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…

But inasmuch as they have abolished and repealed those ancient decrees, as things that are now become ⟨p. 46⟩over old, and worn out of use, peradventure they have set other in their place, that be better and also more profitable. For they are wont to say, that not even Christ himself or his Apostles, if they should live again, could devise a better or a more holier way to direct the Church of God, then that whereby it is governed now at their hands.¹ True it is in deed, that they have put other in their places, but according as Jeremiah said, chaff in stead of wheat: and as Isaiah saith, Those things, which God hath not required at their hands. They have stopped up all the veins of the springing water, and they have digged broken and dirty pits, full of slime and filthiness, which neither have any clean water, nor are able to contain it. They have taken from the people the holy communion, the word of God, from whence should have come all comfort, the true worship of God, the right use of sacraments and of prayer. Again they have given unto us of their own store, wherewith in the mean season we might cheer our selves, salt, water, cream, pots, spittle, palms, bulls, Jubilees, pardons, crosses, smoky incense, and an infinite number of ceremonies, and mere mocks as Plautus saith, merely to be mocked at. In these things, have they fixed their whole religion. With these things, they taught that God might be well appeased: that with these, Devils be driven away. That with these, mens consciences were confirmed. For these forsooth be the ornaments and dainty storeboxes of Christian religion. These, in the sight of God be pleasant and acceptable: that these things might be advanced unto honour, it behoved that the ordinances of Christ and of the Apostles should be taken ⟨image 47⟩out of place. And as the wicked king Jeroboam in time paste, after he had taken away the true worship of God, and had brought the people to the worshipping of golden calves, lest that afterwards they should peradventure have changed their minds, and slipping from him, have returned again unto Jerusalem to the Temple of God, he exhorted them with a long oration unto constancy, saying: These o Israel are thy gods: after this sort your God hath commanded that you should worship him: