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…

Besides this I have endeavoured my self as much as I could to accommodate my self unto the rudeness of the simple, for whom chiefly I travel. So the Anabaptists cannot make cavillation, as they are wont, that I would overcome them by subtlety, or oppress them by craft of mans eloquence: seeing I have used as homely and as simple manner as can be desired. Yet is it meet that I do advertise all faithful men of their malice, because they cannot make their matter appear good but in mingling all together: in such wise as all their doctrine is a confuse mason, as a body without head, arms, and legs: they use oftentimes foolish and strange manner of speeches, and without a deliberate purpose, still leaping from the Locke to the Ass, do interlace diverse matters, and bring in diverse places of scripture ⟨image 83⟩cut and broken: and so pleasing them selves in this matter, make men believe that there is much more majesty to speak so brutishly, then well to digest the matter by order, Now to confound them, there is no better way, then to expound and deduce the matters distinctly, and by a certain order to bring forth one matter after another, well weighing and marking the sentences of the scripture, to draw out thereof the true and natural sense, and to use a simplicity and plainness of words, which is not strange from the common speech, Which thing if a man do, they cry out, that men go about to deceive and circumvent them by humane subtlety and sophistry: as though it were the custom or intent of sophisters, to make dark things clear. For my part I confess, that as much as in me is, I do study to dispose by order those things which I speak, that I may give the more clear and easy understanding. If the Anabaptists may not abide thus: I wot not what to say, but that he which doth evil, hateth the light.

Besydes thys I haue indeuored my selfe asmuche as I could to accomodate my selfe vnto the rudenes of the symple, for whome chieflye I trauel. So the Anabaptistes cannot make cauilacion, as they are wonte, that I woulde ouercome them by subtiltie, or oppresse them by crafte of mans eloquence: seynge I haue vsed as homelye and as symple maner as can be desired. Yet is it meete that I do aduertyse all fayethfull men of theyr malyce, bycause they cannot make theyr matter apeare good but in mingling al together: in suche wyse as all theyr doctryne is a confuse m•ss•ne, as a bodye without heade, armes, and legges: they vse oftentymes folyshe and straunge maner of speches, and without a deliberate purpose, styl leapyng frome the Locke to the Asse, do interlace diuerse matters, and bryng in diuerse places of scripture