Furthermore the Church which is called Christs Church, and is not so in deed, hath in it none of those things which it ought for to have, for they ⟨image 147⟩neither trust in God, nor in Christ, nor in his word, but put their confidence in other matters, and make diverse Laws and Customs of Religion, and the service of GOD contrary to Gods word, and having among themselves infinite Sects, yet will they be called the Catholic Church. And in this Church the godly Magistrate hath power and authority to make and ordain Laws and Statutes for the abolishing and taking away of those things which are ordained contrary to the will and word of almighty GOD. For David, Solomon, Jehoshaphat, Hezekiah, Josiah, Constantinus, and other godly Princes are evident examples hereof. Therefore when the Magistrate for the profit and reformation of the Church, doth ordain Statutes and Laws agreeable to the word of GOD, they ought most diligently to be obeyed of all men, yea and if need require, the magistrate must be assisted in them: and those which will not so do, but resist their Magistrates, shall be most sharply ⟨p. 145⟩punished of GOD. But the Popes and Prelates of the Romish Church, to the end they may defend and maintain their honours, pride, riches, pleasures, and horrible wickedness, have hither unto persuaded with Princes, Noble men, and Magistrates, yea and by force have hereunto constrained them, that they should believe, that the laws and reformations which touched their Pontifical state, were clean contrary to the holy church, God himself, and all equity and Justice. And by this means they did not only maintain their pomp and pride, but did also daily increase the same, when as yet rather it had been their parts to have called them selves to accounts, and to have considered diligently the state of the Church, and of the afflicted Christendom, and so to provide for the same, and not only to exhort the Magistrates, but also to help them, and further them in the reformation hereof, and for the speedier redress to begin even with themselves. For these are the last times, ⟨image 148⟩and the judgement of the Lord, (in the which they •. all render a most sharp account,) is not far off.
Furthermore the Churche which is called Chrystes Churche, and is not so in déede, hathe in it none of those things whiche it oughte for to haue, for they ⟨image 147⟩neither truste in God, nor in Chryste, nor in his woorde, but put their confidence in other matters, and make diuerse Lawes and Customes of Religion, and the seruice of GOD contrary to Gods woorde, and hauing among themselues insimte Sectes, yet wyll they bée called the Catholyke Churche. And in thys Churche the godly Magistrate hathe power and authoritie to make and ordeyne Lawes and Statutes for the abolyshing and taking away of those thinges whiche are ordeyned contrary to the wyll and woorde of almightie GOD. For Dauid, Salomon, Josaphat, Ezechias, Josias, Constantinus, and other godly Princes are euident examples héereof. Therfore when the Magistrate for the profite and reformation of the Church, dothe ordeyne Statutes and Lawes agreable to the woorde of GOD, they ought moste diligently to bée obeyed of al men, yea and if nede require, the magistrate must bée assisted in them: and those which will not so doo, but resiste their Magistrates, shall bée most sharply ⟨p. 145⟩punished of GOD. But the Popes and Prelates of the Romish Church, to the ende they may defend and maintayne their honours, pryde, ryches, pleasures, and horrible wyckednesse, haue hither vnto persuaded with Princes, Noble men, and Magistrates, yea and by force haue héerevnto constrayned them, that they shoulde beléeue, that the lawes and reformations whiche touched their Pontificall state, were cleane contrary to the holy churche, God himselfe, and all equitie and Justice. And by this meanes they dyd not onely mayntayne their pompe and pryde, but dyd also dayly encrease the same, when as yet rather it had béene their partes to haue called them selues to accountes, and to haue considered diligently the state of the Churche, and of the afflicted Christendome, and so to prouyde for the same, and not onely to exhorte the Magistrates, but also to helpe them, and further them in the reformation hereof, and for the spéedier redresse to beginne euen wyth themselues. For these are the laste tymes, ⟨image 148⟩and the indgemente of the Lorde, (in the whiche they •. all render a moste sharpe accounte,) is not farre off.
