An Answer to a Great Number of Blasphemous Cavillations

But in deed when God is angry or displeased, there is no error so foolish, unlikely or out of order which Satan shall not persuade some to believe, as we see to be brought to pass in the doctrine of Mahomet. For though all their teaching is fond, yet not withstanding the light of Gods word being quenched, it toke strength, & hath spread forth it self so large and mighty, as we see it this day, and the like had come to pass in Germany, if God had not put down the enterprise and counsel of Muncere. For with the least spark that is, Satan can make a great flame (if God do suffer him) and a better way to quench it withal there is not, then with the word of God. for when the weapons of the enemy are all together spiritual, he can not be overcome with a multitude of horses, or any engines of war. But our Princes and Bishops work otherwise. for they hinder the doctrine of the Gospel, which is the only way, whereby the minds and hearts of men may be healed. And in the mean time they violently torment them to pluck the body from the devil, leaving to him the principal part of man, which is his heart and soul, using the matter as the Jews did, which thought to extinguish and put down Christ by the punishment of the cross. But now as touching the common brute and writings that go of Monster, I have no doubt, but that it is so as it is reported: and that which they them selves have written of late, maketh me fully to believe it, in which they paint out lively their own fury and madness. first of all they teach of the faith very foolish and absurd things, and of Christ as though he took not flesh of the virgin Mary and yet they confess him to be of the seed of David. But they utter not their minds fully: and without doubt Satan doeth nourish some monster which may easily be perceived by this which they say, the seed or the flesh of Mary can not deliver us. But in vain is their travail, for the Scripture witnesseth ⟨p. 441⟩Christ to be borne of the virgin Mary. Which saying in all languages is referred to the fruit, which being conceived and fashioned of the flesh and blood of his mother, is borne into the world. Also they show forth their ignorance, in that they condemn the first baptism, as a profane thing, esteeming it not as the institution of God, but of man.

But in dede when God is angrie or displeased, there is no error so folish, vnlikely or out of order which Satan shal not persuade some to beleue, as we se to be broght to passe in ye doctrine of Mahomet. For thogh all their teaching is fond, yet not withstāding the light of Gods worde being quenched, it toke strength, & hathe spred furth it self so large and mightie, as we se it this day, and the like had come to passe in Germanie, if God had not put doune the enterprise and counsel of Muncere. For with the least sparke that is, Satan can make a great flamb (if God do suffer him) and a better way to quench it withall there is not, then with the worde of God. for when the weapons of the ennemie are all together spiritual, he can not be ouercome with a multitude of horses, or any enginnes of warre. But our Princes and Bishoppes worke otherwise. for they hinder the doctrine of the Gospell, which is the onely way, wherby ye myndes and heartes of men may be healed. And in the mean tyme they violently tormēt them to plucke the bodie from the deuil, leauing to him the principal part of man, wc is his heart and soule, vsing the mater as the Iewes did, which thoght to extinguish and put doune Christe by the punishment of the crosse. But now as touching the common brute and writings that go of Monster, I haue no doubt, but that it is so as it is reported: and that which they them selues haue written of late, maketh me fully to beleue it, in which they paint out liuely their owne furie and madnes. first of al they teach of the faith verie foolish and absurde things, and of Christ as thogh he tooke not flesh of the virgine Marie and yet they confesse him to be of the sede of Dauid. But they vtter not their myndes fully: and without doubt Satan doeth nourish some monstre which may easily be perceaued by this which they say, the sede or the flesh of Marie can not deliuer vs. But in vaine is their trauaile, for the Scripture witnesseth