1But now, it is doubtful by whom they ought to be rotted out of the earth. For, there be some that are desirous to kill them, where soever they find them. But it is plain, that it is lawful for no private person, to kill any man, with out the law, & a judgement given upon him or without a special commandment of god. Wherefore, certain hot and fierce Christians, do greatly err, which, as soon as th•i see a fail prophet, do think ⟨image 88⟩that any man may kill him: for, so they stick to the letter of gods law, & seek or search out, no deeper sense or understanding. We must beware then, that we give not to much the bridle to our affections. For all this whole matter and busyness ought to be committed to god, who, if he will have them, to be taken away, shall casely bring it to pass, by his ministers, that is to say, by the Magistrates. In the mean season, be thou of a good comfort, & thinking within thy self, of whose spirit thou art, submit thy self obediently, to the meek judgement of our most merciful master and saviour Jesus Christ, which sayeth. Math. vii. Every tree that bringeth forth no good fruit, shall be hewed down, & caste into the fire. If his crafts, & deceitful subtleties were know of the whole church, he ought to be deposed and put from the office of teaching, by the commune assent & agreement of all the congregation. But if the church, hath no such authority, nor may do it, let no man hearken unto him: but rather suffer death, than ye should hearken unto a ravening wolf, who, with his doctrine and traditions, goeth about too pluck you away from the one only ⟨image 89⟩God and heavenly father. All these things, are manifest & plain, by the plagues of the scriptures, afore alleged, so that, they have no need of any more demonstration. Besides that, the Lord him self Math .v. bideth us to pluck out and cast away from us,2 our right eye, if it doeth offend us. Therefore, it is our part & duty, to pluck out that wicked eye, that is to say, the false pastor, which leadeth not to the true pastures, and to pull up by the roots, the rotten and unfruitful tree: but after, that it is done let us commit the judgement unto the Lord, who will cast it into the fire when he shall think best, when he is removed, & put from the office of teaching, we shall reckon him among the tares,3 which ought not be pulled up.
1But now, it is doubtfull by whom they ought to be roted out of the earth. For, there bee some that are desyrous to kyll them, where soeuer they fynd thē. But it is playne, that it is lawfull for no pryuate person, to kyll any man, wt out the law, & a iudgemēt geuē vpō him or without a speciall cōmandement of god. Wherefore, certayn hote and fierce Christians, do greatly erre, whyche, as sone as th•i se a faile prophet, do thinke ⟨image 88⟩that any man may kyl hym: for, so they stycke to the letter of gods lawe, & seeke or searche out, no deper sence or vnderstandinge. We must beware then, yt we geue not to much the brydell to our affections. For al this whole matter and busynesse ought to be cōmitted to god, who, yf he wyll haue thē, to be taken away, shal casely bring it to passe, by hys mynisters, that is to saye, by the Magistrates. In the meane season, be thou of a good comfort, & thinking within thy self, of whose spirite thou arte, submit thy self obediently, to ye meke iudgemēt of our most mercyfull master and sauyour Iesus Christ, which sayeth. Math. vii. Euery tree that bringeth forth noo good frute, shalbe hewed downe, & caste into the fyer. Yf his craftes, & deceyptfull subtilties were knowe of ye whole church, he ought to be deposed and put from the office of teaching, by the commune assent & agreement of all the congregation. But yf the churche, hath no soch auctorytye, nor may do it, lette no man herken vnto hym: but rather suffre death, than ye shulde hearken vnto a raueninge wolfe, who, wyth his doctryne and traditions, goeth aboute too plucke you awaye from the one onelye ⟨image 89⟩God and heauenly father. All these thinges, are manyfeste & playne, by the plages of the scriptures, afore alledged, so that, they haue no neade of any more demonstratiō. Besydes that, the Lord him selfe Math .v. bydeth vs to plucke out and cast awaye from vs,2 our ryght eye, yf it doeth offend vs. Therfore, it is our part & duetye, to pluck out that wicked eye, that is to say, the false pastour, whiche leadeth not to the true pastures, and to pulle vp by the rootes, the rotten and vnfruytefull tree: but after, that it is done let vs commit the iudgement vnto the Lord, who wil cast it into the fyre when he shal thinke beste, when he is remoued, & put frō the office of teaching, we shall reken hym amonge the tares,
- 1How & by whom false pastors must be taken away and rotted from ye earthHow & by whō false pastours must be taken away and roted frō ye earth
- 2Mathe .v.
- 3Mat. xlii.
