First Blast of the Trumpet against the monstrous regiment of Women | Page 9

of the world; iuste cause had euerie one of
them to haue ceased frome their office. For sodeinlie their doctrine was
accused by termes of sedition, of newe learning, and of treason:
persecution and vehement trouble did shortlie come vpon the
professours with the preachers[n]: kinges, princes and worldlie rulers
did conspire against God and against his anoynted Christ Iesus. But
what? Did any of these moue the prophetes and Apostles to faynt in
their vocation? no. But by the resistance, whiche the deuill made to
them by his suppostes, were they the more inflamed to publishe the

truthe reueled vnto them and to witnesse with their blood, that greuous
condemnation and Goddes heuie vengeance shuld folowe the proude
contempt of graces offred. The fidelitie, bold courage, and constancie
of those that are passed before vs, oght to prouoke vs to folowe their
footsteppes, onles we loke for an other kingdome then Christ hath
promised to such as perseuere in profession of his name to the end. Yf
any think that the empire of women, is not of such importance, that for
the suppressing of the same, any man is bounde to hasarde his life, I
answer, that to suppresse it, is in the hand of god alone. But to vtter the
impietie and abomination of the same, I say, it is the dutie of euerie true
messager of God, to whome the truth is reueled in that behalfe. For the
especiall dutie[o] of Goddes messagers is to preache repentance, to
admonishe the offenders of their offenses, and to say to the wicked,
thou shalt die the death, except thou repent. This, I trust, will no man
denie to be the propre office of all Goddes messagers to preache (as I
haue said) repentance and remission of synnes. But nether of both can
be done, except the conscience of the offenders be accused and
conuicted of transgression. For howe shall any man repent not knowing
wher in he hath offended? And where no repentance is founde[p], there
can be no entrie to grace. And therfore I say, that of necessitie it is, that,
this monstriferouse empire of women, (which amongest all enormities,
that this day do abound vpon the face of the hole earth, is most
detestable and damnable) be openlie reueled and plainlie declared to
the world, to the end that some may repent and be saued. And thus farre
to the first sorte.
[Sidenote q: The propertie of Goddes truth.] [Sidenote r: 2. Reg. 6.]
[Sidenote s: Mat. 14.] [Sidenote t: Rum. 1.] [Sidenote u: The ignorant
multitide hath set up the authoritie of women not knowinge the danger.]
To such as thinke that it will be long before such doctrine come to the
eares of the chief offenders, I answer that the veritie of God is of that
nature, that at one time or at other, it will pourchace to it selfe audience.
It is an odour and smell, that can not be suppressed[q], yea it is a
trumpet that will sound in despite of the aduersarie. It will compell the
verie ennemies to their own confusion, to tes tifie and beare witnesse of
it. For I finde that the prophecie and preaching of Heliseus was
declared in the hall of the king of Syria by the seruantes and flatterers
of the same wicked king[r], making mention that Heliseus declared to

the king of Israel, what so euer the said king of Syria spake in his most
secret chamber. And the wonderous workes of Iesus Christ were
notified to Herode[s], not in any greate praise or commendation of his
doctrine, but rather to signifie that Christ called that tyranne a fox: and
that he did no more regarde his authoritie then did Iohn the Baptist,
whom Herode before had beheaded for the libertie of his tonge. But
whether the bearers of the rumors and tidinges were fauourers of Christ
or flatterers of the tyranne, certain it is that the fame, as well of Christes
doctrine, as of his workes came to the eares of Herod: euen so may the
sounde of our weake trumpet, by the support of some wynd (blowe it
from the south or blowe it from the northe it is no mater) come to the
eares of the chief offenders. But whether it do or not, yet dare we not
cease to blowe as God will giue strength[t]. For we are debters to mo
then to princes, to witte, to the multitude of our brethren, of whome, no
doubte a greate nomber haue here to fore offended by errour and
ignorance, geuing their suffragies, consent and helpe to establishe
women in their kingdomes and empires[u], not vnderstanding howe
abominable, odious and detestable is all such vsurped authoritie in the
presence of God. And therfore must the