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…

For right well they know, that there is nothing more plausible unto the people, than these names, or better accepted of the common sorts of men. But what if those ⟨image 42⟩things, which these men would have accounted to be new, be found to be most ancient? Again, what if those things, in manner all, which these men so highly set forth with the name of antiquity, after that they have been well and diligently sifted, shall be found at the last to be but green and new?

For right wel thei know, that ther is nothing more plausible vnto the people, thē these names, or better accepted of ye common sortes of men. But what if those ⟨image 42⟩thinges, which these men would haue accounted to be new, be founde to be most auncient? Againe, what if those thinges, in maner all, which these men so hyghly set forth with the name of antiquitie, after that they haue been well and diligently syfted, shall be founde at the last to be but grene and new?

Truly the laws and Ceremonies of the Jews, although that Haman did accuse them of novelty, yet unto any man that considered them truly and uprightly, they could not appear to be new, for they were written in most ancient tables. And Christ, although many supposed that he did decline from Abraham and from the old fathers, and that he brought in a new Religion of his own head, yet he answered truly: If you believed Moses, you should believe me also: for my doctrine is not so new as you take it. Moses a most ancient author, whom you do esteem above all men, did speak of me. And. S. Paul, Although the Gospel of Jesus Christ be reputed of many to be new, yet it hath saith he, a most ancient testimony of the law and the Prophets. As for our doctrine, the which we may call more rightly the Catholic doctrine of Christ, is so far of from all novelty, that the old God of all ages and the father of our Lord Jesus Christ hath commended it unto us in most ancient monuments, even in the Gospel, and in the books of the Prophets and of the Apostles. So that now it can not seem new unto any man, except there be any, to whom either the faith of the Prophets, or the Gospel, or Christ himself seemeth to be new. But in case their Religion be so ancient and so old, as they would have it to appear, wherefore do they not prove it out of the examples