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…

M. Harding.

M. Hardinge.

As the former part of the sentence, which ye bring out of the Nicene Council,^* soundeth nothing against the Catholics, (for they also teach the same):^* so the later part is directly contrary to your Doctrine, which ye thought good to leave out, lest thereby ye should have marred your whole matter. Such nipping,³ and rounding of sentences hath ever ben taken for a mark to know Heretics by. Among wise men such practise worthily bringeth you into suspicion of Untruth. The words of the Council truly reported be these: Let us not at the Divine Table basely behold the Bread and Cup set before us: but lifting up our mind, let us by Faith understand on that Holy Table to be laid the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sins of the World, of Priests Sacrificed unbloudely. And receiving his precious Body, and Blood verily, let us believe these to be the pledges of our Resurrection. For in consideration hereof we take not much, but a little, that we may know, we receive not to filling (of the Body) but to Sanctimony. Take the end with the beginning, and what maketh this decree of that Holy Council for defence of your Sacramentary Doctrine? And here, who be more basely affectioned and bent toward the things set on that Table, ye, that make them but Bread, and Wine, or we, that, after Consecration, believe under the forms of Bread, and Wine verily to be made Present the Body, and Blood of Christ? Whether is a baser exercise, to feed on^‡ common Bread, and Wine, and to dwell in the judgement of the senses, or to eat the very Flesh of Christ, the Bread of Life, that came down from Heaven, to immortality of the Body, and Soul, to forsake the senses, and followeth understanding of