A04459:145
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…
An apology or answer in defence of the Church of England with a brief and plain declaration of the true religion professed and used in the same.An apologie or answere in defence of the Churche of Englande with a briefe and plaine declaration of the true religion professed and vsed in the same.
Londini: printed by Reginald Wolfe, 1564
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
But peradventure they will say, it was treason to attempt these matters without a sacred general Council: for in that consisteth the whole force of the Church: there CHRIST hath promised he will ever be a present assistant. Yet they themselves without tarrying for any general Council, have broken the commandments of God, and the decrees of the Apostles: and as we said a little above, they have spoiled and disannulled almost all, not only ordinances, but even the doctrine of the primitive Church. And where they say it is not lawful to make a change without a Council, w•a• was he that made us these laws, or from whence ⟨image 96⟩had they this Injunction?
But peraduenture they will saye, it was treason to attempt these matters without a sacred generall Councell: for in that consisteth the whole force of the Churche: there CHRIST hath promised he will euer bee a present assistant. Yet they themselues without tarrienge for anye generall Councell, haue broken the commaundementes of Godde, and the decrees of the Apostles: and as wee sayde a little aboue, they haue spoyled and disanulled almoste all, not onelye ordinaunces, but euen the doctrine of the primatiue Churche. And where they saye it is not laufull to make a chaunge without a Councell, w•a• was he that made vs these lawes, or from whence ⟨image 96⟩hadde they this Iniunction?
King Agesilaus,1 truly, did butte fondly, who when he had a determinate answer made him of the opinion and will of mighty Jupiter, would afterward bring the whole matter before Apollo, to know whether he allowed thereof as his father Jupiter did or no: But yet should we do much more fondly, when we may hear God him self plainly speak to us in the most holy scriptures, and may understand by them his will and meaning; if we would afterward (as though this were of none effect) bring our whole cause to be tried by a Council, which were nothing else but to ask whether men would allow as God did, & whether men would confirm Gods commandment by their authority. Why I beseech you, except a Council will & command, shall not truth be truth or God be God? If Christ […] to do so from the beginning, as