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…

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 ⟨p. 42⟩of the primitive Church, out of the ancient fathers, out of the old Councils? Why lieth so old a cause abandoned so long time without a defender? as for Sword and Fire they have had always at hand: but of old Councils and Fathers no word at all.

Truely the lawes and Ceremonies of the Iewes, although that Aman did accuse them of nouelty, yet vnto any man that considered them truly and vprightly, thei coulde not appeare to be new, for thei were written in most auncient tables. And Christe, although many supposed that he did declyne from Abraham and from the olde fathers, and that he brought in a new Religiō of his owne heade, yet he answered truely: If you beleued Moises, you should beleue mee also: for my doctrine is not so new as you take it. Moises a most auncient aucthor, whom you doe esteme aboue all men, did speake of mee. And. S. Paule, Although the Gospell of Iesus Christ be reputed of many to be new, yet it hath saith he, a most auncient testimony of the law and the Prophetes. As for our doctrine, the which we may cal more rightly the Catholike doctrine of Christ, is so far of from all nouslty, that the olde God of all ages and the father of our Lorde Iesus Christ hath commended it vnto vs in moste auncient monuments, euen in the Gospell, and in the bookes of the Prophetes and of the Apostles. So that now it can not seeme new vnto any man, except there be any, to whom either the fayth of the Prophetes, or the Gospell, or Christ himselfe seemeth to be newe. But in case their Religion bee so auncient and so olde, as they woulde haue it to appere, wherefore doe they not proue it oute of the examples