Commentary on True and False Religion
COMMENTARY ON TRUE AND FALSE RELIGION
(March , 1 525) [ DE V E
RA ET FALSA R ELIGION E
Huldrychi Z ui ng l ij Com
menta ri u s .
I ndi cem ca pi tum totia s operi s i n u e ni es i n fin e li bri .
TIGVRI i n aedi bus Ch ri s toph eri Fr o sch on er .
An n o M
. D . XXV .
M ens e M ar-ti c .
Veni te ad m e omne s qui la bora tis cf one r a ti es ti s , é eg o r eq uiem v obis pr aes ta bo.
M a tt 1 1 .
45 6 octavo pag es , of wh ich pag es -446 .
The number s jump from 320 to 33 1 . Pa ge 1 , 1 8 452 a re numbered 2 Titl e ; pag es 2 - 15 , Dedication ; pag es 1 5 - 1 6 , To the r eader ; pag es
-452 , Tex t ; pag es
-45 4, Errata ; pag e 455 , I ndex ; p ag e 456 , Frosch a uer 's pri nter s device.
Another edi ti on was pri nted i n 1 525 , enti tl ed :
DE VERA
ET FAL SA
RELI
GIONE , HUL DRYCHI
Z ui ng l ij Commenta ri u s . I M a tth .
X I .
Veni te ad m e omnes gwi la bor a ri a one ra ti es tis , (f eg o r equiem v obi s s pri nt er s device.
TIGVRI EX OFFICINA
pr a es ta bo.
Then Frosch ouer '
FROSCHOVIANA.
At th e end Of the ded icati on to F ranci s I . s igned
Ea:
Tig ur o, Anna M
. D . XXV.
45 6 octavo p ag es , of wh ich p ag es
a re numbered 1 -437; p ages 453 -454, I ndex ; pag es 455 -456 bl a nk . Pri nted i n Opera Z wi ng lii , tom . II , fol . 1 58b
-242b ; Sch ul er and S chultes s cd . , vol . 3 , pp .
147-325 ; Eg l i -Fi nsler cd . , vol .
3, pp .
-9 12 .
A Ge rma n edi ti on, t ransl ated by L eo Jud and p ubli sh ed by Fros ch a u er m 1 526 h a s th e ti tle :
Von war em a nd fa lsch em Glou ben Comm en ta ri us , dz i s t, u nd err ic h tu ng , Hu ldyr ch Z wi ng li ns .
Ver tu ' tsch et du rch L eon em Jud Getruckt z u Z il rich by Chr i s tofiel Fr oschauer , M
. D . XXVI
— 6 08
octavo pag es , of which pag es 29 -605 a re number ed by l eaves .
On pag es 2 6 -28 i s L eo Jud 's ded icati on to Wi lh elm v on Zell .
For th e chapter on
the E uchari st Jud used a. tra n sl ati on by three unknown per sons, of which three editi ons were publi shed by Fros ch auer i n
152 5 .
A pa rti al modern Germa n t ra n sl ati on by Wal ter Kohl er i s i n Ulri ch Zwi ng li :
Ei ne Au swa hl Gus s ei nen Schriften, Zurich, 1 918, pp .
484 -608.
Th e foll owi ng Engli sh transl ati on , made by M r .
Henry Preble, was revi sed by th e editor . ] To the most Christian King of France , Francis, the first of that name, grace and peace from the Lord .
Huldreich Zwingli .
Th e Wo rks of H uld reich Zwi ng li
E all know, most illustrious King, what an impertinence it is for one Of the crowd to venture to address One of the great leaders in the Christian world as in these days we see n ot a few doing, who un der color of a Christian professi on persist in obtruding upon men Of eminence in ways the very eflrontery
of which shows that they have not a particle of Christi an spirit .
For the Christian spirit causes no annoyance, so far is it from asserting itself in a forward or disrespectful manner .
Yet we know, too, how outrageous and utterly unworthy Of him it i s for a prince to be so arrogant and swollen with pride as to suffer none to approach him except those few whom he h as chosen out
Of all mankind to advise him and to attend hi m upon every possible occasion .
For what else is this than to surround the prince with a barrier 'whi ch it is unlawful to overleap , and , indeed, in the nature of a crime to imagine oneself across ?
Who would not call such a prince the most wretched Of men , as being the slave Of those very persons who to all appearance are his slaves ?
Not that it is n ot the sacred duty Of a ki ng or a prince to hear good counsel , to reverence the Old , to honor the prudent, and to have a high regard for the wise ; but that Often
-such is human life— those wh o are honored Overmuch by princes for some un questionably real and extraordinary merit, as soon as they see they have completely won the confidence Of their prince, straightway degenerate, and take advantage Of him for their own ends .
This resul t we see at many courts .
Pardon my language .
The laws and customs Of the Kings Of the ' French are so little known to me that I am wholly ig nor ant regarding the men by whom Your Highness is hedged about .
There are, to be sure, not a few princes who are sur rounded by such a crowd Of greedy courtiers that, if an audi ence were granted, you could much more quickly get what you desire from a thousand kings than work your way through their serried ranks .
They are like the sleepless dragon that, according to the tales Of the poets , guarded the golden fleece .
Such are in these days certain bishops in mitre and purple , who so encompass the most powerful kings that it would be strange how the kings can endure the conti n ual sight of them or the bishops never leave, were it not that the latter take very great care to let no knowledge reach the kings that might betray
O n Tru e a nd Fal se R elig i on th eir artifices .
Since , however , Your Highness is proclaimed by all to be too clever to be hampered in this fashion , and too affable and kind to frighten any one away , I have put my trust in your kindness , not in my own boldness , and have determined to dedicate to you this Commentary , such as it is . This I do for many reasons :
First, you , who rule over the French , boast not without reason Of the title "Most and as , in spite Of all the haters Of Christ, I think this Commentary most Christian , it surely ought to be dedicated to none but the Most Christian
King .
Second , the peoples of France have from ancient times been reputed faithful to religion ; to wh om ,j therefore , could a
Commentary on True and False Religion have been more appropriately dedicated .
Finally, now that Germany , which
h as very great intercourse with France , has begun to Open i ts eyes to the light Of truth , I have thought that on neighborly principles France is entitled to this healing lotion , by which the light is being restored .
For , alas ! we were for a long time so crushed under the dark machinations Of covetous men that we had to endur e all things, as the people Of Israel did the Egyptian bondage . But the Author Of all things had regard for the affliction of our hearts as He had for their troubles , and brought forth the light Of His word, whereby we can determine the identity and the character Of the things that have hitherto
SO banefully imposed upon us .
Heavenly Provi dence h as this special attribute , that it gives early warning, rising up in the night, like the householder [ cf. Lk . 1 3 : and speaking sea son ably to us the things needful by the mouth
Of His servants the prophets [cf. Jer . 25 :
Yet, when we listen not to the warning, He sometimes suffers us to be vexed for a long while by those trials into which we have fal len through our di sob edi ence .
Witness the long line Of ages from Adam to Christ, whi ch hardly sufficed to allow salvation at last to shine upon man , because he had n ot listened to the loving warning n ot to eat Of the forbidden fruit [cf. Gen . 2 :
Witness the three capti viti es, the Egyptian , the Babylonian , and the Roman ,
'Cf . v ol . 1 , p . 2 74 .
TPlur al .
T h e Wo rks of H uld reich Zwi ng li which last God has so prolonged to these days that the Jews have rightly given up all hope .
Witness the folly Of our own selves , whom Christ , the apostles , and countless others with such solicitude have warned not to believe the false prophets wh o would Show us Christ , i . e. , the Anointed and Savior , far other wise than he and his have done [ cf . Mt . 24 : 24 ; II Cor . 1 1 : 4] but all in vain .
For we have taken unto us strange gods , far more absurd than any heathen nations ever had . What heathen nation ever worshipped as God a man destined to die tomorrow , or rather today , as we worship the Roman pontifl'?
Nor can we deny it .
We have called him God upon and have worshipped a man with far more honorable worship than God .
For when have emperors and kings prostrated themselves to the earth to adore the Most High God ?
It was enough to bend the knee .
Except a certain few, who kissed or embraced the feet Of Christ ?
But wh o is here admitted to an audience unless he has first licked the boots Of this g od ?
Because of our Sins , therefore , we failed to understand this abominable idolatry , and that for a long time [cf. Rom . 1 : 24
And now , when at last it has pleased the Eternal Goodness to free poor mortals from such disaster by restoring His word , as I have said , who does not see how disgracefully we have been deceived about this clear light?
Nay, wh o does not wonder that men endowed with minds and senses could have been so stupidly deceived ?
Thus , I say, does the kind providence Of God give early warning ; but when we disobey or disregard His voice , He who was just before a Father becomes an Avenger, and pursues us with disaster that continues until in the enemy
's land we recognize our fault ; and then , as soon as we have confessed our fault, He restores us to our former favor .
Therefore those who are at all wise ought frequently to review their lives , and these , if very bad, ought to be changed ; and unless this is done they may be sure that punishment awaits them before the bar .
If, on the other hand, one fashions oneself daily upon the pattern of Christ, one Should hope all things , for it is just as unlikely that "S o Pope Adria n II wa s add r es sed by a speaker at the Fifth L a tera n Cou ncil , Fou rth S es si on S ee M a n s i , S ac r oru m Conci li um Coll ec ti o , vol .
(Pa ri s , p .
762 , a nd Willi ston Walker, The R eforma ti on ( New York, p . 7.
O n Tru e a nd Fal s e R elig i on God would neglect any Of the things He h as made as it would be strange and unheard Of for a mother to forget the child sh e had borne in her womb and nursed [cf. Isa
. 49 :
Since , therefore , He never rests , never Slumbers [ cf. PS . 1 2 1 : 3 we must never be careless or asleep , but , as soon as He speaks , instantly spring up and say with Samuel , "Speak , Lord , for thy servant heareth .
Let us , therefore , Most Illustrious King , raise our eyes for a little while and look around to see whether, in view
Of the foully disordered state Of this order we call the world , we cannot from the very magnitude Of the disease comprehend h ow n eces sary a remedy was . For if that was most clearly needed , no less clearly, as we shall see , did Divine Providence in due season provide the means Of cure ; for He never loiters , never fails .
I will not Speak here Of the pontiffs, though , as they have always shamelessly arrogated the first place unto themselves , so shall they be the first to be smitten .
For this reason , and because they are sufficiently exposed in my Commentary , I will pass them by , and direct attention to the ki ngs and princes .
Y ou see then , Most Christian King, h ow almost all princes rage and in their folly commit si n , just as did the Trojans and the Greeks , the former following a youth * lost in the madness
Of his love, the later seeking to recover a harlot ] DO we not perceive the surging tide Of folly Of nations and kings ?
DO we not see the poor subjects smitten for the sins Of their kings ?
Does not greed confoun d all things , bringing under its spell all that it turns its p oisonous gaze upon , even though it gets it not within its hold , SO that nothing is safe and secure from its power ?
It casts its eye upon another
's province or ki ngdom , puts all i ts forces into the field , and does not sound a retreat till it either utterly perishes itself or utterly destroys that which it
' possessions has ever taken place without the destruction Of on e side or the other .
But , since princes ought above all things to beware Of wrong, and since wars so rashly begun cannot be carried through wi th out wrong, and since the princes themselves are usually the orig inators Of wars, who does n ot see that it is necessary for the covets ; for n o seizure Of others *Pari s , th e son Of Pri am .
THel en , the wi fe of M en el a os , ki ng of Spa rt a .
Th e Wo rks Of H uld reich Zwing li Lord to place the lamp Of His word at last in the very midst
Of us, that even the crowd may distinguish whether the conduct of their greedy princes is straight or crooked, just or unjust ?
Now I wi ll direct attention to the great mass Of humble Christian folk .
DO you see how depressed they are ?
And do you see that they have plenty Of reason to be so?
In the first place , consider, I pray you, how many and how heavy are the extortions, tributes, and taxes with which they are oppressed , that over their bodies and entire possessions greedy princes may force their way to glory and riches, and do it so lightly that even dread Hannibal seems to have held on e elephant* of more accoun t than these hold companies of men .
Though they destroy many thousands, that is reckoned as nothing, provided they attain what they desire .
And what am I to say of th e twofold Oppression they endure ?
It is not enough that all their goods are in the power Of the kings ; what the kings have left them must be exposed to the cunning Of the most aban don ed Of men .
The wolf is among us — for I will not call " him whom not even the name Of wolf can worthily characterize .
The monks are among us , some so rich that they outdo the richest in arrogance and folly , some
" or "pastor "bishop so shameless and insolent in begging that they extort through injustice what pity refused , though in accumulated wealth they are but little inferior to the richest .
For whence have they the wherewi thal to pay so many thousands for one red hat ?t The nuns are among us likewise , tearing and mangling and treading under foot the poor. people Of Christ in such fashion that, as far as the body i s concerned, it is better, it seems, to live under an impious king than under a Christian one who suffers the people entrusted to him by the Lord to be so impiously plucked to pieces .
I cannot help speaking out freely here what I think, Most Christian King .
What madness was it— for it cannot have been piety— that caused kings to allow monas teri es Of idle men to be created within their boundaries ?
If a band Of robbers had built a stronghold or two , would they not have been crushed and dispersed by whole armies ?
Though , "When Hannibal l eft Ca rth ag e i n th e spri ng of 2 18 B . C., h e to ok with him 37 el ephants . Of these only one reach ed Italy .
TTh e "cappa magn a " or Ca rdi nal s h at .
Th e Wo rks Of H uldreich Zwing li The lion will roar, saith the prophet [Amos who will not fear ?
The Lord God hath spoken ; wh o will n ot prophesy ?
The Most High , I say, h as put forth His voice ; who, then , will n ot say, "I will hear what the Lord God hath to say to me " ?
His Gospel , which to our loss has long been hid , even though the letter Of it was not hidden , He h as now brought back again , as Deuteronomy once to the Jews [cf. II Kings 22 : to cleanse the foul Of Sin .
He nowhere fails us , provided we do not fail ourselves .
He never suffers the world to be very bad with impunity, but ever warns us to mend our ways in time, before He h as prepared His rod .
They, there fore, that change their lives set free their souls ; they that fail to do so are miserably destroyed, as Sodom [cf. Gen . 1 9 : 24f.] and Nineveh [ cf. Jonah 3 : 4ff.] prove .
Wherefore we , too , must look to this on e point only, how we may transform our lives from very bad to very good .
Else shall we suffer such disaster that we shall be forced to lament with the prophet
" that we may be filled with weeping for the calamity that hath fallen upon us ?
The word Of God has never been disregarded with impunity .
Since, therefore , we now both see and hear that the true word [Jer . 9 : 1 ] "Who will give my head water, Of the true God is thriving, we shall by no means disregard it
"It is not the word Of God that these fellows preach .
Certainly, if it were the word Of God, I would receive it gladly .
Let us not be moved a jot thereby, for the very wickedness Of the whole world cries out for correction .
When , therefore , at such a time we hear a new word , it cannot be the word Of any other than God, who warns with impunity .
Suppose some on e says :
us every time we persist in our wickedness , and chastises us if we refuse to hear .
From our crimes, therefore , we can infer that God is forced to send His word and rod .
There is also another sure test, by which we see clearly that this word that has come forth at this particular time is the word of God .
I say nothing for the moment Of the imposture of certain persons who under the cover Of the word study their own interest or glory . Enough has been said already Of the corruption Of the world , which no one denies .
Since , therefore , any man can easily see that this word which we preach today is diametrically
Opposed to the vices in which we abound , it cannot be denied
O n Tru e and Fal s e R elig i on that it is the word Of God .
For this reason , Illustrious King , when I , too , saw that our world is overflowing with the most iniquitous wars and the fiercest battles , and is defil ed and unsettled wi th rapine , assault, theft, robbery , I , too , put my hand to the plough [cf.
Lk . and raised my voice so loudly that greedy Rome and the idol * worshipped there did hear, even though its hide is very thick . Hence condemnations , execrations , and excommunications on the part
Of those theo logi an s who prophesy for hire [ cf. Mic . 3 : 1 1 ] and worship the belly as their only God [ cf. Phil . which have forced me and not a few others much against our will to maintain our
cause with pen as well as tongue .
When , therefore , many men in Italy and more in your France , men so learned and pious that modesty almost made me refuse what they begged Of m e
for what can you do with a man who says , These are the pillars [Gal . 2 : and you shall write out your religious views for them " ? — when , I say, the best men on all sides , havi ng caught a whisper Of my name , were so insistent upon my pub li shi ng a pamphlet to bear witness to my own religious views , their high standing and importunity overcame my modesty, and I did my best to comply . May Your Illustrious Highness, therefore, Most Christian Ki ng, graciously accept this work , such as it is , dedicated to you .
That most holy and learned man , Hilary,I a native Of your France , once wrote to all the brethren and bishops of Germany . May it be possible for us some time to boast Of havi ng made a suitable return ! In sayi ng this , of course , I am not referring to this crude little pamphlet
Of mine, but to other writings Of learned and pious men in Ger many . But listen , pray , Most Ki ndly King ; you have in your kingdom that body of theologians Of the S orb on n e, 'r which no man can paint as it deserves .
They kn ow not tongues , yet i 'se. th e Pope.
IHil a ry Of Poi ti er s addres s ed hi s epi stl e D e S ynodi s
( 358 A . D . )
to th e bi shops Of Germany, France, and B ri tai n .
'Th ough i n th e 1 5th centu ry men from th e S orbonn e h ad demanded a 'l 'Ai lly, Nicol a s de Cl amengi s , Jean Ch arli er de Gerson ) , i n th e l 6th century th e spi rit of th e i nstituti on was reformati on of th e Church (Pi erre d altog ether different .
Dur i ng th e yea r s 15 17-1 534, th e doctor s Of th e S or bonn e condemned wri ti ng s Of Luther , E ra smu s, and M el anchth on .
Zwi ngli probably has these i n mind .
Th e Wo rks Of H uld reich Zwi ng l '
they n ot only scorn but persecute us , habitually using their own tongues to curse with the sharpness Of a serpent 's fangs .
The things we have got from the Sacred Writings they pro nounce impious , heretical , and blasphemous , though I see n o kind Of teaching more blasphemous against God than that which they follow .
Philosophy has been forbidden in the schools Of Christ [cf. Col . 2 : but these people have made it the arbiter Of the heavenly word , and that, indeed , a philos ophy which they have drawn from the last drags Of the pool ; for , my life on it ! they deal with n ot on e idea— not a single one, I say— that is worthy Of Aristotle .
SO barbarous is all that they teach , so lifeless , that you would sooner think they were telling dreams than expounding philosophy .
Bid this class Of men , I say, by every thing divine or human , act Har pocrates* a bit, lest, while you suffer them with impunity to blab out against Christ whatever comes into their heads , you find yourself incurring His displeasure .
Then , as to myself, warn them , if they care to read and refute me , not to try to do it without the help of the truly sacred Scriptures .
If they once accomplish that, they will gain a brother [cf. Mt . 1 8 : 1 5] if n ot, I shall not care a straw for all their croakings .
Y ou have also an other class of learned men , whose skill is in b eav enly, not in human , things, and who yet have everything that is Of importance to the latter, namely, skill in tongues , sim pli city Of character, and holiness Of life .
This class do you cherish , and hold nothing SO valuable as these men ; nor only keep them about yourself, save a few to confer with you upon sacred things , but assign them posts through the length and breadth of your kingdom in which to fix not upon pillars but in men 's hearts the new commands Of Christ .
Then you will see your kingdom , torn as it has been with long warfare ,1 straightway blooming again ; arrogance , vain Show, luxury, lust, debauchery, and all sins falling away ; righteousness , faith , and mercy putting forth n ew s h oots .
And never suffer your self to be drawn into the notion into which a certain man tried to draw your illustrious m oth er,j Of Opposing the teachings of
"The g od Of silence.
1A reference to the wa r between F ra nci s I a nd Cha rles V, 1 52 1 -152 6 .
TL oui se of Savoy .
At h er cou rt a nd wi th F ra nci s I , the F rench Cha n
O n T ru e a nd Fal s e R elig i o n the Gospel on the ground that it is a disturber Of the peace because in Germany everything is in confusion and no one listens to the commands Of the princes and everything is alto gether upset .
For they that talk thus serve not God but their own bellies [cf. Phil .
For this is how it is with the Gospel :
It has come down from heaven , and cannot return thither void [cf. Isa . with its work unaccomplished .
Therefore it cannot but be that wherever it is preached it is accepted Of many .
Since , therefore , the world consists Of the good and just, and of the wicked and worthless, it comes to pass that the less Of a hypocrite a man is the more readily he yields to , the gospel , whether he be one Of the good or one Of the bad . For publicans and sinners Often have preceded certain nice little saints in the Kingdom Of God .
And , indeed , those who are very bad and see that some Of their own kind have gone over to Christ pretend that they, too, have gone over , with the view Of getting themselves supported in idleness .
For the pious vigorously assist needy brethren ; indeed, unless they do so they are not pious .
Where the government, therefore , obstructs the free course Of the heavenly word, the best men turn away from the government and have regard to every thing that can preserve the heavenly teaching .
Even though it be very hard to do this , they yet do it, because they are unwilling to lose the soul 's treas ure when it has been found .
It i s on this account, perhaps, that in some places in Ger many dangerous dissensions are taking place ,
* the govern ment having attempted to prohibit the preaching of the word .
But believe me , Illustrious King , wherever the government does not attempt to curb the word , there the best men are
On the side Of the government ; and then the hypocrites and gluttons , wh o after the fashion Of the devil transform them selves into angels of light [cf. II Cor . are easily rendered harmless .
This is reckoning the gain .
If it is ' reward that any on e chooses to look for , he will find , by reading the book through , how much relief can accrue to ki ngs and nations if we cell or Antoi ne Duprat a nd th e C onstabl e Anne de M ontmorency work ed ag ai nst the i ntroducti on of evang elica l doctri ne.
Both h ad g reat i nflu ence upon Franci s I .
' War of 1524 -1525 .
"A reference to the earli er stag es of th e Pea sants
Th e Wo rks of Huldreich Zwi ng li determine to correct our ways according to the word of the gospel .
Now I pray for the safety of Your Highness and Of all your subjects .
The kingdom is the Lord 's [ cf. Mt .
6 :
DO n ot, then , act so as to destroy Hi s word in His own king dom .
Take in good part this bold way Of addressing you .
I have written especially for the good Of France ; therefore nothing could be more proper than to dedicate my produc tion to her king, that it might in no way be misconstrued .
Zurich , 1 525 .
TH E R EADER
I had given a promise , gentle reader, about a year ago , to many learned and pious men on the other side Of the Alps , some Of whom had had much conversation with me on many matters Of faith, that I would write out in Latin my views on the Christian religion .
Various occupations prevented me for some time from fulfilling the promise .
However , now that the penalty for the pledge is due, my plighted word has compelled me to toil so hard for three and a half months night and day that instead Of " I might just as well , after the example Of Gelli us, have called my work
"Commentary "Nights "
; as , no doubt, my enemies will gladly do, though for a different rea son .
But I have chosen to name it "Commentary for this rea
son , because commentaries , i f I rightly understand the word , of communicating ( commentantur) with friends , just as a letter is , except that commentaries are fuller and freer .
Since , therefore, I wanted to communicate with the most learned men Of France on the subject Of the Christian religion , having no other way, I determined to send them a Commen tary .
I have been so hurried all along , that I have Often hardly had a chance to reread what I had written , much less to correct
' are a m ean s or embellish it .
But it doesn 't matter : it is a commentary, not an oration or a book that has been "held back eight DO not, good r eader , condemn offhand the things that may seem to displease you , but see whether what I say is in h armon v with simple faith or not .
"Horace Arc poetica , 388f. : nonumque prematur i n a nnum, memb rani s i ntu s posi ti s .
O n Tru e a nd Fal s e R elig i on Farewell , and if you see that I am wrong anywhere , pray
Christ that I , too , may finally see it ; if, on the other hand , you perceive misty remnants Of Old error , again pray that He who is the light will take away all darkness , that we may all together see that which is true .
Amen .
LIST OF TOPICS TR EA TED IN THIS WORK
[1 ] The word Religion Emser) [2] Between whom [1 5] The Sacraments religion subsists [1 6] Marriage [3] God [1 7] Baptism [4] Man [1 8] The Eucharist [5] Religion [1 9] Confession [6] The Christian religion [20] The other Sacraments [7] The Gospel [21 ] Marriage [8] Repentance [22] V ows [9] The Law [23] Invocation Of Saints [1 0] Sin [24] Merit [1 1 ] The Sin against the [25] Prayer Holy Ghost [26] Purgatory [1 2] The Keys [27] Magisterial Ofli ce [1 3] The Church [28] Offence [1 4] The Church
- ( R eply to [29] Statues and Images
HULDREICH ZwIN GL I
CO M M ENTARY
ON TRUE AND FALSE R ELIGION
Essaying to write on true and false religion as di splayed by Christians, I am faced at the very start wi th the danger of being judged presumptuous .
For I know that there will imme di ately rise up those wh o will say that I have not duly consid ered my capabilities nor weighed the burden . Woul d that they had minds so wise , and so pure a faith , as to receive my words
Of explanation with a kindness equal to the composure with which I bear their hasty judgment !
What, pray, can anyone more easily expound than the religion which he h as in his heart Of God and to God ? Have there not always been persons who have di ffered in their religious views and who have
"In th e fir st edi ti on thi s l i st i s at th e end of th e book .