A97377:14
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.
Now let us see into what peril and jeopardy, these brainless and ungodly folks, do most unnaturally bring their own natural country. Do not they, as much as in them lieth, by their seditious tumult, go about to bring it to utter desolation? Christ our saviour, the everlasting wisdom of the father, and eternal truth, saith: Every kingdom divided against it self, shall be brought to naught. And every City divided against it self, shall not stand. Whereby it may be gathered, that they that seek or make any division within a Realm or country, do intend nothing else (though they falsely pretend an other thing) but to bring the same Realm or country to naught. It is unpossible that the words of our saviour, which is the truth it self, should be false. Which to be most true and infallible,1 daily experience doth sufficiently teach us. For, what thing I pray, did bring the flourishing commune weal of the Assyrians to naught? Division. What thing did make the Medes, ⟨image 19⟩Persians, and almost all Asia, so weak, that they could not withstand a handful that came out of Macedonia? Division. What thing did subvert and turn upside down, that goodly and well ordered common weal, of the Lacedaemonians, which in virtue and manliness did far exceed all other men? Division. What thing did bring the Athenienses, which were rulers of all Grecia and lords of the seas, to so great thraldom, servitude and bondage, that they could never get them selves into liberty again? Division. What hath brought the Romans, which by their prowess, had conquered all the whole world into so base a state, that the less kingdom of Europa, is able too compare with them, which afore made all the whole world to tremble and quake at the dint of their sword? Division. To be short, what thing did in times pass, encourage the Danes and Normans, too invade this country, almost to the utter undoing and confusion of this noble and flourishing Realm? Division. That I should in the mean season let pass, and speak nothing of the common weal of the ⟨image 19⟩Jews and Israelites, which after that they were ones divided against them selves, were never able to resist their enemies. In so much, that at length, they were brought into perpetual captivity and thraldom.
Nowe let vs se intoo what parell and ieopardye, these brayneles and vngodly folkes, do most vnnaturally bryng theyr own natural countrey. Do not they, as much as in them lyeth, by theyr sedityous tumulte, go about to bryng it to vtter desolatyon? Christ our sauyoure, the euerlastyng wisedome of the father, and eternall truth, sayth: Euery kyngdome deuided agaynst it selfe, shall be brought to naughte. And euerye Citie deuided agaynst it selfe, shall not stande. Wherby it may be gathered, that they that seke or make anye diuision within a Realme or countrey, do intend nothing els (though they falsly pretende an other thyng) but to brynge the same Realme or countrey to naught. It is vnpossyble that ye wordes of our sauyour, whych is the truthe it selfe, shuld be false. Whych to be most true and infallible,