A04458:120
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…
An apology, or answer in defence of the Church of England concerning the state of religion used in the same. Newly set forth in Latin, and now translated into English.An apologie, or aunswer in defence of the Church of England concerninge the state of religion vsed in the same. Newly set forth in Latin, and nowe translated into Englishe.
Londini: printed by Reginald Wolf, 1562
The Apology of the Church of England.The Apologie of the Churche of Englande.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
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.
But for asmuche as these men doe affirme that they doe stande in full possession of the catholike Churche, and call vs, bicause we doe dissent frō them, heretikes, marke I praye you, what note or token this Churche hath of the Churche of God. Neither is it so harde a matter, in case thou wilt earnestly and diligently seeke it, to finde out the Churche of God. For it standeth vpō an highe and a stately place, euen on the toppe of a hill. that is to say: it is buylded vpon the foundation of the Prophets & the Apostels.1 There sayth S. Augustine, let vs seeke the Church: there let vs trie oure cause: and as he saythe in an other place: The Churche ought to be tried out by the holy and canonical Scriptures: and yt, which can not abide the trial of thē, is not ye Church.
- 1De Unitate Ecclesiae ca. 3. Cap. 4.De Vnitate Ecclesiae ca. 3. Cap. 4.
Yet these men, I can not tell how, whether it be of reverence or of conscience, or for despair of the victory, do always abhor and flee Gods word, even as a thief doth the gallows. Neither is it any marvel at all. For like as it is said of the gold worm, that in the joyce of Balsam, an ointment, to all other respects of most sweet and delicate savour, he is soon dispatched and killed: so they in Gods word do see their cause, as it were in poison to be utterly dispatched & destroyed.