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…

Well thus doing, they wisely and warily provide for them selves and for their kingdom, which otherwise they see is like shortly to come to naught. For if so be, they whom God hath placed in greatest dignity, did see and perceive these mens practises, how Christs commandments be despised by them, how the light of the Gospel is darkened and quenched out by them, & how themselves also be subtly beguiled and mocked and unawares be deluded by them, & the way to the kingdom of heaven stopped up before them, no doubt they would never so quietly suffer them selves neither to be disdained after such a proud sort, nor so despitefully to be scorned and abused by them. But now through their own lack of understanding, & through their own blindness, these men have them fast yoked▪ and in their danger.

Well thus doinge, they wiselye and warelye prouide for them selues and for their kingedome, whiche otherwise they see is like shortly to come to naught. For if so be, they whom God hath placed in greatest dignitie, didde see and perceiue these mennes practises, howe Christes commaundementes be despised by them, how the light of the Gospell is darkened and quenched out by them, & how themselues also be subtilly begiled and mocked and vnwares be deluded by them, & the way to ye kingedom of heauē stopped vp before them, no doubt they would neuer so quietlye suffer them selues neyther to be disdaigned after suche a prowde sorte, nor so dispitefully to be scorned and abused by them. But nowe through their own lacke of vnderstanding, & through their owne blyndenesse, these menne haue them fast yoked▪ and in their daunger.

We truly for our parts, as we have said, have don nothing in altering Religion, either upon rashness or arrogancy, nor nothing but with good leisure and great consideration. Neither had we ever intended to do it, except both the manifest and most assured will of God opened to us in his holy scriptures, and the regard of our own salvation had even constrained us there unto. For though we have departed from that Church which these men call catholic, and by that means get us envy amongest them that want skill to judge, yet is this enough for us, and it ought to be enough for every wise and good man, and one that maketh account of everlasting life, that we have gone from that Church which had power to err, which Christ, who cannot err, told so long before it should err, and which we our selves did evidently see with our eyes to have gone both from the holy Fathers and from the Apostles, and from Christ