Page:The Acts and Monuments of John Foxe Volume 3.djvu/93



destruction of the same; as the apostle saith, [ 2 Cor. x.,] "But every one leaving off the preaching of the gospel, for fear of any pretended excommunication of men, should frustrate the power given him for the edifying of the church." And, therefore, in so doing, he should sin against God and his church, and consequently ought rather to choose not to cease from preaching for fear of any such excommunication, lest that he be excommunicated of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Item, Set a case that the pope doth command that there shall be no preaching in any place: then the ministers of Christ, leaving off their preaching- for fear of the pope's curse, are already excommunicated of God: it is evident, forasmuch as they have neglected the commandment of God for the commandment of men. And this case is possible; for by what reason may the pope command, under pain of excommunication, that there shall be no preaching in some place, and namely in the parish churches? by the same reason he may command that no man should preach in any place. The first part is evident not to be by the prohibition of pope Alexander, who in his bull did prohibit to preach the word of God unto the people in chapels, although the said chapels were confirmed by the privilege of the see apostolic; the which bull the lord Subincon, archbishop of Prague, with his canons, obtained. By these aforesaid, the first part of the article is evident, which is this, that all priests omitting the preaching of the word of God, for fear of the excommunication of men, are already excommunicate. The second part of the article is this: that all they who do omit the hearing of the word of God, for fear of the excommunication of men, are already excommunicate. And it is proved thus: all such as neglect the commandments of God are excommunicate. But they who neglect the hearing of the word of God, for the excommunication of men, are they who neglect the commandments of God. Therefore they who omit the hearing of the word of God, for the excommunication of men, are already excommunicate. The major is apparent by Psalm cxviii., "Cursed be they which decline from thy commandments;" and the minor is evident by the second supposition, which saith, that the hearing of the word of God is commanded unto the people. This is confirmed: all such as omit the necessary means unto salvation are excommunicate. But, such as omit the hearing of the word of God, for the excommunication by men, be such as do omit the necessary means unto salvavation: therefore, in so doing, they are excommunicate. The consequence is not to be plain: the major is made evident by this, that all such as do omit the necessary means unto salvation, do also neglect their salvation, and so are out of the way of salvation, and be excommunicated of God. The minor appeareth hereby, that to hear the word of God is the means most necessary unto salvation, as the apostle doth prove in Romans x.; "How," saith he," shall they believe on him, whom they never heard of? and how shall they hear without a preacher?" And, by and by afterwards, the apostle inferreth to the same purpose, "That faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."

Item, Whatsoever is done contrary to conscience, doth tend to eternal damnation; as it is said, touching the restitution of the spoiled goods, chap. "Literas porro." But to omit the hearing of the word of God for fear of excommunication of men, is a thing which is done against conscience: therefore, to omit the hearing of the word of God for excommunication, doth tend to eternal damnation, and therefore consequently ought not to be done, for fear of any excommunication. Wherefore a woman being adjudged to a man, whom she knoweth to be within the degrees of consanguinity which God's law hath prohibited, ought not to obey that judgment, lest she offend against God; but meekly and patiently to sustain the excommunication, as it appeareth in the chapter before alleged. So, likewise, all true Christians ought, rather than offend against God, meekly to suffer the excommunication of men, and not to omit the hearing of the word of God. To this purpose also serveth that which is spoken in the 11 quest. 3 par., " He that feareth the omnipotent God, will not presume by any means to do any thing contrary unto the gospel or apostles, either contrary unto the prophets, or the institutions of the holy fathers." By these premises, the second part of this article is manifest, that all such as do omit the hearing of the word of God, for fear of excommunication of men, are already excommunicated.

And forasmuch as all Christians, being of lawful age, not repenting at the