The rule of faith, or, An exposition of the Apostles Creed so handled as…

First, we may see hence, that Christ and true Christians may be persecuted and monstrously abused in Spiritual Courts as well as Temporal. Christ never had worser enemies, nor more corrupt and malicious than Churchmen. In his own person none hated him more deadly than the Priests and great spiritual Counsellors of the State Ecclesiastic. And in times after of all the great ones that opposed Christ and his Kingdom, none deserved the name of that Antichrist more than the Bishops of Rome. And certainly if he suffer such wrongs in their Courts, if they repent not, and reform, he will judge them in his Court one day to their eternal confusion. Again, it is most clear from hence, ⟨p. 359⟩that the restimonie of Councils, or the outward glory of learned men professing a religion, are not infallible marks of the Truth. Here is a great Council, and here sit the great Rabbis in their Pontificalibus, when Christ stands amongst them in the condition of a poor prisoner. Now what could the Papists say in Queen Mary's times to the Protestant prisoners, that might not be said by these Jews against true Religion? Again, we may observe out of this Story, what horrible injury may be done to a man in reporting his words, though the most of the words be reported that were spoken, and how a mans meaning may be vilely perverted by a little change of the words: Christ had said, Destroy this Temple, and I will build it up again in three days: he meant his body by the Temple, and his Resurrection should be the building up of it again. Now the false witnesses urge this sentence contrary to his sense, and in stead of the word Destroy ye, they report it thus, I will destroy: and so out of all frame that accusation, that he would pull down the Temple. Let all men take heed what they hear, and what they report: especially in hearing doctrine let them take heed that by their fault they do not make their Teachers sin in the word as the Prophets phrase was, that is, that they do not by mistaking make such report of their Teachers doctrine, as may bring them into danger, when they meant or said no such thing. And yet moreover we may note one thing more for information, and that may be gathered from the behaviour of the High Priests servant, in striking Christ so proudly and unjustly, without any bidding or warrant;

First, we may see hence, that Christ and true Christians may be persecuted and monstrously abused in Spirituall Courts as well as Temporall. Christ neuer had worser enemies, nor more corrupt and malicious than Churchmen. In his owne person none hated him more deadly than the Priests and great spirituall Counsellors of the State Ecclesiasticke. And in times after of all the great ones that opposed Christ and his Kingdome, none deserued the name of that Antichrist more than the Bishops of Rome. And certainly if he suffer such wrongs in their Courts, if they repent not, and reforme, he will iudge them in his Court one day to their eternall confusion. Againe, it is most cleare from hence,