A17167:48
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…
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 not even by the gift of the keys unto Peter, there is any fullness of power delivered by the Lord, either unto Peter, or unto the Pope, for that the keys are a far other thing, yea and a thing of much greater holiness then is the said fullness of the popish power.
¶That not euen by the gift of the keyes vnto Peter, there is any fulnesse of power deliuered by the Lord, either vnto Peter, or vnto the Pope, for that the keyes are a farre other thing, yea and a thing of much greater holinesse then is the sayd fulnesse of the popish power.
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.