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…

First, were it granted, that all, ye say of Hilary, Melito, Justinus, Tertullian, and Apollonius were true: Yet must it needs follow, that all Books, that are not Subscribed with the Authors names, were written in a corner? First to begin with the Scriptures, tell us, M. Harding, who wrote the Books of Genesis, of Exodus, of Leviticus, of Numeri, of Deuteronomiū, of Josue, of the Judges, of the Kings, of the Chronicles, of Job, &c. Who inrote these Books? I say: Who authorized them? Who Subscribed his name? Who set to his S•ale? The Book of Wisdom by some is Fathered upon Philo, by some upon Solomon. The Epistle unto the Hebrews, some say, was written by S. Paul: Some, by Clemens: Some, by Barnabas: Some, by some other: & so are we uncertain of the Authors name. S. Mark, S. Luke, S. John, never once named them selves in their Gospels. The Apostles Creed, the Canons of the Apostles, by what names are they Subscribed? Howe are they authorized? To what Pope, to what Emperor were they offered? To leave others the Ancient Doctors of the Church, which, as you know, are often misnamed, Ambrose for Augustine, Greek for Latin, ⟨p. 28⟩New for Old: your Doctor of Doctors, the fairest flower, and crop of your garland Gratianus, is so well known by his name, that wise men can not well tell, ¹What name to give him. Erasmus saith of him thus, Quisquis fuit, sive Gratianus, sive Crassianus: What so ever name we may give him: be it Gratianus, or Crassianus. And again he saith, Eruditi negant, illam Gratiani, nescio cuius, congeriem ulla unquam Publica Ecclesiae authoritate fuisse comprobatam: The learned say, that Gratians Collection, or heap of matters, was never allowed by any Public Authority of the Church.² And againe, Non constat ullis argumentis, quis fuerit Gratianus, quo tempore opus suum exhibuerit, cuius Pontificis, cuius Concilij fuerit Authoritate comprobatum: It cannot appear by any tokens of record, neither what this Gratian was: nor at what time he offered up his Book: nor what Council, nor what Pope allowed it.

Firste, were it graunted, that al, ye saye of Hilarie, Melito, Iustinus, Tertullian, and Apollonius were true: Yet muste it néedes folowe, that al Bookes, that are not Subscribed with the Authours names, were written in a corner? Firste to beginne with the Scriptures, tel vs, M. Hardinge, who wrote the Bookes of Genesis, of Exodus, of Leuiticus, of Numeri, of Deuteronomiū, of Ioue, of the Iudges, of the Kinges, of ye Chronicles, of Iob, &c. Who inrote these Bookes? I saye: Who authorized them? Who Subscribed his name? Who set to his Sale? The Booke of Wisedome by some is Fathered vpon Philo, by some vpō Salomon. The Epistle vnto ye Hebrewes, some saye, was written by S. Paule: Some, by Clemens: Some, by Barnabas: Some, by some other: & so are wee vncertaine of ye Authours name. S. Marke, S. Luke, S. Iohn, neuer once named them selues in their Gospels. The Apostles Crede, the Canons of the Apostles, by what names are they Subscribed? Howe are they authorized? To what Pope, to what Emperour were they offered? To leaue others the Auncient Doctours of the Churche, whiche, as you knowe, are often misnamed, Ambrose for Augustine, Gréeke for Latine,