A04458:196
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.
or seeth not Nineveh, their Rome, which sometime was counterfeitly beautified with most excellent colours, now that her visor is taken away, both to be better perceived and less set by? or the seeth hot how godly men, being raised up as it were out of a dead sleep, at the light of the gospel and at the sound of Gods word, have gone forth, without tarrying for the assemblies of these kind of doctors, unto the mountains of the Scriptures.
or seeth not Niniue, their Rome, which sometime was counterfetly beautified wt most excellent colours, nowe that her visar is taken away, bothe to be better perceaued and lesse set by? or the seeth hot howe godly menne, beyng raysed vp as it were out of a deade slepe, at the light of the gospel and at the sounde of Gods worde, haue gone forthe, without tariyng for ye assemblies of these kinde of doctors, vnto the mountaynes of the Scriptures.
But at the least (some man will say) these things ought not to be attempted without the Pope of Romes leave:1 for he only is the buckle & the bond of Christian fellowship: he only is that same Priest of the stoke of Levi, which God did speak of in Deuteronomy, that from him in matters of great difficulty, men should fetch Counsel and Judgment of the truth: and that if any man do not submit himself unto his judgment, he should be slain in the sight of his brethren: he whatsoever he doth, can not be judged of any man: Christ reigneth in heaven, he upon earth: that he alone is able to do what soever Christ or God himself can do: for he & Christ have but one consistory, without him there is no faith, no hope, no Church: & that whosoever forsaketh him, he casteth away & abandoneth his own salvation. These be the flatteries of the Canonists, the Popes belly servants: wherein forsooth they use not over much soberness: for scarcely could they ascribe moe things unto Christ him self: but sure I am, that greater things they could not.
But at ye least (some mā wil say) these thinges ought not to be attempted without the Pope of Romes leaue: