A17167:71
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.
I Know well enough it offendeth many even in this discourse, that I use the term power so seldom, and the word ministry or ministration so often, when notwithstanding the Scripture doth openly give power to the ministers, and it is commonly called the power of the keys. But how small a thing is that I beseech you, if it be compared with the fullness of power which these men challenge to them selves openly? I grant in deed that the administration of the Church, or (if ye like it better) of the keys, is called power. For the Lord saith in the Gospel: Like as a man that at his going into a strange country, left his house and gave his servants power. &c. But who knoweth not that the power which is spoken of here, is none other but to do service or to minister: specially seeing that in an other Evangelist, it is more effectually opened what manner of power the same is, in these words: to give his household meat in due season, saith the Lord. Which thing no man will wrest to the fullness of power, but he that is past all shame. For the Lord speaketh manifestly of the preaching of the Gospel, whereby meat is set before the household, I mean before the Church of God. And when Paul to the Corinthians had termed the preaching of the Gospel the word of atonement:1 by and by expounding him self he addeth, that the office or ministration of preaching the atonement was given unto him: behold, here he calleth that thing a ministration, which he had even now ⟨image 23⟩called the word. And he addeth again, that Christ by the ministers exhorteth men to be at one with God. What power (I pray you) shall the faithful minister claim by this gear? Rightly therefore do some men give warning, that the power by law is one thing, and the power by ministration is an other. The power by law is that whereby each man as an owner hath power over the things that are his own, subject to his own commandment and not to an other mans. After this sort the Lord hath power over the Church,2 who saith in the Gospel: All power is given to me in heaven and in earth. So is it said before, that Christ hath the key of David, of death, and of hell. This power is communicated to no creature, but remaineth to God alone. Therefore except they will be false ministers, they will never take this power upon them.