A04459:56
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.
As touching the multitude of vain and superfluous ceremonies, we know that Augustin did grievously complain of them in his own time:1 and therefore have we cut of a great number of them, because we know that mens consciences were cumbered about them, and the Churches of God overladen with them. Nevertheless we keep still and esteem not only those ceremonies which we are sure were delivered us from the Apostles, but some others too besides, which we thought might be suffered without hurt to the church of God, because we had a desire that all things in the holy congregation might (as Paul commandeth) be don with comeliness and in good order: but as for all those things which we saw were either very superstitious or unprofitable, or noisome, or mockeries, or contrary to the holy Scriptures, or else unseemly for honest or discrete ⟨image 34⟩folks, as there be an infinite number now a days where Papistry is used, these I say we have utterly refused without all manner exception, because we would not have the right worshipping of God any longer defiled with such follies.
As touching the multitude of vaine and superfluous ceremonies, wee know that Augustin did greuously complain of thē in his owne time:1 and therfore haue wee cut of a great numbre of them, bycause we know that mens consciences were cumbred about thē, and the Churches of God ouerladen with them. Neuerthelesse we kepe still and esteeme not onely those ceremonies whiche wee are sure were deliuered vs from the Apostls, but some others too besides, whiche we thought myght be suffred without hurt to the churche of God, because we had a desire that all thinges in the holy congregation might (as Paul cōmandeth) be don with comelines and in good order: but as for all those thinges whiche we sawe were eyther very superstitious or vnprofitable, or noysome, or mockeries, or contrarie to the holy Scriptures, or els vnsemelie for honest or discrete ⟨image 34⟩folkes, as there be an infinite numbre now a dayes where Papistery is vsed, these I saye wee haue vterly refused without all maner exception, bycause wee would not haue the right worshypping of God any lenger defiled with suche folies.