Note also how craftily he would enfeoff the Apostles of Christ with their 1wicked traditions and false Ceremonies, which they themselves have feigned, alleging Paul. ij. Thessal. ij. I answer that Paul taught by mouth such things as he wrote in his epistles. And his traditions were the Gospel of Christ, and honest manners & living, and such a good order as becometh the doctrine of Christ. As that a woman obey her husband, have her head covered, keep silence, and go womanly and christianly apparelled: that children and servants be in subjection: and that the young obey their elders, that no man eat but he that laboureth and worketh, and that men make an earnest thing of Gods word, and of his holy Sacraments: and to watch, fast, and pray, and such like, as the Scripture commandeth. Which things he that would break were no christen man. But we may well con plain and cry to God for help, that 2it is not lawful for the Popes tyranny, to teach y• people what prayer is, what fasting is, and wherefore it serveth. There were also certain customs alway which were not commanded in pain of hell or everlasting damnation, as to watch all night, and to kiss one an other: which as soon as the people abused, then they brake them. For which cause the Bishops might break many things now in like manner. Paul also in many things which God had ⟨p. 129⟩made free, gave pure and faithful coū cell without tangling of any mans con science, and without all manner commanding under pain of cursing, 3pain of excommunication, pain of heresy, pain of burning, pain of deadly sin, pain of hell, and pain of damnation. As thou mayst see. i. Cor. 7. Where he counseleth the unmarried, the widows, and virgins that it is good so to abide, if they have the gift of chastity. Not to win heaven thereby (for neither Circumcision neither uncircumcision is any thing at all, but the keeping of the commandments is altogether) But that they might be without trouble, and might also the better wait on Gods word and smellier serve their brethren. And 4saith (as a faithful servant) that he had none authority of the Lord to give them any commandment. But that the Apostles gave us any blind ceremonies whereof we should not know the reason that I deny and also defy, as a thing clean contrary unto the learning of Paul every where.
Note also how craftely he would enfeoffe the Apostles of Christ with their 1wicked traditions and false Ceremonies, which they themselues haue fayned, alleaging Paule. ij. Thessal. ij. I aunswere that Paule taught by mouth such things as he wrote in his epistles. And his traditions were the Gospell of Christ, and honest maners & liuing, and such a good order as becommeth the doctrine of Christ. As that a woman obey her husband, haue her head couered, keepe silence, and goe womanly and christenly apparelled: that children and seruauntes be in subiection: and that the younge obey their elders, that no man eate but he that laboureth and worketh, and that men make an earnest thing of Gods word, and of hys holy Sacramentes: and to watch, fast, and pray, and such lyke, as the Scripture commaundeth. Which thynges he that woulde breake were no christen man. But we may well cō playne and crye to God for helpe, that 2it is not lawful for the Popes tyranny, to teach y• people what prayer is, what fasting is, and wherefore it serueth. There were also certayne customes alway which were not commaunded in paine of hell or euerlasting dānatiō, as to watch all night, and to kysse one an other: which as soone as the people abused, then they brake thē. For which cause the Byshops myght breake many thynges now in lyke maner. Paule also in many thynges which God had ⟨p. 129⟩made free, gaue pure and faythfull coū cell without tangling of any mans cō science, and without all maner commaundyng vnder payne of cursing, 3payne of excommunication, payne of heresie, payne of burnyng, payne of deadly sinne, payne of hell, and payne of damnatiō. As thou mayst see. i. Cor. 7. Where he counceleth the vnmaried, the widowes, and virgines that it is good so to abyde, if they haue the gift of chastitie. Not to winne heauē therby (for neither Circumcision neither vncircumcision is any thyng at all, but the kepyng of the commaundementes is altogether) But that they might be without trouble, and might also the better wayte on Gods worde and s•elyer serue their brethren. And 4sayth (as a faithfull seruaunt) that he had none authority of the Lord to geue them any commaundement. But that the Apostles gaue vs any blynd ceremonies wherof we should not know the reason that I denye and also defie, as a thyng cleane contrary vnto the learnyng of Paul euery where.
- 1Rochester allegeth Paul for his blind ceremonies contrary to Pauls doctrine.Rochester alleageth Paule for his blinde ceremonies contrary to Paules doctrine.
- 2It is not lawful for us to tell what prayer is, what fasting is, or wherefore it serveth.It is not lawfull for vs to tell what prayer is, what fasting is, or wherefore it serueth.
- 3Payne of cursing, damnation, and so forth.Payne of cursing, damnatiō, and so forth.
- 4If Paul had none authority: thē had Peter none, where had then the Pope this authority?If Paule had none authoritie: thē had Peter none, where had then the Pope this authoritie?
