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 let them hardly be the Church: let them be heard in councils: let them only have authority to give a voice: Nevertheless in times paste, when the Church of God (if it be compared with their Church) was reasonably well governed, as Cyprian saith, both Elders and Deacons & some part also of the common people ⟨image 53⟩were called to the hearing of Ecclesiastical causes.

But let them hardely be the Churche: lette them be hearde in coūcels: let them only haue authoritie to giue a voyce: Neuerthelesse in times paste, when the Church of God (if it be compared with their Churche) was resonably wel gouerned, as Cipryan sayth, bothe Elders and Deacons & some parte also of the common people ⟨image 53⟩were called to the hearyng of Ecclesiasticall causes.

But what if these Abbots and Bishops have no knowledge? What if they understand not what religion is, and what opinion they ought to have of God? What if law be lost of the priest, & counsel of the Elders? What if the night, as Micah saith, be unto them in stead of a vision, and darkness in stead of foreseeing things to come? What if all the watchmen of the City, as Isaiah saith, are become blind? What if the salt hath lost his strength and his taste? and as Christ saith, is good for nothing, not so much as to be caste out upon the dung hill?

But what if these Abbotes and Bysshoppes haue no knowledge? What yf they vnderstande not what religion is, and what opinion they oughte to haue of God? What if law be loste of the preeste, & coūsel of the Elders? What if the night, as Micheas saythe, be vnto them in stede of a vision, and darkenes in stede of forseyng thynges to come? What if all the watchemen of the Citie, as Esaye sayth, ar become blinde? What if the salte hath loste his strēgth and his taste? and as Christ sayth, is good for nothyng, not so muche as to be caste out vpon the dunge hill?