An Answer to a Great Number of Blasphemous Cavillations

But yet this argument I have, that your faction is not altogether clean from the heresy of the Manichees. I could name, and point forth others, who labour in the same disease: but so long as their venom doth remain secrete, within them selves, I am purposed to spare them. But now that you accuse us to be unmerciful, proud, ambitious, and envious children, bloody persecutors of others for their conscience sake, evil speakers, impatient, contentious, and seditious children, that we speak one thing with our mouths, and think another in our hearts. And that ye extol your selves, that ye are merciful, humble, & loving children, abhorring from blood, persecuting no man, good speakers, patient, and detesting all contention: That you be all ways moved with good thoughts, and godly revelations, for such grace receive you plenteously of your father. To the which I briefly answer, that because we have a just judge, who shall reveal the secretes of all hearts, we will rather sustain to be of you, unjustly accused, then become proud braggers of our own justice, as you be, which sin is so odious in gods presence that he hath never suffered it unpunished, even before men. Forty years & more hath the Evangel of Christ Jesus been preached in Germany, ⟨p. 408⟩in Helvetia, and now of latter years in Geneva. and so long hath this doctrine been taught of some, and hath been believed of many, but what cruelty, what murder or what sedition, can justly be laid to the charge of those, that most constantly have taught and maintained the same? let the world convict them. And how far their life abhorreth from pride, ambition, and filthiness hath God witnessed, and to this day doth witness, how so ever Satan doth blind your eyes. But soon after that God had sown his good seed, began the devil to sow the cockle, and darnel, I mean the pestilent sect of anabaptists, whose fruits did suddenly appear to the great slander of Christs Evangel, and to the grief of many godly hearts. Brag what ye list of your justice, of your mercy, of your godly revelations, and other such, ye are the brethren, maintainers, and children of those in whom the contrary was plainly found: your doctrine and theirs, are both one. and therefore of you can we look for none other fruit (unless that God restrain your fury) than your fathers have once produced before you.

But yet this argument I haue, that your faction is not altogether cleane from the heresie of the Manichies. I could name, and point forth others, who labour in the same disease: but so long as their venom doth remaine secrete, within them selues, I am purposed to spare thē. But now yt you accuse vs to be vnmercifull, proud, ambicious, and enuious children, bloody persecuters of others for their conscience sake, euil speakers, impatiēt, contentious, and seditious children, that we speake one thing with our mouthes, and thinke another in our eartes. And that ye extolle your selues, that ye are mercifull, humble, & louing children, abhorring frō blood, persecuting noman, good speakers, pacient, and detesting all contention: That you be all waies moued with good thoghtes, and godly reuelatiōs, for such grace receaue you plenteonsly of your father. To the which I briefely answere, that because we haue a iust iudge, who shall reuele the secretes of all heartes, we will rather susteine to be of you, vniustly accused, then become proud braggers of our owne iustice, as you be, wc sinne is so odious in gods presence yt he hath neuer suffered it vnpunished, euē before men. Fortie yeres & more hath ye Euāgile of Christe Iesus bene preached in Germanie,