By the which words he teacheth, that the church of Rome is no better than other churches, wheresoever they be in the whole world, and that the Bishops thereof have no more power or superiority of Priesthood, than other Bishops, whether they be in small or in great Cities. But if they ⟨p. 16⟩demand of the Church of Rome, which now is in the sort and manner1 as all men see, under these Bishops, and as it hath been also of late by the space of a few hundred years: I answer, that it altogether differeth from the state of the ancient and Apostolic Church of Rome, and therefore may in no wise be acknowledged for the universal and catholic Church, whereof it boasteth. For the signs of the true Church of Christ, built by the Apostles at Rome, and else where, are no more there to be sound: Namely the spirit of Christ, which loveth pure, modest, and humble hearts, and departeth from all impurity, arrogance and pride. Yea the word of truth, and that only voice of the true Pastor, is not only, not heard any more, now in the Church of Rome, purely, and truly taught, but it is also forbidden, and persecuted, with fire and sword: on the other side the doctrines of men, which is contrary to the word of GOD, is by violence and all manner of deceitful means ⟨image 28⟩maintained and thrust upon […]. That sincere faith, which ascribeth all mans salvation to that only Mediator between God and man, very God and very man our Lord Jesus Christ, is obscured: and those things which are to be sought in Christ, are appointed to be found in his creatures, and in the works of men. The invocation of God due to him alone, through our only mediator Jesus Christ, is turned from God, and attributed to many other his creatures, whom they by images do represent unto the simple and all other christians, to be honoured, even in their temples. The Sacraments of Christ are most shamefully abused for lucre, and are so mingled with the opinions and ordinances of men, that the sincerity and first institution of them, can very hardly be perceived, yea even of the faithful.
By the whiche woordes he teacheth, that the churche of Rome is no better than other churches, wheresoeuer they be in the whole woride, and that the Byshoppes thereof haue no more power or superioritie of Priesthoode, than other Byshoppes, whether they bee in small or in greate Cities. But if they ⟨p. 16⟩demaunde of the Churche of Rome, whiche nowe is in the sorte and maner1 as all men sée, vnder these Byshoppes, and as it hathe bene also of late by the space of a fewe hundred yeres: I aunswere, that it altogither differeth from the state of the auncient and Apostolyke Churche of Rome, and therefore may in no wyse bee acknowledged for the vniuersall and catholyke Churche, whereof it boasteth. For the signes of the true Churche of Chryst, buylte by the Apostles at Rome, and else where, are no more there to be sounde: Namely the spirite of Chryst, whych loueth pure, modest, and humble hearts, and departeth from all impuritie, arrogancie and pride. Yea the worde of truthe, and that only voyce of the true Pastor, is not onely, not hearde any more, nowe in the Churche of Rome, purely, and truely taughte, but it is also forbidden, and persecuted, with fyre and sworde: on the other side the doctrines of men, whiche is contrary to the worde of GOD, is by violence and all manner of deceytfull means ⟨image 28⟩mainteined and thrust vppo• 〈…〉. That sincere fayth, which ascribeth all mans saluation to that onely Me•iator betwéene God and man, very God and very man our Lorde Jesus Chryst, is obscured: and those things which are to be sought in Chryst, are appoynted to be founde in his creatures, and in the workes of men. The inuocation of God due to him alone, through our only mediator Jesus Chryst, is turned from God, and attributed to many other his creatures, whome they by images doo represent vnto the simple and all other christians, to be honered, euen in their temples. The Sacraments of Chryst are moste shamefully abused for lucre, and are so mingled with the opinions and ordinances of men, that the sinceritie and firste institution of them, can very hardely be perceiued, yea euen of the faythfull.
- 1The new or late Church of Rome is not the Catholic Church.The new or late Church of Rome is not the Catholicke Churche.
