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 Christ verily when the Pharisees charged him with sorcery as one that had some familiar Spirits, & wrought many things by their help, I said he, have not the Devil, but do •e glorify my Father: but it is you, that have dishonoured me, and put me to rebuke and shame. And S. Paul when Festus the Lieutenant scorned him as a mad man: I (said he) most deer Festus, am not mad as thou thinkest, but I speak the words of truth and soberness. And the ancient Christians when they were slandered to the people for mankillers, for adulterers, for committers of incest, for disturbers of common weals, and did perceive that by such slanderous accusations the Religion which they professed, ⟨image 13⟩might be brought in question, namely if they should seem to hold their peace, and in manner to confess the fault: lest this might hinder the free course of the Gospel, they made Orations, they put up supplications, and made means to Emperors and Princes, that they might defend them selves and their fellows in open audience.

For Christ verelye when the Pharysies charged him with sorcery as one yt had some familiar Spirites, & wrought many thinges by their helpe, I saide he, haue not the Dyuell, but do •e glorifie my Father: but it is you, that haue dishonored me, and put me to rebuke and shame. And S. Paul when Festus the Lieutenaūt scorned him as a mad man: I (saide he) moste deere Festus, am not madde as thou thinkest, but I speake the wordes of truth and sobrenes. And the auncient Christians when they wer slaundered to the people for mankillers, for adulterors, for committers of incest, for disturbers of common weales, and did perceaue that by suche slaunderous accusations ye Religion which they professed, ⟨image 13⟩might be brought in question, namely if they should seeme to hold their peace, and in māner to confesse the fault: lest this might hinder the free course of the Gospell, they made Orations, they put vp supplications, and made meanes to Emperors and Princes, that they might defend them selues and theyr fellowes in open audience.