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…

This was a rueful state. This was a lamentable form of God's Church. It was a misery to live therein without the Gospel, without light, and without all comfort.

This was a rueful state. This was a lamentable forme of Goddes Churche. It was a miserie to liue therin without the Gospel, without light, and without all comfort.

Wherefore though our departing were a trouble to them, yet ought they to consider withal, how just cause we had of our departure. For if they will say, it is in no wise lawful for one to leave the fellowship wherein he hath ben brought up, they may aswell in our names or upon our heads condemn both the Prophets, the Apostles, and Christ him self. For why complain they not also of this, that Lot went quit his way out of Sodom, Abraham out of Called, the Israelites out of Egypt, Christ from the ⟨image 93⟩Jews, and Paul from the Pharisees? For except it be possible there may be a lawful cause of departing, we see no reason why Lot, Abraham, the Israelites, Christ and Paul may not be accused of sects and sedition, aswell as others. And yf• these men will needs condemn us for Heretics, because we do not all things at their commandment, whom (in gods name) or what kind of men ought they them selves to be taken for, which despise the commandment of Christ, & of the Apostles? If we be schismatics because we have left them, by what name shall they be called themselves which have forsaken the Greeks, from whom they first received their faith, forsaken the primitive Church, forsaken Christ himself and the Apostles, even as Children should forsake their parents? For though those Greeks, who at this day profess religion and Christs name, have many things corrupted amongest them, yet hold they still a great ⟨image 93⟩number of those things which they received from the Apostles. They have neither private Masses, nor mangled Sacraments, nor Purgatories, nor Pardons. And as for the titles of high Bishops, & those glorious names, they esteem them so, as whosoever he were that would take upon him the same, & would be called either Universal bishop, or the Head of the universal church, they make no doubt to call such a one, both a passing proud man, a man that worketh despite against all y other Bishops his brethren, and a plain Heretic.