If I should demand of thee which of the two did most mortify the flesh, he that for conscience sake leaveth country friends, riches and honours, or he that to gape for worldly promotions,1 or yet for any other purpose doeth cover him self with Esau's clothes (I use your own terms) and so denying what he is, will swear, if need be, that he is not Jacob, which of these two Isay, doest thou think to have come nearest to the forsaking of him self? Or yet another, whither doth he walk most sincerely in his vocation, that living upon his just labours is ready to communicate, according to his ability to the necessity of his poor brethren? or he who loitering in one place or trotting ⟨p. 196⟩from country to country would have all things in common contrary to the order of nature and policy? or yet the third, which of the two, doeth most crucify the lusts and concupiscences of the flesh, he that layeth down his neck even under the axe of a cruel and unjust Magistrate, and that also when he suffereth unrighteously: or he that would abolish and destroy the good ordinance of God, all lawful Magistrates and distinction in policies. That you be the one, and we be the other of these two sorts of men it is evident enough. And upon whom the crime cleaveth and justly may be laid, further examination shall declare. Now come I to the order of that City, in the which this doctrine is taught, received, and maintained. What maketh the poor city of Geneva, poor I say, in mans eyes, but rich before God, by the plentiful abundance of his heavenly graces, what maketh it, I say, so odious to the carnal men of this world? assuredly not this doctrine, where with ye charge us. for that could well please the carnal man,2 to let him live at his pleasure, without all punishment. Is it not the just rigour of justice, and the severity of discipline executed therein, in such sort, that no manifest offender, where so ever he hath committed his offence, doeth there escape punishment? Is not this it, that so doeth offend, not only the licentious of the world? but even you dissembling hypocrites, can not abide, that the sword of Gods vengeance shall strike the murderer, the blasphemer, and such others, as God by his word commandeth to die. not so by your judgements, he must live, he may repent.
If I shoulde demande of thee which of the two did moste mortifie the flesh, he that for conscience sake leaueth countrie friends, riches and honours, or he that to gape for worldly promotions,1 or yet for any other purpose doeth couer him self with Esaus clothes (I vse your owne termes) and so denying what he is, wil sweare, if nede be, that he is not Iaakob, which of these two Isay, doest thou think to haue come nerest to the forsaking of him self? Or yet another, whither doth he walke most sincerely in his vocacion, that liuing vpon his iust labors is redy to communicate, according to his habilitie to the necessitie of his poor bretheren? or he who loitring in one place or trotting ⟨p. 196⟩from countrie to countrie wolde haue all things in common contrary to the ordre of nature and policie? or yet the third, which of the two, doeth most crucifie the lustes and concupiscences of the flesh, he that laieth downe his necke euen vnder the axe of a cruell and vniust Magistrate, and that also when he suffereth vnrighteously: or he that wolde abolish and destroie the good ordinance of God, all lawful Magistrates and distinction in policies. That you be the one, and we be the other of these two sortes of men it is euident ynough. And vpon whome the crime cleaueth and iustely may be laied, further examination shal declare. Nowe come I to the ordre of that Citie, in the which this doctrine is taught, receiued, and mainteined. What maketh ye poore citie of Geneua, poore I say, in mans eyes, but riche before God, by the plentifull aboundāce of his heauenlie graces, what maketh it, I say, so odious to the carnal mē of this worlde? assuredly not this doctrine, where with ye charge vs. for that coulde wel please the carnal mā,2 to let him liue at his pleasure, without all punishment. Is it not the iust rigor of iustice, and the seueritie of discipline executed therein, in such sort, that no manifest offender, where so euer he hathe comitted his offence, doeth there escaip punishment? Is not this it, that so doeth offend, not onely the licencious of the worlde? but euen you dissembling hypocrites, can not abide, that the sworde of Gods vengeance shal strike the murtherer, the blasphemer, and such others, as God by his worde commandeth to die. not so by yor iudgementes, he must liue, he may repent.
- 1Anabaptists would have all things common.Anabaptist•s wold haue all things comone.
- 2What maketh the city of Geneva odious to the world.What maketh the citie of Geneua odious to the world.
