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…

The preachers of the gospel, or ministers of the word of god, may have goods of their own, that is to say houses and possessions, and moreover may live of the gospel. That the Anabaptists are so envious, and do imagine all ways and forge calumniations and lies, who doeth not see that it cometh of a hatred that they have against the preachers of the gospel, that they may crepe in and advance them selves, extenuating therefore the faithfulness and fidelity of the shepherds before the commons, because they may the better ⟨image 28⟩be, believed them selves? Christen men, which are rightfully chosen, may with out any offence of god be are rule, sith that power is the minister of god. This power is not only profitable, but also necessary, for christen men, therefore we must be obedient unto it, according to the doctrine of christ, Peter and Paul. They which will not be obedient to the common magistrates and rulers, or do resist against them, doing them at any time wrong and reproach fullness, be not christen men, but Sanlonites ⟨image 28⟩They that refuse to make lawful oaths, unto the public rulers, do manifestly against the will of god, being authors of sedition, and all disobedience. The magistrate and ruler hath the sword from God, wherewith he may smite the malefactors, and shed the blood of wicked doers, that both the malefactors may be punished and the good and righteous live surely among the wicked. The liberty of a christen man is not carnal, they therefore that in the gospel, do seek carnal things and fleshly, are the fellows of Simon Magus. ⟨image 29⟩We do not learn in y• gospel, that we should pay neither rents nor tithes, but that we ought to pay, our debts, unto whom so ever we owe any thing. The administration of bodily things doeth perte•ue to y• magistrates & rulers, which do christen men like, when they do after this rule: what so every will that men do unto you, do the same unto other. Who so ever keepeth this law & rule, may be, and remain still a christen man, though he receiveth both rents and tithes.

THe preachers of the gospell, or ministers of the worde of god, maye haue goodes of their own, that is to say howses and possessions, and moreouer maye liue of the gospell. THat the Anababtistes ar so enuious, and do imagine al wayes and forge calumniacions and lyes, who dooeth not see that it commeth of a hatered that they haue against the preachers of the gospell, that they may crepe in and aduaunce thē selues, etenuatyng therfore the faythfulnes and fidelitee of the sheapeheardes before the commons, because they may the better