26 September 2015 A.D. Jewel’s “Apology”—Reformers accused of heinous treason as rebels and “enemies of mankind,” pp.76-77

26 September 2015 A.D. Jewel’s “Apology”—Reformers accused of heinous treason as rebels and “enemies of mankind,” pp.76-77

Jewel, John. “The Apology of the Church of England.” Project Gutenberg. 5 Aug 2006. http://www.gutenberg.org/files/17678/17678-h/17678-h.htm.

Accessed 1 Aug 2015.Surely it should exceedingly grieve us to be so maliciously accused of most heinous treason, unless we knew that Christ Himself, the Apostles, and a number of good and Christian men, were in times past blamed and envied in manner for the same faults.  For although Christ taught “they should give unto Cæsar that which was Cæsar’s,” yet was He charged with sedition, in that He was accused to devise some conspiracy and covet the kingdom.  And hereupon they cried out with open mouth against him in the place of judgment: “If thou let this man escape, thou art not Cæsar’s friend.”  And though the Apostles did likewise evermore and steadfastly teach, that magistrates ought to be obeyed, “that every soul ought to be subject to the higher powers, not only for fear of wrath and punishment, but even for conscience sake;” yet bare they the name to disquiet the people, and to stir up the multitude to rebel.  After this sort did Haman specially bring the nation of the Jews into the hatred of the king Assuerus, because, said he, “they were a rebellious and stubborn people, and despised the ordinances and commandments of princes.”  Wicked King Ahab said to Elie [Elijah] the prophet of God, “It is thou that troublest Israel.”  Amasias, the priest at Bethel, laid a conspiracy to the prophet Amos’ charge before King Jeroboam, saying, “See, Amos hath made a conspiracy against thee in the midst of the house of Israel.”  To be brief, Tertullian saith, this was the general accusation of all Christians while he lived, that they were traitors, they were rebels, and the enemies of mankind.  Wherefore, if now-a-days the truth be likewise evil spoken of, and being the same truth it was then, if it be now like despitefully used as it was in times past, though it be a grievous and unkind dealing, yet can it not seem unto us a new or an unwonted matter.