An apology or answer in defence of the Church of England with a brief…An apologie or answere in defence of the Churche of Englande with a briefe…

For where these men bid the holy Scriptures away, as dumb and fruitless, and procure us to come to God him self rather, who speaketh in the Church and in Councils: which is to say, to believe their fancies and opinions. This way of finding out the truth is very uncertain and exceeding dangerous, & in manner a Fantastical & a mad way, and by no means allowed of the holy Fathers. Chrysostom saith, there be many oftentimes which boast themselves of the holy Ghost: but truly who so speak of their own head, do falsely boast they have the spirit of God. For like as, saith he, Christ denied he spake of him self when he spake out of the law and Prophets, even so now, if any thing be pressed upon us in the name of the holy Ghost save the Gospel, we ought not to believe it. For as Christ is the fulfilling of the law and the Prophets, so is the holy Ghost the fulfilling of the Gospel. Thus far goeth Chrysostom.

For where these menne byd the holie Scriptures away, as domme and frutles, and procure vs to come to God him selfe rather, who speaketh in the Church and in Councelles: whiche is to saye, to beleue their fansies and opinions. This waye of fynding out the truth is verye vncertaine and exceding daungerous, & in māner a Fantastical & a mad way, and by no meanes allowed of the holye Fathers. Chrysostom saith, there be many oftentymes whiche boast themselues of the holye Ghoste: but truelye who so speake of their owne head, doe falselye boast they haue the spirite of God. For like as, saith he, Christ denied he spake of him selfe when he spake out of the lawe and Prophets, euen so now, yf any thing be preassed vpon vs in the name of the holy Ghoste saue the Gospell, we ought not to beleue it. For as Christ is the fulfilling of the lawe and the Prophetes, so is the holye Ghoste the fulfyllinge of the Gospell. Thus farre goeth Chrysostom.

But here I look they will say, though they have not the Scriptures, yet may chance they have the Ancient Doctors, and the holy Fathers with them. For this is a high brag they have ever made, how that all antiquity and a continual consent of all ages doth make on their side: and that all our cases be but new & yester days work, & until these few last years never heard of. Questionless there can nothing be more spitefully spoken against the religion of God than to accuse it of novelty, as a new come up matter. For as there can be no change in God him self, no more ought there to be in his religion.