A97377:10
A most necessary & fruitful dialogue, between [the] seditious libertine or rebel Anabaptist, &…A most necessary & frutefull dialogue, betwene [the] seditious libertin or rebel Anabaptist, &…
A most necessary & fruitful dialogue, between [the] seditious libertine or rebel Anabaptist, & the true obedient christia[n] wherein, as in a mirror or glass ye shall see [the] excellence and worthiness of a christia[n] magistrate: & again what obedience is due unto public rulers of all th[os]e [that] profess Christ yea, though [the] rulers, in extern & outward things, to their utter damnation, do otherwise then well: translated out of Latin into English, by Iho[n] Veron Senonoys.A most necessary & frutefull dialogue, betwene [the] seditious libertin or rebel Anabaptist, & the true obedient christia[n] wherin, as in a mirrour or glasse ye shal se [the] excellencte and worthynesse of a christia[n] magistrate: & again what obedience is due vnto publique rulers of all th[os]e [that] professe Christ yea, though [the] rulers, in externe & outward thinges, to their vtter dampnatyon, do otherwyse then well: translated out of Latyn into Englishe, by Iho[n] Veron Senonoys.
Worcester : Imprinted the third day of April. Anno. Do. 1551. At Worcester in the high street, by John Oswen. They be also to sell at Shrewesbury. Cum priuligio ad imprimendum solum, 1551Worcester : Imprynted the third daye of Aprill. Anno. Do. 1551. At Worceter in ye hygh strete, by Ihon Oswen. They be also to sell at Shrewesbury. Cum priuligio ad imprimendum solum, 1551
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
1First and formest let them look upon the .xiii. Chapter to the Romans. Where Paul speaketh after this manner: Whosoever resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of god: but they that resist, shall receive to them selves everlasting damnation. Here in these few words of the blessed apostle and chosen vessel of god we do learn, that we ought in no wise to resist the high power. And why? Because he is the ordinance of god. Who ⟨image 15⟩can, I pray you, O brainless Libertines resist the ordinance of god, and escape unpunished? No man truly. For the holy ghost saith, that they that resist, shall receive to them selves damnation This were enough to prove that to rise against the high powers, is most damnable to the souls, except some were among them, most crafty and subtle which by and by, will make an objection, and say. Objection. Is the power of tyrannous and ungodly Princes of God? No man (say they) will rise against a godly Prince, which without doubt is of god. But we do rise against most wicked & ungodly rulers, which daily do so sore oppress us, that we can suffer no longer, except we and our children will go hereafter a begging. Answer or solution. To whom we do answer with Saint Paul There is no power but of God. All the powers that be, are ordained of God. Sith then that there is no power but of God, it followeth by good consequence that the tyrannical power is of god, and that whosoever doth resist it,2 doth resist the ordinance of god, thereby purchasing unto him self everlasting damnation. ⟨image 16⟩But I will tell the how the tyrannical power is of god, even as pestilence, hail unseasonable weathers, and other like plagues, which are by the righteous judgement of god, sent upon us, for our sins. Which thing we may well see of Pharaoh in Jeremiah,3 and of Sennacherib, king of the Assyrians, in Isaiah the prophet, yea, the lord saith him self: I will give childish men to be your Princes and governors, scornful or womanly or effeminate persons shall bear rule over you.4 Ye shall also be pilled and polled and one shall ever be doing violence and wrong to an other. The boy shall presume against the elder, and the vile person against the honourable. And why? Because that both your words & your counsels are against the lord, to provoke the presence of his majesty, unto anger.