past there were some which reproved the Holy Scripts of falsehood, saying
they contained things both contrary and quite one against other; and how
that the Apostles of Christ did severally disagree between themselves,
and that St. Paul did vary from them all? And, not to make rehearsal of
all, for that were an endless labour, who knoweth not after what sort our
fathers were railed upon in times past, which first began to acknowledge
and profess the Name of Christ? how they made private conspiracies,
devised secret counsels against the commonwealth, and that end made early
and privy meetings in the dark, killed young babes, fed themselves with
men's flesh, and, like savage and brute beasts, did drink their blood? in
conclusion, how that, after they had put out the candles, they committed
adultery between themselves, and without regard wrought incest one with
another: that brethren lay with their sisters, sons with their mothers,
without any reverence of nature or kin, without shame without difference;
and that they were wicked men without all care of religion, and without
any opinion of God, being the very enemies of mankind, unworthy to be
suffered in the world, and unworthy of life?

All these things were spoken in those days against the people of God,
against Christ Jesu, against Paul, against Stephen, and against all them,
whosoever they were, which at the first beginning embraced the truth of
the Gospel, and were contented to be called by the name of Christians,
which was then a hateful name among the common people. And although the
things which they said were not true, yet the devil thought it should be
sufficient for him, if at the least he could bring it so to pass as they
might be believed for true, and that the Christians might be brought into
a common hatred of everybody, and have their death and destruction sought
of all sorts. Hereupon kings and princes, being led then by such
persuasions, killed all the Prophets of God, letting none escape. Esay
with a saw, Jeremy with stones, Daniel with lions, Amos with an iron bar,