adscribed vnto them. Then by silence also is Christe and
Christes worde denyed / namely when vppon occasion offered we do
not deffende the glorie of the name of Godd and of the truythe
known againste the ennemis of Godd and sclaunderers of the worde
of Godd.

[[A. Neuter.]]

For in this case it is lawfull for no man to be a / neuter / as
they call it. In the most auncient lawes of Solon which were at
Athens grauen in postes of woode / the which also ons made by
hym the Athenienses ordeygned vnder great religion and punishment
that they shuld contynue for euer: one lawe Aristotle doth
report to be writon in this sence. That if throughe discorde the
poeple shuld be deuided into too partes / and eich partie shuld
take armour / then he which did not ioyne himself to the one
partie / but slipp asyde separated from the common euell of the
cytie / he shall lose howse / countrithe / and goodes / and be
an exile and a banished man. Mutch les is it lawfull for them
which haue professed the name of Christe / and are signed with
holy baptisme / in that fierce fight betwene Christe and
Antichriste to slippe a syde / and to ioyne himself vnto neither
partye. That same newtralitie doth seame truly to be wisdom to
many children of this worlde / but indeede it is folyshnes / yea
it is a very denying of Christ / by which they do exclude
themselues out of that heauenly countrithe / they spoile
themselues of all spirituall riches / and make themselues exiles
and banished men.

[[Math. 26.]]

For Christe and his truithe is denyed either by dissemblinge: as
when Peter was charged by the mayde that he was one of the number
of the disciples / and he answered I wote not what thow sayest.
He knew verily what she sayed / but being bewitched with a
certayne feare / he fayned that he knewe not the thing which he
did know very well. Euen so truly at this daye many do saye that
they are more simple then that they can vnderstond the
dissension in religion and gyue answer of all controuersies: But
they do vnderstond so mutch as sufficith: yet for the ieoperdies
which be at hand / or for sum vayne feare / they do fayne that
they do not vnderstonde. Neither wer it necessarie for euery one
to answer to all darcke or hard thinges / which thing they which
are well exercised can not do / it sufficith to confesse thos
thinges which be open and playne. Ther is also a coloured
denyinge when we playyng the foxes with foxes do confes verely
sumwhat