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…

Let us for a conclusion take this to be true, which our Lord hath said, that we must unto the end of the world suffer many evil herbs: lest while we go about to pluck them all up, we destroy the good corn with all. What will we have more? Our Lord to prove his, hath made his church subject to this misery, that she shall be always, mingled with good and evil. We must therefore be content therewith.

Let vs for a conclusion take thys to be true, whyche our Lorde hath sayed, that we muste vnto the ende of the worlde suffer many euil herbes: leaste whyle we go aboute to plucke them al vp, we destroye the good corne with al. What wyll we haue more? Our Lord to proue his, hath made his churche subiecte to thys miserye, that she shal be alwayes, myngled wyth good and euyll. We muste therefore be content therwyth.

And to say truth, we have good occasion so to do. For we ought to bear this honour unto the holy word of God and his Sacraments: that where so ever we see this word preached, and that according unto the rule which is given unto us, god is there purely honoured without superstition: and the sacraments there ministered, we ought to conclude without any doubt that there is the church. What should it else be? Shall the wickedness of hypocrites, or of the contemners of God abolish the dignity and virtue of the word of God and his Sacraments? Now I confess that the discipline is also of the substance of the church: and that it ought to be established in good order. And when good policy or order wanteth in any place: as if excommunication be not in use, that then the true form of the church is disfigured. Yet may we not therefore say, that she is wholly destroyed, and no building there, seeing that she retaineth that doctrine ⟨image 18⟩upon which the church is founded.

And to saye trouth, we haue good occasion so to do. For we ought to beare thys honoure vnto the holy worde of God and hys Sacramentes: that where so euer we se thys worde preached, and that accordynge vnto the rule whych is geuen vnto vs, god is ther purely honoured wythout superstition: and the sacramentes there ministred, we ought to conclude wythoute anye doubte that there is the churche. What shoulde it else be? Shall the wyckednes of hypocrites, or of the contempners of God abolyshe the dignitie and vertue of the worde of God and his Sacramentes? Now I confesse that the discipline is also of the substaunce of the churche: and that it ought to be established in good ordre. And when good policie or order wanteth in any place: as if excommunication be not in vse, that then the true fourme of the churche is disfigured. Yet may we not therfore saye, that she is wholy distroyed, and no building there, seynge that she retayneth that doctrine