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. 17. Division. 1. & 2.

The Apologie, Cap. 17. Diuision. 1. & 2.

When Esdras went about to repair the ruins of the Temple of God, he sent not to Ephesus, although the most beautiful and gorgeous Temple of Diana were there: and when he purposed to restore the Sacrifices and ceremonies of God, he sent not to Rome, although peradventure he had heard, that there were the solemn Sacrifices called Hecatombae, and other called Solitaurilia, Lectisternia, and Supplications, and Numa Pompilius Ceremonial Books, or Manuals, or Portueses. He thought it enough for him, to let before his eyes, and follow the Pattern of the Old Temple, which Solomon at the beginning builded, according as God had appointed him, and also those old customs and ceremonies, which God him self had written out by special words for Moses.

When Eldras went about to repaire the ruines of the Temple of God, he sente not to Ephesus, although the moste beautiful and gorgeous Temple of Diana were there: and whē he purposed to restore the Sacrifices and ceremonies of God, he sente not to Rome, although peraduenture he had heard, that there were the solemne Sacrifices called Hecatombae, and other called Solitaurilia, Lectisternia, and Supplicationes, and Numa Pompilius Ceremonial Bookes, or Manuals, or Portueses. He thought it yenough for him, to let before his eies, and folowe the Paterne of the Olde Temple, whiche Salomon at the beginninge builded, according as God had appointed him, and also those olde customes and ceremonies, whiche God him selfe had written out by special woordes for Moses.

The Prophet Haggai, after the Temple was repaired again by Esdras, and the people might think, they had a very just cause to rejoice on their own behalf, for so great a benefit received of Almighty God, yet made he them all burst out into tears, because that they which were yet alive, and had seen the former building of the Temple, before the Babylonians destroyed it, called to mind, how far of it was yet, from that beauty, and excellency, which it had in the old times past before. For then in deed would they have thought the Temple worthily repaired, if it had answered to the Ancient Pattern, and to the Majesty of the first Temple. S. Paul, because he would amend the abuse of the Lords Supper, which the corinthians even then begun to corrupt, he set before them christs Institution, to follow, saying: I have delivered unto you, that thing, that I first received of the Lord. And, when Christ confuted the Error of the Pharisees, Ye must, saith he, return to the first beginning: for from the beginning it was not thus. And, when he found great fault with the Priests for their uncleanness of life, & covetousness, & would cleanse the Temple from all evil Abuses, This house, saith he, at the first beginning was a House of Prayer, wherein all the people might devoutly, and sincerely pray together. And so it were your part to use it now also at this day. For it was not builded to the end it should be a den of thieves. Likewise all the good and commendable Princes mentioned of in the Scriptures, were praised specially by these words, that they had walked in the ways of their Father David: That is, because they had returned to the First and Original Foundation, and had restored the Religion even to the perfection wherein David left it. And therefore, when we likewise saw, that all things were quite trodden under foot by these men, & that nothing remained in the Temple of God,