Even so will the Pope
pluck from us the holy Scripture, the Gospel of our salvation, and all
the confidence which we have in Christ Jesu. And upon other condition
can he not agree upon peace with us.
For whereas some use to make so great a vaunt, that the Pope is only
Peter's successor, as though thereby he carried the Holy Ghost in his
bosom, and cannot err, this is but a matter of nothing, and a very
trifling tale. God's grace is promised to a good mind, and to one that
feareth God, not unto sees and successions. "Riches," saith Hierom, "may
make a bishop to be of more might than the rest: but all the bishops,"
whosoever they be, "are the successors of the Apostles." If so be the
place and consecrating only be sufficient, why then Manasses succeeded
David, and Caiaphas succeeded Aaron. And it hath been often seen, that
an idol hath stand in the temple of God. In old time Archidamus the
Lacedaemonian boasted much of himself, how he came of the blood of
Hercules. But one Nicostratus in this wise abated his pride: "Nay,"
quoth he, "thou seemest not to descend from Hercules.
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