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…

Albeit these same warnings alone ⟨image 67⟩may suffice a wise man to take heed he do not suffer him self rashly to be deserved with the name of the Church, & not to stay to make further inquisition thereof by Gods word, yet beside all this, many Fathers also, many learned and godly men, have often and carefully complained, how all these things have chanced in their life time. For even in the middest of that thick mist of darkness, God would yet there should be some, who though they gave not a clear & bright light, yet should they kindle, were it but some spark, which men might espy being in the darkness.

Albeit these same warnynges alone ⟨image 67⟩may suffice a wyseman to take heede he do not suffer hym selfe rashelye to be deserued with the name of the Churche, & not to staye to make further inquisition therof by Gods worde, yet bysyde al this, many Fathers also, manye learned and godly men, haue often and carefully complained, how all these thinges haue chaunced in their lyfe time. For euē in the middest of that thick myst of darknes, God would yet ther should be som, whoe thoughe they gaue not a cleare & bright light, yet shuld they kyndle, were it but some sparke, which menne might espye being in the darkenes.

Hylarius,¹ when things as yet were almost uncorrupt, and in good case to, ye are ill deceived, saith he, with ȳe love of walls, ye do ill worship the Church, in that ye worship it in houses and buildings: ye do ill bring in the name of peace under roofs. Is there any doubt but Antichrist will have his seat under the same? I rather reckon hills, woods, ⟨image 68⟩pools, marshes, prisons, & quagmires, to be places of more safety: for in these the Prophets either abiding of their accord, or drowned by violence, did prophesy by the spirit of God.