THE SIXTH CHAPTER

The author showeth that the person (Bliney) abjured for his own wordly honesty and for the more fruit of his preaching, jf he be suff ered to preach time to come, a were much better for him openly and willing to confess the truth. And that now by the standing still in the denial, he both shameth himself, and should, if he preached, slander tke word of God.

IT is, quod he, peradventure better thus. For then should he slander himself and the word of God also, if he should hereafter preach again.

Nay, Mary, quod I, then should he rather deliver himself from slander and the word of God also. For then should every man see the devil cast clean out of his heart, and hope that he should be from thenceforth a very good man. Where now thinking him to persevere in a proud perjury, we can none other think but that he must needs be very nought still, though we should hereafter hear him preach never so well. And that were a sore slander to the word of God that men should see him, whom they hear preach well, so proud an hypocrite and therewith so foolish too that, for a false hope of his own estimation preserved, he laboureth