strayned out a gnat, and swallowed downe a camell. And these men think it an heynous offence to weare a cap or a surplisse, but in slaun∣dering and backbyting their brethren, in rayling on them by libels, in contemning of superiors, and discrediting such as be in authoritie: to be short, in disquieting the Churche and state, they haue no consci∣ence. The Phariseis separated themselues from the common sort of men, as more holy, and contemned the poore Publicanes as sinners: And therefore some learned interpreters thinke, that they be called Pharisaei, quasi segregati, quòd vitae sanctimonia, à vulgi moribus & vita separati essent, non aliter at{que} monachi, quos Chartusianos vocant. They be called Phariseis as separated and de∣uided from the commō sort in holynes of life, much like vnto the Monkes, which be called Carthusians. And Iosephus saith that they were called Phariseis, bycause they seemed to be more holy than other, and more cunningly to expound the law. Also he saythe thys to be one proper∣tie of theirs, that whatsoeuer their owne reason perswadeth them, Id sequuntur pertinaciter, that they stubbornly follow. Agayne he sayth that they be astutum hominum genus, arrogans, & interdum Regibus quo{que} infestum, &c. A subtile kynde of men, arrogant, and sometimes enimies to kings and rulers: These men separate themselues also from the congregation, and will communi∣cate with vs neither in prayers, hearing the word nor sacraments: they contemne and despise all those that be not of their sect, as pollu∣ted, and not worthy to be saluted, or kept company with: and there∣fore some of them meeting their old acquaintance, being godly prea∣chers, haue not only refused to salute them, but spit in their faces, wishing the plague of God to light vpon them, and saying that they were damned, and that God had taken his spirit from them, and all this, bycause they did weare a cappe: wherefore when they talke of Phariseis, they plucke themselues by the noses. But Lord, what a straunge time is this, when such as they be, dare thus boldly publish libells against their superiours for mainteining and executing good and godly lawes.
The conclusion of this preface is a stoute, presumptuous and ma∣lapert threatning, in my opinion, not to be suffered: But howsoeuer your pen and tongue walketh, yet I pray you holde your handes, or else. &c.
T. C. Pag. 177. Sect. 1. 2.
Whereas M. Doctor compareth vs with the Phariseys, and saythe we do all to be seene of men, and that we hold downe our heads in the streates, and straine at a gn〈1 line〉〈1 line〉t swallowing downe a Camell, bycause they are in all mens knowledge, I will leaue it to them to iudge of the truthe of those things. Where he saith we seldome or neuer laugh, it is not therefore that we thinke that it is not lawfull to laugh, but that the considerations of the calamities of other churches, and of the ruines of ours, with the heauie iudgements of the Lord which hang ouer vs, ought to turne our laughing into weeping, besides that a man may laugh although he shew not his teeth. And so Ie∣rome in effect answereth in an epistle which he wrote, where vpon occasion that certaine vsed the same accusation that M. Doctor doth, he saith, bycause we do not laugh with open mouth, there∣fore we are counted sadde.
And where he saith we separate our selues from all congregations, and are ennimies to prince, and that we would seeme to be holyer thā other, these and such like slaunders are answered before. And if there be any that refuse to salute godly preachers, or spit in any mans face, or wish the plague of God to light vpon them, or say that they be damned, we defend not, nor allow of any such behaui∣oure. And it is vnreasonable that the fault of one, should be imputed to so many, and to those which do as much mislike of it as M. Doctor himselfe. And what needed M. Doctor to bid the authors of these exhortations to hold their hands, where do they in a worde offer to strike? Belike hys tongue is his owne, and therefore he speaketh whatsoeuer he listeth.