to tend to sedition[k]: secondarilie, it shal be dangerous, not onlie to
the writer or publisher, but also to all such as shall reade the
writinges, or fauor this truth spoken: and last it shall not amend the
chief offenders, partlie because it shall neuer come to their eares, and
partlie because they will not be admonished in such cases. I answer, yf
any of these be a sufficient reason that a truth knowen shalbe conceled,
then were the auncient prophetes of God very fooles, who did not better
prouide for their owne quietnes, then to hasard their liues for rebuking
of vices, and for the opening of such crimes, as were not knowen to the
world, And Christ Iesus did iniurie to his Apostles, commanding them to
preache repentance and remission of synnes in his name to euerie realme
and nation. And Paule did not vnderstand his owne libertie, when he cried,
wo be to me, if I preache not the Euangile. Yf feare, I say, of
persecution[l], of sclander, or of any inconuenience before named might
have excused, and discharged the seruantes of God[m], from plainlie
rebuking the sinnes of the world; iuste cause had euerie one of them to
haue ceased frome their office. For sodeinlie their doctrine was accused
by termes of sedition, of newe learning, and of treason: persecution and
vehement trouble did shortlie come vpon the professours with the
preachers[n]: kinges, princes and worldlie rulers did conspire against
God and against his anoynted Christ Iesus. But what? Did any of these moue
the prophetes and Apostles to faynt in their vocation? no. But by the
resistance, whiche the deuill made to them by his suppostes, were they the
more inflamed to publishe the truthe reueled vnto them and to witnesse
with their blood, that greuous condemnation and Goddes heuie vengeance
shuld folowe the proude contempt of graces offred. The fidelitie, bold
courage, and constancie of those that are passed before vs, oght to
prouoke vs to folowe their footsteppes, onles we loke for an other
kingdome then Christ hath promised to such as perseuere in profession of
his name to the end. Yf any think that the empire of women, is not of such