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…

And as we know both Christ him self and all good men here to fore have don, we have called home again to the original and first foundation that Religion which hath ben foully forslowed & utterly corrupted by these men. For we thought it mere thence to take the pattern of reforming Religion, from whence the ground of Religion was first taken, Because this one reason, as saith the most ancient Father Tertullian, hath ⟨image 114⟩great force against all Heresies. Look what soever was first, that is true: and what soever is latter, that is corrupt. Ireneus oftentimes appealed to the oldest Churches, which had ben nearest to Christs time, and which it was hard to believe had erred. But why at this day is not the same respect and consideration had? Why return we not to the pattern of the old Churches? why may not we hear at this time amongst us the same saying which was openly pronounced in times past in the Council at Nice by so many Bishops and Catholic Fathers, and nobody once speaking against it. [Greek or Hebrew]: that is to say, hold still the old customs. When Esdras went about to repair the ruins of the Temple of God, he sent not to Ephesus, although the most beautiful and gorgeous Temple of Diana was there, and when he purposed to restore the Sacrifices and ceremonies of God, he send not to Rome, although peradventure ⟨image 115⟩he had heard in that place were the solemn Sacrifices called Hecatombae, and other called Solitauril•a, lectisternia, and Supplications, and Numa Pompilius ceremonial books, he thought it enough for him to set before his eyes, & to follow the pattern of the old Temple which Solomon at the beginning builded, according as God had appointed him, and also those old customs and Ceremonies which God himself had written out by special words for Moses.

And as we knowe both Christe hym selfe and all good men here to fore haue don, we haue called home againe to the originall and first foundation that Religion which hath ben fowly forslowed & vtterly corrupted by these men. For wee thought it mere thence to take ye paterne of reforminge Religion, from whence the ground of Religion was first taken, Bycause this one reasone, as saythe the most auncient Father Tertullian, hath ⟨image 114⟩