A17219:253
Questions of religion cast abroad in Helvetia by the adversaries of the sameQuestions of religion cast abroad in Helvetia by the aduersaries of the same
Questions of religion cast abroad in Helvetia by the adversaries of the same: and answered by M. H. Bullinger of Zurick: reduced into .17. common places. Translated into English by John Cox. 1572Questions of religion cast abroad in Helvetia by the aduersaries of the same: and aunswered by M. H. Bullinger of Zurick: reduced into .17. common places. Translated into Englishe by Iohn Coxe. 1572
London: printed by Henry Bynneman for George Byshop, 1572London: printed by Henrie Bynneman for George Byshop, 1572
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
The Answer.
The Answere.
IT appeareth by this Question,1 they mind to make some proof of us, what we do think of the Anabaptists. Wherefore we answer, that even you ⟨p. 86⟩which are the upholders & maintainers of the Popish kingdom, & the hinderers of the preaching of the gospel, do most wickedly offend, and that the fault is chiefly in you, why that many are first seduced by the Anabaptists, and then secondly for lack of teaching, do perish in that error. For if ye would suffer the pure preaching of the Gospel to have his free passage, then could not this heresy, nor any other so mightily prevail and take place, to the deceiving of simple and unlearned men, which think what so ever is taught them, is straight ways the doctrine of the gospel. Neither go we about to defend the Anabaptist, from whom we descent very much, as in all our books we do plainly declare. But many of them are very simple men, and otherwise of an honest nature, who have scarce heard any thing of the gospel, or if they have, yet because they see so little amendment of life among those that profess the same, & are called Gospellers, yielding to the subtle persuasions of the Anabaptists, think they should greatly offend if ⟨image 97⟩they baptise their infants, take an oath, or come unto those churches, in which as they say, sinners do yet remain. Yea, that no minister which receiveth any stipend for his ministry, or doth not him self all those things which he teacheth others to do, can teach the true doctrine: and that there is no congregation a true church, in which the order of Prophesying and excommunication is not according to that form which S. Paul hath prescribed. 1. Corrin. 14. Therefore, as these their errors are not to be suffered, so yet must they be friendly instructed by the word of God, and so brought home again, as S. Paul teacheth.