A17167:38
A confutation of the Popes bull which was published more then two years ago against Elizabeth the most gracious Queen of England, France, and Ireland, and against the noble realm of England together with a defence of the said true Christian Queen, and of the whole realm of England. By Henry Bullinger the Elder.A confutation of the Popes bull which was published more then two yeres agoe against Elizabeth the most gracious Queene of England, Fraunce, and Ireland, and against the noble realme of England together with a defence of the sayd true Christian Queene, and of the whole realme of England. By Henry Bullinger the Elder.
London: printed by John Day, 1572London: printed by Iohn Day, 1572
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
That sword of theirs whereof they made their vaunt being stricken out of their hand, by and by they make hast to the rock whereupon the Church is founded, and consequently unto Peter and his keys. For in these and by him, they avouch themselves to have received power and most full sovereignty, both of heaven & earth. And there they blaze out wonders of the building of the Church upon Peter, and of the keys and wonderful working power of them, alleging for themselves the words of our saviour which are written in the xvi. chap. of the gospel of S. Matthew. But these men with their sacrilege, they are never able to clear themselves, or make amends therefore do corrupt this most holy place replenished with healthful doctrine and consolation. Which thing by gods help I will evidently show to the godly readers by the things that ensue. The Lord in that place demandeth of his disciples, whom men take him to be. His disciples answer, how there be divers judgements and opinions of him among the people: some saying him to be Elijah, some Jeremiah, &c. And by that question it was the Lords will to do them to wit, how there have alway been, & always shall be diversity of opinions in the world concerning religion: how be it, that no man ought to be offended at that diversity: for we read also the Lords Apostle hath said there must needs be heresies,1 to the end, that such as be tried among you, may be made manifest. And unto the former question, the Lord addeth forthwith an other, namely, what the disciples who had heard Christ now a long while, and therefore doubtless were better seen in matters of Religion than ⟨image 13⟩the common sort were, I say what opinion they themselves had of Christ. And by this other question of his he showed, that the sure and true confession in matters of Religion is to be asked at the hand of the children of God: for they must not waver as the children of this world do, and be sure of nothing, nor apply themselves to every kind of opinion after the liking and course of this world. Truly in many other places of the scripture also, is required a singular and true confession of faith, at the hands of every one of gods children. To this question Saint Peter, not so much in his own name, as in the name of all the other disciples, uttereth a singular confession, saying:
THat sword of theirs wherof they made their vaunte being striken out of their hand, by and by they make hast to the rocke wherupon the Church is founded, and consequently vnto Peter and his keyes. For in these and by him, they auouch themselues to haue receiued power and most full soueraigntie, both of heauen & earth. And there they blaze out wonders of the building of the Church vpon Peter, and of the keyes and wonderfull working power of them, alledging for themselues the wordes of our sauiour which are written in the xvi. chap. of the gospell of S. Mathew. But these men with their sacriledge, they are neuer able to cleare themselues, or make amends therfore do corrupt this most holy place replenished with healthfull doctrine and consolation. Which thing by gods helpe I wil euidently shew to the godly readers by ye things that ensew. The Lord in that place demaundeth of his disciples, whom men take him to bée. His disciples aunswer, how there be diuers iudgementes and opinions of hym among the people: some saying him to be Helias, some Ieremy, &c. And by that question it was the Lordes wil to do them to wit, how there haue alway bene, & alwayes shalbe diuersitie of opinions in the world concerning religiō: how be it, that no man ought to be offended at that diuersitie: for we read also the Lordes Apostle hath sayd there must néedes be heresies,1 to the ende, that such as be tryed among you, may be made manifest. And vnto the former questiō, the Lord addeth forthwith an other, namely, what the disciples who had heard Christ now a long while, and therefore doutlesse were better séene in matters of Religion thē ⟨image 13⟩the common sort were, I say what opiniō they themselues had of Christ. And by this other question of his he shewed, that the sure and true confession in matters of Religion is to be asked at the hand of the children of God: for they must not wauer as the children of this world do, and be sure of nothing, nor apply themselues to euery kinde of opinion after the liking and course of this world. Truly in many other places of the scripture also, is required a singular and true confession of fayth, at the handes of euery one of gods children. To this question Saint Peter, not so much in his owne name, as in the name of all the other disciples, vttereth a singular confession, saying:
Thou art Christ the son of the living God, very God (I say) and very man, even that same anointed, namely, the Messiah or Christ that was to come into the world. The king I say, and priest, the mediator, pacifier, redeemer, and salvation of the whole world. And that this confession is the true and sincere confession, Paul also the apostle of Christ, showeth in the third, fourth and tenth chapters to the Romans, and in many other places.
Thou art Christ ye sonne of the liuing God, very God (I say) and very mā, euen that same anoynted, namely, the Messias or Christ that was to come into the world. The king I say, and priest, the mediator, pacifier, redéemer, and saluation of the whole worlde. And that this confession is the true and sincere confession, Paule also the apostle of Christ, sheweth in the third, fourth and tenth chapters to the Romaines, and in many other places.
The Lord liking well of this confession, saith unto Peter, Blessed art thou Simon the son of Jonah: giving to understand in these short words, what and how great the force of true faith in Christ is: namely, even to justify and make blessed, that is to say, to make partakers of eternal life, which thing the apostle showeth in large words in his Epistles to the Romans, Galatians, Ephesians, & in other places. Furthermore the Lord immediately addeth from whence cometh that same so excellent faith, saying: flesh & blood hath not opened it unto thee, but my father which is in heaven. Faith then hath not his original in us or of us, but is given us from heaven by the father of light, according as the Apostle witnesseth in many places, and the Lord himself saith in John:1 No man cometh unto me, except my father draw him.
The Lord liking well of this confession, sayth vnto Peter, Blessed art thou Simon the sonne of Ionas: geuing to vnderstand in these short wordes, what and how great the force of true fayth in Christ is: namely, euen to iustify and make blessed, that is to say, to make pertakers of eternall life, which thing the apostle sheweth in large wordes in his Epistles to the Romaines, Galathians, Ephesians, & in other places. Furthermore the Lord immediatly addeth frō whence commeth that same so excellent fayth, saying: flesh & bloud hath not opened it vnto thée, but my father which is in heauen. Fayth then hath not his originall in vs or of vs, but is geuen vs from heauen by the father of lyght, according as the Apostle witnesseth in many places, and the Lord himselfe saith in Iohn:1 No man commeth vnto me, except my father draw him.
Moreover this faith grafteth us in Christ, and maketh ⟨p. 8⟩us Christians, for there followeth in the Lords words, And thou art Peter, namely, for confessing of the rock. Petra, now what a rock is, there is no man but he knoweth. And in the scriptures it is every where Metaphorically applied unto God, because he is the strength, the steadiness, the refuge, and the foundation of the faithful, whereupon they rest, and in whom only they be preserved. Of this (Petra) rock, was Simon the son of Jonah called Peter, which name implieth as much as if a man should say, grounded upon the rock God, and grafted into Christ the son of God: steadfast, and so consequently a Christian, for the doctors & interpreters of holy scripture do term Christians, Peters also, because that being settled by faith upon the rock Christ, they draw steadiness, strength, and life out of him, so as through the operation of Christ, they be all their life long steadfast in faith, & honour Christ with all kind of virtues. And Peter himself also expounding this mystery unto us,1 sayeth: Christ (the rock) is the living stone, forsaken in deed of men, but chosen and precious unto God, upon whom we also as lively stones are builded, that we may be a spiritual house, offering spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. Whosoever are not such Peters or stones, there is no cause that they should glory at all of the name of Peter or Christians: for they continue that which they be, even the children of this world.
Moreouer this fayth grafteth vs in Christ, and maketh ⟨p. 8⟩vs Christians, for there followeth in the Lordes wordes, And thou art Peter, namely, for confessing of the rocke. Petra, now what a rocke is, there is no man but he knoweth. And in the scriptures it is euery where Metaphorically applyed vnto God, because he is the strength, the stedinesse, the refuge, and the foundation of the faythfull, wheruppon they rest, and in whom only they be preserued. Of this (Petra) rocke, was Simon the sonne of Ionas called Peter, which name implyeth as much as if a man shoulde say, grounded vpon the rocke God, and grafted into Christ the sonne of God: stedfast, and so consequently a Christian, for the doctors & interpreters of holy scripture do terme Christians, Peters also, because that beyng setled by fayth vpon the rocke Christ, they draw stedinesse, strength, and lyfe out of him, so as through the operacion of Christ, they be all their lyfe lōg stedfast in fayth, & honor Christ with all kind of vertues. And Peter himselfe also expounding this mysterie vnto vs,
There followeth yet further in the Lords words, And upon this Rock will I build my Church. By which words Christ ascending from the particular to the general, and delivering an universal lesson to his Church, declareth most manifestly, that these things belong not to Peter alone, or to his disciples only: but to the Catholic, that is, to the universal church, whereof the foundation, Rock, and head, is Christ, upon whom being builded by faith, she shall obtain salvation. As if the Lord had said, not only Peter is so called, of me the Rock, but also as many as shall hereafter ⟨image 14⟩by Peters example, confess me to be Christ the son of the living God, and by this true faith settle themselves upon me the only foundation: all them will I take and acknowledge for my household, that is to say for my church And this (that is to say) Christ the Rock shall be the only foundation of Gods church in earth: and all they shall be members and citizens of this holy church, even as many as believe as Peter did, and settle themselves upon this foundation of soul health by the same faith. And this is it, that the Lord meant by saying: And upon this Rock will I build my Church.
There followeth yet further in ye Lordes wordes, And vpon this Rocke will I build my Church. By which woordes Christ ascending from the particular to the generall, and deliuering an vniuersall lesson to his Church, declareth most manifestly, that these thinges belong not to Peter alone, or to his disciples onely: but to the Catholike, that is, to the vniuersal church, wherof the foundacion, Rocke, and head, is Christ, vpon whom being builded by faith, she shal obtayne saluation. As if the Lord had sayd, not onely Peter is so called, of me the Rocke, but also as many as shal hereafter ⟨image 14⟩by Peters example, confesse me to be Christ the sonne of the liuing God, and by this true fayth settle themselues vpon me the onely foundation: all them will I take and acknowledge for my household, that is to say for my church And this (that is to say) Christ the Rocke shall be the only foundation of Gods church in earth: and all they shall be members and citizens of this holy church, euen as many as beleue as Peter did, and settle themselues vpon this foundation of soule health by the same fayth. And this is it, that the Lord ment by saying: And vpon this Rocke will I builde my Church.
And least any man may doubt of this simple and true exposition of the Lords words, considering how divers wrest them, and draw them some one way and some another: Behold, I will by other places of scripture also, confirm and enlighten this exposition above recited. Surely, the scripture doth every where agreeably witness, that by faith only in Christ, we be justified & grafted into Christ, and made members of Christ and his church, which is the communion of all saints, that is to say of the faithful, resting upon Christ: and that no creature (no not even Peter himself, & much less the bishop of Rome) can be the Rock, the head, & the foundation of the Catholic church. And least any man may think this thing hard and varying from the truth: forasmuch as it is directly against the decrees of the Romish church: Lo, I in this case bring in the clear and undoubted records of the holy Ghost himself speaking by the prophets and Apostles. David in the 18. psalm crieth out,1 saying: Who is God besides the Lord, and who is the Rock besides our God? And God himself in Isaiah saith: Behold, I lay a corner stone in Zion, a chosen one, a precious one: he that believeth in him and resteth upon him, shall not be ashamed. Moreover also the Apostle Paul sayeth:2 The Rock was Christ. 3And again, Other foundation can none be laid then is laid already, which is Jesus Christ. Which thing he expoū death yet more fully in his Epistle to the Ephesians.4 Whereunto ⟨p. 9⟩in all points agreeth the witness of S. Peter,5 who showeth out of David, that Jesus is that stone or Rock, whereupon it behoveth them to be builded by faith, which will become the house of God, or be made partakers of the church of Christ. Which things being undoubtedly so: These words of the Lord, Upon this Rock will I build my Church, must of necessity be understood of Christ alone, as who reigneth from heaven in his saints, as the head doth in the members, and from whom as the lively head, they be watered with the spirit, and suck life out of him, and through him do live a life beseeming him. And to be a head (as it is most manifestly gathered by the doctrine of the Apostles) is to be a Lord and Saviour, and to inspire life into the members that be subject to the head. Neither may the head at any time be from the body without the destruction of the body.
Seeing then that Christ is the only head of the Church, it behoveth him to be always with his Church. By reason whereof she hath no need of any deputy or vicegerent upon earth. For a deputy or vicegerent is the deputy or vicegerent of him that is absent. But Christ is evermore present with his Church: For he saith in the Gospel: I will be with you even to the uttermost end of the world, & will never leave you comfortless. Our religion therefore willeth us, and the uniform doctrine of the Prophets and Apostles willeth us to expound these things, not of Peter or of the Bishop of Rome, but of Christ only. Therefore if ye meet with any interpreters, be they old or new, that interpret the foresaid words of our Lord to be meant of Peter and the Pope: the authority of the Prophets and Apostles, yea and of this selfsame Peter too, ought to bear more sway with you, than the authority of any men else, whatsoever they be in the world. For Christ abideth everlastingly the foundation of his Church: and as for Peter, and the rest of the Apostles, and the ministers that have come in their rooms, they remain as workmasters of this building, which build, not upon them selves being men, ⟨image 15⟩but upon this only and everlasting foundation, according as the Apostle teacheth plainly in the third chapt. of the first Epistle to the Corinth. And let this be our brazen wall.
Seing then that Christ is the onely head of the Church, it behoueth him to be alwayes with his Church. By reason wherof she hath no néed of any deputie or vicegerent vpon earth. For a deputie or vicegerent is the deputie or vicegerent of him that is absent. But Christ is euermore present with his Church: For he sayth in the Gospell: I will be with you euen to the vttermost end of the world, & will neuer leaue you comfortlesse. Our religion therfore willeth vs, and the vniforme doctrine of the Prophets and Apostles willeth vs to expound these thinges, not of Peter or of the Bishop of Rome, but of Christ only. Therfore if ye méete with any interpreters, be they olde or new, that interprete the foresayd wordes of our Lord to be ment of Peter and the Pope: the authoritie of the Prophets and Apostles, yea and of this selfsame Peter too, ought to beare more sway with you, than the authoritie of any men els, whatsoeuer they be in the world. For Christ abideth euerlastingly the foundation of his Church: and as for Peter, and the rest of the Apostles, and the ministers that haue come in their roomes, they remaine as workmaisters of this building, which build, not vpon them selues being mē,
Neither fighteth it against this, that in the Apocalypse the City of God is said to have twelve foundations, and the names of the twelve Apostles written in them. For (saith Paul) there can none other foundation be laid then is laid already: notwithstanding, forasmuch as in the laying of this foundation, that is to say, in the preaching of Christ, the Apostles were Gods workfellowes & bestowed their travel faithfully thereabouts: therefore that City is said to have twelve foundations. For otherwise, the Apostle in his 2. chapt. to the Ephesians saith: You are fellow citizens with the saints, and Gods household meiny, builded upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, whereof the corner stone is Christ Jesus him self, in whom the whole building being cemented together, groweth to a temple in the Lord, upon whom you also are builded, to be a dwelling place for God through his spirit. And what man that hath his right wits, will, after these things, seek for manifester? Wherefore let all of us beware of that rotten and tottering foundation which the Court of Rome striveth to set under us.
Neither fighteth it against this, that in the Apocalips the Citie of God is sayd to haue twelue foundations, and the names of the twelue Apostles written in them. For (sayth Paule) there can none other foundation be layd then is layd already: notwithstanding, forasmuch as in the laying of this foundation, that is to say, in ye preaching of Christ, the Apostles were Gods workfellowes & bestowed their trauell faythfully theraboutes: therfore that Citie is sayd to haue twelue foundations. For otherwise, the Apostle in his 2. chapt. to the Ephesians sayth: You are fellow citizens wyth the sainctes, and Gods houshold meyny, builded vpon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, whereof the corner stone is Christ Iesus him selfe, in whom the whole buildyng beyng semented together, groweth to a temple in the Lorde, vpon whō you also are builded, to be a dwellyng place for God through hys spirite. And what man that hath his right wits, will, after these thinges, séeke for manifester? Wherfore let all of vs beware of that rotten and tottering foūdation which the Court of Rome striueth to set vnder vs.
We will yet hereunto add the words of our Lord that follow after, least any thing of this place may remain undiscussed. And the gates of hell (saith Christ) shall not prevail against it. By which words is declared the power and victoriousness of Christ, and of his Church, & of faith. The gates of hell are all kind of powers that are against it, yea even the power of Satan, which of all other is the strongest and noisomest to the faithful. And therefore it is said, that no force be it never so mighty, whether it be of Satan him self, or of the world, or of any other adversary power under heaven or in hell, shall prevail against Christ the Rock, and the Church that is builded upon the rock, which howsoever it be tempted and persecuted, must notwithstanding at length overcome in Christ, through ⟨p. 10⟩faith.1 For the Lord him self hath said: The prince of this world is already condemned and cast out. 2And again, Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. And John the Apostle:3 All that is born of God (saith he) overcometh the world: and the victory that overcometh the world is this, even your faith. Also, who is he that overcometh the world, but he which believeth that Jesus is the son of God? So I say, this place is opened plainly enough by laying together of the Scriptures. Now if I listed to play the Rhetorician here, I could with many words declare, that hell gates do not only prevail against the Romish Bishops and their Court, the filthiest that ever was: but also that the very prince of fiends him self obtaineth full and only sovereignty in them. Which thing I could without trouble show and prove both by the witness and by the complaints of the Bishops them selves. But let us overpass that abominable filthiness, and make hast to the opening of the residue of this place. For there is no man so blockish, that hath not now of late even felt with his hands, that in these words of the Lord there is nothing spoken of the unmeasurable power of the Pope, but that there be set out unto us far more heavenly and healthfuller things. Praise and thanks be given unto God.
We will yet héerunto adde the wordes of our Lorde that follow after, least any thing of this place may remain vndiscussed. And the gates of hell (sayth Christ) shall not preuayle agaynst it. By which wordes is declared the power and victoriousnesse of Christ, and of his Church, & of fayth. The gates of hell are all kinde of powers that are against it, yea euen the power of Sathan, which of all other is the strongest and noysomnest to the faythfull. And therfore it is sayd, that no force be it neuer so mighty, whether it be of Sathan him selfe, or of the world, or of any other aduersary power vnder heauen or in hell, shall preuaile against Christ the Rocke, and the Church that is builded vpon the rocke, which howsoeuer it be tempted and persecuted, must notwithstanding at length ouercome in Christ, through
The Lord addeth unto the premisses: And I will give thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou bindest upon earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatsoever thou loosest upon earth shall be loosed in heaven. ⟨image 16⟩By which words the Lord showeth again, that this charge concerning blessedness and eternal life, which he hath hitherto laid forth, pertaineth not only to Peter or the rest of the Apostles, but also unto all men through the whole world. Moreover he showeth the mean and manner how men are brought into the Church, that is to say, how they be builded upon the Rock and made members of Christ and the Church, and so enter into the kingdom of heaven. You Apostles (saith the Lord) shall open the way, and as it were by reaching out your hands bring men into the company of me and of my Saints, and consequently into the kingdom of heaven: and that shall be done by the preaching of the Gospel. For by faith we be grafted into Christ and his Church. But faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the preaching of the Gospel. And therefore (saith the Lord) I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, that is, I will commit unto you the charge of preaching the Gospel, to this end, that you shall go out into the whole world, and by declaring unto all men the remission of sins through me, set them loose that be fettered in the chains of their sins, and open the kingdom of heaven to them that believe: and on the other side bind those that shake of the preaching of the Gospel, that is to say, declare and witness unto them that they be subject to eternal damnation. And this your declaration and witnessing shall be so ratified and assured, that whomsoever ye loose or bind by my word upon earth, them will I also account as loosened or bound in heaven. And this is the simple meaning of Christs words, flowing out of the words them selves, without any racking of the words at all. Which meaning I will more clearly enlighten and more assuredly confirm by that which ensueth.
THe Lorde addeth vnto the premisses: And I will geue thee the keyes of the kingdome of heauen: and whatsoeuer thou byndest vpon earth shall be bound in heauen, and whatsoeuer thou loosest vppon earth shall be loosed in heauen. ⟨image 16⟩By which wordes ye Lord sheweth againe, that this charge concerning blessednesse and eternall life, which he hath hetherto layd forth, perteineth not onely to Peter or the rest of the Apostles, but also vnto all men through the whole world. Moreouer he sheweth the meane and maner how men are brought into the Church, that is to say, how they be builded vpon the Rocke and made members of Christ and the Church, and so enter into the kingdome of heauen. You Apostles (sayth the Lord) shall open the way, and as it were by reaching out your handes bring men into the company of me and of my Saintes, and consequently into the kingdome of heauē: and that shall be done by the preaching of the Gospell. For by fayth we be graffed into Christ and his Church. But fayth commeth by hearing, and hearing by the preaching of the Gospell. And therfore (sayth ye Lord) I will geue you the keyes of the kingdome of heauen, that is, I will commit vnto you the charge of preaching the Gospell, to this end, that you shall go out into the whole world, and by declaring vnto all men the remission of sinnes through me, set thē loose that be fettered in ye chaines of their sinnes, and open the kingdome of heauen to them that beleue: and on the other side bynde those that shake of the preaching of the Gospell, that is to say, declare and witnesse vnto them that they be subiect to eternall damnation. And this your declaration and witnessing shall be so ratified and assured, that whomsoeuer ye loose or binde by my worde vpon earth, them will I also account as loosened or bound in heauē. And this is the simple meaning of Christes wordes, flowing out of the wordes them selues, without any racking of the wordes at all. Which meaning I will more cléerly enlighten and more assuredly confirme by that which ensueth.
The word Keys, are not uttered always in one signification in the Scripture: For otherwise there is no man but he knoweth what they be in their proper signification: that is to wit, tools wherewithal the locks of ⟨p. 11⟩doors, chests, and such other things are opened or shut. And they be conveyed over from bodily things to spiritual things, from earthly things to heavenly things: and sometime they be taken for sovereign and full power, like as when we read in the Apocalypse that Christ hath the keys of David, of death, and of hell. For by that phrase of speech is betokened that Christ hath the sovereign and most absolute power or authority to govern the kingdom of David, and also full power over death it self, and over hell, and that he is able to deliver from death, or to thrust down into hell whomsoever he listeth. These Keys, that is to say, this power, belongeth only unto Christ, and no creature is partaker of it. Whereupon also in the Apocalypse the Lord saith with a vehemency, I have the Keys: and he saith not, I have had, but I have, I say I have them yet still, and will have them ever, & I resign them to no man.
The worde Keyes, are not vttered alwayes in one signification in the Scripture: For otherwise there is no man but he knoweth what they be in their proper signification: that is to wit, tooles wherwithall the lockes of ⟨p. 11⟩doores, chestes, and such other thinges are opened or shut. And they be conueyed ouer from bodily thinges to spirituall thinges, from earthly thinges to heauenly thinges: and sometime they be taken for souerein and full power, like as when we read in the Apocalips that Christ hath the keyes of Dauid, of death, and of hell. For by that phrase of spéech is betokened that Christ hath the souerein and most absolute power or authoritie to gouerne the kingdome of Dauid, and also full power ouer death it self, and ouer hell, and that he is able to deliuer from death, or to thrust down into hell whomsoeuer he listeth. These Keyes, that is to say, this power, belongeth onely vnto Christ, and no creature is partaker of it. Wherupon also in the Apocalips the Lord sayth with a vehemencie, I haue the Keyes: and he sayth not, I haue had, but I haue, I say I haue them yet still, and will haue them euer, & I resigne them to no man.
And least any man may doubt of this simple and true exposition of the Lordes wordes, considering how diuers wrest them, and draw them some one way and some another: Behold, I will by other places of scripture also, confirme and enlighten this exposition aboue recited. Surely, the scripture doth euery where agréeably witnesse, that by fayth onely in Christ, we be iustified & grafted into Christ, and made members of Christ and his church, which is the communion of all saintes, that is to say of the faythfull, resting vpon Christ: and that no creature (no not euē Peter himselfe, & much lesse the bishop of Rome) cā be the Rocke, the head, & the foundatiō of the Catholike church. And least any mā may thinke this thyng hard and varying from the truth: forasmuch as it is directly against the decrées of the Romish church: Loe, I in this case bring in the cleare and vndoubted recordes of the holy Ghost himselfe speaking by the prophetes and Apostles. Dauid in the 18. psalme cryeth out,1 saying: Who is God besides the Lord, and who is the Rocke besides our God? And God himselfe in Esay sayth: Behold, I lay a corner stone in Sion, a chosen one, a precious one: he that beleueth in him and resteth vppon him, shall not be ashamed. Moreouer also the Apostle Paule sayeth:2 The Rocke was Christ. 3And agayne, Other foundation can none be layde then is layd already, which is Iesus Christ. Which thing he expoū deth yet more fully in his Epistle to the Ephesians.4 Whervnto ⟨p. 9⟩in all pointes agréeth the witnesse of S. Peter,5 who sheweth out of Dauid, that Iesus is that stone or Rocke, wherupon it behoueth them to be builded by fayth, which will become the house of God, or be made pertakers of the churche of Christ. Which thinges being vndoubtedly so: These wordes of the Lord, Vpon this Rocke will I build my Church, must of necessitie be vnderstoode of Christ alone, as who reigneth from heauen in his saintes, as the head doth in the members, and from whom as the liuely head, they be watered with the spirite, and sucke lyfe out of hym, and through him do liue a lyfe beséeming hym. And to be a head (as it is most manifestly gathered by the doctrine of the Apostles) is to be a Lord and Sauiour, and to inspire life into the members that be subiect to the head. Neither may the head at any time be from the body without the destruction of the body.
