rence;
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,
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 n