excommunication of men, they are already excommunicate; which thing is evident, forasmuch as they are accursed through the consent of their silence, as St. Isidore saith, 11 quest. 1 par.: "He that doth consent unto sinners, or defendeth a sinner, he shall be cursed both before God and man, and shall be punished with a most severe rebuke." And in the 7th question, 4 par., "Omnis," it is said: "He that doth neglect to amend that which he may correct, committeth no less fault than he who had before offended; for not only they who do commit the offence, but also they who consent thereunto, are judged partakers thereof." In like case, priests who do not preach against the heresy which the pope teacheth, are dumb dogs, not able to open their mouths or bark against the wolf, which will kill the sheep of Jesus Christ: ergo, how can it then be otherwise, but they must needs be betrayers of the sheep of their own shepherd?
Though the chief priests be adulterers, yet outght the ministers to preach against adultery.Item, Let it be so, that the bishop with the chief prelates be adulterers, or otherwise open offenders, and that he, together with his prelates, do command under pain of excommunication, that none be so hardy as to preach against adultery; in such a case, they who do omit their duty in preaching against adultery, for fear of excommunication of men, are already excommunicated of God: ergo, the first part of the article is true. The antecedent is proved: for our Saviour, in Mark viii., saith thus: "He that acknowledgeth me and my words in this wicked and adulterous generation, the Son of Man shall also acknowledge and confess him when he shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels." Therefore he that shall confess Christ, and these words of Christ, [Matt, v.] "You have heard that it was said to them in old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: but I say unto you, that every one which shall behold a woman to lust after her, hath already committed adultery with her in his heart:" he, I say, that shall confess these things before an adulterous bishop, with his chief prelates, who, perchance, are the wicked and adulterous generation, the Son of Man shall also acknowledge him, when he shall come in the glory of his Father, and so consequently is he blessed. Contrariwise he who, for the fear of excommunication of men, will not confess Christ and his words before the sinful and adulterous generation, is accursed. The consequence holdeth by the words of Christ, [Luke ix.] "He that is ashamed of me and my words, him shall the Son of Man be ashamed of, when he shall come in his majesty, and in the glory of his Father, and his holy angels:" pronouncing that which is spoken, [Matt, xxv.] "Verily I say unto you, I know you not; go you cursed into everlasting fire."
Example of Christ.Also our Saviour Jesus Christ did not omit, or leave off the preaching of the kingdom of God for any pretended excommunication of the bishops, Scribes, and Pharisees; so likewise his true and humble priests ought not to omit their preaching for any pretended excommunication of men; the consequence holdeth by the saying of Christ, [John xv.] "Be ye mindful of the words which I have spoken unto you, the servant is not greater than his master: if they have persecuted me, they will persecute you also." The antecedent is apparent by the saying of St. John, chap. ix.: "Even now the Jews had conspired, that whosoever did confess him to be Christ, should be excommunicate." And likewise, John vii.: "Whether did any of the princes or rulers, or any of the Pharisees believe in him? but this people which knoweth not the law are accursed."
Obedience of christian priests towards their prelates.Also the humble and just ministers of God ought not, under pain of sin, to cease from the fruitful preaching of the law of God for any unjust excommunication, or unlawful commandment; and it is proved thus: the humble and just ministers of Christ ought not to obey their prelates in such things as are contrary to God; as all the holy doctors, and such as are learned in the law of God, do wholly with one consent affirm. And, forasmuch as an unjust excommunication and unlawful commandments are against God, therefore the just and true ministers of God ought not to obey such unlawful excommunication and commandments; and, consequently, ought not to cease for them from the fruitful preaching of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ; but ought boldly and gladly to preach the same. Forasmuch as the Lord doth comfort them in Matt. v., saying thus: "Blessed and happy are ye when men do curse you and persecute you, and speak all kind of evil against you, making lies and slanders upon you for my sake; rejoice and be glad, for great is your reward in heaven."
Also every minister having power given him from above to preach the gospel, hath the same given unto him for the edifying of the church, and not for the
