A04468:3054
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
Part 4 › The Apology, Cap. 18. Division. 1.Part 4 › The Apologie, Cap. 18. Diuision. 1.
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.
The Apology, Cap. 18. Division. 1.
The Apologie, Cap. 18. Diuision. 1.
But, forasmuch as these men avouch the Universal possession of the Catholic Church to be their own, and call us Heretics, because we agree not in judgement with them, let us know, I beseech you, what proper mark, and badge hath that Church of theirs, whereby it may be known, to be the Church of God. Ywis it is not so hard a matter to find out God's Church, if a man will seek it earnestly, and diligently. For the Church of ⟨p. 464⟩God is set upon a high, & glistering place, in the top of an Hill, and built upon the Foundation of the Apostles, and Prophets: There, 1saith Augustine, let us seek the Church: there let us try our matters. And, as he saith again in an other place, The Church must be showed out of the Holy, and Canonical Scriptures: and that, which can not be showed out of them, is not the Church. Yet for all this, I wot not how, whether it be for fear, or for conscience, or despair of victory, these men alway abhor, and flee the Word of God, even as the Thief fleeth the Gallows. And no wonder truly. For, like as men say, the Cantharus by and by perisheth, & dieth, as soon as it is laid in balm, notwithstanding Balm be otherwise a most sweet smelling ointment: even so these men well see, their own matte is damped, and destroyed in the Word of God, as if it were in poison. Therefore the Holy Scriptures, which our Saviour Jesus Christ did not only use for Authority in all his speech, but did also at last seal up the same with his own Blood, these men to the intent they might with less business drive the people from the same, as from a thing dangerous, and deadly, have used to call them a Bare Letter,