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…

yet afterwards when the error is espied of other kings that have the same authority, they may be taken away, for that gift is of none effect that is not approved by the will of the giver: but that can not seem to be a will, which is darkened and impeached with error.

yet afterwardes when the errour is espied of other kinges that haue the same aucthoritie, they may be taken away, for that gift is of none effect that is not approued by the will of the gyuer: but that can not seeme to be a will, which is darkened and empeched with errour.

Thou haste heard Christian reader that it is no new thing, that at this day Christian Religion being restored ⟨image 68⟩to his former estate, and as it were new borne again, be slanderously and shamefully spoken of. For the same thing happened unto Christ himself and to the Apostles. Nevertheless, least thou shouldest suffer thy self to be led out of the way, and to be deceived with these outraging clamours of our adversaries, we have set forth before thee, the whole course of our Religion: what we do believe of God the Father, what of his only son Jesus Christ, what of the holy Ghost, what of the Church, what of the Sacraments, what of the Ministry, what of the holy Scriptures, what of Ceremonies, and what of every part of a Christian mans profession. We have declared, how that we do detest all old Heresies, the which other the holy Scriptures or the ancient Councils have condemned as pestilences and poisons of mens souls, and that as much as we can possibly, we do call home again the discipline of the Church, the which our adversaries have utterly brought to nothing: and do punish, according to the ancient laws of our forefathers, all looseness of life and licentious manners: and that with such severity, as the cause doth require, and so far as our power will stretch: that we do uphold the state of kingdoms, in the same condition that we found them, without impairing or changing any thing: and do maintain to the best of our power the Majesty of our Princes safe and sound: that we have forsaken that Church which these men had made a den of thieves, and wherein they had left nothing sound or savouring of the Church of God, and which by their own testimony had erred in many things: none otherwise then as Loth in time past went out of Sodoma, or Abraham