Ex. xxxii.

Rom. ix.

The Pope a proud,

shameless, and tyran

nous antichrist.

and this ought he to do (if he could), although it should cost him his own life and soul thereto (as Moses and Paul give him example,) but yet there is no jeopardy of neither nother. Now, if he can do it (as you say,) and will not, then is he the most wretched and cruel tyrant that ever lived, even the very son of perdition, and worthy to be damned in an hundred thousand hells. For if he have received such power of God, that he may save all men, and yet will not, but suffer so many to be damned, I report me unto yourselves what he is worthy to have?

Now if any man would solve this reason, and say that he may do it, but that it is not meet for him to do it, because that by their pains God's justice may be satisfied; I say that this their evasion is nothing worth, neither yet can I imagine any way whereby they may have any appearance to escape. For my Lord saith himself, that the Pope must pacify God's justice for every soul that he delivereth from purgatory, and thereA blasphe- fore hath he imagined that the Pope hath in his hand mous Pope the merits of Christ's passion, which he may apply at his pleasure where he will. And also, he saith, That the merits of Christ's passion are sufficient to redeem all the sins in the world. Now, since these merits on their part are sufficient to satisfy the justice of God, and redeem the whole world, and also that the Pope hath them in his hand to distribute at his pleasure, then lacketh there no more but even the Pope's distribution unto the salvation of the world. "For

and the devil's vicar.

is the son of perdi

tion, wor

thy of more pain than can be

The Pope he may pacify God's wrath, and satisfy his justice (saith my Lord,) by applying these merits to them that lack good works." And so, if the Pope will, God's justice may be fully satisfied, and the whole world saved. Now if he may so justly and easily save the whole world, if Roches. (charity also moving him unto it,) and yet will not apply these merits so fruitfully, then is the fault only his, and he the son of perdition, and worthy more pain

imagined,

ter's doc

trine be true.

than can be imagined. And so is not the reason improved, but much more established, and, as I think, inevitable.

Behold, I pray you, whither my Lord of Rochester hath brought our Holy Father, in announcing his power so high, even into the deepest pit of hell, which (if my Lord said true) it is impossible for him to avoid. But it chanceth unto him even as it doth customably, where such pride reigneth; for when they are at the highest, then fall they down headlong unto their utter confusion and ruin.

If any man feel himself grieved, and not yet fully satisfied in this matter, let him write his mind, and by God's grace I shall make him an answer, and that with speed.

Pray, Christian Reader, that the word of God may increase. Amen.

ANOTHER BOOK AGAINST RASTELL,

NAMED THE

SUBSIDY, OR BULWARK TO HIS FIRST BOOK,

MADE BY

JOHN FRITH,

PRISONER IN THE TOWER.

"Awake, thou that sleepest, and stand up from death, and Christ shall give thee light."-Eph. v.