¶ In the thirde chapitre he techeth , howe the woman shal vse her selfe to her husbande , and what conuersation she oughte to be of , the maner of her tyringe and of her apparell , expressynge the chastitie of her mynde , he also there teacheth , howe the man shall vse hym selfe to his wyfe . Then he generally exhorteth all to faythe & to vnitie in the same , and to compassion fraternal , loue , gentylnes , mekenes , pacience , not hasty to be reuenged , repayinge one iniurie for an other , or one ylle worde for an nother , but gentylle in worde and dede : and thus lyuynge innocently to feare no perfection , for no manne can hurte them , but moche blessed are they that suffre for vertue .

¶ He wylleth also the Christianes to be perfectly instructe in feyth and hope , that if any demande any thing of them , they may be in a redynes to answere them , and with wysedome & example to allure theym to the Religion of Christe and lyke paciency , if they shoulde suffre . lyke persecution for their innocency . For thus Christe moste innocent and voyde of all syn suffred for vs synners , hauyng great care to saue vs , as he also in the tyme of Noe wolde haue saued the people if they had conuerted and done penaunce in tyme . Wherfore for as moche as Christe by afflictions and many tribulations is nowe ascended into heuen , it shall become his disciples to be of his condicions & mynde , and prepare them fyrst to be indewed with vertues , and than to be in redynes to suffre for the same . This no lesse thanne thryse he inculketh into them , aduertysynge them to be in redynes to suffre , but not as malefactours , but to haue a good and a iuste cause to suffre for . And for that he wyll not the flocke of Christe to be destytute & lack knowlege , instantly he desireth the senyours , that ar assigned to haue the ouersyghte , to fede them diligentely , and that gladdely and wyllyngly , lokynge for rewarde of god . Also the iuniours to be obedient to their elders : and generally all to shewe humilitie to eche other . For god withdraweth his grace from the proude , and gyueth the same to them that are meke . Humble you , submytte and meke your selfes therfore vnder the myghty hande of god . Commytte your selfes , that is to say fully and holly to his protection , that he maye promote and exalte you in the tyme of his visitation . Commytte to hym all your busynes : for he hathe great care for you . Be you sobre and circumspecte : for your aduersary the dyuell , lyke a rorynge lyon wandereth about sekyng whom he may deuoure : hym resyste you stronge in feyth , consyderynge lyke persecution to be done to al your christen brother heed . The god of all grace , whiche hathe called vs into his euerlastyng glory by Christ Iesus , shal his owne selfe after you haue suffred a lyttell affliction , make you perfecte , shall settyll and strengthe you . To hym be glorye and dominion for euer , and while the worlde endureth . Amen . This is the englyshe of the Epistle , that we rede this present sonday : that I may haue grace to declare the same more largely to the glory and honor of god , I shall desyre you to calle to god for the assistence of his grace : and in your prayer to commende to hym the catholike church of Christendom , in especial this churche of Englande , our soueraine lord the kyng supreme heed vnder god of this churche , our most gratious queene , queene Anne , my lady Elisabeth princesse and laufull heire to them bothe . &c. And all though the laste sonday the preacher coude not fynde in his conscience to pray for the soules departed , saying , that he thought his prayer shuld nothynge auayle them : yet I wyll desyre you to praye for them , trustynge that you haue in remembrance , howe in times paste I haue proued by auctorities of Hierome , Augustin , Ambrose , and Chrysostome , and also by scriptures , as saynt Augustine vnderstandeth them , that we shulde so do : for they ar in such case , that they maye be reliued by our prayer . &c.

¶ All thoughe in consyderynge the sensible creatures of god , many tymes I am constrayned greattely to meruaylle at the diuyne power : yet nothynge so greatly moueth me , as when I remembre all the regions of Christendome , whiche before the comynge of Christe , were spiritually deade , and nowe by his mercye haue lyfe gyuen to them , so knyt and ioyned to hym as one principall heed by vnitie of feythe , that nowe they are one misticall body , hauynge dyuers membres deputed to dyuers offices , and euery one ministrynge for other in Christe . And this is well worthye to be meruayled at , if we wyll consider the great multitude of the people , and the diuersitie of the same , whiche settynge all customes apart , all humayn lawes , all lernynge , all pleasures , al vices ( wherin they had al their lyfe tymes accustomed them selfes before ) most humbly receyued the feythe of Christ , from the whiche neyther losse of goodes , nor imprysonement , nor dethe coulde euer disswade them .

¶ And surely great meruaylle it is , howe that so many noble men , so many princis , so many kynges , so many emperours , ye of so great power and stomake , wolde gyue credence to suche symple , vnknowen , abiecte and vile persones as the Apostols were , after the worldly estimation : whiche preched thinges incredible , as Christ god and man to be borne of a virgin , whiche crucified and put to deth , rise agayne the thirde daye by his owne power from dethe to lyfe , and soone after ascended to heuen . Whiche preched for delicacie of lyuynge , abstinency : for voluptuousnes , chastitie : for daliance , lamentation and continuall moonynge : for riches , pouertie , the spirite of god so workynge , that many nations vnlike in condicions , vnlyke in langage , and being in great distance , dyd agree , and yet do agree in professinge Christ Iesus and his religion , one spirit workyng and gyuyng vital operation to them all . For as in the naturall body of man the soule gyueth lyfe and mouynge to euery ioynt , so that no man can moue any parte of his body , but by the spirite vitalle extended to the same : no more can any manne moue hym selfe to any poynt of vertue and goodnes , but by the vertue of the holy gooste excitinge & mouyng him to the same . And as the bodye is one , and hath many membres , and yet al the membres make one bodi , though they be many in theym selfes : so is Christe with all christians one . For al we are christened in one spirite , for that we shulde be one body in Christ . This body was sometyme in Christ and his apostols and disciples , and by them it was nouryshed and increced , some trauaylynge into one countrey , and some into an other : and as they dyd profyt in them , so did they become partis of Christis misticall body , that is to sey of the churche , so that the diuersitie of regions and countreys maketh not the diuersite of churches but the vnitie of feyth maketh all regions one churche , all thoughe the same regions were vnknowen to vs and we to them . As if saynt Andrew , Philip , Thomas , and other of the apostols preached in straunge countreys , and conuerted them , spekinge nothynge of eche other , nor of Peter , but onely of Christe and his benefytis : yet for their feyth shulde they be of the same churche that Peter was of , al though they neuer harde of Peter , nor Peter of theym . As sayncte Paule after his conuersion , vnknowen to Peter and other apostols , preched in Arabie and Damasco .iii. yeres , Iesus , that he is the son of god : and many by his preachynge receyued the feyth , whiche neyther knewe Peter nor other of the apostols , but Iesus Christ , and the same crucified for our redemption : and yet for this feythe , were they made one in Christ , and of his churche . So that it was of no necessytie for them to knowe Peter , as many haue rekened in the byshoppe of Rome , that excepte we knewe hym and his holy college , we coulde not be of Christis churche . But I am ryghte sure , that manye thousandes are saued , whiche neuer harde of Peter , nor yet of the bishop of Rome : so that the vnitie of Christis church consisteth not in the knowlege of any erthely creature : but in the knowlege of Christe and true beleue in hym . And for this laboured the apostolles , and yet labour theyr trewe successours , whose continuall study must be to maynteyn the same , takynge example of sayncte Paule , whiche regardynge moche this vnitie , sayth in the .xiiii. chapiter to the Romaynes , Quae pacis sunt , sectemur , et quae aedifi●●tionis sunt , inuicem custodiamus , Where he reprouynge vnfruitefull disputations , wyllethe vs to folowe those thinges that maye make for vnitie , & for the edifienge of our brothern and vs . And in lykewise in the fyrst chapitre to the Corinthians , in the firste epistle he saythe , Obsecro uos fratres per nomen domini nostri Iesu Christi , vt idipsum dicatis omnes , et non sint in vobis schismata . sitis autem perfecti in eodem sensu et in eadem sententia , I instauntly desyre you ( sayth he to the Corinthians ) in the name of our lorde Iesu Christe , that you agree both in word & mynd in one , and lette there be no schisme nor diuision among you . And in the xiiii . chapitre I rede of hym , Non est dissensionis deus , sed pacis , sicut et in omnibus ecclesiis sanctorum do ceo , where the holye apostoll wylleth , that if any man reken hym selfe to haue the spiryte of god , he shall the rather regarde vnitie : for that the spirite of god is author of vnitie , and not of discorde . Euen so writinge to the Ephesians , he saythe , Soliciti seruare unitatem spiritus , Eph ▪ 4. wyllyng al hautenes to be set apart , and euery man with gentylnes to do his diligente endeuer to maynteyne vnitie . And saincte Paule rekeneth , that he shall sone opteyne his desire , for that they haue one body and one spirite , and one trust and hope of the enheritance of heuen , that is promised them by their vocation . Furthermore they had one lorde , one feythe , one baptime , whiche by the meritis of the passion of Christe was of lyke effect to them all . Also they haue one god , whiche is father of them all , & hath the moste high regency , gouernynge all thinge , and by his diuine spirite is present in vs al. And in his epistle ad Hebreos , in the .xii. chapitre , he sayth : Pacem sequim ini cum omnibus et sanctimoniam , fine qua nemo deum uidebit , contemplantes ne quis desit gratiae dei , ne qua radix amaritudinis sursum germinans impediat , et per illam inquinentur multi , Doo your endeuer to haue peace and quietnes with al folkes , and to haue puritie and clenlynes of lyuynnge , without the whiche no man shall se god , neyther nowe by feyth , nor hereafter by fruition : do I saye your endeuer , consyderynge not onely for your selfes , but also for other that they falle not from grace : And take hede , leste any yll rote of infidelitie springe vp , wherby other may be corrupte . And thus sainct Paule was euer wont to preache , knowinge righte well , that al though diuers and many thinges perteyne to the lyfe of a christian , yet nothyng more then peace and vnite , our sauiour Christe sayeng , Ioan. xiij . In hoc cognoscent omnes , quia mei estis discipuli , si dilectionem habueritis adinuicem , By this cognisaunce all the worlde shall know you for my disciples , if ye haue vnite among you , vnitie I say of feith and spirite , fixed and sette stedfastly in god , and not in any mortall creature , as many haue thought necessarie , that if a man shuld be of the churche of Christe , he must be of the holy church of Rome , & take the holy father therof for the supreme heed , and for the vicare of Christ , yea for Christ hym selfe : and to be diuyded frome hym , were euen to be diuided frome Christe . Suche dampnable techynges haue there been , which haue caused men to leaue the commandementes of god vndone for the humayne traditions : but what so euer hath ben done by ignorance , let vs reforme it , and not be ashamed to professe truthe : whiche is , that nexte vnto god the prince ought to be honoured , and that the bishop of Rome hath no more power by the lawes of god in this realme , than any other foreyn byshoppe , and this wyll I playnely proue : and all though I can not do it eloquentely , yet I shall do it feythfully , and that for truthessake . And for that I wyll not be tedious in rehersyng the kynges in the lawe of nature and lawes written tyll the commyng of Christe , I shall speake that the gospelle , the very worde of god prouoketh me to .

¶ Fyrst the act of saynct Iohn Baptist moche moueth me , ●uc 3. which being the elect and chosen prophet of god , & sent from hym , to whom no other creature borne after the common course of nature myghte be compared , lyuynge in suche greate integritie and innocencye , preachynge veritie , and maynteynynge the same to deathe , demaunded of the moste notable offenders in Iury , what they shuld do , commanded them , reuerently to obserue the ordinaunces and lawes of their emperour : whiche he wolde not haue done , if that obedience had not ben due by the lawes of god . He dyd not counsayle theym to ronne into a solitude , and leaue their dueties vudone : nor he dyd bydde them to laye aparte their armours , but that accordingly as god wylled , serue their emperour , doing no violence to any person , nor falsely accuse any man , but to be contente with suche wages as theyr emperour gaue them , to resyst his enmyes , and to preserue the common welthe . And Christe hym selfe not onely with other dydde write his name , knowledginge his obedience , but he also payde the heed peny , as a token of the same , perswadinge the iewes , whiche had coniured to rebell ageinst their emperour , that without inurmour or grudge they shulde doo their duetie , and conforme them selfes to their princis pleasure , sayeng : Gyue to Cesar , 〈…〉 . that is dewe to Cesar , and gyue to god , that is dewe to god . 〈◊〉 . 5. And euen so whanne the Iewes wolde haue forsaken theyr prince , & haue chosen Christe to their kynge , he withdrewe hym selfe , and that to auoyde occasyon of rebellion and disobediency . Also teaching his disciples humilitie , and not to be ambitious , whan they stryued , whiche of theym shulde be taken for the better , 〈…〉 he sayde : who so estemeth hym selfe better , let hym vse hym selfe as an inferiour , menyng , that the gretter gracis that a man or woman receyueth of god , the more shall they humble them selfes , in disposyng the same , and not to desyre no hyghe estate , nor to be the more statelye or proude for them , but euermore to reken them selfes moste vnworthy . And for a token herof before his passion , in all his .v. examynations , he neuer grudged at Cesars lawes , nor at the commaundementes of his commissioners .

¶ Now good Christians , if there were no other scriptures to teche vs to do our dueties to our soueraigne : yet it semeth to me , that these fewe examples shulde sufficiently moue vs , if we dyd loue and drede god . For if saynct Iohn and Christ shewe suche obedience to princis being infidels and tirantis : howe moche more shal we be bounde to do the same to our christen prince ? And if they neuer wente about to diminish the royaltie of their Emperour , what good christian can with good conscience attempt the contrarie ? Saynct Peter , whiche neuer challenged so high honour or dignitie , as many haue gyuen to hym , all proude prelacy set aparte writeth not to one countrey or citie , but vniuersally on this wyse : 〈…〉 Humble your selfes vnto all maner ordinance of man for goddis sake , whether it be to the king as most excellent , or to his commissaries sent from hym , for the punyshment of iuel doers , & the laude of them that do wel . Marke here , that the prince is called most excellent : whiche if he so be , than none in his realme shall excell hym . And he sayth also : Feare god and honour the kynge . Se here howe that he putteth no meane person betwixte god and the prince : but immediatly after god , the kyng must be honoured . 〈…〉 Thus taught sayncte Paule the Romayns , that euery man and woman shulde be obedient vnto the auctoritie of the hygher power : for there is no power but of god , the powers that are , ar ordeyned of god . who so euer therfore resisteth power , resisteth the ordinance of god : And they that resiste , shal receyue to them selfes damnation . For rulers are not to be feared for good workes , but for iuell . wyll you be without fere of the power ? do wel than , and so shal thou be praysed of the same . For he is the ministre of god for thy welthe . But and if thou do yuell , than feare : for he beareth not the swerde for naughte , but is the ministre of god , to take vengeance of them that do euyll . Wherfore you muste nedes obeye , not for feare of vengeance only , but also bicause of conscience . And euen for this cause paye you tribute : for they are goddis mynisters , seruynge for the same pourpose . O good lorde , what maiestie is in these wordes ? howe ernestly shulde euery christen man and woman haue this in mynde . For if suche power be of god ( as in dede it is ) and the resister therof , resisteth the ordinance of god , if god haue giuen the sworde to punisshe and slaye the deniers herof , if eternall damnation remayneth for theym , that disobeye this godly ordinance : what damnation are they in , which contempnyng trewth , shall studye to procure theyr owne dethe , and so cause other to fal in lyke damnable errour with them ? I can not nor dare iudge them , but the worde of god iudgeth them , whiche oppugnen verite . God of his infinite mercy pardon the ignorant , not of this realme onely , but of all christen realmes , and graunt them light to se his truthe , and open theyr hartes , with pure conscience to receyue the same .

¶ Howe erneste this holy apostolle was for this veritie , it maye ryghte well appere in his epostol sent to his disciple Titus , whom he had assigned to be byshop of Crete , gyuynge hym amonge all other thinges in commaundemente , to warne the people in his sermons , that they submytte them selfes to princis and powers , & redily to obey their commaundementes , as he hym selfe in all thinges obeyed them : & made refuge to them , as whan he apeled to Cesar in a cause of heresie , gyuing example of his obedience . Whan I redde this fyrste , I meruayled moche , that Paule , in a mattier concernynge the helthe of his soule , wolde appele to Cesar and not to Peter , if Peter hadde ben the chiefe prelate ordeyned of god . But full well he knewe , that good Peter neyther had nor wold haue any high estate , or imperiall power , although Christ had vsed hym familiarly . Nor good Paule him self challenged any more authoritie , all thoughe Christe called hym his electe and chosen vessell . Emperour , what good christian can with good conscience attempt the contrarie ? Saynct Peter , whiche neuer challenged so high honour or dignitie , as many haue gyuen to hym , all proude prelacy set aparte writeth not to one countrey or citie , but vniuersally on this wyse : Humble your selfes vnto all maner ordinance of man for goddis sake , whether it be to the king as most excellent , or to his commissaries sent from hym , for the punyshment of iuel doers , & the laude of them that do wel . Marke here , that the prince is called most excellent : which if he so be , than none in his realme shall excell hym . And he sayth also : Feare god and honour the kynge . Se here howe that he putteth no meane person betwixte god and the prince : but immediatly after god , the kyng must be honoured . Thus taught sayncte Paule the Romayns , that euery man and woman shulde be obedient vnto the auctoritie of the hygher power : for there is no power but of god , the powers that are , ar ordeyned of god . who so euer therfore resisteth power , resisteth the ordinance of god : And they that resiste , shal receyue to them selfes damnation . For rulers are not to be feared for good workes , but for iuell . wyll you be without fere of the power ? do wel than , and so shalt thou be praysed of the same . For he is the ministre of god for thy welthe . But and if thou do yuell , than feare : for he beareth not the swerde for naughte , but is the ministre of god , to take vengeance of them that do euyll . Wherfore you muste nedes obeye , not for feare of vengeance only , but also bicause of conscience . And euen for this cause paye you tribute : for they are goodis mynisters , seruynge for the same pourpose . O good lorde , what maiestie is in these wordes ? howe ernestly shulde euery christen man and woman haue this in mynde . For if suche power be of god ( as in dede it is ) and the resister therof , resisteth the ordinance of god , if god haue giuen the sworde to punisshe and slaye the deniers herof , if eternall damnation remayneth for theym , that disobeye this godly ordinance : what damnation are they in , which contempnyng trewth , shall studye to procure theyr owne dethe , and so cause other to fal in lyke damnable errour with them ? I can not nor dare iudge them , but the worde of god iudgeth them , whiche oppugnen verite . God of his infinite mercy pardon the ignorant , not of this realme onely , but of all christen realmes , and graunt them light to se his truthe , and open theyr hartes , with pure conscience to receyue the same .

¶ Howe erneste this holy apostolle was for this veritie , it maye ryghte well appere in his epostol sent to his disciple Titus , whom he had assigned to be by shop of Crete , gyuynge hym amonge all other thinges in commaundemente , to warne the people in his sermons , that they submytte them selfes to princis and powers , & redily to obey their commaundementes , as he hym selfe in all thinges obedience . Whan I redde this fyrste , I meruayled moche , that Paule , in a mattier conceruynge the helthe of his soule , wolde appele to Cesar and not to Peter , if Peter hadde ben the chiefe prelate ordeyned of god . But full well he knewe , that good Peter neyther had nor wold haue any high estate , or imperiall power , although Christ had vsed hym familiarly . Nor good Paule him self challenged any more authoritie , all thoughe Christe called hym his electe and chosen vesselle . And I dare boldely saye , that none of the apostols , what partis so euer they preched in , desired euer any iurisdiction , but onely desyred the high powers to vse their authorities in seruyng god , as before tymes they had in seruinge the worlde : consideringe that it is two thynges , to be a prince and a christen prynce , ●●●ce of ●●ace . whose office is to procure peace for his people , to se the liberties of his common welth maynteined , to se that the pore people famishe not for lacke of sustenaunce , some hauyng to moche , and excessiuely expending the same , and other some hauynge nothinge at all , to se who be called to offices , to be of his counseylours , to se the sedicious and other malefactours punished , remembringe that god hath not giuen him his sword for naught . And therfore sayncte Augustyne saythe , that al though he were ones of this opinion , that malefactours , as heretykes , shoulde onely be resysted with scriptures : yet he perceyuynge many incommodities to ryse thervpon , chaunged his mynde , and thoughte the argumentis of scripture not sufficient , onelesse the temporall power wolde assiste and gyue aide to them . And he saith that these wordes of the prophete , Et nunc reges intelligite , erudimini qui iudicatis terram , Psal● Seruite domino in timore , were spoken sometyme in prophecy nowe to be put in effect of euery christen prince , that they shall nowe lerne to knowe god , of whome they haue their kyngdomes , and meking them selfes vnder the mighty hande of god , shall lerne true and holsome doctrine , to iudge the people & serue god with due fere and reuerence , diuisinge lawes to represse errours & other vices repugnaunt to the pleasure and wyll of god : and that their subiectes may lerne to preferre truth to mans inuentions and imaginations . And therfore he preyseth the lawes made by emperours against the pagans , sayeng : Quis enim nostrum , quis uestrum non laudat leges ab imperatoribus datas ad uersus sacrificia paganorum ? And in the same epistol he sayth , that such sharpe and penalle lawes haue caused many to leue their errours , & afterward haue gyuen moste harty thankes to theyr princes , which by such meanes haue called them from their errours . For lyke as a man beinge in a phrenesye may not be suffred to haue his wylful libertie , but must be bounde with chaynes lest he destroy him selfe : and as they that be diseased with a deedly slepe , in latine called Morbus lethargicus , may nat be suffred to haue their appetite , but muste be kept wakyng , orels they shall slepe to deth : so must malefactours be loked vppon with fearefull lawes and peynes , lest they bothe distroy them selfes and other : and in so doinge the princis do their due seruice to god , or els not . For as saynct Augustine sayth in an nother place , Quomodo reges seruiunt domino in timore , Ep● ▪ la. 5● nisi ea , quae contra domini iussa sunt , religiosa seueritate ꝓhibēdo atque plectendo ? Our lorde Iesus putte this in the heedes and hartis of princis , to know their powers gyuen of god , and to execute them in his seruice : thanne shall we nothyng nede to ronne to Rome , but euery man in his realme shall say and reporte by his prince , as Tertuliane dyd by his emperour , whiche in a litell treatise made ad Scapulam , saythe , Christianus nullius est hostis , nedum imperatoris , quem sciens à deo suo constitui , necesse est ut et ipsum diligat , et reuereatur , et honoret , et saluum uelit , cum toto Romano imperio , quousque saeculum stabit . tam diu enim stabit . Colimus ergo et imperatorem sic , quomodo et nobis licet , et ipsi expedit , ut hominem à deo secundum , et quicquid est , à deo consecutum , solo deo minorem , A christen man is no mans ennemie , moche lesse is he the emperours ennemye , whom he knowynge to be ordeyned of god , of necessite must loue him , reuerence him , and honour hym , and desire hym to prospere with al his empire of Rome euen to the worldes ende . For so longe shall it stande . We therfore honour our emperour , as moch as is lauful for vs , and conuenient for hym . We honour hym as a man nexte to god , hauyng what so euer he hath of god , inferiour to god onely .

¶ Here is a wonderful sayenge and a notable , and to many incredible : but to confirme this , hark what Iohn and Paule the holy martyrs sayd to Iulyan , when he thretned them with these wordes : Si contemptus fuero à uobis , necesse mihi erit agere , ut contempni non possim . Ioannes et Paulus dixerunt , Non praeponimus tibi personam qualemcunque , deum tibi praeponimus , You shall vnderstande , that this Iuliam had gyuen in commaundement , that all his subiectes shoulde make sacrifice to idols , and that all professinge Christe shulde be banished : none so hardy to mayntein or receyue into his house any of that sorte : but Iohn & Paule , not withstandynge this commandement cherished the christianes . Wherfore the emperour beinge discontented , sayd to theym : If you contempne me , hit shal be necessarie for me so to do , that I be not contempned . The holy men Iohn and Paule made aunswere on this wise : we preferre no person , no creature , what degree so euer he be of , vnto you , god we preferre . Howe fortuned this , that these holy menne forgotte here the byshoppe of Rome ? why dydde they not preferre hym : as theyr supreme heed nexte vnto god ? Except you wyll be blynde styl , these fewe authorities may suffice to shew vnto you , that nexte to god we shall honour our prince .

¶ Nowe lette vs se howe it maye be proued , that the byshoppe of Rome hathe no more authoritie , then an other foreyn byshoppe : but fyrste lette vs see what scriptures the papistes reste moste vpon , whiche if we can pulle away from them , their matter is lyke to falle . They saye , that this texte maketh moche for theym , uc 9. Tues Petrus , et super hanc petram aedificabo ecclesiam meam , Thou art Peter , and vpon this stone I wyll buylde my church , ergo Peter was the heed of the churche . Truly this argument is framed moche lyke their matter : For if the church had ben stably shed vpon Peter , than when Peter dyed , all shuld haue fallen with hym , bothe churche and chancell : but saynte Augustyne techeth vs an other maner of lesson , Episto la. 165 whiche is , that these wordes , Thou arte Peter , and vppon this stone I wyll buylde my churche , were spoken to Peter , not as to a priuate persone but to Peter representynge the holle nombre of the apostols , and the vniuersall churche . And this agreethe well with the gospell , where Christe asked his disciples , whom the people sayd that he was , and they answered and sayde : Iohn Baptiste , some say Helias , and some say one of the olde prophetes is risen agayne : He sayd vnto them : who saye ye that I am ? Peter answered and sayd , Thou art the Christe of god . And he warned & commaunded them , that they shulde tell no man that thynge . Of this hit may appere , both in as king the question , and also of Christis commandement , that Peter made answere in al their names . For the question was not purposed to hym , but to them al : and therfore makinge aunswere , he made answere for them all . And this commaundement , that they shoulde not speke this thinge to any persone , was gyuen not to Peter only , but to theym all : whiche proueth , that the reuelation was made as welle to other as to Peter . And the same authoritie , that he gaue to Peter in the name of theym all , to bynde and to loose : the same he gaue to euery one of theym , sayenge , Sicut misit me Pater , ego mitto uos , As my father sente me , I sende you , and euery one of you with the same authoritie bothe to preche the glorie of god , and also to remyt synne . Nowe if Peter wold challenge more authoritie than his felowes : than he must haue such authoritie aboue Christe : For such authoritie as Christe had , he gaue to al his apostols . Also whan Christ sayd , A ccipite spiritum sanctum , quorum remiseritis peccata , remittuntur eis , et quorum retinueritis , retenta sunt , Rehersynge this texte , saynt Iohn sayth , that he brethed vpon them , and n̄o more vpon Peter , then Andrew or Iohn : nor he spake these wordes more to Peter than to the reste , but sayde , Take the holye gooste : whose offencis or synnes you remytte or forgiue , they shall be forgyuen , and whose synnes you do not forgyue , they shall not be forgyuen . And lykewise whan he sent them into all the worlde to preche , he placed none of them all , but bade them go to the brode worlde , and preache the gospell to euery man and womanne : And therfore no more honour to Peter , than to other of his felowes . And this the holy apostoll Peter teacheth hym selfe , in his fyrst epistol saying : The elders , whiche are amonge you I exhorte , whiche am also an elder , and a wytnesse of the afflictions and tribulations of Christe , and also a part taker of the glorie that shall be opened : Se that you fede Christis flocke , which is amonge you , takyng the ouersight of them : not as though ye were compelled thereto , but wyllyngely : not for the desyre of fylthy lucre , but of a good mynde : not as though ye were lordes ouer your parysheners , but that ye be an example to the flocke . Here saynt Peter doth not onely knowledge hym selfe to be equal with other : but he also sheweth that he desireth no royall regiment : and so doth he exhorte other to be of the same mynd with hym . They ther fore , whiche extolle so moche the iurisdiction of Peter , sclaunder hym . And I am sure , he is not contented to be so reported ageynst the veritie . Therfore whanne so euer you shall haue any scripture , that soundeth for Peters authoritie , vnderstande the same spoken to all the apostols , represented in Peter . And this is saynt Augustynes mynde , as I haue sayd before . And euen so saynt Hierome in his fyrste boke ageynste Iouinian , although he may be sene to some reder , that he speaketh vtterly for the prelacy of Peter , yet he sayth euen there , that all the apostols receyued the keys of the kingedome of heuen , and that the substance of the church was equally builded vpon them all . So that saynte Hierome mente not , that Peter had more auctoritie than the other , but that he was chosen as one to be preloquutour and speaker for his felowes , and that to auoyde confusion , whiche shulde haue bene , if all shoulde speake to gether . And yet this pueth hym not to haue more authorite than an other . As although my lorde Mayre , the aldermen , with other , shulde sende mayster Recorder in message to the kynge for some common matter of the citie : maister Recorder is not nowe a priuate person , but a common persone : and what so euer he speaketh , durynge his commission , the holle citie speaketh it : & what answere so euer is made to him is made to the hole cite . And yet this proueth not mayster Recordar to be of more authorite than my lord maire and the aldermen . And truely onles we shulde thus vnderstonde sayncte Hierome , he shuld be contrarye to him selfe . For in his epistoll sent to Euagrius , he maketh all bishoppes of al places equall , these are his wordes : The churche of Rome is not to be thoughte to be diuided frome other churches in the worlde , both France , Britayne , Affrica , Persis , Oriens , and India , and all other strange nations honour Christe , and kepe one rule of truth . If auctoritie be asked therfore , the worlde is bygger then one citie . Where so euer the byshoppe shall be , eyther at Rome , or elles at a poore citie in Italy called Eugubium , or at Constantinoble , in Macedonie , or in Rhegio , a citie in Grece , or in Alexandria and Tanis cities in Egipte : he is of lyke meryte , and of lyke prelacy . The abundance of ryches , and the humilitie of pouertie auseth not a byshoppe to be more or lesse in auctoritie , but all indifferently ar the successours of the apostols .

¶ What can be more plainly spoken for equalitie of byshoppes ? Rede it , and rede it agayne , and imprint it in your hartis , and muse vpon it : and then iudge saynct Hieromes mynde . you shall well perceyue , that he meaneth all byshops to be of lyke authoritie in their owne diocese : and that none shall challenge by the lawes of god any prelacye aboue an nother . Saint Cyprian in lyke maner , what so euer he semeth to say in other places , yet in his epistolle ad Cornelium , whome he calleth brother , he saythe , that it is decreed to hym and all byshops , that euery one shall haue the ouersight & gouernance of their owne diocesans , for whom they shal make accompte to god . And in his boke called De simplicitate praelatorum , he saith : that all the apostols were lyke in honour and power . And if they so were , what is then become of Peters prelacye ? I thynke if in this matter he were reuerently handeled , he shulde be vnderstonde as saint Ierome was : whiche commendynge the auctoritie of byshoppis dyd neuer derogate the royaltie of princis , but wolde euery byshoppe to haue the gouernance of his flocke , maynteyninge alway the auctorytie of princes . And in good feythe I can not rede the contrarye in theym : but ofte I doo rede , howe they submytted them selfes and called vpon temporal power for helpe & maintenance of truth , not presuming to call any general Councels , but vpon their fauours : As the councelle of Nicene , whiche was celebrate by the commaundement of Constantine the emperor , to represse heresies : In the whiche councell it was determyned thus , Mos antiquus perduret in Aegypto , uel Lybia , et Pentapoli , ut Alexandrinus episcopus horum omnium habeat potestatem , quoniam quidem et Romano episcopo parilis mos est . Simíliter autem et apud Antiochiam , ceterasque prouincias honor suus unicuique seruetur ecclesiae , We wylle that the olde custome and maner shall continue in Egipte , Libie , and Pentapoli , whiche is that the bysshoppe of Alexandria shall haue gouernance and rule ouer al these : for that there is a lyke custome for the bysshoppe of Rome . In lyke maner we wyll , that at Antiochie , & other prouincis , euery one shall haue their due honour . This mooste honourable councell , whiche was kepte in the .iii. hundred & .xxiiii. yere after Christe , then beinge present .iii. hundred and .xviii. byshops and holy fathers , determined that the byshoppe of Alexandria shulde haue as moche authoritie in his parties , as the byshop of Rome shall haue in Italy and other places in the weste , & sayth , that so it hath ben of a longe custome , approuing the same . Nowe if that custome were good , and well allowed of suche holy fathers , howe can it be thought : that Peters successour shoulde by the lawes of god haue more iurisdiction then any other byshoppe ? seinge that these holy fathers iudged than and decreed the contrarie , whiche beinge so nigh the apostels tyme not only approued the custome , but also made a decrre thervpon , whiche they wolde neuer haue done , except it myght haue stond with the lawes of god .