In like manner these men in the North country, they make pretence as
though they were armed in God's armour, gird in truth, and clothed in
righteousness. I hear say they wear the cross and the wounds before and
behind, and they pretend much truth to the king's grace and to the
commonwealth, when they intend nothing less; and deceive the poor
ignorant people, and bring them to fight against both the king, the
church, and the commonwealth.
They arm them with the sign of the cross and of the wounds, and go clean
contrary to him that bare the cross, and suffered those wounds. They
rise with the king, and fight against the king in his ministers and
officers; they rise with the church, and fight against the church, which
is the congregation of faithful men; they rise for the commonwealth, and
fight against it, and go about to make the commons each to kill other,
and to destroy the commonwealth. Lo, what false pretence can the devil
send amongst us? It is one of his most crafty and subtle assaults, to
send his warriors forth under the badge of God, as though they were armed
in righteousness and justice.
But if we will resist strongly indeed, we must he clothed or armed with
the habergeon of very justice or righteousness; in true obedience to our
prince, and faithful love to our neighbours; and take no false quarrels
in hand, nor any feigned armour; but in justice, "having your feet shod
for [the] preparation of the gospel of peace.
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