THe blessed Martyr of God S. Cyprian , Lib. 〈◊〉 . 3 epis● . 11. wryting to one Rogatianus a Bishop of his prouince hath thiese wordes . I●tia hae reticorum , & ortus atque conatus schis●aticorum mal●e cogitantium haec sunt : v● sibi placeant , vt praepositum superbo tu●ore contemnant . Sic de ecclesia receditur , sic altare prophanum foris collocatur : sic contra pa●em Christi , & ordination●m , atque vnitatem Dei rebellatur . Which is in englishe thus much to say : The beginning of heretikes , the first springing vp , and enterprise of schismatikes thinking amisse in matters of faithe , groweth of pleasure that they take in them selues , and of that , that being puffed vp with pride , they contemne ther head , and gouernour appointed ouer them . By this meanes stray they from the churche . Thus is a prophane altar placed wythout the dores , and thus rebell they agaynst Christes peace , gods ordinaunce and vnitie .

And agayn in an other place he writeth thus : Lib. 4. epist. 9. Vnd●e enim schismata & haereses obortae sunt , nisi dum episcopus qui v●us est , & ecclesiae praeest , superba quorundam praesumptione contemnitur , & homo dignatione dei honoratus , ab indignis hominibus iudicatur ? Where of ( sayeth he ) doe heresies and schysm●s spring , but of this , that the bishop which is one , and gouerneth the church , is thorough the proude and arrogant presumption of certeine , contemned , and set at nought , and being the man by goddes approbation alowed , and honored , is of vnworthy men iudged .

The very same thing , although in other wordes , doeth S. Basile in an epistle written by him , Epistola . 61. ad Episcopos per Italian & Galliani . to the bishoppes of Italie and Fraunce , bewailing there in the estate of his time , most plainelie declare . Whose wordes , because they doe liuely represent vnto vs , the most miserable face of this our age : I haue thought good to alleage , and set before your eyes . Ambitiones eorum qui dominum non timent , praesidentias inuadunt , & in propatulo de caetero impietatis praemium proposita est prima sedes . Quare , qui grauiores blasphemias protulit ad populi episcopum potior habetur . Periit authoritas sacerdotalis , populi admoneri nolunt , praesides dicendi libertatem non habent . Silent piorum ora , permissum est autem dicere omni blasphemae linguae . Prophanata sunt sacra . that is to say . The pride , and ambition of them whych feare not our lorde doeth inuade and set apon ther heads , and openly the chiefest place , is proposed as a rewarde for wyckednes . And therefore he that can vtter against the bishop of the people , most grieuouse and slaunderouse blasphemies , is accompted of gretest price , and had in moste estimation . The authorite of priestehood is lost . The layte will not be admonished . The rulers be restreined of liberte to speake . The mouthes of good men kepe silence . Euery blasphemouse tongue is set at libertie . All holie thinges ar made prophane . Hetherto S. Basil.

To be short , there was neuer yet any heretike emongest so many as from time to time , haue continually troubled the churche of god , that made not his first entry into his heresies , by the proclaiming ( as it wer ) of open war , against the beautiful ordre of the churche ( which they haue alwaies forsene to be to them , terribilis vt castrorum acies ordinata , terrible as is the froont of a battell well set in ordre ) and ageinst the bishop of Rome , appointed by god to be here in earthe , the laufull gouernour and head thereof , not lacking also therein greate poli●ie , that by striking the shepherde they might the easelier scatter the flock .

Thus did in the time of S. Cyprian , Lib. 6. cap , 30. Nouatus that greate herety k , who as Nicephorus reporteth of him , holding betwene his hands , the handes of such as minded to receiue of him , the blessed sacrament of th' altar : vsed to them these wordes . Adiura mihi per corpus & sanguinem domini Iesu Christi nunquam te a me discessurum , & ad Cornelium ( Romanus is Episcopus fuit ) rediturum esse . Sweare to me quoth he , by the body , and bloud of our lorde Iesus Christ , that thow wilt neuer forsake me , nor return to Cornelius , who was then bishop of Rome . So did in our time the scholers and folowers of Martin luther : So did Iohn Caluin with his congregation at Geneua : So doe euen at this time , in oure infortunate countrey , those wicked men ( apon whome I beseche almightie god to extende his mercie ) who occupieng the places , and 〈◊〉 mes of catholike bishops being them selues indurat heretikes , ceasse not daily most cruelly to practise , that lesson learned of ther auncestor Nouatus . For what man admit they to any liuing , of whome they exact not first this othe ? Whome suffer they to continue in his liuing , if he giue not this othe ? For the onely refusall hereof , how many notable men of the cleargie , bothe for life and learning , suffer they to pyne away in prison ? I remembre not heare , the greate nombre of gentlemen , and other mere laye men not included in the statute , of pooer yong scholers of bothe th' vniuersites , The ba●ishment of scholers from th' vniuersites for refusing to sweare ageinst the Pope . who witheout all face of lawe ( for , for th' other theie pretended a colour ) being not so much them selues spoiled of ther colleages , as ther colleages , vniuersitees , yea ther country self ( which had of the most parte of them byn likely to hauereceiued bothe help and comfort ) spoyled and robbed of them : wander now abroade in dispersion , lamenting th' estate of ther miserable countrie .

Of the whych they maye , Epistola 70. and we all iustlie now say , much more then did S. Basil of the persecution in his time . He onely complained that the churche dores wer shut vp , that th' altars lacked that spirituall worship that should haue byn doen apon them , that there wer no assembles of Christian men , that lerned men bare no sway , that there was no wholesom doctrine taught , that the feastes and holidaies wer not kept , that the praiers in the night wer vtterly ceassed . A comparison betv●ene the complaynt which S. Basile made of his time , and that which we may make of our●● . To that holy father it seemed a great outerage , that the churches wer shut vppe : what would he ( thinck we ) then say wer he aliue in these dayes , when of our churches he should see , some made the dwelling houses of priuat men , other some turned into barnes , or stables , other cleane ouer throwen , and made euen wyth the grounde , and those that remain whole ( so moch worse then if they had byn alltogether shut vp ) left open for heretikes to pollute , with schismaticall seruice and diuelysh doctrine ? It grieued S. Basil that th' altars should lack the spirituall seru●ce , whych was not nether for any mislike that men had therein , but because in that grieuouse persecution of the Christians , theie could not be founde that durst doe it . And could he haue taken it well to haue seene them broken , defaced , and quite ouer throwen : yea , ( whiche is a crime so horrible , that to write it I tremble ) in those places in which the altars stood , whereon was wont in that spirituall sacrifice to be offered vp , the most pretious body , and bloud of Christ : Oxen and beastes more vncleane , to befedde ? He lamented that learned men wer not estemed , that they wer not prouided of lyuings : and would he not much more lament , to see them depriued of those whych they had , and shoemakers , weuers , tinckers , coweherdes , broome men , Russians forfelonies burned in the hands to be put in ther places ? Then was no holsom doctrine taught , nowe is ther nothing elles taught but poisoned and vnholsom . Then wer there no holidaies kepte , nor hymnes vsed in the night . Nowe ar they accompted to be superstition .

Nowe as we felt none of all thiese miseries besides a thousand moe , so long as we kept our selues wythin the vnite of one heade : so is euery man able to beare me witnesse , that as soone as the diuel the author of all heresies had once obteined , and brought about the banishment in our countrye of that one bishop , wyth the whych ( as you haue hard out of S. Cyprian before ) he vseth alwayes to begin ; all these russhed in apon vs , as the dore that should haue kept them out being set wide open . And as this is confessed , by the most auncient fathers that haue wrytten sence Christes tyme , The way to return to the vni t● of the church . that by this meanes we first reuolt from the churche , by contemning , and not acknowleging the head : so mu●t our return thyther again be by the contrary , that is by reuerencing him , by acknowleging him , by humble submission of our self to him . So did those that after ther fall with Nouatus , S. Cyprian receiued into the churche again , apon ther submission testified in these wordes . Epistola ad CornElium papam lib. 3. Nos Cornelium episcopum sanctissmum Catholicae Ecclesiae , erectum à deo omnipotente , & Christo D. nostro scimus . Nos errorem nostrum confitemur . Circumuenti sumus perfidiae loquacitate factiosa amentes : videbamur qua si quandam communicationem cum homine schismatico habuisse : Syncera tamen mens nostra in ecclesia semper fuit . Nec ignoramus vnum deum esse , & vnum Christum esse dominum , quem confessi ●umus , vnum spiritum S , vnum Episcopum in ecclesia catholica esse debere . This Cornelius was B. of Rome . We ( say they ) acknowledge Cornelius to be erected by god almighty , and Christe our lorde , to be the holie bishop of the catholike churche . We confesse our error : we haue byn circumuented ronning madde by the factious babbling of treachery : we semed to haue communicated as it wer , with that schismaticall man Nouatus : yet was our sincere minde alwaies in the churche . Nor we ar not ignorant , One god , One Christ , One holy ghost , One Bishop . that there is one onlie god , and one Christ our lorde , and that in the catholike churche there must be one holie ghost , and one bishop . So did Vrsatius and Valens forsaking the heresy of Arrius , offer vp ther recantation to Iulius then bishop of Rome . By thys meanes ( good Christian readers ) returned they to the churche , by this must you return that haue straied , what so euer you be , if you will be saued .

Seing now as I haue declared , the going out of the churche is by the contempt of the head thereof , and the return home again , by th' acknowleging , and reuerencing of the same : persuade your selfe that it hath not byn for nothing , that good men in all ages haue byn , and at this time ar , no lesse busyed in defence thereof , then heretikes , myssecreant● , and enemies to our faithe , ar readie wyth all ther power to assault the same .

The consideration whereof hath caused also me , in this enterprise of mine , to begin first wyth the fortifieng of that , whereunto our enemies ( as the very fundacion of all true religion , the comfort and stay of the catholikes , the terror and vtter vndoing of all heretikes ) doe most direct ther battery . In the handling where of I purpose god willing to take this ordre :

First , 1. before I comme to the principall poinct thatlieth in question betwene vs ( which is of the bishop of Romes supremacie ) to proue to you by most plaine , and euident reasons , that the churche of Christ here militant in earth must of necessitie for diuerse and sondrie vrgent causes , haue one chief head and ruler vnder Christ , to rule and gouerne the same .

Secondarily , 2. that that one head must nedes be a priest . Thirdly and so last of all , 3. that of all priests the bishop of Rome is he , whych must supply that place , and that for so ( that is head and ruler of the church ) he hath byn , of th' auncient councels , and old fathers , wyth in the first six hundred yeares after Christes departure , taken .

And because good Christian readers , you shall well perceaue , that this is no nowe deuise , or fantasie imagined by m● : I will here lay before your eyes , the iudgement of certein notable men , whom god gaue to his churche to serue for a wall for the same , ageinst the incursions of the wicked Phylistins his enemyes . In whom you shal most plainely perceiue , this ordre in Christes churche to be so necessarie , that the onely breache or lack th●r●of , hath byn by them taken , to be the highe way , and very path that leadeth to all heresies .

And first to begyn wyth that blessed martyr of god S. Cyprian , hath he not concerning this matter , in an epistle by hym written to Cor●elius then bishop of Rome , thiese wordes ? Lib. 1. Episto . 3. Neque enim aliunde obortae sunt haereses , aut nat●● sunt schismata , quàm indé qu●●d sacerdoti dei non obtemperatur , necvnus in ecclesia ad tempus sacerdos , et ad tempus iudex , vice Christicogitatur that is , neyther yet truely doe heresies aryse , or schismes growe , The high way to heresyes to thynck that there is not one iudge in earth in the steed of Christ . of any other cause , then thereof , that men obey not the priest of god , neyther doe thinck , that there is in the churche in the steed and place of Christ , one prieste , and one iudge for the time .

Hetherto S. Cyprian . By the whych wordes good christian readers , it is so euident , that there must be one priest in the churche , whom all other must obey , that the same must be taken of vs , for iudge here in earthe , in the stede of Christe : The Apolog●e of the Englysh churche reproued by S. Cyprian . that you see I nothing doubt , great cause to condemne , the grosse ignorance of our late apologie : Wher in the authors , contrary to thys doctrine of S. Cyprian , most impudently pronounce , that in hys church , Christ our lord vseth not , the help of any one man alone to gouern the same in his absence , as he that standeth in neede of no such help ; and that if he did , no mortall man could be found , hable alone to doe the same : and finally wyth the same S. Cyprian , who dyed a holy martir , and is no dout a saincte in heauen , to whome the belief of both these two articles seemed not onely not impossible , but also very necessary ; to lyue and dye in th' obedience of this priest , and vnder such a iudge , then wyth a sort of lewd losels , The definition of the protestants Church . in whose churche ( being a certein secret scattred congregation vnknowen to all the world beside , and to their own fellowes toe ) is nother head , ordre , obedience , neyther yet certein rules or groundes where on to stay , to runne hedlong ye wot no more then your guides whither .

But S. Cyprian , was he trow yow of this minde alone ? No verilie , Contr● L●●iferian●s . for S. Hierom is of the same , as by thiese his wordes it is most euident . Ecclesiae salus , in summi sacerdotis pendet dignitate , cui si non exors , & ab omnibus eminens detur pote●tas , tot in eccles●a efficientur schismata quot sacerdotes . The health ( sayth he ) and welfare of the churche , dependeth apon the estimation of the chief priest , One chief prie●t to auoide sc●ism●● . who , if he haue not auctoritie peareles●e , and aboue all other ; ye shall haue in the churche , so many schismes , as there be priestes .

And again in an other place , speaking of the apostles he writeth thus . Ad 〈◊〉 . Quòd vnus po●teà electus est qui caeteris praeponere tur , in schismatis remedium factum est , ne vnusquisque ad se trabens ecclesiane rumperet . that is , That one was afterward chosen to rule the rest , that was donne for a remedy ageynst schismes , least while euery man would chalenge to hym self the churche , by such halyng and pullyng they might br●ake the same .

Leo , of whom the whole councell of Calcedon , as one of the greatest for nombre : so of all men accompted emongest the fower general for auctoritie , reported so honorably , that they did not onely wyth one voice all , openly professe them selues to beleue as he did , but called him also , by the name of Sanctissimus & beatissimus , that is most holy and blessed of all other , speaking of the mysticall body of Christes church writeth after this sort . Epis●ola ad Anastasi●̄ Episcop●̄ Thess●l . Haec con●exio , totius quidem corporis vnanimitatem requirit &c. This combination and ioining together , ( he speaketh of the body of Christes church ) requireth an vnitie of the whole body , but especîally of the priestes , emongest whom although there be one dignitie common to them all , yet is there not one generall ordre emongest them all . For euen emongest the blessed apostles in that similitude of honor , was there yet a difference of power : and whereas in ther election , they wer all lyke , yet was yt giuen to one to , be aboue all the rest . Out of whych forme is taken our difference of bishops , and by merueylouse ordre and disposition ys yt prouided , that euery one should not chalenge to him self euery thing , Bishops . but that in euery prouince , there should be one , whose iudgement emongest the rest of his brethern should be chief , Ar●hebishops . and of most auctoritie . And agein certein appoincted in greater cityes whose care should be greater , Pope . by whome to the onely seate of Peter , the charge of the vniuersal churche might haue recourse , that nothing might at any time dissent from the head .

Hetherto haue yowe hard good readers , beside th' experience that we haue of ciuile policy , and worldly gouernement , the opinions also of S. Cyprian , S. Hierom , and holy Leo , all three agrei●g in one , that there must nedes be one iudge in Christes churche in his steede , Ciprian . that the health of the churche dependeth apon the auctoritie of the chief priest , Hieron . that if his auctoritie be not aboue all the rest , there will so many schismes breake in apon vs as there be priestes , that for th' auoyding of that mischief , there was one chosen euen emongest th' apostles , to gouern the rest : Lco. Last of all , that that vsage in christes churche to haue one head , is no newe inuention ( as some men falsely report ) but taken from th' example of th' apostles them selues .

I can not heare stay , to examyne curiously euery word in these auncient fathers , but leauing that good readers to your discretion , and not douting but that in these graue witnesses , in a matter of such weight and importance , as whereapon dependeth the health of the whole churche : you wil be no lesse diligent , then you would be in examining the depositions of your owne witnesses , or your aduersaries in a triall of landes , or other temporall commoditie : I shall procede to the consideration of the second reason , which before I touched , of the people of Israel , if I fyrst warne you to considre but this by the way ( that ye may trust those auncient fathers by ther word the better an other time ) how many schismes , be burst in apon vs in our country of England , for one common receiued truthe in the dayes of our fathers ( when we remained in the obedience of one chief priest and iudge ) which shake now so myserably the same : howe quietly in one loue , in one truthe , in one doctrine , in one churche , in one head thereof god almighty , and his ministre vnder him appointed ouer the same , we liued then , and other in other places doe nowe .

But to procede . For the estate of the Iues , god by his seruant moses did so prouide , to take away schismes that apon the doutefull wordes of the lawe might arise , that he appointed them a place to resort unto , and aiudge to flee vnto , in all such ambiguites and doutes . For so is it written in the booke of Deuteronomium . Cap. 17 And shall we not by good reason thinck , that he hath prouided as well for his churche ? except we will say , that he hath byn lesse carefull of it , then he was of that . Which must necessaryly folow , if he prouyded for them one chief iudge , to haue recourse vnto in hard and doutefull questions , and to vs hauing no lesse , yea farr much more neede then they : he left ether at all none , or many to make the matter more doutefull . For I remember a sayeng of Gregorius Nazianzen●s . Vbi nullum est imperium , nullus ordo ; vbi multorum , Lib. 3. de Theologia . ibi seditio ; vt & sic nullum imperium nullus ordo existat . Vtrumque ●nimeódem absurditatis perducit . Where is none to rule , there is no ordre : Where manie rule , there is sedition : so that after that manner of gouernement also , there ys no gouernement , there is no ordre for bothe to haue none to rule , and to haue many , leade vs to lyke inconuenience . How shall we then say , Diligi● dominus Syon super omni● tabernacula Iacob ? Our lord loueth Syon aboue all the tabernacles of Iacob ?

There is no dout therefore , but that Christ hath prouided for his churche , which he redemed so dearely , as wyth th expence of his own most preciouse bloud , a iudge and chief ruler , to end and determine so many controuersies , as he knewe should mol●st and infest the same . They can not say , that a● aduersaries , and kyck ageinst this truthe , that thys which I alleage , was in the old lawe , and in a shadowe , that these dai●s and this tyme requier other manners . For that argument hath ther english apologie soluted , and pronounced that so to saie , wer plusqua● ridiculum , seing there was then , idem deus , idem spiritus , idem Christus , eadem fides , eadem doctrina , eadem spes , eadem ●aer●ditas , idem f●edus ▪ eadem vis verbi dei , the same god , the same holie gost , the same Christ , the same faithe , the same doctrine , the same hope , the same heritage , the same couenaunt , the same strenght of gods worde .

But yet this I protest , that apon the auctoritie of ther apologie ( which with me is in that conceit , that it is with all honest and learned men , that is to say , taken as in deede it is , for a fardle of lies : ) I am no whytt the bolder to reason thus . But because I haue perceiued , that god in that people , in ther lawe and priesthood , shadowed out vnto vs , like a cunnyng worckeman the whole forme and proportion of his churche , as witnesseth S. Paule . Lex vmbram habet futuror●m bonorum non ipsam imaginem rerum , 〈◊〉 10. The lawe conteineth a shadowe of the good thinges to come , but expresseth not manifestlie the truthe of things : therefore I thought I might well reason from the shadow to the body , from the resemblaunce and image , to the truthe thereto answering . From the whych kinde of reasoning , S. Paule sometimes absteined not , as when he laboured to proue , 1. Cor. 9. that the lawe of the gospel would beare , that they whych preached the gospell should liu● thereby : he reasoned after this sort . Nunquid secundum hominem haec dico ? Speake I this as a man ? that is to say , proue I this by wordly reasons ? 〈◊〉 25 An & lex haec non dicit ? Sayth not the lawe so toe ? and so goeth he forward , and proueth yt by this text of the old lawe . Thow shalt not moosell or binde vp the mouthe of the labouring Oxe . as though he should haue saide : it was so in the shadow , therefore yt must be so in the body and in the truth signified by that shadow . Thus ye see good readers , that I ma●e say wyth S. Paule , haue I proued onely by reasons fetched from the doings of men , by examples of all common welthes and societes well go●erned , that in Christes common weale there must be also one to rule ? haue I affirmed this because S. Cyprian , S. Hierom , blessed and holy Leo so said ? Who yet were while they liued here but men , although now sayntes in heauen . Nunquid non & Lex haec d●●it ? sayth not the lawe so toe ? But here I knowe our aduersaries will say that these proofes neded not , to proue that Ch●istes church must haue a head , and a iudge to ordre and determine doutefull questions , whych happen ●mongest vs , and where of the world is now so full . For that will they say , they know as well as Cyprian , Hierom , Leo , or any of them all ; although they will not admit the same iudge or the same head that they doe .

But what head thinck you good readers appoynt they to gouern christes churche here in earthe ? what iudge to determine controuersies ? Forsooth the head of the churche theie saie ( wherein we finde no faulte but saye the same our selues ) is Iesus Christ , ●polog . Eccles. A●glic . sol . ● . and the iudge of all controuersies arisinge therein , they call the scriptures . Here suffer me a littell I beseche you , to shake these m●●●kers ow●e of there cloutes , and to make open to the ●orld ther great dissimulation and sottelty , whereby vnder the name of Christ , and his most holy word , so glittring at the first showe in the eyes of the simple , yea perhappes of some of the wiser sorte also , that it is to be feared lest yt strike them blinde alltogether : they seme to haue purchased to them selues a double benefite at once : fyrst , greate credit by pret●nding and vsing , nay rather abusing , the name of Christ and his word : next great securite , both for ther owne p●●sones , and also for all such dyuelish doctrine , as they or any other heretikes lyst to vtter . Whilest on th one side , they take them selues to be out of all check of man , and maie be controlled of none , as thei saye , but of god onely , ( who if he let them alone till that time that they thinck he will , then bid thei vs let them shift for them selues , theie shall haue time enough , in the meane season to preache , and teache wythout controllment what they lift : ) and on the other syde , whilest by prouoking to the scriptures as ther iudge , they th●nk them selues to stand apo● a suer grounde : seing they ar already wyth the● selues at a poinct , to receiue no other interpretaty on thereof , then shal make for ther purpose , and they also see , that emongest so many heresies as haue hetherto troubled the churche of god , there was neuer yet any one so horrible and absurd , that the author thereof hath not by this meanes , in his owne indgement , byn right wel , able to sustein and defend . But of this I will entreate more largely hereafter . In the meane season , that theie will haue of Christes church here in earthe , no other head but Christ him self , therein they fare me thincketh not much vnlike , to a certein ●elon , of whome I haue harde , that being areigued 〈◊〉 ●he bar for a felonie , when he had pleadid to the 〈◊〉 not guilty , and was ( after the manner ) demaunded how he would be tried , he would ( suspecting his own case , and knowing that if he satisfied the law in putting him self apon the tryall of the country , there wer no moe waies with him but one ) make thereto no other answer , but onely that he would put him self apon god , the righteous iudge of all , who although he saide truely that god was the chief iudge of all , as the protestants doe , in calling Christ the head of the churche : yet was there in his case an other iudge here in this worlde vnder god , by whom he must haue byn tried , as there is in theirs an other head here in the churche to ordre them and kepe them vnder , and in whom Christ the chief head of all , vseth in all necessary knowledge to giue answer . And as the felon knewe well that there was an other iudge beside god , and appealed not to him , as though before him he should haue ben acquitted , and proued not guilty : but onelie to gaine a longer time of life and libertie : so doe ( I dout not ) our aduersaries the protestants . And trulie to both thiese kynde of men being bothe theeues , th' one sort doing violence to the body , the other to the soule , if such pleas might be allowed , howe so euer they be coloured with the name of Christ , betwene them both , they would freelie robbe the body , and murther the soule .

But let vs now examine this reason of theirs whereof they ar wont so much to triumphe : The common reason of the protestants ageinst the Supremacy of the Pop● . Christ is head of the church , Ergo the pope is not , Ergo it c●a haue no other head . That Christ is the head of the church we graunted before , and none of our syde did euer yet deny yt . But as it is most manifest that Christ him self is the worcker of all his sacraments ( for he baptizeth , he forgiueth sinnes , he consecrateth his blessed body , and bloud , he ioineth together in matrimony the man and his wife ) and yet , forasmuch as he should nedes departe out of this worlde , and could not alwaies dwell with vs , after a corporall manner , he hath chosen ministres , to dispense those his giftes by : And we saye , and no fault found therewith , that the priest his ministre baptizeth , that he forgiueth sinnes , that he consecrate●h his most pre●ious body , and bloud : So after the same manner and for the same cause , that is to say because he could not be alwayes present with vs , in such sort as we might see him , and speake with him face to face , to be resolued at his mouth of such doubtes , and questions as should ar●se emongest vs : he left vs also one , that in that his absence should gouern , and rule his whole churche . He remaineth neuerthelesse head thereof , he ruleth , he reigneth , he exerciseth his power and authorite in the same , but yet by man his ministre , whome for that cause , most aptly the Scholasticall writers haue termed , How Christ is head of the churche , and how the Pope . ca●●● min●●●eriale , that is to saye a head , but yeat by the reason of his seruice and ministerie vnder an other , that is Christ ●ho is onelie absolutely , simply , and without all relation to any other , the head thereof . Not , as though he wer not hable to rule the same , without any such help or instrument ( which he could haue doen also in the olde lawe , where his pleasure was that the people should resort to the chief priest , De●ter . 17 to be resolued in all doutes arising apon the lawe , and had no more nede of help then , then he hath now ) but , for that this waye it hath pleased hym , to 〈◊〉 his ex●eding great loue towards mankind , 〈…〉 of emongest men , such as he will execute 〈…〉 worlde , 〈◊〉 as he will vse as his mouth , to 〈◊〉 the secretes of his hol●e pleasure to vs , and f●●ally such as should represent to vs his owne parson .