But whereas some men desirous of concord do daily look for,1 that councils should be called by Bishops, and that they hope these shall heal up the wounds of the Church, or redress enormities in the same, they are far deceived. For the Bishops of Rome, & their champions, confederate with them will never stint from warring against Christ, which that I may so think, I am not only moved by mans conjectures, which are many and no slender causes: I am, thoroughly moved with the sayings of Christ: Furthermore by the examples of all ages. For Christ denieth, that blasphemers shall be saved, which contrary to their own conscience strive against the trueth, defend open Idolatry, & imbrue themselves in the blood of the godly ones. No doubt, fury is always accompanied with blasphemies, and murder: like as the histories of Cain, Pharaoh, Saul, and the children of Israel do witness the same. And God himself threateneth blindness unto blasphemers, as the Psalm sayeth, Let their eyes be darkened. Therefore, daily do they increase their torments, and they with ungodly leagues do bind Princes, unto themselves. Neither do they only openly swarm abroad, but primly lay snares for the lives of godly Princes. ⟨p. 63⟩Is it not to be supposed, that these will admit moderate or godly councils? And other whiles we have proved very many which have feigned a moderation, and yet in very deed have wrought nothing so, but that they might catch their vantage how too subvert us, if they had once ensnared us: and so extinguish all kind of good doctrine.2 I do know there are a few certain persons in the world more soundly living in the societies of our enemies, which do lament the wilful boldness of some Princes, and mighty personages: but the opinions and meanings of these men, are shut out as coming from scholars. These, when they are so, it is the point of a godly mind, & of one which thinketh of his souls health,3 and of the glory of Christ, too seek forth, which is the true Church, that he may hereunto adjoin himself, that he may be a member of this society, and of the flock of Christ, as Christ himself sayeth, He that is not with me, is against me. Again let him know that the Church consisteth not in the power of Tyrants, and persecutors of Christ, and in them which do either help forwards, or allow of their cruelty.
But whereas some men desirous of cōcord doo dayly looke for,1 that councels shoulde bee called by Bishoppes, and that they hope these shal heale vp the woundes of the Churche, or redresse enormities in the same, they are far deceaued. For the Bishops of Rome, & theyr champions, confederate with them wil neuer stinte from warrying against Christe, which that I may so thinke, I am not onely moued by mans coniectures, which are many and no flender causes: I am, thorowly mooued with the sayinges of Christe: Furthermore by the examples of all ages. For Christe denyeth, that blasphemers shall bee saued, which contrary to theyr owne conscience stryue against the trueth, defende open Idolatry, & embrewe themselues in the blood of the godly ones. No doubte, fury is allwaies accompanied with blasphemies, and murder: like as the histories of Cain, Pharao, Saule, and the children of Israel do witnesse the same. And God himselfe threatneth blindnes vnto blasphemers, as the Psalme sayeth, Let theyr eyes bee darkened. Therefore, dayly doo they encrease their tormentes, and they with vngodly leagues doo binde Princes, vntoo themselues. Neither doo they onely openly swarme abroade, but primly lay snares for the lyues of godly Princes. ⟨p. 63⟩Is it not to bee supposed, that these will admit moderate or godly councels? And other whyles wee haue prooued very many which haue fained a moderation, and yet in very deede haue wrought nothing so, but that they might catche theyr vauntage howe too subuert vs, if they had once ensnared vs: and so extinguishe al kinde of good doctrine.2 I doo knowe there are a fewe certaine persons in the worlde more soundely liuing in the societies of our enimies, which doo lament the wilful boldenesse of some Princes, and mighty personages: but the opinions and meaninges of these men, are shutte out as comming from schollers. These, when they are so, it is the point of a godly mynde, & of one which thinketh of his soules health,3 and of the glory of Christe, too seeke foorth, which is the true Churche, that hee may heerevntoo adioyne himselfe, that hee may bee a member of this society, and of the flock of Christe, as Christe himselfe saieth, Hee that is not with mee, is against mee. Againe let him knowe that the Churche consisteth not in the power of Tyrantes, and persecutors of Christ, and in them which doo eyther helpe forwardes, or allowe of theyr cruelty.
- 1relation unto •e supposed & •pected con•rde of the church in Me••ctb•ns time.relation vnto •e supposed & •pected con•rde of the •hurch in Me••ctb•ns tyme.
- 2Authors godly aduertizemen• unto the godly in his time […] pliable too th• latter days.Autors godl• aduertizemen• vnto the godl• in his tyme 〈…〉 plyable too th• latter dayes.
- 3Luk. 11.
