A confutation of the Popes bull which was published more then two years ago…A confutation of the Popes bull which was published more then two yeres agoe…

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,