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…

And to return again to our own doings. We truly have not departed from the pope for any worldly pleasure, or for profits sake. And would God that he would ⟨image 65⟩so behave himself, that we had no need to forsake him. But such was our case, that unless we went from him, we could not come unto Christ. Neither will he yet at this day make any other league with us, then as Naas the king of the Ammonites would have made with the men of Jabes:¹ that was, to put out the right eye of every one of them. For he will pluck away from us the holy scriptures, the gospel of our salvation, and all that hope which we have in Christ Jesus: for with other conditions we can have no peace.

And to returne againe to our own doynges. We truly haue not departed frō ye pope for any worldly pleasure, or for profites sake. And woulde God that he woulde ⟨image 65⟩so behaue himself, that we had no neede to forsake him. But suche was our case, that vnlesse we wente from him, we could not come vnto Christe. Neyther will he yet at this day make any other league with vs, then as Naas the kynge of the Ammonites would haue made with the men of Iabes:¹ that was, to put out the right eye of euery one of them. For he wil plucke away from vs the holy scriptures, the gospell of our saluation, and al that hope whiche we haue in Christe Iesu: for with other conditions we can haue no peace.

1. 11. Regum. 11.

¹For as to that which certain men are wont so much to speak of, that the Pope only is Peters successor, as though that by reason thereof he carieth the holy ghost in his bosom, and can not err: it is a foolish and a trifling tale. The grace of God is promised unto a well disposed mind, and to him that feareth God: not unto Chairs & Successions. Riches saith S. Hierome, may make a Bishop of greater power: but all Bishops what so ever they be, are the successors of the Apostles: If the place and the instalment alone be sufficient, both Manasseh succeeded to David, & Caiaphas to Aaron: and oft times an idol hath stand up in the temple of God. Archidamus a Lacedaemonian was wont to avaunt him self much, because he was come out of the stock of Hercules: whose arrogance Nicostratus daunted in this wise: As for thou, saith he, seemest not to be come of Hercules: for he killed evil men: whereas thou of good men makest men evil. And what time the Pharisees boasted their succession and kindred, & blood of Abraham: you, saith Christ, do seek to kill me, a man that have spoken that truth unto you, which I have heard of God. Thus did Abraham never: you are of