by King Henry VIII

transcribed by
the Revd Ed Renner
AD 2001

As every living Creature is known chiefly by its Face so by this first Proposition it evidently appears, how corrupt and rotten his Heart was, whose Mouth, being filled with Bitterness, broke out into such a Corruption; for what lie said of INDULGENCES in Times past, seemed to many not only to detract much of the Roman Bishop's Power, but also to lessen the good hope and holy Consolation of the Faithful, and mightily to excite Men to confide in the Riches of their own Penitence, and despise the Treasures of the Holy Church, and the Bounty of God: And yet what he then writ, was favourably interpreted, because he only disputed many of them, but did not affirm them; desiring to be taught, and promising, to obey him that would instruct him better. But what this new Saint, (who refers all Things to the Holy Spirit, which cannot brook any Thing of Falsehood,) did then write with a simple Intention, is easily discovered: For as soon as he had any Thing of wholesome Advice given him, he immediately vomited his Malediction against those, who endeavoured his Good, reviling them with Reproaches and Quarrels; for which it is worth our While to see what Height of Folly lie is come to at last. He confessed before that Indulgences were good, at least to absolve us, besides the Crime, from the Punishments also which should be enjoined us by the Order of the Church, or by our particular Priest: But now it was not by Learning, (as he says himself,) but by mere Malice that he wrought; and, contradicting himself, he condemns Indulgences; and says, That they are nothing but mere Impostures, fit only to destroy People's Money, and God's Faith. Every Man may see how wickedly and furiously he rails in this Matter: For, if Indulgences, as he says, are but mere Impostures, and good for Nothing, then it follows, that not only our Chief Bishop, LEO X. (whose innocent, unspotted Life, and most holy Conversation are well known through the World, as Luther himself confesses in a letter of his to the Pope) is an Impostor; but also all Roman Bishops in so many past Ages, are so, who, as Luther himself says, did use to give Indulgences; some a Year's Remission; some three Years; some to forgive a Lent's Penance; some a certain Part of the whole Penance, as the Third, or one Half ; at least Something, as to plenary, or full Remission of the Sin and Punishment.

Then were they all Impostors, if Luther be true: But how much more Reason is there to believe, that this little Brother is a scabbed Sheep, than that so many Pastors were treacherous, and unfaithful? For Luther, as is said above, shews what Kind of Man he is, and how uncharitable, when he blushes not, to lay such a Crime against so great, and so holy Bishops. If God (in Leviticus) says to all, Thou shalt not be an Accuser, or Backbiter amongst the People; what may we think of Luther, who casts such a foul Scandal, not only on one Man, but on so many, and so venerable Prelates? And this he whispers, not only in one City, but publishes to the whole World. If he be accursed (as in Deuteronomy) who shall privately smite his Neighbour; with bow great a Curse shall he be strucken, who insults over his Governors with such Reproaches? Finally, If, (as the Gospel says) he be a Murtherer, and has not Life everlasting, who hates his Brother; does not this Parricide deserve everlasting Death, who, with Hatred pursues his Father? Seeing he is come to that Pass, as to deny Indulgences to be profitable in this Life; it would be in vain for me to dispute what great Benefits the Souls in Purgatory receive by them: Moreover, what would it avail us to discourse with him of the great Helps, whereby we are relieved from Purgatory itself ? Not able to endure to hear of the Pope's delivering any Person out of it, he presumes to leave none there himself.

What Profit is there to dispute, or fight against him, who fights against himself? What should my Arguments avail me, though I force him to confess what he before denied, since he now denies what before he confessed? But admit the Pope's Indulgences were disputable; yet it is necessary that the Words of Christ remain firm , by which he gave the Keys of the Church to St. Peter, when he said, Whatsoever thou shalt bind on Earth, shall be bound in Heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt loose on Earth, shall be loosed in Heaven: Likewise, Whose Sins ye forgive, shall be forgiven unto them, and whosoever Sins ye retain, shall be retained. By which Words, if it is manifest that any Priest has Power to absolve Men from Sins, and take away eternal Punishment due thereunto; who will not judge it ridiculous, that the Prince of all Priests should be denied the taking away of temporal Punishment?

But perhaps some may say, that Luther will not admit that any Priest has Power of binding, or loosing any Thing; or that the Chief Bishop has any greater Power than other Bishops or Priests: But what concerns it me, what that Man admits, or denies, who granted many Things a while ago, which now he denies, and who, alone, rejects all Things which the Holy Church has held during so many Ages? For (to omit other Things which this new Momus, or feigned Deity censures) certainly if the Popes have erred, who granted Indulgences; the whole Congregation of the Faithful were not free from Sin, who received them for so long a Time, and with so great Content: In whose Judgment, and in the Custom observed by the Saints, I doubt not but we may rather acquiesce, than in Luther alone, who furiously condemns the whole Church, whose Chief Bishops, he not only loads with mad Reproaches, but also fears not to publish, that this Supremacy of the Pope is but a vain Name, and is effectually Nothing but the Kingdom of Babylon, and the Power of Nimrod, that strong Hunter; and desires his Readers, and the Book-binders, that (burning whatsoever he first writ of Papacy,) they may reserve this one Proposition, &c.

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