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…

We pray,¹ as it is meet, in that tongue which every man amongst us doth understand, to the intent that the people, as Paul doth admonish us, by the common prayer may receive a common profit, according as all the good fathers & catholic bishops, not only in the old testament, but also in the new, both did pray them selves and taught the people to pray also:² lest that, as S. Augustine saith, like Popinjays & black birds we might seem to pronounce that thing, which we know not what it meaneth.

We pray,¹ as it is meete, in that tonge whiche euery man amongst vs doth vnderstand, to thintent that the people, as Paule doth admonish vs, by ye cōmon praier may receaue a cōmon profit, according as all the good fathers & catholike byshops, not only in the old testamēt, but also in the new, bothe did pray them selfs and taught ye people to pray also:² leaste that, as S. Augustine saith, like Popingays & blacke birdes we might seeme to pronounce that thing, whiche we knowe not what it meaneth.

1. 1Prayer in our own tongue.Prayer in our owne tonge.
2. 2August. in Psa. 18.

As concerning mediators & spokes men,¹ by whom we might have access unto God the father, we have none other but Jesus Christ, in whose name only all things are obtained of the father. It is very foul and altogether Heathenish, that which we see done every where in the Popes Churches, not only because they will have an infinite number of meansmakers to speak for them, and that altogether without the authority of Gods word,