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…

And when the Apostles had received the holy Ghost, they utterly displaced all ambition and desire of sovereignty out of their hearts, perceiving now, that no such thing as they and the Jews had hitherto surmised, was to be sought or looked for in the kingdom and Church of Christ, but far greater and diviner things, namely spiritual things. And therefore according to their Lord & masters commandment, travelling over the whole world, they so behaved them selves, that in all things they were sound to be the very Disciples and followers of their master: endowed with lowliness, & not with Lordliness, & renowned for their faithful service, & not for stately superiority. For they not only preached the Gospel purely without mens forgeries and traditions: but also were wont to reverence kings as next unto God in earth and chief of all men, and to call them their Lords, and to pay them tribute, and to obey them faithfully, and to pray for their welfare without ceasing, yea and to threaten Gods vengeance to such as refused obedience to the Magistrate commanding no wickedness. They no where intermeddled them selves in worldly affairs, insomuch as they cast even the care of the poor (which otherwise is most holy,) upon the shoulders of the Deacons, verily to the end they might the earnestlyer apply them selves to the preaching of the word. They no where usurped to them selves the benches of judges or the thrones of princes, and much less did they depose any king or prince from his kingdom, were he never so wicked, (and yet there is no man ignorant what the Roman presidents were that lived in the time of the Apostles, full of covetousness, lechery, and pride: and the posterity of Herod even venomous slips: yea and the Emperors them selves most filthy and ungracious persons as the Tyberiusses, the Caligulaze, the Claudiusses and the Neroes) or discharge his people of their allegiance, or contend with any prince for the sovereignty, and much less did they ever purpose or practise to place & exalt them ⟨image 32⟩selves above him. Nay rather they suffered sore persecution, the which they overcame by patience, and not by violent withstanding, nor by practises and policies of malicious wiliness: and gathered very great Churches unto Christ out of the whole world by preaching the Gospel over all the earth. S.

ANd when the Apostles had receiued the holy Ghost, they vtterly displaced all ambition and desire of souereintie out of their hartes, perceiuyng now, that no such thing as they and the Iewes had hitherto surmised, was to be sought or looked for in the kyngdome and Church of Christ, but farre greater and diuiner thinges, namely spirituall thynges. And therfore accordyng to their Lord & maisters cōmaundement, traueling ouer the whole world, they so behaued them selues, that in all thinges they were sound to be the very Disciples and folowers of their maister: endewed with lowlinesse, & not with Lordlinesse, & renowmed for their faithfull seruice, & not for stately superioritie. For they not onely preached the Gospell purely without mens forgeries and traditiōs: but also were wont to reuerence kynges as next vnto God in earth and chief of all men, and to call them their Lordes, and to pay them tribute, and to obey them faithfully, and to pray for their welfare without ceasing, yea and to threaten Gods vengeance to such as refused obedience to the Magistrate commaunding no wickednesse. They no where intermedled them selues in worldly affaires, in somuch as they cast euē the care of the poore (which otherwise is most holy,) vpon the shoulders of the Deacons, verely to the end they might the earnestlyer apply them selues to the preaching of the word. They no where vsurped to them selues the benches of iudges or the thrones of princes, and much lesse did they depose any kyng or prince from his kingdome, were he neuer so wicked, (and yet there is no man ignoraunt what the Romane presidentes were that liued in the time of the Apostles, full of couetousenesse, lechery, and pride: and the posteritie of Herode euen venemouse slippes: yea and the Emperours them selues most filthie and vngracious persons as the Tyberiusses, the Caligulaze, the Claudiusses and the Neroes) or discharge his people of their allegeāce, or contend with any prince for the souereintie, and much lesse did they euer purpose or practise to place & exalt them