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…

Now a days the Pardoners complain of us, the Dataries, the Popes Collectors,¹ the Bawds, & others which think gain to be godliness, and serve not Jesus Christ, but their own bellies. Many a day ago, and in the old world, a wonderful great advantage grew hereby to these kind of people. But now they reckon all is lost unto them, that Christ gaineth. The Pope him self maketh a great complaint at this present, that Charity in people is waxen cold. And why so, trow ye. Forsooth because his profits decay more, and more. And for this cause doth he hale us into hatred, all that ever he may, laying lode upon us with despiteful railings, & condemning us for Heretics, to the end, they, that understand not the meter, may think there be no worse men upon earth, then we be. Notwithstanding, we in the mean season are never the more ashamed for all this: neither ought we to be ashamed of the Gospel: For we set more by the Glory of God, then we do by the estimation of men. We are sure, all is true, that we teach, and we may not either go against our own conscience, or bear any witness against God For if we deny any part of the Gospel of Jesus Christ before men, he on the other side will deny us before his Father. And if there be any, that will still be offended, and cannot endure Christs Doctrine, such, say we, be blind, and Leaders of the blind: the Truth nevertheless must be preached, and preferred above all: and we must with patience wait for God's Judgement.

Nowe a daies the Pardoners complaine of vs, the Dataries, the Popes Collectours,¹ the Bawdes, & others whiche thinke gaine to be godlinesse, and serue not Iesus Christe, but theire owne bellies. Many a daie agoe, and in the olde worlde, a woonderful greate aduantage grewe hereby to these kinde of people. But now they recken al is loste vnto thē, that Christe gaineth. The Pope him selfe maketh a greate complaint at this present, that Charitie in people is waxen colde. And why so, trow yee. Forsoothe bicause his profites decaie more, and more. And for this cause dooth he hale vs into hatred, al that euer he maie, laieinge lode vpon vs with despiteful railinges, & condemning vs for Heretiques, to the ende, they, that vnderstand not the meter, maie thinke there be no woorse menne vpon earthe, then wee be. Notwithstanding, we in the meane season are neuer the more ashamed for al this: neither ought we to be ashamed of the Gospel: For we sette more by the Glorie of God, then wee doo by the estimation of menne. Wee are sure, al is true, that wee teache, and wee maie not either goe againste our owne conscience, or beare any witnesse againste God For if we denie any parte of the Gospel of Iesus Christe before menne, he on the other side wil denie vs before his Father. And if there be any, that wil stil be offended, and cannot endure Christes Doctrine, sutche, saie wee, be blinde, and Leaders of the blinde: the Truthe neuerthelesse muste be preached, and preferred aboue al: and wee muste with patience waite for Goddes Iudgemente.