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…

Good Christian Reader, loth I am to disclose, and publish any thing, that may sound to the shame of any one man: much less, to the open shame of so great a number. But M. Harding over heavily presseth us with his importunity, and requireth us upon our credit to show these causes. Therefore if the report hereof shall seem unpleasant, the fault is M. Hardinges: It is not mine. I will only show forth simply, & truly, that I find written in sundry, both of the Ancient learned Fathers, and also in others of his own side: Which nevertheless, had not M. Harding been, might much better have been concealed.

Good Christian Reader, lothe I am to disclose, and publishe any thinge, that maie sounde to the shame of any one man: mutche lesse, to the open shame of so greate a number. But M. Hardinge ouer heauily presseth vs with his importunitie, and requireth vs vpon our credite to shewe these causes. Therefore if the reporte hereof shal séeme vnpleasant, the faulte is M. Hardinges: It is not mine. I wil onely shew foorthe simply, & truely, that I finde written in sundrie, bothe of the Ancient learned Fathers, and also in others of his owne side: Whiche neuerthelesse, had not M. Hardinge benne, mighte mutche better haue benne concealed.

First of all, the Ancient Father Origen for his time, which was wellnigh fourteen hundred years ago, hereof complaineth thus: Non solùm, quae docent,¹ non faciunt, sed etiam crudeliter, & sine misericordia, non secundum aestimationem vitium uniuscuiusque, iniungunt: Ut, qui prohibent nubere, & ab eo, quod expedit, ad immoderatam munditiem compellunt. Alligant onera gravia, & faciunt homines cadere sub eis. Et frequenter videmus, eos qui talia docent, contraria facere sermonibus suis. Castitatem docent: & Castitatem non seruant: &c. Omnia faciunt propter personas hominum, & glorias vanas, ut videantur ab hominibus. Et plaerunque sunt tales, qui diligunt primos accubitus in conuivijs, & salutations in foro, & vocari ab hominibus Rabbi: Qui volunt vocari Episcopi, Presbyteri, Diaconi: Not only they do not, that they teach, but also cruelly, and without mercy they lay their Injunctions upon others, not considering each mans ability. Such be they, that forbid men to marry: and from that thing, that is lawful to be done, drive, and force men to an unreasonable Purity. They bind, and lay on heavy burdens, and cause men to fall under them. And oftentimes we see them, that teach such things, to do contrary to their own sayings. They teach Chastity: and yet keep not Chastity: &c. They do all things for the commendation of men, and vain glory, that they may be seen, and noted of the people. And commonly they be such, as love the highest places at Feasts, and Banquets, and to be Saluted,