A04468:344
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.
Whereas we avouch the Power and Authority of God's Holy Word, for that the more it is trodden down, the more it groweth, and for that the Kings, and Princes of this world with all their puissance, and policy were never able to root it out, your answer is, that this reason may serve thieves as well as us. To dissemble your odious comparisons, how lightly so ever it shall please you to weigh this reason, yet your Forefathers the Pharisees in old time seemed to make some account of it.1 For thus they murmured, and misliked among them selves: Videtis, nos nihil proficere. Ecce Mundus totus post eum abijt. Ye see, we can do no good. Lo the whole world (for all that we can do) is gone after him. Tertullian likewise saith, Exquisitior quaeque crudelitas vestra illecebra magis est Sectae. Plures efficimur, 2quoties metimur a vobis. Semen est Sanguis Christianorum: The greattest cruelty, that ye can devise, is an enticement to our Sect. Howe many of us so ever ye murder, when ye come to the view, ye find us moe and moe. The seed of this increase is Christian Blood. 3So S. Augustine, Ligabantur, includebantur, caedebantur, torquebantur, urebantur: & multiplicabantur: They were fettered, they were imprisoned, they were beaten, they were racked, they were burnt: and yet they multiplied. S. Cyprian saithe,4 Sacerdos Dei Evangelium tenens, & Christi praecepta custodiens, occidi potest, vinci non potest: The Priest of God holding the Testament in his hand, killed he may be, but overcome he can not be. So likewise Nazianzene, Mort vivit: vulnere nascitur: depastum augetur: By death it liveth: by wounding it springeth: by diminishing it increaseth.
Whereas wée auouche the Power and Authoritie of Goddes Holy Woorde, for that the more it is trodden downe, the more it growethe, and for that the Kinges, and Princes of this world with al theire puissance, and policie were neuer hable to roote it out, youre answeare is, that this reason may serue théeues as wel as vs. To dissemble youre odious comparisons, howe lightly so euer it shal please you to weigh this reason, yet youre Forefathers the Phariseis in olde time séemed to make some accoumpte of it.