and torments , we fhould alfo beevillintreated by tiiofc, of whom fome comfort was rjther to be looked loffes,
griefs
for. But that ancient
enemic ofthe Church is farre decei-
by whofefubtilties this evill is alio wrought for us
while he hopeth that we may by his crafts be overwhelmed. But bearing our felves bold on thatlovejwhich the merciful! God through lefus Chrift our Lord beareth untous, and who hath planted a love and feare of him in our mindesjwe leap for joy in thefe very things, and boaft with the Apoftle, thatit will never be, (the fame grace of Godalwaies preventing us) that tribulation, angui(h,hunger, nakedncfTe, thefword, falfe accufation , orcurfed ipeaking fhall withdraw us from the truth once knowne and undertaken. For we know that faying of Chy^fejlgme to be true, // is n$t evill, tofuffer, but to doe evtU, Neither are we any whit dilgraced hereby,but they whom 1 know not what diftemperature whettethagaiuft us having deferred nothing, and to repay them like for like, quitting ray ling with rayling, far be it from us, whom God vouchfafeth this honour, that being faihioned like to the image his Son we might through good report and evill report walkeon , upholden with the ftay of a good confcience, yea we have refolved with our felves not only to abide the open wrongs ofour enemies,but even the difdaine of our brethren, although never fo unjuft. And what we furthermore thinke of the dodirine of our Lord lefiis Chrifl, the confefEon of cur faith, {qz forth many yeers agoe,hath made it known to the wholeworld and we have God , and Angels together with men,witnefres of that fincere endeavour,by which we laboured,and doe as yet,to the uttermofl of our power, labour to fet up againe and maintaine the pure worftiip of God among us ont of Gods word. And, even as we (hewed our felves to be ready at all times 4