true that already they are so exposed that all their authority is almost lost in
CHAPTER 5: Persecution Reproach and the Worlds Praise
true that already they are so exposed that all their authority is almost lost in several places. And in fact, there is not a single Papist in the world today, who honors either these mitred prelates, or the corruption of the priesthood, which we call: there is (say) no Papist who honors them out of good devotion:
but we know that all their inventions are forged by men: and yet, that they must be left there as they are. However, whatever may be, they still retain this name of Prelates and Bishops. However, therefore, they will release their excommunications against us. Well? If we were not equipped with this doctrine, what would it be? we would find it strange. Is it possible (shall we say) that for the truth of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ, who is the salvation of the world, we are thus cast out, that we are held as execrable, and that it seems that the earth must no longer support us? But we see what happened to all the prophets, we see what the Apostles experienced, and those who followed in their path. But we are not privileged above them, so let us walk where. God calls us, and may it be enough for us when we are absolved by him, even though everyone condemns us, and let us boldly treat all the excommunications with contempt of the Pope, and its followers, knowing that we are all the more approved of God, when we are rejected by such beasts: and that being separated from all their stinking, we come so much closer to our Lord Jesus Christ, to be participants in his purity. And even in this regard we see what happened to him to whom our Lord Jesus Christ had restored his sight. For when he confessed that he who had healed him could not be wicked, because God would not have heard him, that it was therefore necessary that he was sent from God, because he had testimony of being a holy Prophet. When this poor man (I say) has made such a confession, he is excommunicated, he is dismissed, it seems that he is not worthy to walk on earth: he is driven out of this rabble, who nevertheless call themselves Priests of the Law, and Prelates of the church: and here is Jesus Christ who meets him. And so let us not doubt that we will be gathered from the Son of God, whenever we are rejected by men, and by the servants of the devil, who only ask to bring such confusion to the world, that we can no longer discern between God and idols, and that all true religion be abolished.
In short, this is what we have to remember, which is that our lives are not precious to us, when it is a question of us being afflicted in order to bear witness to the truth, in which our salvation, our happiness, and all our glory consists. And then, when we are degraded by the world, may our honor not be in such a recommendation to us that we do not bear the slanders that will be brought against us, or even provided that we always walk as before God, and that we have