An wholesome antidotus or counter-poison, against the pestilent heresy and sect of the Anabaptists…An holsome antidotus or counter-poysen, agaynst the pestylent heresye and secte of the Anabaptistes…

Simon. And yet not withstanding, thou doest not believe, how devout they are to god, how full of constancy and gravity, how fervently they love god.

Symon. And yet not withstandyng, thou doest not beleue, how deuout they are to god, how full of constancy and grauitee, how feruently thei loue god.

Joiada. I can not believe, that this devotion of theirs is without blame, or is sincere and pure. For they divide the church, where no need is. For thou canst not deny, but that god, is taught by us truly and faithfully. And that since are reprehended and rebuked, with great liberty and constancy. What do they therefore, that we do not, save only, that they do separate them selves, from other, and are full of obstinacy? Doeth not Satan also transform him self, into an angel of light? ⟨image 20⟩What marvel is therefore, if these impostors or deceitful persons, can feign them selves, to be shepherds? They that do fish, do not caste a bare hook before the fishes, but do hide & cover it, with some pleasant and sweet bait. And Cato did say very well. Whiles the birder, the birds beguileth, The flute alway sweetly pipeth. Nor he is not so foolish, as for to set or lay his net before the birds eyes. Did not the bishop of Rome seduce us so many years, with his painted hypocrisy, and with his godly and divine dissimulation and fraud? But these things are gone out of remembrance, sith that we do, so lightly addict or bind our selves, to these new impostors, and hypocrites. By what ⟨image 20⟩crafts, did monks get so great riches, was it not, by flattering, and hypocrisy? Was it not, by a feigned sanctimony, and holiness of life? As for that, that they do rejoice, when they are taken, & dye gladly, with praising and lauding god, thou doest so exaggerate and extol it, as though these things (if they be done) should show and prove that their doctrine is true, and that their deeds are good. If thou canst prove that, it shall follow, that theft and robbery, be just and good deeds also. For when they be punished at the gallows, or upon the wheel, they do oftentimes suffer it patiently, & moreover, do praise & laud god. Who is so foolish, to think, that he may thus make his argument? This man