A07405:262
A godly and learned assertion in defence of the true church of God, and…
A godly and learned assertion in defence of the true church of God, and of His Word written in Latin by that Reverend Father D. Philip Melanchthon, after the convention at Ratisbona, anno 1541 ; translated into English by R.R.A godly and learned assertion in defence of the true church of God, and of His Woorde written in Latine by that Reuerend Father D. Philip Melancthon, after the conuention at Ratisbona, anno 1541 ; translated into English by R.R.
London : Imprinted at London at the three Cranes in the Vinetree by Thomas Dawson, 1580
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
But there is a certain newfangled sort of wise men start up, who seeing they be [Greek or Hebrew], Men of no religion, yet they will not have any controversy to be handled touching Religion: they can commend well peace and concord, they abhor all those which by any manner means sow discords, these they judge worthily as a pestilent or filthy kind of people, & as the plagues ⟨p. 56⟩amongst men to be utterly removed. This is that one Philosophy of the Popes Cardinals, Kings, Religious Monks and very many others, which will be counted politic, who will not have their leisure too be once interrupted, they will not have their dignity to be diminished or impaired, they hate the doctrine which seemeth too hinder their profit, and again every one hath his sundry devise. Of all these, this is one voice in the counsels of Princes, namely, That there should be no changes made: That the concord of the church, and the authority of ordinary power is still too be retained Moreover they have their Rhetoricians,1 and eloquent Orators which set for the most earnest speeches, and writings to that purpose, which too be named here, is no need at all. For the writings of many are extant: but amongest all them, Omphalius hath lately provided him his patched fragments. In his beginning he handleth his matters likeas if he were Solon, or some Areopagita, he declameth of the dignity of laws, he dispraiseth seditions and the contempt of the laws, he rehearseth how sweet the harmony of order and good government is in the common wealth, which the laws do cause.
But there is a certayne newfangled sorte of wise men starte vppe, who seeyng they be 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, Men of no religion, yet they will not haue any controuersiee to be handled touching Religion: they can commende well peace and concorde, they abhorre all those which by any manner meanes sowe discords, these they iudge worthily as a pestilent or filthy kind of people, & as the plagues ⟨p. 56⟩amongst men to be vtterly remoued. This is that one Philosophye of the Popes Cardinalles, Kinges, Religious Monkes and very many others, which will be compted politike, who will not haue theyr leisure too bee once interrupted, they will not haue their dignity to be diminished or empaired, they hate the doctrine which seemeth too hinder theyr profite, and agayne euery one hath his sundrye deuise. Of all these, this is one voice in the counsels of Princes, namely, That there shoulde be no chaunges made: That the concorde of the churche, and the autoritie of ordinary power is stil too be retayned Moreouer they haue their Rhetoricians,