A defence of the Apology of the Church of England containing an answer to…A defence of the Apologie of the Churche of Englande conteininge an answeare to…

IT had been greatly to be wished, most Gracious Sovereign Lady, that, as God of his mercy hath given us, ever sithence the first time of your Majesties most happy government, such success in all civil affairs, such concord, and quietness in all Estates, as our Fathers seldom have seen before: so our hearts with like felicity might thoroughly have consented in the profession of one undoubted Truth, and all our wills, which now are so violently rent a sunder, and so far distracted, might fully have joined together in the VVil of God: that all quarrels, and contentions set apart, we might with one mouth, and one mind glorify God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. How be it, it appeareth by the continual story, and whole discourse of the Holy Scriptures, that Almighty God, of his deep Judgements, and secrete Providence, suffereth some men oftentimes to delight in darkness, to withstand the Gospel, to seek occasions, and wilfully to set them selves against the knowledge, and Truth of God. I write not this, Most Gracious Lady, to the intent to make them odious in your Majesties sight, that this day are the procurers of all these troubles. God is able even of the hard unsensible stones to raise up children unto Abraham, and to make them the vessels of his Mercy. Nevertheless, as S. Paul teacheth us, such men there have been in times paste,¹ that have had their Consciences burnt with hot irons, speaking and maintaining Lies in Hypocrisy:² that have given them selves over into reprobate, and wilful minds, and have despised the Wisdom of God within them selves. And, notwithstanding such battles, and dissensions, specially in the Church of God, which is called the House of Unity, be offensive, and grievous unto the Godly, and therefore work great hinderance unto the dew passage of the Gospel of Christ, yet in the end the trouble hereof in God's Elect is recompensed abundantly with great advantage. For God's Truth is mighty, and shall prevail: Dagon shall ⟨image 3⟩fall down headlong before the Ark: the Darkness shall flee before the Light: and the more fiercely mans wisdom shall withstand, the more glorious shall God be in his Victory.

IT had benne greatly to be wished, moste Gracious Soueraine Lady, that, as God of his mercie hath geeuen vs, euer sithence the first time of your Maiesties moste happy gouernmente, sutche successe in al ciuile affaires, sutche concorde, and quietnesse in al Estates, as our Fathers seldome haue seene before: so our hartes with like felicitie mighte thorowly haue consented in the profession of one vndoubted Truthe, and al our willes, whiche now are so violently rente a sunder, and so farre distracted, mighte fully haue ioined togeather in the VVil of God: that al quarrelles, and contentions set aparte, wee might with one mouthe, and one minde glorifie God, the Father of our Lorde Iesus Christe. How be it, it appeareth by the continual storie, and whole discourse of the Holy Scriptures, that Almighty God, of his deepe Iudgements, and secrete Prouidence, suffreth some menne oftetimes to delite in darkenesse, to withstande the Gospel, to seeke occasions, and wilfully to sette them selues againste the knowledge, and Truthe of God. I write not this, Moste Gracious Lady, to thintente to make them odious in your Maiesties sighte, that this daie are the procurers of al these troubles. God is hable euen of the harde vnsensible stones to raise vp children vnto Abraham, and to make them the vessels of his Mercie. Neuerthelesse, as S. Paule teacheth vs, sutche menne there haue benne in times paste,