But where they say, we have gone away from the Unity of the Catholic Church, this is not only a matter of malice, but besides, though it be most untrue, yet hath it some show and appearance of truth. For the common people, and ignorant multitude give not credit only to things true, and of certainty, but even to such things also, if any chance, which may seem to have but a resemblance of truth. Therefore we see, that subtle, and crafty persons, when they had no truth on their side, have ever contended, & hotly argued with things likely to be true, to the intent they, which were not able to espy the very ground of the matter, might be carried away at least with some pretence & probability, or likelihood of the Truth. In times paste, whereas the first Christians, our Forefathers, in making their Prayers to God, did turn them selves towards the East, there were that said, they worshipped the Sun,1 & reckoned the same as their God. Again, where our Forefathers said, that as touching Immortal & Everlasting Life, they lived by none other means, but by the Flesh, and Blood of that Lamb without spot, y• is to say, of our Saviour Jesus Christ, the envious Creatures, & Enemies of Christs Cross, whose only care was to bring Christian Religion into slander by all manner of ways, made the people believe, that they were wicked persons, that they sacrificed mens Flesh,2 and drunk mens Blood. Also where our Forefathers said, that, before God, there is neither Man, nor Woman, and that for attaining to the true Righteousness, there is no distinction at all of persons: &, whereas they called one an other indifferently by the name of Sisters, and Brothers, there wanted not men, which forged false tales upon the same, saying that the Christians made no difference among them selves, either of age, or of kind: but like brute beasts without regard, had to do one with an other.3 And, whereas, to pray, and to hear the Gospel, they met often together in secrete, and byplaces, because Rebels sometime were wont to do y• like, therefore Rumours were every were spread abroad, that they made privy confederacies, & took counsel together, either to kill the Magistrates, or to subvert the Common Wealth.
But where they saie, we haue gonne awaie from the Vnitie of the Catholique Churche, this is not onely a matter of malice, but bisides, though it bee most vntrue, yet hath it somme shewe and appearance of truthe. For the common people, and ignorante multitude geeue not credite onely to thinges true, and of certainetie, but euen to sutche thinges also, if any chaunce, whiche maie seeme to haue but a resemblaunce of truthe. Therefore we see, that suttle, and crafty persones, when they had no truthe on their side, haue euer contended, & hotely argued with things likely to be true, to the intent thei, which were not able to espie the very grounde of the mater, mighte be caried away at least with somme pretense & probabilitie, or likelihoode of the Truthe. In times paste, whereas the firste Christians, oure Forefathers, in makinge their Praiers to God, did turne them selues towardes the Easte, there were that saide, they woorshipped the Sonne,1 & reckened the same as their God. Againe, where oure Forefathers saide, that as touchinge Immortal & Euerlastinge Life, they liued by none other meanes, but by the Fleashe, and Bloude of that Lambe without spotte, y• is to saie, of oure Saueour Iesus Christe, the enuious Creatures, & Enimies of Christes Crosse, whose onely care was to bringe Christian Religion into sclaunder by al manner of waies, made the people beleeue, that they were wicked personnes, that thei sacrificed mennes Fleashe,2 and dronke mennes Bloude. Also where oure Forefathers saide, that, before God, there is neither Man, nor Woman, and that for atteininge to the true Righteousnesse, there is no distinction at al of personnes: &, whereas they called one an other indifferently by the name of Sisters, and Brothers, there wanted not menne, whiche forged false tales vpon the same, saieinge that the Christians made no difference amonge them selues, either of age, or of kinde: but like brute beastes without regarde, had to doo one with an other.3 And, whereas, to praie, and to heare the Gospel, they mette often togeather in secrete, and byplaces, bicause Rebelles sometime were woonte to doo y• like, therefore Rumours were euery were spreadde abroade, that they made priuie confederacies, & tooke counsel togeather, either to kil the Magistrates, or to subuerte the Common Wealthe.
- 1Tertull. in Apologetico.
- 2Ibidem.
- 3Ibidem.
