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…

Anon after the first creation of the world the church of God began to spread abroad, and the same was instructed with the heavenly word, which God him self pronounced with his own mouth. It was also furnished with divine ceremonies. It was taught by the spirit of God, by the Patriarchs and Prophets, and continued so even till the time that Christ showed himself to us in the flesh. This notwithstanding, how often o good God, in the mean while, and how horribly ⟨image 65⟩was the same Church darkened and decayed? where was that Church then, when all flesh upon earth had defiled their own way? where was it when amongest the number of the whole world there were only eight persons (& they neither all chaste and good) whom Gods will was should be saved alive from that universal destruction and mortality▪ When Ely the Prophet so lamenta•••e and bitterly made moan,¹ that only himself was left of all the whole world which did truly and duly worship God? And when Isaiah said,² The silver of God's people (that is of the Church) was become Dross: and that the same City which a foretime had ben faithful, was now become an harlot, and that in the same was no part sound throughout the whole body from the head to the foot? Or else when Christ him self said, that the house of God was made by the Pharisees and Priests a Den of thieves?³ Of a truth, the Church even as a cornfield ⟨image 66⟩except it be ared, manured, tilled & trimmed in stead of wheat, it will bring forth thistles, darnel and nettles. For this cause did God send ever among both Prophets & Apostles, & last of all his own Son, who might bring home the people into the right way, and repair a new, the tottering Church after she had erred.

Anone after the first creation of the worlde the churche of God began to spreade abrode, and the same was instructed wyth the heauenly word, whiche God hym selfe pronounced with his owne mouth. It was also furnished with diuine ceremonies. It was taught by ye spirit of God, by the Patriarches and Prophetes, and continued so euen till the tyme yt Christe shewed himselfe to vs in the flesh. This notwithstāding, how often o good God, in the meane whyle, and howe horribly