The Apology of the Church of England | Page 6

the parts and foundations of that doctrine, in the behalf whereof so
many good men have little regarded their own lives; and that all men
may understand what manner of people they be, and what opinion they
have of God and of religion, whom the Bishop of Rome, before they
were called to tell their tale, hath condemned for heretics, without any
good consideration, without any example, and utterly without law or
right, only because he heard tell that they did dissent from him and his
in some point of religion.
And although St. Hierom would have nobody to be patient when he is
suspected of heresy, yet we will deal herein neither bitterly nor
brablingly; nor yet be carried away with anger and heat; though he

ought to be reckoned neither bitter nor brabler that speaketh the truth.
We willingly leave this kind of eloquence to our adversaries, who,
whatsoever they say against us, be it never so shrewdly or despitefully
said, yet think it is said modestly and comely enough, and care nothing
whether it be true or false. We need none of these shifts which do
maintain the truth.
Further, if we do show it plainly that God's holy Gospel, the ancient
bishops, and the primitive Church do make on our side, and that we
have not without just cause left these men, and rather have returned to
the Apostles and old Catholic fathers; and if we shall be found to do the
same not colourably or craftily, but in good faith before God, truly,
honestly, clearly, and plainly; and if they themselves which fly our
doctrine, and would be called Catholics, shall manifestly see how all
these titles of antiquity, whereof they boast so much, are quite shaken
out of their hands; and that there is more pith in this our cause than they
thought for; we then hope and trust that none of them will be so
negligent and careless of his own salvation, but he will at length study
and bethink himself to whether part he were best to join him.
Undoubtedly, except one will altogether harden his heart and refuse to
hear, he shall not repent him to give good heed to this our Defence, and
to mark well what we say, and how truly and justly it agreeth with
Christian religion.
For where they call us heretics, it is a crime so heinous, that unless it
may be seen, unless it may be felt, and in manner may be holden with
hands and fingers, it ought not lightly to be judged or believed, when it
is laid to the charge of any Christian man. For heresy is a forsaking of
salvation, a renouncing of God's grace, a departing from the body and
spirit of Christ. But this was ever an old and solemn property with them
and their forefathers; if any did complain of their errors and faults, and
desired to have true religion restored, straightway to condemn such
ones for heretics, as men new-fangled and factious. Christ for no other
cause was called a Samaritan, but only for that He was thought to have
fallen to a certain new religion, and to be the author of a new sect. And
Paul the Apostle of Christ was called before the judges to make answer
to a matter of heresy; and therefore he said: "According to this way

which they call heresy I do worship the God of my fathers, believing all
things which be written in the law and in the Prophets."
Shortly to speak. This universal religion which Christian men profess at
this day was called first of the heathen people a sect and heresy. With
these terms did they always fill princes' ears, to the intent when they
had once hated us with a predetermined opinion, and had counted all
that we said to be faction and heresy, they might be so led away from
the truth and right understanding of the cause. But the more sore and
outrageous a crime heresy is, the more it ought to be proved by plain
and strong arguments, especially in this time, when men begin to give
less credit to their words, and to make more diligent search of their
doctrine, than they were wont to do. For the people of God are
otherwise instructed now than they were in times past, when all the
bishops of Rome's sayings were allowed for Gospel, and when all
religion did depend only upon their authority. Nowadays the Holy
Scripture is abroad, the writings of the Apostles and Prophets are in
print, whereby all truth and Catholic doctrine may be proved, and all
heresy may be disproved and confuted.
Sithence, then, they bring forth none of these for themselves, and call
us nevertheless heretics, which have neither fallen