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…

We flee not,¹ as these men are wont to do, to the fire, but to the scriptures: nor we do not besiege them with the sword, but with the word of God: thereby as Tertullian saith, we do nourish our faith: thereby we do raise up our hope: thereby we do establish our assurance. For we know that the gospel of Jesus Christ is the power of God unto salvation: and that in hit is everlasting life. And therefore we give no ear, according as S. Paul doth admonish us, no not to an Angel of God coming from heaven, in case he go about to withdraw us from any part of this doctrine. No, as the right holy man Justinus martyr saith of him self, We would not believe God himself, in case he would teach us an other gospel. For where as these men do shake of the scriptures as things that can not speak & are good for nothing: and appeal rather unto God himself, speaking in the Church & in councils, it is to say, to their own fancies & opinions: it is both a very uncertain way to find out the truth & very full of danger, & somewhat like the heathenish manner of illuding the people with their furious inspirations, & such a way as of the holy fathers was never approved. Chrysostom saith, that oft times there be many that brag of the holy ghost: but certainly saith he, they that speak of their own heads, do untruly boast them self to have the spirit of God. For like as ⟨image 41⟩Christ, sayeth he, what time he spake out of the law and the Prophets, denied that he spake of him self: even so now, if any other thing but the gospel be enforced upon us, under the name of the holy ghost, we ought not to believe it: for as Christ is the fulfilling of the law & the Prophets, so is the Spirit the fulfilling of the gospel. these be the words of S. Chrysostom.

We flee not,¹ as these menne are wonte to doe, to the fyre, but to the scriptures: nor we doe not besege them with the sworde, but with the worde of God: thereby as Tertullian sayth, we doe nurrish our fayth: thereby we doe rayse vp our hope: thereby we doe establish our assurāce. For we know that the gospel of Iesus Christ is the powre of God vnto saluation: and that in hit is euerlasting life. And therfore we giue no eare, according as S. Paule doth admonish vs, no not to an Angel of God cōming from heauē, in case he goe about to withdrawe vs frō any parte of this doctrine. No, as ye right holy mā Iustinus martyr sayth of him self, We wold not beleue God himself, in case he would teach vs an other gospel. For where as these mē doe shake of ye scriptures as things yt cā not speake & ar good for nothing: and appeale rather vnto God himselfe, speaking in the Church & in councels, yt is to say, to their owne fansies & opiniōs: yt is bothe a very uncertain way to finde out the truth & very ful of daunger, & somwhat like ye heathenysh māner of illudynge the people wt their furious inspirations, & such a waye as of the holy fathers was neuer approued. Chrysostome saythe, yt ofte times there be many that bragge of the holy ghoste: but certainely sayth he, they yt speake of their owne heades, doe vntruly boaste thē selfe to haue the spirit of God. For like as