HOMILY ON THE COMING DOWN OF THE HOLY GHOST FOR WHITSUNDAY

Short-Title Catalogue 13675. Renaissance Electronic Texts 1.1.
copyright 1994 Ian Lancashire (ed.) University of Toronto

Edited to 2003 American English* by Curtis I. Caldwell on 24 November 2003 

A HOMILY Concerning the coming down of the Holy Ghost,
and the manifold gifts of the same.
For Whitsunday.

Of the Gifts of the Holy Ghost.
[Title from the 1979 Book of Common Prayer, Episcopal Church USA,
Articles of Religion Article XXXV, Of the Homilies]

Before we come to the declaration of the great and manifold gifts, of the Holy Ghost, wherewith the church of God has been evermore replenished, it shall first be needful, briefly to expound unto you, whereof this feast of Pentecost or Whitsuntide had its first beginning. You shall therefore understand, that the feast of Pentecost was always kept the fiftieth day after Easter, a great and solemn feast among the Jews, wherein they did celebrate the memorial of their deliverance out of Egypt, and also the memorial of the publishing of the law, which was given to them on Mount Sinai on that day. It was first ordained and commanded to be kept holy, not by any mortal man, but by the mouth of the Lord himself, as we read in Leviticus 23 and Deuteronomy16. The place appointed for the observation thereof was Jerusalem, where was great recourse of people from all parts of the world, as may well appear in the second chapter of Acts, wherein mention is made of Parthians, Medes, Elamites, inhabitants of Mesopotamia, inhabitants if Judah, Capadocia, Pontus, Asia, Phrygia, Pamphilia, and various other such places, whereby we may also partly gather, what great and royal solemnity was commonly used in that feast. Now as this was given in commandment to the Jews in the old law (1 Corinthians 10), so did our Savior Christ, as it were, confirm the same in the time of the Gospel, ordaining (after a sort) a new Pentecost for his disciples, namely when he sent down the Holy Ghost visibly in form of cloven tongues like fire, and gave them power to speak in such sort, that every one might hear them, and also understand them in his own language. Which miracle, that it might be had in perpetual remembrance, the church has thought good to solemnize and keep holy this day, commonly called Whitsunday. And here is to be noted, that as the law was given to the Jews on Mount Sinai, the fiftieth day after Easter, so was the preaching of the Gospel, through the mighty power of the Holy Ghost, given to the apostles in the mount Zion, the fiftieth day after Easter.

And from this, the feast has its name, to be called Pentecost, because of the number of the days. For (as Saint Luke writes in the Acts of the Apostles) when fifty days came to an end, the disciples being all together with one accord in one place, the Holy Ghost came suddenly among them, and sat upon each of them, like as it had been cloven tongues of fire. This thing was undoubtedly done to teach the apostles and all other men that it is He which gives eloquence and utterance in preaching the Gospel, that it is He which opens the mouth to declare the mighty works of God, that it is He which causes a burning zeal towards God's Word, and gives all men a tongue, yes, a fiery tongue, so that they may boldly and cheerfully profess the truth in the face of the whole world, as Isaiah was endued with this spirit. The Lord (said Isaiah) gave me a learned and a skillful tongue, so that I might know to raise up with the Word those that are fallen (Isaiah 50:4). The prophet David cried to have this gift, saying, "Open my lips, Oh Lord, and my mouth shall bring forth your praise" (Psalms 51:15). For our Savior Christ also in the Gospel said to his disciples, "It is not you that speak, but the spirit of your Father which is within you" (Matthew 10:20). All which testimonies of Holy Scripture do sufficiently declare, that the mystery in the tongues symbolizes the preaching of the Gospel, and the open confession of the Christian faith, in all them that are possessed with the Holy Ghost. So that if any man is a silent Christian, not professing his faith openly, but cloaking and coloring himself for fear of danger in time to come, he gives men occasion, justly, and with good conscience to doubt, lest he have not the grace of the Holy Ghost within him, because he is tongue-tied, and does not speak. Thus then have you heard the first institution of this feast of Pentecost or Whitsuntide, as well in the old law, among the Jews, as also in the time of the Gospel among the Christians.

Now let us consider who the Holy Ghost is, and how consequently He works his miraculous works towards mankind. The Holy Ghost is a spiritual and divine substance, the third person in the deity, distinct from the Father and the Son, and yet proceeding from them both, which is true, both the Creed of Athanasius bears witness, and may be also easily proved by most plain testimonies of God's Holy Word. When Christ was baptized by John in the river, we read that the Holy Ghost came down in form of a dove, and that the Father thundered from heaven, saying, "This is my dear and well beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased" (Matthew 3:17). Where note three various and distinct persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, which all notwithstanding are not three God's, but one God. Likewise, when Christ did first institute and ordain the sacrament of baptism, he sent his disciples into the whole world, charging them to baptize all nations, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost (Matthew 28:19). And in another place he said, "I will pray unto my Father, and he shall give you another comforter" (John 14:16). Again, "When the comforter shall come, whom I will send from my Father", etc (John 15:26). These and such other places of the New Testament, do so plainly and evidently confirm the distinction of the Holy Ghost from the other persons in the Trinity, that no man possibly can doubt thereof, unless he will blaspheme the everlasting truth of God's word. As for his proper nature and substance, it is altogether one with God the Father, and God the Son, that is to say, spiritual, eternal, uncreated, incomprehensible, almighty; in summary, he is even God and Lord everlasting. Therefore he is called the Spirit of the Father. Therefore he is said to proceed from the Father, and the Son, and therefore he was equally joined with them in the commission that the apostles had to baptize all nations. But that this may appear more sensibly to the eyes of all men, it shall be requisite to come to the other part, namely to the wonderful and heavenly works of the Holy Ghost, which plainly declare unto the world his mighty and divine power. First it is evident, that he did wonderfully govern and direct the hearts of the patriarchs, and prophets, in old time, illuminating their minds with the knowledge of the true messiah, and giving them utterance to prophesy of things that should come to pass long time after. For as Saint Peter witnesses, the prophesy came not in old time by the will of man, but the holy men of God spoke as they were moved inwardly by the Holy Ghost (2 Peter 1:21). And of Zechariah the high priest, it is said in the Gospel, that he being full of the Holy Ghost, prophesied and praised God (Luke 1:67). So did also Simeon, Anna, Mary, and various other, to the great wonder and admiration of all men. Moreover, was not the Holy Ghost a mighty worker in the conception and the nativity of Christ our Savior? Saint Matthew said that the blessed virgin was found with child by the Holy Ghost before Joseph and she came together (Matthew 1:18). And the angel Gabriel did expressly tell her that it should come to pass, saying, "The Holy Ghost shall come upon you, and the power of the most high shall overshadow you" (Luke 1:35). A marvelous matter, that a woman should conceive and bear a child, without having sexual intercourse with a man. But where the Holy Ghost works, there nothing is impossible, as may further also appear by the inward regeneration and sanctification of mankind. When Christ said to Nicodemus, "unless a man be born anew, of water and the spirit, he can not enter into the kingdom of God", he was greatly amazed in his mind, and began to reason with Christ, demanding how a man might be born which was old? "Can he enter" (said he) "into his mother's womb again, and so be born anew" (John 3:4-6)? Behold a lively pattern of a fleshly and carnal man. He had little or no intelligence of the Holy Ghost, and therefore he goes bluntly to work, and asks how this thing were possibly true. Whereas otherwise if he had known the great power of the Holy Ghost in this behalf, that it is he who inwardly works the regeneration and new birth of mankind, he would never have doubted Christ's words, but would rather take occasion thereby to praise and glorify God. For as there are three separate and distinct persons in the deity, so have they three separate and distinct offices proper unto each of them.

The Father to create, the Son to redeem, the Holy Ghost to sanctify and regenerate. Whereof the last, the more it is hid from our understanding, the more it ought to move all men to wonder at the secret and mighty working of God's Holy Spirit which is within us. For it is the Holy Ghost, and no other thing, that quickens the minds of men, stirring up good and godly emotions in their hearts, which are agreeable to the will and commandment of God, such as otherwise of their own crooked and perverse nature they should never have. That which is born of the Spirit, is Spirit (John 3:6). As who should say, man of his own nature is fleshly and carnal, corrupt and naught, sinful and disobedient to God, without any spark of goodness in him, without any virtuous or godly motion, only given to evil thoughts and wicked deeds. As for the works of the Spirit, the fruits of faith, charitable and godly emotions, if he have any at all in him, they proceed only by the Holy Ghost, who is the only worker of our sanctification, and makes us new men in Christ Jesus. Did not God's Holy Spirit miraculously work in the child David, when a poor Shepherd, he became a princely prophet (1 Samuel 17:12)? Did not God's Holy Spirit miraculously work in Matthew, sitting at the taxation office, when a proud Publican, he became a humble and lowly evangelist (Matthew 9:9)? And who can choose but marvel to consider, that Peter, a simple fisherman, should become a chief and mighty apostle? Paul of a cruel and bloody persecutor, a faithful disciple of Christ, to teach the Gentiles. Such is the power of the Holy Ghost, to regenerate men, and as it were to bring them forth a new, so that they shall be nothing like the men that they were before. Neither does he think it sufficient inwardly to work the spiritual and new birth of man, unless he also dwells and abide in him. "Know you not" (said Saint Paul) "that you are the temple of God, and that his Spirit dwells in you" (1 Corinthians 3:16)? "Know you not that your bodies are the temples of the Holy Ghost, which is within you?" (1 Corinthians 6:19). Again he said, "You are not in the flesh, but in the spirit" (Romans 8:9). For why? The Spirit of God dwells in you. To this agrees the doctrine of St. John, writing in this manner, "The anointing which you have received" (he means the holy Ghost) "dwells in you" (1 John 2:27). And the doctrine of Peter said the same, who has these words, "The spirit of glory, and of God, rests upon you" (1 Peter 4:14). Oh what comfort is this to the heart of a true Christian, to think that the Holy Ghost dwells within him? "If God is with us" (as the apostle said) "who can be against us" (Romans 8:31)? Oh, but how shall I know that the Holy Ghost is within me! Some man perhaps will say, notice, as the tree is known by his fruit, so is also the Holy Ghost. The fruits of the Holy Ghost (according to the mind of St. Paul) are these: love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, temperance, etc. Contrariwise, the deeds of the flesh are these: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, wantonness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, debate, emulation, wrath, contention, sedition, heresy, envy, murder, drunkenness, gluttony, and such like (Galatians 5:19-23).

Here is now that mirror, wherein you must behold your self, and discern whether you have the Holy Ghost within you, or the spirit of the flesh. If you see that your works are virtuous and good, consonant to the prescript rule of God's Word, savoring and tasting not of the flesh, but of the spirit, then assure yourself that you are endued with the Holy Ghost. Otherwise in thinking well of yourself, you do nothing else but deceive your self. The Holy Ghost always declares himself by his fruitful and gracious gifts, namely, by the word of wisdom, by the word of knowledge, which is the understanding of the scriptures, by faith, in doing of miracles, by healing those that are diseased, by prophesy, which is the declaration of God's mysteries, by discerning of spirits, diversities of tongues, interpretation of tongues, and so forth. All of which gifts, as they proceed from one spirit, and are severally given to man according to the measurable distribution of the Holy Ghost. Even so do they bring men, and not without good cause, into a wonderful admiration of God's divine power (1 Corinthians 12:7-11). Who will not marvel at that which is written in the Acts of the Apostles, to hear their bold confession before the counsel at Jerusalem? And to consider that they went away with joy and gladness, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer rebukes and checks for the name and faith of Christ Jesus (Acts 5:29, 41 )? This was the mighty work of the Holy Ghost, who because he gives patience and joyfulness of heart in temptation and affliction, has therefore worthily obtained this name in Holy Scripture, to be called a comforter. Who will not also marvel to read the learned and heavenly sermons of Peter, and the disciples, considering that they were never brought up in school of learning, but called even from their nets, to supply rooms of apostles? This was likewise the mighty work of the Holy Ghost, who because he does instruct the hearts of the simple in the true knowledge of God and his Word, is most justly termed by this name and title, to be the spirit of truth (John 14:17). Eusebius in his Ecclesiastical history, tells a strange story of a certain learned and subtle philosopher, who being an extreme adversary to Christ and his doctrine, could by no kind of learning be converted to the faith, but was able to withstand all the arguments that could be brought against him, with little, or no labor (Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History, Bk. 11, Chap. 3). At length there arose a poor simple man of small wit, and less knowledge, one that was reputed among the learned as an idiot. And he on God's name would by compulsion take in hand to dispute with this proud philosopher. The bishops and other learned men standing by, were marvelously embarrassed at the matter, thinking that by his doings they should be all confounded and put to open shame. He notwithstanding goes on, and beginning in the name of the Lord Jesus, brought the philosopher to such point in the end, contrary to all men's expectation, that he could not choose but acknowledge the power of God in his words, and to give place to the truth. Was not this a miraculous work, that one simple soul of no learning, should do that which many bishops of great knowledge and understanding were never able to bring to pass? So true is the saying of Bede: "Where the Holy Ghost instructs and teaches, there is no delay at all in learning." Much more might here be spoken of the manifold gifts and graces of the Holy Ghost, most excellent and wonderful in our eyes. But to make a long discourse through all, the shortness of time will not serve. And seeing you have heard the chief argument¹, you may easily conceive and judge of the rest. Now were it expedient to discuss this question: Whether all they which boast and brag that they have the Holy Ghost, do truly claim this unto themselves, or no? Which doubt, because it is necessary and profitable, shall (God willing) be dissolved in the next part of this homily. In the mean season, let us (as we are most bound) give hearty thanks to God the Father, and his Son Jesus Christ, for sending down his comforter, into the world, humbly beseeching him, so to work in our hearts by the power of this Holy Spirit, that we being regenerate and newly born again in all goodness, righteousness, sobriety and truth, may in the end be made partakers of everlasting life in his heavenly kingdom, through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, Amen.

Our Savior Christ departing out of the world unto his Father, promised his disciples to send down another comforter, that should continue with them for ever, and direct them into all truth (John 14:16, John 15:26). Which thing to be faithfully and truly performed, the scriptures do sufficiently bear witness. Neither must we think that this comforter was either promised, or else given, only to the apostles, but also to the universal church of Christ, dispersed through the whole world. For unless the Holy Ghost had been always present, governing and preserving the church from the beginning, it could never have sustained so many and great shocks of affliction and persecution, with so little damage and harm as it has. And the words of Christ are most plain in this behalf, saying, that the spirit of truth should abide with them for ever, that he would be with them always (he means by grace, virtue, and power) even to the world's end (John 14:17, Matthew 28:20).

Also in the prayer that he made to his Father a little before his death, he makes intercession, not only for himself and his apostles, but indifferently for all them that should believe in him through their words, that is, for his whole church (John 17:20-21). Again, Saint Paul said: "If any man has not the spirit of Christ, the same is not his" (Romans 8:9). Also in the words following, "We have received the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry abba, Father" (Romans 8:15). Hereby then it is evident and plain to all men, that the Holy Ghost was given, not only to the apostles, but also to the whole body of Christ's congregation, although not in like form and majesty as he came down at the feast of Pentecost. But now herein stands the controversy, whether all men do justly claim to themselves the Holy Ghost, or not? The Bishops of Rome have for a long time made a sore challenge thereunto, reasoning for themselves after this sort: "The Holy Ghost (say they) was promised to the church, and never forsakes the church. But we are the chief heads, and the principal part of the church, therefore we have the Holy Ghost forever, and whatever things we decree, are undoubted truths, and oracles of the Holy Ghost." That you may perceive the weakness of this argument. It is needful to teach you, first what the true church of Christ is, and then to confer the Church of Rome therewith, to discern how well they agree together. The true church is a universal congregation or fellowship of God's faithful and elect people, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the head corner stone (Ephesians 2:20). And it has always three notes or marks whereby it is known. Pure and sound doctrine, the sacraments ministered according to Christ's holy institution, and the right use of ecclesiastical discipline. This description of the church is agreeable both to the Scriptures of God, and also to the doctrine of the ancient fathers, so that none may justly find fault therewith. Now if you will compare this with the Church of Rome, not as it was in the beginning, but as it is presently, and has been for the space of nine hundred years and odd, you shall well perceive the state thereof to be so far wide from the nature of the true church, that nothing can be more. For neither are they built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, retaining the sound and pure doctrine of Christ Jesus, neither yet do they order the sacraments, or else the ecclesiastical keys, in such sort as he did first institute and ordain them. But have so intermingled their own traditions and inventions, by chopping and changing, by adding and plucking away, that now they may seem to be converted into a new guise. Christ commended to his church a sacrament of his body and blood: They have changed it into a sacrifice for the living and the dead. Christ did minister to his apostles, and the apostles to other men indifferently under both kinds. They have robbed the lay people of the cup, saying, that for them one kind is sufficient. Christ ordained no other element to be used in baptism, but only water, whereunto when the word is joined, it is made (as St. Augustine said) a full and perfect sacrament. They being wiser in their own conceit than Christ, think it is not well nor orderly done, unless they use conjuration, unless they consecrate the water, unless there be oil, salt, spittle, tapers, and such other stupid ceremonies, serving to no use, contrary to the plain rule of Saint Paul, who wills all things to be done in the church unto edification (1 Corinthians 14:5). Christ ordained the authority of the keys to excommunicate notorious sinners, and to absolve them which are truly penitent. They abuse this power at their own pleasure, as well in cursing the godly, with bell, book and candles, as also in absolving the reprobate, which are known to be unworthy of any Christian society. Whereof they that lust to see examples, let them search their lives. In summary, look what our Savior Christ pronounced of the Scribes and Pharisees, in the Gospel, the same may be boldly and with safe conscience pronounced of the Bishops of Rome, namely that they have forsaken, and daily do forsake the commandments of God, to erect and set up their own constitutions. Which thing being true, as all they which have any light of God's Word must necessarily confess, we may well conclude according to the rule of Augustine, that the Bishops of Rome and their adherents are not the true church of Christ, much less then to be taken as chief heads and rulers of the same. Whoever (said he) dissents from the scriptures concerning the head, although they be found in all places where the church is appointed, yet are they not in the church, a plain place, concluding directly against the Church of Rome (Augustine, Contra Petiliani Donatist Epi., Chap. 4). Where is now the Holy Ghost which they so stoutly do claim to themselves? Where is now the spirit of truth, that will not suffer them in any manner to err? If it be possible to be there, where the true church is not, then is it at Rome. Otherwise it is but a vain brag, and nothing else. Saint Paul (as you have heard before) said: "If any man have not the spirit of Christ, the same is not his." And by turning the words, it may be truly said: "If any man be not of Christ, the same has not the spirit." Now to discern who are truly His, and who not, we have this rule given us, that his sheep do always hear his voice (John 10:3). And Saint John said, "He that is of God, hears God's word" (John 8:47). Whereof it follows, that the Popes in not hearing Christ's voice, as they ought to do, but preferring their own decrees before the express Word of God, do plainly argue to the world, that they are not of Christ, nor yet possessed with his spirit. But here they will allege for themselves, that there are various necessary points not expressed in Holy Scripture, which were left to the revelation of the Holy Ghost. Who being given to the church, according to Christ's promise, has taught many things from time to time, which the apostles could not then bear (John 16:7). To this we may easily answer by the plain words of Christ, teaching us that the proper office of the Holy Ghost is, not to institute and bring in new ordinances, contrary to his doctrine before taught, but shall come and declare those things which he had before taught, so that it might be well and truly understood. "When the Holy Ghost (said he) shall come, he shall lead you into all truth" (John 16:13). What truth does he mean? Any other than He himself had before expressed in His Word? No. For he said, "He shall take of mine, and show unto you." Again, "He shall bring you in remembrance of all things that I have told you" (John 16:15). It is not then the duty and part of any Christian, under pretence of the Holy Ghost, to bring in his own dreams and fantasies into the church, but he must diligently provide that his doctrine and decrees be agreeable to Christ's Holy Testament. Otherwise in making the Holy Ghost the author thereof, he does blaspheme and misrepresent the Holy Ghost, to his own condemnation.

Now to leave their doctrine, and come to other points. What shall we think or judge of the Popes intolerable pride? The scripture said that God resists the proud, and shows grace to the humble. Also it pronounces them blessed which are poor in spirit, promising that they which humble themselves shall be exalted (Matthew 5:3). And Christ our Savior wills all his to learn of him, because he is humble and meek (Matthew 11:29). As for pride, Saint Gregory said, it is the root of all mischief. And Saint Augustine's judgment is this, that it makes men devils. Can any man then, which either has or shall read the Popes' lives, justly say that they had the Holy Ghost within them? First, as touching that they will be termed universal bishops and heads of all Christian churches through the world, we have the judgment of Gregory I [the Great, 540 - 604 A.D.] expressly against them, who writing to Mauritius the Emperor, condemns Johannes IV, Bishop of Constantinople, in that behalf, calling him the prince of pride, Lucifer's successor, and the fore-runner of Antichrist (Gregory, Bk. 3, Epistle 76.78).² Saint Bernard also agreeing thereunto, said, "What greater pride can there be, than that one man should prefer his own judgment before the whole congregation, as though he only had the spirit of God" (Bernard, Serm. 3, De Resurrect. Domini)? And Chrysostom pronounces a terrible sentence against them, affirming plainly, that whosoever seeks to be chief in earth, shall find confusion in heaven, and that he which strives for the supremacy, shall not be reputed among the servants of Christ (Chrysostom, Dialogorum, Bk. 3). Again he said: "To desire a good work, it is good, but to covet the chief degree of honor, it is mere vanity" (Chrysostom, Super Matt.). Do not these places sufficiently convince their outrageous pride, in usurping to themselves a superiority above all other, as well ministers and bishops, as kings also and emperors? But as the lion is known by his claws, so let us learn to know these men by their deeds. What shall we say of him that made the noble King Dandalus to be tied by the neck with a chain, and to lie flat down before his table, there to gnaw bones like a dog (Sabelli, Ennead. 9. Bk. 7)? Shall we think that he had God's Holy Spirit within him, and not rather the spirit of the devil? Such a tyrant was Pope Clement the sixth. What shall we say of him that proudly and contemptuously trod Frederick the Emperor under his feet, applying the verse of the Psalm unto himself: "You shall go upon the Lion and the adder, the young lion and the dragon you shall tread under your foot" (Psalms 91:13)? Shall we say that he had God's Holy Spirit within him, and not rather the spirit of the devil? Such a tyrant was Pope Alexander the third. What shall we say of him that armed and animated the son against the father, causing him to be taken, and to be cruelly famished to death, contrary to the law both of God, and also of nature? Shall we say that he had God's Holy Spirit within him, and not rather the spirit of the devil? Such a tyrant was Pope Pascal the second. What shall we say of him that became Pope like a fox, that reigned like a lion, and died like a dog? Shall we say that he had God's Holy Spirit within him, and not rather the spirit of the devil? Such a tyrant was Pope Boniface the eight. What shall we say of him that made Henry the Emperor, with his wife and his young child, to stand at the gates of the city in the rough winter, bare footed and bare legged, only clothed in linsey woolsey,³ eating nothing from morning to night, and that for the space of three days? Shall we say that he had God's Holy Spirit within him, and not rather the spirit of the devil? Such a tyrant was Pope Hildebrand, most worthy to be called a firebrand, if we shall term him as he has best deserved. Many other examples might here be alleged. As of Pope Jone the harlot, that was delivered of a child in the high street, going solemnly in procession. Of Pope Julius the second, that willfully cast St. Peter's keys into the river Tiberis. Of Pope Urban the sixth, that caused five Cardinals to be put in sacks, and cruelly drowned. Of Pope Sergius the third, that persecuted the dead body of Formosus his predecessor, when it had been buried eight years. Of Pope John the 14^th. of that name, who having his enemy delivered into his hands, caused him first to be stripped stark naked, his beard to be shaven, and to be hanged up a whole day by the hair, then to be set upon an donkey with his face backward toward the tail, to be carried round about the city in despite, to be miserably beaten with rods, last of all, to be thrust out of his country, and to be banished for ever. But to conclude and make an end, you shall briefly take this short lesson, wherever you find the spirit of arrogance and pride, the spirit of envy, hatred, contention, cruelty, murder, extortion, witchcraft, necromancy, etc., assure yourselves that there is the spirit of the devil, and not of God, albeit they pretend outwardly to the world never so much holiness. For as the Gospel teaches us, the spirit of Jesus is a good spirit, a holy spirit, a sweet spirit, a lowly spirit, a merciful spirit, full of charity and love, full of forgiveness and pity, not rendering evil for evil, extremity for extremity, but overcoming evil with good, and remitting all offence even from the heart. According to which rule, if any man live uprightly, of him it may be safely pronounced, that he has the Holy Ghost within him. If not, then it is a plain token that he usurps the name of the Holy Ghost in vain. Therefore (dearly beloved) according to the good counsel of Saint John, believe not every spirit, but first try them whether they are of God, or not (1 John 4:1). Many shall come in my name (said Christ) and shall transform themselves into angels of light, deceiving (if it be possible) the very elect. They shall come unto you in sheep's clothing, being inwardly cruel and ravening wolves (Matthew 24:5, 24). They shall have an outward show of great holiness and innocence of life, so that you shall hardly or not at all discern them. But the rule that you must follow is this, to "judge them by their fruits" (Matthew 7:20). Which if they be wicked and naught, then is it impossible that the tree of whom they proceed should be good. Such were all the popes and prelates of Rome for the most part, as well appears in the story of their lives, and therefore they are worthily accounted among the number of false prophets, and false christs, which deceived the world a long while (Luke 21:8). The Lord of heaven and earth defend us from their tyranny and pride, that they never enter into his vineyard again, to the disturbance of his innocent poor flock, but that they may be utterly confounded and put to flight in all parts of the world, and he of his great mercy so work in all men's hearts, by the mighty power of the Holy Ghost, that the comfortable Gospel of his Son Christ may be truly preached, truly received, and truly followed in all places, to the beating down of sin, death, the Pope, the devil, and all the kingdom of antichrist, that like scattered and dispersed sheep being at length gathered into one fold, we may in the end rest all together in the bosom of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, there to be partakers of eternal and everlasting life through the merits and death of Jesus Christ our Savior. AMEN.

*Editing goals: Clear the text from obsolete words and phrases and from references local to England, its constitution, and laws.

*1. "chiefest" is replaced by "chief argument". The reference of "chiefest" is ambiguous, and my translation may be wrong.

*2. "Gregory", Samuel Macauley Jackson, "Gregory's Conceptiion of the Papacy. Relations with Constantinople.", in The New Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge, Volume 5, Funk and Wagnalls, pages 55-56 (1909).

*3. linsey woolsey: thin coarse cloth of linen and wool [Chambers English Dictionary, 1988], that is like cotton batting, only made out of wool, and used to stuff chairs and pillows [Susan Caldwell, 24 November 2003].