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…

¹But we have always esteemed the first age of the Church to be catholic, the which was in tune of Christ and of the Apostles and of the holy fathers: Nor we doubt not to call yt Church the ark of Noah, the spouse of Christ, the pillar and perfect stay of the truth, or upon the same to repose the whole course of our salvation.

¹But we haue alwayes estemed the firste age of the Church to be catholyke, ye which was in tune of Christ and of the Apostles and of the holy fathers: Nor wee doubt not to call yt Church the arke of Noe, the spouse of Christ, the piller and perfect stay of the truth, or vpō the same to repose the whole course of our saluation.

1. 1The Catholic ChurchThe Catholike Churche

It is doubtless an odious thing for any man to forsake yt fellowship whereunto he hath accustomed himself, but specially of those men which although they be not yet, at the least seem to be & are called Christians. And to say truth concerning their Church even for the names sake, & because that in time paste, of what sort so ever it be now, the Gospel of Jesus Christ was truly & purely set forth in it, we do not so greatly contemn it: nor would not have forsaken it, but only of very necessity, and that very much against our wills. But what if an Idol be raised up in the Church of God, & that same desolation whereof Christ did prophecy, should stand openly in the holy place? What if a strong thief or a pirate get the possession of the Ark of Noah? Doubtless these men as often as they preach unto us the Church, they make themselves only to be the Church, and all those titles they challenge to themselves, and so they triumph even as they did in times paste that cried, The temple of the Lord, The temple of the Lord: or as the Pharisees and Scribes did, when they boasted themselves to be the sons of Abraham.