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…

As touching the multitude of vain, & superfluous Ceremonies, we know, that S. Augustine did grievously complain of them in his own time: & therefore have we cut of a great number of them: because we know, that mens consciences were encumbered about them, and the Churches of God overladen with them. Nevertheless we keep still, & esteem, not only those Ceremonies, which, we are sure, were delivered us from the Apostles: but some others too besides, which we thought might be suffered without hurt to the Church of God: for that we had a desire, that all things in the Holy Congregation might, as S. Paul commandeth, be done with comeliness, & in good order. But, as for all those things, which, we saw, were, either very superstitious, or utterly unprofitable, or noisome, or mockeries, or contrary to the Holy Scriptures, or else unseemly for sober, & discreet people, whereof there be infinite numbers now a days, where the Romaine Religion is used, these, I say, we have utterly refused without all manner exception: because we would not have the right worshipping of God to be any longer defiled with such follies.

As touchinge the multitude of vaine, & superfluous Ceremonies, wee knowe, that S. Augustine did greuousely complaine of them in his owne time: & therefore haue we cutte of a great number of them: bicause wee knowe, that mennes consciences were encumbred aboute them, and the Churches of God ouerladen with them. Neuerthelesse wee keepe stil, & esteeme, not onely those Ceremonies, whiche, wee are sure, were deliuered vs from the Apostles: but somme others too bisides, whiche wee thought mighte be suffered without hurte to the Churche of God: for that we had a desire, that al thinges in the Holy Congregation might, as S. Paule commaundeth, be donne with comelinesse, & in good order. But, as for al those thinges, whiche, wee sawe, were, either very superstitious, or vtterly vnprofitable, or noisome, or mockeries, or contrarie to the Holy Scriptures, or els vnseemely for sober, & discreete people, whereof there be infinite numbres nowe a daies, where the Romaine Religion is vsed, these, I saie, wee haue vtterly refused without al manner exception: bicause we would not haue the right worshippinge of God to be any lenger defiled withsutche folies.