Rudis, indigesta{que}ue moles.
Others of you saie, Christus in Coelo praesidet: Papa in Terris residet: Christe ruleth in Heauen: the Pope in Earthe. An other saithe,* 1.1 Omnes Sanctiones Sedis Apo∣stolicae sic accipiendae sunt, tanquam ipsius Diuina voce Petri firmatae: Al the Lawes of the Apostolique see of Rome muste so be taken, as if they were confirmed by the Diuine voice of Peter him selfe.
An other saith,* 1.2 Sicut ostium regitur Cardine, ita Ecclesia Romana regitur Con∣silio Cardinalium: As the doore is ruled by the hooke, so is the Churche of Rome ruled by the Counsel of Cardinalles.
Therefore the Pope him selfe saithe thus vnto them, Vos eritis Senatores vr∣bis, & Regum similes, veri Mundi Cardines, super quos militantis ostium Ec∣clesiae voluendum, & regendum est: Ye shalbe the Senatours of my Cittie, and like vn∣to Kinges, the very bookes, and staies of the worlde, vpon whom the very doore of y• Churche Militante muste be turned, and ruled. Sutche are they, whom S. Hierome ima∣gineth thus to saie, Non est Vir in domo. Non est Christus Corporaliter in Ecclesia. Surgens enim à mortuis, Ascendit in Coelum: nobis{que} Ministerium gubernandae Ec∣clesiae, suam, videlicet, Domum reliquit: My Husbande is not at home. (That is to saie) Christe is not nowe Corporally in the Churche. For, beinge risen from the deade, he is Ascended into Heauen: and hath leafte vnto vs the gouernmente of his Churche: that is, the whole or∣deringe of his House.
True it is, as you saie,* 1.3 God is one, and is not Changed. And his Woorde endureth for euer. But the Change is in you, and not in God. Goddes Woorde is the Woorde of Life: your Woorde is the Woorde of Vanitie. God the Father hath not planted it: Therefore it shalbe plucked vp by the rootes. God saithe by the Prophete Mala∣chie: The lippes of the Prieste shal keepe knowledge:* 1.4 and the people shal require the Lawe at his mouthe. For he is the Angel of the Lorde of Hostes. Vos autem recessistis de Via, &c. But you are gonne backe from the VVaie: you haue offended many a one in the Lavve: you haue broken the Couenante of Leui, saith the Lord of Hostes. And therefore haue I made you to be despised.
Yee haue changed the moste parte of the Apostles Doctrine: And of al, that euer they ordeined, yée haue in a manner leafte nothinge standinge. S. Bernarde