IT is not for naught,1 right worshipful Sir, that of all men, ignorance hath been counted the mother of all errors. Which thing too be most true, we do now at this presence, plainly perceive and see. By godly learning, the erroneous sect of the papists is in a manner proflygated and overthrown, so that the chief maintainers of it are clean ashamed of their old occupation, I mean,2 of their Idolatry and superstition. But godly learning was never so diligent, in purging the field of the gospel from the rubbishes of Antichrists kingdom,3 as stubborn ignorance is now busy in sowing it over, with cockle and darnel, with tares, and most pestiferous poison, which they do ⟨image 4⟩so over lay with sugar and honey, that is to say, with painted and coloured hypocrisy, blandiloquence and flattery, that a man at the first sight, would embrace this error and heresy, for a most wholesome doctrine, and unfeigned religion. But if he, putting on the spectacles of God's word, will look more narrowly upon it, he shall espy such a blindness and ignorance in their proceedings & doctrine, that by good right, he might marvel, that the very infants do not now, in this flourishing time of the gospel, perceive and smell out this devilish heresy. For who would not say that this cometh of devilish ignorance (onles he be blinder then the blindness it self, that they so shamefully deny the baptism of young infants and children?4 Is not this too put our children, from that everlasting covenant which our lord god did make with Abraham, and in him, with all us that believe? I will (saith the lord) be thy god and the god of thy seed after thee.5 Which promise Abraham believed, and therefore when he came home, he did both circumcise him self, & all the male children ⟨image 4⟩that were in his house. For why? Circumcision was the seal of the people of god, which by the commandment of god was ministered unto all them that were comprehended in the Lords covenant In stead whereof baptism hath been instituted in the new Testament. as the Apostle saint Paul. Colloss .ij. Chapter, Doth plainly testify.6 Sith therefore that children were circumcised in the old Testament, and long after instructed in the knowledge of the law:
IT is not for naughte,1 ryght worshipfull Syr, yt of al men, ignoraunce hath bene compted the mother of all errours. Whiche thynge too be most true, we do nowe at this presence, plainely perceyue and se. By godly learning, the erroneous secte of the papistes is in a maner proflygated and ouerthrowen, so that the chief maynteyners of it are cleane ashamed of theyr olde occupatyon, I meane,2 of theyr Idolatry and superstition. But godly learning was neuer soo diligente, in purgynge the fielde of the gospell from the rubbisshes of Antichristes kyngdome,3 as stubburne ignoraunce is now busy in sowynge it ouer, wyth cockle and darnill, wyth tares, and most pestiferous poyson, whych they do ⟨image 4⟩so ouer laye wyth suger and honye, that is to say, wyth paynted and coloured hypocrisie, blandiloquence and flatterye, yt a man at the fyrst syght, would embrace thys errour and heresy, for a most wholsome doctryne, and vnfayned relygyon. But if he, puttynge on the spectacles of goddes worde, wyll loke more narowly vpon it, he shall espye suche a blyndnes and ignoraunce in theyr procedynges & doctryne, that by good ryght, he myght meruayle, that the very infantes do not now, in thys florisshyng tyme of the gospell, perceyue and smell oute thys deuylysshe heresie. For who would not saye that thys commeth of deuilysshe ignoraunce (onles he be blynder then ye blindnes it selfe, that they so shamefully deny the baptisme of yong infantes and chyldren?4 Is not thys too put oure chyldren, from that euerlastyng couenaunte which our lorde god dyd make wyth Abraham, and in hym, with all vs that beleue? I wyll (sayth the lorde) be thy god and the god of thy sede after the.5 Whyche promyse Abraham beleued, and therfore when he came home, he did both circumcise hym selfe, & al the male chyldren ⟨image 4⟩that were in his house. For whye? Cyrcumcision was the seale of the people of god, whych by the commaundement of god was ministred vnto all them yt were comprehended in the Lordes couenaunt In stede wherof baptisme hath bene instituted in the newe Testamente. as the Apostle sayncte Paule. Colloss .ij. Chapter, Doth playnly testifie.6
- 1Ignorance is ye mother of all errorsIgnoraūce is ye mother of al errours
- 2What godly learning doth.
- 3What stubborn ignorance doth.What stubburne ignoraūce doth.
- 4What is to deny ye baptism of infantsWhat is to denye ye baptisme of infants
- 5Gene. xvii chapi.
- 6Circumcision instead of baptismCircumcision insted of baptism
