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…

Nay nay, they turn their backs, •s we have said already, and flee from their own decrees, and have cut of and abolished again within a short space, •he same things which but a few years before themselves had established, for evermore forsooth to continue. Howe should one then trust them in the Fathers, in the old Councils, & in the words spoken by God? They have not good Lord •hei have not (I say) those things which •hey boast they have: they have not the antiquity, they have not that universality, •hey have not that consent of all places, •or of all times. And though they have a desire rather to dissemble, yet they themselves are not ignorant hereof: yea & some also they let not to confess it openly. And for this cause they say, that the ordinances of the old Councils and Fathers ⟨image 87⟩be such as may now and then be altered and that sundry and divers Decrees seru•• for sundry & divers times of the church. Thus lurk they under the name of the Church, and beguile silly creatures with their vain glossing. It is to be marvelled, that either men be so blind as they can not see this, or if they see it, to be so patient, as they can so lightly and quietly bear it.

Nay nay, they tourne their backes, •s we haue said alreadye, and flee from their owne decrees, and haue cut of and •bolished againe within a shorte space, •he same thinges which but a few years •efore themselues had established, for euermore forsoothe to continewe. Howe shoulde one then trust them in the Fathers, in ye olde Councels, & in the words •pokē by God? Thei haue not good Lord •hei haue not (I say) those things which •hey boast they haue: they haue not ye an•iquitie, they haue not that vniuersalitie, hey haue not that consent of all places, or of all times. And though thei haue a esire rather to dissemble, yet thei themselues are not ignoraūt herof: ye & somme also they let not to cōfesse it openly. And for this cause they say, that the ordiūces of the old Councels and Fathers