The Institution of Christian Religion

Out of the bosom of these heretics, rebels, and obstinates, are proceeded all the Popes, Cardinals, Bishops, abbots, and Priests that have ben sins. Here they are taken and can go no further. For, to whether side will they give the name of the Church? Will they deny that the Council was general, which wanted nothing to the outward majesty: namely, which being solemnly summoned by two bulls, and well framed in the order of all things, continued in the same dignity to the last end? Will they confess Eugenius with all his company a schismatic, by whom they are all sanctified? Therefore either let them otherwise define the form of the Church, or they all as many as are of them shall be of us accounted schismatics which wittingly and willingly have ben ordered of heretics. If it had never before ben known, that the Church is not bound to outward pomps, they themselves may be to us a large proof, which under that glorious title of the Church have so long so proudly boasted themselves, whereas yet they were the deadly pestilences of the Church. I speak not of their manners, and those tragical doings wherewith their whole life swarmeth full: because they say that they be the Pharisees which are to be heard, not to be followed. But if ye will spare some of your leisure to read our writings, you shall plainly know that the very doctrine, the doctrine it self, for the which they say that they be the Church, is a deadly butchery of souls, the firebrand, ruin, and destruction of the Church.

Out of the bosome of these herelikes, rebelles, and obstinates, are proceded all the Popes, Cardinalls, Bishops, abbotts, and Prestes that haue ben sins. Here they are taken and can goe no further. For, to whether side will they geue the name of the Chirche? Wyll they denye that the Councell was generall, whiche wanted nothyng to the outwarde maiestie: namely, whiche beyng solemnely summoned by two bulles, and well framed in the order of all thynges, continued in the same dignitie to the laste ende? Will they confesse Eugenius with all his companie a schismatike, by whome they are all sanctifeid? Therfore eyther let them otherwyse define the forme of the Chirche, or they all as many as are of them shalbe of vs accompted schismatikes whiche wittyngly and willyngly haue ben ordered of heretikes. If it had neuer before ben knowen, that the Chirch is not bound to outwarde pompes, they themselues may be to vs a large profe, which vnder that glorious title of ye Chirch haue so long so proudly bosted themselues, wheras yet they were the deadly pestilences of the Chirche. I speake not of their maners, and those tragicall dooynges wherewith theyr whole life swarmeth full: because they say that they be the Pharisees whiche are to bee heard, not to be folowed. But if ye will spare some of your leysure to reade our writinges, you shall playnly know that the very doctrine, the doctrine it selfe, for the whiche they say that they be the Chirche, is a deadly butcherie of soules, the firebrande, ruine, and destruction of the Chirche.