The first part of the Christian instruction, and general so[m]me of the doctrine, contained…The firste parte of the Christian instruction, and generall so[m]me of the doctrine, conteyned…

¶ How that all false Religion may be well defended: if that antiquity & the authority of predecessors may have place.

¶ Hovv that al false Religion may be vvel defēded: if that antiquitie & the authoritie of predecessours may haue place.

D. Let us now see, what foundation that hath, whereof you have now spoken. There is no error, sect, heresy, false doctrine, nor wickedness so great, but that it may easily be defended, if such reasons mought be allowed, For a Jew, a Turk, and a Pagan, may well allege as much. T. I confess the same. D. If then these Christians (as they name them) were Jews, Turks, or Pagans borne, they would so continue, because they were so borne & also their predecessors before them. T. There is no doubt of it. D. These kind of men have none other reason to main tayne their order and manner of life, but only wilfulness & obstinacy, by the which they do right well declare that they have not well considered what the Lord saith by his Prophet Ezekiel: Walk not in the ways of your fathers, nor be ¹you filed with their Idols, for I am the Lord your God: you shall walk in my commandments, & see that you swerve ⟨p. 7⟩neither to the right hand, ne yet to the left hand. It is also written, you shall not do as those ye are gone before you, neither file ²you your selves as they have done. Take heed that you do not according to the custom of the land of Egypt, in the which you have dwelled: Nor yet after the custom of the land of Canaan. So ye you walk not in their statutes: but see ye you observe my ordinances, & that you give good heed to my commandments: to the end that you may walk in them. Let us consider also how the spirit of God, did blame & reprove the ancient ³Samaritans: These people did not hearken at all, but did live according to their ancient custom. These people then feared the Lord: but yet they served their Idols notwithstanding. They follow their ancient custom even to this very day. They do not fear the Lord, nor keep yt ceremonies & yt judgements, & the law, & the commandment that the Lord gave to the son of Jacob, which is surnamed Israel. If our predecessors have walked in the ways of the Lord, we may justly allege them: for God hath commanded us to follow such personages: not for their own worthiness, for they are but men as we are, & not Gods: but because that they have followed in the way of the Lord, which saith that it is he, that is the Lord our God, not our fathers.

D. LEt vs nowe see, what foundation that hath, whereof you haue nowe spoken. There is no errour, secte, heresie, false doctrine, nor wickednesse so greate, but that it may easely be defēded, if such reasons mought be allowed, For a Iewe, a Turcke, and a Pagane, may well alledge as much. T. I confesse the same. D. If then these Christiās (as they name thē) were Iewes, Turkes, or Pagans borne, they woulde so continue, because they were so borne & also their predecessours before them. T. There is no doubt of it. D. These kind of men haue none other reason to main tayne their order and maner of lyfe, but onely wilfulnes & obstinacie, by the which they do right wel declare that they haue not well considered what ye Lord sayth by his Prophet Ezechiell: Walke not in the wayes of your fathers, nor be ¹you filed with their Idoles, for I am ye Lord your God: you shall walk in my commaundements, & see that you swarue ⟨p. 7⟩neither to the right hād, ne yet to the left hād. It is also writtē, you shal not do as those ye ar gone before you, neither file ²you your selues as they haue done. Take hede that you do not according to ye custome of ye land of Egypt, in the which you haue dwelled: Nor yet after ye custome of ye land of Chanaan. So ye you walke not in their statutes: but se ye you obserue my ordinaunces, & that you giue good hede to my cō maūdemēts: to ye end that you may walke in thē. Let vs cō sider also how ye spirite of God, did blame & reproue ye aūciēt ³Samaritanes: These people did not hearken at all, but did liue according to their aūcient custome. These people then feared ye Lord: but yet they serued their Idols notwtstāding. They folow their auncient custome euen to this very day. They do not feare the Lord, nor kepe yt ceremonies & yt iudgements, & the law, & the cōmaūdemēt that ye Lord gaue to the son of Iacob, which is surnamed Israell. If our predecessours haue walked in ye wayes of ye Lord, we may iustly alledge thē: for God hath cōmaūded vs to folow such personages: not for their own worthynes, for they are but mē as we are, & not Gods: but bycause yt they haue followed in the way of the Lord, which saith yt it is he, yt is ye Lord our God, not our fathers.

1. 1Ezech. 20
2. 2Leu. 18
3. 31. Reg: ••.

¶ Of the arguments taken of the multitude.

¶ Of the argumentes taken of the multitude.

T. What sayest thou of the arguments taken of the multitude? D. If it were lawful to allege the multitude of men, the fools and wicked should always have the better: for they are alway the greatest number. Wherefore we are forbidden in law, to follow the multitude, for to do evil. And our saviour Jesus Christ hath willed us to pass through the strait way, for it is yt way that leadeth to eternal life: & contrarily forbiddeth us to follow the large, through the which many pass, for that way leadeth to destruction.¹

T. WHat sayest thou of the argumentes taken of the multitude? D. If it were lawefull to alledge the multitude of mē, the fooles and wicked should alwayes haue the better: for they are alwaye the greatest nomber. Wherfore we are forbidden in law, to folowe the multitude, for to do euill. And our sauiour Iesus Christ hath willed vs to passe thorow the straite way, for it is yt waye that leadeth to eternall life: & cōtraryly forbiddeth vs to folow ye large, thorow the which many passe, for that way leadeth to destruction.¹

1. 1Esech. 20

¶ Of the arguments of time auncientie.

¶ Of the argumentes of tyme auncientie.

T. What sayest thou of those that allege long time & auncientie? D. There is no greater reason in the alleging of time & auncienti, then in the alleging of the multitude. For what is more ancient in this world, then lying, rebellion, and disobedience, manslaughter, violence, extortion, whoredom, Idolatry, villainy, and all kind of wickedness and abomination, for they have had their being even immediately after the beginning of the world, as soon as men were borne into the world. T. These things have begun at the least even from the time, that the devil hath been in the world, which is as ancient as any man that ever was: for he is the ancientest of all creatures, and the father of all the evil that ever was, is, or shall be in the world, and it is by him, that it is entertained, increased, and maintained.

T. WHat sayest thou of those that alledge long time & auncientie? D. Ther is no greater reason in the alledging of time & auncienti, then in the alledging of the multitude. For what is more auncient in this world, then lying, rebellion, and disobedience, manslaughter, violence, extorcion, whoredome, Idolatrie, villeny, and all kinde of wickednesse and abhomination, for they haue had their beyng euen immediatly after the beginning of the world, as soone as men were borne into the world. T. These thinges haue begon at the least euen from the tyme, that the deuil hath bene in the world, whiche is as ancient as any man that euer was: for he is the auncientest of al creatures, and the father of al the euill that euer was, is, or shalbe in the worlde, and it is by him, that it is entertained, encreased, and maintained.

¶ Of the fall of the devil, and of his children, whose predecessor he is.

¶ Of the fall of the deuill, and of his children, vvhose predecessour he is.

D. IN deed it is very well said of thee, for our Saviour Jesus Christ doth call him not only a liar, but also the father ¹of lies. For albeit that God did create him an Angel, and in the same truth that is in God: yet he could not so continue, but did fall from truth into lies, which is the original of all other evils, even as truth is the fountain of ²all goodness. He is also called a manslayer and a murderer from the beginning. And because that Cain did by and by follow him, S. John sayeth that he is the son of the devil, ³and that he slew his brother because he was of the wicked. And in the same place he saith also: he that sinneth is of the devil: for the devil sinneth even from the beginning. In the which Saint John hath followed the manner of speaking of his master Jesus Christ: who called the Jews, children ⁴of the devil: for that they were liars and murderers of the servants of God, and of him which was and is the very ⟨p. 9⟩son of God, which thing proceeded of the very hatred that they had against the truth, which was preached unto them by Jesus Christ and his Disciples.

D. IN dede it is very well sayd of thee, for our Sauiour Iesus Christ doth call him not onely a lyar, but also the father ¹of lyes. For albeit that God did creat hym an Angell, and in ye same truth that is in God: yet he could not so continue, but did falle from truth into lyes, whiche is the originall of all other euils, euen as truth is the fountaine of ²all goodnes. He is also called a mansleyar and a murderer from the begynning. And bycause that Cain did by and by folow him, S. Iohn sayeth that he is the sonne of the deuill, ³and that he slew his brother bycause he was of the wicked. And in the same place he saith also: he that sinneth is of the deuil: for the deuil sinneth euen from the begynning. In the whiche Saint Iohn hath folowed the maner of speakyng of his master Iesus Christe: who called the Iewes, childrē

¶ Of the predecessors of the wicked and infidels, and how the auncientie of sins doth procure Gods wrath upon men, and doth not excuse them.

¶ Of the predecessours of the vvicked and infidels, and hovve the auncientie of sinnes doth procure Gods vvrath vpon men, and doth not excuse them.

T. IT followeth then by this account, that such as follow and do the work of the devil, are the devils sons & successors. D. The matter is plain, wherefore thou mayest easily perceive by this what predecessors such kind of men may allege, that will follow any other order of life, then that which hath ben taught us by God: & what cause they have to glory of auncientie and of old worlds. Let them them allege the devil for their most ancient father, and with his lies fight against the eternal truth of God: let the manslayers and murderers allege Cain, and the Sodomites, those whose name they bear. All these kinds of men and all other wicked ones have fathers very ancient, they do follow one doctrine and one sort of life, which is very ancient: but truth, virtue, holiness, innocency, & God which is there father, are yet more ancient, for the devil, sin, and lies, of the which he is author, have had their beginning, and reign, and therefore they shall once have an end. But God is eternal, without beginning and without end, and so is his truth, whereof he is father, and of all virtues else. And therefore God doth not only not support heresies, errors, superstitions and Idolatries, because of their auncientie: but contrarily he threateneth the Idolaters and wicked ones, that the longer that they have continued in sin and followed the same, the greater vengeance he will send upon them. Wherefore it is spoken by the Prophet Isaiah: Behold ¹it is written before me, I will no longer hold my peace, but will yield and throw into their bosoms, your iniquities, with the iniquities of your fathers also, saith the Lord, ⟨p. 10⟩and immediately after: whereby I will yield again unto them in their bosom the measure of their first work. The Lord speaketh this upon good occasion, for if the father have ben wicked, and the son is yet more wicked, the iniquity of the father doth not amend that of the son, and make it virtue and not vice. T. No, but doth increase it much more, for the more of our predecessors that have ben rebels against God, so much the greater is our fault. D.

T. IT foloweth then by this accoumpt, that such as folow and do the worke of the deuill, ar ye deuils sonnes & successours. D. The matter is playne, wherfore thou mayest easely perceyue by this what predecessours such kynd of mē may alledge, that will folow any other order of lyfe, then yt whiche hath ben taught vs by God: & what cause they haue to glory of auncientie and of old worldes. Let them thē alledge the deuill for their most auncient father, and with his lyes fight against the eternal truth of God: let the mansleaers and murderers alledge Cain, and the Sodomites, those whose name they beare. All these kyndes of mē and al other wicked ones haue fathers very auncient, they do folow one doctrine and one sorte of lyfe, whiche is very auncient: but truth, vertue, holynes, innocencie, & God which is there father, are yet more auncient, for the deuil, sinne, and lyes, of the whiche he is author, haue had their begynnynge, and raigne, and therfore they shall once haue an ende. But God is eternall, without begynning and without end, and so is his truth, whereof he is father, and of all vertues els. And therfore God doth not onely not supporte heresies, errours, superstitions and Idolatries, bycause of their auncientie: but contrarylye he threateneth the Idolaters and wicked ones, that the longer that they haue continued in sinne and folowed the same, the greater vengeaunce he will send vppon them. Wherfore it is spoken by the Prophet Esay: Behold

It seemeth unto me, that those which allege their predecessors & auncientie, to maintain thereby their errors and abuse, do even like as doth a traitor, which would excuse and purge him self to ward his prince, whom he hath offended, through his treasons, that should allege in his defence that his predecessors have alway been traitors, & lived in the like infidelity towards their princes, as he hath done towards his. Thinkest thou not y• this excuse were very lawful & mete to appease the prince? T. Even so mete that it mought occasion him to cut clean from the earth so wicked a race, to the end they should never be any more heard of. D. It is even so.

It semeth vnto me, that those which alledge their predecessors & aūcientie, to maintaine therby their errors and abuse, do euen like as doth a traitor, whiche would excuse and purge him selfe to ward his prince, whom he hath offēded, through his treasons, that should alledge in his defence that his predecessours haue alway bene traitours, & liued in ye like infidelitie towardes their prīces, as he hath done towardes his. Thinckest thou not y• this excuse wer very lawful & mete to appease the prince? T. Euē so mete that it mought occasiō him to cut cleane frō the earth so wicked a race, to the ende they should neuer be any more heard of. D. It is euen so.

¶ How that none may so well allege auncientie, as the faithful may, & how that all the allegations of the unfaithful, are nothing else but cloaks, to cover their hypocrisy & wickedness.

¶ Hovv that none may so vvell alledge aūciētie, as the faithful may, & hovv that al the allegatiōs of the vnfaithful, are nothing els but clokes, to couer their hipocrisie & vvickednes.

T. For so much as it is so, it seemeth unto me, that if auncientie might have place, there are none that may so well allege auncientie as may the true children of God. D. No man may deny it. For God is the ancient of all worlds, ¹the first & the last, whose truth they follow, by the which they are made his true & lawful children. Wherefore these men may lawfully allege, & command unto their children, that which the Lord spake by Jeremiah, search you out among ²the ancient paths, which is the good way, & walk in the same. T. I do think that those reasons, which thou hast alleged, are sufficient enough to confute and shame those kinds of men, ye use these colours of predecessors, of the multitude, ⟨p. 11⟩of times, & ages, to cloak therewith their disobedience & rebellion against the word of God: for when all is said there is but one thing, that hindereth all this, to wit that such men will not be obedient to the voice of the Lord, nor take coū sell of him, nor follow him. But for so much as they dare not say and declare the same openly, because that they will not be known to be such as they are in deed, but would be thought of men to be honest, and such as fear God, they seek these shifts and starting holes. They are like to those advocates that plead an evil cause, who have determined to do no right to their contrary party, but seek only by cavilling, how to shift out the matter, because that they will never be enforced to grow to any honest end.

T. FOr so muche as it is so, it semeth vnto me, that if auncientie might haue place, there are none that may so wel alledge auncientie as may the true childrē of God. D. No mā may deny yt. For God is the aunciēt of all worldes, ¹the first & the last, whose truth they folow, by the which they are made his true & lawfull children. Wherfore these men may lawfully alledge, & cōmaunde vnto their children, that whiche the Lord spake by Ieremy, searche you out among ²the auncient pathes, whiche is the good way, & walke in the same. T. I do thincke that those reasons, whiche thou hast alledged, are sufficient ynoughe to confute and shame those kindes of mē, ye vse these colours of predecessours, of ye multitude,

¶ Of the language that is in the heart of the hypocrites & wicked, and how they cloak it before the world.

¶ Of the langage that is in the heart of the hypocrites & vvicked, and hovv they cloke it before the vvorld.