They abuse this power at their own pleasure, aswell in cursing the godly, with bell, book, and candles, as also in absolving the reprobate, which are known to be unworthy of any Christian society. Whereof he that lust to see examples, let them search their lives. To be short, look what our saviour Christ pronounced of the Scribes and Pharisees, in the Gospel, the same may we boldly and with safe conscience pronounce of the bishops of Rome, namely that they have forsaken, & daily do forsake the commandments of God, to erect & set up their own constitutions. Which thing being true, as all they which have any light of Gods word must needs confess, we may well conclude according to the rule of Augustine: That the bishops of Rome & their adherents, are not the true church of Christ, much less then to be taken as chief 1heads and rulers of the same. Whosoever (saith he) do descent from the scriptures concerning the head, although they be found in all places where the Church is appointed, yet are they not in the Church. A plain place, concluding directly against the Church of Rome. Where is now the holy ghost which they so stoutly do claim to them selves? Where is now the spirit of trueth, that will not suffer them in any wise to err? If it ⟨p. 429⟩be possible to be there where the true Church is not, then is it at Rome: otherwise it is but a vain brag, and nothing else. Saint Paul (as ye have heard before) saith: If any man have not the spirit of Christ, the same is not his. And by turning the words, it may be as truly said: If any man be not of Christ, the same hath not his spirit. Now to discern who are truly his, and who not, we have this rule given us, that his sheep do always hear 2his voice. And saint John saith: He that is of God, heareth Gods word. Whereof it followeth, 3that the popes in not hearing Christs voice, as they ought to do, but preferring their own decrees before the express word of God, do plainly argue to the world, that they are not of Christ, nor yet possessed with his spirit. But here they will allege for them selves, that there are divers necessary points not expressed in holy scripture, which were left to the revelation of the holy ghost. Who being given to the Church, according to Christs promise, hath taught many things from time to time, which 4the apostles could not then bear.
They abuse this power at their owne pleasure, aswell in cursyng the godly, with bell, booke, and candles, as also in absoluing the reprobate, whiche are knowne to be vnworthy of any Christian societie. Whereof he that lust to see examples, let them searche their lyues. To be shorte, looke what our sauiour Christe pronounced of the Scribes and Pharisees, in the Gospell, the same may we boldly and with safe conscience pronounce of the bishops of Rome, namely that they haue forsaken, & dayly do forsake the commaundementes of God, to erect & set vp their owne constitutions. Which thyng beyng true, as al they which haue any light of Gods word must needes confesse, we may wel conclude according to the rule of Augustine: That the byshoppes of Rome & their adherents, are not the true church of Christe, muche lesse then to be taken as cheefe 1heades and rulers of the same. Whosoeuer (sayth he) do discent from the scriptures concernyng the head, although they be found in al places where the Church is appoynted, yet are they not in the Churche. A playne place, concluding directly agaynst the Churche of Rome. Where is now the holy ghost whiche they so stoutly do clayme to them selues? Where is now the spirite of trueth, that wil not suffer them in any wise to erre? If it ⟨p. 429⟩be possible to be there where the true Churche is not, then is it at Rome: otherwyse it is but a vayne bragge, and nothyng els. Saint Paule (as ye haue hearde before) sayth: If anye man haue not the spirite of Christe, the same is not his. And by turnyng the wordes, it maye be as truely sayd: If any man be not of Christe, the same hath not his spirite. Nowe to discerne who are truely his, and who not, we haue this rule geuen vs, that his sheepe do alwayes heare 2his voyce. And saint John sayth: He that is of God, heareth Gods worde. Whereof it foloweth, 3that the popes in not hearing Christes voyce, as they ought to do, but preferring their owne decrees before the expresse worde of God, do playnely argue to the worlde, that they are not of Christe, nor yet possessed with his spirite. But here they wyll alleage for them selues, that there are diuers necessarie poyntes not expressed in holy scripture, whiche were left to the reuelation of the holy ghost. Who beyng geuen to the Churche, accordyng to Christes promise, hath taught many thynges from tyme to tyme, which 4the apostles coulde not then beare.
- 1August. contra Petiliani Donatistae Epi. ca. 4.
- 2John. x.Iohn. x.
- 3John. 8.Iohn. 8.
- 4John. 16.Iohn. 16.
