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AN APOLOGY AGAINST THE DEFENCE OF Schisme.
THe first degree of felicity (as worthely no∣teth S. CYPRIAN) is not to offend:* 1.1 the second to know the offence. It is a greate misery and most heauy punishment of Gods iu∣stice, after that the innocency and purity of an vn∣spoted conscience is once lost, not to know what is amisse: and not feeling the smart of the disease, to neglect the helpe of phisicke. One of the high∣est degrees of pride, the roote and complement of all iniquity, is the defence of sinne:* 1.2 and with very great reason did DAVID aske of God that his hart might not decline into wordes of malice, for to frame excuses in iniquities. The not knowing of sinne is so great a plague of Gods indignation, that he hath reserued the same especially for the times of Antichrist, when wickednes abounding,* 1.3 Gods seuere punishment shall also match the same. At which time as saieth S. PAVL, to such as haue not receiued the charity of truth that they may be saued, God will send the operation of er∣ror, that they may beleue a lye. So did he punish those which* 1.4 preached their sinne like vnto So∣dome, and were so farre from the knowing of sinne, that by preaching it they did defend it. Woe vnto you (saith the Prophet ESAY) which call euill, good; and good, euill: making darknes,* 1.5 light: and light, darknes: making bitter, sweet: and sweet, bitter. Woe vnto you which are sage in your owne eies, and wise before your selues. Be not* 1.6 ouer wise, but feare (saith the vessell of Electi∣on)