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. 6. Division. 1.

The Apologie, Cap. 6. Diuision. 1.

They were best therefore to go, and set peace at home rather among them selves. Of a truth, Unity, and Concorde doth best become Religion: Yet is not Unity the sure & certain mark, whereby to know the Church of God. For there was the greatest Unity, that might be, amongest them, that worshipped the Golden Calf, and among them, which with one voice jointly cried against our Saviour Jesus Christ, Crucify him. Neither, because the Corinthians were unquieted with private dissensions: or because Paul did square with Peter, or Barnabas with Paul: or because the Christians upon the very beginning of the Gospel, were at mutual discord, touching some one matter, may we therefore think, there was no Church of God amongest them. And, as for those persons, whom they upon spite call Zwinglians, & Lutherans, in very deed they of both sides be Christians, good Friends, & Brethren. They vary not betwixt them selves upon the Principles, & Foundations of our Religion, nor as touching God, or Christ, or the Holy Ghost, or the means of Justification, or of everlasting life, but upon one only question, which is neither weighty, nor great: neither mistrust we, or make doubt at all, but they will shortly be agreed. And if there be any of them, which have other opinion, than is meet, we doubt not, but ere it be long, they will put apart all affections, and names of parties, & that God will reveal the truth unto them: so that by better considering, and searching out of the matter, as once it came to pass in the Council of Chalcedon, all causes, and seeds of dissension shall be throughly plucked up by the root, and be buried, and quite forgotten for ever. Which God grant.

They were beste therfore to goe, and sette peace at home rather amonge them selues. Of a truthe, Vnitie, and Concorde doothe best becomme Religion: Yet is not Vnitie the sure & certaine marke, whereby to know the Churche of God. For there was the greatest Vnitie, that might bee, amongest them, that woorshipped the Golden Calfe, and amonge them, whiche with one voice iointly cried against our Saueour Iesus Christe, Crucifie him. Neither, bicause the Corinthians were vnquieted with priuate dissensions: or bicause Paule did square with Peter, or Barnabas with Paule: or bicause the Christians vpon the very beginninge of the Gospel, were at mutual discorde, touchinge some one mater, may wee therefore thinke, there was no Churche of God amongest them. And, as for those personnes, whome they vpon spite cal Zuinglians, & Lutherans, in very deede they of bothe sides be Christians, good Frendes, & Brethren. They varie not bitwixte them selues vpon the Principles, & Fundations of oure Religion, nor as touchinge God, or Christe, or the Holy Ghoste, or the meanes of Iustification, or of euerlastinge life, but vpon one onely question, whiche is neither weighty, nor greate: neither mistruste wee, or make doubte at al, but they wil shortely be agreed. And if there bee any of them, whiche haue other opinion, than is meete, we doubte not, but ere it bee longe, they wil put aparte al affections, and names of parties, & that God wil reuele the truthe vnto them: so that by better consideringe, and searchinge out of the matter, as once it came to passe in the Councel of Chalcedon, al causes, and seedes of dissension shal bee throughly plucte vp by the roote, and be buried, and quite foregotten for euer. Whiche God graunte.