Riches of mercy to men in misery, or, Certain excellent treatises concerning the dignity…

Many while they thus speak that they conceive it not to ¹be religion that they speak against, I may say of them as Peter said of them that crucified Christ, they did it of ignorance; for had they known that, they would not have crucified the Lord of life: so if they knew it were religion they spake against, they would not speak thus; But it is their misery that they know it not, and it is but a little excuse to say I was a blasphemer (saith Paul) but I did it out of Ignorance and zeal; so Christ saith the Jews knew not what they did, and yet his blood shall be required of them, Yea, it is upon them as we see at this day, and Jude saith, they spake evil of the things they knew not, and yet their sentence is, they shall be reserved to the blackness of darkness. So though they know not that it is religion that they speak against, yet they are persecutors and God accounts them so. Saul heard a voice saying, Saul Saul why persecutest thou me? when he himself thought he had ⟨p. 283⟩done well. And if they say Lord we know it not, I will answer them, that in as much as they did it to these, they did it to me, In other cases there is a difference and some plead for ignorance, as if a man kill another man in stead of a stag, he is no murderer; but if a man strike at Religion with his tongue, though he knew it not, he is a blasphemer, because he is bound to know; for if a man be brought up among heretics, he is an heretic because he is bound to the contrary. Let these therefore that have used these speeches kick no more against pricks, least they bring that curse on them which was on them that brought an ill report upon the holy-land, viz. that they should not enter into it.

Many while they thus speak that they conceive it not to ¹be religion that they speak against, I may say of them as Peter said of them that crucified Christ, they did it of ignorance; for had they known that, they would not have crucified the Lord of life: so if they knew it were religion they spake against, they would not speak thus; But it is their misery that they know it not, and it is but a little excuse to say I was a blasphemer (saith Paul) but I did it out of Ignorance and zeal; so Christ saith the Jews knew not what they did, and yet his blood shall be required of them, Yea, it is upon them as we see at this day, and Iude saith, they spake evil of the things they knew not, and yet their sentence is, they shall be reserved to the blackness of darkness. So though they know not that it is religion that they speak against, yet they are persecutors and God accounts them so. Saul heard a voice saying, Saul Saul why persecutest thou me? when he himself thought he had