A short instruction for to arm all good Christian people against the pestiferous errors…A short instruction for to arme all good Christian people agaynst the pestiferous errours…

¶ Unto all this, the Anabaptists make one salvation, the which a lone doeth sufficiently declare what beasts they be, and how desperate there impudency is. He is, say they, called Davids son, not because that he toke any thing of the virgin Mary, or that he was made man of her substance: but only because she bear him in her body: as water passeth by a pipe. This might be said, if this word seed, were not expressed. How be it touching the truth, all men of good Judgement might see that it were but a crafty evasion. Notwithstanding there might be a little more colour, or shadow. But seeing this is so often repeated, that he is of the seed of Abraham: what cavillation can be made to deny him to be very man? And in dead, when Isaiah promised his coming, he sayeth not simply that he shall be the child of a virgin: but he sayeth first that he shall be conceived This conception imparteth that he should be formed of her seed: as they which do know the signification of the word, can well Judg.

¶ Vnto al this, the Anabaptistes make one soluacion, the whiche a lone doeth sufficientlye declare what beastes they be, and howe desperate ther impudencie is. He is, say thei, called Dauiddes sonne, not because that he toke anye thyng of the virgen marye, or that he was made man of hir substaunce: but onlye because she bere hym in her bodye: as water passeth by a pype. Thys myght be sayd, if thys worde sede, were not expressed. How be it touchynge the truth, all men of good Iudgemente myghte se that it were but a craftye euacion. Notwythstandynge there myghte be a littell more colour, or shadowe. But seynge this is so often repeted, that he is of the sede of Abraham: what cauilacion can be made to denye hym to be verye man? And in deade, whan Esaias promised hys commynge, he sayeth not symplye that he shallbe the chylde of a vyrgin: but he sayeth fyrst that he shalbe conceyued This conception imparteth that he shoulde be formed of hir sede: as they whyche do knowe the significacion of the word, can wel Iudg.

☞ Moreover Saint Paul doth express this thing more plainly, when he sayeth, that he was made of the seed of David touching the flesh, and was notwithstanding declared the Son of God by his power. Behold, Jesus Christ on the one part, is called the Son of God: and again he addeth that as touching his human nature he is of the stock of David. Is not that man very mad, which doth close his eyes, and stop his ears against all this, to persist & maintain the contrary, that Jesus Christ hath no part of the nature of man as touching the substance of his body? Likewise in an other place, the same Apostle, speaking of the dignity and nobleness of the Jews, among other things sayeth, that they be the successors and progeny of the fathers, of whom Christ is ascended as touching the flesh. I pass over many other places: as where he sayeth, that God was manifested in flesh: also, he that suffered in humility of the flesh. Likewise where saint John sayeth, that the word was made flesh: and besides all this, where he so often times doth attribute unto him self the title of the Son of man, and other like places: because it should be superfluous, after these two notable places which I have alleged.