not one
of vs all which hath receiued christendome vnder such a
couuenaunt and condicion / that with it he shuld haue and holde
in safetie his lyfe / his ritches / and dignities without
perseqution: it is saide vnto vs / and in this case as a lawe
layed vppon vs all /

[[Math. 16.]]

that Except we do renownce and vtterly forsake all our thinges
and take vpp our crosses and folow christe / we can not be his
disciples / and except we do lose our lyues we shall not saue
them.

This verily / this must we determyn with our selues / this must
we appoint our selues vnto / to do and abide this must we caste
our acompt / To this euery christian must be so readie and
bent / that he shuld not doubt / no not deliberate or take
aduise of this matier.

[[Ciprian.]]

That example of Cyprian is to be sett before our eyes: When he
was brought vnto the place wher he shuld suffer deathe / The
magistrate being very desirus indede to deliuer hym from
deathe / sayde vnto hym. Now I do gyue the space to deliberate
and aduise thi self well / whether thow wilt thus Wrechedly
dye / or obey / and be let go free. To whom this godly man
answered. In so holy a thinge / ther is no deliberacion or
aduise to be taken. This readines must euery christian haue in
this case to beare the crosse and to followe Christe as Christes
disciple. Trulye they whiche be not this wise mynded / but to
saue their lyues and goodes do defile them selues with masses /
and wicked supersticions / art greuouslye punished for it euen
presentlie:

[[a greuus punishement.]]

firste their owne conscience dothe miserably torment them.
Secondlie the light of goddes truithe which was opened vnto
their mynde is by lytell and lytell put owt. Then the loue of
the truithe and the hate of falshode waxeth colde in them.
fourthly their mynde becommith nomore displeased or vnquieted
for the euill that they do / but they begynne to please them
selues in this their euill and dissemblinge / yea and do go
aboute to persuade others vnto the same. Laste of all they begyn
to hate them which do not harcken to their aduise and counsell /
which is to do as they do / yea and they stirre vp againste them
sharpe perseqution / for so moche as in them lyethe. This hathe
bene the moste vnhappie ende of many. But this is not the end of
all their miserie / as ye may well perceyue / if ye do consider
what is appointed to be their perpetuall porcion / which shalbe
payed them full truly i