The goodly Bull (a Gods name) proceedeth on still to lay together the rest of the articles of his accusation, against the Queens Majesty in these words. She hath (saith he) commanded her subjects to observe the wicked mysteries and ordinances which she her self hath taken up and observed according to Calvins setting forth. Also she hath set out books to her whole Realm, containing manifest heresy. But the lying and slanderous Bull shooteth wide all the field over. Perchance the Romish sort measure all men by themselves,1 and because they them selves hang wholly upon men, in so much as there be many thousands to be found among them, which both will be ⟨image 54⟩called, & have a pleasure to be called Benedictines of Benet, Franciscans of Francis, and diversly and sunderly after many others: and will both seem, to seem to live, and glory to live according to these mens ordinances rules, or appointments: therefore they imagine that we also would be called Lutherans of Luther, Zwinglians of Zuinglius, and Calvinists of Calvin, and that we hang wholly upon these mens ordinances: but it is not so. Paul the Apostle of Christ hath forbidden any such thing to be done in the Church,2 saying to the Corinthians. Every of you saith, I hold of Apollo, I of Cephas, and I of Christ. Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you?3 or were you baptized in Pauls name? And again, when one saith, I hold of Paul, and an other, I hold of Apollo, are ye not fleshly? Therefore the true Christians will be named but only after Christ. As for the names of men, be they never so excellent, we acknowledge them not in this case, neither do we regard or receive their ordinances further forth, then they agree in all points with Gods word: and when we receive them, we receive them not for their sakes, but for Gods words sake. And the Queen of Englands Majesty never received of Calvin, or of any other excellent and well learned men any ordinances to follow, nor never regarded them: and yet by the way, if any of them have taught any thing out of Gods pure word, no godly man can take scorn of: for the Queen in that reformation of hers, had an eye only to the lively word of God, delivered unto us by the holy scriptures, and so she settled all matters of religion upon the very word of God, and not upon any men. David speaking of Gods word saith in the 119. Psalm:4
THe goodly Bull (a Gods name) proceedeth on still to lay together the rest of the articles of his accusation, against the Quéenes Maiestie in these wordes. She hath (sayth he) commaunded hir subiectes to obserue the wicked misteries and ordinaunces which she hir selfe hath taken vp and obserued according to Caluins setting forth. Also she hath set out bookes to hir whole Realme, contayning manifest heresie. But the lying and slaunderous Bull shooteth wide al the féeld ouer. Perchance the Romish sort measure al men by themselues,1 and because they them selues hang wholy vpon men, in so much as there be many thousandes to be found among them, which both will be ⟨image 54⟩called, & haue a plesure to be called Benedictines of Benet, Franciscanes of Frauncis, and diuersly and sunderly after many others: and will both séeme, to séeme to liue, and glorie to liue according to these mens ordinances rules, or appointmentes: therefore they imagine that we also woulde be called Lutherans of Luther, Zuinglians of Zuinglius, and Caluinistes of Caluine, and that we hang wholy vpon these mens ordinaunces: but it is not so. Paule the Apostle of Christ hath forbidden any such thing to be done in the Church,2 saying to the Corrinthians. Euery of you sayth, I hold of Apollo, I of Cephas, and I of Christ. Is Christ deuided? was Paule crucifyed for you?3 or were you baptized in Paules name? And againe, when one sayth, I hold of Paule, and an other, I holde of Apollo, are ye not fleshly? Therefore the true Christians will be named but onely after Christ. As for the names of men, be they neuer so excellent, we acknowledge them not in this case, neither do we regard or receyue theyr ordinances furtherfoorth, then they agree in all poyntes with Gods woorde: and when we receiue them, we receiue thē not for their sakes, but for Gods wordes sake. And the Quéene of Englands Maiestie neuer receiued of Caluin, or of any other excellent and well learned men any ordinaunces to follow, nor neuer regarded them: and yet by the way, if any of them haue taught any thing out of Gods pure woord, no godly man can take scorn of: for the Quéene in that reformation of hirs, had an eye onely to the liuely woord of God, deliuered vnto vs by the holy scriptures, and so she setled all matters of religion vppon the very woord of God, and not vpon any men. Dauid speaking of Gods woord sayth in the 119. Psalme:4
- 1True Christians entitle not themselves after any men.True Christians entitle not thēselues after any men.
- 21. Cor. 1.
- 31. Cor. 3.
- 4The majesty of Gods word.The maiestie of Gods worde.
