A Golden Chain

Now follows the second point in their proceeding, which is, the producing of false witnesses against him; as Saint Matthew saith,¹ The whole Council sought false witness against him, and though many came yet found they none: for they could not agree together, because they alleged false things against him, which they could not prove. And thus the members of Christ have often such enemies as make no bones shamefully to avouch that against them, which they cannot be able to justify.² The ten persecutions which were in the first 300. years after Christ, arose oftentimes of shameless reports that men gave out, which said that Christians lived of mans flesh: and therefore slew their own children: 2. that they lived on raw flesh, 3. that they committed incest one with another in their assemblies: 4. that they worshipped the head of an ass: 5. that they worshipped the Sun and Moon: 6. that they were traitors and sought to undermine the Roman Empire: and lastly, wheresoever was thunder or earthquakes, seditions or tumults, or any disquietness or trouble, Christians were accused as the authors thereof. Such enemies have they had in all ages: and in these our days the same is practised, and will be to the worlds end. Now when the first witnesses could not agree among them selves, then two other false witnesses came forth, which avouched that Christ said,³ I will destroy this temple made with hands, & within three days will build another made without hands. Indeed Christ said some such words: for saith he,⁴ Destroy this temple and within three days I will build it up again. But he spake this of the temple of his body: whereas they maliciously did interpret him to have spoken of the temple in Jerusalem. And again they change the words, for Christ said, Destroy this temple, &c. but these witnesses affirm he said, I will destroy this temple made with hands, &c. And thus they change both words and meaning: and therefore the Holy Ghost calleth them false witnesses. By this we must be advertised to take heed how we report mens words: for if we change the meaning, though in part we retain the words, we may soon become slanderers and false witnesses: and as this duty must be performed towards all men, so especially towards the ministers of the Gospel: and the neglect of this duty procureth many slanders to them in this our Church: