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…

I say further, that if we should had none other considerations, then to esteem the church by the men and their manners: we should many times be deceived, and cast out some company, not esteeming them for the church, because of their imperfection: which notwithstanding be in very deed the church. For it might so come to pass, that we should do injury to many good & holy personages, which among the wicked be unknown & hid, as the good corn under the chaff. Furthermore we ought to think that there be many which are oppressed with vices, and yet do take great displeasure with them selves for them, and with true repentance do desire to withdraw them selves from them, that they might serve God more entirely. It is also a very rigorous thing to excommunicate a man for one fault. On the other side, our nature is so inclined unto malignity, that it suspecteth, and giveth rash judgment, before the thing be well and rightly known unto us. Therefore ought we to take the greater heed lest we decline into that part. But as I have said, we should do perversely, if we should only have respect unto men For the majesty of Gods word, and of his sacraments, ought to be in such reputation among us: that where so ever we see them, we should be certain that there is the church: notwithstanding the vices and spots which be there commonly in the life of the people. In summa, when the question ⟨image 18⟩is which is the church: the judgement of god ought to be preferred before ours. Now the Anabaptists will not stay them selves at Gods judgement as we have showed.

I saye further, that if we shoulde hade none other considerations, then to esteme the churche by the men and theyr maners: we shoulde many tymes be deceyued, and cast oute some company, not estemynge them for the church, bycause of theyr imperfection: whyche notwythstandynge be in verye dede the churche. For it myght so come to passe, that we shold do iniury to manye good & holy personages, whiche amonge the wycked be vnknowen & hid, as the good corne vnder the chaffe. Furthermore we ought to think that ther be many whych are oppressed wyth vices, and yet do take greate dispeasure wyth theym selues for theim, and wyth true repentaunce do desyre to wythdrawe theim selues from them, that they myght serue God more entierly. It is also a very rygoriouse thynge to excōmunicate a manne for one faulte. On the other syde, our natureis so inclined vnto malignitie, that it suspecteth, and geueth rashe iudgmente, before the thynge be well and ryghtly knowen vnto vs. Therefore oughte we to take the greater hede leaste we declyne into that parte. But as I haue sayed, we shoulde do peruersly, if we should onely haue respect vnto men For the maiestye of Gods worde, and of hys sacramentes, ought to be in such reputation among vs: that wher so euer we se them, we shoulde be certayne that there is the churche: notwythstandyng the vices and spottes whyche be there communelye in the lyfe of the people. In somma, when the question