An exhortation to the carrying of Christs cross with a true and brief confutation…An exhortacion to the carienge of Chrystes crosse wyth a true and brefe confutacion…

Al these things do teach plainly, that this their doctrine is not gods word. Thus reason the worldly wise, which see not gods wisdom. For else, if they considered that there was with us unthankfulness, no amendment ¹of life, but all kind of contempt of god, all kind of shameless sinning, against the preaching of the gospel: they must needs see, that god could not but chastise and correct. And that as he let Satan loose, after he had bound ²him a certain time: so for mens unthankfulness & to punish the same, he hath let those champions of Satan run abroad, to plague us by them. Great was God's anger against Ahab, because he ⟨p. 43⟩saved Benadad the king of Syria, when he had given him into ³his hands, and afterwards it turned to his own destruction. God would, that double sorrow should have been repaid unto them, because of the sorrow that they did to the saints of God. Read Apo. 18. As for the victory ⁴given to the Queens highness, if men had any godly wit, they might see many things in it. First that God hath done it, to win her hart with kindness unto his gospel: and aswell because that they, which went against her, put their trust in horses and power of men and not in god: as because y• in their doctrine they sought not the propagation of gods gospel. Which thing is easily now seen, by the confession of the captain: his heart loved popery, and hated the ⟨p. 44⟩gospel. Besides this, men may easily see, he was purposed never to have furthered the gospel: but so to have handled the livings of ministers, that there should never have been any ministry in manner hereafter.

Al these thynges doe teache playnly, that thys theyr doctrine is not gods worde. Thus reason the worldly wyse, which see not gods wysdome. For els, yf they consydered that there was with vs vnthankfulnes, no amendmēt