A survey of the spiritual antichrist opening the secrets of familism and antinomianism in…A survey of the spirituall antichrist opening the secrets of familisme and antinomianisme in…

which God grant! Amen. From all these premises, if we would, we might learn to understand the histories from the beginning of the Church, that evermore when the Church of God, did shine forth at any time, and if its little flock began to be gathered, then the Devil, espying the Divine light, raised from all corners huge great storms and hideous tempests, to put it out: And though one or two puffs were stayed, and kept off, yet he never gave over to bluster through some other hole against the same light, without any end or ceasing. And so he will continue to do, I warrant you till dooms-day. I think, that I alone (to omit the Ancients) have undergone more then twenty several storms and sects, by which the Devil hath puffed at me. The first was the Papacy. And I persuade my self,¹ that almost all the world knows, by how many tempestuous winds of Bulls and Books, the Devil by those his instruments hath raged against me, how direfully they have torn me in pieces, devoured and brought me to nothing. I confess that sometimes I have also bestowed some little breath upon them, but it did them no good, but made them more angry and mad, raging and raving, without any intermission, till this day.² And when I was almost freed of the fear of these devilish whirlwinds, another stormaticall devil, breaks in upon me through another hole, by Munster, and those uproars, which had near blown out my candle. But when Christ had almost stopped that gap, Satan breaks some panes of glass in my window by Carolast whirling and whizzing, that I thought he would have carried away both wick and candle; but here also God assisted his poor Taper, preserving it that it was not blown out. After this came the Anabaptists, who to put out the light, thought to have thrown the house out at window. ⟨p. 78⟩Into hazard all they brought, But their wills they have not wrought. Some also have raged against the ancient Doctors the Pope and Luther altogether, as Serveto, Campanus, and the like. As for those which have not openly in print fallen upon me, since their venomous malignant papers and speeches, touched only my person, I will not insist upon them. Only let me add thus much, that by my own experience (If I should not reflect on histories) I have learned that the Church will never be at quiet for the good words sake;