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…

But what is your answer hereunto? It is desperate, foolish, and lying. First, ye confess the thing, and not only that, but also thank God for it, and greatly rejoice in it. And therein ye follow the worse sort of Sinners,¹ of whom Solomon saith, Laetantur cùm malè fecerint, & exultant in rebus pessimis: They be glad when they have done evil, and rejoice in the worst things that are. Ye have divided the Church of God, ye have rent our Lords net, ye have cut his whole woven cote, which the wicked Soldiers, that Crucified him, could not find in their hearts to do. Dionysius Alexandrinus, writing to Novatus the great Heretic, who did as ye have done, saith thus unto him, as Eusebius reciteth,² whereby ye may esteem the greatness of your crime: Thou shouldest have suffered what so ever it were, that the Church of God might not be divided. And martyrdom suffered for that the Church should not be divided, is no less glorious, then that which is suffered for not doing Idolatry. Yea in mine opinion it is greater. For there one is martyred for his own only Soul, and here for the whole Church. Thus it followeth, that by your Apostasy, and by your dividing of God's Church, ye have done more wickedly,^‡ then if ye committed Idolatry.

But what is your answeare hereunto? It is desperate, foolishe, and lieinge. Firste, ye confesse the thinge, and not onely that, but also thanke God for it, and greatly reioice in it. And therein ye folowe the woorse sorte of Sinners,¹ of whom Salomon saithe, Laetantur cùm malè fecerint, & exultant in rebus pessimis: They be glad when they haue donne euil, and reioice in the worste thinges that are. Ye haue diuided the Churche of God, ye haue rente our Lordes nette, ye haue cut his whole wouen cote, which the wicked Souldiers, that Crucified him, could not finde in their hartes to doo. Dionysius Alexandrinus, writinge to Nouatus the greate Heretike, who did as ye haue donne, saithe thus vnto him, as Eusebius reciteth,² whereby yee maie esteeme the greatnesse of your crime: Thou shouldest haue suffered what so euer it were, that the Churche of God mighte not be diuided. And martyrdome suffered for that the Churche shoulde not be diuided, is no lesse glorious, then that which is suffered for not dooinge Idolatrie. Yea in mine opinion it is greater. For there one is martyred for his owne onely Soule, and here for the whole Churche. Thus it foloweth, that by your Apostasie, and by your diuidinge of Goddes Churche, yee haue donne more wickedly,