WE might have passed by this parcel without answer, because that nothing in it conceived, justly can be laid to our charge. For our worldly felicity, prosperity & rest, nether is, nether yet hes been at any time, sense we have embraced the Evangel of Jesus Christ, such as may nourish us in wickedness: nether yet are the Papists able to convict us of such impiety, as all the world know hath roung among them of more years then an hundred thrice told. And in the mean time to what honour and worldly dignity they are ascended, we make them selves judges. If they say the doctrine which we teach, is wondrously spread within this hundred years: So that now it hes almost red y• self forth of bondage. We would demand of the Papists, if the evangel of Jesus Christ, ceased to be the doctrine of Salvation, what time the Kirks gat rest in Judea and else ⟨image 29⟩where, in the days of the Apostles. If they answer, y• they mean no such thing. Then yet we demand, if the hand of the Lord be more shortened now, then that it was in the primitive Kirk: So that now he may not aswell maintain his truth, and enlarge the Kingdom of his only Son, as that he did in the days of the Apostles. Whatsoever the Papists shall answer, we are assured that nether is his power diminished, so that he may not maintain his truth: nether yet is his love so waxen cold towards his Kirk, but that he will in his anger remember upon mercy. Why do not those cruel men consider, what innocent blood hath been shed for the testimony of Christs Evangel, within these three score years. Would they that God at no time should show piety upon the patient suffering of his afflicted kirk? Would they that the sword should still devour? Would they that the flaming fires should never be quenched? If that so they would, they show them selves the Sons of him who hath been a murderer from the beginning, and yet continue in the same malice. But our God beareth towards his weak Children, a fatherly affection ⟨image 30⟩whereby he is moved sometimes to stay y• fu•ie and rage of Satan for a season: To the end that his chosen more gladly may prepare them selves to a new battle, True it is, the doctrine of salvation is greatly enlarged, & thereof we praise God: True it is, that Satan hath not universally such power to persecute as sometimes he hath had.
WE might haue passed by this parcell without answer, becaus that nothing in it conceaued, iustly can be laid to our charge. For our warldly felicitie, prosperitie & rest, nether is, nether yet hes bene at any tyme, sence we haue imbrased the Euangel of Iesus Christ, suche as may nurishe vs in wickednes: nether yet are the Papists able to cōuict vs of such impietie, as all the world know hath roung among them of mo yeares then an hūdreth thrise told. And in the meane tyme to what honour and worldly dignitie they are ascended, we mak them selues iudges. If they say the d•ctrine which we teach, is wondrously spred within this hūdreth yeares: So that now it hes almoste red y• self furth of bondage. We wold demand of the Papistes, if the •uangell of Iesus Christ, ceased to be the doctrine of Saluation, what tyme the Ki•kis gat rest in Iudea and elles ⟨image 29⟩where, in the dayes of the Apostles. If they answer, y• they meane no such thing. Then yet we demand, if the hand of the Lord be more shortned now, then that it was in the primatiue Kirk: So that now he may not aswell manteane his tr•uth, and enlarge the Kingdome of his onely Sone, as that he did in the dayis of the Apostlis. Whatsoeuer the Papistes shall answer, we are assured that nether is his power diminished, so that he may not manteane his treuth: nether yet is his lufe so waxen cold towardes his Kirk, but that he will in his anger remember vpon mercy. Why do not those cruell men considder, what innocent bloode hath bene shed for the testimonie of Christes E•angell, within these thre score yeares. Wold they that God at no tyme should shaw pietie vpon the patient suffering of his afflicted kirk? Wolde they that the sworde should still deuor? Wold they that the flaming fyres should neuer be quēched? If that so they wold, they shaw them selues the Sones of him who hath bene a murtherer from the beginning, and yet continew in the same malice. But our God beareth towardes his weak Children, a fatherly affectioun ⟨image 30⟩whereby he is moued somtymes to stay y• fu•ie and rage of Sathan for a ceason: To the end that his chosen moir gladely may prepare thē selues to a new battell, Trew it is, the doctrine of saluatioun is greatly enlarged, & thereof we praise God: Trew it is, that Sathā hath not vniuersally such power to persecute as somtymes he hath had.
