Theo. That notwithstanding it followeth not, that all they that brag of such things, be such as they would be esteemed. For, the church of God will never be without hypocrites and false brethren,1 mingled amongst the children of God, which bring more dangerous and offensive war to the church of God, than any other enemies whatsoever they be. And therefore there will always be such Devils, and such possessed enough in the church as thou speakest of, that will cry out on Christ and his servants, and complain on them, but yet they are not of the Church. For there is great difference between being of the Church,2 and being in the Church. But where can the devil assail Christ nearer, and more subtly then in his church? What sort of men can he better use to serve his purpose, then those, which only will be holden for the true members of the church, but such as shall be in greatest credit, and authority in the same? If thou wilt talk of Ministers, ⟨image 73⟩I would ask of thee: when was the church ever without false Prophets, dumb dogs flatterers, and Hirelings, which have always warred against the true Prophets & Apostles, and against the true Ministers of the lord? And have not these been most promoted, and best esteemed amongst men? If ye talk of Kings, Princes, Lords, and Magistrates, consider how many have there been found, that have yielded such obedience to the word of God, which hath been declared unto them by the Prophets, and other ministers of the Lord, and have showed them such honour and reverence as they ought? For one that hath been found to yield such duty to their Minister, as behoved, there have been twenty found that have done the contrary, which have not been contented not only to despise the doctrine of the true servants of God, but have also driven them out, and persecuted them themselves. And when I speak this, I speak not of such Princes and Magistrates which have had dominion over such people and Nations as were esteemed Infidels, but I speak of those that reigned over the people which were esteemed of God and of his Church. But how many have been found among this people ⟨image 74⟩which would have disposed the religion after their own fantasies, to make it serve to their affections and commodities, & which have usurped the offices in the church, which belonged not to them?3
Theo. That notwithstādyng it followeth not, that all thei that bragge of suche things, be suche as thei would bee estemed. For, the churche of God will neuer be without hypocrites and false brethren,1 mingled emongest the children of God, whiche bryng more dangerous and offensiue warre to the churche of God, thē any other enemies whatsoeuer thei be. And therfore there will alwaies be suche Deuilles, and suche possessed inough in the churche as thou speakest of, that will cry out on Christ and his seruantes, and complaine on them, but yet thei are not of the Churche. For there is great differēce betwene beyng of the Churche,2 and beeyng in the Churche. But where cā the deuill assaile Christ nerer, and more subtilly then in his church? What sort of men can he better vse to serue his purpose, then those, whiche onely will be holden for the true mēbers of the churche, but suche as shalbe in greatest credite, and aucthoritie in thesame? If thou wilt talke of Ministers, ⟨image 73⟩I would aske of thee: when was the churche euer without false Prophetes, dombe doggs flatterers, and Hirelynges, whiche haue alwaies warred against the true Prophetes & Apostles, and against the true Ministers of the lorde? And haue not these been moste promoted, and beste estemed emongest men? If ye talke of Kynges, Princes, Lordes, and Magistrates, consider how many haue there been found, that haue yelden suche obediēce to the worde of God, whiche hath been declared vnto theim by the Prophetes, and other ministers of the Lorde, and haue shewed thē suche honour and reuerence as thei ought? For one that hath been founde to yeld suche duetie to their Minister, as behoued, there haue been twentie found that haue doen the contrary, which haue not been contented not onely to despise the doctrine of the true seruauntes of God, but haue also driuen them out, and persecuted them themselues. And when I speake this, I speake not of suche Princes and Magistrates whiche haue had dominion ouer suche people and Nations as wer esteemed Infidels, but I speak of those that reigned ouer the people whiche were esteemed of God and of his Church. But how many haue been founde among this people ⟨image 74⟩whiche would haue disposed the religion after their owne fantasies, to make it serue to their affections and commodities, & whiche haue vsurped the offices in the church, which belonged not to them?3
- 1The evil and the good mingled together in the Church.The euill and the good mingled together in the Churche.
- 2The Church persecuted by her own.The Churche persecuted by her owne.
- 3Jeroboam. Ahaz. Ozia.•eroboam. Ahaz. Ozia.
