How potent a temptation, the opening of an opportunity to the irregenerate & hungry multitude, of changing places with their Superiors, and possessing themselves with their power, honour & estates, is: (When this temptation, is managed in a way of duty, and that duty also insinuated from the highest nature, principle & end, viz) Saintship of the highest form, inspiration divine & infallible, a super-scriptural reformation gilded over with specious pretences of the exaltation of Christ, and extirpation of Babylon: I say how threatening this temptation is, English men may not unprofitably collect, by recalling that perilous rebellion in the days of Richard the second: raised from the doctrine of one man by a temptation of this nature, though then managed in a way of lawfulness only, not of duty. The sum whereof take thus. One John Wool a man of a factious spirit, perceiving the discontent of those times: by two arguments, one taken from the equality of all men, as descended from Adam; the other from the injustice of the Laws upholding great inequality amongst men: viz some Lords, and in large estates, whilst others continued in a needy condition, seduced the inferior sort, especially such as were pinched with penury, into a persuasion that it was lawful for them ⟨p. 41⟩to help themselves. Thereby procuring an insurrection of Sixty thousand, for the while carrying all before them, committing diverse murders, many outrages, unto the entering & awing of London, the terror of the King, & jeopardy of the whole Realm. John Wool is pestilent, but John of Leiden is much more pestilent. The strength of this temptation lieth not in the reason of it, but in it's compliance with corruption. Such is man's propenseness to the world, that where it offers it self he is apt to hasten to it, though by a way which inferreth the perdition of the soul. No marvel if that Religion, which hath made the way to salvation, and to the worlds enjoyment, both the same and quick & easy, be much followed: though not for Religion sake, yet for the worlds sake.
How potent a temptation, the opening of an opportunity to the irregenerate & hungry multitude, of changing places with their Superiours, and possessing themselves with their power, honour & estates, is: (When this temptation, is managed in a way of duty, and that duty also insinuated from the highest nature, principle & end, viz) Saintship of the highest form, inspiration divine & infallible, a super-scriptural reformation guilded ouer with specious pretences of the exaltation of Christ, and extirpation of Babylon: I say how threatning this temptation is, English men may not unprofitably collect, by recalling that perillous rebellion in the dayes of Richard the second: raised from the doctrine of one man by a temptation of this nature, though then managed in a way of lawfulness only, not of duty. The summ whereof take thus. One John Woll a man of a factious spirit, perceiving the discontent of those times: by two arguments, one taken from the equality of all men, as descended from Adam; the other from the injustice of the Laws upholding great inequality amongst men: viz some Lords, and in large estates, whilest others continued in a needy condition, seduced the inferiour sort, especially such as were pinched with penury, into a perswasion that it was lawfull for them ⟨p. 41⟩to help themselves. Thereby procuring an insurrection of Sixty thousand, for the while carrying all before them, commiting diverse murthers, many outrages, unto the entering & awing of London, the terrour of the King, & jeopardy of the whole Realme. Iohn Woll is pestilent, but Iohn of Leyden is much more pestilent. The strength of this temptation lyeth not in the reason of it, but in it's compliaance with corruption. Such is man's propensness to the world, that where it offers it self he is apt to hasten to it, though by a way which inferreth the perdition of the soul. No marveil if that Religion, which hath made the way to salvation, and to the worlds enjoyment, both the same and quick & easy, be much followed: though not for Religion sake, yet for the worlds sake.
