So is the true church of Christ known in this, that it suffereth persecution, and doeth not persecute again. Wherefore like as wise king Solomon judged her, to be the true mother of the child, which had such compassion on it, that she had rather forgo the whole, then have it divided and dismembered, & the other to be the harlot, that had overlain her child which had also consented to the death of the other: Right so may we discern evidently ⟨image 5⟩the whorish church of Antichrist by her bloody persecutions from the true church and spouse of Christ, the one with sword and fire seeketh always to quench the truth, the other through the spirit of lenity, to win men to the same, the one by compulsion and violent oppression, the other by persuasion: and meek intercession, the one by the sword, the other by the word, the one goeth about to pervert and deprave, the other seeketh all means, to convert and save. But lest I should exceed here the just measure of an Epistle, and through prolixity, be to your honour tedious, which can (as the proverb sayeth) discern a Lion by his claws. I will break of the thread of my discourse, notwithstanding, that the matter is so ample & large, that it would require an other work, wherein it is harder to find an end, then it was a beginning, contented by these few examples of sundry times, to have signified not to your Lordship, which know them much better then I: And have red this present work in Latin as you do all others right diligently. But through your jentil patience, to the plain English Reader, that the true church of Christ hath ben in all ages persecuted, and that this present work, written upon the Revelation of S. John, & into an hundred Sermons digested, declareth no less; and is as it were an Ecclesiastical History of the troubles and persecutions of the Church, especially from the Apostles time, until the last day, wherein Christ, the head of the same shall come a righteous Judge, to condemn Antichrist, and all Antichristian hypocrites & bloody persecutors: But to receive his elect people and to crown them with glory: And shall deliver up his kingdom, to his Father, & God shall be all in all. Which work understanding right well, that it should to your honour be acceptable. I dedicate and consecrate to your name, as you best have deserved.
So is the true church of Christ knowen in this, that it suffereth persecution, and doeth not persecute agayne. Wherfore lyke as wise kinge Salomon iudged her, to be the true mother of the childe, which had suche compassion on it, that she had rather forgo the whole, then haue it diuided and dismembred, & the other to be the harlot, that had ouerlayne her childe whiche had also consented to the death of thother: Right so maye we discerne euidently ⟨image 5⟩the whorish churche of Antichrist by her bluddy persecutions from the true churche and spouse of Chryst, the one with sweard and fyre seketh alwayes to quenche the treuth, the other through the sperite of lenitie, to winne men to the same, the one by compulsion and violent oppression, thother by perswasion: and meke intercessiō, the one by the sworde, the other by the worde, the one goeth aboute to peruert and depraue, the other seketh all meanes, to conuerte and saue. But lest I shulde excede here the iuste measure of an Epistle, and through prolexitie, be to your honour tediouse, which cā (as the prouerbe sayeth) discerne a Lion by his clawes. I will breake of the thred of my discourse, notwithstāding, that the matter is so ample & large, that it wold require an other worke, wherin it is harder to fynde an ende, then it was a beginning, contented by these fewe examples of sondry tymes, to haue signified not to your Lordship, which knowe them much better then I: And haue red this present work in Latin as you do all others right diligently. But through your ientil patience, to the plaine English Reader, that the true church of Chryst hath ben in all ages persecuted, and that this present worke, written vpon the Reuelation of S. Iohn, & into an hundred Sermons digested, declareth no lesse; and is as it were an Ecclesiastical History of the troubles and persecutions of the Churche, especially from the Apostles tyme, vntill the last day, wherin Chryst, the head of the same shall come a righteous Iudge, to condemn Antichrist, and all Antichristian hipocrites & bluddy persecutours: But to receyue his electe people and to crowne them with glory: And shall deliuer vp his kingdome, to his Father, & God shall be all in all. Which worke vnderstanding right well, that it shuld to your honour be acceptable. I dedicate and consecrate to your name, as you best haue deserued.
