A97377:11
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.
By these words of the holy prophet, it is easy to understand, that our since are the chief causes why the Lord god above, doth send ungodly and wicked rulers. But this, we will not see nor hear, our eyen are so fixed upon the faults of the high powers, and governors that we do utterly forget our own, we ⟨image 16⟩can espy a mote in their eye,1 but the beam that is in our own, that will we not see We blame them for covetousness, & we our selves, are an hundred times more covetous in our hearts, then they are, we blame them for their pride, and no man is so proud, so high minded, so stubborn & hawte of courage, as we are our selves, we blame them for their gay apparel, and costly fare, and we our selves if we were as able as they, would go a thousand times more gay, & fare a thousand times more costly then they do. I do appeal to your own consciences, whether it be not so as I say. Truly though ye dissemble never so much,2 and cloak that poison that lieth hidden in your hearts, never so craftily, yet almighty God which is the searcher of the hearts, and of the loins, knoweth what beast ye nourish and bear about with you in your hearts. Which thing shall be manifest and open,3 when the lord shall revise the secretes of every mans heart. Will ye then be rid from the misery that ye are wrapped in? Will ye be delivered from extortion, tyranny and oppression? Remove and put away the causes. Let ⟨image 17⟩us put away these enorm since, that we are drowned in, I mean, unfaithfulness, murmuring against GOD, ingratitude and unthankfulness. Let us banish from among us uncleanliness, fornication, adultery, drunkenness, backbiting perjury, untrue dealing, unlawful oaths, and blasphemous swearings. This done, let us boldly fly unto the Lord, and with earnest prayers, proceeding from a true and an unfeigned faith, call upon him for aid and succour, and without doubt he will hear us. For the truth it self did say:4 Call upon me in the day of thy trouble, and I will both hear and deliver thee, that thou mayest glorify my name. Mark this well, he doth not say: In thy trouble, that is to say, when thou art afflicted and oppressed, run into the field, and there mutter, & make unlawful assembles against the magistrates, but he saith. Call upon me, adding a most comfortable promise, that he will both hear and deliver thee.