Sum of the Christian Faith, Treatise 1 · Conclusion
¶ The concluſion of that is aforeſayde.
THeſe things conſydered, I hope by the grace of God, that all men of a ſounde iudgement, may eaſily know by the conference, aſwell of the doctrine, as of the exterior gouernement, on which ſyde the verity of God doth ſtande, and what ſlanders they bring vponupon vsus, againſt all reaſon. Wherefore we requyre in the name of God, thoſe which by ignorance hetherto hauehave perſecuted the innocents, to hauehave more regarde to them ſelues, and to the iudgement of God, which is to come. If they be kinges, Princes, or other noble and worſhypfull men, that they wyll ſo much the more bee dillygent to heare the verity, which only may make them long time & haply to raign: and alſo take héede of thoſe which vnderunder a falſe ſemblance of Relygion doo abaſe and bring vnderunder the ſcepters and crownes of kinges, to theyr boods, hats, miters, and croſſes: yea ſo far as to make them ſerue to their inſatiable couetouſneſſe and extréeme crueltye. If they be Iudges and magiſtrates, let them conſider for the honor of God, that when they ſhal come to render a count of theyr iudgementes, it ſhalbe a poore defence or excuſe for thē agaynſt the wrath of God, to alledge that they hauehave hen but the mynyſters of the lawes and ſtatutes which them ſelues dyd not make. This is the excuſe of ſuch as doo ſet other a worke to ſhed innocent bloud. If they be priuate perſons, let them vnderſtand that where ther is no vnderſtanding or godly knowledge to render a reaſon of his fact, there can be no zeale of God, but a very wilful rygour, for the whiche they ſhall geue accomptes. And at the leaſt let them take the leyſour to conferre the lyues of thoſe vppon whome they hauehave béene ſo cruell (without vnderſtanding) and what was theyr caſe with thoſe other whiche hauehave prouoked them to be polluted with innocent bloud: and by that meanes they ſhall iudge the tree according to the fruit.
Concerning thoſe whiche by a wylfull malice hauehave conſpired againſt the trueth and extende all theyr power to anymate and ſturre vp kings and princes againſt vsus, but the onelye Lorde hath kepte his Churche againſt theyr rage and fury betherto, and wyll do to the worldes ende.
Notwithſtanding, let them enterpriſe and doo all that they may, & doo the worſt to vsus they can. Which is to cutte vsus of and deſtroye vsus vtterlye: for that is the beſt we hope to hauehave at their hands. But if it pleaſe the Lorde they ſhall winne no other thing, but in deſpyte of them our poore Paper in the ende ſhall quenche their fyres, our pennes ſhall breake their ſwords in their hands, our patience ſhall vanquiſhe their crueltie, and they ſhall ſée with their eyes, that trueth ſhall hauehave the victorie, and their wicked kingdome ouerthrowen. For it muſt néedes be, wyl they, nyll they, that this worde pronounced by the Sonne of God be fulfylled, euerie plant which my heauenly Father hath not planted, ſhalbe pluckt vp: ſuche is that fayth for the whiche we ſuffer, in the which we nowe lyue in, and hope to dye, to lyue for euer.
FINIS.