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

and therefore the plagues of God will fall upon them at the length, and upon all that will take their part. They seek not Christ and his Glory, for you see they have utterly cast away his Word, and therefore (as the Prophet saith) There ¹is no wisdom in them. They follow the Strumpet-Church, and Bawdy Spouse of Antichrist, which they call the Catholic Church, whose Foundations and Pillars is the Devil, and his Daughter the Mass, with his Children, the Pope and his Prelates. Their Laws are Craft and Cruelty; their Weapons are Lying and Murder; their End and Study is their own Glory, Fame, Wealth, Rest, and Possessions. For if a Man speak or do nothing against them, tho he be a Sodomite, an Adulterer, an Usurer, &c. it forceth not, he shall be quiet enough, no Man shall trouble him; but if a Man speak any thing to Gods Glory, which cannot stand without the overthrow of Mans Glory, then shall he be disquieted, imprisoned, and troubled, except he will play Mum, and put his Finger upon his Mouth, although the same be a most quiet and godly Man. So that easily a Man may see how that they be Antichrists Church, and sworn Soldiers to the Pope and his Spouse, and not to Christ and his Church; for then would they not cast away Gods ⟨p. 9⟩Word, and be no more Adversaries to his Glory, which chiefly consisteth in obedience to his Word. Therefore, my dear Brethren in the Lord, seem not to allow this or any part of the pelf of this Romish Church and Synagogue of Satan. Halt not on both Knees for halting will bring you out of the way; but like valiant Champions of the Lord confess, confess with your Mouth, as occasion serveth, and as vocation requireth, the hope and Faith you have and feel in your hearts.

and therefore the plagues of God will fall upon them at the length, and upon all that will take their part. They seek not Christ and his Glory, for you see they have utterly cast away his Word, and therefore (as the Prophet saith) There ¹is no wisdom in them. They follow the Strumpet-Church, and Bawdy Spouse of Antichrist, which they call the Catholick Church, whose Foundations and Pillars is the Devil, and his Daughter the Mass, with his Children, the Pope and his Prelates. Their Laws are Craft and Cruelty; their Weapons are Lying and Murder; their End and Study is their own Glory, Fame, Wealth, Rest, and Possessions. For if a Man speak or do nothing against them, tho he be a Sodomite, an Adulterer, an Usurer, &c. it forceth not, he shall be quiet enough, no Man shall trouble him; but if a Man speak any thing to Gods Glory, which cannot stand without the overthrow of Mans Glory, then shall he be disquieted, imprison'd, and troubled, except he will play Mume, and put his Finger upon his Mouth, although the same be a most quiet and godly Man. So that easily a Man may see how that they be Antichrists Church, and sworn Soldiers to the Pope and his Spouse, and not to Christ and his Church; for then would they not cast away Gods