An account of a disputation at Oxford, anno dom. 1554 with A treatise of…

They seek neither the Queens Highness nor her Laws, (which in this point cannot bind the Conscience to obey, because they are contrary to Gods Laws, which bid us often to flee Idolatry, and worshipping him after mens devices) They seek neither, I say, the Laws, if there were any; neither their Brothers Commodity, (for none cometh thereby) neither Godliness, or good Example (for there can be none found in going to the Mass, &c. but horrible offences, and woe to them that give them) But they seek their own selves, their own ease, their escaping the Cross. When they have made all the Excuses they can, their own Conscience will accuse them, that their going to Church is only because they seek themselves, for if there would no trouble ensue for tarrying away, I appeal to their own Conscience, would they come thither? Never, I dare say: Therefore, as I said, they seek themselves, they would not carry the Cross, and hereof their own Conscience doth accuse them. Now if their Conscience doth accuse them at this present, what will it do before the Judgment seat of Christ. Who will excuse it when Christ shall appear in Judgment, and shall begin to be ashamed of them then, which here now are ashamed of him? Who, I say, then, will excuse these Mass-gospellers Conscience? Will the Queens Highness? She shall then have more to do for her self, than, without hearty and speedy repentance, she can ever be able to answer, tho' Peter, Paul, Mary, James, John, the Pope, and all his Prelates take her part, with all the singing Sir Johns that ever were, are, and shall be. Will the Lord Chancellor and Prelates of the Realm excuse them there? Nay, nay, they are all like then to smart for it so sore, ⟨p. 4⟩that I would not be in their places for all the whole World. Will the Laws of the Realm, the Nobility, Gentry, Justice of Peace, &c. excuse our Gospel Mass-mongers Conscience then? Nay, God knoweth, they can do little there but fear, tremble, and quake for the heavy Vengeance of God like to fall upon them. Will their Goods, Lands, and Possessions, which they by their dissembling have saved; will these serve to excuse them? No, no, God is no Merchant, as our Mass-Priests be. Will Masses or Trentals, and such Trash serve? No verily, the hunters of this Gear shall be then horribly ashamed. Will the Catholic Church excuse? Nay, it will most of all accuse;

They seek neither the Queens Highness nor her Laws, (which in this point cannot bind the Conscience to obey, because they are contrary to Gods Laws, which bid us often to flee Idolatry, and worshipping him after mens devices) They seek neither, I say, the Laws, if there were any; neither their Brothers Commodity, (for none cometh thereby) neither Godliness, or good Example (for there can be none found in going to the Mass, &c. but horrible offences, and woe to them that give them) But they seek their own selves, their own ease, their escaping the Cross. When they have made all the Excuses they can, their own Conscience will accuse them, that their going to Church is only because they seek themselves, for if there would no trouble ensue for tarrying away, I appeal to their own Conscience, would they come thither? Never, I dare say: Therefore, as I said, they seek themselves, they would not carry the Cross, and hereof their own Conscience doth accuse them. Now if their Conscience doth accuse them at this present, what will it do before the Judgment seat of Christ. Who will excuse it when Christ shall appear in Judgment, and shall begin to be ashamed of them then, which here now are ashamed of him? Who, I say, then, will excuse these Mass-gospellers Conscience? Will the Queens Highness? She shall then have more to do for her self, than, without hearty and speedy repentance, she can ever be able to answer, tho' Peter, Paul, Mary, James, John, the Pope, and all his Prelates take her part, with all the singing Sir Johns that ever were, are, and shall be. Will the Lord Chancellor and Prelates of the Realm excuse them there? Nay, nay, they are all like then to smart for it so sore,