Among all other most noble and famous deeds of kings, and Princes, none is more godly, commendable, nor profitable to ⟨image 3⟩the common wealth, then to promote, and set forth unto their subjects the pure, and sincere religion of the eternal God, king of all kings, and Lord of all Lords. Then shall justice, peace, and concord reign, the door of Idolatry be shut up, vi the which hath entered all evil, and kings and kingdoms fallen into jeopardy, as the writings of y• Prophets do testify. But the more this noble fact is glorious, godly, and princely, the more difficile & hard it is. For the enemy of God & of all mankind, the Devil, customablye is wont to deceive the princes of the world, so that either they utterly neglect the religion of the true God as a thing foolish, and of no estimation, either provoke them cruelly to persecute it. If he can bring neither the one, neither the other of these to pas: he will do the beste de can to preserve a mixed, and mingled religion, that shall nether plainly be against, nor wholly with him: And so use the matter, that partly God's truth shall take place, partly the superstitious invention of man. The which mingled ⟨image 3⟩and mixed religion is so much the more dangerous, as it is accounted for pure and good. Therefore it is earnestly forbidden by God, as the examples of the scripture declareth. Jehu the king of the Israelites when he had removed all gross and sensible Idolatry: and with the sword had taken away all the Idololatricall priests. iii. Reg. x, is reproved of God, nevertheless because he walked not in the law of God with all his heart, and left not the ways of Jeroboam. And against these minglers and patchers of Religion speaketh Elijah the Prophet, iii. Reg. xviii. Howe long saith he will ye halt on both sides. If y• Lord be God, follow him, if Baal, go ye after him. Even so we may justly say: If y• priesthood & ministry of Christ with his notes and marks be true, holy, & absolutely perfect, receive it: in case it be not, follow y• pope. Christ can not abide to have the leaven of the pharisees mingled with his sweet flower. He would have us ether hot, or cold, the luke warm he vomiteth up: and not without a cause.
AMong al other moste noble and famous dedes of kinges, and Princes, none is more godlye, commendable, nor profytable to ⟨image 3⟩the cōmon wealth, then to promote, and set forthe vnto their subiectes the pure, and sincere religion of the eternal God, kyng of al kynges, and Lord of al Lordes. Then shal iustice, peace, and concord raygne, the doore of Idololatrie be shut vp, vi the whyche hath entred all euyl, and kynges and kyngdomes fallen into ieopardye, as the writinges of y• Prophets do testifie. But the more thys noble fact is glorious, godly, and princely, the more difficile & hard it is. For the enemy of God & of al mankynd, the Deuyll, customablye is wont to deceiue the princes of ye world, so that eyther they vtterly neglect the religion of the true God as a thynge folyshe, and of no estimacion, eyther prouoke thē cruelly to persecute it. If he cā bryng neither ye one, neither the other of these to pas: he wyll do the beste de can to preserue a myxte, and myngled religion, that shall nether playnly be agaynst, nor wholye wyth hym: And so vse the matter, that partly goddes truth shall take place, partly the supersticious inuē cion of man. The whych myngled ⟨image 3⟩and myxed religion is so muche the more daungerous, as it is accompted for pure and good. Therfore it is earnestlye forbidden by God, as the examples of the scripture declareth. Iehu the kynge of the Israelites when he had remoued all grosse and sensible Idololatrye: and with the swerde had taken away all the Idololatricall priestes. iii. Reg. x, is reproued of God, neuertheles because he walked not in the lawe of God wyth all his herte, and lefte not the wayes of Ieroboam. And againste these minglers and patchers of Religion speaketh Elias the Prophet, iii. Reg. xviii. Howe longe sayth he wyl ye halt on both sides. If y• Lord be God, folow hym, if Baal, go ye after hym. Euen so we may iustly say: If y• priesthod & ministery of Christe with his notes and markes be true, holy, & absolutely perfect, receiue it: in case it be not, folow y• pope. Christ can not abide to haue the leuē of the pharises myngled wyth hys swete flowre. He wold haue vs ether hote, or cold, the luke warme he vometeth vp: and not wythout a cause.
