☞Eusebius. Thou answerest well. For to this end serveth all examples, namely, to stir up in us a certain imitation and following. But we may not imitate and follow these things that nether are of them selves, nor yet cannot be ⟨image 48⟩in us commendable and praise worthy. And therefore it behoveth us to use a great discretion in following the examples of Saints, to discern between the doings that are commendable, and those that are vicious & culpable: having need of pardon by the grace and mercy of God in Jesus Christ. For it were a preposterous & pernicious imitation that a Publican should allege for his excuse the example of S. Matthew: or an adulterer, the example of David: a revolter and denier of the truth, the example of S. Peter: or a drunkard the drunkenness of Noah, for to cover their since by the examples and deeds of the Saints. Why rather do they not follow the conversion of S. Matthew, the great repentance of David and Peter, & sobriety of Noah? But let us see what thing the Nicodemistes do follow in the exam ple of Nicodemus, and for what purpose they do allege the same. Truly they do it for nothing else, but thereby to excuse their fact: but that thing needeth no excuse, that deserveth no blame, but is worthy praise: as when they do receive into their hearts, with them, the verity of Christ, the which the Princes of this world do so extremely persecute, and do not by any means agree and consent with them to subdue & suppress the same. But herein they pretend their excuse, in that they fearing men more then God, do not unity and join them selves publicly to the truth, according to their faith and knowledge, in renouncing and forsaking the papistical services, which they condemn ⟨image 48⟩in their hearts: but by a wicked dissimulation do communicate at the same against their consciences. And for to excuse this their simulation, they do allege the examples of Nicodemus & Joseph, not in that thing, that they did worthy praise, but in that thing, wherein they sinned: namely in their dissimulation and fear of man. As if the since of the Saints, might serve to excuse ours. Understandest thou Ten porisour?
☞Eusebius. Thou aunswerest well. For to this end serueth all examples, namelye, to styre vp in vs a certayne imitacion and folowing. But we may not imitate and folowe these thinges that nether are of them selues, nor yet cannot bee ⟨image 48⟩in vs commendable and prayse worthye. And therfore it behoueth vs to vse a great discreciō in folowing the examples of Saynctes, to deserne betwene the doynges that are commendable, and those that are vyciouse & culpable: hauinge nede of pardon by the grace and mercy of God in Iesu Christ. For it were a preposterous & pernitious imitaciō that a Publicane should alledge for his excuse the exāple of S. Mathew: or an adulterer, the example of Dauid: a reuoulter and denyer of the truth, the example of S. Peter: or a dronkarde the dronkenes of Noah, for to couer theyr synnes by the examples and dedes of the Sayntes. Why rather doe they not folowe the conuersion of S. Mathew, the great repentaunce of Dauid and Peter, & sobriete of Noah? But let vs se what thing the Nicodemistes do folowe in the exā ple of Nicodemus, and for what purpose they doe alledge thesame. Truely they doe it for nothing els, but thereby to excuse theyr facte: but that thing nedeth no excuse, that deserueth no blame, but is worthy prayse: as when they doe receyue into theyr hartes, with them, the veritie of Christe, the whiche the Princes of thys world do so extremely persecute, and do not by any meanes agree and consent with thē to subdue & suppresse thesame. But herein they pretend theyr excuse, in that they fearing mē more then God, do not vnitie and ioyne them selues publikely to the truth, according to theyr faith and knowledge, in renouncing and forsakinge the papisticall seruyces, which they condemne ⟨image 48⟩in theyr hartes: but by a wicked dissimulation do communicate at thesame agaynst theyr consciēces. And for to excuse this theyr simulatiō, they do alledge the examples of Nicodemus & Ioseph, not in that thinge, that they dyd worthy prayse, but in that thing, wherin they synned: namely in theyr dissimulatiō and feare of man. As yf the synnes of the Sayntes, mighte serue to excuse oures. Vnderstandest thou Tē porisour?
