Most fruitful [and] learned co[m]mentaries of Doctor Peter Martyr Vermil Florentine, professor of divinity,…Most fruitfull [and] learned co[m]mentaries of Doctor Peter Martir Vermil Florentine, professor of deuinitie,…

But they say there must also be an other head of the Church. For Christ (say they) is the head as touching the soul and justification. But there must be an other head also, concerning the retaining of outward rites and ceremonies, for the wedding out of heresies, & to unite Churches together. To this we say, that it is sufficient that every Church have his minister or Bishop, who may dispense the word of God and the Sacraments, & retain discipline as much as may be. But that there should be some one man to govern all the rest, neither is it necessary, neither ought it to be suffered: because (as I have said) the head is from whence life and spirit is derived into all the body. And such a head is Christ only.¹ And we must mark the institution of GOD, who would have many Ministers in the Church. For so is it written unto the Ephesians, Christ hath ascended into heaven, and hath led captivity captive, and given gifts unto men. And that we should understand how he hath given them, it is added: Some he hath given Apostles, some he hath given Prophets, some Evangelists, some Pastors and teachers, for the renewing of the saints into the work of administration, for the edification of the body of Christ, wherefore to build the body of Christ, God will have many and sundry gifts of the spirit and Ministries retained in the Church. Let these men every one execute his office, let them confer together, if there happen any controversy, and if need be, let them assemble together to Synods. But that every controversy should be referred unto the Bishop of Rome, and that all men should obey the Pope only, it is intolerable, and utterly Tyrannical.

But they say there must also be an other head of the Church. For Christ (say they) is the head as touching the soule and iustification. But there must be an other head also, concernyng the retayning of outward rites and ceremonies, for ye wedyng out of heresies, & to vnite Churches together. To this we say, yt it is sufficient yt euery Church haue his minister or Byshop, who may dispense the word of God and the Sacramentes, & retayne discipline as much as may be. But that there should be some one man to gouerne all the rest, neither is it necessary, neither ought it to be suffred: bycause (as I haue sayd) the head is from whence lyfe and spirite is deriued into all the body. And such a head is Christ onely.¹ And we must marke the institution of GOD, who would haue many Ministers in the Churche. For so is it written vnto the Ephesians, Christ hath ascended into heauen, and hath led captiuity captiue, and geuen gyftes vnto men. And that we should vnderstande howe he hath geuen them, it is added: Some he hath guen Apostles, some he hath geuen Prophetes, some Euangelistes, some Pastors and teachers, for the renewyng of the saintes into the worke of administration, for ye edification of the body of Christ, wherfore to builde the body of Christ, God wil haue many and sundry gyftes of the spirite and Ministeryes retayned in the Churche. Let these men euery one execute his office, let them conferre together, if there happen any controuersy, and if neede be, let them assemble together to Synodes. But that euery controuersy should be referred vnto the Byshoppe of Rome, and that all men shoulde obey the Pope onely, it is intollerable, and vtterly Tyrannicall.