OUr Sauiour Christ whan the Deuill spake the truth plainly , did not confute or gayne saye it : but whan he did it frowardly , Christ rebuked hym sharpelye . As whan the deuill said : Iesus of Nazareth , what Luc. 4 haue we to do with thee , art thou comen to destroy vs ? I knowe that thou art the holy one of god . He did not refuse nor denye that truth which he spake : but whan the deuill tempted him , to throw himself down from the Pinacle of the Temple , be rebuked him quickly , bicause he alledged the true scripture maliciously . So it is Math. 4 Trueth must be truly vttred . not sufficient to do a good dede barely , or speake the trueth only , except it be done rightly , & with such circumstances , as be necessarily required to make it good : as that it be from the hart , and for Goddes cause willingly . &c. In like maner where this scauenger sweping the stretes with his bookes ( as a fitten brome and officer therto ) hais spoken the truth , not trulye ( bicause it is for an euil purpose , and frowardly ) I shal passe ouer it with silence : but where he followes his maister , the father of lies , in falsifiyng the trueth , or racking the Scripture subtilly , I shal by gods grace let the world see his iugling , and by truth trulye vttered , disclose his shameles lyinge . The firste examples that he bringes , declaring how god does iustlye plague the obstinate sinners , that will not repent after manye warninges giuen , are true all : but being alledged to bring vs backe to Poperye , and for another purpose then God oure Lorde hais taught them , they be craftelye misused , and ye see whose fotesteppes be folowed . And as he vses theym to perswade vs to supersticion : so they maye , and ought to be vsed specially , for maintainynge true religion . The Rhetoricians teach , that suche kinde of beginninges as maye be applied to two contrary partes , are fauty . Therefore seinge I maye vse the selfe same reasons and woordes , that he ha●s from the beginning hitherto , to train vs to loue and embrase oure godlye refourmed religion , he can not muche crake of his wyselye placed examples or reasons . But I wyll not stycke wyth hym in suche small poyntes as these , although they be fautes : but I wil ioine with him in matters of weight and those thefe pointes of religion whiche he hais touched , and we differ from him and hys sort in them .

THe first is concerning th autority and gouernment geuen to Bishops ouer Gods Church : wherin his wordes are not so vntrue , as they conteyne a false doctryne and meaning in them . Yf ye thinke that I to boldly enter to iudge his meaning , confer these wordes with such as folowe in his owne writing ( wherin vntruly he claimes those priuileges to his Bishops whiche neyther he nor they are able to iustifie ) and there at large ye shall easlye perceiue what he meanes by these fewe woordes here . But I will followe him where awaye he leades me , and because he does here but briefly touche it I shall likewise shortly passe ouer it , and more throughly search it , where he does more at large presse it . In the beginninge of their late reuyued tyrannye , and afore they had obtained their long desired autoritie to ragne ouer Kinges and Princes , it was my chaunce to talke with one of their stoutest Champions and of those that he calles the godly Bishops in prison . Among sundry thinges that were to be redressed in talke as he thoughte , he toke this selfe same matter first and said it was not fitte for any temporal officer to sit as iudge on any Priest or spiritual What autoritye Byshops haue ouer the Church . manne , specially in any spirituall matter . For the same cause began Tho. Beket to rebell against his Prince : not sufferinge his Priestes to be punyshed for their murthers & roberyes and now like good childer they followe his steppes . I asked whye ? for the lawes were then as they be nowe : and both verye well that Iustyces in their Sessyons and Assises might and shoulde enquire who than offended the ciuill lawes and the order of religion establyshed , whether he were Priest or other : he aunswered that in the xx . of the Actes of Thappostles it was plaine that God had set the Bishops to gouerne the Churche . I saide that was another kind of gouernment that Saint Paule there grauntes to Byshops , and differs from that which kinges or Princes claime and ought to haue . No sais he marke the woordes , and it is ad regendum Ecclesiam & regere regum est , therefore Byshops haue autoritie to rule as kynges . No said I , if ye wil be iudged by the worde , the Greke worde must be iudge in this case : For in Greke it was first written and spoken , & there wil appeare an other kind of gouernement , far diuers from that whyche belonges to Princes , the Greke worde in that place is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . Which signifies , to fede , as the sheperde fedes his sheepe , and yet not without all gouernment or autority , but only such a simple kinde of rule and autoritye as shepeherdes haue ouer their flocke . If ye wil conferre one place of the scripture with another where this word is red or found ( which is the best kinde of interpretinge the Scripture rightlye , as S. Austin teaches ) and see what kind of gouernment it signifies there , than this place shall more easely be vnderstand .

Fede the flocke that is among you , sais i. Pet. 5. Saint Peter . Fede my shepe sais our sauiour Christ to Peter . Where , & in other Ioan. 21 like places also , the same Greke worde that is commenly translated in the Actes regere to rule , is put and signifies as ye ●s to feede . The same word is aplied also to Math. 2. our sauiour Christ in the Gospel , where is declared plainly , what kind of autority it signifies . Thou Bethleem in the land of Iuda , thou art not the lest of the Prynces of Iuda : for oute of thee , shal Ioan. 10 there come to mee a Prynce , that shall rule or feede my people Israel . Also I am the good shepeherd sais Chryste : where likewise is the same Greke word placed . Than if Christ our Lorde had any temporall iurisdiction , or these other places , vsing the same Greke worde conteine any such thing : they might haue some appearaunce to clame their vsurped autority : elles it is not probable to giue the same word in that place alone that meaning contrarye to so manye other places hauing the selfe same word . Nay further to say : did not our Lord and Maister Iesus Christ refuse this wordlye autoritye himselfe when it was offered vnto him , and the one brother desired hym to deuide the enheritaunce betwixt hym and his other brother : he would not but said : Luk. xii . who apointed me a deuider betwixt you : as though he shoulde saye . It is not my callinge nor belonges to me , his kyngdome was not of this worlde : but he came to teache his fathers will , likewise he taught his Appostles not to chalenge this superiority , sayinge : the Princes of Luk ●xii the people haue rule ouer theym , but it shall not be so amonge you : but he that woulde be the greatest , shal be the least , that they might folow his steppes truly . But the manyfest place where the proper signification of this word appeares , Ephe. 4. is in Paule : Where he reckens what officers God hais set in his Church , and sais : Firste he sette some Apostles , other Prophetes , some Euangelystes , other shepeherdes and teachers . These shepeherdes ( whiche are noted there , by the same word that they clayme their autority by ) are placed by S. Paul , almost the lowest officers in Goddes Church : than much more they can not haue the highest rowme in the common welth and Churche both . I knowe the Greke Poetes attribute this word to kynges , but I trust they build not on heathen mennes writinges , and yet that name there is geuen theym , for their fatherlye loue towarde their Subiectes : rather then their royall autority . But compare them with shepeherdes that keepe oure sheepe in dede , of whom they haue their name , and easely their nature , property , office , and autority shal be spied , Gods people are cald oft in the Scripture , sheepe ( as we thy people Psa. 79. & the shepe of thy pasture will praise thee ) and their teachers are called shepeherdes : because the one should in liuyng followe the simplicitye and obedience of shepe , and the other , the carefull paines and diligence of shepeherdes in fedynge , healynge , releuinge , guydynge , correctynge . &c. Looke than what temporall autoritye the sheepeherde hais ouer his sheepe : and the same spirituall power haue the Byshoppes ouer the Churche . The good shepeherde will not lette hys shepe feede in hurtful and roating pastures , but wil remoue them to good feding groundes : No more wil Gods good shepeherbes let Gods people and his brethren be poisoned wyth false doctrines , but by his autority roote out and confute them . The true shepeherd if he see the wolfe or foxe come to deuoure the flocke , he will watche and defende the folde : so shoulde the good Bishop by his office . The good shepeherde will saue the scabbed sheepe , bring home the stray , and fede the weaks and hungry : so wil the good Byshop according to his duty . The good shepeherde if his shepe be vnrulye , wil set his dogge to pul him downe and tame him : yf any can not be healed , he will cutte it of , and kil it , for infecting the rest : so wil Gods good Byshop with the threatninges of Gods vengeaunce , pul downe the vnbridled stomaches of the people , make them to tremble and quake at Gods iudgementes , and if anye can not be reclaymed , he wil cut him of by excomunication , seperate hym from the felowshyp of gods people , not suffer him to communicate the Lordes Supper , whyche is the bande of brotherly loue , and forbidde all good folke his company , that through suche shame he may be brought to knowledge his faut & amend , that he may ioifully be receaued as a brother in the companye and felowship of Gods people agayne , and communicate with them in prayer , doctrine , discipline , and sacramentes as afore . In these pointes the autoritye of Byshops is so great , that it extendes to Prince , pope , & prelate , & none is exempt , but as they be subiect to Gods word , sacraments and doctrine , so must they obey Gods true minister and discipline . As for example , the good Byshop Ambrose dyd sharplye correct and excommunicate the Emperour Theodosius for a rashe murther done by his commaundement , and whether he is more praise worthye that would or durst rebuke and excommunicate so mightye a Prince : or the good Emperor that willingly submitted him self , and obeyed his correction , it may be doubted , the power and autority than of Bishoppes is spirituall , belonginge to mans soule as their office and ministery is , and it standes cheiflye in these twoo pointes : in doctrine and disciplyne . As the temporall officer in the comen welth hais not the swearde committed to hym in vaine , but to defend the good , and punishe the euill : to smite the ennemy , and saue the subiect , to prison the frowarde , and loose the giltles : so hais gods minister in his Church full power and autority to teache sound doctrine and confut the false , to beate downe hawty mindes , and raise the weake , to bind & loose the conscience by vertue of Gods worde , to throw into hell the obstinate , or lift into heauen the penitent , to cast out of Gods Church , and receiue agayne suche as he rightlye iudges by the Scriptures mete for mercy or iustice . And as Saint Peter calles Christ our lord the shepeherd and Bishop of oure soules : so those Bishops that folow Christ will chalenge no more autoritye to theym , than their Maister Christ had .

I am sure thys pleases hym well to heare , speciallye of my mouthe , that such spirituall autoritye is geuen to spiritual ministers to execute on all sortes of people : for as they belie vs in other thinges , saying : we teach false doctrine , and moue the people to sinne , so they saye that in deniyng them their vsurped autority , we take from theym , that whyche is due to them . Yet in graunting thus much vnto them , I meane as they teach ( that Priestes and Byshoppes haue this power of theym selues , or whan they be greased wyth the Popes oyle , that they may execute it whan and on whome it pleases theym ) but that God workes it by them , as his wisdom thinkes good , whan they vse them as he appointed them . For as the iudge or pursauant that bringes the kinges pardon to saue a thiefe on the galowes , is but the Princes seruaunt , and not the chiefe Sauiour and delyuerer of the condemned , so in this absoluing and raysing vp the sinful clogged conscience , the chyefe praise and worke is gods , and the Bishop or minister is but Gods seruaunt , goinge his message by his worde and commaundement to saue and loose them whom it pleases God to offer this grace vnto .

But mee thinke I heare him saye : If Byshops in temporall causes haue not thys autority , why sit they so oft by commission now vnder the gospel in temporal maters . In dede forsomuch as they sit by commission , it proues that it belonges not to their offyce , as appointed by god , but in that they serue the Prince as they be bounden . Who wils and commaundes them by Comission to serue in such place and tyme . The Byshops offyce is chiefly taught in the scripture by the holy ghost : and from him he receiues his Commission , and is not inuented by Pope or man . Yf ye compare together Saint Paules Byshop described in Timothe and Ti●us , with such toyes as the Popes Prelates are ordeyned to play and feede the people withal : they are as lyke as blacke and white . Saint Paules Byshoppe is in the firste place licensed to marye , the Popes are forbidden wiues , and alowed hoores for money . Saint Paules Bishop must preache : the Popes thinke it shame to stand in the Pulpit . Saint Paul wils his Bishop to haue his children obedient with al reuerence : the Popyshe Priestes Children sit by other mennes fires , and brought vp most wantonly . The Pope hais commaunded his Bishops to christen belles and shippes , to halow Miters and staues , ringes , Churche yardes , Altars , Superaltares , albes , vestimentes , Chalices , corporas , Palmes , ashes , candels , water , fire , bread , oyle , creame , flowers , strippes , swordes , crownes , fingers . &c. This is their holle lyfe , and yet not one suche worde appointed theym by God in Scripture . What is this , but to forsake Gods ordinaunce , and folow their owne deuyses , to prefer man and his doinges , to the wisdom of the holye ghost . Whan he hais done all these thinges , he maye say , he hais serued bis maister the Pope , and done his commaundement , but not one thing that God biddes him .

Yet remaynes one doubt vnanswered in these few wordes whan he sayes , that the gouernemente of the Churche was commytted to Byshoppes , as thoughe they bad receyued a larger & higher commission from god , of doctrine & discipline than other lawer priests or ministers haue and thereby might chalenge a greater prerogatiue . But this is to be vnderstand that the Priuileges and superiorites which Byshoppes haue aboue other ministers , are rather graunted by manne for maintaining of better order and quietnesse in commen wealthes , then commaunded by God in his word . Ministers haue better knowledge and vtteraunce some than other , but their ministerye is of equal dignitye . Gods commission and commaundement is like , and indifferent to all , Priest , Byshop , Archbyshop , Prelate , by what name so euer he be called : goe and teach baptisinge in the name of Mar. xvi . Ioan xx . the father , the Son , and the holye ghost . And againe whose sinnes so euer ye forgeue , they are forgeuen , and what soe-euer ye loose in earth , it is loosed in Act. xx . heauen . &c. Likewise the Lordes supper by whom soeuer being lawfully called , it be ministred : it is of lyke strength , power and holines , Saint Paule calles the Elders of Ephesus together , and sais , the holy ghost made them Byshops to rule the Church of god , he writes also to the Byshops of Philippos , meaninge the Ministers : for neyther Ephesus nor Philippos were so great townes , but one lytle . Byshopricke is a greater compasse of ground , than they needed not manye Byshops , therefore this diuersitye of absoluing sinnes , inuented by idle braines , that a simple Priest maye absolue some small ones , other greater belonge to the Byshop , Th archbyshop clames an other higher sort , the rest and fowlest sort , pertein to Popes and Cardinals , as the fathers & maintainers of them : these I say are so foolish & childish to beleue , that I think it not nedeful to speake of them , they Mynyster autoritye of like power , all are not grounded on Gods word , & therfore must nedes be vntrue , and not to be credited because our faith hangs only on the holy scripture , greadye couetousnes to enriche themselues , hais inuented these as also the rest of their supersticion whiche they tearme religion . Saint Ierom in his commentarye on the. i. Chapter ad Tit sais : that a Byshoppe and a Priest is all one , and in hys Epystle ad Euagrium , he sayes : that the Byshop wher so euer he be , he is of the same power and Priesthoode . Rome makes him not better , nor Englande makes him worse . A Byshop is a name of office , labour , and paynes , rather then of dignytye , ease , welth , or ydlenes . The word Episcopus is Greke , and signifies a Scoutwatche , an ouerloker or Spie : because he shoulde euer be watching and warning , that the deuill our enemye do not enter to spoyle or destroy . And as in warre , the watchemen , Scoutes , or Spies , yf they fall on slepe or be negligent , they betraye their felowes , and deserue death ? so in Gods Church , if the Byshops watch not diligentlye , and saue their sheepe , God hais pronounced sentens of death against them by his Prophet . I made thee a watche man to the house of Israel sais the Lord : thou shall heare the word of my mouth , and declare it them from me . If I say to the wicked , thou wicked , thou shalt die , and thou wilte not warne hym to take Ezech. 33 hede to his way , he shall die in his wickednes , but his bloude I will require of thee . But I thinke the holy Byshops he crakes so much of , haue their callynge of the Dutche name , that signifies byts shepe : rather than of the Greke , that teaches to saue sheepe by his painefull diligence . If they were not to muche blinded in their owne folyshnes , they might see in the last subsidye graunted in the tyme of their owne raygne , that they graunt those to be their betters , & aboue theym , from whence they receyue their autority . The Parliament geues theym and their Collectours , power to suspend depryue , and interdite anye Priest that paies not the subsidy : In that doing they graunt the Parliament to be aboue them , & from it to receiue their power . Yea further to let them se how they be contrary to themselfes , they giue a lay man ( as most part of their Collecters were ) power , to interdite , suspende and absolue a Priest : whiche both be contrarye to their owne doctrine . I had not thought to haue said so muche on these his fewe woordes , and yet muche more hanges on this their opinion of claming their vsurped power aboue Princes and other ministers . For if thys their opinyon were true , that god gaue them such autority ouer his Churche as they clame , it might be sayde on theym , as the Poete sais , Ouem lupo comisisti : that God had appointed wolues to kepe his shepe .

ALas poore Masse that hais no better a ground work to be bylte on than false lies , and so vnlerned a Proctour to speake for it . I pray you who helpt Saint Iames at Masse , who halowed hys Corporas , Superaltare , Chalice , vestimentes , &c. Who was deacon and Subdeacon to reade the Epistle and Gospel , who rang to the sacring and serued the pax : for I am as sure it was a solempne feast , and that these thinges were done , as he is that S. Iames saide masse . He that tolde you the one , could haue told you the other as well as this , if he had lust , and ye saye your Masse can not be saide without these trinkettes . I praye you what Masse was it ? began it with a great R. of Requiem , or Scala coeli , or resurrexi : For the plague , or murrion of beastes ? part of a trentall , or for all christen soules ? if ye wil haue vs to beleue it ye must tell vs some more . I praye you also which Saint Iames was it , for we reade of diuers of that name , both in the Scripture , and other histories liuyng at that time . It is not inoughe to saye , so it is : but ye must proue it , yf ye will be beleued . I pray you whose masse as they terme it vsed he , and of whose makynge was it ? Chrisostomes or Basils , Gregories or Ambrose , or that whiche beares hys owne name of Saynt Iames ? what language spake he ? Hebrewe , Greke , or Latin ? these thynges must be proued afore your Latin popish patched Masse , by so many Popes in so manye yeares , or it was broughte to his perfection , canne be proued . Doe they thynke that beccaus● my Lord Bishop , Maister Docter , or such Scauingers , and corner crepers , as thi● Champion is , say it is so , and deceiue th● people with lies priuely in corners , tha●● none dare saye against it openly , but al●● their sayinges must be beleued : I do no●● take them to be of that autoritye or credit . But I will not stand with him in al these narrow pointes , although I could kepe him much play in so doing . I agree that Iames brother of oure Lorde , was Bisshop there at Ierusalem as the auncient writers testifye : but that he said or did anye thing lyke the Popyshe ●louted Latin masse , that I vtterly deny . For that the church , alter , Superaltare , vesstiments , Chalyce . &c. should be halowed afore they could haue masse said in them , on theym , or with theym , it is playne written in their owne law , de consecra distincto .i when they haue proued that S. Iames had these halowed , howe and by whome they were halowed , than I will beleue he said their folish masse , and not afore : for their masse canne not be done without them . Also if they will be beleued , they muste declare what order of masse he vsed , was it Chrisostomes , Basils , Iustines , ●ertulians , Austins , Dionisius , Isidorus , Gregories , Rabanus , the Romaines , or whose els ? Surely all these were vnborne manye yeares after Saint Iames died , that it coulde not be theirs , whi ( I am sure ) some will say is there so many diuers sortes of so manye holy fathers to minister the Lordes supper , and our holye Bishops of late haue burned so many innocentes that would not vse their only one disordert order of massing , as though all other were hereticall and schismatical ( as they terme it ) but that onely one which they haue deuised , disguised and misused : yea surelye these diuersityes al be printed and to be had wyth manye moe godlye ones , and therefore they can not deny it : and bicause they be prynted , I will not stande to rehearse them holly , for it were infinite . There is yet an other liturgie in Print , ( which worde they cal and vnlearnedly● translate euer a Masse ) bearing the name of Saint Iames , but euen in their late raging time of madnes , whan they had gotten certayne copies of these Greeke liturgies , or ministring the Lordes supper , thinking to haue printed them , and that it woulde haue stablyshed their doinges : whan in triall and translatynge them they see it fall oute otherwais and to make against them , they let it alone , and suppressed it : like as the same holye father and Cardinall fyrste prynted hys booke that he wrote against king Henry the eyght , to please the Pope wythall , and to sturre Th emperoure to warre against England , for falling from Popery , and after his conscience accusing him to haue done amysse , he burned all the bookes he coulde come by , and yet nowe they be commonly solde to his shame as these Liturgies be to theirs . Al these orders of ministring the Communion differ from their Pope holye relique , their Latin masse in the chiefest poyntes : that is that the Priest prayes not alone , nor in a straunge language , eates not , nor drinkes vp all alone , nor receyues it for other : sels it not for money , nor swepes the Popes scalding house , his purgatory with it : but the people pray with him in theyr mother tounge , receyue wyth him for the coumforte of their owne soules , and not for pockye pigges , scalled horse , nor scabbed shepe , neyther making trentals or marchandise of it , but in remembraunce of Chrystes death , who dyed for theim .