A04459:86
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.
And where in celebrating the holy mysteries, after Christs institution, they took bread and wine, they were thought of many not to worship Christ,1 but Bacchus and Ceres, forasmuch as those vain Gods were worshipped of the Heathen in like sort, after a profane superstition, with bread and wine. These things were believed of many, not because they were true in deed (for what could be more untrue?) but because they were like to be true, ⟨image 60⟩and through a certain shadow of truth might the more easily deceive the […]. On this fashion likewise do these men slander us as Heretics, and say that we have left the Church and fellowship of Christ: not because they think it is true, for they do not much force of that, but because to ignorant folk it might perhaps someway appear true. We have in deed putt our selves apart, not as heretics are woon•e, from the Church of Christ, but as all good men ought to do, from the infection of naughty persons and hypocrites.
And where in celebratinge the holye mysteries, after Christes institution, they tooke breade and wyne, they were thought of many not to worshippe Christe,1 but Bacchus and Ceres, forsomuche as those vaine Goddes were woorshipped of the Heathen in like sort, after a prophane superstition, with bread and wyne. These thinges were beleued of manye, not bicause they were true in deed (for what coulde be more vntrue?) but bicause they were lyke to bee true, ⟨image 60⟩and through a certain shadow of truth mighte the more easilye deceiue the 〈…〉. On this fashion likewise dooe these menne slaunder vs as Heretiques, and saye that wee haue lefte the Church and felowshippe of Christe: not bicause they thinke it is true, for they dooe not muche force of that, but bicause to ignoraunte folke it myght perhappes somwaye appeere true. Wee haue in deede putt oure selues aparte, not as heretikes are woon•e, from the Churche of Christ, but as all good menne oughte to doo, from the infection of naughtye persons and hypocrites.