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truth_n	church_n	religion_n	true_a	7,548	5	5.1593	4	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A01175	The restorer of the French estate discouering the true causes of these vvarres in France & other countries, and deliuering the right course of restoring peace and quiet to all Christendome: wherein are handled these principall questions touching religion, policie, and iustice: whether it be lawfull to sweare, and keepe promise to heretikes, to force mens consciences for religion sake, to liue with, and dwell nigh heretikes, to breake the order of succession to the Crowne bycause of religion, or no. Who be schismatikes; and of the chiefe poincts of religion. How we are to iudge of the schisme in Christendome at this day. Lastly, the conclusion conteining notable admonitions to the clergie, nobles, magistrates, people, and King of France. Translated out of French. Ecclesiæ & reipub. D.	Hurault, Michel, d. 1592, attributed name.	1589 (1589)	STC 11289; ESTC S102588	139,883	174

ceasing let vs preserue our selues with them sith we can not destroy them without destroying our selues It is said that the duety of the Magistrate and of euery priuate person but principally of the magistrate is aboue all to tender the preseruation of the state It is said also that the Magistrate is bound not to respect alone that which is iust and good simply but withall discreetly to compare the iust with the iust good with good law with law and the same wisely to applie to present occasions staying himselfe on that which is better and more equall to compare besides th'uniust with th'uniust euil with euill and according to the necessitie of the time and importance of the affaires to stay himselfe on that is lesse vniust or euill Now the iniustice is lesse to let the heretik or the suspected of heresie liue in peace than disturbe the Church There is more iustice and holines in the conseruation of the Church and of a whole estate to the comfort of a whole people the maintenance of iustice and policie in generall and particular than in the dissolution of the Church and of a Realme and in th'annihilating and generall suppression of Religion and iustice For so much then as we are not able to order the Reformed after our will or destroy them without putting the whole Christen Church iustice and all the people in hazard of an headlong downfal and vtter subuersion let vs accept how late soeuer Act. 5. the coūcell of Gamaliel recited by S. Luke as the most tollerable we cā take in this cause let vs not meddle with these mē but leaue them if their councell or their worke be of men it shal be ouerthrowen but if it be of God we cannot ouerthrow it And albeit our power failes or that we enterprise not to cut of heretikes let vs not thinke therefore that the glorie of God can be abased or the Church rumed by by them for the word of God shall vanquish consume how long soeuer it lingereth the word and imagination of men it can full wel worke what God willeth as in Isay is written Isai 55. nothing is more strong nor more durable than the Church May we thinke to loue the Church better than he that made still maintaines it is it not Gods inheritance Cast we that care on him Mat. 15. he knoweth wel how to roote them out that are not of his election Euery plant saith he which my heauenly Father hath not planted shall be pluckt vp by the rootes it will come well inough to passe though we toyle nor spoyle our selues among armes by the fury and licentiousnesse of warre Ioyntly therewith it is easie to obserue in histories that those heresies which the faithful haue assailed to represse by warre endured notwithstanding longer than the rest In the meane season comfort we our selues in our zele and patience with the histories of the holy Scripture considering how he hath destroyed the most part of heretikes and Schismatikes Nadab and Abihu were by fire miraculously consumed for hauing vsed strange fire Leuit. 10. Corah Dathan and Abiron their complices were wonderfully deuoured by th' earth and fire Num. 16. for hauing contended about the Priesthoode Act. 5. Ananias and Saphira were miraculously slaine at the word pronounced by S. Peter for hauing misdoubted of the power of the holy Ghost So S. Paul by vertue of the worde made Elimas the sorcerer blinde Act. 13. The Ecclesiasticall historie is stored no lesse with such miraculous destructions of heretikes amōg which that of Arius is notable for euē when he thought him selfe most assured and as it were to haue set his foote on the throte of that good Pastor Alexander his enemie he strangelie burst in sunder at the same Alexanders prayer In so much that the Lord proceeding by this supernatural meanes against heretikes lessoneth vs that from him all punishments vengeance lying without the reach of mans power are to be looked for that frō him the hewing down of huge heresies must be looked for In fine let vs beware that rash zele carrie vs not too farre let vs restrayne and rule it after the doctrine and examples of the holy Scripture and the imitation as well of the Primitiue Church as of our neighbors Away with these armes forbidden accursed and most pernicious to the Church purge we the Church seeke we the Churches repose by meanes allowed blessed and commaunded of God by the word of God and the fruites thereof Leaue we the Magistrates sword sith it will not serue our turne without hazarding all the Church Magistrate and people Let vs acknowledge then that we haue failed what zele soeuer we pretend but much more if our priuate worldly passions and not deuotion haue prouoked vs to this warre Whether it be so or no ye know ye may cast a mist before mens eyes but not before the Lord he created mens hartes he knoweth thē And if it be so that ye haue drawen ouer your faces the maske of deuotion to conceale the hatred enuy ambition the auarice that egs you on in deed to kindle these warres ye may well be deemed the most execrable persecutors that euer were For the Heathen in their persecutions against the faithfull were for the most parte caried on with deuotion they bare to their Gods And therefore in the conscience and true feeling of your great excesse be the more displeased therewith Shield not your fault with this blind excuse that the reformed haue takē armes for their defēce which say ye the faithful neuer did for in vsing that pretence ye auow them for faithfull and your selues persecutors if they do amisse ye are th' originall ye are answerable to God for their sinnes your owne ye force them to armes for otherwise they should be guilty of their own death of tempting the Lord if they being able would not seeke to auoid it Iwis they arme not themselues to build their Church by armes but to defend their countries townes families goods repose liues they come not to assaile you with sworde and fire for to restraine you of your religion they require nothing but peace and the preaching of Gods word for to build their Church ye mistrust the truth and power of your religion denying their demaund Ouer and aboue it is no new thing nor reproued to see the Church of God armed for its defence The Israelites defended themselues against the Syrians Aegyptians Assyrians Medes and Persians th' almighty by ayding them hath showen how well he allowed that their defence he fought for them with hayle and thunder hee stayed the course of the Sunne that light might suffice them for th'vtter discomfiture of their enemies he hath assisted them with his Angels to confound their armies We read also that God hath oftentimes fauoured the defence of Christian churches and specially those of th' East vnder the protection of Constantine the great

earth with the rod of my mouth and will slay the wicked with the breath of my lips Esdras reporteth in his vision 4. Esd 13. that our Lord seing all nations arising against him lifted not his hand held no sword nor warlike instrument but cast out of his mouth as it were a flash of fire which finally consumed all nations This is the stone cut without hands Dan. 2. that must bruise the iron the copper the earth Apoc 19. the siluer and the gold The sword that must confound heretiks procedeth from the mouth of God Iesus Christ accepted this sword reiected forbad th' other Th'Apostles neither had nor sought any other 2. Pet. 3. It is the word that made and preserueth the world as S. Peter saith The word of grace is mighty to edifie 1. Cor. 4. hath begotten the faithfull to Iesus Christ by the Gospell saith S. Paul Our weapons saith he are not carnall materiall 2. Cor. 10. but spirituall The Lord cleanseth washeth his Church by his word Ephes 5. When he reckneth vp the workemen and instruments of the Church weapons of Christen mē he makes no mention of robbers murtherers massacrers men of warre and their materiall armes 1. Cor. 12. but he remembreth Apostles Prophets and Doctors vertues healings knowledge of tongs administration of Sacraments Ephes 6. truth iustice peace faith hope charitic saluation the spirite the word of God and prayer When he speaketh of the workmanship of the Church he vseth these termes to plant 1. Cor. 3. to water to geue increase c. Such wordes are in no wise sutable to warlike violence For somuch then as we neither ought nor may build in the house of God with armes and that we must build with the word of God which is all sufficient necessary and commaunded let vs not dissobey th'auctoritie of the sacred Scripture the commaundements of our soueraigne God the conduct of his holy spirite according to th' example of of our Lord of his Apostles and of his Church arme we our selues with the word of God the sword of the spirite with humilitie patience and holines of life build we the Church euery one of vs to th'vttermost extent of his abilitie with these instruments And if any gainstand this our trauail with intent to frustrate our hope purpose to reuerse our worke or to build by vs and not with vs let vs pray and continue with increase of earnest desire But now me thinks I heare you say what neede more wordes these two cases are now cleare and vndoubted the one that we should not enterprise to force mens consciences the other that Clergie men should not seeke the preseruation of the Church otherwise than by spirituall armes but by this discourse or any other I cannot conceiue that the Magistrate is prohibited to destroy the body of an heretike or schismatike and consequently that our king is not permitted to employ his armes and armies against the Reformed which are reputed such I graunt you in some sort that the text of the Euangelist afore cited to this purpose seemeth more to bind the Ecclesiastical person than the Magistrate But that which I haue discoursed to you how the Church from Adam to Christ neuer vsed the force of flesh and bloud and of material armes for to multiplie and augment it selfe and for to ruine the infidels in detestation of their naughtie religion makes directlie aswel against the Magistrate as the Churchman For so much as Adam Seth Enos Noe Abraham Isaac and Iacob were not onelie Patriarkes but also were kings Gouernors and Magistrates of peoples Iosua the Iudges and kings of Israel who absteyned from such violence in behalfe of their borderers had the right of magistracie ouer them as alredie hath bene noted Notwithstanding it shall not be amisse to treate more particularly touching this power of the Magistrate ouer heretikes and infidels But first I take it for confessed that our Ecclesiasticall persons are guiltie of great error and enormitie at this instant in that they manage and imploy materiall armes inioyne and sweare euery one to put on armour for the ruine of the Reformed setting sorth and leading in their owne persons the bands of men of warre yea whole armies About whose heads ye may cōmonly see their weapons flourish with as much pride hatred and furie as the most barbarous Seculars can shew Proceed we then to the power of the Magistrate First the reformed wil answere you for their bookes actions approue that such is their doctrine and discipline how the Magistrate hath a iust lawfull vocation from God to condemne and put to death the heretike and schismatike and that if he neglect or refuse to execute this his duetie being able to performe the same he then misregardeth and offendeth the law of God and his owne calling and deserueth blame and punishment But withall they affirme and mainteine that before the magistrate proceedeth to such executions he must patiently heare them that are suspected of heresie or schisme they must cause them to be conuinced by the word of God in holy assured and free assemblies perswade them pray for them with patience awaite Gods pleasure for their conuersion and after if they persist still then is it not onely lawfull but also necessarie to deliuer them ouer to death they affirme also that as for themselues they were neuer called nor heard in a Counsel free and assured for them they haue not bene conuinced by holy Scripture that when ye called them it was onely to heare their condemnation the Iudges to whom ye sent them were deafe and trusted rather to loude clamors than sound arguments Againe that when yee haue conferred with them ye haue made exception to th'authoritic of Gods word according to which word they haue got th'upper hand in all that hath bene propounded that ye haue delayd crost the disputations conferences as fearing to be vtterly conuinced and being required ye would not returne it seemeth say they that ye could not abide the light of the trueth which was set before your eyes that therefore ye shrunke aside and hid your heads not daring to appeare but with playne or priuie force All which allegations they offer to verifie by the vnpartiall histories and autentike records of this time concerning the affaires of religiō as wel in Germanie as in this Realm and elswhere throughout Europe Now for my part touching this power of the Magistrate I pray you consider that the Gospel commaunds not the death of heretikes and infidels so expresly as the law According to the law they must not be suffered to liue til the morow but by the Gospel patience long tarying is chieflie prescribed in such pursuites as appeareth by the places aboue cited and speciallie by the answere of Iesus Christ to th'Apostles S. Iames and S. Iohn and by the doctrine of S. Paul Luke 9. 2. Tim. 2. Ye

yet went out of it for they neuer had entered into it But Antichrist was to be borne in the Church Marc. 13. Dan 9. Thess 4. Pet. 2. 1. Ioh. 2. was there to abide and reigne according to the prophesies of Iesus Christ of Daniel S. Paul S. Peter and S. Iohn The Pope was borne there went out from thence yet abideth reigneth there with great power pompe and tyranny The first weapons of Antichrist should be seducings and spirituall poysonings as the Apocalyps warneth vnder the name of the Whore and hir enticements which can not he applied to them that planted their false religion and performed all by fire sword and furie But the Pope hath layd the ground-worke and mayn-stay of his first and principall greatnes and power on will-worships on the show of counterfeit holinesse on false miracles seducing and bewitching peoples and nations with words and deeds well pleasing flesh and bloud as also with promisses and presents of goods and honors Other ring leaders of heresie as Arrius Maniche Pelagius and such like reigned not as Antichrist was to reigne in the temple of God with all excesse of power and glory they neuer exalted themselues aboue kings aboue all which is called God their seducings and oppressions were neuer so generall and continuall as the great Antichrist should bring to passe Take the paine your selfe for you ought it is as much as your saluatiō is worth to consider more heedfully the prophesies of Antichrist and compare the Gospell with that which they teach and practise in your Church ye will find that I tarry not on euery poinct but do ouerpasse farre moe matters then I touch your ghostly Fathers and Doctors like very Pharisees and hypocrites as they be for the most part do set vp against all these truths the defense of the Pharisees against Iesus Christ How can it be say your Doctors that so many holy fathers so many learned clerkes so many men so many peoples and countries haue consented to the doctrine of the Pope for so many hundred yeares if it were against God and against Holy-writ specially seing our Sauiour hath said behold I am with you vntill the end of the world This defense pleaseth flesh and bloud passing well the flesh fancieth them too well who teach that it is not ordinary for a man to wander out of the way to sinne and to go on in his wandring and sinne Vnder the warrant of this defence infinite soules doo stay waxe sluggish and are luld asleepe barking at such as would wake them out of this drousie disease But the wisedome of this world is foolishnesse with God 1. Cor. 3. 1. Cor. 2. and the naturall man perceyueth not the things of the spirit of God saith Sainct Paul flesh and bloud are blind and can not discerne these mysteries then let vs not consult herein with worldly wisedome or with flesh and bloud but with the spirite of God By this spirite in the holy historie wee are taught that Adam after his fall by sinne was somewhat relieued and reformed by the Lord that God by his Angels visibly did warne him and his children from time to tyme to walk and liue according to his commaundements with promise to restore and repaire the decay of mankind notwithstanding in lesse then two or three generations they forsooke the voyce and way of God and were corrupted after the imaginations and deuises of the flesh and this corruption lasted aboue sixteen hundred yeares Then the mercyfull Lord willing to shew his fauour towardes mankind repayred his Church renewed his commaundements to Noë and his children but againe within lesse then foure generatiōs the people went astray forgat God his commaundements A long time after that going astray the Lord called Abrahā restored his Church by him leauing the rest of all mankind in their corruption who remained therein till the comming of Christ for two thousand yeares and vpward The holy Ghost mereouer teacheth how after the Church was restored in Abraham confirmed in Moses and in all the children of Israëll there folowed many reuoltes in the Church of Israël euen as generall as the former aboue rehearsed for they seemed all to haue forsaken the right way insomuch as the faithfull appeared no-where these apostasies or backslidings endured some for two hundred yeares some more some lesse though the Lord in the meane while awaked them and called them againe by his Prophets Ye know further how the Greeks for the most part swarued ye count them for heretikes or infidels in maner al. Now so it is that th'Israëlites and Greekes may as well or better then you preuaile with these wordes of Christ I will be with you vntill the end of the world for as large and more expresse promises then that had bene made to th'Iraëlits and this promise pertained as well to the Greekes as to you because they were instructed in the Gospell before ye were and that more carefully and by mo Apostles then ye were and yet for all this both th'Israëlites Greeks are gone astray from the faith these many hundred yeares past which also hath befallen the Churches of Affrik who may chalenge to themselues th' assurance of those promises with as great reason as you may Besides that your owne Churches haue bene defiled and ouergrowé with heresies namely when the barbarous nations of the North and enemies of our faith left no face of a Church almost throughout Europe We must acknowledge therefore that such promises of God do neuer passe without this condition if ye abide in me in th' obedience of my word according to the doctrine of Moses Leuit. 26. Deut. 8. Isay 29. Els why should the Lord say in Isay to the children of Israel because this people come neare vnto me with their mouth and honour mee with their lips but haue remooued their heart farre from me their feare towardes me was taught by the precept of men therfore behold I will againe do a marueilous worke in this people euen a marueilous worke and a wonder for the wisedome of their wisemen shall perish and the vnderstanding of their prudent men shal be hid 30. and againe in the next chapter the Lord sheweth why they are plagued notwithstading his promises because saith he you haue cast of this word and trust in violence and wickednesse and stay thereupon therefore this iniquitie shal be vnto you as a breach that falleth or a swelling in an hye wall whose breaking commeth soundainly and in a moment 59. and in another place your iniquities haue separated betweene you your God and your sinnes haue hid his face from you Ose 4. that he will not heare and in Osea seing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God I will also forget thy children Iohn 8. Also Iesus Christ saith if ye continue in my word ye are verely my Disciples Now let vs gather of all these histories sayings that

in the holy place that all nations should band themselues against his elect that there should be warres noise of warres nation should rise against nation kingdome against kingdome the brother should deliuer his brother to death and the father the childe and children should rise against their parents and should cause them to die th'elect should be hated of all men great earth-quakes should be in many places dearth pestilence and great feare and that the seducing and tribulation should be so great that if it were possible the elect should be deceyued and except those dayes should be shortned there shall no flesh be saued such things saith he must needs be but th' end shall not be yet Dan. 7.9 Antichrist saith Daniel shall speake words against the most High and shall consume the Saincts of the most High and shall thinke that he may change times and lawes and they shal be giuen into his hand vntill a time times and the diuiding of time This is that which is written in Esdras 4. Esdras 5. that the way of truth shal be hid and the land shal be barren from faith and iniquitie shal be encreased more then thou hast seene now or hast heard in times past and all friends shall fight one against another then shall wit hide it selfe and vnderstanding depart into his secret chamber it shal be sought of many and yet not be found then shall vnrighteousnes and voluptuousnes haue the vpper hand vpon the earth one land also shall aske another and say is righteous iustice gone through thee and it shall say no at the same time shall men hope but not obtaine 4. Esd 16. they shall labour but their enterprises shall not prosper they shal be like mad men they shall spare none they shal spoile and wast such as yet feare the Lord for they then shall wast and spoile their goods and cast them out of their houses then shall the triall of my chosen appeare as the gold is tried by the fire Heare ô ye my beloued saith the Lord behold thy daies of trouble are at hand but I will deliuer you frō them be not ye afraid doubt not Apoc. 13.17.18 c. for God is your captaine This is the chiefe matter contained in th'Apocalips for there is described the great and long-continuing Reuolt of the later times how all the world shall wonder at the great Beast and worship him how this beast shall blaspheme against God how he shall allure and retaine on his side kings and peoples how he shall make warre on the Saincts and ouercome them how he shall haue power ouer all kindreds and peoples ouer all tongues and nations that this beast shall put to death them that will not worship him that he shall haue power to worke false miracles that he shall cause all both small and great rich and poore free and bond to beare his marke againe the kings and inhabitants of the earth shal kisse the great Whore that sitteth on the great Beast they shall commit fornication with her and shall be drunke with the wine of her fornication and the Marchants of the earth shal be enriched with the pompe and riot of her and of her citie of Babilon God shal put in the harts of kings to do the pleasure and will of this great Beast and to giue him their rule power vntill the word of the Lord be fulfilled The man of sinne or Antichrist saith S. Paul shall come with al power and signes and lying wonders 2. Thes 2. and in all deceiueablenes of vnrighteousnes among them that perish because they receiued not the loue of the truth that they might be saued and therefore God shall send them strong delusion that they should beleeue lies and further in that chapter he sheweth that there must be a departure from the faith before the comming of our Lord Iesus Christ and because the same departure was to happen shortly after hee warneth them that the mystery of iniquitie did then already worke He foretelleth also that in the last daies shal come perilous times 2. Tim. 3. wherin men of corrupt mindes and reprobates concerning the faith shall resist the truth but they shall preuaile no longer saith he for their madnesse shal be euident to all men and after that he saith the tyme will come 2. Tim. 4. when they will not suffer wholesome doctrine but hauing their eares itching shall after their owne lustes get them an heape of teachers and shall turne their eares from the truth and shal be giuen vnto fables It is written in S. Peter there shal be false teachers among you 2. Pet. 2. which priuely shall bring in damnable heresies euen denying the Lord 1. Iohn 2. that hath bought them and in S. Iohn as ye haue heard that Antichrist shall come euen now saith he are there many Antichrists Leaue then to demaunde how that may come to passe which ye see is come to passe and which is agreeable to mans naturall corruption to the ordinary conditiō of the Church and which must needes come to passe as the Prophecies must needes be true But iudge now if it be graunted you frō aboue whether we liue in the time of all these prophecies or no. See whether the branch of the fig-tree is tender and the leaues come forth Weigh whether ye breathe out any words but the words of men who seeke the ransome of your soules elswhere than in Christ who are not learned nor deuout but in your fansies and desires for your munkeries doctrines and deuotions are onely founded on the desire of man iudge whether ye that enioy this world at pleasure do persecute are of the crue of Antichrist or els the Reformed whom ye pill spoyle and sacke whom ye cast out of their houses whom ye chase out of the world who suffer at your hands endlesse vexation and who breathe out nothing but the word of God My children let vs do as Ezechias Iosias and other good kings of Israel did when they went about to set the Church in order they ouerskipped all mens traditions receiued and practized in the Church and searched out the word of God that lay before buried in darkenes and according to that word alone reformed the Church let vs looke back on the stone from whence we were cut of let vs bring our mother back to her former husband let vs returne together to the water of Siloe to wit Iesus Christ and his word Saint Iohn biddeth vs not to stand fast in the traditions and commaundements which we shall finde in the Church but in that which we haue heard from the beginning that which we haue heard from the beginning is the word of God Let vs hie fast and stand to it prescription of time or contrary custome cannot abate one iote of th'auctoritie trueth and power thereof it cannot deceiue vs we shall neuer want excuse before God if we rule our selues by

Lord gardeth them day and night I tell you that you fret fume to no end and imagine vaine things ye conceiue chaff and bring forth stubble your counsels shall deuoure you as fire God shall come forth as a geant and shall lift vp his wrath as a man of warre and shall triumph he shall scatter you abroad deuour you he shall make you eat your own flesh make you dronken with your owne bloud he shall take the cup of rage frō their hand make you drink the dregs he shall leaue your name in execration to the chosen he shall breake your stafe and persecute you without ceasing he shall sweepe you with a broome that destroyeth the earth shall swallow vp your pursuings the end thereof shall turne to ioy and gladnesse for the faithfull to euerlasting condemnation teares gnashing of teeth and horrible torments for the persecutors for you if ye continue your euil beginnings I iudge you not I leaue you to the iudgement of the Lord by his Prophets and by wise Salomon Sap. 17. who saith thus when the vnrighteous thought to haue thine holy people in subiection they were bound with the bands of darkenesse and long night and being shut vp vnder the roofe did lie there to escape the euerlasting prouidence there doeth the wiseman declare that the faithfull do not but taste of miseries in comparison of the persecutours that are made drunken therewith if then ye esteeme their miserie great iudge with trembling feare how much greater miserie abideth you 2. Thes 1. S. Paul also iudgeth you when he saith that it is a righteous thing with God to recompence tribulation to them that trouble the faithfull and to them that are troubled rest with the Apostles when God shall shew himselfe from heauen with his mighty Angels in flaming fire rendring vengeaunce vnto them that do not know God and which obey not vnto the Gospel of Iesus Christ which shal be punished with euerlasting perdition from the presence and from the glorie of his power Likewise Luke 7. our Sauiour himselfe iudgeth you with these thundering words shall not God auenge his elect which crie day and night vnto him yea though he suffer long for thē I tell you he will auenge them quickly 4. Esd 15. Neither is the saying in Esdras to be omitted behold my people is lead as a flock to the slaughter as they do yet this day vnto my chosen so will I do also recompence them in their bosome thus saith the Lord God my right hand shall not spare the sinners neither shall the sword cease from them that shed innocent bloud vpon earth To be short heil awayteth for the great beast and them that warre for her the bottomlesse pit gapeth for great Babylon as in the Reuclation is declared at large The zele of the Lord of hostes shal bring these things to passe Come foorth then from her also ye other children of mine least ye be partakers of her plagues and swallowed vp with her Set your selues by the lambs side that ye may be partakers of his glory and rather follow trueth than shadowes showes and lies Behold the time of the Lord that cōmeth his fury burneth and is too heauie to beare his lips are filled with indignation and his tongue is like a deuouring fire his iudgement commeth on you smal time and occasion is left you to repent In steade of continuing your raging persecutions do as S. Paul did Act. 9. he had receiued a commission to destroy the faithfull that were at Damascus he armed himselfe and was accompanied with armed and violent men he iourneyed to performe his enterprise and lo he commeth to Damascus to search the faithfull out not to persecute but to loue them to conferre and be instructed with them being inflamed with loue towardes that doctrine that had afore inflamed him with hatred towards them And thus seeke ye the death and destruction of the Reformed no longer shun not their company any more but seeke them forth and draw nigh to them that ye may liue and be instructed with them in the puritie of the Gospell ye persecute the selfe same Christ the selfe same Gospel which S. Paul did and so may ye be called as he was if ye be of Gods chosen And seeing it is not the pleasure of God to geue our king a sonne in steade of raging as hetherto ye haue done because the Princes nighest the crowne are Reformed are Gospellers reioyce ye hoping that peraduenture God will vse this meane to aduaunce the kingdome of his word And be not afraide for that some Princes are wont to bring fire sword and the halter to inlarge their religion and make it preuaile for if they would do so they should hurt their religion they should sinne against God and his word according to which onely they rule their zele The word forbiddeth them as heretofore we largely declared to employ violence on the consciences the word teacheth them that it is strong inough to bring to God those that perteine to his election that the kingdome and conquest of consciences is reserued to the word and the holy Ghost and not to carnall weapons that the duetie of men herein is to inuite men to God mildly by preachings and admonitions by examples of good life and gentle behauiour and leaue the rest to the holy Ghost They know it not but too well what a displeasure it is to any to haue his conscience compelled and that such compulsion is vnprofitable yea bringeth forth effects cleane contrary to their hope that vse it For this cause in the lands vnder their obedience in their armies in their houses they let their Subiects and seruants liue in libertie of their consciences and exercise of their religion and doo receiue indifferently both the one and the other the Catholike and Reformed making vertue the onely difference wherby they chuse or refuse Againe why shoulde you feare to be hardly vsed by them that are your naturall and lawfull Princes hee that commeth to any possession lawfully dooth alway set before his eves in his enioyment the preseruation of that which he lawfully enioyeth yee know the goodnesse of their nature euen in warre the truth of their deserts hath bene so great and mighty as hath forced their very enemies to cōfesse it which is more to make it knowen to the world Aduersitie is the true scholemaister of vertue nothing in this world teacheth a man better how to vse his prosperitie thē his knowledge experiēce of the cōtrary ye know how lōg time they haue bin vnder this master ye know by their actions by the voice of the people by the witnes of all their enemies how much they haue profited in this discipline and namely the king of Nauarre I may speake it with th'acknowledgement of your consciences with the truth that he excelleth in all the parts required in a good Prince the choyse and wishes of men