Yet nevertheless we wot not by what means, but we have ever seen it come so to pass from the first beginning of all, that as often as God did give but some light, and did open his truth unto men, though the truth were not only of greatest antiquity, but also from everlasting, yet ⟨image 78⟩of wicked men & of the adversaries was it called Newfangled and of late devised. That ungracious and blood thrist• Haman, when he sought to procure the king Assueruses displeasure against the Jews, this was his accusation to him: Thou hast here (saith he) a kind of people that useth certain new laws of their own, but stifnecked & rebellious against all thy laws. When Paul also began first to preach & expound the Gospel at Athens, he was called A tidings bringer of new Gods: as much to say, as of new religion. for (said the Athenians) may we not know of thee what new doctrine this is? Celsus likewise when he of set purpose wrote against Christ, to the end he might more scornfully scoff out the Gospel by the name of novelty, What saith he, hath God after so many ages now at last, and so late bethought himself? Eusebius also writeth, that Christian religion from the beginning for very spite was called [Greek or Hebrew], that is to ⟨image 78⟩say New & strange. After like sort, these men condemn all our matters as strange & new, but they will have their own, whatsoever they are to be praised as things of long continuance. Doing much like to ȳe enchanters & sorcerers now a days, which working with devils use, to say, they have their books and all their holy & hid mysteries from Athanasius, Cyprian, Moses, Abel, Adam, & from the Archangel Raphael, because that their cunning coming from such patrons & founders, might be judged the more high and holy. After the same fashion these men, because they would have their own religion which they themselves, and that not long since, have brought forth into the world to be the ea••lier and rather accepted of foolish persons, or of such as caste little whereabouts they or other do go, they are wont to say, they had it from Augustine, Hierome, Chrysostom, from the Apostles, and from Christ himself. Full well know they, that nothing is more ⟨image 79⟩in the peoples favour, or better liketh the common sort then these names.
Yet neuertheles we wote not by what meanes, but we haue euer seene it come so to passe from the first beginning of al, that as often as God did giue but some light, and did open his truth vnto men, though ye truth wer not only of greatest antiquitie, but also from euerlasting, yet ⟨image 78⟩of wicked men & of the aduersaries was it called Newfāgled and of late deuised. That vngracious and bloud thrist• Haman, when he sought to procure the king Assueruses displeasure against ye Iewes, this was his accusation to him: Thou hast here (saith he) a kinde of people that vseth certaine new lawes of their owne, but stifnecked & rebellious against al thy lawes. When Paule also began first to preach & expoūd ye Gospel at Athenes, he was called A tidinges bringer of newe Gods: as muche to saye, as of new religion. for (said the Athenians) maye wee not knowe of thee what newe doctrine this is? Celsus likewise when he of set purpose wrote against Christ, to thende he might more scornefully scoffe out the Gospel by the name of noueltye, What saith he, hath God after so many ages nowe at last, and so late bethought himselfe? Eusebius also wryteth, that Christian religion from the beginning for very spite was called 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, that is to ⟨image 78⟩say New & strange. After like sorte, these men cōdemne all our matters as strange & newe, but they will haue their owne, whatsoeuer thei are to be praised as thinges of long cōtinuāce. Doing much like to ȳe enchaūters & sorcerers now a daies, which working wt diuels vse, to say, thei haue their bokes and al their holy & hidd mysteries from Athanasius, Cyprian, Moses, Abell, Adam, & from the Archaungell Raphael, because yt their connig comming from suche patrones & founders, might be iudged the more high and holy. After the same fasshion these men, bicause they would haue their owne religion whiche they themselues, and that not longe since, haue brought forth into the world to be the ea••lier and rather accepted of foolishe persons, or of suche as caste little whereabouts thei or other do go, thei are wont to say, they had it from Augustine, Hierome, Chrysostome, frō the Apostles, and from Christe himselfe. Ful wel knowe thei, yt nothinge is more ⟨image 79⟩in the peoples fauour, or better liketh the common sorte then these names.
