2 Peter — Chapter 2

But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you: which privately shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord, that has bought them, and bring upon themselves swift damnation. And many shall follow their damnable ways, by whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of, and through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you, whose judgment long ago is not far off, and their damnation sleeps not. For if God spared not the angels that had sinned, but cast them down into hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be kept to damnation: neither has he spared the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, and brought in the flood upon the world of the ungodly, and turned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them and overthrew them, and made them an example to those that after should live ungodly. And delivered just Lot vexed with the unclean conversation of the wicked, (for he being righteous, and dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds.) The Lord knows to deliver the godly out of temptation, and to reserve the unjust to the day of judgment to be punished: and chiefly them that walk after the flesh, in the lust of uncleanness, and despise the government, which are presumptuous and stand in their own conceit, and fear not to speak evil of them that are in dignity. Whereas the angels which are greater both in power and might, give not railing judgment against them before the Lord. But these, as brute beasts, led with sensuality and made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of those things which they do not know, and shall perish through their own corruption. And shall receive the wages of unrighteousness, as they which count it pleasure to live deliciously for a season. Spots they are and blots, delighting themselves in their deceivings, in feasting with you, having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease to sin, beguiling unstable souls: they have hearts exercised with covetousness, they are cursed children, which forsaking the right way, have gone astray, following the way of Balaam, the son of Bosor, which loved the wages of unrighteousness. But he was rebuked for his iniquity: for the dumb ass speaking with man's voice, forbade the foolishness of the prophet. These are wells without water, and clouds carried about with a tempest, to whom the black darkness is reserved forever. For in speaking swelling words of vanity, they beguile with wantonness through the lusts of the flesh them that were clean escaped from them which are wrapped in error, promising to them liberty, and are themselves the servants of corruption: for by whoever a man is overcome, even to the same is he in bondage. For if they after they have escaped from the filthiness of the world, through the knowledge of the Lord, and of the Savior Jesus Christ, are yet tangled again therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them, not to have known the way of righteousness, than after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment given to them. But it is come to them, according to the true proverb, The dog is returned to his own vomit: and, The sow that was washed, to the wallowing in the mire.

But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you:

All true prophecy has its proceeding from the Holy Ghost, and so has had from the beginning of the world, and shall have till the end of the same: so that nothing is to be preached, but the sound and sincere Word of God. However it has always been seen, that as there have been true prophets, sincerely uttering the pure Word of the Lord, so have there still been false teachers, and malicious seducers: and shall so henceforth continue till the end of the world. When you therefore have the true Word of God, think no otherwise, but that you also shall have false teachers. This admonition may stand for a general and infallible rule: that wherever the Word of God is sincerely preached and taught, there also by and by arise false teachers, and dissembling hypocrites. The reason is, because although the Word be preached to all, yet do not all embrace and believe it. They that believe it, do follow it, and conform their lives thereafter. But the greater number, which are they that believe not, do construe and take the same Word in a false sense, contrary to the true meaning of the Holy Ghost, and thereof it comes to pass, that there spring and grow up so many false teachers. But very slenderly have we heretofore harkened to this admonition: for whatever dreams have been obtruded and preached to us, we rashly and without judgment have been ready to accept, embrace and allow the same. And by this means we have rushed headlong into such a brainsick doltishness, that we have verily thought the Pope, with the rabble of his Chaplains and Monkish Clergy could not err. And they which should and ought to have kept us from error, were the first, that taught this doctrine to us. Here we learn, that we are inexcusable, if we believe amiss, or follow and allow any false and erroneous doctrines: ignorance shall not excuse us, seeing we have been so diligently warned beforehand. And God has expressly charged, that every one should be able to judge of that which is preached, and to give a reason of the doctrine, which he has received: if we neglect or make small account thereof, we are in a forlorn case, it shall not avail us (I say) to plead ignorance. The danger is no less, than the hazard and loss of the salvation of our own souls. And therefore it behooves each one to know which is the true Word of God, that he may adhere and cleave to it: and which is false doctrine, that he may flee and eschew it.

Of such kind of admonitions, that we should take heed of false doctrines, we have in many places of the Scriptures great store. Saint Paul in the last sermon that he made to the Ephesians, when he took his leave of them, and was now ready to depart toward Jerusalem, forewarned them of these things, saying: I know, that after my departing grievous wolves shall enter in among you, not sparing the flock: And of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw disciples after them (Acts 20). Christ also foreshows no less to his disciples (Matthew 24): When any shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ, or there, believe it not. For there shall arise false Christs and false Prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders, so that if it were possible, they should deceive the very elect. Again Saint Paul in 1 Timothy 4 has these words: The Spirit speaks evidently, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, and shall give heed to spirits of error, and doctrines of devils, which speak lies through hypocrisy, and have their consciences burned with a hot iron, forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God has created to be received with giving thanks, etc. As these premonitions were both vehemently and seriously uttered, so ought we to have taken more heed, and to have been the wiser in looking to ourselves. But we have had no regard to them, they have little or nothing availed us: indeed, we have suffered ourselves still to be willfully seduced and nuzzled in error. Let us now see, who these false teachers are, of whom Saint Peter here speaks. Truly I do think it was not without the singular and hidden counsel of God, that our Popish Prelacy were called and termed by the name and title of teachers and masters, to the end every one might plainly see who they were, whom Saint Peter meant. For he uses here the same very word, False Teachers, or false Doctors and Masters: he says not, false Prophets or false Apostles.

Which privily shall bring in damnable heresies.

Heresies, sects, vowed orders, and professions of life, he therefore calls damnable, for that, whoever halters himself into any of the same, is in a damnable case, and in the state of perdition. They shall privily (says he) bring in heresies and sects. For they shall not openly detect the Gospel and Scripture of falsehood, nor directly charge it with untruth, for that were a clean contrary course, and would flatly and altogether mar the drift of their malicious plot: but they shall under pretense of great cloaked holiness, still retain the names of God, Christ, faith, Church, Baptism, Sacraments, and such like: and shall be content to suffer the same to be honored and reverenced: But under these names they shall [reconstructed: subtly] creep in, and privily foist in doctrines of their own forging and stamp, altogether discrepant and derogatory from the right honor and worship that is due to God. And therefore there is great difference, between preaching directly against Christ, and preaching covertly and hypocritically under color of truly worshipping Christ. As for example, if I should thus preach: Christ is the Son of God, perfect God and perfect man, and he that believes in him, shall be saved: this preaching is true and avouchable by the Gospel and Scriptures. Now, if another should come and preach thus: Christ is not the Son of God, neither was he ever incarnate, and faith does not justify: this manner of preaching were most false, and most directly contrary to all truth. But of such plain and palpable godless doctrine, Saint Peter does not in this place speak, neither do our Papists and Monkish Mawmets so grossly deal: but they privily coin a counterfeit kind of doctrine, and foist it in among us, in stead of true and sound religion. As when they say thus: It is true that Christ is both perfect God, and perfect man, and that he suffered death for our sins, in whom whoever believes not, cannot be saved. These and such like articles, as they affirm to be true, so do they hold, that they appertain and serve for the vulgar and common sort of people. Let us therefore (say they) institute some more perfect way and more precise trade of life. Let us bind men by vow to chastity, to poverty, and to an obedience to their professed rules, let us teach them to build Abbeys, Monasteries, Cells, and Hermitages, and let us flatly persuade them, that if they zealously and devoutly do the same, they shall be sure, as soon as the breath is out of their bodies, to go straight to Heaven. When these and such like dotages are preached, and colorably instilled into men's minds, that there is nothing more excellent and blessed than Virginity: nothing more meritorious than counterfeit and feigned obedience: that Monks and Friars live a far more perfect life than others. Here in these points there is no open defiance in flat words, made against the sincerity of Christian doctrine: herein is neither faith nor Baptism expressly denied, neither yet do they renounce or deny Christ to be the Savior of the world: but yet nevertheless the doctrine of truth is here covertly impugned, and clouded with devices of man's own invention: and men are thereby drawn and seduced from the right way, and are brought to an overweening and self-liking of themselves, trusting in their own merits, works, and rotten ceremonies. They believe that Christ the Son of God, in his humanity suffered death, and rose again the third day, and that he is the Savior of the world, etc. but they do not firmly and only trust in him: for if they did, they would not so scrupulously be tied to their own lousy trash, and beggarly traditions.

After the same manner, did they bear the laity in hand, that they could not attain to salvation, except they did after their directions. You are Christians (say they, we confess) but this is not enough: you must do such and such good works: you must build churches in the honor of this and that saint: you must erect and found monasteries and abbeys: you must buy certain trentals of masses to be said or sung for you: you must pine away yourselves with fasting and such like. Thus have the simple poor people been beguiled, and thus have they been persuaded and brought to show themselves as well likers of these trumperies, thinking it to be the King's highway to heaven: and these rotten works of blind devotion to be of all works the best, because they saw them which carried the title of the Church, to allow and follow the same: so that in process of time, there grew to be as many factions, sects and religions as there were cities, yea, almost as there were men. Whereas they should rather have taught them thus: You are Christians, as well as they that be a hundred miles distant from you: you have all one Christ, one baptism, one faith, one Spirit, one Word, one God: there is no work that you of yourselves are able to do toward your salvation, or able to bring you to the perfection of a right Christian. If this doctrine might generally be preached, men should be kept in the fellowship and unity of one common faith, neither would there be any difference at all in things appertaining to God, but all would be alike: and one the same that another is. This communion and unity they have broken and disjointed, in that they seduce and mislead us, in teaching us that we must merit heaven by our works: drawing us thereby from faith to our own Pharisaical deeds. Saint Peter's words therefore if he be well marked, carry this meaning: There shall arise among you, sophistical schoolmen, doctors, teachers, priests, monks, and such like, being the very offal and scum of the world, who shall bring in pernicious sects, odious orders, damnable heresies, and seduce the world with their lying and false doctrines. These, these, (doubtless) are they of whom the Apostle here speaks. For they are all thus persuaded and verily believe, that their willfully professed orders are meritorious to them, and shall bring them to salvation: and persuade others also to put confidence and trust in them. If this were not their opinion, who would think but they would rather live free abroad, than (as they do) cage and impound themselves in their cloisters, as it were in prisons.

Even denying the Lord that has bought them.

They are ready to say, that they do not deny the Lord: but if this question be demanded of them: what they mean or what they seek to get through these their vowed professions, if they believe (as they say they do) that they are redeemed by Christ, and that their sins are washed away by his blood: They will quickly answer, that (in truth) faith alone is not sufficient, and therefore they must have the help of good works. Thus with mouth they confess God, and in heart flatly renounce him.

Consider also what pithy and vehement words Saint Peter here uses. They deny (says he) the Lord that has bought them. They ought to be subject to him, as to their supreme sovereign Lord, whose inheritance they are. Now, they do believe that he is the Lord, and that he redeemed the world by the shedding of his precious blood: but that he redeemed them, they cannot nor do not believe, neither do they acknowledge and take him for their Lord: for they say and confess, that he has bought and redeemed them, but yet they are not persuaded that that is enough and sufficient: because they must (they say) discharge and satisfy for their sins by their works. To whom, this answer may well be made: If you can do any work to take away your sins, what good has Christ by his death done to you? For there cannot be two Christs to take away sins. He (as good right it is) must be acknowledged to be the only Redeemer and taker away of sins. Which being granted to be true (as it is most true) you yourself can do no manner of work to take away your sins. If you do go about or think any bit by your works to merit heaven, you cannot truly say, you believe that he takes away your sins. And this is flatly to deny Christ. For although these fellows do acknowledge Christ to be the Lord, yet do they deny that he bought them. They believe that he sits in heaven, and is Lord: but the taking away of sins, which is his proper and peculiar office, they nip and take quite from him, and attribute it to their own works: and by that means, leave nothing to him but the bare name and title: ascribing his power, work, virtue and office to themselves. And therefore Christ most truly foretold, that there should come many in his name and say, I am Christ, and shall deceive many (Matthew 24; Mark 13). For these Justiciaries and merit-mongers thus tying salvation to works, show forth in their so doing (as though they should say) not I am [called] Christ, but I [am] Christ. Whereby they snatch and apply to themselves that office, which is only proper and peculiar to Christ: and so thrust Christ out of his seat, and place themselves therein.

This is so evidently known, that no man can truly deny it. And therefore worthily does Saint Peter term them damnable and pernicious heresies, for they lead a man straight to hell, insomuch that I greatly fear, lest in a thousand of them, there is scarcely one saved. For whoever of them will be saved, must quite abandon himself and all that of himself he has or can do: yea he must frankly confess and from the heart pronounce these words: The rules of my vowed obedience are nothing worth, my chastity cannot save me, my works cannot take away any part of my sins, etc.

And bring upon themselves swift damnation.

Their damnation shall come upon them sooner than they think: although God seems to defer his coming, and to tarry long, yet will he hasten his judgment, and come time enough to their cost. But this shall not be corporally and visibly to the eye, but so and in such sort as it is set down in Psalm 55. They shall not live out half their days: that is, Death shall catch hold of them sooner than they think, so that they shall be driven to say as Hezekiah did (Isaiah 38): I said in the midst of my days, I shall go to the gates of the grave. As if he should say: O Lord God, is Death come upon me so suddenly? For they that live without faith, are loath to die: the longer they live, the more they desire to live: and the more of this painted holiness that has appeared in them, the more terrible and more dreadful is Death to them, namely to those that have such tender and spiced consciences, and exercise and afflict themselves in these works of their own, which they take to be meritorious. For it is impossible, that any man should overcome Death by any human strength. Wherever faith is not, there must the conscience needs tremble and despair. But where faith is, there Death seems many times to tarry too long before he comes: whereas to the faithless and unbelieving, it always comes sooner than they would have it.

Saint Peter's meaning therefore is, that they who set abroach such sects and heresies, and consequently deny Christ, die most unwillingly, and that with horror and desperation. For it cannot otherwise be, seeing they stand doubtful of their salvation, using these or such like terms: Who can tell whether God will be merciful to me and forgive me my sins or no? And thus while they stand in doubt, with these words, [Who can tell? and who knows] their consciences can never be merry nor quiet. And the longer that they continue plunged in this wavering doubt, the more terrible still will Death be to them: which can never be overcome, unless sin and guiltiness of conscience be first taken away. Sudden Death therefore, destruction and damnation shall come upon them, so that they shall always remain in perpetual death.

And many shall follow their damnable ways,

That this has come to pass according to Peter's prediction, all men well know. For there were almost no parents, but they desired and were willing, to make some one of their children either a Priest, or a Monk, a Nun, or some like idle votary. Therefore foolish fathers made more foolish children: while they misliking and being weary of the troubles, disquietness and inconveniences of matrimony, meant hereby to ease and rid their children from the same, by tying them thus to a vowed profession, thinking thereby to make them live both quietly, idly and delicately. In which they showed themselves merely ignorant, what a holy thing marriage is, and how blessed the troubles and griefs thereof are. Saint Peter therefore in these words foretold, how the world should be pestered with Priests, Monks, Nuns and votaries. To which profession most of the youth of the world betook themselves, even as if it had been into the clutches and claws of the Devil: so that (alas) too truly has Saint Peter foreshown, that these damnable ways should be followed of many.

By whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of,

And this also we both have seen, and at this day in many places of the world do see to come to pass. For, he that fears God, and studies to lead a Christian life, is sure to be evil reported of, [reconstructed: hated] and detested: and the true sincere profession of the Gospel shall not escape the rancorous note of spiteful reprehension, but be spurned against and ill thought of, as though it were heresy and error. If any man in zeal of truth should preach and tell them, that their sects are contrary to the doctrine laid down in the Gospel, for that, they carry men away from faith to works, they immediately with open mouth cry out against him, and say: Accursed are you, for you seduce the world. They heinously also blaspheme God, tossing and turning the words of Christ which way they please, to serve their own turns: of express commandments, making consultations, councils, deliberations, and dispensations: forbidding that which Christ plainly allowed, and did: and making that to be as sin, which is no sin: indeed, whoever he be that speaks against these their blasphemous treacheries and enormous pranks, shall be sure to be condemned and burned to ashes. For the way of truth is a right virtuous life and sincere conversation without any halting or hypocrisy. This truth being only set down in the Word of God, and by faith firmly believed, is that way wherein all true Christians ought to walk. Which way and truth, these fellows cannot in any way abide, but blaspheme, revile, slander and condemn it, to the end they may establish, extol, magnify and maintain the peevish pedlary of their own shameless sects.

And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you,

Covetousness for the most part is the companion of heresy: these sowers of false doctrine generally have chiefest respect to their belly, as in our days has been manifestly seen. For none of them would either patter up a Mass or mumble up their Vigils (as they called them) without money. Among them, no money, no Pater Noster. No [illegible] nor College, no Monastery nor Friary was erected and peopled, till order was taken for their maintenance, and that even riotously and abundantly: neither was there any of these houses, that for God's sake only, would do anything for any man. Money must be had, without it there was no dealing, if purse were penniless, there was nothing to be gotten at the hands of these pitiful lurdanes, and holy masters. But where true faith begins to be preached, there is very little money stirring, it brings no store of pence at all: for then down go pilgrimages: bulls and pardons will not be bought of any man, abbeys and nunneries are not esteemed: upon all which (notwithstanding) more than half the wealth of Christendom was bestowed: and no profit at all redounding or coming thereof to any man, saving only to these greasy priests, monks, friars, and nuns. But by what ways and means do they thus scrape together and rake to themselves, so much money? With feigned words (says Saint Peter) shall they make merchandise of you. For they have coined certain smooth speeches to serve their turns, whereby to cozen men of their money: as when they say: If you will bestow so many hundred crowns upon our blessed Lady, or upon this or that saint, you shall therein do a marvelous meritorious work: you shall buy therewith so many pardons: and for so many thousand years: you shall have clear remission of all your sins: and finally you shall deliver so many of your friends' souls out of Purgatory, etc. These and such like words are devised and feigned for none other purpose, but to pick men's purses, and glean their money from them. For in all these trifling trash, which they sell so dear, and wherewith they scratch together such huge sums of money, there is not a mite of merit, grace, or remission of sins, however much they boast and wrest the holy and precious Word of God, to blind the eyes of the world, and to serve their avaricious appetites. So also of the Sacrament of the blessed body and blood of Christ, what other thing did they practice, but a shameless merchandising? for they used the same in a manner to none other purpose, but as a bait to catch men, and to wring money from them. Judge and consider now (good reader) whether Saint Peter many hundred years ago, has not notably and lively set forth and described our holy Romish clergy with their usual properties.

Whose judgment long ago is not far off, and their damnation sleeps not.

Their juggling and paltry (for that is Saint Peter's meaning) shall not always continue in such jollity, neither shall they chop and change and use merchandise of you ever: when they are come to their highest ruff and stateliness, then shall they have a sudden downfall, and a heavy judgment and destruction shall quickly light upon them. It is even now at hand, they shall not escape. As Saint Paul also says (2 Timothy 3): Their madness shall be evident to all men, that they may be confounded. God open their eyes and grant them grace to turn to him by true and earnest repentance, and to forsake and detest these their wicked and fruitless sects: since they here may learn, that they are nothing else than sects of perdition and condemnation. For albeit there be some, not altogether perverted and desperately seduced in these sects, yet are the sects themselves nothing else than undoubted and certain sects of damnable perdition. After this manner therefore has Saint Peter here described the filthy and wicked life of these Popish monsters, which he saw would come to pass, after the sincere doctrine of the Gospel preached by the Apostles. Now, he lays before our eyes three strange and terrible examples of them whom God has condemned and in his justice punished: to wit, the angels, the whole world, and the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah.

For if God spared not the angels that had sinned, but cast them down into hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be kept to damnation:

In these words Saint Peter terrifies those that live in security, and willfully wallow in their wickedness: as we see in those which are the Pope's sworn suppliants, and are deeply drowned in the dregs of his filthy traditions: for they look so big, and vaunt themselves so impudently, as though they would tread whom they list under their feet. Saint Peter therefore in this place speaks to this purpose, as if he should say: Is it not a marvelous malapert sauciness, and presumptuous boldness in them, thus impudently to seek to establish and maintain by force and violence, their hellish impiety? as though they thought that God were in awe to them, and that he would spare and wink at them, who spared not the angels. As if he should say: The very saints and holy ones are wonderfully afraid to see so severe a judgment, namely in that, God spared not his excellent spirits, and most noble creatures, which were far more perfect and wiser than we, but binding them in chains of darkness, cast them into hell. This is that severe judgment and dreadful damnation, wherein the prisoners appointed to the same, are kept in chains, and cannot by any means escape out of the hands of God, but are kept in hold, to be thrown into utter darkness, whereof Christ speaks in the Gospel (Matthew 8:22 and 25). Here also does Saint Peter show, that the devils have not yet that punishment laid upon them, to which they are condemned, but remain and continue in obstinacy and desperation, looking every minute and moment for their judgment: even as a felon or other malefactor that is condemned to die, and despairing of any release, hardens himself in obstinacy, and grows still worse and worse. The punishment to which they are judged is not yet laid upon them, but they are kept for it, in chains of darkness, that is, in their malicious obstinacy of mischief and desperation.

Neither has he spared the old world, but saved Noah, the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, and brought in the flood upon the world of the ungodly.

This example also is so terrible, and so full of horror, as none in the whole Scripture more: being able to appall and shake the conscience even of him that is right strong in faith. For when this and such like places of Scripture, and such sharp judgments of God, come into a man's mind that is dying, who in his heart deeply considers them, how can he but tremble and shake, and be brought to the very brink of desperation, unless his faith be most strong and constant? For what man is he in all the world, that would not be marvelously daunted and dismayed, to consider how that among so many thousands of men, as were then in the world, no more should be saved alive but eight persons? And what had they committed, think you, why God should so in his severe judgment at once destroy the whole world in the flood, drowning both men and women, masters and servants, young and old, beasts of the field, and birds of the air? For indeed, the cause of so general a destruction, was their wicked and abominable life. Noah was a just man, and a preacher of righteousness, he lived five hundred years before the flood, at which time God commanded him to build the Ark, which he made within the space of a hundred years after, and lived always a holy and godly life. In which we are to note and consider, what a cross this good man bore, in what perils, dangers, and extremities he was involved, when as he must in word and deed openly profess himself a Christian, [reconstructed: that is, one that] truly and unfeignedly trusted in God. For it is not possible, that faith should be idle or lie hidden, without showing itself openly to the world before men, as well in preaching, as in sincerity and integrity of life. It is therefore very likely, that long before he was commanded to build the Ark, he executed the office of preaching, and frankly uttered the word of God, and that not in one place and region only, but (doubtless) in many other and sundry countries. And therefore it could not be chosen, but that he suffered many, and the same very grievous persecutions: insomuch that Saint Peter here says it had need to be a special privileged protection, and a peculiar and spiritual assistance from above, that should in such a desperate and forlorn time, relieve and help him: else had he been quickly dispatched, and no way could he have escaped death. For he that sincerely and zealously preaches the word of God, cannot escape the envious onsets, and bitter batteries of many, and that of them which carry the countenance of wisdom, modest life and sanctimony. But when this holy man had so long time in vain continued his preaching to the men of that age, and they never a bit repenting their lewd life, but still contemning the word of God, and growing worse and worse: God said at length, after that he saw their obstinate perseverance in sin, My Spirit shall not always strive with man, because he is but flesh: his days shall be a hundred and twenty years. Genesis 6. And a little after in the same chapter: I will destroy from the earth the man, whom I have created, from man to beast, to the creeping thing, and to the fowl of the heaven, etc. These words did Noah in his daily sermons preach, and beat into their heads: also building the Ark, according as God had commanded him, and that in the full space of a hundred years. But they were so senseless of their estate, and so frozen in the dregs of their accustomed sins, that they laughed him to scorn, and grew still more and more obstinate and rebellious. The sins for which God brought the flood upon the world, as it appears in the same sixth chapter of Genesis, were, that the sons of God, that is, the children of the holy fathers, degenerated from the faith and knowledge in which they had been trained and taught. For, seeing the daughters of men that they were fair, they took them wives of all that they liked. Of whom were born mighty giants, and lawless tyrants, which did all things according to their own lusts, and as best liked themselves. This was the cause, why God punishing their sins, drowned the whole world.

And turned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them and overthrew them, and made them an example to those who after should live ungodly.

This third example is of the five cities, which God destroyed, as we read in Genesis 19. Ezekiel also in his chapter 16, speaking hereof in the person of God, and applying his words by way of upbraiding to Jerusalem, says: This was the [reconstructed: iniquity] of your sister Sodom: pride, fullness of bread, and abundance of idleness, both in her and in her daughters: neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy: but they were haughty and committed abomination before me, therefore I took them away, as pleased me. Sodom and Gomorrah and the territories thereof, till the Lord destroyed them, were as Moses witnesses (Genesis 13), as the paradise or garden of the Lord, abounding and flowing with plenty of wine and oil: in them all things that to the life of man were either necessary, delightful, or commodious, were in most abundance to be had, insomuch that the common sort believed, that God himself had chosen it for his own peculiar habitation and dwelling. And therefore as Moses in the same chapter says, the people thereof were wicked, and exceeding sinners against the Lord, leading their lives according to the level of their own lewd lusts. Which inordinate, beastly, and wicked lusts, their own vain curiosity and the great plentiful abundance and idleness which they enjoyed, procured and brought to them. As we today by experience [reconstructed: do see], that the wealthier [reconstructed: any] cities be, the more wanton and more dissolute life the people therein lead: but where famine, penury, or other extremities pinch, there the citizens are nothing so much given to looseness and sin. And therefore God uses to exercise, and inure those who are his, and whom he loves with hard cheer and slender pittances, because they may the better walk in integrity of life.

These therefore are the three dreadful examples, with which Saint Peter threatens the ungodly: which he here aptly alleges and brings in, as fittingly hitting the persons of whom he here speaks: who (he says) lived even as these Sodomites and Gomorrahans did: whose grievous punishment is here laid before them, for their greater terror. And therefore these things agree in each respect: and very fittingly are to be applied namely and specially to the Pope, with his Cardinals, Bishops, Monks, Friars, Nuns, and all the rest of his filthy Spirituality, and rumpwood retinue. For they being appointed to be as it were Angels, and in the places of Apostles, truly to preach and expound the Word of God, in stead of being such Angels (for the name Angel is a word of office, and not of nature, signifying a Messenger, or an Ambassador: whereupon all Preachers of the Truth, who are the Messengers of God, are called in the Scriptures, (Malachi 2 and 1 Corinthians 11) by the name of Angels) they do carry us headlong with themselves, into the dungeon of error, and quite revolt from their loyal allegiance to God, by mere pride and Apostasy, like these of whom Saint Peter here speaks: advancing themselves above God, and will have no Lord over them, but be Lords themselves and of themselves. And yet will they be called Apostolical, having nothing in them, but only a vain bragging show of the bare name and title: as here before in this Chapter, they are named by the name Angels, who properly are not so. This blasphemous rout therefore of Pope and Popelings, for that they have conspired with the Devil against God, and denied him that is their Creator, are kept fast fettered in chains of darkness to damnation, whose judgment (as he said before) ceases not, neither does their damnation sleep, although as yet it be not fully and completely come upon them.

Again, they be herein also like to the old world, who although they have the Prophets, and the Word of God preached to them, yet did they blaspheme and (as it were) defy him: and as Moses writes of them, took to themselves wives, according to their own lusts and likings, and became mighty tyrants and giants in the earth (Genesis 6). Now a little let us see, whether all the properties and dealings, reported by Moses, to be in those men of the old world, be not now most manifestly [reconstructed: resident] and invested in our Popish Clergy. For they now be great, mighty, and dreadful tyrants, they live of all men most delicately, most riotously, and even as they like themselves, they have most abundant store and plenty of all things, they oppress the world, and with their tyrannous exactions, and bloody cruelties overcrow all Christendom: and yet may no man speak one word, or once open his mouth against them, no not Kings and Princes. Again, if they be disposed to take away a man's wife, or his daughter from him, they may with such impunity do it, that no man may dare so much as complain of their violence: and if any do complain, yet are they themselves, the judges of the matter, and so it shall be even as good to say nothing at all: for amends he shall have none at all. Finally, by all the shifts and drifts, by all the ways and means that they can possibly devise to pill and poll, rob and spoil, rake and scrape, by cozenage, pillage, exaction, tribute, commandments, licenses, depredations, and all other subtle tricks whatever, they hale and pull, they catch and snatch to themselves, without stop, without measure, without conscience, without shame. And if any man in any sort lay his lawful claim, or touch any thing, which they pretend to be theirs, and which they have in their possessions, immediately they bawl and bark, howl and cry against him that the same thing so claimed is Spiritual livelihood, Spiritual patrimony, and the goods of the Church, which has and ought to have and enjoy a free immunity, so that no man may or ought so much as once to touch them. But those, that sincerely preach the word of God, and charitably reprehend their loose and dissolute life, denouncing and declaring to them the judgments of God, that awaits such as them: preachers of justice (I say) can they not abide to hear, but mock and scorn them: and not only so, but also cruelly persecute, imprison, banish, kill and murder them. But their style and title [to be called Spiritual fathers] as these others in the days of Noah were called the Sons of God, they hold fast with tooth and nail: and needs will they rule all the roost with mere violence, force and power, even as they like themselves. But in the end (notwithstanding) they shall perish and be destroyed, whereas the true Preachers of the Word of God (who are likened to Noah) are saved, kept and preserved.

Thirdly, as the country wherein the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah stood, flowed most abundantly with store of all things that the earth yielded, so that the inhabitants thereof lived idly, giving themselves to nothing but banqueting, drunkenness and belly cheer, without lending any relief to the poor: so also fares it with the state of this pompous Clergy. The best lands, the fattest soils and most fruitful grounds in every country have they gotten to their shares: the best cities, the goodliest castles, the richest revenues, and clearest rents have they caught into their possession: so that they may lie down and sleep, [reconstructed: snort], tipple, surfeit and cram, as long as they like, and that of free cost: and as for ease, there is no kind of people in the world so loitering and idle, so slothful and secure, as they be, or that fares more deliciously and daintily without taking any manner of pains, but living altogether by the sweat of other men's brows. And what commodity is engendered of sloth and idleness (specially when it is so rooted in laziness) we cannot be ignorant. The Pope forbids his forked Stallions to marry: and if any of them keep a breeding whore or two, that brings forth children, the Bishops then (indeed) because they may not seem altogether to wink at such notorious crimes, assess some pecuniary punishment upon them, and so for a little money they are not only for this fact released, but also permitted still to keep their Concubines as before: as though this were a sufficient remedy against the sin of fleshly lust. I will not here speak any thing of other their secret, enormous and shameless pranks, which no modest and chaste-minded man can almost without blushing so much as either hear or name.

To conclude: we here see how Saint Peter accounts the state of these shavelings no better, nor any otherwise than theirs of Sodom and Gomorrah. For such are the dispositions and dealings of all that whole table of that viperous brood, that no good grows from them to any: but they catch and get all that they can to themselves, under a pretense and color that whatever is given to them, is given to God: whom they have always in their mouth, the easier to beguile the world. And therefore as Sodom and Gomorrah were burned to ashes, so shall they in the last day be consumed and brought to nothing.

And delivered just Lot vexed with the uncleanly conversation of the wicked,

Was not this a marvelous abomination in them, that they not only committed all kinds of fornications and adulteries, but other horrible facts and enormities also, which are not to be named, and that openly, boldly, presumptuously and without all shame: insomuch that they forbore not the angels that came to Lot: into which madness they ran all headlong together with one mind and consent, both young and old, in every corner and quarter of the city. Against these their disordered dealings the godly man Lot did daily preach, and reprehended them, but all in vain. The more he exhorted them to amendment and repentance, the more they hardened themselves in dissolute life and desperate demeanor, so that not finding in them any hope of recovery, he saw he might as well hold his peace as speak. In the like desperate case are we nowadays: in whom (alas) there is no hope of better amendment: we so turn the deaf ear to all good exhortations, and make so small account of them that give us good and godly counsel out of the infallible book of God.

(For he being righteous, and dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds.)

Here Saint Peter describes what cross this holy man was forced to bear, preaching to such desperate and forlorn persons, and bringing up his daughters in the faith of Christ and nurture of the Lord: in which office, vocation and trade he zealously and incessantly continuing and living there among them, was saved and preserved from the destruction of the rest, by the merciful hand of Almighty God. Finally, Saint Peter concludes and knits up the matter that he began withal: namely, how that the wicked are kept to damnation and torment at the day of judgment.

The Lord knows to deliver the godly out of temptation, and to reserve the unjust to the day of judgment to be punished:

If God spared not the young world, when it was but new, how much more severely and sharply will he now punish it, seeing the Gospel has been so long a time manifested and so openly preached? For there was never aforetime such light, as we have now since the propagation of the Gospel enjoyed, as Christ himself says, Matthew 11: Woe be to you Capernaum, which are lifted up to heaven, but you shall be brought down to hell: for if the great works which have been done in you, had been done among them of Sodom, they had remained to this day. But I say to you, that it shall be easier for them of the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for you. But these comminations and threatenings make a great sort at this day never a whit the warier and godlier after so much and so long preaching and teaching. The wicked still persist in their rebellious ways, and utterly contemn and care not for these or any the like reprehensions.

And chiefly them that walk after the flesh, in the lust of uncleanness: and despise the government: which are presumptuous, and stand in their own conceit, and fear not to speak evil of them that are in dignity. Whereas the angels which are greater both in power and might, give not railing judgment against them before the Lord.

To walk after the flesh in the lusts of uncleanness, is to live like beasts according to the liking of sensual appetite, and self-will. As in the Pope's Decretals, we see how all things be set down, as it pleases the Pope to appoint: each thing must [reconstructed: stoop] and be determinable by the doom of his lawless tyranny: he and his adherents have wrenched, wrested, and expounded all things, as best pleased themselves. And now last of all they have boldly pronounced, that the holy See of Rome cannot err. Not one of them taught anything of faith or charity, but of dreams and dotages of their own brainless devising.

By government and dignity, he means kings, princes, lords, and all civil magistrates, not the Pope with his cardinals and bishops, who ought to be nothing less than lords: for Christ in the New Testament appointed none to be any otherwise than servants, and that one Christian should serve and help to benefit another, and one to reverence and honor another. Saint Peter's meaning therefore, is, that they which boast themselves to be of Christ, should in all things be subject and obedient to the civil and external magistrate, and should stand in awe of the power of the sword, being God's institution and ordinance. Contrary to which, these shavelings in each respect do deal: who have exempted themselves from their due obedience to civil magistrates, and affirmed themselves not to be subject to them: yes, they have not only exempted themselves from this their due subjection, and lawful obedience to the magistrate, but they also most arrogantly have made the civil magistracy subject to them, and have trodden it underfoot: and withal most impudently suffer themselves to be called lords, over kings and princes. The Pope also calls himself Lord both of heaven and earth, and brags that he has in his hands both the swords, the spiritual and the temporal, and that every one should fall down before him, and kiss his feet. Also says Saint Peter, they fear not to speak evil of them that be in dignity. For it has hitherto been but a playing matter, and a trick of small regard with the Pope, at his pleasure to curse kings and princes, and to depose them from their regal crowns and authorities. And this to all Popes has been a thing usual and familiar, to set princes together by the ears, and to sow inextricable discord, war, and dissension between them.

If any resisted or withstood this bloody tyranny of theirs, him they shortly suppressed and snatched up: not as one that had committed anything repugnant or contrary to Christian charity, but as a rebellious child, and wicked member, that would not enthrall and subject himself to the See of Rome, and kiss the feet of that Italian priest the Pope: whose power they affirm so far to surmount and excel the dignity of any earthly King or Civil Magistrate, as the Sun in brightness of light exceeds the Moon, and as far as the Heaven is higher than the Earth. Behold how egregiously they blaspheme, and how impiously they lie. For they which ought to be subject, and to show all humble obedience to Kings and Magistrates, to bless them and to pray for them (as Christ showed obedience to Pilate, and paid tribute to Caesar) shake off the yoke of all obedience, and be the authors and sowers of all obstinacy, rebellion, contempt, and disorder. They ought at the hearing of any evil spoken against Princes and Magistrates, being placed in sovereign dignity, to tremble: but they are so shameless, so graceless, so void of reverent awe and dutiful fear, that they [reconstructed: most saucily] and impudently themselves without all fear, blaspheme and speak evil of them. Not weighing and considering, that if the Angels which are of great power and might, cannot abide the heavy judgment of God against them, how much less then shall they (wretched cowards) be able to abide it, which boldly resist and blasphemously speak evil against them?

But these, as brute beasts, led with sensuality and made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of those things which they know not, and shall perish through their own corruption. And shall receive the wages of unrighteousness,

He calls them brute and unreasonable beasts, for that they have not in them any spark of the spirit of God, neither give themselves to that spiritual function to which they are charged, but live like filthy swine, altogether swallowed up in the beastly pleasures of the flesh. Whereas he says, they are made to be taken and destroyed, it may be understood after two sorts: either that they do devour and destroy that which they have taken, as the manner of Lions, Bears, Hawks, Eagles and Vultures is (for after the manner of these beasts, do our tonsured Prelates take and catch to themselves all wealth, honor, promotion, dignity and preeminence that possibly they can) or else because they shall be taken, caught, ensnared and made a prey to others, to be destroyed, and (as it were) slaughtered in judgment at the last day.

As they which count it pleasure to live deliciously for a season.

Behold how angry Saint Peter shows himself to be with these belly-gods. They think, if they may live delicately and idly, and fare deliciously, that then they are thoroughly happy, and have reached to the tip of their wished desires. This evidently appears in their own Decretals, wherein they pronounce him the son of the Devil and an accursed person, that dare presume to touch or meddle with their pompous wealth and revel, or with their pampered paunches and [reconstructed: swollen bellies]. Wherein they so manifestly, so apparently, and in so good earnest handle the cause of their belly, that they cannot themselves deny, but that their whole canons and laws, and the whole policy of their Church is purposely directed to this end, that they may lie snorting in ease and careless security, and live in most abundant store of all things without either pain or labor, making others to labor in the meantime for them. And other cause to pretend and allege for themselves why they should thus deal, have they none, saving that (indeed) they must chant, sing and pipe God a dance in the Church, or pray. But God has expressly commanded all men without exception, that they should eat their bread in the sweat of their own brows, and upon every one has he laid some burdens and troublesome charges to exercise themselves in from which; these our lordly Rabbis and Masters would be exempted, and by their good wills would do nothing but lean on their pillows. And this is the greatest blindness and blockishness that can be, to think that such a beastly and shameful life, is either good or worthy to be any way dignified or had in any honor or estimation.

Spots they are, and blots,

These drones and bumblebees in their own conceits think themselves the pillars and ornaments of the Church, even as the Sun and the Moon are the beauty and ornaments of the Heaven: they look to be accounted of all others the best, the noblest and the most excellent: even as in the world, gold and precious stones are of greatest price and highest estimation. But Saint Peter here in plain terms calls them foul spots, filthy blots and opprobrious stains. For a true and sincere Christian life consists wholly in faith, it serves all men by love, and bears his Cross. This is the right color and true beauty of the Christian Church: this is her ornament, glory and renown. But these Shavelings instead of bearing the Cross have betaken themselves to pleasure: instead of love to their neighbors, they have chosen delicacy, niceness, love of themselves, desire of self-gain and private commodity: raking all things to themselves, and not having any regard or remorse to serve any other body's turn or benefit. And as for faith, they know thereof nothing at all. They are therefore nothing but spots and blots, of whom the Church has just cause to be ashamed: because for their sakes she is evil spoken of, and pitifully slandered. Hereby methinks these our spiritual tyrants are well enough discovered, and sufficiently reproved.

Delighting themselves in their deceivings, in feasting with you,

The relief and sustentation which at the first was given by charitable and devout persons, of mere Christian love, to be as public alms, for the use of poor widows, fatherless, and other poor members of Christ, because there might be no beggars or any distressed with pinching penury: all this whatever being given to this good end, has been since, converted into Friaries and Monasteries: so that now these Shavelings do there with cram and pamper their own paunches, and fare most deliciously and live most pleasurably: finally they affirm that all these do properly appertain to them, and that it is lawful for no man to reprehend or find fault with them for it. But doubtless, the holy Ghost cannot abide, that the true ministers of the Church should live in delicacy and idleness, upon the gain of other men's labors, or upon that which is appointed for the sustentation, succor and relief of the poor, needy, impotent, and weakling.

Having eyes full of adultery,

For this vicious effect cannot but needs follow, when the body is gluttonously crammed and gorged with excess of meats and drinks, and wallows in ease and slothful idleness. But what is the cause that Saint Peter here says not that they are adulterers, but that they have eyes full of adultery? Truly, his very meaning is this: all their cogitations and thoughts are still upon whoredom and adulteries; their fleshly desires and inordinate lusts can never with the dissolute haunt of sin be satisfied, glutted, or wearied. And the cause is that they are continually given to riot and belly-cheer. To conclude, they boldly and with impunity do what they like.

And that cannot cease to sin,

For the Pope has commanded that neither prince nor other civil magistrate presume to control or chastise that Romish clergy; which if they should attempt to do, he straightway excommunicated them. The censure over them must be referred to their ordinaries and bishops, who being lewd and vicious themselves, wink at the shameless and enormous villainies of others. In this manner therefore they have exempted themselves from under the power of the temporal sword, so that no man dare withstand or gainsay their lawless lusts and wicked proceedings: they live so abominably and so sensually, even as the giants and tyrants did before the Flood.

Beguiling unstable souls:

Under this gay and glorious show which they pretend in the whole course of their wicked life (as mumbling of masses, chattering and chanting, praying and singing) they beguile and deceive light and unstable souls that lack faith. And from this it grew that all men so desired and wished to become priests, because they liked that state better than any other; and therefore the greatest number of parents thought themselves happy if they could train and bring up their children to that profession: so that within a while this opinion was commonly received, that in this kind of life there wanted nothing (indeed rather all things most plentifully abounded) whereby they might both in this present world live commodiously and delicately; and again, because thereby they were fully persuaded in their consciences that this was the very right high way and straight passage to heaven.

But he that would somewhat more nearly sift the truth and sound the depth of this matter shall doubtless find that therein they sought no other thing but how to fill the belly with delicious fare, and pamper this filthy sack of the flesh with excessive superfluity and choice of the daintiest junkets.

They have hearts exercised with covetousness,

And this vice also is among these shavelings so grossly and openly committed that none almost even of the bluntest common people but both sees and complains of it. He does not say "They are covetous" but "they have a heart exercised with covetousness," and through practice notably inured and acquainted with it. Which hereby evidently appears, in that they have devised such a number of subtle shifts and crafty conveyances, whereby they have caught and gotten into their hands the wealth and riches almost of the whole world. Indeed, whatever this rabble of monsters goes about or takes in hand is nothing else but cursed covetousness: it must bring money to their purses, or else they will not meddle with it. But their lives, behaviors, dealings, practices, and conversations are so generally to all the world manifested, and every man sees them so readily bent to the fingering of money and to catching by hook or crook all that comes to hand, that Saint Peter need not fear to be herein reproved, as though he had herein spoken untruly of them.

They are cursed children,

By this trope or figure of the Hebrew tongue is as much meant as if he had said, "They are accursed persons, and under the malediction of God": so that with God they have no joy nor consolation, but become every day worse and worse, and increase daily in blasphemy and hatred of God, bringing the full measure of God's heavy wrath upon them. These are very sharp and terrible sayings, whereby we learn that it is more than high time for them to be dispatched out of this horrible and execrable life. For if they are termed and called by this most dreadful title of the children of curse, their case is most miserable. When the high majesty of God does thus grievously reprove, curse, and condemn, who is he that is able to endure it?

Which forsaking the right way have gone astray,

They ought to preach and teach the right way, how we should by faith cleave to Christ, and by him have access to God; how by love we are to help and further our neighbors, and afterward how to bear the cross and patiently suffer whatever for this cause is laid upon us: whereas they teach nothing else, but bid and enjoin us to gad on pilgrimage to this place and to that place, to profess ourselves monks and to wear a friar's habit; to become sacrificing priests, to build churches, and to give support and maintenance for masses, etc. By these means they draw men from faith to works of their own appointment, in no way beneficial or profitable to our neighbor.

Following the way of Balaam, the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness. But he was rebuked for his iniquity: for the dumb donkey speaking with a man's voice forbade the foolishness of the prophet.

This story is taken out of the 22nd, 23rd, and 24th chapters of the book of Numbers, wherein is mentioned how the children of Israel coming out of Egypt, into the land of the Moabites, Balak the king thereof sent messengers into Syria to Balaam, to request him to come and curse the people of Israel, whereby he might be able to smite them with the sword, and drive them out of his land. Then came God to Balaam, and commanded him not to curse the people: whereupon Balaam sent away the king's messengers, and denied to go with them. But when the king sent to him the second time, and promised to give him great wealth, and to promote him to great honor, God permitted the prophet to go with them, but withal he commanded him to speak nothing but what he should direct and appoint him to speak. Then he saddled his donkey and went. And in the way, the Angel of the Lord stood against him, with a naked sword in his hand, which when the donkey perceived, she turned out of the way, so that Balaam struck her, to turn her into the way again. Then the Angel of the Lord went further and stood in a narrow place, where there was no way to turn, either to the right hand or to the left: where the donkey seeing the Angel with his sword still drawn, thrust herself to the wall, and dashed Balaam's foot against it: whereupon he struck her again. And at last, she lay down under Balaam: therefore Balaam was very wroth, and in a great rage cudgeled his donkey with his staff. Then God opened the mouth of the donkey, that she spoke in the voice of a man, and said: What have I done to you, that you thus beat and thump me? To whom Balaam answered: If I had a sword in my hand, I would surely kill you. The donkey said again to her master, Am I not your donkey, which you have ridden upon, since the first time until this day? Was I ever accustomed to do thus to you before? Then the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam, that he saw the Angel of God standing before him in the way, with a naked sword in his hand: at which he being greatly aghast, would have gone back again, but the Angel commanded him to go forward: but withal, he gave him in charge that he should say nothing but that which he should appoint and tell him. So when Balaam had come to King Balak, the king brought him into a high place, from where he might descry and take a full view and sight of the whole people of Israel. In which place, Balaam commanded seven altars to be made, and a sacrifice for every altar. Then he went to ask counsel of the Lord what he should speak: to whom the Lord delivered his words, so that he in excellent parables and sentences, in place of cursing, did bless the people of Israel, and that three times one after another. Then the king being exceedingly angry, said: I sent for you to curse my enemies, and behold, you have blessed them now three times. I thought to have promoted you to honor, but behold, the Lord has kept you back from honor. To whom Balaam answering said: Did I not tell you by your messengers, which you sent to me, that if you would give me your house full of silver and gold, I could speak no other thing than what God should put in my mouth? Notwithstanding, afterward Balaam gave counsel to Balak how he should deal with the people of Israel, to make them to sin against their God, because he himself was neither able to curse them, neither was the king by force able to vanquish and subdue them. Then the king erected and set up an idol, which had the name Baal Peor, and caused the chief of the Midianite women, and the daughters of the princes and nobles, to draw and allure the people of Israel to the sacrifice of their gods: who soon with them began to commit idolatry, to banquet, to feast, indeed, to commit whoredom with them. Therefore the Lord being angry, commanded that all the chief heads of the people should be hanged up in the sun, that the indignation of the Lord's wrath might be turned from Israel: and there died in one day of the people 24,000 persons. All this mischief was brought in among them by Balaam, for the covetousness of money.

Of this matter does Saint Peter now here speak, meaning that our greased Poplings and Romish rout, with all their disciples, favorers, abettors, and sectaries, are the very children of this Balaam. For as he gave pestilent counsel to erect and set up an idol to be worshipped, whereby the Israelites being drawn to sin provoked the vengeance and wrath of God against them, and were grievously punished for the same, with the death of so many thousands: even so in like manner our Bishoplike Balaamites have erected an idol, under the name of God, to wit, their own peevish traditions and lousy inventions, doctrines of merits and justifying works, excluding and banishing [reconstructed: Father,] and thus they steal away men's consciences, and cause them to leave the true and living God, and to go a-whoring after strange idols. Which rebellion and disobedience has so provoked God's wrath and indignation, that he has long punished the world with such great blindness and obstinacy, wherein many a soul has perished. For all which miseries and mischiefs, we may thank none but these our grand spiritual Lordings.

Saint Peter therefore peculiarly and properly resembles and likens these false teachers to Balaam the prophet: because just as he, so they, for money's sake, bring in most abominable idolatry, and destroy infinite numbers of souls. The very interpretation of the name of this prophet makes somewhat to the better opening of this matter. For Bileam or Balaam, in the Hebrew tongue signifies a devourer, or a sweepstakes, or a supper up, who with open mouth devours and gulps up all that comes to hand. He had this beastly and odious name therefore given to him, because he allured, and was the cause that so many men sinned, whereby they were brought to their deaths and destruction. Such manner of fellows are our Balaamites, the clergy of the Romish Synagogue now a days, who with their wide open throats, are very devils, devouring and swallowing up innumerable souls. The surname of this prophet is the son of Bosor, which signifies flesh, or as Moses calls him Beor, which signifies foolish. So likewise are our poll-shorn dolts, blind, blockish, and foolish: who seeking to bear rule over others, have most need themselves to be ruled and governed by others. For such are the men that are begotten of flesh: the Spirit begets other manner of persons. Thus has God in his Scriptures very properly and aptly termed, and set them out in lively colors: namely, thereby to give us to understand and know what is to be thought of them.

The ass being a dumb beast, and daily accustomed to the yoke and burdens, signifies the people, which must be content both to be snaffled, bridled, saddled, ridden upon, and to go which way they are bidden. And as this ass was violently dealt withal, and grievously beaten, when she went out of the way, and was forced to go still forward, till she came into such a strait lane, where she could not any way either start aside for the narrowness of the place, nor go on, for the angel that withstood and stopped her, so that she was driven to fall down: so, the poor people, so often as they feel themselves to be hardly dealt withal, and to be carried into insufferable errors, and fain would go aside out of that wicked way, straightaway these seducing Balaamites were ready with rigor and violence, to bring them into their erring way again, and therein compelled and enforced them to go, till it pleased God to open our mouths, and to put his words therein, so that now (his name be praised) even young children do talk of it. Whereby their brainsick madness is so notoriously detected, that though they be most shameless and impudent, yet can they not choose but blush thereat.

And here, out of this place, our Balaamites may very fitly be answered, when they brag and cry out, according to their usual order, that it is not meet for the lay people (as they call them) to read the Scriptures, nor to talk and confer of the same one with another: but rather to give ear and hearken what the general councils do decree: and whatever they agree upon, that only to be believed and embraced. May we not thus answer them? That God speaking by a poor ass, reproved the prophet which sat on her back, of madness. They now therefore being infatuated, and their heart wholly possessed with covetousness, what marvel is it, though God stir up the poor common people, to declare and show forth his truth, whom they hitherto have surcharged with heavy burdens, and driven which way they lift, none otherwise than a dumb silly ass, serving only to carry burdens. This is therefore the similitude that saint Peter shows between Balaam and our blind Popish guides.

These are wells without water, and clouds carried about with a tempest,

Solomon in the 25th of his Proverbs uses a similitude, saying: A man that boasts of false liberality is like clouds and wind without rain. So says saint Peter here in this place: They are wells without water, and clouds carried about with a tempest, that is: they boast of great things, but they perform nothing: they are like wells that are stopped and dried up, having in them no water at all, and yet they bear themselves highly upon that title, and boast themselves to be the true wells. But the Scripture calls them wells, which teach, and from whom does flow and issue good and wholesome doctrine, wherewith the souls of men may be refreshed. This is the office that they ought to do, and for this are they appointed. But alas, saving only the name, there is no such thing in them: as likewise they call themselves shepherds, whereas in very deed they be rather ravening wolves.

Again, they are as clouds, carried here and there with the wind: not as the thick and black clouds, that distill and drop down rain upon the earth: but as the thin and light fleeting clouds in the air, which are tossed and carried about here and there, out of whom there comes no rain at all. Even so likewise do these pompous prelates vaunt and brag, and carry lofty and high countenances in the church, seducing the world with their own vain gewgaws and traditions: being like to light wind-tossed clouds, and are contented to sway whatever way Satan lifts to carry them, and to preach whatever may be to his liking: but not so much as one word of the pure and sincere gospel of God. Which gospel and word, because none preaches but they that are true preachers and teachers, therefore are they in the 5th of Isaiah, and other places of the Scriptures termed clouds, because they do distill and let fall into the hearts of their audience, the sweet and comfortable water of God's truth and mercy.

To whom the black darkness is reserved forever.

They live now even at their own pleasures: every thing according to their own hearts' desires prospers and has good success: but there is a gloomy day toward them, there shall come upon them everlasting darkness, although now they neither believe it nor feel it.

For in speaking swelling words of vanity, they beguile with wantonness through the lusts of the flesh, them that were clean escaped from them which are wrapped in error,

If you ask how they can be called wells without water and clouds without rain, since they preach very much everywhere, Saint Peter makes you this answer: they preach indeed, and rain enough and enough; but their preachings are nothing else than swelling and proud words, with which they cloy and fill the ears of the poor simple people, whom they make to believe that what they speak is right good and Catholic, whereas indeed there is nothing more vain, foolish, and childish. Thus are our lubberly monks wont with fine and plausible words to boast and vaunt their obedience, poverty, and chastity, and all because they would be thought by the common people to be of all men the holiest — whereas all their doings and preachings are nothing but mere jugglings, deceits, and collusions, not having in them either faith or charity. And so is also this lofty vain brag of theirs, that the state and office of a bishop is an estate of perfection — whereas they that be in that mitred state do nothing but pompously [reconstructed: strut through the streets], waited upon with a great retinue of suitors and servants, as though they were great lords — and fare like princes, riding upon fine horses like gallant cavaliers, without any regard had to their pastoral charge, saving that now and then they hallow a church, or consecrate an altar, or baptize bells. For with these and such like swelling and vain words, their whole pontifical law is full thwacked and pestered.

They beguile with wantonness through the lusts of the flesh those who had cleanly escaped from those who are wrapped in error.

The drift of these wells and these teachers is none other but to entangle and catch in their snares the simple souls that had scarcely before escaped. As namely, children lately baptized, and newly received into the Church, and washed from their sins, delivered from Adam, and engrafted into Christ — them, I say, growing somewhat big, they lie in wait to ensnare and draw into error. Whom they ought rather to teach the principles and grounds of faith and charity, and how to bear the cross of Christ — but alas, they instill nothing into their tender minds but praises of their hypocritical works, whereby it comes to pass that they, simple younglings, are carried back again into error, although before they had escaped from there. But how do they thus beguile men with wantonness to the lusts of the flesh, and what baits do they use for the accomplishing thereof? Forsooth, these holy priests, monks, friars, nuns, and the rest of those marked mates do say and teach them that they ought not to marry, but to live in single life, to which they bind them fast by vows and precepts — in which doing they clog and beguile men, incensing and inciting them to the lusts of the flesh, wherein they suffer them miserably to burn, without allowing to them that lawful remedy which God has ordained. Here we see that Saint Peter speaks of none other but of those false teachers and buzzardly guides which are afloat and reign like princes in the Church of God over poor baptized and believing Christians.

Promising to them liberty, and are themselves the servants of corruption — for whoever a man is overcome by, even to the same is he in bondage.

They extol, praise, and vaunt their holy orders, their religious sects, and sinless professions, into which whoever enters shall be saved, as that most swinish and impudent Dominican Thomas writes, affirming that whoever professes himself a monk is in that state of perfection wherein he was at the time when he was newly baptized, and that thereby he shall assuredly merit the joys of heaven, and have full remission of his sins through his own works. These and such like blasphemies of them must we listen and give ear to, being not at all ashamed to compare their own dirty dreams and trifling toys to faith and baptism, which be God's own proper works and institution. Who, having the Spirit of God in him, and hearing these horrible blasphemies, can suffer them and hold his peace? Now, these and such like mad conclusions and impious sentences, our monks do train up youth withal. Finally, which is not the least point to be marveled at, those that be the authors of these detestable errors they have canonized and sainted — whereas those that be the true saints indeed, they have murdered and burnt to ashes.

For if they, after they have escaped from the filthiness of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and of the Savior Jesus Christ, are yet entangled again therein and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.

Saint Peter here proves and shows reasons why they be the servants of corruption. For to know Christ thoroughly and truly is to know what he is — to wit, our only Savior and Redeemer, who of his own mere goodness and grace has freely pardoned and forgiven us our sins. Through this knowledge we escape iniquity and are delivered from the filthiness of the world. Which corruption and filth they, having in their baptism renounced and put off, are again mired and thrown headlong into the same, whenever they depart and start from faith to trust in their own vile works. For where faith fails and is absent, there is not the Spirit present — and where the Spirit is wanting, there is nothing but flesh, and there can be no cleanness. And after this sort has it fallen out hitherto in the Church. Rome at the first hearkened to and embraced the pure Gospel, but afterward it declined and turned aside into bypaths of man's devised doctrines, so that now it swarms with all manner of abominations, and is become the common sink of all blasphemous impiety. The latter end thereof is therefore far worse than the beginning, because they are now become far more desperate and forlorn pagans than ever they were before they heard the Word of God.

For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than after they have known it to turn from the holy commandment given to them. But it is come to them according to the true proverb: the dog is returned to his own vomit, and the sow that was washed to the wallowing in the mire.

This proverb has Saint Peter taken out of the book of Proverbs, where Solomon has these words: As the dog turns again to his own vomit: so a fool turns to his foolishness, Proverbs 26. And so also by the [reconstructed: men] when as in baptism they have forsaken all wickedness and are washed clean from their filthy life, and have betaken themselves [reconstructed: to a more sincere] conversation of faith and charity, and afterward fall back and infidelity, and a trust in their own works, they [reconstructed: bemire and defile] themselves again in the filthiness of their [reconstructed: former life]. This place therefore ought not in any wise to be applied to works: as these Papists use was to do, who after auricular confession and shrift, were wont thus to enjoin them whose confession they heard: Take heed that from henceforth you be chaste, mild, gentle, patient, etc. But they ought rather thus to instruct and teach them: If you have a desire to become virtuous and godly, humbly pray to God by hearty and earnest prayer, that it would please him to grant to you a true and sincere faith: and from there begin to live godly, and to depart from wickedness and impiety. For when you are possessed of a true and sincere faith, good works will straightway follow and issue from it: then will you live chaste and pure: other remedy is there none, to rid you from the danger of sin. For although for a while you may hide and restrain wickedness and impiety in your heart, yet will it burst out in open flames at length.

This is now the second chapter of this his second Epistle, wherein the Apostle has forewarned and foretold us, what manner of teachers and false seducers should afterward come among us, and miserably mislead us. We can pretend no excuse, but that we have had sufficient warning beforehand, however we have little regarded it: and therefore our fault is the greater in that we have thus lightly esteemed the Gospel, and swerved from the sweet doctrine comprised in the same: whereby we have through our lewd lives provoked the heavier wrath of God against us. We are all not unwilling to hear the Pope with his lubberly drones to be inveighed against, and for their monstrous merchandise of Christian souls to be condignly taunted and reproved: but few of us takes any occasion thereby to amend his own life, or to reform his former conversation. For it is no trifling matter, or laughing toy, but a serious case and of great importance, and such at which our hearts ought to tremble and quake for fear. These things therefore are most earnestly, and diligently to be both spoken and heard: and God is most humbly to be desired and prayed to, to turn his heavy wrath and plague from us. For this calamity and wretchedness comes not upon us by chance or blind fortune, but it is sent to us from God, as a plague for our wickedness and impiety, as Paul witnesses (2 Thessalonians 2). Because (says he) they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved, therefore shall God send them strong delusion, that they should believe lies. For if this punishment and revenge of God had extended no further, but to the perishing only of these false, counterfeit, and seducing teachers themselves, it might have seemed very tolerable: but now they having mastered and overruled the whole world at their own pleasures, they have carried with them to hell whole multitudes of people, that have been bewitched and enchanted with their spiritual sorceries. There is no remedy therefore for us to cure this mischief, but to prostrate ourselves before the mercy seat of almighty God, in all fear and humility, most penitently confessing our faults, and suppliantly imploring his divine grace and assistance, that it might please him to vouchsafe to remove and take away this plague from us. It is earnest and hearty prayer, with which we must impugn and withstand these false and deceitful teachers: for Satan our adversary the Devil will not be driven away with any other weapons.