Ptōchomuseion [sic]. = The poore mans librarie Rapsodiæ G.A. Bishop of Exceter vpon the first epistle of saint Peter, red publiquely in the cathedrall church of saint Paule, within the citye of London. 1560. Here are adioyned at the end of euery special treatie, certaine fruitful annotacions which may properly be called miscellanea, bicause they do entreate of diuerse and sundry matters, marked with the nombre and figures of Augrime. 2.

Now to the Romish Church.

In like maner, after the bishop of Rome had corrupted & oppressed the church of God, yet it was not extinguished through y^e whole world: neither did y^e holy mi¦nistery of the word & true worshipping of God cease or fayle among al men. For ther haue bene found many men dispersed through the whole world, which neuer allowed the Pope nor his adherentes.

God sent almost in euery age (euen from the beginning of popery) graue, god∣ly and learned men, which constantly required the church to be purged from all corruptions, teaching the true doctrine and the true vse of the sacraments. But when pure reformation could not be obtayned, yet there was found a continual desire of puritie.

Furthermore, the Lord without doubt could haue kept to him selfe a copious

and great church, aswel vnder the papisme, as vnder Machumetes religion: For who iudgeth that ther remaineth no members of the church of God, throughout all Asia and Africa?

We see, that it hath happened through the great bounty of God, that like as circūcision was geuen in times past to the people for a signe of the couenaunt of God, in the middest of their apostasy: Euen so also we now se, that holy baptisme is geuen to the Christians for a seale of remission of synnes, and of the inheritance of the sonnes of God.

Furthermore (that we may omit other thinges) was it not receiued for a very certainty by a general consent, that al the cōmaundements wer geuen very per∣fectly and briefly in a short summe? And that in the lords praier there is geuen a verye perfect forme of praying to god? And in the Symbole of the Apostles, that ther is contained a very perfect rule of our faith?

The .xii. articles haue bene accustomed to be recited almost to all that departe out of this world, as the very perfect rule of our faith. Neither is it to be doubted that the mercyful god hauing compassion on them that were oppressed, hath tou∣ched with his heauenly grace the harts of the liuing, and of the dead, and by the holy ghost hath taught them, that Iesus Christ the sonne of god, pardoning all their syns, hath sanctified the soules of al faithful, and hath translated them vnto eternal life.

Obiectio.

Be al our forefathers y^t wer before this time of the light of y^e gospel, cōdemned?

Responsio.

It happeneth many times, that they to whom it was not geuen in all their lyfe time to iudge wel of religion: it was graunted them at the last houre, and being at the point of death, did perceiue, that the abuses which thei had bound them selues vnto before, were vaine and pernicious, which thing vndoubtedlye happened to Bernard, Franciscus, Dominicke, and to other fathers. For when they liued in the foundation that is in Christ, although they had inuented many superstiti∣ons, they might notwithstanding be saued.

Obiectio.

We do not reade, that in the time of the Bishops and prophets of the Iewes church, the rulers of the faithful, or the faithfull them selues did decline from the bishop, or from the vniuersal church, and instituted new sacrifices, as you now a daies do, declining from the bishop of Rome, yea from kings and Emperors, and from the vniuersal church to your selues.

Responsio.

It appeareth, that the fathers before the comming of Christ, for the cause a∣boue written (the temple being prophaned with idolatry) did not seeke newe pla∣ces for their sacrifices,* 1.1 for it was not lawful to do sacrifice without the limites of the temple of Hierusalem: neyther for any other cause did the people of Israel (be∣ing holden in the bondage of Babylon. 70. yeares) offer no sacrifices. Notwyth∣standing it is most certaine, that the holy and true worshippers of god did sepe∣rate them selues from the worshipping and sacrifices vsed against the woorde of god. The lawes being fulfilled of the Lord, and abrogated by the Lord, the Apo∣stles manifestly declined not onely from the Byshop and the Church of Hierusa∣lem, but also they gathered a new church vnto Christ by the preaching of the gos¦pel, and by the administration of the sacraments, which church is described in the Actes of the Apostles.

To conclude, there be three kindes of schismes.

• 1. Apostatical.
• 2. Hereticall.
• 3. Schismaticall.

Apostatical. 1.

Apostatical schisme is that, by the which through hatred of the Christiā faith and by mere impiety and contempt of God, the Athei with their wicked Lucian & Iulian Apostata do go from the Orthodoxe and Catholicke sayth, and from the communion of the faithful: and wickedly do taunt and blaspheme the christian ve¦rity, and do scorne and persecute the very true church of god.

Heretical. 2.

That defection is hereticall, the whiche Valentine, Marcion, Arrius, Maniche∣us, Artemon, and such like proud, bold, stiffnecked and wicked men, either forsa∣king or wresting the scriptures, do contemne and spurn it, or els do deny, subuert and oppugne the most sure articles of the faith, and sound opinions of the church, and do affirme & set vp new opinions, and by this means do build them heretical churches, and do go away from the true Orthodoxe and catholicke church.

Schismaticall. 3.

Schismatical is such as was the schismes of the Donatistes, which separated them selues from the true Churche of god vnder the pretence of a more absolute life, and a more perfect holines. The two first schismes are very abhominable and wicked, and also the third cannot by any meanes be defended. But none of these can be iustly imputed vnto vs declining from the Romish church, for that depar∣ting is without al blame, which is not from a true church, but frō a false church, not from the people of god, but from the persecuters of the people of god, not frō the articles of the faith and sound doctrine of the church, but from errours which darken the articles of the faith, and from the wicked traditions of men, which spe¦sially is not don by any lightnes, but by necessity, not for the desire of innouaciō but for true religions sake, and to recouer the true faith, according to the testimo¦nie of the eternal verity, that leauing the felowship of darknes, we may be gathe¦red againe in true light, placed with Christ and al his members. So we at thys day haue forsaken that Romish Sea ful of false doctrine and idolatrye, and flow∣ing w^t the innocent bloud of martyrs, and haue embraced the Euangelicke & A∣postolike doctrine. And so Christ him selfe being head of the Church which is the commmunion of al saintes beleuing in Christ.

Thus I haue long troubled you with my tedious and prolixe doings, before the entry into the text, desiring you of pardon and pacience, and to take in good parte these foure general lyms, which I haue discoursed vnto you, and by gods grace, I wil enter at my next comming into this place, into the text, in the mean time I commit you to the eternal god, to whom be praise for euer.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Leuit. 17. Deut. 12.