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…

In deed we grant that certain new and very strange sects, as the Anabaptists, Libertines, Menenians, & Zuenkfeldians have ben stirring in the world ever since the Gospel did first spring. But the world seeth now right well, thanks be given to our God, that we neither have bred nor taught, nor kept up these Monsters. In good fellowship I pray the whosoever thou be, read our books, they are to be sold in every place• What ⟨image 39⟩hath there ever ben written by any of our company, which might plainly bear with the madness of any of those heretics? Nay I say unto you, there is no country at this day so free from their pestilent infections, as they be wherein the gospel is freely and commonly taught. So that if they weigh the very matter with earnest and upright advisement, this thing is a great argument, that this same is the very truth of the Gospel which we do teach. For lightly neither is cockle wont to grow without the wheat, nor yet the chaff without the corn. For from the very Apostles times, who knoweth not how many heresies did rise up even together, so soon as the Gospel was first spread abroad? Who ever had heard tell of Simon, Menander, Saturninus, Basilides, Carpocrates, Cherinthus, Ebion, Valentinus, Secundus, Marcos•us, Colorbasius, Heracleo, Lucianus, and Severus, before the Apostles were sent abroad? But why stand we ⟨image 40⟩reckoning up these? Epiphanius rehearseth up four score sundry heresies, and Augustine many moe, which did spring up even together with the Gospel. What then? was the Gospel therefore not the Gospel, because heresies sprang up withal? or was Christ therefore not Christ? And yet as we said, doth not this great crop and heap of heresies grow up amongest us, which do openly a broad and frankly teach the Gospel? These poisons take their beginnings, their increasings and strength amongst our Adversaries, in blindness and in darkness, amongst whom trueth is with tyranny and cruelty kept under, and can not be heard but in corners and secrete meetings.

In deede we graunt that certain new and very straunge sectes, as the Anabaptistes, Libertines, Meneniās, & Zuenkfeldians haue ben stirring in the worlde euersence the Gospel did first spring. But the worlde seeth now right wel, thankes be giuen to our God, that wee neyther haue bredd nor taught, nor kept vp these Monstres. In good fellowship I pray the whosoeuer thou be, read our bokes, they are to be sould in euery place What