A04468:2250
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
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.
M. Harding.
M. Hardinge.
As for Libertines, what other Substance hath your Gospel,1 besides carnal liberty, and licentious living?2 To break the vow of chastity solemnly made to God, by whose grace, and your endeavour it might well have been kept, and to break it for wantonness, and to satisfy lust: is not that proper to Libertines? To give over fasting, watching in prayer, and ConfesSion of Sins, which should be made to a Priest, by* whom only (except in case of necessity) God promiseth forgiveness: To regard no Tradition, though it came from the Apostles: briefly, to teach that all kind of outward Godliness is superstitious, and Pharisaical, and that every man must without staggering, or doubting believe, that him self shall be saved, if he have Faith,‡ do he what him list, is this no point of liberty? What made so many malepert Prentices, pleasant Courtiers, discoursing Parliament Machiavellists, and all other what so ever flesh worms, Merchants, idle artificers, to embrace your Gospel, rather then the graver and devouter sort of men, which be weaned from the pleasure of this life: but that it was plausible to the World, and pleasant to the Flesh, from which that kind of men are most hardly drawn? And yet forsooth do not ye foster up Libertines.
As for Libertines, what other Substance hath your Gospel,1