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These be the words of the Admonition: they saye that the Authors of that booke were studious of peace, and of the building vp of Christes Churche. and therefore vpon their owne words and confession, I grounde mine argument. This peace that they were studious of, and sought to maynteyne by collecting and authorising this booke, was a godly peace, sought to be maynteyned by godly meanes: and therefore suche as shall deface that godly meanes, wherby they procured peace, can not de iudged otherwyse, than disturbers of the same peace.
Gedeon by making the Ephod did not séeke peace, but rather glory, for he erected* 1.1 it to be a monument of his victorie: Gedeon erected the Ephod for an other ende and purpose than God did appoynt it: the Ephod that Gedeon made, was the cause of ido∣latrie. Likewise Images are expresly forbidden in the word of God, & there is a direct cōmaundement agaynst them: so is consubstātiation also. But the booke of common prayer is framed according to the scriptures, appoynted to the true worshipping of God, most repugnant to all Idolatrie, & Idolatrous worshipping: and therfore these similitudes & exāples that you vse be nothing like: it is neither like to Gedeons Ephod▪ nor maynteineth Luthers Images: or consubstantiation, but ouerthroweth them all.
Their knowledge was in parte, in that sense that the Apostle speaketh. Ex parte* 1.2 enim cognoscimus, & ex parte prophetamus: VVe knowe in part, and we prophecie in part. &c. But if they be compared vnto men, I thinke for learning, zeale, godlynesse & sounde* 1.3 iudgemēt, most of thē haue not bin ouermatched, by any that hath folowed. And surely their learning & iudgement was singular. But no maruell it is, though you make so small account of me poore wretch, when you so basely speake of them. Undoubtedly in cōparison of your selues, I thinke you contēne all learned men both liuing & dead.
They may well be sayde to haue sealed this booke wyth their bloud,* 1.4 bicause they were martyred for that religion that is conteyned in this booke, and ac∣cording to the which this booke was framed: and if they were condemned, for impro∣uing the articles drawne out of the Masse booke▪ (as you say) why maye it not be likewise affirmed, that they receyued the sentence of condemnation, for approuing the Articles conteyned in the Communion booke: I know the booke they dyed for, was the booke of God, yet did not the aduersarie pretende that, but the articles drawne out of this, and suche like bookes, grounded vpon the worde and booke of God.
Name one of them, who at the time of his death, or in ye time of his imprisonmēt, declared openly his misliking of certayne things in this booke. I can shew you the contrarie: That notable vessell of God, for learning, zeale, and vertue, inferiour to none of our* 1.5 age, Master Ridley Bishop of London, in his (last farewell) as it is called, looking day∣ly and hourely when he should go to the stake, giueth this testimonie of this same booke of common prayers, the whiche the Churche of Englande nowe vseth, and you so contemptuously reiect. This Churche (sayth he) of Englande had of late, of the* 1.6 infinite goodnesse, and abundant grace of almightie God, great substance, great riches of heauenly treasure, plentie of Gods true and sincere worde, the true and vvholsome administration of Christes holy sacraments, the whole profession of Christes religion, truely and playnely set foorth in baptisme, the playne declaration and vnderstan∣ding of the same taught in the holy▪ Catechisme, to haue bin learned of all true Christians. This Church had also a true and sincere forme and maner of the Lords supper, wherin according to Iesus Christes ordināce & holy institution, Christes cōmaundements were executed and done. For vpon the bread and wine set vpon the Lords table, thāks were giuen, the commemoration of the Lords death was had, the bread in the remembrance of Christes body torne vpon the crosse, was broken: and the cuppe in remembrance of Chri∣stes bloud was distributed, and both communicated vnto all that were present, and woulde receyue them, and also they were exhorted of the minister so to do.
All was done openly in the vulgare tongue, so that euery thing mighte be bothe easily heard, and playnely vnderstoode of all the people, to Gods high glory, and the edification of