Sermons upon Deuteronomy

But we must weigh well the things that are contained §60here. It is said that the Priest must judge according to the law of God. Wherein it is showed that our Lord layeth not the bridle loose on the neck, either of all the priests together, or of the Judge which was in those days in state of a king: but that all of them ought to be subject to the law; and that (as I said afore) God meant to reserve the sovereign authority to himself, so as men should receive definitive sentence as at his mouth, & that the persons which were to give the sentence, should be but as instruments of his holy spirit, & expounders of his law. Therefore let us mark well, that God meant not here that men should do any thing on their own heads, but that his law should bear the sway, specially in Jerusalem rather than in any other place. But now let us see what the Pope doeth, & what all the bastardly Councils have done whereunto he would tie us. There is nothing amongest them but to say: that the holy Ghost governed them; for as for the holy scripture they did let that alone. In deed they gave it the honourable title of Gods word: but when they meant to determine what they thought good, was it according to that which God hath declared? No: but they took another rule; which is, that the Church cannot err because it is governed by the holy Ghost: & that as touching the holy scripture, it leadeth us into perfection, but we must mount up yet higher: for if we have not the revelations of the holy Ghost, it is nothing: If a man hold himself to that which is contained in the holy scripture, it is but an unperfect thing with them; but as for that which is determined by the Church, that must be held inviolable, and no man must in any wise gainsay it. Again, the holy scripture (say they) is a nose of wax, which a man may writhe every way, & there is no certainty in it: but when the church hath once pronounced a thing, there is no more doubt in it. After the manner went all the rabble of them to work, so as they have trodden the holy scripture under foot. Although they grant in words that it proceeded from God: yet have they taken it to be but as an absey, and as a common doctrine: affirming that the Revelations which have been given unto them, are much higher doctrine. These blasphemies they have not been ashamed to utter, & their books are full of them.

But we must wey well the things that are contained §60heere. It is said that ye Priest must iudge according to the law of God. Wherein it is shewed that our Lorde layeth not the brydle loose on the necke, eyther of all the priestes together, or of the Iudge which was in those dayes in state of a king: but that al of them ought to be subiect to the law; and that (as I said afore) God meant to reserue the soueraigne authoritie to himselfe, so as men should receiue definitiue sentence as at his mouth, & that the persons which were to giue the sentence, should be but as instrumentes of his holy spirite, & expounders of his lawe. Therefore let vs marke wel, that God ment not here that men should do any thing on their own heads, but that his lawe should beare the sway, specially in Ierusalem rather than in any other place. But now let vs see what the Pope doeth, & what all the bastardly Councels haue done whereunto he would tye vs. There is nothing amongest them but to say: that the holy Ghost gouerned them; for as for the holy scripture they did let that alone. In deede they gaue it the honorable title of Gods word: but when they ment to determine what they thought good, was it according to that which God hath declared? No: but they tooke another rule; which is, that the Church cannot erre because it is gouerned by ye holy Ghost: & that as touching the holy scripture, it leadeth vs into perfection, but we must mount vp yet higher: for if we haue not the reuelations of the holy Ghost, it is nothing: If a man holde himselfe to that which is conteined in the holy scripture, it is but an vnperfect thing with them; but as for that which is determined by ye Church, that must be held inuiolable, and no man must in any wise gainsay it. Againe, the holy scripture (say they) is a nose of wax, which a man may wryth euery way, & there is no certeintie in it: but whē the church hath once pronounced a thing, there is no more dout in it. After ye maner went all the rable of them to worke, so as they haue troden ye holy scripture vnder foote. Although they grant in words that it proceeded from God: yet haue they taken it to be but as an apsie, and as a cōmō doctrine: affirming that the Reuelations which haue beene giuen vnto them, are much higher doctrine. These blasphemies they haue not been ashamed to vtter, & their bookes are ful of them.