our head; else we should become a monster having two heads. Paul writing to the Corinthians, says, that all is ours; Peter, Apollos, and all the other apostles were ours, and we are Christ's, and Christ is God's; whereby it appears, that Peter is not a head, but a minister unto us. Therefore, we must esteem God our spiritual Father, who, by the passion of Christ, took from us all the pains of death and hell, to all who believe in him; that is the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. If the pope then will be called our spiritual father, we shall have three fathers, whereof the one is carnal, and two spiritual : neither can the pope be so, for as Christ is the immaculate Lamb, and only Son of God, endued with all power; on the other side, the pope is an unclean and ravenous wolf, and only son of the devil his father, from whom he hath received his authority and office.

But I would fain know, whether the pope be our spiritual, carnal, or diabolical father? In the first place, I see not how he can be our carnal father, because he lives celibate, and makes a profession of chastity. Neither can he be our spiritual father, being so addicted to the world and worldliness; then it follows that he must be our diabolical father! Let us therefore conclude, that as it was said of Christ, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee; God will say to the pope, Thou art my enemy, this day have I destroyed thee. And as Christ was of the order of Melchisedek, so the pope is of the order diabolic. But as christianity is spiritually very good, and well designed; yet if there be not good order to preserve it, it must decay. As the body of a man could not be healthy with two heads, four arms, or four feet; so these christian countries could never well subsist under the distraction of two equal sovereigns. But some may question me then, and say, What then, you would not have any kings or emperors? But to that I answer, that God, who sent his only Son down into the world, made him king over it, putting all spiritual and temporal authority into his hands; he by his sovereignty hath placed kings to be his lieutenants over the earth; but he hath not ordained any supreme bishop: for we find none so authorized by the holy scripture. Now, if the papists say, that the pope is heir to him, I would advise him then, to stay till Christ were dead before they seized upon his kingdom; because no heirs take the possession of their inheritances, till after the death of their predecessors.

Moreover, the papists say, that as under the old law there was a high priest or archbishop of the Jews, so there ought now to be a head or supreme minister amongst christians. To which I answer, that the priesthood of Aaron and Moses represented the supremacy of our Saviour Christ, not the pope. For Christ, who came down to the earth, and suffered death for us, says of himself, that he was our Messias, and that he was the true Bread which came down from heaven, and our only Shepherd. For St. John testifies that, he says, I am the door; he that entereth not by me into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, is a thief; but he that entereth in by the door is the Shepherd of the sheep. To Him the porter openeth, and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice; and a stranger will they not follow. But the pope, not coming by Christ, is an abominable thief. Therefore all true and good sheep ought to fly from him: for he comes to devour, not feed them; to prey upon them, not instruct them. But the papists, being thus scourged with their own rod, that is, with their own argument, say further, that after the disciples had preached about the cities, after they returned to Jesus, he asked them, whether they had any sword with them? and that they answered, Here are two swords. Now they urge further, that one of the swords signifies the spiritual, the other the temporal power; which reason, as shall be showed hereafter, is foolish and vain. For first, we ought to consider from whence the apostles came; they had been sent to preach Christ to all people, and to show the light to those that sat in darkness. Secondly, we must consider the power Christ had on earth; for he said himself, that his kingdom was not of this world; and there are two sorts of authority, the one spiritual, the other temporal. On which account St. Paul writes in his first epistle to the Corinthians, As the body is one, and hath many members, for several uses; so there are also in the church of Christ, amongst the spiritual ministers; first, apostles; secondly, prophets; thirdly, teachers; and some temporal ministers, as kings, emperors, governors, and lieutenants. Now Christ was a spiritual minister, as he testifies of himself, saying, My kingdom is not of this world. And again, when two brethren came unto him and requested him to divide their inheritance between them, he answered, Man, who made

me a judge, or a divider over you? The third thing to be considered, is, that Christ spake to the disciples concerning the swords ironically. Fourthly, that all the apostles answered together, Behold, here are two swords. Fifthly, you may observe in the text, that the apostles understood not what Christ meant.

By all which we may easily understand that text; for after the apostles had been sent to preach the gospel of truth, when they returned to Jesus, he said unto them, Had you any sword with you then? as much as to say, When I sent you first out, you would have staves with you, but now what do you think, hath not my grace kept you from all evil? Or else, What need have you of a sword? Then his disciples, not Peter only, not understanding what Christ said, answered, there were two swords.

By which we see Christ spoke ironically, and that all the disciples made answer, not Peter alone; as if he should say, I have two swords, the one signifying my temporal authority, and the other signifying my spiritual jurisdiction: neither would nor could Christ give a temporal authority, forasmuch as he was a spiritual minister. And the papists err extremely in one argument, where they say, that Cephas is a head, whereas in truth, Cephas is a stone; but when these their arguments are weakened, then they cry. It is probable, that Peter was the chief apostle, because he spake first at that time, concerning our dispute, and so answered in behalf of all the apostles.

But it is more likely he was not the prince over the rest, for St. Paul says, For I suppose I was not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles, 2 Cor. xi. For in nothing I am behind the very chiefest apostles, 2 Cor. xii: in which number Peter is comprised. Now, we must not dispute what is most probably true, but what is most certainly true. Nevertheless, let us examine whether it be probable or not; for Andrew sometimes spake first, and it is not to be doubted but that each of them sometimes spake first; but it does not therefore follow, that he who speaks sometimes first, must be bishop of the bishops. His first speaking at that time, may signify that he was of a very courageous spirit; or else that he could have desired to have been the greatest. But Christ said, They that humble themselves like a little child, shall be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven; neither is there any lofty proud title in the kingdom or church of Christ, as you may see in that magnificate in Luke, (Luke i.) for God

loves humility; and Christ says, in Mark, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant unto all. And in another evangelist he saith, Whoso receiveth one such little child in my name, receiveth me; and unless ye become as little children, ye shall not be fit for the kingdom of heaven, Matt. xviii. Nor does Peter attribute so high a title to himself, as the pope takes upon him. For he writes thus in his epistle, Peter a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, and no more. But the pope, what does he say? "Paul the third, by the grace of God, the most holy pope and father, deputy to Peter, and vicar to Christ, king of kings, prince of princes, bishop of the bishops, and God on earth!" Behold therefore, how he calls himself God, and blasphemes Christ. Behold how he is filled and puffed up with pride and vanity. Behold how large and fair a name and title he takes, though he be a venomous serpent; calling himself the most Holy Father, whereas he is a detestable thief, and contaminated with all uncleanness. He calls himself the pope, which word signifies, father unto all nations, whilst he brings them to destruction. Nay, he calls himself the vicar of Christ, and deputy of St. Peter, and God upon earth; whilst he is vicar to Beelzebub, deputy to Lucifer, and a terrestrial demon; for he would seem to be very good, whilst he is very wicked. And it is no wonder if the ministers of the devil appear brave and triumphant outwardly, for St. Paul writes to the Corinthians, No marvel what false apostles and deceitful workers can transform themselves into; Satan himself being transformed into an angel of light.

Wherefore you may easily discern the true ministers of the word from the false antichrists; because the true apostles walk after the Spirit of God, and the false walk after the flesh. Let us therefore see whether the pope be the minister of God, or the devil: which I fear he will prove; proclaiming himself a good man, a most holy bishop, a king of kings: whereas he is the tyrant of tyrants. All others exercise their tyranny over bodies, but this wolf and tyrant exercises his tyranny over the souls of men, constraining the poor and simple lambs of God to forsake their faith, whereby they are saved, to follow his abominable traditions and diabolical precepts; which if they refuse to obey, to wit, adoring images, and offering to his idols and devils, he burns, racks, and torments them, or forces them to a costly recantation.

During the reign of my late father the king,* when the pope's name was blotted out of our books, he stopped the mouths of christians with his six articles, as if he would choke them. And at this day in France, before any one is burnt, a little before the execution, they cut out his tongue, that he may not speak.

Considering then that the pope is the minister of Lucifer, I am in good hopes, that as Lucifer fell from heaven into hell, so the pope his vicar will fall from the great glory of his papacy, into contemptible derision.

For David hath said in his psalms, With the pure thou wilt show thyself pure, and with the froward thou wilt show thyself froward. Again, the pope hath taken God's honour away from him; therefore I hope God will divest him of his honours and glory. As the virgin Mary saith, He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree. Take heed of thyself then, O pope, for if thou tumblest, thou wilt have a terrible fall. As a man who is got up into a high tower, would have a huge leap if he should fall down; so thou who hast exalted thyself into the heavens, wouldest fall down into the abyss of hell as Christ foretold of Tyre and Sidon.

But to return to the pope's primacy. I know very well that the scripture speaks of one God, one faith, one baptism, but no mention of one pope. Now, if Peter had been a God on earth, and vicar of Christ, we should have been baptized into his name. But Paul, who affirms himself to be inferior to none of the other apostles, will not allow us to be baptized in his name. Nay, he is so far from having us baptized in the name of Peter, that he will not have it said, I am of Peter, or of Paul, or of Apollos.

And now that the papists cannot prove by the scriptures that we ought to have one pope, they run to similitudes; saying, that as the creatures in the earth, as the bees, have a king over them, so all christians ought to have one king and pope. To which I will answer three ways: First, that their reason is not extracted from the holy scripture, but from their own invention. Secondly, That all the bees which are in the world, or in christendom, have not a king. Thirdly, That if all bees have their king, so have we, namely, Jesus Christ.

But the papists will then say, that if we condemn the papacy, we shall condemn our forefathers as heretics.

Henry VIII.

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