An Answer to a Great Number of Blasphemous Cavillations

Shortly after it came to pass, that certain of the chief citizens received him into the town, and when the church doors were shut against him, they made him a pulpit in the church porch. And because the number of the citizens, and other hearers increased daily, they desired of the Papists▪ that one of the temples might be opened unto him, which if they would not grant, they would make away in by violence. Not long after (by the counsel of the chiefest of the people, he sent letters to the country of Hesse, which was joining by, and under the government of the Landgrave, desiring that certain good, and learned men, might be sent unto him, which might with him preach the Gospel. And when there were six of them, whereof two were sent from Marpurge, they devised among them selves, how they might first overcome the clergy, by the which means the Gospel might with more fruit be taught. And to bring this to pass, this way was thought most convenient. They wrote out the errors of the Papists in thirty articles, and delivered them to the counsel, offering them selves to suffer any kind of punishment, if they were not able to prove by the holy scriptures, that they were all contrary to the word of God. The Magistrates sent for the Papists to come before them, and they showed unto them, those chief points of their errors. And when continually they alleged for them selves their doctrine to be pure, and agreeable to the word of God, and the preachers denied the same, and that they would prove, under the pain of losing their heads: It was asked of them, whether that they would by the word of God, confute those articles that were put forth against them: ⟨p. 420⟩when after this manner it was asked of them, they seeing also that the rulers were earnest in the matter, in fea• words they answered: That they had nothing to defend them selves with all: and where as until that time, they had said that their ordinances, and manners were good, and lawful, they confessed their so saying to be but by by opinion and ignorance.

Shortly after it came to passe, that certeine of the chief citezens receaued him into the towne, and when the church dores were shutte against him, they made him a pulpet in the church porch. And because the number of the citizens, and other hearers encreased daily, they desired of the Papistes▪ that one of the temples might be opened vnto him, which if they wold not grant, they wold make away in by violence. Not long after (by the counsell of the chiefest of the people, he sent letters to the cuntrie of Hesse, which was ioyning by, and vnder the gouernement of the Lantgraue, desiring that certeine good, and lerned men, might be sent vnto him, which might with him preache the Gospell. And when there were sixe of them, whereof two were sent from Marpurge, they deuised among them selues, how they might first ouercome the clergie, by the which meanes the Gospell might with more frute be taught. And to bring this to passe, this waye was thoght most conuenient. They wrote out the errors of the Papistes in thirtie articles, and deliuered them to the counsell, offering them selues to suffer any kind of punishment, if they were not able to proue by the holy sciptures, that they were all contrarie to the word of God. The Magistrates sent for the Papistes to come before them, and they shewed vnto them, those chief pointes of their errors. And when continually they alledged for them selues their doctrine to be pure, and agreable to the word of God, and the preachers denied the same, and that they wold proue, vnder the paine of losing their heades: It was asked of them, whether that they wold by the word of God, confute those articles that were put forth against them: