A Brief and Pithy Sum of the Christian Faith

14 Howe those ought to be chosen, which the Churches do send •o the councils.

14 Hovve those oughte to be chosen, vvhiche the Churches doe sende •o the councels.

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,