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

Although you have made¹ no mention in these your questions of the imprisoning & torments, with which you have so grievously tormented the honest and godly married men, either for marriage or for some other point of Religion, nevertheless those good men which live now in this age, may know, and those which shall live after us shall manifestly see, that you are too cruel in persecuting and tormenting. I beseech you consider with your selves, why and wherefore you do it. If it so greatly ⟨p. 127⟩delight you to chasten naughty & wicked men with imprisonment and with hard fare, why then do you not imprison whoremongers and adulterers, and not those which live chaste in marriage? why do you not look upon you selves? And why do you not keep under with abstinence those drunkards and horrible offenders? But those men you never punish, but you punish those whom God commandeth to favour: and whom God commandeth you to punish, those you let go. You are nothing severe towards vice, and too cruel towards goodness, which God hath forbidden to punish. I beseech you remember the ancient Histories of all ages, and you shall see that God did never forsake his, for although he kept them a long time under the cross, yet at the last he delivered them at his pleasure, and they which did afflict them for righteousness sake, he terribly rewarded them with most sharp and grievous punishments. You would fain be called spiritual, and then favour and mercy would better become you, than this