An. •. As it is a false and erroneous speech to affirm the Church of the ten Tribes to have had sometimes a true constitution, so it is no less false and rash, to deny the Churches of England ever to have had a true constitution. Rash, for can you say it, or do you know it because you were then born, or because the number of your days is great? As God questioneth Job in another case, Job 38.21. Or have you found out such a matter by reading of ancient records and stories? truly if you dare credit them (and doubtless they are more worthy of credit that lived nearer those ancient times, and had the view of ancient records, rather then some of your late books, who speak either out of Partiality to Rome, as the Jesuits, or out of prejudice against the state of the Church of England, as some rigid Separatists do:) but those ancient records will tell you that England received the faith of Christ by Joseph of Arimathea, by Simon Zealots, by others of those primitive Apostolic Saints who doubtless planted Churches not after the pattern of Antichrist, but after the manner of the Apostles. And though English Jesuits will needs make England be holding to Rome for their conversion: yet Bar•nius is more ingenuous (though himself a Cardinal, and wanting no affection to Rome) who ingenuously confesseth, England received the Gospel ten years (though others speak but of five years) before Rome it self. For he speaketh out of Manuscript records, That the Gospel was brought to England in the year of Christ 35. and to Rome, in the year 45. Any whom you dare trust may compare his Annals in the year 35. number 5 with the year 45 number 1. But because you will not enquire what is written in Latin books, it may be of some use to help you, to read of this point what you may find in Mr. Fox his book of Martyrs, in the beginning of the 2 book of his first •ome, in the Reign of King Lucius: as also in Camden's description of Britany during the times of the Romans government, and in Speeds Chronicle, 9. Chap. of the 5 book. Yea many years, (and some ages) after when the Bishop of Rome sent Augustine into England, the godly teachers and people of England refused to receive him, either in way of subjection to his government, or of conformity to the rites of Rome, as Bede recordeth in his History of the English Nation. 2. Book 2. Chap.
An. •. As it is a false and erronious speech to affirme the Church of the ten Tribes to have had sometimes a true constitution, so it is no lesse false and rash, to deny the Churches of England ever to have had a true constitution. Rash, for can you say it, or doe you know it because you were then born, or because the number of your dayes is great? As God questioneth Job in another case, Iob 38.21. Or have you found out such a matter by reading of ancient records and stories? truly if you dare credit them (and doubtlesse they are more worthy of credit that lived nearer those ancient times, and had the view of antient records, rather then some of your late bookes, who speak either out of Partiality to Rome, as the Iesuites, or out of prejudice against the state of the Church of England, as some rigid Separatists doe:) but those antient records will tell you that England received the faith of Christ by Joseph of Arimathea, by Simon Zelotes, by others of those primitive Apostolick Saints who doubtlesse planted Churches not after the patterne of Antichrist, but after the manner of the Apostles. And though English Jesuites will needs make England be holding to Rome for their conversion: yet Bar•nius is more ingenuous (though himselfe a Cardinall, and wanting no affection to Rome) who ingenuously confesseth, England received the Gospell ten yeares (though others speake but of five yeares) before Rome it selfe. For hee speaketh out of Manuscript records, That the Gospell was brought to England in the yeare of Christ 35. and to Rome, in the yeare 45. Any whom you dare trust may compare his Annalls in the yeare 35. number 5 with the yeare 45 number 1. But because you will not enquire what is written in Latin bookes, it may be of some use to helpe you, to read of this point what you may finde in Mr. Foxe his booke of Martyrs, in the begining of the 2 booke of his first •ome, in the Reigne of King Luius: as also in Cambdens description of Britany during the times of the Romans government, and in Speedes Chronicle, 9. Chap. of the 5 booke. Yea many yeares, (and some ages) after when the Bishop of Rome sent Augustine into England, the godly teachers and people of England refused to receive him, either in way of subjection to his government, or of conformity to the rites of Rome, as Beda recordeth in his History of the English Nation. 2. Booke 2. Chap.
