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Here are expounded these wordes of our Sauiour, Thou art Peter, and vpon this rocke, &c. and it is shewed that in thē there is nothyng spoken of the Popes fulnesse of power: & that the church of Christ is not builded vpon Pe∣ter or the Pope.
THat sword of theirs wherof they made their vaunte being striken out of their hand, by and by they make hast to the rocke wherupon the Church is founded, and consequently vnto Peter and his keyes. For in these and by him, they auouch themselues to haue receiued power and most full soueraigntie, both of heauen & earth. And there they blaze out wonders of the building of the Church vpon Peter, and of the keyes and wonderfull wor∣king power of them, alledging for themselues the wordes of our sauiour which are written in the xvi. chap. of the gos∣pell of S. Mathew. But these men with their sacriledge, they are neuer able to cleare themselues, or make amends therfore do corrupt this most holy place replenished with healthfull doctrine and consolation. Which thing by gods helpe I wil euidently shew to the godly readers by ye things that ensew. The Lord in that place demaundeth of his dis∣ciples, whom men take him to bée. His disciples aunswer, how there be diuers iudgementes and opinions of hym a∣mong the people: some saying him to be Helias, some Ie∣remy, &c. And by that question it was the Lordes wil to do them to wit, how there haue alway bene, & alwayes shalbe diuersitie of opinions in the world concerning religiō: how be it, that no man ought to be offended at that diuersitie: for we read also the Lordes Apostle hath sayd there must néedes be heresies,* 1.1 to the ende, that such as be tryed among you, may be made manifest. And vnto the former questiō, the Lord addeth forthwith an other, namely, what the dis∣ciples who had heard Christ now a long while, and there∣fore doutlesse were better séene in matters of Religion thē