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…

The Apology, Cap. 18. Division. 1.

The Apologie, Cap. 18. Diuision. 1.

We make our Prayers in that tongue which all our people, as meet is, may understand, to the end they may (as S. Paul counselleth us) take common commodity by Common Prayer: even as all the Holy Fathers, and Catholic Bishops, both in the Old, and New Testament did use to Pray them selves, & taught the people to Pray too: lest, as S. Augustine saith, Like Parrots, and Ouzels we should seem to speak, that we understand not. Neither have we any other Mediator, and Intercessor, by whom we may have access to God the Father, but only Jesus Christ, in whose only name all things are obtained at his Fathers hand. But it is a shameful part, and full of Infidelity, that we see every where used in the Churches of our adversaries, not only in that they will have innumerable sorts of Mediators, & that utterly without the Authority of God's Word: (So that, as Jeremiah saith, the Saints be now as many in number,¹ or rather above the number of the Cities: and poor men cannot tell, to which Saint it were best to turn them first: And though there be so many, as they cannot be told, yet every one of them hath his peculiar duty, & office assigned unto him by these folks: what thing they ought to ask, what to give, and what to bring to pass) But besides this also, in that their do not only wickedly, but also shamefully call upon the Blessed Virgin Christs Mother, to have her remember, that she is a Mother, and to command her Son, and to use a Mothers authority over him.²

Wee make our Praiers in that tongue whiche al our people, as meete is, maie vnderstande, to thende they maie (as S. Paule counselleth vs) take common commoditie by Common Praier: euen as al the Holy Fathers, and Catholique Bishoppes, bothe in the Olde, and Newe Testamente did vse to Praie them selues, & taught the people to Praie too: leste, as S. Augustine saithe, Like Parottes, and Ouselles vvee shoulde seeme to speake, that vvee vnderstande not. Neither haue we any other Mediatour, and Intercessour, by whom wee maie haue accesse to God the Father, but onely Iesus Christe, in whose onely name al thinges are obteined at his Fathers hande. But it is a shameful parte, and ful of Infidelitie, that wee see euery where vsed in the Churches of our aduersaries, not onely in that thei wil haue innumerable sortes of Mediatoures, & that vtterly without the Authoritie of Goddes Woorde: (So that, as Ieremie saithe, the Sainctes be nowe as many in numbre,