One distinctive of the English Reformers, even to a casual observer, is the robust use of Scripture in argumentation. They do not neglect patrology, but Scripture is the "supreme Judge." Not solo scripture et sola nuda, but sola sciptura. There were no concordances then as we have now. Ridley memorized Paul's epistles in Greek. He tells an interesting story about that later, as he gets ready to be a "crispy critter" under Bloody Mary. BTW, posh on those who oppugn that good and godly Book of Common Prayer!
From the intro to the Apology of the Church of England by John Jewel. His cathedral church is above.
http://books।google.com/books?id=l17TMgynV8IC&pg=PR26&dq=john+jewel&output=text#c_टॉप
Page xxvii.
"The principle, and the resulting privilege, have seldom been maintained more ably than in Jewell's Treatise, even in works of greater bulk, extent of erudition, and depth of argument. The author makes no pause on half-way ground, to settle principles and lay down terms of combat which neither contending party has authority to fix, or to allow definitively when fixed by others. He takes the reader directly to the source of knowledge and law, and draws from the avouchment of the Deity himself the credentials of his word as the sole and universal arbiter, instructer, guide, and comforter. This is the prominent feature, and constitutes the principal value of his work. It is one unbroken chain of appeals to the word of God itself for proof of its authority, its use, and its freeness to all who choose to avail themselves of the advantage. The admirable propriety with which these appeals are made to direct assertions, to implied statements, to illustrative examples, and to confirmatory reasoning, must strike the most indifferent reader. They display an acquaintance with the Scriptures,—a readiness to use every part for ' reproof, correction, instruction in righteousness and thorough furnishing unto all good works' which could only have been the result of the most assiduous study, and, when the absence of those helps which we now enjoy in Concordances, Summaries, &c. is taken into the account, appears truly wonderful."
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