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…

Wherefore O Christian and godly Reader, forasmuch as thou seest the reasons and causes both why we have restored Religion, and why we have forsaken these men, thou oughtest not to marvel, though we have chosen to obey our Master Christ rather then men. Paul hath given us warning how we should not suffer our selves to be carried away with such sundry learnings, and to fly their companies, in especial which would sow debate and variances, clean contrary to the Doctrine which they had received of Christ and the Apostles. Long since have these ⟨image 129⟩mens crafts and treacheries decayed and vanished and fled away at the sight and light of the Gospel, even as the owl doth at the sun rising. And albeit their trumpery be built up and reared as high as the Skye, yet even in a moment and as it were of the own self falleth it down again to the ground, and cometh to naught. For you must not think that all these things have come to pass rashly or at adventure: It hath ben gods pleasure that against all mens wills well nigh, the Gospel of Jesus Christ should be spread abroad thorough out the whole world, at these days. And therefore men following gods biddings, have of their own free will resorted unto the Doctrine of Jesus Christ. And for our parts truly we have sought hereby neither glory nor wealth, nor pleasure nor ease. For there is plenty of all these things with our adversaries. And when we were of their side, we enjoyed such worldly commodities much more liberally ⟨image 129⟩and bountifully, then we do now. Neither do we eschew concord and peace, but to have peace with man, we will not be at war with God. The name of peace is a sweet and pleasant thing, saith Hilarius: But yet beware, saith he, peace is one thing, and bondage is an other. For if it should so be as they seek to have it, that Christ should be commanded to keep silence, that the truth of the Gospel should be betrayed, that horrible errors should be cloaked, that Christian mens eyes should be bleared, & that they might be suffered to conspire openly against God: this were not a peace, but a most ungodly covenant of servitude. There is a peace saith Nazianzene, that is unprofitable: again there is a discord saith he, that is profitable.

Wherefore O Christian and godlye Reader, forsomuche as thow seest the reasons and causes both whye wee haue restored Religion, and whye wee haue forsaken these men, thou oughtest not to maruaile, though wee haue chosen to obeye our Maister Christe rather then menne. Paule hath giuen vs warning how we shoulde not suffer our selues to be carried away with suche sundry learninges, and to fly their companies, in especiall whiche woulde sowe debate and variaunces, cleane contrarie to the Doctrine whithe they had receiued of Christ and the Apostls. Longe synce haue these