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…

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?

¹Wherefore to the intent they might the more easily driue the people from the scriptures, as from a moste daungerous and a hurtful thing, the whiche neuerthelesse our sauiour Iesus Christ did not only vse in al his cōmon talke, but also at the laste sealed them with his bloud, thei ar wont to cal thē, a colde, an vncertaine, an vnprofitable, a dumme, a killing & a dead lettre. Which vnto vs semeth to be asmuche, as thoe they had sayd, they be no scriptures at all. But they sticke not to adde thereunto a similitude,² not al together of the beste making, that thei be in maner as it were a nose of waxe: that maye be fashioned and turned into all manner of shapes, and serue euery mans purpose. Trowe ye the Pope is ignorant that these thinges ar spoken euen by his owne derelinges? Or dothe he not vnderstande that he hath such Champions?

1. 1The Papists do deface the Scriptures.The Papistes do deface the Scriptures.
2. 2Pighius in Hierarchia,