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 Catholic Church of God standeth not in multitude of Persons, but in weight of Truth. Otherwise Christ him self, and his Apostles had not ben Catholic. For his flock was very little: & the Catholic, or Universal consent of the World stood against it. The Church of God is compared to the Moon: for that she waxeth, and waneth, as the Moon doth, & sometime is full, sometime is empty:¹ and therefore, as S. Augustine saith, is called Catholica, quia Universaliter perfecta est, & in nullo claudicat, & per totum Orbem diffusa est: Bicause she is Universally perfect, and halteth in nothing, and is (not now shut up in one only Country, as was the Church of the Jews, but) poured throughout the whole World. Though the hearts of men have often changes, yet Gods Truth is evermore one: and, be it in many, or in few, is ever Catholic. Thus, M. Harding, it is written by one of your own side:² Etsi non nisi duo Homines remanerent in Mundo, tamen in eis saluaretur Ecclesia, quae est Unitas Fidelium: Although there were but two men remaining in the world, yet even in them two the Church, which is the Unity of the Faithful, should be saved.

The Catholique Churche of God standeth not in multitude of Persones, but in weight of Truthe. Otherwise Christe him selfe, and his Apostles had not ben Catholique. For his flocke was very litle: & the Catholique, or Vniuersal consent of the World stoode against it. The Churche of God is compared to the Moone: for that she waxethe, and waneth, as the Moone dothe, & sometime is ful, sometime is emptie:¹ and therefore, as S. Augustine saith, is called Catholica, quia Vniuersaliter perfecta est, & in nullo claudicat, & per totum Orbem diffusa est: Bicause she is Vniuersally perfite, and halteth in nothing, and is (not now shut vp in one onely Countrie, as was the Churche of the Iewes, but) powred throughout the whole World. Though the hartes of men haue often changes, yet Gods Truthe is euermore one: and, be it in many, or in fewe, is euer Catholique. Thus, M. Hardinge, it is written by one of your owne side:² Etsi non nisi duo Homines remanerent in Mundo, tamen in eis saluaretur Ecclesia, quae est Vnitas Fidelium: Although there were but two men remaining in the world, yet euen in them two the Churche, whiche is the Vnitie of the Faithful, should be soued.