of Rome himself (by your leave) is very Antichrist.  Whether they spake it truly or falsely, let that go.  Sure I am they spake it plainly.  Neither can any man allege that those authors were Luther’s or Zuinglius’ scholars:  for they were not only certain years, but also certain ages ere ever Luther’s or Zuinglius’ names were heard of.  They well saw that even in their days errors had crept into the Church, and wished earnestly they might be amended.

And what marvel if the Church were then carried away with errors in that time, specially when neither the Bishop of Rome, who then only ruled the roost, nor almost any other, either did his duty, or once understood what was his duty? for it is hard to be believed, while they were idle and fast asleep, that the devil also all that while either fell asleep or else continually lay idle.  For how they were occupied in the meantime, and with what faithfulness they took care of God’s house, though we hold our peace, yet I pray you, let them hear Bernard their own friend.  “The bishops,” saith he, “who now have the charge of God’s Church, are not teachers, but deceivers:  they are not feeders, but beguilers:  they are not prelates, but Pilates.”  These words spake Bernard of that bishop who named himself the highest bishop of all, and of the other bishops likewise which then had the place of government.  Bernard was no Lutheran:  Bernard was no heretic.  He had not forsaken the Catholic Church:  yet nevertheless he did not let to call the bishops that then were, deceivers, beguilers, and Pilates.  Now when the people was openly deceived, and Christian men’s eyes were craftily bleared, and when Pilate sat in judgment-place, and condemned Christ and Christ’s members to sword and fire, O good Lord, in what case was Christ’s Church then?  But yet tell me, of so many and so gross errors, what one have these men at any time reformed? or what fault have they once acknowledged and confessed?

But, forsomuch as these men avouch the universal possession of the Catholic Church to be their own, and call us heretics, because we agree not in judgment with them, let us know, I beseech you, what proper mark and badge hath that Church of theirs, whereby it may be known to be the Church of God.  I wiss it is not so hard a matter to find out God’s Church, if a man will seek it earnestly and diligently.  For the Church of God is set upon a high and glittering place, in the top of a hill, and built upon the “foundation of the Apostles and Prophets:”  “There,” saith Augustine, “let us seek the Church; there let us try our matters.”  “And,” as he saith again in another place, “the Church must be showed out of the holy and canonical Scriptures:  and that which cannot be showed out of them is not the Church.”  Yet, for all this, I wot not how, whether it be for fear, or for conscience, or despair of victory, these men alway abhor and fly the Word of God, even as the thief flieth the gallows.  And no wonder truly.  For, like as men say, the cantharus by-and-bye perisheth and dieth as soon as it is laid in balm:  notwithstanding balm be otherwise a most sweet-smelling ointment; even so these men well see their own matter is damned and destroyed in the Word of God, as if it were in poison.