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…

For we must conditionally desire peace, so far as is lawful before God, & so far as we may conveniently. For otherwise Christ him self brought not peace into the world, but a sword. ⟨image 130⟩Wherefore if the Pope will have us reconciled to him, his duty is first to be reconciled to God: for from thence saith Cyprian, spring schisms and sects, because men seek not the head, and have not their recourse to the Fountain of the Scriptures, and keep not the Rules given by the heavenly teacher: for saith he, •hat is not peace but war: neither is he joined unto the Church which is severed from the Gospel. As for these men •hey use to make a merchandise of the name of peace. For that peace which they so fain would have, is only a rest of idle bellies. They and we might easily be brought to atonement touching all the•e matters, were it not that ambition, gluttony and excess did let it: Hence cometh their whining, their heart is on their Halfpenny. Out of doubt their clamours and stirs be to none other end, but to maintain more shamefully and naughtily ill gotten things.

For we muste conditionallye desire peace, so farre as is laufull before God, & so farre as we may conueniētly. For otherwise Christ him self broughte not peace into the worlde, but a sworde. ⟨image 130⟩Wherefore yf the Pope will haue vs re•onciled to hym, his dewty is first to be reconciled to God: for from thence saith Cyprian, spring schysmes and sectes, bycause menne seeke not the head, and haue not their recourse to the Fountaine of ye Scriptures, and kepe not the Rules gyuen by the heauenly teacher: for saith he, •hat is not peace but warre: neyther is he ioyned vnto the Churche which is seuered from the Gospel. As for these men •hey vse to make a marchaundize of the name of peace. For that peace whiche they so faine would haue, is onely a rest of idle bellies. They and we might easily be brought to atonement touchyng all the•e matters, were it not that ambitiō, glutony and excesse did let it: Hence commeth their whyenyng, their hearte is on their Halfepennye. Out of doubt their claymours and styrres be to none other ende, but to mayntene more shamefully and naughtely yll gotten thinges.