Toby. Thou knowest, that what power so ever the Pope and his, have over the church in their estate, yet can they not do what they list, except they do otherwise then they ought to do. For, first they can put no man to death: but must deliver up to the secular power such as they judge worthy of corporal punishment, either for heresy, or committing of any other crime against the faith and religion. But if the whole power of the church, be in the magistrates hands, they may bind and loose as they list. They need not to borrow the sword of an other, which they enjoy themselves. Furthermore, notwithstanding the great abuse in the Romish Church, yet were the Councils, Synods, and ancient cannons always of some authority with them. There is neither Pope, Cardinal, nor Bishop, that dare undertake to admit any into the Ministry ⟨image 77⟩of the Church, except he have passed the order which he must pass, and without some form of election. If any be deposed out of the ministry, he shall not be deposed without being heard, as appertaineth to him: that is to said, without form of Ecclesiastical judgement. But if the whole power be in the Magistrates hand, they may place or displace the Ministers as they list, without any Ecclesiastical order, be it right or wrong. They may use them as servants, that when they are weary of them, they may put them away, or put them to death as they list, I mean if the Magistrates be tyrants, and have none that dare gainsay them, without the like danger. And so Wolves shall be thrust into the Church of God, and the true shepherds shall be driven out. For tyrants will never abide to hear the troth, as it ought to be told them: and if they be no tyrants, they will be content with the charge which the lord hath given them, and will beware how they attribute to their particular, that which is common to all the Church, or which is specially joined to the Ministers of the same.
Tobie. Thou knowest, that what power so euer the Pope and his, haue ouer the church in their estate, yet can thei not doe what thei list, except thei do otherwise then thei ought to doe. For, first thei cā put no man to death: but must deliuer vp to ye secular power suche as thei iudge worthy of corporal punishmēt, either for heresie, or cōmittyng of any other crime against the faithe and religion. But if the whole power of the church, be in the magistrates handes, thei maie bind and loose as thei list. Thei nede not to borrowe the sword of an other, whiche thei enioye theimselues. Furthermore, notwithstandyng the greate abuse in the Romishe Churche, yet were the Councels, Sinodes, and auncient cannons alwaies of some aucthoritie with thē. There is neither Pope, Cardinall, nor Bishop, that dare vndertake to admit any into ye Ministerie ⟨image 77⟩of the Churche, except he haue passed the order which he must passe, and without some forme of electiō. If any be deposed out of the ministerie, he shal not be deposed without beyng heard, as appertaineth to hym: that is to said, without forme of Ecclesiasticall iudgement. But if the whole power be in the Magistrates hand, thei may place or displace the Ministers as thei list, without any Ecclesiasticall order, be it right or wrong. Thei maie vse thē as seruauntes, that whē thei are wearie of them, thei maie put them awaie, or put thē to death as thei list, I meane if the Magistrates bee tyrantes, and haue none that dare gainsaie thē, without the like daunger. And so Wolues shalbe thrust into the Churche of God, and the true shepheardes shalbe driuen out. For tyrantes will neuer abide to heare the troth, as it ought to be told thē: and if thei be no tyrantes, thei will be content with the charge whiche the lorde hath giuen thē, and will beware how thei attribute to their particular, that whiche is common to all the Churche, or which is specially ioyned to the Ministers of the same.
