th long consultation, and before a notable
synod and convocation. But touching this council which is now summoned
by the Pope Pius, wherein men so lightly are condemned, which have been
neither called, heard, nor seen, it is easy to guess what we may look for
or hope of it.

In times past, when Nazianzen saw in his days how men in such assemblies
were so blind and wilful that they were carried with affections, and
laboured more to get the victory than the truth, he pronounced openly
that he never had seen any good end of any council. What would he say
now, if he were alive at this day, and understood the heaving and shoving
of these men? For at that time, though the matter were laboured on all
sides, yet the controversies were well heard, and open error was put
clean away by the general voice of all parts. But these men will neither
have the case to be freely disputed, nor yet, how many errors soever
there be, suffer they any to be changed. For it is a common custom of
theirs often and shamelessly to boast that "their Church cannot err; that
in it there is no fault; and that they must give place to us in nothing."
Or if there be any fault, yet must it be tried by bishops and abbots
only, because they be the directors and rulers of matters; and they be
the Church of God. Aristotle saith that a "city cannot consist of
bastards;" but whether the Church of God may consist of these men, let
their own selves consider. For doubtless neither be the abbots
legitimate abbots, nor the bishops natural right bishops. But grant they
be the Church: let them be heard speak in councils; let them alone have
authority to give assent: yet in old time, when the Church of God (if ye
will compare it with their Church) was very well governed, both elders
and deacons, as saith Cyprian, and certain also of the common people,
were called thereunto, and made acquainted with ecclesiastical matters.

But I put case, these abbots [and bishops] have no knowledge: what if
they understand nothing what religion is, nor how we ought to think of
God? I put case, the pronouncing and ministering of the law be decayed
in priests, and good counsel fail in the elders, and, as the prophet
Micah saith, "The night be unto them instead of a vision, and darkness
instead of prophesying:" or, as Esaias saith, "What if all the watchmen
of the city are become blind?" "What if the salt have lost his proper
strength and savoriness," and, as Christ saith, "be goo