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…

Yea, God is so good, and prone to bestow his mercy, that, not only when a man is through faith prepared for it, he giveth it abundantly unto him: but also though he of his own part have no faith presently, yet for others sake, which are Gods dearly beloved friends, he fareth the better, and hath that gift obtained to him.^* As, when S. Steven prayed at his death for those, that persecuted him, for whom prayed he then, but for those, who had no Faith at all in Christ? And when this grace was given unto them, as that from their Jewishness they came to the faith of Christ, who shall exclude that blessed Martyr from this worship and honour, that through his prayer, as by one special mean, that grace was applied unto them?

Yea, God is so good, and prone to bestowe his mercie, that, not onely when a man is through faithe prepared for it, he geueth it abundantly vnto him: but also though he of his owne parte haue no faithe presently, yet for others sake, whiche are Gods derely beloued frendes, he farethe the better, and hath that gifte obteigned to him.^* As, when S. Steuen praied at his deathe for those, that persecuted him, for whom prayed he then, but for those, who had no Faithe at al in Christe? And when this grace was geuen vnto them, as that from theire Iewishnes they came to the faith of Christe, who shal exclude that blessed Martyr from this worship and honoure, that throughe his praier, as by one special meane, that grace was applied vnto them?

1. *A proper shift. We speak of Sacraments: M. Harding answereth us of Prayer.A ꝓper shifte. VVee speake of Sacramentes: M. Hardinge ansvveareth vs of Praier.

What effect his prayer took,¹ if any man thereof doubt, he may think it to have wrought much for the benefit of others of less malice, seeing that it did so much in Paul. Who as the Scripture saith, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against Christs Disciples. was so changed and converted, that of a Persecutor he became an Apostle. For, as S. Augustine writeth, Si Sanctus Stephanus sic non orasset, Ecclesia Paulum non haberet: If S. Steven had not prayed so, the Church should not have had Paul. Now, if those that be no Priests, without public Authority of Consecrating the Body and Blood of Christ, yet by way of prayer do obtain, that men be converted to the Faith, which is the applying of one fruit of Christs merits, much more the public Minister, and Bishop, which assumed from among men, is ordained for men, in matters belonging to God, that he may offer up gifts and Sacrifices for sins.