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…

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.

Yet these men, I can not tell howe, whether it be of reuerence or of cōscience, or for dispayre of the victory, doe alwayes abhorre and flee Gods worde, euen as a thief dothe the gallous. Nother is it any maruell at al. For like as it is sayde of the golde worme, that in the ioyce of Balsme, an ointment, to all other respectes of moste sweete and delicate sauour, he is sone dispatched and killed: so they in Gods worde doe see theyr cause, as it were in poyson to be vtterly dispatched & destroyed.

¹Wherefore to the intent they might the more easily drive the people from the scriptures, as from a most dangerous and a hurtful thing, the which nevertheless our saviour Jesus Christ did not only use in all his common talk, but also at the last sealed them with his blood, they are wont to call them, a cold, an uncertain, an unprofitable, a dumb, a killing & a dead letter. Which unto us seemeth to be as much, as though they had said, they be no scriptures at all. But they stick not to add thereunto a similitude,² not all together of the best making, that they be in manner as it were a nose of wax: that may be fashioned and turned into all manner of shapes, and serve every mans purpose. Trow ye the Pope is ignorant that these things are spoken even by his own darlings? Or doth he not understand that he hath such Champions?

¹