[1] It were therfore to be wished of all those that ten|der the suertie of the christian commonwealth, that princes would permit their subiects to liue in libertie of conscience, concerning matters of faith: and that subiects againe would be readie in dutifull wise,Good counsell if that faith be the faith of Christ & his true church. to obeie their princes in matters of ciuill gouernment, so that compounding their controuersies among themselues, with tollerable conditions, they might emploie their forces against the common enimie, to the benefit of the whole christian world, which (the more is the pitie) they haue so long exercised one a|gainst another, to each others destruction. And as for matters in variance about religion, rather to decide the same with the word, than with the sword, an in|strument full vnfit for that purpose, and not lightlie vsed nor allowed of by the ancient fathers in time of the primitiue church. But fith this is rather to be wished than hoped for by anie apparant likelihood, considering the strange contrarietie of humors now reigning among men in sundrie parts of christen|dome, let vs leaue the successe of our wish to the ple|sure of God, the author of all good haps, who ruleth the harts of princes (as the poet saith verie trulie

—& eius

In manibus sunt regum animi; quotún volunta [...]

Fert sua, vertit eos)

and frameth the peoples minds as séemeth best to his diuine prouidence. And withall, let vs also hum|blie offer to him our praiers, instantlie beseeching him to spare vs in mercie, and not to reward vs af|ter our iniquities: but rather by his onmipotent power to turne from vs the violence of our enimies, in abridging their forces, as it may séeme good to his mercifull fauour and great clemencie.