Colos. 1. 6.
The text.
That is come vnto you, as also ∴ in the whole world it is, and fructifieth and groweth, euen as in you, since that day that you heard and knew the grace of God in truth.
The note.
He sheweth that the Church and Christs gospell should daily growe, and be spred at length through the whole world, which cannot stand with the heretikes opinion of the decay thereof so quickly after Christs time, nor agree by any meanes to their obscure conuenticles. See S. Augu∣stine epist. 80. in fine.
The answer.
It is true that Christs faith did grow and spread in the whole world: yet you your selues will confesse, that it doth not alwaies spread alike. For I know you will except our times. And we wil except the times, wherein the Arrians florished, who (as you re∣port) continued longer, and was better defended by princes and worldly power than we are now. Then it cannot be a question how quickly some corruptions grew, but whether any great di∣minution,