9. Thou, false heretic and runagate, hast said that every layman is a priest; and thou sayest that the Pope hath no more power than any other man.—My Lords, I taught nothing but the Word of God. I remember that I have read in some places in St. John and St. Peter, of whom one sayeth, "He hath made us kings and priests;" the other sayeth, "He hath made us the kingly priesthood." Wherefore, I have affirmed that any man, being cunning and perfect in the Word of God and the true faith of Jesus Christ, has his power given him from God, and that not by the power or violence of men, but by the virtue of the Word of God—the Word which is called the power of God, as St. Paul witnesseth evidently enough. And again I say that any unlearned man, not exercised in the Word of God, nor yet constant in his faith, of whatsoever estate or order he be, hath no power to bind or loose, seeing he lacketh the instrument by the which he bindeth or looseth, that is to say, the Word of God.
After he had said these words all the bishops laughed, and mocked him. When he beheld their laughing, "Laugh ye," saith he, "my Lords? Though these my sayings appear scornful and worthy of derision to your Lordships, they are nevertheless very weighty to me, and of a great value; because they stand not only upon my life, but also the honour and glory of God."
In the meantime many godly men, beholding the wodness[88] and great cruelty of the bishops, and the invincible patience of the said Master George, did greatly mourn and lament.
10. Thou, false heretic, saidst that a man hath no free will, but is like to the Stoics, who say that it is not in man's will to do anything, but that concupiscence and desire cometh of God, of whatsoever kind it be.—My Lords, I said not so, truly: I say that unto as many as believe in Christ firmly is given liberty, conformable to the saying of St. John, "If the Son make you free, then shall ye verily be free." Of the contrary, as many as believe not in Christ Jesus, they are bound servants of sin: "He that sinneth is bound to sin."
11. Thou, false heretic, sayest it is as lawful to eat flesh upon Friday, as on Sunday.—May it please your Lordships, I have read in the Epistles of St. Paul that "to the clean, all things are clean." Of the contrary, "To filthy men, all things are unclean." A faithful man, clean and holy, sanctifieth by the Word the creature of God; but the creature maketh no man acceptable unto God: so that a creature may not sanctify any impure and unfaithful man. But to the faithful man, all things are sanctified by the prayer of the Word of God.
After these sayings of Master George, all the bishops, with their accomplices, said, "What witness need we against him: hath he not openly here spoken blasphemy?"
12. Thou, false heretic, dost say that we should not pray to saints, but to God only. Say whether thou hast said this or no: say shortly.—For the weakness and the infirmity of the hearers, without doubt, plainly, saints should not be honoured or called upon. My Lords, there are two things worthy of note: the one is certain and the other uncertain. It is found plainly and certain in Scriptures that we should worship and honour one God, according to the saying of the first commandment, "Thou shall only worship and honour thy Lord God with all thy heart." But as to praying to and honouring of saints, there is great doubt among many, whether or no they hear invocation made unto them. Therefore, I exhorted all men equally in my doctrine that they should leave the unsure way, and follow the way which was taught us by our Master Christ: He only is our Mediator, and maketh intercession for us to God, His Father: He is the door, by which we must enter in: He that entereth not in by this door, but climbeth another way, is a thief and a murderer: He is the truth and life. There is no doubt but he that goeth out of this way shall fall into the mire; yea, verily, he is fallen into it already. This is the fashion of my doctrine, which I have ever followed. Verily, that which I have heard and read in the Word of God I taught openly and in no corners, and now ye shall witness the same, if your Lordships will hear me. I dare not be so bold as affirm anything unless it agree with the Word of God.
These sayings he rehearsed divers times.
13. Thou, false heretic, hast preached plainly that there is no purgatory, and that it is a feigned thing that any man, after this life, will be punished in purgatory.—My Lords, as I have oftentimes said heretofore, without express witness and testimony of Scripture, I dare affirm nothing. I have oft and divers times read over the Bible, and yet such a term found I never, nor yet any place of Scripture applicable thereto. Therefore, I was ashamed ever to teach of that which I could not find in Scripture.
Then said he to Master John Lauder, his accuser, "If you have any testimony of the Scripture, by the which ye may prove any such place, show it now before this audience." But that dolt had not a word to say for himself, but was as dumb as a beetle in that matter.