(I.17) Answering accusations of heresy and "tumultuous defection," among others, Jewel attempts to establish the truth and legitimacy of the claims of not only the Church of England but the whole protestant reformation by arguing that there is continuity between the reformers and Scripture, the apostles (especially, Paul), the church fathers (i.e., Augustine, Tertullian, Ambrose, Jerome, etc.), and church councils. Says Jewel, "Thus we have been taught by Christ, by the apostles and holy fathers; and we do faithfully teach the people of God the same things . . ." (III.2). At the core of the "Apology" is a defence of the scriptural basis of authority in the Church of England against the Catholic claim that the Church had authority to define doctrine. In tone and approach, this section is reminiscent of the "Augsburg Confession", a 1530 document written primarily by Philip Melanchthon throughout which he had maintained a strong emphasis that the reforming movement was no new sect or cult and had added no new or heretical doctrines: “Our churches dissent in no article of the faith from the Church Catholic, but only omit some abuses which are new, and which have been erroneously accepted by the corruption of the times.” In this spirit, the "Apology" begins its statement of doctrine in its second section with an exposition and affirmation of the Nicene Creed. Facing charges of heresy, many Protestant reformers realised that establishing their orthodoxy was paramount. Unlike the "Augsburg Confession", Jewel's "Apology" is much more interested in doctrines and issues concerning the church than in soteriology. "Apology" never treats grace, predestination, election, or justification "per se". The most explicit and important statement of soteriology in the piece—and one of the few statements concerning soteriology—amounts to a basic summary of the reformers' view of soteriology and concomitant views of man, works, the law, and Christ. We say that man is born in sin and leadeth his life in sin, and that no man can truly say his heart is clean; that the most holy man is an unprofitable servant; that the law of God is perfect, and requires of us a full and perfect obedience; and that we cannot in any way keep it perfectly in this life; and that there is no mortal who can be justified in the sight of God by his own deserts; and therefore our only refuge and safety is in the mercy of God the Father, by Jesus Christ, and in the assuring ourselves that he is the propitiation for our sins, by whose blood all our stains are washed out; that he has pacified all things by the blood of his cross; that he by that only sacrifice which he once offered upon the cross, hath perfected all things; and therefore, when he breathed out his soul, he said, IT IS FINISHED; as if by these words he would signify, Now the price is paid for the sins of mankind.