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…

As for us, touching the change of Religion, we have done nothing, as we said before, rashly or presumptuously, nothing but leisurely and with great deliberation. Neither would we ever have taken in hand to do it, had not the manifest & the express will of God declared unto us in the holy scriptures, & the regard of our own salvation compelled us thereunto. And albeit we have forsaken that Church. which these men do call. Catholic, & by reason thereof do bring us in hatred of those that cannot judge. nevertheless this is sufficient for us, & ought to be sufficient for every man that is wise and godly and careful of everlasting life, that we have forsaken that Church which might err, ⟨image 61⟩which Christ himself that can not err, so long before did prophecy, that it should err: and which we our selves did evidently see before our eyes, swerve away from the holy Fathers, from the Apostles, from Christ himself, from the Primitive and Catholic Church. Again we are come, even as near as we could possible, to the Church of the Apostles, and of the old catholic Bishops and Fathers, even to that Church, which we know was as yet a pure, and as Tertullian saith, an undefiled Virgin: infected as yet neither with any idolatry, nor with any grievous & known error: & we have directed not our doctrine only, but also our Sacraments and the form of our common prayers, according to their rules & ordinances. And whereas, before, Religion was shamefully neglected & depraved at these mens hands, we, according as we know both Christ himself & all other godly men in manner had done heretofore, have brought it home unto the original, & to the first principles. For we thought it requisite there to seek the reformation of Religion, from whence the first principles thereof were derived. For this argument, saith the most ancient father Tertullian, is strong against all Heresies: That is true, whatsoever is first: whatsoever is of latter time, that is counterfeit. Ireneus appealed oft times to the most ancient Churches, such as were nearest unto Christs time, and of which it was hardly to be believed that they did err. Wherefore is not that way followed at this day? Wherefore do we not return unto the example of the ancient Churches?

As for vs, touching the chaunge of Religiō, we haue done nothing, as we said before, rashly or presūptuously, nothing but leisurly and wt gret deliberatiō. Neither would we euer haue takē in hande to doe it, had not the manifest & the expresse wil of God declared vnto vs in ye holy scriptures, & the regard of our own saluatiō cōpelled vs thereunto. And albeit we haue forsakē yt Church. which these mē do cal. Catholike, & by reason therof do bring vs in hatered of those yt cannot iudge. neuertheles this is sufficient for vs, & ought to be sufficiēt for euery man yt is wise and godly and careful of euerlasting life, that we haue forsaken that Church which might erre,