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…

Now then in case it be lawful for these men in railing and speaking evil to be thus loud and eloquent,¹ truly we in our just quarrel answering for the truth, ought not to be dumb and speechless, for they that have no regard what is said of them self or of their quarrel, although it be falsely & slanderously spoken, specially when it is such, as thereby the majesty of God and the state of religion is blasphemed, they surely declare them ⟨image 6⟩self to be dissolute men, and such as carelessly and wickedly do wink at the injuries done to the name of God. For albeit many times other great and grievous injuries of a sober and a Christian man may be borne withal and dissembled: nevertheless who that patiently can endure to be accounted an Heretic, such a one Ruffine was wont to deny to be a Christian. Wherefore we will now do that thing, which all laws, which the very voice of nature commandeth to be done, and which Christ him self being in the like matter in like sort railed upon, did before us, it is to say, we will give a repulse to the accusations of these men, and modestly and truly defend our cause and our innocency. For Christ what time he was accused by the Pharisees of sorcery, as one that had familiarity with Devils, and did many things by their help:² I (saith he) have no Devil, but I glorify my father, and you have dishonoured me. And Paul, what time as Festus the lieutenant contemned him as a mad man,³ I (saith he) noble Festus, am not mad as thou thinkest, but I speak the words of truth and of soberness. And the Christians of the primitive Church what time as they were injuriously slandered unto the people as murderers of men, adulterers, incestuous persons, and troublers of common wealths, and saw that by such slanders the religion which they professed, might be brought in question, specially if they should seem by their silence in manner to acknowledge the fault:⁴ least I say, this silence should hinder the course of the Gospel, they made orations, they wrote supplications, & spake before Emperors and Princes in the open defence of them and of theirs.