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…

But how if the things which these men are so desirous to have seem new, be found of greatest antiquity? Contrariwise, how if all the things well nigh, which they so greatly set out with the name of antiquity, having been well and throughly examined, be at length found to be but new, and devised of very late? Soothly to say, no man that had a true and right consideration, would think the Jews laws and ceremonies to be new for all Haman's accusation: for they were graven in very ancient Tables of most antiquity. And although many did take Christ to have swerved from Abraham & the old fathers, & to have brought in a certain new religion in his own name, yet answered he them directly: If ye believed Moses, ye would believe me also, for my doctrine is not so new as you make it. For Moses an author of greatest antiquity, and one to ⟨image 79⟩whom ye give all honour, hath spoken of me. Paul likewise, though the Gospel of Jesus Christ be of many counted to be but new, yet hath it (saith he) the testimony most old, both of the law and prophets. As for our doctrine which we may rightlier call Christs catholic doctrine, it is so far of from new, that God who is above all most ancient, & the father of our Lord Jesus Christ, hath left the same unto us in the Gospel, in the prophets & Apostles works, being monuments of greatest age. So that no man can now think our doctrine to be new, onlesse the same think either the prophets faith, or the Gospel, or else Christ himself to be new.

But how if the thinges whiche these men are so desirous to haue seeme newe, be found of greatest antiquitie? Contrariwise, howe if all the thinges well nye, whiche they so greatly set out with the name of antiquitie, hauing been wel and throughly examined, be at length founde to be but new, and deuised of verye late? Southly to say, no man that had a true and right cōsideracion, would think the Iewes lawes and cerimonies to be new for all Hammans accusation: for they were grauen in very auncient Tables of most antiquitie. And although many did take Christ to haue swarued from Abraham & the old fathers, & to haue brought in a certaine newe religion in his owne name, yet aunswered hee them directly: Yf ye beleeued Moyses, ye woulde beleeue mee also, for my doctrine is not so new as you make yt. For Moses an author of greatest antiquitie, and one to ⟨image 79⟩whome ye geue al honor, hath spoken of me. Paule likewise, though the Gospell of Iesus Christe be of many counted to be but new, yet hath it (saith he) the testimonie most old, both of the law and prophetes. As for our doctrine whiche wee may rightlier cal Christes catholik doctrine, it is so farre of from newe, that God who is aboue all most auncient, & the father of our Lorde Iesus Christe, hath left the same vnto vs in ye Gospel, in ye prophets & Apostles woorkes, beinge monuments of greatest age. So that no man can nowe thinke oure doctrine to be newe, onlesse the same thinke either the prophetes faithe, or the Gospell, or els Christe himselfe to be newe.