The History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland

Your will (quoth he) Madame, is no reason, neither doth your thought make that Roman Harlot to be the Immaculate Spouse of Jesus Christ. And wonder not, Madame, that I call Rome an Harlot; for that Church is altogether polluted with all kind of Spiritual Fornication, as well in Doctrine, as in Manners: yea, Madam, I offer my self further to prove, That the Church of the Jews, who crucified Jesus Christ, when that they manifestly denied the Son of God, was not so far degenerated from the Ordinances and Statutes which God gave by Moses and Aaron unto his People, as the Church of Rome is declined, and more then five hundred years hath declined from the Purity of Religion which the Apostles taught and planted.¹ My conscience (said she) is not so. Conscience, Madame (said he) requires knowledge; and I fear that of right knowledge you have but little. But (said she) I have both heard and read. So, Madame (said he) did the Jews that crucified Christ Jesus, read both the Law and the Prophets, and heard the same interpreted, after their manner. Have ye heard (said he) any teach, but such as the Pope and his Cardinals have allowed? And you may be assured,² That such will speak nothing to offend their own state. Ye interpret the Scriptures (said she) in one manner, and they in another; Whom shall I believe, and who shall be Judge? Believe (said he) God, that plainly speaketh in his Word: And further then the Word teacheth you, ye shall neither believe the one nor the other. The Word of God is plain in it self; And if there appear any obscurity in one place, the holy Ghost, which is never contrarious to himself, explains the same more clearly in other places: So that there can remain no doubt, but unto such as obstinately will remain ignorant. And now, Madame, (said he) to take one of the chief Points which this day is in controversy betwixt the Papists and us, for example. The Papists allege, and boldly have affirmed, That the Mass is the Ordinance of God, and the Institution of Jesus Christ, and a Sacrifice for the quick and the dead. We deny both the one and the other, and affirm, That the Mass, as it is now used, is nothing but the Invention of man; and therefore it is an Abomination before God, and no Sacrifice that ever God commanded. Now (Madame) who shall judge betwixt us, two thus contending?

Your will (quoth he) Madame, is no reason, neither doth your thought make that Romane Harlot to be the Immaculate Spouse of Jesus Christ. And wonder not, Madame, that I call Rome an Harlot; for that Church is altogether polluted with all kinde of Spirituall Fornication, as well in Doctrine, as in Manners: yea, Madam, I offer my selfe further to prove, That the Church of the Jewes, who crucified Jesus Christ, when that they manifestly denied the Sonne of God, was not so farre degenerated from the Ordinances and Statutes which God gave by Moses and Aaron unto his People, as the Church of Rome is declined, and more then five hundred yeers hath declined from the Purity of Religion which the Apostles taught and planted.