Of free justification

As these things are proposed by you, most excellent Osorius, no less Holily than Eloquently; so I would that in like manner your Rhetoric might make a suitable Harmony concerning the Imitation of Christ, in the Ears of the Roman Bishops and Cardinals: That these Men, having abdicated the perishing and transitory Wealth of this World, with which they overflow beyond all measure of their own profession, and also above royal magnificence, may at length think of the poverty of Christ, that they may diminish their Possessions, and large Inheritances heaped together, their Diadems, and their other regalities; I say, not according to the example of the Ancient Philosophers, but according to the contentation of the most Holy Apostles; that seriously rejecting the luxury, and superfluity of this Life, their vain glory, ⟨p. 138⟩their needless vanities and trifles may at length cease to be conform to the wicked fashions of this World: And that laying aside all haughtiness and pride of Life, they may submit themselves to the humility of Christ, and restrain and compose the exorbitancy of their Minds and Spirits: And laying down this Popish Cruelty and Tyranny, learn to become meek of Christ, that most perfect pattern of meekness, Learn, saith he, of me, because I am meek ¹and lowly of Spirit. I do not require that those Roman Priests should wash the Feet of the Poor according to the example of Christ, but that they should not embrue their cruel Hands in the Blood of their Brethren; neither do I require that they should give Water to refresh the Disciples of Christ, but that they should not heap up Flames and Faggots to burn their Bodies, nor lay Snares for them, or devise to entrap them privily, design their ruin and destruction, furnish Darts and Weapons to slay them, for whom Christ was Sacrificed, and by whom they themselves were never hurt.

As these things are proposed by you, most excellent Osorius, no less Holily than Eloquently; so I would that in like manner your Rhetorick might make a suitable Harmony concerning the Imitation of Christ, in the Ears of the Roman Bishops and Cardinals: That these Men, having abdicated the perishing and transitory Wealth of this World, with which they overflow beyond all measure of their own profession, and also above royal magnificence, may at length think of the poverty of Christ, that they may diminish their Possessions, and large Inheritances heaped together, their Diadems, and their other regalities; I say, not according to the example of the Ancient Philosophers, but according to the contentation of the most Holy Apostles; that seriously rejecting the luxury, and superfluity of this Life, their vain glory,