hrist, of the Apostles, and of the holy fathers,
which we doubt not but was indeed the true Catholic Church. For our
parts, if we could have judged ignorance, error, superstition, idolatry,
men's inventions, and the same commonly disagreeing with the Holy
Scriptures, either to please God or to be sufficient for the obtaining
everlasting salvation; or if we could ascertain ourselves, that the word
of God was written but for a time only, and afterward again ought to be
abrogated and put away: or else that the sayings and commandments of God
ought to be subject to man's will, that whatsoever God saith and
commandeth, except the Bishop of Rome willeth and commandeth the same, it
must be taken as void and unspoken: if we could have brought ourselves to
believe these things, we grant there had been no cause at all why we
should have left these men's company. As touching that we have now done
to depart from that Church, whose errors were proved and made manifest to
the world, which Church also had already evidently departed from God's
word: and yet not to depart so much from itself, as from the errors
thereof; and not to do this disorderly or wickedly, but quietly and
soberly; we have done nothing herein against the doctrine either of
Christ or of His Apostles. For neither is the Church of God such as it
may not be dusked with some spot, or asketh not sometime reparation. Else
what needeth there so many assemblies and councils, without the which, as
saith AEgidius, the Christian faith is not able to stand? "For look,"
saith he: "how often councils are discontinued, so often is the Church
destitute of Christ." Or if there be no peril that harm may come to the
Church, what need is there to retain to no purpose the names of bishops,
as is now commonly used among them? For if there be no sheep that may
stray, why be they called shepherds? If there be no city that may be
betrayed, why be they called watchmen? If there be nothing that may run
to ruin, why be they called pillars? Anon after the first creation of
the world the Church of God began to spread abroad, and the same was
instructed with the heavenly word which God Himself pronounced with His
own mouth. It was also furnished with Divine ceremonies. It was taught
by the Spirit of God, by the patriarchs and prophets, and continued so
even till the time that Christ showed Himself to us in the flesh.

This notwithstanding, how often, O good God, in the meanwhile, and ho