If our Lord and Saviour thought it not amiss in his Gospel to charge so grievous a clog upon him, who so ever should displease the least of those little ones, that believed on him, as that it should be easier for him to be cast down headlong into the bottom of the Sea with a Millstone about his neck: what shall be said of them, which do proudly tread upon the necks of the mightiest Emperors that believe in Christ, which thrust kings out of their kingdoms, curse Christian Cities and Nations to the pit of Hell, procure the utter destruction of all people great and small, devour innocent blood, consume the bodies of holy ones to ashes, finally, pursue to the very root all peace, amity, and concord, from out the whole state of Christian society. We read in the Acts of the Apostles, that Herod, because at the fawning flourish of foolish flatterers, filling his ears with these words:1 The voice not of a man, but of God: he raised the Crest, and was puffed up with pride, nor would acknowledge him self to be a man, nor would give God the praise, was m•st horribly plagued. Now if it may be lawful to make a comparison of like examples one with the other, which of these two shall we say, ⟨p. 49⟩was more insolently arrogant against the glory of God• Herod, or Nicholas Pope of Rome the fifth of that name, who on a time in a public Oration solemnly uttered by Ladislaus a King, was contented to accept this greeting: the words whereof I will set down as the History recordeth them.2 Where (sayeth the King) shall I begin mine Oration? I am not able to express worthy words wherewith I do adore thee the only prince of Christians, king of kings, and God on earth. &c. And againe• immediately after: I do acknowledge this day the most happy of all others to have shined unto us, wherein we have obtained from above, to behold, and with sound judgement, and undoubted faith to worship so mighty and so sovereign a God, &c.
If our Lorde and Sauiour thought it not amisse in his Gospell to charge so grieuous a clogge vppon him, who so euer shoulde displease the least of those litle ones, that beleeued on him, as that it should be easier for him to be cast downe headlong into the bottome of the Sea with a Milstone about his necke: what shalbe saide of them, which doe proudely treade vpon the neckes of the mightiest Emperours that beleeue in Christe, which thruste kinges out of their kingdomes, cursse Christian Cities and Nations to the pyt of Hell, procure the vtter distruction of all people great and small, deuour innocent blood, consume the bodies of holy ones to ashes, finally, pursue to the very roote all peace, amitie, and concord, from out the whole state of Christian societie. Wee reade in the Actes of the Apostles, that Herode, because at the fawning florishe of foolishe flatterers, filling his eares with these wordes:1 The voyce not of a man, but of God: he raised the Creste, and was puft vpp with pryde, nor woulde acknowledge him selfe to be a man, nor w•ulde giue God the praise, was m•st horribly plagued. Nowe if it may bee lawfull to make a comparison of like examples one with the other, which of these two shall wee say, ⟨p. 49⟩was more insolently arrogant agaynst the glorie of God• Herode, or Nicholas Pope of Rome the fif•h of that name, who on a time in a publique Oration solemnely vttered by Ladislaus a King, was contented to accept this greeting: the woordes whereof I will set downe as the Historie recordeth them.2 Where (sayeth the King) shall I beginne mine Oration? I am not able to expresse worthie woordes wherewith I do adore thee the onely prince of Christians, king of kings, and God on earth. &c. And againe• immediately after: I doe acknowledge this day the most happie of all others to haue shined vnto vs, wherein we haue obteyned from aboue, to beholde, and with sounde iudgement, and vndoubted fayth to woorshippe so mightie and so soueraigne a God, &c.
- 1Acts .12.
- 2Cocleus In the history of the Hussians. 11• book.Cocleus In the historie of the Hussians. 11• booke.
