Paul with the sword, and Christ upon the cross; and condemned all
Christians to imprisonments, to torments, to the pikes, to be thrown down
headlong from rocks and steep places, to be cast to wild beasts, and to
be burnt: and made great fires of their quick bodies, for the only
purpose to give light by night, and for a very scorn and mocking stock;
and did count them no better than the vilest filth, the offscourings and
laughing games of the whole world. Thus, as ye see, have the authors and
professors of the truth ever been intreated.

Wherefore, we ought to bear it the more quietly, which have taken upon us
to profess the Gospel of Christ, if we for the same cause be handled
after the same sort; and if we, as our forefathers were long ago, be
likewise at this day tormented, and baited with railings, with spiteful
dealings, and with lies; and that for no desert of our own, but only
because we teach and acknowledge the truth.

They cry out upon us at this present everywhere, that we are all
heretics, and have forsaken the faith, and have with new persuasions and
wicked learning utterly dissolved the concord of the Church; that we
renew, and, as it were, fetch again from hell the old and many a day
condemned heresies; that we sow abroad new sects, and such broils as
never yearst were heard of: also that we are already divided into
contrary parts and opinions, and could yet by no means agree well among
ourselves; that we be cursed creatures, and, like the giants, do war
against God Himself, and live clean without any regard or worshipping of
God; that we despise all good deeds; that we use no discipline of virtue,
no laws, no customs; that we esteem neither right, nor order, nor equity,
nor justice; that we give the bridle to all naughtiness, and provoke the
people to all licentiousness and lust; that we labour and seek to
overthrow the state of monarchies and kingdoms, and to bring all things