For letting pass the ancient patriarchs and Prophets, who, as we said, had no part of their life free from contumelies and slanders. We know there were certain in times past, which said & commonly preached, that the old ancient Jews (of whom we make no doubt but they were the worshippers of the only and true God) did worship ⟨image 7⟩either a sow or an ass in Gods stead,1 and that all the same Religion was nothing else, but a sacrilege and a plain contempt of all godliness. We know also that the son of God, our Saviour Jesus Christ,2 when he taught the truth, was counted a Juggler and an enchanter, a Samaritan, Beelzebub, a deceiver of the people, a drunkard, and a Glutton. Again, who wotteth no• what words were spoken against Saint Paul the most earnest and vehement preacher and maintainer of the truth? Sometime that he was a sedi•• ous and busy man, a raiser of tumults, a causer of rebellion: sometime again that he was an heretic, sometime that he was mad: Sometime that only upon strife and stomach he was both a blasphemer of Gods law, and a despiser of the Fathers ordinances. Further who knoweth not how Saint Stephan after he had throughly & sincerely embraced the truth, and began frankly ⟨image 7⟩and stoutly to preach and set forth the same as he ought to do, was immediately called to answer for his life, as one that had wickedly uttered disdainful and heinous words against the law, against Moses, against the Temple, and against God? Or who is ignorant that in times past there were some which reproved the holy Scriptures of falsehood, saying they contained things both contrary and quite one against an other:3 and how that the Apostles of Christ did severally disagree betwixt them selves, and that S. Paul did vary from them all? And not to make rehearsal of all, for that were an endless labour: who knoweth not after what sort our Fathers were railed upon in times past, which first began to acknowledge and profess the name of Christ,4 how they made private conspiracies, devised secrete counsels against the common wealth, & to that end made early and privy meetings in the dark, killed young babes, ⟨image 8⟩fed themselves with mens flesh, and like savage and brute beasts, did drink their blood?
For lettinge passe the auncient patriarkes and Prophetes, who, as we sayd, had no parte of their lyfe free from contumelies and slaunders. Wee knowe there were certaine in tymes past, whiche said & commonly preached, that the old aūcient Iewes (of whom we make no doubt but thei wer the worshippers of the onely and true God) did worshipp ⟨image 7⟩eyther a sowe or an asse in Gods steede,1 and that all the same Religion was nothinge els, but a sacriledge and a plaine contempt of all godlynes. We know also that the sonne of God, our Sauioure Iesu Christe,2 when hee taughte the truthe, was coumpted a Iugler and an enchanter, a Samaritan, Belzebub, a deceiuer of the people, a dronkard, and a Glutton. Againe, who wotteth no• what woordes were spoken agaynste Sainct Paule the most earnest and vehement preacher and maintainour of ye truth? Somtime that he was a sedi•• ous and busy man, a raiser of tumultes, a causer of rebellion: somtime againe that he was an heretique, sometime yt he was mad: Somtime that onely vppon strife and stomacke he was bothe a blasphemer of Gods lawe, and a despiser of the Fathers ordinances. Further who knoweth not howe Sainct Stephan after he had throughly & sincerely embraced the truth, and beganne franklye ⟨image 7⟩and stoutly to preache and set forthe the same as he ought to do, was immediatlye called to aunswere for his life, as one that had wickedly vtered disdain•ul and haynous wordes against the lawe, against Moyses, against the Temple, and against God? Or who is ignorant that in tymes past there werre some which reproued the holye Scriptures of falsehood, saying they conteined thinges both contrary and quite one against an other:3 and howe that the Apostles of Christe did seuerallye disagree betwixt them selues, and that S. Paule did vary from them all? And not to make rehearsal of al, for that were an endles labour: who knoweth not after what sorte our Fathers were railed vpon in times past, which first began to acknowledge and professe the name of Christe,4 howe they made priuat conspiracies, deuised secrete councels against the common welth, & to that end made earelie and priuie meetinges in the darke, kylled yonge babes,
- 1Cornel. Tacitus.
- 2Mar. 11.
- 3Marcion ex Tertul. Aelius è Lactantio.
- 4Eusib. li. 5. cap 11. Tertull. in Apologe. 3. Idem. 1.2.3. & 7.8.9.
