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

3. IN truth, the Laws and Ceremonies of the Jews, although accused by Haman as new, could never be thought so by any man, who did well and rightly consider the thing, for they were written on most ancient Tables; and Christ, tho many thought he departed from Abraham and the ancient Fathers, and brought in a new Religion in his own name, yet answered truly,¹ if ye believed Moses, ye would believe me also, for my Doctrine is not so new, for Moses, a very ancient Author and of great esteem with you, hath spoken of me: and St. Paul saith, of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which many thought to be new, that it had the most Ancient Testimony of the Law and the Prophets. And our Doctrine, which we may much better call the Catholic Doctrine of Christ, is not so new, but that it is commended to us by the Ancient of days, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, in most ancient Monuments, the Prophets and Gospels, and the Writings of the Apostles; and these cannot now seem new to any man, but to him to whom the Faith of the Prophets, the Gospel, and Christ himself seems new. But then as to their Religion, if it be so ancient as they pretend, ⟨p. 86⟩why do they not prove it so from the Examples of the Primitive Church, from the old Fathers and the ancient Councils? Why doth so ancient a Cause lye desolate and without a Patron so very long? Indeed they never want Fire and Swords; but then as to the ancient Fathers and Councils, there is with them a deep silence. But it is the height of Absurdity and Folly to begin with those bloody and brutish Reasons, if they could possibly have found out easier and milder Arguments.

3. IN truth, the Laws and Ceremonies of the Jews, altho accused by Haman as new, could never be thought so by any man, who did well and rightly consider the thing, for they were written on most ancient Tables; and Christ, tho many thought he departed from Abraham and the ancient Fathers, and brought in a new Religion in his own name, yet answered truly,¹ if ye believed Moses, ye would believe me also, for my Doctrine is not so new, for Moses, a very ancient Author and of great esteem with you, hath spoken of me: and St. Paul saith, of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which many thought to be new, that it had the most Ancient Testimony of the Law and the Prophets. And our Doctrine, which we may much better call the Catholick Doctrine of Christ, is not so new, but that it is commended to us by the Ancient of days, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, in most ancient Monuments, the Prophets and Gospels, and the Writings of the Apostles; and these cannot now seem new to any man, but to him to whom the Faith of the Prophets, the Gospel, and Christ himself seems new. But then as to their Religion, if it be so ancient as they pretend,