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…

True it is, that Heretics have evermore apparelled them selves with the name of the Church: as Antichrist also shall procure him self credit under the name of Christ. Thus did your Fathers, M. Harding, long ago. They said then, even as you say now,¹ We are the Children of Abraham: we are the Inheritors of God's promises: we have the Temple of God, the Temple of God. The Law shall never pass from the Priest, nor counsel from the wise, nor the word from the prophet. Thus continuing wilfully in the open breach of God's commandment, nevertheless they cherished them selves then, as you do now, only with the bare title of the Church: in whose name what so ever credit ye can any wise win, your meaning is, skilfully to convey the same over wholly to the Church of Rome: as if that Church only were the Church of God,² & without that there were no hope of Salvation: And therefore you defend, and hold for trueth, that your Church hath authority above God's Word. And Pope Nicolas saith, Who so denieth the Privilege, and Supremacy of the See of Rome, hath renounced the Faith, and is an Heretic. And thus, as Leo saith,³ Ecclesiae nomine armamini, & contra Ecclesiam dimicatis: Ye arm your selves with the name of the Church, and yet ye fight against the Church. Likewise saith S. Cyprian,⁴ Diabolus excogitavit novam fraudem, ut sub ipso nominis Christiani titulo fallat incautos: The Devil hath devised a new kind of policy, under the very title of the name of Christ to deceive the simple.

True it is, that Heretiques haue euermore apparelled them selues with the name of the Churche: as Antichriste also shal procure him selfe credite vnder the name of Christe. Thus did your Fathers, M. Harding, lōge agoe. They saide then, euen as you say now,¹ We are the Children of Abraham: we are the Euheretours of Goddes promises: we haue the Temple of God, the Temple of God. The Lawe shal neuer passe frō the Prieste, nor counsel from the wise, nor the woorde from the prophete. Thus coutinuinge wilfully in the open breache of Goddes commaundement, neuerthelesse they chearished them selues then, as you doo nowe, onely with the bare title of the Churche: in whose name what so euer credit ye can any wise winne, your meaninge is, skilfully to conueigh the same ouer wholy to the Churche of Rome: as if that Churche onely were the Churche of God,