When it was requisite, that things should be done extraordinarily in a General assembly, in the name of a whole Church or of a commonalty: as if it were needful to send one man or divers, or many men, in the name of a whole parish, Diocese or nation. Although it were supposed, that those persons which had the ordinary charges and offices in the Church, were then the most meetest to deal with the affairs in councils, which was in that time when the offices were given to such ⟨image 109⟩persons as were most meet, by a free ecclesiastical election, which was then done with fasting and prayer. Yet nevertheless, in those days there was great choice, so that all the church with a common consent had respect to choose men which were endued with gifts and graces of the holy Ghost, as well in life as in learning. As it appeareth in the history contained in the Acts of the Apostles, concerning the first council holden at Jerusalem, where the Apostles were gathered together. aMuch more now when all is overturned, and in stead of Pastors, they are Mummers or Maskers, as all the word may see. Now who that would choose and gather together into one heap and company, all the filthy and abominable rabble of the world, let him assemble those which they now call Prelates of the church, and he shall find that from the greatest to the least, they be all bound by their2 oath to maintain and uphold the tyranny of him, against whom the council ⟨p. 95⟩should be assembled and gathered. And the whole rabble of them be entered into the Church by bribes and simony against the commandment of God, bagainst the menacing and threatening of Saint Peter, cagainst all the customs of the primitive Church, against all the ancient Cannons, decrees, and Councils, whereby all such persons be excommunicated, and thrown out of the Church: then much less ought they to be holden for Prelates and governors of the Church whilst there is such disorders. I say, what foolishness5 is it to all such an assembly, a godly or lawful Council, where s•ant one can be found which is a member of the true Church of God? We say then to assemble a lawful council, those ought not which (be nothing less than that they be called) to enterprise any thing on their own authority.
WHen it was requisite, that thyngs shoulde be doone extraordinaryly in a Generall assemblie, in the name of a whole Church or of a communaltie: as if it were néedefull to sende one man or diuers, or many men, in the name of a whole parishe, Diocesse or nation. Although it were supposed, that those persons whyche had the ordinarie charges and offices in the Churche, were then the moste méetest to deale with the affaires in councels, whiche was in that time when the offices were gyuen to suche ⟨image 109⟩persons as were most méete, by a frée ecclesiasticall election, whyche was then done with fastyng and prayer. Yet neuerthelesse, in those dayes there was great choyse, so that all the church with a common consent had respect to chuse men whyche were indewed with giftes and graces of the holy Ghost, as well in lyfe as in learning. As it appeareth in the history conteined in the Acts of the Apostles, concerning the first councell holden at Ierusalem, where the Apostles were gathered together. aMuche more nowe when all is ouerturned, and in stead of Pastours, they are Mummers or Maskers, as all the worde may sée. Nowe who that woulde chuse and gather together into one heape and companye, all the fylthye and abhominable rabble of the worlde, let him assemble those whiche they now call Prelates of the church, and he shall finde that from the greatest to the least, they bée all bounde by theyr2 othe to maynteyne and vpholde the tyranny of him, against whom the counsell ⟨p. 95⟩shoulde be assembled and gathered. And the whole rabble of them be entred into the Churche by brykes and symonie agaynst the commaundement of God, bagaynst the manacyng and threatninge of Sainct Peter, cagaynst all the customes of the primatiue Churche, against all the auncient Cannons, decrées, and Councels, whereby all suche personnes be excommunicated, and throwen out of the Churche: then muche lesse ought they to bée holden for Prelates and gouernoures of the Churche whylest there is suche disorders. I saye, what folyshnesse5 is it to all suche an assemblie, a godly or lawful Councel, where s•ant one can be founde whyche is a member of the true Churche of God? We say then to assemble a lawfull councell, those oughte not whiche (be nothyng lesse than that they be called) to enterprise anye thynge on theyr owne authoritie.
- aActs. 15.
- 2The form of the oath is printed.The forme of the oth is prynted.
- bMatth. •0
- cActs. • ▪
- 5Beside the history ecclesiastical read the synods and decrees.Beside the history ecclesiasticall read the synodes and decrees.
