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…

Again, we have adjoined our selves unto that Church, wherein they them selves, in case they will speak truly and according to their own consciences, can not deny, but all things are soberly and reverently handled, and so far forth as we were able to attain, most nearly unto the order of the old time.¹ For let them compare their Churches and ours together, they shall see, both that they most shamefully have departed from the Apostles, and we most justly have forsaken them. For we, after the example of Christ, of the Apostles and of the holy fathers, do give the whole sacrament unto the people: These men, contrary to all the fathers, contrary to all the Apostles, and contrary to Christ him self, not without (as Gelasius saith) high sacrilege, do divide the sacraments, and pluck the one part away from the people. We have restored the Lords supper according to the institution of Christ, and desire to have it as much as may be, and to as many as may be, most common, and as it is called, so to be in very deed, a Communion. These men have changed all things from the institution of Christ: & of the holy communion they have made a private mass: so that we present unto the people a holy Supper: they, a vain pageant to gaze upon.

Agayne, we haue adioyned our selfes vnto that Church, wherin they them selfs, in case they wil speake truely and according to their owne consciences, can not denie, but all thynges ar soberly and reuerently handeled, and so farre forth as we were able to attayne, most neerely vnto the order of the olde time.¹ For lette them compare their Churches and oures together, they shal see, bothe that they moste shamefully haue departed frō the Apostels, and we moste iustly haue forsaken them. For we, after the exāple of Christe, of the Apostles and of the holy fathers, doe giue the whole sacrament vnto the people: These men, contrary to all the fathers, contrary to al the Apostels, and cōtrary to Christ him self, not without (as Gelasius sayth) hygh sacrilege, doe deuide the sacramentes, and plucke the one parte awaye from the people. We haue restored the Lordes supper accordyng to the institutiō of Christ, and desire to haue it asmuch as maye be, and to as many as may be, most common, and as it is called, so to be in very deede, a Cō munion. These men haue chaunged all thinges frō the institution of Christ: & of the holy cōmunion they haue made a priuate masse: so that we present vnto the people a holy Supper: they, a vayne pagent to gase vpon.