings, which maketh his feasts and banquets to his princes & gentlemen, courtesans and whores, as did Balthazar the king of Babylon, do come, and throw down these three crowns, to take up the crown of Jesus Christ? and that he will leave his pleasures and delights, and change them into the poverty of the Apostles?

D. ANd if there should be holdē y• best Coūcell y• were possible to be assēbled in all the whole world, there is no doubt but yt the Pope & his would cōdēpne it. Yf it wer not to their mind. For it is an īpossibilitie, yt it shuld both please thē, and yet be a lawfull Coūcell. And to waite, yt the Pope & his should prouide for it, accordīg as it is mete, this should be a great folly: we se ye experiēce of their doings at this day in such matters, to be euē wholly such as was yt of the auncient heretikes in tyme passed. For it is certaine yt the Pope will do nothing but for his owne cōmoditie, as it hath ben already right well sene in all yt euer hath ben done by him & his, in these affaires. T. Shewe me wherin. D. Let vs see if he haue not alwayes chosen apte & meate places to holde a Christian general Coūcel, franck & free for all nations. Let vs see what worthy Councell there hath ben holden euen to this day, at Mantoa, at Vicēce, at Trent, at Bologne. The Almaignes haue desired a Coūcell, & yt an assēble mighte be had, they haue presēted ye confession of their fayth, they haue offered to maynetaine their doctrine by the woorde of God: ⟨p. 137⟩yet for all that they were neuer but alway condemned and holden for heretikes and schismatikes with al their reason, diets, and Councells, because they were not allowed by the holy Apostolike sea, nor signed with the marke of the beast. What is there then to be done? If there be a Councell holden by the one sort, the other will condempne it. And on the other side: to tary til all the contrary parties be agreed, as it were needefull, that shoulde bee as farre out of reason as to tarie vntill Herode and Pilate, Annas and Cayphas, the Scribes and Phariseis, the Saduces and Herodians, with all their whole Sinagoges should agrée with the Apostles and the church of christ, whom they persecuted and followed to the death. Shall we tary til this great king of Babilon the Romyshe Antichrist, which beareth the three crownes in token yt he is king of kinges, which maketh hys feasts and banckets to his princes & gentlemē, curtyzanes and whoores, as dyd Balthazar the king of Babilon, doe come, and throwe downe these three crownes, to take vp the crowne of Iesus Christ? and that he wil leaue his pleasures and delites, and chaunge them into the pouertie of the Apostles?

Shall we tarry till he and his (which drink the blood of poor innocents in cups of silver & gold, which they have robbed and spoiled from the temple of God) will deliver up the town of Babylon, and to make it subject to Jesus Christ the king of kings, of whom they have stolen the titles, and occupied the Lordships? And that they will restore to the temple of God, and to the holy city Jerusalem that: which they have stolen from them, and to shed their blood, to fight under his ensign, and to build up unto him his holy city and to render unto him his ornaments and vessels, whereof they have spoiled him? T. I believe that his meaning is far otherwise, and that he hath determined to get more, for he is not yet full. D. No, nor never will: but will be always more hungry and insatiable, he will never yield until the time that God himself do come and write the sentence upon the wall or furniture thereof, ⟨p. 138⟩as he did to Balthazar the king of Babylon his predecessor, & until the time that he be beaten flat down by the sword of ¹God, & Babylon taken & won: according to the destruction thereof fore showed in the Apocalypse. And so shall there never be any remedy, but they shall go on from evil to worse.²

Shall we tarye till he and his (which drincke ye bloude of poore innocentes in cuppes of siluer & golde, which they haue robbed and spoyled from the temple of God) will deliuer vp the towne of Babilon, and to make it subiecte to Iesus Christ the king of kings, of whom they haue stollen the titles, and occupyed ye Lordships? And that they will restore to the temple of God, and to the holy citie Ierusalem that: whiche they haue stollen from them, and to shedde their bloude, to fight vnder his enseigne, and to builde vp vnto him his holye citye and to render vnto hym hys ornamentes and vessells, whereof they haue spoyled him? T. I beleue that his meaning is farre otherwise, and yt he hath determined to get more, for he is not yet full. D. No, nor neuer will: but will be alwaies more hungrye and insatiable, he wil neuer yeld vntill the tyme that God himself do come and write the sentence vpon the wall or furniture thereof, ⟨p. 138⟩as he did to Balthazar ye king of Babilon his predecessor, & vntill the time that he be beaten flat downe by the sword of

¶ What prayers all men ought to make for their princes, to the end that they may employ that power which God hath given them, to the aid of the people of God: what a blessing of God it is upon such people as have such princes.

¶ VVhat prayers all men ought to make for their princes, to the end that they maye employe that povver vvhich God hath geuen them, to the ayde of the people of God: vvhat a blessing of God it is vpō such people as haue such princes.

T. What is there then to be done in y• mean while? D. It seemeth to me that I can not for this present give better coū cell, than to will men first to pray unto the Lord, that he will first stir up for us good kings & princes, & to touch their harts, as he hath already touched the hearts of Cyrus and Darius kings of the Medians & of the Persians, to make them to come ¹by the means of the true Ministers of Jesus Christ, to besiege that great City Babylon, & to destroy that cruel beast, renouncing the mark of the same, which they have so long time borne, & to deliver the poor innocents, and the poor people of God which are captive: & to take them from the burning furnace of Babylon, to the end ye being without fear of our enemies we might serve Jesus Christ our king, in all freedom of spirit. But this can not be brought by the sword, by arms, nor by mans power, but only by the cutting sword of God, which is in the mouth of Jesus Christ, by whose breath the wicked & ungodly ²shall be destroyed. Wherefore those people unto whom God hath given so great graces to have such princes and Lords: which employ their power which God hath given them, to the edifying of the holy city of God, & the ruin of Babylon his enemy, & do submit the temporal sword which they have received of God, to the sword of Jesus Christ & his word, & employ it only to serve him: have good occasion to render thanks unto God for y• great benefit which he hath bestowed upon them, & to pray unto him effectually to conserve & maintain ⟨p. 139⟩such princes, & daily to increase his graces in them, following the counsel of S. Paul in his exhortation which he made to the Christians, concerning that prayers which should be made in the Church. I do warn you then (saith he) that before all things men make request, prayers, supplications & render thanks for all men, for kings and for all others which are ordained in dignity, to the end that we may lead a peaceable life in all fear of God, and honesty, for that is good and agreeable before God our Lord.

T. WHat is ther thē to be done in y• meane while? D. It semeth to me yt I cā not for this presēt geue better coū cell, thē to will mē first to praye vnto ye Lorde, yt he will first sturre vp for vs good kings & princes, & to touch their harts, as he hath alreadie touched ye hartes of Cyrus and Darius kinges of ye Medians & of ye Persians, to make thē to come

¶ What Counsel they ought to follow, which have princes that are tyrants and enemies to the Gospel: and of the preparation to the cross for the same.

¶ VVhat Councell they ought to follovve, vvhich haue princes that are tyrauntes and enemyes to the Gospell: and of the preparacion to the crosse for the same.

T. This Counsel is very good. But what sayest thou of them which in stead of such princes, have cruel tyrants, who being drunk with the cup of the great whore of Babylon, do persecute furiously the poor children of God, & do daily bathe their bloody sword in the blood of the poor sheep of Jesus Christ? D. Let them pray heartily to God, that it may please him to appease their rage and fury, and that he will so change their hearts, that where they have been persecutors, they may become true feeders of the flock which God hath committed unto them, to save and defend them from the rage of that cruel beast, whose mark they have to long worn. In the mean time, because it is more to be feared that many of the Princes, Lords, and Magistrates, which have already tasted of the word of God, and laid hands to his work, should not loose their taste and wax cold, or should rebel against Jesus Christ in process of time, then there is of hope, according to mans judgement, and the face which the world showeth unto us at this present, that those which resist the truth will embrace it, receive & maintain it: therefore it is very needful in these latter days ye every man make ready himself betime to the cross. We have the experience hereof very plainly in many places.

T. THis Councell is very good. But what sayest thou of them which in stead of suche princes, haue cruell tyrauntes, who being dronke with the cup of the great whore of Babilon, do persecute furiously the poore childrē of God, & do dayly bathe their bloudie sworde in ye bloud of the poore shepe of Iesus Christ? D. Let them pray hartely to God, yt it may please him to appease their rage and fury, and that he will so chaunge their hartes, yt where they haue bene persecutours, they may become true feeders of the flocke which God hath committed vnto them, to saue and defend them frō the rage of that cruell beast, whose marke they haue to long worne. In ye meane time, because it is more to be feared that manye of the Princes, Lordes, and Magistrates, which haue alreadye tasted of the worde of God, and layde handes to hys worke, shoulde not loose their taste and waxe colde, or shoulde rebell agaynst Iesus Christ in proces of tyme, then there is of hope, according to mans iudgement, and the face which the worlde sheweth vnto vs at thys present, that those whiche resiste the truth will embrace it, receaue & maintaine it: therfore it is very nedeful in these latter daies ye euery mā make ready himself betime to ye crosse. We haue ye experience herof very plainly in many places.

D. It is not to be marvelled at. For Satan is continually most busted, about those personages that are most excellent. And also there is the corruption of our nature, and the favour or fear of men, which perverteth many. Therefore he that will be of the children of God, let him always have in his ¹mind these worthy sentences of Jesus Christ & of his Apostles: Who soever will be my disciple, let him give over himself, & bear his cross continually after me, and follow me. ²And again, who soever will live holily in Christ, he must suffer persecution. Again, men must enter into the kingdom of heaven by many tribulations. The time shall come that he which shall put you to death shall think he doth God service. For we should greatly deceive our selves if that we should promise to our selves in this world any rest and any estate or peaceable reign, abounding in all kind of pleasures & voluptuousness, and a continual peace, without any trouble or affliction. For we may not think that the kingdom of Jesus Christ, is any such reign, for so much as his kingdom is not of this world. Therefore he that would have such ³an one, let him seek it at yt hand of Antichrist: for his kingdom is in deed of this world. And further, when we are in this sort disposed, I know no better means, than to travail with all diligence to understand aright the will of God, by his word, and to amend our life according to y• rule thereof: desiring him earnestly to give us true understanding, & a hart to follow the same, & then welcome be what he shall send.

D. It is not to be maruelled at. For Sathan is continually most busted, about those personages that ar most excellent. And also there is the corruption of our nature, and the fauour or feare of men, which peruerteth many. Therfore he yt will be of ye children of God, let him alwayes haue in hys ¹minde these worthy sentences of Iesus Christ & of his Apostles: Who soeuer wil be my disciple, let him geue ouer himself, & beare his crosse continually after me, and followe me. ²

¶ Of the study of holy Scriptures, and of the decree which was made in the Council of Nice concerning the same: and of the excellency and authority of the Bible, and of his decrees.

¶ Of the studye of holy Scriptures, and of the decree vvhiche vvas made in the Councell of Nice concerning the same: and of the excellencie and authoritye of the Bible, and of his decrees.

T. I Find your Counsel, & your resolution very good, & for my part it seemeth unto me, that you have spoken that which is the most sure, & our duty is to enquire with all diligence, & by all means of the will of God, by his holy Scriptures. D. It is the Counsel y• Jesus Christ himself giveth, which saith: ⟨p. 141⟩Search you yt Scriptures: let us follow y• example of those of Beroa of whom it is spoken in the Acts of the Apostles. They ¹were not like to a rabble of obstinate persons, which will not hear at all: nor like unto a number of vain people, which lightly do allow all that ever is set forth unto them, without taking any deliberation, and not proving yt spirits whether they be of God or no: For they heard S. Paul, & then they searched the scriptures, to see if it were so as Paul had taught. And when they saw that he spake according to the Scriptures, they received his doctrine, as the doctrine of God. T. Here was a good order o proceeding. D. It is certain, for we must every one of us answer for himself in proper person, before the judgement seat of God, & not for others, nor yet by attorneys. Wherefore if others will not do their duty, but will tarry for a Council, let not us fail to do our duty & to follow better Counsel, if we may attain unto it. And if a Council be of value, why do we look for new councils? Why do we not cleave unto the old, which are holden long since, & ought to be of greater authority then the new? If we believe not & obey the ancient Councils, why shall we believe & obey the new, let us rather obey the Council of Nice which did ordain y• there should be none among the Christians but they should have Bibles, to learn in them the will of God: then to that in the which Antichrist & his Doctors have forbidden the common people to have them, & to read them in their natural tongues against the determination of the Christian Council. For the book of the Bible is the true book of the true and lawful Councils, and of the eternal ordinances of God, wherefore S. Augustine not without good cause said, that the authority of the scriptures is much greater then all the understanding of man is able to comprehend & know, how subtle, fine and perfect so ever it be: with the which sentence S. Chrysostom agreeth well, saying that the Council may ordain nothing against the word of God:

for what so ever ¹is ordained against the holy Scripture, is error.

for what so euer ¹is ordayned against the holy Scripture, is errour.

1. 1Hom. de perfect. Evang,Hom. de perfect. Euang,

¶ Of the true Councils which do excel all the rest in authority & are the rule by the which all the rest must be examined.

¶ Of the true Councels vvhich do excell al the reste in authority & ar the rule by the which al the rest must be examined.

T. Those which desire a Council, should consider in the same, what hath been ordained by yt ancient Councils, & by the holy Scriptures: to the end that men may know which is the true doctrine of the Church, & which men ought to embrace. D. We have very good mean to know it, and not to tarry at all for a Council. For among all the Councils there are chiefly two of the authority, that all the rest are nothing in comparison of them, by whom all the rest must be measured: whose decrees are so plain, that there is no doubt in them but that every man that will be governed by them, may understand them: as it is needful for all those that will be saved. T. I did think there had been four general Councils, to wit, that of Nice, of Constantinople, of Ephese, and of Chalcedone, the which S. Gregory confesseth to receive, allow, and honour, as he doth the four books of the holy ¹Gospel. D. I do also confess that these four were yt principal of all those that were holden sith the Apostles time: but it seemeth to me that Gregory doth give unto them more authority then he ought to do in comparing them to the books of the four Evangelists. But what soever they be, the two of the which I speak, are yet much more ancient then are those, & of far greater authority, for God himself in proper person did there preside, & did speak with his own mouth, & did there show his presence in great majesty, and by great and excellent miracles & tokens. T. In what place and at what time were these Councils holden? D. The first was holden in the Mount Sinai, in the beginning of the third month, after that God had brought the people of Israel forth of the land of Egypt. The other was holden in the country of Jewry, namely in the Mount Zion, in the City of Jerusalem, at that time that our Lord Jesus Christ was seen upon earth, and that he did accompany among men in the form of man, but they were called and assembled by other mean ⟨p. 143⟩then the Councils of the Papists, & holden in other sort.

T. THose which desire a Councell, shoulde consider in the same, what hath bene ordained by yt auncient Councells, & by the holy Scriptures: to the end yt men may know which is the true doctrine of ye Church, & which men oughte to embrace. D. We haue very good meane to know it, and not to tarye at all for a Councell. For among al the Councells there are chieflye two of ye authoritie, that all the reast are nothing in comparison of them, by whom all the reast must be measured: whose decrees are so plaine, yt there is no doubt in them but yt euery man yt wil be gouerned by them, may vnderstand them: as it is nedefull for al those yt will be saued. T. I did thinke there had bene foure generall Councells, to witte, that of Nice, of Constantinople, of Ephese, and of Chalcedone, the which S. Gregory confesseth to receaue, allowe, and honour, as he doth the foure bookes of the holy