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For as the reprobate hypocrites, by their being in the churches, do not hinder, but that they still remaine true churches: so neither the dissentions, which are raised in the churches by the vngodlie, or which through frailtie or
ignorance doe spring among the Saints them∣selues, can extinguish the same: which verie thing the Apostle teacheth, whenas speaking of the ministers of the true churches, he saith, that vpon the same foundation some do build gold, sil∣uer, and pretious stones: other wood, stubble & haye: and to the Philippians hauing declared the summe of christian doctrine, and exhorted all men, that who so had profited therein, should persist in it: afterwards he addeth, and if any be otherwise minded, God shall reueale the same vnto them, if we abide in the same vvhereunto vvee are come. For else, if we should denie, there, to bee anie true church where contentions about re∣ligion are stirred vp: then was there no church at Corinth in Paules time: where there were not onely diuisions verie rife, one saying, I am of Paule, another of Cephas, another of Apollo: but also maruailous controuersies rose concer∣ning religion: Nor yet in Gallatia because im∣mediatly after those churches were passing well planted by Paule, there sprang vp in them seducers, and heresies: lastly, neither yet could there be said to be any churches in the East, or in the West: because they were neuer voide of contentions, not only betweene the catho∣licks and the heretikes, such as arose from the catholicks, but also euen among the godly fa∣thers themselues: as the histories doe plenti∣fully make mention: in so much that for these dissentions and sects, the christians were wōt to bee skoffed at in the theaters and stages a∣mong
the infidells: as also at this day wee are all derided for the same cause, among the Turkes and Iewes. But as in the primitiue church, by those contentions of the christians it was no consequence, that therefore they were not the people of God: so, neither at this time by ours can any man prooue it iustlie a∣gainst vs: but that indeede the contrarie may rather be concluded, because it is the proper∣tie of good wheat, that is, of the gospell, wher∣by Gods people are gathered into his church, that where it is sowen, there straight waies in the same field, doeth the enemie Satan sowe cockle vpon it. And surely neuer in any place or sooner were heard the Simons, Menanders, Ebions, Cerinthians, Valentinians, and such plagues: thē in the church, and after the prea∣ching of the gospell. Neither could the church of this present world be truely called the mi∣litant church, vnlesse it had both at home and abroade with whome it shoulde continually fight.