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…

¹And whereas we heard God him self speaking unto us in his word, and saw evident examples of ⟨p. 62⟩the old and primitive Church: again whereas the hope of a general council was very uncertain, and much more uncertain the success thereof: but chiefly whereas we were certain of Gods will, and therefore thought it a very unlawful thing to be overmuch careful and troubled about the judgements of men: we could no longer stand in deliberation with flesh and blood: but rather we did that thing, which both might well be done, and which had been oft times done of many godly men and catholic Bishops: taking in hand to provide for our Churches by a provincial Council. For thus we know right well the old Fathers were wont to make a proof, before they did come to councils assembled out of the whole world. There be abroad at this day Canons written in particular counsels, at Carthage under Cyprian, at Ancyra, at Neocesaria, at Grangra, also in Paphlagonia, as some men think, before the name of the universal council of Nice was ever heard of. After this manner in time past, the Pelagians and Donatists, without a general council, were by and by met with all at home in a private consultation. Thus Ambrose a Christian Bishop, what time Constantius the Emperor did evidently favour Auxentius a Bishop of the Arians faction, appealed not unto the general council, wherein he saw, by reason of the Emperor's power, & of affection unto parts, nothing could be done, but unto his own clergy & people: it is to say, unto a Provincial assembly. Thus in the council of Nice it was decreed, that every year twice: in the council of Carthage, that yearly ones at the least, there should be in every ⟨image 63⟩province assemblies of Bishops: the which thing, the council of Chalcedone saith was done for this cause: that, if any errors or abuses should crepe out in any place, they might by and by, even in the very place where they sprang up, be destroyed. So that when Secundus and Palladius refused the council of Aquileia, because it was not a general and a common council, Ambrose the Bishop of Milan answered: It ought not to seem new or strange to any man, if the Bishops of the west called councils amongest them selves, and made provincial assemblies:

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