Questions of religion cast abroad in Helvetia by the aduersaries of the same: and aunswered by M. H. Bullinger of Zurick: reduced into .17. common places. Translated into Englishe by Iohn Coxe. 1572

The fiftienth Question.

Whether that Paule did not speake his minde firste in that Councel? Also, whether the ho∣ly ghost were not there present? Wherfore if these be true, whie do they with their sectes, spoile the Churche of Peter of her honor, and how dare they call in dout those things which the holy ghost doth inspire?

The Answere.

NOw it may plainly ap∣peare by this question, to what end the former Questions were writ∣ten by their authoure: namely, that all menne should come to the Sée of Rome, to fi∣nishe all controuersies of religion, and that they should take al interpretations from the Popes holinesse. But if the church of Rome were now as frée from

errors, as was the church in that time, when Paule and Barnabas came thi∣ther, we would not be ashamed to re∣quire and take answeres from hir. But bicause the doctrine & church which Pe∣ter planted in Judea, is in this our age, neither to be founde in Rome, or at Je∣rusalem, and they of Rome are rather founde like vnto those, of whom Peter prophesied in the seconde chapter of his seconde Epistle, we therefore by good right ought to depart from that church: And yet doe we not spoile eyther the churche of Peter, or the aunciente do∣ctrine of their due honoure: for we doe followe the true and aunciente Do∣ctrine and churche of Peter, and séeke to haue all controuersies of Religion, iudged by the doctrine of Peter and the other Apostles. Wherefore lette these Romishe harlottes looke rather vppon their owne wallet, and diligently consi∣der what greate honoures they giue to S. Peter, and his seate, and Churche, which haue chaunged the same into a market of marchaundise, and sincke of al horrible sinnes, as al the world may

sée, and eache godly man dothe greatly* 1.1 lament. In dede Paul spake his minde first in the councell at Jerusalem, but what would yée therewith? Knowe yée not that he accused his aduersaries, and therfore it behoued him to speake first. But yet I maruell muche, that yée at∣tribute not the cheefest place in thys councell to S. Peter? For your conten∣tion, is onely for the cheefest place, the greatest pompe and glory. For these men haue quite forgotten that doctrine of Christe, saying: Hee that vvill bee greatest amongst yee, lette him be your seruaunte, and submitte himselfe vnder all, if he vvill enter into the kingdom of heauen And therfore me thinketh they are like to the Pharisies of whō Christ speaketh in the gospel, saying: that they loue the vppermost ••eates and to be re∣ue••enced of men. But that they maye see me will denye them nothing, that may iustly appertaine vnto them, lette them endeuoure, firste to be made like vnto Paule and Peter, and then will we gladly giue them the cheefest place. But if they be not suche, then is there

no cause why they should brag vnto vs of their holynesse and great titles, for we may knowe them, euen as the rot∣ten trée is knowne by his frutes.

Further more, the holy Ghoste was in that councell at Jerusalem, for so it is written in the fiftienth of the Actes. But what maketh that for you? Or what doth it further your cause? For it foloweth not that the holy Ghoste is in al your councels, as we haue sufficient∣ly proued already. And againe, we doe not call in Question, the things which are inspired & giuen by the holy Ghost, but those things onely, which you and your forefathers haue fayned oute of your owne braines and so thruste vpon the church contrary to the word of god. But if you estéeme the holy Ghoste so much as you beare the world in hande yée, do, why then obey yée not the things which by his inspiration he hath deliue∣red? For in the councell of Jerusalem, (in which the holy Ghost was present) thus is it decreed: It seemeth good to the holy ghost, and to vs, that vve lay no more burthen vppon you. And why I

pray yée, haue not you and your forefa∣thers obserued this? Why haue yée laid so intollerable burthens on the backes of the poore Christians? Why call yée vs heretickes, for that we goe about to restore the churche to her former liber∣tie, and deliuer the same from these in∣tollerable burthens? But if those your ordināces are so necessary to saluation, why thē do not you your selues obserue the same? Truely, you manifestly de∣clare your selues to be of the number of those, of whome our Lord said: They lay heauie burthens vpon the shoulders of other men, but they vvill not touche one of them vvith their little finger. Matth. 23.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Paul had the chefest place in the counsell.