An answer to a certain book, writtenAn answere to a certeine booke, written

The former distinction concerning the Roman Church,¹ here Master Rainolds taketh in ⟨p. 31⟩hand to disprove, and to show, that my paradox (as he calleth it) is impossible. First he saith I granted the Church of Rome to have been pure, godly, Christian, for six hundred years after Christ, which forsooth I never granted (as he meaneth) that simply and absolutely no manner of corruption in any part of doctrine had taken place therein: but only according to the state of those times, and comparison of that general apostasy which afterward ensued. So your conceit M. R. that this alteration should wholly be wrought within the space often or twelve years, is so vain & childish, that nothing can be devised more foolish and farther of from the purpose. No, M. Rainolds, notwithstanding Antichrist was not openly advanced in the Roman Church before Bonifacius the third, yet was there in it no small preparation for entertaining of him before that time through corruption of doctrine and manners in that Church: & though it was in many things corrupted before, yet had it also great sincerity, which by little and little decayed more and more till Antichrist came, and was revealed: and after Antichrist was seated there, yet was not therefore all purity lost by and by, but in continuance of time it fainted and languished, having received deadly poison, and no remedy being provided. Wherefore this roye of yours, was indeed a vanity of vanities fit for such a vain sophister as you are.

The former distinction concerning the Romane Church,¹ here Master Rainolds taketh in ⟨p. 31⟩hand to disprooue, and to shewe, that my paradox (as he calleth it) is impossible. First he saith I graunted the Church of Rome to haue bene pure, godlie, Christian, for sixe hundred yeares after Christ, which forsooth I neuer graunted (as he meaneth) that simply and absolutelie no manner of corruption in anie parte of doctrine had taken place therin: but onelie according to the state of those times, and comparison of that general apostasie which afterward ensued. So your conceit M. R. that this alteration should whollie be wrought within the space often or twelue years, is so vaine & childish, that nothing can be deuised more foolish and farther of from the purpose. No, M. Rainolds, notwithstanding Antichrist was not openlie aduanced in the Romane Church before Bonifacius the third, yet was there in it no small preparation for entertayning of him before that time through corruption of doctrine and manners in that Church: & though it was in manie things corrupted before, yet had it also great sinceritie, which by little and little decaied more and more till Antichrist came, and was reuealed: and after Antichrist was seated there, yet was not therefore all puritie lost by and by, but in continuance of time it fainted and languished, hauing receiued deadlie poison, and no remedie being prouided. Wherefore this roye of yours, was indeed a vanitie of vanities fitte for such a vaine sophister as you are.