An Answer to a Great Number of Blasphemous Cavillations

ANSWER.

Whether that you or we pervert the meaning of the holy Ghost speaking in his holy scriptures,¹ we chiefly remit judgement to him, who shall judge the world with equity, not refusing also in the mean season the judgement of indifferent readers. To your unjust accusations, cavillations, and malicious reports, I will answer no ⟨p. 281⟩thing, till the end of this work. And then I purpose to lay before your eyes such things,² as ye can not deny, to the end that the simple may judge, which of us do worship the Idol of our own fantasies, and have forsaken the mind of the trueth.³ Albeit that ye, and your captain Castalio begin now to despise learning, yet be ye never able to prove that we have despised godliness in the most simple of our brethren. howbeit we can not conceal the trueth, affirming, that he who hath faithfully travailed in the tongues, and in the writings of godly men is, more able to avoid error, and also more apt to teach the trueth and to confute the adversary, then he which is altogether ignorant, except in his natural tongue. for we know that miracles, and the visible gifts of the holy Ghost, given in the days of the Apostles are now ceased. Therefore I say, we are not so proud, that we despise learning, nether yet so malicious, that we contemn the meanest gift that God hath given to any of our brethren.⁴ If any be that boast or brag of their knowledge in the tongues, or of the multitude of the books, which they write I will confess them worthy of most sharp rebuke. But as for such as be principal instruments of Christ Jesus, how much they have profited the Church of God, and how little praise, or commendation they have sought or do seek of man, the day when the secretes of all hearts shall be revealed, will declare and men, who be most familiarly acquainted with them partly can witness.