ciuile lawes / to dwell amonge the faithfull: for the lawes do not apoynte them all to be punished by deathe. We reade that the Nouations hade their Churches and congregations / permitted in Constãtinople / in the tyme of Constantine the greate / ãd Theodosius / whiche were moste godlie Emperours.
These are the reasons by whiche many do persuade them selues and others / that yt ys lawfull for the godlie and faythful / to dwell together and to haue familiar conuersation withe the wicked and vnfaythfull / The disposition of the Tretise. To proue that their persuasions are false and vntrulie gathered of thes places / I muste propounde certayn diuisions: whiche beinge done / I shall put forthe certayne propositions or sentences In the prouinge of which to be true / ye shall playnlye perceyue howe these places alledged / are abused of them to maynteyne their false opinion.
The furst Diuision Firste / I muste deuide betwene the estates and sortes of men: Some sortes of men / are Magistrates and rulers: some other be subiectes and of the comen sorte of people.
The secõd Diuision The second diuision shalbe of cohabitation or dwelling together / of which one kinde ye free / that ys / where men be not compelled to cõmunicate withe wicked superstitions / vngodly rites and Idolatries.
An other kinde of cohabitation / or dwellinge together there is which ys not free / and that ys where
men are compelled to communicate withe wicked supersticions / to be presente at Idolatries / and so to defyle them selues.
The thred diuision. The thirde diuisiõ shalbe of the godlie and faithfull men them selues / whiche are thus familiarlie conuersaunte withe the vnbeleuers. Either they are learned stronge and able to confesse the doctrine of truithe in religion / and to reproue and cõuince the false: orels they ar vnlearned / weake / and vnable to stande in the confession of the truithe / and reprouinge of vntruthe.
These three diuisions shall suffice. Nowe will I put forthe certeyne sentencis and propositions.
The firste sentence and proposition / shalbe of those which in estate and condicyon are priuate mẽ and subiectes: Of that cohabitatiõ and dwellinge whiche ys free. And of those men which are learned ãd stronge: of all wich I make this proposition.
The furst proposition. Priuate men and subiectes / which ar learned and stronge / dwellinge in that place where they be free and not compelled to communicate withe wicked supersticions / they maye be famyliarlie conuersaunte / dwell ãd liue together with the vnbeleuers This maye they do / but yet vnder certeyn cõditiõs / and obseruinge certeyn rules.
1 Rules to bekept. Of which the firste ys this / that they do teache thos vnbeleuers with whom they do liue and are familiarlie conuersaunte / and do instructe them in the truithe / trulye teachinge them and earnestlie callinge them / vnto the knowledge of the truithe /