And as concerning the danger, which may hereof ensue, I am not altogether so brutish and insensible, but that I have laid mine account what the finishing of the work may cost me for mine own part. First, I am not ignorant how difficile and dangerous1 it is to ⟨p. 7⟩speak against a common error, especially when that the ambitious minds of men and women are called to the obedience of God's simple commandment. For to the most part of men, lawful and godly appeareth, what soever antiquity hath received. And secondarily, I look to have mine adversaries not only of the ignorant multitude, but also of the wise, politic, and quiet spirits of this world, so that as well shall such as ought to maintain the truth and verity of God become enemies to me in this case, as shall the princes and ambitious persons, who to maintain their unjust tyranny do always study to suppress the same. And thus I am most certainly persuaded, that my labour shall not escape reprehension of many. But because I remember2 that accounts of the talents received must be made to him, who nether respecteth the multitude, nether yet approveth the wisdom, policy, peace, nor antiquity, concluding or determining any thing against his ⟨image 8⟩eternal will revealed to us in his most blessed word, I am compelled to cover mine eyes, and shut up mine ears, that I nether see the multitude, that shall withstand me in this matter, nether that I shall hear the opprobries, nor consider the dangers, which I may incur for uttering the same. I shall be called foolish, curious, despiteful, and a sower of sedition: and one day perchance (although now I be nameless) I may be 3attainted of treason. But seeing that impossible it is, but that ether I shall offend God, daily calling to my conscience, that I ought to manifest the verity known, or else that I shall displease the world for doing the same, I have determined to obey God, not withstanding that the world shall rage thereat. I know that the world offended (by God's permission) may kill the body, but God's majesty offended, hath power to punish body and soul for ever. His majesty is offended, when that his precepts are contemned, and his threatenings esteemed to be of none effect.
And as concerning the danger, which may hereof insue, I am not altogither so brutishe and insensible, but that I haue laid mine accōpt what the finishinge of the worke may coste me for mine own parte. First, I am not ignorāt howe difficile and dangerous1 it is to ⟨p. 7⟩speake against a cōmon error, especiallie when that the ambitious mindes of men and women are called to the obedience of goddes simple cōmandemēt. For to the most parte of men, laufull and godlie appeareth, what soeuer antiquitie hath receiued. And secondarilie, I looke to haue mine aduersaries not onlie of the ignorant multitude, but also of the wise, politike, and quiet spirites of this worlde, so that as well shall suche as oght to mainteine the truth and veritie of God become ennemies to me in this case, as shall the princes and ambitious persons, who to mainteine their vniust tyrannie do alwayes studie to suppresse the same. And thus I am moste certeinlie persuaded, that my labour shall not escape reprehension of many. But because I remembre2 that accomptes of the talentes receiued must be made to him, who nether respecteth the multitude, nether yet approueth the wisdome, policie, peace, nor antiquitie, concluding or determining any thinge against his ⟨image 8⟩eternall will reueled to vs in his moste blessed worde, I am compelled to couer myne eyes, and shut vp myne eares, that I nether se the multitude, that shall withstand me in this mater, nether that I shall heare the opprobries, nor consider the dangers, which I may incurre for vttering the same. I shalbe called foolishe, curious, despitefull, ād a sower of sedition: and one day parchance (althogh now I be nameles) I may be 3attainted of treason. But seing that impossible it is, but that ether I shall offend God, dailie calling to my conscience, that I oght to manifest the veritie knowen, or elles that I shall displease the worlde for doing the same, I haue determined to obey God, not withstanding that the world shall rage therat. I knowe that the world offēded (by Goddes permission) may kill the bodie, but Goddes maiestie offended, hath power to punishe bodie and soule for euer. His maiestie is offended, when that his preceptes are cōtemned, and his threatninges estemed to be of none effect.
- 1A very dangerous thing to speak against old errorsA very dāgerous thing to speake against olde errors
- 2Accounts will be had of Goddes gifts.Accōptes will be had of Goddes giftes.
- 3The cause moving the author to write.The cause mouing the author to write.
