Wherefore, when these men saw they could not rightly find fault with our Doctrine, they would needs pike a quarrel, and inveigh and rail against our manners, surmising, that we do condemn all well doings: that we set open the door to all licentiousness and lust, and lead away the people from all love of virtue. And in very deed, the life of all men, even of the devoutest, and most Christian, both is, and evermore hath been such, as one may always find some lack, even in the very best, and purest conversation. And such is the inclination of all creatures unto evil, and the readiness of all men to suspect, that the things, which neither have been done, nor once were meant to be done, yet may be easily both heard, and credited to be true. And like as a small spot is soon espied in the neatest, and whitest garment, even so the least stain of dishonesty is easily found out in the purest, and sincerest life. Neither take we all them, which have at this day embraced the Doctrine of the Gospel, to be Angels, and to live clearly without any more, or wrinkle: nor yet think we these men neither so blind, that if any thing may be noted in us, they are not able to perceive the same, even through the least crevice: nor so friendly, that they will construe ought to the best: nor yet so honest of nature, or courteous, that they will look back upon them selves, & weigh our lives by their own. If so be we list to search this matter from the bottom, we know, that in the very Apostles times there were Christians, through whom the name of the Lord was blasphemed, and evil spoken of among the Gentiles. Constantius the Emperor bewaileth, as it is written in Sozomenus, that many waxed worse after they had fallen to the Religion of Christ. And Cyprian in a lamentable oration setteth out the corrupt manners of his time: The wholesome Discipline, saith he, which the Apostles left unto us, hath idleness, and long rest now utterly marred: every one studied to increase his lively hood: And clean forgetting, either what they had done before, whiles they were under the Apostles, or what they ought continually to do having received the Faith: they earnestly laboured ⟨p. 356⟩to make great their own wealth with an unsatiable desire of covetousness.
Wherefore, when these menne sawe they coulde not rightly finde faulte with our Doctrine, they woulde needes pike a quarrel, and inueigh and raile against our manners, surmising, that wee doo condemne al wel doinges: that wee settte open the doore to al licentiousnesse and luste, and leade awaie the people from al loue of vertue. And in very deede, the life of al men, euen of the deuoutest, and moste Christian, bothe is, and euermore hath been sutche, as one maie alwaies finde somme lacke, euen in the very beste, and purest conuersation. And sutche is the inclination of al creatures vnto euil, and the readinesse of al menne to suspecte, that the thinges, whiche neither haue been donne, nor once were meant to be donne, yet maie be easily bothe hearde, and credited to be true. And like as a smal spotte is soone espied in the neatest, and whitest garmente, euen so the leaste staine of dishonestie is easily founde out in the purest, and sincerest life. Neither take we al them, which haue at this daie embraced the Doctrine of the Gospel, to be Angels, and to liue clearely without any more, or wrinkle: nor yet thinke wee these menne neither so blinde, that if any thinge maie be noted in vs, they are not able to perceiue the same, euen through the leaste creuie: nor so frendly, that they wil construe ought to the beste: nor yet so honeste of nature, or courteous, that thei wil looke backe vpon them selues, & weigh our liues by theire owne. Yf so be wee liste to searche this matter from the bottome, we know, yt in the very Apostles times there were Christians, through whom the name of the Lorde was blasphemed, and euil spoken of emonge the Gentiles. Constantius the Emperoure bewaileth, as it is written in Sozomenus, that many waxed woorse after they had fallen to the Religion of Christe. And Cyprian in a lamentable oration setteth out ye corrupt manners of his time: The vvholsome Discipline, saithe he, vvhiche the Apostles leafte vnto vs, hath idlenesse, and longe reste novv vtterly marred: euery one studied to encrease his liuely hode: And cleane forgeatinge, either vvhat they had donne before, vvhiles thei vvere vnder the Apostles, or vvhat thei ought continually to doo hauinge receiued the Faithe: thei earnestly laboured ⟨p. 356⟩to make greate theire ovvne vvealth vvith an vnsatiable desire of coue•ousnesse.
