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 if we be heretics, and they (as they would fain be called) be Catholics, why do they not, as they see the fathers which were Catholic men, have always don? why do they not convince and master us by the divine scriptures▪ why do they not call us again to be tried by them? why do they not lay before us how we have gone away from Christ, from the Prophets, from the Apostles, and from the holy fathers? why stick they to do it? why are they afraid of it? It is Gods cause: why are they doubtful to commit it to the trial of gods word? if we be heretics which refer all our controversies unto the holy scriptures, ⟨image 19⟩& report us to the self same words, which we know were sealed by God him self, and in comparison of them set little by all other things whatsoever may be devised by men, how shall we say to these folk I pray you, what man ner of men be they, & how is it meet to call them, which fear the judgement of the holy scriptures, that is to say, the judgement of God him self, and do prefer before them their own Dreams, and full cold Inventions: and to maintain their own traditions, have defaced and corrupted now these many hundred years the ordinances of Christ and of the Apostles?

Wherefore yf we be heretikes, and they (as they woulde faine be called) bee Catholikes, why do they not, as they see the fathers which were Catholike men, haue alwaies don? why do they not conuince and maister vs by the diuine scriptures▪ why do they not call vs agayn to be tryed by them? why do they not lay before vs howe wee haue gon away frō Christ, from the Prophets, from the Apostels, and from the holy fathers? why stick they to do it? why are they afraide of it? It is Gods cause: whye are they doubtful to commit it to ye trial of gods worde? yf wee be heretkes which referre all our controuersies vnto the holy scriptures, ⟨image 19⟩& report vs to ye selfe same words, which wee knowe were sealed by God him self, and in comparison of them set little by all other thinges whatsoeuer may be deuised by men, howe shall wee say to these folke I pray you, what mā ner of men be they, & howe is it meete to call them, which feare the iudgement of the holy scriptures, that is to say, ye iudgement of God hym self, and do preferre before them theyr owne Dreames, and full colde Inuentions: and to maintaine their owne traditions, haue defaced and corrupted now these many hundred yeares the ordinances of Christe and of the Apostles?