Sermons upon Deuteronomy

But before we go any further, let us note that under pretence of this text, the Pope lifted up his horns, and usurped such tyranny as we have seen him use in the Church of God. For thus doeth he reason. Seeing that the chief authority of judgement was given to the Priests, it is to be concluded that there ought to be one head over all the Church. Again, for as much as the sentence of the high priest was to be held without any gainsaying, the things that are determined by the Apostolic sea (as they term it) ought likewise to be held without gainsaying, and it is a deadly and unpardonable sin, to encounter any thing that the Pope shall have pronounced. But here we have two things to consider, which are of sufficiency to resolve all such and so childish arguments. For first, the governing of the whole world by one man, and the governing of some one country or province by one man, are not both one. God hath made here a civil law for the country of Jewry. And we know that at that time there was but one Temple,¹ & that it was not lawful for them to worship God or to offer sacrifice unto him, in every city. If a man had builded any altar, it had been abominable, and that city must have been razed. And Gods doing hereof, was but to hold the people in one right unity of faith. Then like as there was but one temple in the land of Jewry: so was there but one high priest. But must this be extē dead to the whole world? No, not so. There needeth many moe: for what one mortal man nowadays is able to wield so great a charge? Again, it were meet that there should one temple be builded in the mids of the world, that men might come running to it a four or five thousand leagues off to worship God. And do ye not see what an absurdity that were? Therefore it were too gross a fondness to conclude thus; There was but one temple & one high priest in all Jewry, ergo there ought to be the like throughout the whole world. For then ought there also some little nook to be made, where men might so assemble together, as they should not need to go past four or five days journeys from home: but we see that that were unpossible, and moreover it were contrary to nature. Mark that for one point.

But before wee goe any further, let vs note that vnder pretence of this text, the Pope lifted vp his hornes, and vsurped such tyranny as wee haue seene him vse in the Church of God. For thus doeth hee reason. Seeing that the chiefe authoritie of iudgement was giuen to the Priestes, it is to bee concluded that there ought to bee one head ouer all the Church. Againe, for as much as the sentence of the high priest was to bee helde without any gainsaying, the thinges that are determined by the Apostolike sea (as they terme it) ought likewise to be held without gainsaying, and it is a deadly and vnpardonable sinne, to incounter any thing that the Pope shall haue pronounced. But here wee haue two thinges to consider, which are of sufficiencie to resolue all such and so childish argumentes. For first, the gouerning of the whole worlde by one man, and the gouerning of some one countrey or prouince by one man, are not both one. God hath made here a ciuil lawe for the countrey of Iewrie. And wee knowe that at that time there was but one Temple,