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…

It was foolishly done of Agesilaus the king, who being ones ascertained of the mind and pleasure of the high Jupiter, would needs present the whole matter again unto Apollo, for to know whether he were of the same mind that his Father was. But we should do more foolishly a great deal, in case that, when we do hear God him self speaking most plainly unto us in the holy Scriptures, and understand his will and pleasure, if I say, afterwards, as though all this were nothing, we would refer the whole matter to a council. The which is nothing else, but to search whether men be of the same mind that God is: and ⟨image 52⟩whether men will allow by their authority the commandments of God. What I pray you, shall not the truth be truth, or shall not God be God, except a council will and command it so to be? If Christ would have handled the matter so from the beginning, that he would have taught or said nothing without the consent of the Bishops, and would have referred over his whole doctrine unto Annas and Caiaphas, where should the faith of Christ be at this day? or who should ever have heard of the gospel? Peter forsooth, of whom the Pope is wont to speak more often and with more reverence then of Jesus Christ, did boldly withstand the sacred council: and said, it was better to obey God,¹ then men. And Paul, what time he had ones received the gospel into his mind, and that not of men, nor by man, but only by the will of God, did not counsel with flesh and blood, nor did not refer the matter unto his kinsmen or brothern: but went by and by into Arabia, for to publish, by the authority of God, Gods mysteries.

It was folishly done of Agesilaus the kynge, who beyng ones acertained of the minde and pleasure of the hyghe Iupiter, woulde needes present the whole matter agayne vnto Apollo, for to know whether he were of the same minde that his Father was. But we should doe more foolyshlye a greate deale, in case that, when we doe heare God him selfe speakynge moste playnely vnto vs in the holye Scriptures, and vnderstande his will and pleasure, if I saye, afterwardes, as though al this were nothing, we would refarre the whole matter to a councell. The whiche is nothing els, but to searche whether menne be of the same minde that God is: and ⟨image 52⟩