A04458:176
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…
An apology, or answer in defence of the Church of England concerning the state of religion used in the same. Newly set forth in Latin, and now translated into English.An apologie, or aunswer in defence of the Church of England concerninge the state of religion vsed in the same. Newly set forth in Latin, and nowe translated into Englishe.
Londini: printed by Reginald Wolf, 1562
The Apology of the Church of England.The Apologie of the Churche of Englande.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Solomon the king builded a Temple to the Lord, the which his father David had only in purpose to set up, and when all was finished he made a goodly oration ⟨p. 58⟩to the people touching Religion, and the worship of God: & afterwards he removed Abiathar the Bishop out of office, and did appoint in his place Sadoke: and what time as the Lords Temple was afterwards through the default and negligence of the priests in most filthy wise defiled,1 Hezekiah the king commanded that the rubbish and filth should be carried away, that lights should be set up, that incense should be offered, and sacrifices be made according to the old appointed order,2 also that the brazen Serpent which at that time the people did most ungodly worship, should be taken down and broken into powder.3 King Jehoshaphat, what time he saw the true worship of God was hindered, & that the people was withholden by a private superstition, from the common Temple which was at Jerusalem, whereunto men ought to resort yearly from all parts of the realm, he overthrew and toke away their hill altars & superstitious groves.4 King Josiah was diligent in admonishing the priests and Bishops of their duty. King Joas corrected the rioting & arrogancy of priests.5 Jehu did put the wicked Prophets to death.6 But now to speak no more of examples out of the holy Scriptures, and that we may rather come to consider in what sort the Church hath been governed since the birth of Christ in the time of the gospel, in time past Christian Emperors did summon the Bishops to come to councils. Constantine the Council of Nice, Theodosius the first, the Council of Constantinople. Theodosius the second, the coū cel of Ephesus. Marciō the council of Calcedon. & what time as Rufine alleged a council, as an authority that made for his purpose, his adversary Hierôe for to confute him, saith: Tell me, by what Emperor was it summoned.