A04468:168
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…
A defence of the Apology of the Church of England containing an answer to a certain book lately set forth by M. Harding, and entitled, A confutation of &c. By John Jewel Bishop of Salisbury.A defence of the Apologie of the Churche of Englande conteininge an answeare to a certaine booke lately set foorthe by M. Hardinge, and entituled, A confutation of &c. By Iohn Iewel Bishop of Sarisburie.
Imprinted at London : In Fleetestreate, at the sign of the Elephant, by Henry Wykes, Anno 1567. 27. OctobrisImprinted at London : In Fleetestreate, at the signe of the Elephante, by Henry VVykes, Anno 1567. 27. Octobris
Part 1 › The Apology, Cap. 1. Division. 1.Part 1 › The Apologie, Cap. 1. Diuision. 1.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
The Apology, Cap. 1. Division. 1.
The Apologie, Cap. 1. Diuision. 1.
It hath been an old complaint, even from the first time of the Patriarchs and Prophets, and confirmed by the writings and testimonies of every age, that the Truth wandereth here and there as a stranger in the world,1 & doth readily find enemies and slanderers amongst those, that know her not. Albeit perchance this may seem unto some a thing hard to be believed, I mean to such as have scant well and narrowly taken heed thereunto, specially seeing all mankind of natures very motion without a teacher doth covet the Truth of their own accord: and seeing our Saviour Christ him self, when he was on earth, would be called the Truth, as by a name most fit to express all his divine power. Yet we, which have been exercised in the holy Scriptures, and which have both read & seen, what hath happened to all godly men commonly at all times, what to the Prophets, to the Apostles, to the Holy Martyrs, and what to Christ him self: with what rebukes, revilings, and despites they were continually vexed, whiles they here lived, & that only for the Truths sake: We (I say) do see, that this is not only no new thing, or hard to be believed, but that it is a thing already received, and commonly used from age to age. Nay truly, this might seem much rather a marvel,2 and beyond all belief, if the Devil, who is the Father of lies, & enemy to all Truth, would now upon a sudden change his nature, and hope, that Truth might otherwise be suppressed, then by belying it: Or that he would beginn• to establish his own kingdom by using now any other practises, then the same, which he hath ever used from the beginning. For since any mans remembrance, we can scant find one time, either when Religion did first grow, or when it was settled, or when it did afresh spring up again, wherein Truth & Innocency were not by all unworthy means, & most despitefully entreated. Doubtless the Devil well seeth,