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…

There be others which say, that the very accidents of bread and wine may nourish: others again there be which say, how that the substance of the bread doth return again. What need I say more? it were over long and tedious to reckon up all things, so very uncertain and full of controversies is yet the whole form of these mens religion and doctrine, even amongest themselves, from whence it did first spring and begin. For hardly at any time do they well agree between themselves, except it be peradventure as in times past the Pharisees and Sadducees ⟨image 43⟩or as Herod and Pilate did accord against Christ. They were best therefore to go and set peace at home rather among their own selves. Of a truth, unity and concord doth best become Religion, yet is not unity the sure and certain mark whereby to know the Church of God. For there was the greatest consent that might be amongest them that worshipped the Golden calf, and among them which with one voice jointly cried against our Saviour Jesus Christ, Crucify him. Neither because the Corinthians were unquieted with private dissensions, or because Paul did square with Peter, or Barnabas with Paul: or because the Christians upon the very beginning of the Gospel were at mutual discord, touching some one matter, may we therefore think there was no church of God amongest them▪ And as for those persons whom they upon spite call Zwinglians and Lutherians, in very deed they of both sides ⟨image 44⟩be Christians, good friends & brethren. They vary not betwixt themselves upon the principles and foundations of our religion, nor as touching God nor Christ nor the holy Ghost, nor of the means to justification; nor yet everlasting life, but upon one only question, which is neither weighty nor great: neither mistrust we or make doubt at all, but they will shortly be agreed. And if there be any of them which have other opinion than is meet, we doubt not but or it be long, they will put apart all affections and names of parties, and that God will reveal it unto them: so that by better considering & searching out of the matter, as once it cam to pass in the Council of Calcedone, all causes & seeds of dissension shall be throughly plucked up by the root, and be buried and quite forgotten for ever. which God grant.

There be others whiche saye, that the very accidentes of bread and wine maye nuryshe: others againe there bee whiche say, how that the substance of the breade doth retourne againe. What neede I say more? yt were ouer longe and tedious to recken vp all thinges, so very vncertaine and full of controuersies is yet the whole form of these mēs religiō and doctrin, euē amōgest thēselues, frō whence it did first springe and beginne. For hardly at any time do they well agree betweene themselues, excepte it be peraduentur as in times past the Pharisies and Saducees