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…

Now let the Defenders chose, whether they will have their Secretary condemned of ignorance, or of malice. How so ever it be, mark yet the third point, which hereof we will gather. The Apology was scant Printed and published, but that gross error was out of hand espied, and word thereof brought to the Author, I mean him, that penned it. But what did he? Did he confess, that he was deceived? Did he cry Hosius mercy? No, no. That is not the wont of Heretics. They will go forward with the matter once begun, what so ever come of it. What did he then? When it should be set forth in English, and word came to him thereof, he made an excuse, I warrant you meet for an Heretic, whose property it is Proficere in peius, as S. Paul saith, to proceed to worse and worse, to take his degree backward, and of a great fault to make a far greater. For whereas before (as Charity moveth me to think) he had made an error, supposing Hosius to have said that, which he had not, after ward by stubborn maintaining of it, he showeth what spirit he is of. And when he might reasonably have excused his ignorance, chose rather spitefully to discover his malice: As it shall manifestly appear by the circumstance of the thing. He layeth to Hosius charge, and in his person to all our charges, that we do not esteem the Holy Scriptures. He proveth it by certain words alleged out of a treatise made by Hosius De Expresso verbo Dei. The words are here put in the Apology, as the reader may see. The true argument of Hosius book is no other then to show, that all Heretics have alleged the words of God, as they be written: But none of them all have taken the right understanding of God's words, as they do in deed signify. For that only the Catholic Church attaineth unto, because only it hath the Holy Ghost. All ⟨p. 471⟩Heretics have brought for their opinions the written Word of God so long, until at the last (saith Hosius) there were found, who by the words of the Scriptures toke upon them to take away all Authority from Scriptures. Natum est (saithe he) novum quoddam Prophetarum genus, qui non sunt veriti Scripturarum auctoritate Scripturis auctoritatem omnem detrahere. En quò perduxit rem tandem Saranas?

Now let the Defenders chose, whether they will haue their Secretarie condemned of ignorance, or of malice. How so euer it be, marke yet the thirde pointe, whiche hereof we wil gather. The Apologie was skant Printed and published, but that grosse errour was out of hande espied, and woorde thereof brought to the Authour, I meane him, that penned it. But what did he? Did he confesse, that he was deceiued? Did he crie Hosius mercie? No, no. That is not the woonte of Heretikes. They wil go forewarde with the matter once begonne, what so euer come of it. VVhat did he then? VVhen it shoulde be set foorthe in Englishe, and woorde came to him thereof, he made an excuse, I warraunt you meete for an Heretike, whose propertie it is Proficere in peius, as S. Paule saithe, to proceede to worse and worse, to take his degree backewarde, and of a great faulte to make a farre greatter. For whereas before (as Charitiemoueth me to thinke) he had made an errour, supposinge Hosius to haue saide that, whiche he had not, after warde by stubborne mainteininge of it, he sheweth what spirite he is of. And when he mighte reasonably haue excused his ignorance, chose rather spitefully to discouer his malice: As it shall manifestly appeare by the circumstance of the thinge. He laieth to Hosius charge, and in his persone to all our charges, that we do not esteeme the Holy Scriptures. He proueth it by certaine woordes alleaged out of a treatise made by Hosius De Expresso verbo Dei. The woordes are here put in the Apologie, as the reader maie see. The true argumente of Hosius booke is no other then to shewe, that all Heretikes haue alleaged the woordes of God, as they be written: But none of them all haue taken the righte vnderstandinge of Goddes woordes, as they doo in deede signifie. For that onely the Catholike Churche atteineth vnto, because onely it hath the Holy Ghoste. All