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…

So that these mens part had ben first to have clearly and truly proved that the Romish church is the true and right instructed Church of God, & that the same, as they do order it at this day, doth agree with the primitive church of Christ, of the Apostles, and of the holy Fathers, which we doubt not but was in deed the true catholic Church. For our parts if we, could have judged ignorance, error, superstition, Idolatry, mens Inventions, and the same commonly disagreeing with the holy Scriptures, either pleased God, or to be sufficient for the obtaining everlasting salvation, or if we could ascertain our selves that the word of God was written but for a time only, and afterward again ought to be abrogated and put away, or else that the sayings and commandments of God ought to be subject to mans will, that whatsoever God sayeth ⟨image 64⟩and commandeth, except the Bishop of Rome willeth and commandeth the same, it must be taken as void an unspoken. If we could have brought our selves to believe these things, we grant there had ben no cause at all why we should have left these mens company. As touching that we have now den, to depart from that Church, whose errors were proved & made manifest to the world, which Church also had already evidently departed from Gods word, & yet not to depart so much from it self, as from the errors thereof, & not to do this disorderly or wickedly, but quietly and soberly, we have don nothing herein against the doctrine either of Christ or of his Apostles. For neither is the Church of God such as it may not be dusked with some spot, or asketh not sometime reparation: else what needeth there so many assembles and Councils, without the which, as saith Egidius, the Christian saith is not able to stand? For look saith ⟨image 65⟩he,¹ how often Councils are discontinued, so often is the Church destitute of Christ. Or if there be no peril that harm may come to the church, what need is there to retain to no purpose the names of Bishops, as is now commonly used among them? For if there be no sheep that may stray, why be they called shepherds? if there be no City that may be betrayed, why be they called watchmen? if there be nothing that may run to ruin, why be they called Pillars?

So that these mens parte had ben first to haue clearely and truely proued that the Romishe churche is the true and right instructed Churche of God, & that the same, as they do order it at this day, dothe agre with ye primatiue church of Christ, of the Apostles, and of the holye Fathers, whiche we doubt not but was in dede ye true catholique Church. For our partes yf we, could haue iudged ignoraunce, errour, superstition, Idolatrie, mennes Inuentions, and the same cōmōlie disagreinge with ye holy Scriptures, eyther pleased God, or to be sufficient for thobtainige euerlastyng saluation, or yf we could assertaine our selues that the worde of God was written but for a time only, and afterwarde againe ought to be abrogated and put awaye, or els that the sayinges and commaundementes of God ought to be subiecte to mans will, that whatsoeuer God sayeth