But what answer will these Prelates1 make to that, that there was a glorious and scattered church of Christ throughout the world, before there was any Church of Christ at Rome, the which was not called the Church of Rome, but the Church of Christ, and was in every place where any faithful were? For the Popish Prelates them selves do confess, that Saint Peter came to Rome the second year of Claudius the Emperor: and that was ten years after the ascension of Christ, and that there he did begin and preach the Gospel. For the gospel sprang not up first at Rome, but it did spread from Jerusalem to Rome, and so into the whole world, whereupon some have called Jerusalem the mother Church. Therefore the Romish Church hath over ⟨image 31⟩soon and to quickly, desired the government of other Churches, and for that cause hath stirred up turmoils and discords: no small confusion and trouble, to the universal Church. Furthermore, not only in Grecia, but also in2 the south and in the east, there are many faithful, which not only do confess Jesus Christ, but also worship, call upon him, & serve him, and do undoubtedly appertain to the kingdom of Christ, although they be subject to the civill government of the tyrannous Lurk, and such like tyrants. Yet none of all these men care any whit at all for the Bishop of Rome, the church thereof, or for any customs or Ceremonies by the same Church devised or ordained, being contrary to the word of God: I say, they esteem them no more than we in this our age, and in this our country esteem them. And do they not now therefore appertain to the Church of Christ? Wherefore, it is evident, that Christ hath his church, yea even in those Countries. But when as in times paste, the Bishop ⟨p. 20⟩of Rome desired certain of those Nations, to submit them selves under the Church of Rome, they (as the Story testifieth) answered: We know your power and your pride: we can not satisfy your covetousness, nor will suffer your tyranny and unlawful lust: and therefore as we are, so we will remain. And yet these godly men refuse not to obey the Christian Church, but only they do refuse to obey the unlawful lust of these pontifical Prelates, and yet notwithstanding, love and serve Christ, yea so much the more, for that they submit not them selves to the Bishop of Rome.
But what aunswere wil these Prelates1 make to that, that there was a glorious and scattered church of Christ throughout the worlde, before there was any Church of Chryst at Rome, the whiche was not called the Churche of Rome, but the Churche of Chryste, and was in euery place where any faythfull were? For the Popish Prelates them selues doo confesse, that Saint Peter came to Rome the second yere of Claudius the Emperour: and that was tenne yeres after the ascention of Chryste, and that there he dyd beginne and preache the Gospell. For the gospel sprang not vp first at Rome, but it dyd spread from Hierusalem to Rome, and so into the whole worlde, wherevppon some haue called Hierusalem the mother Churche. Therefore the Romishe Churche hathe ouer ⟨image 31⟩soone and to quickly, desired the gouernment of other Churches, and for that cause hathe stirred vp turmoyles and discordes: no smal confusion and trouble, to the vniuersall Church. Furthermore, not onely in Grecia, but also in2 the south and in the east, there are many faythfull, whiche not onely doo confesse Jesus Christ, but also worship, cal vpon him, & serue him, and doo vndoubtedly appertayne to the kingdome of Chryst, although they be subiect to the ciuill gouernement of the tyrannous Lurke, and such like tyrants. Yet none of all these men care any whit at al for the Byshop of Rome, the church thereof, or for any customes or Ceremonies by the same Churche deuised or ordeined, beeing contrary to the worde of God: I say, they esteeme them no more than we in this our age, and in this our countrey esteeme them. And doo they not nowe therefore appertayne to the Churche of Chryste? Wherfore, it is euident, that Chryste hathe his church, yea euen in those Countreys. But when as in tymes paste, the Byshop ⟨p. 20⟩of Rome desired certayne of those Nations, to submitte them selues vnder the Churche of Rome, they (as the Storie testifieth) aunswered: VVee knowe your power and your pride: we can not satisfie your couetousnesse, nor wyll suffer your tyrannie and vnlawefull luste: and therefore as wee are, so wee wyll remayne. And yet these godly men refuse not to obey the Chrystian Churche, but onely they doo refuse to obey the vnlawefull luste of these pontificall Prelates, and yet notwithstanding, loue and serue Chryste, yea so muche the more, for that they submitte not them selues to the Byshop of Rome.
- 1The ••spell took not hy• beginning from Rome.The ••spell tooke not hy• beginning frō Rome.
- 2There are many countries that doth not acknowledge the Pope.There are many countryes that dothe not acknovvledge the Pope.
