A Christian letter

namely that ye cannot with good conscience entertain a communion with those Churches, but that ye do abhor them with all your hearts. Therefore I will speak briefly of these 3. things, entreating you brotherly to take my answer in good part. I marvel that the point of doctrine, or little book of your confession, beloved brethren, is sent over to me: I marvel that it was sent over to all the students of holy Scriptures in all Christian Universities; for if there be a certain consent of doctrine as you pretend it, truly I do not see what need there was, that you should set forth a new confession in this present of holy and ancient doctrine. But if there be a dissension peradventure in the doctrine, or rather a difference, the same ought not to be dissembled, if so be that ye thought it necessary, that your doctrine should be declared. Besides, in that you send to me; yea that you send to the public view of the whole Church. I marvel, brethren, yea I greatly marvel, what your meaning should be, both in respect of the end and the fact. For if ye have set it forth to that end, that ye might purge your selves, I pray you brethren, wherefore do ye desire, to purge your selves with so many souls; who never could know you as yet to be accused; which can never take knowledge of the right or wrong of your accusation; and who are not called unto it by any lawful means; ⟨image 5⟩and (that which is worse) wherefore would ye have that done before so many enemies to God and the Church, who thirst after nothing so much as the blood of the Church of God, and do rejoice that we undiscreetly do cause a publishing of these wounds that by these wounds they might spoil the Church, that precious body of Christ, of the blood of verity, and juice of charity. Finally, why do ye this before so many weak ones, who not yet knowing, that ye are borne (as I may so say) are offended, rather with a carcass like stink of schisms in the Church, before they know certainly the body whereunto they may cleave? Alas brethren, is your purgation so much worth unto you that therefore the public good of the Church should be brought into so great danger.

namely that yee cannot with good conscience entertaine a communion with those Churches, but that yee doe abhorre them with all your heartes. Therefore I will speak briefely of these 3. things, entreating you brotherly to take my answere in good part. I maruell that the point of doctrine, or little booke of your confession, beloued brethren, is sent ouer to me: I maruell that it was sent ouer to all the studēts of holy Scriptures in all Christian Vniuersities; for if there be a certaine consent of doctrine as you pretend it, truely I do not see what need there was, that you should set forth a newe confession in this present of holy and auncient doctrine. But if there be a dissention peraduenture in the doctrine, or rather a difference, the same ought not to bee dissembled, if so be that yee thought it necessarie, that your doctrine should be declared. Besides, in that you send to mee; yea that you send to the publicke viewe of the whole Church. I maruell, brethren, yea I greatly maruell, what your meaning should bee, both in respect of the ende and the fact. For if yee haue set it foorth to that end, that yee might purge your selues, I pray you brethren, wherefore doe yee desire, to purge your selues with so many soules; who neuer could knowe you as yet to bee accused; which can neuer take knowledge of the right or wrong of your accusation; and who are not called vnto it by any lawfull means;