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Be not offended, most dear reader, that divers things are overseen, through negligence in this little treatise. For verily the chance was such, that I marvel that it is so well as it is. Moreover it becometh the book even so to come as a mourner, and in vile apparel to wait on his master, which sheweth himself now again, not in honour and glory, as between Moses and Elias; but in rebuke and shame, as between two murderers, to try his true friends, and to prove whether there be any faith on the earth.

THE

OBEDIENCE OF A CHRISTIAN MAN,

AND

HOW CHRISTIAN RULERS OUGHT

TO GOVERN.

WHEREIN ALSO (IF THOU MARK DILIGENTLY) THOU SHALT FIND EYES

TO PERCEIVE THE CRAFTY CONVEYANCE OF ALL JUGGLERS.

WILLIAM TYNDALE

OTHERWISE CALLED HITCHINS,

TO THE READER.

GRACE, peace, and increase of knowledge in our Lord Jesus Christ be with thee, reader, and with all that call on the name of the Lord unfeignedly, and with a pure conscience. Amen.

Let it not make thee despair, neither yet discourage thee, O reader, that it is forbidden thee in pain of life and goods, or that it is made breaking of the king's peace, or treason unto his highness to read the word of thy soul's health; but much rather be bold in the Lord and comfort thy soul, forasmuch as thou art sure, and hast an evident token through such persecution, that it is the true word of God; which word is ever hated of the world, neither was ever without persecution, (as thou seest in all the stories of the Bible, both of the New Testament and also of the Old,) neither can be, no more than the sun can be without his light. And forasmuch as contrarywise, thou art sure that the Pope's doctrine is not of God, which, as thou seest, is so agreeable unto the world, and is so received of the world, or which rather so receiveth the world and the pleasures of the world, and seeketh nothing but the possessions of the world, and authority in the

world, and to bear a rule in the world; and persecuteth the word of God, and with all wiliness driveth people from it, and with false and sophistical reasons maketh them afraid of it: yea curseth them and excommunicateth them, and bringeth them in belief that they be damned if they look on it; and that it is but doctrine to deceive men; and moveth the blind powers of the world to slay, with fire, water, and sword, all that cleave Love of the unto it: for the world loveth that which is his, and hateth that which is chosen out of the world

world is hatred of

God and his holy gospel.

God de

fendeth his doctrine himself.

to serve God in the Spirit, as Christ saith to his disciples, John xv. If ye were of the world the world would love his own; but I have chosen you out of the world, and therefore the world hateth you.

Another comfort hast thou, that as the weak powers of the world defend the doctrine of the world so the mighty power of God defendeth the doctrine of God, which thing thou shalt evidently perceive if thou call to mind the wonderful deeds which God hath ever wrought for his word in extreme necessity, since the world began, beyond all man's reason, which are written, as Paul saith, (Rom. xv.) for our learning and not for our deceiving, that we, through patience and comfort of the Scripture, might have hope. The nature of God's word is to fight against hypocrites. It began at Abel, and hath ever since continued, and shall, I doubt not, until the last day. And the hypocrites have alway the world on their sides, as thou seest in the

God's word hope.

fighteth against bypocrites.