An Answer to a Great Number of Blasphemous Cavillations

In the end, after many words (which I nether gladly heard, nether yet will now write) he gave me a book, written (as he said) by God, even as well as was any of the Evangelists. This his book he adjured me (as it were) to read, and required to have my judgement of it. My answer was, that at his request I would read it, so that he would be content to reason with me of the chief points in the same contained, but to pronounce sentence, or judgement, that could I not usurp, being but one man far inferior to many of my brethren, the preachers of gods word in that realm. Always he urged me to read his book. And I wondering what mysteries it should contain, called to me a faithful brother, who then (as pleased God) was present with me, named Henry Farrour merchant, to whom I opened the matter by whose counsel, and in whose presence I began to read his book. The first proposition whereof was: God made not the world, nether yet the wicked creatures, in the same contained, but they had their beginning from another, that is from the devil, who is called the Prince of the world. which proposition plainly repugning, to gods word, I did impugn, and began to declare unto him, for what cause Satan had that title, to be called the Prince of the world. But he utterly denying ether to reason, and dispute, ether yet to be reformed in any point that there was written, commanded me to read forward, & to believe, howbeit I did not understand. To whom, when I had gently said: Can any reasonable man will me to believe things directly fighting against gods verity, and plain word revealed? Tush ⟨p. 407⟩said he, for your written word, we have as good, and as sure a word, and verity, that teacheth us this doctrine, as ye have for you, and your opinion. And then I did more sharply answer saying: ye deserve the death, as a blasphemous person, and denier of God, if ye prefer any word to that which the holy Ghost hath uttered in his plain scriptures. At which words he toke pepper in nose, and snatching his book forth of my hand departed after he had thus spoken: I will goo to the end of the world, but I will have my book confirmed, and subscribed with better learned men then you be. In me I confess there was great negligence, that nether did retain his book, nether yet did present him to the Magistrate.

In the ende, after many wordes (which I nether gladly heard, nether yet will now write) he gaue me a boke, written (as he said) by God, euen as well as was any of the Euāgelistes. This his booke he adiured me (as it were) to reade, and required to haue my iudgement of it. My answer was, that at his request I wold reade it, so that he wold be cōtent to reason with me of the chiefe pointes in the same conteined, but to pronounce sentence, or iudgement, that could I not vsurpe, being but one man farre inferior to many of my brethern, ye preachers of gods word in that realme. Alwaies he vrged me to reade his booke. And I wōdering what mysteries it should cōteine, called to me a faithfull brother, who then (as pleased God) was present with me, named Hēry Farrour marchāt, to whom I opened the mater by whose counsell, and in whose presence I beganne to reade his boke. The first proposition wherof was: God made not the world, nether yet the wicked creatures, in the same conteined, but they had their beginning from a nother, that is from the deuill, who is called the Prince of the world. which proposition plainly repugning, to gods word, I did impugne, and begāne to declare vnto him, for what cause Sathan had that title, to be called the Prince of ye world. But he vtterly denying ether to reasō, and dispute, ether yet to be reformed in any point that there was written, commānded me to reade forward, & to beleue, howbeit I did not vnderstand. To whom, when I had gentilly said: Can any reasonable man will me to beleue thinges directly fighting against gods veritie, and plaine word reueled? Tusch