An apology, or answer in defence of the Church of England concerning the state…An apologie, or aunswer in defence of the Church of England concerninge the state…

Thus said Bernard of the bishop that called him self the chief bishop, and of the bishops which at that time held the stern. He was no Lutheran: he was no heretic: he forsook not the Church: yet was he not afraid to call the bishops that lived in those days, seducers, deceivers and Pilates. Now then what time the people was openly seduced, and the eyes of Christian men manifestly deceived, and when Pilate sitting in court of Judgement adjudged Christ and his members to sword & fire, in what case, o Lord, was the Church in those days? But of so many and so gross errors, what error have these men purged at any time? Or what error at the least would these men ever acknowledge or confess?

Thus sayd Bernard of the byshoppe that called him selfe the chiefe byshop, and of the byshoppes whiche at that time helde the sterne. He was no Lutherane: he was no heretike: he forsoke not the Church: yet was he not afrayde to cal the byshops that liued in those dayes, seducers, deceauers and Pylates. Now thē what time the people was opēly seduced, and the eyes of Christian men manifestly deceaued, and when Pylate sittyng in court of Iudgemēt adiugged Christ and his membres to sworde & fier, in what case, o Lord, was the Church in those dayes? But of so many and so grosse errors, what error haue these menne purged at any time? Or what error at the leaste would these mē euer acknowledge or confesse?

But forasmuch as these men do affirm that they do stand in full possession of the catholic Church, and call us, because we do dissent from them, heretics, mark I pray you, what note or token this Church hath of the Church of God. Neither is it so hard a matter, in case thou wilt earnestly and diligently seek it, to find out the Church of God. For it standeth upon an high and a stately place, even on the top of a hill. that is to say: it is builded upon the foundation of the Prophets & the Apostles.¹ There saith S. Augustine, let us seek the Church: there let us try our cause: and as he saith in an other place: The Church ought to be tried out by the holy and canonical Scriptures: and that, which can not abide the trial of them, is not the Church.