A04468:680
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.
M. Harding.
M. Hardinge.
The comparison which ye make between your selves and Sophocles, gladly we admit. Yet we acknowledge, that as in many respects ye are like, so in some unlike. Sophocles was a Poet, that is to say, a fainer, and deviser of things, that be not true, but fabulous: Ye also are feigners, and devisers of novelties, and followers of New devises, that be false. Sophocles was a Tragical Poet: ye are Tragical Divines. A Tragedy setteth forth the overthrows of Kingdoms, Murder of Noble Personages, and other great troubles, and endeth in woeful lamentations. Your Gospel invadeth Christs Heavenly Kingdom the Church, it murdereth souls bought with a most deer price, it causeth a hellish garboil in mens consciences, in the end it bringeth to everlasting weeping and gnashing of teethe. We take you not to be mad. Would God ye were not worse then mad. Were ye mad, ye should be tied up. Else were ye suffered to goo abroad, for fear folk would fly from you. And then should ye do little hurt. Now whiles ye offer venomous kisses with sugared lips, whiles ye cover wolvish cruelty under Lambs Skins, whiles ye hurt under pretence of benefit, wound under colour of a medicine, beguile unstable Souls with resemblance of Truth: neither stint ye to work mischief, nor others can beware of you.
The comparison whiche ye make betweene your selues and Sophocles, gladly we admitte. Yet we acknowledge, that as in many respectes ye are like, so in some vnlike. Sophocles was a Poet, that is to saie, a fainer, and deuiser of thinges, that be not true, but fabulous: Ye also are fainers, and deuisers of nouelties, and folowers of Newe deuises, that be false. Sophocles was a Tragicall Poet: ye are Tragical Diuines. A Tragedie setteth foorthe thouerthrowes of Kingdomes, Murder of Noble Personages, and other greate troubles, and endethe in woful lamentations. Your Gospel inuadeth Christes Heauenly Kingdome the Churche, it murdereth soules bought with a moste deere price, it causethe a hellishe garbotle in mennes consciences, in the ende it bringethe to euerlastinge weepinge and gnasshinge of teethe. VVe take you not to be madde. VVould God ye were not woorse then madde. VVere ye madde, ye should be tied vp. Els were ye suffered to goo abroad, for feare folke would flie from you. And then should ye doo little hurte. Nowe whiles ye offer venemous kisses with sugered lippes, whiles ye couer woluishe crueltie vnder Lambes Skinnes, whiles ye hurte vnder pretēce of benefite, wounde vnder colour of a medicine, begyle vnstable Soules with resemblance of Truth: neither stinte ye to woorke mischiefe, nor others can beware of you.