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…

¹For where as they call us Heretics, truly the fault is so great, that unless it be seen, unless it be felt, unless it be griped with hands and fingers, it ought not easily to be believed of him that is a Christian man. For Heresy is a renouncing of salvation, a casting away of the grace of God, a departing from the body and spirit of Christ. But this thing was never amongest these kind of men, or to their fathers before them, any thing new or strange, that in case there were any that would complain of their errors, and desire the restitution of true religion, such by and by as inventors of new things, & as factious persons to be condemned for Heretics. For Christ was called for none other cause a Samaritan, than for that he was supposed to have declined unto a certain new religion and unto Heresy. And Paul the Apostle of Christ,² was called before the Judge answer for himself upon Heresy: I saith he, do worship the God of my fathers, according to this way which they call Heresy, believing all things that are written in the law and the Prophets.

¹For wher as thei cal vs Heretikes, truly the fault is so great, yt vnles it be seene, vnles it be felte, vnles it be gryped with handes and fingers, it ought not easily to be beleued of him that is a Christian mā. For Heresie is a renouncing of saluation, a casting awaie of the grace of God, a departing from the bodi and spirit of Christ. But this thing was neuer amongest these kinde of mē, or to their fathers before them, any thinge newe or strange, that in case there were any yt wolde complayne of their errors, and desire the restitution of true religiō, suche by and by as inuentors of new thyngs, & as factious persons to be condemned for Heretiks. For Christ was called for none other cause a Samaritane, thē for that he was supposed to haue declined vnto a certayne new religion and vnto Heresy. And Paule the Apostle of Christe,² was called before the Iudge aunswer for himselfe vpon Heresy: I saith he, do worship the God of my fathers, accordinge to this waie whiche they cal Heresy, beleuing al things that are written in the lawe and the Prophets.

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