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…

And although he taught and instructed the people (as would to ⟨image 26⟩God he might once truly do, and persuade him self it were at the least some piece of his duty) yet we think his key to be never a whit better or of greater force then other mens. For who hath severed him from the rest? who hath taught him more cunningly to open, or better to absolve then his brethren?

And although he tought and instructed the people (as woulde to ⟨image 26⟩God he might once truely do, and perswade him selfe it were at the leaste sōme peece of his duety) yet we thinke his keye to be neuer a whit better or of greater force then other mens. For who hath seuered hym frō the rest? who hath taught him more cōningly to open, or better to absolue then his bretherne?

We say that matrimony is holy and honourable in all sorts & states of persons, in the patriarchs, in the prophets, in the apostles, in holy martyrs, in the ministers of the Church,¹ and in Bishops, and that it is an honest and lawful thing (as Chrysostom saith) for a man living in matrimony, to take upon him therewith the dignity of a Bishop.² And as Sozomenus saith of Spiridion: and as Nazianzen saith of his own father, that a good and diligent Bishop doth serve in the ministry never the worse for that he is married, but rather the better, and with more ablenes to do good. Further we say, that the same law which by constraint ⟨image 27⟩taketh away this liberty from men, and compelleth them against their wills to live single, is the doctrine of Devils,³