Let it not make thee despair neither yet discourage thee O reader, that it is forbidden thee in pain of life and goods or that it is made breaking of the King’s peace or treason unto His Highness to read the word of thy soul’s health. But much rather be bold in the Lord and comfort thy soul. Forasmuch as thou art pure and hast an evident token through such persecution that is the true word of God. Which word is ever hated of the world., neither was ever without persecution (as thou seest in all stories of the Bible both of the New Testament and also of the Old) neither can be, no more than the sun can be without his light. . . . For the world loveth that which is his, and hateth that which is chosen out of the world to serve God in the spirit. As Christ saith to his disciples (John 15) if he were of the world, the world would love his own. But I have chosen you out of the world and therefore the world hateth you.
Another comfort hast though, that as the weak powers of the world defend the doctrine of the world so the might power of God defendeth the doctrine of God. Which thing thou shalt evidently perceive, if thou call to mind the wonderful deeds which God hath ever wrought for his word in extreme necessity since the world began beyond all man’s reason. Which are written saith Paul (Romans 15) for our learning (and not for our deceiving) that we through patience, and comfort of the scripture might have hope. The nature of God’s word is to fight against hypocrites. It began at Abel and hath ever since continued and shall, I doubt not, until the last day. . . .
If we ask we shall obtain, if we knock he will open, if we seek we shall find, if we thirst, his truth shall fulfil our lust. Christ is with us until the end, Matthew the last. Let his little flock be bold therefore. For if God be on our side: what matter maketh it who be against us.
William Tyndale, The Obedience of a Christian Man (Penguin Classics, 2000), 3-6 passim.
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