A defence of the Apology of the Church of England containing an answer to…A defence of the Apologie of the Churche of Englande conteininge an answeare to…

But let us imagine, as M Harding would have us, that S. Paul spake all this of the breach of Vows. And let Prima Fides, The Firste Faith, be the Vow of Chastity. How be it in deed our First Faith is the Faith, that we promise in Baptism,¹ and none other. And so S. Hierome seemeth to take it. For thus he writeth, Non s•nt digni Fide, qui Primam Fidem irritam fecerunt: Marcionem loquor, & Basilidem: They be not worthy to be believed, that have forsaken their First Faith: I mean Marcion, and Basilides. These two famous Heretics Marcion, ⟨p. 171⟩and Basilides,² were not condemned for breaking any Vow of Chastity, but for refusing the Faith of Christ: which S. Hierome calleth, The First Faith.

But let vs imagine, as M Hardinge would haue vs, that S. Paule spake al this of the breache of Vowes. And let Prima Fides, The Firste Faithe, be the Vowe of Chastitie. How be it in deede our Firste Faithe is the Faithe, that wée promise in Baptisme,¹ and none other. And so S. Hierome seemeth to take it. For thus he writeth, Non s•nt digni Fide, qui Primam Fidem irritam fecerunt: Marcionem loquor, & Basilidem: They be not woorthy to be beleeued, that haue foresaken their Firste Faithe: I meane Marcion, and Basilides. These two famouse Heretiques Marcion, ⟨p. 171⟩and Basilides,² were not condemned for breakinge any Vowe of Chastitie, but for refusinge the Faithe of Christe: whiche S. Hierome calleth, The Firste Faithe.

1. 1Hierony. in Proc••nto in Epist. ad Titum.
2. 2