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…

Wherefore if we be Heretics, if these men be as they will be called Catholics, why do they not that thing which they see the Fathers, true Catholic men in deed, always did? Why do they not convince us out of the holy scriptures? Why do they not call us to be tried by them? Why do they not make it appear that we have severed our selves from Christ, from the Prophets, from the Apostles, from the holy Fathers? Why stagger they? why flee they? it is Gods cause. Why doubt they to commit it to Gods word? But if we be Heretics which refer ⟨p. 9⟩all our controversies unto the holy Scriptures, and make our appeal unto the self same words which we know are sealed by God him self, and do prefer them before all things that may be devised by man: what shall we say to these men, what manner of men, or by what name were it convenient to call these that are afraid to stand to the trial of the sacred scriptures, that is to say, the judgment of God himself, and prefer before them their own dreams and most cold inventions, and for their own traditions sake, now many years have broken the ordinances of Christ and of the Apostles? Sophocles the Poet, when he was accused, being an old man, to the Judges, of his sons for a dotard and a fool, and as one that fondly consumed his goods, and therefore seemed to have need of a tutor: for to purge himself of this slander came into the court, & after he had read Oedipus Coloneus, a tragedy, which even in the self same time that he was accused in, he had written with great diligence and very elegantly, by and by he asked of the Judges, whether that verse seemed to be the verse of a doting man.

Wherefore if we be Heretikes, if these men be as they will be called Catholikes, why do thei not that thynge whiche thei se the Fathers, trew Catholike men in dede, alwaies did? Why do thei not conuince vs out of the holy scriptures? Why do thei not cal vs to be tried by thē? Why doe thei not make it appeare that we haue seuered oure selues from Christe, from the Prophets, from the Apostles, frō the holy Fathers? Why stagger they? why flee thei? it is Gods cause. Why doubt thei to commit it to Gods worde? But if we be Heretikes whiche referre ⟨p. 9⟩all oure controuersies vnto the holy Scriptures, and make oure appeale vnto the selfe same wordes whiche we knowe are sealed by God him selfe, and doe preferre them before all thinges that may be deuised by manne: what shall we saye to these men, what manner of men, or by what name were it conuenient to cal these that ar afraide to stand to the trial of the sacred scriptures, that is to saie, the iudgment of God himselfe, and preferre before them their owne dreames and moste colde inuentions, and for their owne traditions sake, nowe manye yeares haue broken the ordinances of Christ and of the Apostles? Sophocles the Poet, when he was accused, beinge an olde man, to the Iudges, of his sonnes for a dotarde and a foole, and as one that fondely consumed his goodes, and therefore seemed to haue neede of a tutor: for to purge himselfe of this slaunder came into the courte, & after he had reade Oedipus Coloneus, a tragedie, which euen in the selfe same time that he was accused in, he had writen wyth great diligence and very elegantly, by and by he asked of the Iudges, whether that verse seemed to be the verse of a dotinge man.