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…

For otherwise Christ himself brought not peace into the world, but a sword. Wherefore that the Pope will have us to be friends again with him, let him first reconcile himself with God. For hereof saith Cyprian, schisms do arise, because the head is not sought for, and men return not home to the fountains of the holy Scriptures, and the commandments of the heavenly doctor are not kept. For that saith he, is not peace, but war: neither is he that is dissevered from the gospel, joined to the Church, but these men do only set to sale the name of peace to their own gain: for that peace which they so much require, is nothing but the ease and satisfaction of idle bellies. For all these matters might be ended well enough amongest us, if ambition, bellychere and licentious living were no hinderance thereto. From hence cometh all the sorrow: their mind is upon their platters. This is hit they cry and make all this business for, that things evil gotten, they might more filthily and lewdly maintain. Al Pardoners, Dataries, Collectors, Bawds and others that think gain, to be godliness, and serve not Jesus Christ but their own bellies, do grievously complain of us at this day: For in time paste this kind of men had good days in the old world. But now what so ever increase cometh ⟨image 70⟩unto Christ, that think they turneth them to loss. This is hit, whereon the Pope himself complaineth at this day, that charity forsooth is waxen could, because his rents are less now then they were wont to be. Thus he bringeth us into hatred all that he may, and raileth upon us and condemneth us for heretics: to the intent that they which understand not the matter, should think there were no worse men upon earth. Yet we for all this neither are, nor ought to be ashamed of the gospel. For we regard more the glory of God, then the estimation of men. We know that all these things which we do teach, are true, neither can we either use violence against the knowledge of our own conscience, neither yet present our selves as witnesses against God. For if we deny any part of the gospel of Jesus Christ before men, he on the other side, will deny us again before his father. Now if there be any that will be offended and may not endure the doctrine of Christ, they be blind themself, and leaders of such as are blind:

For otherwise Christ himself brought not peace into the world, but a sword. Wherefore yt the Pope will haue vs to be friendes agayne with him, lette him firste reconcile himselfe with God. For hereof saythe Cyprian, scismes doe aryse, bycause the head is not sought for, and menne retorne not home to the fountaynes of the holy Scriptures, and the commaundementes of the heauenly doctor ar not kept. For that sayth he, is not peace, but warre: nother is he that is disseuered from the gospell, ioyned to the Churche, but these menne doe only set to sale the name of peace to their owne gayne: for that peace which thei so muche require, is nothyng but the ease and satisfaction of idle beallies. For all these matters might be ended well ynough amongest vs, if ambition, bellychere and licencious liuyng were no hinderance therto. Frō hence cometh all the sorowe: their minde is vpon their platters. This is hit they crie and make all this buysines for, that thinges euill gotten, they might more filthily and lewdly maintaine. Al Pardoners, Dataries, Collectors, Bawdes and others that thynke gayne, to be godlines, and serue not Iesus Christ but theyr own bellies, doe greuously complayne of vs at this day: For in time paste this kinde of men had good dayes in the olde worlde. But nowe what so euer increase cometh