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. 4. Division. 1.

The Apologie, Cap. 4. Diuision. 1.

Besides all these matters, wherewith they charge us, they are wont also to add this one thing, which they enlarge with all kind of spite: that is, that we be men of trouble, that we pluck the Sword, and Sceptre out of Kings hands: that we arm the people: that we overthrow judgement places, destroy the Laws, make havoc of possessions, seek to make the people Princes, turn all things upside down: and, to be short, that we would have nothing in good frame in a Common Wealth. Good Lord, how often have they set on fire Princes hearts, with these words, to the end they might quench the light of the Gospel in the very first appearing of it, & that men might begin to hate y• same, ere ever they were able to know it, and to the end that every Magistrate might think, he saw his deadly enemy, as often as he saw any of us. Surely it should exceedingly grieve us, to be so maliciously accused of most heinous Treason, onlesse we knew, that Christ him self, the Apostles, and a number of good Christian men, were in time paste blamed, and reviled in like sort. For although Christ taught, they should give unto Cesar, that which was Caesars, yet was he charged with sedition, and was accused to devise some Conspiracy, and to seek ways to get the Kingdom. And thereupon they cried out with open mouth against him in the place of Judgement: If thou let this man escape, then thou art not Caesars friend.

Bisides al these maters, wherewith they charge vs, they are woont also to adde this one thinge, which thei enlarge with al kinde of spite: that is, that wee be menne of trouble, that we plucke the Sworde, and Scepter out of Kinges handes: that we arme the people: that we ouerthrowe iudgement places, destroie the Lawes, make hauoke of possessions, seeke to make the people Princes, turne al thinges vpside downe: and, to be shorte, that we woulde haue nothinge in good frame in a Common Wealthe. Good Lorde, how often haue they set on fiere Princes hartes, with these woordes, to the ende thei mighte quenche the lighte of the Gospel in the very firste appearinge of it, & that menne might beginne to hate y same, ere euer they were able to knowe it, and to the ende that euery Magistrate mighte thinke, he sawe his deadly enimie, as often as he sawe any of vs. Surely it shoulde excedingly greeue vs, to be so malitiously accused of moste hainous Treasone, onlesse we knewe, that Christe him selfe, the Apostles, and a number of good Christian menne, were in time paste blamed, and reuiled in like sorte. For although Christe taught, they shoulde geeue vnto Cesar, that whiche was Cesars, yet was he charged with sedition, and was accused to diuise some Conspiracie, and to seeke waies to geate the Kingedome. And thereupon they cried out with open mouthe againste him in the place of Iudgemente: Yf thou let this man escape, then thou arte not Cesars frende.