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

8. WELL, then let them at least show this their boasted Antiquity; let them make it appear, that what they so much extol is indeed of so vast an Extent; let them prove that all Christian Nations have embraced their Religion. But alas! (as I said before) they flee from their own Decrees, and have already plucked up those Canons which but a very few years since they made to last for ⟨p. 94⟩ever. Why then should we trust them in relation to what they pretend concerning the Fathers, the ancient Councils, and the Scriptures? They have not, O good God! they have not, on their sides, what they pretend to have; they have neither Antiquity, nor Universality, nor the consent of either all times, or all Nations. And of this they are not ignorant themselves, tho they craftily dissemble their Knowledge: Yea, at times they will not obscurely confess it; and therefore sometimes they will allege, that the Sanctions of the ancient Councils and Fathers, are such as may lawfully be changed, for different Decrees (say they) will best suit the different State of the Church in different times And so they hide themselves under the name of the Church, and by a wretched sham delude Mankind. And in truth it is a great wonder that Men should be so blind, as not to see these things; or if they do see them so patient, as to bear and endure them with that stupidity and unconcernment they seem to have.

8. WELL, then let them at least shew this their boasted Antiquity; let them make it appear, that what they so much extol is indeed of so vast an Extent; let them prove that all Christian Nations have imbraced their Religion. But alass! (as I said before) they flee from their own Decrees, and have already pluckt up those Canons which but a very few years since they made to last for ⟨p. 94⟩ever. Why then should we trust them in relation to what they pretend concerning the Fathers, the ancient Councils, and the Scriptures? They have not, O good God! they have not, on their sides, what they pretend to have; they have neither Antiquity, nor Universality, nor the consent of either all times, or all Nations. And of this they are not ignorant themselves, tho they craftily dissemble their Knowledge: Yea, at times they will not obscurely confess it; and therefore sometimes they will alledge, that the Sanctions of the ancient Councils and Fathers, are such as may lawfully be changed, for different Decrees (say they) will best suit the different State of the Church in different times And so they hide themselves under the name of the Church, and by a wretched sham delude Mankind. And in truth it is a great wonder that Men should be so blind, as not to see these things; or if they do see them so patient, as to bear and indure them with that stupidity and unconcernment they seem to have.