A04459:27
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…
An apology or answer in defence of the Church of England with a brief and plain declaration of the true religion professed and used in the same.An apologie or answere in defence of the Churche of Englande with a briefe and plaine declaration of the true religion professed and vsed in the same.
Londini: printed by Reginald Wolfe, 1564
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
For where they call us Heretics, ⟨image 16⟩it is a crime so heinous, that onles it may be seen, unless it may be felt, & in manner may be holden with hands and fingers, it ought not lightly to be judged or believed when it is •aide to the charge of any Christian man. For heresy is a forsaking of salvation, a renouncing of Gods grace, a departing from the body and spirit of Christ. But this was ever an old and solemn property with them and their forefathers, if any did complain of their errors and faults, and desired to have true Religion restored, straight way to condemn such one for heretics, as men new fangled & factious. Christ for no nother cause was called a Samaritan, but only for that he was thought to have fallen to a certain new Religion, and to be the Author of a new sect. And Paul the apostle of CHRIST was called before the Judges to make answer to a matter of heresy, and therefore he said:1 According to this way which they call Heresy, I do worship the God of my Fathers, believing ⟨image 17⟩all things which be written in the law and in the Prophets.
For where they call vs Heretikes, ⟨image 16⟩it is a crime so haynous, yt onles it may be seene, vnles it may be felt, & in māner may be holdē with hands and fingers, it ought not lightly to be iudged or beleued when it is •aide to the charge of any Christian man. For heresy is a •orsaking of saluatiō, a renouncing of Gods grace, a departing from the body and spirite of Christe. But this was euer an olde and solempne propretye with them and theire forefathers, yf any did complaine of their errours and faultes, and desired to haue true Religion restored, streighte waye to cōdemne such one for heretikes, as men new fangled & factious. Christe for no nother cause was called a Samaritan, but onely for yt he was thoughte to haue fallen to a certaine newe Religion, and to be the Aucthor of a newe sect. And Paul thapostle of CHRISTE was called before the Iudges to make aunswere to a matter of heresy, and therfore hee saied: