stles but false preachers.

MarginaliaSigne 8. is, that false prophetes pretend great holynes in superstition.The seuenth signe is, that false prophets pretending great wysdome and holynes to be in superstition, haue named theyr owne traditions to be religion, the which are rather to be counted sacrilege or church robberie, and do vsurpe vnto them selues the due desertes of other men by boasting and bragging amonge straunge and vnknowen people. Wherfore, the Apostle speaking of false prophets in the. 2. chap. to the Colossians sayth. According to the preceptes of men, which hauing a face of wysedome consiste in superstition, interlaced with counterfet humilitie. Glose. That is to saye, myngled with fayned religion that it myght be called religion, when in very deede it is nothing els but sacrilege, because it is contrary to all authoritie: that is, contrary to God hym self: that any man should desire to haue gouernment of a multitude without publique commaundement, as in Deutronomium. 23. chap. Thou haste entred into thy neyghbours vyneyarde. Glose. that is to saye, into the church of an other byshop. May a mā warne and admonishe others, or els correct that congregation which is not lawfull for him to gouerne nor yet to take so greate a charge vpon him? no. And that it is not lawful to enter into an other bishops dioces, it is aparant: because it is not lawfull for the archbishop so to do. To this effect appertaineth that which is red. 6. q. 3. And also it is writtē 9. q. 2. though out. Therfore those preachers which agaynst God and hys diuine Scriptures doe call their own traditions religion, are not true Apostles but false prophetes.

MarginaliaSigne. 9. is, that when they neither preach nor minister, yet lyue vpon other mens labours.The ix. signe is by the authoritie whiche they haue, For as much as they be no preachers of the Gospell or ministers of the Sacramentes they will lyue by the Gospell, and not by the labour of their owne handes, against þ^e text in the. 2. Thessal. 3. neither haue we eatē any mās bread for naught, or of free cost. Glossa. Then, those false Prophetes ought much more to lyue by theyr laboure, which haue not that authoritie which we ought to haue, that is to say to lyue by the Gospell. And S. Augustine speaketh of this more expresly in his booke De opere monachorū, by these wordes. These our brethren do claime to thē selues (very rashly as me thinketh) that they haue any such authoritie, to lyue by the gospell. If they be preachers of the gospel, I graunt that in dead they haue such authoritie: if they be ministers of the aulter, if they be disposers of the Sacramentes: they cannot well but take to them selues this authoritie, as also manifestly to chalēge the same, if at the least they haue not where with all to sustayne this present lyfe, without labour of theyr handes &c. As though he would haue sayd, if they be such maner of men, then haue they no authoritie to lyue by the gospell. Therfore those preachers, which haue not authoritie to liue of the gospell, or els minister the Sa-mentes, because they haue no congregation wherby to take charge of soules, yet for all that will nedes liue vpō the gospell, they be no true Apostles but false Prophets.

MarginaliaSigne. 10. is that false prophets take that to thē whiche pertayneth to the worde of God.The x. signe is, that false teachers, reioyce more to be commended them selues, then to haue the worde of God to haue the commendation and prayse. But they that are true preachers and Apostles, are far otherwise minded as to the Thess. 2. not seakyng the prayse of men. &c. And herein he toucheth those false Prophetes, which desire rather to bee commended them selues, then that the worde of God whiche they preache should haue the commendation. But he is an Apostle, whiche not seeking the glory of this present worlde, but for the glory to come, doth abase him selfe to the intent that the preachyng and worde of God might be commended and exalted. They therfore whiche desire to haue prayse and to be commended of others, rather then that the worde of God should haue the praise, be no true Apostles but false Prophetes.

The xi. signe is, that true Apostles do preache onelyMarginaliaSigne. 11. is, that false prophets do preach for gayne and not for gods cause.for Gods cause, and for the health of soules, and for no temporall gayne as in the. 2. Cor. 4. saying, we preache not our selues. &c. Glossa. Our preachyng tendeth not to our glory and gayne, but onely to the glory of Christ. But the preachyng of Christ by those that are false prophets, tendeth to the contrary. Wherupon in the. Phi. 1. is said: Whither it be vpon occasion geuen, or els for the verities sake, let Christ be preached &c. Glosse. False prophetes do preache the gospell vpon some occasion, as either by sekyng some commoditie at the handes of men, or els because of gettyng goodes, honour, or prayse among men. Whiche notwithstandyng, that they be ready and willyng as it should seme to beare and sustain iniuries: yet they seeke not so much the health of hym to whom they preache, as in very dede they do their owne commoditie and gayne. Whereupon. 2. Cor. 12. Glosse. Because I seke not the thiyges that be youres, that is to say, not your treasure as golde and siluer, but onely you your selues. Glosse. For otherwayes it could by no meanes be gathered, that they should vnderstand hym to speake or meane of their substaunce, because he more estemeth them then their monye, to the intent that they might vnderstand hys greate good will towarde them. Therfore, these euil & naughtie preachers which preach for wordly gayne, or honor, or els for the prayse and commendacion of men, be no true Apostles but false Prophetes. But it may be asked, how shall men vnderstand whē these good felowes preach for their owne vayne glory sake? It may be aunswered thus, when they preach before they be called, as in the. 2. Cor. 11. Who soeuer boasteth let hym boast & reioyce in the Lord. Glosse. Which thyng to do, can not be by any meanes, that hath not his authoritie from God. For if any such Prophet preache, he seketh hys owne glory: and that may easly be perceaued. Because he is not called of God he hath no such authoritie of him, that is to say, of his churche or congregation, As to the Heb. 7. No man taketh to hym selfe any dignitie, but he that is called of God as Aaron was. The Glosse. He is called of God that is lawfully chosen of the congregation.

MarginaliaSigne 12. is that false propetes do counterfaite to loue where they hate.The xij. signe or token of a false Prophet is: Because such Prophetes do counterfait them selues to haue greater care, & loue to mens soules, then those that be their very gouernours and pastors haue, although they haue no charge at all of them, against whom the Glose speaketh, and the. 1. Thess. 2. We are become meeke & louyng towards you, euē as the nurse which geueth hir child suck Glosse. A woman nurseth othermens childrē for wages and not for loue alone, but she gyueth her owne sucke of very loue without respect of mony. Therfore, those preachers whiche fayne them selues, to haue a greater loue and affection to the soules of men, thē they that haue the charge ouer them, seme not to be true Apostles. The apostles study not for eloquence nor for the curious placing of their wordes, but false Prophetes do them both. As in the. 2. Cor. 11. If the simple & vneloquent man. &c. Glosse. The Apostles were not eloquent, but false Prophets are full of curious eloquence. Also vpon the same an other Glosse. The Corinth. were led away from the gospell by ouer nyce eloquence. The. 2. Cor. 7. Let vs shewe our selues before all men as the minsters of God. Glosse. The ministers of God, do not flatter as false Prophetes do. And for this occasiō those that be true Apostles haue not there abidyng in princes courtes, and noble mēs houses, knowyng this saying of Christ in S. Mathewes gospell. Behold those þ^t are clothed with silkes, dwell in kynges courtes: And therfore true Apostles are not conuersaunt in princes courtes and noble mens houses. Glosse. Hard and strait lyfe with the preachyng of the gospell, loueth not to come nere princes pallaces, & noble mens houses. Often tymes it commeth to passe, þ^t courtiers are found great flatterers. Therefore those preachers that haue