Joia. This is that I have said, and yet do I repeat it, that nothing boldeth them so much in their error as doth ignorance. If they had read, and tasted the old histories, they would be more modest and sober, and not so presumptuous. Is not this a miserable and perilous thing, that men being so rude and ignorant in ⟨image 81⟩all things, do take upon them, to be teachers? Whereby, it cometh to pass, that they corrupt, confound & subvert all things, not having the right understanding of scriptures. For that which Paul in the▪ vi. chap. to the Hebrews, and Peter in the ii. chap. of his second Epist. do write, doth not strength nor prove the opinion of the Anabaptists, but that there is no remission for them, which do swerve from the faith, and through misbelieve or infidelity do despair of the mercy of god. For they do sin against the holy ghost, which sin is not forgiven here, nor in the world to come, as Christ teacheth. Mat. xii. & .i. John .v. But, my Simon, discuss thou and weigh, the words, of both the Apostles, ⟨image 81⟩and consider to what purpose they were spoken. Truly for this purpose, to prove, that it is impossible for him, that hath believed ones perfectly, to fall away from his faith. Peter, with the other disciples, being asked of christ, whether they would, forsake him also, did answer. Lord, to whom should we go? thou hast the words of everlasting life. And we do know and believe, that thou art the Son of the living God. If so be, that any man doth fall clean from faith, he doth show manifestly, that he had never a true faith. They went from us (saith John) but they were not of us: for if they had ben of us, truly they should had remained with us. He therefore, that swerveth from the known faith ⟨image 82⟩hath no salvation. But why? For Christ is the only salvation from whom he doth falsely swerve, and therefore can find no other salvation. Thou doest understand, I think, that the fall, whereof Paul speaketh, is not the fall, that doth chance daily, by the infirmity & weakness of the flesh in them, that are godly, but extreme desperation thorough misbelieve & infidelity, whereby a man swerveth from God. Read the .vii. &. viii to the Heb. and thou shalt see, that daily remission of since, is not denied unto them that are fallen again. For he sayeth also, in the .v. cha.
Ioia. This is that I haue sayde, and yet do I repete it, that nothing boldeth them so muche in their error as dothe ignoraunce. If they had read, and tasted the olde histories, thei wolde be more modest and sobre, and not so presump••ous. Is not this a miserable and perilous thyng, that men beyng so rude and ignoraune in ⟨image 81⟩all thynges, do take vpon them, to be teachers? Wherby, it cometh to passe, that thei corrupt, confound & subuert al thynges, not hauynge the righte vnderstādyng of scriptures. For that which Paule in the▪ vi. chap. to the Hebrues, and Peter in the ii. chap. of his second Epist. doo write, dothe not strengthe nor proue the oppinion of the Anababtistes, but that there is no remission for them, whiche doo swarue frome the faythe, and thorow misbeleue or infidelitie do dispayre of the mercy of god. For they doo synne agaynst the holy gost, whiche syn is not forgyuen here, nor in the worlde to come, as Christe teacheth. Mat. xii. & .i. Iohn .v. But, my Symon, discusse thou and wey, the wordes, of bothe the Apostles, ⟨image 81⟩and consider to what purpose they were spoken. Truly for this purpose, to proue, that it is impossible for hym, that hath beleued ones perfectly, to falle away from his fayth. Peter, with the other disciples, being asked of christ, whether thei woulde, forsake hym also, dyd answere. Lord, to whom should we go? thou hast the wordes of euerlastyng lyfe. And we dooe know and beleue, that thou art the sonne of the lyuyng God. If so be, that any man dothe fall cleane from fayth, he doth shew manifestly, that he had neuer a true fayth. They went from vs (sayth Iohn) but they were not of vs: for if they had ben of vs, truly they shoulde had remayned with vs. He therfore, that swarueth from the knowē faith ⟨image 82⟩hathe no saluacion. But why? For Christ is the onely saluaciō frome whome he doothe falsely swarue, and therfore can fynde no other saluacion. Thou doest vnderstande, I thynke, that the falle, whereof Paull speaketh, is not the fall, that doth chaūce daily, by thinfirmitie & weakenesse of the flesh in them, that are godly, but extreme desperacion thorough misbeleue & infidelitie, wherby a mā swarueth from God. Reade the .vii. &. viii to the Heb. and thou shalte see, that daily remission of synnes, is not denyed vnto them that ar fallen agayne. For he sayeth also, in the .v. cha.
