A discourse writtenA discourse wrytten

also he never had house nor inheritance, nor never did deal with any traffic or occupying whatsoever it be, but it is very true that when they banded against the doctrine of God which he taught, he would never yield in any thing, but would according to the holy laws that be here established, prosecute, that the mockers of God might be handled according to their desert. But which are they that will blame that, but only those that do transform a virtue most rare and singular, into a vice overmuch common and hurtful. By the way, what if I say, and may lawfully say it in deed, that a number even of those against whom he hath been enforced to stand for ⟨image 23⟩matters before recited, have honoured his constancy by their own testimonies? I could name at the least three, which I will not name, notwithstanding two of them being brought to punishment for their faults & offences, did in the sight of all the people, think all the honour & thanks that they might yield unto him during the same, not to be sufficient, calling him their Father, crying out, saying, that they were unworthy of his presence, advertisements & prayers, considering they had not harkened to his fatherly admonitions. The third being in his bed sick even to death, who had been during his life the counsellor of all these strayed ones, could never be persuaded ye God would forgive him, if the his faithful servant, whom he had so much offended, did not also forgive him. So far were these men of from charging him either with cruelty or overmuch severity. I confess that he hath always showed the Magistrates, how detestable that accepting of persons is in the sight of God, that they must hold the Balance aright: & that God abhorreth not only those which do condemn the innocent, but also those which pardon the offender. Now if it be vice to say so, & to put it in use, the holy Ghost must then be condemned who hath so said: ⟨image 24⟩or if it be otherwise, such blasphemers that do call the ordinance of God, cruelty, must have their mouths stopped. But, say they, he was over rigorous against adulterers and heretics. I may well answer that which is true, as all the town doth know, that he never judged any man, for it was not his office, and he never thought to do it:

also hee neuer had house nor enheritaunce, nor neuer did deale wt any traffique or occupying whatsoeuer it bee, but it is very true yt when they banded against ye doctrine of God which he taught, hee woulde neuer yelde in any thing, but would according to the holy lawes that bee here established, prosecute, that the mockers of God might be hādled according to theire desert. But which are they that will blame that, but onely those that doe transforme a vertue moste rare and singuler, into a vice ouermuch common and hurtfull. By the waye, what if I say, and may lawfully say it in deede, that a number euē of those against whom hee hath bene enforced to stande for