The apology of the Church of England, and an epistle to one Seignior Scipio…

We indeed will readily grant, that there is no cause why we should forsake their Society, if we could once persuade our selves that Ignorance, Error, Superstition, the Worship of Idols, the Inventions of Men, and they very often quite contrary to the Holy Scriptures, did either please God, or sufficiently promote our Salvation; or if we could once believe that the Word of God were only written for some years, and after that were to be abrogated; or that the Words and Laws of God, were entirely to be submitted to the Wills of Men; so as whatever he saith or commandeth, except the Bishop of Rome wills and commands the same too, it were to be esteemed void and not spoken. But in that we have departed from a Church, whose Errors are attested and manifest, and which has apparently departed from the Word of God; and whereas we have not so much departed from her as from her Errors, and that not turbulently and injuriously, but quietly and modestly; in all this, we say we have done nothing contrary to Christ and his Apostles: For the Church of God is not of that nature, that it cannot possibly be darkened with any Spots, or sometimes not need a Reformation; for if it were so, what need were there of all those Councils and great Meetings, without which, as Aegidius saith,¹ the Christian Faith cannot stand? for (saith he) as often as Councils are ⟨p. 70⟩intermitted, so often is the Church left by Christ. Or if there be no danger, that the Church can take damage; what need is there of the insignificant (as they have ordered the Matter) Name of Bishops? Why are they called Pastors, if there be no Sheep that can go astray? Why are they called Watch-men if there be no City that can be betrayed▪ Why Pillars, if there be nothing that can sink down into Ruin, when not supported by them? In the very beginning of the World the Church of God was begun, and she was then instructed by a heavenly Word, which God sent out of his own Mouth; She was furnished with Ceremonies, taught by th• Spirit of God, by the Patriarchs and Prophets and so she was preserved and brought down to those times, in which Christ showed himself in the Flesh.

We indeed will readily grant, that there is no cause why we should forsake their Society, if we could once perswade our selves that Ignorance, Error, Superstition, the Worship of Idols, the Inventions of Men, and they very often quite contrary to the Holy Scriptures, did either please God, or sufficiently promote our Salvation; or if we could once believe that the Word of God were only written for some years, and after that were to be abrogated; or that the Words and Laws of God, were intirely to be submitted to the Wills of Men; so as whatever he saith or commandeth, except the Bishop of Rome wills and commands the same too, it were to be esteemed void and not spoken. But in that we have departed from a Church, whose Errors are attested and manifest, and which has apparently departed from the Word of God; and whereas we have not so much departed from her as from her Errors, and that not turbulently and injuriously, but quietly and modestly; in all this, we say we have done nothing contrary to Christ and his Apostles: For the Church of God is not of that nature, that it cannot possibly be darkned with any Spots, or sometimes not need a Reformation; for if it were so, what need were there of all those Councils and great Meetings, without which, as Aegidius saith,