A04458:13
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.
All these things in those days were spoken against the people of God, against Christ Jesus, against Paul, against Stephan, and against all those that in the primitive ⟨image 4⟩Church embraced the truth of the Gospel, and were content to be called by the name of Christians, a name in those days very odious amongest the people. And albeit those things were not true, yet the Devil thought it enough for him, if at the least he could bring it to pass, to cause them to be taken for true, and that the Christians should be hated of all men, and by all men persecuted unto the death. Wherefore Kings and Princes lead by such persuasions, killed the Prophets of God, even to the last man. Isaiah they condemned to the saw, Jeremiah to be stoned, Daniel to the lions, Amos to the club, Paul to the sword, Christ to the cross, all Christian men to prisons, to tortures in horses bellies, to the gallows, to rocks, to cliffs, to wild beasts, to fires. Yea & they sticked not to make great bonfires of their living bodies, only for a light to serve them in the night season,1 & for a scorn, of whom they made none other account then as of most vile dung, & as of accursed persons appointed to be slain for Sacrifice, and to be a scorn of all the world. Thus I say the maintainers and professors of the truth hath been always dealt withal.
All these thinges in those daies were spoken against ye people of God, against Christe Iesus, against Paul, against Stephan, and againste al those that in the primitiue ⟨image 4⟩Churche embraced the truth of the Gospel, and were content to be called by the name of Christians, a name in those daies very odious amongest the people. And albeit those thinges were not trew, yet the Deuill thought it inough for him, if at the least he coulde bring it to passe, to cause them to be taken for trewe, and that the Christians should be hated of al men, and by al men persequuted vnto the death. Wherfore Kings and Princes leadde by suche perswasions, killed the Prophets of God, euen to the laste man. Esaie thei condemned to the sawe, Ieremy to be stoned, Daniel to the lyons, Amos to the club, Paule to the sworde, Christe to the crosse, al Christian men to prisons, to tortures in horses bellyes, to the gallowes, to rockes, to cliues, to wilde beastes, to fyers. Yea & thei sticked not to make great bonefiers of their liuing bodies, onely for a light to serue them in the night season,