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…

But in case we do prove that the sacred Gospel of God and the ancient Bishops, together with the primitive Church doth make for us, and that we have upon just cause, both departed from these men, and also returned now again unto the Apostles and old catholic fathers, and that we do it in deed not covertly or craftily, but with a good conscience before God, truly, frankly, clearly & plainly: if they them selves which flee our doctrine and will be called Catholics, shall evidently ⟨image 8⟩see all those titles of antiquity, wherein they glory so much, wrung out of their hands, & that there is more pith in our cause then ever they could imagine: we trust no man amongest them will be so negligent of his salvation, but that he will at some time take in hand to bethink him self, unto whether part it were best for him to stick unto, and truly no man, except such a one as hath hardened his hart and will not hear, shall repent him self of his labour to have given ear unto our defence, and to have marked both what we do say, and how agreeably unto the whole course of Christian religion.

But in case we doe proue that the sacred Gospell of God and the auncient Bishops, together with the primitiue Churche dothe make for vs, and that we haue vpon iuste cause, bothe departed from these men, and also retourned now againe vnto the Apostles and olde catholike fathers, and that we do it in dede not couertly or craftely, but with a good conscience before God, truly, frankly, clerely & plainely: if thei them selues which flee oure doctrine and will be caled Catholikes, shal euidently ⟨image 8⟩se al those tytles of ātiquitie, wherin thei glorie so much, wrounge out of their handes, & that ther is more pith in our cause then euer thei coulde imagine: we trust no man amongest them wil be so negligente of his saluaciō, but that he will at some time take in hande to bethynke hym selfe, vnto whether parte it were best for him to sticke vnto, and truly no man, except suche a one as hath hardned his hart and wil not heare, shal repent him selfe of his laboure to haue geuen eare vnto oure defence, and to haue marked bothe what we do say, and how agreably vnto ye whole course of Christiā religiō.