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…

Wherefore, although our departing be somewhat grievous unto them: yet ought they to consider how just the cause of our departing is. For in case they will say: it is lawful for thee by no means to depart from that fellowship, wherein thou haste ben brought up: Thus they may easily in our persons condemn both the Prophets and the Apostles, and also Christ him self. For why do they not likewise find fault at this: that Loth departed from Sodom, Abraham out of Called, the Hebrews out of Egypt, Christ from the Jews, Paul from the Pharisees? For onlesse there may be some just cause of such departings, we see not, why they also may not in like sort be accused as factious and seditious men.

Wherefore, although our departyng be somewhat greuous vnto them: yet ought they to consider howe iuste the cause of our departing is. For in case they wil saye: it is lawefull for thee by no means to departe from that fellowship, wherein thou haste ben brought vp: Thus they maye easily in oure personnes cōdemne both the Prophetes and the Apostles, and also Christe him self. For why doe they not likewise finde fawte at this: that Loth departed from Sodome, Abraham out of Calde, the Hebrewes out of Egypte, Christ from the Iewes, Paule from the Pharisees? For onlesse there maye be some iuste cause of suche departynges, we see not, why they also maye not in like sorte be accused as factious and seditious men.

Now if we ought to be condemned for heretics, because we do not all things which these men do command us: who I pray you, or what manner of men shall we account them to be, which do despise the commandments of Christ and of the Apostles? If we be Schismatics that have dissevered our selves from these fellows, by what name I pray you, shall we call them, that have departed from the Greeks, at whose ⟨image 50⟩hands they received the faith, from the primitive church, from Christ him self, from the Apostles, even as it were from their own parents? For as for the Greeks, such as at this day do profess the religion and name of Christ, although they have many things that are corrupted, yet they retain to this hour a great part of those things which they received of the Apostles. Therefore neither have they private Masses, nor their sacraments mangled, nor purgatory, nor pardons: As for the Popes titles and proud names, so much they do regard them, that whosoever doth take them upon him, and will needs be called either the universal Bishop or head of the whole Church: of him they will not stick to say, that he is both an intolerable arrogant man, and a person that injuriously defaceth all other Bishops his brethren, and also an heretic.