A Very Pleasaunt Fruitful Diologe Called the Epicure | Page 3

God, and saye with the vertuous man
Iob. Wee will not bee ageynst the woordes of the holy one. Truth it is,
God taketh diligent care too haue vs al know his woord. Woulde God
therfore, that all wee were now willing to haue the syncere woorde of
God & all holsom doctrine too go forward. O that all we would consent
togither in the Gospell, brotherly admonishyng, and secretelye
prouokyng one an other too true religion & vertue. O that no man
would sow emongist the people pernitious doctryne, but with all lowly
diligêce and Godlye monition euer prouoke, tempt, and stere them, tyll
their heartes were remoued frõ their olde dautyng dreames and
supersticiõ, which haue been long grafted in them thorow popyshe
doctrine. By this meane wee shuld euer haue concorde emongist vs,
whiche in all thynges is necessary, but most nedefull and expedient in
Gods holi woord. Now truely the godlyest thynge that can bee deuysed,

for any christian realme, is to haue emongist them one maner and ||
fourme of doctryne, & too trace trueli the steppes of God and neuer to
seeke any other bywayes. Who hath not redde in ye scriptures? but that
realme is endued with godly ornamentes & riches, where all men
prospere, go for ward and florishe in gods woord, delectyng day and
night in the swete cõsolations of the holy testament. By this way we
shuld especially set forth the glory of God, and of our sauiour Iesu
Christ, if we would reuerently shew one an other that whiche God hath
taught vs. Yea & in this doyng all men shulde well perceaue that we
were the true disciples of Christ, being knitte and coupled fast together
in mynde and iudgement, preachyng God with one mouth and also with
one assent euer promotyng his gloryous testament. O the good happe
and grace of that king or prynce emongist whose subiectes there is such
an hole consent and iudgement in the woord of God, for that most
assuredly byndeth & adiuigneth ye hartes of al subiectes too their kyng.
The strength of the Gospell is euen suche in this puincte, || that there
was neuer man, which did humily receaue it, that would murmour
ageynst his Prince. It teacheth how wyllyngly all men shulde obey their
kyng. It sheweth verye lyuely and most apertly vnto euery man his ful
dutie. It euer prouoketh vs from all wicked, cursed, and most obstinate
disobedience. It euer instructeth men too shewe them selues most lowly,
humile, and obesaunt toward their Prynce. Whosoeuer hath tasted fully
therof, will declare hym selfe in al thynges, too bee a faithful subiect.
Furthermore, it is clearer then the light (most vertuous prince) that it
woulde make muche for the weale of this noble realme, yf all mê with
heart and mynde, would nowe as well expulse the pernitious and
deuelyshe doctryne af that Romishe bishop, as his name is blotted î
bookes. There is none so ignoraunt, but he knoweth that, thorough hym
we were brought into a wõderful blindnes, thorough hym we did sauer
of nothyng, but of stynkyng Ydolatry, through hym we were deceiued
with || false Ypocrisie. Now let euery blind stiffe hearted, and obstinate
creature compare his abhomination with the gospell, and if he be not
shameles, he will abashe to smell of his papistrie, and to walow still in
ignoraunce, vn lest he bee priuely confederate and in heart consent with
the detestable felowship of al wicked papistes. Now would God all
suche men would reduce ageyn their heartes vnto ye gospell of Christ,
would god they would bee prouoked by some meane to desire

knowledge. O that god woulde yeoue them a couragious mynde too
reade the gospel, there they shal sone fynde all the venoume of the
romishe sort most playnely detected. Forsoth wee see dayly, that lacke
of knowledge of the gospel maketh some busserdes runne hedlong on
all rockes, daungers, & extreme perilles: yea, and beside that, olde
popysh doctryne whiche lyeth folded vp & locked faste in their heartes,
doeth so sore blynd thê that they haue neither fauour ne affectiõ too
printe in their myndes, the expressed coûcels, admonitions, and ||
preceptes of the holy scripture, but too slepe stil in their owne conceites,
dreames, & fonde phansies. Wherfore let your dignitie note well this,
that all those whiche bee not wyllyng that gods woord should bee
knowen, and that blyndenes should be clean expulsed from all men,
whiche be baptised in ye blessed bludde of Christ, bewray themselues
playne papistes: for in very deede that most deceatful wolfe and graund
maister papist with his totiens quotiens, and a pena et culpa blesseth all
suche as will bee blynde stil, maintaine his põpe, drinke of his cuppe of