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Jewel, John, 1522-1571

"The Apology of the Church of England"

What
one amongst the whole number of the old bishops and fathers ever taught
you either to say private mass while the people stared on, or to "lift up
the Sacrament" over your head (in which point consisteth now all your
religion), or else to "mangle Christ's Sacraments," and to bereave the
people of the one part, contrary to Christ's institution and plain
express words? But that we may once come to an end, what one is there of
all the fathers which hath taught you to distribute Christ's blood and
the holy martyrs' merits, and to sell openly as merchandises your pardons
and all the rooms and lodgings of purgatory?
These men are wont to speak much of a certain secret doctrine of theirs,
and of their manifold and sundry readings. Then let them bring forth
somewhat now, if they can, that it may appear they have at least read or
do know somewhat. They have often stoutly noised in all corners where
they went how all the parts of their religion be very old, and have been
approved not only of the multitude, but also by the consent and continual
observation of all nations and times.


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