A defence of the Apologie of the Churche of Englande conteininge an answeare to a certaine booke lately set foorthe by M. Hardinge, and entituled, A confutation of &c. By Iohn Iewel Bishop of Sarisburie.

M. Hardinge.

Raile and reuel whiles ye wil, the Churche is gouerned by* 1.1 disciline. If Christe himselfe or his Apostles wee aliue againe, the worde, that is to saie,‡ 1.2 the Doctrine of our belefe, no we preached and receiued in the Catholike Church, ‡ neither shoulde be altered, ‡ nor coulde be bet∣tered. ‡ For it is the same, he taught him selfe. And that we doubt not of it, accordinge to his promise, he hath sente the holy Ghoste, to enforme the Churche of al truthe.* 1.3 Remember you not, who saide, I am God,* 1.4 and am not changed? againe, that the worde of God remaineth for euer?

This beinge true, it is euident, that we haue the sound and weighty wheate, whiche no persecution of tyraunces, and blasies of heretikes, no contagion of euil manners, for these fiften hundred yeeres could either blowe from the floore of our Lordes berne, the Churche, or corrupt. VVe haue accordinge to the Apostles counsel,* 1.5 kepte that hath ben committed vnto vs. VVe haue enioyed the fountaine of the wa∣ter of life.

Ye charge vs soare, that we haue plucked awaie from the people the holy communion, the worde of God, the true worshippinge of God, the right vse of Sacramentes, and praier. VVho so euer taketh these fiue awaie, wherein chiefly standeth our saluation, the same‡ 1.6 is Antichrist. VVere not that ye haue already done so mutche for vs, as the worlde maie take you for impudente liers, we would not quietly beare so greauous a matter. But nowe, that ye haue tried your selues so false of your worde, we litle esteme it: your railinge is no slaunder. Lastly concerninge praier, what hath ben ordeined by our holy

forefathers* 1.7 of al ages,* 1.8 directed with the sprite of God, for the maintenance and encrease of it to Gods honoure, al that in fewe yeres by the instincte of Sathan, to promote his Kingedome, ye haue vt∣terly abolished, and by wicked violence brought the people from‡ 1.9 deuotion to a carelesse idlenesse, from speaking to God with hartes and lippes, to ‡ a spiritual dummesse, from praiers ‡ to chapters, from holy thinkinge to ‡ vnprofitable harkeninge.

Ye can not abyde salte, water, oyle, palme, the crosse, incense, &c. no maruel. No more can not the deuil, who possesseth you, and rideth you, and after his owne wil driueth you from truthe, from Chri∣sten Religion, and from al Godlines. VVere it so that your sprite coulde a waie with those thinges, then were it not agreeing with his sprite. Vntil ye geue place to the spirit of God, who maie driue out of you the spiritie of Sathan, we looke to heare no better tidinges of you.

Notes

• * 1.1

  But the Pope vseth neither of them.
• ‡ 1.2

  Vntruthes, vvithout either measure, or re∣garde of shame.
• * 1.3

  Malach. 3. Psal. 118.
• * 1.4

  O folie. The Change is in you, and not in God.
• * 1.5

  Depositum 1. Tim. 6.
• ‡ 1.6

  The Gospel in your mouthe.
• * 1.7

  Vntruthe For your Barbarous vnknovven Pr••i∣ers, to the time of the Anciente Lerned Fathers, vvere neuer knovven.
• * 1.8

  Christes gouerne∣ment no better, thē the Popes.
• ‡ 1.9

  Vntruthes ioi∣ned vvith open Blasphemie.