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…

But this is the most grievous and heavy case that they call us wicked and ungodly men, and say we have thrown ⟨image 44⟩away all care of religion. Though this ought not to trouble us much, whiles they themselves that thus have charged us, know full well how spiteful and false a saying it is: for Justine the martyr is a witness how that all Christians were called [Greek or Hebrew],¹ that is Godless, as soon as the Gospel first began to be published, and the name of Christ to be openly declared. And when Polycarpus stood to be judged, the people stirred up the President to slay and murder all them which professed the Gospel, with these words, [Greek or Hebrew], That is to say, Rid out of the way these wicked and Godless creatures. And this was not because it was true that the Christians were Godless, but because they would not worship stones and stocks, which were then honoured as God. The whole world seeth plainly enough already, what we and ours have endured at these mens hands for religion and our only God's cause. They have thrown us ⟨image 45⟩into prison, into water, into fire, & ha•• embrued themselves in our blood, no• because we were either adulterers or robbers, or murderers, but only for tha• we confessed the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and put our confidence in the living God. And for that we complained to justly and truly (Lord thou knowest) that they did break the law of God for their own most vain traditions: And that our Adversaries were the very foes to the Gospel, and enemies to Christs cross, who so wittingly and willingly did obstinately despise Gods commandments. Wherefore when these men saw they could not rightly find fault with our doctrine, they would needs pick a quarrel, and inveigh & rail against our manners, surmising how that we do condemn all well doings, how we set open the door to all licentiousness and just, and lead away the people from all love of virtue. And in very deed the life of all men, even of the devoutest and ⟨image 45⟩most Christian, both is and evermore hath been such, as one may always had some lack, even in the very best and purest conversation. And such is the […] of all creatures unto evil, and the readiness of all men to suspect, that the things which neither have been done, nor once meant to be done, yet may be easily both heard and credited for true.