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…

¶ 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.

1. 1Isaiah. 65.Esay. 65.

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.

D. Thou hast stricken the white in the middest, and haste touched the very pith of that universal disease that reigneth through out the world, the which Jesus Christ doth thoroughly open unto us, when he sayeth, speaking of his doctrine: That he, that is desirous to do the, will of his ¹father, shall soon know whether it be of God or no. There is but one thing, that disguiseth this whole matter: which is that some of them can cover and cloak otherwise and more finely then can the others. T. It is certain, without any circumlocution, that those which search out such starting holes, should rather say even at one word, that which the wicked ones spake, of whom the Scripture in the book of the Prophets declareth saying, we have nothing to do with ²God: We will not know his ways: nor walk in the same, nor yet bear his yoke. D. It is very true. But that should not be so honourable for them: nor have so good a grace. For although they speak it in their heart, they will in no wise that the world understand it, yea and that which is more vile, they are so beastly, & do so much delight in their ⟨p. 12⟩folly and filthy sophistry, that they think even by the same to be able to abuse and mock God, even as they abuse and mock men: as though he saw not the wickedness of their hearts, and wanted wisdom & understanding how to trap the subtle and crafty in their cautels and finesses.

D. THou hast stricken the white in the middest, and haste touched the very pithe of that vniuersall disease that raygneth throughe out the worlde, the whiche Iesus Christ doth thorowly open vnto vs, when he sayeth, speakyng of hys doctrine: That he, that is desirous to do the, will of hys ¹father, shall soone knowe whether it be of God or no. There is but one thing, that disguiseth this whole matter: which is that some of them can couer and cloke otherwise and more finely then can the others. T. It is certayne, without any circumlocution, that those whiche searche out such starting holes, should rather say euen at one worde, that whiche the wicked ones spake, of whom the Scripture in the boke of ye Prophetes declareth sayinge, we haue nothyng to do with

¶ Of the persecutors of the verity, and of the diverse sorts of them.

¶ Of the persecutours of the veritie, and of the diuerse sortes of them.

T. Now if those of whom we have already spoken, have very slender reason to allege: how do you think of those that are not contented with such excuses, but employ their whole forces to persecute the truth of God, and as many as will teach & follow the same? D. There are three sorts of these kind of people: there are of them that persecute the truth and those that follow it, of a certain malice, even against the witness that the spirit of God yieldeth in their own consciences, only for hatred that they bear against God and his truth. There are also others which do it not so much for hatred that they bear against the truth, as for the honours and riches which they hope to obtain, by resisting the same, or else that they have already obtained. The third are those that do the like through ignorance.

T. NOw if those of whō we haue already spoken, haue very slender reason to alledge: howe do you thincke of those that are not contented with such excuses, but employ their whole forces to persecute the truth of God, and as many as will teach & folow the same? D. There are thre sortes of these kinde of people: there are of them that persecute the truth and those that folowe it, of a certaine malice, euen against the witnesse that ye spirit of God yeldeth in their own consciences, onely for hatred that they beare agaynste God and his truth. There ar also others which do it not so much for hatered that they beare agaynst the truth, as for the honors and riches which they hope to obtaine, by resisting the same, or els that they haue already obtayned. The third are those that do the like throughe ignoraunce.

¶ Of such as persecute the truth of a purposed malice, and of the sin against the holy Ghost, or sin to death.

¶ Of such as persecute the truth of a purposed malice, and of the sinne agaynst the holy Ghost, or sinne to death.

T. What sayest thou of the first sort of those men? D. I say that they are of the very nature of the devil, for he hath no cause to hate God, and his truth, but only of the wickedness that is in him, and of the envy and immortal hatred that he doth bear to God and his truth. T. Then is the sin of such men like to the sin of the devil. D. It is even so, wherefore they shall have like punishment, for they shall never obtain pardon nor grace. T. It is then that sin that Jesus Christ doth call the sin against the holy Ghost, and saint John, sin unto death, for the which ¹he forbiddeth men to pray. But thinkest thou that there are any so wicked and so full of malice upon the earth, that ⟨p. 13⟩will so of purpose make wars against God? D. If there were none, then would none have been found among the Scribes and Pharisees, and the rest of the Jews, before whom Jesus Christ made mention of the sin against the holy Ghost. I do think he would have holden no such purpose, ne yet Saint John neither. And I am well assured that Alexander the Coppersmith, of whom Saint Paul complaineth much, writing to Timothy, did very near approach the nature of such, if he were not fully such an one, or else I should greatly marvel of the prayer that saint Paul maketh ²against him saying: Alexander the Coppersmith hath done me great hurt, the Lord reward him according to his deserts, of whom be thou ware also, for he hath greatly resisted our preaching. If he had offended rather of ignorance, then of malice, I believe that Saint Paul would rather have prayed for him, as he did in the same epistle for others, with whom he was not well pleased, I doubt not but he would have followed the example of Jesus Christ, and of saint Steven, who prayed for their persecutors, rather then to have prayed against him. For it seemeth that he had no hope of his conversion and health. T. Men may call these kind of men the most wicked of all wicked, and the eldest sons of the devil. But it is wonderful to see them so wicked, and to see them so despitefully to make wars against God and his truth, and yet they will cover them with the name of God, & of the zeal of his glory.

T. WHat sayest thou of the first sorte of those men? D. I say that they are of the very nature of the deuill, for he hath no cause to hate God, and his truth, but onely of the wickednes that is in hym, and of the enuie and immortall hatered that he doth beare to God and his truth. T. Then is the sinne of suche men lyke to the sinne of the deuill. D. It is euen so, wherfore they shall haue lyke punishment, for they shall neuer obtayne pardon nor grace. T. It is then that sinne that Iesus Christ doth call the sinne agaynst the holy Ghost, and saint Iohn, sinne vnto death, for the which

For there is none, be he never so evil, if he be not utterly desperate, but when he persecuteth the truth, he will pretend to favour the same, and would that men should think that he persecuteth not the truth, but error and lies, for the maintenance of Gods truth. D. The matter is very apparent, namely in the Scribes and Pharisees, and in the bishops, high Priests, & Princes of Jerusalem, which crucified Jesus Christ, and ¹yet feigned that they persecuted him for blaspheming▪ the majesty of God. Wherefore the more that such men so villainously ⟨p. 14⟩abuse the name of God, wherewith to cover their murders and wickedness, the more are they accursed and worthy of greater judgement.

For ther is none, be he neuer so euil, if he be not vtterly desperate, but when he persecuteth the truth, he wil pretend to fauour the same, and would that men should thinke that he persecuteth not the truth, but errour and lyes, for the mayntenāce of Gods truth. D. The matter is verye apparant, namelye in the Scribes and Phariseis, and in the bishops, high Priestes, & Princes of Ierusalem, which crucified Iesus Christe, and ¹yet fayned that they persecuted him for blasphemyng▪ the maiesty of God. Wherfore the more that suche men so villanously ⟨p. 14⟩abuse the name of God, wherewith to couer their murders and wickednes, the more are they accursed and worthie of greater iudgement.

1. 1Math. 24. 27. 28. John. 5. 8. 10. 11. 18. 19Math. 24. 27. 28.

¶ Of those that resist the truth wittingly, and do persecute it against their own consciences, to please men thereby, and to get the riches of this world, and of the calamities of these days.

¶ Of those that resiste the truth vvittingly, and do persecute it agaynst their ovvne consciences, to please men therby, and to get the riches of this vvorlde, and of the calamities of these dayes.

T. Let us leave this first kind of men, and let us speak of the other two kinds of persecutors whom thou hast already named. D. The second sort are very near approaching to the nature of the first, because that those that do abuse the knowledge of God, do commonly fall from this degree of evil, into that other extreme degree of wickedness, whereof we even now spake. I do place in this rank those that do wittingly resist the truth, & do make wars against the people of God, as did Balaam: not for that they have so great a hatred against the truth, as have these others of whom we have already spoken, but they do it to maintain their ¹worldly pomp, and for their particular commodity: or else that they are corrupted, by such as do resist the verity, as is aforesaid. T. The number of such is great. For the chief thing that maketh men to resist the word of God, is, for that it is contrary to their ambition, glory and covetousness, and to all their pleasures and corrupt affections. But among all, there are none more worthy to be accounted such Balamites, then the learned men, that are at this day in Christendom, whose number is great, which set out for higher to Antichrist and his adherents, both their pens and tongues, to curse or speak evil of those, that they know right well that God doth bless, and to hinder the course of the word of God, and the reformation of his Church. Wherefore I do not greatly marvel, if that God oftentimes doth throw such men into a reprobate sense, which do so wickedly turn the truth of God, unto a lye, and his justice, into injustice, and in this sort oftentimes ⟨p. 15⟩²they become in the end the greatest adversaries of God, & his word that the earth doth bear: to the end that they may fill full the measure of their iniquities. For such a wickedness, and frowardness doth well deserve such a punishment and vengeance, at the hands of God, which is the most horrible that may light upon men.

T. LEt vs leaue this first kinde of men, and let vs speake of the other two kindes of persecutours whom thou hast already named. D. The second sort are very neare approchyng to the nature of the first, bycause that those that do abuse the knowledge of God, do cōmonly fall from this degree of euil, into that other extreme degree of wickednes, whereof we euen now spake. I do place in this rācke those that do wittingly resiste ye truth, & do make warres against the people of God, as did Balaā: not for yt they haue so great a hatered agaynst the truth, as haue these others of whome we haue already spoken, but they do it to mayntayne theyr