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 where as they have commanded that those Decrees should be void as things now waxen to old, & that have lost their grace, perhaps they have provided in their stead certain other better things, and more profitable for the people. For it is a common saying with them, that if Christ himself or the Apostles were alive again, they could not better nor godlier govern God's Church, then it is at this present governed by them. They have put in their stead in deed, butte it is chaste in stead of wheat, as Jeremiah ⟨image 87⟩saith, and such things as according to Isaiah's words, God never required at ••eir hands. They have stopped up saith he, all the veins of clear springing water, and have digged up for the people ••ceivable and puddle-like pits full of •yre and filth, which neither have nor […] able to hold pure water. They have plucked away from the people the holy Communion, the word of God, from whence all comfort should be taken, the true worshipping of God also, and the right use of sacraments and prayer, and have given us of their own to play withal in the mean while, salt, water, oil boxes, spittle, palms, bulls, jubilees, pardons, crosses, sensinges, and an endless rabble of ceremonies (and as a man might term with Plautus) pretty games to make sport withal. In these things have they set all their religion, teaching the people that by these God may be duly pacified, spirits be driven away and mens consciences well quieted. For ⟨image 88⟩these •o, be the orient colours and precious savours of Christian religion: these things doth God look upon, & accepteth them thankfully: these must come in place to be honoured and put quite away, the institutions of Christ and of his Apostles. And like as in times past when wicked king Jeroboam had taken from the people the right serving of God, & brought them to worship golden calves, least perchance they might afterwards change their mind and slip away, getting them again to Jerusalem to the Temple of God there, he exhorted them with a long tale to be steadfast, saying thus unto them: O Israel, these Calves be thy Gods. In this sort commanded your God you should worship him. For it should be wearisome and troublous for you to take upon you a journey so far of, and yearly to go up to Jerusalem, there to serve and honour your God.