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…

Doubtless there is nothing can be spoken of greater weight against the religion of God, then when it is accused of novelty: for like as in God him self, so in his religion there ought to be nothing new: nevertheless we can not tell how it cometh to pass, that from the beginning of the world, we have always seen it in experience, that as often as God would, as it were, kindle and disclose his truth unto men, although it were of it self not only most ancient, but also everlasting: yet of wicked men and of such as were enemies thereunto, it was called green and new stuff. A man that wicked & bloody man, only to bring the Jews into hatred, accused them to the king Assuerus after this sort. Thou haste here sayeth he, O king, a people, which in using certain new laws, are against all thy laws stubborn and rebellious. Paul also at Athens, so soon as he began to teach and to set forth the gospel, was reported to be a setter forth of new gods: that is to say, of new religion. ⟨p. 41⟩And may we not, say they, learn of the what manner of new doctrine is this? And Celsus, what time he wrote of purpose against Christ, to the intent that after a more contemptuous manner he might scoff out the Gospel with a slander of novelty, Hath God saith he, now at the length after so many ages called himself to so late a remembrance? Eusebius saith also, that Christian religion even from the beginning was called in reproach [Greek or Hebrew], that is to say, new and strange. Even after the same sort these men do condemn all things that we do allow, for new and strange: their own things again, whatsoever they be, they will have them to be commended as most ancient. And like as Necromancers and Witches, at this day such as have to do with Devils, are wont to say: that they have their books and all their sacred & hid mysteries from Athanasius, from Cyprian, from Moses, from Abel, from Adam, and also from Raphael the Archangel, to the intent that that skill which had proceeded from such authors and inventors, might be adjudged to be more glorious and more heavenly.

Doubtles there is nothing can be spoken of greater weight against the religion of God, then when it is accused of noueltie: for like as in God him self, so in his religion there ought to be nothyng newe: neuerthelesse we can not tel how it cometh to passe, that from the beginning of the world, we haue alwaies seene it in experiēce, that as oftē as God wolde, as it were, kindle and disclose his truth vnto men, althoe it were of it self not onely most aunciēt, but also euerlastyng: yet of wicked men and of such as were enemies therunto, it was called grene and newe stuffe. A man that wicked & bloudy man, onely to brynge the Iewes into hatered, accused them to the king Assuerus after this sorte. Thou haste here saieth he, O king, a people, which in vsing certain newe lawes, ar agaynst al thy lawes stobberne and rebellious. Paule also at Athens, so sone as he beganne to teache and to set forth the gospel, was reported to be a setter forth of new goddes: that is to say, of newe religion.