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…

These things have we learned of Christ, of the Apostles and holy Fathers, and the same we do faithfully teach the people of God, and for the same at this day we are called of him, forsooth that will be the prince of Religion, Heretics.

These thinges haue we learned of Christe, of the Apostles and holy Fathers, and the same we doe faithfully teache the people of God, and for the same at this day we are called of him, forsothe that wil be the prince of Religion, Heretikes.

O merciful God. Do you conclude therefore that Christ him self, and the Apostles, and so many fathers have together all erred? do you conclude that Origen, Ambrose, Augustine, Chrysostom, Gelasius, Theodorete, were men that abandoned and forsook the Catholic faith? Do you conclude that so perfect agreement of so many Bishops and learned men was nothing else but a conspiracy of Heretics? Or else that that thing which at that time was commended in them, is now condemned in us? and that which in them was catholic, is now, only because men have changed their fantasies, suddenly become Schismatic? or that which ones was true, now by and by, because it pleaseth not these men, shall be false? Wherefore let them bring forth an other Gospel, or let them show causes, wherefore these things which so long time hath been openly observed and approved in the Church of God, ought now at the last to be revoked. But we do certainly know, that that same word which by Christ was revealed, and published abroad by the Apostles, is sufficient as well for our salvation, as also to defend all truth, and to convince all heresy.¹ By that same only, we do condemn all kind of old heretics, which these men say we do raise up again out of Hell, the Arians, Eutychians, Marcionites, ⟨image 20⟩Ebions, Ualentinians, Carpocratians, Tatians, Novatians, and at a word, all such as have had wicked opinion, other of God the father, or of Christ, or of the holy Ghost, or of any other part of christian Religion, in as much as by the gospel of Christ they are reproved, them we do openly pronounce to be wicked and damned, and even unto Hell gates do detest them. And not only this, but also in case they break out in any place & utter them self, we do severely & earnestly correct them with lawful and convenient punishments.