uity, and use no dissimulation, why did John Clement, a
countryman of ours, but few years past, in the presence of certain honest
men and of good credit, tear and cast into the fire certain leaves of
Theodoret--the most ancient father and a Greek bishop--wherein he plainly
and evidently taught that the nature of bread in the Communion was not
changed, abolished, or brought to nothing? And this did he of purpose,
because he thought there was no other copy thereof to be found. Why
saith Albertus Pighius that the ancient father Augustine had a wrong
opinion of original sin? and that he erred and lied and used false logic,
as touching the case of matrimony concluded after a vow made, which
Augustine affirmeth to be perfect matrimony, indeed, and cannot be undone
again? Also when they did of late put in print the ancient father
Origen's work upon the Gospel of John, why left they quite out the whole
sixth chapter? Wherein it is likely, yea, rather, of very surety, that
the said Origen had written many things concerning the sacrament of the
Holy Communion contrary to these men's minds; and would put forth that
book mangled rather than full and perfect, for fear it should reprove
them and their partners of their error. Call ye this trusting to
antiquity, when ye rent in pieces, keep back, maim, and burn the ancient
fathers' works?

It is a world to see, how well-favouredly and how towardly touching
religion these men agree with the fathers of whom they use to vaunt that
they be their own good. The old Council Eliberine made a decree that
nothing that is honoured of the people should be painted in the churches.
The old father Epiphanius saith:--"It is a horrible wickedness, and a sin
not to be suffered, for any man to set up any picture in the Church of
the Christians, yea, though it were the picture of Christ Himself." Yet,
these men store all their temples, and each corner of them, with painted
and carved images, as though without them religion were nothing worth.

The old fathers Origen and Chrysostom exhort the people to read the
Scriptures, to buy them books, to reason at home betwixt themselves of
divine matters--wives with their husbands, and parents with their
children. These men condemn the Scriptures as dead elements, and--as
much as ever they may--bar the people from them. The ancient fathers,
Cyprian, Epiphanius, and Hierom, say, for one who, perchance, hath made a
vow to lead a sole life, and afterwards li