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…

How then, if the Pope have seen none of these things, and have never read, either the Scriptures, or the Old Fathers, or yet his own Councils? Howe if he favour the Arians, as once Pope Liberius did? Or have a wicked, and a detestable opinion of the life to come, and of the immortality of the Soul, as Pope John had but few years sithence? Or, to increase his own Dignity, do now corrupt other councils, as Pope Zosimus corrupted the council holden at Nice in times paste: and do say, that those things were devised and appointed by the Holy Fathers, which never once came into their thought: and, to have the full sway of Authority, do wrest the Scriptures, which thing, as camotensis saith, is an usual custom with the Popes? Howe if he have renounced the Faith of christ, & become an Apostate, as Lyranus saith many Popes have been? And yet, for all this, shall the Holy Ghost with turning of a hand, knock at his breast, and even whether he will, or no, yea, and wholly against his will, kindle him a light, so as he may not err? Shall he straight way be the Headspring of all Right, and shall all the treasures of Wisdom, & Understanding be found in him, as it were laid up in store? Or, if these things be not in him, can he give a right, and apt judgement of so weighty matters? Or, if he be not able to judge, would he have, that those matters should be brought before him alone?

How then, if the Pope haue sene none of these thinges, and haue neuer read, either the Scriptures, or the Olde Fathers, or yet his owne Councelles? Howe if he fauoure the Arians, as once Pope Liberius did? Or haue a wicked, and a detestable opinion of the life to comme, and of the immortalitie of the Soule, as Pope Iohn had but fewe yeeres sithence? Or, to encrease his owne Dignitie, doo nowe corrupte other councelles, as Pope Zosimus corrupted the councel holden at Nice in times paste: and doo saie, that those thinges were diuised and appointed by the Holy Fathers, whiche neuer once came into their thought: and, to haue the ful swaie of Authoritie, doo wreaste the Scriptures, which thing, as camotensis saith, is an vsual custome with the Popes? Howe if he haue renounced the Faithe of christe, & becōme an Apostata, as Lyranus saithe many Popes haue benne? And yet, for al this, shal the Holy Ghoste with turninge of a hande, knocke at his breaste, and euen whether he wil, or no, yea, and wholy againste his wil, kindle him a light, so as he maie not erre? Shal he streight waie be the Headespring of al Right, and shal al the treasures of Wisdome, & Vnderstanding be found in him, as it were laide vp in stoare? Or, if these thinges be not in him, can he geeue a right, and apte iudgemente of so weighty maters? Or, if he be not hable to iudge, woulde he haue, that those maters shoulde be brought before him alone?